Monday, March 26, 2018
Thursday, March 15, 2018
MY 4697th DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked 8 Hrs.
March Madness is officially in Vegas! Loads of gamblers descend to Sin City drinking, betting, cheering, and Crying as they watch the college basketball tournaments. Next to the Super Bowl, March Madness is the busiest time for gamblers! As a dealer it's fun cause it's out chance to make money..work and you have to take advantage.
The problem is you get players not paying attention to the game cause they are watching their bets and sometimes it gets frustrating but it's something you have to live with. Lots of people acting out of turn. Lots of bad play..and most of all....its a gamblers paradise!
I'm off the next two days while I enjoy March Madness...maybe I'll get into one these juicy games!
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
MY 4696th DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked 6.5 Hrs.
Today I made a cardinal dealing mistake of not picking up a toke....
Dealt this huge hand...pot was probably 400 bucks...So after the hand was over, the guy that won tossed two bucks as a tip my way before I pushed the pot. We're taught as dealers to not pick up a toke until the pot is pushed, so I put the two bucks on top on the winning hand. As I was pushing the pot, the players picked up the two bucks from on top of the hand...oh no!!! The mistake I made was keeping the winning hand near him, because i'm sure he thought it was part of the pot...oh well.. Live and learn..I should have after 12 years of dealing, right??
Today I made a cardinal dealing mistake of not picking up a toke....
Dealt this huge hand...pot was probably 400 bucks...So after the hand was over, the guy that won tossed two bucks as a tip my way before I pushed the pot. We're taught as dealers to not pick up a toke until the pot is pushed, so I put the two bucks on top on the winning hand. As I was pushing the pot, the players picked up the two bucks from on top of the hand...oh no!!! The mistake I made was keeping the winning hand near him, because i'm sure he thought it was part of the pot...oh well.. Live and learn..I should have after 12 years of dealing, right??
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
MY 4695th DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked: 5Hrs
Today is Tuesday. Very slow at work. It really sucks to have a conference held in the casino I work at and either they a) don't gamble or b) the conference is held during my work hours. Anyway, I spent most of the day talking to the other dealers about thinks unrelated to poker...Richard Sherman (former Seattle Seahawks cornerback) signing with their arch rival 49ers..talking to another dealer about her upcoming trip to the Philippines..giving advice of what and where to go.
In slow times like this...you just have to kill time somehow...
Today is Tuesday. Very slow at work. It really sucks to have a conference held in the casino I work at and either they a) don't gamble or b) the conference is held during my work hours. Anyway, I spent most of the day talking to the other dealers about thinks unrelated to poker...Richard Sherman (former Seattle Seahawks cornerback) signing with their arch rival 49ers..talking to another dealer about her upcoming trip to the Philippines..giving advice of what and where to go.
In slow times like this...you just have to kill time somehow...
Monday, March 12, 2018
MY 4694th DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked 7 Hrs.
Two stories from the felt.
Was dealing a tournament and we had a lady whisper in my ear, "Are there any cheaper tournaments around here" Mind you, our tournament was only $75. Then she went to be very grumpy as she couldn't win one hand...Listen, if you're worried about spending $75...you probably shouldn't be gambling.
Had a player get angry with me during another tournament, claiming he didn't "Check" as he constantly tapped his chips. When I called him on it, he pretty much yelled at me for doing my job...geez!!!
Two stories from the felt.
Was dealing a tournament and we had a lady whisper in my ear, "Are there any cheaper tournaments around here" Mind you, our tournament was only $75. Then she went to be very grumpy as she couldn't win one hand...Listen, if you're worried about spending $75...you probably shouldn't be gambling.
Had a player get angry with me during another tournament, claiming he didn't "Check" as he constantly tapped his chips. When I called him on it, he pretty much yelled at me for doing my job...geez!!!
MY 4693rd DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked 6.5 Hrs
Little late on this blog as I had to pick up step daughter at the airport at midnight...
Slow start...but it picked up...Thinking about life most of day. When you're slow you have lot of time to think about other things. Mostly eBay trying to get that work..
In the workfront, had a nice mix of locals, tourists, good players, and bad players...made for some really good game..
Probably gonna pick up as March Madness closes in..
Little late on this blog as I had to pick up step daughter at the airport at midnight...
Slow start...but it picked up...Thinking about life most of day. When you're slow you have lot of time to think about other things. Mostly eBay trying to get that work..
In the workfront, had a nice mix of locals, tourists, good players, and bad players...made for some really good game..
Probably gonna pick up as March Madness closes in..
