How long did you play until your bankroll started growing consistently

playtheman

playtheman

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Ive been playing for nearly 4 months online.

I started with 10 dollars, got to 60 dollars playing sngs went down to 40 dollars.

Switched to cash and have been staying on the same amount for the last 3 months.

So for the amount i win, i have leaks and lose, i know this and im reading more poker theory instead of just playing without knowing about different techniques and hand ranges etc.

So my question is , how long did it take you to become profitable. and what was the clicking point in your head that changed you from a loser to a winner

thanks
 
Cafeman

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Nearly 2 years.


EDIT: clicking point... ummm I don't think I had one really, just a slow realisation that no one really has anything, so we can bet and call a lot more than I once thought.
 
LD1977

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I am pretty new too (started mid December 2012).

Have been mildly winning in 2NL from the start but when I went up to 5NL I stagnated for a while (BR did rise due to good overall strategy but I lost $$$ in cash games).

Big breakthrough for me (last few weeks) was when I started playing speculative hands consistently. Seems I have been leaving way too much money on the table before that.

You didn't say which site you use, but generally 2NL + freerolls should keep the BR progressing slowly unless you spew like mad.

* I earned 130$ (!!!) in the first month of playing this way, although to be fair I had lots of time and there weren't many people around (FTP just launched + holidays), meaning I was destroying freerolls and merry drunks spewed like mad in cash games. Was running above EV too :D happy days!
 
playtheman

playtheman

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Nearly 2 years.


EDIT: clicking point... ummm I don't think I had one really, just a slow realisation that no one really has anything, so we can bet and call a lot more than I once thought.

I find it hard to call with top pair as i have been stung by idiots that make 2 pair on the turn/river

do you have an example when you called when you would have folded when staring out?
 
playtheman

playtheman

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I am pretty new too (started mid December 2012).

Have been mildly winning in 2NL from the start but when I went up to 5NL I stagnated for a while (BR did rise due to good overall strategy but I lost $$$ in cash games).

Big breakthrough for me (last few weeks) was when I started playing speculative hands consistently. Seems I have been leaving way too much money on the table before that.

You didn't say which site you use, but generally 2NL + freerolls should keep the BR progressing slowly unless you spew like mad.

* I earned 130$ (!!!) in the first month of playing this way, although to be fair I had lots of time and there weren't many people around (FTP just launched + holidays), meaning I was destroying freerolls and merry drunks spewed like mad in cash games. Was running above EV too :D happy days!


i play pkr and they have banned me from 2nl. not sure why.

speculative hands? can i get an example of this?
 
playtheman

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Cafeman

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I don't know whether there is any free software. I use Holdem Manager 2, and there is a free trial, but you have to pay for it in the end. Maybe someone else knows of a free one?
 
playtheman

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I don't know whether there is any free software. I use Holdem Manager 2, and there is a free trial, but you have to pay for it in the end. Maybe someone else knows of a free one?

dude, how do you play pocket 7s like that,

i get caught by people with 2pair or a weak q or jack.

or im folding because they are scare cards. im not sure yet
 
Cafeman

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EDIT!!!! just looked over your hand, how the **** do you do that?
Well villain had a tendency. So what is he value betting on the river? People never value bet thin enough either, so you often ought to ask yourself, does he value bet that Q on the river more than he bluffs all his bullshit? lol, you might be surprised at the answer in a lot of cases. That hand was close though yeah, cos I don't beat some of his bluffs. There are other more clear cut examples, but basically be aware that the number one trait of weak players (imo) is to bluff more than they are prepared to value bet thinly.
 
Cafeman

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I'm not suggesting you turn into a calling station, but sometimes you will be folding when you ought to be calling. More importantly though, sometimes you will be checking back when you should be value betting!

Value betting is key to winning at poker. Understand value betting and other things start to slot into place too.
 
playtheman

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I'm not suggesting you turn into a calling station, but sometimes you will be folding when you ought to be calling. More importantly though, sometimes you will be checking back when you should be value betting!

Value betting is key to winning at poker. Understand value betting and other things start to slot into place too.

I think i need to look at my value bet usage. sometimes people call to the river and the last card puts a possible flush out and i check it. and they check it and muck.

it always seems they call with rag hands when im bluffing and they fold when i have the nuts. (that spidey-fish tingling)
 
NateVest

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It depends on when you run into a poker player's worst enemy, variance. It took me several months to establish a bankroll on every US friendly skin without depositing. It is one of the hardest things to do, but in my opinion sharpens many aspects of your games, most importantly bankroll management. Good luck in your quest in building a roll. Best advice I could give is have both short term (daily and weekly) and long term goals (monthly, quarterly, and annually). I started using an excel spreadsheet to show where my strengths and weaknesses were, and to see where I had major upswings and downswings and try to see what contributed to those swings.
 
dudemanstan

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I have not been playing long, but got a lot of tips from a friend, I am only up to 33.67 right now in freerolls from a little over a month ago, and I am about to start buying in now. I think I have figured it out after hitting 11 final tables in a row, but those are freeroll tables, so we will see, good luck me :), and good luck you!
 
playtheman

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I have not been playing long, but got a lot of tips from a friend, I am only up to 33.67 right now in freerolls from a little over a month ago, and I am about to start buying in now. I think I have figured it out after hitting 11 final tables in a row, but those are freeroll tables, so we will see, good luck me :), and good luck you!

dude thats great ,11 in a row even in freerolls thats good that you havent been donked out by some idiot.

i play 1 dollar buy in tourneys and cash games.
i came second in a tourney last week. 641 people.
need to do this again lol

i think something i know but forget a lot is not to be so willing to go all in.
 
