Which casino to visit?

qwertz

Hi all,

I have never been to a casion in Ireland. I actually thought it's illegal here. Anyway, which one would be preferable?

Thanks!

BigDragon

If you live near Dublin most prefer The Fitwilliam Card Club over The Merrion and alot would go to both.

My experience is almost totally at The Fitz. I like the staff and the players and now that upstairs is open (kinda) it is a good sized venue.

johnor

Are they fairly welcoming to new players? and how much would you need to buy in? is there a minimum or whats the craic

henbane

Very welcoming to new players.

Buy-ins range from free-roll up to €250 for tournaments. Cash games start at €50. Sit'n'Gos for €10 in the early evening.

Davey Devil

Can we have another Fitz vs The Merrion scrap??

Actually it isn't even even a fair fight anymore.

qwertz

Do they take kindly to people who just want to have a look around to get a feeling for the place? That's what I usually do on the continent, observe the players, observe the dealers...

Lafortezza

qwertz wrote:

Do they take kindly to people who just want to have a look around to get a feeling for the place? That's what I usually do on the continent, observe the players, observe the dealers...

You have to fill up a registration form at the front desk when you go in first, takes 5 mins, is totally free, and you get a little swipe card.

The you can go in , look around, have a coffee, talk to people, listen to bad beats, have a go of blackjack/roulette with the free €10 bet you get for coming in the door.

Then sit down at a SNG and trash talk DeV.

Juan Pablo

Davey Devil wrote:

Can we have another Fitz vs The Merrion scrap??

Actually it isn't even even a fair fight anymore.

Did someone say.......

Rickety!

................... :eek:

henbane

henbane wrote:

Very welcoming to new players.

Buy-ins range from free-roll up to €250 for tournaments. Cash games start at €50. Sit'n'Gos for €10 in the early evening.

Can some one be really nice and explain the difference between a sit'n'go and a cash game?

Hyzepher

A sit 'n' Go is basically a one table tournament. You pay an entry fee and get tournament chips - whoever wins all the chips is the winner. A cash game has a minimum buy-in and after that you play for as long as you have money - lose the stack in front of you and you can buy more chips and continue on. Blinds in a cash game never increase - tournaments they do

Hyzepher

Imposter

A sit and go is a mini tournament with usually one table of people. So everyone pays say 10€ in and the top 2 or 3 get money.

A cash game is when you bring X amount of cash to the table and bet with it as you see fit within the rules of the game you are playing. Basically each chip is worth X amount whereas with a sit and go your 10€ gets you 2000 in chips (or whatever)

Thank you.

AARRRGH

Don't go to a casino if you have in any way an "addictive" personality.

I've been going to casinos for years. While I tell myself it's just a bit of fun and I can afford it, I know it is actually a problem.

Overall, gambling will have a negative impact on your life!

Just my 2 cents if you're thinking about becomming a gambler...

BigDragon

dublindude wrote:

Don't go to a casino if you have in any way an "addictive" personality.

I've been going to casinos for years. While I tell myself it's just a bit of fun and I can afford it, I know it is actually a problem.

Overall, gambling will have a negative impact on your life!

Just my 2 cents if you're thinking about becomming a gambler...

This is an interesting point. However this is a Poker forum and we are talking about poker. Alot of people will tell you that poker is not gambling but a skill. There is a huge element of skill in poker and can be played without gambling. However, there is a certain amount of "gambling" within a game of poker and you will never win in tournament poker without skill, luck and a bit of a gamble every now and then.

In roulette and blackjack the house have the edge and will win in the long run.

Is tournament poker technically gambling? I dont think so as your loses are limited by the entry fee.

Is it addictive. Yes, but not because of the gamble like the horses, dogs or roulette, but because of the challange and the rush. It's the same as competing in a sport. I have regularly paid entry fees into sporting competitions with only the chance of getting a trophy! In poker tournaments, I play to win ( not very well but I am in training) with the added bonus of the possibilty of winning approx 35-to-1 on my entry fee. Nice.

Just like everything else in life, you have to set limits.

mewso

I'd like to echo BG's comments. Gambling is something to be careful of but with poker you can control it more, particularly if you stick to tournaments. With tournaments you know how much you are spending (rarely more than a night on the beer) as the buy-in is a certain amount.
With poker cash games/blackjack/roulette the skys the limit on how much you can lose. This is where gambling addiction can be a problem because you can put money down all night if you wish.
If you're worried about it just play the cheaper poker tournaments and stay away from the cash games. You'll have plenty of fun.

Dub13

On another post a week or so ago DeV was talking about a new low limit cash game starting,anybody have more info on this...?

smurph

Like everything else poker is fine in moderation. Always be careful though. I have been there, worn the teeshirt. Started going to Fitz a little bit more each week. Then staying just a little bit longer. Then going straight to work because you can get some sleep at lunch. You always remember the wins and the losses fade quicker. I have cut down to may once or twice a week going in. I have kept a poker Account. I know exactly how much money i have going in the door and how much i have leaving. (Did very very well Dec and Jan so Far) but had a savage October. The tournaments are great fun and alot of luck is needed. My biggest ambition is to get place in the Big €250 tournament. I always seem to save the crapiest cards for that particular night

ionapaul

smurph wrote:

