First Live Casino tourney! Advice?

millrat · #1 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 08:53 PM

Playing at my first live tourney tomorrow. Any words of wisdom? $35 buyin with an add-on at third level. Blinds are pretty aggresive with 15 min. levels

millrat · #2 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 08:54 PM

This is at Chinook Winds casino.

Button Potato · #3 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 08:58 PM

No real advice here - just wanted to wish you luck.

smoore · #4 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 09:08 PM

first off, GL and have fun. Live tournaments are great.

Now, advice:
1) Look for "internet pros". These guys can't handle chips and cards very well but MAY be able to play. Consider them normal players until proven otherwise.

2) Be sure to count the pot, even when you're not in the hand. It's important to see who wants to play big pots early.

3) Expect to see better hands shown down live than online (embarrasment factor). Stay aggressive on the turn if you think you have the best hand, make them pay to draw.

4) Expect the level of play to coincide with a $5.50 online tournament. You are going to run into a LOT of donkeys with a few VERY good players.

5) Decide how you are going to rebuy before you sit down. Personally, I'd take 5x buyins, rebuy before the cards are in the air, be prepared to double-buy again if neccesary and nearly always take the addon unless you are obviously WAY ahead of most players, probably 1st or 2nd.

again, GL and have fun!

edit: oh yeah:

6) Read hands ESPECIALLY when you're not in the hand. Put people on ranges and types of hands. The ones you can't read are either better than you or complete donkeys. Make an educated guess as to which

BigKyle · #5 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 09:50 PM

I played in my first casino tournament about a week and a half ago at Showboat in Atlantic City, finished 15th out of 90+ for no money but felt like I played well. I suggest this

pay attention to things like average stack, next blinds level, etc.: I was able to build my chips up good but when a wave of nothing cards hit me, I couldn't overcome it. In retrospect, I should have moved in with J8suited rather than waiting about four more hands to move in with 78suited.

Play good hands really strong before the flop. If you raise with big pocket pairs or big slick, and somebody reraises you, you need to move allin. The stacks are too small to just call and take a flop, so you need to make your opponents play for all their chips.

Try to take cheap flops. I was able to take a few cheap flops with K9 and 45, and both times flopped big and was able to win nice pots. If you are in late position and the next couple players are weak or passive, go ahead and raise, or just call and try to flop big.

Bet your good hands. Especially in multiway pots, bet your good hands, as other players will call with draws and/or inferior hands. These guys will pay you off, so don't slowplay! Make them pay big to hit their draws.

Have fun. These tournaments are more about luck than skill. Enjoy yourself and just play the best poker you can.

Good luck!

internetgolf · #6 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 10:07 PM

I find it very hard to play in tourneys with re-buys. In fact I dont even think it should ever be played that way but thats just me. You will have to play smart since you will be playing against players that will call you all the way down to the river on a gut shot inside stright draw so if you have the best hand before or after the flop make them think twice by making large bets. and dont wear sun glasses and a ipod at the table unless you want to look like a $*%&#$%(

good luck

smoore · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 10:28 PM

Yeah, I used to hate rebuy tournaments too.

Then I learned how to play poker.

millrat · #8 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 11:18 PM

Thanks for all the input. No illusions, I can tell by the structure that it will be put up or shut up! Have to go in wiht that aggresive mindset. I'm staked with birthday money from my rich kids so I'll still be able to eat afterwards. If I win big, I may buy some real chips!!

Opps! I think I just betrayed the FCN!