The Hotel Radisson Europa Cardroom

The card room at Hotel Radisson Europa in San Jose runs more live action games every night than any other card room in Costa Rica. That's usually two or three tables, while the others practically never run more than one table at a time

Live Action No Limit Texas Hold 'em

The big game here, as in the rest of Costa Rica, is No Limit Texas Hold 'em. The dollars-denominated game is a $100 buy-in with $1-$2 blinds.


Or you can play the 5,000-colones buy-in game (that's about $10 as of October, 2005) with 100- and 200-colones blinds (roughly 25 and 50 cents)

Hold 'em Rules You Should Know at the Radisson

This card room does not publish their rules, which vary from standard poker rules in several ways. The most important is that your hand is declared dead if you show your cards during the action. (If folding, however, you are allowed to show them to another player who has already folded.)

Another nuance is that you must say raise before moving your troops onto the green felt battlefield, though this one is not universally enforced by the dealers. Another oddball rule here: if winning in a ring game, you must play for at least one full hour

About the Radisson's Card Room

It's a no-smoking room, as are all Costa Rican poker games. There is a smoking lounge with plush chairs and a huge rear projection TV. Drinks are on the house. Pai Gow and roulette are also played in the same room.


You can order food from menus of a nearby Pizza Hut, Chinese or other restaurants. After 10:15 PM, there is a free buffet in the main casino. Players get free beer, cocktails and cigarettes. Their match play coupons cannot be used at roulette, which is the best game for such a bet, and they don't have a craps table.


All in all, the Radisson is a pleasant and friendly place to play poker. A number of North American ex-pats show up regularly for the tournaments as well as the live action.