Tips for First Time Playing Live Poker MTT

[ms_attack]

If you are playing live, take the opportunity to watch your opponents while you are not in the game. Some of them make some tells that are even obvious. Some scratch themselves when they have good hands or turn red in the face. You have a lot less hands than online and a lot more time to watch your opponents. The most important thing live is patience, as you play far fewer hands you also have far fewer good hands.

 

[gabryyyel31]

Just remember you’re still playing poker, play your game regardless of what other people are doing and don’t worry if you feel nervous it’s normal have fun and good luck.

 

[antonis32123]

To try and find the best game available for the money he wants to invest and play . To read all info about this game online or ask advice from SB who has played it in the past , to watch some live games to see how they run and how players behave or act at the table in live poker , to try to find ways to hide their body language . Ofcourse live poker is very different from online . He should also try yo find a popular casino and play there his game(s) , in smaller casinos scams are more often I think .

 

[Gdefender]

I didn't play many live poker tournaments, but I went to FT once.....I liked the whole thing, the atmosphere, the environment, so it wasn't stressful that I wasn't sitting in front of the computer, but among people. I played with much more relaxed cards than if I would play online poker, because I think the chances are better in a live game ........ So I can say that you don't have to strain yourself in live poker, I didn't just wait for big cards, you can also bluff, etc... so just take it easy. ...

 

[BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch]

If you live like an hour (ie reasonable travel time from the tourn) then its a good idea to just go there to know the layout of the casino.

Know where the tourn section is from the cash games, where to register, etc. That will get rid of a lot of issues with most people have playing live for the 1st time. I would tell you to at least get there an hour probably 2 hours early and get used to the casino if you have never been there. Just be nice and respectful to people and it will be ok, lol.

Seat numbers are from a dealers left side as they stand and deal and go clockwise. So seat 1 is on the dealers left hand side then 2 and three with 5 near in the middle of the table. The table max seat is on the right of the dealer.

I was never a live tourn player. I always played live cash games years ago but I do remember playing in a weekend/daily tourn at the local casino and the entry was for a few hundred dollars. I thought the players would know what they're doing for that entry price.

WOW, was I so wrong, lol. First 5 hands we had people going bust on the silliest hands/bluffs that made absolutely zero sense at the beginning stages of the tourn. I mean they would have a pair of tens and the flop is all paint and they go all in with like 50-100BBs or more, with almost nothing in the pot lol crazy beginner, online freeroll Mickey Mouse nonsense. And it wasn't a rebuy tourn, lol.

My point is, don't think of the entry price as a level of who you're going to play. Hopefully you have enough knowledge to sit there and judge someone's game so you can tell who is serious and someone that doesn't know the game well.

Just show up well rested and have fun.

GL

 

[MF.Brn]

It's a little different from the online one, and it's that difference that you have to practice, not show too much emotion and look at the emotions of other players, besides being a card game it's a game of reading people!

 

[infonazar]

Perhaps I would advise first of all not to worry, to keep calm and just play for the sake of a good game, for the sake of having fun.

 

[Luvepoker]

I would tell them to get there early. You excited and nervous for sure but getting there early and getting used to your surroundings are vital.

2nd and why I would get there early, ask the dealer is there anything i should know as a 1st timer. They for one will be happy to tell you something you will want to know and they will actually be very kind and helpful while they are dealing for you. When I did play my 1st time i was in the seat next to the dealer and he gave me one of the best tips I could get and it saved me on a few occasions.

3rd, That tip the dealer gave me. Always keep your hand or a card protector on the cards even if only one has been dealt out so far. This way he wont think your hand is folded but more wont accidentally end up in the Muck. Once a card hit the players chips and bound to a card of another player and his hand was mucked by that, Always protect your hand.

4th always table your hand at showdown. You maybe reading the table wrong and end up folding the winner.

5th, Have fun. Dont go there and try to win or think of the money. If you just go there, have fun and enjoy the experience the cashes will come.

 

[Gutshot Gus]

Everyone there is looking to beat you and take your money.
This is war and you are keeping score with chips.

 

[x patrice x]

The main thing is to collect your first impressions, familiarize yourself with what is happening at the table, simply observe and absorb everything that happens - and not think too much!

In my opinion, your head should remain as free as possible and detach yourself from the complexity of the game as a whole. Because your head already has a lot to do! You have no experience, which means everything is new and unknown. Passively, you have difficulty following/understanding and saving the game and are actively unsure of your movements; actions. Everything has to be learned again. There's no room for anything else.

I appeal to you, especially if your path takes you from online poker, to consciously concentrate on your body control.
It should be clear to you that your behavior at the table, like reacting to A-A as your starting hand, should be different to how you behave in front of your computer at home.

I think that's all you should do at the start...

