Cash Game Advise for First Time Playing 1/2 NLHE in a Casino (1 Viewer)

[saleen121212]

So my friend got a free room for tonight and we are heading to Cherokee after work. Any advice for the first timer hoping into a 1/2 in a casino? I know the rake sucks and I know I will most likely be out played often by regs especially this close to the holiday, but I am looking at is as a learning experience and something to do up there.

 

[navels]

fold pre

 

[Kain8]

Are you worried on how to play or when / how to act in turn?

 

[PlaidDragon]

If you can't spot the fish in the first 30 min.... you're it.

 

[detroitdad]

When initially sit. Take your time getting involved in hands. Observe the table, try to learn a little bit about the players. I'd have no problem with folding for a couple of orbits until you get a feel for the flow of the table.

 

[rocollis]

Sure there will be regs. But a Friday night in a casino will be loaded with drunk recreational players as well. You will be surprised at how much they want to give you their money. Good luck!

 

[nitzilla]

I would have at least 3 buy-ins ready (or $900-1000) and expect at least one to be gone within the hour......but I suck at cash games.....

 

[saleen121212]

Are you worried on how to play or when / how to act in turn?

Not at all, been playing home poker and watching poker for over 10 years. Just never played in a casino for 1/2, we typically place .25/.25 or .25/.50.

 

[saleen121212]

I was reading an article and this quote made me laugh pretty hard, they clearly have not seen this forum:

"You Play Poker with Chips Not $1 or $2
To be successful at poker you need to come to terms with the idea that you're playing for chips. Chips are worthless pieces of clay (or plastic), their only purpose that of keeping score."

 

[DoubleEagle]

When initially sit. Take your time getting involved in hands. Observe the table, try to learn a little bit about the players. I'd have no problem with folding for a couple of orbits until you get a feel for the flow of the table.

Excellent advice. Take your time before getting involved in a pot. Observe what is going on and what the other players are doing. You are going to be nervous and may make a mistake. We all have. Just have fun.

 

[PlaidDragon]

Outside of local games with the crew, I don't sit at cash games any more. I know I"m not good enough to sit in with people who do that for a living.

 

[saleen121212]

I am limiting myself to 300 for poker as we will be there for a while and want to do other things, this way if I lose it all fast I don't put anymore on the line.

 

[CraigT78]

Sit down.
Order Drink.
Win Pots.
Order more drinks.
Repeat.

Edit - also occasionally mumble "I don't know why you thought you were good there" as you stack chips. The other players LOVE that one.

 

[Kain8]

Play TAG, respect raises from other players when obvious draws come in, and bet in proportion to the pot. Don't bet $10 into a $60 pot on the flop with top pair, top kicker.

Try to also stay at feeder games if lots of tables are running. If you get put at a table that's a main game, that's where the good regs tend to play since they're there quite often and early.

I am limiting myself to 300 for poker as we will be there for a while and want to do other things, this way if I lose it all fast I don't put anymore on the line.

Either do two buy-ins of $150, or plunk it all down at once. I'd go with $300 all at once if you're comfortable enough to play that much at once, and if there are similar sized stacks or bigger ones at your table. If stacks are shorter, say $200 and less, $150 is just fine to buy-in with.

 

[bentax1978]

Go all-in blind preflop on the first hand. It will help establish your table image for later hands.

 

[joker80]

Play tight (unless you already do) until you feel comfortable. Get an idea who is in more pots preflop than others. Watch who is limping more and if they call raises. Watch your position, don't feel obligated to call a raise in the SB.

 

[kmccormick100]

If you’ve got $300 to play I’d buy in for $200, leave $100 to top-off before you get too short.

Play tight-solid, no need to bluff low stakes players, $1/2 players pretty much don’t fold. Choose your hands/spots wisely and wait for people to donk off their stacks to you. Try to play hands in position. As a general rule don’t limp in pre, if something is worth playing raise it, otherwise fold it, the rake eats too much out of limped pots.

