Casino Poker

TAKING YOUR GAME TO THE BIG TIME

• Playing poker in the casino is vastly different from the casual poker game at home. Poker in the casino can be fun, but if you are not careful, it can also be quite costly. Here are some things to be aware of before booking your tickets to Las Vegas or Atlantic City:

• First, poker is the only game in the casino where you are not playing against the house you are playing with strangers. Be aware that some of these strangers might be professional poker player they will know you are a rookie before you even sit down. Obviously, not everyone is going to be a shark, particularly at the low-limit table, where there will be plenty of people who enjoy online poker but only play occasionally at casinos. But before sitting down at a table, walk around the casino and try and find table where you think you might be comfortable.
• A good place to start would be a low-limit table where the minimum bet is $1 or $2 and the maximum bet is $2 or $4. Because the stakes are low, you will probably be playing with people of similar skill level. Also, the betting strategy will be light enough that you won’t feel intimidated.

• If you though table etiquette was important at home, it is doubly important in the casino. Things like playing out of turn, moving your cards from the table, and mishandling chips can have serious consequences. Not only will your fellow players have zero tolerance for your misbehavior, but your mistakes could lead to disqualification of your poker hand. It is quite all right for you to mention to the dealer that you’re rookie. It is the dealer’s role to let you know when you should move to remind you of rules. Don’t worry about exposing yourself as a novice; it will most likely be apparent anyhow.
• Ever wonder how the casinos make money from poker since the gamblers are not playing against the house? The casinos can charge an “admission fee” by requiring you to pay to sit down; they can also take a percentage of the winnings. If you go to the casino with a set amount of money to gamble with, just remember that not all of that money will be for making bets. This fee is something to think about if you plan to play lots of omaha hands it will add up.