Mixed Game Festival – Cardplayer Lifestyle https://cardplayerlifestyle.com Wed, 16 Aug 2023 22:57:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3 Top 10 Highlights of Mixed Game Festival V https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/top-10-highlights-of-mixed-game-festival-v/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:42:16 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=59823 It’s amazing to look back now, in August 2023, and think that Cardplayer Lifestyle has successfully put on five Mixed Game Festivals. Back in late 2019, the idea was just a twinkle in my eye! Our first one was supposed to have been announced in March 2020 — of course we had to put things on hold for 1.5 years until finally announcing it. Fast forward some, and less than two years after staging our first one, we’ve now got a handful under our belts.

With each new Mixed Game Festival, it’s important to me to try and improve, tweak, and ensure that we do better than the previous time. I obviously have my personal goals to fulfill, but above all, my three aims always are that the venue enjoy hosting our players, that sponsors feel glad to have supported the event, and that our players have a great time. Beyond that, of course, the uniqueness of our festivals — versus other “meet up games” — is that they are designed to help promote and grow mixed game poker.

I’d like to believe that we once again achieved all of our goals with Mixed Game Festival V, which wrapped up a few weeks ago at Resorts World Las Vegas. I can’t help but smile and think back to a number of highlights where I believe we truly succeeded. I’ve put together my top 10 and have listed them below, as well as why I specifically believe these are highlights worth reminiscing about.

three tables Mixed Game Festival V

Poker Trivia Competition

A festival — by definition — needs to be festive. Beyond just playing poker, we try to incorporate some elements to ensure that our participants 1) show up on time to begin the cash games each day, and 2) have the opportunity to win some cool merchandise and have a great time. Historically, these have included pizza parties and poker book signings.

My daughter Abby suggested that I utilize the Kahoot! portal to create a poker trivia competition. It obviously took some time to prepare, but it was certainly a worthwhile endeavor. Admittedly, one of the most enjoyable parts for me was coming up with incorrect answers for the multiple choice quiz. Special thanks goes to Chad McVean, our Social Media director, who assisted me in running the poker trivia competition. We had close to a dozen people show up to play, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Scavenger Hunt

Another new element we incorporated into Mixed Game Festival V was a scavenger hunt. I had put together a list of 20 items that participants needed to take pictures of and with. At first, only half a dozen people showed up for this one. However, once our cash games began, a wait list formed and rather than just sit and wait, another half dozen players mentioned they wanted to do the scavenger hunt, too, so we ran it back and did so.

It was pretty amusing to see the first hunt’s winner, Mike Patrick, hurtle himself down the final stretch towards the poker room after just 20 minutes, having successfully completed the entire list. It was great to see that every players took the hunt seriously, and put in just as much effort as they did at the felt to try and emerge victorious.

I was elated to see that all of the participants really enjoyed themselves even though of course there could only be a few winners.

Miami John’s unscheduled visit

Something else we try to do to enhance the player experience at our Mixed Game Festivals is arrange for some poker celebrity appearances. I’m grateful that we’ve had the support of many professionals in the poker community who have kindly come out to splash around with our players in the low-stakes dealers choice streets. With that said, I usually make arrangements for these appearances ahead of time, so when a poker celebrity shows up unannounced it’s certainly a welcome surprise.

Prior to Mixed Game Festival V, “Miami” John Cernuto had reached out to me asking if we would be staging any tournaments. I told him that this time it would be an exclusively cash game affair. He said “OK,” and we left it at that. So you could imagine my shocked expression to see him walk in on the second day of MGF V. As I stood up to greet him, John just said “I came to support what you’re doing,” and he proceeded to play $4/$8 limit mixed games with our players for the next hour while I enjoyed a lovely chat with his daughter Debi.

Miami John and daughter Debi

John Maley, “Mr. All-Nighter”

The grand prize for this festival was a PokerStars-sponsored EPT Cyprus Mixed Game Package valued at over $3,000. For every hour of cash game play, a player would earn one entry into the random drawing for the prize package. We’ve done this sort of giveaway before, so it’s no surprise that many players try to put in as many hours as possible. One player, however, took this to an entirely new level.

John Maley drove in from Southern California straight to the Resorts World poker room. He played throughout the day, continued playing throughout the night… and continued further throughout the following day. When he finally got up from the table, over 31 hours had passed and he still looked fresh as a daisy. Only then did John take his bags and check into his hotel room. Having a player that dedicated to playing low-stakes mixed games is just out of this world.

