Advice needed to play in $100 live game tonight

smoore · #1 02-24-2005, 05:47 PM

Hi everyone...

I play up to $50 NLHE on party/pokerstars/pokerroom and am going to a live $100 game tonight with 1/2 blinds. I'm confident about my abilities but have never played with this group before. Is there any glaring advice anyone can give me? I'm prepared to put $300 on the table over the night if neccesary but according to the friend I'm going with I probably won't need to.

Kaz The Original · #2 02-24-2005, 05:48 PM

You can make much better reads live.

smoore · #3 02-24-2005, 05:55 PM

Ah, yes... I'm somewhat experienced with live NLHE but my local friends want to play $25 games, I've gottten four to play a $50 game once. I seem to have a higher win rate in the live NL games than online but that may be the rake.

TheWorstPlayer · #4 02-24-2005, 06:02 PM

I would expect even a $200 game live to be softer, in general, than a $50 game online, for several reasons. There has been plenty of discussion on here about these reasons and you can find them if you search. Just play your game. The biggest difference will certainly be that you won't have any numbers like pot size, stack size, VPIP, PFR%, etc. so you will have to pay more attention to how people play. Who bets draws, etc. No hand histories, either. But you will be fine.

gulebjorn · #5 02-24-2005, 06:18 PM

I have very littly experience with live play, and i've never played live for real money. So this is more a question then advice.

Am i very wrong when i say that when you're used to playing online, your biggest enemy in live play will be boredom?

Don't loosen up too much or you will lose any edge you have.

Good luck.

smoore · #6 02-24-2005, 06:25 PM

Actually I find playing online more boring giving me a sort of tilt. All of the numbers are right there and you can just let your mind wander. I pay much more attention at a live game where there's conversation, a pot to count, cheaters and angle shooters to watch out for... and don't forget nervous tells! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks for the advice guys, it should be a blast.

TrailofTears · #7 02-24-2005, 06:35 PM

Show up dressed in drag. No one can spot a tell on a man dressed as a woman, there's just way too many distracting things that get in the way. Trust me, I know from experieeehhhhh, nevermind. Good luck.

- Trail

sandrew · #8 02-24-2005, 06:46 PM

It all depends on where you are playing. I find live games in casinos. when it comes to NL, more predictable than online and raises are generally respected more and you get the results you expected. Limit, however, like a 1/2 limit up to about 4/8 are very loose and soft and they play very onlineish (calling 3 bets, 12 dollars in 4/8) with 67 offsuit from early position (so calling a 8 dollar reraise).

To the comments about is live more boring.. NO.. Live you have to pay more attention and there is chatter going on etc. I find online i get bored and start to tilt (becuase of boredom).

Live you will get better tells as well. But just play your game, tighten a bit don't play too loose. Play aggressive when you get a hand.

If it is a home game. Everyone wants to be Gus or Daniel and play super loose and call down weird hands for all their chips and usually get the best of you. If that is the case tighten way up..

Enjoy, I much prefer playing at a cardroom/casino over online.

edge · #9 02-25-2005, 01:44 AM

Online poker is boring. My focus starts to waver after an hour, and the longest session I can play (assuming I'm stuck a few buy-ins and trying to get it back, since I play for a longer time when I'm down) is maybe three hours. Live I think I could play about eight without too much difficulty, take a one hour break, and then go at it again.