Ivan Potocki - Cardplayer Lifestyle

After four days of play, excitement, and good vibes, players gathered at Resorts World once more for the final day of Mixed Game Festival XII. Stealing the spotlight was the $300 T.O.R.S.E. tournament, which ended up attracting a decent number of 26 entries and awarding $2,485 to Ronald Schiffman, the eventual winner, but there was plenty more action on the sidelines.

It was a slightly quieter day on the cash game front, with two $4/$8 tables running since noon… but not breaking until well after midnight, just like every other day of the festival. If past festivals are anything to go by, at least one table would likely have been going until the sun rises over Las Vegas.

There are always mixed feelings heading into the final day, for players and yours truly alike, because, on one hand, there are some great memories to take back home, but, on the other, there is the knowledge that the magic is over and it’s back to the usual routine. Just the cycle of life – and poker.

First-Ever T.O.R.S.E. Event at the Resorts World

Wrapping up the official MGF XII activities was $300 T.O.R.S.E. tournament, the first event featuring this particular mix to ever take place at Resorts World. That was a bit of an accomplishment on its own and another nice first for the festival.

The event ended up attracting 26 entries, a decent increase compared to the O/E tournament earlier this week, generating a prize pool of $6,500 to be divided among the top four finishers. With four hours of late registration and accounting for the breaks, it took just over 12 hours for the event to reach its conclusion.

When it was all said and done, it was Ron Schiffman claiming the title and the accompanying prize of $2,485. Ron and his last remaining opponent, Jacob Nepom, actually made a heads-up deal, which saw Nepom lock up a very solid $2,000.

Also getting some return on their $300 investment were the third-place finisher, Darren Johnson ($1,124), and Yifan Tang in fourth ($891).

Adding some spice to the battle at the tables was PokerCoaching.com last-longer competition, open to all players wearing the patch. Though he missed the final table, Mike Miller was able to outlast all other qualified participants to ensure he didn’t go home empty-handed, earning himself a 1-year PokerCoaching.com Premium membership.

Mixing It Up Again With “Omaha Second Best”

While players in the tournament were chasing accolades, those at the two cash game tables were looking for ways to get the most fun out of the last day of the festival. And what’s a better way to do it than adding yet another new poker variant to the mix?

Earlier during Mixed Game Festival XII, we saw the introduction of Razz 49, an interesting split-pot variation that combines standard Razz rules and card point totals. Last night, the game called “Omaha Second Best” made an appearance.

The game is played like a regular Omaha High in all of its aspects, i.e., dealing, betting, and hand rankings. However, at the showdown, the second-best hand scoops the pot.

It’s certainly an interesting variation that involves a lot of thinking, because you don’t want to have the best hand, but you also need to ensure you don’t end up with the third-best if there’s a multi-way showdown when cards are turned face-up.

Just trying to think about the best poker strategy for this game makes my head hurt a little bit, because I’m coming up with all sorts of scenarios with paired boards containing flushes that would be hell to navigate, so I’ll leave it at that. Maybe give it a try at your next home game and see how you like it?

PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day: Eric Wu

Our final pick for the PokerCoaching.com player of the day, at least for this particular festival, is Eric Wu from South California. Like a few others, Eric came over to Sin City for the F1 spectacle, but the “Mixed Game Poker in Las Vegas” Facebook group alerted him that the festival was happening, and he simply had to come over and play for at least a few hours.

A big poker fan, Eric says that it’s the strategic aspect of the game that attracts him the most, knowing that, although there is some gambling added to the mix, skill will always prevail in the long run.

Eric got into mixed games a few years back as he started to feel Texas Hold’em became a bit stale and boring, so he wanted to broaden his perspective. As our player of the day, he receives one month free of the PokerCoaching.com Premium membership, which he intends to use to brush up on his Hold’em skills, but is also looking forward to mixed game content from Alex Livingston.

Describing his experience at the Mixed Game Festival, Eric tells us he had a lot of fun, even though he admits that it was a bit tricky navigating his way through a bunch of games he’s never seen before.

As for his poker dreams, having picked up mixed games, Eric is hoping to eventually win a WSOP bracelet. He explains that he never really thought about it when he used to only play Hold’em, as fields are too big, but he feels that he has a much better chance in mixed game events.

If he could pick one tournament to win, it would be the $1,500 8-Game Mix. As someone who made a transition from Hold’em to mixed games, Eric’s advice to new players is to start with a game that has some similarities to Hold’em, like PLO, and take it from there. His own journey saw him pick up PLO first, dabble with double board bomb pots next, and then journey into the world of split pot games like Stud 8 and Omaha 8.

RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Stella Bray

The honor of closing out our Dealer of the Day section for MGF XII goes to Stella Bray, a full-time poker dealer and a licensed real estate agent.

Stella moved to Las Vegas from California back in 2002. She used to visit the city a few times a month, and when she saw the real estate market in Vegas moving in the right direction, she decided to move permanently.

In 2008, however, the market crashed, and Stella also had a lot going on in her personal life. Given that she’s always loved poker and played the game as a hobby, she decided to pick up a job as a dealer.

Over nearly two decades, she had jobs as a dealer, supervisor, and shift manager, gathering a lot of experience. She took all that experience to Resorts World, where she’s been working since the casino’s opening, four and a half years ago.

What she enjoys the most about the job is the fact that, despite it being a large casino, the poker room at Resorts World has that feeling of a small, local cardroom. And, as a true fan of poker, Stella says that dealing cards has never really felt like work.

Over the years, she has gotten to meet many people and hear many interesting stories. She’s also dealt at a number of Mixed Game Festivals, and what she particularly enjoys about that aspect is just seeing people get in the mix and trying to learn new games on the fly, making an effort and having fun in the process.

Farewell, but not a Goodbye

As the most “degen” players are still grinding away at the tables, squeezing every last bit out of the time left, we say farewell to yet another successful Mixed Game Festival.

No millionaires were made, and you won’t see any big headlines about it, but those who keep coming back know that the festival isn’t about all that. It’s about spending a few days playing some different poker, getting together with old friends, meeting some new ones, and taking home awesome memories.

That’s a wrap for now, but don’t you worry, the Mixed Game Festival will be back for its lucky thirteenth iteration before you know it. We don’t yet know when or where exactly, but, Cardplayer Lifestyle founder Robbie Strazynski told us that he’s “literally working on the next THREE festivals… and as soon as I have dates and locations locked in, I’ll be letting everyone know.” Be sure to follow Cardplayer Lifestyle on X and subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know!

Poor weather can’t stop people from having fun in Las Vegas, and Day 4 of Mixed Game Festival XII made that very clear. Players started to trickle into the Resorts World during early morning hours (for Vegas standards at least), as Women’s Wednesday officially kicked off at 10 o’clock.

First came the ladies, joining a quick crash-course on A-5 Triple Draw and 2-7 Triple Draw, presented by three Women in Poker Hall of Famers, followed by the usual crowd coming in for some cash game action. At one point, with two “practice” tables filled with students and three regular games going, there were five mixed game cash tables playing simultaneously.

The educational part of the day lasted until noon, after which the action kept on going at Resorts World, with three tables (two $4/$8 and one $8/$16) running until the wee hours of the morning. Once more, the room was filled with laughs, good vibes, and a few nice surprises to keep things exciting.

Free Mixed Game Lessons for the Ladies

As mentioned, Day 4 was dubbed Women’s Wednesdays, and, just like last time, it was an opportunity for all the ladies interested in learning more about mixed games to get some free introductory lessons in a very friendly and relaxed environment.

There were two games on the proverbial menu: 2-7 Triple Draw and A-5 Triple Draw, with Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and Lupe Soto teaching about game basics, sharing some tips, and answering all questions from the participants.

Mixed games can be a bit scary, with all the different rules and variations, and workshops like these are a great way to dispel some myths, bring some clarity, and, eventually, create a bigger player pool.

Following the lesson, ladies had a chance to put their newly acquired knowledge to the test, playing some $1/$2 fixed limit cash game poker among themselves, and a majority stuck around to play for at least an hour. How many will catch the mixed game bug remains to be seen, but it was a great start to the day.

Legendary Poker Commentator Norman Chad in the Mix

Shortly after 12 pm, there were three cash game tables going, and all three stuck around through the day and well into the next day. Of course, there was a natural rotation of players coming in and heading out, but the action quite literally did not stop for well over 15 hours on Day 4. At one point, Norman Chad walked into the room and took one of those empty seats, jumping straight into the action. The popular poker commentator has always been a great friend and supporter of the festival, and all players present thoroughly enjoyed interacting with and playing with him.

There were also some free items up for grabs, as is always the case during Mixed Game Festivals. One of the players caught a lucky streak, making three wheels in a row, and his stroke of good fortune, in addition to piles of chips, was rewarded with a free copy of Dylan Linde’s Mastering Mixed Games book from the D&B Poker publishing house.

