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

[TCHUCO2005]

never played, only online.

 

[Blue22]

I don't think you know if you are ready. Even though you are nervous (I sure was) you just have to go and do it. I still get nervous ... especially in new places but I am much more comfortable now even though I don't play live that often.

 

[zipocool]

no need to worry, just start playing and with time and experience everything will come, at first some points may not be entirely clear, there may be problems with counting chips, but over time it will pass and of course you need to study the tells system

 

[B1BOMBER]

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 ^^

Well, when I started playing poker there was no internet so it was either play live or don't play lol!!!! Tourneys were just a natural progression. If you are noy sure if you are ready or not for live play just start small. We have a bunch of small (50 to 100 players) tourneys where I live and the buy- in is only $40 to $80 so you wont need to take out a loan just to play and you will get a good feel of live poker.

 

[5TR8 FLUSH]

The next 10 pots seem even wilder and I fold every hand for probably one and a half rounds. Finally, I get AQ. It was AQo, but if you could get a pocket full house in Poker, that's what it looked like to me. I can't believe my luck when everyone folds to me (I'm in the hijack, but I had no idea about positional differences either) and I bet 3BB vs. the blinds and co. The small blind shoves instantly. I think. I call. And things get awkward. They are asking me questions again and I understand nothing. Probably someone said smth about running it twice. Also they don't show their cards, so I don't show mine either because I'm so full of adrenaline that I can't talk or think and don't even know if everyone is all in at all. They probably thought I was slowrolling aces on them or smth since I didn't wanna run it twice (actually I just couldn't open my mouth to say anything). After the river is out, it takes me 4 attempts to count from 1 to 4 and be sure that there was no fifth card to be found that gave me a straight. They had 99 and flopped a set. I stand, no rebuy, everyone half bursts into laughter but most folks politely hold it back until I'm off on my bike again.

I enjoyed reading everyone's advice, and experiences, but this one had me dying. Thank for sharing this story, very similar to my first experience playing live which was recently. Here's the story

I was at my job, and didn't realize a three day weekend(memorial day 2022) was coming up, until a couple co-workers asked me what I was doing. Initially I said I might go to the beach, but then remembered hearing another co-worker had a great time the week before, so I told these two co-worker that I might go to Vegas for the first time. The co-worker were telling that it's great, and one of the guys was telling me how awesome the strip is (which unfortunately I didn't check out), so I immediately booked a stay at a Airbnb for a night (low budget, and if I won decent money I could extend). My budget was about $110 to play in tournaments aside from all other expenses. Luckly my mom invited herself and she covered the gas, so I was able to increase my budget to $200 (lost $210 in two tourneys) to play in tournaments. I get to Vegas on a Saturday evening, and look up NLH tournaments (filter up to $200), several tournaments came up, but the one interested me was the $150 with 15K guarantee. The tournament was at the South Point Casino, I get there on time and get my ticket. The person that gave me the ticket, pointed at a TV and said "that's the table, ask dealer where to sit", so I did. I won my first pot, and the person to my left said, "your playing poker now". I struggled paying attention, keeping track of the pot, forgetting to put in blinds and ante's, and overall a bit overwhelmed, but had a good time and enjoyed the experience. I got eliminated 86 out of 140+. I don't know if I'm "ready", but this experience reminded me how much I love to play cards. I stopped playing online poker 10 years ago, and played in a few home games during that time and for fun with family, but the live tournament experience was new. I went the next day a playing in a $60 ($210 over my budget) tournament and already felt a little more comfortable. I was playing to safe/scared in these tournaments and have played in two tournaments in my home town since and getting more comfy every time. Best finish was this past Wednesday (15th out of 45+), and look forward to going again in a couple weeks. I'm still getting use to live poker, and sharpening my game.

The trip to Vegas was decided three days before going, with a very low budget. When I got back home, I remember about CC, I reset my password and messaged Debi. She answered some questions I had, and shared the freeroll link. I've been doing well this month in the CC freerolls and look forward to keep participating. I would like to plan ahead for next year, and after reading the Colossus thread that's going on this weekend, I'd like to save and plan a trip for next years tournament(s).

I say go for it if it's within your budget.

 

[Raisindepth]

Let's see how I know i was ready? I didn't and probably wasn't! I started in a home game style cafe as my country of origin its only allowed in a government regulated casino. So was illegal before that i desperately tried finding any game as those casino's didn't have buy ins under 150€ freeze or 50€ rebuy turbo's. Which you don't want to play with a small bankroll lol!

When we found that home game which did 1/1 cash game (50-250 buy in) often a 10€ rebuy or a 60€ freeze out we where incredibly happy. As it was quite the "donkament" i usually didn't spend more then 20 to 30€ and nearly always found the final table out of 30 to 60 players. I played a few times in casinos after made some bankroll but never really enjoyed that level of fishery.
I don't really enjoy cash games.

When I started working overseas in the UK i started playing in casinos and poker clubs it seems much more affordable here. I play in a party poker venue often which holds 24+6£ freeze out perfect buy in huge field 100-150 entries usually. As those are poker focused it is a totally different feel then casino's what is tricky though since i play in this club i been introduced to time banks and a table clock (20sec as I'm playing super low) this really does feel very pushy and I feel has put me in annoyingly difficult spots lol i guess it's for the better 4 to 6 hours of play and guaranteed done.

Try find a home game if buy-ins are high there must be other players ready to play low stakes home games 👍

 

[KITAYAWA]

Live poker is much more difficult to play, because the distance is difficult to play

 

[Gipsystripsy]

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 ^^

The best advisor is your inner voice This is exactly a big weakness of poker players, that they do not listen to their inner voice. The feeling tells you to fold and yet you called an unbeatable hand.

So I think if you really want it, you should try it.
If you're having trouble with the buy ins, that's a good sign that you're not ready. Losing hurts but online you only see digital numbers, while in a real tournament you usually "invest" real money.

 

[Gritz18]

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 ^^

I never got to play live poker, once I went to a poker house in the city where I live, but I just watched the players, I didn't have the courage to play, because I didn't want to make a fool of myself, due to lack of experience .

 

[reeseflamees]

I think in a local casino I won several games of cards so decided to play poker online

 

[M1n1GuN777]

My first trip to the poker club was a great success. I bought 200 chips and took out almost 700. Some may say it's not such a big success, but I was just shining with joy. And I went with a friend, just out of curiosity)

 

[WETDRUMMER]

I only played online and with friends in the evenings. I really want to take part in a live poker game

 

[david666]

poker is the best game that exists because once you know the basics (rules, value of hands) you are ready to play, you are going to play a million hands and you are going to continue learning and things that are inexplicable from logic will happen to you, no one can say I am the best poker player in the world because in a game everyone is the same and chance too play and much more than some people think