Advice for a beginner.

bricht

bricht

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Hi! I just stated playing recently and I have 2 questions.
Firstly, do I really need to dig through Hold'em Manager and Poker Tracker when just starting to play tinyest micro stakes poker for the first time? Any other software you would advise for a beginner?
Secondly, there is a cash game table at a local casino which has 0.25/ 0.25 blinds and it seems a lot easyer playing drunk guys there and having a chance of scoring 25-150 pounds an evening rather than playing the micro stakes online.
What is your experience with playing live game versus Online?
It just really seems that by playing really tight and relatively aggressive game I can take those guys. Usual buy-in is ~20 pounds however.
 
c9h13no3

c9h13no3

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Firstly, do I really need to dig through Hold'em Manager and Poker Tracker when just starting to play tinyest micro stakes poker for the first time?
No you don't. I had made ~$500 before I invested in HEM. Poker like any sport is a game of skill, and the software will only help you refine your skills. They won't teach you the fundamentals. Buying pokerstove at $2NL is like buying a $10,000 set of golf clubs before you've played your first round of golf.

Any other software you would advise for a beginner?
The only software you really need concern yourself with when you're just starting is an equity simulator. [old link~tb] is great and easy to use. [old link~tb] can do everything pokerstove can, and more. Plus you don't have to download anything. But the interface is a little bit clunky.


Secondly, there is a cash game table at a local casino which has 0.25/ 0.25 blinds and it seems a lot easyer playing drunk guys there and having a chance of scoring 25-150 pounds an evening rather than playing the micro stakes online.
What is your experience with playing live game versus Online?
It just really seems that by playing really tight and relatively aggressive game I can take those guys. Usual buy-in is ~20 pounds however.
Live players are significantly worse than the ones you encounter online. However, you have to pay a lot higher rake, tip the dealer, and you get about 10% of the hands per hour you'd get online.

At a very low stakes game live, you'll want to watch what the rake is. At very low stakes like that, the money comes off the table very fast, typically because they have a rather large rake. These games are beatable, but when the house is taking 10% of every pot, plus jackpot, plus tips off the table every hand, it eats into your edge quickly.

Live vs. Online, they're just two very different things. You'll probably get better faster playing online. But I wouldn't ever fault anyone for wanting to play in a game where they can win easy money.
 
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arandom53

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I advise not using any software at first.You will be a better player if you make yourself pay attention and think about your actions.The info trackers give you is great but if you get used to having it all the time you will not train yourself to be as observant as you need to be.As for live VS online I play both and there is advantages and disadvantages to both.So my advice is try online and if you like it and are good keep playing and if not just stick to live.(If you do use tracking software be sure to ask your rooms admin if they approve them as some dont or only allow certain ones)hope this helps
 
bricht

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Thanks guys! Great help, BTW I think the rake in the casino is 10% capped at 15 pounds. And there is no tipping as it seems.
 
OMGITSOVER9K

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Secondly, there is a cash game table at a local casino which has 0.25/ 0.25 blinds

where are these tables?! I keep hearing about live micro cash games in the uk but yet to hear see any.
 
Arjonius

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HEM and PT are tools. They can help you if you make the effort to learn to use them appropriately.

If you plan to play much live, keep in mind that you'll have to learn to read your opponents, their styles and tendencies. Granted it's not completely the same reading people online, but if you're not used to watching, remembering and analyzing from doing it online, you may well need more time and effort to get up to speed live.
 
beanstalk

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I would do both, but expect to learn the game mostly online. You'll have trouble getting enough volume in live to see enough difficult hand situations. Don't worry about software until you know you like online enough to make it worth it.
 
sam1chips

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I agree with beanstalk. You can real all of the help books and stuff like that, but you cant really learn how to play tough situations until you actually play them. online poker gives you a great opportunity to do this, as you can play a lot more hands per hour on the internet than you can in real life.
My one piece of advice I always give is...don't put a lot of stock into your 2 cards being suited! Suited cards only increase your odds pre-flop to win by about 3%. Don't be playing a ten and a 6 just because they're both spades!
 
bricht

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Thanks, really good advice about the suited cards :D .
 
Ducky7

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I would suggest playing a fair few hands online to learn the game a little bit and learn to capitalize on others mistakes (which there are a lot at micro stakes) and then when you feel confident going to the casino if you think you will enjoy it more :) Also standards at casino's are on average worse than online :)
 
bricht

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Woohoooo! Winning good money from players worse than fish in NL2, sounds good.
 
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