All in all, it was another great day on and off the felt, with quite a few familiar faces in the crowd and the kind of friendly and chill atmosphere that you don’t find at many poker events. The Mixed Game Festival is just a creature of its own that way.

PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day: Joe Casino

When you have a player whose actual surname is Casino, you can’t help but be at least a little bit curious to find out more about them. So, we give you Joe Casino, our today’s pick for PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day.

Originally from New York and now living in Nashville, Tennessee, Joe came to Las Vegas for a hockey game and extended his stay for an extra day to watch the F1 training up close. Scrolling on his phone, he came across an article about the Mixed Game Festival being in town, and with some time to spare, he decided to come to the Resorts World for some poker.

Joe has been interested in mixed games for a while, but he doesn’t get to play too much where he lives, so his experience is mostly limited to online play. He loves the fact that these games are more relaxed and less figured out than No Limit Texas Hold’em, creating more space for creativity.

Having spent a few hours at the tables, he says that it was a “fun way to lose a couple hundred bucks”. Like most others who discover the Mixed Game Festival, Joe was pleasantly surprised at just how welcoming and helpful everyone is, especially when it comes to explaining rules for new games.

For him, poker is a fun hobby, first and foremost, although he does spend some time studying the game, and would love to reach the point where he’s also making a bit of extra money on the side from it. With some social-style poker clubs starting to open in neighboring Kentucky, Joe hopes he’ll get more opportunities to play.

His advice to people thinking about jumping into mixed games is to “start with one new variation, maybe Omaha 8, and take it from there. Once you understand the nuances between high and low-style variants, you can expand to Stud 8, etc. The key is to find one or two games that you really like and learn as much as you can about them.”

RunnGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Dylan Fugazzotto

Dylan Fugazzotto has been working as the dealer and the floorman at Resorts World for four and a half years, so he’s been with the poker room from the very start.

Born in Las Vegas, he spent 20 years in Los Angeles, where he went to college on a baseball scholarship. After that, he played Triple-A and Double-A ball for the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners.

So, how did he end up dealing cards, you wonder? As it turns out, his family has had a dealer school since 1983. Dylan’s father was a poker player, his mother was a dealer, so poker (and poker dealing) has been a part of his life since he was a little kid.

Eventually, he ended up returning to his roots and picked up poker. He played for a while, but then moved strictly into dealing, and, as he tells us, he hasn’t played in years.

Asked about his job, Fugazzotto is quite honest. He says he “likes the flexibility and freedom that come with it, as well as good money from the tips.” He says it’s an easy way to make a good life. Although he’s had a lot of experience working at other properties, Dylan really loves it here at the Resorts World, as he gets to work in a modern room with great staff and well-trained dealers who rarely make mistakes.

One aspect of his job that he finds a bit challenging is actually dealing mixed games. It’s just the sheer number of cards that need to go out and keeping track of it all that makes it a bit more difficult than more straightforward games like Hold’em.

As someone who’s been involved with dealing cards since his early childhood in one way or another, we had to ask if he had any tips for those thinking about picking up this particular career. His advice: “spend some time playing the game first.” Dylan says that you don’t have to spend a lot of money doing it, but that experience from the other side of the felt will be invaluable and will help you keep up with the action and read hands once you’re in the dealer’s box.

The Stage Is Set for Mixed Game Festival XII’s Grand Finale

All good things must come to an end, and Mixed Game Festival XII is no exception. However, there is one more day of action left, and it comes with quite a bit of promise.

On the docket for the final day, we have a $300 T.O.R.S.E. event, with the action kicking off at 12pm and the late registration running for four hours. Interestingly enough, this is the very first time the Resorts World will be hosting a T.O.R.S.E. tournament, and players have been quite keen on this new mix, so we expect a solid turnout.

Of course, cash game action will be running simultaneously as well, also kicking off at noon. As always, you can reserve your spot at the table by calling in to the room ahead of time at (702) 676-7680.

If you haven’t yet had a chance to play at the Mixed Game Festival this time around, this will be your last opportunity, so don’t miss out. We expect a full house and for the action to continue into the wee hours of the night!

In recent years, Malta has become one of the go-to destinations for poker lovers in Europe and beyond, with the island country playing host to numerous fun and affordable festivals. The Malta Poker Festival has certainly helped create this environment, establishing Malta’s position on the world’s poker map.

Just last week, the Malta Poker Festival Autumn did it all over again, attracting thousands of players from all over the place to the beautiful Portomaso Casino for an entire week of fun and diverse tournament action.

The festival schedule truly featured something for everyone, from your classic No Limit Hold’em events, over mystery bounties, to mixed game tournaments, and all of them featuring buy-ins of just a few hundred euros, making them extremely bankroll-friendly.

The star of the show, as always, was the €550 Malta Poker Festival Grand Event, offering a hefty guarantee of €500,000. As it turned out, that guarantee was on the conservative side, as players turned up in droves to nearly double that total!

Joris Ruijs Triumphs in a Massive Field

The MPF Grand Event featured eight starting flights, giving players plenty of opportunities to build up a stack to take through to Day 2. It came as no surprise that many have jumped at this opportunity, bringing the total number of entries to 1,987. This meant that the original guarantee was blown out of the water, bringing the tournament’s final prize pool to just over €900,000.

For a €500 tournament to pay out nearly a cool million in prizes is always an accomplishment, showing once again just how popular the Malta Poker Festival has become with players.

Naturally, a lion’s share of that massive prize pool was reserved for the winner, who would take home €141,000 for their efforts. As the mix of skill and luck would have it, the honor went to Joris Ruijs, a player from the Netherlands, who managed to outlast the entire field and claim the victory.

This wasn’t Ruijs’s first rodeo by any means. With almost $4.5 million in live earnings, the man sitting in the sixth spot on the Netherlands’ All Time Money List has had his fair share of success at the tables. However, the MPF Grand Event triumph stands out as the biggest-field tournament he was able to take down, and it’s also his best score in terms of the number of buy-ins won.

What’s also interesting is that Joris is a regular in big buy-in events, having played in numerous €/$10,000+ plus tournaments, but he also likes to mix it up in cheaper tournaments, especially when they take place in nice locations.

It is also worth noting that the Grand Event was a rather international affair. The final table alone featured players from seven different countries (out of eight players). The runner-up Vincent Schueler hails from Germany, the third-place finisher Thomas Grahs is from Sweden, while Italy, Serbia, France, and Denmark were all represented as well.

Tournament Action Around the Clock

Although the Grand Event was the biggest draw of the 2025 Malta Poker Festival Autumn series, there was plenty more action to be had. The festival featured a truly colorful schedule that included quite a few niche options for those looking to mix things up.

For example, the €280 Sviten Special event attracted 69 entries. For those not familiar, Sviten is a unique variation of Drawmaha, mixing elements of Pot Limit Omaha and Five Card Draw. The game is quite popular in Scandinavian countries, and the number of entrants showed that it certainly has its place at festivals like this.

In a similar vein, the €230 H.O.R.S.E. event attracted a respectable field of 57 players, generating the prize pool of just over €10,000.

In terms of player numbers, the €250 Scandinavian Poker Championship exceeded expectations, attracting 740 entries and generating a prize pool of just under €155k. The winner, Mark Cornwell of the UK, pocketed €17,042.

Following the trends, the MPF schedule also featured a Mystery Bounty event, and that one generated a lot of interest as well. A total of 654 entries in the field resulted in a prize pool of €58,848 and plenty of action at the tables as players were looking for opportunities to get a shot at one of the envelopes.

From Malta With Love

The autumn edition of the Malta Poker Festival is in the books, and players are now back home or already chasing glory at a different venue halfway across Europe.

Some of them, like Ruijs and Cornwell, were lucky enough to pad their bankrolls during the festival. Many more had significant scores that will help them pursue their poker dreams.

However, regardless of the results, most of those who had an opportunity to visit Malta and play some poker during the festival will have some great memories to ensure they’ll be back for the next one. While big prize pools are what attract people to tournaments, it’s the memories of good times that keep them coming back.

Per Malta Poker Festival Founder and Event Director Ivonne Montealegre, “I’m always moving forward with my projects and not looking back; that’s part of my mindset. I choose to stay creative and fully immersed in what I’m doing now. My philosophy is deeply rooted in the power of the present moment.”

Ivonne continued, “It’s been an intense and beautiful season for all poker players. Together with my Portomaso team, we gave it everything — bringing integrity to the game while nurturing the sense of community that defines the Malta Poker Festival. We also raised funds for meaningful causes like YMCA Malta, keeping both the spirit of poker and compassion at the heart of what we do.”

Malta Poker Festival Spring 2026 Dates Announced

It’s safe to say that the Malta Poker Festival has found a way to deliver for players for years, now. The great tradition is set to continue into 2026, with the festival having just announced it’s Spring dates, for April 19-27 along with a €500,000 guaranteed Main Event.

It’s never to early to begin booking your travel and accommodation. While full details of what to expect at the festival will be released in the coming months, interested players can rest assured that the 2026 Malta Poker Festival Spring edition will be another stellar series of events!

Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XII was a rather calm affair, but there was no lack of excitement and good vibes at the tables. The action kicked off with three tables of $4/$8 and $8/$16 and continued for several hours. Later in the night, one table fell apart, but the other two kept going strong until 2am, with the final table breaking at 3am.

Considering the time of the year, combined with the unusually bad weather here in Las Vegas, this turnout is actually nothing to sneeze at. If anything, it goes to show that the Mixed Game Festival is the kind of event that people will go out of their way to attend for a much-needed pick-me-up, as the atmosphere in the room was great throughout the entirety of Day 3.

As alluded to in our Day 2 recap, when there is a lack of “official things” on the schedule, you can leave it to poker players to come up with something new and special to add some spice… and confusion to the dealer’s choice cash game proceedings, ensuring everybody stays alert.

The proverbial “curveball” came in the form of a whole new game that players devised on the spot and called “Razz 49”. The idea was thrown out by one of the players, and everybody else at the table just went with the flow. After all, mixed game players are nothing if not adaptable, and introducing a new game guarantees a lot of funny situations and confusing conversations, all of which combine into a fun and memorable experience to take back home.

Introducing Razz 49: Stud With a Twist

The imagination of mixed game players never ceases to amaze us! The idea of Razz 49 was floated, and, before you could say “razz,” the first hand was already in progress. If you don’t know the rules, don’t worry about it; neither did most people at Resorts World, so let’s bring you up to speed so you can maybe suggest it at your next home game.

Razz 49 is a split-pot stud game. All the betting rules are exactly the same as in regular Razz, so there is nothing new there. The highest card showing is a designated bring-in, and things continue from there at their usual pace.

However, the “49” part of the game is where the twist comes in. At the showdown, the pot is split between the best low hand (according to regular Razz rules) and the five-card hand with the highest point total, with a maximum total of 49 (four 10s and a 9).

The jury is still out on what the best strategy is for this game and how the “49” part changes your hand selection and decision-making on individual streets. There are no ready-made resources for this game, which is what makes it so fun. Everybody has to come up with the plan on the spot, and I’d dare say that’s a very definition of making poker fun again!

PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day: Mike Loekle

Coming into Resorts World looking for shelter from the rain was Mike Loekle, our Day 3 PokerCoaching.com player of the day. Mike came to Vegas with plans to do some hiking, but the horrible weather put a pin in those plans, so he ended up at a poker table instead.

Hailing from Chicago, this is his first trip to Las Vegas since the pandemic, and although his actual experience with mixed games is quite limited, he figured the Mixed Game Festival was a great place to give it a shot in a friendly and chilled environment. Where else can you ask another player what you’re supposed to do in a certain spot and get an honest answer?

Mike’s interest in mixed games piqued a few years back when they started to get more mainstream coverage at WSOP broadcasts. His very first opportunity to actually play was six years ago, when he stumbled upon a $4/$8 spread at Aria, and he had a blast, even though he was pretty much learning on the fly.

He admits that this is only his third time playing mix, as he doesn’t have a home game back in Chicago, so it’s a unique opportunity that he wants to use to create some friendships that would motivate him to come back in the near future.

A bartender by trade, Mike gets a lot of flexibility with his schedule, especially during winter, and his philosophy is simple: “life’s short, so do what’s fun.” Clearly, poker has a place on the fun list, and we love to see it.

RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Jonathan Brown

Unlike some who transitioned to dealing poker from other professions, Jonathan Brown has been at it pretty much from the start. His love for poker developed during his childhood years and family home games, and it only grew during college, which is when he started playing more Texas Hold’em and figured out that there was actually some money to be made on both sides of the tables.

Jonathan finished dealer school in California and started working at SoCal cardrooms. In 2009, he moved to Reno and then transitioned to Las Vegas in 2011 after being named the Dealer of the Year in Reno.

From his 20 years of experience dealing cards, he says he prefers Nevada casinos over those in California because “they care about and protect their dealers.”

Jonathan spent nine years dealing at the Wynn, moved to Boston for a while, and then came back to Las Vegas when Resorts World opened almost five years ago, and he’s been here from the very first day.

His favorite and least favorite part about being a poker dealer are one and the same: interacting with people, as it can be both rewarding and challenging at times.

To all those new to the profession or thinking about becoming dealers, Jonathan says that game management and protection are the most important parts of the job. Then, there is personality. As he puts it, “not every day will be your favorite day, but you need to consistently put up your best performance.”

As for his dreams on the other side of the felt, he’d like to get a WSOP bracelet, and this dream might come true as he puts in a decent schedule during the summer series.

Calling Out All the Ladies

Day 4 action at Mixed Game Festival XII will start a bit earlier than usual, as Women’s Wednesday kicks off at 10 o’clock in the morning. Like on previous occasions, this will be an opportunity for all the ladies out there to learn some mixed game basics in a very chilled and friendly environment.

Games on the docket this time around will be A-5 Triple Draw and 2-7 Triple Draw, taught by three Women in Poker Hall of Fame members: Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and Lupe Soto.

Lessons will start at 10 am, while the micro cash game practice begins soon thereafter. If you’re interested in joining, just show up — it’s FREE! Regular $4/$8 and $8/$16 cash game action will be available from noon onwards as well.

*To reserve your spot or get yourself on the cash game waitlist, please call the Resorts World Poker Room at (702) 676-7680

The second day of Mixed Game Festival XII at Resorts World in Las Vegas saw the $300 O/E “Miami” John Cernuto commemorative event take place along with a pair of dealer’s choice cash game tables running for over 14 hours! The tournament, which aims to honor the legacy of “Miami” John, a mixed game legend who passed away last year, ended up being a relatively small and intimate affair, but there is much more to poker than breaking attendance records.

With a field of 16 players, the tournament ended up with three cash prizes (and a little something for the bubble finisher), and it was Kento Watanabe who held all chips in play when it was all said and done, pocketing $1,836 for his efforts.

While the tournament field was somewhat modest in numbers, there was no lack of action at the Resorts World. On the sidelines, there were two cash game tables going strong throughout the day. The $4/$8 game only broke down around two o’clock in the morning, while $8/$16 table kept on going, with no real signs of slowing down.

A Friendly Competition & Fond Memories

Late “Miami” John Cernuto was a long-time pro player and a regular at the Mixed Game Festival who won this tournament back in 2023, beating a rather star-studded field, featuring the likes of Chip and Karina Jett, Matt Savage, and Linda Johnson.

“Miami” John may no longer be physically present at the tables, but his spirit certainly lives on among his friends and colleagues, and the tournament named after him is probably one of the best ways to keep his memory alive.

As mentioned, it was a rather small affair, with only 16 players in the mix, but this didn’t really take anything away from the event. Joe Santagata, one of those 16, even had a pin with Cernuto’s face clipped to his shirt.

All the action from the tournament was reported live — a Mixed Game Festival first! — by pokerreporting.com, and the coverage included written recaps of major hands, a photo gallery featuring all participants, and some bits and pieces covering the action on the sidelines, such as the Lupe Soto sighting at the $4/$8 table.

All of it combined added an air of dignity to this commemorative event, bringing smiles to players’ faces. Once the registration was done, it was announced that the top three places would be paid, and the race to the top was well and truly underway. If you’re interested in more details as to how it all went down, check out live reporting for some interesting hands.

But, long story short, the field continued to dwindle, and the money bubble finally burst with the elimination of Daniel Sprung. It was a bit of a rough break for Danny, but at least he didn’t walk away empty-handed, as he received a nice hoodie, courtesy of Phenom Poker. And we all know that a true poker player can always do with another hoodie.

Of the remaining three, Hani Awad was first to hit the rail, picking up $988 for his third-place finish. Joseph Hallock started the heads-up confrontation as the chip leader, but Kento Watanabe just wouldn’t let him have it. He managed to grind his opponent down and run away with the first prize of $1,836, while Hallock had to settle for the runner-up honor and the cash prize of $1,150. Kento also won a 1-year Premium membership to PokerCoaching.com (almost $1800 value!) as being the “last player standing” in the patch last-longer competition.

PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day: Ian Gerber

Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, PokerCoaching.com player of the day Ian Gerber is a 64-year-old recreational poker player who’s been enjoying the game for over four decades. Mostly retired from his day job, he spends his time acting, teaching spin classes, running, and, of course, playing poker.

Although he’s dabbled with HORSE before, Ian’s passion for mixed games was truly set ablaze when he happened upon the Mixed Game Festival here in Las Vegas this past summer. He decided to join the action and had so much fun that, when he saw the MGF was back in town, he had to take a bit of a break from his day-to-day obligations and fly out.

Ian told us that the last Festival also inspired him to set up his own home game featuring many of the variations he came upon during the summer. Two times a month, he and his friends come together to have fun playing a low stakes mix.

His message to all those who may be afraid to give mixed games a try is that events like the MGF are a great place to start, featuring low limits and a casual, friendly atmosphere.

