Outs and Odds

Casino Poker

From the casino's point of view, poker isn't such a good bet. In poker, gamblers bet against each other, not the house. A casino employee only deals and acts as a cashier. The house's income is limited to a percentage taken from each pot, or a seat rental of $5 or $7 per half-hour, this is the main reason why many casinos have opted out of the poker game. You would think the casinos have figured out a way to grab more of the action by now. Oh wait, that's what slot machines are for, right?

To join a game, just sit in an empty seat and buy in (which usually costs ten times the minimum or maximum bet, depending on the game) with chips or cash. If there is no space, put your name on a waiting list. The traditional rules everyone knows are in effect for casino poker. The most popular game are Texas hold 'em and seven-card stud, but casinos are experimenting with variations that can be played outside the poker room.

In Texas hold 'em, each player is given two cards face down, while five common cards are dealt for the table. Players assemble the best five-card hand possible from the seven cards available to them. In seven-card stud, players get two cards face down and one face up, followed by three cards face up and a final card face down. Again, they put together the best possible hand from their own seven cards.

Both of the above games have numerous rounds of betting and raising, so for all but the lowest-stakes games, a hefty bankroll is vital. For games with betting limits, posted signs indicate the smallest and largest bet allowable. In a limit game, you'll need a bankroll of at least 20 times the maximum bet. There are also pot-limit games, which means raises can go as high as the pot, and no-limit games, in which raises can go as high as the largest bankroll on the table. In all games, no matter the stakes, players are not allowed to bring more money to the table once a hand is dealt. If a player is 'all in' meaning all his or her money is bet and he or she can't match a raise, a side pot is formed for those who wish to continue betting. The player who is all in is now limited to playing for the main pot.

Explaining poker strategy here is impossible. Besides the complexities of the game, much of poker is psychological. Reading other players and bluffing are huge parts of the process, which, if you didn't know it already, you'll learn the first time you sit down in a card room. If you're not a seasoned poker player, be very careful of high-stakes games, which can be populated by sharks, sometimes operating in teams. They've learned the primary casino secret. It is easy to take money from amateur gamblers. If you are a novice, stick to low-stakes games, which are straightforward and friendly.