Live tournaments
 

I have been searching all day for a tread on Live tournaments, specificly first time Live big event...

Is there a post about the subject of Live tournaments, and adjusments needed to be taken ?

Please post a link if available, [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
AtgDax

Re: Live tournaments
 

Being as I could not find a thread to answer my questions, I'll simply post them here, hopfuly I can learn from your experience. (excuse me in advance for some of the basic questions)

1. how should I be Stacking my chips ?
2. how importent are sunglass (have never played with them)
3. Card protector ? needed?
4. WC breaks ? (is it simply run and run back?)
5. any other useful things that I'd better hear about before ???

Thanks a bunch !

AtgDAx

Re: Live tournaments
 

Haven't played too many live tourneys, but I'll give it a shot:

1) stacks of twenty, big denominations out front.
2) Not important at all.
3) The concept is important, but you don't need a special device. Use a chip - that's fine. But put something on 'em - else they may end up in the muck.
4) Run there and run back. Or get up & go whenever - not the end of the world to miss a hand or two.
5) Try to win flips / run good... It helps...

OT

Re: Live tournaments
 

since I can never tell if anyone is serious on the internets, I'll give a go...

1. biggest ones in front
2. don't be a tellbox if that means you need shades, so be it
3. protect your hand
4. usually every 2 hours or run...
5. don't string bet

edit: you type fast OT :-P

Re: Live tournaments
 

Also - since you asked for any other useful things:

- Be prepared for how slow the tourney goes compared to on-line. DON'T GET IMPATIENT...

- Read a book on live tells - as much to ensure that you're not counting your chips with your eyes as soon as you flop the nuts as to recognize when somebody else is.

- If you're playing in your first live tourney, and you've never played in a casino before, try to get to the casino a few days before hand an put in a few hours at a low limit table. This will get you comfortable with the basics of live play - the button rotating, the feel of the chips, the table, etc. Even if you play every week with your buddies, it's different when you're in a casino with strangers and a professional dealer.


OT

Re: Live tournaments
 

I agree with many of the comments above. Before my first major live tourney a few years ago, I'd only played online and never played poker in a casino. A few friends took me out and we played a few hours at a $3/$6 table just to get a feel for how things work live. That was really worthwhile. Also, make sure you understand basic table etiquette, string betting, betting out of turn, etc. The last thing you want in your first major when you're already nervous, is to be involved in a controversy at the table. There were several of these at my tables last time. Good luck!

Re: Live tournaments
 

My meager piece of advice is, after everyone is dealt their cards, don't look at your cards right away. Instead, watch everyone else as they look at their cards. Don't check yours until it's your turn to act. It's amazing how much information you can obtain this way.

Re: Live tournaments
 

Understand the 1 chip rule and verbalize your intentions.

If blinds are 50/100 and you want to raise to 500 don't just toss out a 500 and expect it to be considered a raise. Say raise to 500 or some such. A single big chip will be considered just a call. I learned from watching during the first hand of my first live NL tourney. Guy puts out a 100 chip during the first level at 25/25 and was confused to get 75 back in change and get 4 limpers behind.

Needless to say his QQ that he meant to raise to 100 didn't fair well against the 45s that limped behind him and he busted on the first hand.

Pay attention to the action in front of you. Be aware, don't act out of turn and make sure you know the size of the bet you are calling. IF you are in the 1 seat and 10 gets allin but you don't see it make sure you know the size before you announce call (seen that happen too).

Re: Live tournaments
 

[ QUOTE ]
My meager piece of advice is, after everyone is dealt their cards, don't look at your cards right away. Instead, watch everyone else as they look at their cards. Don't check yours until it's your turn to act. It's amazing how much information you can obtain this way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Also, pay close attention to the guys who DO look at them out of turn (especially if they are to act behind you and REALLY if they are in the blinds). Its amazing how many blinds I have picked up because I could tell that the blinds were going to fold before it was even my turn to act.

A couple of other notes...

- Bring a sweatshirt or jacket, its often cold.

- I like to have some kind of hat/hood as I think it helps hide some tells.

