Live ring games vs Internet play

My limited experience has taught me casino play has its own hazards. The rake is high (10 to 12 percent, plus tips), and you only see ~ 30 hands an hour. Personally, this makes it tough for me to have correct card discipline, and I find myself hanging on to hands like KK with four people in when the board comes up ace high - a mistake I'd never make online with 200 hands an hour.

I can't hate casinos too much: The players wear their tells on their sleeve for the most part, and the vast majority are awful. It's a great way to learn the game but the swings at those games are certainly harder on your bankroll than in 1/2. Casinos gave my bankroll a great start a few months ago but they could have just as easily broke me.

If you're looking to have fun reading players and socializing while you play, b & m is great. If you want to make money, stick to online unless your bankroll is big enough to play 10/20 or above.

[Aaron W.]

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Well, do you just stay away from live games?

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No. I don't play very often because it's not as convenient. Since I'm playing for the pleasure of playing, I don't mind paying extra to sit at a live table when I have the chance. If you're playing for money (a real part of your income), playing online small stakes games is a much better way to go.

[VoraciousReader]

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here's a tip for tracking the pot. for every small bet that goes in cut a chip off your stack. when you reach the turn, cut the new stack in half, and add another chip for every big bet that goes in. Need to know how many bets in the pot? count out the chip stack you've been 'playing' with.

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This is great. Makes me want to head out to Ameristar for some 3/6 Kill right now. But I have to work in the am...

Seriously, great tip. Thx.

[Taxmanrick]

Great tip!!!Thanks!!!

[Saint_D]

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here's a tip for tracking the pot. for every small bet that goes in cut a chip off your stack. when you reach the turn, cut the new stack in half, and add another chip for every big bet that goes in. Need to know how many bets in the pot? count out the chip stack you've been 'playing' with.

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This is a great tip. The dealer is also counting the pot to take the rake. Ask the dealer when they take a chip. If you need a quick estimate, you can see how many chips the dealer has for the rake.

sample size warning I have been on a rampage live. I have won 50-100 bets per session over 5 sessions. I had one down session. I even turned that one around with a miracle 4 of a kind versus two nut straits.

I have found live players to be really bad. They make average .5/1 players look like experts. Very weak passive.

I found I had to adjust my game quite a bit. Pre Flop raises from UTG will often take the blinds. If you can trap a few people you can build monster pots. People downstream will call 2 cold they would have mucked for one.

My advice is to change up your pre-flop play a little.

From early to mid position raise offsuite broadways. This will usually isolate a weaker player, or build a monster pot.

limp (re-raise if you get the chance) your monsters from early to mid postion.

If there are a lot of callers to you and you have a hand that plays well mulit-way, raise it. If you hit your hand, you will drag a giant pot. Since it's big to start with, people will call down drawing slim our dead.

-D

p.s. if anyone wants to come to Tulalip with me on the weekends, PM me.