Hi Folks,

As the title says I'm a mid Stakes LHE and O8 player (15/30-40/80) looking to hit the road for a few months and explore the country while possibly looking for a new home base to set up.

I travel a lot during the year, but looking at the idea of settling down, playing more live poker, and working on my business.

Just to get it out of the way and not get to deep into Bankroll/life roll...I have a online business that doesn't take up too much time and covers my monthly expenses, and a cushy life roll. So all the poker money goes back to my bankroll right now. I've built it to a bit over 50k over the last year of part time play. I have to travel to Play so I don't get to play regularly, but have a proven win rate.

I've been a LHE and O8 player for 15 years and still love the game. I'm working a lot on my mix game play as well, and plan to earn my education if I can find the games.

I'm at a spot in life where I don't have anything tying me down anymore, and I want to give poker a serious shot. I figure if I don't try it now I might not ever, and I don't want to live with that regret. Plus, I'm not financially dependent on the poker so its far less stressful.

So, basically looking at tips from you guys on potential places to check out/avoid, cost of living, the state of the games (tough, soft, somewhere in-between), and anything else worth mentioning.

A little about me for context:

34, single, male, from Northern CA, prefer living in small towns(but not mandatory), very active, into outdoors activities (ex whitewater guide), enjoy healthy food, love to travel so an airport nearby is nice.

On this trip so far I plan to go to.

Black Hawk: Where do people live that play here full time? I played here last year for 3 nights and the 30/60 games were quit live games. Is this common there year round? Any insider tips? Feel like these games are kept secret . Also this place fits me list of outdoorsy, but is quite isolated. Would love more info on these games and if they are worth a commute.

Talking Stick Resort: Played there last year as well just for one night, and really liked the room, and actually really liked Scottsdale as well. Is there any small towns out of the area worth checking out? What parts of the Phoenix metro area are fun to live in (AKA not total suburbia)? I only played 8/16 when I was there and don't have a grasp for the higher games, but see 20/40 and 40/80 play daily including a super stud/big O game and a higher mix game. Any experience here would be appreciated.

Of Course I'll be back in Vegas: I don't know if I will ever call Vegas home, but I'm open to the idea. I generally just set up shop at the Bellagio and play the 20/40 or 40/80 LHE game or the 20/40 08. I willing to be sold on the benefits of living in Vegas outside of poker.

Places I'm considering:

Portland, OR. I hear there is a regular 20/40 game just across the border in WA. Any other games? I lived outside Portland about 10 years ago and only played in some of the tournament rooms. Loved it there though. Any insight of the current games would be great.

Canterbury: I hear the Twin Cities are a great place to live, lower cost of living, and brutally cold winters. How are the games??

I look forward to hearing peoples thoughts and insights. If anyone thinks the thread will do better in a different section let me.

Thanks,
Scott

I live near LA and the limit poker scene is alive and well + there is a lot to do. The drawback is the high cost of living but that doesn't seem to be an issue for you.

Get the Bravo App and filter it for the games you are looking to play. You already know it will be slim pickings. Have you considered picking up PLO as well as the mixed games?

I think most posters here will 'advise' that short term success doesn't always translate into the same level of success as a reg in the same casino. The Player pools are pretty small and should catch onto your game over time.

If you are going to be playing more often, you may want to consider the tax implications of that as well. I assume there's a big difference between NV and other states in that department. This should have an impact on your other business as well.

Depending on your definition of 'settle down' you may want to split your time up ... like spend the Winter in Vegas and the rest of the year 'at home'. GL

Thanks for the response.

As for LA, I think I'll stick to the occasional visit. Wish I liked it there more, but just can't stand being there too long.

Scott

Thanks for the response. I pretty much check the Bravo up around the country a few times a day for fun haha. I check it a bit too much as it leaves me salivating for more games.

Yeah I def. am working on my PLO and mix games. Mix games only when I travel to play them, and doing a bit of studying on Run it Once.

I wouldn't call my success short term as I have been a winning player for years. I just always spent my bankrolls. In fact that is how I funded my current business. This last run of about 18 months I've decided to keep it all and not spend it which has run up to 50,000+. A bit over a BB/hour. Regardless of wether or not it will work, I want to do it. I'm a huge nit so I'll always move down stakes as well. I don't plan to be a live poker pro, I just want to keep growing my bankroll (and growing my business) and begin competing at higher levels and at the wsop.

If it doesn't work out, well at least I can say I tried.

NV is up on my list due to no State income tax and a few other bonuses for corporations. And thank for the idea of part time living. I've considered it before and its not a bad idea, as I could def see myself getting burnt out full time.

Thanks,
Scott

You missed Seattle, Foxwoods, and MDL as places with MSLHE. Maybe AC too?

I have yet to play on the east coast, but I think I'll stick to visits and continue to call the western states home.

Seattle cost of living is just way to high, but I certainly enjoy it there.

