How do most casinos run texas holdem games? |
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Posted Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:04 pm GMT by AdamT
I'm going to Tunica this weekend and will be playing my first Casino Texas holdem game. i have a few questions....
1) how are the tables usually run. how does the house make money on a texas holdem game?
2) what would be the lowest blinds to expect?
3) Any tips?
thanks,
Adam
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Posted Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:09 pm GMT by shorn7
Depending on what game you play (limit versus NL), the house will either rake a small amount out of each pot (limit, generally under 5% with a maximum $ value cap) or will charge players "time" for each 1/2 hour or hour (NL, normally around 2 big blinds per hour). Some of the smaller NL games might also just be raked.
You should be able to find limit holdem games with blinds as low as 2/4 and NL games with 1/2 blinds and a $100 max buy-in.
Advice? Don't be afraid to ask questions, play a little tighter early on until you get comfortable with playing in the casino environment, and have fun.
Posted Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:13 pm GMT by AdamT
i plan on 'observing' for at least the first hour to guage the aggresivness of the players.
is it allowed to observe?
i play in a local pub league and i've won a trip to vegas to participate in a 26k 1st place event so i'm trying to brush up. i wanted to go to a 'real' table instead of online...but don't wanna blow the bank.
thanks!
Adam
Posted Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:16 pm GMT by shorn7
Sure, you can observe. Just make sure you aren't too close or right over someone's shoulder because a lot of players don't like that.
Posted Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:22 pm GMT by JonnyBoy
Some card room don't allow observers. I like the rule. You pay to play, no free info for the new guy. Also, if there is an open seat, the house wants you seated. They don't make money having guys standing around.
Posted Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:35 pm GMT by TxShadow
| AdamT wrote: | I'm going to Tunica this weekend and will be playing my first Casino Texas holdem game. i have a few questions....
1) how are the tables usually run. how does the house make money on a texas holdem game?
2) what would be the lowest blinds to expect?
3) Any tips?
thanks,
Adam |
1)
Starting Out:
Generally there will be a list to get on a table when you get there. This will depend on what time you play, what game you're playing, the size of the card room, etc. You should be able to locate the floor guy without much trouble (there is usually a desk or counter of some sort). Head over to him and feel free to ask as many questions as you want, the floor people should be pretty welcoming, friendly, and eager to help. Find out what games they have going, pick one, and ask if they have a spot. They will either seat you immediately or put you on a list.
When You Are Seated:
This part is probably where I was the most confused playing for the first time in a casino. The floor person will show you to a table that has an open seat. Just walk over to it and sit down. Unless it is a new table, the game will be in progress and they don't hold it up while you get situated. When I sat down, I didn't even know how to get chips  . Anyway, just get your cash out and if there is a hand in progress, wait until it is over. Tell the dealer how much you are buying in for and he will call for the floor to get your chips. A floorperson will take your cash and come back with chips. I saw people able to play in hands while waiting for their actual chips as well (I saw one case when the dealer loaned them some chips until theirs got there, but I don't know what is standard).
How They Make Money:
Someone already explained this, but generally at the lower stakes there will be a small rake, something like 10% of each pot, $4 max. At the higher stakes, they will often charge time.
2)
Blinds:
If you are playing NL, most casinos start out at $1/2 with a $200 max buy-in (though the buy-in max/min can vary).
For Fixed Limit, you would be hard pressed to find anything as low as $2/4 or even $3/6. It seems like limit often starts out around $4/8. Of course this will depend on the casino as well.
3)
Tips:
Don't be intimidated by all of the action going on around you. Most of the people are going to be friendly. Ask questions if you need to. As far as observing goes, the casino that I went to had no problem with it. At the very least, see if you can watch a table play while you wait to be seated. Don't be afraid to ask the floor if that is allowed. If you are going to be with a friend that has played in a casino before, pull up a chair (assuming it's allowed, it was where I went) and sit by him and watch for a while. Assuming you are playing at the lowest stakes offered, just kick back, order a drink, and play tight until you get comfortable (drink is optional  ).
Anyway, good luck! 8)
Posted Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:42 pm GMT by TxShadow
Oh! And don't forget to tip the dealer!
This is something that a lot of people that are new to casino poker forget to do (or just don't know in the first place).