 

[detroitdad]

Either do two buy-ins of $150, or plunk it all down at once. I'd go with $300 all at once if you're comfortable enough to play that much at once, and if there are similar sized stacks or bigger ones at your table. If stacks are shorter, say $200 and less, $150 is just fine to buy-in with

this

 

[trigs]

Don't forget to tip the dealer - $1 per pot that goes to the flop should be fine.

Don't help with blinds or things like that. Let the dealer do it. Some of them might get angry.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I am limiting myself to 300 for poker as we will be there for a while and want to do other things, this way if I lose it all fast I don't put anymore on the line.

You shouldn’t be playing then honestly.

If you don’t have 3 buy-ins with you, you shouldn’t sit at the game as you won’t be playing correctly always worrying if you lose a hand that you can’t play anymore.

But if you are going to play, and with only one buy-in here is my general advice:

Play tight, play in position as much as possible, come in raising, and raise big. Don’t open for $7 or even $10. If you are playing strong hands you want 1 maybe 2 callers not a table full. I make my standard open $15, except for maybe if I’m in the bottom and it has folded to me I would say $10. But that is rare.

Don’t bother trying to bluff, it isn’t worth it at these stakes the vast majority of the time. Bet your made hands. Don’t expect others to do it for you! Build a pot early when you are strong, don’t wait until the river to try making money. The draws have already missed and will fold or are now beating you.

If you raise with AK and get 4 callers just check fold if you miss the flop. No point in trying to C-bet, you will get called and just waste money.

If start winning and you think the other players are catching on to you, don’t worry about it, more fish will be coming in, don’t change how you are playing.

 

[saleen121212]

If you’ve got $300 to play I’d buy in for $200, leave $100 to top-off before you get too short.

Play tight-solid, no need to bluff low stakes players, $1/2 players pretty much don’t fold. Choose your hands/spots wisely and wait for people to donk off their stacks to you. Try to play hands in position. As a general rule don’t limp in pre, if something is worth playing raise it, otherwise fold it, the rake eats too much out of limped pots.

Super solid advice here. Thanks everyone else also. Especially @bentax1978 with that gem of a comment, most likely the friend I am going with will do that, except every hand not just the first.

 

[saleen121212]

You shouldn’t be playing then honestly.

If you don’t have 3 buy-ins with you, you shouldn’t sit at the game as you won’t be playing correctly always worrying if you lose a hand that you can’t play anymore.

But if you are going to play, and with only one buy-in here is my general advice:

Play tight, play in position as much as possible, come in raising, and raise big. Don’t open for $7 or even $10. If you are playing strong hands you want 1 maybe 2 callers not a table full. I make my standard open $15, except for maybe if I’m in the bottom and it has folded to me I would say $10. But that is rare.

Don’t bother trying to bluff, it isn’t worth it at these stakes the vast majority of the time. Bet your made hands. Don’t expect others to do it for you! Build a pot early when you are strong, don’t wait until the river to try making money. The draws have already missed and will fold or are now beating you.

If you raise with AK and get 4 callers just check fold if you miss the flop. No point in trying to C-bet, you will get called and just waste money.

If start winning and you think the other players are catching on to you, don’t worry about it, more fish will be coming in, don’t change how you are playing.

I am not doing this to make money or as a profession, I know I shouldn't be playing with 1 buy in, but that is what I am willing to lose for the poker experience before getting slaughtered at Black Jack or something else while drinking the rest of the night. Risking 1k on 3 buy-ins is not my idea of worth it, id rather spend that money on chips lol.

 

[Kain8]

You shouldn’t be playing then honestly.

If you don’t have 3 buy-ins with you, you shouldn’t sit at the game as you won’t be playing correctly always worrying if you lose a hand that you can’t play anymore.

But if you are going to play, and with only one buy-in here is my general advice:

Play tight, play in position as much as possible, come in raising, and raise big. Don’t open for $7 or even $10. If you are playing strong hands you want 1 maybe 2 callers not a table full. I make my standard open $15, except for maybe if I’m in the bottom and it has folded to me I would say $10. But that is rare.

