The festival was a huge success by all measures. We saw dozens of excited mixed game players – some of whom traveled thousands of miles – join us for five days to play their favorite poker variants in the popular Dealer’s Choice format.
More players took seats throughout the week with limited knowledge of some games, eager to learn. We even had players venture away from No-Limit Hold’em to play mixed games for their first (and hopefully not last) times!
In case you missed them, be sure to check out our recaps from Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 as well.
Spending the day at @PokerRoomRWLV, playing the @PokerLifeMedia Mixed game festival w/ @cardplayerlife. Also selling copies of my book. pic.twitter.com/SoCqQEADeU
— Greg Raymer (@FossilMan) July 6, 2023
Day 5 action kicked off at 3 p.m., and 2004 WSOP Main Event Champion Greg “FossilMan” Raymer was already in the room and engaging with players at the start.
Raymer has been a staunch supporter of the Mixed Game Festival since its inception when he won the inaugural MGF H.O.R.S.E. event in October 2021 to earn a PokerStars Platinum Pass.
When play began, Raymer took a seat with host Robbie Strazynski and a full lineup of faces we’d seen all week long. Others came and went as the day turned to night, but Raymer’s presence remained a constant.
@FossilMan is in the building for the @cardplayerlife #MixedGameFestival V!
Today is our fifth and final day at @PokerRoomRWLV. Come join us before it’s too late! pic.twitter.com/dedhmIqaNa
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 6, 2023
In case you missed it, Raymer played the WSOP Main Event on Tuesday, Day 1b, and bagged a top-25 stack in his flight. He will play Day 2 today, and we wish him the best of luck. In the meantime, we couldn’t be more grateful that he took time out of his summer schedule to play and hang out with us.
Raymer’s presence was only the beginning of celebrity visits from the poker world.
Poker Hall of Famer and five-time WSOP bracelet winner Eli Elezra took a break from the high-stakes games to play Robbie’s stack for a few hands. I couldn’t imagine a tougher $4/$8 game anywhere on the planet during that time, but there also may not have been a more fun one.
Surprise!@elielezra1 popped in to play my stack in in the $4/8 dealer’s choice streets at @PokerRoomRWLV for Day 5 of our @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival pic.twitter.com/4TO8Pi2Qmo
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 7, 2023
“You got me hooked,” said Alek Gillies on Day 2 of the festival. Gillies, a full-time dealer at Edmonton’s Yellowhead Casino, has been in Vegas all month, working his first summer as a PokerNews live reporter.
When asked what he meant, he said he had so much fun on Day 1 that he had to come to play again after his shift ended at the WSOP.
Gillies was back on the WSOP grind during the festival’s final day. However, he logged plenty of hours throughout the week, each hour giving him an entry into a random drawing for an EPT Cyprus package valued at over $3,000.
The draw occurred just after 6 p.m., and Gillies was selected randomly, earning a Mixed Game tournament buy-in of up to €550 with roundtrip airfare and four nights’ accommodation on the Mediterranean island this autumn.
“I’ve never been to Europe,” said Gilles via text message later in the evening. “I’m super excited!”
One of the greatest aspects of the Mixed Game Festival is that it makes low-stakes mixed games accessible for all. However, we also love that it has created enough demand to accommodate the occasional larger game.
Today is the last day of @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival V and @FossilMan will be helping us kick off the action at 3pm at @PokerRoomRWLV.
At 6pm, @normanchad will be hosting a $20/40 Omaha 8/Stud 8 game… rumor has it that @FirstLadyPoker and @Jan_Fisher might also be… pic.twitter.com/2Q31MaCYO6
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 6, 2023
WSOP commentator Norman Chad made his second appearance at the festival Thursday, helping to close things out with his very own $20/$40 Omaha 8/Stud 8 game. The game started at 6 p.m. with a full table and a waiting list.
Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson and Women In Poker Hall of Famer Jan Fisher were among those on the waitlist, arriving shortly after cards went in the air. Both found open seats at a $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice table in the meantime, ultimately making it into Norm’s game later in the evening.
Who’s your money on in this $20/$40 Omaha 8/Stud 8 game at the @cardplayerlife #MixedGameFestival?
We spared you all another picture of host @NormanChad as he battles Poker HOF member Linda Johnson (@FirstLadyPoker) and @WIPHOF member @Jan_Fisher. pic.twitter.com/6rKNYbG4Ok
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 7, 2023
New to the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival V, we are featuring a “Player of the Day” each day during the festival, sponsored by PokerCoaching.com. As a reminder, all Mixed Game Festival V attendees can receive a free one-week membership to PokerCoaching.com Premium just by asking Robbie in person for the special link. Check out this article with the specific details of what that entails.
Our final Player of the Day joined us this afternoon to play mixed games for the first time in his life. Naturally, he sat with Greg Raymer on his direct left.
Zak Zimbile was unafraid, eagerly looking to learn the games he was now playing. Raymer was the perfect teacher, explaining everything and helping Zimbile understand games like Drawmaha-Dugi.
Zimbile has played poker on and off for over a decade but is a CPA by trade. Most of his clientele are gamblers – poker players and sports bettors – and he’s even written articles for Cardplayer Lifestyle about poker players and taxes. He opened his own firm in Las Vegas within the past year and has been upping his poker volume lately, playing cash games three or four days a week.
Zimbile thinks some of the increased volume is due to the time of year. Summer is not only the busiest time for poker in Las Vegas but also after tax season ends. He is enjoying the grind while it lasts but is remembering to have fun, as evidenced by his desire to join us. Off the tables, Zak also loves rock climbing, especially indoors.
I might have had an amazing time at @cardplayerlife’s Mixed Game Festival at Resorts World today. Laughed a lot! Check it out until July 6th. @MikePatrick98 @Veaner85 @cardplayerlife pic.twitter.com/N8AUeASI3k
— Christina Bradfield (@mauichri) July 4, 2023
The Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival V brought five days of events, giveaways, and $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice cash games.
Opening Day kicked off with a pizza party before cards went in the air on two tables. Later that night, four tables were running with more players present and waiting for seats to open.
Extracurricular events headlined Days 2 and 3 with the first-ever Poker Trivia Competition and Scavenger Hunt. Cardplayer Lifestyle contributor and veteran poker reporter Mike Patrick stole the show both days, but unanimous fun was had all around. Several prominent poker players also visited us on Day 3, including “Miami” John Cernuto, Norman Chad, and a trio of PokerCoaching.com coaches, Justin Saliba, Paul Beitelspacher, and Kieran Woods.
Poker Hall of Fame member Linda Johnson and Women In Poker Hall of Fame member Jan Fisher joined us on Day 4, occupying one of the two opening tables for the afternoon. WPT champion and WSOP bracelet winner Dylan Linde took a seat at the other, taking time to talk strategy with his tablemates and autograph his book, Mastering Mixed Games, for anyone who procured a copy.