After 40+ years of playing poker, Ian doesn’t have many poker goals left on his bucket list. During this year’s WSOP, he played in a $1,500 HORSE event, which was one thing he really wanted to do, and he’s happy he got that proverbial monkey off his back, even though he admits it’s hard to justify those bigger buy-ins when you play poker purely for entertainment.

RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Gina Turnipseed

Las Vegas is truly a unique place when it comes to the people you can meet and their life stories. Gina Turnipseed, one of the dealers at the Resorts World today, is a living example of this.

Originally from Poland, Gina came to the US 40 years ago through a refugee camp in Italy. After enduring many hardships, she landed in Colorado Springs, where she found a sponsor in the Lutheran Church.

When she first came to the US, she didn’t speak any English, so she started working at a restaurant as a dishwasher. Just eight months later, she became the restaurant’s manager … and that was only the start of Gina’s journey.

Determined to keep chasing her dreams, Gina went to a culinary school in Paris and learned secrets of the trade working at various French restaurants, bakeries, and bistros, before returning to Colorado Springs to open her very own French restaurant.

For all the foodies out there, Gina’s favorite dish to prepare is Beef Bourguignon, while her top pick when sitting on the other side of the table is Steak au poivre. 🙂

After some 20 years, she decided it was time to retire, so she sold the restaurant and spent some time traveling with her husband. When they felt it was time to settle down again, they picked Las Vegas because they loved playing poker and, like so many, they figured they could beat the game.

Gina soon found out why poker is often said to be “a hard way to make an easy living” and decided to cut her losses. She enrolled in a dealer school, got her certifications, and took her seat on the opposite side of the felt some 12 years ago.

Starting at the WSOP, she dealt at the Venetian for seven years, later joining the Wynn (where she still deals part-time) and Resorts World.

Gina is a full-time dealer at Resorts World, and she says that she loves her team, her bosses, and the fact that there are so many players she’s become friendly with over the years.

Poker-wise, Gina still dreams about playing in the WSOP Main Event and becoming the first woman to win it. It’s a hefty dream, to be sure, but you never know. RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day Gina Turnipseed is nothing if not a fighter!

More Cash Game Action in the Cards for Day 3

The third day of Mixed Game Festival XII will be all about cash games. As per usual, the action will start at noon, sharp, and players can reserve their seats ahead of time.

Once again, there will be $4/$8 and $8/$16 action on the menu, so you can pick your flavor. The MGF is, first and foremost, about having fun at the tables, so even a couple hundred dollars can get you into a nice, pretty stress-free session and last you all day long.

Plus, you never know if there might be a surprise appearance or two lurking beneath the surface. You just never know who might turn up to play or if someone will come up with a fun idea for a new game that everyone will just go along with. You just have to be there for it!

*To get yourself on the cash game waitlist, please call the Resorts World Poker Room at (702) 676-7680

The Mixed Game Festival has returned to Las Vegas, promising heaps of fun and affordable non-Hold’em action over the course of five spectacular days. Running November 16–20 at Resorts World, Day 1 of MGF XII kicked off yesterday, and there were quite a few players who could hardly wait to take their seats at one of the tables!

At kickoff, three tables got underway, and within half an hour a fourth table began running: three $4/8 and one $8/16 dealer’s choice cash game mixes. Also a hit with the players, the festival featured its traditional pizza party, which perfectly embodies what this event is all about: a bunch of poker lovers gathering to have a good time without too much pomp or glamour. Mixed Game Festivals have always been about the camaraderie and the love of the game first and foremost.

Whether you were at the heart of the action or watching from the sidelines, it was quite clear that there is no lack of players sharing this vision.

A Festival With an International Flavor

Compared to major poker festivals thrown by industry giants, the Mixed Game Festival is a relatively small and intimate affair. Even so, it manages to attract people from all over the United States as well as beyond its borders thanks to its unique flavor.

Almost every time, without a fault, there will be several players at the table, coming from the most remote of places to play $4/$8 and $8/$16 mixed games and participate in tournaments with buy-ins of a few hundred bucks. Monetarily, it doesn’t make much sense, but you can’t put a price on fun, experience, and memories.

Mixed Game Festival XII was no different in this regard, with players from Canada and even Japan joining the locals, and enjoying every moment of it:

As far as the local contingent was concerned, Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson, “The First Lady of Poker,” could be found in the mix along with Director of Live Events & Content at PokerGO Tim Duckworth, a longtime friend and supporter of the Festival.

Of course, there were quite a few other familiar faces in the mix. Over the years, the MGF has built a solid foundation of players who’ll always turn up to play and get the action going. In fact, multiple players have now attended 10 of the 12 festivals that have taken place since our inaugural in late 2021!

In addition to chips on the felt, there are always some extra prizes up for grabs, showing players that their presence is appreciated. One such player to receive such a token of appreciation this time around was Tom, who picked up a Limit Hold’em strategy book, courtesy of D&B Publishing, after scooping a badeucey pot.

PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day: Hang Vong

Mixed Game Festival XII continues the tradition of shining the spotlight on those who make the whole thing possible, players and dealers alike. So, each of our daily recaps will once again dedicated segments, featuring one player and one dealer, sharing their stories.

The Day 1 Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day segment is Hang Vong, a first-timer at the Mixed Game Festival. Vong discovered the intriguing world of mixed games three years ago, and he’s been on the learning path ever since.

Though he didn’t wish to be photographed from the front, Vong was more than happy to share “his poker story” and how he got into mixed games. A recreational player, Vong plays two to three times a week, and fell in love with mixed games because they offer more diversity than No Limit Texas Hold’em in terms of strategy and players having to think on their feet instead of following GTO patterns.

His day job is producing documentary series, but since moving to Las Vegas from LA a year ago, Vong has been giving more attention to poker, dabbling with mixed game tournaments as well. What he loves about poker the most is that every hand is different, and you can make different decisions at various moments throughout a hand to reach different results.

Despite admittedly still learning, he decided to jump in “on the deep end”, playing $8/$16 instead of $4/$8 because the higher stakes are more meaningful to him He also believes that by playing at higher limits, he’ll have more opportunities to learn correct mixed game strategies and avoid developing bad habits.

Like so many before him who got the taste of the Mixed Game Festival, Vong is delighted by just how friendly and patient everyone is, and is looking forward to playing some more over the coming days.

RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Mendie Pham

Mixed Game Festival XII’s Day 1 RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day is Mendie Pham, a poker dealer with 18 years of experience under his belt who has been with the Resorts World since the day it opened, just over four years ago.

Pham came to the US from Vietnam 25 years ago. Initially, he worked at restaurants, but he picked up an interest in poker by watching people play and decided to change careers. His first dealing experience was in California, at the famous Bicycle Casino; later, he moved to Las Vegas.

Despite having been dealing for 18 years, Pham has absolutely no interest in playing the game himself. His passion is purely for dealing cards and observing people at the tables. He says the job gave him an opportunity to see and meet all sorts of people (some good, some bad), but his overall experience at the Resorts World has been an overwhelmingly positive one.

In his private life, Pham is passionate about cars and track racing. He’s not just a passive fan, though, but rather a participant at numerous track races, car shows, and competitions. It goes to show, once more, that poker brings together many different types of people on both sides of the felt.

Tournament Action on the Horizon

The action during the opening day of Mixed Game Festival XII continued into the wee hours of the morning, with two tables going strong well past midnight.

Monday, November 17, will see the first of the two tournaments on the docket. The $300 O/E event kicks off at noon, and it will honor the legacy of the late “Miami” John Cernuto, who won this tournament the first time it was spread at Mixed Game Festival IV. Taking things to a whole new level, the event will feature the Mixed Game Festival’s first-ever live tournament coverage, with hand histories, videos, photo galleries of the players, prize poll information, and more courtesy of pokerreporting.com.

If the strong Day 1 start is anything to go by, the Day 2 tournament should attract a nice crowd to properly celebrate the life and legacy of one of the most prolific mixed game players to have walked the earth. Of course, cash game action will be available on the sidelines as well starting at 12pm, with things undoubtedly picking up speed as players are eliminated from the tournament.

*To get yourself on the cash game waitlist, please call the Resorts World Poker Room at (702) 676-7680

Mixed Game Festival XI at Bellagio Las Vegas has reached its conclusion after a full 10 days of action, becoming the largest and the longest-running one in Mixed Game Festival history. All things come to an end; it’s just that when good ones end, it’s hard not to feel sad. It’s in our human nature to want them to last pretty much forever.

True to form, the final day brought heaps of excitement, awarding the last remaining $3,500 seat to the 2025 BetMGM Poker Championship and plenty of smaller prizes, bringing smiles to many faces in the room.

The Festival certainly helped create many happy memories and provided quite a few people with a taste of mixed games, which is one of the main goals that Cardplayer Lifestyle founder and event host Robbie Strazynski wanted to achieve when he set out on this journey back in 2021.

Before the final goodbye, though, let’s look back at Day 10 to bring you some of the atmosphere from and around the felt!

