Finally!!!

[Still the Spank E]

Finally!

Okay, so I came home positive, finally!

After a week spent reexamining my motivations, debating the relative advantages of continuing on the low limit tables vs trying tournament play (my ultimate destination) again, I managed to spend a profitable 6 hours playing 2/4 at the Taj on Saturday. To the tune of $8.00!!! Yes, you read that right—EIGHT WHOLE DOLLARS!

It was pointed out to me that, after subtracting the rake and the toke, I actually was postive on each of my first two visits to the the public cardrooms, as I only came home with $14 and $21 less than I’d started with, respectively. This time, however, I managed to cash in more in chips than I originally purchased, so this one was OFFICIAL. EIGHT DOLLARS, I TELLS ‘YA! EIGHT DOLLARS!!! WOO HOO!!!

Okay, enough of that.

(BTW: How much is the rake as one ascends in low limit levels? I assume it goes up. I also DO NOT assume it’s exactly the same at all poker rooms, so, if anyone knows the specifics for games at the Taj, I’d appreciate the info).

As to this weekend, anyone who’s read my earlier posts heard me stressing the two negative outings I experienced (both in the $120 range) and patiently tolerated my belly-aching over the value of the low limit learning experience. What made the difference this time, I think, was the time I devoted last week to strengthening some of the peripherals that I felt were making a real difference in my outcomes: focus and concentration. If there is anything that is intimidating about the public cardroom experience when one is new, it is those things I mentioned in my very first post: the speed of the game, the noise, distractions, etc. This past week I gave a great deal of attention to “strengthening my game” by working on my powers of concentration, my ability to focus, and even some memory exercises—all of which made a real difference. Really! I played fewer marginal hands (I’d never played A LOT of those), avoided muleheaded stubbornness with unimproved holdings, and made a number of tough laydowns I was unable to in earlier sessions. I’d always understood all these things, was able to do them in home games and against Wilson’s and Acespade hold ‘em software, but doing them “in the heat of (public cardroom) battle” was something it took me almost half a dozen visits to integrate into my play.

I realize that this is probably rather uninteresting for the veterans, but for anyone following these postings who, like me, is new to the experience—or has yet to bring themselves to walk into the rooms—I hope this information is both entertaining and useful. EIGHT WHOLE DOLLARS, B’GUM! I’M A WEALTHY MISER!

[Mike Gallo]

I realize that this is probably rather uninteresting for the veterans, but for anyone following these postings who, like me, is new to the experience—or has yet to bring themselves to walk into the rooms—I hope this information is both entertaining and useful.

You have to learn to crawl, before you learn to walk.

[As Zehn]

As a total newbie still waiting to make my first venture, I find your posts good reading. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Hope your next outing is more profitable.

AZ

[LetsRock]

Good job!

Progress is progress. "Baby steps"!

I'm sure you're starting to feel at home at the table, now that you've got several trips under your belt. Pretty soon you'll be one of the experts helping along the next wave of newbies.

I haven't spent any time at the higher levels, but it's my understanding that as you progress to the upper levels, the rake percentage actually goes down, which makes sense. The rake is designed to cover the costs associated with spreading a game + profit (there's always gonna be a prfit).

I don't know the figures, but just for the sake of argument let's say a casino figures it need $100/hr to run a table. Theoretically they would just charge a flat rate for each table that would drag that much. At a 1/2 table (do they even spread those anymore?) that would equate to about $2/hand. A full BB/hand. If you're at a 4/8 table the same $2/hand would only = 1/8 BB/hand. I'm sure the rakes aren't quite that light in the higher limits and don't think they're actually quite that steep in the low limits. But they have some averaging mechanism that allows the higher limits to pick up part of the tab for 1/2 game, but it's still less % than the low limits.

[Lottery Larry]

as to the rake, it stays at the 10% max to $4 through $4/8 and maybe $5/10, so it is much less as you move up.

As far as I know all of the casinos in Atlantic City rake the same way. Maybe time charges at higher levels are different?