Ugh, they're still doing the cash-out-every-hour bull****, i.e., slowing up the game and sanctioning going south? I heard a rumor they stopped doing that. It's the WORST. Games at Final Table are super soft, but that stupid rule + the fact it smells have kept me away.

But I generally agree with Darrel; there's a decent number of 2/5 games around, even in the clubs (Rialto for one deals M/W/F and any other day there's interest). Definitely harder to find higher.

You have to chip down to the max buy in (200 in the 1/2, I think). So Joe Horriblepokerplayer sucks out on you twice, a couple other players a few times, and is sitting on a grand. The hour comes up and he is forced to chip down to $200, keeping his winnings (firmly) in his pocket.

And you can't tip during the "tournament," so dealers inevitably get ****ed, which HAS to impact the quality of dealers (plenty of other games in town where you can tip during the hand; maybe all of them?).

This rule brings tons of fish, I think calling it the WORST is a stretch as a lot of people I know (fish and non fish) enjoy it. And also, its not really up to the room, these are ways to get around some of the weird rules in the ordinance.

Ugh, gonna try to stay away from opening up the can of worms re: what is legal/illegal about Portland poker rooms. That has never gone well.

Regardless, while it's true that Final Table's rule arguably makes their shootouts closer to "tournaments" than any other game in town, to say it's "not really up to the room" seems disingenuous since there are at least six licensed rooms in town that DON'T run it that way.

Legitimate question, are you sure its this rule that brings in tons of fish as opposed to other aspects of the room? And why on earth would non-fish like it?

I also don't know how the law works so I won't get into that either. Honestly I don't know what brings the fish, I like the rule. I like to go south, I like playing cash games short.

Allowing players to go south, leave if the game isn't good, provides for a less stressful event in my opinion. A lot of the players this might attract are annoying maybe, but also bad at poker.

I live in Eugene, and the atmosphere of the rooms here is quite a bit worse. Money goes to promos, bad beat jackpots, deal add ons, and lots of other stuff that I don't like so much. Regardless I think cash/tournaments in Portland are pretty awesome compared to what I'm used to in Vegas and Eugene, especially for lower limits.

A friend is there right now (8pm on a Wednesday) and just texted: "I'm at FT. 8 SO Goin. 2 20/40 with list. 2 2.5 NL with list. 4 1/2 NL with list."

"SO" is for "shootout", the confusing term PDX clubs use for "cash" tournaments.

I think the quality of the dealers at FT is pretty decent. A single 2/5 shootout table with a couple thousand in buyins is the equivalent to more than 4 tournament tables with $50 buyins. The tournament players only give tips at the end of a five or more hour game; shootout players potentially see other people cashing out and tipping every hour. I'm pretty sure the shootouts are generating more tips just by volume, and that the better dealers get those tables . You wanna keep the big money happy.

this isn't true anymore. the shootouts last one hour. at the end of the hour you have 4 options. 1. cash out completely and leave the game. 2. cash down to the max buy-in. 3. rebuy to the max buy-in. 4. leave your stack where it is. this is also the time that the players tip the dealers. tipping averages around a total of $40 for the hour, so the dealers aren't getting ****ed and the shootouts tend to attract the better dealers.

these games are looking more and more like cash games every day.

i've never noticed a smell. have you been to the newer location on 122nd and division?

This is accurate, most places dont make you cash down every hour, and most dealers (the competent ones) make decent money.

There's new options for cash games popping up every other month, one of the fisheries I've seen has been a cash game at Brekken's in st johns, its a 1-2 table .5/1 game. min play time one hour and then you can do an optional cash down in one our intervals (equity chop, its legally a 'tournament'). Ive see some of the players at the game have redefined the bluff call

Can anyone in the Portland area tell me what the policies of the poker rooms are regarding showing ID? Is it like Vegas, where you only show ID if you cash in over 2500 or if you win a decent tourney, or do they ask for it before they let you play, or what?

I lost my DL but I'll be up there next week and I was hoping to get some time in, and it would suck if now I won't be able to play.

It would suck more if they let you play, but you couldn't cash out if you won...

Very easily done mate, that's part of the reason I'm asking. I plan to win thousands, obviously.

Moving on, does anyone have an actual answer?

I've won a couple $4K+ prizes in tournaments at Encore (as well as some smaller four-figure prizes at other clubs) and never been asked to show ID before, during, or after the game.

