Tips, tricks and advice for first meetup? (4 Viewers)

[grantc54]

Yes, there’s prereqs to get access to the section. IIRC it’s 90 days and 100 posts?

I think you also have to purchase 2-3 sets of overpriced chips.

 

[springbox]

This is more common courtesy than meetup advice, but it's applicable to any kind of large gathering/conference. Don't go if you're sick!

I've gotten sick more than once after poker or magic the gathering tournaments when players there were clearly coughing/dripping from their nose and almost certainly contagious. Long periods of time spent sitting near lots of other people, handling the same objects, drinking alcohol and not getting enough sleep all combine to make it very likely you'll pass on whatever you've got.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

Yes, there’s prereqs to get access to the section. IIRC it’s 90 days and 100 posts?

Ah that’s right I read that somewhere, you are correct.
Unless someone invites me, just saying!

I think you also have to purchase 2-3 sets of overpriced chips.

I’m guessing the set you no longer want, lol

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

I printed the Abby's Mixed Game Cards without looking at it first. This looks like a lot of homework. But still looking forward to my first meetup in June.

 

[JMC9389]

I printed the Abby's Mixed Game Cards without looking at it first. This looks like a lot of homework. But still looking forward to my first meetup in June.
View attachment 1503313

That list can be overwhelming. Focus on the different variants of Omaha, Drawmaha, and Scarney and you'll be fine.

 

[allforcharity]

Focus on... Scarney and you'll be fine.

LIES! LIES!

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

That list can be overwhelming. Focus on the different variants of Omaha, Drawmaha, and Scarney and you'll be fine.

All good as long as I can introduce you guys to the magic button...

 

[JMC9389]

All good as long as I can introduce you guys to the magic button...

I'm intrigued!

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

Double board big O. Each player gets a magic button (bounty chip, NCV chip or whatever). On the turn and river, each player, in betting order, can use the button to switch the cards of the last street dealt (the turn cards on the turn or the river cards on the river) to the other board. Players being behind you can use their button to switch them back. Once your button is used, you no longer have an option. If you still have your magic button after the final bet on the river, you can use it to replace any card in your hand.

 

[JMC9389]

Double board big O. Each player gets a magic button (bounty chip, NCV chip or whatever). On the turn and river, each player, in betting order, can use the button to switch the cards of the last street dealt (the turn cards on the turn or the river cards on the river) to the other board. Players being behind you can use their button to switch them back. Once your button is used, you no longer have an option. If you still have your magic button after the final bet on the river, you can use it to replace any card in your hand.

Double board Big O? Sorry man, I'm out just for that. My drunk ass that will be at least 5 sangrias deep isn't quartering pots and switching turn and river cards back and forth.

 

[Machine]

Looking forward to my first meetup in a month, and I got to thinking. Is there anything you wished you'd known before you went to one?

• Unofficial "PCF" meetup rules you stumbled on after you unintentionally broke them
• Stuff you wished you'd brought (or stuff you wished you'd left at home)
• Not obvious ways to help out the host or make things more fun for the group
• Circus games someone should definitely know
• Something that surprised you

Appreciate your thoughts. I don't get away by myself much anymore, so want to make the most of it.

EDIT - Summary / Highlights of PCF'ers Tips and Advice for First Timers

Learning Circus Games

• Download Abby’s Mixed Game Cards on your phone
• Learn to calculate a pot-sized bet
• If you understand Omaha / Omaha Hi-Lo / BigO, you'll be able to learn everything else
• Other common games: Scarney, Double Board Omaha, Drawmaha, Archie, Badugi, 2-7, Scrotum, and SoHe
• Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions – folks at meetups are friendly and want you to have a good time. No one looks down on learners
• Don’t be afraid to tighten up while you're learning - playing like it's Hold'em will get you in a lot of trouble quickly

Poker Etiquette

• Don’t sit in the middle if you’re not comfortable helping divide split pots
• Get decent at dealing
• Be prepared for Hold’em only tables to be skilled games
• Hit and runs / locking up a win when you’re way up, especially at the action table, are considered poor etiquette
• People will call games you don’t like. Fold quietly – the next game’s coming soon
• If you have an especially bad day, if you're a good dealer and know the games well, you can offer to be the designated dealer for the cigar or "big boy" table

