The Triple Frontier is the area along the junction of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina borders. You may have heard of this place if you saw "Miami Vice". "The Mission" w Robert DeNiro was also about this region.

I'm here to fish, rafting, prospecting new business, watch wildlife, and to visit a friend's farm. Since the local casino , Casino Iguazu ( www.casinoiguazu.com ), also offers a 9 table poker room, I went there to check it out and found some surprisingly high stakes poker action.


Transportation

I arrived here from Rio de Janeiro, paid US$200 for the airline tickets. I think the tickets from Buenos Aires ( and the return ) costs about the same. Currently the Brazilian air space is jammed and the flight had a 2 hour delay.


About the Region

This land is a farmer's heaven due to fertility of the soil, abundance of water and near temperate climate. Its also a good ( but not great ) fishing destination. There are some very good hotels on Brazilian side with golf courses and big geothermal pools. There is also a natural landmark, the Iguazu Falls are a impressive complex of Huge waterfalls surrounded by an outstanding forest and it may worth the trip itself if you love Nature.


The whole region is also a Money laundering heaven. The large commerce of agricultural and electronics goods, the international nature of these transactions, corruption, difficult jurisdiction and ethnic diversity are the main reasons that makes this place a paradise for drug dealers, arms dealers, "bankers" and smugglers. In fact based on what Ive seen so far I would say that this crowd are our main target at poker table.

Accordingly USA state dpt this is a very sensitive region, a terrorist outpost, and they tried to build a military base on Paraguayan side but it only last a couple of months. AFAIK

The population is a melting pot of guarani natives, Spanish, Portuguese, a big German colony, Ukrainian, Lebanese, Iranians, Japanese and Chinese. Arab and Chinese are listen on street, specially in Paraguay.

Paraguay is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, Argentina is facing a 5 year long economic crisis and Brazil is experimenting 5 years of strong economic growth. This situation is reflected everywhere, from chicks to chips. The maniacs are inevitably living in Brazilian side of the border and the best clubs and parties are on Brazilian side. Goods are cheaper on Brazil and Services in Argentina. I had an excellent barbecue dinner with half bottle of a good malbec wine for US$10. An "All you can eat" Asado costs $5

A tourist is safe as long as he remains within the tourist route or rich neighborhoods of both Brazilian and Argentinean side. On the Paraguayan side you may only be safe in the big luxury condo where expatriates and local elite lives. As a Brazilian, I'm used to see poverty and social mess but Ciudad del Este, Paraguayan side, is hard to describe. There is a casino there, I will report about it soon but I do not recommend going there if you are a "gringo".

The nightlife is good but not great. You can check the action by yourself here : www.pada.com.br , click on FOZ ... and then on FOTOS. Chicks are OK and you will find someone better than the one you deserve , but its not like Rio or Florianopolis.

There is a place, the only one at Argentinean side, CUBA LIBRE where you can find lots of backpackers from all over the world. Aim and shoot. You will have a decent chance of getting laid.

I'm sure that there are a couple of brothels but I have nothing to report. Ive heard about a ranch and a place called Crystal. Ciudad del este brothels are infamous pedophile destination, STAY AWAY !


Casino

The casino is OK, the photos on their site are fair, there are blackjack, baccarat and Caribbean poker tables. American roulette and a big slots room. They consider themselves as a luxury casino and I must say that the nearest casino that can be compared to this one is in Punta del Leste, 1500km away. The table games are in US$ but most roulletes are in Argentinean pesos. Dealers are proficient when dealing blackjack and baccarat but not in Holdem. There is a Comp card but the manager could not explain clearly how does it works . It seems that it is very subjective and they can only offer something on your next visit. It took some time until I realize that some of the regulars go there not only to play but also to make business and playing some high stakes is interpreted as a sign of financial strength , lol.

Poker

The poker room is ok but here is the big catch : THEY CHARGE $40 PER HOUR FROM EACH PLAYER AT US$5/$10, $50 AT $15/$30 and $60 AT $25/$50 !!!!


First session :

I arrived at 10pm, there was only one dealer on poker room and I started the waiting list and we started at 11:30 five handed. An Arab, a Chinese and a Brazilian farmer and his wife. Portuguese was the table language. The blinds were $5/$10. I bought in the minimum $300, paid the $40 and a few orbits later I had $1500. The opponents were really terrible. At that moment I wasn't worried about the high rake. The game was fast paced and I usually had to deal with one calling station per hand.

Once I valued bet a str8 on river and was called by the Chinese with highcard jack. Life was good !!! Another Arab sat down donked away $1000 and said that he had just lost $70k on baccarat and that he need to play higher since they couldn't play that stake seriously , the others agreed !!! I decided that it could be a trap and stood up. Big mistake. They continued to play poorly.

I started a new waiting list and went to the bar with ~$1500 in chips. After an hour I was called. The $25/$50 had collapsed and it would start again as $5/$10. Three Americans decided to play. One of the Americans, the leader, started to make chip tricks and talk about outs and premium hands. A guy from Malaya decided to sit down too as well as an Argentinean. I would rate the Americans and the Argentinean as semiloose-weak, all the others were calling stations.

I made the mistake of returning with the $1500 ( there is no maximum buy in ). Two hands after the new start I saw a T86 flop from BB, hit 2 pair and lost a bunch of chips to the Malayan, who flopped a str8. I had $700 a few hands later when this hand happened :

I raised to 5 BB OTB w [5s], Chinese CS calls from BB, Americans fold, Argentinean called fro CO. Flop was [6s][4d], checked to me and I shoved , CS called and Argentinean instacalled. Argentinean had [Xs], Chinese had [4c] and I didn't improve. I bought another $300.

After that, the first American busted out, as well as the second one. The "leader" had ~$900 when he decided to slowplay aces and called a 2 way AI on a double paired board. They were replaced by 3 calling stations. Then , I lost $300 with ATs and a AJT flop and 9 limpers. Enough for the day. -$600.


Second session

I arrived 1pm after spending some time at Cuba Libre, I met 2 guys from Rio and I cant say they were happy to see me. Anyway they were there to play the big rebuy tournament next day. Very first hand, I had J6s on BB checked behind a few limpers. Flop was J63. I shoved my $250, a guy called w K6o and hit his king on turn. I asked for another $300 and was cards dead for some orbits , eventually I received kings, shoved PF and lost. -$600 for the night.


Tournament.

I didnt play it, I never saw a tourney like that.

Its a $1100 rebuy played as a shootout, half of the field advances to next day and it takes 3 days. There were unlimited rebuys until the end of the first 2 hours. When rebuyng a full stack, a players has the option of changing tables and they do it so often ... The field is terrible. Hard to believe.

There were 3 tables w 8 each and the expected prize pool were 100k. The house charges 10% of the prize pool.


Final Notes

I not sure if that cash games can be beaten with that rake, the obscure comps may have some value and they only tip the dealers when leaving and its never above $5. I think the short handed game has some value. The tournament definitely are + EV. Unfortunately I don't have the bankroll to play them.

Later, when inspecting a possible industrial site for a new business, I met one of the Arabs, who owned the place. Later, he called my friend saying that It is hard to believe that I could pay the rent since I couldnt play a $15/$30 game.

AGain.. wow