Advice Needed: Live Play Tips

[Leedspokerguru 0]

Ok I'm leaving my comfortable environment of online and venturing to a real poker room in the next 2 days. Obviously less hands per hour than online and the big one is opponents get to see you and how you act. I've googled away and come up with the general tips that you get about acting in turn etc... But having played a few home games I know the general way to act. I'm looking for some killer tips or advice. The poker room in question will have a % of UK pros in the mix. Do I need sunglasses and all that. Does a LAG style work as well live as it does online. Should I stick to my game or do I need to make some tweaks? $60/£30 buy in3000 chips24 min clockfrom 120-180 peopleI'm excited but not sure how my online game transfers or what my biggest live noobness give aways will be.

[psujohn 0]

Tournament right?The biggest thing I see the inexperienced do is fumble over "exact change". If you don't have the correct chips to make a call or put out a blind just put out bigger chips and let the dealer give you change. Don't ever reach into the pot to make change for yourself.A related point - if you put out a single chip with action already in front of you without saying anything it will be considered a call. If you're playing 50/100 and you want to raise to 500 don't just put out a 500 chip - say raise first or raise to 500 total or something.

[MadKennedy420 0]

how small are the blinds starting?

[fighter 4]

Do I need sunglasses ? NO Does a LAG style work as well live as it does online? It works betterShould I stick to my game or do I need to make some tweaks? Depends on the strength of your original game. Dont be afraid to ask questions and you will be fine.

[Suited_Up 2]

No sunglasses. If you really need a safety blanket, just wear a hat.But those 'Pros' aren't really very pro in a $60 tourney. They can probably hardly read a book much less your face. Play a couple hands and once you stop your hands from shaking you'll be just fine.

[Balloon guy 158]

No sunglasses. If you really need a safety blanket, just wear a hat.But those 'Pros' aren't really very pro in a $60 tourney. They can probably hardly read a book much less your face. Play a couple hands and once you stop your hands from shaking you'll be just fine.

Ya, you won't be the first person who has this happen to you when playing live.Also, be friendly, people don't want to bust the nice guy as much, but they look for ways to bust an arrogant guy.

[wakiki 0]

If you are like me, then the first time you sit down at a live table you will get such a rush that your head will be spinning, and you can't even think about what the other players are doing. This is definitely a bigger problem than giving off tells -- the players at this level probably won't be picking up on them. If you get the adrenaline rush, my advice is just to enjoy it, and try not to lose a load of money by doing something stupid. I actually think your better first live experience would be at a ring game, 'cause you won't be forced to be aggressive, but whatever floats your boat.Generally be friendly and observant, do what other people do, and you will get along just fine. Live poker is WAY cooler than online in my opinion. Handling the chips, talking to other players, and interacting with the dealer adds so much to the game. In my only three live poker games, everyone was extremely polite and honorable. I hope that yours is as good as mine was. GL!

[fighter 4]

But those 'Pros' aren't really very pro in a $60 tourney.

QFTI figured I should throw in some more indepth advice. Read less into betting amounts. While online if someone bets 225 or 250 it it a very specific action, live it just means that he picked up another chip and doesnt want to bother putting it back on his stack. If you are talking alot people might not have noticed that you have been folding alot, so you could have a loose image to some people without actually deserving it. Image is alot more important live. While some people might be playing 6 or 8 tables and not notice you beyond 23/20 stats, they have nothing to do but watch the action at the table live.Dont put your fingers anywhere near your mouth after handling the chips. Just watching what some people do to there chips or just general state of hygiene makes you wonder how phil hellmuth does this.

[Merby 3]

There's actually some really good advice in this thread.I recommend the complete opposite approach. Those other people are there to try and take your money. Given the opportunity, they will chew you up and leave you for the scavengers. You're probably going to be sitting at a table with 4 or 5 regulars and a handful of top pros, but that's not a problem, because you have a plan.1) Make sure to dress like Phil Helmuth or Phil Laak: dark sunglasses, ball cap, and/or hoodie. That will hide your fear and display an aura of calm control over the table.

