1/2nl Live Play Sugestions

Matixboy · #1 11-23-2006, 01:22 AM

I am small stakes cash game grinder and am a winning player online. I havnt had much experience in live cash games but i am going to play at a local casino over the weekend for a friends bday. Does anybody have any input on difference in play or anything on live cash games? Its a 1/2nl by the way. Thanks

Grunch · #2 11-23-2006, 01:32 AM

Dont be intimidated by a straddle, but do adjust correctly. When they put a straddle on, it effectively increases the sizer of the game for that hand, butmore importantly, it cuts everyone's effective stack in half.

Jshuttlesworth · #3 11-23-2006, 01:47 AM

where is it standard to straddle 1/2?

Grunch · #4 11-23-2006, 01:55 AM

Maybe I don't understand the question, but straddles are commonplace in B&M casinos.

Matixboy · #5 11-23-2006, 02:46 AM

I've never heard that term before.. Straddle? Anymore sugestions?

fishfather · #6 11-23-2006, 02:46 AM

when I played live in Vegas for the first time I made the following mistakes, playing 1/2 nl:

1. too tight
2. didn't play the player enough
3. didn't limp enough
4. didn't make standard calls that I make online all the time
5. got confused by the straddle and made mistakes
6. got bored to death trying to play my regular tight game when everybody was there to gamble and play no matter what they had
7. tried to bluff obvious calling stations
8. didn't raise with the best but vulnerable hand

there are more but that is enough--when I play again I'll loosen up and be much more attentive to playing the player.

Grunch · #7 11-23-2006, 02:53 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betting...#Straddle_bets

Yea one more suggestion -- Have fun!

Matixboy · #8 11-23-2006, 03:08 AM

Wow a straddle bet is new to me.. I've played a couple times live and never had anyone do it.. Maybe thats just because i dont play in big casinos too often. But thanks and I will have fun! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Thanks for the input fish. And anymore suggestions will be helpful.

LasVegasMichael · #9 11-24-2006, 09:46 AM

Straddles are not that common. Usually, it is just one player that does it, and usually not every orbit. Usually, it happens once or twice a session on my watch (about 3-4 hour session).

In most casinos, a straddle is just double the blind. However, there are some casinos (TI comes to mind) that allows a straddle for ANY amount, and it is live. Case in point, the other night at TI, one guy straddled for $15. Built a nice size pot to, but lost, of course.

LasVegasMichael · #10 11-24-2006, 09:49 AM

Once more thing: If it is heads up in the blinds, you can chop. Most people chop, but you can choose not to if you want to (generally a friendlier game is kept if you do). However, it is proper etiquette to either never chop or always chop, regardless of what cards you have. Chopping is not based on cards, it is based on saving the rake and not going heads up in the blinds.