No room for novices at poker table
Poker players who have done well at home games or local tournaments should realize they’ll need more than luck when they sit at a casino table.
Poker differs from other casino games because players win money from each other instead of the house. the casino’s profit comes from a “rake” of from each pot ? in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, it’s 10 percent, to a maximum of $5 per hand. the house takes an additional dollar from each pot to fund a “bad beat” jackpot, which can give huge payouts to everyone at the table in the unlikely case of four-of-a-kind or a straight flush getting beat.
In contrast with a blackjack player who roots for the dealer to bust, a poker player must size up as many as nine potential adversaries.
A major difference between a casino game and a home game is that it’s not your friends and relatives gathered around the table for a casual game and good times.
“The big thing is that you’re going to run into people who are doing this for a living,” said mark Barr of Derry, a computer consultant who plays poker once or twice a week and runs www.papokerroom.com.
Barr said these “grinders” are at low-stakes and high-stakes tables. New players should be aware of them but not intimidated, he said.
Pro player Jon Stein of Washington, Pa., who won a seat in the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event, said “home gamers” should learn nuances of the game before heading to the casino.
“Learn the proper way to play, especially if you want to make money,” said Stein, who oversees www.pennsylvaniapokerplayers.info and blogs about poker at steinreview.blogspot.com.
The dominant poker game in casinos is Texas Hold ‘Em, popularized by seemingly nonstop TV broadcasts of tournaments and high stakes games. Casinos offer two versions: “limit,” in which the betting is structured and the amount of your win/loss is easier to control, and “no limit,” in which a player’s entire stack of chips can go into the pot in one hand.
Limit poker generally has less aggressive players and offers “more of a safety net,” said Mike Chapman, table games shift manager at Rivers on the North Shore. his casino deals a 4-8 game, while the Meadows in Washington County offers 2-4 and 3-6 games.
The first number refers to the amount players may bet or raise pre- and post-flop; in a 4-8 game, for example, players may bet or raise $4 after seeing their hole cards and again after the first three community cards (the “flop”) are dealt. Bets and raises increase to $8 after the turn (the fourth community card) and river (last community card). No more than three raises per betting cycle are allowed.
“The limit game is a more controlled, more structured game. you can pace yourself,” said Peter Lau, poker manager at the Meadows. “You can only lose so much (in a hand).”
Many no-limit players deride limit games, especially 2-4, as “No Fold ‘Em Hold ‘Em” because players stay with marginal starting hands in hopes of hitting the flop. Players holding two high cards or a high pair have difficulty chasing others out of the hand with a raise.
“There’s not a lot of disciplined players playing low-limit,” Barr said. “You can flop bottom pair and get sucked into betting more when you’re never ahead (in the hand).”
Stein said he plays mostly no-limit games and tournaments because it’s difficult to double or triple your money in limit games.
No-limit games offer bigger pots ? and more risk. These games are described by the size of their blinds: a 1-2 game means the small blind, the player immediately left of the dealer button, must bet at least $1 and the player two seats from the button must bet at least $2.
Whichever game a player picks, Barr, Chapman, Lau and Stein offered these for those making a smooth transition to casino poker:
? Protect your cards. Don’t let others see them, and don’t tell anyone what you threw away. Protect your cards from hands tossed toward the “muck.” if a mucked (discarded) card lands on your hand, your pocket aces could be declared dead. get a card protector or “cap” your cards with a chip.
? Act only when it’s your turn. Pay attention to the player ahead of you. if in doubt, ask the dealer if it’s your turn. Acting early could cost you money.
? Don’t criticize other people’s play.
? Don’t “slow roll” an opponent by letting him think he’s won when you know you hold the best hand. that disses your opponent and can make you a target for other players.
? have fun. “If you’re not having fun, you’re not going to win money,” Barr said.
Tournament time
The Meadows casino in Washington County is the first in Pennsylvania to get state approval for poker tournaments. Tournaments with $40 or $65 buy-ins are scheduled through the weekend, with a full slate starting Monday.
Mike Chapman, table games shift manager at Rivers casino on the North Shore, said tournaments will begin there by the end of the month.
