POKER GUIDE TO : Poker in Madrid (lots of photos)

Most of you are watching Triton Madrid so I thought I write a review about Poker in Madrid, specifically at the Gran Via Casino where Paul Phua won his first Triton title last night. Heartiest congratulations!

Typical Spanish colorful market

Retiro Park, 10 minute walk from Gran Via Casino

I've been to Madrid twice, both times I played at the Gran Via. It is right in the middle of the city, close to many famous attractions like Plaza Major, Retiro Park, Royal Palace, etc. The casino is within an old building so it has a James Bond type feel to it. The interior is classy and feels more like a private club than a casino. When I was there they were spreading €1/3, 2/5, 5/10, 10/20 games. I had a good session on one of the €10/20 games where I won €8500 making my month long trip to Spain a profitable one. You can read more about that trip here. The weird thing about this casino is the cash games are run counter clockwise. To this day I still don't know the real reason why they do that and it's the only room that I've played in that does that. 

6-8 cash game tables almost every day

Ran good on €10/20

They serve free drinking water and pre-COVID even had free finger food and snacks but understandably now it has been removed. However the casino is close to many nice restaurants that are just minutes away. The higher stakes games are pretty tough but the PLO was quite soft in my opinion. I didn't play any of the lower stakes but they seem okay to play. I'm not sure about rake but I remembered it being quite reasonable compared to typical Asian rake systems. Dealers all speak fluent English but knowing some Spanish does help you make friends on the table. They have an effective queuing system and for €50 deposit they will give you a buzzer to let you know your seat is available. Staff are friendly and fast and tipping is welcomed and encouraged. 

I spent the whole month traveling to 8 cities in Spain. Madrid is a cosmopolitan city with deep history, beautiful architecture and wonderful food. Food in Spain can be on the salty side but still yummy nonetheless. I went to a restaurant that was featured in the late-Anthony Bourdain's show and his table and photos were displayed there proudly. Another must have is the Churros with chocolate and after trying most of the shops our favorite is still Las Farolas. For the famous Spanish breakfast tortillas head for Casa Dani for yummy egg and potatoes. 

Anthony Bourdain - GOAT food & travel host

Yummy yummy

Great food everywhere

Overall Spain is an affordable destination. Food, hotel, transportation are quite reasonably priced compared to most European cities. If you run well on €5/10 you should comfortably cover your expenses. Ours was on the high side as we did a lot of last minute travel and hotel bookings, mostly stayed in 4-star hotels and ate at nice restaurants. It is not unreasonable to spend €50 or less a day for everything. The people are mostly nice but some do not speak English. If you have the time you should visit nearby towns Segovia and Toledo. Unfortunately we had to choose one and didn't make it to Toledo but will definitely do so on our next visit. 

Segovia is breathtaking

Famous aqueduct still intact

How To Play Ten-Card Flip Poker (Original Rules here)

Have you been to a poker game that ended but continued on with a game of FLIP? Usually players would ante up an agreed amount, deal their cards and run it to the river. Whoever gets lucky will scoop the pot. However this game is all luck and no skill, so I have invented a new game called the TEN CARD FLIP. Inspired by the Ten Card Stud flip that is on YouTube between Doug Polk and Jeremy Kaufman for $41k, I modified the rules to simpler and easier to play at home, and between 2-5 players. Trust me, it is super fun and addictive, so if anyone decides to write it into an app, I hope I get the credit as the creator of the game.

OFFICIAL RULES: 

1. Players agree to play for an amount, for example $10, and each player will put $10 into the pot.
2. Button is dealt and cards will be dealt as usual from the small blind position
3. Each player gets 10 cards face DOWN and NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO LOOK AT ANY OF THE CARDS.
4. Starting from the small blind, each player will flip over one card each. 
5. Cards that are showing with the LOWEST hand value will continue to flip cards over one by one until they are NO LONGER the lowest value. For example first player shows K, second player shows 8, third player Ace, fourth player 6. The fourth player will flip over another card. If the two cards showing can beat the second lowest hand which is the 8, then second player will continue. If for example they draw a 4, which means they still have 6 high, they will continue to draw until they are no longer the lowest.
6. Hand ranking follows poker standard hands with lowest being high card, high card with higher kicker, pair, two pairs etc. 

THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART

7. If a player has flipped over FIVE cards, they can decide if they want to continue or SURRENDER. By continuing they risk their entire bet of $10, but has a chance to win the pot. However they can choose to SURRENDER and get back half their bet, which is $5 in this case. However you forfeit the chance of winning the pot and the remaining players will play on. 
8. Each player will be given a chance to surrender as long as they have 5 or less cards showing. 
9. Game continues on until a winner is decided. 

Started at $50 a hand it escalated to $200 with sidebets!

I created this game a few years ago, but have not shared it openly. Today in a fun game I shared with some guys and they seem to love it. Maybe they will continue to share it to their friends, and you searched it to learn about the official rules. Now you know who invented it. Try it at your next home game, it's a great game while waiting for players to come, or when you have too few players left at the end of the session. Drop me a comment if you tried it, or are unsure about the rules, or even better if you want to pay me royalties for using my game. You can email me at happyriverpoker@gmail.com Have fun!

Poker in Vienna, Austria REVIEW (lots of photos)

Vienna, Austria, one of the most beautiful cities in the world with rich history, culture and architecture. Whether it’s strolling around in an old castle, or walking on streets and alleyways, peeking into a beautiful cathedral, enjoying historical artefacts and royal treasures in the multitude of museums, which is home to Mozart and Beethoven by the way, or visiting the world’s oldest zoo, there’s plenty to see and do in Vienna. 

Just happened to walk by one night

Poker is not available 24 hours of the day in Vienna so it’s best to enjoy the city during the day and play poker at night. Right in the middle of the city centre is Casino Wien which means Casino Vienna. They usually run games after 7pm and close at 4am and the usual stakes are €5/5. However I have seen them running as high as €100/100 PLO. You will need to bring your passport to register each day you visit the casino. Tell them you are coming for poker otherwise they will charge you an entry fee. Also note that there’s a strict dress code so no shorts or hoodies. You can check the website for games by going to poker.casino.at, then select Wien for Vienna and it will show what games are running at the moment. They only have free water and everything else costs money. Food in this area is expensive because it’s in a touristy area but there’s a restaurant just around the corner called Wienerwald that has good food and reasonable prices. 

Remember to bring your passport with you

Old school chips

When I was in town there were the Concord Card Casinos (also known as CCC) and Montesino Card Room. Unfortunately I have been told they are no longer in operation. 

It’s good to note that ATM machines can only dispense €400 at a time. However the poker rooms can accept foreign currencies and you can buy them back in the same day. Their rates are actually better than the money changers. Just remember to keep your receipt after changing your money. 

Food is also my passion but unfortunately Viennese food isn’t spectacular. But when you’re there be sure to have the famous Schnitzel. Also try the Leberkase which is like Viennese luncheon meat. Try Viennese sausages and hotdogs, and coffee in their local cafes. They have a wide selection of cakes and pastries.  They are also famous for their open face sandwiches which are quite good. For a quick and cheap meal, grab a snack from the supermarket like a sandwich or bread roll and don’t forget their freshly squeezed orange juice. Their boiled beef and goulash are also popular dishes unfortunately I didn’t like them very much. 

I still can't pronounce Schnitzel properly

There’s so much to see in Vienna and I got a Vienna Pass to get free entrances to most of the sights. This pass will also allow you access to the hop on hop off bus however there are other companies offering this service too. I recommend visiting the Schonbrunn Palace unfortunately no cameras were allowed inside. From there walk to the Schonbrunn Zoo, the world’s oldest zoo and voted best zoo in Europe for 5 years in a row. There are tonnes of museums and collections but my favourites are the Albertina where you can see priceless art by Picasso and others, the Imperial Treasury to see royal treasures made with gold and precious stones, Museum of Natural history, and Kunsthistoriches Museum’s amazing collection and architecture. The Belvedere Palace was nice too especially on a nice sunny day. I took a long bus ride to Forchtenstein Castle and had an interesting tour of the place. 

Huge polar bear at Schonbrunn Zoo

World's oldest working Ferris Wheel

Belvedere Castle

Vienna is just a 4-hour train ride away from Prague which will be on another blog post. If you want something more than just poker then Vienna is a good choice. Overall I had a great time but I would recommend visiting during a warmer time of year.

