First live tournament tomorrow. Basic stuff?

Right cheers for all the advice, no headphones or mobile phone then.

So do I tip the dealers if I go out 1st hand? If I won (£1K) what would be the standard tip? if I come second (£600) what would the tip be?

Another three question. If I want to raise do I put my chips to call in first then put in how many I want to raise?

How do you lay your chips out when I put some in. If say I needed to call 5 chips and wanted to raise 14. Would I announce raise, put the 5 in then put the 14 in stacks of three with one stack of two to make it easy to count? Could putting them in in stacks like this be misconstrued as a string-bet?

It was said earlier the the peron who bet in the final round of betting flips over their cards. What if we check/check flop turn and river? Would we both just flip 'em?

just enjoy the experience, screwing up is how you learn right?

BlueNowhere said:

If I call someone and they muck instantly do i have to show my cards to take the pot? Once their cards hit the much they are dead so would the pot be awarded to me without me even needing to show?

Click to expand...

To win a hand in tournament poker you must show your cards. So yes, you still must reveal.

Another two questions as well:

Can I use a chip as a card protector?

Click to expand...

Yes

Can I say what I have in a hand whilst I'm thinking of calling or is that classed as an angleshoot/bad etiquette?

Click to expand...

If there is action yet to come then you may not reveal anything. It has to do with the rule that says you can't use/say anything which may change the action.

If you are last to act, with no action ahead of you, then you may show to get a read.

CAUTION: This specific move should be cleared with the dealer the first time as some casinos don't allow any showing.

F4STFORW4RD said:

The point of this is not to give any tells to the people playing before you about how good a hand you have.

Click to expand...

Actually, the reason for waiting, is to look at other players as they see their cards, for tells. Your cards aren't going anywhere. Use the time constructively. One particular trick for finding a novice used to be if they look right away. I'm finding that even good players do it nowadays.

BlueNowhere said:

Another three question. If I want to raise do I put my chips to call in first then put in how many I want to raise?

Click to expand...

No.. that could be construed as a string call.

Now... if you announce raise, then you may do it how you like.

I usually announce raise, then put in the call so the dealer can do his/her housework, then I put out the raise.

You may also sit quietly counting up your call and raise, and then put it all out. AT ONCE. Never make two moves with your bet or the first move will count only. Unless it's not enough, in which case the dealer will make you put the propper amount in.

Announce first and your safe. You don't have to announce the amount. Just the intention. Also, if you announce raise, you must raise.

It was said earlier the the person who bet in the final round of betting flips over their cards. What if we check/check flop turn and river? Would we both just flip 'em?

Click to expand...

Again, other than a showdown in which everybody flips... To win a hand, you gotta show your hand.


-

JusSumguy said:

To win a hand in tournament poker you must show your cards. So yes, you still must reveal.

-

Click to expand...

Only if it goes to showdown. Say if you bet the flop and everyone else folds you do not have to show (nor should you).

BlueNowhere said:

Right cheers for all the advice, no headphones or mobile phone then.

So do I tip the dealers if I go out 1st hand?
Nah, they'll forgive you.

If I won (£1K) what would be the standard tip?
if I come second (£600) what would the tip be?

Click to expand...

Ask the floor manager what is customary.
As someone mentioned earlier there could be a pre-tourney add-on. Like the last one I had was an HPT event and the dealer sells you another 1000 in chips for $10 (an offer difficult to refuse). That $10 goes into a kitty and is split amongst the dealers.

Some folks I play with go to the cashier before the tourney starts and buy a bunch of chips to use as tips during the course of the tourney. Use them when the dealer hooks you up with a really good hand or when you take down a good pot. 10 - £1 chips should do it.

Unless this is a weird practice in some other country, idunno... here in the USA, where poker was invented, we don't tip in tournaments.

I have absolutely never been in a tournament where anybody tips the dealer throughout the game.

This is a live game practice only.

The tournament chips don't even have any value. If you try to tip, everyone will laugh at you, and the dealer will return it to you. With a smile on her face.


