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.
The Peppermill was the first and best place I played. It's about two miles south of Reno's downtown area. It has the most action (up to $20-$40 limit hold 'em and $5-$5 no-limit), the best tournaments, and seems to be the place that serious poker players will most enjoy. Poker room manager Mike Gainey has done a great job making a good room truly fantastic. There are fine restaurants (try Oceano's or the White Orchard if you're winning) and excellent rooms-though the general décor is distractingly bright and garish. Unlike the top-of-the-line places in Las Vegas, room rates are reasonable-in the $69-$169 range depending on time of year and day of the week. 2707 South Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502 • 1-866-821-9996.
About a mile down the road from the Peppermill, away from downtown, is the Atlantis. This is a big, modern casino with a decent, low limit, five-table room. The players tend to be locals interested in a serious, but not very tough game. There are more tourists here than in the downtown rooms, but not as many as at the Peppermill. The room is well managed, erring on the side of strictness (beware of the commitment line on the poker table-if your chips go over it, they're committed to the pot. Players get 50 percent off the poker menu and nonalcoholic beverages are free. 3800 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV
89502 • (800) 723-6500
The Eldorado is the grand old downtown poker room of Reno, with long-time regulars, 11 tables, a rake structure that's good for the player (with the fourth dollar not coming out until the pot is $100), comps of $1 an hour, and a Sunday low-limit stud game in addition to the standard small no-limit and limit hold 'em games. I had heard that this was a big action room, but when I was there all they had was a sedate $1- $2 no-limit game where some players routinely folded their small blind even with five other players. The bathroom is very inconvenient. There's a great, inexpensive Chinese restaurant. 345 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501, (775) 786-5700.
Harrah's has seven tables and is strictly a low-limit hold 'em room. They spread two inexpensive tournaments every day: $30 during the week and $45 on weekends. They also have an annual three-day tournament known as "The Biggest Little Poker Tournament" with an eventual $550 final event. I found the staff friendly and eager to please but the room dark, old, and uninviting. 219 N Center St, Reno, NV 89501, (775) 786-3232
Fitzgeralds generally has a poker game only on weekends, with a table next to the pit on the first floor. Smoking is allowed-maybe even encouraged. Drinks are free. Nice chairs, new tables, and, oddly, there are mirrors on the ceiling. $3 maximum rake. 255 N Virginia St Reno, NV 89501 (775) 785-3300.
The CalNeva is a reminder that poker isn't always glamorous. The place was dark, and with old tables and chairs, and players that matched the decor. They spread $3-$6 limit Hold 'em and a $1-$4 spread limit stud game on Saturdays. They have four tables, with just one in action when I visited on Sunday afternoon. Still, the place had a certain charm. Where else could I get two tacos and a beer for $2.50 or a prime rib for $9.95? Very friendly, and the local players made me feel welcome. If I stayed downtown, without a car, I'd play here. 38 E 2nd St Reno, NV 89501 (775) 785-3293.
I'll cover more Reno poker rooms next issue.
Ashley Adams is the author of Winning 7-Card Stud, and profitably plays 7-card stud all over the world, including England, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Canada and the United States, but most frequently at Connecticut's Foxwoods Resort Casino. You can reach Ashley at asha34@aol.com
