Play scared poker (above average) or play table games?

Yanko57 · Dec 30, 2025

For my fist casino of the year next tuesday, I can't logically choose what I'm going to play... I know I'll have less money to spend, but the fact is I made 460$ profit last time I played poker (1/2$ table).

I know all there is to know about Black Jack/roulette/craps and I can certainly bet on the house on EZ baccarat.

150$ dollars to spend. What would be your choice if you were me?

SpanRmonka · Dec 30, 2025

Poker all the way for me, all the other games are just gambling

burba · Dec 30, 2025

With $150, I’d personally stick to poker — even if that means playing a bit tighter than usual.

In table games you already know the math is against you. Even if you play perfectly in blackjack or bet banker in EZ baccarat, you’re still just buying variance and entertainment. The ceiling is low and the long-term result is fixed.

At a $1/$2 poker table, $150 is short, but it’s at least a game where your decisions matter and you can leave as soon as things go well or bad. If you’re comfortable playing a disciplined, small stack and picking good spots, you give yourself a real chance to walk away ahead.

That said, I’d also set a hard stop: if the $150 is gone, that’s the night. No chasing it in table games afterward.

So if I were you: poker first, table games only if you’re okay treating the money as pure entertainment.

najisami · Dec 30, 2025

Yanko57 said:
150$ dollars to spend. What would be your choice if you were me?

Hey Yannick,
My choice would certainly be poker. The only thing that I don't like is sitting at a table with less than the max buy-in. In a $1/$2 game, I think it's $300, unless it's different where you are going.

That said, if you're comfortable playing short right of the bat, you can sit and plan to be there for a long while. You can also try to find a table where most stacks are relatively short. But if you're going to play seriously, I'd recommend buying for the max, I know you're good enough to make it work. Worse come to worse, you can always get up with $150. Not what I hope for though.

Best of luck bro, let us know how it went.

MK_ · Dec 31, 2025

I would say poker, blackjack or baccarat if you want to make money,

the other games are just for fun.. but a little fun is allowed too👍

TheniT · Dec 31, 2025

With that amount of money I could play poker and certainly multiply that amount in a short time; in other games I would lose everything.

enno · Dec 31, 2025

What would you rather do - play poker where the odds can be in your favour at times, or play table games against the house where the odds are never in your favour?

Poker Orifice · Dec 31, 2025

$150 on Red. If I win, I go play poker.

sibkaz · Dec 31, 2025

Think about it... A lot of people know how to play poker... But few people can win) I am personally for professionalism in everything! )))

Yanko57 · Dec 31, 2025

Poker Orifice said:
$150 on Red. If I win, I go play poker.

That was actually my first thought but on EZ Baccarat House instead of red. Better odds.

Yanko57 · Dec 31, 2025

enno said:
What would you rather do - play poker where the odds can be in your favour at times, or play table games against the house where the odds are never in your favour?

I'm the kind of guy who NEVER stays on table games to lower the odds of the house... Long-term odds don't get me as much (but I still understand house have an edge).

Four Dogs · Dec 31, 2025

Honestly, if you know how to play blackjack well, the house advantage might be less than the trying to beat the rake at 1/2nl.

Yanko57 · Dec 31, 2025

Four Dogs said:
Honestly, if you know how to play blackjack well, the house advantage might be less than the trying to beat the rake at 1/2nl.

True. But at my local Casino, the amount of fish lower the impact of rake

But bad beats might kill me too...

neverbluff0799 · Dec 31, 2025

With poker if your playing good you will print money long term when casino games are made to vaccum your pockets.

Shadow6969 · Dec 31, 2025

If it were me, I’d stick with $1/$2 poker. It’s the only game where skill beats the house, and you’ve already shown you can win there. With a $150 bankroll, poker gives you time, control, and real upside.
If you want some fun on the side, maybe set aside $20–30 for table games and treat it as entertainment.
Otherwise, logically speaking: poker first, everything else second.

TeUnit · Jan 1, 2026

The house almost always has the edge in casino games, so I rather play poker.

belizebum · Jan 1, 2026

You are great at poker, you love it...there is your answer. Go kick some butt.

Yanko57 · Jan 5, 2026

belizebum said:
You are great at poker, you love it...there is your answer. Go kick some butt.

Tomorrow I'm kicking butt Nicole. LFG!!!!

Yanko57 · Jan 6, 2026

I had pocket 33, bord jj36. We went all in, opponent had jt. Guess what came on the river...

SpanRmonka · Jan 6, 2026

Yanko57 said:
I had pocket 33, bord jj36. We went all in, opponent had jt. Guess what came on the river...

Poker like that IS scary!!! Unlucky mate, hopefully you still had some fun!!

Yanko57 · Jan 6, 2026

For 5 hands max, yes...

SpanRmonka said:
Poker like that IS scary!!! Unlucky mate, hopefully you still had some fun!!

ATL2000 · Jan 6, 2026

Unless you are willing to make big bets compared to the size of your roll ($150), then you are better off playing poker if the goal is to see some real profit.

Otherwise you are just grinding away at something like blackjack, where you are making $5 or $10 bets and giving up a 1-2% edge to the house on every wager.

Mario7 · Jan 6, 2026

Well it depends - if you want a realistic chance to win, poker seems the only choice. If you just want to spend money for fun - play whatever you feel gives you the most fun.

Sunz of Beaches · Jan 8, 2026

This would be an easy choice for me and it would be definitely be poker. Maybe go at another time to the casino if you not have enough money to spend there?

bol · Tuesday at 7:00 PM

Yanko57 said:
For my fist casino of the year next tuesday, I can't logically choose what I'm going to play... I know I'll have less money to spend, but the fact is I made 460$ profit last time I played poker (1/2$ table).

I know all there is to know about Black Jack/roulette/craps and I can certainly bet on the house on EZ Baccarat.

150$ dollars to spend. What would be your choice if you were me?

Honestly, if you already crushed the 1/2 poker table last time, I’d probably stick with poker for most of the session and maybe keep a small side bankroll for table games later in the night. With $150, poker at least gives you some level of control compared to pure house-edge games.

If you do jump onto casino tables, I’d personally lean blackjack or baccarat over roulette/craps just for bankroll longevity. EZ Baccarat can actually be pretty chill if you avoid chasing side bets. I was reading through some table game breakdowns here https://www.pokerlistings.com/casino-games/table-games recently and it’s a good reminder how much variance changes depending on the game and bet selection.

Main thing is probably deciding whether you want the best chance to grind for hours or take a shot at a bigger quick win. Those usually lead to very different choices.

Sunz of Beaches said:
This would be an easy choice for me and it would be definitely be poker. Maybe go at another time to the casino if you not have enough money to spend there?

Yeah, honestly poker makes the most sense here, especially since he already proved he can profit at those stakes. With only $150, table games can burn through the bankroll surprisingly fast if variance turns against you early.

And I agree with your second point too- sometimes the smartest move is just waiting until you’ve got a bigger budget so you can actually enjoy the session instead of feeling pressured by every hand or spin.

Play scared poker (above average) or play table games?

Yanko57

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