Meadows also added high-limit slots and table games in the Adios Lounge on the main floor of the casino. the lounge has four blackjack tables offering betting limits as high as $10,000 per hand, and eight multi-denomination slot machines that allow players to bet up to $75 per spin.
The lounge includes a full-service bar, hors d’ourves, private cage, exclusive rest-rooms and large-screen TV viewing. It previously was open only to holders of platinum players cards but now is open to anyone playing the high-limit games, casino officials said.
Money trail
For the week ending Aug. 1, the state’s nine casinos reported gross slot machine revenue of $46.9 million on bets of $606.2 million. gross slot machine revenue for Western Pennsylvania casinos:
$4.98M ??Rivers, on bets totaling $63.8 million
$5.27M ??The Meadows, on bets totaling $61.4 million
$3.69M ??Presque Isle in Erie, on bets totaling $56.3 million
how do you get a seat at a casino poker table?
Check in at the entrance to the poker room and tell the attendant what type of game you want to play ? limit or no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em. Casinos deal any type of game if enough players are interested. Omaha and Seven-Card Stud are common alternatives. you might have to wait for a seat, especially on weekends. when your name is called, a host will show you to your seat. Buy chips from the poker room cashier.
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Tips about card counting at blackjack?
the casino where I go uses 6 decks, and it has 6 sits for 6 players. The minimum bet in that one is 5 dollars through 1000. There is another table where they use one deck 6 sits too, minimum bet is 10 and max is 4000. what table would give me more chances of winning, one deck or 6 decks, and what would be the best strategy for each one.
I been trying to use HI LOW on 6 decks and HI OPT ll on 1 deck or two, is that good, please give me advices. also would like to know if it matters in what part of the table I sit, cause i been thinking that if I have a 3 and I'm sitting where i would be the second one receiving a card that would give me more chances of getting something big. do you only use card counting when the game finishes or you have to use it to when your hitting a card?
The 10 – 4000 table would give you more chances of winning. 6 decks have more trends to win than one deck. no BlackJack player can possibly beat the dealer without knowing the composition of the remaining cards. only the positive composition will shift the odds in your favor. Every honest Gaming Expert will tell you that you have to count. You will see many books on the internet that are promoted as an " easy, no counting winning system ". It is much less intimidating to average players. It is also easier for those con-artists to sell. but those “winning” systems CAN'T make you a winner.
FACT : Effective card counting gives an "unfair advantage," (as the casinos call it), to the blackjack player. The house remains in a vulnerable position because it's a highly specialized skill against which there is practically NO known defence.
Learning how to track cards takes a little effort. but I don't understand why there is so much fuss about this. You DON'T have to count EVERY SINGLE CARD. Maybe some systems have a complex counting method. It doesn't have to be this way!
It's a mathematical fact that a blackjack deck that is rich in high value cards, 9s, 10 values (10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings) and Aces gives the advantage to the player. Also… the deck that is lacking in these cards, "negative composition", and are consequently rich in small cards will shift the advantage to the house.
Blackjack – Count Cards – Learn How to Win at Blackjack
Blackjack is unique among casino games. Blackjack is commonly played with an eight deck shoe. as play continues, cards are removed from the shoe and placed in a discard pile. this creates a game history. Other casino games are random chance, such as roulette or craps, where each spin or roll is independent of the last play. but in blackjack a discarded card is removed from play and will not be seen again until the shoe is shuffled.
A blackjack player who knows how to count cards can take advantage of this game history. Within an eight deck shoe you know there are 32 aces. if 30 of them have been played and discarded, only 2 remain in the shoe. you can then adjust your play based on the remaining cards in the shoe. that is heart of every card counting system, knowing what cards remain in the shoe.
A casino dealer must hit at seventeen or below. Cards with a value of ten are detrimental to the dealer because he will like bust if he draws one. So the blackjack odds that normally favor house shift to favor the player when there are more ten value cards in the shoe. using simple card counting techniques, you can learn how to track the number of ten value cards remaining in the shoe. when you realize the odds have changed to your favor, you increase your bet to take advantage of the favorable conditions.
