I've heard the pros and cons about the smaller stakes games but I just can't be hopping into $5/10 blinds right off the bat.
I humbly suggest if you are not able to continually cash, or make the money in freerolls, you do not begin playing $5/$10 blinds unless you are very wealthy and just dont care about throwing money away. This level of cash game will include mostly very skilled players.
$.01/$.02cent blind ring games often have some very skilled players at the table, some "good" players and some complete idiots. Obviously some idiots at the table can be a good thing, as for the pros and cons you cant play at these people the way you play a good player. The low blinds and buyins allow for
bluff all ins, top pair top kicker all ins, and you'll even come accross "i have 2nd pair!" allins.
Still, learning the strategies for starting cards and position, playing tight and aggressive (very tight, very aggressive) can get some wins.
I wish when I had started somebody had explained winrates to me. You should know that if you can consistently increase your bankroll by winning 10bb per 100 hands you should be happy. So at 2c bb that means 20c/100hands. If this sounds too little, there are some things you need to get used to! In reality you may find youself with aces on the BB and a raise and a reraise in front, you may win $6 right there and then, cash out, start a new table and begin to see the long term increase in bankroll.
SNG = Sit N' Go games? If so could someone please explain what a Sit N' Go game is.
Normally 9 player although up to 360 players, you register for the tournament and when the number of entrants have ? "Sat down" the game begins. On
pokerstars and full tilt there are heaps of different buyins for example $1+20c ($1 for the prizepool, $.20c for the pokersite) 9 players th prize will be split 50% 30% 20%, So $4.50 for 1st $2.70 for 2nd and 3rd gets $1.80.
I understand it all except the column "players/flop".
This is the percentage of players at the table who are willing to see the folp in that particular ring game. the higher the number the looser the players are. I look for the loosest table with the biggest pots, then play tight, hopefully getting my money in against a weaker hand from a looser opponent.
Freerolls are tournaments where you play for free, but the winners will receive a prize. A great training ground im my opinion, it is by playing freerolls that I have learnt multitable strategy and earned money for free to then play cash games and tournaments which in turn have increased my bankroll.
If I hadnt learnt and gained experience in these games, i would be no real compettion for the players you will meet for money. (Im sure other better players higher stake players may disagree and tell you the low levels are full of unskilled donks, but then, thats because they really are that much better.) or they just have an ego issue. lol to myself.
To move forward in levels you should be confident that you are beating the level you are playing at.
Private message me for ideas on how to get a bankroll in order to start playing with
real money for free.
Hope this helps.