Won trip to Monte Carlo....Now how do I win it?

[Jonathan]

Hi all,

I won an FPP satellite and will be going to Monte Carlo
in March. I am really, really psyched up for it!!

My problem is that I have virtually NO experience playing cards in a live B+M cardroom. I've played some low-stakes home games (against very weak opposition), and once I played 2-4 No Limit ring at the Bellagio in AC...but other than that NADA! I've played for about year on PokerStars and have been modestly successful at low stakes NL, sit and go's, and satellites.

I'd like everyones advice on how I can prepare for Monte Carlo during the next six weeks. What would be your ideal "training program"? What should I study ( TOP and TPFAP are on the top of list)? How do I prepare myself for "live" play working on my own? I live in an isolated part of Andalucia ("el culo de españa") so there is no way that I can get to a live cardroom between now and gametime.

What else can I do to prepare?

Thanks for your advice,

Jonathan

[Rushmore]

Congratulations.

Reread all the best tourney stuff.

Also, realize that this is your first foray into live poker, so don't have unreasonable expectations. Try to enjoy yourself.

If you can somehow concoct a method by which you can avoid being uncomfortably nervous, this would probably be your biggest asset. They're just chips, etc.

Scotch, maybe?

Good luck!

[revots33]

Congratulations, that's awesome!

I just recently played my 1st B&M tournament (okay, so it was only 40 bucks, not exactly Monte Carlo, but still). I was nervous for about the 1st 5 hands - stupid stuff like being afraid I'd accidentally flip over my cards when mucking, making some gross violation of table etiquette, assuming all these B&M players must be sharks, etc. But after that I got in the flow it felt like another tournament. In fact, I found playing a live tourney to be much more fun than online.

About half of Championship NL and PL Holdem is dedicated to NL tournaments and I've found it helpful. I've heard lots of good things about Harrington on Holdem too, although I haven't gotten my copy yet.

Either way, you're already a winner so enjoy! Good luck and give us a trip report when you get back!

[zaxx19]

The butt of Spain?? /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Go over there and represent. Bust those Frenchies up.

[jlukowski]

On which site did you win this trip?

[sammysusar]

As long as your not completely nervous live tourneys dont play that much different than the online ones. I probably would try to avoid looking for tells or anything just try to judge people's styles (which players you could possibly bluff, how loose they are etc.) In that respect the pokerstars tourneys probably like 50 or 100 dollar buy in non rebuy ones might be good.
Just curious if you win the tourney does it include airfare or hotel or anything like that?

[Jonathan]

[ QUOTE ]
Congratulations.


Also, realize that this is your first foray into live poker, so don't have unreasonable expectations. Try to enjoy yourself.

If you can somehow concoct a method by which you can avoid being uncomfortably nervous, this would probably be your biggest asset. They're just chips, etc.

Scotch, maybe?

Good luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean I shouldn't expect to walk away with first? /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Your advice about relaxing sounds good, although i don't think that scotch would do it for me. I am watching my diet and going to the gym every day.

For relaxation, instead of scotch perhaps a 22 year old blonde from the French Riviera would do the trick?

Thanks for the advice,
Jonathan

[Jonathan]

I ordered the Harrington book, along with Sklansky's TPFAP and Ed Miller's book last week. I'm hoping they will arrive without too much problem within a month, but its always a pleasant surprise if something you order from the US ACTUALLY ARRIVES!

Jonathan

[Jonathan]

[ QUOTE ]
On which site did you win this trip?

[/ QUOTE ]
PokerStars....6000 FPP buy-in, top two finishers place.

[Jonathan]

[ QUOTE ]
As long as your not completely nervous live tourneys dont play that much different than the online ones. I probably would try to avoid looking for tells or anything just try to judge people's styles (which players you could possibly bluff, how loose they are etc.) In that respect the pokerstars tourneys probably like 50 or 100 dollar buy in non rebuy ones might be good.
Just curious if you win the tourney does it include airfare or hotel or anything like that?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sammy, tells is the one thing that really concerned me. Not so much finding tells in others, but what can I do to keep from emitting tells myself? For example should I wear shades? Should I adopt a specific posture every time I bet-
for example, avoiding eye contact with the opponent, or perhaps the opposite, staring directly at the opponent?

I noticed that Moneymaker seemed to do this in the footage that I saw, and it looked rather effective.

The prize package consists of:
1. 10,000 euro ($13,000) entry fee to tourney
2. 5 nights hotel accomodations at about $550 night (classy place)
3. $1500 for travel and expenses.

One thing I like about PokerStars is that they are not chintzy with the hotel and expenses. Its a generous package I feel, completely first class.

Suerte,
Jonathan

[DblDownTrent]

congrats and good luck.

I 2nd the 'try some to calm your nerves' commment. And be agressive after the 1st few rounds.

