GJ Reggie gives us an insight into how she prepares for live events; from getting there and scoping out the venue, to settling herself at the table and getting ready for the very first hand.

Travel

Fly at least 1 day before your first event. I like arriving the day before I play just to give me a little bit of time to settle in. I have plenty of time to relax at my accommodation and get a good night’s sleep. I can explore the immediate surroundings, scout some restaurants or coffee places. It also gives you some time to check out the Venue and sort out any registration (PSLive or Casino) sign ups that might be required for you to play during the trip. And being able to wander and explore the venue in a leisurely way, even just knowing where the registrations desk is, where the tournament rooms are, the casino restaurant, the players’ lounge etc. It can be useful and helpful to know, gives you a bit of comfort or confidence in an environment you might not be particularly used to and might even save you some time searching for things/places when you actually need them the rest of the week.

The Schedule

I always like to plan my playing schedule ahead of time. Look at all the tournaments that are a must play. Check which Day 1 flight I might join if there are multiple. Plan for any Day2s I hope to make. Which tournaments I’ll only play if I bust. Which day I might have as a day off to relax or do some sightseeing. Having a rough plan of what I want to play poker-wise gives you a bit of structure to the week and it also means you can plan some activities or get together on any days off you might have.
Make the most of exploring a new city or catching up with friends!

Clothing

I know this might seem like a strange thing to include but I think it’s important too. Playing poker can mean being sat a table for very long periods of time and if you’re playing well (or getting lucky) you could be there all day. You want to make sure you’re wearing something you’d be comfortable in, something you’re prepared to be sat all day at a table wearing.

Also it’s a little bit of a cliche but the room temperatures in these poker rooms can vary wildly. Make sure you have a jacket or hoodie to deal with the air conditioning and some warm weather outfits if you’re in a hot country.

Outside the Poker

One of the nicest things about PokerStars’ stops is all the extra activities that they host at every stop. If you do find yourself with some time to spare make sure you stop by the live events desk to see what’s on offer and sign yourself up for anything that interests you.

They’ve had everything from free tickets on a sightseeing bus, padel tournaments, wine and paint sessions, catamaran trips or sportscar drives, there’s definitely something for everyone AND not to forget the PokerStars players’ party open to everyone for a night out you won’t soon forget!

Food

I am particularly guilty of not having the best eating habits, especially on poker trips and sometimes it can be quite hard to find time to eat well during a long tournament playing day. I absolutely recommend always having a good meal before your first tournament of the day. Make sure you are well fuelled, as there are going to be breaks every few hours but you’re unlikely to get a long break until dinner (or if you unfortunately bust early) so the first meal is very important.

Take advantage of the breaks you do get, if you are hungry grab some snacks, there will be places within the casino that you’ll be able to grab a small bite should you need it.
If you do manage to make it to dinner break make the most of it. Large groups might pre-book a restaurant to try to save time looking for one. Others will pick a place close by that they know might serve food quickly.

It’s not a bad idea to scout some restaurants yourself so you have a plan and aren’t in a rush to get food when the dinner break rolls around. I find it often takes longer to make a decision on where and what to eat than to actually sit down and enjoy the meal. So it’s nice to prepare beforehand.

Playing the Poker

After registering for a tournament and taking a seat at my table there are a couple things that I like to do just to settle in. Firstly, I say hi, hello to the dealer and my table mates. Then I like to count my chip stack, never hurts to double check you’ve been given the right amount for start stack.
I look around to see where my ‘clock’ is. That’s the big screen showing all the information for the tournament I’m playing in, so I know where to keep my eye if I’m ever looking for info about the tournament, how long left on the level, how many players left, what the blinds are etc. Then I like to do a quick scan of the table, where the button is, and what the stacks are like, if there is any obvious big stack or short stacks at the table.

These are all small things but having a little routine that gets you in the mindset of ‘yes, I’m going to play poker now’, know my position, know the chip stacks, know the blinds. Just arming yourself with all the information you know you will need I think really helps my concentrate and focus on the task ahead. Then you peel your cards for the first time and play.

I would also like to mention that if you are new to live poker or haven’t had a lot of experience playing live, do not fret. Take your time. Get comfortable with handling the chips. Announcing your action clearly can avoid any potentially chip handling/counting errors.
If you are ever unsure about the rules or what options are available to you, you can always ask the dealer to clarify.

Enjoy it!

Most importantly of course, have fun! Playing a PokerStars Live Event is a great experience. You get to play poker in some of the nicest venues, hosted by a great team of staff and dealers in some beautiful cities.

Hopefully you can enjoy every moment and get a little lucky on the way too.