Don’t bother trying to bluff, it isn’t worth it at these stakes the vast majority of the time. Bet your made hands. Don’t expect others to do it for you! Build a pot early when you are strong, don’t wait until the river to try making money. The draws have already missed and will fold or are now beating you.

If you raise with AK and get 4 callers just check fold if you miss the flop. No point in trying to C-bet, you will get called and just waste money.

If start winning and you think the other players are catching on to you, don’t worry about it, more fish will be coming in, don’t change how you are playing.

@Rhodeman77 Stop giving my secrets away!

 

[zo121179]

Sit down.
Order Drink.
Win Pots.
Order more drinks.
Repeat.

Edit - also occasionally mumble "I don't know why you thought you were good there" as you stack chips. The other players LOVE that one.

It's amazing that people forget it's just a game and most play poker because it's fun to them. I make VERY good money NOT having fun. Poker is what I do unwind. Nothing gets me going more than playing low limit hold'em and tilting the loud mouth with a trash hand. Funny, at the same time I can enjoy my favorite adult beverage, meet some pretty cool people and possibly win a little side hustle cash to spend on more adult beverages or poker chips I don't need.

Just have fun bro and the pots will come YOUR way.

 

[Lemonzest]

fold pre

this is actually really good advice. Play very tight and just play ABC poker. You want to play broadway cards or any big pairs. Speculative hands get expensive.

 

[CraigT78]

tilting the loud mouth with a trash hand

I very much enjoy tilting the regs - that college kid who thinks he's a grinder, the drunk business owner, or the crazy Russian who thinks he's a poker god. It might be more fun than actually playing cards.

 

[Saoliver]

When initially sit. Take your time getting involved in hands. Observe the table, try to learn a little bit about the players. I'd have no problem with folding for a couple of orbits until you get a feel for the flow of the table.

Yes! Be patient. I have played an hour and a half before at nlhe without really playing a hand.

The game plays much different than limit, especially in casinos. But, you will have some real gamblers at a 1/2 table...people who just love action. Take advantage of that and try to trap them. But be prepared for some bad beats when they chase. Also, your seat is very important in no-limit. You want the crazy loose players to your right and the tight players to your left. Try to get that seat. That way, the crazy players can build a pot for you and hide the strength of your big hands. And with the tight players to your left (acting after you), you will really know the strength of their hand when you then call you...then you can play the rest of the hand cautious and it is easy to get away from hands. Finally, do not be scared to switch gears, and get people off of your scent. If your table image is super tight, try to steal some pots in position. If your table image is super loose, change it up from time to time. But, this only really works if people are paying attention and on a Friday night at a 1/2 table, most people might not even notice.

 

[Schmendr1ck]

As others have already said, ABC is the way to go. Expect bigger preflop raises, lots of players seeing the flop, and plenty of weird/unexpected holdings to get to showdown. ("Everybody knows that is my favorite hand.")

Identify the calling stations, widen your value ranges against them, and don't try to bluff them.

Look for the old guys drinking coffee, and GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY when they show interest in a hand. Otherwise, steal their blinds mercilessly.

 

[Eastwik]

At the end of every single interaction, just say, "...did I mention I've won two WSOP bracelets?" You say this ESPECIALLY if the conversation has nothing to do with poker. No one will know what to do with you at that table.

 

[Saoliver]

I very much enjoy tilting the regs - that college kid who thinks he's a grinder, the drunk business owner, or the crazy Russian who thinks he's a poker god. It might be more fun than actually playing cards.

I once played at MGM Las Vegas and there was a real bully at the table...berating everyone including the dealers and waitresses. So, I took it upon myself to mess with him. I was bored and not playing many hands, so I started subtly copying him. If he said something, I would say the exact same thing about 30 seconds later. If he put his elbows on the table, I would do it. If he ordered a drink, I would order the same drink. I did this for about 30 minutes before the table started to notice, but it took him another hour almost to notice. It was a fun joke that the table enjoyed, especially the dealers, because they were taking the brunt of his abuse. Finally when he noticed, he got so pissed...went on tilt and dumped all of his chips (he had a much bigger stack than anyone else). He stormed off pissed off and the table erupted in laughter. It was a really fun night.