Why experience matters in live poker Part 1: Game Selection

If you don’t think experience matters when you are playing live poker you are sadly mistaken. Experienced live players may not know the math better than an online player, or be more attuned to poker theories and poker concepts, but experience does matter, and in this series of articles I’ll explain why.

Experienced players know how to find a soft game

When you first enter a casino it’s a little bit like going to a health club for the first time: You are bombarded with all different kinds of choices of strength machines, classes, free weights, cardio equipment, and then there are the questions like whether you should hire a personal trainer? Should you buy a bottle of protein? Do I eat before or after my workout; or maybe BOTH? And how much water should I drink while I’m working out?

Over the course of a few years in the gym you’ll try out most of the machines; tinker with your pre and post-workout eating habits and supplements, and so on. Until eventually you come up with a routine that not only works, but more specifically, it works for you!

Well, the same principles hold true in a card-room: Should I go straight to the sign-up desk and get my name on as many lists as possible? Should I spend some time scouting out the games first and then sign-up for only the best games? How long do I need to watch a table before deciding whether it is a good game or not? How do I even know if a game is a good when I would have to watch for an hour just to see 25 or 30 hands!?!?!?!

As an experienced player, I would have this information already in my databank, and I would be able to process any new information almost immediately.

• I would know precisely what games are usually running at this time of day, and where they are likely to be located on the card-room floor (unlike a noob who might not even know that $2/$5 NLHE tables are placed near the desk AND towards the back wall).
• I would be able to spot any regulars in the game, and I know precisely what to look for to tell if a game is “good” or not.
• I understand the concept of must moves games, and about how long the number of players on the waiting list means I will have to wait.
• I’m familiar with the dealers, floor, and other players in the room, and can quickly gather information on the day’s action.

So, while the new players are busy taking in information from all over the place (some good, some bad, some completely unnecessary) and trying to determine what is important and how to best act on that information, the experienced player is making crisp decisions based on the truly important information available that they have gained through their knowledge and experience of the card-room.

Read Part 2 here