So, you’ve come to the decision that poker is where it’s at and you want to grab yourself a big piece of poker pie, especially now that partypoker and DTD are massively shaking up the UK poker scene.

Oct 21, 2014  Visiting a casino for the first time can be quite daunting, especially if you’re not sure about casino etiquette. In this video Grosvenor Casinos regular Alex guides his friends through the. The first thing you’ll notice at a live tournament is a mass of humanity, and an amount of hustle and bustle that most poker players are simply not used to dealing with. Furthermore, you’ll also see the “experienced” players, who know precisely where to go and what to do, and will grow frustrated with you greenhorns, and your aimless.

Well I can tell you, poker, like Guinness, is definitely an acquired taste. But who hasn’t acquired an insatiable taste for Guinness? And I can guarantee, if you give it time, you’ll also acquire that kind of unquenchable taste for poker that I have. I never thought I would love sushi; uncooked, slimy, dead fish with one unnerving eye unremittingly staring at me. But now you can’t keep me away from the slimy little critters.

Taking your seat at the felt for the first time can be extremely daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. Whether playing online or live, always remember that you’re paying good money to play and deserve to be there as much as the next person. You’ll make some mistakes to start with, play out of turn or inadvertently mention you’ve folded an ace while the hand is still in play. And make no mistake, people will moan.

But don’t worry about it as they would have made similar mistakes at some point, too. It’s a bit like table road rage. Most of us, at one time or another, have had a go at the rookie driver cutting us off at a roundabout. How easily we forget that once upon a time the shoe was on the other foot.

Here are a couple of poker tips to get you started, hopefully helping you feel less like a numpty on your maiden voyage to the casino.

#1 Familiarize yourself with the casino

Take a good look around when you arrive. Find out where poker is played, where you can change your money into chips, where the toilets are, where you can sign onto the waiting list and, most importantly, where the bar is.

#2 Find the Card Room

Don’t get confused with casino table variations of poker. The casino floor is littered with different types of games, including Three card and Four card poker, Caribbean Stud, Pai Gow, Black Jack, Baccarat, Roulette, Craps, Wheel of Fortune, slots and video poker. On these tables, you’ll be battling the house.

Find the card room, the epicentre of poker tournaments and cash games where you’ll pit yourselves against human adversaries.

#3 Take your time deciding what to play

If you can’t work out what is being played, ask a dealer or the floor manager as they’ll be more than happy to talk you through it.

Don’t be embarrassed if you can only afford a minimum buy-in. Remember, you are paying to play in a recreational activity for your own enjoyment. The establishment wants you to come back, so they should be very helpful and accommodating. If all of the games being played are too expensive, the floor manager can suggest more affordable games at alternate times.

#4 Find the Cage

This is where you’ll exchange your money for chips. You can give the dealer cash once sat at a table but exchanging it at the cage will save you time and energy.

#5 Get on the waiting list

You can’t sit down at any empty seat in a card room. You must put your name down on a waiting list. You’ll be shown straight to the table once seats become available. You will go on a waiting list if all seats are spoken for. Card rooms can get really busy so it’s a good idea to call ahead and put your name on the list. Sometimes casinos display the waiting list on a monitor or a whiteboard, or they may just call your initials when the time has come. Make sure you’re paying attention so you don’t miss your spot.

#6 Read the Casino rules

Every casino has different rules, so while waiting to be seated, find out where the casino rules are displayed and give them a good read.

I recommend you watch the action while you wait as it’s a perfect time to learn. Every hand is important so watch and learn, even during the hands that don’t involve you.

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So, after reading this and visiting a casino, are you ready to play in the Grand Prix Million at DTD in May?

Join the UK partypoker facebook forum where you will find many like-minded individuals, many of whom are about to take their first trip to casino for a live poker experience. We exchange stories and you can ask all the questions your heart desires. You can also win seats into live games, participate in many freerolls. Membership is exclusive to those that live in the UK and have a partypoker account.

