Kelly’s Cardroom

Once upon a time, I spent a great deal of time at this card room.
At the time, they had a great promotion to get the no limit game started. You put at least $ 100 and no more than $ 200 and you get an extra $ 40. You keep that $ 40 if you lose your stack (or really the winner in the pot keeps it) or after 3 hours. Typically, they have 2 tables going one with 10 and one with like 6 – 8 players.
Now, they do a 20 for 40 promotion a few days a week.
This 1 – 2 no limit game had a number of features that generated big action. The first, a minimum 5 dollar bring in. The second, a kill from any position (even the button) of 5. After the initial period of 140 for 100 bonus, you can buy in for any amount. The result is a much bigger game than the California Grand with blinds of ²⁄₃ and buy-​in of 100 – 200. The 140 for 100 bonus is no longer in effect so now you can buy in for any amount.
There are some solid players in the game, but there’s also some big time gambling. It’s a generally rowdy, blue collar, down to earth group. Check your snotty attitude at the door. It will get you nowhere here.
The first night I was there to play, a guy was playing with a stun gun, firing it off with the sparking sound (not at anyone) and there was a crossbow at another table that one guy had sold to another. It was like the new version of the wild west. I went on a particularly colorful night because I didn’t experience anything like that again except for one a-​hole that physically threatened me for catching my draw after I bet big.
The dealing is pretty good. No comments on flop texture, largely professional, though one was really not on his stuff. In a large all-​in multiway hand another guy at the table managed his pots for him that was a dealer somewhere else.
The rules are not posted well and change a bit with the days despite it usually being Alberto that runs the joint. He’s a nice guy and will buy guys that have kept the game going drinks or tacos later in a session, but he doesn’t carefully watch the game as he should and is very poor about having a consistent rule set about showing cards, if it’s a bet or not based on hand movement and the line and that sort of thing. Calling floor in here to mediate disputes will get an answer, but it’s frustratingly inconsistent.
From like 7 – 8 p.m., dinners are half price, though the service can vary. They have some high end food like filet mignon which is done well. Most food is overpriced, but for half price, you’re in great shape. Kelly’s in addition to a card room is also a high end family restaurant.
Still, the action is so amazing that you should play here anyway. Expect high variance and some terrible calls when you have big hands.

After our brief experience at the 19^th Hole I thought any other card room would feel safer than that place. Still, I felt uneasy as we walked toward the front door of Kelly’s…probably because it was hard to tell tell if the gents outside were employees, loiterers, or random people looking to mug me.
Luckily, they were players waiting for a tournament to start.
Kelly’s isn’t located in the best part of town (does Antioch HAVE a best part?), but the employees and players here were friendly and welcoming to newcomers. The tournament ran smoothly and a cash game started as soon as a table was full.
Apparently Fridays and Saturdays are nights with big cash games…3 tables, with around $ 5−6k at the main table. I might have to check that out pretty soon…

This place is great, the No Limit Game is even better then the one’s on TV, you have to be sharp in you’re Poker to play in this place, the action is excellent and the pots are huge!, is a $ 100 minimum buy in and no max, a real No Limit game
Al and He’s son Alberto are the owners and run the Card Room, this guys are to great Italians that will make you feel like you’re home with a worm kind treatment

Small poker room tucked away in Antioch. It’s a little ghetto… as are most bay area card rooms.
The dealers and owners are SUPER nice. My only gripe, which is why I don’t come here too often, is because there are no people here. There’s usually only 1 or 2 tables going. 3 – 6 and 1 – 2 NL.
So if no seats are open, it could be a while before you can play.