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.
It might be gloomy and raining buckets outside, but here at @PokerRoomRWLV it’s exciting and lively, as we’ve got three tables of low stakes dealer’s choice cash games going.
Come join us on Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XII 😁 pic.twitter.com/KpySLQsOXJ
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) November 18, 2025
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.
📢 👉Tomorrow is @WPAGlobal‘s Women’s Wednesday at Mixed Game Festival XII!! 👍🥳
Join @WIPHOF‘s @FirstLadyPoker, @Jan_Fisher & @PokerLupe as they teach Triple Draw at @PokerRoomRWLV! 🥳
📽️https://t.co/EA7IVmDKH4
🔗https://t.co/hR87HLofx2
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXII pic.twitter.com/7GuctG8vh7— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) November 19, 2025
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
