Poker etiquette, suspected cheaters, and advice on where i should go

[thusspokematt]

Hey this is my first time posting on this site. I just learned how to play in january and I have fallen in love with the game. Originally I was just a chess player but I moved back to southern california in january and my friends got me hooked. I just started playing casinos and up until last night I was way up(like 600 dollars) its way up for me considering im only 21 and dont have the budget. But i noticed that since i began playing 3-6 tables alot of older people have said some pretty mean stuff to me. like this one guy said you better watch out or you will wind up on a milk carton box. like i know its money and a little anger is understandable but are there some dos and donts to playing games in the casino? i dont say much, and i dont talk [censored], i just dont want to offend anyone cause two nights ago i took money from this guy then last night he whispered something into this chicks ear at the table i was at and they both looked at me and i knew they were out to get me and my money. so i guess any words of wisdom to share would be great.

another thing i wondered about was what would be appropriate if you suspect people of having signals at the table. is it better to just get up and switch tables or should you notify someone of it. theres no way to prove it and its small limits so i doubt the casinos worry to much about a few little bad apples but its my money and i worry about it. also ive had trouble staying on my game some nights im on fire i play everything right can read what my opponents have and no when to holdem and foldem. othernights im just a calling station. its weird i go from tight aggressive to call call call hoping for mirachles cards on the river cause everyone else is playing so loose and winning pots with like 3-7 off suit so what is the correct way to play when no one folds anything? ive read a few books, play with wilson, i need to know how i would find out what tells im giving off, cause i know some players have been able to read me. so anything u can tell me would be appreicated.

thank you
matt

[TexArcher]

"another thing i wondered about was what would be appropriate if you suspect people of having signals at the table. is it better to just get up and switch tables or should you notify someone of it."

You should absolutely report it to management, they want a clean game as much as we do.

[Jimmyjohn]

If you suspect two players of signaling, by all means report it. But DO NOT make an accusation at the table in front of all the players. Signaling is extremely hard to prove without someone concurring with you. The "eye in the sky" at casinos can do this, but they won't run a bunch of back tape on your word.

Get the floorperson or cardroom manager to the side and give him detailed facts about your observations. If he wishes to pursue it, then fine. If he doesn't give you some satisfaction, don't change tables, change casinos.

It is a very serious accusation and will take some help to prove out. If you are wrong, or approach it in the wrong way, you will come off and come out worse than the accused.

JJ

[Sponger15SB]

You seem like you aren't very good at poker, but heading in the right direction. Don't let idiots bother you, just smile and nod.

Most likely the people you suspect aren't colluding at all and you are just being paranoid. I mean if you were gonna cheat, would you really do it at a $3-6 table?

[bolgenmod]

From what I understand (never been there), the SoCal card room scene is filled with "characters," so if you think they're acting strangely, you're probably right!

Other posters seem to have answered your question about collusion, so I'll just give you some extra advice (my speciality is giving unasked advice!).

If you have questions about odd things at the card room/casinos, it's probably best to post such things in the B&M forum (if you've just started you might not know that B&M means Brick and Mortar, as in real card rooms as opposed to the virtual ones!). There are a lot of people there who really know their stuff and would probably know more about whatever specific place you're playing at. (Personally, B&M is one of my favorite forums -- I prefer live play, and the posters there are generally full of good advice!) But do read previous posts: there are lots of threads about B&M etiquette that you might find helpful.

And if you feel like you have more general and total noob questions, the Beginners forum is a good place too: few flames and lots of experienced posters trying to help people.

I'm not trying to sound like a know-it-all -- I'm sure you're smart enough to figure it all out. And I know when I first started lurking here, I wouldn't dare to post until I figured it all out. Took me a while -- it's a big forum. But you really get better responses when you post in the forum closest to your question. (And when you post only one question per post!)

Poker really is a great game, isn't it? Good luck, and see you in B&M!

[Tuben]

I can only say . YES /images/graemlins/smile.gif They want to kill.

[theRealMacoy]

....i will address another aspect of your questions....
regarding playing against opponents who rarely fold you should read Small Stakes Hold'em (SSHE) by Ed Miller et al. it is an incredible book that will radically tranform your game with regard to playing against many weak opponents.

regarding tells you should real Mike Caro's book on tells. although it was written in the 70's it is still considered the best source for this type of information.

finally, i reinterate the advice that you should take advantage of the beginners forum until you become more familiar with the site. addititionally learn to use the search function as much as possible before posting questions. 98% of the questions you will have, especially as a new forum user, will have been asked and discussed numerous (sometimes countless) times before....sometimes so many timest that you may get flack from other users for not having used the search function (tip: when using the funtion you must place a + before the words you want to included); save for the beginners forum where these types of questions are more tolerated.

cheers and welcome to the forums
the Real Macoy