Hard Rocking with Texas Dolly

Like every other poker player in the world, I’ve always figured it would be pretty cool to play at the same table as Doyle Brunson. Obviously, he wouldn’t make it easy for me to win, but, just one time, as long as there wasn’t too much money at stake, it’d be a trip to mix it up with the man Gabe Kaplan likes to call ‘Big Papa’. That opportunity came a few weeks ago at the opening of the new ‘Poker Lounge’ at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

In honour of the opening, the casino put on a freeroll for journalists and invited guests, complete with cocktails, beautiful women and local celebrities. Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman cut the ribbon, clutching a pair of giant scissors in one hand and a martini in the other. Waiters circulated with terrific canapes that ran the gamut from burgers to spring rolls to shrimp cocktails. First prize was a shiny black motorcycle, and the room looked stunning. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Hard Rock’s Poker Lounge (so named because it has a cosy little bar right next to it, where you can chill between games, watch pretty girls stroll by and enjoy a cigar with your cocktail) is the nicest cardroom in Las Vegas.

Where most cardrooms tend to be somewhat utilitarian, the Hard Rock’s has been well thought out. It’s all dark wood and smoky leather, kind of approximating the feel of a men’s club by way of The Who, augmented by iconic black-and-white photos of Billy Bob Thornton, Willie Nelson and David Bowie adorning the walls.

While it’s as large as the Bellagio’s poker room, the Hard Rock facility has fewer tables, which creates an aura of airiness. Semi-private rooms in the back are designated for high-limit games ($5/$10 no-limit qualifies, which is good for us non-nosebleeders), private games or bachelor parties, and the enclaves come equipped with iPod docking stations. Sports betting is available right inside, high-limit slot machines line the walls, low buy-in tournaments ($20 with $10 rebuys for the first hour) take place on most mornings, a big money tourney is in the offing for next year, and everyone can make like a Bobby’s Room regular by ordering food right from their seats.

Nice spread

As for the action itself, poker room manager Houston Waldie says they’re willing to spread just about everything – he brags about having 690 plaques, designating the games being played – and is attracting a young crowd that seems to enjoy a few Rock-specific features. Like the poker league in which various teams play against one another, with each player’s results being factored into his team’s total. In fact, it’s not unlike the Professional Poker League project that Chip Reese tried to launch (without success) a couple of years ago.

Doyle and Todd Brunson are both fielding teams, which may explain what drew Doyle to the freeroll tournament. With Big Papa sitting just a few seats away, I catch his eye and he acknowledges me with a nod, but seems completely disinterested in giving up a decent quote about the new room. I ask him what Sailor Roberts would think of all this, and Brunson just says, ‘Yeah. He’d be surprised.’ Then he turns back to study his cards.

Sitting directly across from me, and no more chatty than Texas Dolly, is 2008 WSOP final-tablist Kelly Kim. In a most unheroic fashion, I end up donking my chips off to him after he pushes all-in and I take Kim’s poker face to be indifference about being here. I figure he’s trying to get the freeroll over with so he can play for some real money. I’m wrong, he busts me, and I’m off to the rail. Somehow though, all seems right with the world as I head to the bar for a scotch and a smoke.