Tips on a live tournament

MasterOfDisaster

MasterOfDisaster

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Hello everyone,

Really anyone that can help or give advice on any matter, cause I am a total noob in live poker. Played like twice live tournaments in my life one local where you had to deal yourself and one not to proffesional smaller one in a casino ,so I am not familiar with it at all.

I have qualified for the grand in Marbella (Spain) and going there in 2/3 days , startingday is monday.

Any extra piece of information that you can give is welcome.

Like sitting in same comfortable position.
Keep good track of stacksizes.
Keep patience as I see way less hands.


I am so excited. Thanks for the help!
 
10058765

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Would love to help you, but my live experience is like yours....
So....all I can tell you is.....protect your cards all time...
Try to feel comfortable and to relax because if you don't, you're not even going to be able to pay attention to stacksizes and other player's behaviour.

Don't worry about the patience...since you're already excited and it being a new experience, I doubt you get bored and because it's slow compared to on-line games, you'll get the time to get comfortable.

As the game goes on and you do feel comfortable, use your time watching your opponents as in the beginning stacksizes don't really matter, supposing you're all pretty deepstacked.

Than.....well.....just take their chips :D

I wish you good luck and a very enjoyable trip:)

Sigh...I'm jealous ;)
 
NightFun

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Yes, they say always watch your opponents on the flop to see their reactions, rather than looking at your own cards at that time. Best of luck! I wish I had a place to play live! What a thrill. Let us know how you make out!
 
TakinOver

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Funny you write this thread. I am 4 sure to embark on my live poker career soon. Or just make a fool of myself. I look forward to reading the tips here. Thanks for posting.
 
MasterOfDisaster

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Thanks for the comments and GL wishes , it will also be my first flight ever btw :D (Always felt frightened about it) but tbh just have to go and dont feel as scared about it as expected.

Also more tips are very welcome, like stacking chips stacks (per 20 chips? )
Put bigger chips at right place so that everyone can see them (in front of stack?)

Make no stringbet.
Wait for your turn.
 
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WiZZiM

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above all else, have fun and enjoy it!
 
Arjonius

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First off, GL. I haven't played much live, but here are some thoughts, mostly tips that I received or found before my first big live experience.

If there are multiple opening days, play the last one. This will give you at least one day to get used to the atmosphere.

Don't look at your cards until it's your turn to act. Before then (and after of course), watch the other players to see who looks interested or not, if anyone starts eying or reaching for chips early, etc.

Talk and move as little as possible, especially from the time you look at your cards until after you're out of the hand or it's over. This is to lessen the chance of inadvertently giving tells.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to talk poker with players who are better than you. Don't be shy about striking up or joining conversations in the bar, lobby, dining room, etc.

Make sure you know the rules that don't come up online e.g. string betting, acting out of turn, etc.

Don't give the field too much credit. There will probably be plenty of players who sattied in and are also playing (well) above their usual stakes.

Related to this, don't think you have to play outside your comfort zone, at least not early on. This does assume you don't get a bad table draw that forces you to adapt significantly.
 
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hffjd2000

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1. Dont be nervous or show that youre nervous.

2. Dont give tells and spot tells.

3. Observe whos sharks and fishes at your table.

Goodluck...
 
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first of all good luck,

my approach will be:

wait for the first hands to know your opponents better and just enter a hand if you have very good reasons for that, otherwise wait until you feel comfortable and think you are able to face at least half of the table,

so i think, 30-50 first hands don't risk your stack unless you are 99% sure, and once you feel you are cruising just let your game flow and hope the variance be with you!

GL
 
teepack

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Here are my tips:

1. Be patient. Do not play every ace you get (or pocket pair or suited connectors). If you've got an A-4 offsuit, and somebody has already 3 bet before it gets to you and another person has called, chances are great that you are way behind in that hand. Fold like the French did in WWII and live to play another hand.

2. Pay attention. Even when you fold, watch the other players. Try to figure out who is aggressive, who folds, etc. I always try to identify players who are not very good and then try to get into hands with them. They can be easily bullied if you have read them properly, but you can't read them if you're sending out texts every time you fold.

3. Look for players who limp into pots (i.e. just call the BB) in early positions and then fold to re-raises. That is usually an indication they are playing a marginal hand (Q-9 say) and then get out before they blow too many chips. Don't be that guy! Instead, you need to be the one to beat that guy.

4. Beware of the guys with small stacks. When the blinds start to get big, people with small stacks are basically just waiting for a spot to shove. If you have a guy with a small stack at your table (i.e. less than 6 BBs or so), you need to always consider whether or not you will call him if he shoves BEFORE you place a bet. Don't call or even make a min-raise pre-flop unless you are willing to call his shove.

5. Remember the one motion rule and the oversize chip rule. If you are going to raise, announce "Raise" when it gets to you and then announce the amount you are betting. You want everyone to be clear of your intentions.

