Tips for Transitioning From Online No Limit Play to Live Play
As a poker player who learned how to play online, shifting to live play [in a B&M casino] can be quite a transition. For limit, the transition is pretty straightforward - be prepared to be BORED ;). In NL, the transition is a lot more dramatic. Here are some things to consider:
1) Good luck finding a game. Not many casinos spread NL as a ring game.
2) Be prepared for a much tighter game overall. While chips are still a few steps removed from real money, they’re a lot closer than some numbers on a screen. Also, in live play, cash on table often plays. The result is a much closer connection for players between their actions and actual money, which equals a tighter game.
3) If you play low buy-in games online [25-200], you’re in for a bit of a shock. Live NL games are not the all-in fests that you have become accustomed to. Bets are much more in line with pot size - again, it’s a lot easier to drag a slider to the max level than it is to move a few stacks of chips toward the center of an actual table.
4) In some live NL games, the buy-in is NOT capped. This changes the dynamic of the game incredibly. It’s not uncommon to see a NL game with 1-2 blinds and people with 1k plus in front of them to start.
In short, live NL is a horse of a severely different color. Do yourself a favor and hang to the back for your first few hours at the table while you adjust.
