Live Play

[SirFWALGMan]

I am playing live at Foxwoods May 21st with some friends. So give me the lowdown. I have NEVER played live before. Let me know any and all thoughts around live play vs Internet, Foxwoods events, things to try at Foxwoods, etc.. etc.. All advice is welcome.

[greenbuckets]

My 2 cents on live play:

1) You must have patience. You can only play one hand at a time (obviously) so don't get anxious and get into a pots with sub-par hands.

2) I am not a big believer in "tells" but watch people's hands. This is not true for all players, but shaky hands or someone resting their face on their hand is usually an indication of a strong hand.

3) Pay attention. There are no "beeps" to remind you to bet or post blinds. The dealer will remind you, but in the interest of all at the table, pay attention and act when you have to. If you need more time to decide, just say, loud enough for the dealer to hear, "TIME." This lets everyone know you are thinking about your options.

4) If you want to raise, you must either put all your chips out at once. You cannot go back to your stack and get more. This is a string raise and will not be allowed. You can also say "RAISE" and then put your chips out. I find it is easiest just to say the amount you are betting. For instance, if I want to raise a $5 bet to $20, I just say "TWENTY." This lets everyone know you are raising.

5) Protect your cards by placing a chip (or chips) on them. This applies espcially to seat #1 or #10. I have seen dealers scoop cards that were not protected. This, in most casinos, is your fault and even if you had the nuts, your hand will be mucked.

6) Last, but not least, tip the dealer and the cocktail waitresses. They will treat you better!

I think you will find live poker much more fun.

[Talking Poker]

7) This goes along with #4. If you want to raise, always SAY "Raise" or state the amount of the bet. If the best is $5 to you and you toss a green chip ($25) in front of you, that is a CALL unless you verbalized your intention to raise. A lot of new players don't realize this.

8) The thing I find hardest in live play vs. online is keeping track of the size of the pot. It's a lot more difficuly than online where you can just point your mouse at it if it doesn't already say the amount somewhere on the screen. I usually try to keep track of bets, and make an estimate of the pot when I need to that way. Interestingly, if I just blindly guess at the size of the pot, I guess too low, which causes me to bet too low, etc, etc... Pots grow quickly. Especially with a little pre-flop action and multiple players.

[2Tone]

All good advice. I'd also add how much fun it is. Online is great for honing your skills and making money, but I really enjoy the feel of chips in my hands, bullshiting with the other players at the table, and the whole ritual of it all.

Foxwoods is huge -- be prepared for a wait if you want to play the lower limits at a busy time.

Have fun, and good luck.

[SirFWALGMan]

I dont recon on them thare Pot Odds anyways.. I just play. lol. (Just Kidding! For all the good it has done me lately).

[johnp158]

I'm also playing live for the first time this weekend. Anybody ever play at Harrah's in New Orleans? I think I'll be playing 3-6, that's about all I'm bankrolled for. (BTW, for background, since I don't post much, I play 1-2 limit mostly, would like to start playing more no-limit but I'm still in the bonus-whoring stage of my game and limit seems to be better for getting raked hands). Any last-minute advice in general or specifically about Harrah's would be greatly appreciated.

Wish me luck,
JP

P.S. I'm 21 and a college student, so I was thinking about maybe wearing sunglasses, etc. so people will think I'm some young punk fish

[nutbag]

Hey John, I used to go to college in New Orleans, do you go to school there or just visiting? Anyway, I've been to harrah's a few times. It's nice place. The rake is a little high, but it's the only casino downtown so no choices there. You'll get a pretty decent mix of tourists and ABC pro's who easily make money off of the tourists but aren't to difficult to play. 2 years ago it wasn't more than a 10-15 minute wait for 3/6, but nowadays it might be longer. Call ahead and see if you can get on the list, not sure if that's possible.

Don't try to bluff there, like most low limit talbes, but especially if you're playing at night. You'll probably get ragged on for wearing glasses, but it might get a few more calls. Saying your a first time player and dressing like a tourist might be a better image option, and the nerves of playing live the first time might add to that sell.
lastly, be sure to have your parking validated if you drive there, they usually do it right at the desk right away, but you might have to play for an hour or two. Any other questions just ask Be sure to post a report of the trip, i'd like to hear what it's like nowadays.

[PShabi]

8 continued) If you're calculating pot odds make sure you're taking into account the rake, jackpot drop, dealer tokes, etc. Important in live play.

[SirFWALGMan]

What level in the casino is comparable to online, and how much $$ should one bring?

[GeoffM]

Honestly, I've never played live at a casino, but I am under the impression that 5/10 limit will play about as badly as 1/2 online. So about 5X worse players live than online.

People playing live are gold mines because most of them are just tourists with nothing better to do.

[PShabi]

I've heard similar things. 10/20 live plays like 1/2 online.

In Florida, live games are limited to just $2 stakes, but it's not uncommon in those games to have everyone BUT you seeing the flop, 5 calling a flop bet, and 3 or 4 of those going to the river.

Depending on your luck in a particular session, it can be fun or really frustrating.

But yeah, live play is a blast.

[GeoffM]

The only live play I have going on is with a few buddies. We basically play NL (max bet $2, 0.25 minimum) playing dealer's choice, follow the queen, kings and little ones, etc.

Usually I end up taking home about $50 minus the food and depending on how much I drink as well.

Never played at a casino. Omaha doesn't even exist up in Canada yet and hold'em just really gets under my skin at times. I'm sure I may find some time this year to go play some tables with Chip when the charity casino opens though, he said it is dead money.

[rchamberlin]

Here's how I decide what level I'm going to play. I always sit at the level just above where the lines are a mile long. At the casino I go to the lowest they spread is $2/4 and then it jumps to $5/$10. Most people come looking to play low limit, but they're on a time constraint and don't want to wait for three hours just to sit, so they'll jump up to where the line is short. So you'll get some shiiiiiiiiiiitty players at a nice juicy table.

The last time I went with the intention of playing $2/$4 with a buddy who doesn't play much, but since the line was long I sat at $5/$10 until our names were called for $2/$4. I sat down with $450 and left with $1040, and you know I'm not that good.

[BrianSwa]

Dude your sitting at 2/4 limit and thats final, when I play live that is where I go. Remember we suck so why go sit at anything higher, your goal is to have fun so sit at 2/4 and play. Last time I went I took $100 because thats all I had and I was with my wife, well I played all day on that money. I suggest taking a little more maybe $300 and play 2/4 or at the most 3/6. Live play isnt like online play you dont have to have a bankroll to handle the swings because your not playing just live only. Online yea you need that bankroll but live play just need enough to re-buy a couple times if you bust out.

I dont suggest playing NL, your not used to playing live and you could blow your money very fast. Remember there are ATM's at most casino's, why do you think they put them their? I wouldnt play NL until you can at least beat the lowest limit game at the casino which in most cases in 2/4.

For the most part Sir go and have fun, this is how I look at it I only go to casino every once and awhile so I go their to have fun. Play online to make money!