Top 10 tips for Newbie Poker Players on Playing in a Casino for the 1st Time

 

Top 10 tips for Newbie Poker Players on Playing in a Casino for the 1st Time

By Frank DiRe - Nerdthusiast Poker Content Creator 

In case you weren’t paying attention, poker is booming again! If you are someone that has only played poker in friendly home games with friends and are now looking to venture out into a casino to play for the first time, here are some beginner tips that you should follow:

1.)Make sure not to give away any information verbally. Good players are always paying attention to what you say so always be conscious when talking about what kind of information you are giving away. If you are new to the game, you are better off not talking about anything poker strategy related or experience related.

2.) Make sure not to give away any information physically. Play defense by making sure that you are not giving away any information on your end. Be conscious of everything that you do.

3.) Don’t act TOO quickly. Perhaps one of the biggest faults that I see with new players is that they often act way too quickly. I am not saying to stall and take long on every single hand. All I am saying is that when you have a difficult decision, you should take your time and weigh out all options in order to come up with the best possible one.

 

4.)Don’t show your cards unless required at showdown especially if there are good players at the table. Showing your cards is just giving your opponents free information about how you play. Your better players at the table will gain knowledge about how you play if you show them cards that don’t need to be shown. 

5.)Play at stakes that won’t hurt your bankroll. You don’t want to be playing in a game that you can’t afford. Play small enough stakes only using money that you can afford to lose.

6.)Listen to what other players say in order to gain some information. I definitely talk to players at the table when I am there as it makes the game more enjoyable. Additionally, you can often get players to give you some valuable information about playing style, experience, etc. Often a player will say something that lets you know that he/she plays a lot of poker or is a new player. Obviously, that can help you to get a better feel for his/her knowledge of the game and act accordingly. 

7.)Pay attention to what other players do in order to gain some information. Physical tells are usually not as prominent as they are portrayed in poker movies and today’s players are in general more aware of their actions. There are, however, players that do things to give away the strength of their hands. Pay attention and you just may get some free information.

 

8.) Come prepared. I usually wear ear buds because I like background music even though I generally keep the volume low enough so that I can hear the table talk. Other things you may want to bring include a phone charger, gum and small snacks. If you plan on sitting in a game for several hours, you want to be comfortable.

9.) Don’t play when you are in a bad mood or sick. You want to play when you have your “A” game. Don’t go if you are not “feeling it”. You want a clear mind so that you can make your best decisions in the game.

10.) Have fun and try to keep a level head about your game. In the end, the object of the game is to make correct decisions which hopefully turns into winning some money. You want to also enjoy yourself. Don’t be that negative person that is always complaining at the table. You are going to have both winning and losing sessions. Try not to get too high when you win and try not to get too low when you lose. The closer that you stay to neutral, the more you will enjoy the game

 

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