Best format for newbie

Psyanide14

Psyanide14

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Total posts
1,072
Chips
0
Hi all. Just wondering what the best format for a new player would be? MTT, STT, turbo, snap/zoom, etc. Playing freerolls when I can now but which would be best to try and learn and not lose every time.

Thanks.
 
Iryna Stryzheuskaya

Iryna Stryzheuskaya

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Total posts
2,803
Awards
10
BY
Chips
151
Play those games where you can show your best game. Try everything and choose.
 
57noona

57noona

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Jan 16, 2017
Total posts
1,832
Awards
2
US
Chips
13
I would try Sit & Go's first. Than try MTTs. If you don't like that you could try cash games.
 
K

karl coakley

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 6, 2016
Total posts
853
Chips
0
Usually the best thing to start off with is which ever game has the slowest blinds. You want to be able to wait for the hands in your range and not be forced to play marginal hands which require tough decisions.
 
lsbenn

lsbenn

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Total posts
228
Awards
1
Chips
1
Sit n' go's would be good just don't enter the turbos, play the regular. This keeps you at the same table and you have a chance to learn how the others players play and build your table image. In MTT's you get moved to different tables and have to rebuild your table image on a regular basis and figure out the new players at the new table.
 
This Fish Chums

This Fish Chums

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Total posts
822
Chips
0
Newbies should consider cash games over MTTs

I suggest learning cash game an playing at ring game tables for a couple reasons. First, if you buy in for the maximum amount you're buying in for 100 BBs, which is about the same as normal tourney starting chips. But the difference is that cash game stakes do not increase, meaning you can sit on top of your 100 BBs a lot longer to see what everyone else is doing.
Second, a great day in a cash game outdoes a great day at a tournament. I know people look at the huge prizes of a tourney and think that makes it better, but you only get those huge prizes if you make the final table which usually takes a good 5 hours or so. To contrast, if you spend those same 5 hours in a cash game and are having a great day you will far exceed those top-tier prizes.
Third, you can stop whenever you feel like it and you can set artificial goals for stopping. Some of which include:

  • I'll stop if I triple up.
  • I'll stop if I lose 2 buy-ins.
  • I'll stop after X hours regardless of if I am ahead or behind.
  • I'll stop if I hit a big bad beat (to step away, cool off, and wait for the Tilt factor to go away).
  • I'll stop if I start having trouble focusing on the game an i am not playing my "A game".
You can't set those kinds of limits in a tournament forcing you to play when it is not optimal for you to be playing.
Fourth, if you go to a casino, especially a smaller one, there is a chance that no tournaments will be starting up for that day, but there will almost always be a cash game going. So if you're used to playing cash games then you'll have an advantage over having just played in sit-n-go's or MTTs.

Whatever you decide, know that there are differences between each playing format so while you are a beginner try to pick one format and stay with it for a while before trying to branch out into other formats.
 
I

ivandrago

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 17, 2016
Total posts
61
Chips
0
Avoid everything turbo, snap, zoom... Go for regular tournaments with fewer ppl, so you can play serious poker and you're not in push/fold too soon. And freerolls ofc, but dont play more careless just bc its a freeroll.
 
Psyanide14

Psyanide14

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Total posts
1,072
Chips
0
Thanks for all the replies. I’m playing freerolls when I can but I find most are turbo and blinds increase quickly. I also find people play crazy in them. But it can give me a little cash here and there.

I never thought of cash games because I feel I could lose a lot more versus a tournament where you know up front that this is it. May look at the cheap tables but I guess people play looser at those.

Thsmks again
 
cranberry

cranberry

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 16, 2016
Total posts
1,588
Awards
4
Chips
0
I think that beginners should start with SNG tournaments with a standard structure, 9-max tables . In such tournaments, the blinds grow slowly, which gives the player time to wait for a suitable hand to play.
 
M

Mikeloti13

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 11, 2017
Total posts
479
Chips
0
Start with some sng's but transfer fast to mtt's. Wouldnt advise you to play cash game cause its totally different from tournaments. So pick either to learn tournament game or cash game first and later start learning second.
 
P

pauloandre100

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 10, 2018
Total posts
229
Awards
1
Chips
1
Try to start with Sng 0,25 45p regular or cash NL2 Fullring
 
HypnoT0AD

HypnoT0AD

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Total posts
88
Chips
0
I would say start out with low stakes cash games before going on to tournies.
 
fiddlesticks123

fiddlesticks123

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
May 5, 2018
Total posts
48
Chips
0
I learned nl holdem playing sit n go's before moving on to tournaments. Sit n go's teach you patience early on and then how to go through the gears and widen your range as the table becomes more shorthanded. I never would have won an MTT without this but I guess people learn in different ways :)
 
tagece

tagece

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Sep 14, 2015
Total posts
1,875
Awards
2
BR
Chips
519
I think the best games to improve your skills are single tables sng. You will play deep and short stacks, 6 handed, 3 handed and HU several times, which can be very useful in final tables in MTT's. And you play against the same players all the tournament. This allow you to learn the different stiles of players more easily.
The games are faster than MTT and to be in the ITM is easier.
 
hutzpaf

hutzpaf

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Total posts
2,270
Awards
40
Chips
402
I would advice to find game format you Like to Play and Focus on that for longer period. Improvement or success wont come in poker without lots and lots of work. :top:
 
L

LongRover

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 10, 2017
Total posts
100
Chips
0
This is just general info which I hope is helpful.

There are many different poker games. As a newbie, look around a bit at the site(s) at which you play. Begin with the game that not only holds your interest, but that you like enough to stick with when the times get tough. And, I promise you, they will - because there is a learning curve ahead. During it, you will lose many games and chips, even money - and, hopefully, as you drop your newbieness, you will win your share of each, too. Like Mike Sexton, a poker host and pro said, "Poker is a game that takes minutes to learn, and a lifetime to master." So, to review, FIRST, look around, and SECOND, choose the poker game that keeps your interest - because it may be the one you master in years ahead.