Eli Elezra comes to play my stack

I’m very fortunate to be able to say that over the past few years since I translated his biography, Pulling the Trigger, from Hebrew into English, Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra and I have grown to become very good friends. Eli has always been super kind to come and sign some books at our Mixed Game Festivals as well as splash around with our players. So, I knew he’d make an appearance this time around, but I didn’t know when.

While I was speaking with one of our players, he smiled and told me to turn around. What I saw is that Eli had suddenly appeared in the room and just sat down in my seat, where he proceeded to play my chip stack. I couldn’t help but laugh, but also head over to give him a hug and show my appreciation for his support. For those curious, after about 20 minutes, Eli had successfully added a couple dozen dollars to my chip stack.

Silent auction for two BBO Poker Table Tops

George Chao, CEO of BBO Poker Tables, has always been a supporter of our events. This time around, he contributed half a dozen portable table mats as giveaway items. On the last day of the festival, I still had two that I hadn’t yet distributed. So, I asked some players what would be a good way to give away the two remaining mats.

Someone suggested a silent auction, whereby it would cost a $1 chip to place a bid, and after all bids were submitted the highest one would win. That person’s winning bid plus all of the $1 chips collected would then be equally distributed among the dealers at our mixed game tables. We did this twice, and thus successfully distributed close to $150 in tips to our dealers!

Higher stakes mixed games with Norman, Jan, and Linda

Prior to Mixed Game Festival V, our dealers choice mixed games had exclusively been for stakes of $4/$8 and $8/$16. This time around, Norman Chad agreed to host a special Omaha 8/Stud 8 game for his regular $20/40 stakes on the final day of our festival.

I was happy to see that close to a dozen players signed up ahead of time on the wait list. Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson and Women in Poker Hall of Famer Jan Fisher got seats at the table, too. I’m glad to see that our festivals were able to attract crowds interested in mixed games at multiple price points, and I hope this is something we’ll be able to replicate at future events.

Norman Chad Linda Johnson Jan Fisher

Alek Gillies wins the EPT Cyprus Prize Package

To be fair, whomever would have won the grand prize package would have made this festival’s highlight reel. With that said, it gives me special pleasure that our grand prize winner is a 21-year-old who had never really played mixed games before.

I had the pleasure of playing with Alek for a couple hours, and while he readily admitted that he had no idea how to play mixed games, that nonetheless didn’t stop him from having a great, positive attitude and being willing to learn one new variant after another.

For poker to thrive, we always have to attract new audiences, which means “newly minted” 21-year-olds who can now play legally in poker rooms. Mixed game poker is no different, and it’s always good to lower the average age at the felt and see some 20-somethings enjoying themselves playing dealer’s choice.

Alek Gillies

Post-Festival Shawarma with Brian, Pat, and Matt

We don’t exactly have a “closing ceremony” for our festivals, so after the grand prize is given out, cash games just sort of continue until people get tired of playing and then go their separate ways. This time around, I wanted to celebrate with a nice dinner.

Rather than head to a kosher Las Vegas restaurant alone, it was a special pleasure to bring along some guys who’ve become close friends from one Mixed Game Festival to the next, Pat, Brian, and Matt. Sure, the food at Mother Falafel was great, but the company was what made the meal a memorable one.

shawarma

Charity donations fund a Monday night feeding of the homeless

Ever since our first Mixed Game Festival, there has always been a charity component to our events. I had advertised ahead of time that a portion of proceeds from the poker trivia competition and scavenger hunt would go towards the volunteer-powered Poker Gives charity. Altogether, we were able to collect a total of $300, and a couple button clicks later, the money had been donated.

It’s one thing to just say the money is being given to charity, but it’s entirely another to witness the charity itself being given, and the gratitude from the recipients. I’m grateful that we were able to use Mixed Game Festival V as a vehicle for doing good for some needy people in the Las Vegas community, as you can see in the video below.

]]> Pokercoaching.com Offers FREE 7-Day Premium Pass to Mixed Game Festival V Attendees https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/pokercoaching-free-7-day-premium-pass-mixed-game-festival-v-attendees/ Sun, 18 Jun 2023 15:26:19 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=59282 Among the elements that help to make our Mixed Game Festivals so festive is the support of our generous sponsors. One such sponsor, Pokercoaching.com, has decided to offer something extra special for attendees of our upcoming Mixed Game Festival V at Resorts World Las Vegas, namely a FREE 7-Day Premium Membership!

mixed game festival 7 day pass pokercoaching.com

To access the weeklong membership, all you’ll have to do is show up and join us from July 2-6 during the Mixed Game Festival and get the code directly from me. Upon using the code to register your account on Pokercoaching.com, you’ll receive unrestricted access to every bit of training material they’ve produced for seven days!