Thursday, March 8, 2018
MY 4690th DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked 6.5 Hrs
The end of the workweek say an uptick in business. I think the convention in our casino ended the Day before cause we saw a lot of new faces ready to gamble it up. As a result I worked a little more steady.
Throughout the week, it was scary slow to the point where sometimes I was doubting my time as a poker dealer, but it's just the ebbs and flows of dealing in Las Vegas. Your slow...your busy...you just have to ride the way no matter what it is...
I have the next two days off...will be back on Sunday!!
The end of the workweek say an uptick in business. I think the convention in our casino ended the Day before cause we saw a lot of new faces ready to gamble it up. As a result I worked a little more steady.
Throughout the week, it was scary slow to the point where sometimes I was doubting my time as a poker dealer, but it's just the ebbs and flows of dealing in Las Vegas. Your slow...your busy...you just have to ride the way no matter what it is...
I have the next two days off...will be back on Sunday!!
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
MY 4689th DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked 6.5 Hours
Another slow start to my shift...picked up a little later on, mainly with our tournaments.
When dealing a cash game the most frustrated aspect is when you have someone holding up the game, whether they're not paying attention or acting too slow. In the poker dealer business...time is money...more hands more money. But when you have TWO people slowing the game down, not only is your game slow, you're not making any money..it's something I normally don't deal on day shirt. This is more of a problem on graveyard. When it happens on days, it's very frustrating...
So The money didn't flow my way today...oh well.. it's part of the job I hate but I am used too..
Another slow start to my shift...picked up a little later on, mainly with our tournaments.
When dealing a cash game the most frustrated aspect is when you have someone holding up the game, whether they're not paying attention or acting too slow. In the poker dealer business...time is money...more hands more money. But when you have TWO people slowing the game down, not only is your game slow, you're not making any money..it's something I normally don't deal on day shirt. This is more of a problem on graveyard. When it happens on days, it's very frustrating...
So The money didn't flow my way today...oh well.. it's part of the job I hate but I am used too..
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
MY 4688th DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked 3Hrs
Very slow day...nothing more to say...
Today's blog I wanted to address the passing of Paul Magriel.
If you've played low No Limit Hold Em in Las Vegas with any frequency, you've see Paul "X22" Magriel grinding these stakes. He's been doing it for as long as I've been dealing.
I've dealt to Paul Magriel many times! He's been a frequent visitor in our poker room for years. He's known the Quack Quack for deuces and betting in increments of 22. He's also a very eccentric character in the Las Vegas poker scene with his facial tics to his many idiosyncrasys.
Those who knew Paul Magriel as the father of Backgammon..having written of the bible of the game and won many tournaments. He's considered one of the greatest backgammon players in the world.
It's so weird and surreal, because Paul Magriel was just in our room last week grinding our 2-3 No Limit game..He was his usual self....his facial tics and idiosyncrasys at full effect but at the same time...he was brilliant at the game of poker...I love watching him play and tried to pick up a few pointers using some his tactics in my game.
Ironically, the last image of Magriel was of him taking a picture with one of the players...it was something I never saw him do...he was smiling..he seems content....he seemed happy....
I'm going to keep that image of him on my mind....that's what I want to remember him
RIP QUACK QUACK
Very slow day...nothing more to say...
Today's blog I wanted to address the passing of Paul Magriel.
If you've played low No Limit Hold Em in Las Vegas with any frequency, you've see Paul "X22" Magriel grinding these stakes. He's been doing it for as long as I've been dealing.
I've dealt to Paul Magriel many times! He's been a frequent visitor in our poker room for years. He's known the Quack Quack for deuces and betting in increments of 22. He's also a very eccentric character in the Las Vegas poker scene with his facial tics to his many idiosyncrasys.
Those who knew Paul Magriel as the father of Backgammon..having written of the bible of the game and won many tournaments. He's considered one of the greatest backgammon players in the world.
It's so weird and surreal, because Paul Magriel was just in our room last week grinding our 2-3 No Limit game..He was his usual self....his facial tics and idiosyncrasys at full effect but at the same time...he was brilliant at the game of poker...I love watching him play and tried to pick up a few pointers using some his tactics in my game.
Ironically, the last image of Magriel was of him taking a picture with one of the players...it was something I never saw him do...he was smiling..he seems content....he seemed happy....
I'm going to keep that image of him on my mind....that's what I want to remember him
RIP QUACK QUACK
Monday, March 5, 2018
MY 4687th DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked: 8hrs
Our job as poker dealers is a thankless job. You get no credit when you do a good job, and get blamed when something goes wrong. We remain anonymous faces as we shuffle and deal the cards....yes it is a thankless job.
