Introduction to poker in a Casino Poker Room
January 5th, 2012 at 6:40:13 AM
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As I recieve comments in this thread, I'll periodically update this post. The last such update was on March 20, 2021 to fix a photo that was missing. Prior to that was August 13, 2017, and just in the preface to remark that it IS now an official article.
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Update:
Woo hoo! It's now an article!
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/introduction-to-poker-in-a-casino-poker-room/
Feel free to comment and I will reply. Now that it's an article, I will no longer be editing this post, nor will I suggest that the Wiz or any administrator edit the article. After all, after four years of occasional edits, I figure it's as good as it's gonna get.
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Intro
This article is about the differences between a poker room and a dining room, and how to avoid being labeled a poker novice. It assumes that the reader already knows the basics of Texas Hold-Em, but has been too intimidated to go into a casino's poker room.
Asking questions, while seated with friends at a dining room table, is a relatively safe thing to do. Asking questions at a table in a poker room can be deadly. Or at least financially costly. Hopefully, this article will answer your questions so you can go to a poker room with confidence.
This article is probably a lot longer than it needs to be. A true student of the game would immerse himself in these details before going to a poker room. The intended audience of this article is a more casual player who may become familiar with some of these details, and return here to review some of the questions that may have popped up after their first experience.
The first few sections after the House Rules section, applies primarly to cash games. If your interest is strictly tournaments, after reading about House Rules, you can probably skip to the Misc. Novice Mistakes and Bad Habits section.
House Rules
As you read this you'll see a lot of "Some poker rooms do this, some do that," etc. Asking questions about those kinds of differences will NOT get you exposed as a novice, just someone who has not played at that poker room. In many cases, asking those kinds of questions will build your credibility as an experienced poker player because you're concerned with the details of the house rules. The best time to ask is between hands when the dealer is shuffling and dealing. In areas with multiple poker rooms, some dealers may work at more than one. If the dealer's response is at all unclear, don't be afraid to call a floor person and ask again. Asking a question during a hand is bad etiquette because it breaks the concentration of those in the hand. Of course, if it's a question that will affect your play of the hand, that's a different story, but it may help a player figure out what you have.
Poker Rooms differ from the casino's main floor
Poker rooms have etiquette all their own, with rules that are very different than the rules for the main casino floor.
Because players are betting against each other and not the house, spectators might not be tolerated. After all, a 'spectator' could actually be a cheater's accomplice. Also, seating is assigned by the staff, so 'lurking' while waiting for a seat is unnecessary. When there aren't seats available, a wait list is created. When there are multiple seats available, a new player is assigned to the table with the most empty seats to keep things balanced.
Of course, it is the player's choice for the type of game and betting limits. But it's the management's job to seat you at one of those tables.
The poker room makes money by taking a small percentage of each pot, called a Rake. With more players at a table, the chances of larger pots and larger rakes increase. Therefore it's in the poker room's interest to have full / balanced tables. For the same reason, players want full tables, too. As a result, many poker rooms allow players to eat while playing, and even provide food waitresses and snack tables. They'll ask you to keep the actual food off the table, etc. Some will ask you to not eat while you're in a hand, or at least do so in a manner that doesn't slow down the game. And please try to keep the cards clean.
Also, because players cannot easily change tables, smoking is not allowed in most poker rooms.
In fact, if you wish to change tables for any reason, you need to get the floor person's assistance. He will give you a choice of new tables, if possible, as well as advise you if you can or cannot bring all the chips you have to the new table, and whether or not you'll be required to post blinds.
If you wish to change seats but stay at the same table, you can do this by asking the dealer. He will advise you when it would be acceptable to move. All of your chips will remain in play.
If you want to leave, you can do so at any time. If you wish to take a short break and return to your seat, all of your chips must remain on the table.
Wait List - Games and Limits
When you arrive at the poker room, in most cases there is an overhead computer display showing all the games, betting limits, and a list of people waiting.
This is a typical wait list. Click for a larger view (Sorry that it's blurry).
The top of each list shows the type of game. The next line has the table numbers, intended for the staff's use. Below that are the first 15 or so names on the list. On the bottom is the count of names, useful if the display is maxed out.
The games will be labeled things like HE $2/$4 or LHE $2/$4 or Limit $2/$4, and NL $1/$2 or NLHE $1/$2 or No Limit $1/$2. Those represent the two typical games a novice will play: Limit Texas Hold-Em, with $2 and $4 fixed bet sizes, and No Limit Texas Hold-Em, with $1 and $2 blinds.
$2/$4 Limit and $1/$2 No Limit are typical, but some poker rooms will have $1/$3 No limit instead of $1/$2.
Another game that is favored by novices, but not always offered, is called Pot Limit. It operates just like No Limit, except raises are limited to the amount of chips already bet.
$1/$2 No Limit is the game that is most often found. In smaller poker rooms, it may be the only game offered. In larger rooms, it's the one with the most tables running, and may be the only game early in the morning. It's the most popular poker room game because No Limit is the game almost exclusively shown on poker TV shows - albeit at bigger limits. Larger poker rooms may have what looks like alphabet soup with additional games and higher limits.
There is a desk at the entrance, where you can ask about the games available. The one piece of information that is not shown on the display, is the buy-in. All games have a minimum buy-in. You do NOT need to maintain that minimum. If you fall below the minimum, it's OK to continue to play, although your strategy may change. It's only when you go all-in and lose, that you'll be required to reload to the minimum if you intend to stay. If you have at least one big blind, you are not required to reload, and if you choose to do so, you do not have to get to the minimum - in most cases.
Most No Limit games also have a maximum. The maximum is just the maximum you can buy in for. When you sit down at a table that is not a newly started game, there may be players with more than the maximum. This just means that they have won enough to take them over the maximum. All of their chips are in play.
Some games do NOT have a maximum.
This information is also on the little placard next to the dealer, but it is often difficult to read and/or it's under the dealer's arm, so it's best just to ask.
Rake / Seat Rental
The poker room makes money from the rake - they remove 10% from the pot, up to a maximum, usually $4, in dollar increments rounded down. This is done by taking $1 out of the pot when it exceeds $10, another $1 when it exceeds $20, etc. If the poker room offers a Bad Beat or other type of bonus payout, they will typically remove an additional $1 when the pot reaches $20. The rake and bonus dollar are kept aside until the hand is over, allowing the dealer and players to verify the amount.
Some poker rooms remove only 5%, but do it by taking $1 when the pot is $10, $30, $50, $70, and maybe even $90, for a maximum of $5. Considering the smaller rake for smaller pots, most players don't mind that the max is higher than other poker rooms nearby.
When several seats are vacant, the rake can be reduced. This is typically done by reducing the maximum, not the percentage. Some poker rooms do this automatically, some need a player to request it.
In areas where there is only one casino, the poker room rake is typically 10%, $5 max all the time.
In areas where there are several poker rooms, it may be wise to find a room with lower rakes. Poker experts say that, over the long haul, low-limit games are losing propositions because "You can't beat the rake." Playing at higher limits, and/or lower rakes, makes it easier to beat.
The highest rake this author has ever seen was on a cruise ship where it was 10% with a maximum of $15! Not only that, they had 50¢ chips, used only to enable a partial rake and reduce the loss due to rounding. Many players thought this was excessive and complained, but what could we do? Fortunately, there were enough inexperienced players that the good players were able to beat that excessive rake.
This author has not seen, but has been advised that some poker rooms, particularly those with no competition, will take a rake even if there is no call of the bet.
At higher stakes tables, some poker rooms charge a "Seat Rental" rather than have a rake. This is typically $5 for some specific duration, usually 30 minutes. This fee is charged whether you're playing or absent.
Bottom line: If you can, it's best to shop around for the best rake.
Sign Up / Buy In
After getting your questions answered, tell the attendant what game and betting limit you want.
If seats are available, she will point you towards a table, or to a floor person who will assist you. Otherwise, she will ask for your name for the list. If the list is long, some poker rooms will give you a pager or ask for your cell phone number, allowing you to go to the casino while waiting for a seat. Otherwise, stay nearby, because when your name is called, you'll only have a minute or so (even less in a busy room) to identify yourself, before you lose your spot on the list.
In many poker rooms, in the interest of having as many hands per hour as possible, players are required to bring chips to the table rather than forcing a dealer to delay while you buy-in. If there's a list, go to the cashier when your name gets near the top. If there is open seating, then in the interest of getting more active players, they may allow you to sit immediately and buy-in from the dealer.
In contrast, in the interest of full tables, you can always re-load by buying from the dealer.
However, very few poker rooms allow you to color-up when you're ready to leave. Of course, if you have a lot of a particular color and the dealer's bank has few of that color, you can always ask if he'll color up. Sometimes, if they have not yet ordered a fill from the cage, they will allow a color up.
Bets and Raises
In $2/$4 Limit, the blinds are $1 and $2, while bets and raises pre-flop and post-flop are $2, and bets and raises after the turn and river are $4.
In $1/$2 No Limit, the blinds are $1 and $2, but bets are always at least $2. Raises must be at least double the previous bet, but re-raises are a different matter, and follow house rules. In some poker rooms, the re-raise must be at least double the previous total bet. In other rooms, it must be double the previous raise. I.E. If the original bet is $2, and someone raises to $5, usually a re-raise must be at least $10 (double the prior bet), while some rooms require it to be at least $8 (the amount of the prior raise of $3 on top of the $5 to call). It gets confusing what a minimum re-raise would be when the prior raise is a partial all-in.
Minimum bets in no-limit are always the big blind. Prior bets and raises do not affect the minimum for the next round in a hand (although they very much affect strategy).
When someone wants to call or raise, but doesn't have enough chips to do so, he is "All-In". Players cannot reach into their wallet to reload during a hand. When a player is all-in, all he can win from each player in the hand is what he himself risked. Any additional money bet is in a side-pot for the remaining players.
Multiple side-pots will be created when several players are all-in. It is advisable to watch the dealer to make sure the side-pots are divided correctly. This tends to be an area where mistakes happen.
Most poker rooms will "Cap" the betting to a certain number of raises per betting round, usually 4 (1 bet plus 3 raises). I.E. After 3 players have raised, the remaining players can only call or fold. There is never a cap when only two players remain in a hand. The cap is there to prevent two players, working as a team, to continue raising until the remaining players fold.
If a player raises, but is all-in for less than a full raise, different poker rooms handle it differently. Say there are only 3 players. Player 1 bets $10. Player 2 calls. Player 3 goes all in for $17. In some poker rooms, since that raise was for more than half of the required amount, it is considered a valid raise, allowing player 1 to re-raise. The minimum amount of that re-raise can vary by house rule too. However, in other poker rooms, that $17 all in does NOT qualify as a raise, so player 1 and 2 can only call or fold.
There is a third type of game sometimes offered, called Pot Limit. It operates just like No Limit with the single exception that there is a maximum raise amount equal to the value of the pot.
When betting the maximum in Pot Limit, the total of the pot, all called bets, as well as your own call, is the maximum you can raise. For example, say there's $35 in the pot pre-flop. After the flop, there's a bet of $5 with two callers when the action gets to you. If you want to bet the maximum, you say "Pot" or "Max." The dealer will then count it out and tell you the total you need to bet. In this case it would be $60. I.E. The $35 pot, the $5 bet plus two callers of $5 each, as well as your own $5 call for a total pot of $50. Add the $5 call to the $50 raise, makes your total bet $55. If the next player also wants to raise the maximum, it will cost him $55 first to call your bet, which makes the pot $160. So add a raise of $160, for a total bet of $215.
Chip Stack
Some poker rooms allow cash to play. I.E. You can have cash in your stack of chips. If they allow it, they will usually only allow $100 bills.
Once you put chips (or cash) on the table, they must remain on the table until you are ready to give up your seat. The novice tendency is to pocket part of the winnings from a big pot, since this is a typical way to protect winnings on the regular casino floor. The reason you can't do that at the poker room is, you're not playing against the house. Once you win that money from a player, that player has the right to try to win it back, for as long as you're still seated there.
If a friend / spouse comes along and asks for money, you can't give them part of your stack - even if they are planning on sitting at that table. To give them money, you'll have to reach into your wallet.
The exception to this rule is to pay a waitress or massage person, since this is usually a small / insignificant portion of your stack. Also, since tipping the waitress is encouraged and delaying the game is discouraged, it's OK to tip out of your stack. Similarly, it's OK to pocket a few souvenier chips.
You should stack your chips in a manner that makes it relatively easy for another player to extimate the total. Do this by keeping stacks a uniform height of 10 or 20 chips, all the same color, with the high denomination stacks in front.
If you need to take a smoke / bathroom / food / whatever break, and intend on returning to that table, you must leave all your chips where they are. Usually, there is no reason to be nervous. While Poker is a game of taking money from the other people at the table, outright theft is very rare.
Absence
If you are absent long enough that you have missed the blinds, a small plastic disc with "Missed Blind" on it, will be at your stack. (Note: These discs are called buttons. Much smaller than the Dealer Button, which is often referred to as "THE Button".) When you return, you'll need to "post" both blinds. The big blind will stay in front of you, and can act as your chips to call the bet, while the small blind you pay goes right into the pot. You have the option to sit out hands and wait for the big blind rather than post.
If you are absent for a long time, more Missed Blind or Absent buttons will accumulate at your stack. If enough of them accumulate, and there is a wait list, a floor person will bag your chips and open the seat. You can claim your chips at the desk when you return, but you've lost the seat.
If the poker room has a Bad Beat Jackpot, you may remain eligible as long as there is no "Missed Blind" button at your seat. Some poker rooms require you to have been dealt in to the hand to be eligible.
Bad Beat / High Hand
Many poker rooms feature a Bad Beat Jackpot. When the pot exceeds $20, an additional $1 is removed, and is dropped into a separate bucket when the hand is over. At the end of the day, these are collected and added to the jackpot.
