Underground card rooms

[PokerEveryDay]

I'm not new to these rooms but I generally stay away from them. However, with one near by, and since I know one of the dealers, I decided against my own judgement to check it out. Regardless of the stakes, it's the garbage that gets attracted to these types of games. BUT, there are some people who are very cool. The main issue I have is my own security. First, it's illegal, second, you have no protection if something goes bad. It would be nice to know everything would be OK, but I doubt it. So my question is to those people who are participating in these games, how do feel about it?

Thanks

[jba]

in my humble opinion, it's just like every poker game: I'm probably gonna win, but there's always always always a chance I'll come home with empty pockets and a bad beat story.

[PokerEveryDay]

I'm mostly asking about how you guys feel about even playing in these card rooms, not winning or losing.

[sweet_bro]

hey bro not trying to be a downer on you or anything, but the guy was speaking in metaphors bro. like...my arms are guns bro. bad beat meaning beat down and money gone or club got raided or something. hopefully youll stay sweet though.

[TMTTR]

There are many negatives to playing in "unofficial" card rooms. The biggest positive is the convenience of having a regular game at a location closer than your nearest Indian reservation or riverboat.

I wouldn't be walking into one of these rooms with my entire bankroll in my pocket, but you need to judge the security arrangements and reputation of each room and remember that life is full of risk.

Also, I have found as much "garbage" in legitimate casino card rooms as I have found in local card rooms.

[RR]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I have found as much "garbage" in legitimate casino card rooms as I have found in local card rooms.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is very true. If you can find a well managed club the experience could very well be better than a casino. In a club everyone working there relies on the game to get paid (unlike in a casino where the staff often has an incentive for games to break), so they will provide the best experience they can.

Some clubs have snatch games etc, so you really have find out what you can and then keep your eyes open and if somethign doesn't seem right get out.

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm mostly asking about how you guys feel about even playing in these card rooms, not winning or losing.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah that's what I'm talking about too.

I play in one of these clubs all the time, and it isn't exactly in the nicest neighborhood in the world. every night when I leave there is a greater than zero chance I get mugged and lose every cent in my pocket. there's a much, much greater chance that I take every night at the tables that I lose every cent. point being, the mugging/raid isn't my biggest risk by a long shot.

and for some reason I feel like there's less of a chance of me getting killed than usual. figure the mugger will be too excited over his unexpected score to kill me.

[DayTripping]

Best thing about the underground rooms is that they're a great place to be during nuclear fallout.

[canis582]

"Some clubs have snatch games etc, so you really have find out what you can and then keep your eyes open and if somethign doesn't seem right get out."

Like the dealer snatches red birds out of the pot?

[RR]

[ QUOTE ]
"Some clubs have snatch games etc, so you really have find out what you can and then keep your eyes open and if somethign doesn't seem right get out."

Like the dealer snatches red birds out of the pot?

[/ QUOTE ]

That is one of the things that occurs in a snatch game. That really refers to the house takes as much out of the pot as they can. A common practice in Columbus Oh is to drop 6 chips for the advertised $6 rake, but they often pinch 4 $5 chips between 2 $1 chips so it looks like they are taking $6. Another common practice is to take the rake on the flop, again on the turn, and maybe even again on the river if it is a really big pot.

[graydot]

Most underground clubs here were rake free. Just time based

[thatpfunk]

how does one find underground games, specifically in san diego?

[megabit]

[ QUOTE ]
how does one find underground games, specifically in san diego?

[/ QUOTE ]
I can't say they don't exists in SD, but with as much legal poker as we have I would lay odds that they are few and far between compared to some place with no legal poker rooms.

[JacksonTens]

Where I live there are no underground games per se. Just coffe shops and clubs. I'm assuming we're on the same page.

JT /images/graemlins/club.gif

[BriMc]

I play in a private club a few days a week. I know everyone there, including ownership. They are professional, run the place very well and everything is on the up and up. Time charge only, no rake, tournament pots are never pinched. Floor rulings are fair and unbiased. If someone gets out of line or is caught cheating, they're 86'd, no second chances. They are in a decent, well maintained, non descript office building with security, in a decent part of town. Never been robbed, never been busted. Find a place like this to play in and you'll have nothing to worry about.

[Death Valley]

I doubt there will be anyone who does not agree.... The Borgata easily has the best underground card room on the East Coast /images/graemlins/laugh.gif