First trip to Casino

Ercules

Okay, I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times but I'm gonna ask again as I didn't find a post with all the answers I'm looking for (yes, I looked

Anyway, I'm gonna make my first trip to a Casino this month and have a few questions so that I don't look like a total idiot.

-Which do you find better Brantford or Rama?
- What limits do they play and what amount do people usually buy in with?
- Do I have to sign up to play or will I be able to sit down?
- Do I buy chips at the table or before sitting down?
- Do I tip the dealer? What is reasonable and do I just throw them a chip at the end of the hand?
- Anything else I should be aware of?

My plan is just to have a look around before I sit down but any info you can give me beforhand is appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Eric "Only played online till now".

Hork42

I think Brantford has a regular 2/5 game going now. Rama has 2/5, 5/10, 10/20 and higher... I believe Brantford has those other limits as well.

You will find different theories as to how much to buy-in with. I usually go with 20 Big Bets. So for 5/10 - $200, for 2/5 $100. Other people like to buy in more. Sometimes i will buyin big just to create a table image. Some people think less... I don't recommend buying in for less than 20 BB.

You should buy your chips from the cage in the poker room before sitting down. (at other casinos, sometimes you will sit and a chip runner will bring chips for you)

You will most likely be placed on a waiting list when you get there. This is especially true on weekends or evenings. When you arrive, the person working the desk (the brush) will be able to tell you what the lists are like. Some casinos will put you on the list over the phone (Seneca in Niagara Falls, NY will) but Rama doesn't I don't believe Brantford does either. On a weekend afternoon at Rama, expect to wait at least an hour. I've had success showing up at around noon. A new dealer shift comes in and they open new tables so the list goes pretty fast.

Most people will tip the dealer on any pot of significance (more than just the blinds) This is up to you. I like to tip as an appreciation of good service, however I know that at Rama the dealers pool the tips (i think throughout the casino, not just the poker room). At Seneca and other US casinos, the dealers work for for their own tips, and I am more likely to tip them if I think they have done a good job. A $1 chip is the standard tip. Some people tip more on monster pots, some people don't tip at all. You may face some hostility at the table if you don't tip and it is noticed, but again, it is your choice.

You will pick up a lot from watching what other players are doing. Don't worry, the mechanics and flow of the game will become comfortable after a little while. Don't hesitate to ask the dealer or floorperson if you have any questions.

Good luck.

merv the perv

minimum buy-in at most b&m's is 10x the big blind, while a minimum re-load is usually 5x the bb. so, for instance, in a 10/20 game you'd have to have at least 200 in chips to sit down at the table and a re-load would have to be at least 100.

when you get to the main sign-up desk of the poker room, you can put your name on more than one waiting list. you may only plan on playing 2/5 but you might want to stick your name in for 5/10 to take whatever comes first. you can stay on the 2/5 list whilst you play 5/10 and just move down once your name comes up.

a bit of advice (may not be needed, though) on your first trip. watch out for string raising. alot of first-time b&m'ers get bit for it. this is when you mean to raise but don't put the full amount of the raise in at one time. this is considered 'string' and your raise won't be honoured. if you're going to raise, make sure you either put the full amount of the raise in at one time or clearly call out "raise" so that the dealer can hear you.

good luck!

merv the perv

oh, and chop-chops. in most cases if everyone else folds pre-flop, leaving just the two blinds, you will just take back your blinds and the next hand will be dealt. this choice is up to you and the other blind.

one thing about chopping/playing blinds, though. make sure you're consistent with your decisions. don't just play blinds when you have good cards and ask to chop when you have crap. if you're going to chop, chop EVERY time. vice versa for playing them out.