Guide to Asian Poker Destinations - TAIPEI

Taipei has burst into the poker scene as one of the main stops on almost all Asian poker series. In 2019 alone I have traveled to Taiwan at least 5 times with another visit scheduled for December. Poker is definitely booming here and with Macau seemingly severing all ties with Poker, Taiwan is fast becoming a poker hot spot.

One of the most recognizable buildings in the world

However this guide is not about the poker here, it's more about the destination. Taipei is a beautiful city with a well-balanced culture and lifestyle. Despite being a highly populated city, it does not have a lot of dense accommodation. There are parks every other block, and strong emphasis on recycling and cleanliness, it is a very green city. After a long day of poker, or like me, stone bubbling the High Rollers, I love to rent a city bike and ride around in the cool night breeze. It costs less than USD 1 to rent it, and you can park it at any bike stop and not worry about anyone stealing it. I rode it a lot from the poker room back to my hotel and if you ride for less than 5 minutes it's free. There are bike kiosks everywhere so you can drop it off at your destination.

Ride the negativity away

I'm an outdoorsy person, however most poker destinations are usually big congested cities far away from nature. I just visited a random community park in Taipei and I saw 6 or 7 squirrels running around on the trees. Taipei zoo is also amazing. Only USD 2 for a world class zoo, it is amazing value and one of the best zoos I have been to regardless of price. Jiufen and Shifen are just an hour away and Beitou hot springs too. The hike up Elephant Mountain is also not to be missed. Super nice views of Taipei 101 and the city.

Public park squirrel

Don't get me started on Taiwanese food. Although to be honest, after 5 visits in a year, each time staying minimum a week, I am losing interest in eating the same things over and over again. However for someone visiting Taiwan for the first time, you will love it. Notable recommendations are Jinfeng Braised Pork rice (must try the duck eggs), Ay-Chung Flour Rice noodles (that's how they spell their own name), Yamatoya Ramen (in case you crave Japanese food) and Sushi Express (for super great value only USD 1 per plate).

Lastly I am quite impressed with the Taiwanese culture. Probably second in the world to Japan but a more laid back version. Generally the culture is friendly, polite and well-mannered. Children are brought up properly, respecting of elders, no cutting of queues, or speaking loudly in public spaces, etc.

Overall Taipei is a great place to come for poker tournaments. Only complaint for me is no legal cash games and the players are too fishy! (just kidding)

Don't forget to join me online on Neverlosepoker or Natural8 using the code POKER168 to sign up and play!

Poker in Phnom Penh - All You Need To Know

WPT just announced the WPT Cambodia (Nov 16-25) and recently the poker crowd has grown significantly here in Phnom Penh I thought I would write a "all you need to know / don't get scammed" post for those of you considering coming here.

First of all Cambodia is really a beautiful country. The people are surprisingly different from their Vietnamese neighbors. If you have the time, plan a 2-3 day trip to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat and the other temples/palaces. But avoid Sihanoukville like the plague.

Beautiful night view of Phnom Penh

The currency is the Cambodian Riel (4000 Riel to 1 USD) but USD is accepted and preferred everywhere so bring dollars and also prepare small change. All cash games and tournament buy ins will be in US dollars and you can really live without any local currency here. However they do not use coins, so whenever they make change that's less than a dollar it will be in Riel. I usually keep them for tips or for the tuk-tuk drivers.

Nagaworld is the only casino here in Phnom Penh and has a decent poker room. Right now it is usually 6 tables and runs USD 1/3 up to sometimes 10/20 games. But I would suspect come WPT time they will have many more tables and plenty of action. It's a great place as it's in the casino and occasionally you get the curious cat that wants to try poker for the first time. Most drinks are free including beer and orange juice.

There are a few private poker clubs in town that are worth checking out. But some of them are by invitation only. So if you are interested in joining those, you can send me an email at happyriverpoker@gmail.com (if you're travelling in a group and would like my services as a guide, we might be able to arrange something.)

