My first face to face tournament.

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roreyn02

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So I was at a race track that had a card casino. Played my first face to face tournament. Wow was it a blast! I was nervous and shivering the whole time. It made it tough to make the ballsy moves I make when I play an online tournament. Im able to process the game just like I do on the computer, but the anxiety and the faces and eyes makes the actions so much tougher. I guess I wasnt alone, there were others there that seem to turn red in the face and hold their hand over their face(even when they werent in a hand). I had a rock star energy drink with me at the time because im a caffeine addict. Is this good or bad for the nervousness?
I want to get to a point were im as comfortable face to face as I am at a computer.. I want to stare people down and intimidate. I know i'd get a big rise out of doing this and it would just make the game so fun to have that power. Hell I dont care about ever winning, just want to get the most out of my game.
One thing that concerns me at the table is the fact that im a real runt physically. Im a tiny tendor little guy. I dont eat much and eating more wont change me, it will just give me a beer gut. People just aren't intimidated by me. Im 30 years old, and a lot of people think im a "little kid" when the first see me. Even people younger than me. How am I ever going to intimidate someone at the table?
 
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hffjd2000

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First of, relax and dont be nervous or show any tells to your opponents.

Second, many ways you can intimate them. One is through betting. You can raise your voice and say the amount of bet or you can stand after betting and show as if you want to go to showdown.
 
Serkish

Serkish

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this thought helped me "they are not going to jump over the table and beat you for staring them down" just keep that in mind and you shouldnt have trouble staring them down or if that doesnt work wear sunglasses also ive been stared down by the smallest of players so your physical appearance shouldnt matter.

i agree with hffjd u can use your voice and betting to intimidate
 
Poker Orifice

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I'd suggest not bothering with that. You're more likely going to be giving away information as opposed to actuallly getting any.

And to answer your question.... idk... maybe just buy a big gun.
 
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RodrigoCL

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Hey roreyn02, don´t mind about size and the looks. I was impressed to see Negreanu last year in the Big one for one drop and he is not big at all and you see how successful he is at the tables.

I wish I had the chance to play live poker more cause the thrill you describe is so exciting. Anyway, don't worry about intimidating others; just worry about hiding your own tells. Maybe plan on using sunglasses and stare at nowhere everytime you're in a hand, just like Dominik Panka does. Find your own style and method that helps you with your game.
 
rock0001

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you dont need to intimidate anyone in order to be a successful live player. its totally fine to feel nervous the first time you played on a live tournament however as soon as you play in more tourneys and get experience you will be more relaxed and you will feel more confident on the tables.
 
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SnowedIn

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Worry more about your play then whether or not you're intimidating the other players. In fact especially at low stakes tournaments just be friendly with the people around you. Much easier to get info off them and you'll enjoy it more
 
VMAN014

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My first time playing live was so nerve shattering. At times I could feel my entire body shaking when I had to make a call. Haven't gone back yet though lol.
 
BogdanStark

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I also been in the same situation when player against me was more experiences and older. So, I played very tight. When I try to steal his blind, he re-raise my bet. It was very hard but interesting. In the end, I was biting with AA vs his KK
 
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MaxDamage

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Hi,
First of all you should know that if u feel nervous, a lot of people at the table will be able to tell, and you may become a target. The more you play live the more your nervesnous will go away. I played this 330 € tournament last week (which was way above what im used too) so i was pretty nervous too. But i just played the way i should and as my stack increased so did my confidence. Not short after i made a hero call for 3/4th my stack on a Jh-7h-6h-5c-Js board with 3-3 against someone who fired 3 bullets at me. I won the hand, along with everyone's respect, so i became uberconfident. I ended up finishing 3rd in a field of 143 players. The only way i got that far is because i really convinced myself that those players are no better then me, and i really believed i could win the tournament. No matter how good or experienced one is, he still gets as nervous as you sometimes (especially while bluffing). Keep these things in mind, believe in yourself and u'll make that final table in no time!

And if that doesnt work for you and you still feel intimidated, put in your earphones and listen to your favorite music. It will help!
 
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