Vegas Poker Guide For The Mixed Games Player

For many, the terms “poker” and “no-limit hold’em” are essentially one in the same.

But for those who really dig deep into the game of poker, it’s the ability to play every variant of the game that makes for the truly best all-around player.

Beyond no-limit hold’em, games like pot-limit Omaha, deuce to seven triple draw, badugi and stud hi/lo provide card players a measure of excitement and depth of strategy that goes beyond the oft-played two card game.

When summer hits Las Vegas and poker players from all over the world converge for the World Series of Poker, the mixed game action all over the city hits a fever pitch. So, for those looking to play a wider variety of poker games in their cash and tournament sessions, here are some Sin City poker rooms that are happy to oblige.

Bellagio Hotel & Casino

The legendary Big Game that takes place inside Bobby’s Room may be off-limits (and extremely high-limits) to your average mixed game player but that’s not to say there is not amazing mixed game action to be had at The Bellagio.

The Bellagio offers a standard $20/$40 Mixed Game which regularly runs. But during the summer, the card room prides itself on just how much non-stop mixed game action they spread. A quick call to the poker room will let you know that during the WSOP it quickly “gets ridiculous” how many tables get started and how high the limits are. Sure, there’s the occasional $4-8 mixed game for those who want to test the waters, but the standard limits can run the gambit all the way up to $300-600.

As is with just about all of the poker rooms in Las Vegas, the actual mix of games that is played is determined by the players that start the game but can be altered at any time.

Aria Resort & Casino

The Aria poker room is one of the most well-traveled rooms in Las Vegas and they are, generally, the closest rivaled room to the Bellagio when it comes to mixed games. Ivey’s Room, another high limit, mostly exclusive room is the site of many ulta-high-limit mixed games but regular rounders can find their way into an Aria mixed game that doesn’t break the bank.

On Tuesdays around 1 p.m. PT, there’s a regular $4-8 game that is held in the room. The format is “join the game, add a game” so whenever you take a seat in this game, you get to bring your favorite variant along with you.

The Aria also advertises that it will spread mixed games from $9-18 all the way to $30-60 and higher. When the summer comes though, it’s best to check in to see if there are any mixed games on the floor. The Aria boasts one of the busiest poker rooms in the city and when tournament series start up and players flock to the room, space can get tight and their mixed games can get squeezed out.

Wynn Las Vegas

Perhaps the most luxurious poker room on the strip is at the Wynn. The roughly two-year-old room is a favorite for those who enjoy the feeling of playing in the lap of luxury. It’s also a favorite for those who play in their regular $9-18 mixed game.

The Wynn indicated that during the summer, especially Thursday through Sunday when the weekend warriors come to town, there will usually be a mixed game. Limits start as low as the regular $9-18 but can jettison up to $1k-2k.

A sentiment expressed by the Wynn that is echoed by other rooms that offer mixed games is “if you have the players, they’ll spread the game.”

Venetian Las Vegas

No-limit hold’em is the standard in the Venetian poker room, but when the summer comes and their popular DeepStack Championship Poker Series arrives, mixed games become more of a possibility. The tournament area will be expanding into the convention space this summer allowing for more cash game action.

When they are spread, the room sees a trend to playing draw games — baduci and deuce-to-seven — but with their core audience being a NLHE one it’s best to call ahead to get on … or even start an interest list.

The Orleans

Located just off the strip, the Orleans also offers regularly spread $4-8 mixed. In addition, they have plenty of tables of Omaha Hi-Lo going at any given time. For players looking to start a mixed game from scratch, the Orleans may have a ready and willing player base to help you fill up your interest list.

World Series of Poker (Rio)

Of course, when going to the World Series of Poker to play mixed games one would hope that the Pavilion inside the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino would have an offering. If history serves as a guide, the big board will be offering a wide variety of games at some pretty high limits. Omaha 8 starting around $10-20 up through $75-150, a $50-100 Stud game and $10-20 mixed games have all been known to be spread in the midst of the non-stop barrage of gold bracelet tournament action.

Las Vegas Tournaments

In addition to the spike in mixed game cash options all around town, the summer tournament scene is replete with opportunities for the fan of the mixed game.

