Once more, the Las Vegas Strip is hot with non-Hold’em action as the Mixed Game Festival is back in town. This is the fourth time that Bellagio is hosting the popular festival, and the first time in autumn, as the previous three iterations all took place during peak summer season.
While Sin City may not be buzzing with action and excitement in October as much as it does when the World Series of Poker is in town during June–July, there is no such thing as a bad time for poker in Las Vegas! And with fewer events happening at the same time, mixed games fans can enjoy longer sessions and focus more on the task at hand with fewer distractions.
Off to a Good Start
The Mixed Game Festival has its dedicated followers who regularly turn up, and Mixed Game Festival XV has been no exception. In addition to those who’ve driven in from neighboring states, plenty of players have flown in from all points domestic as well as further afield, including Canada, Wales, England, Israel, and Japan (thus far). Add to that a few walk-ins, and it’s more than enough to get the action going in earnest.
The first day of MGF XV started with some traditional free pizza and two $4/8 dealer’s choice tables. A third one formed within an hour, and those three tables kept going strong for about nine hours straight. Not bad for a random Monday in October! 🙂
Mixed Game Festival XV is underway at @BellagioPoker.
We’ve got @PokerCoaching_ founder @JonathanLittle here splashing around and signing his @DBPoker1 books… and PIZZA 🍕🍕🍕
Come join us! Three $4/8 dealer’s choice tables going thus far! https://t.co/NaKCytiHZa
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) October 5, 2026
Jonathan Little popped up and sat down at a couple of tables, splashed around a bit, and signed some of his popular poker books. Justin Saliba came around to say hello as well, although he didn’t have the time to join the action. So, we already had the first couple of celebrity guests in the room, with more to come.
Some fun mixed game advice from @PokerCoaching_’s @JonathanLittle and @Justin_Saliba.
Come put their tips to the test at @BellagioPoker here during Mixed Game Festival XV. 😁 https://t.co/oTyIbRbgd9
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 5, 2026
First Grand Prize Goes to a Long-Time MGF Supporter
The Mixed Game Festival always features a host of special prizes for the players, and it is no different this time around. The most valuable of those are three Grand Prize seats into the $1,100 Bellagio Fall Classic ($100k GTD), courtesy of BetMGM Poker, and the first one of these seats has now found its owner.
David Hanrock managed to win two consecutive blind PLO flips to claim the seat, and even if there is no such thing as “deserve” in poker, David certainly comes as close as possible. He’s traveled out from Youngstown, Ohio, to about a dozen festivals over the years, and this is the first time he won a major prize.
Dave Hanrock has attended over 10 of our Mixed Game Festivals… Today he finally won himself a Grand Prize 🥳
He won two consecutive blind PLO flips to secure an $1,100 seat in the @BellagioPoker Fall Classic Main Event courtesy of @BetMGMPoker! https://t.co/43WsC1O36v
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 6, 2026
The Bellagio Fall Classic Main Event is a Hold’em event, and David shared with us that the last time he played Hold’em was over 10 years ago, so he expects it to be a bit of a challenge. That said, to longtime and future Mixed Game Festival attendees still waiting for their big Grand Prize win, his message is simple: “show up on time, put in the hours, and just hope to be in the right place at the right time.”
While it might not be a very elaborate strategy, it is the one that works in the long run!
As always, there were some additional smaller prizes up for grabs along the way, too, including quality card decks, courtesy of Faded Spade.
Mark from California won himself a 2-deck setup of @FadedSpadeBrand cards for making a 7 low in 2-7 Razz.
Where else can winning be so easy aside from the Mixed Game Festival? 🤣
Come join us all week long at @BellagioPoker! https://t.co/RSFO63yDyW
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) October 6, 2026
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Shale Juster
Just as there are those like David, who barely miss a Mixed Game Festival, there are always some first-timers. Shale Juster, our Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day, is in the latter group.
Hailing from Minneapolis, Shale flew to Las Vegas specifically for the Mixed Game Festival. Visiting was on his to-do list for a while, and this time around, things finally lined up perfectly.
At home, Shale plays two or three times a week, both at Canterbury Park and in four different home games he frequents. Although he is almost retired, he still does some work at his old company, mostly in sales, which “keeps him busy between poker games and regular naps.”
In addition to enjoying some friendly mixed game action, Shale was particularly excited to meet Jonathan Little. Not only has he been following Jonathan’s training videos for a long time, but he also had an opportunity to buy a small piece in one of Little’s high-stakes tournaments at Aria. Jonathan ended up winning that particular event, so Shale’s $100 investment turned into a couple of grand, which “made me an even bigger fan.” 🙂
He tells us that he also took advantage of Alex Livingston’s Master Mixed Games course, and it helped him develop a more aggressive style, although this is work in progress.
And for anyone out there thinking about taking up mixed games, Shale’s message is simple: “unless you’re focused strictly on learning and playing very GTO-focused poker, you’ll have a lot more fun and enjoyment playing mix.”
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Carl McDonald
Mixed Game Festival XV continues on the tradition of highlighting the people who make all the fun possible – the dealers. Day 1’s RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day is Carl McDonald, who specifically got selected for the distinction because he just looked like he was having so much fun in the box!
Carl has been living in Vegas for about a decade, and he’s been dealing on and off at Bellagio for pretty much the entire time, among other casinos in the city and at the World Series of Poker during the summers.
He tells us he knows how to deal all casino games, but he has chosen to stick with poker primarily because there is no smoking allowed in poker rooms.
Bellagio is his favorite place to deal because the dealers “get a lot of freedom.” Carl explains that his personal philosophy is very in-line with Bellagio’s, namely the emphasis on having fun and allowing players to enjoy the moment; “we don’t have to constantly worry about things we aren’t supposed to do.”
Asked whether he prefers dealing mixed games or Hold’em/PLO games, he admits that it depends on limits and the lineup. But $1/$3 No Limit Hold’em is still on the top of his list in terms of how fun and crazy the games can get.
Carl also told us that drunk people are his favorite type of players because they usually have so much fun and there is no telling what can happen at any given moment. It’s a mix of entertainment and anticipation that keeps him on his toes.
Ready for Some Tournament Action?
Day 1 of Mixed Game Festival XV was all about cash games, with three tables going strong for about nine hours and the action eventually merging down to one, featuring the most persistent of players.
Tuesday, October 6, however, brings the first of two tournaments scheduled for this edition of the MGF. It’s a $300 T.O.R.S.E. event that starts at noon, and everyone’s welcome to join. Low-stales dealer’s choice cash games will be available as well right from the start, as well.
The second $1,100 Bellagio Fall Classic Main Event seat will be awarded as well, and to have a shot at it, you’ll just need to be seated in the right seat at one of the tournament tables before registration closes.
As always, if you wish to put your name on the wait list or need any additional information, you can call the Bellagion poker room at (702) 693-7290.
