After some stretch playing online, many players get to grips with the rules and basic strategy and decide to venture out into live play and head down to their local casino or card room. Live play offers a greater poker experience where you can sit in front of other players and attempt to hold your nerve as your opponents can stare you down looking for tells.
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This may sound very familiar to some of you reading this article, as large numbers of players are frequently making the switch from online to live to involve themselves in the real live poker experience. Online poker does a lot in the way of preparing you for live play, but there are some areas that online poker cannot recreate, which will leave you ill-equipped in a few sections of live play.
To help save yourself from making errors in your first few live sessions, I have gathered the top mistakes that new online to live players frequently make when they sit down at the live poker tables for the first time.
String betting.
“String betting” is when a player makes a bet and moves back and forth from their chip stack to the pot to complete the bet. For example, if you intend to make a $30 bet and move three $10 stacks into the pot one at a time, then this is considered to be a string bet.
This can cause problems during live play because a player that acts after you may think that when you move you $10 stack into the pot, that it is the only bet that you are making. Then, thinking that you have completing your action, that player may go to make his play unaware that you are continuing to make your bet.
String betting is frowned upon in live play, so to avoid any confusion you should announce the size of your bet before moving your chips, or move your chips into the centre in one motion.
String betting is an easy mistake to make, so keep an eye on your betting in your first few sessions at the casino.
Reacting to cards.
When you are sat behind your computer screen, there is no one to see you smile when you are dealt pocket aces or see you shake your head when you miss your draw. However, in live play your emotions are open for everyone at the table to see, so try to remain calm when looking at the cards as they come out.
For example, if you start to show disinterest in a hand then you leave yourself open to bluffs from other players when you may have had the best hand at the time.
A good tip to avoid giving information away through your emotions is to look at your opponents as the flop is dealt and not at the cards. This way you can see how your opponent reacts and you can steady yourself before looking down at what has come out.
Acting out of turn.
Online poker software makes it impossible for you to act of turn whilst playing online, so this slip-up catches many new live players out in their first few sessions. If you act of turn, it can influence the decisions of players who were meant to act before you or after you.
You should always try and pay attention to when it is your turn to act and only make your play when the action reaches you. It is common for players with strong hands to act out of turn because they eager to make their move, so try to keep your composure when you are dealt a good hand.
Taking cards off the table.
When you are dealt a hand, you should always keep your cards on the table and not lift them up and take them into your lap. The cards should be left on the table because it eliminates the possibility of you being able to switch the cards during the hand.
Even if you genuinely make the mistake of taking the cards back to your lap, other players may become a little wary and ask that your cards be folded just to be sure that you were not cheating.
Keep your cards on the table. There is no real need to pick them up anyway (unless you are turning them over at the showdown).
Not keeping track of pot size.
In online poker, the software will display the size of the pot and the bets at every stage of each hand. This feature is not available in live play, and it is up to you to keep your eye on the size of the pot. You can ask the dealer to add up the chips in the pot, but you should ask to do this in key situations only as frequently asking the dealer to count up the chips is time consuming and will slow down play.
Nonetheless, you should try you best to keep an eye on the pot size so that you are able to quickly work out pot odds when necessary. The less time you spend trying to figure out your odds, the more time you have to make the best decision possible when it is your turn to act.
Not tipping the dealer.
Many dealers rely on tips to make a decent wage. There is no set frequency or amount that you should tip the dealers, but is generally good practice that you do.
Some people prefer to tip dealers at the end of their sessions, whereas others tip the dealer after every decent pot they win. In addition, some people are very generous when tipping, and some others less so. If you unsure of how much you should tip, have a look at how much other players at the table are tipping on average and follow their lead. If you are still unsure, a very general way to tip is about 2% of every large pot you win.
Live play mistakes evaluation.
Hopefully this article has given you an insight into what you should look out for when you start to play poker in casinos and card rooms. It may also be in your interest to take a look at poker etiquette to see what is acceptable at the poker tables.
You may find that a few of the above mistakes are from players not familiarizing themselves with the rules of the game and good poker etiquette. You’re not going to get shot for making any mistakes at the poker table, but it is good to have a knowledge about etiquette and how to play to keep the other players and dealers happy.
Live poker further reading.
If you play a lot of poker in B&M casinos, you should check out my friend Jonathan's live poker website. He covers a lot more than I do on live poker etiquette (and how to act at a live poker table in general). There are also an impressive strategy section that contains articles with high quality tips and advice.
Go back to the awesome Texas Hold'em Strategy.
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Sometimes it’s hard to get a straight answer from a professional poker player. Ask three players a question, and you’re liable to get three different answers. Why? Because it depends on the situation, opponent, stack sizes, table image, and many other variables.
Head Games will peer deep inside the twisted minds of today’s top players. We’ll reveal why they do what they do in sticky situations. Let the games begin.
