Do you actually assume you are prepared for your first trip to a poker room? If you are , then be prepared to get involved in a thrilling online poker game. Ok, so exactly where are you in your online poker career? You have played some home games with your friends. You have joined just a few low buy-in tourneys hosted by your local VA. You have done some work with online poker simulators to understand how different hands hold up alongside each other. You have played 30,000 hands or so on the internet and showed a net profit. Yes, it does seem like you are prepared to enter the shark tank that is a actual brick and mortar poker room exactly where they play some great high stakes poker games.

Poker Site Etiquette: the doorway

Since this is your first time going to a poker room in a casino, we should talk about some etiquette. Most of these tips are applicable to online poker sites so read carefully. It is your first time here, but you do not need to publicise the fact, and knowing the way things go will keep you from quickly being spotted as a rube. In poker rooms, you do not just walk up and sit in a chair. In well-known rooms, there’s usually a waiting list, especially on weekends. When you arrive, you need to discover the host or hostess of the poker network and add your own name to the patiently waiting list. It is actually quite easy; you simply tell the host what game you wish to play and give your own name, and when a spot uncovers, your name will be called and an employee will take you to your chair.

Poker Room Etiquette: Grease the Right Palms

A good idea is to tip the ground manager of the poker rooms, as he is the guy who sees every little thing. A few tips from the winnings will go a long way toward building a a friendly relationship, and believe me, it is very nice to get a call on Friday night from the supervisor to inform you that there are a lot of heavy drinkers playing a loose high stakes games, and would you like him to reserve a spot that just showed?

Poker Room Manners: Stakes and Turns

A big thing to consider when in a poker room is perhaps you can only play for table stakes. This implies that what you have on the table is the most you can bet. Once you bet everything you have on the table, you’re all-in and can’t play for more than that amount. Another poker room no-no is acting out of turn. Play moves around the table clockwise, and you will not make any move until the person to your right has finished their turn. Playing out of turn gives other players an unfair advantage. If you fold before the particular person before you plays, they know you will not be playing, and may bluff at the pot.

Poker Site Manners: Betting Behavior

String bets aren’t vaild bets. You should announce a raise if you are going to dip into your chip stack more than once. A far better idea is to arrange your bet behind the line and enter your complete bet all into the pot all at once. Another big faux pas is splashing the pot, or tossing chips into the middle. Allow the dealer to rake your bet into the pot after making sure it is correct.