From the moment you open your account, the clock will start ticking, and you’ll have a full week at your disposal to look around, watch some videos, and check out a variety of tools designed to help you become a better poker player.

The platform features over 25 full-scale poker courses taught by company founder Jonathan Little as well as his top-notch roster of poker coaches, which includes highly decorated professionals such as Faraz Jaka, Justin Saliba, Lexy Gavin-Mather, Tommy Angelo, Alex Fitzgerald, Brock Wilson, Matt Affleck, Ethan “Rampage” Yau, and Jonathan Jaffe. Plus, there are over 100 hand history review videos that you can watch that are practically guaranteed to give you a leg up on the competition you’ll face at the felt.

Popular offerings to check out from their library of material include their Cash Game Masterclass and Tournament Masterclass. If you’re a more experienced player you’ll likely want to have a look at Little’s new Advanced Tournament Course.

On top of traditional courses and instructional videos, PokerCoaching.com offers a range of interactive content, including more than 2,000 hand quizzes and 700 coaching seminars. These tools will prove immensely useful when putting your newly acquired knowledge into practice, thus improving your understanding of theoretical poker concepts.

As you’d expect, you’ll also find a boatload of GTO preflop charts for different formats, as well as hundreds of coaching webinars featuring interactive sessions between coaches and students where common spots get addressed effectively. If you pay close attention and internalize the lessons, you’ll have a utility belt full of enhanced options and maneuverability during your poker sessions.

Justin Saliba Ethan Yau

Plus, on top of your FREE week of Pokercoaching Premium access, many Mixed Game Festival V attendees will likely have the opportunity to mix it up at the felt in person with some of the stable’s pros, who’ve showed up to splash around with us in the non-Hold’em streets in the past.

Finally, during each day of our upcoming Mixed Game Festival, one player will be selected as our “Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day” and will receive a free hat along with special coverage in our daily recaps.

Success in poker is all about finding value, and you’ll be sure to find plenty of it at Mixed Game Festival V, thanks to Pokercoaching.com.

]]> Announcing Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival V https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/announcing-cardplayer-lifestyle-mixed-game-festival-v/ Wed, 31 May 2023 18:29:45 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=59048 Cardplayer Lifestyle will be hosting its fifth Mixed Game Festival, a five-day affair sponsored by PokerStars, at Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, with an EPT Cyprus prize package to be awarded.

We’re proud to announce that Mixed Game Festival V will take place once again at the fabulous Resorts World Las Vegas from July 2-6. In what’s sure to be another thrilling week of mixed game poker, we’ve incorporated some new elements to ensure this will be our best festival yet.

On the menu will be five straight days of low-stakes cash games — mainly $4/8 and $8/16, with higher stakes games available upon request — catering to lovers of all poker variants, from weekend warriors to home game hotshots, and even to grinders and pros just looking to splash around and take a relaxing break from the major tournament series happening around the city.

But there’s much, MUCH more!

Mixed Game Festival V

Grand Prize Package Details

For every hour of mixed game cash play you log, you’ll receive an entry into our random drawing to win an EPT Cyprus prize package (estimated value over $3,000), which will consist of:

  • Mixed Game tournament buy-in up to €550
  • Roundtrip airfare for one
  • Four nights’ accommodation

The drawing will take place on the festival’s final day, Thursday July 6th, and the lucky winner will have the opportunity to play against some of the world’s top mixed game players at the first ever European Poker Tour stop in Cyprus this October. Here’s what that type of experience feels like.

Schedule of Events and Giveaways

A hallmark of our Mixed Game Festivals are the “value adds”, and we’ve got quite a few in store for you this time, including:

  • Kickoff pizza party
  • Poker Trivia Competition
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Poker book signings
  • Grand prize drawing
  • Multiple other daily merchandise giveaways, and more!

MGF V Schedule

Poker Trivia Competition — Details

Think you know a lot about poker, poker history, the poker industry, and our Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festivals? Come match wits against your fellow players to see who among you is the true poker trivia boss!

Poker Trivia Competition MGF V

Scavenger Hunt — Details

Resorts World will become your playground, as you scour the venue for items that will sometimes be challenging to find, while at other times perhaps be right under your nose in the poker room.

