Live Tournaments:What is the schedule like?

When you play in a live tournament, mainly larger multi-day ones, what is the schedule like? How long do they play in a day? What time do they start/finish? How often are breaks? How long are breaks? Are there any meal breaks? What do you do with your chips when you are away on a break, like, say for a bathroom break? How do you pay blinds and antes when you're away from the table? Basically, I'm curious about all the details of playing a multi-day tournament, the way it is run. Are you allowed to bring anything with you to the table?

It varies from series to series. The earliers tournaments can start anywhere from 10am-1pm. A lot of series have afternoon tournaments starting at 3 or 4pm and most have an evening tournament around 7pm.

The length of the tournament depends on the structure and number or entries - but most of the ones I play in last from 10-12+ hours with many of them having a return for day 2.

Breaks vary - can be 10-20 minutes every 1.5-2 hours for the most part. Some - but not all have a dinner break which is usually 30 min to 1 hour after 12-16 levels. Your chips stay on the table during breaks - if you are caught taking them you are eliminated from the tournament.

If you are away from the table the dealer or a person next to you will put out your blinds and antes.

You can bring anything within reason to the table. You can have your phone or tablet but can not take calls while at the table. You can text or browse the internet when you do not have cards.

Im playing my first live MTT in a few weeks the GPPT Can anyone give me some advice like what not to do at the table etc I dont wanna make any silly mistakes.

I play almost exclusively live tournaments. I always take a back pack with snacks, Advil, pen, paper, sometimes a drink but a lot of casinos won't let you bring drinks in, $1 bills to tip the waitress, my phone, ipad, earphones, a sweat shirt (always dress comfortably and in layers because you never know how hot/cold you'll be), sunglasses in case I want them, chapstick, basically all the things I need to make myself comfortable for 12 hours. Make sure you bring enough cash.

I always use a card cover, especially if I'm in the 1 or 10 seat as thats the more likely spot for a dealer to accidentally muck your hand.

Always announce your raise before you put chips out. I can't tell you how many times even seasoned live players get in trouble for this and the rules about if you can put more chips over the line than you want to bet. Best to announce first.

Just be nice to everyone and if you don't know something don't be afraid to ask. It wouldn't hurt to familiarize yourself with TDA rules.

Those are some of my tips, good luck!

Everybodylovesdeuces said:

I play almost exclusively live tournaments. I always take a back pack with snacks, Advil, pen, paper, sometimes a drink but a lot of casinos won't let you bring drinks in, $1 bills to tip the waitress, my phone, iPad, earphones, a sweat shirt (always dress comfortably and in layers because you never know how hot/cold you'll be), sunglasses in case I want them, chapstick, basically all the things I need to make myself comfortable for 12 hours. Make sure you bring enough cash.

I always use a card cover, especially if I'm in the 1 or 10 seat as thats the more likely spot for a dealer to accidentally muck your hand.

Always announce your raise before you put chips out. I can't tell you how many times even seasoned live players get in trouble for this and the rules about if you can put more chips over the line than you want to bet. Best to announce first.

Just be nice to everyone and if you don't know something don't be afraid to ask. It wouldn't hurt to familiarize yourself with TDA rules.

Those are some of my tips, good luck!

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Great advice! Thank's is there anything different from live poker to online poker such as bet sizing etc

MoeJurphy said:

Im playing my first live MTT in a few weeks the GPPT Can anyone give me some advice like what not to do at the table etc I dont wanna make any silly mistakes.

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This being your first live tournament I would definitely invest or maybe get the "audible" version free with trial of - Reading Poker tells by Zachary Elwood. You may be to nervous or focused on other things to pick up on live tells your first time out, but the big benefit of the book will be to make you aware of some tells you and all of us give to other players and you can try to eliminate them. It is small things that add up and this is something that you can do in poker that is totally in your control, but you have to know what to look for and what you are doing before you can fix your tells and look for tells in others and this book lays out a long list of them.

