I've been playing online for several months now, but this summer I hope to play some live games at a few of the venues in S. Florida. Being a new player, I'll admit I'm a little nervous... but I know everyone has to start somewhere, so I'm just trying to prepare myself.

So my question is this... what is the best strategy for a new player? I've read through the forums and many discussions implying that short stack strategy is good for beginners, but I also know that this is a point of contention amongst poker players. I don't want to start a debate on that, but I'm open and willing to listen to opinions and/or advice for my first live experience. Also, being a woman, I know that some people may play differently against me or make assumptions about my play... any tips on how to handle this?

Thanks to those who take the time to respond... I'm new to the forum and just looking to learn as much as I can

Not really strategy but some advice:

1) Don't be scared money. People around you will (and should) pick up on this if you are and target you even more.

2) Take advantage of the stereotypes many hold against women. Use it to your advantage. If someone says something about you being a woman in a negative way just let it roll off of you. People often look at anything about a person (e.g. sex, race, age, wears headphones and a hoodie, etc...) to blame when they lose against someone. And unfortunately being a woman you will be in a minority and that aspect of you will be something to pick on if someone so chooses. Don't let it get to you if it comes up.

3) Always know where the action is and what it is. Not slowing the game down and knowing when its your turn and what it is to you will help you not stick out as a live novice. Always ask the dealer for clarification if you're unsure of something but try to stay up with the game.

Best of luck

Thank you, great advice! I'm actually a pretty quiet, introverted person... and I tend to do a lot of listening and observing as opposed to talking, so I'm hoping that will help me in live play.

My advice: start with a limit game. 2/4 limit is very common here in South Florida. Play that your first few times at the casino until you feel very comfortable with being in a live game. You'll build confidence that you can carry over to a no limit game. Confidence is key. Depending upon where you will be in South Florida, I recommend Magic City, The Isle, Mardi Gras or Gulfstream.

I would suggest shortstacking for a while until you get the feel of the live game. You will probably make some mistakes out of unfamiliarity, and this will simplify decisions and may save you some money until you get more comfortable.
Eventually (and hopefully fairly soon), you will need to get away from this, though. Not to start a strat discussion, but shortstacking can actually be very effective, if you do it right (which most lowstakes players do not). The problem, though, is that if it works, you're no longer a short stack and you have to quit or adjust, anyway.
If you goal is to play NL, I would stay away from limit games, especially very LL games (2/4). You might lose less here, but the bad habits you will pick up will really cost you $ when you switch to NL.
GL!

Yes, The Isle is one of the stops... and possibly Hard Rock Hollywood, though I've heard mixed reviews about it. The others I hadn't looked into yet... will be staying in the Pompano Beach area, so anything around there is a possibility.

In regards to being a woman, the biggest thing I've picked up is learning how they play against you. You'll have guys who assume you only play the nuts so they instafold to any aggression. You have to slow play those guys when you hold the nuts and hope others raise to make any money. Then you have the guys who just want to play with the lady and will call anything you raise making it impossible to bluff. You'll figure out who is who at the table and adjust accordingly.

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This is one thing I wondered about... if I start with a short stack and then double/triple my chip stack, I know I'm supposed to cash out or move to another table. I just wasn't sure how this would work, if they let me move to another table immediately, or if I have to wait an hour or two... I suppose it depends on the casino's rules. Also, does this happen quite a bit with people moving tables?

Oh and thank you for the advice

LIMIT-
Playing limit holdem the first couple of trips to the casino is a good idea for getting comfortable with live play. However, don't play the lowest limit available as you get 9 people to the flop every hand. Try to play 4/8 or higher if available.

SHORT STACKING-
Do not do this.

BEING FEMALE-
Wear a low cut shirt that shows plenty of cleavage & flirt with all the fellas. This will distract the guys and they won't mind giving you their money.

^ BEING FEMALE Some ladies really would object to this , BUT the reality of it is that it is a very powerfull weapon against a lot of men players that you can use. Just don't over do it. Also playing a bit of a Bimbo from time to time works good on certain mens pre conceived notions. Good luck.

Welcome to the forums.

If you will be playing no-limit holdem, you should read the Live Low-Stakes NL Forum, which is here: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...low-stakes-nl/.

Also, check out the FAQ in this forum (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/27...-03-a-1431857/) for hints and tips on getting comfortable with the mechanics and etiquette of live poker games in casinos/card rooms. Once you have more specific questions, feel free to ask them either in the low-content thread (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/27...hread-1425640/), search for threads on the same topic using the search function at the top of the page, or create your own thread if you can't find on-topic threads via searching.

If you have any questions about how to use the forum, post in the low-content thread above or PM a moderator.

I agree with playing FL, even 2/4. You're going to have a lot of new information, including how to handle the playing pieces and interacting with others. Play FL until you feel comfortable, then move to NL if you really want to later.

Regarding holding yourself at the table and handling your cards, pay attention to who tends to have things go smoothly around them, and to those who often seem to cause mild problems or slow things down. Emulate what works, don't what doesn't. This includes keeping chip stacks and interacting with the dealer. Try to keep your hands and arms off the table when not in a hand.

