Oakland CA area card rooms - any ideas?

[Arch99]

I'll be making a couple of week trips to the Oakland / Hayward area on business over the next little while. Any suggestions from the locals as to what poker rooms even exist in the area, let alone are worth playing at? Is it going to be worth it to make the drive to Bay 101?

Is there any card room that doesn't automatically drop the blinds into the jackpot and rake slots before dealing cards? How demoralizing to make an opening raise, watch everyone fold, and get your raise back before turning in your hand.

I'll also express a preference for no- or spread-limit versus fixed limit. It may be elitist to say it, but I feel like I've grown out of fixed limit and have moved on to bigger and better things.

[robinnh]

Originally Posted by Arch99

I'll also express a preference for no- or spread-limit versus fixed limit. It may be elitist to say it, but I feel like I've grown out of fixed limit and have moved on to bigger and better things.

Doesn't sound elitist, sounds just plain wrong. I prefer the game where the money is deadest, regardless of betting structure.

[Arch99]

Originally Posted by robinnh

Doesn't sound elitist, sounds just plain wrong. I prefer the game where the money is deadest, regardless of betting structure.

It's a fair point, well made, and I admit when I made my initial statement I was thinking of the 3-6, 4-8 types of limit games that are prevalent in my area of the country. The low-limit games where the rake is hard to beat and the pace of play is sometimes agonizingly slow. I've certainly grown out of that.

If I can be pointed to a nice fishy 10-20 game, I'll be more than happy to wade right in and take advantage.