The @cardplayerlife #MixedGameFestival is still going strong on its fifth and final day.
We’ve had two $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice games going since 3 p.m. and a $20/40 OE game hosted by the one and only @NormanChad.
Come join us at @PokerRoomRWLV! pic.twitter.com/EDB5uG3I1O
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 7, 2023
The final day concluded with repeat visits from Johnson, Fisher, and Chad. We also concluded the festival by learning new poker variants, making new friends, and forging memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you to everyone who was a part of such an incredible week. We look forward to the next Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival and hope you do, too. Be sure to join the Cardplayer Lifestyle newsletter to be among the first to find out where and when it will take place.
*Our daily coverage of Mixed Game Festival V is brought to you, with much appreciation, courtesy of PokerStars.
]]>With a 3 p.m. start time, we got going with three tables, but only two of those tables were new, however. The third (or rather, the first) never stopped running from the day before!
Day 4 of the @cardplayerlife #MixedGameFestival V began with 3⃣ tables in play, thanks to our grinders that kept one game going all night and morning long!!! pic.twitter.com/JFX4Hmj1gX
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 5, 2023
Part of the fun of the Mixed Game Festival comes from festival host Robbie Strazynski’s extracurricular activities like the scavenger hunt and poker trivia competition. Even folks who don’t yet feel comfortable sitting down to try their hands at mixed games pop in to see what all the fuss is about. One such individual was Anish Patel, author of the Final Nine graphic novel, who dropped by to say hello.
Rumor has it that some more notable “drop-ins” will happen on the festival’s final day… stay tuned for tomorrow’s recap
Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson (@FirstLadyPoker) has sat down at our third table of the @cardplayerlife #MixedGameFestival!
Come to @PokerRoomRWLV for a chance to sit with her or another one of our guests this afternoon! pic.twitter.com/ss1SydLMZp
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 5, 2023
However, Day 4’s focus was all about poker. (And the Winchell’s donuts provided by Chuck “Donut Boy” Martin). Fisher and Johnson occupied one of the new tables alongside Robbie and several other players who’ve been with us all week.
The third headliner of Day 4 at the #MixedGameFestival is none other than @WIPHOF member @jan_fisher! She’s got the toughest seat at the table with @cardplayerlife founder Robbie Strazynski on her direct left!!! pic.twitter.com/il7yUqb3M5
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 5, 2023
Linde helped open the other new table alongside a full slate of familiar faces from the week, including prize winners from earlier in the week, Mike Patrick and Scott Sandoval. Linde spent several hours fielding questions and discussing various game strategies with the table, all while engaging with others in the room and signing copies of his book.
Thanks @DylanLinde for coming to splash around with us in the $4/8 dealer’s choice games and sign some Mastering Mixed Games books at @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival V pic.twitter.com/SdXsjTYHAr
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 6, 2023
One of the coolest things about the Mixed Game Festival is how it allows players to get into low-stakes Dealer’s Choice games and learn new poker variants. It’s truly incredible that some of our participants have traveled from all over the country – and even the globe! – to get involved, with the MGF circled on their calendars months in advance.
The festival has also served as an introduction to all the games not named Hold’em. I’d like to say I’m surprised that so many people are falling in love with mixed games after playing, but we all know that wouldn’t be true.
I’m also not surprised to have seen fellow poker media colleagues make regular appearances here. PokerNews has had strong daily representation, including players like the aforementioned Mike Patrick, as well as Connor Richards, Calum Grant, Roxanne Johnson, Alek Gillies, Yori Epskamp, and Frank Visser.
Best of all, everyone has a new favorite game. We saw multi-board variants, like Squid Game and Watermelon regularly called yesterday to complement the Draw game, Stud game, and Flop game offerings in the stack of placards.
New to the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival V, we are featuring a “Player of the Day” each day during the festival, sponsored by PokerCoaching.com. As a reminder, all Mixed Game Festival V attendees can receive a free one-week membership to PokerCoaching.com Premium just by asking Robbie in person for the special link. Check out this article with the specific details of what that entails.
There was a clear-cut winner for Wednesday’s Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day at the Mixed Game Festival.
Orange County’s John Maley (from Fountain Valley, to be exact) had been at his seat for more than 28 hours when we spoke with him at around 9 p.m. It was his new personal best for the longest session he’d played by a long shot.
We have a new Mixed Game Festival record… by far!
John has been in the same seat for over 27 hours playing $4/$8 mixed games.
He’s our @PokerCoaching_ Player of the Day(s) pic.twitter.com/JOigLy0Y2p
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 6, 2023
Maley said he drove in, arriving at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and immediately got in a game. He plays long sessions and intended to stay until the table broke, something that never occurred as the calendar shifted to Wednesday. As a result, he still hadn’t checked into his hotel nearly 30 hours later!
Mixed games are where Maley has the most fun. He has played poker for around 20 years now and started exploring games other than Hold’em after the first five years. He loves the mental stimulation and nuanced differences in strategy that each game provides, which he said helped keep him mentally alert through the marathon session.
When asked about his favorite games, Maley said he enjoys those with multiple boards and ways to win. That said, he loves “The Game” (of poker) and is even cool sitting around the table with players who only know how to play Texas Hold’em, noting that we pretty much all got into the game that way. We should be grateful that it can be a foot in the door for new players in mixed rotations like HORSE and 8-Game.
Maley’s day job also keeps him around the game, as he is a cage supervisor at Commerce Casino. However, there’s not much of a mixed scene at LA casinos, and he credited Las Vegas locals such as Raul Yapor and “Coach” Donald Shiflett for regularly running mixed games. He also had nothing but love for the room, staff and players at Resorts World.
“They’re all great,” Maley concluded. Over 31 hours after arriving, his table finally broke and he finally got up and checked in to his hotel room.
Today is the last day of @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival V and @FossilMan will be helping us kick off the action at 3pm at @PokerRoomRWLV.
At 6pm, @normanchad will be hosting a $20/40 Omaha 8/Stud 8 game… rumor has it that @FirstLadyPoker and @Jan_Fisher might also be… pic.twitter.com/2Q31MaCYO6
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 6, 2023
Today’s the last chance to get in on the $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice action at MGF V. We look forward to seeing 2004 WSOP Main Event champion Greg “FossilMan” Raymer and poker commentary legend Norman Chad play today, the latter of whom will be hosting a $20/$40 Omaha 8/Stud 8 mixed game.
Tomorrow is the Final Day of our Mixed Game Festival V where someone will win a @PokerStars #EPTCyprus Prize Package!
Head over to @PokerRoomRWLV for the fun low-stakes dealer’s choice cash games that start at Noon!