2) Wear lots of poker gear. I recommend AP or UB stuff, because your opponents will have to be concerned with the possibility that you know all their hole cards. That'll keep 'em from bluffing you.3) No small talk. You can do one of two things at this tournament: make friends, or make money, not both.4) If you stare into an opponent's eyes long enough, they will think you can read into their soul. Do this at every opportunity.5) Hide your high denomination tournament chips behind a wall of small denomination chips so you can surprise your opponent into calling a HUGE all in.6) If somebody actually sucks out on you after making a bad call, make sure you humiliate them very loudly and frequently. This will scare everyone else away from calling your raises (for fear of getting humiliated for their terrible play).7) If an opponent bets into you when you hold the nuts, enjoy the moment. In fact, take the extra time to savor the experience while pretending on whether you should call this bet and bemoaning the "horrible" river card. Wait for someone to finally call time on you before you finally call. Ask your opponent what he has, let him proudly table his hand... then *SLAM* your hand down, "I have the nuts, BITCH!"8) Remember that in live tournaments, there is no hand history to review your opponents hole cards. People will try to muck their hands if they having the losing hand at showdown. Don't let them. You have the right (I daresay the *duty*) to demand to see their mucked hands, thereby gleaning valuable insights into their playing habits. Make sure you demand to see all the hole cards *before* the hand gets to showdown. That way, the dealer will cover the muck, allowing you to see all hands.----------------------------- END OF COMEDIC REPLY --------------------------------Serious answer:Obviously, I was just having fun. I strongly recommend ignoring my above advice, as that will simply turn you into the table *******. In fact, point (5) is actually against tournament rules (high denomination chips must be visible to your opponents). Just go there and have fun. Know that your opponents are just there to have fun as well, and few of them actually expect to have a chance at winning (but ofcourse, all of them are dreaming of it). I highly doubt there are any pros in the field, although there will likely be a number of casino regulars at the table. These people will appear totally relaxed and comfortable, and will be chatting casually with one another (as well as with the dealers). Don't fear these people, because although they are very familiar with the casino poker experience, few (if any) of them will be regular poker grinders both online and live. Most will have *one* playing style and have great difficulty "changing gears". In that aspect, live betting tells are even more important than online.Just be confident in your game and be there to have fun and absorb the experience. Treat the tournament like a turbo tournament online, because even if the blinds raise every 20 or 30 minutes, the number of hands played per level will probably be somewhere between 10 and 20 (depending on how long each level lasts). From my personal experience, you will roughly get ~35 hands per hour, which will translate into paying one set of blinds per level in a 15 minute blind structure (~10 hands) and two sets of blinds (~20 hands) in a 30 minute blind structure.Oh, and in case I forgot to mention: have fun!

[wakiki 0]

5) Hide your high denomination tournament chips behind a wall of small denomination chips so you can surpries your opponent into calling a HUGE all in.

This made me laugh really, really hard.

[MadKennedy420 0]

There's actually some really good advice in this thread.I recommend the complete opposite approach. Those other people are there to try and take your money. Given the opportunity, they will chew you up and leave you for the scavengers. You're probably going to be sitting at a table with 4 or 5 regulars and a handful of top pros, but that's not a problem, because you have a plan.1) Make sure to dress like Phil Helmuth or Phil Laak: dark sunglasses, ball cap, and/or hoodie. That will hide your fear and display an aura of calm control over the table.2) Wear lots of poker gear. I recommend AP or UB stuff, because your opponents will have to be concerned with the possibility that you know all their hole cards. That'll keep 'em from bluffing you.3) No small talk. You can do one of two things at this tournament: make friends, or make money, not both.4) If you stare into an opponent's eyes long enough, they will think you can read into their soul. Do this at every opportunity.5) Hide your high denomination tournament chips behind a wall of small denomination chips so you can surprise your opponent into calling a HUGE all in.6) If somebody actually sucks out on you after making a bad call, make sure you humiliate them very loudly and frequently. This will scare everyone else away from calling your raises (for fear of getting humiliated for their terrible play).7) If an opponent bets into you when you hold the nuts, enjoy the moment. In fact, take the extra time to savor the experience while pretending on whether you should call this bet and bemoaning the "horrible" river card. Wait for someone to finally call time on you before you finally call. Ask your opponent what he has, let him proudly table his hand... then *SLAM* your hand down, "I have the nuts, BITCH!"8) Remember that in live tournaments, there is no hand history to review your opponents hole cards. People will try to muck their hands if they having the losing hand at showdown. Don't let them. You have the right (I daresay the *duty*) to demand to see their mucked hands, thereby gleaning valuable insights into their playing habits. Make sure you demand to see all the hole cards *before* the hand gets to showdown. That way, the dealer will cover the muck, allowing you to see all hands.----------------------------- END OF COMEDIC REPLY --------------------------------Serious answer:Obviously, I was just having fun. I strongly recommend ignoring my above advice, as that will simply turn you into the table *******. In fact, point (5) is actually against tournament rules (high denomination chips must be visible to your opponents). Just go there and have fun. Know that your opponents are just there to have fun as well, and few of them actually expect to have a chance at winning (but ofcourse, all of them are dreaming of it). I highly doubt there are any pros in the field, although there will likely be a number of casino regulars at the table. These people will appear totally relaxed and comfortable, and will be chatting casually with one another (as well as with the dealers). Don't fear these people, because although they are very familiar with the casino poker experience, few (if any) of them will be regular poker grinders both online and live. Most will have *one* playing style and have great difficulty "changing gears". In that aspect, live betting tells are even more important than online.Just be confident in your game and be there to have fun and absorb the experience. Treat the tournament like a turbo tournament online, because even if the blinds raise every 20 or 30 minutes, the number of hands played per level will probably be somewhere between 10 and 20 (depending on how long each level lasts). From my personal experience, you will roughly get ~35 hands per hour, which will translate into paying one set of blinds per level in a 15 minute blind structure (~10 hands) and two sets of blinds (~20 hands) in a 30 minute blind structure.Oh, and in case I forgot to mention: have fun!