Those looking for the biggest tournament buy-ins will find them within the halls of the Rio during the World Series itself. But, for those looking to play some more moderate stakes there are a number of summer tournament series taking place that look to directly compete with the WSOP and provide excellent structures and healthy paydays.

Planet Hollywood, The Venetian, Binion’s, The Golden Nugget and Aria all have extensive tournament schedule and all include a variety of non-no-limit hold’em games over the course of the summer.

Date	Venue	Event	Time	Buy-In
5/27	Planet Hollywood	H.O.R.S.E. (One Day Event)	12:00 PM	$250
5/29	Planet Hollywood	Dealer Choice	3:00 PM	$130
5/30	Golden Nugget	H.O.R.S.E.	11:00 AM	$250
5/30	Aria	Eight Game Mix	11:00 AM	$470
6/1	Binion’s	H.O.R.S.E.	11:00 AM	$365
6/1	Planet Hollywood	Triple Draw Mixer 2-7, A-5, Badugi	12:00 PM	$300
6/2	Golden Nugget	Omaha 8/Stud8 Mix	11:00 AM	$250
6/2	WSOP (Rio)	Mixed Triple Draw Lowball	3:00 PM	$2,500
6/3	Venetian	H.O.R.S.E.	4:00 PM	$600
6/3	Aria	Triple Draw Mixer 2-7, A-5, Badugi	11:00 AM	$470
6/3	Planet Hollywood	GOLIATH Dealers Choice	12:00 PM	$300
6/4	WSOP (Rio)	Dealers Choice 6-Handed	3:00 PM	$1,500
6/4	Golden Nugget	Pot Limit Omaha/O8/Big O Mix	11:00 AM	$250
6/5	Binion’s	Mixed Triple Draw (2-7, A-5, Badugi)	11:00 AM	$365
6/6	WSOP (Rio)	H.O.R.S.E.	3:00 PM	$1,500
6/6	Golden Nugget	Mixed Triple Draw (2-7, A-5, Badugi)	11:00 AM	$250
6/7	WSOP (Rio)	Dealers Choice 6-Handed	3:00 PM	$10,000
6/7	Planet Hollywood	H.O.R.S.E. (One Day Event)	12:00 PM	$250
6/9	WSOP (Rio)	Eight Game Mix	3:00 PM	$1,500
6/9	Binion’s	Omaha 8/Stud 8 Mix	11:00 AM	$365
6/10	Aria	H.O.R.S.E.	11:00 AM	$470
6/10	Planet Hollywood	H.O.R.S.E. + NLH, 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw	12:00 PM	$250
6/12	WSOP (Rio)	H.O.R.S.E.	3:00 PM	$10,000
6/15	WSOP (Rio)	Poker Players Championship	3:00 PM	$50,000
6/15	Golden Nugget	8-Game Mix	11:00 AM	$250
6/16	WSOP (Rio)	Pot Limit Omaha H/L/O8/Big O Mix	3:00 PM	$1,500
6/19	WSOP (Rio)	Mixed Big Bet	3:00 PM	$2,500
6/20	Binion’s	Crazy 7-Card Hi/Lo Stud Mix	11:00 AM	$365
6/21	Golden Nugget	Omaha 8/Stud8 Championship	10:00 AM	$570
6/21	Venetian	Omaha 8/Stud 8 Mix	1:00 PM	$600
6/22	WSOP (Rio)	Omaha 8/Stud 8 Mix	3:00 PM	$2,500
6/27	Golden Nugget	Pot Limit Omaha/O8/Big O Mix	11:00 AM	$570
6/28	Binion’s	H.O.R.S.E. Championship	11:00 AM	$585
7/1	Golden Nugget	H.O.R.S.E.	11:00 AM	$360
7/2	Venetian	Omaha 8/Stud 8 Mix	1:00 PM	$600
7/10	WSOP (Rio)	NLHE/PLO Mix	3:00 PM	$1,500
7/12	WSOP (Rio)	H.O.R.S.E.	3:00 PM	$3,000
7/13	Planet Hollywood	H.O.R.S.E. (One Day Event)	11:00 AM	$250

So whether it is cash or tournaments, for the mixed game maniac summer in Sin City provides all the action one could hope for.

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