There are card rooms in the Chicago area where you can test your mettle. Both the Majestic Star (formerly the Trump) and Resorts (formerly Harrah’s) spread games in Gary/East Chicago. It’s only a 25-30 minute drive from downtown Chicago. The Majestic spreads 3-6 limit. They usually have at least 3 tables going. And the players are terrible. Resorts spreads (I think) a 4-8 or 5-10 game. Both also spread NL games, which are always full.

I also believe that the Horseshoe has opened a poker room, but I haven’t been there.

Something you’ll want to know about is the “kill pot.” If someone wins two hands in a row, there is a kill pot in which the betting is doubled (it essentially becomes a 6-12 game for a hand). The player who has won the consecutive pots must post $6 at the beginning of the hand. I remember during my first trip that I had no idea what the kill pot was. If you don’t understand, though, the dealers are will explain it to you.

It’s also customary to tip the dealer $1-2 (depending on pot size) if you rake a pot. You can just toss the chip his/her way. The dealer will be thankful.

I didn’t see that sort of thing anywhere else.

I recently got to have this experience as well…my first live poker table in Vegas. It was a little intimidating, but that fades quickly. I had only played in home games or online so I was a little nervous in making the transition.

I played at the Excalibur.

1) I stayed there so it was easy to get to the Poker Room!

2) They had a free lesson.

Now I didn’t particularly need a lesson in how to play poker, but I figured that sitting down at the lesson would be less intimidating that taking the 9th seat at a full table. I was right, it was.

The Excalibur lesson is very laid back and was a fun experience. The dealer explains the rules of the table, gives you some play money chips and then you just start playing. They help out with the hands if your try to muck something that might be playable, etc. There is not any strategy in this lesson. It is all about dealing with chips, order of play, courtesy at the table, and getting comfortable.

The lesson goes on about half an hour and then you can start playing if you like, minimum buy-in $20 at a $2/$4 limit game. The game is still quite laid back and the dealer continues assisting those that may not completely understand the game yet.

I didn’t win any money at this game, but I wasn’t sitting down with that in mind. I was sitting down to get comforatble being at a table in a poker room in Vegas and for that it was excellent. Highly recommended!