Info: https://t.co/H8UDgx9vsq#PokerLifeMedia pic.twitter.com/vz1PVrAYNj
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 6, 2023
Sticking to the week’s theme, we have more prizes to give away on the festival’s final day. In addition to more swag giveaways, a grand prize drawing will take place at 6 p.m. The winner will win an EPT Cyprus package courtesy of festival sponsor PokerStars valued at over $3,000. Every hour of play throughout the week has earned our players one entry into the random drawing, and the winner will receive:
*Our daily coverage of Mixed Game Festival V is brought to you, with much appreciation, courtesy of PokerStars.
]]>Day 2 stayed true to the MGF theme, with festival host Robbie Strazynski going out of his way to ensure players had fun and were on the receiving end of giveaways throughout the day. A brand new event – the Poker Trivia Competition – headlined the giveaways, awarding the top three finishers hundreds of dollars worth of prizes.
Of course, poker remained the primary attraction inside the Resorts World Las Vegas poker room. Cards officially went into the air at noon with two tables to start, and a third opened shortly after that to accommodate the demand of a 30-person waitlist.
Fourteen hours later, three tables were still going strong.
Thanks so much to our @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival V sponsor @FadedSpadeBrand for the great hats and deck set-ups!
Gave ’em away at each of our THREE $4/8 dealer’s choice tables still(!) running at 2am; Austin, Keely, and Pete won ’em and love ’em pic.twitter.com/ddFQDT7BgJ
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 4, 2023
The inaugural Poker Trivia Competition began at 11:30, and players got the memo to arrive early. Familiar faces to the Mixed Game Festival arrived early for the event, including Ruth Sun, Rob “Bergs” Bergman, and PokerNews reporter/Cardplayer Lifestyle contributor Mike Patrick.
In total, nine players got into the competition with their sights set on claiming bragging rights. Robbie quizzed everybody with 30 multiple-choice questions on various poker-related topics, creating an atmosphere full of laughter and excitement. What a surprise – poker players love all things poker!
Nine players showed up early for the @cardplayerlife #MixedGamesFestival V Poker Trivia Competition this morning.
All participants received their choice of a MGF shirt or Eli Elezra’s book, and Quizmaster Robbie will be awarding prizes valued at $100 to the top three finishers! pic.twitter.com/vWz8pzTILs
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 3, 2023
Shortly before the quiz began, Mike told us that his trivia game was strong. He became an early favorite to take down the competition after climbing into the lead after the first few questions. When all was said and done, he remained on top with nobody able to catch him once he pulled ahead.
Congratulations to @MikePatrick98 on winning the first-ever @cardplayerlife #MixedGamesFestival Poker Trivia Competition!
Mike chose a rack of chips among our offered prizes and is now playing $4/$8 dealer’s choice.
Two tables are running, and a third id set to open shortly! pic.twitter.com/nqYyqOShKa
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 3, 2023
For his win, Mike had his choice of three prizes:
Mike chose the $100 in chips. Second place finisher Brian Dowd chose the “bucket o’ swag” and bronze medal winner Pat Ang shipped the PokerStars voucher. They weren’t the only winners though, as ALL participants received their choice of a RunGoodGear-produced Mixed Game Festival V long-sleeve shirt or a copy of Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra’s book, Pulling the Trigger.
Fewer marathon sessions took place among MGF players on Monday, creating an opportunity to work through the games’ waiting list and allow everybody a seat who wanted one.
We’ve still got three $4/8 dealer’s choice tables going at @PokerRoomRWLV and open seating with no list at @PokerLifeMedia#MixedGameFestival V
THIS is the time to join us pic.twitter.com/M4co9cJmyR
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 4, 2023
After spending the beginning of the day at the festival, I left the room for a few hours and returned a little after 8 p.m. to two open seats across the three still-booming tables calling my name.
I took a seat at Robbie’s table, three to his right, and quickly jumped into Badugi mid-rotation. I didn’t need to worry about calling Razz on him when it became my turn to pick the next game, either, since Cardplayer Lifestyle social media director Chad McVean took care of that earlier in the day.
It’s not a @PokerLifeMedia Mixed Game Festival if you don’t #CallRazzOnRobbie!
Come on down to @PokerRoomRWLV and join in the fun!#pokerlife #Vegas29 pic.twitter.com/imrtUGQvxC
— Chad McVean (@Veaner85) July 3, 2023
Plus, we still have three more days to go. I fully intend to call Razz on Robbie sometime before the end of the festival.
I might have had an amazing time at @cardplayerlife’s Mixed Game Festival at Resorts World today. Laughed a lot! Check it out until July 6th. @MikePatrick98 @Veaner85 @cardplayerlife pic.twitter.com/N8AUeASI3k
— Christina Bradfield (@mauichri) July 4, 2023
Anyway, I got to play a few games I knew, like A-5 Triple Draw and Badeucy, along with new ones for me, like Drawmaha 49 and Archie. After about three-and-a-half hours, it was time for me to retire and begin the day’s recap. I was told the three tables stood solid until 2:30 am until a couple of them broke, with the final table only breaking well after 4:30 am.
New to the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival V, we are featuring a “Player of the Day” each day during the festival, sponsored by PokerCoaching.com. As a reminder, all Mixed Game Festival V attendees can receive a free one-week membership to PokerCoaching.com Premium just by asking Robbie in person for the special link. Check out this article with the specific details of what that entails.
Meet Aidan Long, our @PokerCoaching_ #MixedGameFestival V Day 2 Player of the Day.
His name got called for the $2/5 NLHE and he said “no way, I’m staying right here!”
His story will feature in our daily recap coverage on @PokerLifeMedia. pic.twitter.com/3A7eJjafnU
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 4, 2023
Day 2’s Player of the Day was Aidan Long, a recent Vegas transplant from Boston. A software developer who works remotely, Long moved to Sin City last September to bring himself closer to the game of poker after beginning to take the game more seriously in 2020.
Long learned how to play poker from his grandparents, who taught him when he spent time with them during summers as a kid. After the pandemic hit, he moved back home and began to play home games with friends.
Despite countless hours of studying over the last few years, Monday was Long’s first foray into mixed games. He came into the room around 4 p.m. intending to play some $2/$5 No-Limit Hold’em and saw our $4/$8 mix, piquing his curiosity enough to sit down while waiting for a spot at his intended game.
Even after hearing his name called for $2/$5 at around 8pm, “there’s no way I was leaving!” said Long in between Razz hands. “I’m loving it!” he added after I asked if he was enjoying the change of pace.
When asked about his favorite game so far, he quickly said Omaha 3-2-1.
Why?
In true poker fashion: because he won!
Tuesday marks the midway point of the five-day Mixed Game Festival V, and plenty more fun remains on the docket.
We’ll be hosting a Scavenger Hunt at 11 a.m. today (and awarding more gifts to all participants). More giveaways will take place through the remainder of the festival, and we expect to see some poker celebrities make their way to the room as their Main Event schedules allow.
Tomorrow our Mixed Game Festival V starts with a Scavenger Hunt with prizes and fun to be had!