Scavenger Hunt MGF V

Prizes to be awarded to our top finishers in the Poker Trivia Competition and Scavenger Hunt include:

  • Free first rack of chips
  • $100 vouchers to the PokerStars Store
  • Merchandise “grab bag” courtesy of: BBO Poker Tables, RunGoodGear, D&B Poker Publishing, Faded Spade Playing Cards, and PokerGO

Book Signings — Details

  • WSOP bracelet winner Dylan Linde will be signing copies of his book Mastering Mixed Games, available for purchase at a discounted price of $25
  • Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra will be signing copies of his autobiography Pulling The Trigger for a discounted price of $10

A Nod to Charity

A portion of all proceeds derived from book sales, the scavenger hunt, and poker trivia competition 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.

Daily Event Coverage + Player of the Day

Hill Kerby, a veteran poker reporter and Cardplayer Lifestyle contributor, 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.

Mixed Game Festival sweaters

A Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day will be selected on each day of the Mixed Game Festival and will have “their story” written up on our daily recaps.

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.

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.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Las Vegas!

Got questions about our upcoming Mixed Game Festival? Please contact: [email protected]

]]> Mixed Game Festival IV Day 4 Recap: Ethan Yau, Jonathan Little, and lots of WSOP Bracelet Winners Enter the Fray https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/mixed-game-festival-iv-day-4-recap-ethan-yau-jonathan-little/ Thu, 23 Mar 2023 17:15:09 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=58043 Word must have gotten around Las Vegas that the Mixed Game Festival IV was in full swing in the Resorts World poker room. There was an $8/$16 game that was still running from the night before and the list to start new games was so long that you could not read the bottom of it on the room’s screen! At the peak of Day 4 there were a total six low-stakes mixed game tables running simultaneously, a new record for a Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival (Ed. note: Which we can’t wait to break next time!) Many players showed up to play, but also specifically to have a chance to meet their poker heroes.

First to make an appearance on Day 4 was 2014 WSOP $10K HORSE bracelet winner Chris “Fox” Wallace. He signed a few copies of his book Getting Started with HORSE for the participants and then joined the festivities by sitting down to play in the $8/$16 mixed cash game.

As we sat there playing poker, a new $4/8 dealer’s choice table opened up featuring Norman Chad, Jan Fisher, and the First Lady of Poker Linda Johnson, who all returned to join in the festivities having had a blast playing and mixing it up in the cash games on Day 3. The table quickly filled up with fans who wanted the chance to play a hand of poker with them!

Jonathan Little and Justin Saliba brought not only PokerCoaching.com hats to give out to randomly selected players, but also a few fans alongside them who couldn’t wait for the opportunity to play small-stakes poker with the professional crushers. Jonathan hopped into one of the $4/$8 mixed cash games where he offered tips and tricks on what to look for in a hand to play depending on the game that was being played. He also played Drawmaha for the first time and seemed to enjoy learning the new poker variant. It was unique to see someone with over $7 million in lifetime tournament earnings and such a brilliant, successful career in poker learn a new variant for the first time and arguably be the least experienced one at the table, where the majority of the players were already familiar with Drawmaha. Learning and enjoying the game were high on everyone’s agenda, but the chance to win a few bucks of the pros was likely the highlight for most.

A surprise visitor, popular vlogger and poker pro Ethan “Rampage” Yau, then popped in to Resorts World to see what all the fuss was about and to splash around in the $4/$8 streets of mixed game poker. Rampage had never played mixed game and was learning every single new poker variant on the spot! His first game that he played was 7 Card Super Stud 8 or better. This variation of poker is the same as 7 Card Stud 8 or better, but you are dealt four cards facing down and one facing up. You then choose which two of the four cards dealt to you to keep and discard the other two cards. From there you play as you would normally would play in a stud game. Ethan looked like he was doing well and managed to win a few hands right away!

READ MORE: Mixed Games Poker Guide — Stud Games

PokerGO’s Tim Duckworth also made an appearance to show his support for the event once again, as he has attended two prior Mixed Game Festivals here in Las Vegas. He was all smiles and was kind enough to answer questions from fellow players at the table about how content is created for PokerGO. He stayed many hours playing poker before it was time to call it a night.

The game of the day that was played is currently called Squid Game but some of you may know it as Oklahoma. This game was popular among many players not only because it was fun but also, the dealers also had a little sweat on the outcome of the hand. This is an Omaha style game where players are dealt five cards and then see three full boards as they try to make the best possible high hand. The catch is that on the end; the river with the lowest card is eliminated. What happens if all three rivers are the same? Well, if that happens then no one who is playing the hand can win the pot since there is no longer a board they can use to make a poker hand. In this instance the pot is awarded to… the dealer!