EvertonGirl

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I have not been playing long, but got a lot of tips from a friend, I am only up to 33.67 right now in freerolls from a little over a month ago, and I am about to start buying in now. I think I have figured it out after hitting 11 final tables in a row, but those are freeroll tables, so we will see, good luck me :), and good luck you!

That is good going getting to 11 FT's in a freeroll, how many people entered in the freeroll?
 
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I've been playing for around 3 years and I'd say it took me around 2 years to become a consistent winner over each month.

Clicking points were when I really started to think about hand ranges and betting patterns and actually thinking more on each hand as opposed to just clicking buttons. I also think the other turning point was dropping the amount of tables I played as I finally realised playing 10+ tables was optimal for me personally and it never actually improved.
 
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for me It was being relaxed, finally getting a large enough bankroll where im like 'hey ive got a 500 doller cushion.
and 500 to go to war, (at a sensible stake)

if I dont have the roll I get anxious and try to rush winning which leads to risk because i want that milestone so bad

dedicate yourself the days time slot. if you have a losing day finish dont chase or tilt. Reflect on the days biggest action and decide whether its variance or an error.

better still get yourself a success guideline - for example pin this kind of thing to your pc screen and do a check list to ensure you playing effeciently

Observe table at all times, position is there to help you, relax, know your table image and adjust accordingly, 'test the water for information - float players to test their resiliance, keep your more agressive plays such as re raise post flop till you are confident you can control the players
 
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I played only freerolls only for aboout several mounths. Than it took me another year to become a winning player at 2 NL. I think i would had probabely reduce at a quarter of that time if i had someone to guide me and if i had time to learn.
Now i have almost 3 years since i started and i can say that i crush the micros up to 10NL. My next step is to get 100 Buy-ins for 25NL and make the next step. What i found is that BR is probabely the most important thing that i have to take care about. After depleting my BR several times (trying to get shots at higher stakes to win back my money i lost at lower stakes) i learned that being a BR nit is not a bad ideea. My problem is that i cashed out parts of my BR because i really needed money and went back to 5NL 2 times to make 100 BI for 10NL.
But now is like a walk in the park .
 
Speedexas

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I and what was the clicking point that changed you from a loser to a winner

thanks

Find GRIPSED channel in youtube . Watch his vids and your game will improve in no time. When i started watching his vids from losing player i started being breakeven. And when i finally fixed NO PATIENCE leak i started winning consistently. GL to you.
 
dolchinkov

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Hi!Same story with me.In the begining,read and read,after this - practice.But all the money i win is from tourney and give them back on the CASH tables.I wonder where is better to play!?!.Maybe just stop playing on cash.:musicus:
 
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madethegrade

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meant to take 10,000 hours to master something.
 
playtheman

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Find GRIPSED channel in youtube . Watch his vids and your game will improve in no time. When i started watching his vids from losing player i started being breakeven. And when i finally fixed NO PATIENCE leak i started winning consistently. GL to you.

Nice heads up on grisped

thanks
 
ElPorito

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Ive been playing for nearly 4 months online.

I started with 10 dollars, got to 60 dollars playing sngs went down to 40 dollars.

Switched to cash and have been staying on the same amount for the last 3 months.

So for the amount i win, i have leaks and lose, i know this and im reading more poker theory instead of just playing without knowing about different techniques and hand ranges etc.

So my question is , how long did it take you to become profitable. and what was the clicking point in your head that changed you from a loser to a winner

thanks

Personally I don't think you should be playing cash games yet mainly because you don't really have a bankroll but also because you've only played for 4 months. You need more experience and a bigger bankroll to be profitable at the cash tables even if you plan to start playing at .2/.4.

I think while you continue to study poker "strategy" you should focus on "bankroll builders" where you can handle the swings a lot better. Stick to SnG's or DON's for now since those formats are easier to beat and your variance is lower.

Those games are also great to try out your strategy and other things you've read about without risking busting your roll.

I would also recommend that you get a tracker like HoldemManager or PokerTracker to get better stats about yourself but also about your opponents. It will allow you to review your sessions, find some of your leaks and fix them and show you your mistakes.

The tracker will also provide you with valuable information about your opponents which you'll need if you plan on playing cash games and the stats will also give you an edge in your SnG's.

Enjoy the ride ;)
 
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i played first live cash game, and that didnt went well, but online I won from the start.
 
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