Noob's first live outing, complete misfire at The Bike

[DeadLily]

I suppose perhaps this should go in the Beginner's Forum, but this one seems more appropriate. Mods, move it if you must.

I finally decided to play live casino poker after playing online and with friends for about a year. I set my sights on NLHE 1/2 with no straddle. NLHE because that's the game I know, and 1/2/no straddle because that's what I can afford. I live in LA, so with the help of this page it seemed like The Bike was the place to go. I've been to a tournament at Hollywood Park, but the place is kinda seedy, and I'm not interested in going back.

So on a Sunday afternoon, I trot out to The Bicycle Casino. A helpful staff person pointed me to the lowstakes counter to sign up. I step on up, and tell the guy I want to play 1-2 no limit hold-em, and he looks at me like I asked him where they frosted the donuts. He says the 1-2 tables were limit, and that there's a 40 no limit game [over there somewhere]. There's no 1-2 NLHE. I asked if there was *ever* 1-2 NLHE, and he says no, just the 40 NLHE [over there]. That seemed to be the end of it, so I left.

So that's my first outing in LA to play live. What went wrong? Is there in fact no 1/2 NLHE at the Bike? Did I say it wrong? Is there a password? Wrong time of day?

[scott1]

http://poker.wikia.com/wiki/Bicycle

Looks like you were looking for 2/3 NL. Not a very helpful employee.

[EWillers]

In the tradion of using the definite article when referring to highways, most (if not all) of California insists on naming their no-limit games by the min/max buy-in NOT by the blinds.

Thus a NL game with 1 and 2 dollar blinds that has a min/max buy in of $100 would be called "100". I had the same problem the only time I played at Commerce. I went there seeking the 5/10, the game so loose and juicy it's akin to the Seven Cities of Gold, and the floor gave me the "donut look" of which you speak. After a very awkward time, a translation was made. As it turns out, I was not looking for "5/10" but, in fact, for "400".

[Dennisa]

Sounds like a Laurel and Hardy sketch.

NL 100 is played at the Bike with $2 &$3 blinds. Its a yellow chip game ($5)
NL 80 is played with $1 & $3 blinds and is a blue chip game
NL 40 is played with $1 & $2 blinds and is also a blue chip game.

[DeadLily]

[ QUOTE ]
NL 40 is played with $1 & $2 blinds and is also a blue chip game.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is exactly what I was looking for. Am I supposed to say "I want to play 40 no limit hold em"? Do I ask the guy in the corner near the entrance, or the woman at the large raised area in the middle?

[AngusThermopyle]

[ QUOTE ]
Am I supposed to say "I want to play at a no limit hold em table with $1 and $2 blinds"?

[/ QUOTE ]

[redfisher]

[ QUOTE ]
http://poker.wikia.com/wiki/Bicycle

Looks like you were looking for 2/3 NL. Not a very helpful employee.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you care about improving poker at the Bike, make a formal complaint to the manager of poker room. There's no excuse for them not being able to figure out what you want when you ask for a 1/2 game.

[Dennisa]

Board people in LA are mostly break ins and may possibly be not too familiar with poker in general. NL games are called by the buyins here. They should know what 1/2 NL is, but most do not have English as a first language so I can see problems arise.

[pig4bill]

[ QUOTE ]
In the tradion of using the definite article when referring to highways, most (if not all) of Southern California insists on naming their no-limit games by the min/max buy-in NOT by the blinds.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

It's always a source of amusement when someone from down south comes up to NorCal and asks for the 100 list. Even funnier when they try to buy in to the 100/200 limit game with a c-note.

[sternroolz]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
NL 40 is played with $1 & $2 blinds and is also a blue chip game.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is exactly what I was looking for. Am I supposed to say "I want to play 40 no limit hold em"? Do I ask the guy in the corner near the entrance, or the woman at the large raised area in the middle?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ask to play the $40. It's retarded, but thats the way it is. Don't do it in Vegas though.

BTW, at those stakes, why not gather a group of friends, lower the blinds to $0.25-0.50, and play a real game without donating to the house? I understand wanting to play at a casino, but don't get playing at a game with lower than $100 buy in.