Tournament Strategies
After receiving pocket cards, you are immediately faced with a choice: play your cards and either raise or call the blinds, or fold.
Practice Matters
In most casinos
In most casinos you’ll find these signs are colour-coded to match the minimum bets posted on them. Look around to find a table that suits your bet sizes. Once you’ve done this, it is time to find out what kind of game you want to be dealt. Now, if you’re a beginner you’re probably better off starting with a ‘shoe’ where 6 or 8 decks are used. The advantage in this is that the cards are dealt face-up, in front of each player, and the dealer can help with questions and decisions. Now: much as a Mountie will always catch his man, as you refine your skills you can switch to a game where there are fewer decks and the casino’s advantage is lower (especially if you employ skills like card counting) and you can start turning a much greater profit.
Buying Chips
Buying Chips Once seated at a table, you will need to purchase chips from the dealer for your bets. Place your cash on the table when there is a break in the game (some casinos make you wait until the dealer shuffles to join). Don’t try to hand your money to the dealer. For security reasons he cannot accept it. And don’t expect change. The dealer will exchange the entire amount for chips; he will push the amount across the table to you and then drop the cash into a slot on the table top. If you have any questions regarding the values of the chips, ask the dealer. It is part of his job to help players learn the game.