Head over to @PokerRoomRWLV as the hunt starts at 11:00 AM!
As usual, the fun low-stakes dealer’s choice cash games will follow!
Info: https://t.co/H8UDgx9vsq#PokerLifeMedia pic.twitter.com/ggETbCLpy0
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 4, 2023
Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra will make an appearance at some point, as will Mastering Mixed Games author (and WPT/WSOP champion) Dylan Linde, 2004 WSOP Main Event champion Greg Raymer, and more.
We’ll be welcoming the one and only Norman Chad on Thursday, July 6. He will host a $20/$40 O8/Stud 8 mix as a part of MGF V, and players can join the list a day before to ensure a seat with him when the day begins.
Day 3 is sure to be another fun one today. We hope to see you at Resorts World Las Vegas!
*Our daily coverage of Mixed Game Festival V is brought to you, with much appreciation, courtesy of PokerStars.
]]>Players representing all corners of the globe began filling the poker room inside Resorts World Las Vegas a little after 11 a.m. and were eager to get the cards in the air. Play officially began closer to 12:15, as Cardplayer Lifestyle’s owner and founder Robbie Strazynski first welcomed everybody with a pizza party to ring in the festival.
As promised, pizza was served!
Three tables of dealer’s choice are running!
Head down to @PokerRoomRWLV and get on the list!#PokerLifeMedia pic.twitter.com/n3detT3utl— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 2, 2023
Three full tables of players quickly devoured the pizzas and began selecting their games of choice.
The @cardplayerlife #MixedGameFestival V is officially underway inside @PokerRoomRWLV! Two full tables of $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice games are running with a third set to open later today. Come get a seat and join us! pic.twitter.com/ygZvXvfiRU
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 2, 2023
The first giveaway came on the day’s first hand. Robbie announced that the best badugi in a split-pot game would also receive their choice of a Jim Donahue-authored poker book.
In some cases, players chose to subject others – namely Robbie – to Razz. Apparently, that’s a thing
There’s some giveaways going on during play too!
You too could win a Dramaha book while playing Drawmaha!
Come join the fun at @PokerRoomRWLV!#PokerLifeMedia pic.twitter.com/Im7rnIYOPd
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 2, 2023
More players are catching on!#CallRazzOnRobbie is just fun for everyone!
Come down to @PokerRoomRWLV to join @PokerLifeMedia‘s Mixed Game Festival V and put a smile on @cardplayerlife‘s face!#pokerlife #Vegas29 pic.twitter.com/HrzJss0oXF
— Chad McVean (@Veaner85) July 3, 2023
BBO Poker Tables Founder and CEO George Chao stopped by in the opening hours of the festival to sing his praises for the Mixed Game Festival V. Chao also delivered a half dozen portable table mats that will be given away to the winners of our Poker Trivia Competition on Monday, July 3, at 11:30 a.m, Scavenger Hunt on Tuesday July 4, at 11 a.m., and a few other luckily drawn random winners throughout the festival.
New to the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival V, we are featuring a “Player of the Day” each day during the festival, sponsored by PokerCoaching.com. As a reminder, all Mixed Game Festival V attendees can receive a free one-week membership to PokerCoaching.com Premium just by asking Robbie in person for the special link. Read on for specific details of what that entails.
Nadi Medlege became the first ever Player of the Day. Medlege is in town from Lebanon and played a full session on Sunday, but not without taking a few moments to speak about his love for mixed game poker.
Meet Nadi Medlege, our #MixedGameFestival V Day 1 @PokerCoaching_ Player of the Day!
You’ll learn more about this fascinating poker player in tomorrow’s recap, by @hill_kerby pic.twitter.com/zFuJykPmLT
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) July 3, 2023
Medlege’s roots in poker date back to 2000. He started playing at the Aviation Club in Paris, and recently relocated to Lebanon to be closer to family, but only spends about half the year there.
As for the other half?
Well, Medlege takes two trips each year to Las Vegas and stays for about three months each time. When he’s in town, he said he always plays mixed games at Resorts World, usually playing $8/$16 or $20/$40.
Medlege credited the variety he enjoys in mixed games to his ability to play long sessions. He said it’s harder for him to play longer sessions of No-Limit Hold’em than mixed games, with his longest marathon session to date coming in at 32 hours.
He added, “I love mixed games, and I think it would be so good for the game if everybody learned them!”
Table #4 of $4/8 dealer’s choice cash games now up and running at @PokerLifeMedia‘s #MixedGameFestival V at @PokerRoomRWLV
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 3, 2023
Resorts World’s poker room was electric all day Sunday. The Mixed Game Festival V had a double-digit waiting list due to a packed house, along with the casino’s regular cash game offerings and another successful tournament for the room this summer.
A fourth table of play opened just after 8 p.m., easing the wait list and bringing even more energy to the room. A trio of veteran and newer industry writers, Yori Epskamp, Mike Patrick, and Jeremy Geist, took a break from their busy roles at PokerNews to jump into the action.
It didn’t take long before a post-it note made its way onto a placard on the felt for the game, Watermelon. Players each received four cards, just like Omaha, before the dealer brought three boards. Each board’s winner got a point at the end of the hand, and the player with the most points took down the pot.
Eventually, players took things to another level and ate watermelon while playing Watermelon!
They’re not just eating watermelon… They’re PLAYING Watermelon
Nothing like low-stakes cash games at @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival V at @PokerRoomRWLV pic.twitter.com/k60bSAzDlq
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 3, 2023
Perhaps expected, players took full advantage of the dealer’s choice format, with fun variants being chosen on the regular. Badugi had a steady presence, often in split-pot games like Razzdugi, Drawmaha High-Dugi, and Badacey.
We’ll see if those games remain a constant over the remainder of the festival, or if players change things up a bit in the coming days.
One full day may be in the books, but we’re only 20% of the way through the fifth iteration of the Mixed Game Festival.
Want a sweet new long-sleeve shirt from @RunGoodGear or a copy of @elielezra1‘s autobiography?
Join us at @PokerRoomRWLV at #MixedGameFestival V tomorrow & Tuesday for our @PokerLifeMedia trivia competition and scavenger hunt.
Every participant gets one (or join for both )! pic.twitter.com/oXIL0jYEZN
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) July 2, 2023
There’s still a full slate of events scheduled for the rest of the festival, and we look forward to seeing more new faces join the ones who are already looking forward to being with us all week. If you’re looking to pop in, please do! We’ll have cash games going until the wee hours of the morning, along with the following promotions:
Our @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival V just got a little more festive. @NormanChad has confirmed that on the festival’s final day (July 6), he’ll be captaining a $20/40 O8/Stud8 table.
You can get on the game’s list starting the day before via @PokerRoomRWLV or @PokerAtlas pic.twitter.com/bkt8Q26rk2
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 21, 2023
*Our daily coverage of Mixed Game Festival V is brought to you, with much appreciation, courtesy of PokerStars.