One of the private games

When you first reach the airport, you will need to take a taxi or tuk-tuk to town. At all times it is wisest to use a booking app like Grab, or PassApp to get the cheapest, safest and most direct routes to your intended destination. However when you first arrive, the airport layout is new to you, you might not set the correct pick up spot, you might not have a SIM Card yet, blah blah. It might just be easier to take the airport taxi/tuk-tuk at a higher price to save you the hassle. But when you're in town, be sure to use the apps because tuk-tuk drivers will charge you way more if you haggle. Don't forget, the average salary is about USD 150 per month, so 1 or 2 dollars more means a lot to them, even if it is small change to you. Don't mess up the market for the rest of us.

There are a few SIM card vendors at the airport. Usually around USD 5 for 5 days or something like that. If you can wait a while, you can get USD 8 for 1 month in town. That being said, you need to find a way to get to the mall without mobile data and you need to bring your passport to get that SIM. So if you don't mind it, the airport SIM card is not the worst.

Be careful when and where you are using your phone. There has been stories of people snatching your phone while you are on a tuk-tuk. These motorbike drive-bys will snatch them in mid traffic and you have no way of chasing them down in your small tuk-tuk. So keep your valuables safe even in the comfort of your tuk-tuk. Don't flash around your new Huawei or iPhone by the street and never flash your money in or when leaving the casino. You're just asking for trouble. Imagine if they are making $150 a month, how much would $2000 mean to them. I always carry some small change in my pocket for tuk-tuks or buying stuff. My big notes are kept safely elsewhere.

Like my post about scams in Vietnam (https://happyriverpoker.blogspot.com/2019/04/dont-get-scammed-in-vietnam.html) same thing applies when it comes to getting massages. Don't be the dumb tourist that got the world's most expensive massage.

Food is pretty good in Phnom Penh, but it's not local food. You can get almost any international cuisine here except their own. My favourite restaurants here are so far are Mexican and French. Typically Khmer food is quite similar to Thai and not very unique. Overall food will cost you about USD 5-10 per meal.

Overall I think it is one of the cities you definitely should check out. It's not as scary or archaic as you think. It has grown and changed a lot in the last few years. It has a sad history that is good to understand about and acknowledge as many are still affected by it. The people are generally friendly and nice and deserving of our help if we can afford it.

Poker in Melbourne - REVIEW

Melbourne is home to the Aussie Millions and is one of the nicest cities I have been to in the world. On itself it is a very popular destination with great attractions, superb views and landscapes, yummy food from a melting pot of cultures and overall just a very beautiful city. The casino is smack in the middle of town where you’ll find hotels and Airbnbs within walking distance. There is a free city tram system and many of the key attractions are within that area, so you basically can camp down without having to take a taxi or rent a car. 

Beautiful day or night

However, Melbourne’s cash game has (in my opinion) one of the worst raking system. For games lower than 2/5, there’s a time charge of one big blind as soon as you sit down. Each pot is raked 10% capped at 15, pots are raked even without a flop. Most tables are also called “turbo” tables where each player has about 30 seconds to act. I am not opposed to this idea because it makes the game run faster and smoother. But I find it funny that they charge one big blind for every extra 30 seconds, and you can only “buy time” twice per hand. Also you can only buy in a maximum of 100bb every single time. So if you are playing catch up, or eyeing the whale with a big stack, well you can only do limited damage. 

Won 900bb in one session

The games are reasonably okay but I do feel that there are a lot of strong regulars. Occasionally especially on weekends you might find some curious cats venturing over from the bar to try out the game. You can still beat the regulars but I would not describe the game as soft, but I do feel it’s softer than Macau. 

There are no free food or drinks. A bottle of drinking water is AUD 2.50 and the waitress will give you a dirty look if you don’t tip. (ps. For AUD 1 you can get a 2 litre bottle of imported mineral water from the supermarket) Vodka with Red Bull is AUD 32 (about USD 26) The dealers are pretty fast but seem a bit more moody compared to Sydney and Perth. 

There are lots of daily tournaments but I did not partake. There are PLO games as well and more game selection than most places. You can buy chips from the counter and request any denomination you like. Which means you can buy 1k in $5 chips and build you wall or tower as you wish. Some players enjoy this while others think it slows down the game. As for me I like having this option and it makes for some pretty cool instagram photos. 