Like everything else poker is fine in moderation. Always be careful though. I have been there, worn the teeshirt. Started going to Fitz a little bit more each week. Then staying just a little bit longer. Then going straight to work because you can get some sleep at lunch. You always remember the wins and the losses fade quicker. I have cut down to may once or twice a week going in. I have kept a poker Account. I know exactly how much money i have going in the door and how much i have leaving. (Did very very well Dec and Jan so Far) but had a savage October. The tournaments are great fun and alot of luck is needed. My biggest ambition is to get place in the Big €250 tournament. I always seem to save the crapiest cards for that particular night

You have nurtured something all *successful* gamblers must have - DISCIPLINE. Without discipline the luckiest/most skillful gambler will end up in the gutter at some point. As far as blackjack goes (played a good deal in Nevada, haven't playing in Ireland except for my free chip in the Fitz), you will be sunk extremely quickly without the wisdom to set your limits (both with regard to winning and losing) and the discipline to stick to them - the same surely applies to poker. Discipline to avoid chasing your losses or chasing more winnings! Most posters here could be categorised as 'gambling addicts' (I certainly could) but I personally believe if you have the requisite discipline, it becoming a problem can be avoided. My two cents on the issue.

DeVore

Is that smurph as in the (somewhat short) female player from the Fitz? (sorry but its the best description I can think of ).

If so, welcome to Boards!

Poker can be very addictive the way golf can be. I dont see it as gambling though I confess that the cash games feel more like gambling to me. Tournies arent really imho, since there is no "just one more go, I can win back what I lost" feeling.

I spend a lot of time in the Fitz because I work there, I'm doing some things that require me to be there and of course I play there about 4 times a week. I am, on the other hand, a bachelour with tons of free time on his hands and I view it more as a "club" that I go to to hang out with friends as much as a "casino".

Just my 2 cents.

DeV.

BigDragon

DeVore wrote:

Is that smurph as in the (somewhat short) female player from the Fitz? (sorry but its the best description I can think of ).

If so, welcome to Boards!

Poker can be very addictive the way golf can be. I dont see it as gambling though I confess that the cash games feel more like gambling to me. Tournies arent really imho, since there is no "just one more go, I can win back what I lost" feeling.

I spend a lot of time in the Fitz because I work there, I'm doing some things that require me to be there and of course I play there about 4 times a week. I am, on the other hand, a bachelour with tons of free time on his hands and I view it more as a "club" that I go to to hang out with friends as much as a "casino".

Just my 2 cents.

DeV.

Doesn't hurt living round the corner either

Iago

Gambling addictions can be killers. My uncle is a gambling addict, about 3 years ago he won 6.5K on horse racing and within 6 weeks he had given all back to the bookmaker, because he won money he increased his betting amounts which led to him eventually giving it back.

My dad has had some lucky wins on the horses, and every week he bets the grand total of €1.35 on an accumulator on a friday morning. Doesn't matter if he won 5K the week before (which he has) his bet is still the €1.35 on a Friday.

For me Poker and going to the fitz isn't gambling (well it is, but you'll see what I mean) I posted before about the options. I can go out with my mates and between drink, food, entry fees and taxis my average night out costs around €150 at least. All I get for that is a few hours entertainment, a sore head and maybe a sick stomach the next day.

For less than that I can go and play cards in the fitz, have a few hours (or minutes depending on how mad I go) entertainment and have the chance of winning 10-15 times what I'm spending. No sore head (apart from bad beats) no sick stomach (with the same caveat!) and a good time had. If you can keep yourself to that rationale and show discipline by not chasing your money then I don't see a problem with playing cards.

My 2c (normally accompanied by 7d)

BigDragon

Iago wrote:

My 2c (normally accompanied by 7d)

Class.

ElaineMc

DeVore wrote:

I am, on the other hand, a bachelour with tons of free time on his hands

Sounds like a phrase from an ad in the personals......

mewso

ElaineMc wrote:

Sounds like a phrase from an ad in the personals......

lol

Ian147100

I love DeVore's reply;

'I spend a lot of time in the Fitz because I work there, I'm doing some things that require me to be there and of course I play there about 4 times a week. I am, on the other hand, a bachelour with tons of free time on his hands and I view it more as a "club" that I go to to hang out with friends as much as a "casino'.

I think the above passage sums up the reason why you're a bachelor.

DeVore

LoL.... um probably.

As Bigdragon points out, living around the corner has contributed.... theres literally no night that I could be sitting at home thinking "whats on in the club tonight... nah couldnt be arsed i'll sit in and watch telly".

Not only that but I've been up every month (though November was a bit ropey) since I started playing. This month has been the worst simply because I've had 2-3 bad beats on the cash tables and 1-2 bad plays of mine there too
I've dropped about 750 in those and won about 900 in the tournies and eaten into my credit about 100 to do so. Like Iago says, I'd spend more going on the P with my mates...

DeV.

qwertz

Thanks for all the info, guys.

Now, when I go there, how will I recognize you to get hints and tips

Dub13

qwertz wrote:

Thanks for all the info, guys.

Now, when I go there, how will I recognize you to get hints and tips

DeV will be the one with the calculator and notepad trying to work out the odds ,he may also have his PJs on as he lives nearby.

DeVore

and a mug of ovaltine.

DeV.

Dub13

btw,Dev will be the only one playing Q3.

So basically he will stick out a mile.

BigDragon

Dub13 wrote:

btw,Dev will be the only one playing Q3.

So basically he will stick out mile.

Give him credit, it was suited....