]]>From there, a few game-specific titles from 2+2 publishing came out through the 90s, followed by Super System 2 in 2005, a very thorough nearly 700-page effort by Ken Lo titled A Poker Player’s Guide to Mixed Games in 2014, and most recently Chris Wallace and the Mizrachi brothers’ 2022 release, Getting Started with HORSE.
Each of these books has its merits, but what I and many others feel is the must-read for comprehensive mixed game information is Mastering Mixed Games by Dylan Linde, first published in 2019.
For those unfamiliar with Linde’s extensive resume, his Hendon Mob profile lists over $6.6 million in career tournament earnings in No-Limit Hold ‘em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and of course a litany of mixed games. He’s a WPT champion, a WSOP bracelet winner in Mixed Omaha, and has multiple big scores and victories in high-roller events.
Linde is one of poker’s best and most well-rounded players, but his love and knowledge of mixed games are what he’s chosen to share with the poker world, and Mastering Mixed Games (MMG) is a book that can be appreciated by both those just dipping their toes into the mixed game waters, and by experienced players alike.
While books may have taken a back seat to online content when it comes to poker training over the years as people’s time has become more and more valuable, I can absolutely recommend MMG for not just the quality of content throughout, but because that content is laser-focused and very consumable. If there are criticisms to be made of previously written content on mixed games, it’s that they can be like a Michael Bay movie in that if you shave a good 20 minutes to a half-hour from it in the edit suite, you get an infinitely more watchable movie.
Coming in at a very readable 304 pages, with no game-specific section more than 42 pages long, Mastering Mixed Games is the equivalent of a smash-and-grab 90-minute thrill ride, with no wasted words throughout.
Those sections are separated within the formats of flop games, stud games, and draw games, with all games covered listed below.
Flop games:
Stud Games:
Draw Games:
Single Draw Game:
Each section has a brief introduction explaining the rules of the game being discussed before getting to the heart of the lessons. A short quiz with answers and explanations follows at the end of each section.
As mentioned, Linde’s teachings of each game are incredibly efficient and well-written. There are no skippable pages anywhere. Consistent lessons in each game include opening ranges by position, playing versus raises and three-bets, the importance of playing to scoop in split pot games, types of hands that play better heads-up versus multi-way, and strategies for every street of play within a hand, be it flop, turn, and river; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd draw; or 3rd-7th streets.
Something that is illustrated very effectively throughout Mastering Mixed Games is how close equities run in many spots, no matter the game. As such, equity comparisons are shown throughout, providing visual and mathematical examples including variations of hands showing how what may appear to be a slight difference in hand strength can have a notable impact on its value. In particular, I found the various equity comparisons included in the Stud and Draw games sections to be very helpful.
With each section clocking in at roughly 20-40 pages, readers can quickly navigate the book to study the specific game they want and get an intense yet easily understood lesson in a very reasonable amount of time. With the aforementioned breakdowns of street-by-street play clearly identified in each section as well, intricate and specific study modules can be easily found. Need to brush up on your 5th street play in Stud 8 or your post-2nd draw play in Badugi? These specifics can easily be found.
If I must drop a bit of criticism on MMG, unfortunately, deep-stacked, non-cap play in big-bet games and tournament-specific strategies are areas not covered. Big-bet games are only taught with consideration for a 40 BB cap, as is quite common in mixed cash games. Pot-Limit variations of Triple Draw and Badugi are also not discussed. Strategies throughout are primarily based on a 6- or 7-handed mixed cash game format.
Those are small drawbacks though, considering the wealth of information throughout the rest of the book.
As mentioned earlier, MMG is a great resource for mixed game players, no matter their experience or skill level. As with most mixed game players, I consider myself more proficient in certain games than others, however, I was still able to boost my knowledge significantly with this poker strategy book.
As for the games that I don’t get a chance to practice regularly (shout out Badeucey and Badacey), MMG provides a great primer for when I do get to splash around in the split-pot triple draw streets, giving me the perspective for this review of both experienced and novice players.
I appreciated MMG’s efficiency and readability in teaching both types of players. What a reader may already understand is elaborated on effectively, while those with limited knowledge of a game also receive easily understandable instruction which will quickly get them acclimated to their new game of choice.
Mastering Mixed Games is truly the gold standard for mixed-game poker instruction for players of all skill levels. And if you’re crazy enough and really want to learn Pot-Limit Triple Draw, Linde is a super friendly and approachable person who I’m sure would be happy to personally pass along his knowledge in that insane game as well.
Lastly, Linde is a regular attendee at Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festivals and will happily autograph your copy of his book as well as help you get your reps in in the low-limit mixed game streets.
]]>The fifth and final day of the festival marked the end of the fourth iteration of Robbie Strazynski’s gathering of mixed game fans and aficionados. Eighty-one players turned out to play for a total prize pool of $17,820 — along with the grand prize of a trip to EPT Prague to play in a mixed game event as a value added bonus for the winner.
The grand prize trip came courtesy of PokerStars, and it includes roundtrip airfare for one, four night’s accommodation, and a buy-in to a mixed game tournament up to €550 at this December’s PokerStars European Poker Tour stop in Prague.
The $260 finale kicked off at 2 p.m. and the field piled in quickly before registration closed at the end of the first break. Mixed game tournaments aren’t offered in Las Vegas as often as no-limit hold’em, so the chance to play H.O.R.S.E. for a free trip to Prague attracted some of the bigger names from the local poker scene.
Thanks to the 81 players who came out to @PokerRoomRWLV to play in our $260 @PokerLifeMedia HORSE tournament today, as #MixedGameFestival IV draws to a close.
Over $5.5k to the winner + and EPT Prague prize package sponsored by @PokerStars pic.twitter.com/FeBzNzlo5q
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 23, 2023
PokerGO’s Jeff Platt took a break from the US Poker Open at the Aria to jump into the tournament. He busted out before things could get serious, but he got his H.O.R.S.E. fix before a long weekend at the PokerGO Studio. World Series of Poker commentator Norman Chad also stopped by to say hello, along with Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher.
Many people come up to me and say, “Jeff, I bet you’d be so good at mixed games”
I say “yea, you’re probably right”
So I think I’ll go play the $260 HORSE tourney today at 2pm over at @pokerroomrwlv, the Main of the @pokerlifemedia Mixed Game Festival.
— Jeff Platt (@jeffplatt) March 23, 2023
“Miami John” Cernuto was among the others in attendance, and he was joined by two-time bracelet winner Ari Engel. Cernuto took down the Omaha 8/Stud 8 tournament earlier in the series, and Engel finished in second. Both players failed to qualify for the money in H.O.R.S.E., but they’ll likely be found together again soon at a final table in another mixed game tournament.
