Ashley Adams

When I'm not playing poker I'm a professional union negotiator and have been for 25 years. So when I write about bargaining, I know of what I speak. Let me tell you about a bargaining strategy that many of us apply, with disastrous results, at the poker table. Understand it, recognize it in yourself, and avoid it.

The Grand Sierra Resort Casino has what could be one of the two or three nicest poker rooms in the entire area-if only they'd consistently get enough players for a few decent games. The room has gorgeous tables, very comfortable chairs, and a bright, well appointed room. They spread $4-$8 limit hold'em with a half kill. The rake is 10 percent with a $3 maximum. Although they just hosted a 35-event tournament they only had one table going on a Thursday night. 775.789.2313.

Each year, the California State Poker Championship draws the best in the West, and the 2008 edition begins Tuesday, September 2, at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.

This year's 18 events, with buy-ins ranging from $120 to $1,580, will draw leading Southern California players and some national stars to compete for their share of an anticipated $7 million prize pool. The main event winner is expected to take home more than $300,000.

Part three of this series summarizing the Reno poker scene continues with seven reviews from the Reno and Sparks rooms.

It began as a trip to the World Series of Poker-to play in the $1,500 HORSE event. It has turned into a multi-faceted poker journey filled with many poker sessions in more than forty poker rooms in Las Vegas, Laughlin, and Southern California. I've met many poker celebrities and had many interesting adventures. Let me give you a brief taste of the experience.

The first part of this three-part series sang the praises of one of my favorite poker destinations-Reno, Nevada. I promised a summary of all of the poker rooms in the area. Here it is.

It starts as restlessness when I pick up the latest issue of Poker Player Newspaper and see all the ads for tournaments in June and July. It grows to a rumbling in my brain as I read my many emails from poker rooms urging me to enter satellites for the main event. It then crescendos into a wave of uncontrollable desire to bask in poker glory by winning a championship bracelet. It's World Series of Poker fever. And I've caught it!

I've found a new favorite place for poker-Reno, Nevada. I just made my first poker trip there and fell in love. Let me tell you why. And when I'm done, I'll give you a quick rundown of all the poker in the area.

In Part 1 of this series I promised a room by room summary of my recent trip to the sunshine state. Here it is.

In my opinion, after Nevada, California, and Oklahoma, Florida is now the fourth best state for low-limit poker. It has not always been so. In 1996 Florida legalized poker-sort of. They allowed games of minimal stakes, so small that the size of the entire pot could not get above $10. Players would bet 25 cents or 50 cents until the pot grew to $10; and then all betting would cease, with the dealer dealing out the remaining cards with no betting.

It was pretty silly, and the rake was an enormous percentage of the pot. Serious players stayed away.