Beatable but I would look for another game because the rake is a huge factor as well as the variance due to the shallow stacks (taking into account the $4 bring in).
Consider either saving up some money for the 2-3-5 or perhaps nit it up at the 2-3-5.

Situation

we have 15k BR, all living expenses etc paid, plus an income, but I dont want to dip into that. Live right off the richmond bridge, in richmond

we are +EV at 2-5NL as long as we buy in for 100bbs max

where do I play?

Casino 101? 38 miles

Pacheco Grand? 22 miles

Lucky Chances? 23 miles

The Palace? 25miles

Artichoke Joes? 26 miles

Napa valley Casino? 23 miles

Id prefer to play at Petes 881 in san Rafael, but they only run the game 6pm-2pm and its 1-2 =/

Sorry if this is somewhere that I didn't notice. Where are the regular 2/5 or 5/5 or 5/10 games and what are the max BIs?

I was just in SF on business and played at Lucky Chances Wed night and Tues mid-day. $3-$5 and $5-$10 runs everytime I've been there mid-week. When I got there on Wed evening at 8pm there were two tables of $3-$5 (must move game) and one $5-$10. There were enough $5-$10 players in the $3-$5 that they converted one of the tables to $5-$10 and then started another $3-$5 about 30 minutes later.

On Tuesday I got there at 11:30am just as the $3-$5 game started. By the time I left at 1:30pm the $5-$10 was running and the were about to start another $3-$5.

Games are full of regs but not the nitty Vegas type of regs. I've always found there to be lots of action at both levels and plenty of action players. Max buy in for 3-5 is $500, while 5-10 is $1500. Games do seem to get pretty deep relatively quickly. By just after noon in the 3-5 game I sat in yesterday there was almost $10K on the table. There are some strong players, but most are pretty predictable and once you learn the calling stations from those who can make a tough fold I feel like the game is pretty straight forward. 5-10 plays significantly tougher than 3-5. The floor and dealers are all competent ime.

Of course, my opinions may be colored by my recent results - this trip I was +$1900 at 3-5 over 6.5 hours and last trip I was +$4200 at 5-10 in one 8 hour session. /brag YMMV!

I can't really compare it to anywhere else as LC is the only place I've played NL in the Bay Area. But, it would be hard for me to imagine that the games/action are that much better elsewhere, with the exception of Bay 101, but that's a much further drive for you. You could take BART from Richmond to LC if you wanted to.

If Artichoke Joe's makes the list, so should the Oaks. But if you're mostly interested in NL, probably neither warrants serious consideration.

I'd also put Pacheco a little higher in terms of accessibility than the others of roughly equivalent distance, as getting to LC or NV will require crossing a bridge, which adds some variance to your "commute." The most common bottlenecks for traffic are the bridges, tunnels, and intersections between freeways (e.g., 880 near the 238 & 92 interchanges, 880 near the 237 interchange, etc.)

Is "Casino 101" the same as Bay 101?

I don't play NL so I can't comment on the games, but Pacheco's LHE games are really good compared to other same-sized games in the Bay Area.

Casino 101 is not the Bay 101. Casino 101 is in/near Petaluma, north of Bay.

garden city summer slam next week, lets go!

Which casino hosts a 1/3 or 2/3 NL game with $300 Buy in or better?

The Palace in Hayward has a 1-2-2 game with no max buy in. It plays much MUCH bigger than the blinds. It's 5 to go but you can kill and over-kill from any position that makes it 10 or 20 to go. Crazy format. I love it! lol

Trying to avoid $5 limped pots because it still plays like a 2/5 game. $3 would be nice and even $4 limped pots with a high buy in. While I can play 2/5 I dont have the BR for it

Manteca (over an hour drive from anywhere in the Bay Area) has a everyday 2-2 2-to-go game with no max. The play it with 2 dollar chips.

Garden City in San Jose has a 1-2-3 with a $300 max buy in.

$5 drop no BBJP, the way I like it. I will have to try that place.

Whats the min buy in? Not some queer $40 is it?

Honestly don't know the min buy in. Definitely seen people buy in for less than $100 but most buy in 100+.

small sample size ldo, but I went here two Saturdays ago and I felt the players at 1/2/3 has nitted up considerably. I use to reg here earlier this year, but i stopped going over the summer because the 40 min drive (1 hr+ more with traffic) became really annoying.

There were 5 1/2/3 tables running, and the avg stack size is about 200. I tried all the tables, and all but one were filled with young tight players (i said tight, i never said good). The only action table was only full of action because my fishy friend, who came with me, was at this table playing his usual maniac style. He's infamous at the Oaks 100max and told me he wanna try garden city last weekend to "change the scenery."

-----

I just finished playing the 8/16 at bay 101. I went with my fishy maniac friend; he was playing the 1/2/2, ran his stack up to 1300, and somehow lit it on fire.

Ive been at oaks. I like it but $10 an hour sucks @ 1/2 with the $4 rake. The players are very bad there with very a few bad tags, but I did see one good player. He looked familiar, maybe an online pro. But his disposition, observation, and play dictate he was good.

No comps, pay for the food. It sucks my profit.

$4 drop is the lowest you'll find in the Bay Area for any game, aside from the 1/2 LHE and 2/4 Stud games at the Oaks (which drop $3). Oaks is also NFND, and I think it may be the only place that does it.

I'm not saying it's good on an absolute scale but it's hands down the best of the Bay on a relative scale.

Yes Oaks is if you want to play smaller stakes. I am rethinking my play to adjus to the rake level there. Debating to stay there or play the 1-2-2 $5 limp @ AJs. Higher stakes effectively with the limp but its right next to my house.

I haven't been to Lucky Chances in awhile, thinking of going back - is their mid-stakes NL setup still 2-3-5 NL with the $10 bring in, and a normal 5-10 NL game? What's the rake/time charge situation, is it still the ridic $12 per 40 minutes or whatever?

I dont know. I dont play those stakes and never asked.

BTW any bay area casinos do comps?

No comps that I know of.

LC is now plain 3-5 NL with rake. Can limp for $5. Don't remember the exact rake but I think its around $4, roughly the same as the 1-1-2 with the $4 open.

Rake is the same at all 3 LC stakes, 4+2; 1+1 if no flop.

AJs is 3+1 right with a 1-2-2 with $5 limps.

Which casino in the bay area hosts the most games? 1/2 and/or 2/5?

4+1 found out today.