1 month in

L

Lutra555

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Total posts
9
Chips
0
Hello! I've been playing poker for about a month now and play a $30 freezout home game every Friday, Casino tournament $75 freezout every Sunday and then play $1/$2 cash games in the casino every Sat and also play online $1/$2 games.
The home game i won the first week but not done very well the last 3 weeks. in the tourny I came 20th out of 80 the first week and 9th the second and I'm losing a lot in cash games and online. I bluff too much and also get attached to the second best hand way to often. Last night I was all in $150 in a casino cash game with the second best hand again so time for a rethink.

What would you advise the fastest way to learn is? I'm reading books and I understand and apply pot odds vs hand odds although do not really understand how to get a persons range. I can often end up all in with the second best hand or a bluff which means I never have chance to build anything!
I have money to play these stakes but I'm wondering if it is better used in lower stakes first? I play the lowest stakes at the casino but maybe I don't play cash at the casino anymore and keep it online?

Thanks!!
 
steveiam

steveiam

CardsChat Elite
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 9, 2013
Total posts
3,625
Chips
0
I would stick to one game or the other, Either cash or tourney,Live or online. They all have different stratergies and you need to master one before you lose all your bankroll.
 
T

TheMachineCheck

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Total posts
39
Chips
0
Get discipline, and play only 1 variant.
 
D

DrSparky

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 26, 2013
Total posts
108
Chips
0
Hi,

I think you need to come down in stakes...

I assume that by $1/$2 those are the blind levels and that the buy in is therefore around $100-$200?

I've been playing for a little longer than you (Maybe 2-3 months) and would still not venture out of the 2NL games ($0.01/$0.02 blinds) until I was sure over a decent number of hands that I was a "winning player" and then go up in stakes. It particularly worries me that you're struggling with hand reading, yet playing at a level where most of the good competition will be very good at this crucial skill...

If you do come down in levels (and I hope you do choose to) remember at the lower stakes it's going to be ABC poker, but it'll give you plenty of brain power to concentrate building up your hand reading and other skills...

As for the fastest way to learn, post some hands on the hand analysis threads here - I have found them to be invaluable, and carry on with your reading...
 
micalupagoo

micalupagoo

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Total posts
7,476
Awards
2
Chips
159
Ive heard $1/2 live is like the smaller stakes online, so Id drop to 5/10c or 10/25cent blinds for awhile and see how you do

and as stated above, different games have dif strategys, so its best to pick 1 and work on mastering it before trying another,
do you prefer tournies or cash??

you have to watch a player and see his habits (very tight/super agro) to get an idea of his range, tight ppl only get in with the optimum hands while looser players have a broad range of hands they will bet with.
do you 3bet much? do you chase str8s/flushes much?
DONT bluff so much...

keep us updated on your progress
 
L

Lutra555

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Total posts
9
Chips
0
im trying to find a situation where I can play as much poker as possible. I like playing tourneys live but in London there arent many live tourneys and so i move onto the cash table... online is a different experience i feel but i can probably get rid of some of my leaks by playing more games online? Is it so important I pick one area only? Also online vs live is there different skill sets required?

For analysing your games do you guys use HM2 or something else? This is an area which you cannot get live and im sure will improve my play!

I undersold myself on the range aspect, I can tell if someone is loose / tight but the middle ground can be difficult when they really mix up the play. Ive found the better players really do mix it up and change based on the situation so its often difficult to put them on a hand!
 
Dorugremon

Dorugremon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Total posts
456
Awards
1
Chips
19
Lutra555 said:
What would you advise the fastest way to learn is?

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

Pick one game and stick with that one. With a month of experience, you can't afford to jump from one game to another. If that local casino you mentioned has limit Hold 'Em, then I'd advise you play that. It will give you the opportunity to work on your game without taking the risk of going bust by one mistake (and you will make a lot of them) that costs you your whole stack.

Right now, I'd suggest you work on fixing those "bluffitis" and "callitis" leaks. These are quite common among newbies, and must be mastered if you're serious about not being a fish. Those are the two biggest fish plays: looking for any excuse to justify a call, and desperation bluffing.

As for ranging your opponents, this comes with observation, especially when you're out of the pot, and have nothing else to think about. What are they raising, and out of what positions? You need to ask yourself that. How do they play on the flop? Fourth St? The River? Win or lose, what kinds of hands are they showing down? Does your opponent show single pairs, win or lose? Two pairs or better only? If showing a straight or flush, how did they play the previous streets leading up to the river action? All of this helps in getting a line on a player.

At first, I'd suggest picking one player, and really studying that player until you can predict what he'll do. Then add another to watch. It'll come, and you'll be able to get a line on all your players.

"I'm reading books and I understand and apply pot odds vs hand odds although do not really understand how to get a persons range".

Books only help if studied, not simply read. That means going over the material, applying the concepts under fire. Then go back and see what worked, and what didn't and try to see why. You should be going back, rereading, and really studying until you can say you truly understand what the author is telling you.
 
naruto_miu

naruto_miu

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Total posts
12,123
Awards
5
Chips
1
^^^^Limit holdem is by far the best way to pick up on hand reading skills and cheapest way also...

As to the other leaks, Dorugremon hit it on the dot...gl and keep us updated
 
L

Lutra555

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Total posts
9
Chips
0
Dorugremon said:
Pick one game and stick with that one. With a month of experience, you can't afford to jump from one game to another. If that local casino you mentioned has limit Hold 'Em, then I'd advise you play that. It will give you the opportunity to work on your game without taking the risk of going bust by one mistake (and you will make a lot of them) that costs you your whole stack.

Right now, I'd suggest you work on fixing those "bluffitis" and "callitis" leaks. These are quite common among newbies, and must be mastered if you're serious about not being a fish. Those are the two biggest fish plays: looking for any excuse to justify a call, and desperation bluffing.

As for ranging your opponents, this comes with observation, especially when you're out of the pot, and have nothing else to think about. What are they raising, and out of what positions? You need to ask yourself that. How do they play on the flop? Fourth St? The River? Win or lose, what kinds of hands are they showing down? Does your opponent show single pairs, win or lose? Two pairs or better only? If showing a straight or flush, how did they play the previous streets leading up to the river action? All of this helps in getting a line on a player.

At first, I'd suggest picking one player, and really studying that player until you can predict what he'll do. Then add another to watch. It'll come, and you'll be able to get a line on all your players.

"I'm reading books and I understand and apply pot odds vs hand odds although do not really understand how to get a persons range".

Books only help if studied, not simply read. That means going over the material, applying the concepts under fire. Then go back and see what worked, and what didn't and try to see why. You should be going back, rereading, and really studying until you can say you truly understand what the author is telling you.
Click to expand...

Great reply thanks!! There are only no limit tables in the casino but there are £1/£1 tables which do not have the same level of player but there is still the risk to my stack.. Is there a big difference between online and live? If I only play live I will be playing once or twice a week only which isn't enough to improve.
On reads I will focus on one player first. I found there is so much to remember in a game and as none of it is natural I end up not focussing on anything!! Really appreciate the detail!

Do you guys use holdem manager for online tracking?
 
Arjonius

Arjonius

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Total posts
3,167
Chips
0
Given that you've only been playing a month, learn to play a solid TAG game. Ideally, you'd have started that way, but with luck, your bad habits won't be too hard to break. This should be enough to win at the lowest stakes, after which you can look at making adjustments to increase your win rate.
 
Top