How did you know you were "ready" for your first time playing live Poker?

CaptainXL · Feb 13, 2022

It didnt seem a big deal at the time. I had a discount room in Atlantic city that they give when times are quiet, and a moderate vacation gambling account. Of course winning is more fun than giving money to strangers while playing cards go around, but losing wasn’t a big deal, still a cheap vacation.

Cute Octopussy · Mar 4, 2022

First of all, don’t think that you are a bad player. If you win a guy in online you play better or luckier than he. Secondly, try it and then you can say that you are ready or not. Live poker is quite different than online. And if you lose you can watch the other players’ game.
If you don’t want to lose money try cash on small limits. If you lose so you are not ready and you can go out from the table. But I think if you play poker for some time that shouldn’t be a truth.

Ravshan678 · Mar 4, 2022

I played poker for game money :joyman:until I was 18 years since I started playing for real money

Alexey Shley · Mar 4, 2022

Why do I think to spoil something that already works. Play the same way, in the same add-on, you can even open a third account in another room and see what it is. If it doesn't work, then you probably already know what to do. If there is an opportunity to raise the limits, increase the ability to play at higher limits.

johnnylawford · Mar 5, 2022

LosJay said:
I want to play live the first time, but I'm not sure, if my skill level is high enough to keep up with my competitors. So how long did you played online and/or studied before you startet live?
Unfortunately in my surrounding the buy ins aren't that cheap ^^

Honestly I found the best thing before playing live was having a home game with friends for a while before going to a casino. I played online for a few years before playing live, but it was playing with friends to get used to handling chips, eyeballing stack sizes and pot sizes, and getting used to talking and playing at the same time that made the difference. Also keep in mind the average live player at your local casino won't be as good as an online player at the same buy-in.

RustyRed83 · Mar 5, 2022

I don't think there is a time when you know you are ready. I also don't think there is a particular standard you need to get too, before you dive into live poker. The very first time I ever played live (without friends) was a poker league in a bar, I just went for it and loved every second of it.

Just go for it, play patient and most importantly enjoy it. Don't put pressure on yourself, because that will show nerves.

flagstone · Mar 5, 2022

When I started playing poker, there wasn't even an internet lol We had no choice but to play live

I found it scarier to start playing online. Still do..

zerika · Mar 5, 2022

I only knew when I was there, but nowadays I don't know again if I want to try play live again

Ansley25 · Mar 5, 2022

When we are ready to loss money you are ready to play

Jwl8092 · Mar 5, 2022

So, I sat down at a 3/6 limit game, waiting on 1/2NL to open seat. 1st hand dealt im the BB. everyone limps 9 players.. I look down at 98s. I check. Flop comes 67T rainbow. I bet out 3 and before actions get back around to me, the bet is already capped (4raises). Same thing happens on the turn but lose like 3 players, and again on the river i never had a chance to raise anyone, but it was 3 ways and the flopped nuts stood. It was a massive pot, and that was just the beginning..

JW

dirty_nerd · Mar 5, 2022

How did know [I was] "ready" for [my] first time playing live Poker?

I don't recall any specific moment or event that made me feel ready to play live poker. As a matter of fact, I think I played live poker before I ever played online. However, I did log a significant number of hours studying and playing online before I started play live poker regularly. When you have skin in the game, you tend to take it much more seriously. It's just human nature. So, it was important for me to start playing live games because I needed the experience. Once you log hours playing live, it becomes like riding a bike. I don't play live very often anymore but I feel comfortable at the table whenever I do play a live game.

Logg · Mar 5, 2022

There might be a local poker league near you that hosts free tournaments at bowling alleys, bars/clubs, etc. for prizes like gas cards or bar money. They usually have add-ons for buying food or drinks from the location where it's held.
If you're looking to start out in live cash games where the minimum stakes are almost always $1-2 $200 buy-in, you want to have at least $1.5k bankroll for starts and you need to be prepared for smack-talk and drunken LAGs.