The Bad Beat will win when a very rare hand is beaten. In most cases the rules dictate that the players hold a pocket pair, or use both cards to make a straight flush. The minimum hand to qualify as the loser can vary from as low as Aces full of Jacks, to Quad Queens.
Often the Bad Beat will go for weeks or even months before being hit. When it hits, usually the loser of the hand gets 40% of the jackpot. The winner gets 20% and 20% is shared among the other players at the table. The remaining 20% goes to restart the next jackpot. Some poker rooms will only put the 80% to be divided on the tote board, dividing it as 50%, 25% and 25% when hit. Some share that last part among all active players in the room. In Atlantic City, the four Caesars properties are linked. When it hits in any of their 4 poker rooms, all players in all 4 rooms get a share.
Instead of a Bad Beat, which can grow for months before being hit, some casinos have a High Hand where $1 is removed when the pot is $20, and they keep track of the high hand. Every few hours the High Hand rakes are collected and given to the person with the highest hand. In most cases, there does not need to be qualifying losing hand, or even a showdown. Just show the hand to the dealer and floorperson to be elligible.
Some casinos do other things such as bonus prizes for quads and straight flushes which pay an immediate bonus, or spin a prize wheel.
Deals / Chops
When you watch shows such as High Stakes Poker, the players often agree to deals, most commonly, to "Run It Twice." Most of the types of deals seen on that show are not allowed at low stakes games, primarily because they are confusing to rookie players, and result in slowing the game.
The exception is to chop the blinds. If all players fold, when the action gets to the small blind, either he or the big blind will suggest they chop. This means that they take back their blinds, the hand is over and the dealer button advances. This is encouraged by poker rooms since it is unlikely that the pot will grow, so this prevents wasting time on a hand that will produce little or no rake.
Misc. Novice Mistakes and Bad Habits
Pay Attention to the Action
Because the software does things for you, many online poker players learn bad habits. Specifically, online you can call or fold ahead of time, as well as check a box to automatically post blinds. You may not realize it, but the software waits until it's your turn to actually take the action. When you're at a live table, failure to wait your turn, failure to put up your blinds, and failure to know there was a raise, are the biggest indicators that you're a novice. Basically, any sort of acting out of turn is bad. On the other hand, occasional minor mistakes are easily forgiven and forgotten.
The exception to this is if you are dealt garbage and you want to run to the restroom. Go ahead and put your cards forward just a little to indicate the fold, then get up and leave. Don't toss them to the dealer as you would if it were your turn, as that may cause the person on your left to think it's his turn to act. If you like, tell the person next to you fold for you, this way it's understood that it's not his turn yet.
Any other type of acting out of turn can influence the players that are thinking about their action.
For example, say a player is thinking about making a bet when the player after him bets out of turn, it will affect the decision of the player who was skipped. If a latter player calls a prior bet, but the skipped player makes a raise, different poker rooms will handle the second player's call differently. Some will allow the second player to retract their call, some will require the chips to stand even if they fold, and some will allow him take back his first call, or to call the new raise, but not allow a re-raise.
Unlike the casino floor, where hand signals rule, in the poker room, verbal declarations are binding. If you say "Call" without realizing there was a raise, guess what. You have to call. If you say "Raise" without realizing there was aalready a raise, you will be required to make the minimum re-raise. If you say "Raise to $12" without realizing there was a raise to $10, you may be required to make the minimum re-raise. You will NOT be allowed to raise higher than that, because that's would be a "String bet".
String Bet
Bets and raises must be made in one motion or one declaration. If you specify "Raise", it is then acceptable to put out the chips for the call, then stop and think about the raise, and then put the raise out. But that raise must go out in one motion. You can't put chips out and bring your hand back to put more out. If you want to raise so much that you can't handle the number of chips, just announce the amount and then take as many steps as necessary.
A statement such as "I call your bet and raise you $x" is illegal. Yes, this is typical of home games, and is seen in movies and non-poker TV shows all the time, but once you say "call", you're done. Ditto for "I see your bet, and..." Sorry. There's no 'and..."
Forward Motion
While verbal declarations are binding, words are unnecessary. Chips moved in front of your cards (or past the line if there is one), are all that is necessary to indicate your action. However, make sure that action is correct. If you intend to call $2 by throwing in two $1 chips, and mistakenly throw in two $5 chips, that's a raise to $10. On the other hand, if you instantly realize your mistake, you may be allowed to fix it. But the window of opportunity is very short, and you will be limited on the number of Mulligans you get.
Some poker rooms state that ANY forward motion, or chips brought over the line, is a bet. While many poker rooms allow you to grab a stack of chips, and then drop only a few or even just one of them, some rooms will state that whatever is in your hand, is the bet.
If you grab a stack of chips, with the intention of dropping several of them as your bet, but you accidentally drop only one and start to pull your hand back, that's a call. If it's not enough to be a call, you'll be required to complete it, but not allowed to raise. If you drop more than what you intended, it could be a raise. For example, if the bet is $15, and you drop 4 red $5 chips, you can take one back. But if you drop 5 of them, many proker rooms will consider that a raise, and you'll be required to put out another $5 to make the raise correct.
Single / Multiple Chips
If you put out a single large chip, regardless of how large, or how many smaller chips you have, it's a call.
For example, if the bet is $2, and you have a ton of $1 chips, and you put out ANY larger chip, it's still a $2 call. On the other hand, if the bet is $16, and you put out $26 (one $25 plus one $1), and you're in a poker room that recognizes more than half a raise as valid, you'll be required to bump it up to a full raise. Sure you intended to get change because you may not have any $5 chips. Just say "Call" before putting out the $26, and you'll get the change intended.
On the other hand, if you're in a poker room that doesn't recognize a partial raise, and the bet is $16, even if you put out $31, in ANY combination, it's still a call, and your bet will be reduced to $16. The exception is if $31 is all you have. You're All-In without declaring it.
Do not make change out of another player's bet. The dealer will make the change necessary, sometimes while action is going on, sometimes when that betting round is completed.
Action
Once the player before you has declared his actions, it is acceptable for you to take your own action. You do not have to wait. It is the dealer's job to make sure the previous player puts out the chips he intended, but you're free to take your own action immediately.
Two Cards To Win
When it comes to the showdown, the player who last bet or raised on the River is required to show his hand first. If there was no River bet, some poker rooms require the last player who bet or raised on the prior rounds to show first, others require the person to the button's left to show. Once that player shows, it's up to the remaining players to show a better hand, or to fold.
If the player that is required to show decides to fold, then the other player should show his hand to win the pot. Some poker rooms do not enforce this rule.
Players must show both cards to win. In the event the winning player only shows one card, and throws the other into the muck pile, the losing player, after exposing both cards, can claim the pot.
Cards Speak
At a showdown, when a player turns up his cards, he plays the best hand possible, regardless of what he may have announced his hand to be.
Show One, Show All
If you show your cards to any player still in the hand, the cards must be exposed to all players. Unless it is absolutely clear that you only showed one card, both cards are exposed. Some poker rooms will expose both cards regardless, should they think that an active player was shown one of your cards.
If you show your card or cards to a player that is out of the hand, or to a player that is all in, the dealer may hold the cards aside to show to the entire table when the hand is over.
Note that it is usually NOT the dealer's job to police this. He may tell a player not to show the cards, but he often won't expose them after the hand unless another player notices this and mentions the "Show One, Show All" rule. Note also that this rule refers to people, not cards. I.E. If you only expose one card, only that one card needs to be shown to the other players, although the dealer may show both because he was uncertain if only one card was shown.
Protect Your Cards
When you peek at your cards, cover them with your hands and lift the corner in a manner that prevents your neighbors from seeing them. Removing the cards from the table, or deliberately exposing them to another player or spectator, can cause your hand to be declared dead.
Place a "Card Protector" (a chip or small lucky charm) on top of your cards to indicate that you have not folded. This is most important for the seat on each side of the dealer. If the dealer accidentally takes your unprotected cards, the floor person may allow you to retrieve them if they are easily identified. Otherwise, you're out of luck.
If a player folds, but throws them into another player's cards, that other player's hand might be killed if not covered by a card protector.
If a player protects his cards with his hands in such a manner that he can be mistaken for not having any cards at all, the betting action could pass him as a result. If so, his hand may be declared dead when it is revealed that he has cards.
At the showdown, if you think you have the winning hand, do not allow the dealer to take your cards until he has pushed the pot to you, or you are shown a better hand. A distracted dealer may not read your hand correctly. If such a dealer takes your cards and places them in the discard pile, your hand might be called dead.
Rabbit Hunting / Muck Diving
Looking for your cards in the muck pile, to verify what would have happened if you hadn't folded, is not allowed.
The dealer is not allowed to show the turn and/or river in a hand that ends before those cards are dealt. A dealer will be written up if he obliges such a request, so don't ask.
Rules Violations
Violating rules, abusive behavior and cursing will result in a warning. Excessive or repeated offenses can result in a time-out, particularly costly in a tournament when your blinds are posed even during the penalty.
More offenses and you will be asked or forced to leave the poker room.
Tournaments
Tournaments are a great way to play on a fixed budget. You buy in for a specific amount, and, with luck, you could be playing for hours, and end up winning a large sum. Of course, you could be knocked out on the first hand.
Some tournaments will allow a player to rebuy until a specified time. This is usually the same as the time limit for late players to get into the game. Some also have an optional Add-On of a specific number of chips for a reduced cost. The time limit for this is often the same as late registrations. Usually all these time limits run until the first scheduled break.
Blinds are raised on a pre-set schedule. Typical low buy-in tourneys have 12 or 15 minute blinds. Better tourneys have 20 minute blinds. Breaks are scheduled, typically about 10 minutes every hour. High priced tourneys can have blinds as long as 2 hours, followed by a 15 minute break. In such tourneys, they will also schedule a longer meal break.
When looking at the list of tournaments offered, you usually just see a price. Sometimes you'll see next to it two prices in parenthesis that add up to the first price. The first number is the amount that goes into the prize pool, the second is the poker room's fee. Nearly all tournaments are priced this way, although it's not always disclosed so easily. Sometimes a third price is listed in parenthesis. This is the amount taken out as a tip for the dealers.
Sometimes the listing will also specify the starting stack. This detail is generally useless without more information. For example, a $20K starting stack sounds better than a $10K stack, unless the first has blinds that start at 100/200 while the second has blinds starting at 25/50. Similarly, How long the blinds last affects the value the starting stack, as well as the value of entry fee.
Some poker rooms disclose this info on their web site, some don't. To find it on a casino resort's website, look for a "poker" link. If it's not obvious, first look for a "casino" or "gaming" link, then the poker link. Eventually, on the poker page, there will be a listing of the tournaments offered. Some also have links for the details.
The prize pool will be divided based upon the number of players, with the payouts posted shortly after the buy-in period is over. Often, 10% of the players will get paid, with most of the money going to the winner. For example, if there are 40 players, there will probably be 4 winners, with the prize pool being 45% to the winner, 30% to second place, 15% to third, and 10% to fourth. Often, the last place person wins little more than the buy-in. Sometimes less!
When it gets close to the money, deals are often formed first for the bubble - the last person before the money. Usually someone suggests that all remaing players donate $10 to $25, depending on the number and buy-in, so that the person on the bubble gets their buy-in back. Often, once the bubble is burst, the remaining players will suggest chopping the pot. I.E. They will work out some kind of deal where they split it rather than play on. If an agreement can't be reached, play resumes. The topic usually pops up again after each person is eliminated. Sometimes, the topic never comes up.
Poker rooms will set up a number of tables for the expected number of players, but often, the tourney starts with chips in front of empty seats. In the interest of fairness, the empty seats are dealt in, and pay their blinds when it is their turn, but they cannot win a hand. If you and the empty seat are the only ones in a hand, you get their chips if they paid the blind. Arriving on time is a great way to get some free chips, by picking off those empty seats.
When there is a break, you must leave your chips on the table. The dealer and/or floor people will watch them. The only time you may take chips off the table is when the tournament director moves you to a different table. Chip racks will be provided as necessary.
Tournaments also have a few specific rules that differ from cash play.
All chip stacks are dealt in, however, you must be seated before the deal is completed, or your hand will be folded, even if you are a blind. If it's your turn to post a blind, it will be posted from your stack even if you are not seated. Consider this if you need to take a bathroom break and can't wait for the next scheduled break.
If all players fold to the small blind, you cannot "chop" and take back the blinds as you can in a cash game.
If any player is all-in with a call, and there are no other players in the hand, the players must show their cards before any additional cards are dealt.
Some additional House Rules may be different for tournaments than cash games.
The Poker Atlas is an excellent resource for poker tournament schedules worldwide. The link provided goes directly to the Las Vegas list.
Be Kind To The Dealer
Some dealers have a hard time reaching the ends of the table. Give them an assist by pushing bets forward when the betting round is complete - but do not make change for yourself from other people's bets. Similarly, after the hand is over, it's acceptable to move the button, but make sure the dealer is aware when you move it, otherwise it may accidentally get moved twice, which will cause confusion.
While the occasional curse after losing a hand is understandable, excessive cursing or berating the dealer for 'making you lose' is not tolerated and can get you removed.
Dealers live off tips. It is traditional to tip the dealer after winning a pot. However, most players will not tip if the pot was small. On the other hand, some players will tip even if their small raise has chased everyone out of the pot, netting them a mere $3 win. A $1 tip is typical unless the pot is large.
Dealers are human and do sometimes make mistakes. Try to be observant to help correct mistakes, but do not berate a dealer when a mistake is discovered.