instant classic LOL bro, well done

[Leedspokerguru 0]

Thanks for advice so far guys. I know how to play poker but not doing a proper live tournament my poker self wants to make sure I don't give away any cheap edges. The place is self is a dedicated poker room not a casino. Its one of the largest in Europe and there aren't any like it in the UK. http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/results.phpThere are pros. I scanned the last few results, obviously the bigger the buy ins ($600+) the more pros I can see on the entry list. But I checked the results from the last few $60 tournys and I could see a couple of pros in the finish results, one of who's article I read in poker player magazine. Maybe the UK is different from the US as tourny poker isn't that readily available. I live in one of the top 4 largest cities in England and our local casinos don't have regular holdem cash games and hold only 2 tournys a week.All this probs drives the pros towards the same watering hole as the rest of the cattle, even just to mop up in the side games. Hopefully the small entry ammount will keep the familar names out of it.

[Balloon guy 158]

Thanks for advice so far guys. I know how to play poker but not doing a proper live tournament my poker self wants to make sure I don't give away any cheap edges. The place is self is a dedicated poker room not a casino. Its one of the largest in Europe and there aren't any like it in the UK. http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/results.phpThere are pros. I scanned the last few results, obviously the bigger the buy ins ($600+) the more pros I can see on the entry list. But I checked the results from the last few $60 tournys and I could see a couple of pros in the finish results, one of who's article I read in poker player magazine. Maybe the UK is different from the US as tourny poker isn't that readily available. I live in one of the top 4 largest cities in England and our local casinos don't have regular holdem cash games and hold only 2 tournys a week.All this probs drives the pros towards the same watering hole as the rest of the cattle, even just to mop up in the side games. Hopefully the small entry ammount will keep the familar names out of it.

Good poker players lose too you knowJust ask me

[bigcoled 1]

TSFIDTS?

[Merby 3]

TSFIDTS?

Sometimes we surprise the Gen poker forum by posting strategy here as well (eg: the challenge threads)Sometimes I surprise myself by understanding random acronyms.

[Suited_Up 2]

Thanks for advice so far guys. I know how to play poker but not doing a proper live tournament my poker self wants to make sure I don't give away any cheap edges. The place is self is a dedicated poker room not a casino. Its one of the largest in Europe and there aren't any like it in the UK. http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/results.phpThere are pros. I scanned the last few results, obviously the bigger the buy ins ($600+) the more pros I can see on the entry list. But I checked the results from the last few $60 tournys and I could see a couple of pros in the finish results, one of who's article I read in poker player magazine. Maybe the UK is different from the US as tourny poker isn't that readily available. I live in one of the top 4 largest cities in England and our local casinos don't have regular holdem cash games and hold only 2 tournys a week.All this probs drives the pros towards the same watering hole as the rest of the cattle, even just to mop up in the side games. Hopefully the small entry ammount will keep the familar names out of it.

Only scary names I noticed were Nick Carter and Joe Stevenson, and honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about a backstreet boy and a dumb UFC fighter.

[Suited_Up 2]

TSFIDTS?

*Insert random hand history here*Take your own advice.

[fatman 1]

Thanks for advice so far guys. I know how to play poker but not doing a proper live tournament my poker self wants to make sure I don't give away any cheap edges. The place is self is a dedicated poker room not a casino. Its one of the largest in Europe and there aren't any like it in the UK. http://www.dusktilldawnpoker.com/results.phpThere are pros. I scanned the last few results, obviously the bigger the buy ins ($600+) the more pros I can see on the entry list. But I checked the results from the last few $60 tournys and I could see a couple of pros in the finish results, one of who's article I read in poker player magazine. Maybe the UK is different from the US as tourny poker isn't that readily available. I live in one of the top 4 largest cities in England and our local casinos don't have regular holdem cash games and hold only 2 tournys a week.All this probs drives the pros towards the same watering hole as the rest of the cattle, even just to mop up in the side games. Hopefully the small entry ammount will keep the familar names out of it.

You live in on of the top 4 largest cities in England but LFC is one of the worst football clubs in the country.

