I am planning to take a trip out to CA in 09. 1) Anyone know how often do LO8 games run in the SF Bay area, w/ limits above 4/8??? 2) What would be a comparable level online, for live 6/12 & 10/20? 3) What are the best casinos for LO8 in the Bay area?

I haven't played live in some time, but when I did play regularly the best O8 game was at Oaks (Emeryville in the East Bay) and ran up to 6/12. Actually, I think it was 4/8 with a half-kill 90% of the time and one day a week or so they might have spread 6/12. That game is ridiculous if you don't mind some variance.

Outside of that the games are worthless. Bay 101 spreads a 2/4 or maybe 4/8 but it uses exclusively $1 chips to give the impression of mega-action; upshot of this is that it takes 10 minutes to play a 5-way hand because nobody can cut stacks well what with their fat greasy poverty fingers.

I think Lucky Chances might have a 1/2 or 4/8 game too but the 5/10 NL is way more fun and profitable if you're going to hit up that joint. Actually if you are up for some serious gambling the best game in the area is in Hayward at this ****hole called The Palace. They have a "No-Limit" section that consists of a single table complete with a douche in a suit fielding phone calls for a waiting list; the game is 1-2 uncapped with a $5 bringin but anyone can kill it up to $10 blind which makes for a $20 bringin if memory serves. hahaha holy sht i still have the number 510-582-1967, call that up and they'll answer "Palace No Limit section!" no lie.

Careful though, some dude got shot in the belly leaving there once. Apparently he was mistaken for someone else who made a few grand in the game that was the robbery target.

I don't know what WM's issue is with Bay 101. I have been out to the Bay Area several times in the last 2 years and played Bay 101. They have a 4/8 game that runs on a regular basis, and some of the "regulars" are a gas.

Every time that I've been there, people know how to get their chips in the pot (properly stacked, not puhsed over) and the dealers were quick and efficient. I'll play there again the next time I'm out.

I tried to play at Garden City once and it was a hole compared to Bay 101. Bay 101 is nice, clean, and bright. The City was dark, dirty and dingy.

I'm always out in San Jose so I've not played in the city at some of the other places.

Was expecting a few more responses. I take it no one else plays O8 in the bay area........

Here is the breakdown:

(San Jose)

- Garden City: 6/12 O8. This is a new-ish game, it's only been there for 6 months or so. The game is going most of the time, sometimes 1 table, sometimes 2. Rake is 6 bux, no jackpot.

- Bay 101: 4/8 with a half kill to 6/12. Regular enough, but call first. Once upon a time they'd put together 2 tables, but it ultimately got relegated specifically to good ol' Table 19 and they won't call a new game even with 30 people on the list. Also, there are entire days when it doesn't run. Even on a Friday/Saturday, it tends to dry up around 3-4am. I haven't played this game in months in favor of the GC 6/12, so I'm not positive about the state of it lately. For all I know they might have killed it due to the competition from the GC game (keep in mind that these two casinos are maybe 3 miles apart, and there are only so many Omaha players). $4 rake.

(SF area)

- Lucky Chances: 4/8 w/hk. Always at least one table going, and they have no qualms about starting a new one (or two) if the board is getting grossly long.

- Artichoke Joes: 4/8 w/hk. THIS GAME MAY NOT EXIST ANYMORE. I haven't been to Joe's in some time. The last time I was there, they had O8 running at 6/12 on an electronic table. I opted not to play. I asked if they still spread the 4/8 kill game at a normal table and they said yes, but I'm not sure I believe that. Definitely call on this game, because I think they also reserve it for specific nights.

(north of SF)

- Pete's Sports Bar - they are in San Rafael. When I was there I played a 3/6 HO game that was very friendly and small-towny. They had a free dinner, and these girls walking around in tiny bikinis selling raffle tickets, if you're into that sort of thing.

- There's an O8 game either at the 101 Casino or the River Card Room, across the street from one another and owned by the same company, but i don't remember which and I haven't played there.

(east of SF)

- There's the game at the Oaks, which is always going, but the limit seems to change randomly from day to day. Sometimes it's 4/8, sometimes 6/12, other times 9/18, amount of the kill is (whatever). I can't keep track.

- The Hayward game at the Palace already mentioned. I think it only runs one or two nights a week.

Finally there's the game in Santa Cruz, which is the best game ever, but Santa Cruz is kinda out of the way. That only runs twice a week also.

I know I'm forgetting 1 or 2, but that should get you started.

Ask me anything, I've been regular in these for a few years.

Also:

WM seems to have the stinkeye for a couple places, but I'm okay with them all. The only true ****hole (both in terms of the clientele and the place itself) is the Santa Cruz cardroom. Bring a gun to that game. As for the Palace, sure it isn't fancy, but it's not trying to be.

The level of play, in all of these games most of the time, is below the average .25/.50 online game. And no, that is not an exaggeration. The only thing you have to really contend with is the lightning pace of live Omaha games. We're talking upwards of 25 hands an hour here! It takes a mere 5 minutes to split the pot, and floor disputes (which are common for some reason in O8) will only stop the game cold for about 10.

Sarcasm aside, play for "the experience," and to hopefully get a nice short term run.

Chris, much appreciated!

Hope you're ready for swings that will make you **** your pants.

There are agrotard chip burner players (not to encourage profiling but most of them Asian) who seem to play for the sole purpose of making the pots as large as possible. Whether or not they've even dealt in to the hand is only a minor technicality to them.

The way things are going now, it looks like I will not be in CA until well into 09. Hopefully by that time my roll will be adequate for such a game.

So it's basically and insane LAG game? I LOVE PLAYING w/ ASIANS!...

Took me a while to put the 2 and 2 together. But if you are who I think you are; are you going to update your "journal"?.... I just revisited it, and that **** made me laugh sooooooooooo hard................ Would be cool to hear what the legendary mute is up to these days...