Advanced Concepts
Post / "Buy" The Button
While all poker rooms will require you to post or wait if you have a Missed Blind button, some also require new players to post or wait when joining a table. The exception is for a recently opened table. If you take a seat that hasn't had the blinds pass it, you aren't required to post.
If you take the seat between the small blind and the dealer button (or return from a break in that position), some poker rooms, usually those that require new players to post, will allow you to "buy" it by posting both blinds. Most require you to wait until the button passes.
Typically, because blinds have already been paid, you sit out one hand for the button to pass, so as to not disturb the sequence of who pays which blind. When you "buy" it, you post both blinds in that hand, rather than the two players who were scheduled to post. In the next hand, you get the button, and the players that should have posted in that last hand will now post. This allows you to get in sooner, while not causing the other players to have to post extra.
Straddle
The person Under The Gun chooses to place a blind raise before the cards are dealt. If no player raises, he gets the option to re-raise when the action comes around. This is often called a "Live Straddle."
Some poker rooms do not allow a Straddle. In that case, a player making such a bet is actually making a blind raise. The difference is, if there are no additional raises, this player does NOT get the option to re-raise.
In some poker rooms, players other than the Under The Gun player can make the straddle, and a variety of rules affect the straddle. These also have differing names such as Button Straddle, Mississippi Straddle, Sleeper Straddle, etc, depending on the rules and who did it.
Several poker strategy books suggest that the straddle is more helpful to the other players than to the person making the straddle bet.
While the Straddle clearly is an advanced strategy move, and is covered in many poker books, it would be advantageous for a novice to at least have a cursory understanding of it, which is why it is briefly covered here.
Note that straddling is never allowed in tournaments.
Additional Resources
Robert's Rules
Many poker rooms use Robert's Rules of Poker. Even if your local poker room uses something else, their rules are probably similar, so this is a good source of information.
"Robert" is Bob Ciaffone, a leading authority on cardroom rules, and a columnist for Card Player magazine. He has compiled a list of rules (some of which are included in this article above) and freely distributes it. He has his own website at www.PokerCoach.us. Among other things, you'll find a link to his rules. He's a good writer but very bad at formatting. You'll find a nicely formatted copy of his rules at various websites, including www.homepokertourney.com/poker-rule-book.htm.
There's also a smartphone app for that. It's free and well designed.
Robert's Rules smartphone app.
Edit: I recently discovered that the Robert's Rules app is no longer available. But I'll leave the link there in case that was temporary.
Tournament Director's Association
More and more poker rooms are abandoning Robert's Rules in favor of the TDA's rules. Note that most of the rules are similar, but written differently.
They also have and app for Android, with an iPhone app coming soon.
Poker Leagues
There are poker leagues across the country. Do a Google search in your area.
Most play at a pub or restaurant, with no fees other than a request to patronize the venue.
Unlike a sports league, in poker leagues there is no requirement to play any specific day or number of times. They often have some method of tracking performance, with prizes including trips to Las Vegas or a local casino. While frequent participation makes it is easier to win the big prize that they offer, most leagues have methods where a player can win prizes even when playing infrequently.
Also, to keep it legal and non-gambling, in most cases there is no fee. The league makes money from the venue, the same way the venue would pay DJs and other entertainers. If it brings in business, the venue is happy, so be sure to patronize the venue while you play.
Unlike in a poker room, where it may be good advice to believe the exact opposite of what people tell you, the players in poker leagues tend to be friendly, open, and will offer honest answers to poker questions. After all, if they are kind and friendly, they know you may become a regular player. Many poker league players use it as a way to tune up their game in between their trips to the casino's poker room.
In most leagues, the players do the actual dealing, passing the deck every hand. In some leagues, there is a dedicated dealer at each table. This author has played in both types, but now has graduated to being a dealer in a league with dedicated dealers: World Free Poker, based in Northern New Jersey.
For the price of a burger and a beer, poker leagues are a great way to learn the game.
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Update:
Woo hoo! It's now an article!
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/introduction-to-poker-in-a-casino-poker-room/
Feel free to comment and I will reply. Now that it's an article, I will no longer be editing this post, nor will I suggest that the Wiz or any administrator edit the article. After all, after four years of occasional edits, I figure it's as good as it's gonna get.
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Intro
This article is about the differences between a poker room and a dining room, and how to avoid being labeled a poker novice. It assumes that the reader already knows the basics of Texas Hold-Em, but has been too intimidated to go into a casino's poker room.
Asking questions, while seated with friends at a dining room table, is a relatively safe thing to do. Asking questions at a table in a poker room can be deadly. Or at least financially costly. Hopefully, this article will answer your questions so you can go to a poker room with confidence.
This article is probably a lot longer than it needs to be. A true student of the game would immerse himself in these details before going to a poker room. The intended audience of this article is a more casual player who may become familiar with some of these details, and return here to review some of the questions that may have popped up after their first experience.
The first few sections after the House Rules section, applies primarly to cash games. If your interest is strictly tournaments, after reading about House Rules, you can probably skip to the Misc. Novice Mistakes and Bad Habits section.
House Rules
As you read this you'll see a lot of "Some poker rooms do this, some do that," etc. Asking questions about those kinds of differences will NOT get you exposed as a novice, just someone who has not played at that poker room. In many cases, asking those kinds of questions will build your credibility as an experienced poker player because you're concerned with the details of the house rules. The best time to ask is between hands when the dealer is shuffling and dealing. In areas with multiple poker rooms, some dealers may work at more than one. If the dealer's response is at all unclear, don't be afraid to call a floor person and ask again. Asking a question during a hand is bad etiquette because it breaks the concentration of those in the hand. Of course, if it's a question that will affect your play of the hand, that's a different story, but it may help a player figure out what you have.
Poker Rooms differ from the casino's main floor
Poker rooms have etiquette all their own, with rules that are very different than the rules for the main casino floor.
Because players are betting against each other and not the house, spectators might not be tolerated. After all, a 'spectator' could actually be a cheater's accomplice. Also, seating is assigned by the staff, so 'lurking' while waiting for a seat is unnecessary. When there aren't seats available, a wait list is created. When there are multiple seats available, a new player is assigned to the table with the most empty seats to keep things balanced.
Of course, it is the player's choice for the type of game and betting limits. But it's the management's job to seat you at one of those tables.
The poker room makes money by taking a small percentage of each pot, called a Rake. With more players at a table, the chances of larger pots and larger rakes increase. Therefore it's in the poker room's interest to have full / balanced tables. For the same reason, players want full tables, too. As a result, many poker rooms allow players to eat while playing, and even provide food waitresses and snack tables. They'll ask you to keep the actual food off the table, etc. Some will ask you to not eat while you're in a hand, or at least do so in a manner that doesn't slow down the game. And please try to keep the cards clean.
Also, because players cannot easily change tables, smoking is not allowed in most poker rooms.
In fact, if you wish to change tables for any reason, you need to get the floor person's assistance. He will give you a choice of new tables, if possible, as well as advise you if you can or cannot bring all the chips you have to the new table, and whether or not you'll be required to post blinds.
If you wish to change seats but stay at the same table, you can do this by asking the dealer. He will advise you when it would be acceptable to move. All of your chips will remain in play.
If you want to leave, you can do so at any time. If you wish to take a short break and return to your seat, all of your chips must remain on the table.
Wait List - Games and Limits
When you arrive at the poker room, in most cases there is an overhead computer display showing all the games, betting limits, and a list of people waiting.
This is a typical wait list. Click for a larger view (Sorry that it's blurry).
The top of each list shows the type of game. The next line has the table numbers, intended for the staff's use. Below that are the first 15 or so names on the list. On the bottom is the count of names, useful if the display is maxed out.
The games will be labeled things like HE $2/$4 or LHE $2/$4 or Limit $2/$4, and NL $1/$2 or NLHE $1/$2 or No Limit $1/$2. Those represent the two typical games a novice will play: Limit Texas Hold-Em, with $2 and $4 fixed bet sizes, and No Limit Texas Hold-Em, with $1 and $2 blinds.
$2/$4 Limit and $1/$2 No Limit are typical, but some poker rooms will have $1/$3 No limit instead of $1/$2.
Another game that is favored by novices, but not always offered, is called Pot Limit. It operates just like No Limit, except raises are limited to the amount of chips already bet.
$1/$2 No Limit is the game that is most often found. In smaller poker rooms, it may be the only game offered. In larger rooms, it's the one with the most tables running, and may be the only game early in the morning. It's the most popular poker room game because No Limit is the game almost exclusively shown on poker TV shows - albeit at bigger limits. Larger poker rooms may have what looks like alphabet soup with additional games and higher limits.
There is a desk at the entrance, where you can ask about the games available. The one piece of information that is not shown on the display, is the buy-in. All games have a minimum buy-in. You do NOT need to maintain that minimum. If you fall below the minimum, it's OK to continue to play, although your strategy may change. It's only when you go all-in and lose, that you'll be required to reload to the minimum if you intend to stay. If you have at least one big blind, you are not required to reload, and if you choose to do so, you do not have to get to the minimum - in most cases.
Most No Limit games also have a maximum. The maximum is just the maximum you can buy in for. When you sit down at a table that is not a newly started game, there may be players with more than the maximum. This just means that they have won enough to take them over the maximum. All of their chips are in play.
Some games do NOT have a maximum.
This information is also on the little placard next to the dealer, but it is often difficult to read and/or it's under the dealer's arm, so it's best just to ask.
Rake / Seat Rental
The poker room makes money from the rake - they remove 10% from the pot, up to a maximum, usually $4, in dollar increments rounded down. This is done by taking $1 out of the pot when it exceeds $10, another $1 when it exceeds $20, etc. If the poker room offers a Bad Beat or other type of bonus payout, they will typically remove an additional $1 when the pot reaches $20. The rake and bonus dollar are kept aside until the hand is over, allowing the dealer and players to verify the amount.
Some poker rooms remove only 5%, but do it by taking $1 when the pot is $10, $30, $50, $70, and maybe even $90, for a maximum of $5. Considering the smaller rake for smaller pots, most players don't mind that the max is higher than other poker rooms nearby.
When several seats are vacant, the rake can be reduced. This is typically done by reducing the maximum, not the percentage. Some poker rooms do this automatically, some need a player to request it.
In areas where there is only one casino, the poker room rake is typically 10%, $5 max all the time.
In areas where there are several poker rooms, it may be wise to find a room with lower rakes. Poker experts say that, over the long haul, low-limit games are losing propositions because "You can't beat the rake." Playing at higher limits, and/or lower rakes, makes it easier to beat.
The highest rake this author has ever seen was on a cruise ship where it was 10% with a maximum of $15! Not only that, they had 50¢ chips, used only to enable a partial rake and reduce the loss due to rounding. Many players thought this was excessive and complained, but what could we do? Fortunately, there were enough inexperienced players that the good players were able to beat that excessive rake.
This author has not seen, but has been advised that some poker rooms, particularly those with no competition, will take a rake even if there is no call of the bet.
At higher stakes tables, some poker rooms charge a "Seat Rental" rather than have a rake. This is typically $5 for some specific duration, usually 30 minutes. This fee is charged whether you're playing or absent.
Bottom line: If you can, it's best to shop around for the best rake.
Sign Up / Buy In
After getting your questions answered, tell the attendant what game and betting limit you want.
If seats are available, she will point you towards a table, or to a floor person who will assist you. Otherwise, she will ask for your name for the list. If the list is long, some poker rooms will give you a pager or ask for your cell phone number, allowing you to go to the casino while waiting for a seat. Otherwise, stay nearby, because when your name is called, you'll only have a minute or so (even less in a busy room) to identify yourself, before you lose your spot on the list.
In many poker rooms, in the interest of having as many hands per hour as possible, players are required to bring chips to the table rather than forcing a dealer to delay while you buy-in. If there's a list, go to the cashier when your name gets near the top. If there is open seating, then in the interest of getting more active players, they may allow you to sit immediately and buy-in from the dealer.
In contrast, in the interest of full tables, you can always re-load by buying from the dealer.
However, very few poker rooms allow you to color-up when you're ready to leave. Of course, if you have a lot of a particular color and the dealer's bank has few of that color, you can always ask if he'll color up. Sometimes, if they have not yet ordered a fill from the cage, they will allow a color up.
Bets and Raises
In $2/$4 Limit, the blinds are $1 and $2, while bets and raises pre-flop and post-flop are $2, and bets and raises after the turn and river are $4.
In $1/$2 No Limit, the blinds are $1 and $2, but bets are always at least $2. Raises must be at least double the previous bet, but re-raises are a different matter, and follow house rules. In some poker rooms, the re-raise must be at least double the previous total bet. In other rooms, it must be double the previous raise. I.E. If the original bet is $2, and someone raises to $5, usually a re-raise must be at least $10 (double the prior bet), while some rooms require it to be at least $8 (the amount of the prior raise of $3 on top of the $5 to call). It gets confusing what a minimum re-raise would be when the prior raise is a partial all-in.
Minimum bets in no-limit are always the big blind. Prior bets and raises do not affect the minimum for the next round in a hand (although they very much affect strategy).
When someone wants to call or raise, but doesn't have enough chips to do so, he is "All-In". Players cannot reach into their wallet to reload during a hand. When a player is all-in, all he can win from each player in the hand is what he himself risked. Any additional money bet is in a side-pot for the remaining players.
Multiple side-pots will be created when several players are all-in. It is advisable to watch the dealer to make sure the side-pots are divided correctly. This tends to be an area where mistakes happen.
Most poker rooms will "Cap" the betting to a certain number of raises per betting round, usually 4 (1 bet plus 3 raises). I.E. After 3 players have raised, the remaining players can only call or fold. There is never a cap when only two players remain in a hand. The cap is there to prevent two players, working as a team, to continue raising until the remaining players fold.
