Poker lessons in casinos used to be common, but not anymore, so you have to pursue other routes. Blair Rodman, author of Kill Phil – The Fast Track to Success in No-Limit Hold ’Em Poker Tournaments and a World Series of Poker gold-bracelet winner answers.
Most people don’t like to be in unfamiliar situations. Sitting down at a table in a casino or poker room for the first time can be intimidating, which is one of the main reasons that slot and video poker machines are so popular.
The key to getting players new to public poker games oriented and comfortable lies with a room’s employees, specifically those on the front line who control the game lists and seat players, and, of course, the dealers. If these employees are friendly and helpful, and don’t discourage newbies from asking the questions they need answered to be as comfortable as possible, the room will likely prosper and develop a following of players who are welcoming to beginners and make the game fun. So my first suggestion is to try to find a room where the personnel and players are friendly and helpful. Perhaps easier said than done, but you’ll get a vibe right from the start. If you’re confronted with hostile or rude employees, just move on. Generally (but not always), the smaller the room and the smaller the game, the friendlier and more accommodating it will be.
If the employees are doing their jobs, then you should do yours, which means letting them know you’re a rookie. Ask questions. Don’t be embarrassed about it. Everyone was a beginner at some point. You’ll have a much easier time when you admit that you’re a new player than faking it and having others recognize that you are. (There are ways to use opponents’ perception of you as a beginner to your advantage, but that’s a subject for another time.)
Vegas runs on tokes (tips), so if an employee is helpful to you, tip them accordingly. It’s the Vegas way of saying thank you. If you don’t, you’ll find that even the friendliest dealer will turn cold and you’ll be on your own. You might not like this dynamic, but it’s a reality.
At present, there’s a distinct void in books devoted to helping new players understand the basic mechanics and ethics of public poker. I’m working on such a book, and hopefully it will be out before too long. In the meantime, here are a few suggestions:
• Pay attention! Nothing irritates players and dealers more than a new player who doesn’t make an effort to blend smoothly into the game. Be ready when it’s your turn, act on your hand as quickly as you can without unduly sacrificing needed thinking time, ante without having to be told that it’s an ante game, and please don’t put on headphones.
• Try to be quiet and unobtrusive when other players are involved in a pot. Never comment to anyone on an ongoing hand!
• Don’t ask to see losing hands. This used to be a given in Las Vegas, but when California legalized hold ’em and stud in the ’80s, for some reason asking to see a losing hand became a widespread practice (there). While you have the right to see all hands at showdown, asking to see an opponent’s losing hand is almost guaranteed to provoke hostility, which isn’t something you want as a novice.
• Get a copy of the rules for the games you play and study them. Here’s a link to a good source from long-time player and writer Bob Ciaffone: pokercoach.us/robspkrrules4
One more suggestion I highly recommend, since you’re in Vegas, is to check out the Nevada Poker League, which is a bar league (tournaments only) run by some friends of mine. The cost to play is minimal, the players are there to have fun, and you’ll learn the basics without much cost or pressure. There’s a game every night somewhere in town. Check it out at nevadapokerleague.com. You can also get a feel for the tournament game playing online at this site's own social casino (and win some good prizes, without risk, while you're at it), but the Nevada Poker League games are the way to go to get the true poker-room experience.
