First time to a Casino

[8infinity8]

Hello guys. I haven't played live poker yet. Usually in January, we have tournaments held in my country(not sure about this time). What's your advice to avoid basic mistakes and any embarrassing moments I might get myself into as I dont have any of my friends who play poker. Looking forward to hear the things to avoid first time playing live tourney's or visiting a casino in fact and awkward moments.

 

[miziel]

Firstly, accept that there will be awkward moments

Two most common in-game mistakes (from personal experience):
- betting out of turn
- calling instead of raising (one chip rule)

You also might experience hot flushes when dealt AA or when going all in

I think most important is to pay attention to what is going on at the table, even if you're not in the hand.

Have a nice first tourney!

 

[eetenor]

Hello guys. I haven't played live poker yet. Usually in January, we have tournaments held in my country(not sure about this time). What's your advice to avoid basic mistakes and any embarrassing moments I might get myself into as I dont have any of my friends who play poker. Looking forward to hear the things to avoid first time playing live tourney's or visiting a casino in fact and awkward moments.

Thank U 4 Posting

Most casinos have a set of rules for poker play and those rules may be different from what you might expect. So before you play ask the floor manager for poker to give you a printed copy of those rules and spend some time reading it.

When playing live always protect your hand. When dealt your cards put one hand on them until it is your turn to act and then if you do not fold pre continue to protect your hand. If a player accidentally discards their cards and they end up with hyour cards your cards are dead. If you are near the dealer they will grab your cards from time to time and kill them by mistake.

Also make sure no one can see your cards when you look at them. There are youtube videos on how to look at your cards playing live.

Know when it is time to pay your blinds and do so quickly.

Do not talk when someone else is in a hand.

Keep your chips stacked in 10's or 20's

try not to eat at the table and if you do do not touch the food with your hands.

If playing NL listen for the bet size so you do not have to keep asking or learn to count chips quickly.

Hope this helps

 

[8infinity8]

Thank U 4 Posting

Most casinos have a set of rules for poker play and those rules may be different from what you might expect. So before you play ask the floor manager for poker to give you a printed copy of those rules and spend some time reading it.

When playing live always protect your hand. When dealt your cards put one hand on them until it is your turn to act and then if you do not fold pre continue to protect your hand. If a player accidentally discards their cards and they end up with hyour cards your cards are dead. If you are near the dealer they will grab your cards from time to time and kill them by mistake.

Also make sure no one can see your cards when you look at them. There are youtube videos on how to look at your cards playing live.

Know when it is time to pay your blinds and do so quickly.

Do not talk when someone else is in a hand.

Keep your chips stacked in 10's or 20's

try not to eat at the table and if you do do not touch the food with your hands.

If playing NL listen for the bet size so you do not have to keep asking or learn to count chips quickly.

Hope this helps

Thank you so much. These points are unthinkable for me as I haven't experienced it. Speaking about chips, it also reminded me to know the value of those chips in the first place. Your reply was exactly what I wanted to hear and know. You saved a few awkward mistakes that I would definitely make.

 

[dimon4ik89]

I remembered my first time playing live poker, everything around me was new and unusual, but I really liked everything and I got pleasure from the first seconds, when I just sat down at the poker table. The main thing in live poker is to feel relaxed and closely monitor the actions and behavior of your opponents. It will not be easy to follow both the game and the opponents, but over time you will get used to the environment and feel everything that is happening at the poker table. Play only with good hands at first, until you learn your opponents, and then gradually expand your range depending on how your opponents are playing.

 

[Phoenix Wright]

I haven't gone to a casino yet either. My hope was to do so for the first time, but then covid-19 hit and (like most things) I had to postpone it. Personally, I am using this time to read about the subject (articles and forum threads like this) and to practice my poker skills through online. It isn't the same as live poker, but is a decent substitute for the time being.

I am looking forward to going in the near future as well

I also planned on "visiting" the casino my first time and not to play. This way, I can take in the atmosphere and get accustomed to how things operate there. Then when I go a second time: I'll be more familiar with my surroundings and can focus more on the poker game if I choose to play. By not playing in my first trip, I hope it will take away some of the "distraction" of being in a new environment and caught up in the excitement of the moment and atmosphere.

 

[dlam]

The first time I went to play Holdem at a casino I didn’t know what mucking was.
Online there is a fold button I go to river show down and I win the hand and I throw my hand face up to show I won. One of the cards almost flip backdown. Dealers says I almost mucked my hand.
Now at the casino I push my cards gentle face down or face up.

 

[Mortis]

Keep your emotions in check. Try not to get rattled from a bad beat. In live poker, tells are easier to point out, and it's easier to tell when someone is frustrated from a loss or a beat. Pay attention to the other players, and I would suggest not to look at your cards until it is your turn to act.

 

[Jillychemung]

Have a read https://www.cardschat.com/forum/learning-poker-57/playing-live-1-2-nlhe-cash-204657/

 

[Emily Trott]

What's your advice to avoid basic mistakes and any embarrassing moments I might get myself into

Two things have caused me some embarrassment as well as possibly losing me money.

Don't inadvertently make a motion or a sound that may be misunderstood for something that you didn't intend it to. A good example of this is my habit of tapping my fingers when trying to decide what to do. Since at the poker table tapping your finger(s) normally means that you are checking and not betting. That has cost me some good opportunities.

"String betting" is another problem I had for a very short time when I first started playing in card rooms. This is when you drop/place part of your bet/raise on the table and then follow it with the rest of the chips. You will be held to what you put on the table initially.

When going all in you should say "all in" so there won't be any misunderstanding as with the string bet.

I also always show my cards at the showdown regardless of whether or not I am required to. If I missed something on the board the dealer or another player is likely to spot it.

Those are a few of the things that I've learned the hard way. Good luck at the tourney!