6. Don't get angled. If you are in a showdown and your opponent flips his cards over, make sure he has already announced if he is calling, raising, folding, etc., before you react. Also, watch out if a guy announces "call" but shoves all his chips in and then acts confused, like he only meant to call but since he put all his chips in, well, he guesses he'll have to let the all-in stand. While most of these kinds of angles usually occur in cash games, I have seen them in tourneys, too. Poker can bring out the worst in people.

7. Above all else, have fun.

Good luck and let us know how you did.
 
TakinOver

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Thanks for the comments and GL wishes , it will also be my first flight ever btw :D (Always felt frightened about it) but tbh just have to go and dont feel as scared about it as expected.

Also more tips are very welcome, like stacking chips stacks (per 20 chips? )
Put bigger chips at right place so that everyone can see them (in front of stack?)

Make no stringbet.
Wait for your turn.

Lol... I still have not been in a plane. I am also scared. Hard to admit. I got high blood pressure and scared of hights. Your brave man and i hope to hear how all turns out if you read this. I think about it one day and i feel like they can just put me too sleep till i get there. My wife and kids have flown. :D I dont think ill ever fly.:confused:
 
MasterOfDisaster

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Thanks for all the tips and GL wishes and of course taking the time to do so :)

Like 30 hours for my flight goes :D

@Teepack I will try to keep you all updated (If I don't forget in all excitement I will make a railthread) but on other hand I might want to share what happens anyways.

@Arjonius I loved your tips also the one about chatting with better players I really would love to do that and would be a great bonus on this event as well only don't know my wife would like it after long days alone there without me :D

@TakinOver Just do it!
 
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Poker Orifice

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Personally I wouldn't talk strategy with anyone ... especially anyone from my table (unless I'm letting on like a complete donk, or to pry info. from them after telling them how impressed I was by their play (what did you have in that hand btw? lol).

Have fun 'flying'. Best part is the take-off. Try to get a window seat!
Enjoy it while you can... after awhile flying feels no different than riding on a bus.


Oh and of course > GOOD LUCK MAN!!! Crush those Spanish donkeys! And have fun!


Try to do whatever you can to be as calm as possible. The first tourney I went & played in, I was soooooo f'n nervous I just had TONS of sweat rolling off my face & the neckline of my t-shirt was soaked! (I sweat lots anyways, given the chronic illness but not like this!). I actually had to take a few papertowels for my pockets to mop up the sweat. First thing I told the table was, "OMG! I wasn't going to come here today because I woke up this morning with a super high fever but just couldn't pass it up." (not sure if they believed this or not, or if they just knew I was nervous as ___k!).

My biggest regret the first couple tourneys I played in was > giving them way too much respect for thinking. I'm sure the tourney you're playing in will be much different though... but basically what I guess I'm saying is > 'Have confidence in yourself!'
 
natsgrampy

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Be Patient. Play ABC poker and watch the players, especially those who go to showdown. This will give you some good insight as to just how BAD those players are.


I find you should have a real good hand to get into it, early on, as you will find 3 - 5 players will call any raise almost every hand. When you hit your hand, make them pay, AND they will! As the blinds go up players tend to tighten up and will actually fold pre flop to a raise. Keep mental tabs on people's betting habits, ie. who folds when 3-bet at, who raises from which position etc.


You will find early on that you are no different than anyone else there. Look to some of the older players at your table and listen to their conversations. I tend to like to take away from the conversations without putting anything into the conversations. This will help you to relax

Most of all, have a blast and Run Good. Look forward to the rail thread.
 
Jacki Burkhart

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pardon me for cutting and pasting my own reply from a similar thread.

The game as far as strategy and how to play should be basically the same; except the $100 live level roughly equates to the $1-3 online level. 30 minute live levels roughly equate to 5-7 minute online levels.

Mostly, you will just need a little bit of time to figure out the game mechanics, that normally the software figures out for you. Here's a few tips.

1) Don't look at your hole cards until it is time for you to act. Maybe you aren't picking up tells yet, but you don't want to be giving them off either.

2) Don't look at the flop until it is your turn to act...same rationale

3) throwing in 1 oversized chip is just a call. It's a good idea to verbally announce your intentions before any chips come across that line. If there is no line....consider your cards to be the imaginary line. Verbally announcing your action is just a good rule of thumb for new and experienced players alike...you can't get accused of string betting etc. if you say "Raise. 3,000" versus "raise" then you bring out 3 stacks of 1,000 you will be called out for string raising and only allowed to make the minimum raise. If you verbally announce first, verbal is ALWAYS binding.

4) If you get moved to a new table, the person with the most ante chips at the table has often been stealing a lot

5) there should be several TV screens that display what the average stack is...that is good enough until it gets bubbly. You don't really need to know your exact tournament position, just be more concerned with your chip position at your table.

