How to play live poker?

I played my first hand of real money live poker last Sunday... there's nothing special about it, just sit down, relax, engage in the table talk and be yourself. Just don't act like an arrogant internet kid in earphones (this type is alas often seen in live tourney videos). Don't celebrate too much, never berate. Be polite to everyone, especially the fish. Don't use advanced poker terms like ranges that half the table (hopefully) won't understand anyway.

The typical casino dress code is 'smart casual': hoods, caps and hats aren't allowed because heads have to be visible to security cameras; sleeves should be long; sports wear (track-suits, shorts, sneakers, bare pantaloons) isn't allowed and footwear should be closing the toes (i.e. sandals are a no-no) regardless of the weather. Otherwise you can wear whatever you like, not necessarily a tuxedo, lol.

Don't drink too much. Look the hole cards up accurately, so that no one else sees; try to memorise them (both ranks and suits) from the first time. Don't worry that much about giving tells away - betting patterns tell pretty much the same stories as physical signs. When not involved in a hand, you can occupy yourself by talking with other folders, observing the opponents or rearranging the chips in your stack so that you can count them fast if necessary (e.g. if someone contemplates putting you all in and asks about your stack size). Put the (mini)-towers of most valuable chips up front - that's the etiquette (so that opponents have an accurate assessment of your stack size at the first glance).

When making a raise, announce that it's a raise because otherwise it will be deemed a call and chips will be returned. All the chips in your bet should cross the line of your box in one movement; string bets (when you drop or shove chips one by one) are not allowed (only the first chip or tower of chips will then count into the bet) because otherwise they'd be abused (people would drop the first chip, look at opponents' physical cues and then decide whether to drop more chips).

If you doubt about some rule, ask the dealer beforehand because rules differ from one casino to another.

Only a few bottles of good alcohol and cigarettes and do not worry about anything and just relax :)))

Do you usually buyin with cash and get chips at the table or at a gate?

As for the buy-in, ticket for the tournament is purchased at box office Kasino..And rebuy or add on to the table ...

cash or cards, no matter.on table cash hah

How is it with tipping the dealer? how often, how much etc. ?

it all depends on many things
different casinos - different rules and different procedures.
so in order not to look like "an idiot" or a beginner - you're just gonna have to go there couple of times and get some experience

which country do you live in my friend?

SErbia ♦

Originally posted by RightMove
How is it with tipping the dealer? how often, how much etc. ?

Hi, RightMove,
Welcome to PokerStrategy.com!

For local customs like tipping and similar, I suggest you watch watch others do, and do something similar.

Peace,
VS

My first time playing live poker at Crown, I acted out of turn a couple times (used to buttons :-), I was also warned showing my cards to an adjacent seat before folding.

Play is much slower than online, so patience is important. If you play in a tournament expect that you get very few hands at each level compared to online. Also you will not have information such as stack sizes and so on (no HUD :-)

The main thing first trip, is to work out where to park, where are toilets, best coffee and lunch spots and so on so that you feel comfortable in the environment.

My game plan was to play like a nit, which worked out OK.

Hope you have an enjoyable trip
:-)

My hard-earned lesson: a heavily drunk good reg still plays like a good reg

Originally posted by tonypmm
My hard-earned lesson: a heavily drunk good reg still plays like a good reg

...Good one :)))))))

Try to feel comfortable like you are playing a homegame with friends. I was a total wreck the first time, so nervous and I became last with high pair vs. a straight. So no worries about doing worse than me