The biggest adjustment I reckon will be using chips nistead of just clicking having to keep track of each players bets and keeping track of the size of the pot

I would also read the TDA rules. Almost all live tournaments use these rules with some house rules sprinkled in. Don't be making any string bets, don't expose your cards with any action pending including action from you, don't act out of turn. Those are things you see a lot from first time live mtt players.
TDA Rules------> http://www.pokertda.com/view-poker-tda-rules/

smallfrie said:

I would also read the TDA rules. Almost all live tournaments use these rules with some house rules sprinkled in. Don't be making any string bets, don't expose your cards with any action pending including action from you, don't act out of turn. Those are things you see a lot from first time live mtt players.
TDA Rules------> http://www.pokertda.com/view-poker-tda-rules/

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Thanks I'll give this a read

about live tournament

RogueRivered said:

When you play in a live tournament, mainly larger multi-day ones, what is the schedule like? How long do they play in a day? What time do they start/finish? How often are breaks? How long are breaks? Are there any meal breaks? What do you do with your chips when you are away on a break, like, say for a bathroom break? How do you pay blinds and antes when you're away from the table? Basically, I'm curious about all the details of playing a multi-day tournament, the way it is run. Are you allowed to bring anything with you to the table?[/QUOT


Most tourney some start in the morning and some in the afternoon. they normally play from 1 to 3 levels. then they take about a 5 min. and after certain level they take like a 90 min. lunch and they play till they get to about level 8 or 10 then they are done for day only if they go two or more days. but they still take a break after 1 or 2 levels. I hope to make a live tourney some time this year if I do get to get to one it will be down in Cincinnati,Ohio. casino.

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One other thing different house rules when moving tables some allow you to carry chips in hand if you don't need a rack as long as they are kept in plain view others require a rack even if you only have 1 chip left. To avoid any problems I would always request a rack place your chips in the rack keep them in plain view while moving and arrive with them in the rack at your new seat assignment and you will never have any problems.

Yeah the main difference is the physical aspects of the game. The house rules are often different at every place especially the smaller card rooms/casinos. When in doubt, ask. Bet sizing in general is the same, as it's nlh. I'm guessing you'll be playing a turbo type structure so it's probably similar in the way you want to play the tournament to online games you're used to playing. I say go have fun, don't be nervous and enjoy yourself and don't beat yourself up if you don't cash. A few times live and you'll have it down

Your stack at the table--> If you have your chips stacked in multi-denomination stacks the highest denomination chips must be kept on top, if you stack your chips in separate stacks the high denomination stacks or single chips must be placed in front of the lower denomination stacks in clear view of the dealer and other players at the table.

smallfrie said:

This being your first live tournament I would definitely invest or maybe get the "audible" version free with trial of - Reading Poker Tells by Zachary Elwood. You may be to nervous or focused on other things to pick up on live tells your first time out, but the big benefit of the book will be to make you aware of some tells you and all of us give to other players and you can try to eliminate them. It is small things that add up and this is something that you can do in poker that is totally in your control, but you have to know what to look for and what you are doing before you can fix your tells and look for tells in others and this book lays out a long list of them.

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MoeJurphy said:

Thanks I'll give this a read

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If you want that book let me know and I will send you a free copy.

RogueRivered said:

When you play in a live tournament, mainly larger multi-day ones, what is the schedule like? How long do they play in a day? What time do they start/finish? How often are breaks? How long are breaks? Are there any meal breaks? What do you do with your chips when you are away on a break, like, say for a bathroom break? How do you pay blinds and antes when you're away from the table? Basically, I'm curious about all the details of playing a multi-day tournament, the way it is run. Are you allowed to bring anything with you to the table?

