What to learn next?

Hi there,

I've recently began playing poker online and I think I've got to grips with the basics. I'm just looking for advise on what to learn next!

I tend to play tight early, loosening up as players are knocked out/the blinds increase or depending on my position. I also calculate pot odds and use implied odds.

I tend to come 1st, 2nd or 3rd in most (9 player) SNGs I play unless I'm incredibly unlucky or keep getting dealt really bad hands early on. An example would be, being dealt pockets Aces, raising to 3x the big blind preflop, being reraised quite aggressively, so I went all-in, which he/she then called, to find the guy had AK and got an Ace high straight on the river!

I'm wondering what would be best to learn/practise next? I've been shying away from playing real money games lately, and have been playing with play money until I'm confident that I can play real money games and consistently win.

I would say I need to try and read players more, however I find it quite difficult to do online.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

KierenH22

You have been doing the same as me really. Playing some play money until you get the hang of things. It sounds like your getting the hang of things like I was doing well in the play money SnG's. One thing in the real money games people tend to fold a little more, so your raises work better.

Trying not to be patronising im not sure what your standard is but you can try the following

Work on C-betting
Learn about board texture
Work on your odds and implied odds more with ranges and distributions

Reading players is harder online but not impossible im not brilliant but it can help sometimes. Checking speed, betting speed can all give you clues to work out what the opponent may have. Clues are the key word you need to add this to any other evidence you have to make a proper decision.

You should watch a few videos on micro stakes and get stuck in really. Practice is the only way you can get better really. You get good at what your doing so play money tables don't have a direct carry over into money tables, alot of the stuff you learn is useful but there are some difference you will find.

Fireblade said:

You have been doing the same as me really. Playing some play money until you get the hang of things. It sounds like your getting the hang of things like I was doing well in the play money SnG's. One thing in the real money games people tend to fold a little more, so your raises work better.

Trying not to be patronising im not sure what your standard is but you can try the following

Work on C-betting
Learn about board texture
Work on your odds and implied odds more with ranges and distributions

Reading players is harder online but not impossible im not brilliant but it can help sometimes. Checking speed, betting speed can all give you clues to work out what the opponent may have. Clues are the key word you need to add this to any other evidence you have to make a proper decision.

You should watch a few videos on micro stakes and get stuck in really. Practice is the only way you can get better really. You get good at what your doing so play money tables don't have a direct carry over into money tables, alot of the stuff you learn is useful but there are some difference you will find.

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Yeah, I have played real money games too and have noticed the difference between them and play money games. It was just a bit touch and go whether or not I finished in the money, so I decided to move to play money games until I'm more confident.

The issue with speed is that the more experienced players tend to be aware of the reads people make from the speed of bets and stuff, so they take a little longer than they need to, to encourage you to think you've got the better hand, when in reality they have a monster or whatever.

Cheers for the advise though, much appreciated!

One thing it seems you may want to learn is to observe. That will help guide you as to the adaptations and improvements you need to make to your game in order to move up successfully. Find a couple of players who are solid winners at the level you want to move up to, and figure out what they do that makes their games different from yours.

This doesn't mean you should try to play exactly like they do since it's certainly possible to win with different styles. But what it will do is give you indicators as to things you can consider trying. And it might also help you figure out how to beat those players.

you could try playing some freerolls
which may start your bankroll.
start playing in the low buyin sng's
or low stakes cash tables.
always practice good bankroll management and
play in your comfort zone
(plenty of info on this forum).
only move up in stakes when you have 'earned' it.
(when you can consistently beat the level you are playing)
the higher you go the stronger the competition.
study the game as much as you can.
enjoy it.
good luck.

For years I have been known around here as someone who has no problem with play money poker.

However, play money poker does not become relevant until you are buying in at the highest possible stakes.

Anything close to the levels at the automatic refill level, is bogus and mostly useless. Problem is you have to get past that stage. Do it fast. This will involve some steep risk taking each time you win the lowest level monkey parade.

Example; 10K (play money) buy-ins sng's and MTT's at Tilt are roughly similar to $5 (real) tourneys.

The issue is value. Many broke players put value on obtaining large reserves of play chips. When you get to huge #'s the pride factor sets in, and there is value somewhat approximating real money.

So set yourself a goal of say 1 million play chips, and learn how to accomplish that goal. If you accomplish this too fast, set another goal of 10 mil. At Tilt, if you have 10 mil playchips, you can afford to buy into their $50 500K playchip 'freerolls' where real money is at stake.

The play money tables and tourneys should teach you a few usable things;

-patience and controlled aggression are the ones that pop up in my mind at the moment. Along with the mechanics of how the game is played, not the card mechanics leading to showdown, but how to actually use the software.

-at the high level play money tables/tourneys, you can practice more advanced moves like squeezes, and 3 and 4 betting, and even when to bluff. Again the higher buy-in players at least have pride, and something like capital preservation in mind. But how the results of those 'moves' translates to real money poker is and always has been at the core of the debate.

In order for play money experience to effectively transfer to real money play, you have to feel the sting of the playchip loses. And that is damn near impossible.