Table tips please.

[Canine K9]

Hi, I'm new to live table play at local casinos but I'm not new to online poker (been playing for a year at UB). So I have a question to all you experienced table players...do you have any tips for me before I step into the casino? Also, I plan to play at the $3-6 tables, when and how much am I supposed to tip the dealer? Is there anyone else I should be tipping as well?

Also, I have an UltimateBet cap and shirt, should I be wearing that at my first visit to the casino? Or should I act like the "dumb calling station" who knows nothing about poker. I am used to being the captain of most online tables so I like taking control, but if I act like a weak player others will control me and that just ruins my game. I don't plan to wear stupid sun glasses or the UB jacket to the table, but should I at least wear the cap to the table to intimidate others?

Btw, I'm a first year University student, so age is a factor.

[Jezebel]

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Also, I plan to play at the $3-6 tables, when and how much am I supposed to tip the dealer? Is there anyone else I should be tipping as well?


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Usually tipping the dealer a $1 is acceptable. Some do more, some less but I doubt anyone will look at you funny if you tip a buck. Cocktail waitresses also appreciate tips and chip runners can also be tipped.

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Also, I have an UltimateBet cap and shirt, should I be wearing that at my first visit to the casino? Or should I act like the "dumb calling station" who knows nothing about poker. I am used to being the captain of most online tables so I like taking control, but if I act like a weak player others will control me and that just ruins my game. I don't plan to wear stupid sun glasses or the UB jacket to the table, but should I at least wear the cap to the table to intimidate others?

Btw, I'm a first year University student, so age is a factor.

[/ QUOTE ]

Personally, I wouldn't wear anything that gave the slightest clue that you knew anything about poker. However, I also wouldn't try to put on an act like I had no clue how to play. Wear something comfortable and have fun at the table. If you have a question, ask. There is an excellent chance that most of the players at your table will be much newer to poker than you are yourself. If you are used to playing online then I can offer two suggestions:
1) When ever you want to raise, declare "raise" prior to putting any money in the pot. This is the easiest way to avoid "string betting" which is a no-no.
2) If play folds around to the blinds many casinos allowing "chopping the blinds" where each blind takes their money back and a new hand is dealt. It is usually best to just chop the blinds in that situation. However, once you decide to chop once, you must chop for the rest of the session.

You will have a blast. Strike up a conversation and have fun.

[blackaces13]

Why would you want to intimidate players in a 3-6 game? These players are going to call you and they will call you with nothing. You will not be able to intimidate them so why try? I really hope you're not planning on bluff raising live 3-6 tables. I think you'll find that a 3-6 live table is nowhere near as tough as a 3-6 online UB table. It'll be the loosest most passive table you've ever seen if you're going to AC. You want to be raising for value not intimidation. Don't expect them to fold, ever. Johnny Chan could sit down at a 3-6 table and he'd have 5 callers to every river. Its a good thing though, your pots will be huge, just make sure you're prepared to flip em up at the end.

[Scooper]

What game are you playing?

you may get different answers depending on the game.

scooper

[Canine K9]

It's just $3-6 Hold'em. So low stakes...so from what I hear I'll basically just have to get lucky. I do understand how $3 or $6 to see another card is nothing. So basically my online and NL tournament experience has gone to waste. Now I have to switch gears playing as a tight low limit player. lol, I could use a few more tips.

[slavic]

So basically my online and NL tournament experience has gone to waste.

Wrong attitude.

You don't have to "get lucky". Money in poker doesn't come from getting lucky it comes from making extra bets that others wouldn't and saving bets that others won't. This style of game is the most beatable, bluffing is useless but the extra money you make from every bet going into the pot makes up for it.

Make sure you bet for value, and understand that most of the time there will be a showdown because someone has to keep you honest.

Another tip relax and try and be sociable at the table. Live play is slow and waiting for someone to decide if they are going to call with pockets 2's on a 5 flush board can take a while. If you try to play the silent shark you'll drive yourself nuts.

Oh and when the shakes come, don't worry the rest of the players likely won't notice. I nearly had a seizure raising top house into 8 players in my first live game, I still got 4 callers plus a reraise.

[BigBaitsim (milo)]

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Oh and when the shakes come, don't worry the rest of the players likely won't notice. I nearly had a seizure raising top house into 8 players in my first live game, I still got 4 callers plus a reraise.

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I laughed out loud picturing this one.

[ThinkQuick]

I chatted on a thread a while back that I've included here:
Young Players (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=508226&page=&view=&sb =5&o=&vc=1)

And since then I've played alot more 3/6...

