Tips for playing poker in Vegas?

[Nutdotnet]

Any suggestions or tips?

Does your play typically alter when you're playing against people you actually see? Play tighter? Play a little more loose? I'm certainly going to be playing with smaller blinds/limits than online...

I don't want to come off as a complete idiot.

 

[KarmaPolice]

In general the average player you meet in casinos are worse then the people online....so adjust accordingly. People will call stupid things, people will bet stupid amounts (like 10 bucks into a 140 pot) just because its a 5x the blind bet and that should "mean something".

That being said, it really depends on the table. The general rule of thumb is if the table is tight, you play loose..if the table is loose, play tight. Really the biggest thing if you haven't played in a casino before is the pace of the game. your new to all the rules and you might feel a bit pressured, also you see so many less hands then you do online. Resist the urge to start playing all the hands because u get tired of waiting around.

here are some tips

1. Dont complain when you lose, no one cares
2. Tip the dealer when you win
3. Make sure you know the rules BEFORE you go. Throwing one chip in is a call. Its a good habit to verbally say everything your going to do before you do it.
4. Win a lot of money

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
In general the average player you meet in casinos are worse then the people online....so adjust accordingly. People will call stupid things, people will bet stupid amounts (like 10 bucks into a 140 pot) just because its a 5x the blind bet and that should "mean something".

That being said, it really depends on the table. The general rule of thumb is if the table is tight, you play loose..if the table is loose, play tight. Really the biggest thing if you haven't played in a casino before is the pace of the game. your new to all the rules and you might feel a bit pressured, also you see so many less hands then you do online. Resist the urge to start playing all the hands because u get tired of waiting around.

here are some tips

1. Dont complain when you lose, no one cares
2. Tip the dealer when you win
3. Make sure you know the rules BEFORE you go. Throwing one chip in is a call. Its a good habit to verbally say everything your going to do before you do it.
4. Win a lot of money

Sweet...thanks!

So...don't throw a chip in if a want to fold?

Oh, and any general rule for "min." tip I should give the dealer?

 

[z0mb13]

some tips
1. know the rules and etiquette (fold in turn, etc)
2. Don't string bet
3. Tip the dealer $1 or $2 for every hand you win. If it is a bigger pot, usually I tip more (no more than $5 though)
4. Drinks (booze) are free, tip the waiter $1.
5. Play top hands only.
6. Win a lot

 

[mobobuff]

How does tipping the dealer give you any advantage?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
How does tipping the dealer give you any advantage?

It etiquette...

 

[bigalt]

PROTECT YOUR HAND.

If you leave your hand out there in front of your chips all alone, it's very easy for another player's cards to hit yours, in which case your hand is dead. Or the dealer might accidentally scoop them up. It's customary to just put a chip on top of them.

Otherwise most tips are stuff that you'll just be corrected for (like string-raising) most likely good-naturedly. It wouldn't hurt to try to play a few hands with some friends to get used to the feel of betting with chips/etc. just so it doesn't distract you. But don't just play 2/4 the whole time! Once you figure out what's going on move on up-- it's vegas, you're there to GAMBOOOOOOL!

edit: oh i almost forgot the most important tip. Don't give away that mouse-clicky-finger-tell like that internet guy from TILT!

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: mobobuff
How does tipping the dealer give you any advantage?

It etiquette...

I did not know that. Casino n00b.

 

[Sinsear]

1. chip on top of your cards to protect them
2. if you win a hand wait till the dealer passes you the winnings in the pot; don't reach out and grab for em like a home game
3. don't string bet
4. say everything before you do it
5. pay attention; know where the action is and don't make people wait on you while you tie your shoe, stare at women, etc.
6. alot of locals make a living playing there; bring your A game

 

[Zoblefu]

I don't mean to cause a big argument, but tipping isn't "required". It is, literally, giving your money away. The casino is already taking a good percentage of your winnings... why give more away?

But, you will see others doing it. And someone may think less of you for not tipping. But that's about it, you're going to be dealt the same cards either way.

IMO, tipping is up to you. It's the "polite" thing to do, but is not required.

Edit: That said, it really depends on the size of the pot you win. I probably wouldn't tip if I won a $25 pot, maybe not a $50 pot. But if I won a $125 pot, sure, I'll tip probably $2. (I play 3/6 limit or lowest no-limit)

 

[AMCRambler]

What's "string betting"? I've been to a casino before, but I've only played Pai Gow poker and there's just one bet in that.

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
What's "string betting"? I've been to a casino before, but I've only played Pai Gow poker and there's just one bet in that.

an example of string betting would be calling and then raising instead of just raising, or trying to raise twice in the same betting round.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
What's "string betting"? I've been to a casino before, but I've only played Pai Gow poker and there's just one bet in that.

best to illustrate with an example. lets say you need 10 bucks to call a bet, but you want to raise to 50. if you were to put the 10 dollars out, then reach back and grab more chips and put them in, thats string betting. you need to put it all out there at once. alternatively you can just announce what you plan on doing - I raise to 50 - then move the chipps out in whichever fashion

pai gow is nothing like the poker in the poker room

 

[AMCRambler]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
What's "string betting"? I've been to a casino before, but I've only played Pai Gow poker and there's just one bet in that.

best to illustrate with an example. lets say you need 10 bucks to call a bet, but you want to raise to 50. if you were to put the 10 dollars out, then reach back and grab more chips and put them in, thats string betting. you need to put it all out there at once. alternatively you can just announce what you plan on doing - I raise to 50 - then move the chipps out in whichever fashion

pai gow is nothing like the poker in the poker room

Ok that's different than what Alien is saying. I'm not sure you two are talking about the same thing. I think Alien's interpretation sounds more correct.
Also, another tip that I found out when the dealer corrected me. You can't pick the cards up and move past the edge of the green felt. I guess this is to prevent cheating. Cards have to be over the felt on the table or they get mad and you'll have a pit boss in your ass.

