Playing online poker is fun, and for most players nowadays, it’s the most common, everyday experience. But every once in a while, even dedicated grinders, whether we talk MTTs, cash games, or spins, can be caught by the urge to stack some poker chips in a live poker game. After all, poker is a social game, and at its foundations, it’s all about playing against other players.
There’s always a first time for everything, and we can imagine that a solid chunk of our players and readers are yet to play their first live poker game in a real casino. That’s precisely why we’ve prepared a few tips for you. They should make your first time in a live poker room more enjoyable. Hopefully, we’ll also prevent you from some classic rookie mistakes.
Many consider live cash games as the pinnacle of poker so let’s see what’s all the fuss about.
Here’s what you should keep in mind.
Prepare the amount of money you are willing to gamble
If you are about to play poker, you’re not necessarily going to win. Albeit fundamentally a skill game, poker still involves a lot of luck, even if we’re talking about poker games with many recreational players.
If cash game is your thing, remember that live games are often way bigger than their online counterparts. People sitting on $1000+ stacks at a $1/2 table are a common sight, so be prepared to buy in for more than your casual 100BB. Before your trip, find out what stakes are played in the casino you’re going to, and be prepared accordingly. Usually, having 500-1000BB for the cash games is a good idea.
The same goes for tournaments. Action in tournaments under $500 can get pretty hectic at early stages, so be prepared for re-entry or two. That should provide the comfort of playing your A-game while having a backup plan if something goes wrong.
As you’ll soon find out, things will go wrong quite often due to people doing all kinds of hard-to-predict plays, but at the same time, that unpredictability makes live poker so easy and profitable in the long run.
Remember about live poker etiquette
When you play poker in the casino for the first time, the experience may be pretty stressful, but do not worry – it’s the same as with many other first times. You’ll get comfortable at the live tables in no time.
Live poker differs from online playing, so here are a few things to remember during your first time at live felt.
Bet your chips with one forward motion
If you’re about to be the first player to bet on any street, do it in one move. You won’t be allowed to put in $100 and then add another $100. You’ll have to do it at once. If, for example, you have a lot of smaller chips, which would make betting in one motion difficult, you can verbally announce the bet’s size, which will be binding.
Putting in one chip counts as a call
If you’re facing a bet of $100 and you are willing to raise to $500, you have a few options: you can either put $500 worth of chips in more than one chip (i.e. five $100 chips), or you can announce the raise and then throw in any amount of chips (even 1) worth the raise. If you put one $500 and you say nothing, that would be a call. The same rule applies to pretty much any situation when you face a bet. No matter how big the raise is. One chip always counts as a call.
Do not act out of turn
If that’s your first time at the casino, it’s pretty easy to forget it, as there is no preemptive fold option. If you’re about to fold, make sure it’s your turn to act. If, for whatever reason, you find following this rule problematic, you can check your hole cards just before the action is on you. It’ll help you keep your attention on what’s going on.
Cards and chips are the two most important things when you play live poker
Protect your cards
Many poker players have learned their lesson the hard way, seconds after the dealer accidentally mucked their card. When you play poker at the casino, it’s your responsibility to protect your card from others, whether it’s your neighboring player who may accidentally see your holdings or the dealer who may swipe your card into the muck by mistake. Many players put one chip (or a card protector) on their hole cards, drastically reducing the danger of an error on the dealer’s part.
Stack your chips into easy-to-count piles
At online felts, you always see how much money everybody else has, but it is a little trickier when you play live poker. That’s why it’s in good taste to stack your chips by tens or twenties, so it’s much easier for other players to estimate how many chips you have. And remember, always put your most valuable chips at the front of your stack.
Also: don’t forget to tip your dealer once in a while
Most of the dealers in decent casinos are pretty good at their job, but generally speaking, that’s not the best-paid job in the world. If your current dealer is a good one, do not shy away from tipping. A few dollars here and there won’t make that much difference to you, but that’ll mean a lot to the average casino employee.
Tipping the dealers, even by a small amount, usually makes the game more friendly, and people feel better at such tables. And it’s worth remembering it never hurts if the recreational players are having a good time.
Moreover, being on friendly terms with the dealers can pay off, e.g., when they let you know if there’s a really good game going at a different table.
Things to avoid in live poker games
There are a few things you shouldn’t do, but the most important thing to remember is: don’t be an asshole. When you play poker, whether online or live, things won’t always go as you want them to. That’s the nature of the game, and you have to accept this.
So, spare others your bad beat stories – nobody wants to hear them. Don’t comment on other players’ bad plays, and do not comment on the hand being played. Also, do not ever blame the dealer for the cards you are being dealt with. In essence, act like a decent human being.
The single most important thing: most people play poker (especially live) for fun
Let them have fun. Don’t be the grumpy guy. Usually, being nice at the poker table pays off sooner or later, and even if it doesn’t, you and other players at least are having a good time.
Enjoy your first trip to the actual casino, soak in the live game atmosphere and have fun yourself. If you are skilled enough, sooner or later, the results will show in.