If you stay in the city area and walk to and from the casino, you will catch some spectacular scenery along the way. The sunset on Yarra River is my favourite. There’s lots to see and do within the city. There’s the Queen Victoria Market where you can buy great produce and food and during the nights they have the night bazaar there are bargain clothing, bags etc. The docklands area is a newly built waterfront area with nice apartments and cafes. Not much too see there but it’s on the free tram route. Still worth a visit for a nice stroll and beautiful photos. 

Food is generally pretty good in Melbourne with great cafes

There’s the Chinatown, museums, art galleries and parks all along the free tram route. If you don’t mind walking, 15 minutes away from the casino is the South Melbourne Market. It is slightly less touristy than Queen Victoria Market and a nice place to have lunch. There are lots of stuff outside the city as well, including the famous 12 apostles on the Great Ocean Road. But during my last two visits to Melbourne I never left the city centre except to go to the airport. For me it was a good enough balance between poker and vacation time. 

Although the field seems tougher in Melbourne, but it is also where the money is at. I had two big sessions where I won 600 and 700bbs respectively. Considering the max buy-in is 100bb, that is a big win. If you are looking for high action games and higher stakes, Melbourne is the place to go. 

Poker in Perth - REVIEW

Perth is a beautiful city, with clear blue skies almost every time I visit, close drive to vineyards, fruit orchards and wonderful scenery every where you look. This is my second time visiting Perth and both times I rented a car. Highly recommend that you do so. Public transport is not very convenient and taxis aren’t cheap either. Traffic is usually pretty good apart from the city centre and plenty of free parking everywhere. 

Beautiful Perth sky with sweet and juicy strawberries

The casino is also part of the Crown group however they do have a different rake system. There’s no time charge and they fix the rake not by percentage but by different calculation. It ends up being slightly better than the 10% in Melbourne and the cap is at around 4-5 big blinds. There’s no jackpot in play but that doesn’t bother me. The jackpot in Sydney and Melbourne is pretty impossible to hit anyways. 

The most popular game is 1/3, buy-in cap is at 100bb. Occasionally when there are enough players, they will have a 2/5 game with a buy-in cap at 200bb. The game in my opinion is much softer than Melbourne and Sydney with some really crazy players overcalling with one pair or a low equity draw. There are lots of regulars that play there, but most of them are not tough to play at all. 

Had a couple of good sessions there

Dealers are generally pretty good and efficient, however the seem more laid back than their Australian counterparts. I also encountered a rude floor man who made up a new rule just to argue with me and a seemingly racist dealer. He reacted quite differently to a similar situation involving players of two different races. There are no free drinks or food but there’s a water dispenser available within the poker area. 

Perth is definitely worth visiting. The game at the casino is not 24 hours, so you’ll have time to explore the city and its surroundings. On weekdays the game starts in the afternoon but I recommend playing around or after dinner time. Within the city is King’s Park where you can escape the hustle and bustle or go for a nice picnic. The park overlooks the city centre and has great views all around. If you have a car you can drive to Swan Valley. There are vineyards offering free wine and cheese tasting. However I would not recommend that you buy the Cheeses. We bought one that was 3x the price from a local supermarket. In Swan Valley there’s a chocolate factory as well and yes there’s free chocolate. So if you have a nagging girlfriend who’s fed up with your constant poker grinding, you’ll spoil her with the wine and chocolate without spending a cent! 

The other place to visit in Freemantle and Cottlesloe Beach. The water is amazingly beautiful and inviting but unfortunately even though it was the middle of summer, the water was still freezing cold. But it did not deter many locals from diving in. If you’re a dog lover like me, there’s a dog friendly beach near South Terrance at Freemantle where you can see dogs roam free and run around in the sand. 

Dog friendly beach

Cottlesloe Beach

If you’re in town at the right time, you can try some fruit picking. Strawberries were in season while I was there but in other times of the year you can pick apples, mangoes, even lychees. Freshly picked fruit is super sweet and despite the hot sun and risk of sun burn, it was still a fun afternoon. Perth zoo was nothing spectacular but still not a bad way to spend half a day. 

