One of the advantages of playing live as opposed to online poker is the atmosphere of the poker room. You can shuffle the chips in your hand, feel them as they slide across the felt and admire them as you stack them up higher and higher. There are also many things to look for that can give you an edge in your game. Here are a few things to keep your eye out for when you arrive at the casino to play poker.

Before You Sit Down at the Poker Table

Your observations should start before you even sit down at the poker table. Is there more than one game going at the limit you like to play? If so, try to observe the choices and see if the play of one game fits in better with your style. You’ll often have to put your name on a board and wait for a seat, so there may be time for you to do this. Don’t stand too close the game though or the players may get nervous.

Look at the chip stacks. Are they very deep for the game? This may be a good opportunity for you to make a big score if you’re not afraid of facing big bets. Does everyone have about the same amount? This game may have just started and may have a relaxed atmosphere as opponents are feeling each other out. Are a few players constantly sitting on short stacks or rebuying? These may be weaker players that you can target.

When You Sit Down at the Poker Table

As soon as you sit down, you should make a mental note of how your opponents look when they are not in a hand. This will give you a baseline of how each player appears when he is not under any pressure, giving you a point of comparison if their behaviour changes when they are involved in a decision. When play starts, absorb everything you can. The times when you have folded are perfect opportunities to study your opponents for clues as to how they behave in different poker situations. You may also want to look for a player who seems particularly weak or vulnerable to your style and target that player. This does not necessarily mean calling or raising every time this player is in a pot, but it may mean trying to get into more pots with this player than usual and tailoring your game to be most effective against this type of opponent.

Poker is a game of astute observation, and when you know what to look for at the poker table, you give yourself a leg up over your less observant or less focused opposition.