Poker Dealing Procedures
- Poker Dealing Rules
- Pai Gow Poker Dealing Procedures
- How To Deal Poker Professionally
- Poker Dealing Classes
- Poker Dealing Procedures
- Heads Up Poker Dealing
Now with Facilities in:
Las Vegas, Nevada
San Antonio, Texas
DEALING PROCEDURE To begin the game, players must make equal bets on the Ante and Blind. They may also make a Trips bet. The shuffler will first dispense the five community cards. This course covers card dealing fundamentals, such as check handling, dealing techniques, game protection and hand reading. Students learn the physical skills needed to be a poker dealer, such as. Distributing the Cards Shuffle the deck. Shuffling randomizes the deck in order to introduce chance.
We believe in tailoring and modifying our instructional techniques to best suit each individual. We strive to keep the learning environment fun and entertaining, as well as offer methodical and concise instruction, in order to guarantee a successful learning experience.
Our facilities are new, modern and retro fitted. Featuring 4 custom built poker tables, 2 assigned to tournament and 2 fully equipped as cash tables. West Coast Dealing School has the very best when it comes to your learning environment. We use casino quality poker chips, all plastic playing cards and we even have real looking replica bank notes. We believe that creating an authentic learning experience is crucial to your success.
West Coast Dealing School is fully licensed by the Commission on Post-Secondary Education in the state of Nevada. We are registered as an LLC with the Secretary of State in Nevada and our Comprehensive Poker Dealer Program is fully approved by the Commission and verified by officials at the WSOP.
I cannot praise Chris and The West Coast Dealing School enough. From world class equipment, to the attention given to every detail in teaching the various styles of poker in order to be a success as a true professional Poker Dealer. Thank you Chris, for giving me all the tools needed for success, and for going so far as to even assist in applying for auditions. It's obvious that you truly care, and it shows in the success of your students. The fact that your door stays open to brush up and stay sharp are key as well. The only place to learn the game properly in Las Vegas!!
After looking over several choices I chose West Coast Dealing School and what an outstanding choice. The owner/instructor Chris Tidmarsh knows the game of poker inside and out. Instruction was given on all games of poker currently being played as well as betting structures, rules, and etiquette of the game. Chris is a hands on teacher making certain your skills and understanding of the game is complete. I have played poker for decades and never appreciated the skills of poker dealers. If you're looking for a quality poker dealing school this is the absolute best choice you can make.
Chris is one of the best instructors I have had the pleasure of working with, in any capacity. He was very accommodating to our needs and revised his curriculum to suite our timeline. Each day he met us with great enthusiasm, had a detailed plan of what to accomplish, and stayed as long as needed to complete. The location and room set up was perfect. He has 4 tables, plenty of room to stretch out, comfy chairs, high quality chips/cards, a small break area and its located in a nice part of town. Chris has tremendous patience with all students but maintains a high level of requisition to ensure you are ready for the 'real world' once you complete the course. I could not be happier with the training myself and team received, it was the best investment we could make in ourselves. Well worth the money, the experience and education vastly exceeded all of my expectations heading in.
I wanted to deal at the World Series of Poker as a 'life experience' rather than pursue a full time job as a dealer. Nonetheless, I was determined to pick the school that would best prepare me for the WSOP. I visited three other poker dealer schools in Vegas and quickly came to the conclusion that West Coast had the most comprehensive program of instruction and truly superior physical facilities. Chris Tidmarsh, the owner/operator of West Coast is an excellent mentor and teacher...he has an in depth understanding of poker, what is required to succeed as a dealer at the highest levels of the profession, and is able to imbue students with the skills needed to rise above the rest of the pack. At my World Series audition, I was pitted against nine other dealers who had years of experience, yet I received the second highest score at the table. West Coast Dealing School may charge a bit more than other schools, but I consider the cost to be an amazing bargain compared to the alternatives.
By FAR the best poker dealing school in Vegas, if not the entire US. An easy-going, yet very informative program designed to be completed at one's own pace. Very realistic to the real world of poker dealing and uses the highest quality materials. Chris Tidmarsh, the owner and instructor, is incredibly gifted at his teaching capabilities and knowledge on all games of poker. If you are debating on other Dealing Schools, know that this one IS the best. Look no further. -- a sincere Thank you Chris for your patience, kind heart and help building the foundation of my own dealing career, I am forever thankful.
