19th Hole Casino and Lounge

Great time, great atmosphere, AMAZING PEOPLE INSIDE. I was completely shocked to see such lively and diverse characters all chatting together during a friendly/competitive game of no limit hole em. Even tho I lost, I had such a great time with these folks. The guy who runs it was even more polite and courteous than any other casino floorman I have ever met. Tho I got swept at the tables, I had a great time and will be back. I was card dead, anyone who plays poker understands that helpless feeling of slowly getting blinded and raised when your cards look as good as your granny's bloomers.

The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars was their structure to the NLHE game. $1/2 blinds, BUT to call the big blind it's $5 to go; which means there is never a true big blind. Also, I mean c'mon folks inside 19th hole.....you're really ganna raise the pot preflop $35?? wtf! I understand there's a $5 rake and you have to bet a little more to offset the casino, but $35?? I even saw some $50 raises, and saw that he had made the raise with J5off. I can't call that with my K10suited, it's just too expensive. I guess I'm the type that enjoys the art of poker more than the gamble of it.

But any avid player should definitely try their luck at 19th hole. I know I'm going again to try mine, who knows, they might raise $35 and I wake up with the rockets next time ;)

As others have mentioned, this is in a sketchy area. It is a little daunting if you show up late at night and see the group of drunk guys smoking out in front. I was half concerned about whether locking my car is enough.

That said, when you get inside, it is a typical dive bar. They have lots of TVs which are tuned to various sporting event, although the sound is down and the music is up. There is a small pool table and a lottery ticket vending machine to round out the ambiance.

For cards, they have a blackjack table and 3 poker tables. However, I have never seen more than one table going. You may get a couple on a Friday or Saturday night. I think the weekend tournaments get some action, but I have never come to one. The dealer was talking it up pretty big, but I don't know if that was because they were good or because he was trying to recruit players.

The game is $3-$6 Limit Holdem with a kill. It is a pretty good mix of tight rocks and people who just piss away money not realizing that there are straight or flush possibilities on the board. I haven't played it enough to give it a grade, but if you are halfway decent you needn't be afraid of this game. They have a small bad beat jackpot for aces full of jacks beat, along with high hands four times a day ($50, I think).  

The dealers are friendly and the crowd seems nice. It is tough to get in the game if there is much of a list because people don't leave. If you are looking for something a little more serious, it is probably worth the drive over to Pacheco to go to the California Grand (they also have no limit there). You may still have to wait on the busiest days, but at least they churn through people. However, the Nineteenth Hole would do in a pinch.

I don't play cards so I can't comment on the whole poker experience they got going here.

Lets be cereal for a moment, the hole is grimy as fuck.  There's usually haggard looking Antioch vets at the bar and assholes waiting to beat the shit out of you for minding your own business.

With that said, I have had a good time here before, it's just few and far between.  I usually end up here when I'm already drunk.  None of us go to the hole when we're sober.  We either show up in a blacked out state barely remembering stepping foot inside or already plastered arriving only because someone suggested to drink here on a dare.  

The staff seems cool.  I've never had a problem with them or had bad service trying to get a drink but there's simply better options out there if I wanna go out and have some drinks with friends.