Thanks to online poker, it is not unusual to encounter players at your local card room or casino that have never played in a live poker tournament before. Many players learn the basics on the internet before dipping their toe into the murky waters of the bricks and mortar casino and they will find live poker more intimidating than the online equivalent.
There are several factors that might scare the novice player at their first live poker game. You should know what these are in order to take advantage and if you are new to live poker yourself, you should know what to work on in order to avoid finding yourself overawed.
The Environment – many players who have never played live poker have never found themselves in a casino either. Registering for poker events on the internet is a simple matter of a few clicks, but to those unaccustomed to the live registration process, it is easy to get flustered. Add in the fact that at a real poker table you have to find the right seat, count pots for yourself and actually use chips, and it is hardly a surprise that many inexperienced players will sit tight for the first few levels while they get used to the whole experience.
You can take advantage of this by applying pressure to their blinds and bets, as they will be easily intimidated. Novice players would do well to try and play in a friendlier environment first, to get used to the basics. A college poker society, the local bar or even a home game might be a good starting point.
The Shame Factor – online poker tends to be looser than live poker, as players can make moves without fear of embarrassment. If you make a horrendous play, you can simply log off, whereas at a live poker event you must remain seated with real people who might taunt you.
This makes novice players less likely to do anything stupid and affords the more experienced live player the opportunity to steal blinds and raises. Novices should remember to stay true to your poker tournament strategy, mix things up and don’t get bullied. A personal stereo might prove helpful should a player try to needle you after a bad decision.
The Early Exit – another common fear factor is a quick exit. It is not unheard of for novices to fold huge premium hands in the first blind level, rather than risk leaving the tournament early. After all, unlike on the internet, where poker tournaments start every few seconds, a real casino may only offer the one tournament all night.
It takes time and effort to get to the venue, so expect to see novice players being too patient, in order to get their money’s worth and make sure to lean on them. If you are trying live poker for the first time, be sure to play your normal game. Travel with friends, so that if the worst happens, you can still enjoy the company, take an interest in the tournament and have fun.
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