One easy method of card counting is the Red seven method. the Red seven count is an unbalanced count, meaning you only need to keep a running count. you don’t need to divide the running count by the number of decks remaining in the shoe to get a true count. Keeping the running count is all that is required. this makes the Red seven an easy method of card counting.
When a black game is started or the decks are shuffled, you must reset your running count. the running is beginning value is -2 multiplied by the decks in the shoe. So, an eight deck shoe has an initial running count of -16. a six deck shoe is -12.
When each blackjack hand is played, the cards are examined and points are added to the running count. Cards with values between two and six count as +1 point. Cards with values of ten or aces count as -1. Black seven cards (clubs and spades) count as +1 point, while red seven cards, eight cards and nine cards have no value. it is this division among the seven cards that gives the name Red seven to the system.
The card counting method requires you to use two bets. the low bet is the table minimum. you bet the minimum when the count is not in your favor. the high bet is 10 times the low bet. if your low bet is $10, the high bet is $100.
Whenever the running count becomes greater than zero, you bet the high bet. when the count is zero or below you wager the minimum.
Play ’soft’ hands correctly and learn the secret of life
The blackjack player who had just raised her bet to $20 didn’t know what to do.
She had smiled with anticipation when her first card was an Ace. but her second card was a 6, and the dealer was showing a 7. Unsure of the correct play, she asked the other players at the table for help. Should she stand, figuring she’d tie the dealer and not lose any money? Or should she hit and risk turning her hand into an ugly 13, 14 or 15?
“Soft” hands ? those with an Ace that can be counted as either one or 11 ? confuse many blackjack players.
These are fun hands to play, and they have the potential to make extra money.
First, remember that a soft hand has two totals. The Ace-6 that confused the player with the $20 bet was worth 7 and 17 at the same time.
The only time a player wins with 17 is when the dealer busts. likewise, the only time a player wins with 7 is when the dealer busts.
Like many other soft hands, you can’t hurt Ace-6 and you certainly can improve it. Remember, you can’t bust a soft hand ? not even if you draw a 10.
If the dealer shows a weak up card, you often should double a soft hand. The main attraction of doubling a soft hand is that you’re increasing your bet when the dealer has a greater chance of busting; you also have the possibility of ending up with a strong hand.
Here’s how to play each possible soft hand:
Ace-2 or Ace-3: Double against a 5 or 6, the two cards most likely to lead to a busted hand for the dealer; against all other cards, hit. if you hit, follow basic strategy for determining whether to hit again.
Ace-4 or Ace-5: Double against a dealer’s 4, 5 or 6; otherwise, hit. if you hit, follow basic strategy for determining whether to hit again.
Ace-6: Double against a dealer’s 3 through 6; otherwise, hit. if you hit, follow basic strategy for determining whether to hit again.
Ace-7: Double against a dealer’s 3 through 6; stand against a 2, 7 or 8. And here’s the Player’s Advantage secret of life: hit Ace-7 against a dealer’s 9, 10 or Ace. Others at the table might tut-tut, and the dealer might ask if you’re sure you want to hit. you do. Here’s why: Against a 9, 10 or Ace, your soft 18 is probably not enough to win in the first place; the dealer’s average nonbreaking hand, excluding blackjack, is 18.84, according to WizardOfOdds.com. A face card on your Ace-7 gives you a hard 18, keeping your hand the same as before, while an Ace, 2 or 3 improves it. so, seven of the 13 possible cards will leave you at 18 or above.
Ace-8 or Ace-9: Stand. you have a strong 19 or 20.
Ace-10: Smile and wait for your payoff. Do not take insurance or even money. And don’t even think about doubling down on this 11.
Ace-Ace: Split.
Sometimes you’ll encounter a soft hand with three or more cards – for example, Ace-3-3 or Ace-5-2.
If your total is soft 17 or less, always hit.
If your multi-card total is soft 18, stand against 2 through 8 but hit against a 9, 10 or Ace (remember, it’s the secret of life). if your multi-card total is soft 19 to 21, stand.
Once you get to hard 12 or above, hit or stand according to basic strategy. In general, stand on 12 through 16 against a dealer’s low card and hit against a 7 or higher; always stand on hard 17 or higher.