Chip Count Competition Yields TWO Bullseyes! 🎯

Over the course of the Mixed Game Festival, BetMGM Poker, the main sponsor of the event, set to award four $3,500 seats to its Poker Championship event, set to take place later this month. Leading up to the final day, three of these seats found their rightful winners, but the last one was still up for grabs.

To have a shot, poker players had to join the action at the tables and submit their guess as to the exact chip count in the toke box. Generous giveaways are real magnets for players (no surprise there), so the hours leading up to the competition saw four tables of $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice Mix running at full speed.

By the competition closing time, over 40 players submitted their guesses, and two of them somehow managed to get the exact count correct: 772,500 worth of tournament chips inside the box! One of these guesses was submitted by Sean O’Hara, and if you’ve been following our daily recaps, that name may ring the bell.

Sean won a seat on Day 5, winning the “Blind PLO Flip” competition, and, as per the rules, it’s a maximum of one person per seat. So, O’Hara was instead awarded a $200 comp, courtesy of Bellagio Poker Room Director Craig Larson, and the second correct guess was awarded the tournament seat.

That guess by submitted by Espy Enriquez, who didn’t try to hide her enthusiasm in the slightest – and why should she? Espy was all smiles and super-excited about this opportunity, and this seems to be the general effect that the Mixed Game Festival has on its participants.

Once the giveaway was over, the action slowed down a bit, dropping down to three and eventually to two tables, but those kept going strong; REALLY strong, as per the message Robbie received from one of the players still active — Brian Dowd — at almost 4am!

Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Paul Runge

Visiting the Mixed Game Festival for the first time was Paul Runge from Oregon. Our Day 10 pick for the Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day had heard about the Festival from his friend, Caryn Barab, and decided to “give it a spin.”

Paul got into poker around 2006. It all started with a small family game, and things developed from there. In addition to playing the game, he was also involved on the industry side of things as an owner of a poker room in Bend, Oregon.

While he no longer holds that position, Paul continues to play in that room regularly, also acting as an unofficial “consigliere” when the occasion calls for it. His love for mixed games developed somewhat naturally as, in Paul’s opinion, every Texas Hold’em player eventually wants to try something different.

Back home, they’ve been trying to run mixed games with limited success, as there is now one day a week when the room hosts a mix of big bet games. He explains that things developed gradually, starting at really small stakes and slowly increasing them as players got better.

“The problem,” Paul says, “is that although they’re not great at mixed games, they’re significantly better than anyone completely new to it, and since there are no lower stakes games running, it makes it really hard for new players to jump in.”

In that light, he only has words of praise for the Mixed Game Festival, as “it gives people a chance to give it a try without having to risk a bunch of money. With low stakes and limit games, players can sit down, learn, and enjoy themselves, all the while risking a few hundred bucks.”

Paul believes that limit games are an excellent entry point for new players and laments the fact that they don’t have any of those in their mix back in Oregon.

As for his personal poker goals, Runge has his eyes set on winning a Seniors or Super Seniors event at the World Series of Poker. Judging by his past results, this isn’t just a pipe dream, as he made the final table of the 2016 WSOP Seniors Championship, eventually finishing in 6th place, and came third in the 2024 Super Seniors event. Perhaps the third time will be the charm for Paul.

RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Paul Piper

All the dealers and staff at the Bellagio Poker Room did a great job over the past 10 days, playing a crucial role in making the 11th Mixed Game Festival a massive success. That’s why every daily recap had a special Dealer of the Day segment (powered by RunGoodGear.com), and this final one will be no different in that regard.

Allow us to present to you Paul Piper, who has been living in Las Vegas since 2008, primarily dealing cards but also having a few goes at going full-time pro player. It hasn’t happened for Paul just yet, but there is no telling what the future holds.

His dealing career started long before Vegas. Paul started out dealing poker in the early 2000s back in North Carolina. After a few years, he says the home game scene started to become a bit sketchy, and, wanting to stay legit and feeling he was “getting too old to go to court,” he decided it was time to move on.

The decision was between Atlantic City and Las Vegas, two gambling centers of the United States, and the proverbial coin landed on the latter.

To Paul, poker isn’t just a job. He loves the game and describes it as “a mental Olympics that helps keep the wheels turning.” When it comes to mix, draw games are his absolute favorites.

Reflecting on the festival and his overall experience, he describes it as a great way to allow new players to get their feet wet without getting hurt (financially) too much. As he explains, “things have been pretty much complacent outside of summer and major events, with Hold’em being almost the only game in town and PLO picking up a bit lately.”

As for the players he got to encounter over the last 10 days during Mixed Game Festival XI, he describes them as a fun and relaxed group, echoing the sentiment of many other guests and dealers alike.

When not dealing or playing poker, Paul enjoys playing disc golf. He’s actually quite serious about it, as he won the Nevada State Championship in 2017 and has had a few more notable results.

Mixed Game Festival XI: Goodbye, for Now

There is no official “ending” to our Mixed Game Festivals. They end once the last hand is dealt at the last active table and the last few most resilient players rack up their chips.

Over the last 10 days, the Festival brought heaps of excitement to Bellagio Las Vegas, with non-stop action, some of the craziest game variations you’ll see anywhere, big giveaways (courtesy of generous sponsors — thanks once again to PokerGO, D&B Poker, Faded Spade, RunGoodGear, Pokercoaching.com, and of course BetMGM Poker) — and, most importantly, a ton of great memories.

Goodbyes are never easy, but the good news is you can be pretty sure the Mixed Game Festival will be back again before you know it. If you want to make sure you hear about it ahead of time, the best way to be certain is by subscribing to our Cardplayer Lifestyle newsletter. Not only will you get all the info about the next event early on, but you can also look forward to some fun poker content, including a lot of mixed game-specific topics.

A Personal Thank You, from Robbie

I just want to take this opportunity to publicly express my gratitude to everyone involved in helping to make Mixed Game Festival XI happen. Everyone has been so great, from the sublime Bellagio Poker Room staff, to the good folks at BetMGM Poker as well as our other amazing sponsors.

I have to give some special shout outs to some wonderful people: Ivan Potocki writing our daily recaps from Bosnia and Chad McVean lending huge support on the social media front from Canada, big in-person assists from Brian “Bizzy” Gutierrez and Brian Dowd, all of the poker celebs who paid us a visit over these past two weeks, and of course our fantastic mixed game players! You guys came in from near and far, both tons of Vegas locals as well as hordes of players from over 25 US states and half a dozen other countries.

Your combined support means the world to me, and I most certainly don’t take for granted that you made the effort to show up and be a part of our event. The reward for all the months of work it takes to put something like this together is seeing your smiling faces, getting your incredible feedback, and knowing in my heart of hearts that together we’re putting in the effort to grow mixed games. It’s a labor of love, and I’m supremely grateful to you all.

Especially considering everything I have going on in my personal life right now — and we’ll just leave it at that, IYKYK — I consider myself to be exceptionally fortunate for what I got to experience and do over the last two weeks, and will treasure the memories we made forever. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. ❤️

The penultimate day of Mixed Game Festival XI at Bellagio Las Vegas kicked off at noon with two tables right off the bat and the third one forming shortly thereafter. It was a nice mix of returning players and those who were just hearing about the Festival, some of whom decided to come over despite very limited experience with mixed games.

It seems that positive news travels quickly and far, as more and more people are starting to recognize the Mixed Game Festival as the go-to place for dipping their toes into the colorful world of poker mix.

Despite it officially being a “calmer” day without any big events on the docket, Day 9 shaped into a quite eventful one. A couple hours after kickoff, the 2004 WSOP Main Event winner Greg “Fossilman” Raymer made an appearance as the surprise guest, instantly elevating the mood in the room.

Many of those at the tables also got to pick up special prizes from the sponsors of the Mixed Game Festival, like D&B Poker Books and PokerGO. And naturally, we saw some more interesting poker variants make an appearance on the felt.

Mixed Game Festival XI: More Than Just Chips Up for Grabs

In most poker games, the focus is on winning what’s in the middle. Mixed Game Festival tables aren’t much different in that regard, but there are always some extra prizes up for grabs, adding a bit of excitement to the whole thing.

For example, Barry managed to pull an achievement by making zero points in Drawmaha Zero, and for that accomplishment, he got a nice PokerGO card protector.

For his part, Jeff was lucky enough to scoop a “squid game” hand, and in addition to stacks of chips, he also received a collection of three poker books, courtesy of D&B Books.

Out of many fun and quirky variations called by the players during the day, we are highlighting 3-2-1, a hi-lo game with an eight qualifier. Everyone gets five cards to begin with, and there are three flops, two turns, and one river.

To make your best high and low hands, you can use two cards from your card to connect them with any of the turn or river cards. However, you’re only allowed to use one flop. The strategy for this one is a bit complex, but what’s certain is that it puts your board reading abilities to the ultimate test!

For his part, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer made an hours-long appearance, delighting the players at his table with stories from his decades-long poker playing career.

