Your first Irish Open? A newbies guide!

First of all, welcome! If this is your first Irish Open, then you’re in for a real treat. And if you’ve never played a live tournament before, you’ve picked the perfect place to start.

The Irish Open is world-famous for its friendly atmosphere and the emphasis really is on having fun. Europe’s longest-running poker festival is a glorious mix of cards, craic, chaos, music, laughter, bad beats, and new best friends you’ll be hugging by midnight.

From online grinder to live supremo

If you normally play online, a few things are going to feel different. But nothing beats the buzz of seeing thousands of players filling the tables in the giant Main Hall of the Royal Dublin Society. The excitement is palpable and you’ll soon get swept up in the thrill of it all.

Probably the biggest surprise for Irish Open newbies is just how much is going on away from the tables. The Irish Open is NOT like other festivals – The Craic Den players’ lounge provides a hectic roster of games, contests and live music every single night of the festival. There’s always something going on and you’ll probably be talking about your nights in the Craic Den long after the last card is dealt! For more info, check out our Craic Den story.

Spanish player Cristian Espiñeira made his Irish Open debut last year after qualifying online on PokerStars. He said: “The Irish Open has a very different kind of energy; the atmosphere was spectacular! It’s not just a big tournament; it’s an event where poker is truly celebrated and you feel part of something special from the moment you arrive. There is a great vibe among the players and impeccable organisation. It’s a very special event.”

As far as the poker goes, just follow our tips below and you’ll be “grand” as the Irish say. And don’t worry about making mistakes – mistakes happen all the time and our dealers and floor staff are always happy to help sort things out.

Pre-event prep

• Sort your travel – book your flights, bag your hotel room, learn Irish (only kidding about the last one – we speak English!!) But seriously, hotel accommodation will be under real pressure this year and flights tend to go up the longer you leave it so do get cracking on both those things. (If you’re an online qualifier, your accommodation may well be already sorted.)
• Check out the schedule – we have 86 different tournaments on this year and you can’t play them all! Obviously, if you’ve qualified for the Main Event, then you’ll play at least one starting flight in that (and the Mini Irish Open and another tourney if you’ve won a PokerStars Emerald Edition Silver Pass.) But whether you’re a qualifier or buying-in direct, you should still decide on a total budget for your tournament buy-ins – plus cash games if you’re dipping into those.
• Register in advance: the easiest way to register for any tournament is via the Luxon Pay app. This doesn’t just save you time – it’s also really convenient, enabling you to pick up your seat assignment directly at the reg desk. Do check out our article on this and create your Luxon Pay account click here.

If Luxon Pay isn’t available in your country, you can also register on-site. If you have cash (including US $, CAD $ or £ sterling) or a bank debit card, head first to the CASH DESK to swap funds for chips which you can then use for your buy-ins at the Registration Desk. I’m afraid we can’t accept credit cards or Amex. You can also get cash by using your debit card at the cash desk; on-site ATMs will restrict you to your daily withdrawal limit.

• Download the PokerStars Live app and create your profile ahead of time. PokerStars Live is the quintessential tool for players at the festival. You can just scan your unique QR code to register for any tournament in seconds. No queues, no hassle. The app also has a ton of other info including tournament schedules, buy-in info, structures and registration hours. Download the PokerStars Live app now for Apple iOS or Google Play/Android.

• Follow us on socials: We love seeing how much everyone is enjoying the event so do tag @irishpokeropen with the hashtag #irishpokeropen in your posts. Following us also means you’ll be in with a chance to win merchandise as well as keep up with all the news before, during and after the event.

Getting to the venue from Dublin Airport

The Aircoach (Route 702 / 703) runs from Dublin Airport to right outside the RDS on Merrion Road and takes around 30-40 minutes. It’s typically about €8–€13 one way. Taxis take around 20-30 minutes and cost some €30-€40.

At the Venue

The Royal Dublin Society is pretty massive, but chaotic as it may appear at first, it’s actually seamlessly organised. All the desks (Registration, Cash Desk, Qualifiers etc) are in the Main Hall and clearly sign-posted and we’ll have plenty of staff on hand to point you in the right direction if you get lost!

The main thing you need to remember is you MUST bring photo ID to register for any tournament and/or cash games. And do give yourself plenty of time on your first few days so you don’t feel rushed! Popular events will definitely have queues to register.

What to bring

• We don’t have a dress code and if you want to go “full live poker” (hoodie, shades, headphones), knock yourself out! We say wear whatever you feel most comfy in.
• A phone charger and/or power bank (although we do have power banks to rent on site if you forget.)
• Extra snacks – we have plenty of food and beverage options on site and there is a small corner shop over the road but you may need extra sustenance!
• Any meds you’re on – tournament days can be very long so make sure you have everything you need.

Live poker basics

If you’ve only ever played online, live poker is going to feel a lot slower! Be prepared for that and just enjoy the craic.

• Be patient and follow the action so you always know what’s going on and don’t act out of turn. Always wait for other players to fully complete their action before taking your turn.
• Always announce your action clearly and note that pushing a single chip forward without announcing a raise is always a call, no matter how big the chip is.
• Place your bet in one clean motion. Putting chips in separately is called string betting and not allowed.
• Protect your cards, ideally with a chip or card protector. Heaven forbid, your winning hand gets mucked accidentally!
• Keep your chips visible and neatly stacked (stacks of 20 is good). Put high-value chips at the front so they can be easily seen.
• At showdown, all hands must be turned face up.
• This year, a lot of tournaments (eg Main Event, tourneys over €3k) will have a shot clock. These are activated automatically and give you 30 seconds to act. If you need longer, you can use one of your time-bank cards to give you extra thinking time.
• One huge benefit of playing live is all the information you get – physical tells, betting rhythms and table talk.
• Remember … if you’re unsure about anything, ask the dealer. They’re there to help.

Table “etiquette”

Live poker runs best when everyone follows a few simple, unwritten rules.

• Treat other players with respect – a friendly attitude goes a long way.
• Treat the dealer with respect. They’re there to keep the game fair, accurate and moving smoothly.
• Don’t slow roll. If you know you’ve won the hand, show it without delay!
• Don’t reveal your cards during a hand, even if you’ve folded, as this could give away information.
• Avoid phone use during hands. If you need to take a call, step away from the table.
• Don’t comment on a hand in progress (whether you’re in it or not) unless you are heads-up in the pot.

Structure, breaks, and stamina

• Levels will be announced clearly by the TD – either a fixed duration or “hands per level”.
• Use breaks wisely – eat, drink water, and step outside.
• Fatigue affects decision-making more live than online — don’t underestimate it. Remember – live tournaments are a marathon, not a sprint.

Advice from those who know!

Spanish qualifier Cristian has some sage advice for newbies. He added: “Arrive with time to spare and play more than one tournament if you can. But, above all, enjoy the festival as a whole. The Irish Open is much more than just sitting down to play cards; the atmosphere and the overall experience are well worth it.”

Scottish player Andy MacKenzie, who also qualified last year via a PokerStars Emerald Edition Silver Pass, added: “The Irish Open is the best run tournament festival anywhere in the world. It’s superb! Buying into events is quick and simple, the seating plan maps are a great guide and the staff are always friendly and helpful. My advice to everyone would be ‘Plan which tournaments you want to play and manage your bankroll! Also, put a few euros aside for food and beers.’”

And our advice is: if you bust an event, don’t worry! There’s always another event, a cash game or, best of all, another chance to visit The Craic Den!

For more info and FAQs, please click here.