|
As I write this, the L.A. Poker Classic at Commerce
Casino is coming to a close with just the PPT final
table left to be decided. Mike Mizrachi continued blazing
the tournament trail with his win here in the $10,000
main event. Outlasting a field of 538 runners, “The
Grinder” took home over $1.8 million cold cash
in a record prize pool. In fact, almost all the tournaments
hit record numbers, thanks to the great structures implemented
by tournament director Cheri Dokken, which offered a
lot of play for the buck. Not only did the players come
out in record numbers, but the fans as well. Doyle Brunson
had a table filled with his new book Super System II
and obliged a long line of fans did with a scribble
and a few cherished words of advice.
The first things I look for in a poker room are good
games and great tournaments. Commerce, I’m happy
to report, has both. In many parts of the country you
have to travel hours to experience just a sliver of
what we here in the Sunshine State take for granted.
So, for those of you who haven’t had the pleasure
of walking into the largest card room in America, let
me take you on a tour.
The Commerce is the only hotel/casino in Los Angeles
that offers this kind of action. The hotel rooms are
spacious and comfortable and it’s nice to stay
so close to the games without the hassle of driving
on the LA freeways. A word of caution: book early. (I
guess that was two words). During tournament series
the rooms sell out quickly, but with a little planning
you can save yourself a lot of hassle, assure yourself
a good rest, fantastic food and great games just a few
feet away.
Okay, so as you step out of the elevator and look to
your left you will notice an exercise room. No one actually
works out (come on we’re poker players!), so I
can assure you all the machines are in good working
order. Now one place I do frequent, just beyond the
gym, is The Spa. This is a really beautiful facility
in which to unwind and relax from the stress of the
day. They offer all types of massage, or you may elect
to just relax in the steam rooms, sauna or Jacuzzi.
When you are ready to dive into the action, be prepared
for a ride. Down the winding red-carpeted staircase
lies a sea of gaming tables with non-stop action. Avery
friendly staff will guide you to your game of choice.
Alot of the games are fast and furious and at times
will leave you scratching your head thinking: “How
did he get to the river with that hand?” When
Commerce says: “It’s where the action is”,
they ain’t kidding. With action like this you
have to expect a few bad beats along the way, but most
of the time you feel like a kid on Halloween collecting
bags full of candy. The toughest decision here is which
game to play. There are games here for every level of
player. The limits start at $1-$2 and go as high as
$400-$800 - sometimes even higher. All the traditional
games are here of course, but No Limit seems to be the
game of choice, even in the cash games.
If you want to take time off to relax from the action,
you can pop into the Sports Bar and have a drink while
you watch your favorite sporting event on the projection
screen, or one of the other twelve televisions scattered
throughout the bar. Another fun thing to do at Commerce
is Karaoke. Dion James sets up a great sound system
that would make Tiny Tim sound like Elvis. He sets up
Sunday through Thursday nights and will even record
your voice on a CD so you can experience the pain you
put everyone else through while listening to yourself
on your way home. Actually, most of the singers can
whistle a pretty mean tune. There is also a hilarious
comedy show on Thursday nights that gets people rolling
in the isles.
So you see, whether you are talking poker or just old-fashioned
entertainment, the action is 24/7 at the Commerce Hotel
and Casino here in Los Angeles. Good flops and happy
days always…
|
