Advice for a live player wanting to go online

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lukeellul92

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Okay, so it's starting to get a bit impractical for me to go to the casino every night to play poker as the cash games they offer are $2/$5 minimum, and my bankroll doesn't support this too well, and the cheapest tournament they offer is a monday night $100 (80+20) NLHE tournament with poor structure (20min blinds, no ante).

So, I want to deposit online and see how I go.
Now ideally I want to really get better at tournaments, that's what I find the most fun, but I also understand that cash games are a more "solid" (for lack of better word) way to make income.

I'm thinking about depositing $100 into pokerstars.
Is this enough of a bankroll to start with for microstakes cash games?
Or, if I choose to not do cash, and focus solely on Tournaments, is this enough to start with for low buy in tournaments? ($1-$3 buy in)
 
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lukeellul92

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Also, is it worth investing in a HUD? Or should this wait till I'm more advanced with my game?
 
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Xmaster

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I think 100$ is a good amount to test your skills. Play the micro buy-ins and don't forget the brm (I guess 3$ for a big tournament is rather agressiv brm). And I would also recommend a HUD. But test it first with a free trial (for example 30 days pokertracker) and don't use too much stats in the beginning. Then you will see, if it helps you and how good you play with or without HUD.
 
BentleyBoy

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Lukeelu..... To me this seems a strange approach, but hey I guess the world of poker spins both ways between live and online.

I would recommend having a look around at what offers you can get for signing up to a site, and take a view on whether you can gain anything from affiliates..... Can you get affiliate bonus from CardsChat? I don't know but I'd have to take a look.

The key is your bankroll management. Take a look at a few sites that talk about bankroll management and set your limits to ensure you don't go busto. I am sure you do this anyway, but just in case.

Don't just dive in to the first idea, but scout around, there are loads of review sites, including here at CC which gives advice on the different sites that may help you choose.

As for software, again, good advice above to shop around and choose one that you like and does what you want it to.

Whatever you end up doing, good luck and enjoy!
 
sunirico

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Hold your horses!!! Good thing you are asking first and I hope you haven't registered to any sites yet! You only get one chance at this, there is only 1 first time deposit bonus so you better make the best of it!

Forget about all this nonsense about software and game selection and bankroll management, what you need to do first is research the best affiliates through which to sign up. Take your time and compare the options you only get one chance either you registered through the affiliate of your choice or you are stuck without it.

Once in a lifetime, you are only allowed to create 1 account on your name, you only have 1 first time deposit. So no you don't need $100 if the poker room offers you a 100% first time deposit bonus up to $1000 what you want is to deposit a $1000!

You only get this offer once so beg borrow steal but make sure you reap the maximum reward. No point in crying over spilled milk later. You only have a limited time to clear the bonuses, yes you don't just get the money you have to earn it by playing poker on their site. So dedicate to that room and grind there with your bankroll until you've cleared the bonus.

Grinding away from the microstakes level, no one tells you this. You don't only have to battle maniacs throwing pennies around but you have to battle crushing rake as well. You can literally see how the chips in play at the table become less each hand you play. Win pot after pot and still walk out with less than you started. The rake at the lower stakes are much higher than at the higher levels why I don,t know, even your tournament fees are more expensive. So looking for cheaper games might very well cost you more.

What I am getting at once again is do your homework and find out what the best approach is for you. Perhaps create a pseudonym with unique date of birth, email address, physical address and use this at first to register and play freerolls don't need to deposit anything. See what affiliates have extra promotions that is the best way to judge them by. Don't get caught doing this though they will ban you forever. =)

I wish I did my research properly and ensured I get maximum reward because I have had my chance and already got my $20 (first deposit) bonus but you still have yours so make sure you do it right. Regret always comes too late...
 
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BullWink

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You original question was whether $100 was enough bankroll to play tournaments. If you register in tournaments that have 1000 players, and money is only for top 50 players, then YES, I think you will have enough, as statistically, you will need to play 20 games to make it to the money. BUT, if you have a run of bad luck, you could burn through your bankroll before it is topped up enough by a final table finish.
 
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lukeellul92

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You original question was whether $100 was enough bankroll to play tournaments. If you register in tournaments that have 1000 players, and money is only for top 50 players, then YES, I think you will have enough, as statistically, you will need to play 20 games to make it to the money. BUT, if you have a run of bad luck, you could burn through your bankroll before it is topped up enough by a final table finish.

Appreciate this. I've deposited into pokerstars previously but preferred the online feel. I will deposit $100 and try my best at tournaments with no bigger then a $3 buy-in. I need to find my comfort zone.
 
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braveboat

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A $3 buy in on a $100 bankroll is too high in my opinion. Without even broaching the topic of your level of play, simple variance would likely lead you to bust out playing those stakes.

If you're committed to depositing - say $100 a month - then you're OK playing $3 tourneys. If this is meant to be your entire bankroll, however, you should be looking at $1 games, max.
 
Martinez

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Why poker stars and not Full Tilt?
You can play the same buy inns, but with a much smaller field and a little better quality play in my opinion. P.S at this level can have as many as 4-5000 players, most of them willing to push from any seat with any two cards, and altough the end results pay out a bigger payday on final table, they are a lot tougher to reach.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
westside1950

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If you want to play micro stakes cash games then 100$ i surely enough I would say; but for 1-3$ tournaments you need 50 or 100$ extra if you want to have a quality bankroll.


HUD is a must, especially is you want to start seriuosly (and you sound like you do), so investment of a 60$ will surely be a good one.
 
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lukeellul92

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Thanks for \all the replies!
As for the Pokerstars over FT comment, It's because I found Pokerstars first :p

I will stick to $1 buy in Tourneys then, I've played these low stake tournaments before and I understand the style of play. I've cashed in a few, but nothing more then $10-20 at a time, which in terms of Paying $1 to win $20 , its a big win, in real money it's nothing so I find it hard to keep at it. However this time I'm determined to keep at it!

I will definately invest in a HUD. Pokertracker is the way to go hey?
 
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hffjd2000

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If you have cash backing for next month, then playing microstake cash and $3 tourney is not a problem.

If you consider $100 as your entire BR maybe for a year, then we have a problem on the $3 buyin tourney.
 
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lukeellul92

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Oh, to clear things up, the $100 deposit was just to see how much I enjoy online and to give me a proper chance. I can probably afford to deposit $100 every month to 1.5 months.
 
TomKat1958

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Im not sure where you live. Understand that online players from the US can't play for real money on PokerStars, and I don't think you can cash out if you manage to get in on Full Tilt either. You might try Carbon Poker or juicy stakes, but there again, good luck if you win and want to cash out. My opinion is that online poker is great practice and a confidence builder, but at this point in time, don't count on grinding out a living if you live in the US. You just don't win if you can't cash in.. lol...
 
Henry Minute

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Thanks for \all the replies!
I will definately invest in a HUD. Pokertracker is the way to go hey?
Another option is Holdem Manager 2. Which is quite good. As someone else said, before buying one take the free 30 day trial that they both offer to help you to decide. Also take a good look at their websites to see how easy they are to navigate for those occasions when you have a problem or are not sure how to do a particular thing.
 
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