Finished 2nd (again) to the legend @MiamiJohnC in @PokerRoomRWLV @PokerLifeMedia @cardplayerlife 61 entry $260 OE tournament
— Ari Engel (@AriEngelPoker) March 21, 2023
The top 12 places paid a min-cash of $421 and the winner was slated to take home $5,517, along with the EPT Prague prize package worth over $3,000. Ryan Leonis had the bitter honor of busting out on the bubble, but his despair was short lived and he was refunded his $260 buy-in, courtesy of PokerCoaching.com’s bubble protection.
Tournament players battled for nearly 12 hours until Warren Coleman, Bill Watchman, and Denis Nesterenko were the only three players remaining just after 1 a.m. local time. Coleman hails from England and Watchman has several wins over the last decade in a number of poker variants. Interestingly enough, Nesterenko won a bracelet last year in the $1,500 2-7 Triple Draw event at the 2022 World Series of Poker.
Ryan Leonis is the bubble boy in 13th place of our @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival IV grand finale.
Gets his $260 buy in back courtesy of @PokerCoaching_ pic.twitter.com/lXUS9jOa3p
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 24, 2023
The final three players agreed to bring the tournament to an end and flipped for the trip to EPT Prague. Watchman won the runout and he will be headed to the Czech Republic in December for the poker trip of a lifetime.
Congratulations to Bill Watchman, of Las Vegas, for winning the @PokerStars-sponsored EPT Prague prize package and taking home over $4k in winnings after an ICM chop of @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival IV at @PokerRoomRWLV pic.twitter.com/ve66zC1cCa
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 24, 2023
Day 1 kicked off the fourth Mixed Game Festival with three tables of $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice and free pizza offered throughout the day. WPT Executive Tour Director Matt Savage was one of the poker personalities to check out the early action, and he was joined by a steady stream of poker players from near and far.
Day 2 gave way to the O8 tournament, won by the aforementioned Cernuto, who bested a field of 61 players to take the top prize of $4,375. Day 3 brought out book signings by Dylan Linde, Chris “Fox” Wallace, and Eli Elezra, with bomb pots and Mixed Game Festival merchandise flowing all week long, while Day 4 saw the Pokercoaching.com crew enter the fray, headed by Jonathan Little and Justin Saliba, along with popular poker vlogger Ethan “Rampage” Yau. The Day 5 finale was a fitting end to a week full of great mixed games and new friendships with poker players from around the world.
It was another successful festival in the books for Cardplayer Lifestyle, and players are already looking forward to the next one. Be sure to join the Cardplayer Lifestyle newsletter to be among the first to find out where and when the next Mixed Game Festival will be.
]]>Early bird $4/$8 mix! Got my donut from Randy's and I am ready to cover todays festivities! #MixedGameFestival
First game up was chosen by @cardplayerlife Holdem – Omaha pic.twitter.com/vZkWsU75kD— Criminal Bizzy (@Criminal_Bizzy) March 21, 2023
We started playing seven handed and all agreed to start with one of Robbie Strazynski’s favorite games, “Hold’Em – Omaha” (a.k.a., “SOHE” or “SHOP”), a game where you are dealt six cards and then split your hand into one Hold’Em hand and one Omaha hand before the flop. Other poker games in the rotation included Drawmaha, 2-7 triple draw, Badugi, Omaha Best Best, Super Stud, and Badeucey. Apparently, someone called Razz on Robbie, but I was unable to find anyone who could corroborate his tweet.
They didn’t get the memo… #callrazzonrobbie pic.twitter.com/UG0uJIV4D8
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 21, 2023
Soon we were joined by Dylan Linde and we had a full game! Linde stopped by to enjoy playing some of the mixed games with the attendees of the Mixed Game Festival and to sign copies of his book Mastering Mixed Games, which can be obtained during the festival for a discounted price of $20, of which proceeds benefit the charity Poker Gives. They are a non-profit organization that distributes funds to assist military families, homeless veterans, and youth programs in Las Vegas, Nevada. While playing at the table, Dylan was happy to answer any questions about games and gave out advice about how hands were played. Scott, a newer player from Florida who is quickly finding the enjoyment of mixed games, took full advantage of this as he is learning how to navigate the poker hands.
The waitlist quickly filled up as more players started to find their way back to Day 3 of the Mixed Game Festival. Plenty of great merch, including hoodies (courtesy of PokerGO and RunGoodGear), portable poker table mats (courtesy of BBO Poker Tables), and books (courtesy of D&B Poker) were being given away to players via randomly drawn splash pots.
Players could find a mix game at many different levels. There main games for the festival were $4/$8 but if that wasn’t enough to get your blood pumping you could test your skill at $8/$16, and the regular $80/$160 and $300/$600 mixed were also running in the room. The room was full of poker players and you could hear the laughter emanating from all tables as they enjoyed themselves in playing the countless different variations of poker.
Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra came to Resorts World to join in on the fun and sign copies of his autobiography Pulling the Trigger. He decided to sit down and show Robbie how to play his stack and splashed around a bit while we all played Baduecy.
Numerous players were excited about getting the chance to play with Eli, but perhaps nobody more than Florida’s Brian Dowd, who recorded a short video to document the moment.
What’s it like playing $4/8 Dealer’s Choice with a Poker Hall of Famer?
Florida’s Brian Dowd shares his emotional experience sharing the felt with @elielezra1.
Come to @PokerRoomRWLV to have YOUR experience at @PokerLifeMedia‘s #MixedGameFestival!
Day 4 starts within the hour. pic.twitter.com/ll1plDdwXt
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 22, 2023
Legendary poker commentator Norman Chad also came out to play. He was not due to appear until Day 4 but could not resist the chance to mixed it up at the felt. Players almost had the opportunity to watch him go heads up against Eli Elezra in a Dealer’s Choice game, but Norman politely declined, informing Eli that he was in attendance for the fans!
The games kept running into the night and until the wee hours of the morning. The mixed games outlasted all the other tables in the room. Some players even made a late night delivery order of pizza so that they could continue to play without having to leave the game. The final orbit we all agreed to play “Fun Under the Gun”. A game where the players are dealt their hands but then the under the gun player gets to look at their hand and decide what game to play. Typically this game is played with four cards but to give us more options the game was played with five. The $4/$8 game finally broke around 6:30 AM as players said they would see each other in a few hours to start another game. An $8/$16 game was still running, the last table with players in the room. It would not be surprising to see everyone bright an early, but not so early, for Day 4 of the Mixed Game Festival.
Wednesday will feature the continuation of dealer’s choice cash games. WSOP $10K HORSE bracelet winner Chris “Fox” Wallace will be in attendance with his pen ready to sign copies of his book Getting Started with HORSE. Copies of the book can be obtained for $25, with proceeds benefitting Poker Gives. Thursday will feature the festival’s marquee event, a $260 H.O.R.S.E. tournament with a chance to win an EPT Prague prize package, sponsored by PokerStars. The package with an estimated total value of over $3,000 will include:
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festival is truly one of the best events to look forward to in Las Vegas. Where else will you see poker celebrities who usually tee off for nosebleed stakes mixing it up with weekend warriors and home game heroes?
