What I've learned about live poker AND MYSELF in the 55 hours of grinding in 5 days.

1. People are scared. Myself included.

2. People use the excuse of "live players don't fold" in order to rationalize they shouldn't be bluffing.

3. 3betting to massive sizings is OVERPOWERED

4. Bluffing or bluff-catching, most people don't want to make mistakes in front of others.

5. Bad regs HORRIFICALLY open too wide from EP.

6. I need to be more aggressive about making regs show their hand when they bluff and say "you're good."

7. I am too non-confrontational.

8. I should be table changing much more aggressively.

9. If I stack someone and the game sucks 30 minutes after. I owe it to myself to try to get in the best game possible, and not feel self-conscious about "feeling bad" if I stack someone and then find a better game.

10. I am really good at making friends/conversation with anyone at a poker table. I feel it's something that I know well enough to have a level of confidence when I speak, I speak confidently.

11. DO NOT BRING A BACKPACK TO THE CASINO. This is a clear sign of a reg.

12. Have a maximum of 1 earbud in at all times.

13. DO NOT USE YOUR PHONE AT THE TABLE.

14. The Turn is where the most money is being made when bluffing. 2/5 players LOVE overcalling cbets and MASSIVELY overfolding the turn.

15. Badregs/recs alike see betsizes as MONEY, not BB.

16. Understanding correct plays/aggressive lines and EXECUTING them are two different things.

17. Block betting rivers with thin value will make my life SO easy.

18. DO NOT ASSUME/GENERALIZE THAT PLAYERS HAVE CAPPED RANGES

19. I need to do ALOT of work in live multiway pots.

20. There are ways to win in live poker that take ABSOLUTELY zero thought, but there's ways to be the sickest crusher in the room and have astronomical winrates. That's what this thread is about.

21. Never disagree to anything the table/recs want. Always be accommodating.

22. Smile always and often, in roughly every hand you play. It just makes the person who won the pot feel good about themselves, and see that you're not upset or cynical about the result.

23. Compliment people when they make a good play and it surprises you.

24. I sacrifice TONS of EV for friendship. I think it stems because I didn't have many friends when I was younger, and I feel that people would like to talk/listen to me and be friendly when I see them around because my words hold merit.

It's my biggest flaw and I'm aware of it

25. Be very aware of people who recognize talent/good players. Those people are the most dangerous.

26. Understand where you're gaining EV vs each person at the table, and how much variance you're going to be setting yourself up for in the short term.

26a. Do not be afraid to leverage your stack if necessary in the correct spots/instances.

27. Learn how to be very comfortable when betting for value/bluffing. If a rec tries to talk to you during a hand, have the skills to be able to shift their mindset in the way you want them to act. If that means not talking, then don't respond. Find what gets you paid/folds.

28. Leave your ego at the door. If you think that someone is playing that much higher above the rim than you are, it's ok to start playing tighter vs that player and pick your spots vs weaker opponents. If they're that much better and you can't battle them, that's ok.

29. Just because someone keeps 3betting you, it doesn't mean they think you're the spot at the table... sometimes people just get the card rack and you're the victim of it.

Most of the time at low stakes at 1/2, 2/5, it is not because they are targeting you. Don't take offense.

30. In high rake environments ESPECIALLY 1/2, do not defend your BB, and ALWAYS CHOP THE BLINDS. The rake paid is legitimately unbeatable.

A great way to stop people from attacking your BB is to 3bet and show you're willing to be aggressive and give a false impression.

31. Don't show your hand when you win pre/post before showdowns. Unless you're willing to cultivate that image into making bluffs in the future, showing your hand is a negative freeroll, and people will just never pay you off.

32. You can tell who cares about money more, and their skill in poker in general by the way they respond to getting "coolered" or "sucked out on" in the moment.

Good regs "normally" will act like it's not a big deal at the table and save the pity for after the game.

33. If you're reading this grinding out a win rate to make money, GET TO THE TABLE AND PLAY. Don't worry about losing in the moment or losing even longterm. Trust in your abilities and if things go wrong, re-evaluate and be introspective. This also applies when you're on a heater

34. Surround yourself with people who you think are better than you at the game you are in, but above all, make sure they LOVE THE GAME.

People who love talking/studying poker will always be the best people to interact with.

35. In order to be successful, you have to be willing to make aggressive plays/bluffs/perceived punts, if you feel like they are justified.

You can feel the pulse of the game and are able to subconsciously pick up on things you didn't know were happening.

36. If a rec wants to see your hand after you beat them in a pot use your judgement on whether anyone at the table will exploit you for the hand you show.

Won't happen at low stakes, but be careful.

37. Should go without saying, but I'll add it anyways. Make sure you shower/wear deodorant/be clean before you arrive to the casino.

Gotta stay fresh, and maybe you meet some spicy mamacitas/papis for my women reading this out there

Gotta be ready, always.

38. Do not justify/explain the plays you make when you win a big pot and "get there on the river." It's perfectly fine to talk about it if you'd like, but you don't have to accidentally make someone who lost the pot feel worse about themselves because you think "They have AK."

38a. Do not complain or make the dealer/player feel bad for playing their cards the way they'd like to. It is their money/chips to play with however they'd like.

38b. If losing a pot makes you so upset emotionally at the table, you probably shouldn't be playing said stake.

38c. I've seen it countless times in only a week people berate dealers/throw cards in the muck angrily, give people glares of anger and it just instantly changes the environment from a jovial one to a malicious one.

39. There are right and wrong ways to celebrate winning a big pot. If you are playing for fun, it's more than acceptable to clap/cheer/thank the dealer/etc. If you're playing professionally, act professionally.

This doesn't mean to not show emotion, just be kind.

40. I strongly, strongly recommend you talk to the other people at the table and find out a little bit about them; if they are willing to share.

Just because you are trying to effectively win each other's money, doesn't mean you can't find out who they are away from the table.

41. Pros: Remember how lucky we are that we get to play a game that some people play for fun to be able to provide for ourselves/families.

42. The people in your games that are dusting off multiple multiple buyins and are clearly well-off financially have absolutely crushed life to where they can not care about winning/losing.

Getting to know their backstory / life is a freeroll that can lead to many good things.

43. "Bad beats and sick coolers" can probably be avoided based on preflop range construction. Most Hand Histories can be avoided by these two words... "Fold pre."

44. The Mental Game in poker is FAR more valuable than any technical skill. Don't tilt, and don't get bored.

If you can do this you're ahead of 99% of the player pool in 1/2, 2/5

45. Getting coaching from someone you look up to and trust their information is true and they aren't sandbagging you should be sought after.

I was lucky enough to have someone there for me from the start, and I'll never be able to thank him as much as possible.

46. People hate losing in a game where you're going to lose a large amount of the time. Get over it, and you'll do well.

47. Bankroll Management is the most important thing in this game. I won't be told otherwise.

48. Overbets are overpowered in 1/2, 2/5.