Can I get some help please?

Dinkbot

Dinkbot

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Hello everyone,

I was a tourney player for a few years but was still a losing player (probably break even without the tilt) and so I walked away even though it stung that I couldn't even beat the fish. Now the bug is back and I've switched to cash. I had $7 left in my account and have been playing that and am up to $28 (watch out Phil Ivey lol!) and am wanting to take it more seriously.

Can you help with the following please to get me up and running?

1) How do I select a table? What should I be looking at when I am browsing the lobby?


2) I take it HUDs and trackers are mandatory? If so, can someone help me setting up and understanding? Just a basic lesson will do. I know VPIP is money put in the pot but not the rest of the figures and what they say about a player.

I would also appreciate help with getting to grips with trackers other than in play stats - such as history,analysing patterns of play and identifying leaks. You know, where to go, what functions to use etc.


3) Has low stakes strategy evolved or is it still TAG, play in position and chuck small pairs if re-raised?


4) I am on Stars and surronded, seemingly, by Russian LAGs who can't let go of top pair, shouldl I stay here or are there juicier waters for a fish like me?


Thanks in advance. With your help I may just be able to crush 2nl!:)
 
Marcwantstowin

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Hiya Dinkbot. Welcome to Cc. I am also not a Cash Game player, but I also agree that TAG is the way to go. There are lots of good Cash Game players on here and lots of good threads/ posts you can read and add to if you like. I am sure if you would like that sort of help, you could post some examples of hands you have played and get some feedback. Gl with your journey and hopefully see some more of you on here. :D:D:D
 
PapaC

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Hi Dinkbot and welcome to CC. I'm not the one to give you advice about the questions you are asking here, but you sure are in the right place to have them answered. But I have played at 2nl, 5nl, and now I'm at 10nl, and I have built my BRs from nothing on some sites, and just one deposit at FF. I think 2nl is the hardest level to build a BR from, because the money comes in such small amounts, so every $ is real important. All I have used to help me be a winning player is the advice from here and I've begun to take control of my game.
 
ConDeck

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I would say it depends on your current skill level and I disagree with the above....(Sorry) 2NL is easier to beat that 5NL in terms of BB (or Big Bet = 2 x bb) per 100 hands. It is quite easy to show a profit of 15-30BB per 100 hands at these stakes over a 10000 hand sample (Baring in mind that a return of roughly 5-8BB per 100 hands at 100NL would be considered crushing that level).

80 Starting Stack Reached

As you can see from the graph above over just shy of 4000 hands a good profit can be won at these games (I admit I was about $7 above EV here). 4000 hands, while it appears a lot, is manageable when playing 4 zoom tables at a time in one session.

Obviously a BB at 2NL however is much smaller than at 5 or 10NL so yes bankroll increase is smaller, but as a return on an investment much bigger and a much softer game. I would recomend TAG at first, however LAG will certainly pay more at 2/5 and 10NL, although this is dependant on skill level so is something you should be aiming for.

You want to be progressing as fast as possible however as remaining at 2 or 5NL for too long will reinforce some bad habits that will cost you dearly as your progress in stakes. Strict bankroll management, level shots and hand history review will aid in preventing this and moving up at a comfortable rate both in terms of BR and Skill.

Where it has been stated about value betting more (and much thinner than I would at higher stakes) and bluffing much less this is correct. I often see people over correct for this however and play far to passive... there are still good spots for bluffing at these stakes, especially when you have stats/notes on your opponent.
 
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NorskNewman

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Hey dink. I finally beat 2nl recently with 75k hands for 6bb . Which means I beat it and I certainly didn't crush it. That said. I am playing 5nl and struggling. It's a whole different ocean.
I can only recommend what I know and have done. First off budget $40 offline for your bankroll just in case you bust. Why? Because you might and it could honestly mean nothing. Variance .

In my posts you can see my graphs and read some short thoughts on my blog at 2nl . At one point I was down to $3 in my account . Norsknewman.wordpress.com

Had I quit at that point which was virtually busto. I wouldn't of given myself a fair shot at finding out if I was profitable.

/end rant
 
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Oh and I recommend using the transfer to full tilt option in pokerstars cashier . Full tilt 2nl is way softer than pokerstars. Trust me on this.
 
PapaC

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and struggling. It's a whole different ocean.

NorskNewman you are sure right about that. I had a $50 deposit to get started on, but I started at 2nl too. And when I went up to 5nl I'm like oh shit. Then when I went to 10nl I was the same way. Had to go back down for a little while then tried it again and that's where I'm at. It may be awhile before I go up again. I've talked about it in some of my treads, but what I hear is that I need to get better at my level. Win some lose some. GL at the tables
 
Dinkbot

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Thanks for your replies, guys.

Guess I spoke too soon. I started the day with $28 and suffered a host of all in bad beats to finish the day on $20. Very sobering and an abject lesson in why you need BRM. oh well, I'll try and grind it up and save making a deposit.

You guys are all experienced so cna you tell me what you look at when deciding whether or not to join a table? Or do you just sit down wherever you fancy? I seem to recall checking the PF money or something.


Thanks so much. I've had a quick scan and can see you explain what the figures say about a player. Have you got any idea on how to use the tracker - such as leak finding, EV graphs and other assorted functions you need to do post-game?


Strict bankroll management, level shots and hand history review will aid in preventing this and moving up at a comfortable rate both in terms of BR and Skill.
Indeed! Hence askign my questions here! At least I have got something right so far, haha.


In my posts you can see my graphs and read some short thoughts on my blog at 2nl . At one point I was down to $3 in my account . Norsknewman.wordpress.com
I cant see anything :(
 
ConDeck

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Currently, when I choose to play standard 6 max tables (as opposed to zoom) I have a lot of players tagged and noted so I am looking for weaker players with space available to there left. When there is no other information available I am looking for those that have a good % of players to the pot and a decent average pot, showing these guys are willing to play and that my skill edge should make this a profitable table. Don't be afraid to leave a table however if you find one or two tough player to your left that are restricting your ability to capitalise on the weaker players mistakes.
 
WVHillbilly

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You guys are all experienced so cna you tell me what you look at when deciding whether or not to join a table? Or do you just sit down wherever you fancy? I seem to recall checking the PF money or something.
Like someone else mentioned tag players and look for tables with 1 or 2 weak ones. Absent known weak players look for tables with no more than 1 short stacker and I almost never sit with a shorty to my right.
 
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