Many laughs, hugs, and bad beats are shared as players spend time catching up with each other and teaching different forms of poker. It doesn’t matter how good you are at poker; we just want to share our passion for the many, many games. Don’t be shy about joining us for a few orbits. Trust me, it will be the most fun you will ever have losing money. I myself didn’t book a win and I still ended the day — er, morning? — with a big smile.
]]>Thanks so much to the 61 players who came out to @PokerRoomRWLV for our @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival IV $260 O8/Stud8 tournament today!
Prize pool over $13k, with over $4k for first place and 10 players making the money. pic.twitter.com/3hK8pgzAt1
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 21, 2023
Robbie Strazynski, owner and founder of Cardplayer Lifestyle, is hosting the festival from March 19-23 at Resorts World. The Festival will include cash games and culminate with a $260 H.O.R.S.E. tournament on Thursday March 23rd. In addition to the regular prize pool, the tournament will award EPT Prague prize to the winner, sponsored by PokerStars.
An exciting addition to the Omaha 8/Stud 8 tournament was bubble protection in the form of free poker training memberships donated courtesy of Pokercoaching.com. Bubble protection will also be in place for Thursday’s H.O.R.S.E. tournament.
Debra and Anthony “double bubbled” our @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival O8/Stud8 tournament…
Courtesy of @PokerCoaching_ they each get half their buy-in back #stingsalittleless pic.twitter.com/ToLBttZOCr
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 21, 2023
Pokercoaching.com’s Justin Saliba also stopped by yesterday with additional free merchandise to hand out to players in bomb pots throughout the festival. Justin is a professional poker player with two WSOP bracelets, and was taught by one of the best. He reached out to Jonathan Little while still in college, offering to intern at the company in exchange for poker coaching. He is now a part of Pokercoaching.com and feels strongly about growing poker and being able to learn to play at a $4/8 level.
Justin “just loved coming and playing $4/8 and learning all these different games. And when the World Series comes around (and) there’s a $1,500 O8 tournament I can say I’ve played this before.” Justin shared that he learned poker along with his older brother, and played in a neighborhood game, watching Main Event reruns in the background.
“Book bomb pots” were also a fun addition to the tournament on Monday, with multiple players winning Eli Elezra’s autobiography Pulling the Trigger. Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra will be signing copies of his book Tuesday March 21st for a discounted price of $10. Additional book winners included James Basham from St. Louis, who attended Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival III that was held in Malta. He’d already planned a trip to Las Vegas with eight of his friends when he found out about the Festival. He then changed his plans and came to Las Vegas early.
Debi Cheek, Danny Anton, and Clyde Gaskins also won books, with Clyde also winning a sweatshirt courtesy of premium poker industry brands RunGoodGear and PokerGO.
Dylan Linde enjoyed Monday’s festivities and will also be attending the Festival on Tuesday, March 21st, to sign copies of his book Mastering Mixed Games, which will be available for purchase at a discounted price of $25. On Wednesday March 22nd, WSOP bracelet winner Chris Wallace will be signing copies of his book Getting Started With HORSE also at a discounted price of $25.
A portion of all proceeds derived from book sales will be donated to Poker Gives, a non-profit organization that distributes funds to assist military families, homeless veterans, and youth programs in Las Vegas. Originally founded by Linda Johnson, Lisa Tenner, Jan Fisher, and the late Mike Sexton, Poker Gives is a fully volunteer organization, with every dollar donated going to the cause. During a break in the tournament action, Johnson spoke for a couple minutes about the mission of Poker Gives to the assembled crowd, and about the beauty of being able to assist the homeless community in Las Vegas thanks to the generosity of poker players, who donate both money and time to volunteering for the cause.
The $260 Omaha 8/Stud 8 tournament was not the only action running on Monday. A couple of $4/8 Dealer’s Choice tables were running all day featuring players like Sean McCormack, Director of Poker Strategy at MGM Resorts International, and Ryan Kirk, Director of Poker Operations at the Aria. Cody Meyer from Nebraska was back at the table, along with Ruth Sun from San Jose after enjoying the first day of the festival.
There’s also a $4/8 Dealer’s Choice table running alongside our @PokerLifeMedia tournament at @PokerRoomRWLV today.
(More tables will open as tourney tables break)
The players REALLY love the sweatshirts! Thanks @PokerGO and @RunGoodGear! pic.twitter.com/V9efxQTjHH
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 21, 2023
Resorts World has been a huge part of this festival, providing an atmosphere that you can relax in yet feel Leon Wheeler’s superb professionalism as the venue’s Director of Poker Operations.
After 13 grueling hours weaving and winding his way through the Allen Kessler “Chainsaw approved” tournament structure, “Miami” John Cernuto took down top prize of the day’s tournament at approximately 2:45 am local time.
Some notables making the final table alongside Cernuto were Chip Jett, Women in Poker Hall of Famer Jan Fisher, World Poker Tour Executive Tour Director Matt Savage, and WSOP bracelet winner Ari Engel.
“Old school” defeated the “new school” as Cernuto offered a hearty handshake to Engel when winning the final Stud 8 hand.
Congratulations to @MiamiJohnC, winner of the @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival IV $260 O8/Stud8 tournament for $4,375
With this win, John extends his @TheHendonMob all-time tournament cashing mark to 622 pic.twitter.com/ccVqqQKZBM
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 21, 2023
Cash games will continue running Tuesday and Wednesday and the grand prize will be handed to the winner of Thursday’s $260 H.O.R.S.E. tournament. The prize will include an EPT Prague prize package for the winner, sponsored by PokerStars. The package, with an estimated total value of over $3,000, will consist of:
Robbie created the Mixed Game Festival after thinking “I wish I could attend something like this (mixed game festival)” and he turned it into a reality. This is the fourth Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival. The first was held at Westgate Las Vegas in October 2021.
Robbie played his first mixed game when he was eight, with his father Josef Strazynski, and other members of his extended family. Josef taught him games such as stud, 5-card-draw, baseball, and deuces wild. Robbie’s interest in a multitude of games was piqued, and now manifests itself through Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festivals, including this latest incarnation where poker players from as far afield as Florida, Ohio, Salt Lake City and even north of the border in Canada, have traveled to join in the fun.
Pat flew in from Canada to join us at @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival IV.
You love to hear it pic.twitter.com/Mpqng0jqIc
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 20, 2023
Eric Potterton traveled to Las Vegas from Ohio, and decided to enjoy not just March Madness, but the Mixed Game Festival as well. It’s his first festival, and his love for mixed games spurred him to join the crowd today. Cody Meyer, similar to Eric, was visiting from Nebraska, and after hearing of the upcoming event via Facebook decided to come. Alisa and Jeff Eberhard, visiting from Salt Lake City, Utah, both decided to make their way down Interstate 15 to join in the fun as well. This is Jeff’s third Festival and the first time his wife Alisa has been in attendance.
