moving from internet to live poker

[totalise]

Anyone made this transition without wanting to punch yourself in the face?

Last time I played live was at the WSOP last year, and I really hated it. The hands were slow, the people around the table were pathetic humans (i mean, who wants to hear tales of woe.. always bad beats) and the general experience was horrible. I had my IPOD for comfort, but there is only so much Chesney/B*Witched you can take before the whole scene gets too much

On three seperate occasions I had people ask me if I wanted to stake them in games, from the tournies to cash games.. what is annoying about this is that I had never even seen these crettins before, yet they have the termerity to approach me for money? sick

Now, maybe thats just a reflection of live poker in the US, and the scene in the UK is much different.. but I dont know how I can get round the fact that I would be bored at the tables. I don't particularly enjoy table "chat" as most of the chat is people telling others how they should have played, and generally proclaiming a level of superiority that their bankroll cant substantiate

The reason why I want to play more live poker, is because I have spent almost an entire year cooped up in my study like a well-paid gimp, and its time to break out.. but my previous expriences have been almost intolerable

Does it get more tolerable with experience? does the constant chirping about everyone else playing bad stop? do people always blame their exits on other people? (how could you call, dont you realise what I was representing!!) Do people try and tap you up for money if it is clear you are reasonably well off?

Any words of wisdom/experiences are overwhelmingly welcome

kind regards

T

[yt]

The game you played live come with a high level of stress for the players and they clearly showed this. If you wonder on down to your local card room / casino you will find most £10-£100 comps are good natured and there is plenty of humour and not much bad feeling.
I think you just had a bad experience.

[AdamM]

my experience is pretty much the exact opposite. I was playing in small home games and online until jan 2004 before I hit the local casino. I made it to a 3 way chip count first attempt, was nervous as hell for the 1st half a dozen tourneys but over the last two years have gotten used to live poker being the norm and online being the simulation. if the casino was in my town rather than the neighbouring town I doubt I'd ever play online. it's only a 50 mile round trip but thats enough that I dont want to do it 5 nights a week, so I play online to fill the gap. I much prefer the live banter than the online because when people have to say stuff to a persons face they generally pick their words a bit more carefuly. I found making myself a T-shirt saying:
NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR YOUR BADBEAT STORY has helped keep the moaners quiet. Online it's sometimes difficult to distinquish between tilting players, bored players, drunk players or out and out bad players. Live I find it a doddle.

I look forward to a day I dont have to play a single hand online

[tikay]

Live Poker needs a mental gear-change from Internet Poker - a 20 minute online clock is equivelant to about 90 minutes "Live", things happen so much slower. You need to adjust & adapt.

But there are Positives in "the real game" - spending an evening at a Live table is, I assume a bit like going down to your local boozer - good craic & chat, a few laughs, that kinda thing. It can be really great fun, & I find myself ducking "confontation" hands sometimes because I am having such a ball at the table, in fun company.

Folks wanna borrow money or get you to stake them or borrow cash? "I just don't lend money to anyone mate, I'm sorry" is all it takes.

I do hope you give the Live Game in the UK a try - why not come to Luton next week? I may be an oddity, but for me, a long session at an interesting tourney table is almost what I live for, the taking part is as important - to me - as winning. (Just as well in my case). I have had a thousand happy nights in Live Tourneys, & I treasure the memories.

If you are a people person, it's the nuts.

Go on, give it a try. Come to Luton next week, & I'll introduce you to a few faces, trust me, you will love it.

[portfolio]

wow.

whilst i can echo some of your sentiments,with such a low expextancy level i'm unsure if the following 3 tips will help  ;

1  register for a live  poker4charity event          you will more likely find the social/charity environment friendlier and easy going.

2  arrange to meet up with local buddies at a nearby casino          swap a small %      this may make the game more intersting,as well as being not just a`poker event.

3 arrange to  hook up with some online poker  buddies         new horizons can be pleasantly suprising.
i had a fantastic few days doing this   in      NYC     lA      belfast      cardiff     brighton  etc,
and find it's a great way to play poker and visit new places too.

good luck.

[totalise]

hah

I feel I must apologise for the tone of the post, I re-read it and it certainly does come across as unnecessarily harsh. I know a lot of people here play live, and it sounds as though its a wide-spread condemnation... but it wasn't intended to be so harsh. Apologies if anyone took it that way.