- Protect your cards at all times. Either with a chip, card protector or your hand.

- I think for first timers it is good to verbalize everything before you act. It will elimiate alot of mistakes.

Re: Live tournaments
 

Thanks a lot for the advice, a lot of great information I'm sure will come in handy [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
I have decided to arrive a day and a half before the event, so I get some hours of live practice before the main event. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Live tournaments
 

[ QUOTE ]
My meager piece of advice is, after everyone is dealt their cards, don't look at your cards right away. Instead, watch everyone else as they look at their cards. Don't check yours until it's your turn to act. It's amazing how much information you can obtain this way.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree, everyone does this now so i like to look at my cards immedietly (unless im short and i cant risk missing anything). Reason being is if you look at them as they arrive, you can watch everyone else since almost everyone always waits till its their turn to look now. So now u get to see everyone else look at their hand but they dont see you look and poss give off tells.

Also, count your chips BEHIND your cards, so many people put them out front then try and move them forward only to be caught on a string bet. Pay attention to the action, when u ask who raised it shows ur not paying attention. Other things are pretty basic poker stuff, learn tells like hand shaking and find ways to avoid giving them off. All i can really think of atm

Re: Live tournaments
 

I also have a question about hand shaking.
I'm 20 goin on 21 in a few months so I don't much live experience..I was at AC 2 weeks ago actually for the first time and while sitting at 300NL I realized my hands shook alot while in was involved in pots..most of the times I had premiums and all eyes were on me at the table.
I probably didn't look 21 to most the people and I got a sick run of cards within the hour so it looked like I was running over the table which is why every1 was watching me closely in every pot.
but I could tell my hands were shakin a bunch n it was fu.ckin annoying..this also happened to me a bunch online after I would take down $500+ pots or bluff for a big hand..(dont get that feeling anymore bc I busted n play micro stakes hah)

but is there any tips to keep my hands from shaking..i duno why I do it, its definally a nervous thing and hope more time spent playing live will make it go away but ne1 used to have that problem?
I have the type of hands that are always cold I feel like and when im at the table there like ice cubes...actually thinkin about just turnin into that freak who plays with gloves on

(and no, smokin bud won't help me in this department bc my hands shake worse i imagine)

Re: Live tournaments
 

[ QUOTE ]
but is there any tips to keep my hands from shaking..i duno why I do it, its definally a nervous thing and hope more time spent playing live will make it go away but ne1 used to have that problem?

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It goes away with experience, obviously. When you see other players have the shakes, it's usually the mark of a big hand. I certainly had it at first. Small-to-moderate amounts of alcohol helped me then, cause I stopped caring about outcome as much.

Re: Live tournaments
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
but is there any tips to keep my hands from shaking..i duno why I do it, its definally a nervous thing and hope more time spent playing live will make it go away but ne1 used to have that problem?

[/ QUOTE ]

It goes away with experience, obviously. When you see other players have the shakes, it's usually the mark of a big hand. I certainly had it at first. Small-to-moderate amounts of alcohol helped me then, cause I stopped caring about outcome as much.

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yeah booze and experience are ur best bet. A good thing to do when u notice ur getting shakes is to try and rest your arms on the rail when u bet so that your arms are not being held up by you and thus more noticble when you shake. Als do stuff like set your bet is to declare your bet and remove the amount of chips from your stack, place them next to it and then slide them out, let the dealer cut/count them. You'll look a bit uncomfortable still i imagine, however thats better then giving away about the easiest tell in the book

Re: Live tournaments
 

best tell ever...the vein in the neck?

Re: Live tournaments
 

what about you body posture after a bet ?

Re: Live tournaments
 

if guy sees flop hit then looks at his chips, he hit

Re: Live tournaments
 

thx for advice..
I think boozin a little will help me with the hand shakin problem...it seems to always come thru in the clutch like make me bang like a pornstar

Re: Live tournaments
 

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best tell ever...the vein in the neck?

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as soon as u get a baseline (i tend to have a sweatshirt/collar/headphones block it), its up there with the shakey hands though its one thing most players never learn to control