Also showing up were a pair of BetMGM Poker ambassadors, Abby Merk and Jaman Burton, each of whom spent a good chunk of time delving into the mixed game streets, learning strategy for various variants, and creating some unique content.

RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Al Bautista

Originally from Los Angeles, Al Bautista moved to Las Vegas back in 2002, so he’s been around the block a few times. Unlike most of our previous RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day picks, he did not move to the city for poker or for work. Laughing, he admitted that “he did it for a girl.”

While the relationship eventually ended, he doesn’t regret the decision, as it gave him a son whom he enjoys spending time with, going to the movies, the Pinball Hall of Fame, the lake, and other fun places around Las Vegas.

Al started dealing a few years after arriving in Vegas, and he’s been all over the place. He dealt cards at Caesars Palace, Flamingo, and even the old O’Sheas property. He jokingly added that he closed Mirage and Golden Nugget, and that he’s just started working at Bellagio.

He loves to play poker whenever he gets a chance, although mostly Texas Hold’em, as that’s easiest to find around town. When it comes to mixed games, Al finds them more fun and social overall and more interesting to deal compared to your standard PLO and NLHE.

Summarizing his tenure at Bellagio thus far, Al describes it as “privilege and responsibility,” as you get to deal to some of the highest of high rollers out there. It can be a bit of a nerve-wracking experience at times, but at the end of the day, poker is poker, regardless of the stakes being played.

When it comes to the Mixed Game Festival, he recommends it to players and dealers alike as a perfect opportunity to learn new games without pressure. For dealers in particular, Al says this is a great training ground since players are really chill. Once you get to higher stakes, he explains, you can’t make (m)any mistakes.

Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Marie Thirlwell

The Mixed Game Festival truly attracts people from all over the world, many of them willing to give it a chance even when they have close to zero experience outside of PLO and No Limit Hold’em. A case in point: Marie Thirlwell, our Day 9 pick for the Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day.

Hailing all the way from Kenai, Alaska, Marie — who describes herself as a “bit of a workaholic” — is a state employee working for the Division of Public Assistance Office full-time and also handling books for a local gas station.

With her busy professional schedule and poker, she doesn’t have much time for other hobbies. Besides doing some theater, she enjoys reading (and listening to) books and spending time with her three sons, Maximilian, Justinian, and Sebastian.

Despite her busy schedule and the fact gambling is illegal in Alaska, she’s been playing poker for about two decades now, since her early 20s. She started playing at free tournaments organized by local pubs where sponsors provided prizes like WSOP tournament entries and her passion for the game developed from there. These days, she hosts a regular home poker game that takes place twice a week.

All this being said, Marie’s poker experience is almost 100% in Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Yet, when her friend Brian Raymer (that’s right, Greg’s brother!) suggested they jump into the action at the Festival, she went for it without hesitation.

After having spent a couple of hours at the table, Marie had tons of fun, although she “had no idea what’s happening a lot of the time.” She knew she was “paying to learn,” but with games being limit and very low stakes, the tuition fee was more than acceptable.

Other players have been helping her find her way around all these new games, and to anyone thinking about giving mixed games a try, Marie’s message is that “the Festival is an excellent place to start and have a blast while doing it.”

Mixed Game Festival XI Day 10 Is Looming

There is just one more day left before the Mixed Game Festival XI wraps up. It’s safe to assume it will be back before you know it, but for the time being, this is your last chance to enjoy some super-fun, very cheap, and extremely colorful mixed game action.

On top of all this, there will also be the final 2025 BetMGM Poker Championship $3,500 seat giveaway taking place via a chip count competition, so Day 10 is the time to throw caution to the wind and try to pick up some racks of chips!

As always, you can secure your seat well ahead of the noon kickoff by calling the Bellagio Poker Room at 702-693-7291 and putting your name on the wait-list. We’re expecting a full house for Day 10, so reserving your spot is the smart play!

Following the jam-packed Day 7, which saw players turn out in force to join the Pokercoaching.com Meet-Up Game, Day 8 of Mixed Game Festival XI was bound to be somewhat calmer in nature. But, as we’ve learned already, calmer doesn’t mean boring – quite the contrary!

While action was limited to two tables running throughout the day, dozens of players cycled through the seats throughout and the atmosphere in the Bellagio Poker Room was just as raucous as days prior. Things kicked off with another pizza party, and unlike at the tables, where only one or two players get a slice of the pot, there were plenty of slices up for grabs.

Once more, we had a couple of appearances from poker notables as well. Chad Holloway, a PokerNews Media Manager and WSOP bracelet winner, decided to throw his hat into the mix. BetMGM Poker Ambassador Jon ‘Slow Poker’ Rand decided to try his hand at mixed games for the first time as well.

Although he has no experience with mixed game poker whatsoever, Jon enjoyed his time at the table and even booked a small win, proving once more that the Mixed Game Festival is absolutely the best place to learn mixed games with no pressure.

Mixed Game Festival Poker Variant: Omajack

While Mixed Game Festivals are great for learning and having a great time at the felt, one thing you must do before deciding to attend is clear your head of any ideas about what games you may witness at the table and simply accept that you will likely encounter the unexpected.

There are so many different poker variants out there, and our tables are one place where anything goes, as there are barely any restrictions as to what game you get to call when it’s your turn. One game that really caught players’ attention on Day 8 was Omajack, a cross between Omaha High and Blackjack.

The game is played with five hole cards and five community cards (flop, turn, and river). Players must use exactly two of their hole cards to make the best possible Omaha hand and the remaining three hole cards to make the best possible blackjack hand. The pot is then split between these two hands, which you can see illustrated in the picture below.

Having never played this game myself but having dabbled in both PLO and blackjack, my immediate thought was that A-A-7-7-7 double-suited must be the best starting hand – and it looks pretty cool!

For those who haven’t had the pleasure of joining the action at one of the Mixed Game Festivals, the important thing to know is that you’re not forced to play any of these variations. You can always sit out or skip on a particular game that you’re unfamiliar with, but if you do that, I have to ask: where is your sense of adventure?

Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Daniel Brodie

It’s not just the variety of games that makes Mixed Game Festivals such a unique experience; it’s also the colorful lineup of players who make their way to the tables, coming from many different parts of the world and all types of professional and personal backgrounds.

One shining example of this is Daniel Brodie, our Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day. The son of Starla Brodie, one of the most legendary women poker players, Daniel comes from a family of professional card players. Both of his parents made their way through life playing poker across the country, existing in what used to be a much smaller and tighter-knit community.

Daniel spent a lot of his childhood moving from one place to another. “You may call it moving or fleeing; it really depends on your attitude,” he says jokingly. They spent time living in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and even Arizona, following the path of the game.

Even so, Daniel feels that he had a pretty normal childhood. The Brodies did a good job raising Daniel and his older sister; they just took a very unusual career path. He grew up in a loving family, always having a roof over his head, three meals a day, and taking fun trips together.

As you might imagine, Daniel had the chance to meet many of the poker legends of the time. His mother was good friends with Doyle Brunson himself, and the duo even went on to win a WSOP bracelet in a mixed doubles event in 1979.

Although he grew up surrounded by poker players and home games, Daniel started developing a proper passion of his own when he was 16 or 17. Up to that point, he was more interested in Magic: The Gathering, where he had his own competitive streak going.

His first experiences outside of home games came from playing at reservation casinos, where the legal age limit was 18. He admits that he wasn’t exactly over that limit when he first started playing back in 1998.

Despite all these surrounding factors, Daniel doesn’t see himself as or aspires to be a pro player. He plays for fun, sticking primarily to small stakes and even running his own low-limit home game in New York.

As for his mixed game poker endeavors, they are mostly focused on a $2/$4 mix that he gets to play with a bunch of 70- and 80-year-old “Broadway theater types.” On occasion, he’ll step up and jump into Terry’s game in Queens, which usually spreads $20/$40 and $30/$60 mix.

Despite being a part of the modern poker world, Daniel was largely shaped by influences from his childhood, and when your role models are the likes of Doyle Brunson, Mike Caro, and David Sklansky, it’s not hard to understand why this is the case. He says that even many expressions he uses at the tables come from days long gone, like “made an ace going down.”

Daniel’s mother, Starla, was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame posthumously as one of the pioneers of the game, and Daniel was one to accept the award on her behalf. Starla’s legacy will continue to live on for many years to come as her son proudly dons a card protector with her photo, not only as a loving memory of his mother but as a reminder of times long gone that helped shape the poker world as we know it today.

RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Jack Maleeh

Originally from California, Jack Maleeh, today’s pick for the RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day, has been living in Vegas for almost two years now. Jack spent a lot of time in California playing poker, so his friend suggested that he might as well move to where the best action is. He took that advice to heart, and that’s how he ended up in Sin City.

Although primarily a player, Jack was no stranger to dealing cards, either, and he eventually picked up a job as a dealer. Bellagio isn’t his home base, as he’s officially a seasonal dealer, but he does hope to stick around even after the summer madness is over.

