The Borgata Fall Poker Open, powered by BetMGM Poker, kicks off Wednesday, November 4 and runs through November 17 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, with over $4 million in guaranteed prizepools and a $2,700 Main Event Championship.
Allen ‘The Chainsaw’ Kessler will be bringing his exciting Chainsaw Mixed Game Series to the Borgata Fall Poker Open schedule of events for the first time in his namesake mixed-game event's history.
“This is the 4th year of these events of the Chainsaw Mixed Series,” says Kessler. “The most rewarding aspects are the TORSE events, which I introduced in 2023, which is now a staple in every mixed series at Wynn, Hard Rock Hollywood, The Orleans and even at some WSOP Circuit stops.”
If you’re a mixed-game aficionado, you’ll be pumped to see the lineup the Borgata is offering. The series will launch with a $600 Omaha hi-lo event, followed by a $1,100 HORSE Championship, then stud8, TORSE., pot-limit Big O, TOE, Chainsaw 8-Game Mix, and a triple draw event to wrap up the series on November 14.
And there's something else worth chasing beyond the prize money. Winners will walk away with one of the most unusual trophies in poker: a Chainsaw trophy that's definitely a unique addition to any poker player’s trophy collection.
Check out the full Borgata Fall Poker Open Series schedule here.
Why a Chainsaw Series?
Allen Kessler founded the Chainsaw Series at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2023 after seeing a growing curiosity swirling around mixed games among players who traditionally stuck to no-limit hold'em (NLH).
It didn’t hurt that some of the most successful NLH players, Shaun Deeb, Esther Taylor, Benny Glaser, and Josh Arieh (to name only a few), have enjoyed massive success and numerous WSOP bracelets in mixed games over the last few years.
“Mixed games have been growing over the past several years. My series attracts a crowd that often wouldn't attend a typical 'WPT style' series with all NLH, and maybe a pot-limit Omaha event added.”
Kessler is betting that NLH and mixed-game players will dabble back and forth during the series for fun and the added attraction of big-money guarantees across the board.
“The nice thing about this Borgata series is that it was merged seamlessly into their already scheduled mostly no-limit series. There will be crossover with some NLH/PLO players dabbling in mixed, while some players from my Chainsaw Series will undoubtedly try some of their NLH events with huge guarantees.
“And players really enjoy the deep structure and a chance to play mixed events for around 10 days straight.”
Allen Kessler (pictured with arch nemesis Ari Engel) won the $400 Omaha-Stud event at the Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker at Caesars Palace last August. 
TORSE events grow in popularity
The TORSE events include T — 2-7 triple draw (lowball), O — Omaha hi-lo, R — razz (seven-card stud lowball), S — seven-card stud, and E — seven-card stud eight or better.
Kessler credits TORSE as one of the key games that gets players’ motors running for the Chainsaw Mixed Game Series of events.
“The most rewarding aspects are the TORSE events, which I introduced in 2023, and which are now a staple in every mixed series at Wynn, Hard Rock Hollywood, The Orleans and even at some WSOP Circuit stops.”
Kessler wanted to replace a ‘dead game’ with something mixed players would prefer to play.
“Mixed players were bored with, or just hated, limit hold’em. So, I decided to switch it up and replace that with triple draw. This made the event six-handed rather than eight. It was easier to get through the cycle of games.”
The Borgata Fall Poker Open runs November 4-17 featuring the Chainsaw Mixed Game Series.Where to start?
Kessler was asked how a beginning player should be introduced to mixed games without losing their shirt, or at the very least, a sock or two.
“There are several micro-stakes mixed cash games and tournaments in Vegas,” shared Kessler. “The Orleans does a great job offering $100-200 mixed events on almost a daily basis. Also, there are several $1/2, $4/8, $8/16 mixed cash games running almost daily in Vegas.”
Kessler quickly recommended one of the most heralded mixed-game books that belongs in a well-rounded player’s library.
“I would recommend new players to read Mastering Mixed Games: Winning Strategies for Draw, Stud, and Flop Games by Dylan Linde. After that, I suggest players start small and move up in cash/tournament buy-ins as the comfort level with the games/stakes increases.’
It’s guaranteed the Borgata Fall Poker Open will appeal to an experienced mixed-game grinder, and also offers plenty of opportunities for a NLH player to venture beyond a two-card game and try something a little different.
Why not? You might depart Atlantic City adding a new favorite game to your poker resume as well as an Allen Kessler-inspired Chainsaw trophy to seal the deal.
Follow Allen Kessler and Borgata Poker on X for more info.
