Visiting a newly opened poker room can be a lot of fun, but it is a different experience from playing in an established room. Many time, players will imagine what they will find and end up being completely wrong in their expectations. Here are just a few things that you can expect to find:
Bad Players
Calling them “bad” players may be a little harsh, but new poker rooms tend to attract inexperienced players. Expect to go up against novices who play hands that they should fold while making recklessly large bets. This can be a blessing or a curse depending on the kind of player that you are. If you’re looking for a challenge against experienced players, being in a room full of novices is annoying, but it can also be a good thing if you’re looking for some easy victories. Keep in mind that you cannot expect this to last forever. In time, the truly bad players will either improve or move on to other rooms.
A Bigger Variance
A new poker room will likely be full of novice players who make large bets and play high-stakes games. This kind of playing could be used to your advantage if you are an experienced player. In this type of atmosphere, you’ll see much bigger swings than usual when you play. This means that you will want to be in more pots than you would if you were playing against more experienced players. Bring a larger bankroll than usual, and be prepared to play more aggressively. As a more experienced player, you have higher chances of winning against the novice players making the big bets.
A Different Projected Image
Those who play in your usual rooms most likely know about your playing style and will strategize accordingly. This will not be the case when you’re in a new room. Other players may be able to read you, but it will all be based on superficial observations; they won’t know how you usually play. This means that you will have to be conscious of the image that you present in this new room. You could use the other players’ unfamiliarity with you to your advantage, or you could start to establish a reputation if you plan to keep coming back to this new room.
Regardless of how you play, try to be as kind and helpful as possible. You may be an aggressive player who cleans up at a table, but you also have to remember that this is just a game. Be nice, and treat the other players with respect if you want the same respect in return.