Jack finds the opportunity to deal mixed games particularly enjoyable as he gets to learn many different variations on the go while also making money in the process. “It’s the best of both worlds,” he says.

Asked about his experiences dealing high stakes games at Bellagio, he explains that players at those tables tend to be very particular about how they like things done. For example, they don’t want the dealer to announce a “2-bet” and “3-bet.” It is assumed everyone knows what’s going on, and there is no need to spell it out.

As for his poker-playing goals, now that he has a steady job, Jack says his primary focus is just having fun at the tables. He would, of course, love to win a WSOP bracelet in a mixed event, but in the meantime, he plans to continue enjoying his job, poker, golf, video games, and life in Las Vegas in general.

Only Two More Days Left of Mixed Game Festival XI

Mixed Game Festival XI is headed into its penultimate day, which means time is running out to get your dealer’s choice fix on. But instead of looking back, we’re looking forward to another fun day of action at the felt which is bound to bring some surprises. Plus, of course, the festival’s final day (Thursday, June 19) will feature the giveaway of a fourth $3,500 seat into the 2025 BetMGM Poker Championship.

To secure your spot, you can call in at 702-693-7291 and join the wait-list. Games will continue to commence around noon, as per usual, but reservations will be open from early morning.

It has been proven time and time again that there are very few things that poker players love more than a friendly meet-up game. Day 7 action at the Mixed Game Festival XI further solidified this belief, as the Bellagio Poker Room was buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the Pokercoaching.com Meet-Up Game set to kick off at noon.

While most players had to come gather in the casino, there were a few who never left! Namely, one of Day 6’s tables kept playing through the night and well into the next day, marking the first full-time all-nighter of this year’s Festival.

As that game continued, three more tables were quickly formed, and the MUG got underway as scheduled, kicking off at noon, with Alex Livingston and Justin Saliba in the crowd and some more valuable prizes up for grabs.

Big Prizes, Bigger Names, and Heaps of Fun

Although it’s not always easy to quantify these things, it certainly feels like Day 7 was one of the most exciting days of MGF XI, with a big crowd of players and a lot happening throughout the day.

In addition to Pokercoaching.com guys, a few other notables joined the action, including the Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson, who was welcomed to the room with a big and loud round of applause.

Once more, there were many valuable prizes up for grabs for those in attendance, including a seat in the $800 H.O.R.S.E. event at the Aria Poker Classic. One Darius Bukowski was a lucky winner of the top prize, and he’ll get the opportunity to showcase his mixed game skills in a tournament setting.

While this was the only tournament seat up for grabs, there were a few more valuable prizes on offer, including a one-hour coaching session with Alex Livingston, which went to Victor Bershinsky.

Alex Livingston Interview: Bringing Mixed Games to the Masses

One of the people spearheading the Day 7 Meet-Up Game was Alex Livingston, a mixed game specialist who recently joined Pokercoaching.com, primarily to help them expand the training platform with some mixed game strategy materials.

Cardplayer Lifestyle founder Robbie Strazynski caught up with Alex for a short interview to pick his brain about mixed games in general, his impression of the Festival, and some tips for those considering giving non-Hold’em variants a chance.

You’ve been playing mixed games for a while. When did they first pique your interest?

I did play a bit online way back, but my first live session was around 2011. I played a 24-hour session. I was running hot and really enjoying it; got dealt number-one/number-one in Badeucey. I won a bunch of racks playing $20/$40 limit, and I thought it was easier than it really was.

I like that you are constantly activating different parts of your brain. With Texas Hold’em, it can become kind of static and dry. With mixed games, you are always thinking about new things, and a lot of poker concepts tie from game to game, which I like.

It is your first time visiting the Mixed Game Festival. As a long-time mixed game player and pro, what do you think about what you see here?

I think it’s great. What you’re doing is really cool – all the work you put into it, all the prizes, you clearly care about it a lot and have a lot of passion for it. It’s great to see this turnout, and everyone seems to be having a lot of fun and in a good mood.

You’ve been sitting at $4/$8, which is obviously different than your usual $80/$160 and up. So, vibe-wise, what’s the difference or uniqueness here vs. there?

It seems like a really friendly crowd here. This isn’t to say that it’s not always that way in higher games, but it feels a little bit more lighthearted here.

About Pokercoaching.com – you joined them recently; what’s it like working with those guys?

It’s been great. Justin’s been a good friend for a few years now. I am building a mixed game course for Pokercoaching.com, and what I really like is that I’m bringing them something that they haven’t had before, which is mixed game content, and hoping to get more players into mixed games via the course.

The goal of the course is to build it so that everyone, from beginners to advanced players, can get something from it. Every section is going to have introductory concepts, and then by the advanced videos, there’ll be a lot of high-level thinking. So, the target is anyone interested in mixed games, whether they are transitioning from No Limit or they’ve played a lot of mixed games already.

You play no limit yourself, and you may be a little bit known for your 2019 WSOP Main Event run, finishing in third place. So the question is, most people who play poker play Hold’em. Mixed games are growing, but it’s still a niche. What about those who are a little afraid, thinking it’s too much to wrap their head around? What would you say to them to give them a little taste and get them interested in mixed games?

I’d say start small. If you play certain stakes at No Limit, just drop down in stakes when you start with mixed games. Play an amount where you won’t be sweating financial swings. Start with one or two games, maybe. If you are learning online, try Omaha 8 or Better, which has some carryover if you play PLO already. Start small, work your way up, and see if you enjoy it.

As someone who plays Hold’em, PLO, and mixed games, which skills are sort of transferrable for someone who decides to try mix and starts learning that could be applied to Hold’em and vice versa?

A lot of poker games have a lot more in common than people think. A lot of it is about pushing equity edges, realizing your equity, and playing hands that allow you to realize your equity easily.

RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Michael Shvartsman

Michael Shvartsman, who also goes by his nickname Hobs, is the Day 7 pick for the RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day. He’s been living in Las Vegas since 2021. Michael started his dealing career at The Orleans, transitioning to Bellagio later on.

He’s been dealing cards on and off since 2016, and that flexibility to get in and out of the job easily is one of the things he loves about it, as well as all the table banter and players having fun, which sometimes makes him feel as if he were in the middle of a sitcom. He finds the opportunity to deal some mixed game poker a nice break from the routine of Hold’em.

Although he no longer plays as much poker as he used to, Michael still finds the game fascinating, especially the fact that poker puts you in a lot of interesting and unique situations where you need to figure out the player(s) you are up against more than anything else.

Hobs also has some words of wisdom for those thinking about joining poker on the industry side of things. He suggests playing some online games, even on free-to-play sites, just to get a feel for how hands work and what it is that players want. It makes it much easier to understand and cater to their needs once you start dealing.

Talking about his job at Bellagio, Michael says that one thing he enjoys the most is the international crowd, especially during peak poker time every summer.

Mixed Game Festival XI Day 8: A Calm Day Ahead?

Mixed Game Festival XI action will continue with Day, and although there are no major events in the cards, we’ve come to expect the unexpected. It could be a relatively calm day or we could have another day totally brimming with action – it’s anyone’s guess. One thing’s for sure: it’s pizza party time once again! 🙂

Whether it’s two, three, or four tables, there will be plenty of fun to be hand and some more memories to be created. So, call in ahead at 702-693-7291 and secure your seat at the tables!

Following a short break, Mixed Game Festival XI continued into uncharted waters — the first ever Day 6 — at Bellagio Las Vegas. Although the play was on pause for just two days, players were clearly eager to get back in the mix as the action started with three tables, with a fourth table added shortly thereafter.

It was a mix of familiar faces and some first-timers who were drawn to the Festival by word of mouth or simply stumbled upon it and decided they liked what they saw.

It wasn’t just the allure of mixed games that attracted players yesterday, though. With another seat to the $3,500 2025 BetMGM Poker Championship up for grabs, people wanted to have a shot at it – and who can blame them? To have a chance of winning such a valuable tournament entry for just being seated at one of the tables is one of the most +EV propositions you’ll come across.

Once the giveaway was over, the action slowed down a bit, but two tables kept going strong late into the night, with many of those leaving early, promising to come back tomorrow.

Fourth Time the Charm for the Lucky Giveaway Winner

The Day 6 $3,500 seat giveaway was structured a bit differently than the previous two, as there was a certain skill factor involved, namely poker trivia knowledge.

There was a random draw for the table and seat number, and the player in that seat would have to answer three consecutive poker trivia multiple-choice questions to win the seat. Adding to the fun (but perhaps to the pressure as well) was Eli Elezra. The Poker Hall of Famer turned up when it was the draw time to pick the winner, and he even asked the first question: “How many bracelets do I have; 3, 4, 5, or 6?”

The first two players out of the proverbial hat couldn’t answer all the questions thrown at them, so the search continued. The third time wasn’t the charm, either, as the drawn seat was vacant at the time! Talk about missing out on value!

