Poker Tips

If you've ever spent any time in a casino, you know that getting a hold of a waitress is nigh impossible. That's why it's a good idea to come prepared and supplied for your next casino-based tournament. Weariness and fatigue, which are unavoidable, can quickly cramp your game, and the best defense is to renew your body's energy stores throughout the day. Don't go so far as packing an ice chest, but bring a small bag with a couple bottles of water and a handful of granola or energy bars. Most tournaments will have concessions, but leaving the table means you're missing hands, and the breaks are few and far between. Make sure you visit the complimentary concession bar during those breaks and snag a few refreshments to carry back with you. Often the casino will have free gifts for entrants which are sometimes packed with trail mix, peanuts, and mints. Eating at the table isn't out of line, but try to be somewhat discreet.

When peaking at your hole cards, turn them sideways one on top of the other. Then tilt the front right corner toward you at a 45-degree angle. From there you can lift that same corner and spread the cards slightly to view both card values at the same time and with minimum exposure to your opponents. This works best because the card values are printed on the top left and bottom right corners. If you look at your cards from any other angle, you'll wind up looking at the non-printed corners and have to lift your cards higher to see their values.