New to live poker and casinos - what do I do?

[JohnE]

Hey there, great forum..... ive been playing online for a year but have always been scared of playing live and need some help!

I really want to try live poker in one of the london casinos when i visit there next month but i have zero idea what im meant to do to get in to a game.

Could anyone please give me some of the more basic tips to put my mind at rest....

- how can i quickly tell what games are running and how many players are in them?

- do i just go and sit at a table or is there always a waiting list or someone i have to ask to take me to a table with an empty seat?

- if i want to play £1/2 and buyin for £200 do i give the cash to the dealer in exchange for chips or do i get the chips from a cashier/cash desk and walk around with them before sitting down?

-if i bust and want to buyin £200 again do i tell the dealer instantly so i can get in on the next hand, then hand the cash over for the chips?

- how do i get up and leave? simply declare im 'sitting out' to the dealer, pick my chips up and go? do they supply racks to carry the chips?

i assume i have to then take the chips to the cashier to exchange for cash and that the dealers dont do this?


--- one other thing about table games like blackjack, do i need to get chips at the cashier first or can i just sit down at an empty seat and ask for £50 worth and start playing?

edit: can i use the poker chips on the table games or are they separate?


Yes i know im clueless but your help would be appreciated!!

thank you
johne

[StGilmore]

Have to recommend the Fox poker room for first time... The desk/brush/table directors will all gently answer any 'noob' questions quietly so that other players don't hear and make it very easy for you to ease into the experience. Couldn't have been better for someone like myself who was in 'deer in headlights' mode when I arrived.

There is also blackjack (I sat for a bit while waiting for a spot at the 1/2 poker tables) and found it completely enjoyable and relaxing. Played a couple of other, bigger places but purely for tournaments. The Mint casino had a great deal on shrimp scampi
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[knifeboy62]

[Wodge]

I would recommend the Vic (Victoria Casino) on the Edgeware Road. There is normally a 1/2 game going 24/7.
The poker room is on the top floor, when you enter just keep walking up the stairs. By the way if not a member of a Grosvenor Casino you will need to join which is free just take your passport or other photo ID.
Go to the desk with the big screen behind it, there are two bar code scanning machines there. You can scan your card and select your game(s). Or just tell them behind the desk you are new and they will help you out. Your name will appear on the list below the game(s) you want to play.
Depending on how busy they are you either get a game straight away or may have to wait half an hour or so. They call you name if not directed to a table straight away over the PA when your seat is available. Go to the desk they give you the table number. The table numbers are hanging above each table, again unsure just ask.
Go to the table, find the empty seat, put money on table, (while waiting for a table you can also buy chips from cashier in the corner of the room) the dealer will ask how much you are playing for and call for chips. Someone will probably ship you some chips for some cash while you are waiting.
If you bust put more money on the table and same process.
If you want to leave for a piss or a fag, just get up, leave your chips, where they will be safe until you get back. You may find someone "playing over" when you get back, they will leave your seat when the current hand is finished.
When you leave, depending how polite you are, either just get up walk off with your chips, or tell the dealer you are leaving and to deal you out, this will help in getting the seat filled. Ask if anyone needs small chips which you exchange for bigger chips i.e. 10 one pound and 3 five pound for a 25 quid chip. There are racks lying about if you really need one, the cashier will have them, if you ask nice the dealer will call for one.
If you bust out at the table, exit the table and building with as much poise as you can, otherwise take your chips to the cashier get paid in crisp 50 quip notes while saying 'Yeah Baby" to yourself.
That's it have fun.

[ryanpb]

I wouldn't worry too much, just enjoy it.

I'd disagree with above about going to dedicated poker clubs like the fox or vic, there really is not much point sitting with people who know what they are doing.

Check out the empire casino in Leicester square, full of tourists. They'll be a 1/2 game going. Walk over to the cash desk buy some chips and ask if there are any seats open, then just sit down with your chips.

When you want to leave, just stand up and go - not in the middle of a hand.
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@ryanpb

[Alex B]

Recommending the Empire is for simplicity is an odd call, when they have decided to route a 1/4-mile walk between the poker room and the cash desk.

Also they steal from the players bad beat jackpot fund, so hopefully they are still being boycotted where possible.
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[ryanpb]

I thought the cash desk was in the poker room. It was the last time I was there.

If not the empire I'd play those poker in the pit things where they have a small blackjack looking table in the middle of the gaming floor spreading texas hold'em those are £££££££££££££££ +
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@ryanpb

[Wodge]

It's been awhile but I seem to remember you could buy your chips in the poker room, but had a hike and a queue to cash out. I suppose they hope you stop by the roulette on the way the cashier.
I don't live in London anymore, seems that there is more choice now than when I was there. I played the Empire, that club that got closed down I think it was near Farringdon and started playing at the Vic when the card room was downstairs.
Everyone is different of course and the Vic especially with its new card room is way ahead of what was offered at the other places, in my view anyway.
If I get to spend some more time down the old smoke innit, I would for sure try the Fox and the other places that have opened recently.

[Seb]

You win your first two live tournaments. This is well known.

[JohnE]

Apologies for taking so much time to reply to say thank you for the walkthroughs... all sounds really straight forward! i'll try all of the suggested casinos eventually too, sounds like they really vary in quality.

Awesome forum