First time Experiences

[SoonerJohn]

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What was your first experience like at a casino?

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I recently made the switch from online play to live play. I have been playing 1-2 no limit and tournaments ranging from $35 buy in to $120.

My experience at the 1-2 tables have been very favorable. Over 6 sessions or 26 hours time played I have made 22BB/hr. This is above my online play and I also feel I am progressing in my overall poker play by going to live poker.

People at these tables give a lot of info to you about there hands. I have even had people tell me exactly what their hand is. On several occasions they will tell me flat out they are drawing for the nut flush or a straight.

There is a lot more information available and I can not state how glad I am I read Caro's book before going.

Now tournaments are a different story for me altogether. I have not succesfully cracked why I am doing much worse at live tournaments vs. online tournaments. I think I have the problem tracked down now but have not got to test it yet. I think I have been spending too much time calculating odds vs. trying to figure out hands and how I am presenting my own playstyle and hands as well. It is a lot easier doing the odds online vs. live. I have been reading Harringtons tournament book and he gives some good insight on the differences between live and online tournament play. You may consider checking it out.

I also should say that as time has passed I am feeling much more comfortable at the tables and my game is improving from that alone.

This is not directly play related, but take the time to learn the procedures for live games. I made a thousand chip raise in a tournament by throwing a 1000 chip out. I did not realize that constituted a call.

One other thing. It is much easier to track your play online. It is all automated and you have easy note taking access. I have not come up with a good system yet for live play. I just write as much stuff down after a session as I can. I track players by memory currently and I generally talk to the people by me and will ask them about the others at the table. I will ask stuff like, "That guy sure does have a lot chips, did he win a big pot?" This gets you a range of answers such as, "No, he has been building it up slowly with tight play." or "Yeah, he has been taking risky plays and got lucky."

In closing I should say that I really like live play. The tournaments are giving me problems, but the table talk and 1-2 no limit tables are very refreshing.