Online to live play...

hello all,

just wondering if anyone has any advice for switching from online play to in person? i've never played live before and am going to Las Vegas in September and plan to play NL Holdem? any advice would be appreciated.

Be prepared to wait and sometimes get bored. You get dealt 1/3 the hands live that you do online, and many people like to ponder their decisions for longer than the 15-20 seconds allowed online, slowing down the play. You get to see the people you are playing with though so you can rely somewhat on tells to back up a read. Games are usually more softer/wild than online also, even for the higher buy-ins, so expect your BB/100 hands to be somewhat higer (variance is also higher due to chasers and action). I've heard of games were the standard raise is 10 times the BB, meaning that a 1/2 table plays like 2/5 one.

I'd sit down at a limit table before to get the hang of things (announcing your actions, betting, posting blinds, tipping, etc.) since if you make a mistake (bet out of turn, misplace a bet, etc.) it won't be as costly. When you feel comfortable, sign up for the NL and go for it.

hmm...since the standard raise will be around 10BB, isn't the max buy in of 100BB kinda small? or can u sit down with much more?

(sorry...never play live before)

As said above expect to get nervous I remeber my first all in with my heart racing I thought I was going to have a heart attack lol.

Its so much more fun than online especially if you play with friendly people and have a laugh.

Live poker is a whole new ball game, if you understand the math of holdem, then you'll do fine as long as you are patient.

I would suggest starting at The Luxor. They have a no limit ($1/$2 blinds) that everyone must sit with $50.00, no more, no less. While I prefer sitting down with more, this allows a "new" player to not risk as much at first, but at the same time not be short stacked either.

The best time to play in Vegas, rergardless of what casino you are in, is 1 am - 6 am. What I usually do is "try" to take a nap at 10, then hit the tables fresh at 1 when everyone else is drunk. At this time I see a lot of guys who are on vaction, they just tucked their wives into bed and now they want to play the game they've been watching on tv. They don't really know what they are doing and they will play fast and stupid. They are dying to go all in. Just have patience, and they will do it when you have a good hand.

My favorite poker rooms in Vegas; Sahara, Harrah's, Mirage, Ceaser's.

Good luck and have fun (I'll be there in september too!)

Took a Vegas Trip last month and did ok at the tables. Made enough playing poker to pay for the trip I agree with all that was said above in that the game is sooooo much slower than online. What I do to offset that is to play higher limits than I normally do online to try to minimize the boredem that can set in. Some of the rooms I enjoyed playing at were the MGM (minimum 2/4 limit) , Mirage (minimum 3/6 limit) , Ceasars (minimum 3/6 limit) and Planet Hollywood (minimum 4/8 limit). If u need a lower limit game go to Excalibur, I think they run a 1/2 limit game. Good luck!!!!

I think before I get the nerve to play a live game.... I had better practice keeping a straight face at home Which by the way, is so very hard for me to do.

Ok the only time I saw somebody raise 10BB's is when I was in a tournament and the blinds were like 10,000/20,000 and the dude went all in for like 300,000.
Live play is a different world. Hands are delt slower and played differently. I wouldn't recommend going into a Casino for your first live game. Get some buddies togeather and play a small tournament style $5 buy-in, with $2.00 rebuys. Get a feel for reading them, doing some small table talk and how live feels. Then when you have done that a few times, go into a casino and sit down at a 1/3 LIMIT game.

I say limit because this will help you out more than you'll ever relize. Your probably thinking......Well I can't make a bunch of money off of limit. Don't worry chances are your first time you won't make any money!! The first time I ever went to a casino I sat down with the minimum at a $1/$3 limit table, which was $30. I lost it all, went and got more chips, lost it all. I actually planned on that happening because I wanted to get the feel for it and the people I was playing. So I went back to the table and sat down with double what I did previously and within an hour I broke even and got all of the money back that I lost.

You don't want to go into a Casino your first time and lay a bunch of money down, and you don't want to sit at a table with the bare minimum. If you have a table that is min. $30, sit with at least $100. Most people will sit with $100 or more. This will allow you to play more hands.

You will get nervous, I don't know if its nerves or your blood is just pumping really hard!! My first time at a table I didn't know what to think, I was just excited that I was there. Within 5 minutes we were all talking and having fun.

Also as stated above, you really don't have to have 100% understanding of the math involved in poker. Just look out for things, such as possible straights and flushes. Remember who showed bluffs and who plays anything, who's a bully better, and who might have the nuts.

Hi all I was just reading all your advice on live poker. Iget really nervous as well.I'm looking for advise on how to play ring games on line.I play lots of low tourys but never ring games.I see that there is a difference.By the way advice on this on CC is the best.Thanks and good luck at the tables.

Hi all .I went into my first tourny this weekend had a blast.The buy in was $30.00 bucks Three tables 30 people Finished about 12th. That was the first one . The second one I made final table and lost Quickly.I was still having fun.We change casinos and I played in another. I lost Almost right away. I didn't know it was a rebuy and didn't really understand how it worked.That one only cost me $30.00
That night I entered a $60.00 NL tourny with another 79 people and ened winning the whole thing. So this says to me anyone can win. Most of the things I have learned is off this site. Also playing on line.I don't even understand pot odds yet or implied odds and all that. I have been reading odds for dummies and still don't get. My math skills suck and that is a hole in my game I need to plug. I also don't know if this even the right form to post this . To say to you about Live play I love it .Get over the nerves and play your game.Don't worry about what other people think.The advice on this form is great and thank you.Oh by the way I won $1015.CDN.What better way to learn then for $30.-$60.00 bucks.Don't kid yourself I am far from any of these best players. Thanks for all the advise.I stared playing in Nov 2006. I still can't belive I won the whole thing very very lucky with a bit of skill and lots of waiting.

personally ive only just started playing live and yeah it can be really slow ... but the banter at the table makes up for that. one problem ive found with playing in rebuy tourney is that the people with more cash splash out lots and will take risks like they were playing with play money online and often bully me off the pot (personally i like freeze outs cos that levels the playing field)

other than that i found pulling down a nice size pot is a massive thrill and the adrenaline rush that you get from it is outstanding.

Just enjoy it.

Went to Vegas, and played live, for the first time last December. The place is set up for tourists and most (good) dealers can judge their table and will prompt you, if necessary.

The hard bit for me was following the parts of the game that happen automatically on line - judging the size of the pot (and hence your betting), making sure you play in turn etc and the whole new set of rules relating to out of position bets and live play in general.

Try to get an idea on who can play a bit, who's in town 'to gamble', who are the rocks and the stations (all much easier live).

I wouldn't pretend to be a great player but played well enough to win 2 tournaments and make the money in another. Can't wait to get back as soon as money will allow.

Best of luck (unless I get some money together in the next few weeks and am out there the same time)

well i would stay at lower limits do not try anything fancy and good luck and dont forget that sit and go's are good too. i would recommend that you dont drink not a drop. water :P
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