[Bacchus]

Try to mix up your play a little so that others don't find patterns in your style. Good luck and give us a report when you return!

[SharkBait]

Congrats. I would read Harrington's HOH, Sklansky's TPFAP and Caro's Book of Tells. Caro's book should at least make you conscious of potential tells you might be giving and possibly help you pick up on tells from others. After all that I would reread HOH.

Good luck.

[jackdaniels]

I hope I'm not out of line with this suggestion, but I would - sell the package and use the money for a trip to Vegas where you can play some lower buy in tourneys, have an equally great time and prolly have some cash left over for that 22 year old blond you were after (heck - get 2 of them!)
The truth is that it isn't easy to play live - especially if your only experience with it is a 2-4 limit game some time ago. While you will be playing against a lot of others who have limited live poker experience, many won't and you are at a distinct disadvantage against them.

If you do decide to make the trip - leave a few days early (if at all possible) and get as much live experience as possible. Also, get Caro's book of Tells. It will help you avoid some of the things many poker players do to give away the strength of their hands and their style of play (there is a video of it out there - try to get that).

Also - good luck and have fun!

[sammysusar]

the moneymaker approach(just sitting still and wearing shades)is definitely not a bad approach for a beginner. as long as you dont try any acting and just act the same you should be fine.
The thing that Im bad at more than anything is getting drawn into the table banter and showing cards that i should not have(like showing a bluff for no reason.(

[SharkBait]

Also, consider arriving a day or two early and playing in some live games before the tournament.

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, consider arriving a day or two early and playing in some live games before the tournament.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a GREAT idea, and one I cannot believe I failed to think of.

It's such a good goddamned idea that you'd be very, very wrong NOT to do it.

Get a feel for the clay, marvel at the scum that piles up beneath your fingernails. Learn to protect your cards with a chip. Figure out how and when to look at your hole cards. Adjust to the MUCH slower pace of live poker.

Do it.

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
The thing that Im bad at more than anything is getting drawn into the table banter and showing cards that i should not have(like showing a bluff for no reason.(

[/ QUOTE ]

For God's sake--do NOT make this mistake in your first tournament (or ever, for that matter). These people aren't your buds, they're your competition. Your mortal enemies. You don't need to snarl at them, but if you come back here and tell us that you showed a bunch of hands out of some weird fake comraderie, I'm gonna, well, I...

I don't know WHAT I'll do, but it'll be really bad, I assure you.

Jeez.

[Jonathan]

[ QUOTE ]
The butt of Spain?? /images/graemlins/grin.gif



[/ QUOTE ]
That would be a very polite translation, Zaxx.
Down here we don't translate it that way /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jonathan

[hurlyburly]

I didn't think there was any talking aloud at tables in Europe while cards were in play. Has that changed?

You can also do a little roleplaying at your computer. One thing that helped me while I was figuring things out in sit and gos was to set up a little area on my computer desk with the starting chips, and a stack representing the total chips in play (1500 and 12000 for pokerstars). I then used a chip to cap some random cards representing my hand, then stacked out my bet and divided my purples and blacks accordingly.

You can't go overboard and count out the pot every hand, just move them from the big stack to your stack and back. This helped me immensely at slowing down my decisions (or at least appearing that way).

Before long you'll be putting on your poker face every time you touch your chips and you'll get comfortable with eyeballing a stack for an estimated chip count. You'll know you are doing it right when you see a lot of waiting for response messages but don't autofold.

I never wear sunglasses or hats in a live game, I find that Phil Ivey's constant scanning and deadpan gaze works best for me.

Mostly, just play your best game and good luck! You can act however you want and let your cards speak for you.

[Jonathan]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope I'm not out of line with this suggestion, but I would - sell the package and use the money for a trip to Vegas where you can play some lower buy in tourneys,

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a very REASONABLE suggestion, Jack. But at this
point, I'm not feeling reasonable....I feel like I'm on
CLOUD 9!!

I really want to go to Monte Carlo, and hobnob with the rich and famous, like Fossilman! And I want my free PokerStars jacket!

Jonathan

[Jonathan]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Also, consider arriving a day or two early and playing in some live games before the tournament.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a GREAT idea, and one I cannot believe I failed to think of.

It's such a good goddamned idea that you'd be very, very wrong NOT to do it.



[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for idea. I really can't afford to go to Monte Carlo a few day earlier....too rich for me. But I will be going to Madrid, where I can stay with friends, in order to catch a flight to Nice. There is a casino in Madrid which hosts hold 'em games, so I could go there a few days early and practice in some live games at the casino in Madrid.

Good idea, fellas. Thanks.

Jonathan

[housenuts]

from the 2+2 internet magazine

http://www.twoplustwo.com/magazine/issue1/armstrong1.html

[Jonathan]

I missed this one.

thanks!

Jonathan

[HoldingFolding]

Good follow up:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1452810&page=0&view=colla psed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1