Hi Everyone,

I always run into the same problems whenever I play live cash. Inevitably my phone dies, I already ate my one snack, or when I want to take a break there's no comfortable place in the casino to take a break. While player comfort varies based on where you play, (shut-up everyone who plays in LA casinos, we know its nice there), I am sure many of us know what its like to play in a room where you have to do your best to be comfortable. Especially if the food is gross, you have pay to charge your phone in a box, or you don't want to walk to the parking lot to take a break in your car. I'm wondering what everyone's go-to resources are when they go to play for a longer session. Essentially, what every poker player puts in their dumb backpacks. Additionally, any tricks of the trade people know of to make playing at your local rooms more comfortable would be worth noting as well.

(MODS: Feel free to delete if this should be posted in a different part of the forum)

External phone charger, gum, almonds, headphones, chapstick

Some free tough love.

My phone is NEVER dead because I charge it at home or in the car on the way to where I am going. My IPhone 6 last's 2-3 days on one charge, but I'm not on it constantly like a nit. Stay off the phone and study your opponents at the table so you can win. If you don't have the discipline to keep your phone charged how are you going to be successful in poker, or anything else?

I carry mints, gum, chapstick, bandana, phone, money, wallet, pen, knife, etc. in my pockets, as God intended. Leave the backpack (man purse) in the car. Every thing else you need should be in the casino. If not, change casinos.

I take breaks sitting at the bar or the café. Going for a long walk to the furthest or least busy restroom for a quick face and hand wash works wonders. Good luck.

First, bring a hoodie and sunglasses so nobody gets any reads off of you, and second, bring a backpack with a phone charger and your own food/drink to make the first part moot.

This is very very important.

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I bring:
Hoodie for warmth because casinos get cold.
Bag of pills - advil, tylenol, sudafed. Sucks when you're stuck at the casino and have a raging headache or you're congested.
Phone charger to charge your phone at the table.
Lots of cash.

That's all I bring - the food is decent and there are free donuts in the mornings, so I don't bother bringing snacks. On the rare occasion that I bring headphones I rarely use them because it just adds more unnecessary noise.

Please bring a beautiful woman who would enjoy sitting behind you and watching you play for hours on end.

Also if your phone is dying while you are playing then you are doing it wrong. Stay off your phone while playing. Even between hands except to read texts that could be urgent. Seriously. Do you also drink alcohol while playing?

I don't take a backpack with me and I used to play 15 to 20 hour sessions.

I always wear a sweatshirt or fleece jacket with zip pockets. I recently have been bringing a small bottle of ibuprofin because I have back issues.

I sometimes bring fruit with me (like an orange and an apple) and/or some nuts. I bring it in a plastic supermarket bag which if I lose it I won't care. This is more important for tournaments than for cash games because of the limited breaks. I mean there has to be some decent food somewhere in the casino. Even if it is pizza.

A backpack full of stuff? Enough provisions to last the day? Are you playing poker or trying to survive a wilderness challenge?

I feel bad if I forget to wear a shirt with a pocket for my reading glasses as I hate carrying those around (they are not so I can read a book/phone, my eyes get tired if I am there a while and I honestly need them to distinguish spades/clubs).

I couldn't imagine "packing" for a poker session.

1st leave your phone in the car
if your waiting for a call that urgent you shouldn't be playing to begin with.

sweater or long sleeve shirt
not all places let you bring your own water but if they do bring it.

several snacks

wear sneakers so you can walk around and get the blood flowing.

tums, aspirin, Kleenex, hand sanitizer

3-4 buy-in's or atm card

That works for you, but probably not for OP if he dresses like an adult.

I try to bring my A Game (rather than my "eh" game). Also keep off my phone except to check time and messages.

You making meth bruh?

trail mix with yogurt covered raisins in it will satisfy you for hours. Bring extra petty cash for a slice of pizza or two, a burger or a dog if available. Then you can sit down when you eat it, and rest. Buy an external phone charger, they hold about 5 charges. Don't forget a small bag to keep all your chips in, so when you sit down you can dump all the chips out in a big pile in front of you, and look cool like all the other "grinders". (the small chip bag is optional, obv.)

-Hoodie
-Shades
- Large noise canceling head phones
-External charger that you leave on the table and plugged into your phone even when it's fully charged
-Tablet
-Water canteen
-Tupperware with organic fruit/vegetables/lean protein
-Large back of chips/cash that you pull out regularly
-Backpack to store all the above
-Smug sense of entitlement/superiority


That should be a good start. Make sure not to talk either unless it's about poker strategy, variance, or crypto currency trading either

ipad

Mod note: if you wish to troll and call each other names, please do it somewhere else.

I always bring a backpack or a bag with all the stuff I need for the day. I never eat casino food either so I bring a sandwich or take out or whatever and eat it when I take a break.

For the record I am a perfect gentleman and ambassador to the game while playing. No constantly on the phone, sunglasses or hoodie business like your average player. Ask any of the old ladies I play limit/stud with and they'll tell you the same


Why would someone who is asking about how to improve their preparation for the day drink while playing? Common sense FTW.

Agreed, Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Should probably not be a life nit and get a new phone that holds a charge. That and stop playing COC when waiting for a table.


Guy tried to talk to me about a "Bitcoin Mining Rig" the other day. What the hell is with poker players and bitcoin?

I've been wanting to brush up on caricature skills. Bring a sketchpad and go to town.

Why would someone who is asking about how to improve their preparation for the day be on their phone while they are not in a hand (so much so that they are running out of battery) instead of paying attention to what the other players are doing? Lack of common sense FTW.

OP may in fact also drink at the table while playing.

I was suggesting that being on your phone so much indicates a lack of seriousness about the approach. If OP does not in fact drink at the table then there is hope that he sees that being on his phone a lot of the time could impact his play and winrate in a similar way that drinking alcohol obviously would.

If OP does drink alcohol at the table he might want to consider not doing that as well. Even if the drinks are free...

I don't know where in my post I said I was on my phone at the table. You are projecting that onto me and I can assure you I am not on my phone when I play. I have absolutely no idea why you think you know me or what type of preperation I put into my game. I'd suggest you move your useless commentary somewhere else. Especially since you've provided nothing of value so far in your comments.

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Agreed. the projection is very strange ITT.

That said, I'm on my phone a lot while playing. It tilts the louder olds who think I should be listening to them, and it makes them think I am not paying attention to what they are doing.

Lol.. I'll never understand why a girl does this and why the guy brings her to do this.


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mistrust and/or separation anxiety

OK. Fair enough. For some careless unknown reason I didn't realize you were the OP...

Why does your phone lose charge while you are at the casino if you are not using it? And if it is not because you are using it at the casino, then why is it so difficult to charge it before you go? Maybe I am missing something here. [edit: I just re-read your responses and you apparently have a phone that can't hold a charge... There are several solutions the cheapest being turn off your phone while playing and turn it back on when you take breaks...]

I wish you luck at the tables. I'm glad to hear that you are not using your phone at the table. I have two teenage children and a wife who are always on their phones when they are awake. I just assumed you were young and were drawn to use your phone even while at the table (otherwise why was it running out of battery at the casino...). Or maybe its me. Maybe everyone who comes into prolonged contact with me suddenly uses their phone 24/7.

As far as this thread goes, take suggestions from people. Don't take suggestions from people. In the end you will learn what to bring by trial and error. I did.