My advice on appearance and impression is that you first and foremost do not want to appear weak. You won't be able to maximize the pots you win if you check-call them. Betting, and especially raising on any street, when it's correct to do so, will build your pot and let the regulars know that if they want a pot that that you're in together, then they'd better have a contestable hand. 3/6 Regulars can't seem to tell the diffrence between average-good and average-bad players, so showing any kind of life will get you where you want.

Weak players do get action.. words like 'first time', 'different than home', 'played online' cause bets to fly, but if you want to play poker right you can't rely on others to build your pots, and you often can't give those players their free cards - especially at low limit where their reason for living is just to suck you out.
Additionally, drawing attacks still means drawing attention to your play, which may also hurt you.

sunglassed 'Sharks', table coaches, and players with high chip stacks tend to play just like everyone else, except that the recreational players don't like them and don't tend to pay them off.

You want the 3/6 regulars to treat you as a nonimportant fixture of that game. I don't believe that the 3/6 players at my local casino have a clue how I play, although I have played with some of them for a while. Many of them act upon my bets and raises as if they are coming out of some unknown player sitting in my position - not even looking up and then making the ill-fated mistake of playing their cards instead of playing poker.
As for your paycheque; the kids, the drunks, and other such bad poker players.. these players make alot of mistakes, and since they see so so many flops you're almost guaranteed to get a chance against them when you do have a hand... so wait for it, build it, and take it down, free of destructive interference from the regulars.

[ThinkQuick]

I don't think this posted: Sorrry if it's twice.. Jonathan
------------------------------------------------------------

I chatted on a thread a while back that I've included here:
Young Players (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=508226&page=&view=&sb =5&o=&vc=1)

And since then I've played alot more 3/6...

My advice on appearance and impression is that you first and foremost do not want to appear weak. You won't be able to maximize the pots you win if you check-call them. Betting, and especially raising on any street, when it's correct to do so, will build your pot and let the regulars know that if they want a pot that that you're in together, then they'd better have a contestable hand. 3/6 Regulars can't seem to tell the diffrence between average-good and average-bad players, so showing any kind of life will get you where you want.

Weak players do get action.. words like 'first time', 'different than home', 'played online' cause bets to fly, but if you want to play poker right you can't rely on others to build your pots, and you often can't give those players their free cards - especially at low limit where their reason for living is just to suck you out.
Additionally, drawing attacks still means drawing attention to your play, which may also hurt you.

sunglassed 'Sharks', table coaches, and players with high chip stacks tend to play just like everyone else, except that the recreational players don't like them and don't tend to pay them off.

You want the 3/6 regulars to treat you as a nonimportant fixture of that game. I don't believe that the 3/6 players at my local casino have a clue how I play, although I have played with some of them for a while. Many of them act upon my bets and raises as if they are coming out of some unknown player sitting in my position - not even looking up and then making the ill-fated mistake of playing their cards instead of playing poker.
As for your paycheque; the kids, the drunks, and other such bad poker players.. these players make alot of mistakes, and since they see so so many flops you're almost guaranteed to get a chance against them when you do have a hand... so wait for it, build it, and take it down, free of destructive interference from the regulars.

[HUSKER'66]

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should I at least wear the cap to the table to intimidate others?



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It shouldn't be your clothing that intimidates others at the table, it should be your play. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

As has been previously mentioned, value bet/raise when you have it, and forget about trying any moves or falling into FPS (fancy play syndrome)Play tight at the begining and get a feel for the other players styles. If the table is extremely loose with a lot of "any two" type players, realize that you can play lower pocket pairs than normal. Also A/x suited and suited connectors play well in multi pots. Most of all, have fun! Make your first experience a good one and the money will follow.

Play well /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Husk

[ThinkQuick]

Husker said to 'get a feel for their style' and that is, of course, dead on.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that all the players there are the stereotypial duds these guys make fun of. 3/6 may be the only good game going one night and you'll find good players at your table. I've often seen groups of friends that play where some of them are OK and some are terrible, so figure out who is who, and play them accordingly.
And play each according to his particular style. It won't be hard, you will remember what it meant the last time 'old hairy goiter guy' in the blue checkraised the flop, so don't stress. Start by focusing on the hands you're a lock for, and if you keep working at putting people on hands, which in my opinion is easier at the B&M than online, you can improve your game even more.

[Canine K9]

Wow, you guys are all real awesome. I didn't expect all these posts, but thanks for the replies, I'll keep everything you guys said in mind.