Perhaps you’ve learned to play poker from watching poker tournaments on television or you have online multi-tabling experience. Either way, everyone who plays in a live poker tournament is going to have to deal with the experience of playing at a real brick and mortar card room for the first time.

Before Your First Live Poker Tournament

You might want to arrive at the card room a little early. This will give you plenty of time to set up and get the lay of the land. Make sure you’ve had something to eat and used the facilities before the tournament starts. You can do these things once the tournament begins but it may interfere with your play.

The Beginning of the Poker Tournament

Everyone is normally friendly at the start of a poker tournament. The day is full of potential and everyone has a chance of winning big money. It’s fine to exchange pleasantries with your fellow players.
This is also a good time to observe how your opponents look when they are not under stress, to get a baseline of their resting behavior for use later. You probably shouldn’t tell anyone it’s the first time you play poker in a live tournament since this may make you a target.

During the Poker Tournament

If you’re an experienced online player, your skills will probably transfer to the live game better than you might think. World champions such as Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer were primarily online players before winning the World Series of Poker.
WSOP bracelet winners like Scott Fischman and Michael Gracz were Internet players before their live tournament successes as well. If you’re new to tournaments altogether, chalk this event up to a learning experience and relax. Cashing in one’s first live tournament is the exception, not the rule.

After the Poker Tournament

If you cash in the tournament, congratulations! Your first foray into the world of live tournament play is a success. Be sure to leave a tip for the dealers. Three percent is usually appropriate. If you fail to cash, don’t worry. There will be plenty more opportunities to make the money in the future.
Meanwhile, remember that you can often qualify for live poker tournaments on the online poker sites.