Poker-playing University students are limited in their options. They can round up a home game with friends, drive to a distant casino or head to a bar that holds games. Students younger than 21 are even more limited, and many turn to the Internet to compete. Yet Eugene poker-lovers may rejoice because a new option is on the way: Full House Poker.
Full House Poker, an 18-and-older poker house in downtown Eugene, will offer competitive poker players a regular venue to test their skills when it opens in mid-February.
Players can get a preview of Full House Poker, located at 808 Olive St., Friday when it holds its fourth no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament. The tournament will have a $50 buy-in. Payout will be determined by the number of participants.
Full House Poker takes 10 percent of the buy-ins.
Full House Poker owner Justin Zinser, a 25-year-old University graduate who studied business administration, was a fan of the game before ESPN’s coverage of the World Series of Poker made Texas Hold ‘Em a household name. He said there are many people in Eugene looking to test their skills against other competitive poker players.
“There are a lot of people locally who enjoy the game, but they don’t have a place to get together,” said Zinser. “The other places in town do the best they can with the tools they have. We just try to provide a better place with better tables, better cards, better chips, better deals and better action.”
Zinser hopes to see online players come out to try their hands at live poker.
“There’s no substitute for a live game,” said Zinser. “[Playing] live is much more difficult than online.”
He also stressed the social aspect of live games. Tournaments bring everyone to the table, from 19-year-old University freshmen to 78-year-old poker veterans.
The Poker House doesn’t allow smoking or drinking. It has seven tables, and professional dealers from Reno, Nev., will deal the live cash games and final tables at the tournaments. There is also a lounge with a couch and 32 inch flat-panel screen that allows players to watch televised sports.
Full House Poker will be open Monday through Saturday after it begins business in February.
“Monday through Friday we’ll have small one- or two-table tournaments starting at noon,” said Zinser. “We’ll have Friday and Saturday evening tournaments, and from noon to midnight we’ll have live games.”
Friday evening tournament buy-ins will be $50, Saturday buy-ins will be $100. Other tournaments will cost players around $25. Tournaments will be no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em; live cash games will be limit Texas Hold ‘Em. If members show interest, Zinser will include other game types.
Anyone older than 18 can sign up to play in tournaments, but only members will be able to play in live cash games. Membership costs $25 a month, $50 for three months, $75 for six months and $100 for a year.
Members will receive a $10 discount on tournament buy-ins.
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