Scared to take the leap - Starting 1/3 (1 Viewer)

[roughrabbit]

Howdy y'all,
I am looking for some support, both strategically and mentally. I have recently decided that on an upcoming family trip I'm going to try and get out and play at a cardroom for the first time. I initially thought the lowest stakes game was 1/2 but on review of pokeratlas it's actually 1/3. Although it seems minor I have read lots of conflicting information online on the jump from 1/2 to 1/3.

Personal Background

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I would consider myself an intermediate player who has a winning record online, in home games, and in bar leagues. Ive worked on and am continuing to work on studying the game, and feel comfortable with intermediate concepts like Implied odds, positioning, tracking hands and so on.

The Venue

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I plan on playing at the Pensacola Greyhound poker room, which from what the reviews say doesn't quite look like the most aesthetic establishment but whatever I'm there to play cards. Their lowest stakes game is a 1/3 with a min buyin of $100 and max of $500.

The Issue

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My original goal was to play 1/2 be in for 100bb and see how I do. Now that the stakes have jumped to 1/3 I'm a little wigged out posting another $100 to get to 100bb. I would seek out a closer 1/2 game to test the waters but I live 4+ hours from the closest offering.

While I feel confident in my poker play and have the financial resources to play, I'm hesitant committing to so much upfront. I really had locked on to 100bb at 1/2 and had imagined that as my max potential exposure.
Will I be that far behind not starting at at least 100bb?
Does anyone have experience with how this room plays?
Am I wasting my time/money?
Will it play that much different from 1/2 if 1/3 is the lowest stakes?
Should I seek an alternative for my first live cash game experience?

 

[Legend5555]

1/2 and 1/3 aren't that different for the most part in terms of quality of play. Some 1/3 games play small with most people in for $300 or less, some play more like 2/5.

If you can beat micro stakes online, you can beat live 1/3. There is no better way to learn what it's like that to just get in there. If they money doesn't hurt you at all, and you are comfortable playing deeper, I'd just buy in for the max.

Things to keep in mind. Live rake is usually in the 10% $7-$9 max range. You need to play pretty tight to beat this, especially if everyone is playing at $300 or less. Live raise sizes can be quite big. Expect opens from $10-$20. This effectively makes the game play even shorter than 100bb.

Some general live advice for your first time:

Focus on getting value from your good hands rather than bluffing. You will go multiway a lot, and bluffing requires more nuance multiway.

Don't be afraid to make big jams pre. If some opens to 15 and gets 3 callers before it gets to you and you have TT+, AQ+, you should really consider just jamming out you have 300. Once the pot represents 15-20% of your stack, jamming is never a terrible option if your hand is pretty strong.

No one really pays attention to your image. You could have not played a hand for an hour and then come in for a raise, and 3-4 people might still call.

Stay away from calling with suited connectors, especially out of position and multiway. Because opens are large and stacks are shallow, you often just aren't getting enough implied odds. And because so many live players play suited up and down (KXs AXa) it's easier to lose flush over flush than you might think. When shallower, high card strength and out kicking people has more value.

Most live players play very face up. This will be a bit more player dependent, but in general, live players at low stakes really do bet according to their hand strength. Smaller bets are often weaker and bigger bets are often stronger. Not to say there are also plenty of players than try to milk their big hands though. But when they just call on more connected boards, they often have at best top pair or a draw, and when they raise they have 2 pair plus. On dry boards though, they will slowplay more often.

Live players generally underbluff. Keep that in mind when you have strong hands, the obvious draw gets there, and they lead into you.

 

[Taghkanic]

Depending on how big a room it is, and how much action there is, you might be able to find a table where you still cover most villains with $200.

That said, playing with substantially less than 100 big blinds is a different game. You’re gonna find yourself in more spots where it feels correct to just get it in, due to the stack-to- pot ratio.

It also is really gonna depend on the mix of players at your table. In most rooms there’s generally a table where there are two or three rocks just sitting there all day barely playing any hands. But others where the pot is getting bloated pre-flop, almost every hand, so a short stack feels even shorter than usual.

 

[DrStrange]

The best way to gain experience is doing. Tuition in the school of poker is mandatory.

