Fortune Poker Room trip report:

I am known to fly anywhere a decent limit game is going on with the only criteria that is has to go every day. I stopped going to Borgata when they would only offer me rooms M-T and didn't have any games higher than 2-5NL and nothing in limit to speak of on any days other than Friday & Saturday.

After reading this thread (thank you to all those that turned me on to Fortune), I chose to fly, for the first time ever, to Seattle. I chose the Fortune Poker Room after reading about their 20-40 LHE game that goes damn near around the clock. I was anything but disappointed.

Washington law mandates a 15 table poker room limit and Fortune utilized their 15 table unbelievably well.The Fortune Poker Room is run so beautifully that it was almost an honor for me to go there. I flew in on Friday, Labor Day weekend. The 20-40 games were in high gear with 3 full tables and a list for more. The game went clear through, non-stop, until Tuesday afternoon and started up by dinner time again. I was there 12 days and most days the 20-40 went round the clock. Limit Hold Em Heaven.

The floor, every last person that works there, not only took an interest in every player that walks through their doors, they go out of their way to make sure a player's every need is catered to. I never had to walk to the podium to have my name put on waiting lists after the first day I played there. As I would walk in the door, my name was already being added to the lists. You never had to rack up your chips or walk to get more. Floor was there, without asking, for both these tasks and more.

Floor people Ricky, Sonny and Binh were especially professional, friendly and helpful. Sonny even bought my dinner my last night there. The COO Mail was so sweet. He jumped my car late at night even though it turned out I didn't need it. (Blast these new cars with push button starts that you can't even tell are still running!) "Dear, I don't think you need a jump (even as he was attaching cables) because your lights are on." God love him. What a treasure he is. So polite, sweet and kind.

I honestly can't think of a better run room than Fortune and I've played in most, from Commerce to Bellagio, Foxwoods, Borgata et al. Fortune's player incentives are unmatched in the industry. $250 for high hand every 30 minutes. Second high hand you hit gets paid $499. Only 15 tables to compete with. I was told by a few players that the record was 13 high hands hit in two days by one woman. This promotion is good until the October. The $3 dollar rake is totally warranted given their promotions and services, including the restaurant.

The food, much heralded in this thread, is all that and more. Spicy Ramen Soup was to die for. Also, being a Pescatarian, the kitchen would add 4 large shrimp or vegetables like bok choy or spinach, at my request, in place of the meat that usually is in this soup. 4 large shrimp costs $4 or $2 if playing. One night I ordered 16 grilled shrimp with rice. Cost: $8.00 All food is half price for poker players. $12 for the soup was a bargain full price. At $6 it's a robbery in progress. It's that good.

I tried just about every offering they served that was meat-free. The tofu and eggplant with rice bowl was magnificent. If only I could make tofu crisp, with almost a creamy interior like their cooks do. I didn't have one item on their menu that I wouldn't order again. Not one. They serve huge portions of Prime Rib with mashed potatoes, au jus and grilled asparagus on Wednesdays. Huge. $16 for non-players, $8 for players. I saw a lot of players coming in just for Prime Rib Wednesdays.

Their prices boggle the mind. That is where some of the $3 rake goes to, the food. They certainly aren't making a profit by what they charge. Between their high hand promotions and their discounted food offerings, I felt it was a rake-free environment. I hit two high hands during my play there.


The first thing that struck me about the players in the 20-40 game was that nobody talked politics. Thank goodness. Everyone was so friendly. I never saw people lose so much money and still smile at the people they gave it to. The game was such a rich chip environment that I tripled my stay in Seattle, staying 12 days instead of the four I booked. I made money every single session except one. One day I made $5700, the next day $2100, the last two days a little under 5K combined. I lost $760 one session and still went to bed with a smile. (It's contagious.)

I watched one kid make over 8k in one night in the 20-40. He bought in for 1K, cashed out over 9K. Amazingly loose action, lots of hands capped every street. I never saw anyone lose their temper or manners, no matter how big a hit they took. That is huge in poker.

Thank you to every member of staff at Fortune for making my trip so delightful. Every last member of staff, none excluded. That's how professional this room is run. The food servers are so sweet, from the guy that tends bar to the beautiful women that made sure your food was exactly as you like it.

Kudos. You more than deserve them.

And the people of Seattle were/are awesome! Except for the one thief that rifled through then tossed a man's luggage, including laptop bag. suitcase, books and shoes, into the water at Pike's Market. But then came along a lady and gent in a small boat that took the time to fish them all out of the water.

