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Perhaps you just turned of legal age and you are finally able to set
forth into your first brick and mortar (B&M) cardroom. Perhaps you
have been watching poker on TV long enough now that your curiosity has
been getting the better you that you want to play some cards at the
casino. Or perhaps you and your friends have just been playing long
enough in your home game that you want to test your skills out in a
live cardroom setting. Whatever the reason may be, stepping foot into
a B&M cardroom for the first time can be a lot of fun, but it can
also be somewhat of an intimidating experience if you are go in unprepared.

I love to play live poker games. I’ve spent most of my poker
playing days inside many a cardroom and have a great deal of fun in
the process. I’m hoping that with the help of this article, your
first experience inside a cardroom will also be a great one. So let’s
begin.

Here’s a checklist of things you should do prior to actually
going into the cardroom.

· Call the casino

The first thing you should do before you even set foot in the cardroom
itself is call the casino and ask them what their hours of operation
are. Some cardrooms are open 24/7, but your local casino may not be
open all day. Some cardrooms may only be open for a portion of the time
the casino is open. You’ll definitely want to make sure you that
you are heading down when they are open so call up ahead of time.

· Ask what games are spread

Casinos will spread a variety of different poker games. Limit hold’em
is by far the most widely available game in most cardrooms, but many
casinos nowadays also offer other games and variations such as stud,
Omaha and no limit hold’em. Make sure the game you want to play
is available.

· Ask what limits are spread

Most games can also range anywhere in size from $2/$4 and higher. However,
not every casino will spread the particular game and game size that
you may be interested in playing. Ask what limits are spread and how
many tables of that particular game are spread to get a better idea
how popular the game is at your casino. If the cardroom you are going
to has a large number of poker tables, then low limit games such as
2-4, 4-8 limit hold’em usually occupy up more tables, while higher
limit tables such as 20-40 and 30-60 limit hold’em may only be
running 1 or 2 tables at a time. It’s important to know how many
tables of the game you are looking for is being spread so that you know
approximately how long you might have to wait. This brings me to my
next point.

· Ask if you can be put on a waitlist

Some casinos also allow for players to call in ahead of time and reserve
a spot on the waiting list for the particular game the player is interested
in joining. If the casino does not, then it will be on a first come
first serve basis. Some casinos will also allow you to place your name
on more than one particular game waitlist. So if you are interested
in playing both the limit hold’em games and the no limit hold’em
games then you might want to place your names on both lists. If you
are able to place your name on the waitlist, it is also a good idea
that you ask what number you are on the list. There is usually a significant
difference in wait time between being 2nd on the list and being 15th.
Use your position on the waitlist to estimate approximately how long
it should take you to arrive at the cardroom. Also be sure to also ask
how much time you have to arrive at the casino before your hold on the
waitlist expires. Most casinos will allow a one-hour hold, but this
may vary between cardroom to cardroom.

· Know how much money you should bring

If you are intending to play strictly limit games, then bringing 25
to 50 Big Bets is a good amount. For example, if you intend on playing
a 4-8 limit hold’em game then you might want to bring 200 to 400
dollars. If you are playing No limit then it might be a good idea to
bring 3 or 4 buy-ins. Of course this all depends on a number of factors
including how much you are comfortable losing, how much time you intend
to play, and what type of strategy/game you will be involved in.

Getting into the cardroom and playing on the table.

Now you are ready. You’ve done your homework and you ready to
take your first steps into a live cardroom. You’ve taken down
all the necessary information and eagerly await your journey.

When you arrive at the cardroom, you should first approach the poker
room supervisor or wait list attendant to let them know you have arrived,
so they can take you off the phone call wait list (if you called ahead
of the time) and place you on the official wait list. If you didn’t
call in ahead of time, or if the cardrooms does not allow for phone-in’s,
then tell the wait list attendant to place you on the game of your choice.
It is probably best for you be near the poker room so that when they
call your name you will hear it. However, if you are adventurous enough
to wander off elsewhere then you should ask to see if the cardroom can
give you a pager so when your seat comes up they will page to return
to the cardroom. If the cardroom does not have a pager to give you,
then it is best just to be inside the casino or nearby the cardroom
because if you miss their call for your name, then they will assign
your seat to the player next on the wait list.

So after waiting a short while the wait list attendant finally calls
for your name as your seat comes up in the 4-8 limit hold’em game.
Depending on how the casino operates, the wait list attendant will either
ask you to purchase your chips at a chip counter, or just go to your
seat and a chip runner or floor manager will come up and ask you how
much in chips you would like to buy.

Page 1 of 2

        

Beginners Corner

Things you should know about if you are taking your first trip to
the cardroom.

 
 
 
     

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