How to Play Poker in a Casino: A Guide for Novices

While the games are the same, playing poker in a land-based casino or brick-and-mortar poker room is a whole different experience compared to playing at home or online. The first time you make the journey can prove quite daunting, especially if you don’t know what to do before playing, and the etiquette expected of you when you take part at the tables.

Casinos have their standards and expect all players to conform. These often differ from casino to casino too. If you have never played poker in a casino and want some advice, this is the article for you. Read on to learn all you need to know about playing poker at a land-based casino.

How to Play Poker in a Land-Based Casino

When playing at home, getting a game of poker is easy. You can either arrange for your friends to come over or you can get some action playing online.

A Finnish player, for example, could just log in at a popular online casino such as caziwoo fi and find a game within seconds. However, if that same player wanted to get a game at a land-based casino, he would first have to get dressed up and make travel arrangements to get to the casino.

Once there, it is not always as simple as taking a seat at a poker table. Instead, you may have to register if you prefer playing tournaments or put your name down if cash game poker is more your thing. The former involves paying your entry fee and waiting until the tournament starts. You will have a set seat and table as explained on your ticket.

As for cash poker, most casinos will cover different variations of poker and not just No Limit Texas Hold’em. So you first have to decide what variant you wish to play. Then, if all the tables are full, wait in line until it is your turn to take a seat.

A good tip is to phone ahead and get your name down that way.

How to Buy Poker Chips at a Casino?

Before you can play, you must purchase poker chips for use at the tables. You will use these to place your bets.

If you like playing cash games, you’re probably aware that tables will have certain limits. For instance, if you want to play at a $1/$2 table, it might require you to buy-in for a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $250. Just make sure you buy enough to have the minimum required to take your seat. You can always top up again if needs be.

Of course, when it is time to leave, you can then trade those chips back for real cash.

Understanding Live Poker Etiquette

Etiquette is where some of the fundamental differences come into play when compared to playing online or at home.

When playing, you must adhere to the following rules of etiquette:

• Act out of turn: When playing online at traditional online casinos or poker rooms, you’re told when it is your turn, but playing in a live cash game, keep your eyes on the action.Acting out of turn is not a good look, so make sure you always know who is next to act.
• The One-Chip Rule: If you plan to raise, you must declare this before throwing a chip into the middle. If the bet was $20 and you throw a $50 chip into the pot without declaring a raise, it counts as a call and you will receive a $30 change from the pot. This rule is in place to prevent players from trying to gain an advantage by watching the reaction of others.
• Do not string bet: This rule is like the one-chip rule above. String betting is the practice of placing chips into the middle using different motions. You cannot place $20 in the middle (without declaring your bet) in one movement before doing it again with a second $20.

Also, there is nothing wrong with being social at the table, but talking about a live hand while it is in play will, at a minimum, earn you some stern looks.

Aside from that, just try to be on your best behaviour. Avoid acting drunk, loud, and annoying, even if you’re on a losing streak.

Ready to play?

By heeding the tips provided above, you now have the basic knowledge required to play poker at your favourite land-based casino. Before long, it all becomes second nature!