How Dare You Take the Plunge & Try Live Poker for the First Time?

You may be one of those who discovered playing poker during the pandemic and now that we are moving towards brighter times, you are thinking about what it would be like to try the variant that is most people’s favourite. Live poker at poker sites not on Gamstop UK! What do you need to be aware of and how does a visit differ depending on whether you visit an online casino or a private poker club. Here’s a guide to everything you need to know, or yes. Most of it anyway.

No, it’s really not like you’ve seen on film, but there are some things you should consider the first time you visit a casino or poker club.

First of all, there is no requirement to wear a suit or tuxedo as you often see in movies, nor is it a hangout where the scumbags hang out and smoke endless cigars in a smoky room. In fact, most poker players are like you and me, anyone.

Sure, you can’t come to a land-based casino in tattered clothes and expect to be admitted, but now it’s enough to be whole and clean. 

What’s the Difference Between Real and Live Poker at Non GamStop Casinos? 

The biggest difference is the pace and the social aspect.

Since everything must be handled manually, each played hand obviously takes longer, but normally the game flows and many people find it interesting to study an opponent even if you are not in the hand.

Just like online, both cash games and tournaments are offered with the difference that of course you only play one table at a time.

Usually you register for a tournament beforehand via a website, but some poker clubs use different groups on e.g. Facebook.

Most private poker clubs are run and managed healthily and it is not illegal to participate but if the club does not hold a license then it is prohibited to arrange games but not to participate. Most people who visit a private club for the first time usually come with someone they know, which can be advantageous.

How Does It Work?

There are two variants of poker that you can play at real and not on GamStop casinos; cash Game and tournament. On certain occasions, it is also possible to participate in sit and go (SNG), a single-table tournament where everyone pays the same amount and then the prize pool is usually divided 50%-30%-20% if there are ten participants.

Regardless of whether you want to sign up for an SNG or cash game, the procedure is the same. 

You register with a poker site not on GamStop UK, then you will be directed to the poker room. Sometimes there is a place immediately and sometimes you get put on a waiting list with your name. When it’s your turn, it will appear on a screen and then you have a certain amount of time to let the dealer know you want your seat.

In tournaments, it basically works the same, except that you can guarantee yourself a place in the tournament by booking and paying beforehand.

It is also possible to buy in on the spot, but then you run the risk that the tournament is full and you end up on the reserve list where you are called up as people go out until a predetermined time.

To think carefully at the table:

• You are always responsible for your dealt cards and your chips and a good rule of thumb is usually not to drop your cards until the dealer has given you the pot.
• Everyone acts in turn according to position and the dealer constantly gives you instructions about what is bet, if it is your turn, etc. If you are unsure, it is always ok to ask.

The Cards

The most basic rule in poker is that everyone should have access to the same type of information. If you have seen a player’s card or if the dealer happens to flash a card when dealing, it is most fair to point this out. Otherwise, you answer yourself because no one sees your hand and it is not allowed to show the cards to the neighbour who has folded. 

The Chips

Now we come to the part that most people find the most difficult when you are used to only playing RNG poker at poker sites not on Gamstop UK. The chips! 

When you step into a poker room, you will surely hear the sound of riffling chips, which many people do to pass the time. If you start with this, you will definitely develop a form of tics, so a hot tip is not to even learn.

All chips have different values whether in cash games or in tournaments and therefore they also have different colours. Most players usually sort the chips by denomination to easily have an overview of how many chips they have, but there is no compulsion.

On the other hand, it’s guaranteed to be a bad atmosphere if you have to sort your chips every time you go all-in or someone asks how much you’re playing with, so I’d recommend having something like that in order anyway.

It is also not allowed to mislead by “hiding” large chips to make your chip stack look smaller than it is. The largest denominations must always be at the front in that case or otherwise visible to your opponents.