Playing online poker is easy, in the sense that players don’t need to face each other in person, and poker etiquette is simpler and more easily adaptive online. In addition, poker players on sites like Ignition and Bovada play anonymously, without screen names and any other identifying clues.
Everything changes, though, when a player walks into a poker room for the first time.
No one wants to come off as a n00b in a poker room. Getting pegged as a fish is the best way to become the prime target of other cash game players.
With that in mind, there are ways to hide the nerves and unfamiliarity. Anyone can get around potential embarrassment with a few easy tips.
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Know Before You Go
Before going to play cash games in a live poker room for the first time, you should know what you want to play.
The game should be the one with which you’re most familiar. For most players, that is Hold’em. Decide whether you want to play limit or no-limit.
For stakes you should have options. You might be most comfortable playing $1/$3 No Limit Hold’em, but if the seating line is too long, you should have a second option, such as $2/$4 Limit Hold’em.
Most importantly, you should call the poker room before going there. Find out what games they usually run at what times of each day. This will help in the planning of format and stakes.
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Be Prepared to Wait
Don’t stray far from your comfort zone. The first time in a live poker room can be stressful enough without playing above your normal stakes or getting into a game with unfamiliar rules or betting limits.
You don’t want to jump into a game just to keep from waiting longer. And if the poker room is in a casino, you should avoid the temptation to sit at a slot machine and put your bankroll into a game of chance. If there is a wait for your game(s) of choice, be prepared to wait. Bring a book or snacks, or think about where you might talk a leisurely walk.
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Ask Staff for Help
If you feel unsure about anything at all, you should take the initial step of talking to the poker room manager or assistant to that person.
You need not admit to being a n00b in front of other players, though. Simply find the poker room manager and ask for a moment of privacy to ask a question. When out of earshot of other players, let that floor person know that it is your first time in a live room. They will likely provide an overview of how things work, the location of certain games, the minimum and maximum buy-in limits, and more.
That personal chat with the floor person then gives you a connection to that room. And you can then easily approach that person with other questions as your time and session move along.
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Familiarize Yourself
When you first arrive at the poker room, get familiar with your surroundings. Find the manager’s area and the cashier’s cage. Find the nearest bathroom! When playing a good cash game, you might not want to be gone for long when nature calls. Knowing how to get to and from the nearest bathroom will help.
Also, look at nearby restaurants and food/drink options. It is good to know what is available when you quit or bust from the game so you know where to go to analyze your own plays after the fact or simply drink to forget your plays.
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Memorize Chips
Take a look at the chips that will be on the table. Note the colors and corresponding denominations. This may only take a few minutes but is something you can do while waiting to be seated or even during the first few rounds of play.
One of the common mistakes of new players is betting the wrong chips, resulting in an underbet or overbet, both of which indicate that the player is new to live poker.
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Avoid Overconfident Moves
You might feel some excitement at the table for the first time. You want to do things you’ve seen others do on the livestreams and vlogs, like riffle chips and flip your cards strategically into the muck with a flick of the wrist.
These types of moves with chips and cards should come with time, with the familiarity of playing live poker for many hours. Trying to do those things too soon often results in cards flying at the dealer or chips in a pile that need to be restacked.
There will be plenty of time to make fancy moves at the tables. Avoid trying them in the beginning, as missteps are clear signs of a new player.
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Take Time to Read Players
Reading players and identifying tells can be lost arts of poker when players spend too much time online. The trend of doing everything GTO (game theory optimal) can overwhelm a person with math and leave little room for the most basic of live poker benefits.
Instead of listening to a podcast or music, instead of texting friends about how you’re crushing the live cash game, take the time to look around at your opponents. Look for classic tells, betting patterns, and nervous habits.
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Don’t Talk Too Much
A common mistake of new players is to let their excitement get the best of them. They want to introduce themselves, meet the other players, and make small talk. That small talk, however, can lead to too much chatter and not enough attention to the action.
Talking too much can also lead to giving away too much information. Whether out of friendliness or nervousness, you can give away too much information about yourself. Stay a mystery for a while and try to gather information about other players without giving them all of the insight into you.
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Take a Walk
If the action – or even the lack of action – gets overwhelming, never hesitate to take a walk.
Whether a short walk to the bathroom or a walk around the casino or the building, it never hurts to move your body and get a little exercise. It can help to clear your mind, let go of mistakes, and think about strategy. Best of all, it makes you look like you’re comfortable enough with the table to take a break. You don’t have to play every hand.
And no matter the motivation, it is good for your physical and mental health to avoid sitting in one spot for long periods of time.
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Know When to Leave
Your first session of live cash game poker doesn’t have to be a marathon. In fact, a shorter session is probably better so you can reflect on it and think about adjustments to make for the next one.
It may feel great to sit at that table, especially if you’re running well. But you can quickly overdo it and lose initial gains. Cash out those chips and return again another day.