An Awesome, Positive Vibe Prevails in the Poker Room

Overall, there was a ton of laughter and good times being shared by all who attended and played at the half dozen tables throughout the day. Players were thrilled to meet some of the best players and poker industry personalities and listen to stories they had to share about their careers. Many poker books were signed. Lots of swag was given out to players via randomly drawn splash pots, thanks to great sponsors like D&B Poker, BBO Poker Tables, and RunGoodGear. The atmosphere was abuzz with excitement as numerous players hopped from table to table to get a chance to play with the poker celebrities in attendance.

Some of the Mixed Game Festival regulars that were in attendance to participate in the festivities, who we’d like to give special shout outs to, were Ruth, Pat, Chuck, and Chance. These players helped keep the games friendly and were always happy to explain the rules to games if someone was not familiar with a game. More than once during the day I heard players compliment the friendliness of the community and how they made the game fun!

Grand Finale H.O.R.S.E. Tournament

The festival’s marquee event, a $260 H.O.R.S.E tournament, is set to begin at 2:05 PM Las Vegas time today, March 23rd. It will include a prize package sponsored by PokerStars to play at December’s European Poker Tour stop in Prague. You’ll get roundtrip airfare for one, four-nights’ accommodation, and the opportunity to mix it up with poker greats in a €550 buy-in mixed game tournament.

We’re expecting a field of over 100 players, including a who’s who of mixed game poker, to be duking it out at the felt for top prize and the value added prize package. The final day of Mixed Game Festival IV will also be your last chance to score some awesome merch and other great prizes… until the next festival!

]]> Mixed Game Festival IV Day 3 Recap: Eli Elezra, Norman Chad, and Dylan Linde delight the players! https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/mixed-game-festival-iv-day-3-recap-eli-elezra-norman-chad-dylan-linde/ Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:49:51 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=58022 Walking into Resorts World’s poker room it felt peaceful and chill. Players names started to appear on the waitlist for Day 3 of the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival IV around 11:30 AM PST and an hour later the games began. The not so early, early bird game had begun.

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.

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.

Eli Elezra Brian Dowd

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.

Day 4 and 5 Preview

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:

  • €550 buy-in to a Mixed Game tournament
  • Roundtrip airfare for one
  • Four nights’ accommodation

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.

]]> Mixed Game Festival IV Day 2 Recap: Miami John Cernuto Adds to His Legend https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/mixed-game-festival-iv-day-2-recap-miami-john-cernuto/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:50:55 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=57984 Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festival IV at Resorts World Las Vegas held its first of two tournaments yesterday. A full house of 61 players entered the $260 Omaha 8/Stud 8 tournament, including a cavalcade of mixed game poker legends and rising stars. A couple tables of $4/8 Dealer’s Choice cash games were also running simultaneously alongside the tournament. Seated amongst the recreational players were Matt Savage, Chip and Karina Jett, Jan Fisher, and Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson, as well as Ari Engel and “Miami” John Cernuto. The latter two poker legends would end up playing heads up for the title, with Cernuto ultimately prevailing.

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.

Chuck, Chip, Matt, and Linda

Chuck, Chip, Matt, and Linda

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.

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 Saliba

Me, speaking with Justin Saliba

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.

Book Winner

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.

Jan Fisher

Jan Fisher

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.

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.

Leon Wheeler

Leon Wheeler

Miami John Cernuto Wins Another One

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.

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:

  • Mixed Game tournament buy-in up to €550
  • Roundtrip airfare for one
  • Four nights’ accommodation
]]> Announcing Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival IV https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/announcing-cardplayer-lifestyle-mixed-game-festival-iv/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 14:27:09 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=57613 Cardplayer Lifestyle will be hosting its fourth Mixed Game Festival, a five-day affair sponsored by PokerStars, at Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, with an EPT Prague prize package to be awarded.

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.

Mixed Game Festival IV

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.

Cardplayer Lifestyle Omaha 8 – Stud 8 Tournament Structure + Rules

Cardplayer Lifestyle H.O.R.S.E. Tournament Structure Sheet + Rules

Grand Prize Package Details

The EPT Prague prize package, which will be awarded to the winner of our H.O.R.S.E. tournament, will consist of:

  • Mixed Game tournament buy-in up to €550
  • Roundtrip airfare for one
  • Four nights’ accommodation

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.

