L.A. Poker Classic - Biggest and Best Ever

This issue of Card Player is hitting the stands a few days after the start of the L.A. Poker Classic at Commerce Casino.

More than just another tournament, the L.A. Poker Classic will help us acknowledge where we are and where we are going in the world of poker.

January was a huge tournament poker month. The combination of two major tournaments at the same time in Reno and Tunica helped to create more tournament poker activity than has ever been seen in the first month of any year.

Now, here comes Commerce Casino. Its new hotel and tournament facility are open, and they are beauties. Yet, the capital cost for Commerce was enormous, and they must break records to make ends meet. They certainly have proven their long-term commitment to poker by taking such a step.

The L.A. Poker Classic features three $330 limit hold'em tournaments, each with a $250,000 guarantee, a $1,570 limit hold'em tournament with the first-ever $1 million guarantee for a limit hold'em tournament, and a $7,600 no-limit hold'em championship event with a $1 million guarantee.

What more could we players want? Commerce Casino is providing us a fabulous place to play, plenty of action at all levels in both tournaments and side games, and, of course, its usual outstanding food and staff.

Let's spend lots of time in L.A. this month and show the entire poker industry that we players do, indeed, support well-conceived and well-run events. I'll be there the entire month. I hope you will join me.