I just may have to buy a home here. Love, love, love Seattle. Legalized weed doesn't hurt either.

In closing, Fortune Poker Room is a beautifully run room. I envy everyone that lives within driving distance. I had to take planes, trains and automobiles to get there. I can't wait to do it again.

Awesome trip report!

I do feel very fortunate to be a less than 15 minute drive from an awesome poker room.

Second this. Great write up. I should really mix up my food orders there. Everything I have tried has been good, but I always end up going back to the black pepper beef. (Shaking beef also good.)

The tuna poke they had on special for a while was also great.

Nothing like a little rungood to make food taste amazing though...

Hahaha! True dat! Seriously though, I would make a return trip had I lost. The action is that good.

FYI: I saw them make the tuna poke bowl for a player that asked, even though it was not on the menu.

I wish real estate wasn't so expensive there though. Would love to own a vacay home there.

Great report desire! Thanks for the great perspective on how good we have it here... I may have to try and run it up at the 20/40 game now!

As an aside, thinking about getting into the plumbing trades. Anyone who can help or have info please send me a pm. /random

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Renton/Kent have pretty cheap real estate.

Did you not hear that the guy made 10k in 12 days? Why do you need a job if you can make that much that easily in 20/40?

The action is definitely good and I would recommend that anyone who crushes the game for 10k in 12 days please just stay away and leave it to the locals..

Just saw the Neeme's vlog about his Seattle visit. That last hand at the Redbird was truly wild finish.

That trip report makes me want to check Fortune out and I’ve already been there 30+ times.

Confirming what I mentioned about rungood.

I'm going back in a couple of weeks. See you there. And not just because I ran good. I like the whole Fortune operation, from jackpots to the friendliest, most accommodating staff in the business.

p.s. Purse hooks in the bathroom would be most appreciated. Cost effective too. I wouldn't have to use so much tissue to put my purse on rather than the floor.

Might sit in 20/40 just out of curiosity.

They should put purse hooks everywhere.

They should give all the bathrooms a bit of attention. IIRC there was at least a urinal divider in one at one point in time. I imagine some drunk pulled it down. But, it would be appreciated in an already cramped bathroom. My only complaint besides having to walk from 2 businesses over for parking.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

These are legit complaints. I have had some harrowing experiences crossing that creek in the winter.... I have also seen people come in covered in mud.

They should build a footbridge connecting the hotel parking lot and theirs.

Why are you crossing the creek? Use the sidewalk!

But yes, parking is the biggest problem at Fortune.

Hold on to your hat. Crazy capped action damn near every street. Five, six people to the river, minimum.

One hand: (bad beat but it gives you perspective).

Me:AA button

Capped before it gets to me. Flop A 4 7 rainbow. Capped before it gets to me again. Turn 9, no flushes. Capped to me. River: 5. MD turns over 3 6 os UTG to take it down. True story. That one sent me to bed. As I'm leaving, MD is in the parking lot blowing blunt smoke and laughing. I had to laugh with him because he really is a great guy.

They have a legal easement to Clarion next door's parking lot. Clarion, I was told, tried to put up a stink when new owners bought it but easement held up in court, so I was told. So plenty of parking available.

Fortune employees all park in Clarion's lot and it is huge and right next to Fortune.

Plus there's a new pallet down there to cross on! Although if you think about it, you're not walking any farther than if you parked anywhere at the Muck or the satellite parking at Red Drag on.

Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk

Note I said "is the biggest problem" and not "is a big problem".

Haha, we both know even with a new pallet, crossing the ditch is only a summertime feat. I actually havent even been parking behind Clarion lately because Fortune has been packed since their new promo. The parking lot on the otherside of Clarion really isnt that far, just be sure to hide any valuables. One bonus for Fortune is not having to go through a smokey casino.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I took a chance with that ditch twice. Once I got across to the hotel with not enough trouble to stop me from going back that way again. The way back was a bit more daunting. Thank goodness for strong, young men. One of them saw my apprehension and gallantly bridged the ditch with his feet and held me in both hands to get me safely across. More than enough reason for me traverse it yet again.

Great Fortune Poker trip report. Glad you had a fun in Seattle. I agree on every point. It's a very well run room, nice people, etc, etc. Another good room to try is Hustler casino in LA. Have you been there? Thanks for taking the time to write this up!

The Thursday $150+10 at tulalip got only 20 players. The 5-10-25 plo game had about the same. When the cash game got down to one table, there wasn’t a loser to be found