-

JusSumguy said:

Unless this is a weird practice in some other country, idunno... here in the USA, where poker was invented, we don't tip in tournaments.

I have absolutely never been in a tournament where anybody tips the dealer throughout the game. It is rare but I've seen more than one person do it.

This is a live game practice only.

The tournament chips don't even have any value. If you try to tip, everyone will laugh at you, and the dealer will return it to you. With a smile on her face. I doubt the dealer would return a tip and no one is going to laugh - on the contrary it will more likely make them feel uncomfortable.

-

Click to expand...

Where do you play? How many different casinos have you played more than one tournament at? Obviously my experience is limited to just a few states but I've played multiple times at each location. To say you don't tip is one thing but to say it just isn't done is another.

http://www.pokerlistings.com/blog/poker-lifestyle/tournament-tipping-dont-stiff-your-dealers
http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/3832-tipping-in-poker-tournaments-part-i

JusSumguy said:

Unless this is a weird practice in some other country, idunno... here in the USA, where poker was invented, we don't tip in tournaments.

I have absolutely never been in a tournament where anybody tips the dealer throughout the game.

This is a live game practice only.

The tournament chips don't even have any value. If you try to tip, everyone will laugh at you, and the dealer will return it to you. With a smile on her face.


-

Click to expand...

I must be in a different country then, because I always tip. But at the end of the game, not during, you're right about not tipping during the tournament. If you cash, there's usually some paperwork, and the tournament director will often ask if you would like to leave something for dealers.

MediaBLITZ said:

Where do you play? How many different casinos have you played more than one tournament at? Obviously my experience is limited to just a few states but I've played multiple times at each location. To say you don't tip is one thing but to say it just isn't done is another.

http://www.pokerlistings.com/blog/poker-lifestyle/tournament-tipping-dont-stiff-your-dealers
http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/3832-tipping-in-poker-tournaments-part-i

Click to expand...

A few clubs in Vegas and petty much all the clubs in LA.

I've lost count on the total. Well over a hundred.

Never, ever seen someone tip the dealer in a tournament.


-

In the U.S. most dealers don't get paid or get paid less than minimum wage.

Juice is correct, at most big tournaments the TD asks you how much you'd like to tip the dealers. In smaller tournaments you just tip them yourself.

juiceeQ said:

you're right about not tipping during the tournament. If you cash, there's usually some paperwork, and the tournament director will often ask if you would like to leave something for dealers.

Click to expand...

So you know this by experience? You have seen someone attempt to tip during tourney and the dealer handed it back and the rest of table laughed at the guy? Is that what you are saying? My personal experience has actually seen people tip during the tournament (via cash chips) and no one laughed, the dealer said thank you and kept it and I felt uncomfortable.

Never had a TD ask me about leaving something for dealers (but those are never more than 100 players) - I've just gone back on my own after cashing. The best system I experienced for dealers happens after the heads up (or chops). Tourney is over and TD collects player cards and/or ID from players and then brings back the winnings in casino chips. The dealer distributes the winnings to the players in chips giving you an opportunity to tip the dealer on the spot.

I have never seen a player tip a dealer in a tournament - and I have played a lot of live tournaments in Vegas and in Biloxi. I have heard a discussion about it at the Aria - and do know if you want to do it you have to wait until the dealer leaves the table and you have to be discreet.

In every tournament I have ever cashed in at the Aria and at the Venetian they have told me when they paid me I can leave a tip for the staff if I want to take care of them. (and I have cashed in quite a few).

sick brag Dakota

Hehe - I have done very well in live tournaments.

MediaBLITZ said:

So you know this by experience? You have seen someone attempt to tip during tourney and the dealer handed it back and the rest of table laughed at the guy? Is that what you are saying? My personal experience has actually seen people tip during the tournament (via cash chips) and no one laughed, the dealer said thank you and kept it and I felt uncomfortable.

