Adjusting to live casino play $1/$2 No Limit cash game

[Phenom604]

I am mainly a online sit and go player. I have a bit of online cash game experience at the $0.25, $0.50 and $1.00 big blind ring games.

I noticed that while playing at the casino last Saturday night, the general play was definetely different from online play. I noticed that raises of 5x BB to $10 or even $15 were getting called by 44 and KJ and JT. I presented a fairly tight image, yet when I’d make a pot size bet to a board of KJ4, I’d get called by a guy with J2 only to have him hit a 2 on the river.

I’ve noticed that guys are more willing to see flops and willing to pay raises that mathematically don’t seem to make sense. They can’t multitable like they do online, so in order to have some Saturday night fun, they are a lot less willing to fold. Limp/calling to a raise is much more common than limp/folding, which I find very strange, because if you’re willing to play your hand for $15, why not just raise first, instead of limp/calling?

Online raises to 5x BB, you’ll see some limp/folds instead of everyone limp/calling. It seems like, live I’ll have to raise a larger amount preflop to thin the field, as once the early limper calls, others feel justified that they have to call too.

Does anyone have any other suggestions as far as what adjustments I have to make from online ring games to live ring games?

[pig4bill]

Don't start playing as poorly as everyone else.

Catch good cards.

[Phenom604]

That actually makes alot of sense in the casino atmosphere. There is a social pressure to fit in at the table, and not be the 'tight guy' or to show machismo by not limp/folding.

That is great advice to remind yourself not to play like the others there, just because they are making those plays. That doesn't necessarily mean they are the right plays to make. Its about having confidence in your game going in, and not swaying from that. You have to know, that you already know what the right plays are.

[pokerswami]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone have any other suggestions as far as what adjustments I have to make from online ring games to live ring games?

[/ QUOTE ]
Your description hinted at it.... on a per 100 hand basis, expect greater fluctuations in live play. Depending on how many tables you were used to playing simultaneously online, you should expect fluctuation over time will either be much more or much, much more in live play vs. online play.

In other words, be prepared mentally for roller-coaster like swings in live play, unless you go on a very prolonged hot or cold streak.

[91106guy]

I started playing a lot of live 1/2 NL a few months ago. The big differences I noticed with live vs. online are a lot more limped pots and more players who were willing to gamble it up.

You're right about more players willing to call seemingly anything. I can't tell you how many 3 and 4-way all-ins I've been in when I've raised or re-raised preflop with big pairs, although that may be due to the $40 buyin games that I play in LA. But definitely a lot of players live to play big pots, even if they're going in with the worst of it. Although this will increase your variance, in the long run you should do fine with solid play.

About a lot of players calling raises, there is one live factor you should keep in mind. The rake is huge compared to online ($4/pot) so an unraised pot may not have much in it after the rake. Therefore, coming into a raised pot isn't always bad with a playable hand like a pair or suited connectors/1-gappers because it's the raised pots where you make most of your money.

Final tip: wash your hands well after you play!

[aholthaus33]

Don't be afraid to have a bit in pre with hands like A3ss or 44 or Q10SS if it's multi-way.... hands that can make monsters will get paid off!

You have to be able to get away from top pair hands though if there gets to be a lot heat.

Play big hands huge pre. I play a lot of live no limit and in a 1-2 no limit game, i rarely bet less than 13 if I want less than 4 to the flop.

If you can get a deep stack in 1-2 it's a sweeeeeet game.

[Dima2000123]

In my rather limited live experience, your win rate variability is very much dependent on what kind of table you're playing on. Passive tables are a dream, unless you catch a cooler you're probably going to make good money in your session.

Aggressive tables, on the other hand, may leave you either several buy-ins up or several buy-ins down. Not only is the variance naturally greater due to bigger pots, but there is also a bigger chance that you will misread a player and make a blunder. You will also have to watch your tilt on those kinds of tables.

[Phenom604]

I'd like to thank you guys for your replies so far. Playing on only one table where guys are alot looser and can provide for alot more variance like you said, which in turn means, you have to be mentally more focused going in, to be able to fight off the tilt. Just because your on a downswing, doesn't mean your a losing player, but it can feel like you are.

I actually posted a forum on tilt relief earlier, as I think fightiing off tilt ASAP is a key to long run success.

Thanks for the great input so far guys, keep it coming! :-)

[PeteN]

Crazy isn't it.

I was playing at Bellagio 2-5nl missed with like 4 AQ's in a row so I'm down to last $50 in chips. I'm tired being from east coast. Playing pretty tight. I pick up pocket K's utg go all in. FIVE people call me. I'm like what. Anyhow, flop is k7q, so far so good then two aces and I'm thinking somebody's got ak or aq but I win somehow. Awesome.

[IggyWH]

Phenom604,

What you described is pretty much the same I see in every game. Today I walked away +6 buyins in a little over an hour from a 1-2NL $60 max table where guys would call me down the whole way with a middle pair. Today just happened to be a day where they didn't catch their river on me.

Sure, it sucks when they do catch their river, but I'll play with guys like that any day of the week. Just make sure to keep playing your game and don't let the way they play get to you. You'll eventually catch them... just like the online donk.

I definitely suggest talking when at the table or bringing an ipod to not get bored. This was my biggest downfall when I first started playing because I'd get bored and push crappy hands.