Most importantly, relax and have fun! Don't be afraid to ask dealers or floor staff any questions. That's why they're there!

You don't have to wait if you don't cash out. If you cash out the standard around here is 1 hour. I don't always move if the table I'm at is dynamic (i.e. it hasn't gone stale and more money is being brought to the table). I still prefer starting short stack -- I like seeing how far I can take it (so far, my max cashout with a $50 buy in at 1/2 was $1200 -- but, that was over about 6 hours). I like playing long sessions.


I still think 2/4 limit is the way to go for the first couple of sessions. You won't learn bad habits if you recognize it for what it is: poker on training wheels. What it will do is make you comfortable with table dynamics and the entire process -- so when you move up to NL you aren't processing both the newness of the overall live game coupled with doing what you need to be doing: reading the other players at the table. 2/4 limit is also a source of great humor -- got to love the guy who comes in with his wrap around sunglasses, hoodie and Beats to play 2/4 limit: it's like watching a guy dressed up as a motocross racer riding a tricycle. It gets even funnier when they try to do the stare down during the action to "read" or intimidate their opponent. All you can think is "dude, it's a flipping $4 decision, not the final table of the WSOP Main Event".

One thing to watch for in lower stakes games -- be very aware of the casino high hand and jackpot promotions. If the high hand promotion is high compared to the average pot size, they do affect play: people will slow play monster hands waiting for them to improve to jackpot hands -- so you will run into sleeping giants if the high hand promotions are good.

Don't discount the high hand promotions for yourself either -- I think of them as a pot bonus and I try to calculate the value I might forgo by getting more aggressive on an earlier street with slow playing the nuts (i.e. if I have the flush and need one more card for the straight flush -- and the high hand is $400 and the pot is only $80... I try to analyze how much value I might lose countered with the $400 I might win). Some people will tell you to ignore high hands. You can't because the other people at lower limits aren't ignoring them if the promotion is substantial (watch for tells during the hand like people swiveling their heads to look at the high hand monitor to see the current high hand that must be beat).

For example, 2 weeks ago at 1/2 NL I called a preflop raise of $16 with an Ad 10d. I knew the range of my opponents so felt calling was my best action (somewhat disguising my hand from them).

Flop was rag Kd Qd. I was first to act and checked. Preflop raiser Cbet $40. I called, 3rd player folded. Turn was 8d. I now had the nut flush -- board is not paired. I had to chose to set off the sirens in my opponent's head by betting into him or check raising him or choose to slow play. I chose to slow play -- by this point he had only about $120 left. I had $56 invested in the pot and could potentially lose it if he hit a FH on the river. He fired another $40 on the turn. I called -- choosing the put my $96 at risk. River was my dream card: Jd. I decided to do a very light value bet of $25 into him -- he actually called (I think he felt if I had the nut flush I would have shoved or bet heavy). Showdown gave me the royal flush, the pot, $400 for the high hand and a $1000 jackpot for the Royal. So I lost out on a potential $55 (the remainder of his stack) put $96 at risk, but gained $1400 less dealer tips* -- I tip 10% on high hands.

I did the same thing last night and got paid all the way to the river with a K high straight flush -- so my winnings were the pot and the $400 high hand.

In converse -- if you see a pair or 3 of a kind on the board -- don't discount that someone is slow playing hoping for the case card to come out on the board (or has slow played and already has quads) -- so your 2nd highest pair or FH isn't as strong as you think. You'll see flops with 2 aces and everyone checks -- the 2 guys with an ace in their hands will shift to neutral looking for the case ace. Invariably the guy with the 2nd high pair will bet and get several callers and be bewildered at the river when he's facing monster bets or at showdown when he's facing two sets of trips or better.




*There are tipping threads here and I don't want to start an entire discussion about tipping. But at 1/2 I tip $1 minimum for each pot -- and if the pot is large -- over $300 I tip more. Or if I'm just really happy -- like when the river gave me the nut FH last night and I busted out the obnoxious weasel 2 seats down (and I took his last $200 buy in), I tipped the dealer $5. I like having a positive relationship with my dealers (and I do believe that having a positive mood/energy does affect your game).

I LOVE this about my table image ...
In a 1/1 game I can literally sit there for an hour folding and then 3bet all-in for even 300 and still get called by KJ ...
Basically sitting there waiting for JJ+ and then shoving. Ofcourse I take a few other spots too, but I just love this image since no one wants to fold against me!

Play the lowest limit you can find for the first few hours. Limit poker is better than no limit. There is a short learning curve with chips and following action. If you have played online it is a very short learning curve. You don't want to get stuck three buyins because you don't know how to raise without it being a string bet.

After you fell comfortable with live game flow, then move to the game you really want to play.

Good luck.

I will definitely check out the promotions going on... I know a lot of the casinos have qualifications, like you have to play both hole cards, etc., for the high hand promotions.

I love this post, btw, great advice about the 2/4 Limit games... I think I'm more nervous about the mechanics of playing live poker, keeping up with the action, not fumbling my chips, keeping track of the pot size and such, as opposed to how to play the game itself.

