Poker in a casino doesn’t have to be an intimidating, awkward, or uncomfortable experience. Quite the opposite. With the right perspective and a few pointers about what to do and how to do it, playing in a casino can be more enjoyable, relaxing, and pleasant than playing in your own home. Hey, you don’t have to clean up when the game is over!
1. It’s OK to look like you don’t know what you’re doing.
This is, by far, the most important rule. Don’t worry how others view you. It doesn’t matter. In fact, if your goal is to win money and have fun then it would be great if you could fake the image of a new player even if you're an experienced pro. Experienced players tend to play more softly, less aggressively, and less competitively against a new player. It’s human nature for most of us to be nice to the new guy. And, if they think you’re awful, they’re not going to be paying much attention to what you’re doing -- figuring that they have the edge.
Sure, there are some jerks who love to point out everything that everyone else does wrong. But don’t worry about them. They’re jerks -- and they’re generally not respected or liked in the poker room. They’re also not really very good players. If they were, then why weren’t they in some high stakes game rather than behaving badly in the low limit game you entered? If they were really sharp, why would they be pointing out the mistakes other players are making? This can only make others better players or drive them away, no? So don’t give them a moment’s pause. Chances are that the majority of the players at the table are siding with you over them anyway. Their attacks make you more likeable -- so enjoy them or just ignore them.
2. Act in turn.This is easy to do. Pay attention to where the action is and make sure to bet when it is your turn to do so. Other players can’t stand someone who takes forever because they’re distracted -- or someone who bets too soon. Take a couple of seconds before you act just to make sure that you are, in fact, acting in turn. Also, a pause before you act will get you in the habit of thinking about what you’re going to and why you’re doing it -- both good things in the long run.
3. Find out as much as you can about the poker room before you sit down.There is no rule that says that you have to sit down in a live game as soon as you arrive in a poker room. Yet that’s exactly what new players routinely do. Sure, you’ll be eager to play after a long drive. But don’t follow your instincts on this one. Take a while to look around when you arrive. I can honestly tell you that I did not play one hand on my first visit to a poker room. I walked around, read the rule book, watched the dealers, learned where to buy chips, saw where the bathrooms were and watched other players lose their money before I ever bought one chip. I suggest the same to you.
Find out what games they spread, what limits are offered, where players buy chips, what the rake is, how you get your name on a list for a new game, how you change games, how seats are assigned, what tournaments they offer, what special promotions or players comps they offer to players -- and how they get dispensed. Don’t be embarrassed with having a lot of questions. The job of a poker room floor person or manager is to make new players feel welcome. You are their reason for being. So don’t be shy.
Make sure you’re taking advantage of all of the few perks that are available to poker players. Some places let you earn points while you play that can be redeemed for food, rooms, or other items for sale in the poker room. If you don’t have a player’s club card, however, you may miss out. If there is a rule book, get it and read it. If you have any unanswered questions, again, don’t be shy. In a poker room, information is about the only thing that’s free. Take advantage of it.
4. Pick a game with limits you know you can afford.Yes, you might be able to beat the biggest game in the poker room. You may have the bankroll of Midas and his golden touch to match. But when you’re first visiting a room, you don’t have to prove anything. You’re much better off just getting acclimated in a game that won’t hurt you if you get a bad run of cards or have difficulty concentrating.
Think of it like driving a car for the first time. You want a nice big empty parking lot or a wide country road without a lot of traffic. You don’t want to learn to drive on a 70-mph superhighway or in downtown Manhattan.
5. Plan on a short session with many breaks.Playing in a casino game is likely to be very different from a home game. The tempo of the play tends to be much faster. Players make their decisions more quickly and there’s a lot less conversation, eating, or general time-wasting than in most home games. This stems in part from the more serious style of play that most players have adopted in a casino poker game. And it’s surely a product of having a professional dealer who keeps things moving in order to maximize the house rake for the hour as well as his hourly rate of tips. This speed of play can be tiring at first until you get used to it. Even so, many new players stay way too long, hurting their ability to concentrate and destroying their discipline.