Freebies and Giveaways

A hallmark of our Mixed Game Festivals are the “value adds”, and that will begin right away with a fun-filled feast:

Beyond the EPT Prague prize package, we’ve got some sweet extras that our players will surely enjoy, including:

  • “Bubble protection” for both tournaments + FREE poker training site memberships courtesy of Pokercoaching.com
  • Multiple daily merchandise giveaways courtesy of premium poker industry brands like: RunGoodGear, BBO Poker Tables, D&B Poker Publishing, PokerGO, and more!

Mixed Game Festival IV

In addition, over the course of Mixed Game Festival IV, we’ll be staging three poker book signings:

  • On Tuesday March 21st, WSOP bracelet winner Dylan Linde will be signing copies of his book Mastering Mixed Games, 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 at a discounted price of $25.
  • Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra will be signing copies of his autobiography Pulling the Trigger for a discounted price of $10.

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.

Daily Event Coverage

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]

]]> Mixed Game Festival III Day 3: All Good Things Come to an End https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/mixed-game-festival-iii-day-3-all-good-things-come-to-an-end/ Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:24:44 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=55527 Yesterday was the last official day of Mixed Game Festival III, and, once again, players started to gather for some dealer’s choice cash game action at Portomaso Casino here in Malta at around 2 PM. A few of the most degenerate dedicated 😉 ones were there right from the start, while a few more fresh – as well as familiar – faces joined later on.

The action on the felt was similar to that of the previous day, with everyone choosing a game they liked the most and virtually no limits as to what games were allowed — save for for one notable exception…

Things would get pretty crazy at times, even for some seasoned mixed game regulars. For some variations, dealers had to consult the players, but overall everyone was very chill about it. One other notable change from the previous day’s cash game action was the introduction of €1/€1 pot limit mixed games that were interspersed with the €5/€10 fixed limit ones. Betting per player was capped at €150 though, so things didn’t get too out of hand, and no player really got “stung” too hard.

I spoke to a few of the players – both Malta locals as well as those who flew in from abroad to attend – to hear what they had to say about Mixed Game Festival III, what it meant to them, and whether it was all they had hoped for and looked forward to.

Full Focus on Having Fun

Being a poker player myself, I understand that people don’t like being distracted while at the table, so I did my best to catch them between the hands and chat with them. Everyone I talked to was more than happy to take a few minutes and share their thoughts about the Festival and mixed games in general.

Milko van Winden, from Pokercode, was one of those who came to attend the Mixed Game Festival for the first time. He wanted to get involved since the very first one, but the two that took place in the US were, unfortunately, out of reach. But when Robbie announced the one in Malta, he knew he had to come.

Hailing from the Netherlands, this festival provided a great opportunity for him not only to play some mixed games as this is no longer an option in his country (even online), but also to reconnect with a friend who relocated to Malta over a year ago. So, it was a win-win proposition in multiple ways.

Martin Smith is a local player, and he kindly invited me to sit down and join the fun. Unlike many people you might meet at the poker tables, it was clear he wasn’t doing it with a goal of “taking my money.” He was genuinely having a great time and enjoying himself and just wanted others to share that joy. He was one of those players who pretty much played every minute of both cash game sessions, as well as in the Day 1 HORSE tournament.

This was Martin’s second time joining the Mixed Game Festival after playing in Las Vegas earlier this year (and winning the event’s grand prize!). He told me, and I was a bit surprised to hear, that the mixed game live scene in Malta was quite lively and that they played cash games regularly, a couple of times a week. Martin also told me he doesn’t play Hold’em all that often and explained what playing mixed games meant for him:

“I love mixed games for the challenge of having to think about a different game every few hands. We all want to win each other’s money, obviously, but we are here to be sociable and have fun.”

As the action was unfolding, another player made an appearance, rocking a T-shirt from the previous Mixed Game Festival. He knew Robbie and a few other players at the table, and, as it turned out, he was on a cruise that so happened to stop at Malta during the Festival. Jerry just couldn’t miss the opportunity to come over, say hi, and play some poker.

Until Next Time!

I left the cash game area around 2 AM. As I was leaving, players were debating starting a second table as a few more people were supposed to arrive. So, although it was late into the night, the last thing anyone was thinking about was quitting. Most players were already discussing potential plans to have an unscheduled Saturday night session, too!

Having felt the atmosphere and after talking to some of them, I can certainly understand why. If you enjoy the game of poker for the fun and challenge of it, you’ll hardly find a better bunch of people to play with. As Martin nicely put it, they want to take each other’s money, but that’s just a small secondary part of the whole experience. It’s about the fun and camaraderie that you just can’t put a price tag on.