Not bad for AUD 10

Overall Perth is a great place to visit for poker and balanced with sight seeing. If you are not looking for bigger games, it is just nice to play some friendly poker and enjoy a nice vacation as well. If you guys are interested, the Perth Poker Championships are happening end of February (2019)

Poker in Vietnam - REVIEW

I have visited Vietnam at least 30 times now and can speak a tiny bit of the language so I consider myself part Vietnamese lol. The poker fever hit Hanoi before any other cities so the games there are more prevalent, the field tougher as well. Unfortunately I did not play there and among all the cities I've visited in Vietnam, Hanoi is my least favourite.

Nice feed for less than USD 5

Saigon also known as Ho Chi Minh City with a population of about 9 million, is the biggest city of Vietnam. It is also a city of motorbikes (scooters) zooming about in all directions, even if it is the wrong one. It gives new meaning to hustle and bustle and there is a lack of respect for traffic laws. Green means go, red means go at your own risk. I was laughed at for putting on my seatbelt and sidewalks are for pedestrians and bikes. I still haven't gotten used to it yet and I really hope Vietnam can improve on this because it is not only dangerous but it reflects poorly on your country. Cutting queues, peeing on the street, eating with mouths open.... can't really blame them because the country only came out of war 44 years ago. But it's about time the people are educated and brought up correctly.

Back to poker. The tournament poker scene has exploded in Vietnam. Credit to APT for kicking it off with a 2 billion VND (USD 85k) guarantee, followed by APL 6 billion, and WPT up the ante to 8 billion (USD 342k) all within the same year. There are local tournaments running literally every day. There are also decent value in the NPC (National Poker Championships) where the field is 99% local and much softer than the international fields. There are some solid local players and a few pros who have done really well in the international scene but generally I would say poker is still very young in Vietnam so there is still lots of room to grow. Buy ins are quite low by comparison and really fun. I experienced the funnest bubble time antics as the whole room cheered when the big stack busted bubble boy's Kings with 24 spades.

Another place I played poker at was at Da Nang city where the National Poker Championships are held. Da Nang is a nice beach town with lots of great seafood and nice sandy beaches. Food and accommodation are pretty good and very affordable. For a decent 3 star hotel expect to pay less than USD 20 per night.

The view from my hotel rooftop swimming pool

*Cash games are illegal in Vietnam so play at your own risk. However it is also very popular with locals and foreigners alike. 

Poker in Phnom Penh - REVIEW

When you think of Cambodia, probably you'll think of Angkor Wat, cheap beer, the Khmer Rouge, but seldom would you consider it to be a poker destination. But I am going to tell you why it's a great place to go for some fun and poker!

Cold coconut on Hot day in Siem Reap

The last time I visited was 5 years ago and man so much has changed. Phnom Penh has become a bustling international city. I am so surprised that many Cambodians speak English and speak it well. I've also seen guides who speak Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese and Korean fluently. Most shop signs are multi-lingual and foreigner friendly. My first impression 5 years ago wasn't that great but this time round I am quite impressed.

As far as I know, there are 3 main poker rooms in Phnom Penh. Nagaworld is the main casino, but I went there and felt it was quite dark and the games only start at night. Riverking is the other one but I didn't go there. The latest one is called Poker Ace. Games start at around noon everyday. Free food, free drinks. (The food is really good, you can order steak, salmon, etc) Rake is reasonably low, about 3bb, pretty good for Asian standards. Dealers are fast, speak English and some even speak Mandarin. Holdem, Omaha game are available starting from US$1/3 to 10/20. Location is good too, it's inside an entertainment center, so if you want to get a massage, or sing your bad beats away at the KTV, they are just next door.

I ordered Duck Breast with Mash Potatoes. Yummy and FREE!

Most people are put off by uncertainty. After coming here a second time, I highly recommend making it one of your poker stops in Asia. The city is pretty cool for a developing country, much better than Manila or Jakarta in my opinion. Food isn't as great as Vietnam but you have lots of choices with international franchises everywhere. It feels really safe but you might have the odd tuk-tuk driver trying to scam you for more money, but you can get around that by downloading PassApp, I call it "Uber for Tuktuks".

I had a good day. I suggest to bring your sunglasses for this game though haha (Bright table)

If you like more information, you can contact me (happyriverpoker@gmail.com) for more details. The poker room can provide airport pick up, hotel arrangements, local guide etc to save you the hassle and stress. Check out my YouTube Channel for a short video I made about poker in Cambodia.

