Warm Weather, Winter Poker

I am a Northeast boy from head to toe. After being born and raised in New York, I went to college and graduate school in Massachusetts. Afterwards, I settled down in the Bay State with my beautiful wife and had two wonderful children. Although I love the change of seasons (if you have never witnessed a New England fall foliage, you should definitely add it to your bucket list), the winters can sometimes be brutal. For me, I despise the vicious wind chill that penetrates down to my bones.

Since I set my own travel and playing schedule, I often choose warm weather locations during the winter months to play some poker and also keep the rust off of my golf swing. Here are numerous places across the country in which you can play if you are looking for some warm weather winter poker. Since the temperature typically begins to drop significantly after Thanksgiving, I will focus on the months from December to March.

December:

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit at Harrah’s Southern California

Formerly known as Harrah’s Rincon, this WSOP Circuit stop hails just outside beautiful, sunny San Diego. Recently, the casino has undergone a renovation, becoming a resort destination for Southern California. Like all of the WSOP Circuit stops, the poker action is plentiful, awarding 12 rings in 12 days. In addition to the poker, I look forward to the lazy river, the nighttime fireplaces on the patio, and the numerous golf courses in the area, including U.S. Open venue Torrey Pines, which is open to the public (if you can get up before the crack of dawn).

World Poker Tour (WPT) Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Bellagio

Prior to Black Friday, $10,000 main events were commonplace, being held somewhere across the country at least once a month. However, in the new poker economy, most main events range from $1,500 to $3,500.

The Five Diamond World Poker Classic, hosted by the iconic Bellagio, is one of the few $10,000 events still available, often awarding over a million dollar first prize. However, even this event has lowered its buy-in from its original $15,000. With its numerous preliminary events and action-packed cash games, Las Vegas is a perfect destination right before and during the holidays.

January:

PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) at Atlantis Resort

Over the past decade, the poker year has kicked off with the PCA, held at the breathtaking Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas. This tournament series perfectly intertwines fast-paced poker action in a warm weather paradise during the winter months.
The PCA has always been one of my favorite stops of the year. Not only does it have one of the largest main event fields of the year, but the venue is also a family-friendly location that my kids adore. I have always stated that this is the only tournament of the year that players are not terribly disappointed to be eliminated from. For the golfers among us, the Ocean Club golf course, home of the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, is truly spectacular.

If you have never played in the PCA, you must put it on your schedule.

Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) Caribbean Cruise

If poker cruises are more your speed, HPT has teamed up with Card Player Cruises to host one of the year’s largest poker tournaments on the high seas. Filled with cash games and poker tournaments, players will be able to interact with poker pros and HPT staff in a casual cruise setting. Touring the Eastern Caribbean during the week of Jan. 10, this HPT cruise is a perfect way to combine a warm weather vacation with poker.

February:

WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

The warm weather winter poker tour makes its first stop in the Sunshine State for this WPT event in Hollywood, Florida. Preliminary events begin in late January, while its $3,500 buy-in main event with its $3 million guarantee kicks off on Feb. 5.

WSOP Circuit at Palm Beach Kennel Club

For the WSOP Circuit grinders, Florida is also home for this stop at a unique location. Located at a local dog racetrack, the WSOP stop has lots of action due to the fact you only have to be 18 to play. The popular tournament series runs Feb. 5-16.

Card Player Poker Tour at the Wynn Las Vegas

This magazine’s namesake tour makes its annual stop in Sin City at the stunning Wynn Las Vegas. The tournament series begins Feb. 25, while its $1,500 buy-in main event starts on Mar. 15. Additionally, if you want fun away from the felt, “The Entertainment Capital of the World” is running round the clock.

March:

Recently, one of my tutoring students wanted to branch out by playing in some WPT main events. After scanning the schedule, I suggested the WPT California Swing which has three WPT main events held back-to-back-to-back weeks in March. Starting Feb. 28 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, the WPT California Swing travels up the West Coast from LA to San Jose to Sacramento. As an added incentive, the WPT is awarding a grand prize package for the points leader of the California Swing.

WPT L.A. Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino

Held during the first week of March, this tournament is one of the mainstays of the WPT schedule. Similar to the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic, the main event is one of the remaining $10,000 buy-in main events, which awarded a seven-figure first prize last season.

WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star

Hosted by the San Jose Bay 101 Casino, this tournament has a $7,500 buy-in with a unique format – $2,500 bounties on selected poker pros. Many poker pros and amateurs have been quoted as saying this is their favorite tournament of the year.

WPT Rolling Thunder

Finishing the three week-tour in Sacramento, this tournament is back on the WPT schedule for the second time and completes the third leg of the WPT California Swing with a $3,500 buy-in.

WSOP Circuit at Bicycle Casino

If you are looking for smaller buy-ins this month, the Bicycle Casino will hold its annual WSOP Circuit stop directly after the Commerce’s WPT event. So if you want to stay in Los Angeles for non-stop poker tournaments, this is another perfect location for 12 events in 12 days.

Hopefully, if you live in a cold winter region of the country like myself, you can schedule a trip to one of these sunny, warm locales to play some poker (and/or golf). Good luck, and I hope to see you at a final table. ♠

Bernard Lee is a poker columnist for ESPN.com, author of “The Final Table, Volume I and II” and radio host of “The Bernard Lee Poker Show,” which can be found on RoundersRadio.com or via podcast on iTunes. Lee has over $2 million in career earnings, won five titles and is also a team member of RunGoodGear.com. Follow Bernard Lee on Twitter: @BernardLeePoker or visit him at www.BernardLeePoker.com.