Playing Live with Strangers for the First Time

[MasterMike]

So im heading out to charlestown west va this weekend to play some live poker. I have no idea what to expect. I play mostly online, but play live with my buddies too. I have played with strangers before but it wasnt for real money.

The limit ill play is 1/2 bucks (the lowest offered) , and I figure I'm going to bring about 100 because Im basically broke trying to pay for school. With strangers, I tend to limit my hands and defend the ones I have, but with those blinds, I feel like if I play one or two hands poorly, or don't hit, I may be out early.

I really want to play, but am thinking it would be pretty irresponsible to bring just 100 bucks for those limits and with such little live playing experience.

Of course im thinkin im going to be playing with a bunch of hicks that just throw their money around.

Opinions? Or what would be a good amount to bring for those blinds.

[jimmer]

Welcome back to the forum.

I started playing live cash games at my local casino around 12 months ago. They offer a £0.50-£0.25 game (I guess this works out as something like $1-$0.50 for you?).

The first week I sat there tight. Played approx 3 hands all night and walked away with around £40. The second week I didn't get dealt a single hand all night and just folded to everything. I still ended up only losing roughtly £5 though.

The biggest thing i've noticed is the size of the pf raises and the fact that very few players care whether someone raises 3xbb or 6xbb. It wouldn't be unusual for there to be £12-£15 in the pot when the flop is dealt. And this is simply because the players don't have a clue. This is clear by listening to the conversations.

Yeah you could end up bumming out really quickly and if you are struggling for money may be you shouldn't go at all, but I recon as long as you sit tight for the first few rounds - sooner or later you will get the opportunity to make a few bucks.

GL

[Northern Hillbilly]

I'm going to bring about 100 because Im basically broke trying to pay for school.

you've already lost don't waste your money. For one poker is still gambling even if it is a game of skill. never risk what you can't afford to lose.

A 1/2 table will probably be a minimum buy in of 50 max of 100 . So you have to risk half your bankroll to just sit down . Again that is not smart gambling.

Better off dumping your 100$ into slots

[Northern Hillbilly]

read this article on bankroll management

http://www.texasholdem-poker.com/bankroll-management

[golddog]

I think what the Hillbilly is saying is correct if you're looking at this as a business decision. If you're broke, $100 is real money, and you'll play scared.

However, if you really can afford this, and you're looking at it as tuition for your poker life, I imagine $100 is a pretty standard buy-in for a $1/$2 NL game.

[crunkpokerboy]

I do the same thing, every so often I will take a 100 to a 1-2 game at the casino.I play mostly home games but like to venture to the casino from time to time.Best thing I do is wait to the 1st of the month when a bunch of loose suckers go to play.Some of them get real drunk and make mistakes and you pounce on em .Or if you go early in the morning you have a bunch of senior citizens with money,but alot of them are tight.
Just try and play tight until you get you a hand.Being low stacked anyway thats your only option.Don't be scurred though,sometimes if the situation means a big raise or a call,you gotta play a big pot or go all in if your really lowstacked.Most of the time if I double my money I get up and leave,however If the cards are running in my favor,and a lot of dumb money on the table I will stay and grind it out.

[BeerWench13]

I know this is an old thread, but I went to Charlestown a few weeks ago and can say that $100 is not nearly enough. The standard preflop raise at the $1/2 tables I played was $15-25. I also found those tables to be full of no-foldem-holdem players. I had a guy call my preflop raise to $25 with Q9 off and then call my all-in (~$120) with a flop of K 7 4. Of course he caught runner runner J T for a straight to crush my A's, but that's neither here nor there. If you're a good player, you can make a lot of money there as long as the cards don't work against you, but just be prepared to scratch your head a few times and wonder what the hell they were thinking.

[HalfSugar]

1/2NL games like that are retarded. If the standard open is 12BBs, people might as well just play face up all-in every hand NLHE.

[BeerWench13]

I've played better home games for $20 against players who have played only one or two times than I saw in Charlestown. Maybe it was just that weekend, maybe it was because I had the flu (didn't know it, but now I hope I infected them all!) or maybe it was because every time I got my money in with the best hand I still lost, but I don't know that I'll return there for some time. I'd rather play in AC or Vegas.