Mixed Game Festival III may officially be over, but I have a distinct feeling that considering how well everything went, there will be future festivals to come in Malta, other places in Europe, and other further flung destination as well.

]]> Mixed Game Festival III Day 2: Cash Game Shenanigans Commence https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/mixed-game-festival-iii-day-2-cash-game-shenanigans-commence/ Thu, 27 Oct 2022 12:00:05 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=55520 If you’re fairly new to the whole idea of mixed game poker (like yours truly) but know a little bit about them, you probably think that the concept includes variations like Omaha 8, Seven Card Stud (regular and hi-lo), and an occasional variant that’s a bit out there, like Badugi.

What I learned yesterday, though, is that players who enjoy mixed games can be quite creative, and I mean that in the fullest sense of the word. I knew that the mixed games cash environment was pretty liberal in terms of games played, but I was surprised to see some games that I hadn’t even heard of before.

mixed game festival cash games

After the HORSE event on Day 1 of Mixed Game Festival III, yesterday was reserved exclusively for cash games, and the action started at around 2 PM. That’s what you’d call an early start in poker, but you could tell that everyone who arrived came ready to play!

It was just one table with a rotating cast of between six to eight players participating at any given time — Robbie Strazynski being one of them, from start to finish — and to say they were having a blast would be an understatement. That one table was making more noise than the rest of the tables in the cash game room combined!

With €5/10 fixed limits in place, it was a fairly affordable game that wasn’t going to break anybody’s bank (or make anyone rich, for that matter), so the focus was on having a good time.

mixed game festival cash games

Come Again, Please?

I was in and out of the cash game area, checking out what was happening and trying to keep up. After watching the game for half an hour or so, I was debating joining the action myself (especially after a kind invitation from the gentleman in seat three), but a few moments later, I decided it would probably be best to remain on the rail for this one.

As the button made a full round, it was time to pick the new game, and someone announced “Razzdugi.” I double-checked with Robbie to make sure I heard correctly, and he was kind enough to explain it was a split-pot game, where one half of the pot went to the best Razz hand and the other to the best Badugi hand, and the game was played like 7-Card Stud.

What fascinated me more than this completely new game (to me, at least) was that no one at the table even batted an eye. They were now playing Razzdugi, and no one missed the beat!

This included the dealers, who kept on dealing these different games as if it was nothing. The action was smoother than what you’ll find at most Hold’em tables, and that blew my mind. Sure enough, they needed a little assistance with announcing winning hands when games like “Razz High” were called, but overall, it was smooth sailing.

Poker Till Dawn

As cards and chips were flying around, players were having a great time. The table had more of a home game vibe to it, as everyone was very friendly to each other, and there was no tension. Not all of them were friends by the strictest definition of the word, but they were all brought together by their love for mixed games, and they weren’t going to let anything spoil the fun.

And they most certainly did not, as the game continued all the way until the early morning hours. I wasn’t there to see the conclusion, but Robbie let me know they wrapped it up at around 5 AM, for a total of over 14 consecutive hours of game play! During the entire session, the table only took one short dinner break. Some players came and went, but a few were there for the entire duration.

As is always the case with poker, some walked away with more than they bought in with, and others went home with their wallets a bit thinner. But there is no doubt in my mind that everyone walked away from that game a winner, as it was one of the most chilled and relaxed tables I had a chance to witness, in casinos and home games alike.

And today, they get to do it all over again, as we head into the third and the final day of Mixed Game Festival III at Malta’s Portomaso Casino.

]]> Mixed Game Festival III Day 1 Recap: ALL the King’s Horses! https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/mixed-game-festival-iii-day-1-recap-all-the-kings-horses/ Wed, 26 Oct 2022 11:31:25 +0000 https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/?p=55505 Today was my first for quite a few things. Of these things, my personal favorite was finally meeting Cardplayer Lifestyle founder Robbie Strazynski in person after years of virtual communication (Ed. note: Ivan wrote his first article for this site back in May 2015!). He’s the man responsible for putting together Mixed Game Festival III here at Portomaso Casino in Malta, bringing the joy of different poker variations to the masses in Europe for the first time.

This is also my first visit to Malta, a place that has been on my radar for many years but which I’ve never gotten around to visiting until now. Robbie gave me the push I needed to make the travel arrangements and finally take the plunge.

