Sincerest apologies in advance if this should be placed somewhere else.

Going to play my first 1/2 live game in a few days (actually 10/20 CZK, I live in southern Poland where cash games are illegal, I'm going to Prague in about two weeks). My experience: so far I've played around 50 live donkaments for low buy-ins (cashed in around 20% of them), played a bit online (maybe 2000 hands, no HUD so don't know, I really don't like online), and read a lot of 2+2 (absorbing concepts I've got no chance to use). I'm lifetime break even at blackjack if you exclude the times I split 10s, so I know teh maths*. I also pay close attention to youtube comments under poker vids for explanations of why the pros play the way they do*.

Planning to take a 3BI roll for one evening of poker and not donk it off within 30 minutes. My modest goal: don't lose by playing terribad, don't embarrass myself with a stupid bluff, just lose slowly and absorb the second-hand smoke for a free high (won't be drinking, must drive back to the wife and kids, if I win a big pot all bets are off).

Considering it'll be my first live cash experience I'm looking for pointers how to avoid getting butthurt at the tables (if I win then I'll take the cash and pay the Czech prostitutes to do it for me with the proper tools, they're quite libertine you know).

This much I know:

1. Open shove AA and AK pre-flop to protect my hand*
2. Fold KK to 3!*
3. Float, float and float again, eurotrash cbets with ATC*
4. Fold JJ to 3! regardless of position



Advice?

I doubt anyone is gonna write you a complete strategy guide so I suggest you spend some time reading and rereading all the stickied threads from this forum. Since it sounds like your trip is a little ways away I recommend reading a couple books on playing low level NL before you go: Harrington on hold em cash games vol. I is outdated and won't teach you how to maximize value, but it still gives a nice winning approach and would be my top recommendation. Lastly, this session is something you're obviously excited about and since this live game opportunity doesn't happen for you very often you will probably play too many hands when you shouldn't. Don't do that if you want to play "winning poker". Do that if you want to enjoy your vacation. People play poker for different reasons.

If you're mindful of your opening range you should be ok.

1. Your "gambling range" is whatever you feel comfortable speculating with. Pocket pairs, suited connectors down to 87, "20's" ie hands that would add up to 20 in blackjack like JT or A9. Play these for a raise, only in the last 3 positions (BTN co hj) and only if limped or folded to you.

2. Your "strong range." Say JJ+, AK, AQ. Open raise from any position. 3bet from the last 3 positions. Call a 3bet from any position.

Hand should play itself from there.

Also, you don't fold KK to a 3bet, but you can fold to a 4bet shove if you like. Remember: "I raise" is the second bet. "Re-raise" is the third bet. "All in" is the fourth bet.

Please read the stickies. The answers are there.

Locked.