Attendee Etiquette

• Offer to sponsor something if you can – bringing a bottle, some snacks, beer or energy drinks, etc
• Snacks tend to be sweet or salty. If you want more healthy options, bring them
• Feel free to offer to bring your poker set – it’s often welcome
• Be a part of clean-up efforts at the end of the night whenever you can
• Pitching in cash to help out the host is welcome
• Don't be a pig – treat the venue with respect; clean up after your self
• Sharing your phone charger or having extras is awesome
• Always offer to split exotic beers, using glasses
• Bring samples of any customs you have for pot splashers or to share
• Pace yourself in terms of drinking / etc - it's easy to pass out if you're not careful
• Help others get to/from airport if you can – never know when you’ll need it

Money / Bankroll

• Don’t bring $50s
• Plan for a bankroll. Think about what you want to spend each day; bring more money than you think you need, and only what you’re willing to lose
• A thread on meetup bankroll planning
• Learning pot limit circus games has some variance. Don’t go crazy on day one. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Set a mental note of how much you're ok with losing in a day. If you get to that threshold, make yourself a drink/grab a beer and hang out outside. Meetups are generally 3 to 4 days long and there's a lot of cards go be played.
• The Old Fashioned table is not where you want to pop your Meetup Cherry. Find a limit game if you can; there is almost always a lower stakes table available at most meetups

Social

• DO NOT PLAY POKER THE ENTIRE TIME. I often see first timers make the mistake of (trying) to play poker from noon to 2am everyday. Take breaks (and not just 5 minutes to piss and grab a snack), get a beer, smoke a cigar, and hang out and chat with folks away from the tables. You'll both rest your poker brain and engage in what's probably the most fun part of meetups - meeting cool chippers. Otherwise, you WILL crash.
• Be like @onerand, take and post lots of pics
• More often than not, there will be a cigar/old fashioned table outside going where you can sit in a chair off to the side and sit and bullshit with everyone out there
• Take mental breaks and hang out outside and introduce yourself to anyone that may step out for a smoke/drink and listen to their bad beat stories. Most meet ups have groups that go out for breakfast/dinner together or have activities planned outside of the poker room. At @MegaTon44's meetup last year a group of us went mini golfing in the morning and still had plenty of time to degen that afternoon.

Congratulations, you've made the New Members Start Here post. This is 'FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC!' and you should be required to read it to attend any meetup!

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

Double board Big O? Sorry man, I'm out just for that. My drunk ass that will be at least 5 sangrias deep isn't quartering pots and switching turn and river cards back and forth.

This was just a bad attempt at humor. I was just dabbling in the absurd after looking at 256 pages of the Abby list. I would not attempt to play this. But I should have mentioned that we play this with just one winner, high only. My reference to Big O was just to mean that you get five cards.

 

[JMC9389]

This was just a bad attempt at humor. I was just dabbling in the absurd after looking at 256 pages of the Abby list. I would not attempt to play this. But I should have mentioned that we play this with just one winner, high only. My reference to Big O was just to mean that you get five cards.

Gotcha. We have played double board Big O, but with the highest hi hand and best low hand out of two boards splitting the pot. Pots usually get split at least 3 ways as more than one person usually has the best low.

I think you'd like derailment @RocAFella1

 

[CraigT78]

Gotcha. We have played double board Big O, but with the highest hi hand and best low hand out of two boards splitting the pot. Pots usually get split at least 3 ways as more than one person usually has the best low.

I think you'd like derailment @RocAFella1

If we stop talking about derailment, maybe it will go away?

 

[ekricket]

If we stop talking about derailment, maybe it will go away?

lol, just play Go Away Derailment, which is five cards in hand, two boards, and the winner of each board splits the pot.

An alternative version is five cards in hand, one board, there is a two card max draw after the flop betting, and the highest draw hand remaining splits the pot with the highest Omaha hand from the board.

Both versions are better than the original.