Advice for a determined n00bie

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RawButDetermined

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Hi Guys,

I wanna play online. I'm a total n00b--but not necessarily to gambling: I made some SERIOUS money in the 80's counting BJ cards (and even using two different BJ computers, and even reading dealers for hole card when they used to look on 10/A up). I make money every week trading e-minis. But I want to branch out. My plan: learn from the ground up, prove myself at the lowest sensible stakes, and try to work my way up the stake levels. Cash games. I'm not interested in tournaments until I can prove to myself I can win at cash games.

Here are my questions:

1) At least at lower limit games, is it enough to be able to win to a) make decent general judgment about player types: loose, tight, weak, b) really know the odds of the game and the "proper" playing strategies? c) Have good judgment and experience with this sort of thing. Or...is that not enough. Another way to put it is: are there lots of suckers playing lower limit games?

2) How far up the stakes scale can the traits listed above get you?

3) What are the best online sites (for a US player), where "best" means a) I'm gonna get my money and winnings when I ask for them, b) rakes are reasonably low--to make playing small stakes potentially profitable.

4) What are the best books to read to learn the important strategies, odds, etc?

5) Any software suggested for research about odds/hands/strategies?

6) What ARE the lowest sensible stakes, and what sort of bankroll does a serious player need for them?

7) What's the best game/s to study and try to start with? I've watched a lot of the pros on youtube playing Hold'em (no limit) and PLO. I would probably like to start with either or both of those.

Thanks. I really appreciate it. I'm a guy with general abilities that should help me, but I'm TOTALLY clueless about how to get started right, and what to expect.
 
twoturntablez

twoturntablez

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I'll have a crack at your questions.

1. It should be, but after learning those things, I still cant make it work! Yes there are suckers at micro stakes.
2. Errrrr.
3. Carbon and Black chip for US players I hear.
4. Ed Miller and David Sklansky No limit Holdem, maybe Harrington on holdem, these may be getting out of date....
5. Pokerstove
6. 2nl. 100bb at 2c bb.
7. LHE NLHE PLO.
 
Arjonius

Arjonius

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1. At the lowest stakes, all it takes to win is giving back less than people throw in your lap. This is not a huge exaggeration. It's not a recipe for optimizing profitability either, but in terms of getting to where you make some profit, making fewer poor decisions than your opponents is enough.

2. You can beat at least NL25 with a solid, relatively straightforward game. As you move up, it will help to learn how to select tables that fit your game better.

3. Unless you're grinding a lot of hands, rakeback should be looked at more as a bonus than as a source of profit. You should look to make the large majority of your profits from your opponents by being better than they are.

6. Depends on your overall finances plus how much money you're willing / able to allocate for poker, how much you're willing to lose while you build your game to where you can make the kind of money you want to, etc. That said, I usually suggest starting at the lowest level available, not just to minimize potential loss but also to build your game from the ground up.

7. Try different games, then focus on whichever one(s) you prefer.
 
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Goathair

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As far as site, we are pretty limited in the US. I'm on a couple Merge sites, and Bovada.

As far as software, something like Pokertracker or Holdem Manager for tracking. If you are going to play cash games, i recommend checking out Leakbuster at some point. They also make a program called Ace Poker Drills that is pretty cool for drilling equity situations, and learning odds/outs, and it comes with an equity calculator that i think is a bit better than Pokerstove. Has a few extra cool features.

Maybe check out Blackrain79's Crushing the microstakes book. There are definitely more advanced books, but he has played a ridiculous number of hands at the micros, and kills it. so might be a way to get started.
 
Kenzie 96

Kenzie 96

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Different game & goals here, so no advice, but based on your initial questions, I like your chances. Good luck.
 
bullishwwd

bullishwwd

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WELCOME !

Great to have you join us.
 
tonybill76

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Good piece of advice is to try to stay disciplined. You might think you are getting a handle at the low limits and think you are ready to move up based on a hot streak at the tables or just not getting a rush out of the play at the low levels. This will kill your bankroll. You could be doing really well, but one or two bad losses at the table will really cripple you, then you think "one more buy in will get it back". It won't. I've made that mistake with tourney's. Stay within your bankroll. Let it grow over time. Maybe it will take longer than you want it to, but oh well....
 
MadMaddie

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. Let it grow over time. Maybe it will take longer than you want it to, but oh well....
This is what I have been instructed to do and for me to look it as being schooling. Putting in my time for an education.

I am just starting out too but I think my goals are prolly much different than your's are. I just want to have fun & hope to win a bit along the way. If I win more than a bit that is okay too, ha ha :)

Good luck on your poker adventure.:)
 
JCgrind

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..

Hi Guys,

I wanna play online. I'm a total n00b--but not necessarily to gambling: I made some SERIOUS money in the 80's counting BJ cards (and even using two different BJ computers, and even reading dealers for hole card when they used to look on 10/A up). I make money every week trading e-minis. But I want to branch out. My plan: learn from the ground up, prove myself at the lowest sensible stakes, and try to work my way up the stake levels. Cash games. I'm not interested in tournaments until I can prove to myself I can win at cash games.

Here are my questions:

1) At least at lower limit games, is it enough to be able to win to a) make decent general judgment about player types: loose, tight, weak, b) really know the odds of the game and the "proper" playing strategies? c) Have good judgment and experience with this sort of thing. Or...is that not enough. Another way to put it is: are there lots of suckers playing lower limit games?

tons of suckers at every level. games obv get progressively harder as you go up stakes, but i think theres plenty of tards to be found up to 100NL

2) How far up the stakes scale can the traits listed above get you?

^

3) What are the best online sites (for a US player), where "best" means a) I'm gonna get my money and winnings when I ask for them, b) rakes are reasonably low--to make playing small stakes potentially profitable.

4) What are the best books to read to learn the important strategies, odds, etc?

poker books get outdated quickly, especially those focused on ring games. your best bet is to learn from experience and the experience of others by posting hands here for analysis etc and reading more experienced players hands and threads

5) Any software suggested for research about odds/hands/strategies?

pokerstove and equilab for odds etc. best bet for 'strategies' so to speak would probably be 'leakbuster'

6) What ARE the lowest sensible stakes, and what sort of bankroll does a serious player need for them?

start from 2NL and just work your way up following a proper BRM plan

7) What's the best game/s to study and try to start with? I've watched a lot of the pros on youtube playing Hold'em (no limit) and PLO. I would probably like to start with either or both of those.

i think its definitely a better idea to learn holdem before you try to figure out PLO. i wouldnt worry about limit games either as i doubt youre going to be able to win enough in these to clear rake by enough to actually make any money

Thanks. I really appreciate it. I'm a guy with general abilities that should help me, but I'm TOTALLY clueless about how to get started right, and what to expect.
 
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