Transitioning online to live games

Playing 25NL online, I have to get very focused and review a gameplan before a live game. The jump from 25NL to 100 or 200NL live is something that should not be taken lightly. So here are a few key differences between the two and a few rules I try to follow. I would like to hear others opinions and strategies.

1. I always FEEL like I am card dead playing live since I am used to multi tabling online. I run about a 12/8 online but to avoid being viewed as too tight and getting bored which can affect my decision making skills, I will once in a blue moon raise with J8 or K4 suited in LP.

2. There is a lot of debate on what live limit is equivalent to what online limit. It is without a doubt that if you play the same limits online you will find far superior players than at a live game. However this does not mean 100NL live = 10NL online. In 10NL online there are many regular players along with a bunch of beginners learning the ropes as well as a field of donkeys but rarely are there any good players. Why is that? Well as soon as the dedicated 10NL disciple gets a feel for the limit he/she cannot resist the temptation of 25NL. But at live games 100NL, there are all the player groups mentioned above with the addition of good players and even (semi) professionals. It is key to spot out who is who EARLY.

With that said my strategy for live games is to start off very tight then loosen up (not loose just loosen up ) then settle in the middle. If you are a stats person the V$IP/PFR would ideally be 8/6 --> 15/10 --> 12/9. That is what I hope my stats would look like if I could track my live game info. Starting out, I like to showdown a solid hand or two. Once in a while I raise with a good hand and the blinds/limpers fold back to me. I love to use this opportunity to show off my solid standard play. Its almost like patting everyone on the back and saying smart fold guys...while in the back of my mind I wait for an opportunity to raise with J8s (God I love that hand ) At this point I am playing a little loose and bluffing/stealing more but as I watch the table adjust to me (or not) I look for a chance to bluff someone and reveal my bluff or just flip over 2 trash hole cards. Who says 4th limping 75s in CO is bad when you hit a straight or you call a low flop and bluff hard when an overcard hits?

So super tight NIT to start and observe the table then loosen up a tad (if my skill level ever develops this would be the LAG stage) and finally find middle ground as a TAG.

3. I also like to have some sort of erhhh...substance in my system while playing 100 or 200NL. It keeps my heart from leaping out when I look down at KK.

4. With no reads and average stacks fold 77-JJ when someone raises you and you are OOP PF.

Cant think of anything else at the moment I might get back to this. I hope this helps anyone improve their game and I am also looking forward to hearing other peoples strategies.

Just saw a very similar thread here so mods please delete.

This is a good start, I do have a few comments I hope you don't take any offense, just trying to help as I've been playing both online (which I still suck at) and live (I'm fairly good at) for many years. And I think it's a great idea to create this strategy thread

1. True. Much less hands, can feel like you are completely card dead, especially when you go 3 hours without ever having a ppr. The raising with junk - yes, this must be done both online and live once in awhile. Changing up your game so your opps don't get a good read on you. Play the players, not the cards is more important though. As I just posted in this thread: http://www.cardschat.com/f11/live-vs-online-differences-160452/
there is a difference between poker rooms, they all have their own sort of flavor. It's like going to an online table where table vpip avg is 35% and another table at the same stakes where the vpip table avg is 17%.

2. Yes, it is easier to spot the good players from the bad ones live and you should get a read on ALL the players. Just because there is a good one at your table doesn't mean he/she is playing good or even running good that night.

I like your second paragraph here and that is a good strategy at times. I don't think this will work at all times but to start with at the right room this can definitely work well. Good players will pick up on this, but normally not to start with: to start with they will usually give you the benefit of the doubt. This does not work well though if you have calling stations on your table or if you are giving off tells, and there are a LOT of them that the vast majority have when they first start playing live.

3. For some this is a great idea. The first time I played live I refused to drink any alcohol because I didn't want it to affect my game. I should have and did the second time (and so on) for this very reason. Now I don't need it, just enjoy it Another thing I like to do is when there is a player losing to me consistently - I will buy them $1 drafts. They will usually buy back in again and lose more

4. This really depends. With no reads it certainly is harder to decide but generally live the play is looser and so you can often get a feel or flavor of a person by their demeanor and it depends on how much they raise.

*It really is important to read a book on tells. Like I said, when people first start playing live they give off so many tells it's not funny.

**Know live etiquette. Online you may be able to type "donk" in the chat box buy live you're likely to tick off the whole table and have people gunning for you.

***Rules - know the rules of the room you are playing in and don't be afraid to ask. Better to ask and look like a noob than to lose a big pot because you broke a rule (like placing your cards over the line, even if they are face up at some places is considered a muck). Some places allow you to bring out all the chips you want in a forward motion and just drop the ones on the table that you mean to bet/raise with (this works well for gauging reads on people's faces) and other places require whatever is in your hand that goes forward stays forward. This are null and void if you verbalize first, verbal is always binding wherever you play.

****Never let go of your cards live until the pot has been pushed to you. If the dealer misreads the hands and grabs your winning hand and mucks it then you're screwed and out the money. Sucks, but have seen it happen more than once and in more than one poker room.

*****The quickest way to make an enemy of the house is to tell the dealer how to do their job. Some who are new will welcome the advice, the seasoned ones will not like it and if a ruling needs to be done, the house normally favors the dealers decision which could go against you if you are bossy or a know-it-all to them. Ex: you accidently cross your cards over the bet line making room to shove a big stack of chips out into the pot with your winning hand, the dealer can take your cards and muck them, award the pot to the other player or he give you a warning.

******Know how much to tip the dealers for pots and the sizes won. There isn't a definitive but there are averages.

*******Strike up a friendly conversation with the players immediately to your left and right. This will usually work in your favor, especially since they will share the blinds with you and 2 to the right will be on the btn when it's your bb.

********Don't get caught up by the game on the TV or in too much conversation, don't allow these distrations.

*********Do not hold a conversation or speak to someone who is in a hand.

There is more but this is long enough for now. There are many threads on here with a lot of similar advice to them, it would be nice to have 1 overall strategy one for reference though.

Ahh Stormraven I did just see your other post and thank you for the detailed response. I have realized a ton about live poker from that thread. But I dont play in casinos too much more of a home game player and there is a drastic difference among all 3 games. I think it is best for beginners to learn online adjust to home games then adjust to casino games.

After StormRavens long detailed response, I would feel bad if this thread was deleted. Moderators your call!