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Server Time: 1/8/2009 9:41:25 AM PACIFIC |
 Railbird in crowded room with no "rails"?, Guy F, 21. Dec 2003 18:32 | ||
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| Okay, so I'm gradually getting more confident playing online (read: win more than I lose, venturing out of micro limits). I can now see a time - still out on the horizon, but visible - when I'll want to play in live games here in Phoenix. All the authors seem to agree that picking the right table to sit at is crucial to success in a given session, and recommend patiently watching them until you spot one that looks like a lucrative fit to your style. I've found this to be quite true of online poker as well, although with people coming and going so often a good table doesn't last long. So, I set off on a "recce", as the Brits say, to scope out a real room to watch other people play for a while. In hindsight, I don't know what I was expecting but what I saw made perfect sense from a business perspecive. It's a big, open box - a Walmart sized space with felt tables pushed closer together than dining tables at Denny's. Of course. Minimize overhead, maximize the use of available space. What else would it be? (As an aside, God or Allah or Buddha or Yahweh bless whoever segregated the poker tables from the slots, and made the room nonsmoking. You need a friggin' hazmat suit to stumble through the slots area.) So I'm sort of wandering around slowly, feeling very much like a cat burglar casing a joint, or a spy, or whatever ridiculous romantic thought I was entertaining at the time. Nobody knew what I was up to - except that when I stopped to watch a table for a while everyone stared back at me like I was trying to crash a Skull And Bones meeting. Yeah, real stealthy! Blended right in, I did, except for the rather obvious fact that I was the only person standing and not playing. I couldn't have been more conspicuous if I was Manut Bol in Kyoto. So my question is, how the heck do you watch a game in a room where the tables are stacked so closely that people's elbows are almost literally bumping, ummm, sensitive anatomical areas of someone who is watching? Is this just the brave new world of card rooms: stuff as many players as the laws of physics will allow in the smallest possible area? I can't say I'd blame a tribe or company for doing it that way - they're in business and lookie-lou's don't add to the revenue. But it seems like this kills a prime learning resource, no? I'd like to scope it out more, but it looks like I need to bring a lifeguard's tall seat and a set of binoculars next time. | ||
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| Re: Railbird in crowded room with no "rails"?, Palinya, 24. Dec 2003 09:31 | ||
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| Sounds like you are describing Casino Arizona. That's where I play when I play B&M. Anyway, most of the time you get put on a list and they seat you when they get a spot so it's not like you are choosing your table much anyway. At the lower limit tables there are enough bad players at pretty much any table that you don't really have to be that selective anyway. I'm not sure you can be too selective about your table. Instead just sit down where they put you. If the competition is fierce there you can request a table change and if you play tight you shouldn't lose much if anything no matter who is at the table while you wait for a different table. I think table selection can be about recognizing you can't beat a table and leaving, not neccessarily scoping it out before sitting down. I could be wrong though, I mostly play internet... | ||
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| Re: Railbird in crowded room with no "rails"?, MozMan, 24. Dec 2003 10:09 | ||
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| Yeah, it definitely sounds like CAZ. I play there regularly. The new room is actually an improvement. At the old joint, you couldn't even get between the tables without turning sideways and getting up on your toes to keep your butt from hitting a chair. Anyway, what you say is correct: from 6/12 on down, the games are loose enough that you can turn a profit at just about any table with the proper play. When you get into the higher games (10/20, 20/40 and up) there are normally only one table of each playing, so you can watch them a little before putting yourself on the list. They will also allow you list for more than one game, so you could put yourself on several lists, then turn down the games you don't want when seats open. -Moz -"I'm jealous of girls, because they get to wear dresses." -"One problem at a time, son." | ||
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| Re: Railbird in crowded room with no "rails"?, FeliciaLee, 24. Dec 2003 10:10 | ||
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| Great post, Guy! I love your sense of humor. As you get more aquainted with B&M's, you'll feel more comfortable. The first visit is always the worst. Later, you'll slide in and out of those cramped up tables like the sneakiest of snakes. People will get used to you, and not only ignore that you are sweating their table, but actually invite you to sit behind them and sweat their hole cards. You'll make friends, in the poker sense of the word, and feel welcome. Most poker players are a little introverted, so you might have to force yourself to get to know some people, but you will, in time, even if you are shy. Soon, the most intimidating poker rooms will feel like home, and you'll learn how to sweat tables without being seen. The only places I know that forbid observers are in the high limit areas, like at Bellagio and the Bike. For an experienced poker player, used to being incognito (not being "seen," but hearing and seeing all things), you might even sneak in some sweats at high limit games. Poker players learn to "blend" well after a time. Enjoy this fun, exciting, new feeling. It won't last, lol, and then you'll wish you had the initial excitement again! Felicia :) My Poker Journal: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FeliciaLee | ||
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| Re: Railbird in crowded room with no "rails"?, Guy F, 24. Dec 2003 16:43 | ||
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| Thanks to all for the encouragement - you'll be raking in my chips soon enough :-). Like Palinya, though, I expect the majority of my play will stay online. It's just easier to sit in the den in my underwear (sorry - I guess you really didn't need that image) than to drive 30 miles and pay an hourly rake. A thought occurred to me that an interesting way to jump in "the first time" might be in Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Clearly Vegas is filled with professional sharks and barracuda, and I expect they'll all be in a feeding frenzy with the school of a quarter million fish swimming in for CES. With so many poker newbies drunk and on expense accounts, one more bozo who'd never played live before probably wouldn't burden a table but incrementally, and by simply staying sober and observant I wouldn't be the worst fish there. Hmmmm. I'll let you know if I chicken out or not. Felicia, I love those journal entries you post. They read like mini-novels and the narrative is so descriptive that I can picture the places and people. Terrific stuff. I'll have to wander over to the river one of these days and see if I can spot you from the descriptions. | ||
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| Re: Railbird in crowded room with no "rails"?, FeliciaLee, 24. Dec 2003 22:44 | ||
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| Thanks, Guy. I try hard to make my stories interesting. I never play in a poker game with people who are dull, everyone has a tale to tell. Hmm, I'll go try to post my pic in Angel's thread. I don't know if it will work, but I'll try it out. Felicia :) My Poker Journal: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FeliciaLee <<Felicia, I love those journal entries you post. They read like mini-novels and the narrative is so descriptive that I can picture the places and people. Terrific stuff. I'll have to wander over to the river one of these days and see if I can spot you from the descriptions.>> | ||
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| Re: Railbird in crowded room with no "rails"?, timmer, 25. Dec 2003 00:24 | ||
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| Best way I know to sweat a high limit game is to know someone there. Just dont bug them when they are in a hand or consentrating on somthing. And dont run off at the mouth. I think most high limit players are more worried about some one railbirding or stealing their chips ( the real definition of railbirding) In to days casinos that is quite unlikely given the security of the place. But then again big gamblers can be pretty snotty sometimes | ||
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