BARGAINS : WHERE TO GET IN THE GAME.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

When it comes to bargains, ``free'' is our favorite word. If you love games and can't find anyone to play with, you can play games to your heart's content for free at the Slam Pit. Whether your game is Scrabble, Monopoly, Risk, Battletech, chess, checkers or strategy games, you're welcome to borrow one of their games (or bring your own) and play for as long as the store is open.

The Slam Pit is the only business in the San Fernando Valley that caters to game players. If you're really competitive, free tournaments for games such as Legend of the Five Rings or Monopoly are held throughout the week. The only time you pay to play is during Duelist Convocation International-sanctioned tournaments (entry fees usually run $5 to $15).

The hottest game right now is Magic the Gathering, a strategic fantasy card game. Everyone from teen-agers to senior citizens plays this game, and on Wednesdays there's a free tournament. The sanctioned tournaments for Magic the Gathering are held on Friday evenings and on Sundays.

In addition to providing a comfortable environment (it's air conditioned, and a cafe will soon be open), the Slam Pit also sells games at discounted prices. For example, gaming cards that retail for 20 cents and up start at 5 cents here, and if you place a special order from a catalog, discounts run 10 percent to 30 percent off retail.

If you are really into Magic the Gathering, a dealer comes to the Slam Pit on Sundays and offers deeper discounts. Cards that are normally sold here for $5 can be purchased from the dealer for $3. On Sundays, you can also sell cards you no longer want.

Although parents are welcome to leave their youngsters here to play games, this is not a baby-sitting establishment. There's room for 120 players indoors, and, if necessary, tables and chairs can be set up in the parking lot in back of the store. Game players of all ages are welcome as long as they adhere to the Slam Pit's cardinal rule - and that is ``No whining!''

The Slam Pit is at 6327 Laurel Canyon Blvd., just south of Victory Boulevard, North Hollywood; [phone]. Hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday - and the store often stays open later. Most major credit cards are accepted. Plenty of parking is available in back of the store.

Inside info

Happy Tails to You will make your dog look fantastic with a haircut, flea bath, nail-clipping and ear cleaning at a price of $20 (normally $24) for new customers; without the haircut, the cost is $18 (normally $20). This special is good until Sept. 30. Happy Tails to You also offers Adoption Day almost every weekend (call for schedule), as well as a pet-sitting service where they care for your pet at home (they don't believe in putting animals in kennels). Happy Tails to You is at 5503 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana; [phone]. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

After 20 years in the wholesale business, Sunset Sterling has recently opened to the public. They carry new silverware at prices that are generally 5 percent to 10 percent below that of discount mail-order companies. They also have a huge inventory of estate silverware. If you have any silver products you want to sell, they purchase items, too. Sunset Sterling is at 4369 Valley Fair St., Simi Valley; [phone] and [phone]. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

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Photo: Brent Kuzmicki, 15, left, and Shawn Kreps, 13, play Magic the Gathering at the Slam Pit, a North Hollywood store that encourages game-playing on the premises, where there's room for 120 players indoors.

David R. Crane/Daily News