Your first live poker session in Minnesota

You must be 18+. Sign up for the free rewards card: MVP Rewards at Canterbury, Aces Rewards at Running Aces. You need it to register for tournaments at Canterbury, and both rooms require it for jackpots and promos. Running Aces pays $1/hour in comps on live poker when you sign in at the table (Oct promos).

Tell the poker podium (the front desk) which game you want, and they'll put you on the list and call your name. Canterbury posts its live list online (live board). Our lineup pages show what usually runs.

Game names, decoded (definitions from Canterbury):

• 3-6 Hold'em: fixed limit. Bets are $3 preflop and on the flop, $6 on the turn and river.
• Kill / half kill: when a player wins pots in a row, the next hand is played at higher stakes.
• 2-100 spread limit: any bet from $2 to $100. Looser than fixed limit, but the cap prevents no-limit all-ins.
• Mix / Mix-8: the game rotates each orbit through Hold'em, Omaha, Razz and others.
• Survival (Canterbury) / Timed games (Running Aces): the closest thing to no-limit cash allowed in MN. See the law page.

A good first game is the lowest fixed-limit Hold'em game (3-6). Ask the floor what the minimum buy-in is.

• Pick one from our tournament list or calendar. Weekday events start at $50 (Running Aces' "The 50/50") and $75–$100 (Canterbury).
• At Canterbury you register at the Cashier Cage with your MVP card. Sign-up opens 2 hours before the start (source).
• Many events use a big blind ante: the player in the big blind posts one ante for the whole table, equal to the big blind (Canterbury rules).
• Both rooms follow TDA tournament rules.
• Want a bigger event? Satellites let you win a seat for a fraction of the buy-in. See Series.

If your quads get beaten, you could hit a bad beat jackpot worth five or six figures. Rules differ by room, but both of your hole cards usually have to play. See the current amounts on the jackpot tracker.

• Act in turn, keep your cards on the table, and say your action out loud.
• Want a jackpot or high hand? Tell the dealer right away. Both rooms require you to show the hand and report it immediately.
• Tipping the dealer when you win a pot is customary in US card rooms. Canterbury's tournament buy-ins include a listed staff appreciation fee.