Talking Stick, bordering E. Scottsdale, Az has plenty of the LHE that you want but higher stakes 08 doesn't go often by themselves, as I notice. It might in the day's mix game but they play very many forms of poker so that's out. There's also a nice 20-40 Big0/8, SuperStud8 rotation game if you can play Stud8 at all.

Hey Howard,

Yes, talking stick is up there on my list of places to visit on this trip. I've been there once before and really liked the room. I have a major goal of getting better at mixed games so that is enticing. And yes, Stud 8 was a game of choice online for me, so excited to sit that game.

How well do you know the area? Any areas worth checking out to stay in? How about the average level of play in the 20/40 and above games?

Thanks,
Scott

I'd suppose that everyone will advise that you live in the East Valley in order to be close to Talking Stick but it also depends on how much you want to spend. I'd choose something in mid-Scottsdale (either an apartment or small rental house) bec it'd fit my budget. Tempe might be a bit cheaper. I've never played higher than 20-40 but those games are usually good. There are times when a table might be filled w/ good regs and some pros. You'll have to learn who is who.

Cost of living and quality of game aren't independent. Both are related to the amount of disposable income people have.

I wouldn't expect to find a game where people are sloshing around a combined $50k in MSLHE games when the average person in the area makes $40k/year.

It's not a coincidence that the best games are in or near places people want to live - LA, SF, SEA, DEN, PHX, WDC, NYC, Florida, etc.

It's easier to find affordable housing near a good LHE game than a good LHE game near affordable housing.

Not really. Phoenix is pretty homogenous, with some areas more ghetto and some areas more affluent. The only place I can think of is probably a 90 minute drive, and that's Prescott. That may be a little too "cowboy" for someone from NorCal.

CP has the best MSLHE games in the country, bar none. I’ve played them all and it really isn’t close. I can’t speak to O8 but I suspect the 40/80 and 50/100 is very good as well but not as consistent. The 20/40 LHE is undoubtably the best game in the country.

There...I’ve said it. Meow.

Hf

The opposite of this is true, I believe. Your short term success isn’t going to be as good until you get to know the other players. You are a good player and adjust (they don’t).

You're right to an extent. Problem is seattle caps out at 20/40 and is in the higher tier for COL. While Vegas, Talking Stick, and the Twin Cities have bigger games and much lower COL.

I'd very much consider Seattle if they had a bigger game to play. Good thought though.

Hi Holm,

I take it this is your home turf? I would love to get up there to play. So are you saying the run 40 O8 game?

Generally some some combo of O8, stud8, triple draw 2-7, big O

This is accurate. But it seems to me you're asking two questions, one about touring the country, the other about settling down for several months.

Phoenix or Twin Cities are probably best if you're this CoL sensitive. You could go to Detroit and play the 15/30 round by round, LHE/LOH. I think some places like St L, KC, or outside Chicago have fairly regular 20/40 O8 games.

Depending on how desperately you want to settle down, another thought is to follow the major tournaments around. They supposedly have bigger and better action in the side games.





(If you're REALLY CoL sensitive I suppose Tunica still has 20/40 a couple of days a week, but not a good poker scene otherwise. Not really a serious recommendadion.)

Good read. I'm basically touring the country to help me find a home base. I've been living on the road for a long time, and looking for somewhere to hang my hat. My lifestyle is very location independent, but the road gets old after awhile.

Thanks for the recommendations.

I do believe you'd like the games offered at Borgata.

Truthfully I think the variety/juiciness of the games in the LA area probably offsets the crazy CoL if you're playing anything like full time volume. For example, you can play a wonderful 40/80 LO8 game at Hollywood Park or 40 HE at Commerce or maybe the Bike. But I don't actually know how the games in PHX are, and the fewer limit games around 20/40 seem fairly constant. So based on your strict criterion of cost of living I'd choose Phoenix as a base. But I'd suggest rethinking earn versus costs and just cutting costs as needed for a while to get established in LA.

Also the food is free at those stakes in LA; not sure about PHX.

I agree with LA in terms of earn, but the fact that I consider LA one of the worst places for my head on the planet...Its hard to rationalize the idea of living there. It feels like there is no escape when your their. I like Vegas and Pheonix for that reason. I can always easily "get away". I'm a small town guy from one of the most beautiful areas of CA and I need that available to me.

That said Pheonix and LV are close enough to LA that I can always visit the games.

All that being said, I'm still going to make LA my first stop on this poker tour...So who the hell knows what'll happen . I could get stuck in one great game and never leave. Also, poker isn't my main conquest. I do play to play 30+ a week, and the goal is to build a big bankroll, but still my main focus is a happy healthy life and building my existing business.

Thanks, and Ill update. I'm planning to hit the road next Monday and considering starting a 2+2 blog to document the journey.

Scott

If it's not against forum rules, can you post a link to the blog here?

Yeah, will do.