Your First Live Poker Tournament

Interested in poker but unsure about walking into a poker room? This guide is for you.

You do not need to look like an expert.

Every experienced player once sat down for the first time. Start with the basics: understand the tournament format and buy-in, arrive early, tell the poker desk it is your first event, and ask the dealer when you are unsure about procedure.

Before you go

Check registration requirements, start time, expected duration and the rules of the venue. Set a fixed entertainment budget before you arrive and never chase losses.

At the table

Protect your cards, act only when it is your turn, make bets clearly, and ask the dealer procedural questions. You are allowed to be new.

What Girl.Poker wants to solve

The gap between “I’d like to try poker” and actually taking a seat can feel much larger than it is. We want experienced women to help us make that first step easier.