Cash Game Baptism By Fire

Hello!
Long time lurker, not much talking going on, lot of respect for the community you guys have built. Any who, just a background: I'm one of those classic fish, the kids that whoop their friends in the small SnGs in the garage, but have never played at a casino or a cash game, that think they are good. I need to kill this mindset, preferably by tonight.

I've been invited to a game I've been meaning to check out off campus of my university. It is steep for me, but I consider it an early Christmas present to myself and want to give it a try. 1-2 NLHE game, 60 dollar minimum 300 maximum. Again, I'm fully aware that these are a big jump up from my "everyone throws in ten bucks and winner leaves with it" stakes, but I''ve wanted to do this for quite a while.

I know I won't be a great player my first time, I can't learn it all, every situation is different, yada yada but I'm just looking for simple tips. I've seen things about buying in short as a strategy, and I see that as maybe having some pull here. I'm not buying in for the full 300, I have the scratch but would rather not sit down at a table my first time with that kind of cash. Probably going to sit down with anywhere between 160 and 200. My biggest concern is patience, and the transitions from small stakes with friends to (what is considered in my head) higher stakes with strangers, and from SnG style to cash game.

Any thoughts/ first time advice? Thanks for the read.

Be a big nit (edit: only say this because you are both new to cash, and new to the group so a lot of variables in play) until you get a feel for the players and how their game operates etc. Then still be tight but aggressive, and put pressure on any players you have to this point tagged as tight and also you will have a tight image so when you get spots you will certainly have room to make some plays.

Although it seems high, in general 1/2 games live are comparison to a micro stakes for an online player in regards to play and thus are full of fish usually (granted with a home game it could be different, maybe they are all sharks and looking for new fish to feed on lol).

I would deff buyin at least the 100bb (200$), unless you are familiar with and good at the short stack (ss) strategy buying in short could easily be viewed as "well he can't really afford to play the game" and you will be focus for uber pressure.

Perhaps the most important diff between cash and sng/mtt formats is that blinds don't increase, so you have time to wait for hands as opposed to a sng where blinds go up and eventually will force action so although you say a concern is patience you will need to be patient

Just some points to think about for now.

BluffMeAllIn said:

Be a big nit (edit: only say this because you are both new to cash, and new to the group so a lot of variables in play) until you get a feel for the players and how their game operates etc. Then still be tight but aggressive, and put pressure on any players you have to this point tagged as tight and also you will have a tight image so when you get spots you will certainly have room to make some plays.

Although it seems high, in general 1/2 games live are comparison to a micro stakes for an online player in regards to play and thus are full of fish usually (granted with a home game it could be different, maybe they are all sharks and looking for new fish to feed on lol).

I would deff buyin at least the 100bb (200$), unless you are familiar with and good at the short stack (ss) strategy buying in short could easily be viewed as "well he can't really afford to play the game" and you will be focus for uber pressure.

Perhaps the most important diff between cash and sng/mtt formats is that blinds don't increase, so you have time to wait for hands as opposed to a sng where blinds go up and eventually will force action so although you say a concern is patience you will need to be patient

Just some points to think about for now.

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This is exactly the kind of response I was looking for, and I thank you for it.

The nit: I was thinking along the same lines. If anything, just get experience, I'm not going to be getting too creative on my first session.

The stakes: That's what I've read, it just seems too good to be true. I'm wary of this being a shark's den because I don't know any of the players but I'm hoping its full of the fish and gamblers you guys tell legends about haha, not going to bank on it though. My thoughts is that these will be much better players than that since the only way you could figure out there was a game was a post on a university website saying, "NLHE party, message me for details" haha and just the need to notice acronym might weed out the kids that really suck, sadly. The suspense is wonderful so far.

Buyin: He did say $100 is average and I'm not sure how honest he is, but that is a good point; I'd rather not pin a bigger sign than I've already got on my head.

Patience: Yes, this will be a big leak, I'm just hoping my first time jitters keeps me away from playing too many pots haha. I've got a friend coming for security but he's also a pretty good player, what can I tell him to look for in my play to improve? Simple tells, or betting patterns? Maybe I'm answering my own question, just want to get the most out of him.

CrossedLine said:

This is exactly the kind of response I was looking for, and I thank you for it.

The nit: I was thinking along the same lines. If anything, just get experience, I'm not going to be getting too creative on my first session.

The stakes: That's what I've read, it just seems too good to be true. I'm wary of this being a shark's den because I don't know any of the players but I'm hoping its full of the fish and gamblers you guys tell legends about haha, not going to bank on it though. My thoughts is that these will be much better players than that since the only way you could figure out there was a game was a post on a university website saying, "NLHE party, message me for details" haha and just the need to notice acronym might weed out the kids that really suck, sadly. The suspense is wonderful so far.
just remember in general when referring to the 200NL life game (1/2) its in reference to somewhere that has a constant flow of players. If you are going to find sharks at the limit a more localized situation such as your going to could very easily be it. I play or used to before I moved, in a game with about 10-20 or so different guys which certainly has a couple of fish in comparison (there had been sessions back then that it was possibly me lol) but some of the players there I am sure could likely play well beyond the limit and do well.