Poker in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) REVIEW

I've always been fond of Saigon, I have traveled there at least 12 times. The food is great, people are nice, everything is cheap, lots of things to do, great place to relax, and now, I can add POKER to the list!

Recently there are some licensed clubs in Vietnam where you can play poker legally! That's great considering Macau, Korea and Singapore are super expensive and full of pros, Manila is dangerous and seedy, so Vietnam is your best option!

Classy European Decor and well trained dealers and staff

My ritual usually is wake up at 10 ish, grab a quick bowl of hot pho and Vietnamese coffee, then head to the salon to get my hair shampoo'd and and nice back rub. Then off to lunch and nap then poker at night! What a life! And everything is so cheap too! One week of hotel is almost the same price as one night in Macau!

Oh and their rake is LOWEST in ASIA! 2-2.5bb per pot maximum! That's super good value!

Here are some pictures and videos of the club. Free food and drinks for players too!

Games are 100k/200k (Vietnam Dong) and up, around USD 4/8. Dealers are fast and professional, the place is spacious and nice. The video only shows probably 1/5 of the whole place. If you're interested please visit www.vietnampokervacation.blogspot.com they offer package tours for poker and other fun activities. 

Poker in Madrid - REVIEW

Plaza Major in Madrid

Madrid is a beautiful city with quaint alleyways, that lead into large squares and plazas, nice architecture and great food. I highly recommend visiting although I did not enjoy a great result here. I stayed at the Room007 Sol hotel which was pretty affordable but quite nice. The location is great and walking distance to nice sights and restaurants, and 900 meters from Casino GranVia.

Games available are €1/1, 1/2, 2/5 and 5/5. One night we bumped it up to 5/10 cause an Asian fish was in town (me). First things first, the game is played ANTICLOCKWISE, unlike most places in the world. You can Mississippi straddle, and you can play with your eyes closed, because the dealers will announce everything. Even the flop cards, the number and suits. As long as you understand Spanish. But I must say the dealers in Europe are friendly, professional and quick. Unlike those in Macau who are sulky, slow, rude and prone to mistakes.

Players are generally tighter compared to Amsterdam, normal open is 3-5 bb, they seem to want to crack me every single hand. One hand I had aces, someone opened to 20 (4bb), 3 callers, I 3b to 145 (29 bb) there were 2 callers. Flop QTx two spades. I bet, someone min-raised. Turn he donk shove 700 into 300 pot. He turned over QT off. I don't get the play but anyway he got paid. There were a couple of grinders there, 3 bet squeeze light, over bet bluffs, etc. But most players are pretty soft.

Beautiful alleyways

Water and simple drinks are free (Coke, coffee, tea), once in a while the waiter will come by with some snacks. Like proper hors d'oeuvre style finger food. There is a platter of potato chips self service and nuts and candy. Free WiFi is available as well. Highly recommend a visit. The casino feels more like a rich man's mansion than a casino.

Highly recommend to try this - churros with thick hot chocolate

There were other casinos as well but it seemed that they were either members' only or no poker. GranVia is next to the subway station and walking distance from many major hotels. Do pay a visit. 

Guide to Asian Poker Destinations - MACAU

Macau is the Vegas of Asia. Or should I say, Vegas is the Macau of the US. Macau is actually the gambling capital of the world, with more gamblers, more money dwarfing Vegas' numbers. But that's not what we are talking about. Macau's poker scene is still far from Vegas but it is getting there. This week there's the ACOP, with the main event buy in at HKD 100,000 - higher than WSOP's main.

Recent Photo of Macau, after the typhoon destruction

There are I believe almost 40 casinos in Macau, but when it comes to poker in Macau, they are only available at these casinos.

1. Wynn Macau

Wynn Macau is one of the earliest if not THE earliest to have a poker room. I still remember playing there like 10 years ago when it the games were at 10/25. Wynn has a cool room, nice tables, stakes from 25/50 to 1000/2000 (HK$), free drinks, good dealers, reasonable service and usually a good 4-6 tables going every day. The room is open 24 hours and doesn't disappoint. The rake is good, capped at $250 regardless of stakes (please correct me if I'm wrong) Due to this, there are more regulars and pros here. However it is good to note that most players play with deeper stacks here, compared to other rooms.