But, most importantly, it was my first time playing mixed games in a live format. I joined dozens other mixed game fans and enthusiasts in the HORSE event that ended up attracting a total of 59 entries (a few of which were re-entries). Robbie’s expectations were certainly exceeded, and as for me, I had no idea what exactly to expect. But, with the tournament buy-in being just an affordable €230, I decided to give it a go and experience it first-hand. That’s me in seat four, below.

Ivan Potocki Mixed Game Festival HORSE

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I felt I was lighting my money on fire. Having played poker for long enough (mostly Hold’em and PLO, though), I knew I stood very little chance against people who were clearly no slouches. I busted about one hour after taking my seat, but unlike most tournaments, I didn’t feel bad about it for a change.

The atmosphere at mine and the surrounding tables was very jovial. For most guys (and two ladies who graced us with their presence), it was all about enjoying the game and having fun. Of course, everyone wanted to win, but there was virtually zero tension in the room – and I loved it!

Even the first player to bust (and subsequently re-enter) had a smile on his face…

A Lot to Fight For!

By the time registration closed, the tournament clock was showing 59 entries – just one short of the nice, round number, but the turnout still exceeded expectations. After all, it took place on a Tuesday evening in Malta, and this was just the third time in the country’s history that a HORSE tournament was being contested, and the first at this price point!

It all resulted in a very respectable prize pool of about €11,300 to be divided among the top seven finishers, with the winner taking home €4,000 as well as a custom trophy. Plus, the “bubble boy” didn’t go home emptyhanded either.

I would love to be able to tell you more about some exciting hands and crucial moments of the tournament, but that would force me to pretend to know a lot about mixed games. I admit that I was confused a few times, with multi-way split pots and trying to keep track of how many hands of each game had been played. But that’s part of what learning mixed games is all about: broadening your horizons and challenging yourself rather than remaining on autopilot playing “yet another hand” of No Limit Texas Hold’em.

Plus, quite frankly, there was so much positive energy filling the room that I felt an adrenaline rush help carry me throughout my time on the tournament floor.

From my perspective, the dealers here at Portomaso Casino did an amazing job with very few errors along the way, and some of the more experienced players did their part in keeping things flowing, too. For a small buy-in event, the level of professionalism was certainly beyond my expectations, and yet, once the dealer was done with their down, everyone made sure to thank them, with an occasional fist bump thrown into the mix. Many of the dealers and floor staff also smiled when they got to keep some of the BadBeat clothing bespoke T-shirts Robbie was distributing throughout the event.

There were some bad beats and unexpected twists and turns, as you’d expect in any poker tournament, but no one took it to heart too much.

The Big Finale

The final table of eight was formed just after 1 AM local time, after about six hours of play (plus a few short breaks). By that time, the average stack was at around six big bets, which may seem short, but mixed games are a different beast.

The first elimination came early on, as the official bubble managed to squeeze his spot into the final eight with an extremely short stack. The remaining seven, however, were in no rush. Hands were played, and chips exchanged hands, but the number of players remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, phase two of Mixed Game Festival III began downstairs in the cash game area…

Over the next couple of hours, through numerous hands of limit hold’em, Omaha, stud, stud hi/low, and Omaha hi/low, the field eventually whittled down to a heads-up battle between two Frenchmen: Donat Guillaume and Romain Nardin.

Beyond the €4,000 top prize, also at stake was the first place trophy plus a free seat in the €550 Malta Poker Festival Main Event, sponsored by Pokercoaching.com.

Eventually the poker gods chose to shine their light on Nardin, though, as he kept grinding down his compatriot, slowly but surely reducing his stack to dust.

Still, Guillaume’s runner-up finish netted him €2,560 for his troubles. Upon exiting the room he was overheard telling Robbie “My buddies and I flew here for a holiday but specifically for this tournament. I don’t play Hold’em and this is the first time I have ever seen a mixed game tournament for low stakes guys like me on a festival series schedule. It was fantastic!”

For his part, Nardin was a pretty happy camper, too. He told Robbie “I’m from Toulouse, but I moved to Malta a few years ago. I haven’t really played much poker outside of the country over the last few years. I never see HORSE or other mixed game tournaments on series schedules, but when I saw this I knew I had to play. Great job! I really enjoyed it and I’m very happy!”

Thus concluded the first day of the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival. Tomorrow and the day after, cash games are the main course, and Robbie will be splashing around and spreading the mixed game gospel ever further, one table at a time. From what I’ve been hearing, the action should be pretty fun, with €4/8 limit games on the menu for all to enjoy. We’ll do our best to keep you up to date in the coming days and try to bring you a taste of the great atmosphere from Malta!

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