It is standard to tip the dealer any time you take down a pot. If you rake in a $20 pot, throw him a $1 chip. If you rake in a big $150 pot, throw him more.
When you're used to playing online or in home games (like I was when I went for the first time), you don't really even think about having to tip a dealer. Thankfully I went with a buddy that has a lot of live play experience, so he educated me. It might seem like dealer tokes are eating into your winnings a lot, and they kind of are, but that is part of playing live.
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:00 am GMT by MrDarling
You need to tip the dealer on every hand won?
I presumed you only tip the dealer when you are living the table..
But of course, I never played live.
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:02 am GMT by kainARGH
| MrDarling wrote: | You need to tip the dealer on every hand won?
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no, but we make minimum wage + tips so its always greatly appreciated.
Dealer also does more then you think, such as protecting you from cheaters as well as makeing sure the game runs happily and smoothly
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:27 am GMT by Oasis
When I make my visit I’ll be more then happy to tip the dealer...
..
Have to win a pot though :]
On a more serious note; cheers for the tips in this thread. I plan to ring the casino tomorrow and find out what games they run just so I'm a little more prepared.
Keep the advice coming.
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:20 am GMT by MasterShake
| MrDarling wrote: | You need to tip the dealer on every hand won?
I presumed you only tip the dealer when you are living the table..
But of course, I never played live. |
It's a tip. You don't HAVE to, but it's the right thing to do if the dealer isn't a complete knob. At Foxwoods, they pool all the tips and then divide them out. I tip pretty standard in those games. But at a lot of casinos the dealers keep their individual tokes, so you can tip a better dealer more and a terrible dealer less.
I won't tip on chops, walks or tiny pots (Less than $10 profit at a 2/4 table).
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:22 am GMT by MasterShake
| Oasis wrote: | When I make my visit I’ll be more then happy to tip the dealer...
..
Have to win a pot though :]
On a more serious note; cheers for the tips in this thread. I plan to ring the casino tomorrow and find out what games they run just so I'm a little more prepared.
Keep the advice coming. |
Find out about whether the casino uses comp cards or not and if they do, make sure you get one right away. Foxwoods gives $.50 for every hour at the table, which is kind of lame. But the Golden Nugget gave a $10 meal comp for every four hours at the table.
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:55 am GMT by AdamT
shadow, that's EXACTLY what i needed!
thanks so much and please keep it coming.
what are the usual buy in mins?
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:35 am GMT by supafrey
| AdamT wrote: | shadow, that's EXACTLY what i needed!
thanks so much and please keep it coming.
what are the usual buy in mins? |
40x the BB at most places I've heard of. Don't buy in min you wussy =)
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:26 am GMT by groton
Shake your playing the wroung limit for 1/2NL its $1 a hour
and The Thing with Chips is depends on the Casino if they have a chiprunner or not at Foxwoods they dont have Chiprunners you have to Ether A get your own Chips or buy them off the Dealer or at the game i play expecaly if i have Ben's I just ask the Bigstack if he wants to sell me 100 dollers in chips for a 100Doller bill
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:35 pm GMT by pokerpro888
also about the chips, at Turning Stone, you definitely need to get the chips at the cage. You also have to have a "poker card" to play. You get that when you get your chips for the princely sum of $2.
They also have $1/3 limit there, but I don't think they have $2/4. They definitely have $3/6 which is what I play.
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:41 pm GMT by groton
i personly now would never play limit below 4/8
and rather play No limit 1/2
Posted Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:18 pm GMT by MasterShake
| groton wrote: | Shake your playing the wroung limit for 1/2NL its $1 a hour
and The Thing with Chips is depends on the Casino if they have a chiprunner or not at Foxwoods they dont have Chiprunners you have to Ether A get your own Chips or buy them off the Dealer or at the game i play expecaly if i have Ben's I just ask the Bigstack if he wants to sell me 100 dollers in chips for a 100Doller bill |
I figured it was higher at higher limit tables. I just remember playing for seven hours and getting 3.5 points.
And some casinos won't let you buy chips off of other players. Sounds like Foxwoods either does or you usually wait until nobody's looking. :D They make the Big Stack keep the cash on the table I hope.
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