Mike Serrano attended Mixed Game Festival II, also held at the Resorts World poker room, and had such a great time he made a point to come again. One of Mike’s friends Brian Dowd has also attended before and brought his friend Scott Sandoval from Florida. Yesterday, Scott was one of the lucky winners of Dylan Linde’s book Mastering Mixed Games. Ruth Sun from San Jose also won a copy of Linde’s book and is looking forward to getting her copy signed by the author, who will be in attendance tomorrow, on Tuesday, March 21st. Copies, if not won in “book bomb pots” will be available for purchase at the discounted price of $20.
On Wednesday March 22, WSOP bracelet winner Chris Wallace will be signing copies of his book Getting Started With HORSE also at a discounted price of $25. Rounding out this trio is venerated Poker Hall of Famer, Eli Elezra, who will be signing copies of his autobiography Pulling the Trigger for a discounted price of $10.
A portion of all proceeds derived from book sales will be donated to Poker Gives, a non-profit organization that distributes funds to assist military families, homeless veterans, and youth programs in Las Vegas. Originally founded by Linda Johnson, Lisa Tenner, Jan Fisher, and the late Mike Sexton, Poker Gives is a fully volunteer organization, with every dollar donated going to the cause. Moreover, volunteers donate time either cooking or handing out food that itself was donated.
The party kicked off with pizza, one of Resorts World’s many contributions to the festival and very soon thereafter action kicked off at three tables, which ran concurrently for close to 12 hours.
We’ve got three $4/8 Dealer’s Choice tables going strong at @PokerRoomRWLV, with pizza in tow! @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival IV is officially underway! pic.twitter.com/zGZrEDw9NE
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 19, 2023
George Chao of BBO Poker Tables donated portable poker table mats to the Festival. George initially met Robbie many years ago, appearing as a guest on his podcast. The two have since become big supporters of each other’s endeavors. George started his company 16 years ago in California’s Bay Area after realizing there was a lack of affordable, well-made poker tables. The manufacturing was either inexpensive and poorly executed, or good quality but wildly expensive. George filled this need, and now provides 60-70% of his business directly to consumers while also working with clients such as the World Poker Tour.
Congratulations to Benjamin from Salt Lake City, first winner of our @BBOPokerTables portable table mat giveaways here at @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival IV at @PokerRoomRWLV
Thanks, as always, to George Chao of BBO for supporting our events! pic.twitter.com/VsSw06Mubt
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 20, 2023
Other exciting aspects of the Mixed Game Festival are bubble protection for both tournaments, with free poker training site memberships donated courtesy of Pokercoaching.com. There will also be multiple daily merchandise giveaways courtesy of premium poker industry brands such as RunGoodGear, D&B Poker Publishing, and PokerGO.
The grand prize awarded to the winner of Thursday’s upcoming $260 H.O.R.S.E. tournament includes an EPT Prague prize package for the winner, sponsored by PokerStars and valued at over $3,000, which will consist of:
The estimated total value of the prize package is over $3,000.
With the feel of playing in the world’s best and largest home game combined with the setting of a world-class casino, Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festival brings together a mixture of friends you already know and friends you just met. Plus, especially in Las Vegas, you never know which vaunted poker pro or industry superstar might show up to splash around and join in the festivities.
]]>Special guest @SavagePoker in the house at @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival IV
His first visit to @PokerRoomRWLV pic.twitter.com/gs49LPtyz5
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 19, 2023
We’re proud to announce that Mixed Game Festival IV will see a return to the fabulous Resorts World Las Vegas from March 19-23 to stage what’s sure to be another exciting week of mixed game poker.
This time around, the festival will include a pair of tournaments, namely a $260 Omaha 8/Stud 8 tournament on Monday March 20, and a $260 H.O.R.S.E. tournament on Thursday March 23 as our grand finale.
Alongside the tournaments, nonstop dealer’s choice cash game action will be spread at stakes as low as $4/8 and $8/16, with higher stakes available upon request.
“We are delighted to be welcoming back Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festival. Last year’s festival was so successful that we are thrilled to have the opportunity to host it again and can’t wait to get started,” said Leon Wheeler, Director of Poker Operations at Resorts World Las Vegas.
The EPT Prague prize package, which will be awarded to the winner of our H.O.R.S.E. tournament, will consist of:
Estimated total value of the prize package is over $3,000. Beyond the objective monetary value, however, our winner will have the opportunity to play against some of the world’s top mixed game players on the prestigious European Poker Tour stop in Prague this December. Here’s what that feels like.
A hallmark of our Mixed Game Festivals are the “value adds”, and that will begin right away with a fun-filled feast:
Hey @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival fans, guess what?
We’ll be having a (FREE) pizza party to kick off the dealer’s choice cash game festivities at 12pm Noon on March 19th!
Be sure to join us at @PokerRoomRWLV from March 19-23!
Tons more stuff waiting in the wings pic.twitter.com/1fU6ioIqDF
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 2, 2023
Beyond the EPT Prague prize package, we’ve got some sweet extras that our players will surely enjoy, including:
In addition, over the course of Mixed Game Festival IV, we’ll be staging three poker book signings:
A portion of all proceeds derived from the book sales will be donated to Poker Gives, a non-profit organization that distributes funds to assist military families, homeless veterans, and youth programs in Las Vegas.
You can score discounted hotel room rates at Resorts World by using promo code YYPKR when booking online or calling directly: 1-833-930-3888.
Among the highlights our players love during @PokerLifeMedia Mixed Game Festivals, is the chance to mix it up for low stakes with poker celebs.
We’ll be back at @PokerRoomRWLV from March 19-23.
No telling WHO might show up to join us… pic.twitter.com/9TzWjPgQ3D
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) February 12, 2023
A couple of our wonderful contributing writers — Christina Bradfield and Brian “Bizzy” Gutierrez — will be on-site producing daily recaps that highlight all the action during our Mixed Game Festival, and you’ll be able to find them right here on Cardplayerlifestyle.com. We’ll also be covering the festival extensively via social media on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Show up and take part in the festivities, and you could “see your name in lights” alongside some top poker pros and popular poker personalities who’ve pledged to come and take part in all the fun.
Rebecca McAdam Willetts, Director of Partnerships & PR at PokerStars said, “What we love about this event is it has a very specific purpose and style; it provides players who love to dabble in a variety of games a home-game type atmosphere and environment, but of course with some serious competition. We always try to encourage and support such demonstrations of love for the game and are very happy to be a part of it by giving the community something that continues the journey onwards after the Vegas shenanigans!”
Looking forward to seeing you all in Las Vegas!
Got questions about our upcoming Mixed Game Festival? Please contact: [email protected]
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