First Time B&M Questions

[Baker]

After playing on-line for several months, I will be going to play B&M in Las Vegas for the first time an I have some noobie questions.

1. How do you get started? Is there a receptionist that you sign in with for a table?
2. How do you buy in? After you are seated?
3. How much is a typical dealer tip?
4. I'd appreciate any other advice that anyone has.

Thanks

[goofball]

1. there will be someone in charge of getting you on a list to wait for a table

2. buy in for standard 25BB's if you like, or buy in for a rack (100) of the standard denomination chips for that game ($1 chips for 4/8, $5 chips for 10/20 etc)

3. whatever you like. you can follow what other people do at the table. i usually just give them a dollar unless i really like the dealer for some odd reason. (like she has huge tits). i don't tip if the pot is small enough that i can grab it with one hand. (i.e. you win the blinds, or you raise PF, get one caller who checkfolds the flop)

4. verbal action in turn is binding. i.e. if you say "raise" when it's on you, you HAVE raised. on a similar note, beware of string raiseing. This is when you put out your call with one motion and reach back for your raise.
String raising is allowed if you have first said "raise", because then it's a raise with one action (your voice). It is not allowed if you say nothing and instead just do it. The purpose behind this rule is so you don't call and judge people's reaction before deciding to raise.

[afk]

To elaborate on question 2:

I've been to casinos where you can a) Go to the cage (where they give you yer chips) and buy in there, then take your seat. There's usually someone who will show you to your seat if you're lost. or b) You take your seat and there will be chip runners who you give money to and they'll bring you your chips.

[BigBluffer]

[ QUOTE ]
To elaborate on question 2:

I've been to casinos where you can a) Go to the cage (where they give you yer chips) and buy in there, then take your seat. There's usually someone who will show you to your seat if you're lost. or b) You take your seat and there will be chip runners who you give money to and they'll bring you your chips.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you go for option b) just be absolutely certain that the person you give your money to is indeed a chip runner for your game. I've read stories of new players handing their money to some well-dressed individual, thinking he was a chip-runner, never to see their money or chips again. /images/graemlins/mad.gif

[chrisdhal]

If the casino uses chip runners, just sit down and show the dealer you cash. They should yell for a chip runner and either a runner or a floor will come to the table. If somebody comes up asking for your cash, just look at the dealer, they're there to help. At the bigger casinos the floor (ie. the well dressed people) will be carrying radios and wearing name tags.

As was mentioned before, if you have to get the chips yourself, make sure you get the right ones. Look at the table before you go to the cage as the cashiers don't always know what to give.

[As Zehn]

When you sign in for the table, you can ask where you get your chips. If it is a seperate cage or they have chip runners you will be so advised. Find out what type of comps the poker room offers and how to get the applicable comp card and the means to check in and out. The benefits may be minimal such as food comps or discounted room rates, but whatever they are they're +EV.

[ComboProf]

In every poker room I have ever been to there is
always a friendly host at the entrance, or by the desk, or
at the cage, that will help you. They will explain how
everything is done in that room. How to get chips,
how to get a seat, even how the games are played
and when they have tournaments. Always very nice and friendly.
So don't worry just go and have a good time.

For your first experience in Vegas, pick a low-limit smaller
room, i.e. cricus^2, sahara, excaliber, etc, play something
like 3-6 or 2-4, buy a rack for $100 and have fun.
Tip the dealer $1 on every other pot you win (if your cheap).
You can get the coupon book for Circus^2/Excaliber from
the convience store in Circus^2 by asking for it, they may
give you a stack of them. In it you'll find a coupon for
I think $20 in chips for $10 that you can use after an hour of
play, or something like this. That will cover your tips, eh!
You can ask for a $4 food voucher once a day from the desk
at Circus^2 too.

Once your comfortable move try a nicer room.

My experience is that the low-limit games are easier, i.e. weaker
with more tourist than locals and pros,
in the evening on weekdays, i.e. 10pm to 12pm MTWR.

[sfer]

Read this. (http://www.conjelco.com/faq/first-time-cardroom.html)

[As Zehn]

Nice to see you posting. It was your post last summer on RGE that originally started me looking at HE. /images/graemlins/grin.gif Are you still playing any BJ or strictly poker?

[bigfishead]

I aint got tits. And I'm a better dealer than 90% of em out there(no ego here!) but you'll probably ask for me to chop the dollar.

Tipping a buck on any pot is more or less normal. If it's a real nice pot thell throw an extra one to the dealer. Unless they have a crappy attitude, or are slow as a tortoise.

Being a dealer myself I rarely tip less than 2 bucks. But you will see that some dealers like to take care of other dealers. In 20-40 I will tip 3-10 depending on the dealer, the pot, his attitude and performance, etc. But generally speaking that is way heavy. Some players are thankfull just because it's a dealer that pays attn and cares and will thorw 2 bucks and up to a redbird with a nice pot in 20-40...sometimes a redbird when the dealer sits down or leaves just because they like the way the dealer performs. Regardless of winning any pots or not.

LV unfortunately has some of the worst dealers in the country in my opinion. There are some very good ones too. But a larger % of "know it alls" with attitude. Tip them accordingly.

Also the Mirage commonly has some great low limit games in the evening to get your feet wet with. The staff is excellent. Plenty of fishy tourists. Act like a fish when you sit down. Figure out who the locals are and snap-em off one time and you will see some of the ugliest self - centered egotistical players with perpetual "entitlement disease". Then when they go on tilt you own them. Back to playing like a rock. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Have a good time.

