First time Experiences

[Sir Pwn A Donk]

With me being a poor high school student with only a part time job, there's only so many buyins I can afford before it will take me a while to rebuild enough from my job that I can play again (I have about $400, enough for 2 full buyins at 1/2NL where I plan on playing.) I played online mainly sngs and MTTs (started out losing a bit, but my ROI steadily improved to where it is now). I have played a bit of ring, and have had some success in the small sample I've played. But, I have no clue what to expect at a casino as far as play quality. I was talking with someone and they said it is equivelent to .01/.02 online. I know I can beat that level (started out before sngs grinding there), but with me only having 2 buyins I am worried about going broke. What was your first experience like at a casino? Did you end up up, down, were you new to poker or experienced from online play? Would it be wise to maybe grind blackjack first?

[jjshabado]

If you have only 2 buyins, you're very likely going to go broke.

[NickMPK]

1.) Don't gamble underage.

2.) Grind blackjack?? Are you an expert card counter, playing somewhere where you can get away with card counting?
If the answer is yes, you still can't "grind blackjack" with a $400 bankroll.

3.) 1/2 NL is very profitable, and probably easier than any real-money online game. But it is also much different than any online game. Search some old threads. There is a very good chance you will go broke with only 2 buy-ins. If you are worried about this, you aren't ready to play in a casino.

[Sir Pwn A Donk]

[ QUOTE ]
1.) Don't gamble underage.

2.) Grind blackjack?? Are you an expert card counter, playing somewhere where you can get away with card counting?
If the answer is yes, you still can't "grind blackjack" with a $400 bankroll.

3.) 1/2 NL is very profitable, and probably easier than any real-money online game. But it is also much different than any online game. Search some old threads. There is a very good chance you will go broke with only 2 buy-ins. If you are worried about this, you aren't ready to play in a casino.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not underage. I've been 18 for some time now (I got started in school about as late as I possibly could have). It's not skill level that I doubt as much as just starting off with a bad run of cards. Early in the year, I played with a few guys (the fresh 18 year old guys who think they are gods gift to poker) who have been going there a while and "say" they make money...I then proceeded to destroy them...I am going to withdraw everything from PS to try and give myself some cushion (that cushion will help me immensely in mainly my mindset)...

[NickMPK]

[ QUOTE ]


I'm not underage. I've been 18 for some time now (I got started in school about as late as I possibly could have). It's not skill level that I doubt as much as just starting off with a bad run of cards. Early in the year, I played with a few guys (the fresh 18 year old guys who think they are gods gift to poker) who have been going there a while and "say" they make money...I then proceeded to destroy them...I am going to withdraw everything from PS to try and give myself some cushion (that cushion will help me immensely in mainly my mindset)...

[/ QUOTE ]

OK...you didn't mention where you play, because most places in the US you must be 21 to gamble.

And it takes a lot less than "a bad run of cards" to lose 2 buy-ins. This sort of variance is trivially routine for even the best players. You will soon realize how shallow $200 is in a game where $12-$20 opening preflop raises are the norm.

[chucky]

I suggest on reading the 1/2 nl 100 max threads. You may decide to shortstack so you can take 4 shots.

[BigSlick75093]

Buy-in for just $100 (or less if allowed) and play small-stack poker.

[Sir Pwn A Donk]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


I'm not underage. I've been 18 for some time now (I got started in school about as late as I possibly could have). It's not skill level that I doubt as much as just starting off with a bad run of cards. Early in the year, I played with a few guys (the fresh 18 year old guys who think they are gods gift to poker) who have been going there a while and "say" they make money...I then proceeded to destroy them...I am going to withdraw everything from PS to try and give myself some cushion (that cushion will help me immensely in mainly my mindset)...

[/ QUOTE ]

OK...you didn't mention where you play, because most places in the US you must be 21 to gamble.

And it takes a lot less than "a bad run of cards" to lose 2 buy-ins. This sort of variance is trivially routine for even the best players. You will soon realize how shallow $200 is in a game where $12-$20 opening preflop raises are the norm.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah sorry...where I plan on going it's where most of the teenagers in the area go (I think it's the only 18 casino around...I just found out that the lowest they have is 1-3 (someone told me 1-2 but they apparently are wrong) with a $500 max buyin...now all I really have is one max buyin (not ideal obv but I guess we all have to start somewhere). Right now I'm screwing around on stars with $1.50 in a 9 max .01/.02 just to try and see what it possibly will be like. I will play smallball as DN calls it, but if what I heard is true, I won't be able to push people off pots as often unless I have a decent read on them (which means I'll probably give up after a failed c bet if my pos raise doesn't work unless I put him on a draw). I won't make that many bluffs because I learned the hard way don't bluff too often in the microstakes...

[*TT*]

My opinion:

From everything you described your not ready to gamble. You don't have a bankroll, and your underage (sorry but 18 is still underage in my eyes). I see nothing but bad coming from this situation. Go approach your parents and ask them to stake with a starting roll of 30 buyins, if they say yes then I am probably wrong.

[Taso]

Pwn a Donk - don't be afraid to not buy in for the max. As others said, in your posistion it might be better to play short stacked. Decisions are much easier when you aren't risking your entire roll on one hand.