First post here on 2 plus 2,

So I've been studying and watching poker (mostly experienced poker streamers on Twitch such as Elky, Nanonoko, Jason Carver, etc) and have been learning which hands to play (depending on position, whether someone opened before you etc), how to determine opponents' ranges, when to c bet etc and alot more. I decided to add a bit of money on PokerStars to pay 1 cent 2 cent. I'm able to consistently rack it up, but since it's only a small amount I average about 70 cents to 75 cents per hour in profit playing 2 ZOOM tables nonstop (I prefer this over regular cash tables or tourneys because I like fast action haha). This average is from about 100 to 120 hours of so of playing poker. A week ago I began trying the 2 cent 5 cent ZOOM games (2 tabling) and played those for about 8 hours so far and am up by about $30, so a bit over $3 avg per hour.

Before playing with real money I started with play money. I bought something like 300k play chips for $3 on poker stars. Initially I didn't do well and lost like 200k. Then after learning from twitch streamers I played tighter and implemented pot odds/bet amounts etc.. and within like 1 week or so I ran the remaining 100k play chips up to 8M by gradually moving up in stakes(the play money cash games/tourney's are pretty soft).

I bought 3 poker books written by Ed Miller, Poker's 1%: The One Big Secret That Keeps Elite Players On Top, How To Read Hands at No Limit Hold'em, Winning Big with Expert Play. I got them for a pretty good deal at a nearby book store, only $15 for all 3. I'm sure they'll provide valuable insight to further improve my game. I plan to read them within a week, and after that I'm planning on playing live cash games at the Montreal Casino.

I was wondering, are there a good amount of inexperienced poker players at the Montreal Casino? I really want to check it out because I do live in Montreal, and since it's the biggest Casino here in Canada I'm sure a lot of people go there and play poker for fun, not specifically to make money.

I'm sort of confident that I'll have an edge over fun players, but I'm just not sure if the majority of people who go there are poker pros or everyday people who don't know all of the schematics and mathematics of the game (lol).

Anyone here ever play the $1 / $2 games at the Montreal Casino? Are the majority of players soft? How's the experience at the casino?

Would greatly appreciate any feedback you guys may also have from playing at other Casino live cash games. Thanks!

Never played there and haven't played 1/2 nl in forever but I assure you live 1/2 players are way worse than the players you've played online

I've never played at this casino, but I've yet to hear of a tough 1/2nl live game in North America. Though it sure seems like a big jump from 2 cents/ 5 cents.

Have you ever lost a few hundred dollars on one hand before? Do you know how your body will react to it?

Do yourself a favor and leave your credit card and checkbook at home.

Have fun!

+++ 1

Didn't really read your post, but you can search this site for similar threads. Lots of posts out there comparing 5 or 10nl to 1/2 live. The biggest factor will be your ability to see your chips as BBs and not MONEY.

I constantly use the 'tank of gas' bet on players who I think worry about the cash as well as the actual poker spot. GL

The casino is kind of a crappy place to play poker, though I guess the competition might be softer there than at the Kahnawake card rooms. From a player experience standpoint, though, I recommend taking the trip to Playground Poker. I only play tournaments, but I hear the rake there is on the high side for the cash games (mostly due to the bad beat jackpots and other promotions they run), but it's really a comfortable, well-run and newbie friendly place, which is all very important for one's first foray into live poker IMO.

If you do play at the casino and are an anglophone, make sure you're aware of the French card ranks (VDR - Valet, Dame, Roi, rather than the usual JQK) because as a government-run enterprise, they have to use French everything, including the decks.

As far as your actual question goes, what everyone else has said is basically correct - yes, it is pretty soft, but you also have to be prepared to take bigger swings than you're used to. If your usual play in a given spot is to semi-bluff jam with a flush draw, but you're not going to be able to do that when your stack is $200 rather than $4, then I dunno. Maybe warm up with a few $70 tournaments rather than 1/2 cash until you start to relax.

Aside from the difficulty or lack thereof in the games, you will find that the style of play is very different. Lots more limping, lots more multiway pots in low-stakes live play. Conversely, many places allow a live straddle (not sure about the casino), so sometimes you'll have a few guys at your table who think they're balla, or just want to gamble, and it ends up double or triple straddled to $8 or even $16 before anyone looks at their cards.

I'll definitely check out Playground Poker sometime, saw a few youtube videos of the place on youtube seems like a pretty cool place.

Thanks to everyone else for the info, considering that the buy-in is for $200 I'll definitely cautiously and will be patient for big hands before committing all my chips.

I can't wait to check out what the live scene is all about.

Live 1/2NL is super easy compared to 1/2NL online.. Just my opinion though.

It's fun. I meet a lot of cool people at the tables.

it's much easier. you'll notice people are going to be raising 10x preflop it's like standard in live. so expect to pay 20 to get to a flop. generally players are super bad just sit back wait for good hands raise 20 get three callers and win 60. it's not too hard.

depends on what your roll is but if you're not used to playing for pots of upwards of 200+ it can be kinda nerve wracking.

casino du montreal has a great poker room and you will find a ton of 1/2 tables going every day of the week. the games are generally pretty good, yes. best of luck.

Montreal casino has mostly weak-tight recreational players with the occasional tough guy wanna be pro. The Native reserve casinos usually have the latter, some of the former, and it has a whole lot of gamboolers who degen it up at the tables because there is no blackjack or roulette.

If you want soft, play at the casino.

1/2 at playground is unbeatable, it's a nice room but i wouldnt go there to make money (anymore)

10% capped to 8, don't bother playing that.

live 1/2 is like online .01/.02

The Ed Miller book that has the words "winning big with expert play" in the title is a limit hold'em book. It's not a book about no-limit hold'em.

Very easy poker room

Random question. Are the cards in french?

I was going to play when I was there but went to play blackjack first and got very confused when I got a V.

As an earlier poster already mentioned above, yes, the casino uses French decks.
Jack = V
Queen = D
King = R

They used to have a cheat card at the table describing ^^ in case you forget or to refer to.

The playground has great player perks but I don't know how beatable I'd call the games. You also get to hang out with organized crime figures.

Dang frenchies...

Very similar post flop, but completely different pre. Standard open in .01/.02 is .06, while in live 1/2 it's 8-15. Open limping is way more common live, too. Sunday, I saw a limped pot go to showdown for under $20 with AA < KK.

Not previously mentioned but don't plan on getting those top tier hands such as straight flushes, 4 of a kind, Hell you won't see a full house for days.
$1-$2 is not similar to online 1c-2c. A properly bank rolled 1-2 game should be a minimum 4 buy ins = $800.

Wow thank you guys for the valuable information. Today I just finished reading Small Stakes Hold'em by Ed Miller and believe I'm ready to go to the casino this evening. Also will be playing a few hours of 2 cent 5 cent and make a few bucks before I go to prepare.

I'll be putting $1000 towards this so I won't be too nitty with the first $200 buyin, and when I first sit at a table I'll play very tight just to see how the players are playing, what hands are shown at showdown, see whether they are soft etc. Would be nice to walk back home with a few hundred in profit.

Even assuming this to be true, this is a positive thing how exactly?

This is 100% true. I don't consider it a positive thing, but it is something I have heard 'bros' (read: douches) brag about.

Then why mention it? Doesn't make sense. It's like you bringing that up is supposed to give people a reason to go play there?

lol?