Buyin: He did say $100 is average and I'm not sure how honest he is, but that is a good point; I'd rather not pin a bigger sign than I've already got on my head.
Also they at one time had an average bi of 20bb, just seemed anyone sitting when it initially started only bought 40$ (i think because it migrated from a 0.5/1 game and might have been 25/.5 before that I'm not sure but seemed to keep the same lower limit) up to however much. I am hoping to get a game with them over xmas and plan to sit at least 50bb deep and 100bb if they are all sitting with 50bb+. Can also gauge your initial buyin based on stacks at the table, always nice to start with at least enough to stack the biggest stack if the game is just getting started

Patience: Yes, this will be a big leak, I'm just hoping my first time jitters keeps me away from playing too many pots haha. I've got a friend coming for security but he's also a pretty good player, what can I tell him to look for in my play to improve? Simple tells, or betting patterns? Maybe I'm answering my own question, just want to get the most out of him.

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Couple of points above in bold.

In regards to tells, yeah try not to seem too nervous unless doing some reverse psycology lol. Try and keep your timing in mind when making calls or raises etc, to try and not giveaway that you might take more time to make a raise with the nuts then when your bluffing etc.

Consistency is key in not giving away additional information, which is the same when it comes to betting. betting patterns however are slightly dependent on the table, in a live 1/2 game it could easily be that the standard raise is 5x instead of the usual 2.5x-3x online. A 3bet is generally going to be 3x the original bet your reraising. Be consistent in better the same amounts regardless of it you have AA or 27, if going to play it be consistant to not give away info. Also if your looking to make a raise then account for the limpers, if you got 2 limpers and you wanna make a raise then you make it 7x instead of 5x for example.

Be confident, even it things are not going well in the game try not to let it effect you (mentally or physically, posture frown etc), easier to pick on someone who is in doubt of their game then someone that is on an even key in good pots or bad beats.

GL, wish i was playing too lol.

BluffMeAllIn said:

Couple of points above in bold.

In regards to tells, yeah try not to seem too nervous unless doing some reverse psycology lol. Try and keep your timing in mind when making calls or raises etc, to try and not giveaway that you might take more time to make a raise with the nuts then when your bluffing etc.

Consistency is key in not giving away additional information, which is the same when it comes to betting. betting patterns however are slightly dependent on the table, in a live 1/2 game it could easily be that the standard raise is 5x instead of the usual 2.5x-3x online. A 3bet is generally going to be 3x the original bet your reraising. Be consistent in better the same amounts regardless of it you have AA or 27, if going to play it be consistant to not give away info. Also if your looking to make a raise then account for the limpers, if you got 2 limpers and you wanna make a raise then you make it 7x instead of 5x for example.

Be confident, even it things are not going well in the game try not to let it effect you (mentally or physically, posture frown etc), easier to pick on someone who is in doubt of their game then someone that is on an even key in good pots or bad beats.

GL, wish i was playing too lol.

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Took my shot at it, an awesome experience. As for sharks, I agree, thats what I was worried about. Especially now before the holidays, I figured most of the fish would either be home or taking finals and I'd just get regulars. They were all very friendly, good group of people but I could read them surprisingly well. Followed your advice and just nitted up (I showed a dumb bet with pocket 7s to mess with a kid that had been staring me down, obviously very loose aggressive player and made him pay for it later), only playing the best of hands and regretting when I didn't, because kicker trouble is a bitch.

Didn't disregard your advice but bought in for $160, just the amount I was comfortable with and felt that it would be more beneficial to my game to be confident with the money I was playing rather than win a few more bucks if I hit. Everyone else pretty much did 200 as you said, and I found myself almost relieved. No idea why, don't even ask haha. I was very nervous, and for the first part of my game I was gun shy for sure, and when I wasn't I was betting way too high. Realized this, adjusted, and started abusing the game.

Everything I've read on here really came into play for the first time, and it was exciting. As you said, the bet ranging was all over the place. A 3bb bet would get the exact same players as popping it to 7.5bb. This one kid set the pace, very tall imposing Indian kid who just rolled his eyes whenever anyone else bet. Pain in the ass, the loose kid I mentioned before. Put a Mississippi on (has anyone heard of that?), basically a button straddle and would just bully. I could see people looking to him, and knew if I was going to make any money I had to get those looks instead. Just 3 bet and then attacked the flop with absolutely random bets, always odd, 3s and 7s haha.

I made one huge mistake. Raised for 4BBs in middle position with A10spades and got 3 callers. Out comes the flop, 27J all spades. I bet kind of high, forget exactly how much, probably around the pot. Two callers. Rag falls, I bet again but double the amount from the flop, when afterwards I realized if I had checked the big indian bastard would've tried to push me off it. Oh well, lesson learned.

I want to thank you very much, you were helpful in making my first cash game a success, turned 160 into 275 rather quickly, and am going to do it again in the future. You the man!!

Congrats on the good results, always good to hear.

BluffMeAllIn said:

Congrats on the good results, always good to hear.

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Didn't mean to brag, comfortable with talking that way because I know you guys have all had the experiences. Now I just want to learn haha. I'm humbled, because you basically described the exact game without being there!

When playing with my friends in the small garage sit and go styles, I didn't have any of the actual plays click but with thinking players, adjustments and styles worked; thank you again for the help. Excited to turn 21 for Atlantic City.