Backlash · Mar 5, 2022

I dont remember the exact "moment" but I have basically played cards since I was about 6 years old with family.

So I really had no trouble playing live poker.

ga25x · Mar 5, 2022

I never knew that i'm ready, i just sat on the table and started to play...

SPANKYSN · Mar 21, 2022

LosJay said:
I want to play live the first time, but I'm not sure, if my skill level is high enough to keep up with my competitors. So how long did you played online and/or studied before you startet live?
Unfortunately in my surrounding the buy ins aren't that cheap ^^

There was no "online" when I started playing poker in university (1972). I played stud in Las Vegas in the early 80s, but lost my shirt when I got too impatient...at first I waited for a good or at least a "promising" starting hand...after sitting for three hours and not playing more than one hand per hour, I lost my patience and chased everything until I tapped out. When No limit Texas Hold'em started on TV, I went to a casino a few hours from my home. I played in a single table (10 players) tournament. I was scared to death that I would be the first one out...I didn't want to tell my son I went out first...I was nervous and unsure of all the protocols and habits of regular players. I played extremely tight until I felt comfortable. By this time 2 players were felted, and I knew that I could finish no worse than 8th.
The long and short of it...no amount of playing online prepares you for the heightened excitement of live poker. Like the Nike commercial says, "Just Do IT !"

Raphael Zabel · Apr 17, 2022

I believe there is no right time to start, just start as we start playing online to learn it is necessary to sit at a live table and practice.

Joe1 · Apr 17, 2022

after years of studying the game and learning how to play, the first live tournament was also wonderful

TpaEnforcement · Apr 17, 2022

I was playing so much online poker, that's how I got ready to play live. I played play chips for like a year, before I started playing for money online. So look at that as preparation playing holdem, I became so comfortable playing holdem I decided to play live. Playing live was so much more exciting, then playing online. From there played more live then anything, once covid came I became more online. Now I feel I prefer to play online, more then live. One day that may change , once we are allowed to play live again.

Axmanace · Apr 17, 2022

Honestly I never new whether I was ready for my first real life tournament before I actually did it.

But I was in Las Vegas for a conference I decided to do a tournament on my last night. Ended up making the final table and splitting the payout.

Honestly - I don’t think any amount of online practice will “make you ready” for in person play.

Completely different type of environment.

You’re ready when you know the fundamentals.
Poker is fun - you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy it.

pocketace222 · Apr 17, 2022

I got sick of playing $2 blackjack so I went into the poker room and tried it out been playing ever since and I played live before I played online. 2005 lol

LosJay said:
I want to play live the first time, but I'm not sure, if my skill level is high enough to keep up with my competitors. So how long did you played online and/or studied before you startet live?
Unfortunately in my surrounding the buy ins aren't that cheap ^^

katifanko · Apr 17, 2022

I studied the Poker for Dummies book, practiced with playmoney, then decided to give it a go with real money on Pokerstars. Lost the whole 40 bucks during my practice month)

gambit1983 · Apr 17, 2022

just get comfortable playing with friends at home games

pokerteddy · Apr 17, 2022

I agree with above said, no amount of online poker will probably be enough for live poker, of course the skill in Poker helps but its a completely different environment.

kanycta99 · Apr 17, 2022

If you have a desire to play offline, then just play. get experience, from advice on the Internet to play better live will not.

Cancun2022 · Apr 17, 2022

I started playing live with friends for fun. Then I started playing online and playing live without friends Cash and mmt tables.

How did you know you were "ready" for your first time playing live Poker?

CaptainXL

Rock Star

Cute Octopussy

Enthusiast

Ravshan678

Rising Star

Alexey Shley

Visionary

johnnylawford

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RustyRed83

Legend

flagstone

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zerika

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Ansley25

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Jwl8092

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dirty_nerd

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Logg

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Backlash

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ga25x

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SPANKYSN

Legend

Raphael Zabel

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Joe1

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TpaEnforcement

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Axmanace

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pocketace222

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katifanko

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gambit1983

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pokerteddy

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kanycta99

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Cancun2022

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