Tournies v Ring tables?

Since I started playing poker (in January this year), I've mainly played in tournies, both live and online. In December I'm off to Vegas for the first time and whilst I plan on playing in a tournie, I was wondering about trying low limit ring games (if there is such a thing in Vegas!)

How do I change my style of play for a cash game? If I were to play how much should I start with 40BB? I play NL Holden by the way.

Any advice for cash game players would be very much appreciated.

The biggest difference for me is that each hand of a ring game is like a mini-tourney in that you'll win or lose cash then and there. Be prepared for large swings in your chipstack as this is going to happen often. Starting with 40BB is certainly in the right range as you want a large enough bankroll to withstand a run of cold cards. I'm sure some more of us will chime in on this one...

Basically the major difference is that once you lose all your chips you're not "out" like you are in a tournament - you can rebuy at any time. Therefore you shouldn't be afraid to push or call a push in a big pot if you feel you have a slight edge.

Buy in for the table max. If there is no max, try and buy in for enough to have everyone covered. This might not always be possible (someone might have bought in for 200BBs or someone might be on a roll and tripled his big buyin), but just use a bit of common sense and you'll be fine.

thanks for your comments.

I have dabbled with ring games online (and I mean micro-stakes only), but as soon as I win anything substantial, I leave the table and cash in!! - I assume this isn't good etiquette at the tables?

As a relative newbie to ring tables, perhaps Vegas isn't the best place for me to learn, although I could get some much needed practice in online before I go!

Yep, you can play in ring games in almost all of the casinos. I played at the Excalibur the most, it isnt too crowded and it is one of the only casinos with a $1-$3 limit game, but also has a $2-6. One difference is that there is only 1 blind, which is $1 or $2 depending on the table (there are no big and small blinds). Dont forget to tip the dealer a dollar or more when you win a pot, not doing so is like not tipping your pizza delivery guy or waitress!

The difference between ring games and tournaments really shouldn't be anything extreme as far as your play goes. A common mistake is to try and have a diff strategy for ring games and for tournys. While there are some differences between the two don't feel like you really need to revamp your game. Look to take adavantage of pots that are paying you good odds to go ahead and take your draw, since you have the ability to rebuy now.

As for buy-ins i totally disagree with always trying to buy in for the max, another common mistake, many players feel intimidated by a big stack, or that they need to keep up with a large stack to play well, Im not saying that stack isn't important, but you shoud never be intimidated by the amount of chips. Find a buy in that you are comfortable with, 40 or 50xbb is a good start.

GL

thanks again all.

I thought 40BB would be good to sit down with. I'm going to Vegas in December so I'll let you know how I get on.

Tipping the dealer, great advice!! As a newbie to this I'm unsure on how one should behave, any more little gems?

the small ring games online really are a free for all due to the value of the stakes but in tournament poker the value of you dollar can go alot further.I only play tournaments because mainly i like to see the thing unfold you know how people play certain hands and how they react to your play.After a while you can tell the guys that play certain ways and either avoid or go with it.Hope you have a great time in Vegas and do well.

I have played in some of the "turbo" tournaments in Las Vegas - Luxor, Mandalay Bay, etc. You get very few chips and the blinds go up quickly. They start out limit, but go to no limit after one hour. The tourneys last about two hours. If you do one of these, hope you get a few good hands early and push them. If you don't, the blinds will eat you alive. These tourneys are kind of a crapshoot.

If you play low limit ring games at a place like Excalibur, remember that a large number of tourists play there and seem to practice "no fold em." You may have a great hand, but people will stay in all the way through the river with the hope of drawing a miracle card. Prepare to suffer some bad beats. The players and workers at Excalibur are friendly, though, so even if you lose a little you will have had a great time.

If you end up winning a decent amount, don't worry about dashing with the cash. Take a break - get something to eat or drink - and smile, knowing that your wallet is fatter than before you started, courtesy of your poker prowess!

Being a NL player myself I had a hard time going to limit. I don't think I can go back. My brain has been set for NL and can't stand all the suck outs of limit (low level especially).

Low-level limit anywhere is hard to beat. After the tip and rake it is hard to stay ahead after an extended period of time.

Here is an example and how it goes in a 3/6 limit game:

5 people limp in at $3. You and one other see the rest of the hand heads up with a bet and call. $15+$6+$12+$12=$45. You think you just won a good size hand and you did. You tip the dealer $2 and the rake is $4.

You just lost over 10% of your earnings (sounds like the government to me). You really don't start making anything until the pot reaches $50 or more, then you have cleared the rake (rake is $1/$10 up to $4 max.)

I did not understand this when I started. I don't mean to scare you, I just wanted you to understand how the rake works at low levels and what it takes to win.

Well it's more than that - you've only won $27 - you put the other $18 in yourself. Take $6 from $27 - that's 22.2%

To cut this "tax" - don't tip the dealer. $2 to throw 2 bits of plastic 3 feet?

The main difference is that you should see a lot more flops with marginal hands like qt or 78 suited. This will alllow for more skillful flop play.