Help playing NL live for the first time?

jively · #1 11-30-2006, 11:41 AM

So, I've been playing poker for a year and a half. I've won at $0.50/$1 online, and won at $3/6 and $4/8 live. I switched to NL maybe 6 months ago. I'm winning up to NL50 ($0.25/$0.50 blinds), but don't have a huge number of hands. I'm excited but nervous in trying $1/2 NL live. I have questions about buyins and counting the pot.

My total bankroll is about $2,500. I brought $600 to the casino last time to play either $6/12 limit or $1/2 NL. (I ended up playing 10 hours and lost just $29 in 6/12.) Do you think $600 is reasonable to bring to play 1/2 NL for the first time?

At a place like Borgata, where the buyin range is $60 to $300, what do you think of a $150 buyin? I want to balance being somewhat deep vs. a possible weak-tightedness I might feel playing for my stack. If I build my stack from $150 to $300, how bad is it to get up and switch to another table, buying in for $150 again?

Finally, what are suggestions on building the skill of counting the pot? In limit, I count bets as suggested in SSHE. I think I will probably be OK with it; I am pretty good at rounding and adding in my head, but just looking for suggestions.

Also, at this level, is it time to wait for the action to be on me to look at my cards? In limit, if not in the blinds, I look as soon as I get them; in the blinds, I wait for someone to open so I can chop blind if necessary.

Thanks,

-Tom

P.S. The 6/12 was pretty loose, and I was up and down, but just ended down. I was thinking of trying 10/20 limit as well. Which game should be most profitable? 6/12, 10/20, or 1/2 NL?

Hornacek · #2 11-30-2006, 12:04 PM

Buy in for the full $300 at the Borgata. That game is full of retards, you wanna maximize your EP there.

xxrod17xx · #3 11-30-2006, 12:14 PM

Not only do you want to buy in 300 because people are going to double you, but 150 is not deep at all. Neither is 300, you are still going to have to play a tight agressive game and look for a spot where you can get your money in good. I noticed in my times there that most of the players buy in around 100 and play WAY too many hands for the size of their stacks and of their opponents. It also depends on how long your stay is going to be. If you are going to stay for a few nights I would bring a lot more than 600.

xxrod17xx · #4 11-30-2006, 12:16 PM

Also this is not the internet. Do not get up and switch to another table if you double. The only time it is good if the only live player at the table doubles you and he quits. If the game is good which basically every 1/2 game is you should not be trying to protect your money. Bring what you are comfortable losing.

LasVegasMichael · #5 11-30-2006, 12:17 PM

I recommend always buying in for the max if playing in capped buy in NL games.

jively · #6 11-30-2006, 12:36 PM

Ok, so 3 responses so far to buy in for the max. B&M play is much looser than online play, and you can play higher than you can with a bankroll. So bringing $600 is not enough, just 2 buyins. How much should I bring (from a $2500 bankroll). Or is 1/2 NL too high for me to take a shot?

I have used the GSIH short-stack strategy online, and could try that, just to get a feel for playing NL live. Is that another way to try it out? (Buy in for $60-80, wait for only AA-TT, AK, and get it all in PF or on flop?)

Thanks,

-Tom

pfapfap · #7 11-30-2006, 12:48 PM

As much as you want to hit-and-run, you're going to have to play actual real live poker. Buy-in for the max. Or at the very least $200. You want to have two more buy-ins in your pocket, but even $300 is low for this kind of game. I've played these games with $100 and felt extremely constricted.

Count the pot by following the action. It's not that difficult to do. Practice when you're not in hands. I don't know how it is at Borgata, but places I've played, the dealers often keep the chips stacked and occasionally use racks (they allow players to use racks, so when one is all in, they just put those in the pot). But it's not consistent and you should be practicing keeping track of the action anyway. It's simple math, just keep doing it.

Do not look at your cards before action is to you, in any game. There are many reasons why this is important, mostly dealing with slight edges, but slight edges are what you need. I'm sure this has been discussed before, so look around for it. At this point I'll simply say that I love Internet players in my live games. They're +EV for me. Looking at your cards immediately is part of this.

djrect · #8 11-30-2006, 12:50 PM

The Live 1/2NL is a great way to build your game. Yes there are a lot of donkeys out there, but that is the best way to learn how to play those opponents. Also you start to develop a great sense of reading your opponents hands which will help you down the road. Buy-in for the full amount is my motto although I only bring down one buy-in each time I go. Playing deep is fun, but just be patient pick your spots and the 1/2 game is very profitable in the long run. I am up 1200 in my last 3 visits. The 1/2 is the way to go

mayday4379 · #9 11-30-2006, 01:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, so 3 responses so far to buy in for the max. B&M play is much looser than online play, and you can play higher than you can with a bankroll. So bringing $600 is not enough, just 2 buyins. How much should I bring (from a $2500 bankroll). Or is 1/2 NL too high for me to take a shot?

I have used the GSIH short-stack strategy online, and could try that, just to get a feel for playing NL live. Is that another way to try it out? (Buy in for $60-80, wait for only AA-TT, AK, and get it all in PF or on flop?)

Thanks,

-Tom

[/ QUOTE ]

If you play a Short Stack strategy and just play those hands, you're going to pull your hair out with going bored. You only get to play 1 hand at a time and the cards are dealt much slower.

Just buy in for the max and play a tight game. Playing live in the early stages is intimidating, but just play your game and ask questions to the dealer if you're uncertain.

bav · #10 11-30-2006, 01:35 PM

I don't agree you MUST buy in for the max. Your head has to be in the right place and you have to be willing to risk what you have when you do that. If you're not comfortable buying in for $300, don't do it. But I agree with the sentiments; you need to work on getting to where you can buy in for $300.

Personally I find $150 ain't enough for NL1/2. Figure the average sorta $15 pre-flop raise. 4 folks are in. You now have $135 and the pot has $60. Flop comes out and you like it. Pot-size bet it and you have $75 left and if you get a caller, you don't have enough left to push him out on the turn; $75 bet into $180 won't do the trick very often. But if you'd started with $250 instead of $150, then you'd be able to put $175 into the $180 pot and maybe protect your hand against an 8 out or 9 out draw.