The instructor, Chris Tidmarsh, knows poker inside and out. He teaches all the games you need to know to be a professional dealer. He has a great feel for people, and knows when to push the throttle or slow things down for you. There are dozens of little details and nuances that he'll teach you to make your job as a dealer easier, as well as impress when you audition for work.
I dedicated an entire month to come out to Vegas from the east coast to undertake Chris's training. I thoroughly enjoyed the instruction, the overarching philosophy, and the student/alum community he has catalyzed. I heartily recommend Chris's course to anyone wanting to learn and to pass the WSOP audition, which in turn, will qualify one for any other major poker room and tournament series.
West Coast Dealing School is by far the best Poker dealing school out there.
The owner/instructor Chris Tidmarsh is an expert in every aspect of the game, from dealing and protection, to etiquette and anything you can name, and he takes pride in making his students top notch professionals. You will learn how to deal all the various WSOP tournament and cash games by one on one personal training to dealing in live mock poker tournament and cash games. The course comes with a comprehensive easy to read poker dealing manual written by the owner that is probably the best in the business and should become your lifelong poker dealing bible. I suggest that you go visit the school and see for yourself. By the way, I am currently attending West Coast Dealing School and I believe the course is Priceless!
100% recommend West Coast Dealing School.
Yes, you will spend a little extra upfront but this investment in your future is well worth it! Chris (owner-instructor) is very competent and experienced in all aspects of poker and will have you prepared for a new career in poker. This course is detailed and prepares you to deal both cash and tournament style in 25+ games. (I couldn't believe there were that many poker games either). Chris has a first class set up and classroom with both cash and tournament poker tables. Since my graduation, I have participated in auditions and seen first-hand the great preparation of West Coast Dealing vs. bare minimum of other dealer schools. West Coast will give you, just like it did me, a head start in poker.
In short, you will be cheating yourself if don't spend a little more upfront at West Coast for your successful career in poker.
The instruction here is fantastic. Walking in the first day I was thinking, 'What could possibly take 100 hours to teach?' Walking out that same day, I understood. I play poker but there was so much I didn't know.
Chris explains things very well so everything is easy to understand. The learning process is well structured so you build on what you have learned. This was a great experience and I looked forward to going to school every day. I can't think of anyway he could make this class better. I've never had a better teacher/instructor!
I learned 25 games to be able to deal at the 2017 WSOP.
The owner Chris is an aficionado of poker dealing! He spent countless hours beyond the requirements to train and fine tune my skills to allow me to gain the confidence to attend any poker audition. His knowledge, expertise, and most of all patience, make this course well worth the cost. I would recommend this school to anyone looking to be a GREAT poker dealer!
Chris Tidmarsh, the instructor at West Coast Dealing School, is a very knowledgeable man when it comes to the myriad of details & intricacies of the varieties of poker games that exist. He is very patient and continuously pushes you in the right direction to understand the nuances behind why every rule or technique is valid and important.
The overall facility is extremely clean, the training environment is quite expansive, there are always complimentary refreshments available on hand, but most importantly, you will get an abundance of time 'in the box' (i.e., the dealer's seat) which, in of itself, in my opinion earns West Coast Dealing School this five-star rating.
I highly recommend WCDS to all future poker dealing professionals who are dead set on learning to deal these fun games of cards the right way, the first time. It was truly an amazing experience learning there.
Supreme education in dealing all variants and learning every rule of poker.
What We Teach
At WCDS we teach dealing techniques, procedures and rules for 30+ poker games. You will be given detailed instruction in both tournament and cash formats and on completion of the course you will have knowledge of Limit, No-Limit, Pot Limit & Spread limit betting structures. The WSOP and most major poker rooms & casinos require dealers who have a thorough knowledge of the skills you will attain on this course. For more information about our curriculum please refer to our Courses Page.
Board Games
Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha split Hi-Low 8 or better, Big O, Double Board Omaha, Drawmaha, Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple.
Stud Poker
7 Card Stud High, 7 Card Razz (Low), 7 Card Stud Hi-Low split 8 or better, 7 Card Stud Split Hi-Low Regular, Razzdugi, Razzduci.
Draw Poker
5 Card Draw (High), 2-7 (Deuce to Seven) single/triple draw, A-5 (Ace to Five) single/triple draw, Badugi, Baduci, Badaci, Archie.
Other Poker Games
Chinese Poker, Open Face Chinese Poker (OFC), Pineapple Open Face Chinese Poker, Taiwanese Poker.
