Beginning Improvement

[FizzbinPro 0]

So I just started playing online. All of my previous experience is my home game where everyone is really terrible, so this may as well be my first time playing. I really want to get better. I've read some books and just started on the forums here. I don't want to make this seem exactly the same as my last topic, so my real question is how much of my time with poker should be spent playing versus reading books, et al. I've only played a few nights, but I feel as though I'm thinking more and playing a little more solidly. Maybe it's just everything I've read finally being practiced.I'm playing .05/.10 NLHE on FullTilt. I've tried the same stakes NL08, but I tend to not do as well there. It's what I play with my friends, but I've studied it far less away from the table.As always, I'll listen to anything you all will take the time to give me. I think I've previously underestimated the value of experience in thinking about the game, and I'd like to hear some thoughts. Thanks in advance

[king1305 0]

Read the forums, check out the strat section, dont be afraid to ask questions or get constructive criticism.

[bull62 0]

Trust me, there is absolutely no substitute for experience. As King said, read the strat section. Read the challenge thread (from the beginning if you dare). Have thick skin when asking for advice. You won't always like what you hear. Join Cardrunners.

[Potomophobia 17]

Welcome.Reading is always good. But there is no substitute for experience. On line playing allows you to see many more hands/hour than live. So...... PLAY A LOT.I only have 2 other words to say to you: BANKROLL MANAGEMENT!Whether you play cash games or tournaments..... if you cannot manage your bankroll, you will never succeed in poker.Best of luck.

[FizzbinPro 0]

I want to try to be careful with my bankroll. I think i'll be okay if I can learn to quit, sometimes I continue to play when I get tired or frustrated. I know how stupid this is, and I'm already getting a little better, but you can call me a dumbass. I had $100, down to about $85 right now. I'm playing too high, but it's the lowest FT will go for me. I don't feel comfortable playing limit, as I never have, though I want to try experimenting with other games and other limit structures, as well as tournaments; I think I'll start all of that once I can get up to $300. I'll have to be a patient little boy. Is there a lot to say for being adept in different games, limit v nl, etc.? Obviously it doesn't hurt, but with all the games available online, maybe jack of all trades, master of none isn't doing too much for you.

[Jam-Fly 8]

experience is much more important and valuable than study. These internet pros are 'technically' better than most pros, but somehow these live guys manage to survive. That's because of experience. A guy like Scotty Nguyen won't know the maths of different situations or why he should push in a situation where it is mathematically correct to do so, but his experience will easily make up for this and he'll probs be more profitable in big MTTs than some random online MTT winner.

[dlingdling 0]

Trust me, there is absolutely no substitute for experience. As King said, read the strat section. Read the challenge thread (from the beginning if you dare). Have thick skin when asking for advice. You won't always like what you hear. Join Cardrunners.

Everything bull62 says, plus if you can connect with another member to watch your sessions for feedback, that can be great too.

[psujohn 0]

I'd guess something around 70-30 play to study. Or around that range. It'll vary by person. When you're first starting more study will help more than more play and as you progress that changes to play helping more than study.Reading is just a tiny part of study though. Watching vids is good - a lot of people learn better from watching vids than reading books. If you find someone to rail or who will rail you that's great. Also look over your sessions in PT and post hands in strat that you aren't sure you played right. Read hands in strat and give responses without reading what others have said - you'll often be wrong but it's a great way to learn.One thing - be sure you're putting in quality time at the table. That means you're not reading the forums/watching porn/IMing your friends at the same time. I'd also recommend 4 tables at the absolute max. If you're playing 12 tables you're implementing a strategy you're not really learning and adapting as you go.

[Citizen Erased 0]

Don't be afraid of criticism.Some people won't ask for advice as they're afraid at people criticising their mistakes. If you do this, you'll never learn.Also, quite a lot of people are playing $10NLHE. I am myself (AIM me if you fancy), King1305 is, and there are a lot more in the NLHE Cash forum. Also, Bull62 was there a month or so again, and is now looking at $50NLHE. Follow his advice well.New Challenge (Old Challenge). Read it. Learn from it. Do NOT try and play like the $1/$2 upwards players. ABC will suffice well.Also, you will need to be patient. Very patient.I'm sure I'll think of more later, but until then: all the best at the tables. What your screen name, btw, and I'll rail you if you fancy?

[Lucoo_ 0]

Is there a lot to say for being adept in different games, limit v nl, etc.? Obviously it doesn't hurt, but with all the games available online, maybe jack of all trades, master of none isn't doing too much for you.

