I am headed to a new cash game tonight I was invited too. What are some of the things you guys look for in the first hour or so?

How they deal, do they cut, how is the muck handled. Do they annouce their bets, is it one person looking after the bank.

Watch their bets to see there calling range and folding range.

Betting patterns. What they showdown. Who's on my right and left. And how they play.

thanks so far guys!

You guys are such nits!! I like thinking about whether the group meets my goals - if Im there for a fun time, is this game going to give me that?

With what amount does everybody else start?

How many buy-ins do other players play?

How many decks of cards do they use?

Are other players social?

Is there a rake? Is it reasonable?

Is the structure good? What are the minimum and maximum buyins? Does the max change as the night progresses? Do most people buy in multiple times (if necessary), or are most people "one-and-done"?

Do they follow standard (RRoP) rules, have crazy house rules, or do they make it up as they go?

Is the game organized, does it flow well, does someone take charge, or is it a chaotic mess?

How often do they play? Is the game at the same location or does it move from host to host?

Which players will CALL off their stack (or most of it)?

What sort of starting hands are they showing down - particularly making or calling a pre-flop raise?

How many will stack off with only one pair (or less)?

What sort of betting patterns can you observe? Does a small bet mean a small hand? Does a big bet mean a big hand?

Which player seems like the "live one" and what is your position relative to him?

In addition to this, be friendly. Win, but make sure you are going to be invited back, etc.

If I fight were to break out who should I punch first? second? etc.

If someone runs in the door with a chain saw and starts cutting people what is my escape route?

Is there a table I can get under, whilst covering my head, that will adequately protect me in the invent of an earthquake?

If I had to play "marry, f*ck, kill" with the person to my left, right, and the person across the table from me what would my answers be? Could I actually go through with all three of these actions?

What is the snack and drink situation like?

Winner. Well done.

Do they have crazy rules posted?

How do they handle the buyins?

How to they handle who sits where?

Dealing/shuffling/cutting procedure


After that, the general stuff about players; ie: who's friendly, who's not, do they let people show hands to each other, etc

Dear OP,

How did it go? Was there anything you saw that you weren't expecting?

I went to a cash game a week ago. I had anxiety, like I was cheating on my regular crew. It should be noted that I havent played other than my regular crew's rotation, or a B&M, for the better part of the last 4 years (wife/3 kids/buying a house/etc...).
First thing i did was make sure that my choice of beverage (Heinekens) was suitable for the group. I made sure the host was taking care of snacks/food/etc.... and didnt need anything. I brought a new deck of Copag's, but I left them in the car as Emergency only.
I made sure to buy in for the similar amount as the majority. I also made sure to play the same games they were playing, cause I got there a few minutes late. I won a few of the bigger pots earlier on, so I made sure to make it noticeable when i lost a decent one throughout the night.
Later on, I waited for a mass exodus, before i took off myself. I left my loose change to the cashier (tho i felt stingy cause it was very little).