Your pedigree seems sound. You have the money. Just do it and plan on having fun.

As for starting buy-ins - - - better to dip your toe in at a comfortable level. While there are good reasons to buy in deeper, the dominant concern is Hero's lack of experience and confidence. Get that by playing short enough so you are comfortable.

You have no idea how bad the recreational player pool will be at the lowest stakes table. There will be all sorts of crazy shenanigans. Often, you'll be the top player at the table or at least the top couple of players. That doesn't mean you'll win. The rake is ouchy, tips are expected, and variance can be cruel.

Remember this should be FUN. Winning is secondary. You aren't a mis-reg, you are a tourist looking for a good time. Go do that, the winning part will take care of itself -=- DrStrange

 

[ekricket]

Scared money always loses. If this is you, be prepared.
Sometimes the people at the table aren’t playing poker, they are playing a game to relieve stress/worry/problems and agressive play with crap helps relieve the stress. In other words, don’t expect people to behave like they should in the books.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Agreed with all above. You'll be nervous, and you'll do some dumb things, that's how learning is. Wear a comfortable and warm top, comfy sweatshirt goes a long way, you're going to have a beginner's adrenaline dump and might feel cold or shiver. Believe mooks when they show strength and play tight. Honestly have fun, if you're playing a tight range and raising when you have it you'll have an edge but the rake is significant.

It'll fly by and you'll have tons of information flying at you, but focus on what's actionable. When showdown happens, look to see what's shown. Who called a raise with JJ? Who raised the turn with a draw? If you see someone that bet 3 streets then muck when called just note that they're capable of that, that's not super common in the low stakes.

 

[Rhodeman77]

The local casino went from $1/2 to $1/3 for hold’em games when it rebranded. Most of the tables still play like it is $1/2 with many people buying in for the minimum $100 and most opting for $200. When I would play it on occasion while waiting for a seat at PLO it would not be uncommon for my $300 buy-in to be the second biggest stack at the table.

So if you look around there is a good chance you can find a table that is playing smaller if that is what you want. But if you are a winning player, you should want to get into the game where there is more money on the table!!! You can’t win what people don’t have in front of them.

 

[horseshoez]

First and foremost, don’t overthink it. The most important thing is to enjoy the game. Every session is a learning experience, and as long as you’re having fun, you’re already winning. Some people play for the adrenaline, some for the competition, and some for both. Let your approach evolve naturally—there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy poker.

As for the stakes, 1/2 and 1/3 play very similarly. The key is to stay within your comfort zone financially. Don’t feel pressured to buy in for 100bb just because it feels "correct." Play at a level where losing a buy-in won’t mentally or financially shake you. Respect your bankroll, and it will respect you back.

Are you wasting your time/money? Absolutely not. Based on your post, you're looking to improve, not just gamble. As long as you treat poker as a skill game and not as roulette, you’re investing in yourself.

One thing I’d caution against is putting too much pressure on yourself to study and track every hand obsessively. I’ve been down that road, and it can suck the fun out of the game. Poker is about balance—learning the theory is great, but the real edge comes from reading your opponents and making exploitative adjustments. Don’t let charts and GTO dictate every decision. Sometimes, raising K3o on the button against a tight nit is the right move, even if a solver wouldn’t approve.

In a nutshell: stay aware, stay flexible, and most importantly, enjoy yourself. Make the best decisions you can, accept the outcomes, and keep learning. Good luck!

 

[justsomedude]

While I feel confident in my poker play and have the financial resources to play, I'm hesitant committing to so much upfront. I really had locked on to 100bb at 1/2 and had imagined that as my max potential exposure.
Will I be that far behind not starting at at least 100bb?
Does anyone have experience with how this room plays?
Am I wasting my time/money?
Will it play that much different from 1/2 if 1/3 is the lowest stakes?
Should I seek an alternative for my first live cash game experience?

1. If the entire time you're at the table you're more worried about losing money than playing poker, you're going to lose money. Simply put: if you can't afford 1/2 or 1/3 stakes. Don't play.
   