 

[bababooey]

One of the biggest ones I always remember when playing live was verbal and physical actions with chips.

I think most rooms have similar rules but best to check.

A lot of players will try to raise after putting in calling chips or just put one larger value chip to rise without stating the intention, this will always default to being a call.

Always best to verbally state what you are doing before pushing chips forward.

 

[Marshmalo1994]

Well, I've never played live, but a few advices would be don't say it's your first time, and take your time. Online poker makes us play quick every time.

My question is if it's needed to say outloud your bets, for expample, if I want to raise, do I need to say the ammount outloud? Or putting the chips on the table would be enough?

 

[Marcwantstowin]

Well, I've never played live, but a few advices would be don't say it's your first time, and take your time. Online poker makes us play quick every time.

My question is if it's needed to say outloud your bets, for expample, if I want to raise, do I need to say the ammount outloud? Or putting the chips on the table would be enough?

In my limited experience, if when it is your turn to act, you say "raise" you must put the chips you want in all at once, so you cannot drip feed them in. This is simple as you count out the chips you want to put in and say "raise" the dealer should then announce how much you have raised, but as you know what you want to raise it is simply a case of saying "raise, to 2000" or whatever amount you want to raise to.

 

[Poker Orifice]

Don't be so worried about tells. Seriously, most people aren't looking for them and even if they were, they aren't good enough at interpreting them for that to be an issue. It's ok to have a neck vein throb and a shaky hand when in a big pot, it's a big pot. All that matters is your decision making.

Really pay attention to stack sizes and chip values. It's very easy to misread your opponents stack size while a hand is going on. Take your time with this.

Yes I second this ^

The first few times I played in a Live setting, I wasted way too much time prior on studying TELLS, both verbal & physical. It paid off 'zero' for me and probably actually just messed me up a bit from thinking about it too much.

 

[IADaveMark]

Lay off of all this advice about looking for tells and whatnot. Just play your game. You will be overwhelmed enough. The only info you should be tapping into is any changes in betting patterns, etc. i.e. the same stuff you pay attention to online.

 

[IADaveMark]

Yes I second this ^

The first few times I played in a Live setting, I wasted way too much time prior on studying TELLS, both verbal & physical. It paid off 'zero' for me and probably actually just messed me up a bit from thinking about it too much.

Even the pros and people who study and teach about tells say that it is only a very minor boost.

 

[Poker_Mike]

I have never played a live poker tournament, so I need advice!

What tips would you give an online poker player who will be playing their first ever live tournament?

Let me know. Appreciate your input.

What is a legal bet? Do the chips have to pass over a betting line or is forward motion the rule?

Can you use a phone at the table?

Ask management for a copy of the tournament rules. Read them !

Always announce your intentions to bet, fold or raise to the dealer directly. Be clear and don't mumble.

I would also recommend verbalizing your bet amounts - I bet 450...I raise to a total of 1100.

You will do fine...I have confidence in your game....

Good luck !

 

[IADaveMark]

I would also recommend verbalizing your bet amounts - I bet 450...I raise to a total of 1100

Incidentally, it is custom pretty much everywhere that the verbalized amount is the new total... not how much you are raising over someone else's bet. People who do that actual confuse everyone else at the table—including the dealer—for a moment.

So if someone has bet 1500 and you put out 4500, do not say "I raise 3000." Simply say something like "Raise... 4500."

 

[millya5]

Andy I'm glad to welcome you !
I can only advise one thing: Play your game and have fun!

Good luck!

 

[Poker_Mike]

Incidentally, it is custom pretty much everywhere that the verbalized amount is the new total... not how much you are raising over someone else's bet. People who do that actual confuse everyone else at the table—including the dealer—for a moment.

So if someone has bet 1500 and you put out 4500, do not say "I raise 3000." Simply say something like "Raise... 4500."

I have always heard dealers ask the player for clarification before more action occurs.

But I agree with you.

 

[yuriko oyama]

I also need these tips, I've never played.

 

[IADaveMark]

Somewhat well-known post I made almost 2 years ago.

"Just don't..."—Things to do/not do at the table

After spending 200-300 hours (9 bracelet events and 2 dailies) at the poker table over my 3 different weeks at the WSOP this summer, many of them with the same players for 6-12 hours, I was subconsciously compiling a list of really annoying things that players did... not just once but over and...

www.cardschat.com

 

[dangbaonguyen93]

According to my experience after a few times of playing, limit discussion about the hand, limit expression of emotions and try not to be too harmless in any action.

 

[Silversurfer99]

Don`t throw your shoes at the Dealer and leave your clothes on!

..or in other words: don`t drink too much alcohol.

 

[Balou1982]

1. Enjoy poker and try to chill when you are not involved in a hand
2. Try to get some informations about villains
3. play it seriously and with patience but also try to relax in breaks or when someone is playing ultra slow.