Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 230
If you aren't going to be adding to your BR from personal funds if you do lose then you'll want to have 20 BI's min for a level. 10-20 BI swings aren't out of the norm. If you're comfortable playing on a short BR and have the choice to add if needed then play whatever you're ok with.
People seem to think that there is printed money just waiting for you when you play live and all you need to do is sit in for x amount of hours and claim your share. That is a huge misconception and I see young online 3 bet Gods sit in a 1/2 game, put on their Beats headphones and spew 2-3 BI's all over the table faster than any uber station donk could ever dream of. Even the donks start to circle the blood in the water when that is happening. Don't fall prey to the mindset that you are taking control of a game with super aggression. It just doesn't work at LLSNL. That doesn't mean aggression isn't king, it is, a good part of your win rate comes from knowing who you can push around and in what spots. Putting a big raise on a guy because he can't have a hand so he has to fold isn't enough, you have to know he can fold or have equity yourself that makes the play worthwhile.
YOU are now your HUD. All those HUD stats that online grinders live by are gone, replaced by your eyes, ears and ability to decipher the info. If you plan to play while listening to music, I'd suggest playing a few sessions before you do just to get acclimated to live play. Even though it's slower than online play, the way a game flows is going to be a little distracting at first, combined with having to do all of your own computing it's probably best to leave your music off for a bit.
Bet sizing is going to be much different than you are used to. The standard 2.5 - 3 x PFR won't work live. It'll be seen as nothing but a pot sweetener. Your standard will be 5x or 6x and raising limpers will be more. Your bets post flop will be different also, 1/2 pot bets are sometimes ok but usually you are going to be 3 or 4 to a flop and need to bet closer to pot. As a result your 100 BB BI plays a little shorter than you are used to.
Find the players that fall in love with overpairs and TPTK, THAT is where you are going to make your money. If a pot is getting large, then the later the hand goes the more hand you need to be in there is something they don't grasp and you will crush them for it. Those players are your best friends.
Don't talk strategy at the table. Even if the fish aren't listening I would be and looking to combat what you do or possibly pickup something that I could add to my game. If you want to share knowledge do it here not there.
Win nice. Remember someone lost the pot to you and doesn't feel good, but you can make them feel better about it just by being nice. Maybe tell them nice hand or just a shake of the head will do, whatever works, but don't play to the cameras that aren't there. Now if a guy is a jerk needle him if you want.
Lose quietly. Don't complain about losing a hand no matter the circumstance, no one and I mean NO ONE cares. If you lose quietly especially to jerks it unsettles them. I do 3 little things that help me a lot, I smile a little, open my eyes a bit wider and breath. A happy face, but it lessens any emotional response I'm feeling. Poker can be psychological warfare and if the other players know they have you then they are going to go for the kill. Don't give that edge to them.
Do your best to be someone that rec players like playing with. Get them talking about themselves, you'll get some great stories along the way and you'll keep them from feeling isolated so they are much more likely to play a longer session.
If you aren't sure about something ask the dealer. They're there to help so don't be afraid to ask.
Know when to leave. Some players can grind when they are losing, some players have stop losses built in. Some players win a good amount quickly and get worried about giving it back, others don't worry about money on the table. Know what works best for you when you are winning and what works best when you are losing, then be disciplined enough to stick to it.
