If you’ve never had the opportunity to attend one of our Mixed Game Festivals, you may not realize just how much of a mix it really is. When it comes to the different poker variants you’ll come across, they truly go above and beyond the standard lineup that most people would come up with if asked to give a list of five or 10 poker games.
Day 4 of Mixed Game Festival XI was a good reminder of this as players really let their imaginations loose, calling out some fun and interesting games to keep the opponents on their toes as part of the dealer’s choice extravaganza. While there were just two tables running, there was no lack of action on the felt… especially as the nonstop action continued for over 18 hours!
There was also a surprise guest, as another member of the Poker Hall of Fame graced us with his presence. Eli Elezra has been a longtime supporter of the Mixed Game Festival, and he once again found some time to join the low-stakes action for a little while, to the delight of everyone at the Bellagio Poker Room.
Welcome Poker Hall of Famer @elielezra1 to @PokerLifeMedia Mixed Game Festival XI 😁 pic.twitter.com/50F09FeeWa
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 12, 2025
Mixing It Up With the Crowd: Oma-dugi, Oma-hi-dugi & 3-2-1
Eli has been a poker player for decades, and mixed game poker is his bread and butter. However, it’s safe to assume that the Poker Hall of Famer had to dig deep into his long-term memory to recall the basics of some of the game variant picks we saw on Day 4.
WATCH: Interview with Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra
One of the variants being called a lot yesterday was Omadugi, a split pot game where everyone is dealt six cards, which they split into two hands (and can no longer make adjustments to once action begins). The top two cards are used to create the best Badugi hand (both cards must play), while the bottom four are used to create the best Omaha hand. Oma-hi-dugi plays similarly, but the top two (must-play) cards are used for the best hi Badugi hand, i.e., four aces is the nuts.
Another interesting game we got to witness was 3-2-1, a hi-lo variant with an 8 qualifier, where everyone gets four or five cards to start with, and then there are three flops, two turns, and one river, as you can see in the picture below.
If you’re reading this and scratching your head, don’t worry. Things can truly get a bit confusing and hectic, but a great thing about the Mixed Game Festival is that players and dealers will take it easy on you if you aren’t experienced, giving you a chance to learn without any unnecessary pressure and answering all your questions.
As for Elezra, he was here to have a good time, and it’s safe to say that he’s pretty much seen it all, so it’s not easy to surprise him with the choice of game. But you can certainly give it your best try!
RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Ronnie “Victory” Caburian
Things can certainly get crazy for the players with all the different games, but dealers are the real champs at our Mixed Game Festivals, handling whatever is thrown their way with grace and keeping things moving. One of them is today’s RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day, Ronnie Caburian, who also goes by his nickname “Victory.”
The story behind the unique nickname is that his mother’s name is Victoria, and his brother’s name is Victor, so when he was a kid, he was jealous that he wasn’t named after his mother. So, to keep him happy, they nicknamed him “Victory,” and it stuck.
Originally from Michigan, Ronnie moved to Las Vegas 15 years ago. He used to play poker in high school, and it was an easy transition to dealing cards. What he likes the most about the job is the freedom that comes with it and the fact that you’re always in the game, even if on the other side of the felt.
Ronnie has been working at Bellagio Las Vegas for 12 years, and he describes it as a rather unique experience, especially when it comes to dealing big-limit mixed games. “You are dealing to people you’re used to seeing on TV,” he explains.
He enjoys playing poker as well, with a 2-7 tournament already on his schedule for the next week. His absolutely favorite variation is the mixed triple draw (2-7, A-5, and Badugi), mainly because he finds that “most people are really bad at it.”
One tip “Victory” has for those thinking about taking up a career in dealing poker is to not do so unless you love the game. As he explains, “you are doing a lot of the same every day, so it really helps if you are actually passionate about it.”
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Justin Kalvari
Hailing from Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, Justin Kalvari is today’s pick for the Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day. Justin is in Las Vegas doing media work during the World Series of Poker for a company that provides executive assistance services for high-level players and coaches.
He explains that he fell in love with the game early on when he was just 14 or 15. His older brother hosted home games with his friends, and Justin and his twin brother were eager to join. The excitement of the game, the money, and, of course, being a part of something your older brother and his friends were passionate about got him hooked up.
Initially, they started playing Texas Hold’em, gradually transitioning to PLO and some Crazy Pineapple, plus some 5 Card Draw sessions.
Justin’s love for mixed game poker flourished last year when he was hanging out with some friends from PokerNews, who’d spend the nights playing some of these games. What really pushed him over the edge was watching Phil Ivey take down a 2-7 WSOP event.
When it comes to his goals, Justin primarily wants to build a solid career in the poker media space while also playing as much poker as possible on the side. He’d love to win a mixed game bracelet or two while at it, but with so much variance connected to tournament poker, he doesn’t really aspire to become a full-time player “unless he gets very lucky and wins a massive tournament like the WSOP Main Event.”
Beyond poker, Justin loves spending time playing video games with his friends, with Rocket League being his game of choice. He’s also a UFC and NBA fan, so there is plenty to keep him entertained when he’s not working or grinding it out at the tables.
Another $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship Seat up for Grabs Tomorrow
If things seemed a bit calm over Day 3 and Day 4 of Mixed Game Festival XI, you can be pretty certain they’ll pick up speed on Day 5, as another $3,500 seat to the 2025 BetMGM Poker Championship will find its owner.
The giveaway will take place at some point during the day, with all active tables doing a blind PLO flip and winners progressing to the final table, where one more flip will determine who gets the seat.
📣 We are giving away FOUR seats to the @BetMGMPoker Championship during @cardplayerlife‘s Mixed Game Festival XI at the @BellagioPoker! Check out this article about the event and the next giveaway is TOMORROW! 🥳
🔗 Link: https://t.co/KA2AobNG5b
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 11, 2025
All that is to say that you’ll definitely want to be in the mix for it! As always, the wait-list will be open from early morning, and you can put your name down by calling 702-693-7291. Action will kick off at noon.