If that game, for example, is Texas Hold'em, then, THIRD, decide at what speed you want to play. Playing time=Learning time! As you start out, I caution - avoid the fast lanes. Turbo or Super Turbo games might be too fast with which to start, but they will be there when you want to try them. Stay out of Zoom until you understand what it is. It isn't hard to understand, but it is a bit of a lottery. The point is to play at your own speed, but keep a sharp eye on that learning curve. FOURTH, think about how many players you feel comfortable playing against on one table. More players means more thinking time, usually, because the other players also need some thinking time, and that gives you a little extra time to think. So, if you are up to it, and you will need to be, get used to playing against full tables because it's an unavoidable part of your poker future - especially if you want to get into the money tournaments at some time. That doesn't mean not to play the smaller tables. Why not? They play at faster speeds, and there is a lot about the game to explore - so go ahead. Sooner or later you will find a place and a speed in the game that you like.

Now, there are other things that I could say, but I have been reading some of the advice given by other contributors. Some I agree with; some I don't - but, that doesn't make them wrong or right. Each person has to choose what best works for themselves, and that is what they have done, and like myself, they have passed it on to you. Good Luck.
 
playinggameswithu

playinggameswithu

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Total posts
2,250
Chips
0
Stay away from cash games the structure is made to reward high skill quantity play (120,000) hands.

Play MTTs at the highest price you can afford. Also check out "donk play" on youtube to see how people that know what they are doing play like. It is best to learn how to play, figure out how hands will play out against what your opponet likely plays, paying attention to opponets how they play their hands etc.

As a new player there is nothing for you in cash games except sure fire way to lose money in long run with a little bit of short run luck to keep you addicted.
 
Psyanide14

Psyanide14

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Total posts
1,072
Chips
0
Thanks for all the replies. I’ve been playing mostly MTT, especially freerolls to help build some cash. I’ve played a few STT when I got the buy in.

Actually finished 2/2538 in one freeroll a couple of days ago but only paid $2.30 😞. But enough for a couple of $1 STT. Thanks again all.
 
AlexStar1981

AlexStar1981

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 16, 2018
Total posts
354
Chips
0
It seems to me that for beginners - freerolls - this is just what you need. It's so wrong from the point of view of poker rules that once you get used to it, it will be much easier to choose the kind of game you will succeed in!
 
Eric Salvador

Eric Salvador

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 28, 2018
Total posts
524
Chips
0
Study they type of game you want to play and specialize in that game. If you don't want to lose then you need to make sure you're also getting quality information.
 
edc1

edc1

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 5, 2016
Total posts
524
Chips
0
sng,s worked for me and still do,you can play semi-tight in most sng,s and cash .there fairly fast about one hour for 9 ppl sng,that with only losing your buy-in instead of a good chunk of your bankroll at the cash tables .I learned a lot about playingpoker playing sng format some prefer rng tables to sng I guess its just a preferance
 
6

63burner

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Total posts
862
Awards
2
Chips
0
The cheap tables, looser play.. table size

Thanks for all the replies. I’m playing freerolls when I can but I find most are turbo and blinds increase quickly. I also find people play crazy in them. But it can give me a little cash here and there.

I never thought of cash games because I feel I could lose a lot more versus a tournament where you know up front that this is it. May look at the cheap tables but I guess people play looser at those.

Thsmks again

The cheap tables may be looser, but there is another factor to consider: table size; how many players do you have to beat to win?

If you are risk averse, stay away from the full tables, with ten players. With that many players, the pot builds, when everybody "has a hand", and doesn't fold. You can win bigger, but it's tough to beat all nine of the other players, even if you have pocket pairs, suited connectors. With that many players, it can go sideways fast; the odds are against you.
To better your odds, go to tables with fewer people. With fewer players, it is easier to analyze each hand, the risk/reward, the number of outs, etc.

A free hint : observe how they play at the full vs the tables with fewer players; seeing it visually may help it sink in better.

There are factors to all situations, the others here will be able to add to what I have said, good luck
 
fiddlesticks123

fiddlesticks123

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
May 5, 2018
Total posts
48
Chips
0
Actually finished 2/2538 in one freeroll a couple of days ago but only paid $2.30 😞. But enough for a couple of $1 STT. Thanks again all.

That's a great result but the time investment compared to the pay is brutal there. Was that like at least 8 hours play for $2.30? Hopefully you're playing in the Cardschat freerolls now which are a much smaller, better field of players and better money. If you can finish 2nd in a huge field, you should do well in these. Good luck :)
 
Psyanide14

Psyanide14

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Total posts
1,072
Chips
0
That's a great result but the time investment compared to the pay is brutal there. Was that like at least 8 hours play for $2.30? Hopefully you're playing in the Cardschat freerolls now which are a much smaller, better field of players and better money. If you can finish 2nd in a huge field, you should do well in these. Good luck :)


Luckily it was a 888 super turbo freeroll. It only took 1.5 hours so not too bad. I know more luck but I’ll take what I can get. Have started playing some cc freerolls on pokerstars now. The start time isn’t great for me though. 4:30 pm my time so right in the middle of supper.
 
NinjaHands

NinjaHands

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Total posts
243
Chips
0
SNGs with fullring and regular speed are the best for learning. Cash games can get you busted quick and you don't get the same kind of reward for playing tight as you do in fullring STTs.

I would recommend playing 9/10 player STTs on play money first, and also watching some good instructional videos on Holdem. I recommend Gripsed on Youtube.
 
Top