If a player raises, but is all-in for less than a full raise, different poker rooms handle it differently. Say there are only 3 players. Player 1 bets $10. Player 2 calls. Player 3 goes all in for $17. In some poker rooms, since that raise was for more than half of the required amount, it is considered a valid raise, allowing player 1 to re-raise. The minimum amount of that re-raise can vary by house rule too. However, in other poker rooms, that $17 all in does NOT qualify as a raise, so player 1 and 2 can only call or fold.
There is a third type of game sometimes offered, called Pot Limit. It operates just like No Limit with the single exception that there is a maximum raise amount equal to the value of the pot.
When betting the maximum in Pot Limit, the total of the pot, all called bets, as well as your own call, is the maximum you can raise. For example, say there's $35 in the pot pre-flop. After the flop, there's a bet of $5 with two callers when the action gets to you. If you want to bet the maximum, you say "Pot" or "Max." The dealer will then count it out and tell you the total you need to bet. In this case it would be $60. I.E. The $35 pot, the $5 bet plus two callers of $5 each, as well as your own $5 call for a total pot of $50. Add the $5 call to the $50 raise, makes your total bet $55. If the next player also wants to raise the maximum, it will cost him $55 first to call your bet, which makes the pot $160. So add a raise of $160, for a total bet of $215.
Chip Stack
Some poker rooms allow cash to play. I.E. You can have cash in your stack of chips. If they allow it, they will usually only allow $100 bills.
Once you put chips (or cash) on the table, they must remain on the table until you are ready to give up your seat. The novice tendency is to pocket part of the winnings from a big pot, since this is a typical way to protect winnings on the regular casino floor. The reason you can't do that at the poker room is, you're not playing against the house. Once you win that money from a player, that player has the right to try to win it back, for as long as you're still seated there.
If a friend / spouse comes along and asks for money, you can't give them part of your stack - even if they are planning on sitting at that table. To give them money, you'll have to reach into your wallet.
The exception to this rule is to pay a waitress or massage person, since this is usually a small / insignificant portion of your stack. Also, since tipping the waitress is encouraged and delaying the game is discouraged, it's OK to tip out of your stack. Similarly, it's OK to pocket a few souvenier chips.
You should stack your chips in a manner that makes it relatively easy for another player to extimate the total. Do this by keeping stacks a uniform height of 10 or 20 chips, all the same color, with the high denomination stacks in front.
If you need to take a smoke / bathroom / food / whatever break, and intend on returning to that table, you must leave all your chips where they are. Usually, there is no reason to be nervous. While Poker is a game of taking money from the other people at the table, outright theft is very rare.
Absence
If you are absent long enough that you have missed the blinds, a small plastic disc with "Missed Blind" on it, will be at your stack. (Note: These discs are called buttons. Much smaller than the Dealer Button, which is often referred to as "THE Button".) When you return, you'll need to "post" both blinds. The big blind will stay in front of you, and can act as your chips to call the bet, while the small blind you pay goes right into the pot. You have the option to sit out hands and wait for the big blind rather than post.
If you are absent for a long time, more Missed Blind or Absent buttons will accumulate at your stack. If enough of them accumulate, and there is a wait list, a floor person will bag your chips and open the seat. You can claim your chips at the desk when you return, but you've lost the seat.
If the poker room has a Bad Beat Jackpot, you may remain eligible as long as there is no "Missed Blind" button at your seat. Some poker rooms require you to have been dealt in to the hand to be eligible.
Bad Beat / High Hand
Many poker rooms feature a Bad Beat Jackpot. When the pot exceeds $20, an additional $1 is removed, and is dropped into a separate bucket when the hand is over. At the end of the day, these are collected and added to the jackpot.
The Bad Beat will win when a very rare hand is beaten. In most cases the rules dictate that the players hold a pocket pair, or use both cards to make a straight flush. The minimum hand to qualify as the loser can vary from as low as Aces full of Jacks, to Quad Queens.
Often the Bad Beat will go for weeks or even months before being hit. When it hits, usually the loser of the hand gets 40% of the jackpot. The winner gets 20% and 20% is shared among the other players at the table. The remaining 20% goes to restart the next jackpot. Some poker rooms will only put the 80% to be divided on the tote board, dividing it as 50%, 25% and 25% when hit. Some share that last part among all active players in the room. In Atlantic City, the four Caesars properties are linked. When it hits in any of their 4 poker rooms, all players in all 4 rooms get a share.
Instead of a Bad Beat, which can grow for months before being hit, some casinos have a High Hand where $1 is removed when the pot is $20, and they keep track of the high hand. Every few hours the High Hand rakes are collected and given to the person with the highest hand. In most cases, there does not need to be qualifying losing hand, or even a showdown. Just show the hand to the dealer and floorperson to be elligible.
Some casinos do other things such as bonus prizes for quads and straight flushes which pay an immediate bonus, or spin a prize wheel.
Deals / Chops
When you watch shows such as High Stakes Poker, the players often agree to deals, most commonly, to "Run It Twice." Most of the types of deals seen on that show are not allowed at low stakes games, primarily because they are confusing to rookie players, and result in slowing the game.
The exception is to chop the blinds. If all players fold, when the action gets to the small blind, either he or the big blind will suggest they chop. This means that they take back their blinds, the hand is over and the dealer button advances. This is encouraged by poker rooms since it is unlikely that the pot will grow, so this prevents wasting time on a hand that will produce little or no rake.
Misc. Novice Mistakes and Bad Habits
Pay Attention to the Action
Because the software does things for you, many online poker players learn bad habits. Specifically, online you can call or fold ahead of time, as well as check a box to automatically post blinds. You may not realize it, but the software waits until it's your turn to actually take the action. When you're at a live table, failure to wait your turn, failure to put up your blinds, and failure to know there was a raise, are the biggest indicators that you're a novice. Basically, any sort of acting out of turn is bad. On the other hand, occasional minor mistakes are easily forgiven and forgotten.
The exception to this is if you are dealt garbage and you want to run to the restroom. Go ahead and put your cards forward just a little to indicate the fold, then get up and leave. Don't toss them to the dealer as you would if it were your turn, as that may cause the person on your left to think it's his turn to act. If you like, tell the person next to you fold for you, this way it's understood that it's not his turn yet.
Any other type of acting out of turn can influence the players that are thinking about their action.
For example, say a player is thinking about making a bet when the player after him bets out of turn, it will affect the decision of the player who was skipped. If a latter player calls a prior bet, but the skipped player makes a raise, different poker rooms will handle the second player's call differently. Some will allow the second player to retract their call, some will require the chips to stand even if they fold, and some will allow him take back his first call, or to call the new raise, but not allow a re-raise.
Unlike the casino floor, where hand signals rule, in the poker room, verbal declarations are binding. If you say "Call" without realizing there was a raise, guess what. You have to call. If you say "Raise" without realizing there was aalready a raise, you will be required to make the minimum re-raise. If you say "Raise to $12" without realizing there was a raise to $10, you may be required to make the minimum re-raise. You will NOT be allowed to raise higher than that, because that's would be a "String bet".
String Bet
Bets and raises must be made in one motion or one declaration. If you specify "Raise", it is then acceptable to put out the chips for the call, then stop and think about the raise, and then put the raise out. But that raise must go out in one motion. You can't put chips out and bring your hand back to put more out. If you want to raise so much that you can't handle the number of chips, just announce the amount and then take as many steps as necessary.
A statement such as "I call your bet and raise you $x" is illegal. Yes, this is typical of home games, and is seen in movies and non-poker TV shows all the time, but once you say "call", you're done. Ditto for "I see your bet, and..." Sorry. There's no 'and..."
Forward Motion
While verbal declarations are binding, words are unnecessary. Chips moved in front of your cards (or past the line if there is one), are all that is necessary to indicate your action. However, make sure that action is correct. If you intend to call $2 by throwing in two $1 chips, and mistakenly throw in two $5 chips, that's a raise to $10. On the other hand, if you instantly realize your mistake, you may be allowed to fix it. But the window of opportunity is very short, and you will be limited on the number of Mulligans you get.
Some poker rooms state that ANY forward motion, or chips brought over the line, is a bet. While many poker rooms allow you to grab a stack of chips, and then drop only a few or even just one of them, some rooms will state that whatever is in your hand, is the bet.
If you grab a stack of chips, with the intention of dropping several of them as your bet, but you accidentally drop only one and start to pull your hand back, that's a call. If it's not enough to be a call, you'll be required to complete it, but not allowed to raise. If you drop more than what you intended, it could be a raise. For example, if the bet is $15, and you drop 4 red $5 chips, you can take one back. But if you drop 5 of them, many proker rooms will consider that a raise, and you'll be required to put out another $5 to make the raise correct.
Single / Multiple Chips
If you put out a single large chip, regardless of how large, or how many smaller chips you have, it's a call.
For example, if the bet is $2, and you have a ton of $1 chips, and you put out ANY larger chip, it's still a $2 call. On the other hand, if the bet is $16, and you put out $26 (one $25 plus one $1), and you're in a poker room that recognizes more than half a raise as valid, you'll be required to bump it up to a full raise. Sure you intended to get change because you may not have any $5 chips. Just say "Call" before putting out the $26, and you'll get the change intended.
On the other hand, if you're in a poker room that doesn't recognize a partial raise, and the bet is $16, even if you put out $31, in ANY combination, it's still a call, and your bet will be reduced to $16. The exception is if $31 is all you have. You're All-In without declaring it.
Do not make change out of another player's bet. The dealer will make the change necessary, sometimes while action is going on, sometimes when that betting round is completed.
Action
Once the player before you has declared his actions, it is acceptable for you to take your own action. You do not have to wait. It is the dealer's job to make sure the previous player puts out the chips he intended, but you're free to take your own action immediately.
Two Cards To Win
When it comes to the showdown, the player who last bet or raised on the River is required to show his hand first. If there was no River bet, some poker rooms require the last player who bet or raised on the prior rounds to show first, others require the person to the button's left to show. Once that player shows, it's up to the remaining players to show a better hand, or to fold.
If the player that is required to show decides to fold, then the other player should show his hand to win the pot. Some poker rooms do not enforce this rule.
Players must show both cards to win. In the event the winning player only shows one card, and throws the other into the muck pile, the losing player, after exposing both cards, can claim the pot.
Cards Speak
At a showdown, when a player turns up his cards, he plays the best hand possible, regardless of what he may have announced his hand to be.
Show One, Show All
If you show your cards to any player still in the hand, the cards must be exposed to all players. Unless it is absolutely clear that you only showed one card, both cards are exposed. Some poker rooms will expose both cards regardless, should they think that an active player was shown one of your cards.
If you show your card or cards to a player that is out of the hand, or to a player that is all in, the dealer may hold the cards aside to show to the entire table when the hand is over.
Note that it is usually NOT the dealer's job to police this. He may tell a player not to show the cards, but he often won't expose them after the hand unless another player notices this and mentions the "Show One, Show All" rule. Note also that this rule refers to people, not cards. I.E. If you only expose one card, only that one card needs to be shown to the other players, although the dealer may show both because he was uncertain if only one card was shown.
Protect Your Cards
When you peek at your cards, cover them with your hands and lift the corner in a manner that prevents your neighbors from seeing them. Removing the cards from the table, or deliberately exposing them to another player or spectator, can cause your hand to be declared dead.
Place a "Card Protector" (a chip or small lucky charm) on top of your cards to indicate that you have not folded. This is most important for the seat on each side of the dealer. If the dealer accidentally takes your unprotected cards, the floor person may allow you to retrieve them if they are easily identified. Otherwise, you're out of luck.
If a player folds, but throws them into another player's cards, that other player's hand might be killed if not covered by a card protector.
If a player protects his cards with his hands in such a manner that he can be mistaken for not having any cards at all, the betting action could pass him as a result. If so, his hand may be declared dead when it is revealed that he has cards.
At the showdown, if you think you have the winning hand, do not allow the dealer to take your cards until he has pushed the pot to you, or you are shown a better hand. A distracted dealer may not read your hand correctly. If such a dealer takes your cards and places them in the discard pile, your hand might be called dead.
Rabbit Hunting / Muck Diving
Looking for your cards in the muck pile, to verify what would have happened if you hadn't folded, is not allowed.
The dealer is not allowed to show the turn and/or river in a hand that ends before those cards are dealt. A dealer will be written up if he obliges such a request, so don't ask.
Rules Violations
Violating rules, abusive behavior and cursing will result in a warning. Excessive or repeated offenses can result in a time-out, particularly costly in a tournament when your blinds are posed even during the penalty.
More offenses and you will be asked or forced to leave the poker room.
Tournaments
Tournaments are a great way to play on a fixed budget. You buy in for a specific amount, and, with luck, you could be playing for hours, and end up winning a large sum. Of course, you could be knocked out on the first hand.
Some tournaments will allow a player to rebuy until a specified time. This is usually the same as the time limit for late players to get into the game. Some also have an optional Add-On of a specific number of chips for a reduced cost. The time limit for this is often the same as late registrations. Usually all these time limits run until the first scheduled break.
Blinds are raised on a pre-set schedule. Typical low buy-in tourneys have 12 or 15 minute blinds. Better tourneys have 20 minute blinds. Breaks are scheduled, typically about 10 minutes every hour. High priced tourneys can have blinds as long as 2 hours, followed by a 15 minute break. In such tourneys, they will also schedule a longer meal break.
When looking at the list of tournaments offered, you usually just see a price. Sometimes you'll see next to it two prices in parenthesis that add up to the first price. The first number is the amount that goes into the prize pool, the second is the poker room's fee. Nearly all tournaments are priced this way, although it's not always disclosed so easily. Sometimes a third price is listed in parenthesis. This is the amount taken out as a tip for the dealers.