Betting Structures
Limit, No-Limit, Pot Limit, Spread Limit.
Poker Formats
We teach all the procedures to deal both tournament poker and cash poker. We will explain, in detail, procedures and rule differences between the two formats.
Cash & Cheque handling
To deal poker professionally you will need to understand how to deal with cash and players cheques and the necessary procedures expected of a dealer when working in a professional card room or casino. This course will provide you with all the information needed and there will be ample time to practice these important skills.
More than just dealing procedures
Poker Dealing Rules
Dealing cards is obviously a crucial part of being a poker dealer, but there are many more procedures you will need to understand in order to deal a professional tournament or cash game. Some of the common situations a dealer needs to be able to address are attending to the 'Chip Race' in a tournament, dealing a high card to break a table or simply setting up a deck of cards during a player break. This course will address each of those issues and more... When do we use an 'All In' button or apply a 'Kill' pot? When to issue a missed 'Big' or 'Small' blind button? How are 'Straddles' incorporated into the game, or what is an 'Absent' button used for or when is a '3rd Man Walking' lammer applied? Our course will take you through every nuance and detail to make you the most desirable poker dealer available.
Pai Gow Poker Dealing Procedures
Authors Dan Paymar, Donna Harris, and Mason Malmuth
Find out how to qualify for this book in the Two Plus Two poker bonus program
Synopsis of The Professional Poker Dealer's Handbook
The poker industry has grown at a phenomenal rate during the past few years. It wasn't that long ago that only a few Nevada casinos had small poker rooms as an accommodation for its casino customers. But times have changed. Today there are many locations throughout the country that offer poker including several 'giant' poker facilities. However, with this explosive growth, there are a few 'growing pains,' and a lack of quality dealers is immediately apparent to anyone who either plays poker or works in the industry. Dealing poker is one of those occupations that look easy when performed by a top quality dealer.
You too can achieve this status with practice and effort. In fact, the best dealers not only perform their job in a seemingly effortless manner, they enjoy what they are doing. It is our hope that this text will establish a standard in the industry. It will assure that poker continues to grow and prosper in the future. It is the ultimate book for anyone interested in a career as a professional poker dealer.
Excerpt from The Professional Poker Dealer's Handbook : Characteristics of a Professional Dealer
Let's look more closely at the attributes that go together to make a true 'professional' dealer:
Characteristic No 1: Accuracy. Getting the right cards to the right players at the right time smoothly and without exposing cards, turning board cards at the right time, keeping the bets and side pots straight, making change correctly, getting the correct rake unobtrusively, reading hands correctly, pushing the pot to the player with the best hand, splitting pots correctly when necessary, and so forth.
Characteristic No. 2: Mechanical skills. Technique! The ability to shuffle and deal without exposing cards, handle chips, and the like.
Characteristic No. 3: Knowledge of the games. Knowing and understanding the rules of each game, how the game is dealt, and the house policies and procedures.
Characteristic No. 4: Ability to control the game. Being able to maintain the game pace. That is, the ability to keep the game moving, prevent out-of-turn actions, avoid unnecessary delays, without rushing either yourself or the players. Remember, always use an open hand--never point--at a player when it is their turn to act. (You may point with your eyes, but never stare at a player who may be taking a little extra time.)
How To Deal Poker Professionally
Characteristic No. 5: Positive attitude. A manner of conveying professionalism that makes the experience of playing poker enjoyable and rewarding.
Characteristic No. 6: Professional demeanor. Proper posture and attitude communicate professionalism as does courtesy and kindness.
Poker Dealing Classes
Characteristic No. 7: Ability to deal with customers. Besides attitude and personality, this includes diplomacy, etiquette, and knowing when to call for the floorperson.
Characteristic No. 8: Appearance. One's dress, grooming, and personal hygiene are essential to a professional demeanor.
Characteristic No. 9: Reliability. The ability to do your job properly and to be available and prepared when needed.
Poker Dealing Procedures
Characteristic No. 10: Restraint. The ability to be quiet, keep your full attention focused on the game, and to decline to partake in any extraneous conversations not directly related to the hand in progress.
Heads Up Poker Dealing
These attributes of a professional dealer are distinctly different, yet they overlap and complement each other. The thrust of the material contained herein is directed toward those attributes that an instructor can develop and enhance--primarily knowledge of the games, mechanical skills, accuracy, and restraint.