The wifes taking me to the casino for my birthday so that I can play live for once other than home games.
I need you veterans to give me some tips on what to do so that I don't look like a total noob when I go.
How do I sign up for the tables. How much do I buy in for? How do I decide what limits to play? How much do you tip the dealers and when do you do it? How much do you tip everyone else?
What's a good humorous quip or 2 to give me a nice guy image at the table to start things out?
Anything else you can think of. I'd really like for this to go well so that she wants to do it again. That said I'd also like some suggestions for what she should do if she gets bored watching. She doesn't want to play.
Not that any of you are probably going to be there but this will be November 26 & 27. Cactus Petes in Jackpot, NV.
I'd appreciate any tips and guidance no matter how insignificant it may seem to you.
Thanks,
SebQ

Thanks guys. I already feel 500% better about this trip now thanks to you fellers. I'll probably try both 3/6 Limit and 1/2 NL. Then if I don't do as well as I like, I'll drop down a notch. Are live game players generally more or less aggressive than in the online games?

beware the 3/6... the rake will kill you (usually 10% up to $4). you're only dealt like 30 hands per hour, so variance + rake (about $120/hr or $12/player/hr) + tips could make it a bad session even if you play well. i'd recommed NL.

from what i have watched at NL (i was drunk, so didn't play) was that it is MUCH more passive than online and extremely loose. read -- that sounded just about right to me.

if you want to run over the table, LAG it up with some big bets. loosen people up and piss them off a little bit. one of the best trip reports i read was in the blog at -- the blogger and WinterMute (his friend) went to a casino and freaked 'em out. WM usually plays at the $400-$2000 PLO8 tables and makes a killing, so he didn't really care if he dropped a few hundred playing aggro (he won).

i would only try this if you are willing to drop a few buy-ins in a short period of time -- but it could be fun. i think one could ease a bit off of WM's pace and probably maximize gain while minimizing losses.

just a thought.

well, i meant for you to click on "my blog" on the left panel and then find it (around October 13th). After reading it, however, it wasn't that interesting. i've read a fantastic version of WMs play -- getting under someone's skin. Let me see if I can find it.

regardless, WM's journal is good stuff.



As for the 5x the SB... not really sure what you're asking about. please clarify.