Sometimes the listing will also specify the starting stack. This detail is generally useless without more information. For example, a $20K starting stack sounds better than a $10K stack, unless the first has blinds that start at 100/200 while the second has blinds starting at 25/50. Similarly, How long the blinds last affects the value the starting stack, as well as the value of entry fee.
Some poker rooms disclose this info on their web site, some don't. To find it on a casino resort's website, look for a "poker" link. If it's not obvious, first look for a "casino" or "gaming" link, then the poker link. Eventually, on the poker page, there will be a listing of the tournaments offered. Some also have links for the details.
The prize pool will be divided based upon the number of players, with the payouts posted shortly after the buy-in period is over. Often, 10% of the players will get paid, with most of the money going to the winner. For example, if there are 40 players, there will probably be 4 winners, with the prize pool being 45% to the winner, 30% to second place, 15% to third, and 10% to fourth. Often, the last place person wins little more than the buy-in. Sometimes less!
When it gets close to the money, deals are often formed first for the bubble - the last person before the money. Usually someone suggests that all remaing players donate $10 to $25, depending on the number and buy-in, so that the person on the bubble gets their buy-in back. Often, once the bubble is burst, the remaining players will suggest chopping the pot. I.E. They will work out some kind of deal where they split it rather than play on. If an agreement can't be reached, play resumes. The topic usually pops up again after each person is eliminated. Sometimes, the topic never comes up.
Poker rooms will set up a number of tables for the expected number of players, but often, the tourney starts with chips in front of empty seats. In the interest of fairness, the empty seats are dealt in, and pay their blinds when it is their turn, but they cannot win a hand. If you and the empty seat are the only ones in a hand, you get their chips if they paid the blind. Arriving on time is a great way to get some free chips, by picking off those empty seats.
When there is a break, you must leave your chips on the table. The dealer and/or floor people will watch them. The only time you may take chips off the table is when the tournament director moves you to a different table. Chip racks will be provided as necessary.
Tournaments also have a few specific rules that differ from cash play.
All chip stacks are dealt in, however, you must be seated before the deal is completed, or your hand will be folded, even if you are a blind. If it's your turn to post a blind, it will be posted from your stack even if you are not seated. Consider this if you need to take a bathroom break and can't wait for the next scheduled break.
If all players fold to the small blind, you cannot "chop" and take back the blinds as you can in a cash game.
If any player is all-in with a call, and there are no other players in the hand, the players must show their cards before any additional cards are dealt.
Some additional House Rules may be different for tournaments than cash games.
The Poker Atlas is an excellent resource for poker tournament schedules worldwide. The link provided goes directly to the Las Vegas list.
Be Kind To The Dealer
Some dealers have a hard time reaching the ends of the table. Give them an assist by pushing bets forward when the betting round is complete - but do not make change for yourself from other people's bets. Similarly, after the hand is over, it's acceptable to move the button, but make sure the dealer is aware when you move it, otherwise it may accidentally get moved twice, which will cause confusion.
While the occasional curse after losing a hand is understandable, excessive cursing or berating the dealer for 'making you lose' is not tolerated and can get you removed.
Dealers live off tips. It is traditional to tip the dealer after winning a pot. However, most players will not tip if the pot was small. On the other hand, some players will tip even if their small raise has chased everyone out of the pot, netting them a mere $3 win. A $1 tip is typical unless the pot is large.
Dealers are human and do sometimes make mistakes. Try to be observant to help correct mistakes, but do not berate a dealer when a mistake is discovered.
Advanced Concepts
Post / "Buy" The Button
While all poker rooms will require you to post or wait if you have a Missed Blind button, some also require new players to post or wait when joining a table. The exception is for a recently opened table. If you take a seat that hasn't had the blinds pass it, you aren't required to post.
If you take the seat between the small blind and the dealer button (or return from a break in that position), some poker rooms, usually those that require new players to post, will allow you to "buy" it by posting both blinds. Most require you to wait until the button passes.
Typically, because blinds have already been paid, you sit out one hand for the button to pass, so as to not disturb the sequence of who pays which blind. When you "buy" it, you post both blinds in that hand, rather than the two players who were scheduled to post. In the next hand, you get the button, and the players that should have posted in that last hand will now post. This allows you to get in sooner, while not causing the other players to have to post extra.
Straddle
The person Under The Gun chooses to place a blind raise before the cards are dealt. If no player raises, he gets the option to re-raise when the action comes around. This is often called a "Live Straddle."
Some poker rooms do not allow a Straddle. In that case, a player making such a bet is actually making a blind raise. The difference is, if there are no additional raises, this player does NOT get the option to re-raise.
In some poker rooms, players other than the Under The Gun player can make the straddle, and a variety of rules affect the straddle. These also have differing names such as Button Straddle, Mississippi Straddle, Sleeper Straddle, etc, depending on the rules and who did it.
Several poker strategy books suggest that the straddle is more helpful to the other players than to the person making the straddle bet.
While the Straddle clearly is an advanced strategy move, and is covered in many poker books, it would be advantageous for a novice to at least have a cursory understanding of it, which is why it is briefly covered here.
Note that straddling is never allowed in tournaments.
Additional Resources
Robert's Rules
Many poker rooms use Robert's Rules of Poker. Even if your local poker room uses something else, their rules are probably similar, so this is a good source of information.
"Robert" is Bob Ciaffone, a leading authority on cardroom rules, and a columnist for Card Player magazine. He has compiled a list of rules (some of which are included in this article above) and freely distributes it. He has his own website at www.PokerCoach.us. Among other things, you'll find a link to his rules. He's a good writer but very bad at formatting. You'll find a nicely formatted copy of his rules at various websites, including www.homepokertourney.com/poker-rule-book.htm.
There's also a smartphone app for that. It's free and well designed.
Robert's Rules smartphone app.
Edit: I recently discovered that the Robert's Rules app is no longer available. But I'll leave the link there in case that was temporary.
Tournament Director's Association
More and more poker rooms are abandoning Robert's Rules in favor of the TDA's rules. Note that most of the rules are similar, but written differently.
They also have and app for Android, with an iPhone app coming soon.
Poker Leagues
There are poker leagues across the country. Do a Google search in your area.
Most play at a pub or restaurant, with no fees other than a request to patronize the venue.
Unlike a sports league, in poker leagues there is no requirement to play any specific day or number of times. They often have some method of tracking performance, with prizes including trips to Las Vegas or a local casino. While frequent participation makes it is easier to win the big prize that they offer, most leagues have methods where a player can win prizes even when playing infrequently.
Also, to keep it legal and non-gambling, in most cases there is no fee. The league makes money from the venue, the same way the venue would pay DJs and other entertainers. If it brings in business, the venue is happy, so be sure to patronize the venue while you play.
Unlike in a poker room, where it may be good advice to believe the exact opposite of what people tell you, the players in poker leagues tend to be friendly, open, and will offer honest answers to poker questions. After all, if they are kind and friendly, they know you may become a regular player. Many poker league players use it as a way to tune up their game in between their trips to the casino's poker room.
In most leagues, the players do the actual dealing, passing the deck every hand. In some leagues, there is a dedicated dealer at each table. This author has played in both types, but now has graduated to being a dealer in a league with dedicated dealers: World Free Poker, based in Northern New Jersey.
For the price of a burger and a beer, poker leagues are a great way to learn the game.
Last edited by: DJTeddyBear on Mar 20, 2021
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 5th, 2012 at 6:45:36 AM
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Great info DJ.
January 5th, 2012 at 6:47:34 AM
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Since this is a thread I am going to treat it as a thread.
Why do people straddle?
Can you explain position and out of position?
Why do people straddle?
Can you explain position and out of position?
January 5th, 2012 at 7:09:12 AM
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For what it's worth, my goal was to present the minor details that a novice needs to know but are generally NOT in most poker books.
Both of your questions are strategy related, therefore they WOULD be in books somewhere. But, sure, I'll give you answers.
Straddles are often used by players who like action, like having the final raise option if noone else raises, and/or wish to thin out the number of players. Most poker books suggest that it's bad strategy for the straddler, but good for other players.
Position is relative to the dealer button and changes slightly after the flop. Those to the immediate left of the blinds pre-flop are in "early" position, known as "out" of position. The blinds become out of position by being first to act after the flop. Out of position, you have to bet or check first, without knowing what the other players may do.
The person on the dealer button in in "late" position, or simply "in" position. In position, you have the luxury of knowing who is even still in the hand, who raised, etc. You have a lot more info to work with.
Personally, I would have stuck with "Early" and "Late" as the terms, but that's what it means.
Does that answer the question?
Both of your questions are strategy related, therefore they WOULD be in books somewhere. But, sure, I'll give you answers.
Straddles are often used by players who like action, like having the final raise option if noone else raises, and/or wish to thin out the number of players. Most poker books suggest that it's bad strategy for the straddler, but good for other players.
Position is relative to the dealer button and changes slightly after the flop. Those to the immediate left of the blinds pre-flop are in "early" position, known as "out" of position. The blinds become out of position by being first to act after the flop. Out of position, you have to bet or check first, without knowing what the other players may do.
The person on the dealer button in in "late" position, or simply "in" position. In position, you have the luxury of knowing who is even still in the hand, who raised, etc. You have a lot more info to work with.
Personally, I would have stuck with "Early" and "Late" as the terms, but that's what it means.
Does that answer the question?
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 5th, 2012 at 7:20:56 AM
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Here's a story to help explain these terms:
I don't straddle, but I watch closely those who do. Recently, at a $1/$2 table, the guy who was straddling, was two to my left. I.E. When I was small blind, he straddled. And he did it every time. Also, and this is key, if nobody raised, he ALWAYS would raise. So I got into the habit of always folding my hand when I was small blind.
Until I got dealt pocket aces. Nobody raised, and I trusted that he would raise, so I merely made the $3 call. Sure enough, he raised, to about $15. Three callers, and I raised to $50, He raised to about $125. Everyone folded to me (which was my first goal). He had about $200 left. I had about $150 sitting on top of two $100 bills. I used the bills like a sled and went all in. He thought forever and folded. Honestly, I did not want a call. Aces don't automatically win. The pot was big enough.
Regarding position, he was destined to be out of position for action after the flop. Without the straddle, he was also out of position pre-flop. By straddling, he was in position, unless there is a raise. When he raised to $125 and everyone else folded, he gained position for the rest of the hand had he not folded.
I.E. Position is not merely relative to the button, but relative to those remaining in the hand.
I don't straddle, but I watch closely those who do. Recently, at a $1/$2 table, the guy who was straddling, was two to my left. I.E. When I was small blind, he straddled. And he did it every time. Also, and this is key, if nobody raised, he ALWAYS would raise. So I got into the habit of always folding my hand when I was small blind.
Until I got dealt pocket aces. Nobody raised, and I trusted that he would raise, so I merely made the $3 call. Sure enough, he raised, to about $15. Three callers, and I raised to $50, He raised to about $125. Everyone folded to me (which was my first goal). He had about $200 left. I had about $150 sitting on top of two $100 bills. I used the bills like a sled and went all in. He thought forever and folded. Honestly, I did not want a call. Aces don't automatically win. The pot was big enough.
Regarding position, he was destined to be out of position for action after the flop. Without the straddle, he was also out of position pre-flop. By straddling, he was in position, unless there is a raise. When he raised to $125 and everyone else folded, he gained position for the rest of the hand had he not folded.
I.E. Position is not merely relative to the button, but relative to those remaining in the hand.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 5th, 2012 at 9:13:07 AM
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Questions answered.
I play only online, even though I live in Vegas so I don't have anyone to ask or learn from. I do have some books but I am just getting started reading them. Thanks for the info.
I play only online, even though I live in Vegas so I don't have anyone to ask or learn from. I do have some books but I am just getting started reading them. Thanks for the info.
January 5th, 2012 at 9:56:24 AM
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Good writeup! Maybe include something about unnecessarily 'going into the tank' like on TV when facing a small bet :)
January 5th, 2012 at 10:45:21 AM
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Very good article. I would indeed like to use it.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
January 5th, 2012 at 11:26:17 AM
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Thanks. I thought you might like it.
I thought of another section that I hadn't touched upon earlier. It should go near the top, just before the section on Sign Up.
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Rake / Seat Rental
The poker room makes money from the rake - they remove 10% from the pot, up to a maximum, usually $4, in dollar increments rounded down. This is done be taking $1 out of the pot when it exceeds $10, another $1 when it exceeds $20, etc. If the poker room offers a Bad Beat or other type of bonus payout, they will typically remove an additional $1 when the pot reaches $20. The rake and bonus dollar are kept aside until the hand is over, allowing the dealer and players to verify the amount.
Some poker rooms remove only 5%, but do it by taking $1 when the pot is $10, $30, $50, $70, and maybe even $90, for a maximum of $5. Considering the smaller rake for smaller pots, most players don't mind that the max is higher than other poker rooms nearby.
When several players sit out of a hand, the rake can be reduced. This is typically done by reducing the maximum, not the percentage. Some poker rooms do this automatically, some need a player to request it.
In areas where there is only one casino, the poker room rake is typically 10%, $5 max all the time.
The highest rake this author has ever seen was on a cruise ship where it was 10% with a maximum of $15. Not only that, they had 50¢ chips, used only to enable a partial rake and reduce the loss due to rounding.
At the high stakes tables, some poker rooms charge a "Seat Rental" rather than have a rake. This is typically $5 for some specific duration, usually 30 minutes. This fee is charged whether you're playing or absent.
I thought of another section that I hadn't touched upon earlier. It should go near the top, just before the section on Sign Up.