I would advice you to pick 1 game and play i a lot untill you are a consistent winner there before you try other games, so you can have a main income and you can afford to spew some trying to learn other games instead of spewing your cash around trying to learn 6 games at once.

[Suited_Up 2]

Don't be afraid of criticism.Some people won't ask for advice as they're afraid at people criticising their mistakes. If you do this, you'll never learn.Also, quite a lot of people are playing $10NLHE. I am myself (AIM me if you fancy), King1305 is, and there are a lot more in the NLHE Cash forum. Also, Bull62 was there a month or so again, and is now looking at $50NLHE. Follow his advice well.New Challenge (Old Challenge). Read it. Learn from it. Do NOT try and play like the $1/$2 upwards players. ABC will suffice well.Also, you will need to be patient. Very patient.I'm sure I'll think of more later, but until then: all the best at the tables. What your screen name, btw, and I'll rail you if you fancy?

QFT

[psujohn 0]

I would advice you to pick 1 game and play i a lot untill you are a consistent winner there before you try other games, so you can have a main income and you can afford to spew some trying to learn other games instead of spewing your cash around trying to learn 6 games at once.

Agree for the most part. There are a number of advantages to learning other games. It's critical if you want to play big stakes - specially live - since the big games will require you to chase the fish to whatever they want to play and most often you'll find mixed games. But for lower limits learning other games will teach you things about your main game that you might not otherwise learn. One thing though - when your starting out don't play multiple different games in the same day without taking a decent break in between. ie don't ever play NLHE and PLO at the same time or one right after the other.

[FizzbinPro 0]

Thanks for all the help so far guys. Truly a great resource. The new challenge thing. A few have recommended it now. It's really worth reading? I get discouraged when I see a topic on page 4.67 X 10^5 that I haven't read before.By the way, i'm USS Enterprise on FullTilt. I usually play around midnight central time. Look forward to seeing some of you guys.

[FARGOpokerND 22]

Thanks for all the help so far guys. Truly a great resource. The new challenge thing. A few have recommended it now. It's really worth reading? I get discouraged when I see a topic on page 4.67 X 10^5 that I haven't read before.By the way, i'm USS Enterprise on FullTilt. I usually play around midnight central time. Look forward to seeing some of you guys.

I can't believe this whole forum offers you non-flaming replies in the two threads I've seen you make.We must all really like you!All I can do is agree with the above points, dude. Experience>>>>>Anything else.

[FizzbinPro 0]

I can't believe this whole forum offers you non-flaming replies in the two threads I've seen you make.We must all really like you!All I can do is agree with the above points, dude. Experience>>>>>Anything else.

Neither can I. I don't really care, it's not really that hard for me to read around them. Just looking for people to talk to about getting started, taking the advice I can get. I'm fine being called a dumbshit, too. Whatever I can give in return ;-)

[dlingdling 0]

The new challenge thing. A few have recommended it now. It's really worth reading? I get discouraged when I see a topic on page 4.67 X 10^5 that I haven't read before.

Read the first few pages to get the spirit of the thread...then understand that the thread's now less about getting to a particular dollar amount than sharing hands, feedback, and fashion recommendations from Mark. If I'm not checking the thread regularly, I'll just skip to the last few pages. If you have the patience to search for bull62's hand history posts over the last 6 months or so, it will be worth it because it's directly relevant to our stakes and shows someone identifying and fixing leaks in their game.

By the way, i'm USS Enterprise on FullTilt. I usually play around midnight central time. Look forward to seeing some of you guys.

I'll look for you...and sit with position.

[FARGOpokerND 22]

Here is a good link for you and any other micro-baller that is looking for serious structurally sound foundation.This link helped my game out a bunch when I made the switch to NL from PLO and it is a good read all around.http://www.pr0crast.com/2+2.NL.Anthology.v1.htm

[FizzbinPro 0]

Here is a good link for you and any other micro-baller that is looking for serious structurally sound foundation.This link helped my game out a bunch when I made the switch to NL from PLO and it is a good read all around.http://www.pr0crast.com/2+2.NL.Anthology.v1.htm

Barely into it so far, but helpful enough to make me excited to continue. Thanks, man.

[rcgs59 15]

Also Daniels new VT program should be good to try out. There is a pre test that you can take it opened my eyes to what I really didn't know about the game. It's one thing to know the principals of how the game is played but it's different when you go to applied those taught principalsbut reading a lot from the strats I found them helpful for me, and a lot of rail watching