tell us about your first time

[AdamM]

I'm taking my wife to play at the casino for the first time tonight. she's dea nervous and however much I tell her she has a strong enough game to do really well she's still going to be nervous for the whole night. I still love playing poker but it's a long time since I got the buzz that I remember getting from the first half dozen tourneys I played. I'm hoping the first time I play a big festival event or if I qualify for something televised I'll rediscover that rush.

Do you remember how you felt before and during your first live game and do you still get nervous now?

[RED-DOG]

I shake like a leaf, whatever the size if the comp, I have to bet with my left hand because my right one won't pick the chips up

After I've been involved in a couple of pots, I'm fine, I think it's just adrenalin

So yes, I still get the rush, I love it, I'm a sick man

[matt674]

To be honest i cant really remember my first time playing live as it was all a bit of a blur. I remember it was a wednesday night at a £10 rebuy at the grosvenor riverside casino in Salford. I'd been playing online for a while but it was my first live tourney and i was worried about how to handle the chips and not give anything away. The only thing i remember from the night itself is that i lasted longer than the person who i worked with who had told me about the tourney which pleased me

I do remember however when i got home that there was no way on this earth that i was getting to sleep as every time i closed my eyes i had a million and one thoughts rushing through my head about how i should have played and what i should have done in each specific hand. After lying in bed for 3 hours i just got up and got ready for work early, spending most of the following day half asleep!!

I remember my second visit in a bit more detail - but that may have something to do with the fact that i ended up making the final table, upsetting one of the regulars for reraising preflop when a player had gone all in at the final table and then ended up doing a deal when we were down to the last 4

[AdamM]

... oh yeah, and how did people get on too.

I'm pleased to say I made £1670 from a three way chip count. I fancy MrsM to final tonight

[patman]

i still havent played a lot live so i`m still novicey
although i`d played a few home games with friends i`d never played live with "real players".

played at local hotel for a freezeout tournament of about 50 odd folk...i remember looking round thinking that all these folks must be gung ho poker players and it would be a nightmare and i would make an arse of meself.
sat down feeling intimidated - no one wanted to deal so it went round the table...which relaxed me because it immediately told me that i wasnt the only nervous person or beginner there.
I think most folk realised that as well and everyone lightened up. It became obvious who had played before and they helped those that hadnt with the etiquette. there were no bullies and it was playd in good spirits
as for the game i had two decent hands won them both but didnt bluff too much and tended to be a bit rock like -and went out at the latter stages of the table.

enjoyed the experience but felt a lot had passed me by but i also soaked up information and learnt from the experience..I also learnt that you gotta start somewhere and everyone at the table gets up in the morning and gets dressed same as me...so no horned heads and no shouting matches.
Now i am still nervous before i play but once i have sat down and played a hand or 2 or clocked the table characters then its fine

to be recommended..and to be enjoyed...it aint the dentists

[yt]

My first visit to a casino was a £10R at Luton. I finished 10th, bubble boy! I played so tight I can't believe they were still calling my bets, it was like they hadn't observed me at all.
I shook like a man on a rape charge all the way through the game. It was so hectic that i found it best to just only play monsters and then spend the rest of the time concentrating on the other players actions/talk/mannerisms. oh and then of course is the blind terror of shuffling/dealing. Practice those first, I didnt and regretted it.

[AndrewT]

The first time anyone plays live for the first time, their greatest concern is not playing badly, or being intimidated, or getting caught bluffing.

It's generally 'I hope they don't laugh at my shuffling' - I know it was for me the first time I played in a self-deal game.

[AdamM]

I shook like a man on a rape charge

your choice of phrase sometimes   

[Gilbern74]

Had my first ever live game last Friday! Have to say it was a great experience.

Was very nervous before the game - it was a 3 table, 1 hour rebuy then freezout - and I can vividly remember shaking as I moved my chips in for the first time. I think the most nerving aspect of it all was worrying about betting out of turn or just making basic mistakes. The adreniline rush was awsome though! After an hour or two and doing well I settled into the game and made the final table, finishing 9th/29 which was better than I had expected and which I was quite chuffed about.