Finally, on the fourth go, Chuck Martin got his shot, and managed to answer all three questions correctly to secure his $3,500 seat in the BetMGM Poker Championship. His reactions were priceless!

As mentioned, once the giveaway wrapped up, the action slowed down a bit, but those remaining continued to have a blast. In the midst of it all, we saw a pretty crazy Archie hand (a high-low five-card triple draw variant, with qualifiers for both), where one player was dealt four aces and the other kings full of tens, naturally leading to quite a few bets going into the middle.

Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Tamika Robinson

Joining the Mixed Game Festival XI action during three of six total days we’ve had so far was Tamika Robinson, today’s pick for Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day. Originally from Georgia, Tamika has been living in Las Vegas for about a year and a half, primarily enjoying the opportunity to play all the different card games around the city.

Robinson was first introduced to poker as a teen, and she liked the competitive nature of the game as well as the excitement of all the different variations poker has to offer.

Although she heard about the Festival by accident, she was intrigued enough to stick around and keep coming back for more. Being present at the dealer’s choice tables represents a new challenge for her as well as an opportunity to learn about some games she’s never had a chance to play before.

Tamika realizes that she is an underdog in a room filled with many experienced mixed game players, but she is willing to pay the small price — “tuition” — for the learning opportunity. What’s much more important to her is that everyone’s friendly and willing to help with tips and advice, making it much easier to find her way around new games.

Her message to people who are just into No Limit Hold’em and PLO is simply to give mixed game poker a chance and see how it helps them deepen their overall understanding of the game (and have a better experience in the process). Seven Card Stud is her game of choice, but since coming to the festival Tamika has started developing affinities for the likes of Badugi, Badeucey, and other similar variants.

A mother of a three-year-old boy and working two jobs, Robinson doesn’t have too much free time on her hands, but judging by her extremely fun and positive demeanor, she’s found a formula to make it all work.

RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Patrick Day

For today’s edition of the RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day, we have something a bit different. Patrick Day’s role at Bellagio is that of a floor and supervisor, although his previous dealing experience allows him to take a seat “in the box” as well if there is a need for it.

Patrick has been a part of the poker industry for a long time, learning the trade primarily in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally a teacher, he picked up dealing poker as a second job when his friend opened a poker room in St. Louis. From there, he realized that he was able to make more money with poker, eventually transitioning to the industry side of things full-time.

He’s been with Bellagio for three years now, and he wears many different hats performing his role: greeting guests, seating players, grabbing chips, handling floor calls, dealing with issues at and away from the tables, and more.

To Patrick, the most enjoyable part of the job is being able to help people every day. He says that he sees many of them as his family (and some of them, he sees more than his family). He takes pleasure in ensuring they have a great time, get into some good games, and have an enjoyable experience.

He tries to bring some elements from his teaching job to his role at Bellagio, working to create curriculums and processes to help with teaching new floors and dealers.

Despite his last name, Patrick mostly works nightshifts at Bellagio, and he admits he prefers it that way. One of the things he enjoys is seeing people off for the night, thanking them for their hard work, and sending them off for a well-deserved rest.

As for the Mixed Game Festival, he enjoys good company, a change of pace, and good organization, which makes his job a lot easier.

Mixed Game Festival XI Day 7 Preview: Pokercoaching.com MUG

The second week of Mixed Game Festival XI is off to a great start, and while Day 6 was a great day in every sense, we expect just as much excitement on Day 7.

In case you missed the announcement, June 16, is reserved for the Pokercoaching.com Meet-Up Game, which kicks off at 12 pm. Alex Livingston and Justin Saliba will be in the mix, while players can look forward to more valuable prizes along the way, including an $800 seat into a H.O.R.S.E. event at the Aria Poker Classic, a 1-on-1 coaching session with Alex Livingston, free access to high-quality training materials, and, of course, some Pokercoaching.com swag.

The wait-list will be available from early morning, so make sure to call 702-693-7291 and reserve your seat at the Bellagio Poker Room for the Pokercoaching.com MUG. We expect quite a bit of interest, so call in early and join the fun!

As any mixed game player will tell you, making a full house isn’t always a good thing – it really depends on what game variation happens to be active on that particular round. That said, having a house full of poker players eager to join the action is always a positive, and Day 5 of Mixed Game Festival XI was the busiest one so far, with four tables running simultaneously pretty much non-stop until the wee hours of the morning.

We can speculate as to the reasons why the event saw this sharp spike in traffic, but the fact that another $3,500 seat to the 2025 BetMGM Poker Championship was set to be given out yesterday certainly had something to do with it. It’s just such a great value that it’s worth joining the action, even if you have a very limited knowledge of mixed games.

But that’s not the only reason, of course. Many of those who came for the giveaway stuck around after, and the action went on across four tables even after the tournament seat was gone. Positive news tends to travel far, and as more people are hearing about what’s happening at Bellagio, they are eager to see it with their own two eyes.

It is the mix (no pun intended) of fun atmosphere, non-stop action, and crazy poker variants that you’ll hardly see outside of the Mixed Game Festival that piques players’ curiosity. And once they’re there and locked in, they’re in no rush to leave. There may be many bigger games in town, but there are very few, if any, that are more entertaining.

Lucky $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship Seat Winner: “It Was Meant to Be!”

The second $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship Grand Prize seat found its rightful owner yesterday in Sean O’Hara. The giveaway happened just like it was announced, with four tables playing a bomb PLO pot, with four winners progressing to the final round.

It was certain that someone would walk away with a seat, but Sean can truly say that this particular ticket had his name on it.

As we mentioned, it was a truly full house yesterday, so O’Hara didn’t get a seat at the table at first. So, Cardplayer Lifestyle owner and Mixed Game Festival host Robbie Strazynski, the man responsible for all the madness happening at the Bellagio Poker Room these days, gave up his seat.

It turned out it was a very lucky seat, as Sean got queens full of aces to win the first round, and then he caught a lucky runout in the second round against the other three winners. Sometimes it’s just your day.

Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Michael Clemente

The Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day for Day 5, Michael Clemente, comes to us from South Florida. Although he refuses to call himself a professional poker player, he says that poker is what he does for the most part and where he makes his money.

Like so many others, Michael journeyed to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker with the intention to try his hand at a few mixed game tournaments and maybe snag a bracelet. But he also realizes that ring games are where money is at, so he spends the majority of his time in the Sin City grinding cash tables.

He walked across the street to Bellagio from the Horseshoe after his friend told him about the Mixed Game Festival and all the different games that were being played. This was enough of a motivator to get him to leave his usual $20/$40 game and join the $4/$8 Dealer’s Choice action.

While the stakes may be lower than what he usually plays, Michael did not regret his decision. Like most others who give the Festival a chance, he was delighted by the level of friendly banter and general chilled and fun atmosphere at the tables.

This is one of the main things that attracted Michael to mixed game poker. As he explains, while players tend to just be quiet at Texas Hold’em tables, there is much more interaction going on in mixed games.

He also believes that there is more money to be made in this format as long as you learn different variations. Plus, you’ll get to meet more people, have more fun interactions, and there is much more action happening.

Outside of poker, Michael likes to spend time boating and fishing, which is certainly a nice way to recharge one’s batteries after long hours of grinding inside various poker rooms, which, for all their good sides, definitely leave something to be desired in the sunlight department.

RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Kyree Lawrence

Kyree Lawrence, the Day 5 RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day, is originally from New York City. He came to Las Vegas in 2016, looking for a city similar to the Big Apple but with nicer weather.

Kyree had an interesting career path, having spent nearly a decade in the military (in interrogations) and then working various customer service jobs in Las Vegas. Eventually, he got into a dealing school, which led to his position at Bellagio, where he started dealing poker and other table games.

He echoes the sentiment of other dealers, saying that the most exciting thing about the job is the opportunity to see and meet so many different types of people. Trying to define what makes a successful poker dealer, Kyree says that “it’s when people remember you. If someone remembers your name, mentions you to his friends back home, and then says hi when he’s back in town, it means you probably did something right. Maybe you just did a great job dealing cards, or you were able to make their overall experience better – whatever it is, if they remember you months later, it’s something to be proud of.”

What Kyree loves most about mixed games as a dealer is that they break the monotony of Hold’em and PLO. As for the players, he believes playing mixed game poker is much more challenging, as you have to constantly stay alert and need a good poker sense to not just play the hand you’re dealt but also the player sitting across the table.

Two-Day Break Begins, Day 6 on Sunday June 15

The first half of Mixed Game Festival XI is officially in the books. What follows now is a short two-day break before the action resumes on Sunday for five more days.

While the first half was exciting, we expect “part 2” to be even more thrilling, with a lot more fun stuff to come. There are still two $3,500 Grand Prize seats waiting to find their owners plus the Pokercoaching.com Meet-Up Game on Monday, June 16, featuring a $800 H.O.R.S.E. tournament entry and many more valuable prizes.

Ready to play? Call 702-693-7291 early in the morning of Sunday June 15 to secure your seat and be there for the restart!