Sometimes, however, you get a glimpse of hope that maybe there is an appreciation of what you do..today i got a little bit of it.
I was standing, talking to another dealer, when a player (whom has been playing in our room for years) came up to us and explained that's he's been playing on other Las Vegas Poker rooms the past few days, and hasn't been impressed with how those rooms were run. He went out to get our room and our staff high praise for our professionalism and high standards. He says that's why he continues to always play in our room whenever he visits. We thanked him for his kind words. As he went back to the table, I thought...sometimes...this job is worth it! We do have an impact on these players.....
And we're not just anonymous faces...it's a satisfying feeling....
Our job as poker dealers is a thankless job. You get no credit when you do a good job, and get blamed when something goes wrong. We remain anonymous faces as we shuffle and deal the cards....yes it is a thankless job.
Sometimes, however, you get a glimpse of hope that maybe there is an appreciation of what you do..today i got a little bit of it.
I was standing, talking to another dealer, when a player (whom has been playing in our room for years) came up to us and explained that's he's been playing on other Las Vegas Poker rooms the past few days, and hasn't been impressed with how those rooms were run. He went out to get our room and our staff high praise for our professionalism and high standards. He says that's why he continues to always play in our room whenever he visits. We thanked him for his kind words. As he went back to the table, I thought...sometimes...this job is worth it! We do have an impact on these players.....
And we're not just anonymous faces...it's a satisfying feeling....
Sunday, March 4, 2018
MY 4686nd DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked: 4 Hrs
Sunday is my Monday. Came to work today and it was super slow. Didn't get a cash going at all. Only managed to deal a few tournament downs. I think NASCAR being in town had something to do it, but it's still a little discouraging having no cash games my entire shift. But it's the ebbs and flows of this industry..one, I've gotten used to after 12 years dealing cards.
The only bright spot was at least I got to watch the NASCAR race in it's entirely...lol. I had a bet on Paul Menard to win the race at 75-1. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Although I did get to sweat till the end as he was top 10 pretty much the entire race.
Sunday is my Monday. Came to work today and it was super slow. Didn't get a cash going at all. Only managed to deal a few tournament downs. I think NASCAR being in town had something to do it, but it's still a little discouraging having no cash games my entire shift. But it's the ebbs and flows of this industry..one, I've gotten used to after 12 years dealing cards.
The only bright spot was at least I got to watch the NASCAR race in it's entirely...lol. I had a bet on Paul Menard to win the race at 75-1. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Although I did get to sweat till the end as he was top 10 pretty much the entire race.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
MY 4683rd DAY AS A POKER DEALER WENT LIKE THIS...
Worked: 6.5 Hours
Days like today usual happen everyday but since this is the first blog post, I'll treat it as if it never happens...
Today, it was all about not letting the inmates run the asylum.
Action on the flop, player made a little gesture with his finger, then bet...Couple of players questioned where the finger gesture was a check...I said no. The players insisted it was a check, "Are you going to let him bet?" I said, "Yes, the player did not check." Two players questioned but I stood my ground..No it's not a check, I'm going to let the bet stand. As a poker dealer, you have to stand by your decision and don't back down. Sometimes players, especially if they have strong personalities will bully the dealers into decisions that benefit the players rather than the integrity of the game. I'm very good about not being bullied by these players. If it means I don't get tipped, so be it, but as the referee (So to speak) of a poker game, my job is the protect the integrity of the game. If I don't then the inmates run the asylum. A Good Dealer will never let that happened.
Next two days off...then back at it on Sunday...
Days like today usual happen everyday but since this is the first blog post, I'll treat it as if it never happens...
Today, it was all about not letting the inmates run the asylum.
Action on the flop, player made a little gesture with his finger, then bet...Couple of players questioned where the finger gesture was a check...I said no. The players insisted it was a check, "Are you going to let him bet?" I said, "Yes, the player did not check." Two players questioned but I stood my ground..No it's not a check, I'm going to let the bet stand. As a poker dealer, you have to stand by your decision and don't back down. Sometimes players, especially if they have strong personalities will bully the dealers into decisions that benefit the players rather than the integrity of the game. I'm very good about not being bullied by these players. If it means I don't get tipped, so be it, but as the referee (So to speak) of a poker game, my job is the protect the integrity of the game. If I don't then the inmates run the asylum. A Good Dealer will never let that happened.
Next two days off...then back at it on Sunday...
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