Great lesson on tilting only cost me around two bucks

TEG2300

TEG2300

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I have been building a bankroll again from NADA. It is so ridiculous but I kind of find it a point of pride that I have never deposited. I also try to learn the BRM I am going to need in the future if I ever start putting 2 and two together.

All that to say I went off the rails last night!!! I had been really disciplined, playing on Carbon I had saved step tickets then attacked the step 3. got a win early on and waited until I had another to move on to the Bumble Bee tourneys......

Insert three weeks of adjusting play to the somewhat foreign grind and shove method I found to work for the aggressive format of these little SnGs. So I was just hovering around $2-$2.50. Well then I stayed up too late playing that combined with reading an old article by Chris Ferguson about playing up from zero and this morning my BR was at $.34.
You see two of my rules are:

1. Only play when fresh basically don't try to play my way out of a slump. Walk away go for a swim, read a book, do ANYTHING. Last night I proved why that's a good rule for me.

2. "Pretend each one of those matchsticks is worth $1,000" That's what my Grandad said when he was teaching me to play as a very young man. I was to young to pee straight much less know how to bet one in five card draw. The basic principle is one that I really try to hold to, I treat the game the same regardless of stakes.

Well last night I played while tired and got preoccupied with the slow rate of growth in my BR. I went out of my depth were I couldn't handle the killer variance that I know is present in low level SnGs then when I got low (dropping below $1.50) I panicked and sat down at a cash game with what amounted to a flag waving in the wind stated I had no business at the table.

Ah the struggles of maturity. I welcome all advice not only as to play but also good sites to play for free to build from nothing.

Most of all remember folks it is a game;
a beautifully mathematical, psychological and social game
but a game none the less and if we aren't having fun what is the point.

I mean really any one of us smart enough to make a living a poker is probably smart enough to make a living doing just about anything. We play because it is a blast so I must remember when I make choices that take that away from it I am disrespecting the game that I am so glad my Gramps took the time to teach me.
 
micromachine

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Only cost you 2 bucks...but that was 3 weeks worth of play!!

I don't know how you guys can have the patience to build up from zero and I don't get the whole "won't deposit as a point of pride" thing. Why would depositing a little to get you going and save you weeks or months of grinding micro SNGs vs donkeys hurt your pride?!

You did learn a valuable lesson, point 1 is crucial to bankroll building.
 
Poof

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I don't know how you guys can have the patience to build up from zero

I will admit I have never deposited, but do not have the patience for the public freerolls or steps. It is not hard to do if you can find private games and do it that way.

A great lesson learned TEG and it seems you have the basics of BRM down so once you get going, you should do great.
Good luck.
 
TEG2300

TEG2300

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Private Games?

Poofy how do I get into any private games?
 
Ezekiel162

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Don't get discouraged Teg'. Same thing happened here. I won 3 dollars on FunSteps originally and got thrown in the dumpster when I tried to use it... and I was playing "fresh"... Put me on a serious meltdown(tilt) for awhile because of the amount of time I spent also... Since then I am back up to $1.30 w/ a $11 tourney ticket in reserve (5th on a 5000 man freeroll). Won't use any of this until I've built up more (than I had b4 anyways) and re-think what I did wrong b4 (...aside from just BRM because I thought I learned that when I would BR 20+ tickets at a time always b4 going up a lvl). Variance can be a b*tch sometimes. I've been looking for private games and smaller freerolls as well...
 
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commanderpants

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Great lesson! At least you have the framework for good br management down. All that's needed is perseverance now.
 
A

AllInDom

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I've been doing the same thing for over a year. Playing free rolls at many sites. I build a bankroll then loose it all. I may eventually give it up. I do not seem to be making any head way. Years ago I did deposit but lost it all. When I tried to withdraw about $300.00 the site gave me a really hard time. I'm now leery of depositing...
 
Mortis

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Good post, good lesson!

Only cost you 2 bucks...but that was 3 weeks worth of play!!

I don't know how you guys can have the patience to build up from zero and I don't get the whole "won't deposit as a point of pride" thing. Why would depositing a little to get you going and save you weeks or months of grinding micro SNGs vs donkeys hurt your pride?!

You did learn a valuable lesson, point 1 is crucial to bankroll building.


Patience is the key to becoming a successful poker player, imo. Well, unless your name is Phil Hellmuth. Though, I'm no poker pro.

It is a bit of a pride moment when you build something out of nothing. I still remember beeming the whole day after taking 26th out of 2700 in a freeroll and winning $2 in my first online cash and soon after, winning my first online tournament in a freeroll field of 2700 for $15. A month later, winning my first CC freeroll for $54, and building that up to $400, before I used bad BRM and blew it all in the Mini-FTOPS.

To me, I started playing just to play, learning a lot along the way and not risking any money.
 
A

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Poofy how do I get into any private games?