Tikay,

I am certainly thinking of Luton as a way of getting into it. Are there reasonable cash games running.. or is there a website I can go to which gives a good breakdown of tournies coming up/games hosted?

thanks for the pearls of wisdom, I am not really a people person, but I guess that is just a product of living the hermit life... and once again, apologies for the harsh tone of the post

kind regards

[RED-DOG]

Luton cash game during festival week, bring a big wad, some anadin, and a crash helmet

I'ts great!

[b4matt]

The only thing i can say is, a nice size live win is the nuts.... there's no better feeling. A nice size t'internet win is great but doesn't give quite the same buzz.

I can't explain why and its maybe just me, but i love live poker and on-line is just so mundane in comparison now

Good luck whenever u get back in the water, and i hope to see you at Luton.

[tikay]

hah

I feel I must apologise for the tone of the post, I re-read it and it certainly does come across as unnecessarily harsh. I know a lot of people here play live, and it sounds as though its a wide-spread condemnation... but it wasn't intended to be so harsh. Apologies if anyone took it that way.

Tikay,

I am certainly thinking of Luton as a way of getting into it. Are there reasonable cash games running.. or is there a website I can go to which gives a good breakdown of tournies coming up/games hosted?

thanks for the pearls of wisdom, I am not really a people person, but I guess that is just a product of living the hermit life... and once again, apologies for the harsh tone of the post

kind regards

There is a wonderful Fessie at Luton next week, I'm sure the details are on the front page somewhere.

If you fancy a less frantic introduction, Luton have just announced a "Triple Bill", being three Mini Fessies at the beginning of May, June & July.

Each one consists of....

Friday - £100 single rebuy plus add-on

Saturday - £300 Freeze (4pm start)

Sunday - £500 Freeze (4pm start).

These will be corkers, they really will.

There are heaps of great folks at Luton, the staff are very welcoming too, they actually give the impression that they want you there. The dealers are top-notch, too.

Get yerself down there buddy, we will take good care of you - you won't regret it, I promise.

[M3boy]

I must admit, I much prefer live games - playing with well known players is what I enjoy the most. (probably due to my competitive nature, ALWAYS wanting to be better)

I started on the net about 4 years ago, and only played live about 2 years ago.

The movement from Internet to live , is, in my opinion, ALOT harder than moving from live to internet.

Give the live scene a go here in the UK, as TK says, Luton next week is a GREAT place to start - good people, good tourneys and good staff.

Come and give it a go!!

Just as a taster, have a read of my BLOG, you will find many a tale of the 'thing' you can expect - specially read the story on "The best table ever"

[totalise]

Red-Dog,

you would be licking your jaws if you saw me in a live cash game. My emotive control is pretty bad in terms of hiding it, so you could pretty much tell my hand strength based on the speed at which my fist hits the table, or the color of my face after horrible rivers. Shame on you for trying to take advantage for your own economic gain!

b4Matt,

I imagine the thrill of winning live is certainly better then the thrill of winning online. Winning live is a feeling I have yet to enjoy, in cash or tournies!


Tikay,

that mini festival looks awesome. I will almost certainly be playing that. I hope you will afford me the pleasure of buying you (and any other blondites present) dinner and drinks, and anything else that sparks the communal fancy.


M3boy,

intersting blog. it certainly seems like a lot of fun, and that my perception of live poker was unduly swayed by the ferral creatures that i had the misfortune to play with at the WSOP.

thanks for all the opinions.. if the worst comes to the worst and I dont enjoy it, I can always crawl back into the comfort zone of t'internet!

kind regards

[Colchester Kev]

. I hope you will afford me the pleasure of buying you (and any other blondites present) dinner and drinks, and anything else that sparks the communal fancy.

Now I somehow think you might regret that statement, it could end up costing you more than a WSOP buy in

[totalise]

. I hope you will afford me the pleasure of buying you (and any other blondites present) dinner and drinks, and anything else that sparks the communal fancy.

Now I somehow think you might regret that statement, it could end up costing you more than a WSOP buy in

hah, I had the feeling that as soon as free drinks were mentioned, your radar would be on full beam, hunting down the scent!

[gatso]

I have it on good authority that kev has a dedicated team scouring this forum for mentions of free drink and alerting immediately. In return he offers his services as president of the PRO.

Totalise you must play live again and do it soon, so much more fun than playing online. Luton would be a top place to start, great cardroom and very well managed, you'll love it. And of course we'll expect to see you at BB3 wherever that may be

[Colchester Kev]

I have it on good authority that kev has a dedicated team scouring this forum for mentions of free drink and alerting immediately. In return he offers his services as president of the PRO.

Bang to rights