I may have played in more poker rooms than anyone else in the world; it's more than 200 at last count. My family isn't sure if that's a good think or a bad thing. But it has given me perspective on what makes a good room. My friend and poker buddy Andrei has asked me for my thoughts on the subject. And so I'll share them with you here.
Here are my top ten criteria for a good room.
1. A reasonable rake. I prefer a time charge so players see, up front, what the cost of poker is. But low and medium stakes players and the house seem to prefer a rake, where the house takes money out of the winner's pot. The house usually ends up with more money, but it's taken less visibly.
I want as low a rake as possible. I prefer rooms with a 5 percent rake and a $3 maximum per hand. I think 10 percent with a $4 maximum is the highest that should be charged-and that's what I pay in my home casinos in Connecticut. More, to me, is unacceptable. I bristled when some poker rooms on the Las Vegas strip raised their maximums to $5.
2. Good lighting. Some of this may be a product of my age. But even as a young pup I never liked squinting at cards. Even though I need to see fewer cards these days with hold 'em predominating over stud, I still like a well illuminated table.
3. Good games. It's the most important factor, yet it may seem that the house has little control. But I've found that players who make good games tend to flock to the best run rooms.
4. Promotions and Giveaways (House-sponsored). I'm not talking about player-sponsored bad beat jackpots and high hand bonuses, which I think are bad for the room because they drain money out of the game for what amounts to a lottery. But house sponsored promotions are great-and to me earn far more than their cost in building player loyalty and attendance. Players love free. But the key for me isn't just getting the free stuff or even getting cash or cash equivalents with points-though I appreciate them. It's that all of these promotions attract players to the room and keep it vibrant. George may lose $500-$1,000 a session, but he feels like a winner and will keep coming back because he gets a free meal and an extra 10 points on his players' card.
5. Full and predictable hours when games are going. One thing I hate is driving to a poker room only to find that the room doesn't really open at the official time-or learning that while the room is technically open, there are no live games until after a tournament is over. I want the hours, the tournament start times, and the cash game times that are publicly listed to be an honest reflection of what actually goes on.
6. A variety of games-including stud. Yeah, I know that every room will spread whatever the players want to play. But I want a good stud game, at least once a week. That shouldn't be too much to ask of a room-even a small room. Hire some props if you must. Offer a lower rake, or a weekly tournament to get it started.
7. Convenient, free parking-no explanation necessary.
8. A good management team. Good management equals happy players. Happy players equal good games. Treat players fairly, make them feel like valued customers, and they'll come back and keep the games good.
9. Clean bathrooms-no explanation necessary.
10. Good food. I want convenient, reasonably priced, good and healthful food. I prefer table-side food service-even though I tend not to like to play while I eat-because it's more likely to keep the gamblers at the table losing money to me. If every poker room had food like they have in the big Southern California poker rooms I would be a very happy man-a larger man to be sure, but a happier one.
Ashley Adams is the author of Winning 7-Card Stud and Winning No Limit Low Limit Hold'em. He hosts the radio show House of Cards, broadcast Mondays at 5 - 6 p.m. in Boston, MA, on 1510 AM, and on the Internet at www.houseofcardsradio.com. Contact Ashley at asha34@aol.com.
