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.
The Bonanza, two miles north of Reno, starts their poker day at 4:00 p.m. (noon on Saturday and Sunday) with a $15 tournament. When it starts breaking down they spread their $1-$2 no-limit hold'em game, which has a $50 maximum buy-in. There's a 10 percent, $4 maximum rake. On a Wednesday afternoon and evening the game had three first-timers and three other relatively inexperienced players. One of Reno's most highly rated restaurants, Cactus Creek, is located in the casino. 775.323.2724.
The Silver Club in Sparks spreads poker $2-$4 limit hold'em most weekends-on one table in the gambling pit. They cut the $3 maximum rake when the game is short-which I gather is much of the time. If you sign up for the game between five and six in the evening you'll get an extra $5.00 when you buy in. 775.358.4771.
The Nugget in Carson City spreads $2-$6 spread limit hold'em. I was the fifth player at the table on a quiet Wednesday night. A dealer and floor person were in the game and lightened things up with great conversation. I'm not sure I'd want to play here on a regular basis, but I sure enjoyed the poker talk. 775.882.1626.
Monte Bleu is a sixtable room in Lake Tahoe. They feature tournaments as well as no-limits cash games with $1-$2 blinds and $2-$3 blinds, and with no cap on the maximum buy-in. They also have a $2-$6 spread limit hold'em game and an occasional dealer's choice game. This room was by far the loosest and busiest I visited in the Lake Tahoe area-though I was told that at night and on weekends Harvey's spreads bigger and wilder games. 775.588.3515.
The poker room at the Lakeside Inn and casino is a three-table Lake Tahoe poker room located in Stateline, and features one of the best promotions I've seen. When a player's aggregate buy-in over a month reaches $1,000 he gets $25 in free slot play. I bought in for $1,000 and got this right away. The game was moderately tight and passive-a mix of a few tourists and a bunch of nice local guys having a good time. 775.588.7777.
Casino Fandango, in Carson City, is a festive three table room that seems patterned after the hugely successful Peppermill in Reno, with a lot of mirrors and neon. I played $2-$3 no-limit in a game with three Fandango dealers and three women who had never played poker before. I was told that they had a lot of action on other nights-with two games often going. 775.885.7000.
Carson Valley Inn in Minden offers low limit hold'em and a Monday night 7-Stud/8 game and a Saturday afternoon Omaha/8 game. Make sure to lock up a seat-it usually fills up by the 5:15 p.m. start time. There's a house funded bad-beat jackpot of $1,000 if you have quads beaten. Free drinks and sandwiches. Fun place to play, well worth the drive. 775.782.9711.
Harveys Lake Tahoe poker room was closed when I visited on a week day, although it has 21 tables, and is the largest room in the area. It reputedly has the biggest games and loosest action. Although I did not visit the room, I am listing their contact information. Give them a call first and make sure they're open when you want to play. 775.588.2411.
