The First Casino Visit

If you're new to Texas Hold'em, or perhaps just play at home or online, it might seem intimidating to play in a casino or card room for the first time. Read this post to learn what it's like.

Arrival

When you go to the poker room in a casino, the first think you want to do is check in. Seating is assigned. They either seat you if your game is available, or will take your name and put you on a list if it's full. Some casinos have computer monitors setup where you can see where you are on the list, while others will call your name when it's your turn to be seated.


How much money should I bring?

Games are ranked in terms of the betting limits. For example, in a $2/$4 game the first two rounds of betting have $2 bets (and $2 raises), while the final three betting rounds have $4 bets and raises.

A good rule of thumb is to get about 30 big bets worthof chips. In a $2/$4 game the big bet is $4, so buy about $4x30 = $120 worth of chips.

Tipping

When you win a pot, it's customary to tip the dealer. At lower limits, e.g. $3/$6, the tips are usually $1, or $2 for a big pot.

Seating

You often won't have a choice in where you're seated. If it's busy, you will get the first available seat. If you do have a choice, I don't recommend sitting directly to one side of the dealer. You won't have a very good view of the table. If someone leaves, feel free to ask the dealer if you can move to their seat.