Learning Casino Table Games - beginning level

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SunnyOne

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I am familiar with the most basic aspects of black jack and poker, but I would like to really become competent enough to be able to walk into a casino during my travels and enjoy a few rounds without completely losing my shirt in the first few minutes (although I recognize it's possible).

I have a trip coming up in the new year that involves a location with a casino.

Is it possible to practice online to gain proficiency? fictitious games and all that?

If so, can anyone recommend a site? Thank you
 
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There are certainly a ton of games and training tools on-line. Learning Black Jack strategy is pretty straight forward. Sticking with it a bit harder :) Poker is a different matter. I play video poker and that's pretty straight forward. Sitting down at a table with other live people and playing poker is a whole different matter. Personally, I don't think you have enough time to get anywhere near proficient at table poker by January. Still, if you try, just try to get at a table with the lowest buy in and try it out. If I want to engage a bit with my fellow gamblers, I prefer Craps, but to each his own.

For a trip in January, I'd focus on one particular game and see how you do. The odds on Video Poker and Craps are pretty good if you play according to the basic strategy and bet appropriately. Good Luck!
 
braumeister said:
See if you can find one of these books in a library or used bookstore.

Scarne's New Complete Guide to Gambling

I bought the original back in the 70s and it's the most comprehensive guide I've ever seen.
Click to expand...

Following that link, there are a number of that book in used condition for under $10. I'd grab one of those if I was going to get a book.
 
Lots of YouTube videos that’ll walk you through rules and basic betting strategies. That’s how I started with craps. IMO, once you learn craps you’ll be bored by the other games. The exception might be hold ‘em poker tournaments but that’s different.

Ain’t nothing like a good craps table.
 
MuirWannabe said:
Lots of YouTube videos that’ll walk you through rules and basic betting strategies. That’s how I started with craps. IMO, once you learn craps you’ll be bored by the other games. The exception might be hold ‘em poker tournaments but that’s different.

Ain’t nothing like a good craps table.
Click to expand...
It can be intimidating at first. But it takes less than 10 seconds to learn the simple pass line bets. (And that's all you need to "start" playing - you can pickup other betting options later) It's certainly the most energized table game at any Casino. Lot's of screaming, shouting and money and chips being thrown all over the table with all sorts of "lingo" being tossed out. And it's fun to watch the other players with all their "let's say superstitions". Priceless entertainment.
 
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Car-Guy said:
It can be intimidating at first. But it takes less than 10 seconds to learn the simple pass line bets. (And that's all you need to "start" playing - you can pickup other betting options later) It's certainly the most energized table game at any Casino. Lot's of screaming, shouting and money and chips being thrown all over the table with all sorts of "lingo" being tossed out. And it's fun to watch the other players with all their "let's say superstitions". Priceless entertainment.
Click to expand...


Yup. Great entertainment. I love splashing my chips out on the table. Makes me feel important [emoji3]. Interaction with other players. With the dealers. Such a social game. And when it’s hot nothing better
 
When we lived in Reno, craps was my favorite game. There were a couple of spots in town that had 25 cent craps tables. Oh, we had some cheap fun there. Now all the tables are $5 or more and I've forgotten most of the odds bets.
 
Another thing is, many of the bigger Casino's will have instructional sessions on their table games. Either on closed circuit TV in the rooms and/or live at the tables, at specific times. If not, just look around on the Casino floor and find an open table where no one is playing and just ask the dealer. They'll be happy to teach you. (Seriously) Heck that's part of their job and they aren't doing anything anyway if no one is playing at their table.

If you ask they'll even tell you what bets are bad (higher risk) and which aren't as bad :) They want you to have a good time and win sometimes so you'll keep coming back. (And they know, the house wins in the end anyway, usually)


Another tidbit of info: If you play slots, anytime you win $1200 or more "on a single play/spin", they will hit with a W2G on the spot and take out state tax (if there is a state tax). Paying Federal tax is optional "at that time" but you will have to pay it later when you file your income tax return. Your choice.

W2G's are not issued for table games regardless how much you win on any single play or in total. :)
 
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Slightly off topic, but years ago on a trip to Vegas, our group came upon a casino table (black jack) designated for the beginner. It was early afternoon, so not a lot of players. We sat down and had a lot of fun. Dealer was a hoot. No problem with getting "advice" from your wife behind you. Don't know if casinos still do this, but it was fun. And yes, the casino got their share of our money.
 
To become proficient at black jack or poker takes more time than you’ve got. Even if you were exceptionally good, you could still lose your shirt in a couple rounds at either game.

I agree with the Craps suggestion. Don’t be intimidated by all the crazy bets others may be making. Have your own strategy and stick to it. A Simple strategy, the 6-8: make a pass line bet, take full odds, then place the 6&8. Sit back and holler. Heehaw.
 
