Posts Tagged ‘casino’

Sharing Information With Players Outside the Game

Hi,

I’ve been into poker for some time now and I’ve already played in 3 various poker situations, casino, online and with friends in home games. Amongst the 3, I found playing with friends the most exciting.

Well, ever since, I have a group of about 12 men that get together and play. I believe because we are only 12, most of us can easily pick up habits of each other and then remember them quickly.

Now, do you think it is fair or ethical to discuss one’s tell, tendencies, habits, etc. with other guys not up for playing?

Thanks a bunch!

All the best,
Vincent
Vincent,

As long as you are not doing it during a hand, there is no problem with this. Actually, it may help you improve as a player as you are analyzing others play and your own. I encourage you to do so.

Rake in Holdem

Hello,

I just want to know what’s a rake in holdem and how does it works. Your thoughts?

Please I need your help. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Janz
Janz,

The rake in Holdem is the amount of money the casino takes from each pot to run the game. In a game where there is a 10% rake, by the river, 10% of the pot is removed and goes to the casino.

Home Cash Game and Rake Issue

Hi there!

The other day I was in a home cash game, $1/$2 No Limit. At some point I raised $25. A certain guy then went all in with $32. Player near me limped in and called. I then tried to re-raise and go all in w/ $220 but later was informed that I can only call the $32 all in of the other guy. Well, I knew then that I had the player who called much later dominated. He then flopped a cheap 2 pair. Unfortunately, my KK didn’t made it. Do you think what happened was just normal in a home or casino game?

By the way, in $1/$2 no limit cash game, what would be the proper rake? In a certain $1/$2 game pots were huge and back then we’ve been raking $1 max every round. Total bet then equaled to $20 minimum. Your thought?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks and more power!

Regards,
Louven
Louven,

Since your opponent did not raise at least ½ the minimum raise, it does not count as a true raise. Therefore, all you could do is call. This is normal.

As far as your rake, technically it is illegal to run a game that charges a rake since you are not a casino. With that said, most casinos take a percentage of the pot as the rake. A rake of $1 per round is a little excessive. That’s $4 per round. A lot of casinos do 10% of the pot. In the scenario above, that would be $2.

Quite Unusual Holdem Tables

Hello,

I believe most casinos in Atlantic City now have holdem tables similar to black jack. What I know is that you have to play against the 2 hole cards of the dealers and there’s an upfront bet you place for your 2 cards. In the event you want to go on to the flop, you must bet again. Same thing for the turn as well as river except the bet is doubled if you want to go on. Later part, dealer will show his cards and of course better hand wins.

In case I play at the tables above, is there any strategy I should apply? What hands should I be playing and how do you think such tables be played?

Many thanks,
Michael
Michael,

You are not playing normal Texas Holdem here. You are playing a table game of Texas Holdem that is setup for the casino to make money similar to blackjack. Basically, you are playing against the dealer only. Unless I have a hand such as AK or AK or AJ, I usually get out the hand if I don’t hit a pair on the flop, unless I have a draw. Also, this game pays bonuses based on certain pocket cards etc.

This is something you can play for fun, but don’t go into this thinking you are playing normal poker. You are not. This is a house game and the advantage is with the house.

First Live Poker

Hello,

Finally I was able to play live poker in a real casino. Supposedly, I’m going to try tourneys but I haven’t found any tourney scheduled therefore I just tried cash game.

I decided to play at Caesar’s Indiana riverboat for I heard before it expanded and has actually modernized its poker room, I wanted to see with my own two eyes the said changes.

First I chose what kind of game. I then chose the cheapest blinds in a no limit, $1/$2. What was quite surprising about their blinds was that they never change or increase. Room has pagers that will inform you when to come back in case you go out to test out other tables.

As expected, you have to wait for your name to be called and then later in case go immediately to the cashier to buy chips. Well, my table then had a min buy-in of $100 and a maximum of $300.

Just an advice then, buy in for the table max. Then do it for three reasons. First, others will notice and will make judgments about your play and eventually may gun for you if in case you show up with less. Second, to win over a typical run of bad cards, losses, etc. you must have sufficient chips right in front of you. Third, maximize your profit in case you get lucky and have a monster hand and later hook someone into a huge clash. Remember that the more chips you have the more you can make eventually.

At some point, I finally sat down at the table with my $300. Dealer then immediately approached me if I want to come in right away or wait for the button then. I decided to wait however something came up. Every half an hour, anyone sitting at the table has to give $6 to Caesar for the honor of playing. I guess it was a some kind of a table tax. To continue, well, I finally started playing. There was one thing I suddenly noticed, there wasn’t much pre-flop raise less than $10, $15 and even $20 was not unusual. Unlike in my home game experience, a typical pre-flop raise is 3-5 times the big blind. After such discovery, I decided to play a little tighter than usual. However, whenever I played a pot, I became aggressive.

Unluckily, for quite a while, my cards sucked. I then tried to be fortunate with suited connectors, low pairs, etc. but then still gradually lost some chips. Then I got JJ, raised while everyone else folded. Finally, I won $3. I was very happy. So at such point I already have a rock image at the table because of my lousy run of cards.

Next hand I had was pocket Ks. I then raised same amount but got three callers. To check if I will later on win or lose, I bet out about 1/3 of the pot. Two players folded. Then I called. Turn came and brought A. I then bet again while he called. River came but of no help. I then checked while he bet big. After a while he showed an Ace. Luckily, I won an all in showdown, doubled up and ended up winning $50 on the day after 5.5 hours.

Any thoughts?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best regards,
Joe
Joe,

In the hand you called the big bet on, you should have probably folded. They had an apparent pair of Aces and you were beat.

As far as your other play, over it sounded ok, but you were a little card dead. Be careful with suited connector and try to only play them when you can see the flop cheap.

Finally, the $6 fee was a time payment by each player. Chances are they did not pull any rake at this table. If they took the fee and charged a rake, then I would play at this table anymore as you are feeding the casino too much money.

Meaning of “Kill”

Hello there!

I have a simple question. The term “kill”, what does it mean? I often encounter such term in poker books and sites.

By the way, your site is so helpful. Thanks!

Yours truly,
Steve Stewart
Steve,

There term “kill” refers to a pot where the stakes are double the prior hand. In some cash games in a casino, if the pot gets to a certain amount, the next hand is a kill pot. This means stakes are double the prior hand. The person that won the prior hand gets a kill button and posts the small kill bet amount. In a 3-6 game, the stakes would now be 6-12 and the kill button would post $6.