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Rake / Seat Rental
The poker room makes money from the rake - they remove 10% from the pot, up to a maximum, usually $4, in dollar increments rounded down. This is done be taking $1 out of the pot when it exceeds $10, another $1 when it exceeds $20, etc. If the poker room offers a Bad Beat or other type of bonus payout, they will typically remove an additional $1 when the pot reaches $20. The rake and bonus dollar are kept aside until the hand is over, allowing the dealer and players to verify the amount.
Some poker rooms remove only 5%, but do it by taking $1 when the pot is $10, $30, $50, $70, and maybe even $90, for a maximum of $5. Considering the smaller rake for smaller pots, most players don't mind that the max is higher than other poker rooms nearby.
When several players sit out of a hand, the rake can be reduced. This is typically done by reducing the maximum, not the percentage. Some poker rooms do this automatically, some need a player to request it.
In areas where there is only one casino, the poker room rake is typically 10%, $5 max all the time.
The highest rake this author has ever seen was on a cruise ship where it was 10% with a maximum of $15. Not only that, they had 50¢ chips, used only to enable a partial rake and reduce the loss due to rounding.
At the high stakes tables, some poker rooms charge a "Seat Rental" rather than have a rake. This is typically $5 for some specific duration, usually 30 minutes. This fee is charged whether you're playing or absent.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 5th, 2012 at 11:33:49 AM
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That's more of a strategy thing that applies whether in a poker room, home game or online.Quote: slytherGood writeup! Maybe include something about unnecessarily 'going into the tank' like on TV when facing a small bet :)
Just like the phrase "There's no such thing as a dumb question," there's no such thing as a small bet.
I've seem people in late position, when it's been checked to them, make a $2 bet. Yep. It's the minimum bet, a measley two bucks, only to be followed by a guy that has to go to the tank to decide what to do.
Yeah, it seems silly, but because of whatever else is going on, it may be very valid. Even for two bucks.
So, while I understand your point, I don't think it needs to be addressed in this intro.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 5th, 2012 at 1:34:08 PM
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Okay, as an avid poker player, I'm going to comment while I read this, so somebody may actually post the same thoughts while I read. Bear with me...
In "Poker rooms differ from the main casino floor"
1) You mention that you shouldn't lurk about and watch for a seat. You should also mention that a player in most cases CAN request a table change or seat change, should one open. However, they may be required to post an additional blind and take the entire table stake with them. This would encourage people who want to play with friends at a certain table.
2) Are there any poker rooms that still allow smoking at the table? I thought all of them have gone completely smoke free, and in some cases, tobacco-free.
In "Wait lists- game lists"
3) You mention that no-limit games have a maximum. While most LOW limit, NL games have maximums set, there are some games that don't have a set max, including higher limit, NL games, but even some 1-2 or 1-3. It's always best to ask what the maximum (or minimum) is, or look at the little placard next to the dealer.
In "Straddles"
4) I think it would be helpful to mention the Mississippi Straddle, as it appears to be more common in the South and on Omaha games (granted a novice probably isn't playing Omaha). House rules vary on straddles too, as some make it only double the big blind, while others require it to be in the UTG position, but can be any amount.
Okay, I think that's it. Of course, you could write a book on strategy stuff, but I think you covered most of the basics. Excellent write-up.
In "Poker rooms differ from the main casino floor"
1) You mention that you shouldn't lurk about and watch for a seat. You should also mention that a player in most cases CAN request a table change or seat change, should one open. However, they may be required to post an additional blind and take the entire table stake with them. This would encourage people who want to play with friends at a certain table.
2) Are there any poker rooms that still allow smoking at the table? I thought all of them have gone completely smoke free, and in some cases, tobacco-free.
In "Wait lists- game lists"
3) You mention that no-limit games have a maximum. While most LOW limit, NL games have maximums set, there are some games that don't have a set max, including higher limit, NL games, but even some 1-2 or 1-3. It's always best to ask what the maximum (or minimum) is, or look at the little placard next to the dealer.
In "Straddles"
4) I think it would be helpful to mention the Mississippi Straddle, as it appears to be more common in the South and on Omaha games (granted a novice probably isn't playing Omaha). House rules vary on straddles too, as some make it only double the big blind, while others require it to be in the UTG position, but can be any amount.
Okay, I think that's it. Of course, you could write a book on strategy stuff, but I think you covered most of the basics. Excellent write-up.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
January 5th, 2012 at 1:51:37 PM
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Points noted and will be incorporated into the final version.
Many people have. That's why I wanted to avoid all of that stuff, and focus on the minutia that doesn't apply to home games, but a poker room rookie needs to know. This isn't often covered in the poker books.Quote: TiltpoulOf course, you could write a book on strategy stuff...
Thanks.Quote: TiltpoulExcellent write-up.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 5th, 2012 at 3:46:38 PM
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Very Nice DJ!
The new player posting rule has always confused me and has generated a fair amount of questions around the poker table when the issue comes up. Let's assume that the room requires new players to post.
Then do you simply determine your player Seat Number (assuming the #1 Seat is directly to the left of the Dealer and #8 or #10 position is to the immediate right of the Dearler depending on the size of the table) and if the Button is at a higher Seat Number than yours, you will be required to post and if the Button is at a lower Seat Number, your are not required to post?
You also have an option to not post and simply not play until the Dealer Button passes in front of you and is on your immediate left and then play your first hand, correct?
I just want to make sure I have that correct and didn't know if my questions mean I am slow on the uptake on this issue or if that part of the intro needs some further explanation. I will leave that up to you.
The new player posting rule has always confused me and has generated a fair amount of questions around the poker table when the issue comes up. Let's assume that the room requires new players to post.
Then do you simply determine your player Seat Number (assuming the #1 Seat is directly to the left of the Dealer and #8 or #10 position is to the immediate right of the Dearler depending on the size of the table) and if the Button is at a higher Seat Number than yours, you will be required to post and if the Button is at a lower Seat Number, your are not required to post?
You also have an option to not post and simply not play until the Dealer Button passes in front of you and is on your immediate left and then play your first hand, correct?
I just want to make sure I have that correct and didn't know if my questions mean I am slow on the uptake on this issue or if that part of the intro needs some further explanation. I will leave that up to you.
January 5th, 2012 at 7:59:02 PM
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In a room where new players post, position relating to posting is just for a brand new table. If you take a seat that has not yet had an opportunity to be the blinds, then you usually can sit without posting. If the big blind passed already, you have to post or wait.
Regarding waiting for the button to pass, that's how it's worded in some parts of Robert's Rules. But in practice, I've always seen it that you either post, or wait until that seat would naturally be the big blind. Note that this is both for new players, and players that have a Missed Blind button. New players only post the Big blind. Missed Blinds post both the small & big, or waits and only posts the big. That, in my opinion is a dumb rule, but I didn't make them up.
Note that the big blind that is posted is a live bet. I.E. If there is no raise, those chips are the chips for the call. When a missed blind also posts a small blind, that part goes directly into the pot.
Does that clear things up?
Regarding waiting for the button to pass, that's how it's worded in some parts of Robert's Rules. But in practice, I've always seen it that you either post, or wait until that seat would naturally be the big blind. Note that this is both for new players, and players that have a Missed Blind button. New players only post the Big blind. Missed Blinds post both the small & big, or waits and only posts the big. That, in my opinion is a dumb rule, but I didn't make them up.
Note that the big blind that is posted is a live bet. I.E. If there is no raise, those chips are the chips for the call. When a missed blind also posts a small blind, that part goes directly into the pot.
Does that clear things up?
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 5th, 2012 at 11:19:02 PM
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It does with the exception of the definition of "If the big blind passed already...".
What I was trying to say is that the big blind has passed a particular seat for the round when the Big Blind for the hand at which a new player sits down is at a higher seat number than the seat the new player just occupied. Is that what is meant by the blind having "passed"? That is to say "the blind has passed for that round" when you consider a complete round of blinds to start at seat 1 and end at seat 10 and the new player has just occupied an empty seat with a lower seat number than the seat number at which the big blind is currently located, correct?
What I was trying to say is that the big blind has passed a particular seat for the round when the Big Blind for the hand at which a new player sits down is at a higher seat number than the seat the new player just occupied. Is that what is meant by the blind having "passed"? That is to say "the blind has passed for that round" when you consider a complete round of blinds to start at seat 1 and end at seat 10 and the new player has just occupied an empty seat with a lower seat number than the seat number at which the big blind is currently located, correct?
January 6th, 2012 at 12:35:44 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBear
Single / Multiple Chips
If you put out a single large chip, regardless of how large, or how many smaller chips you have, it's a call.
For example, if the bet is $2, and you have a ton of $1 chips, and you put out ANY larger chip, it's still a $2 call. On the other hand, if the bet is $16, and you put out $26 (one $25 plus one $1), and you're in a poker room that recognizes more than half a raise as valid, you'll be required to bump it up to a full raise. Sure you intended to get change because you may not have any $5 chips. Just say "Call" before putting out the $26, and you'll get the change intended.
On the other hand, if you're in a poker room that doesn't recognize a partial raise, and the bet is $16, if you put out $31, in ANY combination, it's still a call, and your bet will be reduced to $16. The exception is if $31 is all you have. You're All-In without declaring it.
Do not make change out of another player's bet. The dealer will make the change necessary, sometimes while action is going on, sometimes when that betting round is completed.
This part i don't understand.
So a single chip is a call, regardless of denomination? say the bet is 5 and i want to raise to 10, i cannot put down a 10 chip, i have to put down two 5 chips?
January 6th, 2012 at 1:13:32 AM
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Quote: andysifThis part i don't understand.
So a single chip is a call, regardless of denomination? say the bet is 5 and i want to raise to 10, i cannot put down a 10 chip, i have to put down two 5 chips?
No, but you have to SAY raise before you put the chip in.
You could put a 5,000 chip, and say raise to 10, and the dealer would make change, but you'd be expected to use the smallest denomination to avoid have to make 4,990 change.
You have to be careful when using larger bets and chips, in the above example putting in a 10,000 chip and saying "raise to ten" could cause confusion, is it 10, or 10k? at the smaller limits it should be obvious you meant 10, but some people are just funny about the rules. What you say is GOLDEN, and what you do plays second fiddle. Whenever a floor makes a ruling, its nearly always on what someone said, rather than what they did.
HEY DJ, might want to mention a button straddle, I always seem to like doing it in a $1/2, not sure I play it 100% effectively, but its fun. I think the Riv and Harrahs made the button straddle $5 in a $1/2
http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/10042-woes-black-sheep-game-ii/#post151727
January 6th, 2012 at 1:29:07 AM
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then why "For example, if the bet is $2, and you have a ton of $1 chips, and you put out ANY larger chip, it's still a $2 call."
if i don't say anything, and i have lots of $1 chips and i don't use them and put down a $10 chip, shouldn't it implies that i am raising to 10?
this is the part that i don't understand: what "unwritten rule" is there that would make my action "a $2 call."
if i don't say anything, and i have lots of $1 chips and i don't use them and put down a $10 chip, shouldn't it implies that i am raising to 10?
this is the part that i don't understand: what "unwritten rule" is there that would make my action "a $2 call."
January 6th, 2012 at 3:36:48 AM
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Quote: andysifthen why "For example, if the bet is $2, and you have a ton of $1 chips, and you put out ANY larger chip, it's still a $2 call."
if i don't say anything, and i have lots of $1 chips and i don't use them and put down a $10 chip, shouldn't it implies that i am raising to 10?
this is the part that i don't understand: what "unwritten rule" is there that would make my action "a $2 call."
The short answer is, there isnt an unwritten rule. There is no situation where your single $10 chip will ever be a raise unless you say raise.
There are reasons for using a $10 to call, even when you have lots of $1 chips.
I like to have as many chips as possible, so getting 8 $1 chips in change has gained me 7 more chips than I had before the hand, having a larger stack looks more intimidating when you shove all-in, its not going to intimidate a pro, but your playing $1/2! A novice will see the shear number of chips and insta fold a marginal hand without considering that your 3 stacks of white chips are actually just 6 of his red chips.
There is also the situation where a novice (or someone like you, no offence intended) isnt paying attention, sees the $10 and assumes its a raise, and folds, where he might of called a $2 flat call, not the outcome you want if you have a big hand, but then you wouldnt make this move if you actually want a call.
Another answer is, people like to shuffle chips, usually out of boredom but sometimes to keep their hands busy to hide any sort of give away, shaking hands etc. The extra $1 chips provide suitable shuffley chips. While we are on the subject of chip shuffling, if someone shuffles chips constantly, then stops when they are in a hand, beware!! They nearly always have a monster. If they start again after the flop/turn/river they no longer like their hand. This is not gospel, but its correct enough of the time to assume its correct until your proven wrong.
http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/10042-woes-black-sheep-game-ii/#post151727
January 6th, 2012 at 4:21:30 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearI thought of another section that I hadn't touched upon earlier. It should go near the top, just before the section on Sign Up.
Rake / Seat Rental
Good idea. Rake is something that should never be forgotten. Especially if the guide is for players transitioning from dining room poker to casino.
You could try and give some hints for when rake can be considered too high to play for gains. Since poker is luck-dependent, the advantage of a better-than-average player doesn't often go over the ten percent mark. Pre-flop rake is something that affects tighter games at moderate stakes.
Also, some more fixes:
- extra "http" and extra slash in the end.Quote:url=http://http://www.homepokertourney.com/roberts-rules-of-poker.htm/
Quote:If a player protects his cards with his hands in such a manner that they are hidden from view, and the betting action has passed him as a result, his hand may be declared dead.
I had to re-read this to understand what is being referred to, as "cards...hidden" normally stands for card values rather than physical cards. It would better be rephrased to something like "protects his cards by hiding them from view completely" or "in a manner that can be mistaken for not having any cards at all".
