Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XIV was pretty crazy (in the best possible way). There was a seat scramble, as players were trying to get in the mix ahead of the first $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship seat giveaway, and then it was a PLO mayhem that decided the lucky winner.
By contrast, Day 4 was much calmer, as we shifted into a bit of a lower gear with two tables of $4/$8 mix kicking off to start the festivities. For the first time since the festival started, there wasn’t a $6/$12 game going. But the ebb and flow of the festival is pretty typical, and it’s impossible for things to always be pedal to the metal for two straight weeks. What’s certain though is that there’s quite a lot lined up for Day 5, so the energy in the room is guaranteed to pick up once more.
Plus, the action will be moving from the overflow tables in the sportsbook directly into the Bellagio poker room. The lighting will be better, we’ll have automatic card shufflers at every table, and foot traffic will be higher. But more on that in a moment. Let’s get back to Day 4 highlights for now.
Rick Gleason Book Signing
While the Mixed Game Festival can’t quite give out thousands of dollars worth of tournament seats every day, there is always a little something extra happening alongside the table action. Wednesday saw Rick Gleason, a poker author and fellow Cardplayer Lifestyle contributor, join the crowd and do some book signings.
Gleason is the author of 101+ Poker Tips That Actually Work, an interesting book that, although it’s not specific to mixed games, brings some very useful general advice for poker players.
We’ve got Rick Gleason here at Mixed Game Festival XIV signing his new book.
It’s not mixed game specific, but there are some great general poker tips in there. Over 101 of ’em 😁
Review here on @PokerLifeMedia, by @santijota8 👇
https://t.co/eyq0gzfxjd pic.twitter.com/OwZSBMBTOb— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 3, 2026
The book is aimed primarily at recreational, low-stakes players, who play for the love of the game, so it’s a perfect match for the Mixed Game Festival crowd.
As always, a few players won free signed copies by accomplishing certain feats at the tables, like Mike Tyson (yes, we know that there are other Mike Tysons out there), who managed to scoop an Archie pot.
For those not as involved in the mixed game world, Archie is a triple draw split game, where the pot is split between the best high and the best low hand (using standard rankings), but there is also the minimum qualifying requirement for the high hand (usually a pair of nines or better) and for the low hand (an 8 or lower). If nobody qualifies, the pot gets split among every player remaining at showdown.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Brian Dowd
Often, in our Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day section, we highlight some of the newcomers who stumbled upon the festival by chance or were invited by a friend. Today, however, we have the complete opposite of that.
Hailing from St. Augustine, Florida, Brian Dowd has been a regular at Mixed Game Festivals, and this is his sixth time attending. His first time was a few years back, at Resorts World, and, like many other regulars, he just fell in love with the atmosphere.
Brian describes himself as a very competitive person, and that’s one aspect he enjoys the most about the game. At the same time, he prefers mixed games over Texas Hold’em and PLO, because mixed games lend themselves to much more fun, interaction, and camaraderie at the tables.
Living in Florida, when he’s not busy with his day job in wood manufacturing, Brian enjoys shooting some pool or spending time on the beach and soaking in the sun. Way before, he also used to be a chef, and he found quite a bit of success with that career before moving on to other things.
As for poker, Brian believes playing the skills the game hones can be of great use in day-to-day life, helping one see the big picture, realize all the different angles, put things in perspective, and decide which way to go – just like you do in a poker hand.
Although he says he likes to think of himself as a decent player, Brian doesn’t have any major poker goals. He just enjoys the competition, spending time with friends, and having a good time at the tables.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Lemlem Woldu
There are some people we’ve had a chance to talk to at the Mixed Game Festival who have been with the Bellagio for a long time, but none of them have been with the company longer than Lemlem Woldu, today’s pick for the Dealer of the Day.
Lemlem came to Las Vegas from Ethiopia in 1997. She got married here and got a job with the Bellagio the following year, as a bus runner, right as the legendary casino opened its doors. She has been here quite literally from the very first day.
After a while, an opportunity arose for employees who wanted to become poker dealers to get the necessary training, and Lemlem jumped on that opportunity. She learned how to deal the cards and never looked back.
There is an important reason she’s stayed with the Bellagio for nearly three decades. She loves the team she works with, the way the management handles things, and all the players who frequent the venue.
Of course, dealing at the Mixed Game Festival is a bit of a different experience, which she describes as both enjoyable and challenging. What she enjoys is that players are relaxed, having fun, and there is a friendly vibe. The challenge, on the other hand, is dealing all the different games, some of which she’s never dealt before – but it’s also fun for her.
When asked about her bucket list item as a poker dealer, she tells us she pretty much achieved all she set out to do. Her work allowed her to raise her two sons and send them to private schools. In her own heartfelt words, “It was this community that made it all possible, and I’m so very grateful for it.”
Day 5 Preview: Pokercoaching Meet-Up Game Time!
Looking ahead to what comes next, Day 5 promises to be a stellar one by all accounts.
Starting at noon, we’ll have a Pokercoaching Meet-Up Game, featuring top veteran pros Jonathan Little and Justin Saliba. The duo will join the action at the tables, so you’ll have a chance to win some chips off of them as well as also ask them some poker strategy questions while splashing around together at the felt.
We’re hosting a @PokerCoaching_ Meet-Up Game tomorrow at 12pm at Bellagio for the Mixed Game Festival!
I’m looking forward to splashing around in all sorts of odd games and we’re giving away an $800 Aria Tournament Seat. See you there!😊💥@cardplayerlife @PokerLifeMedia pic.twitter.com/zq91I47JmQ
— Jonathan Little (@JonathanLittle) June 4, 2026
But wait; there’s more! 🙂 One lucky randomly selected player will also receive a free entry into the $800 Aria Classic H.O.R.S.E event. You just need to be there to have a shot.
Also, a couple of players will receive lifetime passes to Alex Livingston’s Master Mixed Games course, which rates to be one of the best resources for mixed game players, whether you’re just starting or are an experienced player looking to enhance your strategy and find an extra edge.
The good folks at Pokercoaching.com have been longtime friends of ours here at Cardplayer Lifestyle and stalwart supporters of the Mixed Game Festival, regularly giving free 1-month subscriptions to all of our Players of the Day as well as a bunch of other free stuff, so it’ll be a pleasure to co-host the MUG with them.
We’re expecting a full house, so if you have plans to be here, we suggest you call the Bellagio poker room (702) 693-7291 and put your name on the list. That way, you’ll lock in your seat and will be able to get in the action right from the get-go. As mentioned, the action is moving to the main poker room tomorrow, so that’s where you’ll find us!
