5 Things People Don’t Realize About Live Poker

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When I first started playing live poker, I really didn’t have a clue of what I was about to get myself into. Sure, I had played in home games and watched it on TV, but I didn’t know about the realities of the poker world.

Today, I will share with you five things that most people don’t realize about playing live poker. Knowing this before getting into live poker will help you be better prepared and avoid potential pitfalls.

The Ancillary Costs of Poker

We all dream of playing professional poker or just playing in big-time poker tournaments recreationally. However, few consider the ancillary costs involved in playing in live poker. First, there’s the cost of going to the casino. This isn’t a big deal if you live near the casino you wish to play, but if you play on the tournament circuit, travel costs will cut deep into your profits.

Then there are other expenses such as food, hotel stays, cab fare, drinks, tips for dealers and waitresses, and even parking. One doesn’t realize how much it costs to play poker even before you are dealt a single hand. Make sure you budget accordingly so you don’t risk shorting your bankroll.

The Amount of Time Live Tournaments Take

If you’ve only played in online poker tournaments, prepare for a culture shock when playing in live events. Where you may be used to rounds lasting up to 12 minutes, be prepared to play levels lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.

The average live single-day tournament will take around 15 hours to play. Larger tournaments will take days to play out. That’s multiple 12 to 15 hour days. Live poker can be a significant time commitment when you’re doing well.

You’ll Fail More Often Than You’ll Realize

Most people don’t prepare for failure as they try and keep a positive mindset. However, if you play live poker, you will fail more often than you’ll like to admit. This is especially true for live tournament poker players.

For tournaments, you need a baseball player’s mindset. The best baseball players hit around .300, which means they fail seven out of ten times they go to bat. You can expect much of the same with live tournaments. There will be many times you bust short of the money. That’s why it is important to make every deep run count. Just cashing isn’t enough to keep you afloat in the game.

Poker is Full of Problem Gamblers

If you watch the average poker TV show, you think the poker world is full of positivity and support. While it’s nice to think like Phil Hellmuth, the reality is that there are a lot of problem gamblers and degenerates in the game.

You will see a lot of people go broke in the game. There will be a lot of people who can’t keep a buy-in and constantly have to borrow money. You’ll probably get approached by those looking for stakes and handouts.

There is a dark side to the game you don’t see that often on TV. Sure, they will mention certain instances, but the more you play in live poker, the more you will see it personally.

The Poker World is Smaller Than You Think

While it seems that poker is a revolving door of new players and tourists, it is also full of regulars. There are many people you will see time and again at casinos and around the tournament circuit. I have been from coast to coast and run into certain players all the time.

There is this one older couple that I always looked out if mixed game tournaments were being held. They were always there and we became friends. Over time, you will see the same faces and they will recognize you. It becomes a bit of a brotherhood or a bit like grade school in that you always see them around, even if you don’t speak with them.

The poker world is much smaller than you think. Sure, there are a ton of people that flow through it, but the more you play, the more you’ll see the same faces over and over again.