Starting here with the freeroll club and any games offered but also look around at other forums' games and you may find some that can help even more with money added, etc. Check your private tournament link in any poker room software. There are also some survey for points for "freeroll" entry forums. Grinding up from a small starting roll is one of the hardest things to do in poker and #1 is the key. You've got to walk away sometimes no matter how good you think your game is if lady luck isn't on your side at that time. You've got a good start and depositing isn't evil or anything if you do want to skip playing the donkfest little SNGs that really aren't good for your game anyway.
 
Tino11

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You say it only cost you $2. So what value do you put on your time? If you went to work and your boss said, " I pay $5 an hour" is that enough for your time and effort or not?
If your time has any value at all, then I think this lesson cost you a great deal more than $2.
Just sayin'
 
Demonomania

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look around at other forums' games and you may find some that can help even more with money added, etc. Check your private tournament link in any poker room software. There are also some survey for points for "freeroll" entry forums.


Shhhhh! Keep the field narrow. (see you @ Cake tonight) :p
 
B

BlueNowhere

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I have been building a bankroll again from NADA. It is so ridiculous but I kind of find it a point of pride that I have never deposited.


That is a really bad reason to avoid depositing. If I had $0 on PS right now it would be so +ev to deposit a few hundred so I could start playing again. Unless you think you can't win at micros it's just going to be so far from optimal trying to build up from zero.
 
TEG2300

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Thanks for all the comments guys. I really appreciate it. As far as my time goes I have been doing this as a pastime just super casual. I do agree that time is valuable.
 
TEG2300

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Little update I have been playing pretty well up to $0.96. I also wanted to get input on odds calculators and H.U.D.s what do you guys think I have been playing on Carbon exclusively, as I am in the U.S. and just got started again, so I just downloaded there odds calculator. I have never used one and I think the only thing it was good for at this level was keeping me from getting bored while I waited for a playable hand.
 
Arjonius

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I've never understood the taking pride in never having deposited thing either, even though my roll was built from freeroll winnings. I did deposit $150, but never used that money because I immediately won some in a freeroll, which I then built up to over $500 in a few weeks, at which point I took back my original $150, and I've never put money into my roll again.

Assuming you have enough game to be +EV at low stakes, it's simply counter-productive not to deposit. Being +EV means you stand to make money. So by not depositing, you hold back your progress by forcing yourself to grind up your roll just because you don't want to reach into your pocket to give yourself the opportunity to move up faster.
 
TheGenera1

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move your whooping great big role over to stars and use that 0.96 to buy into a 2nl zoom game. Wait for AA and shove. Repeat till big role.

Although seriously gota admire you for playing poker for weeks on end for 2 dollars. I couldn't play poker for a day without some financial incentive in there. I highly reccomend you deposit around $20 if you really want to keep it small, and play the 25cent sng's on stars.
 
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Full tilt BR (pre BF) = $267 +
Carbon BR = $91 +
Black chip = $36 +
Not fantastic amounts of money , but all from zero
(no deposits).
It's a slow grind , but lots of fun.
The 'tortoise and the hare' comes to mind , I think I'm a tortoise ,
which one are you ?
good luck OP.
 
TEG2300

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Can I play pokerstars in the states? Also what is Blackchip, that is just another skin for merge right? doesn't that mean the are the same games with a different look?
 
Ezekiel162

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I calculate in my head so I use it as a matter of convenience but the odds calculator HUD is pretty cool if you know how to read the stats. I use it when I don't want to concentrate so much on observing the players. It even maintains a database on players you go up against on a regular as long as you have it on at the the time. Look into the https://www.cardschat.com/forum/poker-software-tools-61/carbons-new-hud-calculator-208988/? thread and review http://www.carbonpoker.ag/poker-odds-calculator/user-guide.html

It has helped me immensely on the stats I wasn't utilizing before... The way your doing it IS going to take more time, BUT, in the end you'll be a much better player... :)
 
Demonomania

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Can I play Pokerstars in the states? Also what is Blackchip, that is just another skin for merge right? doesn't that mean the are the same games with a different look?

Pokerstars is still off limits to US players unfortunately.

Yes, Blackchip is another Merge skin. & yes, the same games are spread out throughout all skins on that network.
Note: All skins with The Merge Network are slightly different. You'll have to browse around until you find the room that best suits you. (also, it's very common to have accounts on multiple skins)

We also have Cake Network, Bovada, America's Cardroom, BetOnline, and probably a few others that I'm forgetting.
 
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TEG2300

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If it's the same games on all the "skins" what difference does it make?
 
Demonomania

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If it's the same games on all the "skins" what difference does it make?

Some hold different promotions. Various skins slightly alter their VIP program as well.

But it's best to stick to whichever room you have rakeback with, if any.
 
TEG2300

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Little update bankroll is up to .... drum roll please....

$5.46

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Might pull it out and get a pack of gum. Hee hee
 
Ezekiel162

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(clapping)
Good stuff... How'd you go about getting there?
 
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