[Pot Odds RAC 23]

You're jumping directly into B&M from On-Line......how about a baby step?Find a Home Game, or pull one together to get a few orbits in a live setting. This will help (not eliminate) some of the "physical" issues. You'll get some experience handling chips. You can get a feel for the social interaction. You can go thru a few bouts with the adrenaline, hand shakes, face flush, neck pulse, and other autonomic responses.Also, learn what a string bet is and learn to handle chips a little. Pushing out six stacks of two red chips to make a $60 call looks a little silly.

[Suited_Up 2]

You're jumping directly into B&M from On-Line......how about a baby step?Find a Home Game, or pull one together to get a few orbits in a live setting. This will help (not eliminate) some of the "physical" issues. You'll get some experience handling chips. You can get a feel for the social interaction. You can go thru a few bouts with the adrenaline, hand shakes, face flush, neck pulse, and other autonomic responses.Also, learn what a string bet is and learn to handle chips a little. Pushing out six stacks of two red chips to make a $60 call looks a little silly.

But oh boy do I see it a lot, lol.Not only does it look silly, it takes like 8 years to count your god damned call out. WTF is wrong with those people?

[Balloon guy 158]

But oh boy do I see it a lot, lol.Not only does it look silly, it takes like 8 years to count your god damned call out. WTF is wrong with those people?

Meta gameI once called an internet kid's $200 bet with $1 chips, stacked in 3s and an occasional 4 high stack just to get everyone at the table involved.He almost mucked and walked away.

[AndyZ28 0]

Meta gameI once called an internet kid's $200 bet with $1 chips, stacked in 3s and an occasional 4 high stack just to get everyone at the table involved.He almost mucked and walked away.

LOL! That's classic.Lots of good info in here.Here'e my piece of advice playing a live tourney. Don't be discouraged if you don't place ITM, or TID. Live poker is a bit slower, and the cards aren't as "quality" in frequency as they are online.And definitely hide the neck pulse in a big hand. I've been playing live for awhile and if the hand is really huge, I still have to cover my neck.No one's mentioned it yet, but COVER your hole cards when you look at them. It's unreal at how many people let their cards flash when they peek at them. If I see it, I usually mention it to the player. It is also unnecessary to actually put a chip on your cards if you keep them close enough to you. But don't keep them so close that the other players don't see them and act out of turn.And my last piece of advice, if it's heads up with you in the hand and the WHOLE table is staring at you. Don't be afraid to take time to make your decision. When I first started playing live, I sometimes felt rushed to make a decision because I could feel everyone saying, "HURRY THE **** UP!" Whether they were or not is beyond me, but it has cost me before. Just take your time, make GOOD decisions, and have fun.

[checkymcfold 0]

absolute #1 thing to remember the first time you're playing live so that you don't **** anything up accidentally:NEVER EVER do anything with your chips physically without first announcing verbally what you're going to do. that way, you can't intend to bet white chips but throw black in, etc.--verbal action is always binding.best of luck out there, kid! i'm sure you'll find that the play is a lot worse than you're expecting.

[troyomac 0]

LOL! That's classic.Lots of good info in here.Here'e my piece of advice playing a live tourney. Don't be discouraged if you don't place ITM, or TID. Live poker is a bit slower, and the cards aren't as "quality" in frequency as they are online.And definitely hide the neck pulse in a big hand. I've been playing live for awhile and if the hand is really huge, I still have to cover my neck.No one's mentioned it yet, but COVER your hole cards when you look at them. It's unreal at how many people let their cards flash when they peek at them. If I see it, I usually mention it to the player. It is also unnecessary to actually put a chip on your cards if you keep them close enough to you. But don't keep them so close that the other players don't see them and act out of turn.And my last piece of advice, if it's heads up with you in the hand and the WHOLE table is staring at you. Don't be afraid to take time to make your decision. When I first started playing live, I sometimes felt rushed to make a decision because I could feel everyone saying, "HURRY THE **** UP!" Whether they were or not is beyond me, but it has cost me before. Just take your time, make GOOD decisions, and have fun.

The bolded is wrong. ALWAYS protect your cards.I've seen players tossing their cards in the muck, but they make a bad toss and the cards hit the table funny and bounce onto someone else's hand resulting in it being declared dead as well.

[Balloon guy 158]

The bolded is wrong. ALWAYS protect your cards.I've seen players tossing their cards in the muck, but they make a bad toss and the cards hit the table funny and bounce onto someone else's hand resulting in it being declared dead as well.

I use a sharpie to protect my cards. and when I get an ace, when no one is looking, I place a small A in the top corner of the card.After about an hour I have all 4 aces marked. In anotehr hour I have all 4 corners marked.Which helps me to know when an ace is the turn or river card.Just after the burn card comes off, I see the mark and I yell: "Ace me baaaaby", then when the ace hits I bet really big. I get those suckers to fold at least 40% of the time. +EV