6) Counting stacks is a learned skill. try to keep track of how many of the "big" chips each player has since it's usually pretty easy to eyeball how many smaller chips they all have. All players are supposed to keep their biggest denomination chips in front, easily seen by all. You cannot ask for a count of another player's stack unless they are all in...but you can always ask to see their whole stack (meaning, they kind of spread it out towards the center of the table).

7) it's a little easier to steal on the last hand before break because so many players are trying to get to the bathroom, the bar, or busy texting their friends.

8) Don't worry about making exact change for your blinds and antes.....just put out the chips that get you the closest and the dealer will do the rest, it's no big deal to put out a $1,000 chip when blinds are 400/800.

9) Be nice to your dealer, they work very hard.

edit to add:

10) memorize your 2 exact hole cards including suits just before the dealer puts out the flop. make this a habit!
 
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Jacki Burkhart

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MissJacki's easiest live tells that you MIGHT pick up on some inexperienced players.

Shaking hands as they bring chips into the pot...strength

all of a sudden stop talking, or stop chewing gum....strength

distracted by friends, texting, c0cktail waitress etc. then all of a sudden interested in the hand...strength

putting chips in pot very quickly and forcefully....weakness

splashing chips into pot in a messy style...weakness

staring at the flop for a second too long....they missed

immediately looks to chip stack after seeing flop....they like the flop

checking their hole cards when there are 3 of a suit out....they have a big one in that color...can't remember if it's a diamond or a heart but they have a big diamond or a big heart. they don't have 2 (they don't have a flush yet).

players who check their hole cards early, then follow the action with unusual attention....they like their hand, they probably intend to raise.

some players who check their hole cards early make it SOOOOOO dang obvious that they plan on folding. they'll even hold their cards up ready to fold sometimes...or they'll start texting, start looking for a waitress, etc. if this type of a player all of a sudden starts watching what everyone is doing and maybe even eyeing up chip stacks...they have a real hand.

players who constantly crane their necks to look at the tournament clock/screen....(usually a short stack) if it's not near the bubble, they are planning to make a move pretty soon. if it's near the bubble, they are desperately trying to squeak into the money.
 
MasterOfDisaster

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Thanks again for the tips I will read them just once more when I arrive :D

Here is the railthread.

[old link~tb]
 
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Arjonius

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A couple more:

Don't touch your chips before it's your turn to act. Otoh, watch for other players who do so, especially if you have some at your table who haven't played live before.

Decide before you sit down how much if anything you're going to tell people about your live experience, your normal level online, etc. There's no perfect amount; the idea is not to blurt out more than you want to because you're not prepared.

If possible, check out the structure before you start, and assuming the stacks are deeper than you're used to, be aware of how you want to adapt your game. I had thought about this beforehand, but in the excitement of actually sitting down to play, it slipped my mind for the first few orbits.
 
Lotok

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MissJacki's easiest live tells that you MIGHT pick up on some inexperienced players.

Shaking hands as they bring chips into the pot...strength

I omly play live and wouldn't consider myself inexperienced, but so often suffer shaking hands. Usually *AFTER* a big hand has completed, it takes another hand or 2 for my hands to settle. Completely unavoidable/uncontrollable.

My point here is, this happens after the good hand, not during. So it isn't always a tell. /endDefensiveShakyHandComment :D
 
Jacki Burkhart

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I omly play live and wouldn't consider myself inexperienced, but so often suffer shaking hands. Usually *AFTER* a big hand has completed, it takes another hand or 2 for my hands to settle. Completely unavoidable/uncontrollable.

My point here is, this happens after the good hand, not during. So it isn't always a tell. /endDefensiveShakyHandComment :D

yes, I agree, that's very true. I've noticed this too. obviously if you're at the table and following the action, you'll notice that somebody just played a huge pot and might be shaking from the residual adrenaline.

if, on the other hand they haven't played a hand in 35 minutes and now their hand shakes bringing chips into a pot...it is a pretty reliable tell of strength. Many tells can be faked by tricky experienced players, this is one that is very tough to fake, and very tough to hide or control. It is quite literally the effect of a huge burst of adrenaline/epinephrine dumping into your central nervous system. cannot control it, hide it or fake it.

* there are some players (usually older folks) who have intention tremors. they're just a bit shaky all the time. you'll be able to figure that out in an orbit or 2 because even limping, or putting out their blinds causes the same amount of shaking.

basically, in a nutshell you want to spend a few orbits figuring out what is "normal" what is baseline for each player. How do they look, sound, act when they are betting etc. then later when they deviate from their own "normal" it usually means that something is not normal with this hand. It will either mean they are bluffing, or very strong. I believe in general people don't bluff as much as we think they do, so the first time they do something abnormal I give them credit for strength and then watch to see if I was right.
 
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TakinOver

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Tomorrow its time to hit the Hard Rock !!! First time ever sitting live. Gonna play the $25 rebuy. So some of my rag hands might not look as bad. Maybe. Cant wait and hope that its a good experience. Cashing would be very sweet !!!!
 
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