In the words of Robbie Strazynski, organizer of the Mixed Game Festival and member of the PokerOrg Player Advisory Board, “I created something that I would love to attend.” It seems he’s not the only one.
The eighth running of the Mixed Game Festival (MGF) got started on June 16, in a new location at the Bellagio, providing a must-play destination for aficionados of the lesser-spotted variants of poker.
And at a time when tournaments are understandably grabbing so much of the spotlight, a festival focused on cash games is giving players a refreshing alternative to the tension, ICM-headaches and mega-crowds of the WSOP’s tournaments taking place across the street.
Click the video above to check out the room and to hear from Strazynski himself.
A new home for the MGF
The Bellagio poker room, renowned as one of the prime spots to play in Las Vegas, has dedicated a number of tables for this summer’s MGF. While recent editions of the festival have centered around Resorts World Las Vegas, a relocation to the Bellagio places the MGF closer to the heart of the action, as thousands of players in town for the WSOP are thronging around the nearby Horseshoe and Paris.
This marks the first time the Bellagio has hosted the MGFThe games are Dealer’s Choice, with limits starting at $4/8 and $8/16, although higher limits are available on request. Rake is capped at $5 per hand, and those who play for three hours or more will be eligible for free parking. Action starts daily at noon and will run to June 20.
Merch and Moneymaker Tour entries to be won
As well as merchandise giveaways from the likes of Faded Spade Playing Cards, PokerGO, D&B Publishing and RunGoodGear, each day of the festival promises to award a lucky player with free entry to a Moneymaker Tour side event worth $400.
Seats are drawn at random, with the player in that seat asked a Chris Moneymaker-themed trivia question. Get it right and they bag the free entry, get it wrong and a new seat is drawn until the prize is won. And with a Moneymaker Tour stop visiting Las Vegas at the end of June, there’s an opportunity to use the prize right around the corner.
Had your fill of Hold’em? Looking for a fun, low-stakes cash game? Know a lot about Chris Moneymaker? Looks like there’s one place to be this week.
