Casino San Pablo Celebrates its Seventh Year as a Major Player

It's lucky number 7 for Casino San Pablo as the Moroccan-themed card club in Northern California gets ready for the seventh annual San Francisco Open Poker Tournament. This event, which features a $180,000-guaranteed prize pool, has become a favorite with poker players across the country.

"Attendance just keeps going up and up," said Tournament Director Ronna Glandt. "Not only do our regular, local players turn out, but we draw players from as far away as New York, Alaska, and Canada. Last year, one of our winners was from Germany."

In retail, location is everything. But, according to Glandt, timing is everything in poker tournaments. "One reason why we have such a great turnout is the fact that the San Francisco Open takes place over the July Fourth holiday," she explained. "I know many players from different states who plan their vacations around our tournament. They come to play and their families come to enjoy all the wonderful things the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer. I love to see them each year, and I love to see them win!"

While the June 29-July 6 San Francisco Open may be the perfect time to combine a visit to San Francisco with the excitement of a major tournament, it's not the only reason players flock to this popular event. Poker players like Leopoldo ("Pol") Conge site the professionalism and organization of the tournament as their reasons for attending: "I love playing at Casino San Pablo in the tournaments. You play against good players, and the games are always organized, well-run, and free of problems." Obviously, many other players agree. Last year's San Francisco Open attracted 1,573 players who vied for a total prize pool of $254,000.

But the San Francisco Open isn't the only major tournament for players to match their skills with other players from across the country. The Golden Gate Classic takes place at the end of January each year, followed by the Northern California Poker Championship in late March. The Thunder by the Bay Poker Tournament follows the San Francisco Open, and takes place in mid-October. "We offer more major tournaments than any other casino in our part of the state," said Poker Room Manager Danny Twitchen. "They are well-respected and well-received."

Glandt, Twitchen, and the rest of Casino San Pablo's poker staff are constantly on the lookout for new poker tournament events and ways to improve current ones. Former Tournament Director Lenny ("Lefty") Goldman introduced a Texas hold'em shootout at the 1998 Thunder by the Bay Poker Tournament. "He dropped our $300 buy-in hold'em event and added a no-limit hold'em shootout," explained Glandt. "Our players loved it, and now many other clubs have added it to their schedules, as well."

Casino San Pablo began using Tex Morgan's TEARS blind structure at its 2001 Golden Gate Classic. "It's really player-friendly, with an average limit increase of about 50 percent each round," stated Glandt. The TEARS blind structure is now used in all four of Casino San Pablo's major tournaments. "It gives players a decent amount of playing time," Glandt added.

The San Francisco Open will begin on Saturday, June 29 at 2 p.m. with a limit hold'em tournament. This $40,000-guaranteed event will be limited to 340 players. "If you want to play, be sure to be here on time," warned Glandt. A no-limit hold'em event with a $25,000 guarantee will take place on Sunday, June 30 at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, all events will begin at 7 p.m. The final event will be a limit hold'em tournament on Saturday, July 6 at 2 p.m. Players who enter three or more events prior to this one will receive a free buy-in. It will feature a $25,000-guaranteed prize pool.

Best All-Around Player awards also will be presented. The first-place winner will receive a specially designed ring and $1,000, the second-place winner will pocket $500, the third-place finisher will take home $300, and fourth place will be worth $200.

Satellites will begin on Friday, June 28, and will run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. They will continue on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday, July 1 through Friday, July 5 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Following the final event on July 6, players will be treated to a player appreciation dinner on Sunday, July 7. They will be able to choose either a prime rib dinner or Chef Tom Wicinski's special sea bass. "It's amazing that our kitchen staff can cook more than 250 dinners at the same time, and they all turn out great," commented Glandt. "Our players rave about the food all the time." Dinner will be followed by a Super High-Hand Giveaway on Sunday evening.

For further information on the upcoming San Francisco Open and hotel reservations, call Glandt at (510) 215-2593.

Players looking for action in addition to major tournaments will find plenty of daily tournaments and promotions at Casino San Pablo. Early-bird tournaments take place Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m., and evening tournaments are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Beginning in mid-June, the casino will debut major progressive jackpot poker. "The jackpots will be in effect 24 hours a day for all of our seven-card stud and Texas hold'em games," stated Twitchen.

In addition to taking pride in bringing the best of games and tournaments to players, the casino believes in bringing the best to its community. From supporting local youth teams and co-sponsoring an annual golf tournament benefiting San Pablo's medical center to founding the San Pablo Community Foundation, dedicated to improving the quality of life for San Pablo residents, Casino San Pablo has established itself as a thoughtful and caring neighbor. In recognition of its efforts, the casino was recently voted Best Business of the Year by the San Pablo Chamber of Commerce.