The Pros:Jonathan Little, Tommy Angelo and Nick Schulman
Craig Tapscott: Before sitting down to play a session, what are some of the best ways to prepare yourself mentally and physically?
Jonathan Little: I try to always make sure that playing poker is the only thing I want to do. If I would rather be relaxing, playing video games, or snowboarding, I simply do not play. I try to do enough of the things that I enjoy in my free time when the major tournaments aren’t happening, so that when they roll around, I am focused and ready to play. Another thing worth mentioning is that I try to get a lot of sleep every night. I have found that when I am tired, I play poorly, and, in general, don’t want to play. If you would rather be somewhere else, your mind won’t be in the game.
Tommy Angelo: What works for me are clear skies. If I’m caught up on my obligations to myself and the universe — if my time is all mine — that’s big. And rest. When I’m well-rested — and I mean really well-rested, not just telling myself that I am — that can make a huge difference in how I feel and think when I get roughed up or run hot or whatever at the tables. And food. I don’t eat too much at one time, before and during a session. And then there’s all the stuff I do to get myself mentally and physically prepared before every hand (I play only one table at a time), such as aligning my spine and limbs symmetrically in a relaxed and dignified manner while observing the ins and outs of my breathing. Anytime I remember to do that, I am at maximum possible readiness.
Nick Schulman: Playing poker can be taxing, both physically and mentally. When I’m at a tournament, my goal is always to get seven to nine hours of sleep, try to eat right, and get to the gym. I used to have a total disregard for these things, and my results suffered from it, especially around day three or four of an event. Your body is spent after three 10-hour days of poker if you haven’t been taking care of it.
Staying both focused and content mentally can also be a challenge. Casinos offer a plethora of distractions to take you off your game, and I’ve found it to be very beneficial for my mind to avoid them. Excessive drinking, pit gambling, and clubbing can suck the life force right out of you, and hurt your poker game tremendously. Nowadays, I’m trying to meditate in the morning, drink a lot of water, and maintain a deep focus on my opponents’ tendencies throughout a day of play. This helps me to stay sharp and immersed in the game. I also try to lay off using my phone while playing, so I usually turn it off. Total immersion in the game is key for me.
Craig Tapscott: Sometimes it’s hard to tear yourself away from the tables, and before you know it, you’ve spent a week with no sunshine and no contact with family or friends. What tips do you have to balance your life with your love of poker?
Jonathan Little: Luckily for me, I have never had that problem. Once you realize that the game will be there tomorrow — unless you play super high stakes, where it might not be — you can freely start and quit whenever you want. If you see yourself doing nothing besides grinding poker, try setting a schedule. Write it down and stick with it. Currently, I live with my girlfriend in New York City, and I make a point to play only online when she is at work. Sure, I may miss some value here and there, but I get to play poker eight hours per day if I want, as well as spend lots of time with her. It’s the best of both worlds.
Tommy Angelo: Did you say “love” of poker? I think of it more as lust. And as for the poker cave, I’ve been there a thousand times. OK. Tips. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape. Don’t spit into the wind. And for heaven’s sake, close down those tables and Skype your mother! Seriously, though, if you are an out-of-balance, cave-dwelling poker junkie who longs for a life of physical health, mental health, and balanced activities throughout your days and weeks, there’s no easy way out. It’s like being overweight. The problem is going to take some time to fix. And then there’s the problem of keeping it fixed. We step back, we look at the big picture, and guess what? It’s ugly. So, look at something smaller. Installing upgrades to our poker balance is a lifelong operation that can be performed any hour of every day, one choice at a time. For example, online, you might try separating your poker-playing time and your online socializing time now and then, and see if that improves both. Or, when you’re going to go play live, you might instruct your buddy when he’s on his way to bed, “Come by my table when you wake up, and if I am still playing, please dump a glass of water on my head.” Little stuff like that can make a big difference over time. We really can learn how to be more in control of our lives today than we were yesterday — and then do it again tomorrow.
Nick Schulman: I really wish that I were more adept at applying what I know. Balance truly is everything. The funny thing is, everything improves with balance once you’ve built a foundation. In poker, especially cash games, you have the opportunity to make money somewhere at every waking hour, especially in the Internet age. It becomes tough to pry yourself away sometimes, but it’s so important to do so. Maintaining a sense of balance and normalcy is a big key to my being happy. I’ve gone weeks without calling my mom, brother, or friends, and it’s brutal. I live my life in kind of a strange way, because I’ve found that I struggle with this exact question. Basically, I go super hard in poker for a month or two, and then I play very infrequently for a month or two after that. That way, I can focus on maintaining a healthy outlook on life, catching up with loved ones, and exercising. I also have a love for playing pool, and recently became a partner in a poolroom in Manhattan, where I live, which is great. Having outside hobbies is very important for poker players. All I can say is, good luck, everyone!