Time for first B&M trip?

[JoeyT]

I started playing poker this past summer, and haven't made a trip to a b&m yet. I've been playing online on Paradise for 5 months, and have made $800 playing .50/1.00 and some 1/2. A few buddies and I were going to head up this weekend after finals (I'm a college student) to Toronto to screw around before winter break. A while back there was a post about poker in Canada, and Casino Rama and some place in Port Perry came up. I saw Casino Rama has 4/8 games (so about 2.5/5 USD I believe), and am pretty excited to head up and finally get to play in a cardroom. Naturally, I have a few questions.

1) Is this even a good idea? I figure I have to get some real table experience at SOME point, but I'm wondering if this is the time to do it. I've read a lot of 2+2 books, and feel I learn something new every session I play online. Obviously I'd prefer a lower limit b/c I'm new to the game, and, as a college student, don't have a huge bank account, but is this limit OK to play for a weekend?

2) What kind of game should I expect? I see posts every now and then saying that 1/2 online poker is pretty tough compared to the lowest limits in cardrooms. How true is this? I'm getting better at adjusting to opponents skills, but I wonder how I'll do b/c it'll be such a new environment... I might get caught up in trying to take everything in. Are there any major adjustments that I need to make?

3) Has anyone ever played up there? Are the tables usually full? I'm not much of a shorthanded player yet, and struggle when the table gets down below 7 people.

4) Is there ANY other advice anyone can give for my first trip?

Sorry this was a bit long. I suppose I'm a bit overexcited at the idea of finally playing in a cardroom.

Thanks so much. I look forward to advice and information.

[Ed Miller]

The low limit live games are generally fishier than the online games, in my experience (the 4-8 games in my area are significantly softer than the Paradise 2-4 games I've played in). Be ready to bluff less and value bet more.

People grump and grouse when they aren't playing at a full table... especially at the low limits. You certainly won't be the only one that doesn't want to play shorthanded.

You've got nothing at all to worry about... biggest thing is... make sure you remember what your hole cards are. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif Took me about three live sessions until I got the whole looking at the cards, protecting the cards, and remembering what I have thing down. Other people won't remember their hole cards (suits especially) so you can pick up tells when a 3-flush hits the board... "Do I have a diamond? Lemme check..."

[eMarkM]

Of course it's a good idea! You certainly want to get some experience with live play. I prefer online myself, but still make the drive and wait in a casino every so often because I too want that experience.

I would expect the 2/4 US$ you're talking about to be considerably looser/passive than the 2/4 PP. You shouldn't have much trouble there, though of course I have no experience at the particular casino you're talking about. I've played 10/20 games here in the Chicago area that are softer than 2/4, 3/6 online games I've been in. I think online really toughens you up for live play.

I remember the first time I went to play casino poker after six months successful online play and I didn't even know what chopping meant. So there's little ettiquete things like that you'll need to learn. But you'll pick that up pretty quick after a couple of orbits. Don't be afraid to ask some dumb questions, you'll give yourself a great table image /forums/images/icons/grin.gif.

[STOSH1]

I've only played for real money in a B&M. I rely on my read of people (seen in the flesh) for being able to read their hands. I also can bluff, confuse players with false tells. (look at your cards when 3 of a suit hit the flop, knowing full well you have AK of the suit). /forums/images/icons/wink.gif You should have a ball playing live, and I find the max number of tourists show up Fri and Sat night usually early. They seem to lose intrest and go play craps later. The late night games can be interesting but tougher, more winners left. (more players that can buy a clue) Very late night are when you will find more short handed games, if you have a very good read of the players left it can be extremly
profitable. Double, triple your money in a couple of hours. If your read isn't solid, it will be just as expensive.

ps: How the heck can you get an accurate read when you can't see someones hands twitch?

[slim]

I've been to both Rama and Port Perry (Great Blue Heron Casino) many time. Personally, I prefer GBH because I find it easier to take money from decent bad players (people who play regulary but have never read a poker book) than to take money from people who don't know what they're doing beccause 1)you can't bluff them 2) you can't read their hand. So if you want clueless people, go to Rama, if you want a soft game but not crazy, go to GBH.
GBH is REALLY smoky whereas, Rama is smoke free.Also GBH has up to three 5/10 tables and Rama has up to four 4/8 tables. If you want to be assured of a full game, you mught want to go to Rama because they have Main games and MUST MOVE games which means whenever the MAIN game is not full, they pluck people from the Must Move table. However, I find that the Main table is usually filled with the regulars who are good players so the action may not be great.
One thing about Rama, because they only have 1 dollar chips, the pots tend to APPEAR larger than they are so the players tend to chase a lot because they think they are getting sufficient odds but they're not......that's good I guess but it's annoying to get "rivered" by chasers. Also, with only 1 dollar chips, you have to tip at least a dollar whereas, at GBH they have $.50 chips for the small blinds which you can use for tipping small pots. Both casinos are 10% rake with max $5 which is steep.
One last thing, Rama is a muchbigger and nicer looking casino than GBH.....so u might want to go there because it's your first trip to a poker room.

