Is It an Eye Chart or a Poker Room?

I got a letter from a reader recently in which he asked how to read some of the blurbs about tournament poker. I realized that to the novice, many cardrooms seem to post their game information in a shorthand secret code of some sort. Actually, it really is English, and it is fairly easy to crack the code. Here's the note I received:

Hi, Jan,

I was visiting a cardroom in the South recently and wanted to enter a daily tournament. Here is the listing in its schedule of events: "Thur noon O/H/L/8 $30BI ($20+$10), RB $15, AO $25, 20 min levels." What does this mean? Is this a poker tournament? I was too embarrassed to ask because everyone else seemed to understand it, and I felt sort of stupid. So, I left. Can you help me, so that next time I will know when I get there?

Thanks,

Mack, a Newbie

Well, Mack, I certainly can understand your frustration. If I weren't well-versed in the terminology, I might not know what this meant, either. Let me tell you first, though, that you should never leave without asking. The cardroom has personnel there to assist you and answer your questions. With the recent explosion of poker, many first-time players don't know the jargon and are asking more questions than ever. I have found that this is making cardrooms more sensitive to players' needs. They are gaining experience in dealing with novices like they never have before. Just remember that no question you might have is too silly to ask.

OK, let's get back to your query. Thur noon is pretty self-explanatory, a 12 noon Thursday event. Proceeding, we see O/H/L/8 $30 BI ($20+$10). This is a little stickier. While this is an odd way for a cardroom to advertise an event, it is pretty clear what it means to one with experience, and with guidance, it will make sense to the novice. The event is Omaha high-low split, eight-or-better. Normally, this would be written Omaha/8 or Omaha H/L in shorthand form. In fact, the latter form is how you will find the game referred to in the Card Player Tournament Trail, but either is generally acceptable. The eight-or-better means that in order to qualify for the low end of the pot, your hand must be an 8 low or better. Next, $30 BI means the event will cost you $30 to enter (it's the buy-in), and the $20+$10 means that $20 will go to the prize pool and $10 is the fee that will go to the cardroom.

Next, you see RB $15 and AO $25. This means that this is a rebuy tournament and that you can add to your stack if you meet the specified parameters of the event. Generally, your stack has to be below a certain amount in order for you to be able to rebuy. So, for $15, you can rebuy chips. Then, for $25, you can add on to your stack at the end of a specified time period. Generally, the end of the rebuy period is when you can make an add-on. You would have to check the exact rules for the event. Cardrooms have so many different rules and regulations that you should feel comfortable in asking questions. Finally, 20 min levels means that the limits will go up every 20 minutes. This is important to know, and you should ask if it is not posted. There are few things worse than thinking you are playing X-minute levels, and planning your strategy accordingly, and then finding out that you are really playing Y-minute levels. Maybe you played too fast, too tight, too aggressively, or however, depending upon the time factor you thought was in effect.

Some other abbreviations with which you ought to become familiar are as follows: NLH is simply no-limit hold'em. Texas hold'em and hold'em are the same thing. LHE is limit hold'em, and PLH is pot-limit hold'em. PLO is pot-limit Omaha (high only), and stud/8 is seven-card stud high-low split, eight-or-better. It is all very easy once you get the hang of it, but it surely seems like hieroglyphics the first time you see these abbreviations.

There are as many ways to print an ad as there are events to advertise. Ask questions, and do not feel silly doing so. Find out if the tourney takes alternates, or if there is a cap on the number of entrants. Ask about the payout schedule (number of places paid and dollar amounts). Check on the order of table breaking. Speaking of breaks, find out when a break is scheduled. Knowing all of these things will make your entire tournament experience more comfortable, fun, and rewarding. If you really are too shy to ask questions in person, call the cardroom on the phone ahead of time. Another important question to ask is whether or not the card room follows the TDA (Tournament Directors Association) rules. You can get a copy of these rules by going to www.pokertda.com. Read and study them, as that will help you to become familiar with the rules of many of the cardrooms. In the meantime, don't be afraid to ask questions when it comes to the shorthand of poker. Class dismissed.

Please contact me with your poker-related questions and comments. Also, please check out www.cardplayercruises.com for poker cruise information.