   
2. A $200 buyin where most are playing with $300 is fine (but read #4).
   
   
3. I've never been to that room.
   
   
4. Sounds like you need (and want) some live experience, so in that respect I don't think you're wasting your time and money. Just be prepared for total insanity. 1/2 and 1/3 are the lowest stakes most casinos offer and bring out all kinds of players. There's no such thing as 'poker strategy' at live 1/2. Expect to be re-raised by some nut with third pair, or jammed into by some guy holding total air. About the only consistent and predicticable players at live 1/3 are OMCs (Old Man Coffee). It's total mayhem. But... there's only one way to find out what that's really like. So go sit! (and be prepared to go home broke). If you really want to play it simple and safe, abide by the Rounders rule: You don't gamble, you grind it out. Your goal is to win one big bet an hour, that's it. Get your money in when you have the best of it. Protect it when you don't.
   
   
5. 1/2 and 1/3 are essentially the same game.
   
   
6. I don't think there are many alternatives unless you want to play the limit game at the Flamingo... but then, that's not NLHE, is it?

 

[horseshoez]

One more thing—something super important that I can’t believe I forgot to mention. Tell fear to go f&%k itself. Fear is your worst enemy at the poker table. If you let it take the wheel, it’ll steer you away from making the right plays and hold you back from improving. Like I said before, enjoy yourself and stay relaxed. Fear has no place at the table—kick it out and play with confidence.

 

[jamesjkim]

Generally speaking, you’ll want to prepare around three buy-ins. Also plan to top off (like an extra $100) so you have a playable stack and aren’t in a position to ship/fold - playing short stacks will change your game (negatively imo).

 

[horseshoez]

There's no such thing as 'poker strategy' at live 1/2

Oh man, this is pure gold right here! Amen. Most of what you study will fly right out the window at a typical 1/2 or 1/3 game. Trust your instincts, not just what a chart says. You’ll be just fine.

 

[VerdeChipper]

When I play the "train wreck" tables 1/2 or 1/3, I always buy in at the MAX. If I see someone sit down at a table that has a $300 or $400 max with only $100, it's an instant target. Relax and let the game come to you. Have fun.

 

[upNdown]

As long as you’re overthinking things, you might want to research the straddle culture there. I once sat at a $1/2 game with $200, not knowing that room allowed a Mississippi straddle. Which means you can straddle from any position. Which means the button straddled 95% of hands. Which means I was playing a $1/2/5 game.

 

[horseshoez]

One of the best things about these stakes is that they let you fine-tune your game without putting too much on the line. You definitely don’t want to be experimenting at a $10/$20 table—by then, your “poker fangs” should already be sharp and ready to sink into your opponents. But at $1/$2 or $2/$3? Relax, have some fun. Those games are more about the experience than high-stakes strategy.

 

[DZPoker]

A lot of great advice already in this thread so I’m going to take a completely different direction just to give another option…

Since you implied the difference between buying in for $200 and $300 is meaningful to you, I’m not sure you’re ready to ‘play live poker’ but you’re absolutely ready to ‘experience live poker’…

I’d personally buy in for $300-$500 (not really important). And I’d play super tight. Like blinds plus almost nothing but super premium hands and even those I’d play tight if I got them. And only for a few hours max.

And just experience the experience. Watch the other players. See all the crazy things people mentioned above. See what it feels like to actually slide chips forward and try to keep track of pot sizes while the guy to your left is trying to tell you how he would have won the last hand if he just stayed in. See what it feels like to raise preflop with a great hand and have two callers followed by two raisers and still end up six handed to the flop somehow. See if your hands shake as you try to stack that first small win you sneak in at some point. No huge bets. No huge calls. No mixing it up with the crazies. Facing a crazy bet? Just fold before you have enough in to care. Just be there for the experience.

You have years and years and years of live poker left ahead of you (hopefully!)…your very first session doesn’t have to be your actual first session ‘playing live poker’. Just make it a chance to ‘experience live poker’.

Maybe you win a little. Most likely you pay an evening’s bar tab for the experience. But get that session out of the way without any stress, and it’ll go a long way to making you truly comfortable…at which point you can go ‘play some poker’!

 

[chickenz]

Either give yourself a time limit or a certain amount of money to win or lose. When you reach that limit, get up and leave. It helps create good habits/routines.