2. Venetian

Like Wynn, Venetian has a very active poker room as well. Well, Venetian has a very active casino. I think it is one of the most crowded in Macau. So the poker room is buzzing with action too. When full they can accommodate quite a lot of tables because it has a pretty big area. However rarely they do that and there's always a queue. The dealers are pretty grumpy and service isn't great. Games are 24 hours too but the rake cap is at $500. Less pros and regs, good location so there are curious fish who swim by once in a while. However most just sit there with a 50bb stack.

Outside the Venetian

3. Galaxy

Galaxy has a small but reasonably active poker room. When full they can only fit in 3-4 tables and games are 25/50 and 50/100. However they do have some promotions going to attract players, such as the bad beat jackpot, aces cracked, high hand of the day etc. Initially when they started they had a rake promotion of $150 cap. I am not sure if it is still the case. Dealers deal pretty well, but do not expect friendly banter or smiling. I was told tables close at 1am, but I am not sure about this myself.

4. City of Dreams

This is where most of the big tournaments are held, ACOP, Red Dragon, etc so it has a buzzing poker room as well. Stakes are usually 25/50, 50/100 and occasionally 100/200 but I have never seen higher. Rake I believe is capped at $250 as well. I would say the game is pretty good during tournament times but there is usually a long queue for seats. It is away from other gaming tables so I don't think they attract passer-bys as well as some of the other rooms.

5. Wynn Palace

Wynn has a twin! Pinkish, flowery twin! They have a poker room with 6 tables but usually only 1 or 2 are running. Smallish games, haven't played there so I don't know about the service or dealer skills. But I think it is a bad idea to split their focus to two poker rooms. Would not recommend, unless you're staying there or happen to be passing by. I would recommend taking the free cable car while you're there though.

6. Others

Lisboa and Babylon were running poker at one time. I have no idea if they are still going. If anyone knows please comment below.

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Guide to Asian Poker Destinations - MANILA Accommodation

Live poker is illegal where I live. Therefore I have to travel to play legitimate poker games. And one of the headaches is where to stay. Where can you find safe, affordable, convenient, comfortable accommodation? Let me give you a rough guide. Check out my YouTube video on Poker in Manila.

I recently just returned from Manila. Manila is a great place to play live poker due to the following reasons:
- Plenty of games to choose from (Resorts World, COD, Solaire, Okada, Metro, Masters)
- Plenty of different stakes (from US$0.50/1 to bigger games)
- Tables are pretty soft (not many grinders go there because most games are too small to be sustainable)

Wanna feel like a millionaire? Their biggest denomination is 1000 pesos, which is like US$30.

Manila can be a dangerous city if you're not street smart. Word of advice, keep a low profile, no bling bling, fancy jewelry or camera on your neck otherwise you've just painted yourself a target. Take taxis that drive by. Taxis that are parked there for a long time most likely is there waiting for a sucker. One of the best taxi companies is called RYOAKI (the white taxi with rainbow stripes) Therefore when it comes to accommodation, I usually prefer walking distance from the casino I am going to. But most hotels in Manila are super expensive. Even more expensive than Macau standards. But depending on your budget, you can live like a king, or have a decent place but doesn't break your bank.

Resorts World Manila - Airbnb (recommended - search for Pasay City or even Resorts World), Marriott (Luxury) or Belmont (Not cheap but very nice)

City of Dreams - Hyatt or Nobu (Luxury), Red Planet (Decent hotel and affordable but need a 5 minute taxi ride), Heritage (budget 5 minutes by taxi but not a great neighbourhood)

Solaire - Solaire (luxury with cool ceiling to floor windows), Airbnb (recommended - search Solaire or Mall of Asia)

Pretty soft games at Resorts World but small stakes

I think I will make a separate guide for other poker destinations. Overall I would say Airbnb is your best bet for quality, safety and price. Still expect to pay like US$40-50 per night. Hotels are pretty expensive and not as good as the price you're paying for it. However if you really want to book a hotel, I suggest contacting the guys at www.pokertourbookings.com They have the best rate, better than Agoda, Booking.com and any online sites.

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