First B&M Observations
 

I just strated playing B&M a few days ago in Tunica at the Goldstrike - all 3/6. Since there are so many newbies-to-B&M like me here, I'd thought I'd post some observations.

1. It's much looser than online. Where online you get the occasional all fold to a raise PF to win the blinds - this rarely has happened to me playing live. Not very aggressive either - rarely much re-raising PF. Many calling stations.

2. I was surprised at how often the dealers rotate - 20 minutes at a table and move on.

3. A lot of people just leave their chips unatttended while they go eat. And it doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

4. Nice comps for playing poker for a few hours.

5. The dealers are very meticulous about everything they do - but cashing in chips seems a little dicey. The people behind the counter are always distracted doing so many things, they can easily miscount chips, leave chips on the counter after they give out the money, etc.

6. A lot of players are really focused on the bad beat jackpot while playing - I guess it attracts a lot of poker newbies too.

7. A lot of screaming by the dealers to the floor people for racks of chips, new cards, saying a seat is open, etc. You would think a little intercom system would work much better.

8. A decent % of players don't even know the rules - when to bet 3, when to bet 6, when they are they small blind, etc.

I think it's a lot more fun on line because the people factor makes it more interesting. Plus, you can play with your chips... [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: First B&M Observations
 

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I think it's a lot more fun on line because the people factor makes it more interesting. Plus, you can play with your chips... [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

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[img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: First B&M Observations
 

insert "than" between fun and on

Re: First B&M Observations
 

yes, "more fun than online"

Re: First B&M Observations
 

You forgot 9. THe players are really really bad.

Re: First B&M Observations
 

Did you play all weekend at the Gold Strike? I was there Friday night from 5:20pm to 3:20am mostly playing the 6/12 game they had going but I was at a 3/6 table for a while before the 6/12 game started and after it broke up. You should check out the Horseshoe the next time you're in Tunica, it's definitely a more enjoyable poker experience. I just don't like the staff at the Gold Strike much, they're rarely helpful, they've given me attitude when I ask for a food comp, there's hardly ever any cocktail waitresses around and when they are it takes forever to get drinks once you've ordered, I once took a break for about 20 minutes to grab a quick bite to eat and they had someone playing over me by the time I got back. It was still the same dealer so I know I couldn't have been gone for very long. Not to mention the game selection gets worse every time I go there, this last time all they had for limit holdem was 3/6 and that was on a Friday night.

B&M is a lot more fun than online. I shouldn't have played so much B&M this month because now I'm spoiled, I have no desire to open up Party Poker. Considering the closest B&M is 100 miles away that might not be a good thing.

Re: First B&M Observations
 

Good post, welcome aboard.

You forgot to mention people acting out of turn.

Re: First B&M Observations
 

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Did you play all weekend at the Gold Strike? I was there Friday night from 5:20pm to 3:20am mostly playing the 6/12 game they had going but I was at a 3/6 table for a while before the 6/12 game started and after it broke up. You should check out the Horseshoe the next time you're in Tunica, it's definitely a more enjoyable poker experience. I just don't like the staff at the Gold Strike much, they're rarely helpful, they've given me attitude when I ask for a food comp, there's hardly ever any cocktail waitresses around and when they are it takes forever to get drinks once you've ordered, I once took a break for about 20 minutes to grab a quick bite to eat and they had someone playing over me by the time I got back. It was still the same dealer so I know I couldn't have been gone for very long. Not to mention the game selection gets worse every time I go there, this last time all they had for limit holdem was 3/6 and that was on a Friday night.



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Interesting. My take so far has been that the GS lets players take breaks that are too long - like an hour. But, yeah, they do need to explore the 2 cocktail waitress concept. I haven't had any probs getting comps there though - and a woman at my table was saying the rooms there were really nice, so I might check them out sometime and take a poker day vacation.

Actually, I was thinking of checking out the HS on my next trip to Tunica - probably the 4/8. I think I saw that their new poker room opens sometime in April - suposed to be an upgrade.

BTW, I was at GS Saturday afternoon and night playing 3/6.

Re: First B&M Observations
 

The rooms are nice, I've stayed there 3 out of the 4 weekends I've been down there. The first weekend I paid full price for, and that was a bad idea, because they're not that nice. The last 2 weekends I had the poker room rate on, which was nice for a 3 day weekend, but I won't do it if I'm only going down for 1 night. I'd rather play at the casino 100 miles north of here than at the Gold Strike, if I'm going down for just 1 night I don't want to have to spend all my time playing off my room there. I'd have to get a room at the Horseshoe so I can spend all weekend over there. You should check that place out next time, it's just an all around nicer place to play IMHO. I don't have any experience playing the 4/8 there, but the 10/20 is just as soft as the 3/6 at the Gold Strike, and no I'm not exaggerating that. I would have to logically assume that the 4/8 can't be any tougher.

excellent!
 

I'm going to reply to your points one at a time...

1. It's much looser than online. Where online you get the occasional all fold to a raise PF to win the blinds - this rarely has happened to me playing live. Not very aggressive either - rarely much re-raising PF. Many calling stations.

Hell-friggin-lew! Live games are almost always juicier.

2. I was surprised at how often the dealers rotate - 20 minutes at a table and move on.

Typically it's 30 minutes. Sometimes it's 20, which is IMO a bit too fast, as a little bit of time is lost with each dealer change while they count the rack down. Still tho, dealer changes are a necessary part of casino gambling.

3. A lot of people just leave their chips unatttended while they go eat. And it doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

It's not a problem. In fact, you have to leave your chips in place to save your seat while you are away from the table. They will be safe. Cameras!

4. Nice comps for playing poker for a few hours.

This of course depends on the room. Typically it's about a buck an hour for poker, if that. Poker isn't known for its fantastic comps.

5. The dealers are very meticulous about everything they do - but cashing in chips seems a little dicey. The people behind the counter are always distracted doing so many things, they can easily miscount chips, leave chips on the counter after they give out the money, etc.

This of course is somewhat room dependent as well. But being a dealer, floorman, brush, cashier, list attendant, whatever, working in a poker room is basically bringing organization to chaos.

6. A lot of players are really focused on the bad beat jackpot while playing - I guess it attracts a lot of poker newbies too.

Players focusing on bad beat jackpots are generally idiots [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].

7. A lot of screaming by the dealers to the floor people for racks of chips, new cards, saying a seat is open, etc. You would think a little intercom system would work much better.

Certain high class rooms are going to an automated system for this type of thing. Other than that, you just gotta yell to get what you want!

8. A decent % of players don't even know the rules - when to bet 3, when to bet 6, when they are they small blind, etc.

Hellew. They aren't too adept at strategy either.

I think it's a lot more fun on line because the people factor makes it more interesting. Plus, you can play with your chips...

Now you are learning the real reason why live poker rules.

al