I appreciate all of feedback. It does make me wonder how people do become proficient at a game like poker without first also going bankrupt lol
 
Can't help. I was cured of gambling when I was working at a summer camp as a counselor at 17. At night after the campers were in bed the counselors would get together in the mess hall. One night the (former) Baptist preacher who ran the camp taught us how to play Craps and wiped me out of all my pennies in less than 15 minutes. All I could think about was how quickly I was out of money.
Good luck in the casino. I hope you beat the odds and walk away with a load of money.

Cheers!
 
It just seems a lot of people enjoy this socially (and have for eons) with risking only whatever their chosen allotment is - but in the meantime, are having a good time.

Maybe they are all secretly miserable and losing their shirts lol
 
I'd say pick one game you think you'd like, learn it a bit, and set yourself a budget for acceptable loss - think of it as an entertainment expense.

I've done well in the 2 or 3 times I ever played blackjack. By well, I mean after a few hands, I realized I had enough profit for a new pair of shoes. So I stopped playing!

Know before you go how much you can lose, and how much is "enough" to win and leave.

The problem with most casinos nowadays I find is the minimum settings on a table. I don't want to have to play $20 a hand, I want to play $5, slow and steady.

Just because you have a casino also doesn't mean you have to play. My last few trips to Vegas I never so much as put a quarter in a slot machine.

Oh, and do bear in mind, most casinos are still very smoky. If that's a turn off, no game is fun.
 
I'll second Scarne, I found one of his books as a teen and it helped fuel my fascination with odds and probability, although I never implemented his rules at a casino.
 
It's helpful if you go into a Casino with the knowledge that every game of chance has odds that favor the House.

Baccarat and the roulette wheel are no place for a beginner. The Craps table has so many different betting angles that a novice will quickly be separated from his money.

Poker is a game of skill in addition to chance....and you are probably playing against guys who are more skilled than yourself.

The best odds are at the blackjack table. There are a few basic rules to learn -- Take a hit with Hard 11 or lower, Stand with Soft 19, Double down with 10 or 11 after checking Dealer's card. Basic Number stuff.
Find out how many Decks in the Shoe. Learn rudimentary card counting.

Or just pull a few Slot handles and then head to the Buffet.
 
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FiveDriver said:
The best odds are at the blackjack table.
Click to expand...

I believe the best odds are a pass line bet in craps taking full odds. Of course with all the other bets on the craps table screaming your name, it’s hard to just stick with a pass line bet. :)
 
I like poker, especially 7 card stud which used to be very popular but now it's seems they only have hold 'em. Tournaments are fun and since you can play for hours on like a $50 buy in, very cheap thrills.
 
Jerry1 said:
I believe the best odds are a pass line bet in craps taking full odds. Of course with all the other bets on the craps table screaming your name, it’s hard to just stick with a pass line bet. :)
Click to expand...


You are correct. On both counts. [emoji4]
 
FiveDriver said:
The best odds are at the blackjack table. There are a few basic rules to learn -- Take a hit with Hard 11 or lower, Stand with Soft 19, Double down with 10 or 11 after checking Dealer's card. Basic Number stuff.
Find out how many Decks in the Shoe. Learn rudimentary card counting.
Click to expand...
The odds between one black jack game and the next can differ to a considerable extent, depending on where the casino is located. On cruise ships, they often bastardized the game to such an extent the "basic strategy" table doesn't even work any more. Avoid any table that says "(colorful name) Blackjack", as it's only got the colorful name to help the casino get your money sooner. They have more subtle rules, like disallowing soft doubling and stuff like that. This is where a modern book would come in handy...you not only learn strategy for a particular set of rules, but you learn which games to walk away from without playing.

As to number of decks and card counting, those are really the old days, I think. You run into continuous shufflers, which obviously means counting is not useful. Or they have a six deck show and cut 2 decks. Again, card counting is not useful. If you get a handheld deck, which still exists some places, I think, they can deal you seconds all day and you'd never know it except that when the big bet is out there, you never get even the most common card that you need.
 
Jerry1 said:
I believe the best odds are a pass line bet in craps taking full odds. Of course with all the other bets on the craps table screaming your name, it’s hard to just stick with a pass line bet. :)
Click to expand...


I would say that the odds are very close. The title of this thread is --
Learning Casino Table Games - beginning level.

I'm not sure a beginning level gambler would know how to play the pass line. Counting to 21 would be an easier entry point.
 
FiveDriver said:
I would say that the odds are very close. The title of this thread is --
Learning Casino Table Games - beginning level.

I'm not sure a beginning level gambler would know how to play the pass line. Counting to 21 would be an easier entry point.
Click to expand...
Walk up to a Craps table and put a $5 chip on the pass line right in front of you on the start of a new round. Done!
 
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