jb

Last week we discussed Which Game to Play in our series about decisions. This week I am going to be discussing the value of knowing Where to Play.

If you've just tuned in, you can find last weeks discussion by reading to the bottom of this page and clicking on Past Tips, or by simply clicking the link below in the topics for discussion.

Where To Play?

The second decision we make is where to play. When I spent 2 or 3 nights a week in the casinos of Las Vegas I knew the shift boss for every card room where I played. Before I departed for a game, I called each of the casinos and got information on the games in progress, this allowed me to narrow my search. Now I surf to available poker sites and look for promising games. Interestingly at the site I enjoy the most, I barely break even. At the site I win the most, I don't have fun at all.

If you play for fun, pick a small, cozy, casino, "where everybody knows your name." You will often play with same people, and almost always have a good time. If you play well you should be able to pay expenses. If you play poorly, you won't lose much. Online, much of the personal touch is unavailable, but if you look for a site that has low limit games, where the players chat a lot, you should have a pretty good time. This usually means a small site with regular cliental. At large sites, you are just another avatar or nick in a crowd.

If you are playing for the money, you want to be in the big rooms also, but don't count out the small poker rooms. On the weekends small rooms can have some very lucrative games. On the weekend, always check the small two table rooms. You will find it lucrative, and fun. Online, look for the large rooms. Lots of poor competition, and lots of tables. Don't limit yourself to one site. Often due to time differences and other preferences, one site may be rocking in the afternoon, but dead in the evening. Know your sites, and check them regularly.

I cannot stress the importance of the day of the week when selecting a Casino, A poker room with the most lucrative games on the weekend can be a bankroll sinkhole Sunday night through Thursday morning. Another great indication is Casino promotions. Sometimes to increase traffic on weekdays, Casinos will run give-a-ways, cars, money, etc. On these days the poker rooms will often have some great games. In the past the Silver Star, in Mississippi , had drawings for cash on Wednesday night. The poker room on that night was great. Online, know when the site has its biggest tournaments. Before the tournament begins, many players will sit in other games. They are playing their best game as the practice for the tournament. After the Tournament has run for a while, many players will join another game. Often these players are on tilt and not playing their best game.