That said, there are some different rules if your payout goes over $5K. The club has to file a 1099, I believe, and presumably you would need to show some sort of verification, though, that hasn't been an issue for me unfortunately.

Cheers, thanks for the information. Hope you need to show some sort of verification in the near future

To any Portland Big O players - the WSOP schedule is out, and Big O isn't on it (I refuse to acknowledge the Dealer's Choice event). I'm encouraging Big O players to tweet at WSOP and ask for a $1,500 Big O even to be added. https://twitter.com/wsop

most times players chop and after gratuities take a little under 5k to avoid forms. ive only chopped 20k gtd's in portland lol so cant answer whats done in a 50k@ the final table or 40k at encore

So what cash game/shootouts are available currently. I'll be passing through next week and looking to hit up a game or 2.

Main Event at Chinook Winds in Lincoln City. A $500 Buy-in tourney with a re-entry allowed in first 6 levels and a $200 add-on. $100,000 "Guaranteed".

Most action at Final Table in Portland proper. 1/2 game starts up at noon, they have 2/5 regularly, some Big O and a weekly 20/40 LHE.

Other eastside locations are Aces Full (usually a single table of 1/1 after 2:30pm), and Portland Players Club (1/1 Omaha mix).

Evening 1/2 action at Encore is pretty loose.

Also Cowboys Full (in bar under Aces Full) runs a variety of games.

Thanks!

reading this thread for the first time, does this mean its much easier to get a high hourly rate in Portland? ive got to get out of vegas and go back anywhere games are good, and winnings easy again, and NO video blackjack machines

which of these cardrooms are near a cheap weekly motel or similar living situation? i am not a local, and id like a short walk or on the city busline to the cardroom. i looked at craigslist and there isnt a single cheap weekly anywhere in all of Portland, rent prices seem higher here than any other city in the USA with poker.

if i saved $1500 or so a month on rake, i could probably double my hourly rate and survive a lot easier if theres anything available to rent by any of these cardrooms

Last time i was in portland, i stayed st the motel6 on powell which was a short walk to a few of those places, but it cost double what a motel6 ususlly costs.

Here's a link for more information.
http://www.pokeratlas.com/poker-rooms/portland-oregon

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There is a room on Barbur - Ace of Spades - that usually has one or two 1/2 NLHE games. I have not been there in a while.

Address: 9220 SW Barbur Blvd Suite 104, Portland, OR 97219
Phone: (503) 244-4079

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There is Encore that is located downtown. I have not played there, but have visited. It's a large room and they have a huge tourney once a month or so. I've heard stories that the neighborhood is not very nice at night.

Address: 535 NW 16th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Phone: (503) 206-8856

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There is the Final Table. It is way in the east part of town. The shopping center that it's in is rather run down, but there are a lot of stores in the area, so there is a lot of traffic and people. I hear they get really busy. I played there once and the dealers put me off so I didn't return.

Address: 2620 SE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97236
Phone: (503) 719-5457

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Aces Players Club changed management recently. I was told that they are nicer now and that there is a small game in the pub downstairs. Park in the neighborhood and walk. It's near other things and in a pretty nice area.

Address: 2443 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202
Phone: (503) 719-7399

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Claudia's has regular small NLHE games (twenty five cent / fifty cent blinds) that are pretty fun. They have nightly tournaments. And they recently started a mix game / dealer's choice of various Omaha games on Sunday afternoons. Laid back and well run and well lit.

Address: 3006 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Phone: (503) 232-1744

Use the following website for information.
http://www.onegoodhand.com/

They are related to Jack's that is downtown. I have been told about the PLO8 game that is there that gets pretty big.

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Poker is legal here. The clubs charge a membership fee (usually $5 to $10 for the day) to cover their costs. Dealers are NOT paid and are volunteers who appreciate tips. Shoot out cash tourneys have different rules about when you can leave and such, so make sure to ask.

If you find yourself down south of Portland, there is a great place to play 3/6 O8 Full Kill.

Black Diamond is in Albany and is at exit 235 off I-5. Portland proper is at exit 300 off I-5.

http://www.bdpokerclub.com/
Address: 3297 SE Salem Ave, Albany, OR 97321
Phone: (541) 791-7183

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Best of luck and have fun!

I'm afraid Portland rents have gone through the roof in recent years, along with the rest of the local housing, way out of proportion to incomes. Low vacancy rates for affordable rentals and historically high unemployment rates make for a lot of competition for good, low-cost housing. It ain't all "Portlandia"....