My first B&M game (long)

[TheRake]

Hi all,
Just got back from my trip up north for the holidays. I got a chance to play in my first B&M game. This was a 3/6 game, but I decided to post here since this is where I post most the time.

In Ohio, as most of you know, there are no casinos but there is a group that runs weekly "Vegas Nights" as fund raisers for non-profit organizations. They have them all over the city at various halls and banquet centers. This one happened to be right down the road from my mom's house. So I drop off my bags and my step dad and I head out to play some cards.

These Vegas Nights actually have several poker games with alot of regulars. The night I went they had (3) 3/6 tables (2) 5/10 tables (2) 10/20 tables a 15/30 and I think a 20/40 table. They also had a couple stud tables. After I watched for awhile I got on the list for a 3/6 game.

I have to admit I cannot remember being this nervous in a long time. 2 hands after I sit down I am delt AKo in CO-1. I get 3 limpers to me and I raise. Flop comes QQx it gets checked to me. When I try to bet my hands are shaking so badly I can barely put the chips in front of me. One of the other players makes a comment about how I must have a huge hand and that my shaking hands is a really bad tell. after that comment everyone folds and I pick up my first pot [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]. I figure I probly had the best hand anyway, but he helped me out a little.

After 10-15 hands I finally start to relax. I realy started to feel like I was one of the better players at the table. This gave me confidence to play like I know I can. My hands became steady again and I started "playing some poker".

I can't remember exact reads on any of the players, but I can say this table was not much different than a .5/1 party table. It was VERY loose passive and I seemed to be the only one raising pre-flop. In fact it seemed to be irritating some of the other players at the table. At one point I raised and one person sighed and rolled thier eyes [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] (talk about a tell).

So here are a few hands I won. Some of the suits may be off, but I took some notes after the session so I could post here when I got home.

--Hand 1--

I am OTB with T [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]T [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
5 callers to me and I decide to build a pot and raise. SB folds, BB calls, All limpers call. 7 to the flop for 14.5sb

Flop A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Checked to me..I bet and get 3 callers (18.5sb)

Turn 6 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] [A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]]

Checked to me again and I check it through. (9.25bb)

River T [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] [6 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]]

EP bet, CO calls, I raise, both call. (15.25bb)

EP shows 86o...CO show A4o

--Hand 2--

I'm in SB with 4 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
7 callers, I complete, BB checks. One big happy family to the flop for 9sb

Flop 3 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

I bet, 2 callers, LP raise, call, call call
four to the turn (17sb)

Turn K [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img][3 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]]
I Check EP bets. LP calls I call
three to the river (11.5bb)

River 2 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img][k [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]3 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]]
I bet...Both call (14.5bb)

EP shows K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]...LP shows 5 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

--Hand 3--
I am in SB with K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]K [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
5 limpers to me and I decide to change it up a little and just complete here...BB checks. (7sb)

Flop 5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]J [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]8 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
I bet out...MP calls...button raises..I 3-bet...MP folds...button calls. (14sb)

Turn Rag

I bet..button calls (9bb)

River rag

I bet..button calls (11bb)

Button shows KJ


Finished the session up 29BB.

TheRake

[bisonbison]

The first few times you play live with strangers, the nerves will get you. The simplest solution is to prepare.

Make bet stacks next to your bigger stacks. Take a couple dozen chips and lay out a few SB piles and a couple of BB piles. That way, you're handling the chips as little as possible when it's your turn to act. Also, if you clearly state "bet", "raise", etc., every time you act people won't have to look at your hands to see what you're going to do (besides protecting you from accusations of string-raises and the like). They'll already be checking out the next bettor and the shakes matter less.

[Raiser]

[ QUOTE ]
When I try to bet my hands are shaking so badly I can barely put the chips in front of me.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL, I know the feeling. I have been to the B&M 5 times now and find it much, much more fun than online, but I still shake like a little girl when I pull in my first pot. I do okay while betting it, but for some reason the nerves take over when I start stacking those chips.

I definitely agree with bison's suggestions. Good players will still notice your tells, but a lot of players at this level don't know how to bet correctly (string bets, betting out of turn, etc.) so when you call out your actions they are "distracted."

[Aces McGee]

Hi TheRake

I know what you mean about being nervous. I had seen a live game before I actually played in one, and I could barely follow the action then, so I was pretty scared the first time I held my chips and waited for my name to be called. But I relaxed quickly, like you did, though I still get sweaty palms every time I go to the card room.

I just want to make one comment on the kings hand: A lot of people will say that you shouldn't even bother changing up your play at the low limits when people aren't paying attention, but even if it's worth it...I don't think KK in the SB with 5 limpers is a good time to do it. I like to change up my play by being MORE aggressive, not less.

Nice post.

McGee

[TheRake]

Thanks Aces,
I am a little suprised I didn't get more comments on my play of these hands. I chose these 3 because they were a little out of the ordinary. On the KK hand I actually had K's just 3 hands prior and raised PF. Just seemed like an ideal place to put some questions in peoples minds. Figured this would be a hand I would show down and people would remember I had K's a few hands earlier. I actually questioned my post flop 3-bet. I think just smooth calling the flop raise and raising the turn might have been an acceptable play in a 3-way pot.

TheRake

[Aces McGee]

[ QUOTE ]
On the KK hand I actually had K's just 3 hands prior and raised PF. Just seemed like an ideal place to put some questions in peoples minds. Figured this would be a hand I would show down and people would remember I had K's a few hands earlier.

[/ QUOTE ]

I still think this is a bad spot to change it up. I'd rather raise with more marginal holdings if I wanted to vary my play. Keep 'em guessing, but still get money in the pot with premium hands.

I agree that the stop and go would've been better than a flop 3-bet given that you limped preflop.

McGee

[eh923]

I love the B&M rooms. At 3/6 & 4/8, they are MUCH softer than the 1/2 and 2/4 tables online. Here are some comments:

Hand 1: Would you have folded to a flop raise or turn bet? If so, well played...otherwise, not enough odds. Let 10's go.

Hand 2: The lead-out bet was okay, but with that many PF limpers, I would've tried a checkraise. If a lot of people call, you can trap the whole table. If it's capped by the time it reaches you, you can ditch the baby flush draw (although the SF would be really well disguised).

Hand 3: You already know. Raise that crap 100% of the time in a large pot against bad players.

[Nottom]

[ QUOTE ]
I think just smooth calling the flop raise and raising the turn might have been an acceptable play in a 3-way pot.


[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree, button raises always seem suspiciously like free card raises to me. Don't give him a chance to take one.

You see how hard you have to work here to try and make up for all the money you left on the table pre-flop?

[TheRake]

EH,

Hand 1
Yes I would have folded to a raise or turn bet. I went ahead and bet the flop to get an idea of what I was up against and basically got no information. I am sure I was being set up for a c/r on the turn, so checking it through there worked out nicely.

Hand 2
I played this hand poorly. I had top pair and an OESFD. Should have been much more aggressive here I think. Missed some bets.

Hand 3
This may have been the only time I have not raised this hand PF. Temporary brain fart I guess. I wanted to give the B&M player credit for being better than the online player, but this was not the case.

Thanks for the comments,
TheRake

[TheRake]

[ QUOTE ]
You see how hard you have to work here to try and make up for all the money you left on the table pre-flop?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeh, but then I wouldn't have had anything exciting to post [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Thanks Nottom