 

[Canun]

A string bet is making multiple trips to bring out chips without announcing the raise. All out at once, or call raise. If possible, when raising announce the amount of the raise, and keep in mind that is in addition to whatever amount you have to call.

Oh, and I usually play tight for a while. Let the table learn that you are a tight player, and bluffing becomes a little easier later.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
What's "string betting"? I've been to a casino before, but I've only played Pai Gow poker and there's just one bet in that.

best to illustrate with an example. lets say you need 10 bucks to call a bet, but you want to raise to 50. if you were to put the 10 dollars out, then reach back and grab more chips and put them in, thats string betting. you need to put it all out there at once. alternatively you can just announce what you plan on doing - I raise to 50 - then move the chipps out in whichever fashion

pai gow is nothing like the poker in the poker room

Ok that's different than what Alien is saying. I'm not sure you two are talking about the same thing. I think Alien's interpretation sounds more correct.
Also, another tip that I found out when the dealer corrected me. You can't pick the cards up and move past the edge of the green felt. I guess this is to prevent cheating. Cards have to be over the felt on the table or they get mad and you'll have a pit boss in your ass.

They are both correct but explaining it a little different. It prevents you from showing a move to call and reading what your opponent would do. Your best bet is to declare your intentions before making a move. Say "call" or "raise" and then reach for chips to avoid confusion.

 

[EPCrew]

Push it all in preflop on every hand.

 

[anxi80]

if you're in the blinds, dont look at your cards unless someone call/raises or until its your turn to act. the reason being if no acts in front of you and you're in the big blind the small may offer a chop or you may want to do the same and its considered poor etiquette to look at your cards before making the decision. the reason to chop is to avoid the house rake, saves your blind, and moves the button.

also, this isnt the w.s.o.p. or w.p.t. if someone raises you $5 dont give them a 10 minute staredown. dont slow roll your hand, also considered to be in bad taste.

 

[JonTom]

your cards are your receipt. do NOT let go of your cards until you have the pot pushed to you.

this is assuming you've won the hand. not recommended behaviour for losing hands.

 

[TheVrolok]

Good thread, marked to reread later.

 

[richardycc]

don't play limited poker, it's like bingo.

 

[FP]

Re: the tipping thing. It actually can help you out at casinos. A tipped dealer will usually "watch your back" in terms of betting and winnings, especially at games like craps. I have had dealers pay me off on a bet I didn't even make because I had previously been making the bet each time but forgot to on one roll. Dealers make a large chunk of their income on tips so it really is the nice thing to do. The people who don't tip at tables are the same people who don't tip other places.

Here are some things to be aware of playing poker at a casino in addition to what others have mentioned:

1. Friday and Saturday night between 11pm-3am have been the best times to play for me. A ton of drunk frat guys getting back from the clubs quoting Rounders and getting their ass handed to them. Be careful though, they tend to go on tilt quickly and tend to be calling machines so there is the possibility of a suck out.

2. If it is your turn to act do not get dramatic about it.

3. You will find more calling machines at lower limit tables. People will draw to an inside straight every day of the week at the 1/2 or even 3/6 tables.

4. The no-limit tables are the best bet. You can find good 3/6 $300 max buy no-limit tables all over the strip. The nice thing about the NL tables is you can push the drawing folks out of hands easier.

5. Get in on a couple tourneys while you are there. They usually start around 10am or 11am and last a few hours. Buy-ins are usually pretty small ($25-100) but drink service takes longer unless you tip really well.

6. Never ever ever ever ever ask to see someone's cards if you are in the hand and have called them down the river. Although you can technically "ask" to see them they don't have to show AND IT CAN BURN YOU. If they made a hand and didn't know it the cards speak for themselves.

7. Likewise you don't have to show your cards if you are called down. If you are holding a losing bluff just muck your cards.

8. Don't eat at the table. You can and people do but nothing pisses off a table more than a guy stuffing his face when it is his turn to act.

9. Remember you can rebuy at any time. If you're at a NL table and down to your last $20 don't sit there and lose it. Rebuy some more chips to make you less of a target.

10. Do not apologize for a winning hand. If someone apologizes to you for giving you a bad beat tell them they can make it up to you by giving you your chips back.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Ok, so:

1. No string bets? If I'm going to raise $50 off a $10 call I should say, "I'll raise $50", which I would then put the $10 + $50 into the pot correct?
2. If I want to play my hand, place a chip on top of the cards?
3. Don't like at my cards prior to putting in the small blind/big blind?
4. Tip $1 or $2 for a winning hand (assuming I'm playing the 1/2 or 2/4 tables)
5. Don't sit around all day trying to make a decision on my cards (this isn't the WSOP)
6. Do not move my cards off the felt?
7. No eating.
8. PROFIT

Anything else I'm missing?

 

[SunnyD]

Wear a condom.

 

[EPCrew]

Originally posted by: richardycc
don't play limited poker, it's like bingo.

Not really... low limit yes. I like the higher limit games.