Live poker tips?

Question

I recently won an online tournament where the prize was a trip to barcelona and entry into a big tournament out there. I was delighted obviously but its suddenly dawned on me the size of task i'm gonna have when I get out there, playing against pros who have paid the €10,000 to enter the competition.

I've played online for about 4 years and regular live games with groups of friends but never in a live tournament like this. The most i've won previously is about $500 in any one tournament

I was wondering if there is anybody out there who has played in games like this who could give me any tips? I can just picture myself sitting there shaking while looking at all the money, is drinking to calm myself down a bit a bad idea?

Answer 1

I think drinking is a bad idea because it might negatively affect your thought process.



You might be nervous at first but I am sure after the first 15 minutes or so those feeling will subside.



I recommend you play like Hellmuth writes (please do not whine and cry). Play tight as first (only top 16 hands) and do not get involved in big early in the tournament.



Good Luck

Answer 2

If you won a prize that big, you must already have a solid playing style and good skills, so I won't bother with any advice there.



What I WOULD recommend is to spend a little of your own hard unearned money at a local casino. Play a tournament (or 3) so that you get more comfortable with the challenges of brick-n-mortar poker!



What challenges?

* estimating pot size

* always knowing your approximate stack size

* estimating your opponents stack size

* maintaining focus when play is soooooo muuuuuuuuch slooooooower (this is a real issue for online players)

* Playing in a controlled, strict, flashy environment (unless your buddies have the dining room decked out like Monte Carlo.)

* keeping track of playing styles when your opponents are all strangers, and there's no handy 'notepad' to click on, floating beside their head.



Needless to say, there are a lot of new factors in a real tourney, whether its a 10,000 buy-in in Barcelona, or a 200 buy-in at the local cardroom. The only way you'll know if any of it's gonna be an issue is to play, and if I were you, I'd find out now, rather than later.

Answer 3

First everyone's right...don't drink. If anything those nerves you're feeling are going to keep you alert at the table. If it gets too harsh for you get up and walk it off for a few minutes.

Wear dark glasses at the table no matter how good your poker face is. Everyone's looking for tells and if you're new and nervous your eyes are going to give away more than you're aware of.

Don't rush. No one wins a tournament in the first hours of a game. Play tight and play premium hands. (Or more accurately, play tight when the game is loose, play loose when the game is tight.) Fancy moves don't work well when you're surrounded by pros.

Raising is almost always better than calling.

Beware of the big stacks, attack the small stacks.

Even the best players in the world cash in no more than 20 or so percent of the tournaments they enter. On any given Sunday, as they say, anyone can beat a pro.

Answer 4

The best advice is to go play some live tournaments beforehand. In my area, most casinos offer a daily tournament with about a $30 buy-in. There are also a number of free bar tournaments. Play as many of these as possible before you go - not because you don't know how to play poker (obviously you do), but so you can get used to live games (player reactions, keeping track of the pot, acting in turn, etc.).

Answer 5

Lots of things to remember, but it's best if you read a book (like Super System...).



Most tourney's don't have smoking allowed at the tables.



You might wanna learn some Spanish, it always helps to know what you're saying.



Don't get intimidated, stay on your normal game. The only difference is that the stakes are significantly higher, and that does in a lot of people. Get used to the amounts that they're betting



Brush up your own poker skills. You did win this satelite, but the people you gotta watch out for do this for a living. They're gonna do some crazy stuff (particularly if you last long enough to finish with a cash prize. You need to bring your A game.



Ask your friends to help you get rid of tells. If they won't, get new friends.



Realize that the biggest thing at these tourneys isn't necessarily the tourney itself. There are a lot of side games that filled with people who've already been bumped off, or people who got bored of watching.



Btw, don't drink. At least, don't drink in excess. There's a pro who gets good when he drinks, but when he gets drunk, he's useless. And since it's hard to stop once you've had a few, don't do it. Bring a friend instead. Moral support helps. (not to mention you're in Spain).



There's a lot of other things, but I don't know 'em.

Answer 6

well your not bad at poker,

just keep practicing on the free plays to make sure your game is good.



they say things like glasses help,

every one has tells and the top will pick these up so dont worry to much.



enjoy barcelona

Answer 7

well, first of all, most of the pro entry fees are paid by sponsors. hence, all of the "full tilt" and "ultimate bet" t-shirt and hats you see.

the best tip that anyone can give you is to read your opponents. it's easy to steal pots from most players if you know they don't have the nuts...

just something to think about.