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On break your stack is left at the table. During breaks depending on the casino or poker room or tournament operator players may be mandated to leave the table and the dealer will remain, some tournaments may not mandate players leave table, some tournaments may mandate players leave the room (example: a casino ballroom used for a large tournament) At any rate the dealer should be at the table and if players are mandated to leave a dealer at another table may be used to observe multiple tables. While you are away from the table during play the dealer will retrieve your blinds and antes some dealers may ask a player in an adjacent seat to yours pull chips from your stack and push them forward for your blinds and antes. At no time other than a new seat assignment do your chips leave the table.

Edit---> Chips also leave table bagged at end of day----->In multi-day tournament at the predetermined end of day you will usually be asked to fill out some form of receipt with your name, maybe player card number, and a total chip count. Your chips and a copy of the receipt will be placed in a bag and sealed by you. Usually the information on the receipt will also be written directly on the bag by you. You will retain a copy of the receipt and when you return on the next day you are scheduled to play you will be given a seat assignment and your sealed bag will be at the table or will be brought to the table. If you are late the bag will be opened by the dealer and a small portion of chips will be removed and the dealer will pull blinds and antes from that. So if you are late don't be surprised to find your bag ripped open and chips missing

dakota-xx said:

If you want that book let me know and I will send you a free copy.

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Thanks PM me it please

Thanks everyone for all the great info about live tournaments. It sure would be fun to play in a big one.

Any tips for how to keep track of opponents' stacks? Are there any tools you can use to record all the moves, like a score sheet in chess? How do you know what place you are in overall? Can you refer to anything during play, like a push/fold chart?

They are a lot of fun. I just wrote in my blog about my experience playing in event No. 1 at the wsop Circuit stop at Harrah's Cherokee. It was a blast.

Another rule to remember is the "oversize chip rule."

If the bet to you is 1,000 and you want to raise it to 5,000 and you throw in a 5,000 chip but don't say anything (this happens a lot), then it goes down as a bet for 1,000. Also, when betting make sure you announce the denomination of your bet clearly. If the BB is 400 and you intend to bet 5,000 and you throw in a 5,000 chip and say "Five" it will be recorded as a bet for 500 and not 5,000.

A tip a player gave me is to always throw in two chips when you intend to bet or raise. So if you are going to bet 5,000, just get a 100 chip to make it 5,100 and throw in both chips. That way you don't even have to say anything. It will just be understood as a bet for 5,100.

teepack said:

They are a lot of fun. I just wrote in my blog about my experience playing in event No. 1 at the WSOP Circuit stop at Harrah's Cherokee. It was a blast.

Another rule to remember is the "oversize chip rule."

If the bet to you is 1,000 and you want to raise it to 5,000 and you throw in a 5,000 chip but don't say anything (this happens a lot), then it goes down as a bet for 1,000. Also, when betting make sure you announce the denomination of your bet clearly. If the BB is 400 and you intend to bet 5,000 and you throw in a 5,000 chip and say "Five" it will be recorded as a bet for 500 and not 5,000.

A tip a player gave me is to always throw in two chips when you intend to bet or raise. So if you are going to bet 5,000, just get a 100 chip to make it 5,100 and throw in both chips. That way you don't even have to say anything. It will just be understood as a bet for 5,100.

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Wow, that's very interesting! I never would have thought of something like that.

Breaks vary - can be 10-20 minutes every 1.5-2 hours for the most part

in my state. for 3 days event.
blinds up around 45mins
a break20mins will hold after 3blinds up
then 20 mins break 45x3 then 60mins dinner
and 3x45 then another day.

dakota-xx said:

If you want that book let me know and I will send you a free copy.

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Is this something that you'll offer for everyone? If not, where can I find it? I think that's a great tool.

I'd never seen the TDA Rules before. I've actually only played in one poker tournament, and that was at (I believe) either Flamingo or Sahara before it went down, so that goes to show you how long it's been.

And the information about stacks with chips, thanks for that. If I decide to go play down at one of the card rooms, I don't want people to think I'm a fish simply because I can't stack my chips properly.