Headed south for a long weekend and planning on playing poker in the evening. Likely headed to Austin or Houston, TX. Was wondering the forum's thoughts on the game selection being better 2-3 weeks before Christmas or 2 weeks after New Years?

My thoughts are people will be trying to save money around Christmas so are unlikely to gamble. I also hear similar though after the holidays, with people complaining they spent too much and/or are exhausted.

Thoughts on which time period would have softer games?

Probably not much difference. I haven't played in Texas, but unless you're going to a vacation destination like Las Vegas (where there are fewer visitors at both those times), there won't be that much of a difference.

Not completely true. Much of the action in LA is from TX especially Htown and big D. There will be less of that two weeks before than after the new year. Poker here dies my d Dec till new year.

In Texas you have to join a 'Poker Club', correct? From what I've heard there is plenty of action in these places. So you join and then pay an hourly rate to play with a strict no tipping policy ... search other threads and do your research on this before heading out.

1) Before Christmas I think people are just busier handling the seasonal requirments and, yes, spending money on gifts and such. But you also have potential of year-end bonuses being handed out, which is like tax time for some Players!

2) After New Year's you can have some down time once the mail (bills) starts to show up. And you also have those 'resolutions' to 'play better' and 'tighten up' .. which like most good intentions are all but over by the end of the month.

The 'normal' advice on this site for questions like this is to put more effort into your non-poker activities when 'on vacation' as this will typically make the poker less of a priority and ultimately more enjoyable and/or less of a disappointment no matter your results. GL