Getting Started at Atlantic City |
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Posted Sat Jan 22, 2005 1:45 am GMT by TomJQKA
I've been playing online poker for over a year or so now and I really enjoy it. I also live about an hour drive from Atlantic City. I'd love to make the occasional trip out there for some live poker, but I have no idea what to expect. I have never sat down at a live poker table in my life and I don't want to just jump into it unprepared and get gobbled up like a piece of meat. There aren't any gamblers among my friends and family (at best maybe one or two can tell the difference between a spade and a club) so I don't have someone who can introduce me to it. Anyone care to share some old-timer wisdom for this fresh fish? I'd be especially interested in advice specific to Atlantic City. What's the best casino for poker? What limits do they run and what's the usual rake? What kind of atmosphere can I expect? In what ways does it differ from online poker?
I figure that in addition to differences in the actualy play of the game due to the visual scrutiny of your opponents as you fumble with your chips, there must also be some major etiquette concerns. Online, it's not likely that anyone will hunt you down if you join a table, play two hands taking half of someone's stack, and then leave. But I suspect you could get more than a few nasty looks if you do that in a casino. 
What else should I know?
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Posted Sat Jan 22, 2005 3:16 am GMT by Sean_in_NJ
If you've seen any of my posts, you probably know I'm partial to the Tropicana. It's a non-smoking room, the dealers are good and friendly, and they spread a lot of different hold'em games. They've got limit from 2/4 up to 10/20, and 1/2 and 2/5 NL. They've usually got a 10/20/30 stud game going, and the last 3 weeks they've had a 2/4 Omaha HiLo game running too. If you decide to play there, make sure you sign up for a poker club card on your first visit. You have to have one to play in tourneys, and you also earn comps with it. Nothing extravagant, but it'll buy you dinner. Harrah's isn't a bad place to play, although I haven't been over there since they've redone the poker room. Bally's is a nice casino, but I wouldn't play poker there.
As for non-casino specific tips, I don't think you'll need anything more than common courtesy. If you've got questions, just ask the dealer. After the first two orbits or so, it'll feel like second nature to you.
Posted Sat Jan 22, 2005 4:48 am GMT by TomJQKA
Thanks for the info, Sean.
Posted Sat Jan 22, 2005 11:02 am GMT by hookedupmonte
all around the dealers will be good to you and help you learn the game, but, just remember if you win a pot, tip the dealer. Unlike online the dealers work off tips, they dont make much per hour. I usually tip 1$ or so per pot i play 2/4 try not to argue and just learn cause line is a bit different then online. Online they it tells you your options, so you have to be a bit more aware. The Trop is a great place to start very dealer friendly room, lots of tvs just sometimes its either to cold or to hot.
Posted Sat Jan 22, 2005 2:51 pm GMT by K-rug
I love the trop in A.C. The dealers will help you out but do not get to nervous. You are probably better than half the people at the table. Just do not get nervous to the point that you put a mark on yourself. Unless your first hand is a top four hand pre-flop, fold it. It will settle your nerves a lot. After the first orbit completes you will think to yourself, why was I so worried?
Unless you can read people, I would stay away from the limit game for your first time out. It may seem safer because you can't go all-in but especially at the lower levels people call, call, call, call, call, call and ohhhh they caught their cards. Just like online. For your first time you will probably get your money sucked out faster at limit than at a no-limit table as you will more than likely play tighter at the NL than limit your first outing.
That may sound like backwards advice but I've gone to AC with people who have played online and in live home games for years but never at a casino. They all beeline for the 2/4 limit game thinking it is safer and the same thing always happens as I described above. They are anxious, nervous and get the Hoover treatment.
There is one word that can make the difference for you... Patience. You are at a casino. You are not at home. You cannot get up every other hand to take a leak or sit in your boxers or check the box scores. It is not as fast paced as you see on T.V. or the movies. It is not like Tilt, it is not like Rounders and it is not like ESPN's WSOP or the WPT on the travel channel. The action is not that fast. Plan to play for hours and hours on end.
Lower your expectations.
Posted Sat Jan 22, 2005 3:30 pm GMT by HitTheFlop
The Borgata and the Taj both offer plenty of action as well. Only the Trop has been mentioned here and although they have a great room with a better comp system IMHO there is still great action in both the other rooms. All three are non-smoking, all three have reasonably competent dealers. All three spread a great variety of limits and all three have tournaments on a regular basis.
I was peronally quite nervous the first time I played in a casino but that was over 10 years ago. It was also the first time I played Texas Hold em it was a 4-8 game at Treasure Island in Vegas (yes they had a poker room back than). Although I knew nothing about the game other than basic poker hand rules I beat the game for $900 and have been hooked ever since.
First of all you may make mistakes, some schmuck may be a dick and point out your mistakes, blow em off. Every table I ever played in seems to have someone who thinks they are table captain. The dealer will run the game not the players, if an issue comes up call the floor over.
NEVER release your hand until you have been pushed the pot if you are the winner of said hand. I had a friend two weeks ago turn his cards up in the $2/5 No Limit game he had Jacks full his opponent had A high flush. Dealer mucked his hand and pushed the pot to the flush, floor was called and the hand stood as it happened for over a $1000 pot. Yes, dealers make mistakes , yes the floor will give a bad ruling and yes I would have been bared from the Trop under the same circumstances. By the way this same senario played out at the table I was at earlier the same day. that's why I say NEVER release your hand until you have the chips.
I am sure you will get into the flow of the game as some time goes by and if your anything like myself you will in the long run prefer Live poker over on line poker any time.
Peace, HTF
Posted Sat Jan 22, 2005 9:54 pm GMT by K-rug
Also get into the habit of putting a chip or something on your cards. You are less likely to have them mucked by the dealer.
Posted Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:22 pm GMT by Tralfaz
Hey all:
I have to agree with sean. I love the Trop poker room. I have only played poker there twice (its quite a shlep from pittsburgh) but I enjoyed the poker at the Trop both times.
I played quite a bit of 1/2 NL and played in two tourneys. I found the dealers to be knowledgable and friendly. I also found that on a saturday night the NL game was loose as hell. I pulled in over $1,000 in like 3 hours the first trip. (I happened to be catching incredible cards combined with the loose table  )
Anyway, just sit down ask the dealer any questions and have a great time.
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