Mixed Game Festival XI is officially underway at Bellagio Las Vegas! Taking place just across the street from the World Series of Poker at Paris/Horseshoe, it is the perfect place for players looking to take a break from the tournament grind and have some fun playing low-stakes cash games.
With poker players flocking to town from all over the world, there was never any doubt that the Mixed Game Festival XI would garner a lot of attention, but even festival organizer and host Robbie Strazynski was surprised –“overwhelmed” was the word he used — with the turnout.
The festival kicked off at noon at Bellagio with two tables playing $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice mix, but within a couple of hours there were four games going strong. That held steady for over six hours, as some players departed with new ones taking their seats.
We have FOUR $4/8 dealer’s choice tables going here at @BellagioPoker… and we are only about 2 hours into Day 1 of Mixed Game Festival XI!
Later today, we award a $3500 seat into the @BetMGMPoker Championship 🏆
One heck of a great start! pic.twitter.com/W0eEbxxPrK
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 8, 2025
One novelty introduced this time around was the “beginner’s table,” which ran for a few hours, giving those new to the world of mixed game poker to give it a try with no pressure. Set in a friendly environment and guided by patient dealers, the newcomers could experience for themselves why more and more players are turning to mixed games.
As is always the case, it was a very busy day, both on and off the felt. A few familiar faces made their appearances, the first of four $3,500 tournament seats was given away, and action continued into the wee hours of the night, with two tables still going strong well after the clock struck midnight.
Poker Hall of Famers, Ambassadors, and Regular Folks from All Over
The real beauty of the Mixed Game Festival is that it attracts players of all backgrounds from all over the world. It is an event where fans of non-Hold’em poker variants can come together to have fun, chat, and meet some new friends, all while playing competitive poker for low stakes.
Despite it becoming a staple event by this point, the festival manages to retain that home game feeling that makes it equally as appealing to low-stakes casual fans of the game and big names alike.
Thus, it was no big surprise to see the likes of Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher, Women in Poker Hall of Famers, get in the mix. Abby Merk, an ambassador for BetMGM Poker, the event’s sponsor, was also there, taking a break from her usual No Limit Hold’em grind.
Our founder @cardplayerlife hanging with @Criminal_Bizzy and @BetMGMPoker ambassador @abbypoker_ at Mixed Game Festival XI.
Wait, Abby knows mixed games?! 😮 pic.twitter.com/eIJXMFvBu1
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 8, 2025
Once more, we had a truly international lineup in the room, with players literally flying in both from across the US as well as from far beyond its borders to enjoy a few days of mixed game action. It’s moments like these that really demonstrate just how much the Mixed Game Festival has grown over the years.
Maruco and Soshi @ya_soshi traveled all the way from Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵 to join us here at @BellagioPoker at @PokerLifeMedia Mixed Game Festival XI pic.twitter.com/pq4BA1jjHx
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 8, 2025
A couple of poker authors were there for the first day as well. Ashley Adams was signing copies of his D&B Poker book “Winning Poker in 30 Minutes a Day,” while Shawn Grigus did the same for his “Poker: All the Games” publication.
Poker author Ashley Adams is here to help us kick off @PokerLifeMedia Mixed Game Festival XI with a book signing at @BellagioPoker.
Wanna be a winner at poker? He literally wrote the @DBPoker1 book on it! 😁 pic.twitter.com/6uLCnPgycn
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 8, 2025
First $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship Seat Awarded
BetMGM Poker is the title sponsor of Mixed Game Festival XI, and they’ll be awarding a total of four seats to their $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship over the course of the event.
The first of those four seats found its owner last night in Dana Garrett. Dana was one of 30 players to enter the competition, where the goal was to guess the total number of points scored by the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
His guess was 228, which was pretty much on the mark, as the final score was 123-107, and his predicting abilities secured him the valuable seat!
Congratulations to Dana Garrett, winner of Mixed Game Festival XI’s first $3500 seat giveaway to the 2025 @BetMGMPoker Championship! 🎉
His guess of 228 points was closest to tonight’s NBA Finals Game 2 total.
Next seat giveaway on Thursday June 12 at @BellagioPoker 😁 pic.twitter.com/CUqaCFBC5X
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 9, 2025
There are still three more seats to be awarded — on June 12, 15, and 19 — so make sure to head over to Bellagio in the coming days and join the action. This is definitely the best spot to learn mixed games while playing, and there is a lot of added value up for grabs!
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Donna Smith
Something else that Mixed Game Festivals are known for is shining the spotlight on all those who make it happen, players and dealers alike. So, starting today and for the remainder of the event, you can look forward to our traditional Player of the Day and Dealer of the Day sections in every daily recap.
We’ll get the ball rolling with Donna Smith, a mixed game beginner who fell in love with poker back in 2009. It was a friendly No Limit Hold’em home game that got her hooked. At the time, she didn’t even know the basic rules of how to play poker, and one thing she recalls from that first game was her having “two pair,” which actually turned out to be quads.
Donna discovered mixed games during a cruise a few years back, where she was introduced to 2-7 Triple Draw by the likes of none other than veteran crushers David “ODB” Baker and Benny Glaser. She instantly fell in love with this newly discovered format, which inspired her to look further and see what other poker variations were available out there in the wild.
After attending a mixed game class during Mixed Game Festival X at Resorts World, she decided to join the action at Bellagio this time around, sticking to the beginner’s table to kick things off. She points out that the atmosphere is very friendly, and everyone’s been so helpful, making her feel at ease. In the long run, Donna has aspirations to play in a few WSOP mixed game tournaments, but she first wants to get her foundations right.
RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Eric Burwell
Eric Burwell has been dealing cards at Bellagio since 2004, but this isn’t his main job. He is actually a well-regarded professor at UNLV, teaching fine arts: painting, drawing, design, and art writing.
Eric got hired by UNLV shortly after he graduated, and he was on his tenure track at the university. However, COVID unfortunately led to budget cuts and all tenure tracks being put on hold. It wasn’t a great spot, but he landed on his feet, picking up dealing part-time once more. He explains the best part about the job is meeting new people, having a good time, and providing a service that many people believe is much easier than it actually is.
In addition to being a dealer and a university professor, Eric is a poker player himself. His favorite games are Badacey and Limit Hold’em, primarily because he feels most players are really bad at them, and it’s easy to profit off of these mistakes.
What’s In Store for Mixed Game Festival XI Day 2?
Day 2 action begins at 12pm with a pizza party! It’s STRONGLY recommended that you show up on time at noon to play to guarantee that you get a seat. A wait-list will be made available every morning that you can call in to to lock up your seat.
Calling it quits for tonight after a GREAT Day 1!
Two $4/8 mix tables still running!
Mixed Game Festival XI Day 2 action begins at @BellagioPoker at 12pm with a pizza party 🍕.
Call 702-693-7291 to join the 11 people already on the $4/8 list.
Also: $8/16 interest list
🥱😴🛌 pic.twitter.com/PXbeWjnROZ
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 9, 2025
And with that, we wrap up the Day 1 recap of Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival XI. We are off to a great start and looking ahead to nine more days of fun and action, so make sure to tune in as we bring you bits and pieces of the atmosphere in the room. Of course, if you happen to be in Las Vegas, head over to Bellagio to see it for yourself and give mixed games a chance – you won’t regret it!
