First Time B&M Questions

[Baker]

After playing on-line for several months, I will be going to play B&M in Las Vegas for the first time an I have some noobie questions.

1. How do you get started? Is there a receptionist that you sign in with for a table?
2. How do you buy in? After you are seated?
3. How much is a typical dealer tip?
4. I'd appreciate any other advice that anyone has.

Thanks

[goofball]

1. there will be someone in charge of getting you on a list to wait for a table

2. buy in for standard 25BB's if you like, or buy in for a rack (100) of the standard denomination chips for that game ($1 chips for 4/8, $5 chips for 10/20 etc)

3. whatever you like. you can follow what other people do at the table. i usually just give them a dollar unless i really like the dealer for some odd reason. (like she has huge tits). i don't tip if the pot is small enough that i can grab it with one hand. (i.e. you win the blinds, or you raise PF, get one caller who checkfolds the flop)

4. verbal action in turn is binding. i.e. if you say "raise" when it's on you, you HAVE raised. on a similar note, beware of string raiseing. This is when you put out your call with one motion and reach back for your raise.
String raising is allowed if you have first said "raise", because then it's a raise with one action (your voice). It is not allowed if you say nothing and instead just do it. The purpose behind this rule is so you don't call and judge people's reaction before deciding to raise.

[afk]

To elaborate on question 2:

I've been to casinos where you can a) Go to the cage (where they give you yer chips) and buy in there, then take your seat. There's usually someone who will show you to your seat if you're lost. or b) You take your seat and there will be chip runners who you give money to and they'll bring you your chips.

[BigBluffer]

[ QUOTE ]
To elaborate on question 2:

I've been to casinos where you can a) Go to the cage (where they give you yer chips) and buy in there, then take your seat. There's usually someone who will show you to your seat if you're lost. or b) You take your seat and there will be chip runners who you give money to and they'll bring you your chips.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you go for option b) just be absolutely certain that the person you give your money to is indeed a chip runner for your game. I've read stories of new players handing their money to some well-dressed individual, thinking he was a chip-runner, never to see their money or chips again. [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[chrisdhal]

If the casino uses chip runners, just sit down and show the dealer you cash. They should yell for a chip runner and either a runner or a floor will come to the table. If somebody comes up asking for your cash, just look at the dealer, they're there to help. At the bigger casinos the floor (ie. the well dressed people) will be carrying radios and wearing name tags.

As was mentioned before, if you have to get the chips yourself, make sure you get the right ones. Look at the table before you go to the cage as the cashiers don't always know what to give.

[As Zehn]

When you sign in for the table, you can ask where you get your chips. If it is a seperate cage or they have chip runners you will be so advised. Find out what type of comps the poker room offers and how to get the applicable comp card and the means to check in and out. The benefits may be minimal such as food comps or discounted room rates, but whatever they are they're +EV.

[ComboProf]

In every poker room I have ever been to there is
always a friendly host at the entrance, or by the desk, or
at the cage, that will help you. They will explain how
everything is done in that room. How to get chips,
how to get a seat, even how the games are played
and when they have tournaments. Always very nice and friendly.
So don't worry just go and have a good time.

For your first experience in Vegas, pick a low-limit smaller
room, i.e. cricus^2, sahara, excaliber, etc, play something
like 3-6 or 2-4, buy a rack for $100 and have fun.
Tip the dealer $1 on every other pot you win (if your cheap).
You can get the coupon book for Circus^2/Excaliber from
the convience store in Circus^2 by asking for it, they may
give you a stack of them. In it you'll find a coupon for
I think $20 in chips for $10 that you can use after an hour of
play, or something like this. That will cover your tips, eh!
You can ask for a $4 food voucher once a day from the desk
at Circus^2 too.

Once your comfortable move try a nicer room.

My experience is that the low-limit games are easier, i.e. weaker
with more tourist than locals and pros,
in the evening on weekdays, i.e. 10pm to 12pm MTWR.

[sfer]

Read this.

[As Zehn]

Nice to see you posting. It was your post last summer on RGE that originally started me looking at HE. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Are you still playing any BJ or strictly poker?

[bigfishead]

I aint got tits. And I'm a better dealer than 90% of em out there(no ego here!) but you'll probably ask for me to chop the dollar.

Tipping a buck on any pot is more or less normal. If it's a real nice pot thell throw an extra one to the dealer. Unless they have a crappy attitude, or are slow as a tortoise.

Being a dealer myself I rarely tip less than 2 bucks. But you will see that some dealers like to take care of other dealers. In 20-40 I will tip 3-10 depending on the dealer, the pot, his attitude and performance, etc. But generally speaking that is way heavy. Some players are thankfull just because it's a dealer that pays attn and cares and will thorw 2 bucks and up to a redbird with a nice pot in 20-40...sometimes a redbird when the dealer sits down or leaves just because they like the way the dealer performs. Regardless of winning any pots or not.

LV unfortunately has some of the worst dealers in the country in my opinion. There are some very good ones too. But a larger % of "know it alls" with attitude. Tip them accordingly.

Also the Mirage commonly has some great low limit games in the evening to get your feet wet with. The staff is excellent. Plenty of fishy tourists. Act like a fish when you sit down. Figure out who the locals are and snap-em off one time and you will see some of the ugliest self - centered egotistical players with perpetual "entitlement disease". Then when they go on tilt you own them. Back to playing like a rock. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Have a good time.