[sleepyjoe]

biggest suggestions:

1. ask for a card from one of the floormen that explains the rules. different card rooms have different local rules and you don't want to have something stupid cost you a bet or a pot.

2. definitely bluff less and value bet more. there will not be a ton of pots that are won without showing the best hand.

3. pick a time limit that you are going to play and stick with it. It is real easy to be having a great time on your first trip on a Friday night and look up and find that it's Sunday.

4. remember that for the majority of people in the room, it's all about taking your money. people will act friendly towards you, strike up conversations, etc. but don't let that affect how you play against them. most of them would stick forks in your eyes if it would get them another bet.

[JTG51]

Being a college student, I'm assuming you aren't exactly wealthy (believe me, I know what that's like). If losing a couple of hundred bucks won't kill you, then yes it's a good idea. If you are consistantly beating .50/1 and 1/2 online, you'll probably do just fine anyway. Just be sure you understand that even the best player in the world will lose his buy in a decent percentage of the time.

You should expect terrible play. Lots of people limping with hands like 94s from EP and cold calling raises with QTo. You'll have a lot less chances to bluff, as many players will call you down with almost any pair. I really don't think this is any different that the .50/1 and 1/2 tables on Paradise though, so you should be used to it.

Read or reread the section from HEFAP on loose games. If you even know the title of any 2+2 book, you'll be better off than most of the low limit players in a typical casino.

[Prufrock]

I have just made my first B & M trip. I had no internet experience just read Sklansky and studied for a few weeks. Anyway, play 3/6 on a riverboat in Bettendorf Iowa. Went on a Saturday night. The game was very, very soft - lots of tourist it was close to Thanksgiving. Played 4 hours and lost 1 dollar. Best advice stay disciplined about hand selection. This alone will win you money. Although, I did lose a pot to a little Asian dude who played 24o from early position. It was my first time ever playing for money and I wanted to kill that man. I'm a rank beginner so this is the best advice I can give. Enjoy.

[Bob T.]

1) This is a great idea, have fun, play poker, and play within your means. I would have at least 25 big bets to buy in, and another 25 in backup for a weekend. If things go poorly, go back to .50/1.00 on the internet, remember some hands to post, and remember to save enough bankroll, that you can play another day.

2) The game will probably resemble .50/1.00 on the internet. It may very well be easier than 1-2 on the internet. Keep in mind also, that the games are more variable than internet games, because B@M cardrooms draw from a smaller population, so daytime games might be very different from nighttime games, and bar closing time games can be a completely different matter all together.

3) sorry, I dont have any information.

4) Remember, you have played thousands of hands of holdem, every hour you play online represents 2 to 2 and 1/2 hours of live poker, you don't need to be intimidated by these 'real' cardroom players, especially at this limit.

- remember to announce raise, or take sufficient numbers of chips to raise if that is your intention.

- put a chip on your cards, especially if you are in the seat next to the dealer.

- have fun.

- have fun.

Good Luck,
Play Well,

Bob T.

[Bob T.]

Tell us about your trip, or post a hand or two when you get back.

Good Luck,
Play Well,

Bob T.

[ChipWrecked]

I will add to Bob's advice to put a chip on your cards.... keep the cards in front of your stack so people can see when you're in a hand! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif Best of luck.

[Hobart]

I am from western Pa. also and the first time I played was in Atlantic City. In the first 30 minutes I made a string bet but after that everything was fine. Check the house rules for how many bets cap etc. may rooms how unusual rules. Good luck and post your results.

Looks like you already got plenty of advice. However, I'd like to add that don't be intimidated. When I first stepped into a poker room, I was nervous as hell imagining grumpy, chip-on-their-shoulder players like you see in the movies. I found the exact opposite as players are generally nice people. Of course, there are exception and if you encounter one, don't be intimidated. Just play your solid game and apply what you've learn from the books and the internet. DISCIPLINE and EMOTIONAL CONTROL are very important. Now, go and take their money!

[jebronie]

Nov21-25 i went to Casino Rama. I am 23 and it was my first time playing in a real card room. Ive played online for about 2 years making approx $300 /month on limits varying from 1/2 - 10/20. i play on avg, 5 hrs a day. The first session in rama was nervous. playing the 4/8 game i lost my $200 buyin, (against things like nut tight vs. small quads ouch). second day I took $400 from 4/8 and never looked back. Value bets, semibluffs.. all tricks that worked unbelievably well and not 1 player there seemed to know what they were. 10/20 was almost as weak. my guess is you will do very well, if you can beat those online games, Casino Rama will feel like kindergarden.
GL, post your results.