#119 - Go to a Casino

Bond in Casino Royale? Not just yet…

The Why:

There is a certain allure about a casino.

The glitz. The glamour. The seedy vibes…

There’s also an type of pressure that comes with the territory. Players need to know how to play, and dealers cannot afford to make an error in calculations. All while the bright lights and security cameras hover above.

Recently, I’ve wondered to myself, how do I play some of these games, they seem complex! So I set about learning…

The How:

One of the games I’ve had an interest in learning is 3 card poker. As the name implies, players are dealt 3 cards and attempt to make the best poker hand. The game is modified based on regulation poker hands.

The cool thing with 3 card poker is it is one of the few table games at a casino where the house lets you handle (touch) your cards! So there is that added pressure at the table!

I purchased a deck of cards and sat at home, dealing and attempting to teach myself and play hands.

After some amount of time, I went to Skycity casino with my friend.

I asked the dealer, “is this a good table for a beginner?” He helped me through it, as there was only 1 other gentleman sitting at the table. This made for the perfect learning environment. Also it was a lower stakes table.

I took my seat and was dealt 3 cards. I then played 3 hands and my $50 was gone.

I had the greatest time doing this. I was over the moon!

Lessons Learnt:

• Don’t do this unless you have money to entertain.

• I was terribly nervous. The atmosphere of a casino can be frighteningly overwhelming.

• Practise a lot at home first and become familiar with your chosen game.

Status:

• I’m going to try this again.