Mich xx

Twitter Competition:

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• You must Retweet the specified tweet , “RT for a chance to win a T-shirt…”, in order to be eligible
• You must Retweet the specified tweet , “RT for a chance to win a T-shirt…”, by 23:59 GMT on Monday, 6th April to be eligible
• A winner will be chosen at random and notified via Twitter on Tuesday, 7th April

Facebook Competition:

• You must like and leave a comment on the specified FB post, from 1st April at 18:00, mentioning one of the six tips in this article by 23:59 GMT on Monday, 6th April to be eligible
• A winner will be chosen at random and notified via Facebook on Tuesday, 7th April

Keep up to date with the all things partypoker!

Get all the latest partypoker updates from your favourite social media outlets. You can Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.

If you have never been to a casino or public poker room before, your first trip can be filled with excitement, anticipation, and exhilaration. It may also cause you a little fear and apprehension. This article gives you a few pointers and some information about how things work in most casinos and public poker rooms. Let's get started with a major part of any casino experience -- the staff.

One of the most important things to remember is that the staff of a casino or poker room is there to make your visit as comfortable as possible because they want you to come back. If you can't find the card room or if you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask a staff member.

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The dealer is also part of the staff. If you are sitting down at a poker game in a casino or card room for the first time, tell the dealer that it is your first time and ask them to please keep an eye on you to make sure you aren't doing anything incorrectly. You may be amazed at how helpful and useful someone can be when you show them a little respect and ask for their help. Many times, especially at the lower-limit tables, other players are also helpful.

Also, most poker rooms have a place to sign a waiting list for a particular game. Some have a white board with the games and limits available along with the waiting players' initials. Others will just have someone who writes initials or names on a sheet of paper. The card room calls the next person on the list when a seat becomes available. Simply ask whoever is in charge of the board -- or a staff member -- to place you on the list for all of the games you are willing to play. If you are in a small poker room with no visible sign-up area, ask a dealer how to enter a game.

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Well, now that you've found your table and you're ready to play, here are some general tips for casino poker:

• Wait for the big blind (The big blind is the largest forced bet at the beginning of a game designed to stimulate betting. The player who has to contribute the big blind rotates one position to the left after each game.) to get to you before playing. Use this time to watch your opponents, and get a feel for the way they are playing. It's amazing how much some players reveal if you just pay attention.
• Most players tip the dealer when they win a pot. This is not required, but if the dealer is doing a competent job, you should tip. Dealers are like waitstaff in that they make most of their money from tips. A sample plan would be to tip the dealer .50 on average size pots and possibly $1.00 on larger pots if the dealer is doing a good job. Also, you can watch what the other players are tipping to get an idea. Remember though that every dollar that goes to the dealer is reducing your winnings. You should be able to come to a happy medium with experience.
• Act when it's your turn. Never act before your turn. This is very poor etiquette and can change the outcome of a hand. The other players will understandably get upset with you.
• Make sure your cards are in plain sight.
• It is a good idea to place a chip on them to show that they are still live and protect them because the dealer won't take them when the chip is on them. If you leave your cards unprotected, the dealer might muck them (mix with discards) by mistake, and there is no way you can retrieve them. Most players keep their hand on their cards.
• When you win a pot (the total amount of money bet in a single game), don't reach for it. Let the dealer push the pot to you. Do not surrender your cards until the pot has been awarded to you on a winning hand.
• If you aren't sure whether you have the best hand at the end of a round, turn your cards face up, and let the dealer read the hands. If the dealer makes a mistake, it can often be corrected. If you throw your hand into the discard pile (often called the 'muck'), you are not eligible for any of the pot even if you made a mistake and had the best hand.
• Don't throw your chips into the pot (called 'splashing' the pot). Place all bets in front of you, and let the dealer pull them into the pot.

For more information on playing poker and other casino games, try the following links:

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• To see all of our articles on poker rules and advice, go to our main article on How To Play Poker.
• Learn How to Play Texas Hold 'Em Poker, and you'll be ready for the most common poker game.
• If you think you're good enough, you might want to test your skills in a high-pressure situation. Be sure you know How to Play Poker in a Tournament before you ante up.
• As long as you're in the casino, you might as well drop a few bucks on some other games. Keep these Casino Gambling Basics handy.