Orlando Hold'em is a fantastic freeroll poker league that plays at fun venues and draws great players.
I played in the Any Two Cards league up in Atlanta, so I was very interested in finding a good league when I moved down to Orlando. After checking out a few other fun leagues, I decided to go with Orlando Hold'em for a few reasons.
The first reason is that they have games going every night in various parts of Orlando. Whether you are downtown, near the airport, or in the northern suburbs of Orlando, this league has you covered. I've played in the downtown games at Frank & Steins on Mondays (formerly at Chillers), Underground Public House on Tuesdays, Church Street Tavern on Wednesdays, Graffiti Junktion on Thursdays, Harry Buffalo on various days, and Exile near the Florida Mall for bigger tournaments. This wide range of locations has allowed me to try food and drinks at various spots around the downtown Orlando area.
The second reason this league is great is the people who play. Unlike many other leagues, this league has league dealers at each table who only deal. They are all very professional and handle their tables very well. While it is free to play, it is recommended to tip the dealers $5-$10. They also give chips at each break for every drink or food item you buy (unlike other leagues, the amount given is uniform regardless of the price). The main guys who run the league downtown- Nate, Stu, and Apollo - are all very friendly people who keep things fun and organized. While anybody can play, the same 30-40 people come to these particular venues each week, so this league is also a great way to meet people while playing poker and having drinks. Another great difference with this league compared to others around Orlando is that, while some of the players are older, this league has many under 40 players, so a younger person won't feel out of place at a game.
Overall, Orlando Hold'em stands out as one of the best poker leagues in the Orlando area. While they aren't as widespread or eccentric as some of the other leagues around Central Florida, the combination of great venues and great people make this is a fantastic choice for someone looking to meet some people and play free poker on any given night. read more