Never had a TD ask me about leaving something for dealers (but those are never more than 100 players) - I've just gone back on my own after cashing. The best system I experienced for dealers happens after the heads up (or chops). Tourney is over and TD collects player cards and/or ID from players and then brings back the winnings in casino chips. The dealer distributes the winnings to the players in chips giving you an opportunity to tip the dealer on the spot.

Click to expand...

Yes, I say that from experience. At first I thought you meant they threw a tournament chip, and yes, we would laugh it that were to happen. Now I see you meant cash chip, but I have still never seen that happen.

dakota-xx said:

I have never seen a player tip a dealer in a tournament - and I have played a lot of live tournaments in Vegas and in Biloxi. I have heard a discussion about it at the Aria - and do know if you want to do it you have to wait until the dealer leaves the table and you have to be discreet.

In every tournament I have ever cashed in at the Aria and at the Venetian they have told me when they paid me I can leave a tip for the staff if I want to take care of them. (and I have cashed in quite a few).

Click to expand...

So do you assume all casinos split tips between the dealers based on this experience?

My point is to find out what the custom is at where you are playing. There are no hard fast rules on tipping that blankets everywhere. To infer that because you have not experienced or witnessed something that it cannot be done is pretty short sighted.

MediaBLITZ said:

So do you assume all casinos split tips between the dealers based on this experience?

My point is to find out what the custom is at where you are playing. There are no hard fast rules on tipping that blankets everywhere. To infer that because you have not experienced or witnessed something that it cannot be done is pretty short sighted.

Click to expand...

All casinos??? Never said that - clearly stated which casinos I have played at the most. Though I would assume that a lot do it that way since that is how it has been done in every one I have ever played at. I am sure there are some exceptions somewhere.

I think if I cash I'll ask the floor staff what would be customary.

JusSumguy said:

I have absolutely never been in a tournament where anybody tips the dealer throughout the game.

Click to expand...

Me neither.

F4STFORW4RD said:

Me neither.

Click to expand...

And there was a time I could have said the same thing. Now I've seen two different people do it. No one laughed, the dealer said thank you and accepted it and the rest of table looked around at each other in an uncomfortable manner (including me) and play resumed. Being distanced from it (haven't seen it again in awhile) I think it was a helluva nice gesture - especially considering that at this particular casino the tournament dealers (who are also the cash dealers) do not split tips on tourneys.
One time I went the distance in a tourney that ran particularly long and apparently ran past quitting time for the last dealer (me and another player went head to head for a couple hours). So a dealer who just came on shift came in and dealt for about ten minutes before it was over. I'll just say my tip would have been considerably larger for a dealer who actually worked the whole tournament than one who lucked into the chance of being there at the end for a few hands - or if the dealers split up the tips between them.
There are lot of different ways to tip and I'm sure the dealers could care less what or how you do it as long as they get a little somethin, somethin.

So Blue, how did it go?

I don't understand why everyone gets in a huff about asking to see mucked hands. If you have paid to be in the showdown, then you technically must show. Mucking a showdown hand is affected behavior.
Seeing hole cards allows you to see what kind of range someone is playing, and that's an advantage that I can legally have. I don't see why people get so pissy about this. They have no real basis grounded in any rules for being mad.

Tim3254 said:

I don't understand why everyone gets in a huff about asking to see mucked hands. If you have paid to be in the showdown, then you technically must show. Mucking a showdown hand is affected behavior.
Seeing hole cards allows you to see what kind of range someone is playing, and that's an advantage that I can legally have. I don't see why people get so pissy about this. They have no real basis grounded in any rules for being mad.

Click to expand...

-

Tim3254 said:

Seeing hole cards allows you to see what kind of range someone is playing, and that's an advantage that I can legally have. I don't see why people get so pissy about this. They have no real basis grounded in any rules for being mad.

Click to expand...

There's nothing in poker that gives you the right to know what range someone is playing.

Also, 99% of the time I have seen someone ask to see mucked cards, the information was never going to help them.