The Card Room

In Las Vegas, casino poker is closely monitored and regulated by the Nevada Gaming Commission. Larger casinos provide a separate room, often called a "Poker Room" or "Card Room" for poker players. In smaller casinos the "poker room" may be just a cordoned-off area of the casino itself. However it is separated from the main casino floor, it is worlds apart from the table games and slot machines.

Poker is not a Table Game

Before going into a Poker Room the casino player needs to be aware of one important detail: Out in the main area of the casino you can play any number of so-called "table games." Some of these table games will involve making bets and receiving cards, as in poker. These are games like blackjack, baccarat, and several with the name "poker" in them. These games are not poker. They are table games. The two main differences are:

In table games the player does not take on other players, and is pitted solely against the house and the rules of chance. The dealer (or banker) does not have discretion about how to play. Very little can be accomplished in the way of strategy. Betting is completed before any play or deal occurs, like a spin of a wheel, a toss of dice, or the dealing of a couple of cards.

So games like "Pai Gow Poker," "Let it Ride" and "Three Card Poker" or even the table game version of "Texas Hold'em" may sound like true poker, but they are not.

The next pages in sequence cover matters common to all forms of poker: the rules of poker, poker etiquette, evaluation of hands, probabilities, betting, and strategy.