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January 6th, 2012 at 5:09:59 AM
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No.Quote: ParadigmWhat I was trying to say is that the big blind has passed a particular seat for the round when the Big Blind for the hand at which a new player sits down is at a higher seat number than the seat the new player just occupied. Is that what is meant by the blind having "passed"? That is to say "the blind has passed for that round" when you consider a complete round of blinds to start at seat 1 and end at seat 10 and the new player has just occupied an empty seat with a lower seat number than the seat number at which the big blind is currently located, correct?
The exception rule is only for the first round of a new table, and only applies in poker rooms where new players would otherwise post the big blind.
When a table first opens, in some poker rooms, they will deal high card for the button, other places, seat 10 automatically gets the button. The actual seat number is irrelevant. If they deal for the button, and seat 6 is the big blind, then the first round is until seat 6 is big blind again.
What is important is this: The Big Blind starts two people to the left of the button. On each hand it moves to the left, skipping empty seats. If a new player sits at a seat that hasn't gotten skipped yet, he does not have to post the blind. If a new player sits at a seat that did get skipped, then he does have to post, or wait for the big blind to come to him.
After this first round, the table is no longer new. ALL new players, regardless of position, must post or wait.
It is typical for players to wait one hand, or sometimes two hands, rather than post.
---
FYI: Yeah, I realize this may be confusing. The only important thing is what I included in my article: In some poker rooms you post (or wait), in other rooms you don't.
It is a pleasant surprise to sit in a room where you normally post, and not be asked to post, but certainly not needed to be detailed in the article.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 6th, 2012 at 5:43:38 AM
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This scenario is rare in cash games but can easily happen in a tournament. In fact, it happened at a table I was at a couple weeks ago.Quote: WizardofEnglandYou have to be careful when using larger bets and chips, in the above example putting in a 10,000 chip and saying "raise to ten" could cause confusion, is it 10, or 10k?
The blinds had just increased to 300/600. Pre-flop, a guy put in a 5,000 chip and three 100 chips and said "Eight". He meant 800, and meant to put in 500 and three 100.
This presented all kinds of problems:
1 - If he had put in 800, even if he said "Eight," his raise would have been changed to a call. (800 was a valid raise for the prior level, but not the current level.)
2 - If he had put in 800 and said "Raise," he would have been required to make it the minimum raise of 1,200.
3 - If he had said nothing, his multiple chip bet would stand for a bet of 5,300.
4 - By saying "Eight", he was forced to make his bet 8,000.
Needless to say that in the confusion and argument, it became obvious he had intended to make a minimum raise. One player called. On the turn, in an attempt to fix thing and win back his chips, he went all-in. He lost.
These are part of the rules that make poker rooms different from the casino. It is not the dealer's job, nor the other players job, to know what you're thinking, or the content of your stack. Hell, some people like to have huge stacks - even if they are all $1 chips.Quote: andysifthen why "For example, if the bet is $2, and you have a ton of $1 chips, and you put out ANY larger chip, it's still a $2 call."
if i don't say anything, and i have lots of $1 chips and i don't use them and put down a $10 chip, shouldn't it implies that i am raising to 10?
this is the part that i don't understand: what "unwritten rule" is there that would make my action "a $2 call."
By not specifying the intention, a single chip of any value is a call. If the single chip is for less than the bet, you'll be required to put in more. If the chip is for more, you'll get change.
As far as the "unwritten" part goes....
Quote: Robert's Rules - Betting and Raising15. If you put a single chip in the pot that is larger than the bet, but do not announce a raise, you are assumed to have only called. Example: In a $3-$6 game, when a player bets $6 and the next player puts a $25 chip in the pot without saying anything, that player has merely called the $6 bet.
Noted. Will do.Quote: WizardofEnglandHEY DJ, might want to mention a button straddle, I always seem to like doing it in a $1/2, not sure I play it 100% effectively, but its fun. I think the Riv and Harrahs made the button straddle $5 in a $1/2
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 6th, 2012 at 5:53:08 AM
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Noted. Will do.Quote: P90You could try and give some hints for when rake can be considered too high to play for gains. Since poker is luck-dependent, the advantage of a better-than-average player doesn't often go over the ten percent mark. Pre-flop rake is something that affects tighter games at moderate stakes.
Also, some more fixes:
- extra "http" and extra slash in the end.
I had to re-read this to understand what is being referred to, as "cards...hidden" normally stands for card values rather than physical cards. It would better be rephrased to something like "protects his cards by hiding them from view completely" or "in a manner that can be mistaken for not having any cards at all".
Fixed.
Noted. Will edit.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 6th, 2012 at 8:02:40 AM
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Congratulations, nice, it will be a good contribution to the WoO site. I know the effort this took.
In your bets & raises section,
That would be a $3 raise, right?
That would be not $8 but $6, assuming I have understood this right?
I wouldnt assume everyone understands what the "button" is. I suggest a short explanation. To compound possible confusion, you have included "missed blind" buttons amongst the "dealer" button. I think I would call the former something else or at least emphasize there are two buttons.
I'm sure I am just dense, but I have trouble understanding the 'straddle' business. I'll keep re-reading it.
In your bets & raises section,
Quote: DJTeddyBearI.E. If the original bet is $2, and someone raises to $5
That would be a $3 raise, right?
Quote:...some rooms require it to be at least $8 (double the prior raise).
That would be not $8 but $6, assuming I have understood this right?
I wouldnt assume everyone understands what the "button" is. I suggest a short explanation. To compound possible confusion, you have included "missed blind" buttons amongst the "dealer" button. I think I would call the former something else or at least emphasize there are two buttons.
I'm sure I am just dense, but I have trouble understanding the 'straddle' business. I'll keep re-reading it.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
January 6th, 2012 at 8:16:22 AM
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No.Quote: odiousgambitIn your bets & raises section,
That would be a $3 raise, right?
That [next raised bet] would be not $8 but $6, assuming I have understood this right?
The first bet is $2. The raise is $3 for a total bet of $5.
Some poker rooms say a re-raise is a minimum of the amount of the raise, i.e. another $3, on top of the $5 for a call, for a total of $8, while some require it to be double the amount of a call, or $10 total.
Obviously, since these are minimums, it rarely becomes an issue. I.E. Minimum raises are somewhat common, but minimum re-raises are far more rare.
There is one time where it's nice to know ahead of time. Say the bet is $2, and the raise is to $6. If a following player puts out two $5 chips without saying anything, is it a call or raise? But this is actually a compound question, because if the next raise is double, $10 is "more than half a raise" and may be considered a raise. If the next raise is only $10, did that player intend to you raise?
---
I'll edit the part about the blind button.
And don't worry about being dense regarding the straddle. They are rare, and not allowed in many poker rooms. As long as you have an idea of what the heck it is, any questions that may pop up when someone does it will probably be easily answered without making you look like a novice.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 6th, 2012 at 8:18:59 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearon top of the $5 for a call
I would stick that in there. And revise the wording "(double the prior raise)" ; just doesnt make sense to me . Should be "at least double the prior raise"? [edited]
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
January 6th, 2012 at 8:38:00 AM
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Done.
I also added two paragraphs about Pot Limit.
Note that I have JUST NOW updated the original post with all the changes mentioned.
I also added two paragraphs about Pot Limit.
Note that I have JUST NOW updated the original post with all the changes mentioned.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 6th, 2012 at 8:58:13 AM
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Is texas hold em the only game ever to be found? at least "turn" and "river' seem to go only with that game, and your article assumes this is what is going on. Maybe I am wrong about my assumption, you might address that.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
January 6th, 2012 at 9:07:23 AM
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Yes, and no.
It is typically the game most often found. In smaller poker rooms, it may be the only game offered. In larger rooms, it's the one with the most tables running, and may be the only game early in the morning.
It's the most popular poker room game because it's the game almost exclusively shown on poker TV shows. This wasn't always the case. Then again, back before the poker boom, not a lot of casinos even had a poker room!
I'll update to make that more clear.
It is typically the game most often found. In smaller poker rooms, it may be the only game offered. In larger rooms, it's the one with the most tables running, and may be the only game early in the morning.
It's the most popular poker room game because it's the game almost exclusively shown on poker TV shows. This wasn't always the case. Then again, back before the poker boom, not a lot of casinos even had a poker room!
I'll update to make that more clear.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 6th, 2012 at 1:06:56 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearThis scenario is rare in cash games but can easily happen in a tournament. In fact, it happened at a table I was at a couple weeks ago.
The blinds had just increased to 300/600. Pre-flop, a guy put in a 5,000 chip and three 100 chips and said "Eight". He meant 800, and meant to put in 500 and three 100.
This presented all kinds of problems:
1 - If he had put in 800, even if he said "Eight," his raise would have been changed to a call. (800 was a valid raise for the prior level, but not the current level.)
2 - If he had put in 800 and said "Raise," he would have been required to make it the minimum raise of 1,200.
3 - If he had said nothing, his multiple chip bet would stand for a bet of 5,300.
4 - By saying "Eight", he was forced to make his bet 8,000.
Needless to say that in the confusion and argument, it became obvious he had intended to make a minimum raise. One player called. On the turn, in an attempt to fix thing and win back his chips, he went all-in. He lost.
I think this ruling is harsh. If its obvious he meant to min raise, and re-reading your view again, it seems obvious to me; I would rule it min raise. There is little value in an angle shoot to raise it to 5300, or 8k. I would only give him to option to flat call any 3bets (or re- raises for the newbies), meaning if it was indeed an angle shoot, he cannot trap his opponent. He would also get a warning, any further mistakes and it's a one orbit penalty, any mistakes similar to this one and he is outta there. I would show him the rules on the wall, point him in the direction of the blind clock and finish my sodoku :-)
http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/10042-woes-black-sheep-game-ii/#post151727
January 6th, 2012 at 1:32:42 PM
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On rake being too high to play, what I was referring to is:
1) Alternate drop schemes - anything that gets above 10%/$5. If you aren't in Vegas/AC, casinos can collect rake on top of the blinds, collect it ante-style, etc, not waiting for the first $10 to get into the pot. All of these usually very bad for the player.
2) No-flop rake - some casinos rake regardless, others have "no flop, no drop". In tight games this distinction is more important than rake max itself.
1) Alternate drop schemes - anything that gets above 10%/$5. If you aren't in Vegas/AC, casinos can collect rake on top of the blinds, collect it ante-style, etc, not waiting for the first $10 to get into the pot. All of these usually very bad for the player.
2) No-flop rake - some casinos rake regardless, others have "no flop, no drop". In tight games this distinction is more important than rake max itself.
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January 6th, 2012 at 1:55:14 PM
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Wiz of E -
I agree with you. In fact, I think all the players except the player who stayed in would have agreed with you.
Except for a couple things:
1 - Although the colors were similar, these chips were not the old, cheapo, unmarked chips seen in tourneys in some poker rooms. They were new, clearly marked with a value and "No cash value" on them.
2 - At the start of the tourney, we were all warned about the similar colors.
3 - This player had already used his one Mulligan.
---
P90 -
I've never seen the alternate drops you mentioned, but will include it. For what it's worth, Bally's in AC has $1/$3 instead of $1/$2. When I asked the floor manager about that, he said one reason was to ensure a rake in short handed, limped flops. On the other hand, they also offer $1/$1. Both blinds are $1, but it's $2 to call. Go figure.
No Flop Rake? Now that I think about, I objected to a no flop rake on that damn cruise, and the floorperson agreed with me. I can't recall seeing it elsewhere, but I'll include that too.
I agree with you. In fact, I think all the players except the player who stayed in would have agreed with you.
Except for a couple things:
1 - Although the colors were similar, these chips were not the old, cheapo, unmarked chips seen in tourneys in some poker rooms. They were new, clearly marked with a value and "No cash value" on them.
2 - At the start of the tourney, we were all warned about the similar colors.
3 - This player had already used his one Mulligan.
---
P90 -
I've never seen the alternate drops you mentioned, but will include it. For what it's worth, Bally's in AC has $1/$3 instead of $1/$2. When I asked the floor manager about that, he said one reason was to ensure a rake in short handed, limped flops. On the other hand, they also offer $1/$1. Both blinds are $1, but it's $2 to call. Go figure.
No Flop Rake? Now that I think about, I objected to a no flop rake on that damn cruise, and the floorperson agreed with me. I can't recall seeing it elsewhere, but I'll include that too.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 6th, 2012 at 2:01:00 PM
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I think your article is well written. However, your article makes the casino game look way more complicated and difficult to learn than it actually is. I get the feeling that you tried to address every possible scenario or issue that could arise in a poker room. Someone new to the game doesn't need all those details. They need the basics and a reassurance that they don't need to feel nervous playing poker in a casino. I think your article is doing the opposite of that and you risk scaring off new people by the length and amount of detail in your article.
Keep it simple - casino poker is easy to learn, easy to play and new players should not be feel intimidated. The most important advice you can give to a newbie is watch how the dealer and players play the game and don't be shy to ask questions. The dealers and staff are happy to answer questions. Everything else will come with experience.
Perhaps your article as is would be better billed as a complete guide to casino poker (the house rules and running of the game) and target it towards players looking for a reference.
Keep it simple - casino poker is easy to learn, easy to play and new players should not be feel intimidated. The most important advice you can give to a newbie is watch how the dealer and players play the game and don't be shy to ask questions. The dealers and staff are happy to answer questions. Everything else will come with experience.
Perhaps your article as is would be better billed as a complete guide to casino poker (the house rules and running of the game) and target it towards players looking for a reference.
January 6th, 2012 at 2:35:20 PM
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Here's one particularly bad rake example: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/27/brick-mortar/morongo-terrible-preflop-rake-1082702/
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January 6th, 2012 at 3:21:25 PM
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Shark -
Points well taken. I'll let the Wiz decide if he wants me to trim it. I may add something to the intro that it's not necessary to have all these details down cold, but that when they pop up, it may trigger something from having read about it. Or something like that.
