Almost Vegas-like
Monday, July 06, 2009 @ 12:30 PM
The last few days, since Wednesday at midnight in fact, have been exhausting. They've also been a lot of fun, but very exhausting. I have gotten great amusement from watching dealers who have only ever dealt $2-5 spread limit adapt to newer games. The players are providing a good deal of amusement as well, to be sure.
I am, however, greatly anticipating my weekend - which starts in just under 12 hours...
Guests walk in and stand on the rail, trying to decide what to make of the action in the poker room. A table in the back of the room draws the most interest with its big piles of red chips and the fact that it is the noisiest table in the room. Nobody in Colorado is used to seeing a table with nothing but red chips on it. They gawk.
Most of them fail to will themselves into the room to actually play. Quite a few of them have never stepped foot into a casino before this visit. They suffer from sensory overload. I do my best to get them into a game anyway. "We have $3/6 limit. It's a beginner's game, a lot of fun. Look at everyone smiling!"
I am foiled by the ranting of a Poker Young'un, one of my favorite breed with his hat on backwards, sunglasses on, hoodie that he wears every single day of his life...and who yells loudly when snapped off on the river by an unlucky card. He throws out typical Poker Young'un taunts. "Donkey. How could you call a bet that big with Jack-Ten?"
I forgot how amusing they can be before they learn how to act their age and quit emulating morons like Hellmuth and ilk.
$4/8 limit, kill pots, and the occasional $3/6 limit game have taken over Colorado with a vengeance. The $2-5 spread limit game became an overnight thing of the past. The best thing has been the $2-100 game, though. It's still not a game I would play, but those aching for poker with bigger bets are really enjoying it. We've had at least one table of $2-100 every day this weekend, and the games have been J U I C Y!
I even have a name for that game - "Colorado No-Limit" - since I seem unable to convince anyone why it's not really a no-limit game. People approach the podium and ask what games we have. "I currently have $3/6 limit, $4/8 limit with a full kill, and $1-2 Colorado No-Limit."
"I can go all-in in that no-limit game?"
"Sure, so long as you have $100 or less in front of you."
"I'll play no-limit. Give me $200, please."
I give up.
We did have two guys in the room over the weekend who seemed intent on seeing if I would actually beat the crap out of them or not. They were actually decent guys just out for a 4-day drinking binge, but I really was entertaining thoughts of breaking things over their heads.
It all came to a head last night. The $2-100 game was getting louder and louder. Players at the other tables in the room were starting to complain. I headed over to the big game for the fourth time in less than 20 minutes.
I stood behind the dealer for a couple seconds while trying to get everyone's attention. Fail. I walk over to the podium and grab two empty chip trays before returning to the table. After warning the dealer that he might want to cover his ears, I slammed the two racks together creating a sound much like a whip cracking. The noise at the table stopped instantly.
"Gentlemen. We're here to play poker. Let's try acting like gentlemen and actually playing cards instead of screaming at each other like little children. Watch the language. If I come to this table one more time, I can promise you that I will shut this game down and none of you will be playing. Is there anyone here who doesn't understand what I have just said?"
The 3-seat, a known idiot troublemaker, pipes up, "It wasn't me. They were..."
I glared at him, "I don't remember saying anything about who did what or why. I honestly do not care. One more word, one more loud sound...if I come to this table again, you will leave. Once again, is there anyone at this table who doesn't understand what I have just explained? No? Good. Enjoy the game."
There were cheers and clapping from around the room as I walked back to the podium. A dealer later explained to me that what I had just done was unheard of in Colorado and that no other floorperson would do that for fear of running off a customer and then getting fired. People in these small markets really do need to get some backbone!
About 15 minutes later, I was called back to the table. The 3-seat and 9-seat were going at each other again. I walked over, quieted everything down, and started to ask the dealer what the issue was. Both of the players immediately start yammering before the dealer can even open his mouth.
"Gentlemen, I am talking to the dealer. I do not want to hear a single word from either of you unless I ask you a question. Is that clear?"
The dealer begins to explain and gets maybe two words out before the two jokers start yammering again.
"Fine. Here's the deal. You two are done. Final decision."
I informed the dealer to deal around them and headed back for the podium. After a couple hands, it dawned on them that I was serious so they both racked up and approached the podium. We had a conversation about what behavior would be allowed in the poker room and what wouldn't. We talked about numerous things eventually leading to them agreeing to behave.
I put them back into the game where they were model citizens for the rest of the night. I had three or four people from that game say that they would be back to play in our room because they liked the staff and because I obviously wasn't going to allow any idiocy on my shift.
It really did feel like a miniature version of New Year's Eve in Vegas.
Now, it's time to see what effect these higher limits is truly going to have on casino business. The holiday weekend is over. The shiny newness of the larger bets is starting to fade. Weekday business will be a better barometer of how people will take to the new gaming structures. If we can keep a quarter of what we had this weekend, that would be a huge win in my book.
I did find it cool that on a Sunday night, Monday morning actually, at 2:00am, there were nearly thirty people surrounding the Craps tables in our casino. Loud and semi-obnoxious like Craps games should be, I was impressed. Once again, let's hope the energy can hold up.
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>need to get some backbone in these smaller markets.
Perhaps some people don't know what proper behavior is but most probably think the antics they see on TV are actually going to be tolerated in real life.
I hope your newly invigorated casinos stay robust.
FoolsGold
I always enjoy reading your blog, and the added perspective I get from seeing just what you as the Poker Room Supervisor has to deal with and how you handle things. I don't make it to brick n mortar rooms as often as I'd like, but I believe the way you describe how you run things is the way it oughta be! Keep up the good work.
Regards,
cheer_dad
GOOD post - the reason I subscribe!! Traz