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View Full Version : first time at a 'real' casino


cold_cash
01-17-2004, 05:09 AM
Hey folks,

This post isn't about any specifice hands, necassarily, but I just got back from my first trip to the "real" poker room at a semi-nearby casino and thought I would share a little bit. I've been playing in home games for years, and online micro-limits for around 8 months or so, and tonight seemed like a good night to get my feet wet at the brick and morter.

Anyway, the lowest limit they have there is 3/6, so I took a couple hundred bucks, bought in for 100 and sat down. On my second hand I catch two black aces in the cut-off, and I barely have my chips out of the rack before it's my action after a raise and a re-raise. I cap it, flop another ace, and take a very nice pot from pocket kings and a set of jacks. Good way to start.

Over the course of the next 4 hours or so I won a few small pots but nothing extraordinary. I did catch 3 kings on one board when I held AK and raised pre-flop, and amazingly got paid off by 2 people. Otherwise, I think I was a bit intimidated and played too tight. Somewhat to my surprise, the players at my table were, well, pretty bad. I'm no superstar, but I was pretty amazed at some of the plays. There wasn't a single check-raise by anyone (including myself) for the first 3 hours. It seemed to swing from super-passive to super-aggressive. Kind of weird, but I managed to stay out of the way most of the time. Even though I was playing pretty tight, I feel okay about my hand selection and most of my decisions.

Overall it was really great. I ended up ahead about 7 big bets when it was all said and done, and I'm hoping the reason for that is that I paid a lot of blinds and played very hands. I'm thinking maybe I'll head back tomorrow night...

Thanks for listening. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

cold_cash
01-17-2004, 05:11 AM
One other thing I forgot... I had a really hard time at first keeping track of how many bets were in the pot. I'm hoping someone will tell me that it gets easier to do that the more you play. Anyone?

I guess playing online so much has spoiled me.

jmark
01-17-2004, 04:29 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I had a really hard time at first keeping track of how many bets were in the pot. I'm hoping someone will tell me that it gets easier to do that the more you play.

[/ QUOTE ]

It does get easier. The first couple of times I was playing in a casino there was so much extra going on that I couldn't concentrate on much. After you get comfortable it's much easier. And just remember -- if it's tough for you to keep track, think of how hard it is for the old guy on the end who can't see very well and never knows what the river card is. If you can, try and sit directly across from the dealer. That makes it much easier for me to keep track of everything that's going on.
Good luck