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Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 42 (M)
Posts: 852
So we all know that most everyone on this site has or does play online. How many of you play live as well though? I was just curious. Being an American I don't play online too frequently at the moment, though I hope to change that soon. One player that has caught my attention this past year is Chris Moorman from the UK. He finished 1st in the online player of the year race, & 2nd to Ben Lamb for the card player player of the year award as well. Pretty impressive results online & live. Eventually I plan to do a majority of my playing online again & only live for bigger tournaments & such. What about you Mobsters?
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Australia
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 6483
I used to play weekly - before I played online. I used to live in a small rural town and go out 1-3 times a week into a larger country town and play live Pub Poker.. Basically, there were small nightly prizes, plus some better league prizes as well for full seasons of play.
I've only ever played cash at the casino a handful of times, there is a $20 buyin game ($10 rebuys) at my local pub, I don't often play there though, it's not a great game, some of the prizepool goes to charity and the blinds/stacks are pretty short.
These days I'm lucky to play live poker once or twice a year to be honest.
Joined: Feb '11
Location: Canada
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 1660
So very, very, rarely these days. I used to play at the bars but after playing online the prize pool is just too low to be worth it. Land based casinos now all have too much rake for my tastes now too, and no rakeback. So really, the only live play I get is the occasional home games, which are great. No rake and mostly unpracticed players!
Joined: Mar '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 6714
I'm getting 1-2 games in a week, but have found a new venue that hosts a legue and cash side games, and I cant wait for the new one to start, looking forward to playing some cash games as have only been playing tourns live.
Joined: May '09
Location: Spain
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 1331
Hi guys!!
I try to play live at least 2-3 times/mounth. And i say i try because usually i can´t do it, too much work. When i can i play in the 'Casino de Barcelona' place full of fish (turist) and sharks waiting for money. Avoid play cash in this place. In the weekend have nice MTTs.
Joined: Nov '09
Location: Canada
Age: 54 (M)
Posts: 2387
I used to be able to play live two to three times a month, but that has dwindled drastically to two to three times a year. The last time I went I was so rusty from not having played live that I sucked, and it was very discouraging. I wanted to go yesterday but we are not finished painting the house so.....
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Portugal
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 4827
I never tried playing live at a casino in a bigger tourney, although I have already went to watch some action in the nearest casino of my city, at about 50km distance. It was a betfair event and a friend of mine won the main event, with a €25K first prize! The entrance for this was €500+€50, and knowing my expertise, it was still too much. There were some side events with €40 buy-in, but that wasn’t the best time for me to enter, maybe in the future I will go for one of these side events. My live experience resumes to play with friends, and we play almost every months in someone’s house. I have two different groups who regularly organize some action and its always very nice.
Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
These days I play live poker more often than online. I usually play at least once a week for a good 7 hours although recently I've played two or three times a week. I don't know where that puts me in the poll. Once a week is four/five times a month.
Nice thread but I think the poll is a fail. If you play 4/5 times a year you probably play a few times every six months. Although I suppose you may go through a busy month.
I definitely prefer live to online. The social aspect of poker is one of the main reasons I play. Even when I'm losing money I feel I'm getting my money's worth if I'm enjoying a night out with friends and associates. Even playing against strangers in a casino I find the table is usually friendly (in chat not table action obviously) and the atmosphere is great. I can't wait for my next big tournament which is the UKSPC in april, which has an added value of a place in the EPT.
Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 42 (M)
Posts: 852
Posted by awood88:
Nice thread but I think the poll is a fail. If you play 4/5 times a year you probably play a few times every six months. Although I suppose you may go through a busy month.
Sorry I put more thought into the thread then the poll. Just threw some random numbers up there. thought Mobsters would probably post their own general estimations of live play in their replies. Which seems to have happened.
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Posted by Arithmajik: So very, very, rarely these days. I used to play at the bars but after playing online the prize pool is just too low to be worth it. Land based casinos now all have too much rake for my tastes now too, and no rakeback. So really, the only live play I get is the occasional home games, which are great. No rake and mostly unpracticed players!
You have to find the right Casino's & Card rooms. Most offer some sort of rakeback, via players cards(building up points for cash or comps back), jackpots, guaranteed prize pools for tournaments, ect. I used to play in smaller bar/pub tournaments. Most of them were terribly structured short stacked tournies. Some had cash games that broke out on the side, after a few players busted out that could be lucrative. I find there is more money to be made in the casino's though.
Joined: Feb '11
Location: Canada
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 1660
Thanks for the tip Hoodi420, admittedly I've never delved to deeply into the casinos rewards structure as I can only attend casually, but I should look into it for fun. Also I may actually look into guaranteed tournaments those would be fun.
I play about once every 2 weeks with my friends. Sometimes cash games, but mostly 6 to 10 players 10$ or 20$ sit & gos. Pretty tight players mostly, 2-3 maniacs to make some action, always fun
We make 2k stacks and start blinds at 15-30 and blinds go up every 15 minutes, pretty good structure! Not really deep stack but almost
Joined: Jun '10
Location: Belgium
Age: 57 (M)
Posts: 178
I've only played live for a few times but love to play more. Maybe i've got to make some more "pokerfriends" because with our small group there's always someone who can't play on our "pokernight".
Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
i love to play live- when the online poker was booming, new site popping up, great promos coming out daily- it was nice to be online as well, but now i think the only real place to get a feel for poker is live play- i usually play one two times a month- i go for small tournaments with 20-30 players
Joined: Aug '10
Location: Germany
Age: 52 (M)
Posts: 2219
3 times in my life Livepoker makes a lot of fun, but it costs to much time to realize. And for cash you can only play at casinos not in little clubs or so...OK a Homegame is a alternative...
Joined: Feb '11
Location: Canada
Age: 34 (M)
Posts: 831
i used to play so much live poker that i never got Id at the casino nova scotia cause i knew all the security by name (most of the dealers too) then i started tabbling in the table games which where alot of fun and sometimes extremely profitable (made 1600+ in one hand of three card once) but ya since ive moved to toronto i have yet to visit the casinos here. play occationally with friends and family when i get the chance. i absolutely love live poker and wish i had the bankroll to back more live play
Joined: Mar '09
Location: Greece
Age: 47 (F)
Posts: 14136
I havents played live so far. Only the poker against the dealer the one with the jackpots, that when you have a good hand you beg that the dealer qualifies in order to get paid.