[nolanfan34]

A tip I have is to figure out a good system for keeping track of the pot size. First time in a real cardroom, you'll realize how much you rely on your online table keeping track of that for you. When you realize you have a borderline call based on the pot odds, staring at a big pile of chips it can be tough to figure out how much is in the pot.

Another simple tip, make sure to put something like a chip on top of your cards when they're in play, and make sure they're visible in front of your stack when you're in a hand. Helps keep people behind you from acting out of order. Of course some idiots won't be paying attention and will bet out of turn anyway, not noticing you're still in the hand. Make sure to speak up when that happens.

[r2p]

Thanks for the advice. How different is the tournament routine in a B&M ? I think Mandalay Bay has a daily $30 one I am looking at when I go in Nov.

[AllVegasPoker.com]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the advice. How different is the tournament routine in a B&M ? I think Mandalay Bay has a daily $30 one I am looking at when I go in Nov.

[/ QUOTE ]

The tournament routine is basically the same as what earlier posters have mentioned. The main difference being that you're not going to buy chips from the room manager. You're going to pay your tournament fee, and he's going to give you a piece of paper with your seat number on it. Your chips will already be waiting for you when you sit down.

Also, most tournaments let you buy an add on and/or dealer toke. This is basically an "optional" fee that if paid will provide you with more starting chips. I put optional in quotes, because you will find that almost EVERYONE pays for the dealer toke .. an example may be an extra $5 in a $30 tournament for perhaps $125 extra in chips.

I recently wrote an article you may find useful for your first trip to Vegas. It's my top 10 tips for new brick and mortar players -- check it out here http://www.allvegaspoker.com/news_detail_2.html

Good luck!

[SofaCoach]

[ QUOTE ]
or buy in for a rack (100) of the standard denomination chips for that game ($1 chips for 4/8, $5 chips for 10/20 etc)

[/ QUOTE ]
Another B&M noob also looking forward to my first Vegas poker trip soon. I am planning on playing 4/8 at Bellagio and MB based on posts here.

Regarding buyins, you wouldn't want all $1 chips at a 4/8 table would you? I'd think you'd want at least as many reds for the $8 bets and raises to 16, 24, etc... I was wondering if you could buy a mixed rack of 3 rows of red, and 2 rows of white. That would be $340 total and represent about 40 big bets. Will they do this or will the runner/cashier look at you like you're a moron?

[ThinkQuick]

You can definitely get a rack of reds with 40 in whites, but it's not neccesary to have so much money, and it is ok and very common to use all whites. Some people will colour up to reds if they can't handle their stacks, but you'd be surprised how many chips can fit in that small space in front of you.

[steamboatin]

Have you ever played at Caesar's IN? They have the person but the friendly part is subject to debate.

[Brain]

You need more than 100 whites if you're playing 4/8. I'd get 2 racks of white to start with there. I usually get two racks of white for 3/6 anyway.

Plus I like seeing lots of and/or big stacks in front of me, even if they are all white.

[Cazz]

A few other minor rules that no one else has mentioned:

Some casinos have rules about if cash plays or not, and what denominations play. For example at the Bellagio, only $100 bills play. Between hands you can always buy more chips for any amount. If you have a $100 bill, you can add it to you stack (between hands) and it will act like 100 white chips. Of course all games are 'table stacks', so no fair trying to pull out $100 after you get dealt pocket rockets.

You cannot take chips or money off the table without quiting the game. This prevents "rat holing" by all-in experts. Exceptions are for tipping the cocktail waitress, etc.

[ComboProf]

Thanks for your kind words. I play BJ when I can find a good game
and I don't have a seat yet at poker. Poker is just so much
more interesting and relaxing when compared to BJ.

[ComboProf]

Well I only play in B&M so I don't know how to compare to online.
The Orleans has a very well run poker tournament. A good
tip for any tournament is to find out how to guarentee a seat.
Useually this means getting in line early, or sitting in
a ring game befor the tourney. They usually come around
and ask the seated players if they want to be in the tournament
first. Chek the Web page for the Orleans to find out tournament schedules.
A tip for the Orleans is that there is parking around back
almost adjacent to where an entrance is near the poker room.
There is a subway restaurent with in eye-site of the poker
room. (Actually its a poker corner, but its big.)

[ComboProf]

[ QUOTE ]
Have you ever played at Caesar's IN? They have the person but the friendly part is subject to debate.


[/ QUOTE ]

LOL! Yes I can belive that of Caesar's, no I don't play there
I only go for the salad.

[goofball]

the tit remark was tongue in check in case that wasn't obvious :-p

[goofball]

ask for a "rack and a stack" they will bring you a rack of $1 chips, and 20 $5 chips. exactly your standard 25 BB buy in.

[SofaCoach]

[ QUOTE ]
ask for a "rack and a stack" they will bring you a rack of $1 chips, and 20 $5 chips. exactly your standard 25 BB buy in.

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks. That'll be perfect. And it's nice to know the lingo to avoid looking (and more important, FEELING) like a noob.

[burningyen]

[ QUOTE ]
4. I'd appreciate any other advice that anyone has.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the bet is $2 to you and you silently toss in a $25 chip, you will be deemed to have simply called $2. To raise you should announce "raise."