I may also chop it up to separate the stuff you need to know from the other stuff and house rules.
For the record, I keep hearing these types of things discussed at my poker league games. That's part of the inspiration. The other part comes from the Wiz himself. He has stated in the past that poker confuses him (or something like that). I'm not sure if he meant the math of evaluating the possibility of being bluffed, or these details, or something else, but, there it is.
P90 -
WOW. That's nuts.
But upon reading the thread, it seems that sort of thing is isolated to California. And knowing what I know about Cali from other posts, it kinda makes sense, as well as makes me wonder if it's a Cali Card Room thing that doesn't exist in poker room at the Indian Casinos.
For the record (and I'll include this) my experience is limited to Vegas, AC, CT and PA.
Points well taken. I'll let the Wiz decide if he wants me to trim it. I may add something to the intro that it's not necessary to have all these details down cold, but that when they pop up, it may trigger something from having read about it. Or something like that.
I may also chop it up to separate the stuff you need to know from the other stuff and house rules.
For the record, I keep hearing these types of things discussed at my poker league games. That's part of the inspiration. The other part comes from the Wiz himself. He has stated in the past that poker confuses him (or something like that). I'm not sure if he meant the math of evaluating the possibility of being bluffed, or these details, or something else, but, there it is.
P90 -
WOW. That's nuts.
But upon reading the thread, it seems that sort of thing is isolated to California. And knowing what I know about Cali from other posts, it kinda makes sense, as well as makes me wonder if it's a Cali Card Room thing that doesn't exist in poker room at the Indian Casinos.
For the record (and I'll include this) my experience is limited to Vegas, AC, CT and PA.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 6th, 2012 at 4:20:14 PM
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Quote: P90On rake being too high to play, what I was referring to is:
1) Alternate drop schemes - anything that gets above 10%/$5. If you aren't in Vegas/AC, casinos can collect rake on top of the blinds, collect it ante-style, etc, not waiting for the first $10 to get into the pot. All of these usually very bad for the player.
2) No-flop rake - some casinos rake regardless, others have "no flop, no drop". In tight games this distinction is more important than rake max itself.
Penn National (at least from what a dealer at Hollywood Lawrenceburg told me) has a universal policy of raking without a flop. Hollywood does one worse, and when the pot gets to $20 they take $1 bad beat (they do this in WV too). So you lose an extra $1 for a Bad Beat that you had 0% chance of hitting (if you didn't see a flop!)
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
January 6th, 2012 at 4:45:21 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearWOW. That's nuts.
But upon reading the thread, it seems that sort of thing is isolated to California. And knowing what I know about Cali from other posts, it kinda makes sense, as well as makes me wonder if it's a Cali Card Room thing that doesn't exist in poker room at the Indian Casinos.
I think it might be so, but there are also other places and other countries where gambling is held in low regard with insurmountably bad odds as a result. All players need to know is to avoid such games, similar to blackjack with "ante" fees.
On other parts:
Straddle - Phrasing could be improved, by defining straddle right away. Generally I'd keep this one short, as straddling is definitely not ABC and a new player just needs to know what's going on when he sees it.
e.g.:
"To straddle is to place a blind raise before the cards are dealt. It allows a player out of position to retake the initiative, and is normally done Under The Gun. Several poker books dispute if it ever helps the straddling player more than it does others.
The next player has the option to make a second straddle, and so on - as long as all the straddling is done before the cards are dealt. If no player raises, the straddler can re-raise when the action comes around.
Straddling can be not allowed at all. In that case, if player making such a bet is actually making a blind raise, and does NOT get the option to re-raise if there are no additional raises.
Straddling can be allowed from one position only, usually Under The Gun. Some poker rooms allow a "Button Straddle." In this case, it is the player on the button who makes the straddle, and action begins with the small blind.
Some poker rooms allow a "Mississippi Straddle". In this case, any player can make the straddle. Action begins with the player to the left of the straddler. If there are no raises prior to the his turn, the straddle stands as his raise and is the last action pre-flop."
<leaving out other "ifs">
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January 7th, 2012 at 1:01:20 AM
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Quote: andysifthen why "For example, if the bet is $2, and you have a ton of $1 chips, and you put out ANY larger chip, it's still a $2 call."
if i don't say anything, and i have lots of $1 chips and i don't use them and put down a $10 chip, shouldn't it implies that i am raising to 10?
this is the part that i don't understand: what "unwritten rule" is there that would make my action "a $2 call."
What's all this talk of $10 chips? There's no such thing in a 1/2 game anywhere in Las Vegas. Only the B, V, and Wynn have 5/10 games with $10 chips (which are not present in 1/2 games). If you want to call a $2 bet, toss out a $5 anywhere in town.
Multiple chips speak for themselves obviously. Don't be a silent hoody-wearing, hollywooding DB. Make your intentions known and there'll be no problems.
"Poker sure is an easy game to beat if you have the roll to keep rebuying."
January 7th, 2012 at 2:12:56 AM
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I think the value is immaterial, exchange $10 for $25, $100 etc....
Not that I wear a hoody, or remain silent (most people think I'm from Australia when I talk), but surely every player has the right to play how they want if its within the rules. I like variety at my table, otherwise I would just play on-line. Remember on-line poker?
Not that I wear a hoody, or remain silent (most people think I'm from Australia when I talk), but surely every player has the right to play how they want if its within the rules. I like variety at my table, otherwise I would just play on-line. Remember on-line poker?
http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/10042-woes-black-sheep-game-ii/#post151727
January 7th, 2012 at 5:27:44 AM
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I've been giving it a re-think.
I'm going to eliminate (or greatly reduce) the section about Straddles. Possibly other sections too.
Straddles are much more of a strategy item than most of the other topics. They ARE discussed in many poker books, and, partially because of shows like High Stakes Poker, they are openly discussed in home games, and sometimes even allowed in home games.
I gotta remember that this article is supposed to be about helping a beginner not look foolish the first time he goes to a poker room. Since so many poker rooms don't allow the straddle, it's not a terrible thing if the newbie has to ask about it, should the situation come up.
On the flip side, the issue of a single large chip is so universally accepted in poker rooms, but also almost universally ignored in home games, that it warrants inclusion.
I'm going to eliminate (or greatly reduce) the section about Straddles. Possibly other sections too.
Straddles are much more of a strategy item than most of the other topics. They ARE discussed in many poker books, and, partially because of shows like High Stakes Poker, they are openly discussed in home games, and sometimes even allowed in home games.
I gotta remember that this article is supposed to be about helping a beginner not look foolish the first time he goes to a poker room. Since so many poker rooms don't allow the straddle, it's not a terrible thing if the newbie has to ask about it, should the situation come up.
On the flip side, the issue of a single large chip is so universally accepted in poker rooms, but also almost universally ignored in home games, that it warrants inclusion.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 7th, 2012 at 10:23:03 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBear
Be Kind To The Dealer
Some dealers have a hard time reaching the ends of the table. Give them an assist by pushing bets forward when the betting round is complete.
While the occasional curse after losing a hand is understandable, excessive cursing or berating the dealer for making you lose is not tolerated and can get you removed.
Dealers live off tips. It is traditional to tip the dealer after winning a pot. However, most players will not tip if the pot was small. On the other hand, some players will tip even if their small raise has chased everyone out of the pot, netting them a mere $3 win. A $1 tip is typical unless the pot is large.
Dealers are human and do sometimes make mistakes. Try to be observant to help correct mistakes, but do not berate a dealer when a mistake is discovered.
One thing I would add for novices here. When the button moves to the far ends of the table it is common for players to move it so the dealer does not have to reach. Some houses might not allow this but often it is allowed. If you do this, clearly announce "BUTTON'S GOOD" so the dealer and everyone else at the table can hear you. Try to see the flow of the table before you move it as a novice.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
January 7th, 2012 at 4:24:02 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBear
I'm going to eliminate (or greatly reduce) the section about Straddles. Possibly other sections too.
I'd say greatly reduce, but don't eliminate it. If a player is completely unaware of a straddle, and the casino has a rule about any money out must be played, it could cause somebody distress. Perhaps you don't need to go into the Mississippi straddle, but to eliminate it completely would be neglectful. Besides, straddle rules are rarely posted on the casino rule board, so it would be a very new concept to a beginner.
I also think the "oversized chip" rule is extremely important to explain, but keep it simple. I'm not sure (or don't remember) if you also explained the difference between "ALL-IN" and "CALLING AN ALL-IN" but that might be important to cover, especially for new NL players.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
January 24th, 2012 at 12:26:43 PM
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I made a bunch of little changes, and a couple not so little changes in response to some of the comments in this thread.
I've also moved the sections "Post / Buy the Button" and "Straddle" towards the end, after a new heading "Advanced Concepts."
You're right, but I have a hard time figuring out what to edit. Instead, I added a paragraph to the intro:Quote: cardsharkYour article makes the casino game look way more complicated and difficult to learn than it actually is. ....
Quote:Note that this article is probably a lot longer than it needs to be. A true student of the game would immerse himself in these details before going to a poker room. The intended audience of this article is a more casual player who may become familiar with some of these details, and return here to review some of the situations that may have popped up after their first experience.
I've also moved the sections "Post / Buy the Button" and "Straddle" towards the end, after a new heading "Advanced Concepts."
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 24th, 2012 at 2:25:01 PM
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Quote: WizardofEnglandI like to have as many chips as possible, so getting 8 $1 chips in change has gained me 7 more chips than I had before the hand, having a larger stack looks more intimidating when you shove all-in, its not going to intimidate a pro, but your playing $1/2! A novice will see the shear number of chips and insta fold a marginal hand without considering that your 3 stacks of white chips are actually just 6 of his red chips.
There is also the situation where a novice (or someone like you, no offence intended) isnt paying attention, sees the $10 and assumes its a raise, and folds, where he might of called a $2 flat call, not the outcome you want if you have a big hand, but then you wouldnt make this move if you actually want a call.
WoE...The first situation could cost novices A LOT of money...many of the players they're likely to try to intimidate that way will call them down and they'll lose their stack!
The second situation I also like to employ and I try to voice my action toward the dealer rather than the table.
January 24th, 2012 at 2:34:55 PM
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Good article, I have been wanting to learn poker, but I have not taken the time yet. In fact I may even be below the knowledge level assumed in this article, as I have played very few home games.
One thing I have read about on other sites is spread limit games; would they warrant a section next to fixed limit/NL/PL? I'm assuming they are less common since you don't mention them, but the local casino where I play blackjack offers a spread limit game (in fact I think it's the default game running at their poker table).
One thing I have read about on other sites is spread limit games; would they warrant a section next to fixed limit/NL/PL? I'm assuming they are less common since you don't mention them, but the local casino where I play blackjack offers a spread limit game (in fact I think it's the default game running at their poker table).
"So drink gamble eat f***, because one day you will be dust." -ontariodealer
January 24th, 2012 at 5:27:28 PM
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Actually, I omitted them because:Quote: AcesAndEightsOne thing I have read about on other sites is spread limit games; would they warrant a section next to fixed limit/NL/PL? I'm assuming they are less common since you don't mention them, but the local casino where I play blackjack offers a spread limit game (in fact I think it's the default game running at their poker table).
A - I rarely see them.
B - I've never played them.
C - When I have seen them, I haven't asked what they are.
Mind you, although I've had the concept for the article bouncing around my head for quite a while, I haven't had any trips to a poker room since I first posted it.
I'm going to the Sands tomorrow evening - which is why I re-read my article and tweaked it today. I don't think they offer it, but I know several of their floor people have a lot of poker experience from AC. If I remember, I'll get the full poop.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 24th, 2012 at 6:19:11 PM
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My impression was that spread limit games have been somewhat common a couple decades ago, when the no-limit version still didn't sit well with everyone. Now it's neither here, nor there.
Strictly speaking there are a couple more options for the limits, but I don't think they are really necessary to know. If you encounter a game other than FL, PL or NL, there's nothing wrong with asking. A newbie is going to be outed as a newbie anyway (but there are so many advantages to being thought of as fish without being one that it's hardly a bad thing).
Strictly speaking there are a couple more options for the limits, but I don't think they are really necessary to know. If you encounter a game other than FL, PL or NL, there's nothing wrong with asking. A newbie is going to be outed as a newbie anyway (but there are so many advantages to being thought of as fish without being one that it's hardly a bad thing).
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March 23rd, 2012 at 6:49:08 AM
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I've made a couple minor few spelling / grammar fixes to the article.
In addition, prompted by the Who is reponsible for guarding my chips when I take a break? thread, I added a couple sentences to the end of the Chip Stack section:
I also added a completely new section at the very end, regarding Poker Leagues. I've recently become a dealer in one such league, so I had to give us a plug.
In addition, prompted by the Who is reponsible for guarding my chips when I take a break? thread, I added a couple sentences to the end of the Chip Stack section:
Quote:If you need to take a smoke / bathroom / food / whatever break, and intend on returning to that table, you must leave all your chips where they are. If you are uncomfortable with leaving the chips there, you should count it out, and alert the dealer and the players on each side how much it is. Usually, there is no reason to be nervous. While Poker is a game of taking money from the other people at the table, outright theft is very rare.
I also added a completely new section at the very end, regarding Poker Leagues. I've recently become a dealer in one such league, so I had to give us a plug.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
April 17th, 2012 at 8:15:51 AM
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Inspired by Nareed's inquiry about tournaments, I updated the article in the original post, to include some specific tourny details.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
April 17th, 2012 at 9:27:36 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearInspired by Nareed's inquiry about tournaments, I updated the article in the original post, to include some specific tourny details.
That was quick!
Thank you. It seems my deeply ingrained habit of punctuality could potentially pay off.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
