 |
Poker: Poker Strategy: Low-Limit Casino Poker Etiquette: Starting at the Tables Online Poker Strategy. Low-Limit Casino Poker Etiquette: Starting at the TablesIntroduction Hopefully if you're reading this, you're a person who has never played low-limit casino poker and are considering it. That, or you're a person who has played once or twice and still stands to learn some new things. Here, I'd like to discuss some of the finer points of etiquette for the novice low-limit casino poker player. Obviously, your understanding of the mechanics of the game will be limited at first, but it's good to know the basics before you sit down. To that end, I would suggest watching the game in action for a full turn of the table before you get involved. Most tables will have a rail or window where you can stand and watch as a spectator. This initial viewing will help you understand the basic structure of the game before you get started. What you'll find below are different points of the game, how to handle them, react to them, or avoid them. Combine the points in this column with your initial viewing of the game in action, and you will have a little more confidence before you actually sit down for the first time. Limited Seating Where it pertains to games like Blackjack and Let It Ride, you only sit down when you see that there is an empty seat. In the poker room however, you never sit down to play on your own. Rather, you make your way to the desk behind which the room manager, some supervisors, and some chip runners are milling. A place like the Mirage in Las Vegas has two gentlemen walking around with clipboards speaking into microphones. Even when you run into this, it's still best to wait at the desk. They'll come to you. At this desk, the casino is keeping a list of people who are waiting to get a seat to play. There is a limit on the number of games being spread and a limit of 10-11 players for each of those games. Poker room staff are generally very helpful and very friendly. They'll take your name down as well as the game you're interested in playing. Typically, Stud is spread as low as 1-5 and Hold 'Em is spread as low as 3-6. From here, you have to wait until a seat opens up at the table of your choice. This typically involves sitting down at an empty table, or at whatever slot machines are close enough to the poker room that you'll hear your name when it's called. House Rules As mentioned, it helps to watch the dynamics of the game before you sit down. As well, you also benefit from reading the board of house rules present in most cardrooms. This can usually be found hanging on the wall. It tells you everything you'll need to know to sit down and play, as well as any particularities that you might not find in other cardrooms (not that different from your own house rules). Examples of what you can expect to see are: only English can be spoken at the table, vulgar language will not be tolerated (loosely enforced), the decision of the room manager is final, a game can be broken up at any time, checking and raising is permitted, a three-raise cap on all betting rounds, etc. Make sure you read this before you start playing. Most rules are standard and while you could get away with playing before reading the house rules, it is beneficial. Your Cards Now, you're sitting down to play. Of course, this game revolves around cards. Your cards are your business. But further, your cards are specifically not the business of anybody else. In other words, you don't show your cards to a player who is still in the pot or even one who has folded. Some cardrooms will even ban discussing your hand, whether you're being serious or not. This is a form of "coffeehousing", whereby a player may or may not be telling the truth when discussing his cards. The point is that it's not important whether or not you're telling the truth; play your hand, nevermind talking about it. If you are folding from the pot, it's very simple to lightly toss your cards face-down within arm's reach of the dealer. If one of your cards hits a chip and lands on the felt face-up, it was an accident. What you'll see out of less-considerate players is a blatant throwing of the cards towards the dealer. That player didn't make his draw or too many bets have been made and now, he's mad. He throws his cards carelessly and one or both are exposed to the table while the hand is still in progress. When a dead player's card or cards are revealed to one player, it becomes public information for all players in the pot. I imagine there might be discipline of this if it persists, but there is no immediate discipline against a player who reveals his cards. Don't let this change things...always fold with care. It's not worth the inconvenience to carelessly reveal your folded cards to players who are still in the pot. Be better than these half-wits and drunks, and learn to control your temper. Not only is it instrumental to solid play, but it's courteous. General Conversation Not everybody is at the table to shoot the breeze. Hopefully, as is common at the low-limit table, you'll find yourself beside at least one person who doesn't mind yakking it up a bit when both of you are folded. Smart play will dictate that you fold many more hands than you actually play. That amounts to a fair bit of time spent sitting around watching the play of others. If neither player beside you is interested in conversation, you'll have to amuse yourself otherwise. As a courtesy, don't talk with players who are in the pot. They're involved in a chance to win some money, sometimes a considerable amount. They don't need to be distracted. However, don't be alarmed to see friends sitting side-by-side, one coaching the other during play. I question how ethical this is, but most cardrooms let them get away with it. Sandbagging (Check-Raising) Checking and raising in that order on the same betting round is perfectly legal. Most home games allow this rule anyway, but you may play at that rare home game table that has outlawed sandbagging as unethical for a "friendly" game. There is no penalty for check-raising in a cardroom game, unless otherwise noted in the house rules. Use it all you want. Alcohol In some places, cocktails are served around the clock. Be sure that your alcohol consumption (if any) doesn't affect your behaviour to the point of being rude, obnoxious, loud, violent, threatening, etc. Nobody cares if the booze puts you on tilt or causes you to otherwise play very poorly. In fact, your opponents will appreciate that your play is affected. But, your composure and general etiquette should not be affected. The idea isn't to drink yourself stupid. Emotional Outbursts This is one of those things you'll see performed by others around you. Unless the outburst is truly disruptive, these people won't be disciplined. Make no mistake however, this is not acceptable conduct in the cardroom. Throwing your cards in anger towards another player or the dealer is unacceptable. The same goes for shouting, excessive language, slamming your fist on the table, threatening another player, or otherwise halting the game for no good reason. If you can't control yourself, stay away from this game. You're likely the kind of person who has a firm control over yourself, so this is probably not an issue for you. Just bear in mind that while some players do it and get away with it, it is still unacceptable. Tipping the Dealer Dealers are not paid an incredible amount of money. In fact, the industry has left it to us to help compensate dealers. What is traditional is that the winner of the pot throw a small tip to the dealer. You'll see this all the time. While you may catch the occasional player not tipping the dealer, it's fair to give a $1 tip for a pot won. An exception might be if the pot won was very small. Otherwise, it is a good idea and the right thing to do. In Conclusion: Be Nice You'll note a couple of points repeated here. The first is that many rules are loosely enforced and some players will get away with repeated 'infractions' of those rules. The second is that you still shouldn't be committing these infractions. The key is to be nice. As discussed, you won't be disciplined for not being nice, but at the low-limit table, you benefit by having the right attitude. There's no need to make enemies, which is all that will come of boisterous behaviour. If you've never played at a casino poker table, then you likely have no intention of being boisterous. Combine that right attitude with watching a few rounds of play, reading the house rules, and remembering what you've read here, and you'll have a nice, friendly first session at the low-limit poker tables. More information on Poker Strategy: Poker Probabilities The First Golden Rule of Poker
|
|