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Playing in a Casino - Need Advice
Hi all,
I've just qualified for a gtd £5000 tourney in Luton next month.
Although I have played live before this would be my first time playing in a casino.
Could any of you kind people out there give me a heads up in what and what not to do especially etiquette.
Cheers
PP
Comments
PLayed at Luton just last week.
Suggest if you are not sure of a situation - just ask. I find that most players will be very helpful.
Just one thing about Luton which was pointed out to me, there are no trainers allowed.
Suggest you check out their website for full details.
I found that the locals there were very friendly.
Roy
Keep your larger chips at the front.
Don't hide your cards with your hand, plus protect them with a chip.
No string betting, IE I call your bet of 200 and raise 700....always either just put the total value of your raise in the pot or say I raise to 700 total.
Try and be aware of when the blinds are on you and remember to put them in.
With regards to the standard live, it is easier than online plus there is tonnes of limping and it is not unusual to see family pots, something rare online.
Luton is a fairly modern casino, and theres good food available both at the table and in the restaurant. Have fun sir and good luck.
Talk to the other players but don't discuss the hand in progress.
Or a crash-helmet.
Just a few key words you can browse for on a search engine that might help are:
String Bets
Betting out of turn
Largest chips to the front
Card protector
Leaving the table during the game
P.S NEVER!! put your drink on the poker table.
Apart from that people will help you out as you go along... try not to make a mistake early on or they will have you down as a fish all trny... unless that is what you want :-) ;-)
When in a big hand and have a tough decision, I just put my hand on my forehead and stare at the table.
I find that if you try to over-analyse the situation then it messes up your thought process, esp. if your looking at the guy and thinking OMG he's licking his lips I saw him do that when he bluffed 3 rounds ago.
Why not have a go before you big game.
The G casino in Luton has a beginners game for £10 on saturdays, have a look at the casinos near you and get a bit of live practice with other virgins, where You wont feel out of place or stupid asking questions. Failing that, if you go into most casinos you can ask the staff for a lesson in what to do.
Hope this helps.
My other advice concerns betting ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS make sure you say what you want to do, ie raise to 100, or whatever the bet will be, that way you wont do a string bet, also leave you chips alone until your turn and if you want to bet. DONT try any chip tricks.
col
Practice shuffling and dealing before you go. If you can't deal, ask someone else at teh table to do it for you.
Don't fling your chips in the middle in a big mess, it might look clever on TV but it's a pain in the backside.
Don't be afraid to ask others (or dealer if you have one) how much is in the pot, how much they have left, or anything really. Most people will help you out.
i would definately do some research before you go, if u no ur stuff then u wont have to ask about a rule or something, this could make some of the better players there think that your weak if u keep asking questions that they think are simple, therefore targeting you.
good luck again, start a thread once uv played to let us no how u got on!!!
I think most of it's been said. Don't say "I put you all in" or anything of the likes, just state what your action is and leave theirs up to them (been told off for this one once, and was very apologetic but she was havin none of it!)
Oh yeah, and beginners luck works wonders in casinos, bring it with you
If i were you I'd play the first hour very much a spectator, watch the way others are playing no need to be busy.
The game your in is almost certainly a deep- stack with a long clock, so there's plenty of time just relax and wait for a premium hand in the early stages.
If however you find AA or KK in your first hand ..... take a spare pair of knickers ....!! (only joking)
The main thing is, get there early so's you don't get flustered and start rushing around ..
Relax and Enjoy the experience..
glk benny
IMO just tell your end of the table or the whole table that you play mainly online, so to bear with you if you're a bit slow to begin with. You'll always find one or two to help out, esp at Luton, which is a friendly gaff.
Do not wear shades, Ipod, baseball cap or hoodie imo.
Live rookies that do so usually make themselves look a bit daft.
Also I'd say if you do end up doing something 'wrong' try not to get flustered or feel awkward if/when someone pulls you up on it because in my experience sometimes people can sound quite sharp when telling you off and it does feel a little awkward if you are new. Just take it in your stride and carry on.
Also make sure you never touch anyone else's cards! I know it sounds an obvious one but last time I was in a casino tourney a friend of mine was at my table and the dealer dealt a card to the player next to him but it ended up sliding more or less to him instead, he simply slid it over to the player whose card it actually was but the guy really went off on one for touching his card - so just be aware!
Lastly I'd say be comfortable about leaving the table if you want to go to toilet or for a cig or whatever, it felt a little aliean to me at first, I almost wanted to announce "I'm going to toilet", but once you relax its fine
The biggest pointer has been 'string betting' I certainly would have made that error.
Just to make sure I've got this right if the big blind is $100 and it comes round to me and I want to raise 3 x BB I either say '$300' or just put my chips in?
Just be clear about what you are doing.
One thing to rememeber when betting is that if you put 1 chip in then it is deemed a call.
I.E if you are to act after someone has bet, say 100, and you want to make it 1000, if you dont say raise to 1000 and just put a 1000 chip into the middle, then that will be deemed a call.
This does not apply if you are first to act, but the dealer may ask you if you are betting 1000.
col
At a showdown if you feel you have the strongest hand, declare your hand first to prevent slow rolling. And from a personal point of view, NEVER, ever drink any alcohol during a game. No matter how much you fancy a beer or two. Staying to soft drinks sharpens your own game and gives an impression of being serious about it.