Here’s the rest of the story of the woman who didn’t know what to do with her Ace-6 against a 7: Contrary to basic strategy, she stayed. The dealer turned up the hole card. It was an Ace, giving him 18. The soft 17 lost.
Player’s tip
To reduce confusion when playing a soft hand, think of it as Ace-X rather than a total. For example, tell yourself you have “Ace-6″ instead of “soft 17.” This is especially helpful with soft hands made up of three or more cards. Mentally set the Ace aside and add the remaining cards before deciding what to do. an Ace-2-2-Ace translates into Ace-5 in your mind; an Ace-4-3 becomes Ace-7.
Money trail
For the week ended Aug. 8, the state’s nine casinos had gross slot machine revenue of $46.6 million on bets of $589.3 million, the Gaming Control Board said. gross slot machine revenue at Western Pennsylvania casinos:
? $5.15M: Rivers, on bets of $63.42 million
? $5.03M: The Meadows, on bets of $61.05 million
? $3.94M: Presque Isle in Erie, on bets of $47.47 million
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
I’m afraid of hitting my soft hand and taking the dealer’s bust card. What should I do?
Play each hand correctly. you wouldn’t think of standing with 4-3 or 5-2, no matter what the dealer showed. It’s no different with Ace-6. you don’t know what the hit card will be until it comes out of the deck. And at that moment you don’t know what card will make the dealer’s hand or cause him to bust. just make the right basic-strategy play for the cards you hold.
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Blackjack Card Counting – Don’t Believe These Three Myths
Card counting can put the odds in the favor of the blackjack player, but it has limitations and is not the “holy grail” that many blackjack players believe.
It is a belief that has seen several blackjack card counting myths emerge that cause many players to lose. Here are some of the more frequent ones.
Myth 1: A Complicated Strategy WіƖƖ Bе more Successful
A card counting system can be complicated or it can be simple, it depends on the system.
Thе fact the system is complicated ԁοеѕ NOT guarantee it will be more successful than a simple one. In fact, you can gather a simple card counting strategy that has better results than many of the more complicated ones in just 5 minutes!
Reality: Thеrе is no correlation between complexity of card counting systems and profitability. it is the logic that the system is based upon which is vital.
Myth 2: Card Counting Cаn Predict the Sequence of Cards
Card counting in blackjack ԁοеѕ not allow players to “predict” the sequence of cards that come out of the deck.
In reality, it is impossible to “notice” the sequence of the remaining cards. Thе number of different sequences is hυɡе and impossible to predict.
Card counting therefore, ԁοеѕ NOT allow a player to foresee with certainty what card will be dealt out of the deck next.
Reality: Card counting is not a predictive theory. it is austerely a probability theory that will put the odds in your favor over the long term. Fleeting-term results can of course vary dramatically.
Myth 3: Yου Don’t need much Money to Win
Once a player has learned how to count cards in blackjack and successfully learned how to apply these skills, they very οftеn feel invincible.
Whеn before a live audience at the table they feel that they won’t need much money due to the skills that they have learned.
Thе fact іѕ, even though a player mау have a positive edge in a game that ԁοеѕ NOT mean the player is cast iron to make profits all the time.
Losing streaks occur for all successful players and you need an passable bankroll to ride thеm.
Reality: Thе 0.5% – 1.5% expectation that you can achieve in blackjack, (percentage of each bet you expect on mean to win), is not enough to get you a winning edge consistently. In the fleeting term, you need to prepare for losing runs.
Thе Reality of Card Counting & Sοmе Tips to Win
If you have understood the above, you will see that card counting is NOT a predictive theory – it is a probability theory.
Once you know thіѕ, you will realize that it can give you an edge in the longer term, but in the shorter term, you саn, and will have losing streaks.
Bу knowing thіѕ, you will be аbƖе to prepare physically for the inevitable losing periods with an passable bankroll.
Yου also need to pick a system that you feel confident in using.
Aѕ we have ѕаіԁ, you don’t need a complicated strategy – you can gather a simple one in JUST 5 MINUTES!
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