First time in a casino, going to enter a multitable tournament. Tips?

[jimotto]

I'm heading to Lake Tahoe for a conference and will be spending a night in Reno. I'll be there during the Peppermill casino's winter poker tournament, and there's a $100 buyin multitable no limit holdem tournament the night I get there that I'm planning on entering.

So, I've never been in a casino before, let alone entered a tournament in one. All my experience has been in friendly home games, mostly pot limit holdem and single table no limit holdem tournaments. I should have time to play a while in the casino before the tournament to get a feel for what its like.

Any suggestions or tips for a newbie? I've read a number of faqs, and from them have gotten I need to protect my cards, both when I look at them and leave a chip on them to keep them in play, and I need to basically just say fold, check, call or raise when I'm going to act. I figure I will pick up things quickly, but any other blunders to avoid?

Thanks

Jim

[baggins]

unless your table seems friendly, don't tell anybody you're new. take your time, it's your money. you will feel pressure to act and act quickly. just take your time. call time if necessary.

[LetsRock]

If you can, sit at the table for an orbit and just watch (ask to post behind the button). There's no real secrets to casino pokering, it just feels that way when you sit down the first time.

-Don't act out of turn
-Be ready to act when it your turn
-If you do need more than a few moments to make a decision just say "time please" and you'll be granted a minute or two to act (Don't do this every hand, reserve your "times" for when you really need them)
-Let the dealer run the table (if you're stting next to a competent regular, they'll usually keep you in line)
-If the stakes are higher than you're comfortable with, then don't play - you won't do well if the bets are scary
-Understand the blind structures - it's not rocket science, but it can be confusing if you're not used to them
-Understand that the limit game you'll be "practicing" on will be a completetly differrent game than the NL tourney.
-Buy-in for at least 2x mimimum or else you'll be digging pretty quickly unless you happen to a hand or two early. You can pick up and leave anytime you want - just cause you put them on the table doesn't mena you have to leave them there.

At the Peppermill, you're bound to run into a couple of regulars that I spotted a couple of weeks ago:

One is a talkative foriegner (mid-east, mediterainian?), kinda looks like Peter Sellers (50ish)- (I knicknamed him "Sheik") He's a "get the action going" type and is real hard to get a solid read on. Don't play shorthanded with him unless you're a real strong shorthanded player. He's handleable at a full table, but I made the mistake of getting shorthanded (not my strong suit) with him and had a rough session. He acted like he worked there and seemed to know everybody that walked by. I got the feeling he might be some kind of private loan-shark, but I saw nothing solid to back that up - just a feel.

Another is a tall, thin, animated black guy (40ish) with kinda long hair and sunglasses. He's a Hellmuth desciple and will be very aggrivated if he's not running well. He's a little more predicatable (Hellmuth-wise) but I think he's a tough cookie when he's on a role.

There was one more that stood out. This guy was older than dirt (80ish?) - I expected him to just keel over on his next breath. Long gray hair, big bushy gray eyebrows, kind of an old cowboy type. Physically (slow motor skills, can't hear very well and seemed unaware), he looks like he has no clue where he is at or who he is or what he's doing. Don't let that fool ya - he knows exactly what he's doing and when he bets, he means it.

There were probably a couple other regulars, but wasn't sure and didn't get a read on the other likely candidates.

When I was there, the lowest game they were spreading on Friday was 4/8 (kill) On Saturday, they did have a 2/4 game going. If they don't have any games in your BR, ask the brush - he may start a new list and if they get enough others that are interested they'll spread it for you.

Have fun and good luck in the tourney!

[Big Business]

When I first played my first tourney..I would not play near a 100 buy in my first time..but it's your money. One thing that I have noticed is that new people when they get a hand their hands shake sometimes.

Be calm and collected and just think about what you are doing..take time to make your decisions and read what is going on. I would not say that you are new..I would go in there like I expected to win. Remember: Be positive! Good luck!

[Scottnyce]

When you are playing in a live tournament for the first time....

1) Say out loud what you intend to do ie, raise....if the bet is $100 and you throw a $500 chip in the pot and don't say raise that is understood as a call. (This goes for limit also, unless you are throwing multiple chips out it is a call)

2) It seems like a cliche but ppl's hands do shake and this is a big tell. I would try and play before hand and get used to handling the chips so it doesn't look obvious that your fumbling around with them all the time.

3) Take your time....you'd be surprised how much information ppl give away in live play...its almost too obvious, just play your game and learn who the good players are at the table and try to avoid them....

4) Don't take on the Big Stacks.....Don't

5) Don't be afraid to win a small pot, your gonna need them for the blinds....steal blinds when they are on tight players and if you get resistance get out, your gonna need the the steals to advance.

Don't know whatelse....just relax and have fun, the more comfortable you are the better you will play....

GL

[NoChance]

I would simply suggest getting there early. Play in some regular games ahead of time and ask plenty of questions. I think it would be better to ask the "newbie" questions there rather than in the tournament.

You obviously will have more experience than a new player because you play online. It wont take you long to be comfortable. I think the biggest mistake most people make when they play live for the first time is making "string raises". As someone mentioned earlier, announce your intentions before you act and you will be fine. A string raise is when a player puts enough money out there to call the bet and then reaches back into his or her stack and brings out more money to raise with. This is considered two actions and illegal. Either bring out plenty of chips to raise with when you make your first move into the pot, or announce your intentions before making your move. Actually it is a good idea to do both.

[Stew]

[ QUOTE ]
When you are playing in a live tournament for the first time....

1) Say out loud what you intend to do ie, raise....if the bet is $100 and you throw a $500 chip in the pot and don't say raise that is understood as a call. (This goes for limit also, unless you are throwing multiple chips out it is a call)

2) It seems like a cliche but ppl's hands do shake and this is a big tell. I would try and play before hand and get used to handling the chips so it doesn't look obvious that your fumbling around with them all the time.

3) Take your time....you'd be surprised how much information ppl give away in live play...its almost too obvious, just play your game and learn who the good players are at the table and try to avoid them....

4) Don't take on the Big Stacks.....Don't

5) Don't be afraid to win a small pot, your gonna need them for the blinds....steal blinds when they are on tight players and if you get resistance get out, your gonna need the the steals to advance.

Don't know whatelse....just relax and have fun, the more comfortable you are the better you will play....

GL



[/ QUOTE ]

This is excellent advice, follow it!