Poker overseas

[DrParrot]

Just wondering if anybody has played poker in a non English speaking country?

In Austria and looking at playing a cheap tournament for a bit of fun... But my German is poor to non existant.
Very much a recreational player, you would all like me on your table

Also any casinos worldwide people recommend for one reason or another?

 

[Ikan Bodoh]

Just wondering if anybody has played poker in a non English speaking country?

In Austria and looking at playing a cheap tournament for a bit of fun... But my German is poor to non existant.
Very much a recreational player, you would all like me on your table

Also any casinos worldwide people recommend for one reason or another?

Austrians, especially young, speak good English. The words raise, call and fold are well understood almost universally. I played in Germany and Austria with no issues. I called out the numbers in German but you could simply put your chips forward without saying anything and that would be fine.

This place was pretty popular for poker - www.montesino.at

 

[red+black]

Current series of The Poker Den (UK) on Foxtel is being played at the Montesino. I think it was played during an EPT.

Not being able to speak a language shouldn't be an issue. I mean, Andras Koroknai has made the final table of the WSOP Main Event.

 

[DrParrot]

Thanks will give it a go. Appreciate it

 

[DrParrot]

Went to Ccc in salzburg. Staff were great. 60 up in ring game...thanks to a bit of luck. then donated 20 by entering a tournament and losing promptly.

Few there spoke English which was good.

 

[DrParrot]

Viage in brussels was great... most of the dealers spoke english and came 4th in the 50 euro rebuy... without rebuying... so got 491.60 had a terrible run tonight so thats an awesome result.

First and last rebuy tournament... those things are crazy.

 

[ashley12]

Played poker for the first time in a non-Australian or NZ casino last week at the Vic in London

http://www.grosvenorvictoriacasino.com/poker-room/tournaments.aspx

Initial thoughts about the building

- I assumed the place would be a lot bigger. This probably because I am used to the state based monopolies in Australia compared to elsewhere.

- Lol at needing membership to enter the casino. Surely they can get away with some sort of one offguest past but I suppose it was only 2 minutes to sign up etc...

- First floor had quite a small casino layout with non-poker games, blackjack, roulette etc... again, I assumed it would be larger

- Second floor had large poker floor with lots of tables. Tables had a really funny felt that was difficult to pick cards up off.

The playing itself

We went in on our last day in Europe since the guy I was travelling with was a social poker player who wanted to give it a go. We arrived about 11.30am and assumed that with the Vic being the most renowned casino in London that games would be running around the clock. However, there were very few people in the building and no games running, so we had to wait.

There checkin/game listing system was absolutely world class. You swipe your card as if you were accessing your account and a gaming info kiosk and choose which games you would like to list for. Simple, doesnt take up human labour, and an easy to use interface. Would love to see Crown Melbourne bring it in (Perth doesnt matter as much because the number of players using the system is a lot smaller and game choice is more restricted)

We signed up for the games, with my friend choosing to list for (all games in pounds, 1 pound is roughly 1.8$AUD) 1/1, while i listed for 1/1, 1/2, and 2/5 because yolo thats why.

Games

http://www.grosvenorvictoriacasino.com/poker-room/cash-games.aspx

Massive thumbs up to the 40bb minimum on all games.

After an hour or so two separate games started, a large game (didnt see how big, I think it was 2/5) started and 10 minutes later my game (1/2) started with the following lineup.

Ashley12 (150, it was all the money I had on me without having to withdraw)
An older businessman (400)
A retiree (200)
Some mid 30s guy (200)

The retiree doesnt want to play 4 handed, so we start 3 handed. Very first hand the older businessman (think Sammy Farha) busts the mid 30s guy with KK vs AQhh on a low two hearts board.

Mr Farha asks if I would like to play HU, which is kinda like Megan Fox asking if I would like to come in for coffee.

We play HU, I lose the first 11 hands because suck.

Mr Farha straddles, I raise to 15 with T8o, he defends

FLOP: 30: 762

I cbet 16 and get called

TURN: 62: 5

I jam for 75, he snap calls with 78o. It doesnt matter because the river is a 9 anyway, so I double to about 220.

Next hand I straddle and get a walk (awesome feeling, I recommend it) and then about 3 others want to play, so we begin playing 6 handed and eventually get to 8 handed for the rest of my short session.

I win a few small pots and then get this fun one.

Lots of limpers, I limp 74cc on the button. Blinds call and check

FLOP: 14: Tc8c7h

BB leads for 15, UTG calls, a few folds, CO calls, I make it 80 hoping to get HU (since if I get it in vs a better pair and a big flush draw is horrible)

BB folds, UTG now goes all in for 250 pounds, a fold, I call.

I roll my hand, he elects not to show since he has me covered. Turn and river are both big clubs, I win.

Playing 400 pounds, game gets very aggressive with Mr Farha and a young hoodie kid being very active against each other with lots of 3betting and 4 betting. Kid has already 3bet me twice so when he 3bets again to 40 after my open to 10 I decide to 4bet to 125 and call off with AK. He jams, I call, he has the aces, I lose and get felted.

I choose to reload 300 pounds, and third or fourth hand after coming back.

UTG limps (this looks very suspect) a bunch of others limp. I end up limping AQo from the CO, with a plan to backraise in a lot of situations if Mr Farha raises the SB.

Instead the button makes it 15 playing 150 pounds. Farha calls, a call, UTG calls with absolutely no consideration to limp raising, which gives me huge confidence I have the best hand. Everyone calls to me, which makes a pot of about 80 pounds just waiting to be stolen.

I raise to 200 to commit obviously. Button folds, Farha folds, folds to MP who asks for a count, and then decides to go all in for 300 pounds. I call and win when the board runs out queen high.

In the end I made a small profit for the day which was nice, but unfortunately since it was my last day left me with an excessive amount of pounds, which meant I lit a lot of them on fire at the airport buying a bunch of useless crap I didnt really need.

TL;DR

Ash plays poker in the UK, plays bad but wins a bit