That's awesome about you winning those high hand promotions

I know some women use this, and I don't have anything against taking whatever edge you've got, but this just isn't me... I'd feel too fakey and that would be distracting for me to keep it up.

I am friendly to people and smile a lot, but going too far and acting like a ditz seems more transparent and suspicious to me... I guess it all depends on the table though.

At any rate, I just want to play the game and learn, and people can assume what they will.

Haha, that's probably what I'll be doing... just hope I can get callers!

Please feel free to PM any of us whenever the inevitable question pops up. There are thousands of hours of experience in this thread, and we're willing to impart it.

I played in four different rooms here in SoFla last week and they all had different qualifications for the high hand. In fact, I play in seven rooms on a semi-regular basis and I usually ask each time I arrive and sit down what the quals are because I can't keep them all straight. In some rooms you need both cards; in others only one; yet in still others, you don't need any and can just play the board. And it's not just the # of cards that vary, different rooms require different minimum amounts in the pot. It may be $6, $10, or even no minimum. Then there may be different pot minimums and # of card requirements between the standard high hand promo and other bigger promos such as for a royal flush. (IOW, 1 card and $6 for high hand, but 2 cards and $10 for a royal.)

I'd say generally the stereotype is that females don't bluff as much as males. I don't like the image of people wanting to call me, so it takes a bit of time for me to establish a certain tight image. I'd use that (stereotype) image to your advantage. (Its better for people to fold to you than call you, since in the second case you have to hit actual hands).

Watch a game for a while, see how the action goes. Look at how the players act.

One thing about B/M games is a lot of banter and a lot of challenges to players they don't know. I don't play a lot in B/M places so nobody knows me when I play but they all seem to know each other and the dealers.

Felling ganged up on is the biggest challenge you will have. Just beware of your surroundings and play accordingly.

Always ask the dealer if you are unsure of a move. I normally ask the dealer about the action bad vision and can't see if someone on the other side of the table has folded or has cards. Normally the dealer will look in a clockwise direction for action.

-Guys who would be afraid to talk to you in any other situation will be full of obvious and bad flirting, and full of undeserved confidence.

-Your idea of how many BBs to bet based on proper online play will be blown out of the water. Pay attention to tendencies because you'll be tempted to think people who open for 17.5 BBs early only have AA or KK. This also applies to percentage of the pot.

-Buddy up to your neighbors and they'll be more than happy to show you how cool they are because they opened for 17.5BBs with 7 2 off.

-Don't do anything in haste. Do a search on LLSNL on words like "protect" and "angle" and you'll see a wealth of horror stories and endless debates, but they all include some poor mook tabling their hand too quickly or acting before anything is clarified, even though technically it can be argued that they didn't do anything wrong. It happens to everyone but things are so clear-cut and tidy online you're more likely to think you're safe when you're not.

-Don't keep your chips too close to the rail if the table is very cushioned because that's where it starts to curve down and you're 500% more likely to knock them over and look like a noob.

-Be respectful and kind to everyone, and it pays you back. I have had people repeatedly give me my $5 BB back or pay for my straddle so we could put pressure on that "bad guy" at the other end of the table, or play softer against me, etc. I have had people kick me when they get aces, and even though I ask them to stop so we don't get in trouble, it's indicative of how people feel about likeable people. These were all strangers when I sat down. I saw a guy stack a pretty girl in 2-5 and slide a giant pile of chips back to her so she could keep playing at the table. That's a very extreme example, and don't expect that, but hopefully you get what I am saying.

-If there is an old guy with coffee in front of him, and he is firing out chips, he has a monster unless you have some REALLY good info saying otherwise.

A few bits of advice from me. I've played poker in the UK for almost 4 years although I've always been more of a tournament player. I used to get frustrated with cash so had to study hard to improve. I feel inclined to contribute as I want more women in the game! My best few tips would be:

1. Play the opposite of the table, if they are crazy, be more patient and wait for big hands and play them strong. However if there is no pre-flop raising going on, raise more hands. In addition to this...TRY to raise more in position, you'll get so much more information playing your hands in position

2. Defo use your image to your advantage. My girlfriend tends to find that players are either respectful and tend to fold lots to her, or are the opposite. They'll overplay weak hands against her and try to bluff her because she's a women. I think it's sad but it's a male thing... they don't want to lose to a women. If you're friendly to everyone and use your image to your advantage, you can do really well!

3. My favorite quote about this brilliantly complex game...
"Small hand small pot, big hand big pot."

If you have A8 and the board reads, A74KQ with 3 hearts, your hand is relatively small, try to keep the pot smallish (But still maybe bet a bit if if you're sure you're winning).

On the other side, if you have QJ and the flop comes QJ3, try to get that pot as big as possible, make the most of those big hands! Of course be wary of losing to straights and flushes in that example...but just play based on the strength of your hand.

Don't be afraid to be aggressive and have fun, it's tough and I have always found tournaments much simpler, however there's nothing better than crushing a cash game and making £100's in such a small space of time. Do you consider playing tournaments at all?

If you enjoy the game, don't give up! Keep learning, it's a rewarding feeling when you apply the knowledge you learnt into a real game scenario! Don't get downbeat when you're struggling to, good times will come!