Eight "First trip to Vegas" questions

[MCS]

Hello,

I will be making my first pilgrimage to Vegas in a few weeks. As I live in Georgia, there are no cardrooms nearby, and I'm naive as to the workings of a typical poker room. Therefore, I'm adding yet another "first trip to Vegas questions" thread to the board [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I figured this was a more appropriate forum for my questions than the "Brick and Mortar." I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me.

I do know basically how the actual game itself works (e.g., protect your cards with a chip, don't release a winning hand until the dealer pushes you the pot, don't be a jerk by asking to see everyone's cards at the showdown, etc).

(1) Where, when, and from whom do I get chips for poker? Do I just buy them at a cage somewhere? Do I pay the dealer? A chip-runner? How does this work?

(2) How would I store valuables in my hotel room? Is there a safe? I'm staying at Flamingo.

(3) How do I request a table or seat change?

(4) What poker rooms give comps, what are they, and how do I go about getting one?

(5) If I have to leave the table to go to the bathroom, can I just get up and walk away penalty-free? I assume I can't do this and avoid paying blinds, but if I don't miss the blinds, can I just leave and then come back?

(6) Should I really ask people if they chop as soon as I sit down? Of course, I am hoping the game is loose enough that chopping won't be an issue [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

(7) Is there a website with current information on shuttles? It seems they'd be convenient. I have found http://www.flash.net/~mchino/shuttle.htm but if anyone has another site they can share, that'd be great.

(8) I know that the person who made the last bet/raise on the river has to show their hand first. If the river is checked through, who shows first? Is it the player in earliest position, or is it the player with the last bet/raise on the turn?

Thanks a lot for all the help. I really appreciate it.

[Easy E]

(1) Where, when, and from whom do I get chips for poker? Do I just buy them at a cage somewhere? Do I pay the dealer? A chip-runner? How does this work?

*** Depends on the casino. Some will change you at the table. Some will have chip runners. Some will have a table with no game that acts like a chip runner. Some may have you go to the cage (a real pain IMO)
Ask when you get there, or ask for a copy of the house rules.

(2) How would I store valuables in my hotel room? Is there a safe? I'm staying at Flamingo.

*** Most places, I believe, have a safety deposit box area, either in the casino or near the front desk. I doubt VERY much that there's a safe in your room (too much potential for "the maid stole $10K!")

(3) How do I request a table or seat change?
** again, ask at the desk for rules. Often, asking a floorperson to put you on the list for a change will work. Sometimes, the dealer can pass the info to the floor. Some places it might be easier to walk up to the board/game signup area and do it there.

(4) What poker rooms give comps, what are they, and how do I go about getting one?
*** did we say enough about this "ask at the desk" thing?

(5) If I have to leave the table to go to the bathroom, can I just get up and walk away penalty-free? I assume I can't do this and avoid paying blinds, but if I don't miss the blinds, can I just leave and then come back?
*** Yes. As long as you're back before the blinds, no penalty. If you miss the blinds, it doesn't cost you any money until you come back into the game. Then, you'll have to make up one round, and one round ONLY, of missed blinds.
Typically, the big blind goes in as a blind and the small blind amount is thrown into the pot as dead money. You'll still act in turn (this isn't a straddle), but it will be just like the BB in many respects.

(6) Should I really ask people if they chop as soon as I sit down? Of course, I am hoping the game is loose enough that chopping won't be an issue
*** No. Wait until either someone asks you or you want to ask someone. If you don't want to chop, don't chop- but be consistant.

(7) Is there a website with current information on shuttles? It seems they'd be convenient. I have found http://www.flash.net/~mchino/shuttle.htm but if anyone has another site they can share, that'd be great.
*** Did you use a travel agent or book yourself? Check with your agent first, then the hotel that you're staying with.

(8) I know that the person who made the last bet/raise on the river has to show their hand first. If the river is checked through, who shows first? Is it the player in earliest position, or is it the player with the last bet/raise on the turn?

*** Generally, closest to the dealer button, as I understand it.

Good luck! I'm jealous!

[Jeffage]

1) You can buy chips from the dealer usually, or just go up to the cage and buy them there. Chip runners may be available but are often just around for the mid limit and higher games (at least where I play).

2)Most casino hotels have safes available. Inquire at the front desk.

3) Tell the floorman you want to be put on the transfer list. When a seat opens in another game of the limit you are playing, the floorman will let the next person on the transfer list have an option to take it before the next person on the main list gets it. You stay in your game and keep playing till this happens and you can then choose to take the seat or decline.

4) Depends on the room..talk to a floorperson.

5) When you have to go to the bathroom, just go. When you get back, if you have not missed the blinds you can return to play as normal. If you have missed them you can either sit out till the button comes around and then post the big blind or if the button has just passed, you can post a live blind behind the button (you put up the small blind, which is dead, and the big blind which is live and you can act on it when its your turn..ie: check if no one has raised, raise yourself, etc) rather than wait till the BB comes around.

6) If you want to. Most people in low limit games chop..if you don't feel like asking right away, simply don't look at your cards if a chopping situation is coming and ask before you even look.

7) No idea, sorry.

8) Varies by cardroom but in the vast majority of them, if it's checked through on the river, the earliest position shows first. Don't show till you have to in these spots.

Good luck,
Jeff

[Dynasty]

I doubt VERY much that there's a safe in your room (too much potential for "the maid stole $10K!")

Most casino-hotels have small safes in every room. I think it's very likely that the Flamingo does have these safes.

[lunchmeat]

This link from RGPs FAQs was very helpful to me. (I'm all out of acronyms)
http://conjelco.com/faq/poker.html
Go to the section about first time in a cardroom.

[Easy E]

I would have figured they didn't. Good to know if I ever get up there.

Thanks, Dynasty

[Rams_Law]

I was at Harvey's in Tahoe the first time I saw a safe in the room. It had an electronic lock with a user-programable code that reset each time the safe was opened. I imagine that security, but not housekeeping, has a key or an override.

[Easy E]

but I assumed they didn't do them in casino hotels. I haven't seen them in AC (maybe I don't stay in the good hotels)

[slamdunkpro]

Most of the Vegas hotels that I've stayed in recently have done away with them for insurance purposes. Now you need to get a box at the cage or desk - and the rules for that vary. For example at the Luxor that have SD boxes large enough to fit Jimmy Hoffa and anything goes. At the Excalibur, the boxes are small and they don't permit any electronics (cameras, laptops etc) in the box.

So ask. I think that if you have an in room safe there is a strict limit of liability so if you're stashing a bankroll - use the SD boxes in the cage.

[MCS]

Thanks to all for the replies!

Only 16 days left... [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]