[Poppet7]

My first live game was a day after I'd been to the texas hold'em tutor night at the Casino but I'd known how to play for about a month and practised with play money online. I was petrified, everyone on my table looked evil but Leons dad was on my table so I felt ok. I can't remember how well I did but I remember really shaking, especially after I won my first pot!

[Royal Flush]

I shake like a leaf, whatever the size if the comp, I have to bet with my left hand because my right one won't pick the chips up

After I've been involved in a couple of pots, I'm fine, I think it's just adrenalin

So yes, I still get the rush, I love it, I'm a sick man

Nice to see you still get it, i did for the first few times i played live, now i just dont, i thought i would in the EPT, but no.


I guess thats a good thing though, if i dont feel nerveous in an EPT then i can still play my A game.

[ACE2M]

I get it everytime.

just win a pot or just play one and i'm fine.

I even get a rush sitting down for a big online tourney... i love it.

[NoflopsHomer]

£10 Rebuy on a thursday night in Walsall, picked up AA 3rd hand and lost a 3 way all-in pot vs KJ and J8 when the remaining two jacks came on the flop. Get the same rush playing live or online as I use to at university when I was performing in the theatre. I don't play much live because you can find a better comp online, but after speaking to Bongo at the BB, I keep meaning to go to the Gala for the £30 FO, but I keep putting it off. Ok, maybe this weekend...

[Graham C]

Wasn't that long ago for me.  I was dead nervous and managed to grab some mates along to keep me company.  Four of us went and we turned up an hour early which just added to my nervousness.   They all got drew on the same table leaving me by myself, which was actually a good thing as I could just get on with things rather than looking to see how they were doing.

Cards dealt and I'm in position 6. First hand and I get KK. I was almost in shock. To be honest, I was too nervous but it was only my first game. Everyone called to me, and I raised 100. I get a few callers and the flop came A K T (misc suits no flush available). At this point I tried just to stay calm. Calls to me and I bet another 100. Few callers and card on the turn doesnt help. Everyone checks and the river card shows an ace. First hand and I have a full house. Checks to me and I bet 300. Couple of callers and I double up or so easily.

Looking back, I should have bet more - someone would have called - most we rebuying every ten minutes or so.

After the break, I never really kicked off again.  I had a healthy chip count but they went down slowly until I was down to 1800 chips and in BB (now at 300/600) when I got moved tables. Moved to one before BB and just passed the hand. Next hand (my BB) and I'm dealt KK (again) Pot is raised to 2100, then raised again to whatever it could be (about 5k I think) and I know it's my only chance really to get back in it. I had to put someone on aces, but in the back of my mind there was also AK suited, QQ or JJ. I had to call.

The initial raiser thought hard about it and folded. I showed my Kings, the other chap showed his aces. The other guy who folded showed Jacks! Anyway, the aces held up and that was me.

It was a shame to be out as I bloody loved it.   People ask whether or not you prefer playing live or playing on the net and it has to be live for me.  Even though I didn't cash, it was just great fun.  My tablemates were really good fun and made the three live newbies on our table  feel at ease and welcome and the whole 'being there' was just excellent.   I really enjoy playing online too don't get me wrong, but playing live was excellent.

I'd love to do it all the time but unfortunatly until I get a sponsor () I have to stick to the cheaper £2 and £5 mtt's online.

Anyway, have a great time, you'll love it

[mex]

i was shitting my pants, but had JP,Jen and flushie waiting with me, and that calmed me infact when the called us foward for seat draw i think i was 1st up.

I was shaking until i pushed Tikay off a pot with a reraise,(yes i drew tikay and JP)"do you know who i am?"

then i was okay, i got too many good hands early on and just got carried away.

My next one will be totally different.

I get bored in home games now need the pressure to enjoy the live game.

All the bits newbies worry bout like chip handling and the like, it takes care of itself, mind you we had great dealers.