BR building route - Can I realistically avoid turbo poker?

R

Rockettown

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Total posts
4
Chips
0
Hi,

This is my first ever post on CC, and it's very much a beginners question so I hope this is the right place for it. Apologies if not. This is one of my favourite forums when searching for answers to any questions I have but I have one that's a bit more specific to me, so I hope some of you might be able to help.

a bit about me: I've been playing poker online since summer 2011. I started on 888 (MTTs only) and had a few decent cashes while learning the game. Luckily at the time, I was so happy to have a little extra money that I cashed out frequently (took my girlfriend to Manhattan for Christmas etc), so I didn't blow it all on poker again. My bankroll management sucked though, (read: bankroll management was none existent.) After a few years and an inevitable downswing, I cashed out my remaining bankroll and took a break from poker. I was finishing a degree and had some other personal issues that had to be fixed etc. You know, life things.

I came back to it in 2014 and decided to do it properly. I have a full time job these days so could afford to stick in $200. I've only ever played MTT's but decided I was going to use the MTTSNG route to building a bankroll.

My BRM is very very nitty. And I like it that way. Seeing a big downswing in my graph puts me off playing, so I play with at least 200BIs at my chosen level. I'm not a grinder because I have a job. I play in the evenings if I'm not tired.

So I have been playing $1 45 man SNGs (reg speed) and $1 180 man SNGs while sometimes throwing in the turbo variety of the 45 man SNGs for $1.50.
I've also cashed in a few micro MTTs. I can play up to 8 tables at once but any more and it goes -ev.

Starting BR: $200 (May 2014)
Current BR: $550 (July 2014)

MY QUESTION (thanks for sticking with me): Can I build a bankroll while avoid any form of turbo poker?

The next step up for my very very nitty BRM would be the $2.50 180 man turbos. But I ****ing hate turbos. I know a lot about them, I just hate them. I know push/fold ranges vs specific opponents, stealing/re-stealing and all the maths behind playing them (one of my degrees is in Physics so I'm OK with maths). I understand the variance, expected ROI and all the percentages that go with them. They're just a different game compared to reg speed, especially high blind play.

If I was determined to build my roll while avoiding turbos, do you think this is possible without taking forever?

I've played some $2.50 90 man SNGs (reg speed) and done well, but the traffic is really slow and they don't fill up/run as much as the $1 45 man SNGs.

I don't have a problem playing the $3.50 45 man SNGs with my BR but the reg speed ones don't run very often I've found. Maybe I'm playing at the wrong time of day and should just figure that out myself.

So I'd like any advice from pokerstars regs/grinders/builders on whether I can avoid turbo poker or whether I just have to man up and deal with it. Is turbo poker an essential game type to play if I want to get out of the micros (and not take years to do it).

If I can avoid the turbo's what MTTSNGs would most of you play with a $550 br. It's got to the point where I'm not sure which games to play. Hope some of this makes sense.

Any help is appreciated.
Cheers,
Dan
 
BluffMeAllIn

BluffMeAllIn

4evrInmyheart RIP xoxo :(
Silver Level
Joined
May 2, 2009
Total posts
11,324
Chips
0
Hi rtown and welcome to the posting side of cc.

Turbo's seem to be where the traffic goes especially in evening/night hours above the 1$ 45-180 mans. I too wish the 2.5$ 90man games had more traffic as well (at least once I get back to them).

I have been mainly an stt (9man) grinder for the past 6 months, but have played a share of the 45-180 mans as well and currently looking to grind them again to rebuild a withdrawn br so currently not even at the 1$ games. It's difficult to avoid turbos if you are looking to get in good volume, but in the $1.5 price there is a 90 man KO mttsng game you could play as well and I would think to get volume and avoid turbos you would probably do well to mix the 1$ games you currently play, maybe stick with the 180mans for the bigger br boost potential and mix in 3.5$ 45 mans and 1.5$ 90man KO's and 2.5$ 90mans (if they run).

Obviously you are doing quite well as it stands over the last couple of months so congrats on that in itself. If you decide to dabble in the turbo's they will be a higher variance, but with some adjusting I'm sure it will work out. Essentially its the same game you just get less time to play it and reach higher blinds quicker so this is where you need to compensate with adjusting strategy for blind stages more quickly.

Last thought atm is that you could also play the cap mtt games, there is a 1.1$ 250man cap and 2.20$ 100man cap (i could be off on the cap as havn't played them in a while) but these are found under the tourny section and run every hour i believe and are non-turbo so something you could fit in with other games.

am sure you will have continued success.
 
skiptomyloot

skiptomyloot

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 13, 2011
Total posts
306
Chips
0
if you want to avoid turbo,... you should play turbo. you might find it less time consuming. with 550.00, putting in time on mtt, it would have to be worth the time sitting there. I wouldn't focus on $1.00,2.00 , id say 10.00 mtt with bigger guranteed payout. personally i like turbo in the later stages, because i find it easier to play more hands and be moe aggressive when people tighten up. with regular mtt, the field doesnt really change until levels are up there after 2nd break or so.
 
Arjonius

Arjonius

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Total posts
3,167
Chips
0
As long as you're a recreational player, play what you enjoy. It's not all about money. Look at it in context. For instance, compare your win rate per hour in reg. speed games vs. how much you could realistically expect to win if you switched to turbos.

Let's say you think you'd make $1 more per hour. Given that you hate turbos, is it "worth it" to play them to win that additional $1 per hour? There's no universally right or wrong answer; it's completely personal.
 
W

WiZZiM

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Total posts
5,008
Chips
0
As long as you're a recreational player, play what you enjoy. It's not all about money. Look at it in context. For instance, compare your win rate per hour in reg. speed games vs. how much you could realistically expect to win if you switched to turbos.

Let's say you think you'd make $1 more per hour. Given that you hate turbos, is it "worth it" to play them to win that additional $1 per hour? There's no universally right or wrong answer; it's completely personal.

love it, perfect answer!!!
 
goaldriversv

goaldriversv

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Jun 21, 2014
Total posts
1,429
Awards
10
Chips
151
i think you described me. 1) i hate downswings and personally, i can't handle it. i'm getting better thanks to members of this forum. they helped me manage my emotions and handling downswings. i'm still learning that part of it, but getting better. 2) i have "nitty" brm as well. i still play $1-2 sngs and mtts even though i've built my bankroll from my initial $50 deposit to close to 600 in 3 months. i might be nittier than you lol.

my suggestion is to stick with what makes you a winning player. try turbos/hypers once in awhile but if you absolutely can't handle the play, then stop playing. i've started throwing in turbos/hyper turbos just because it's so fast/time saving compared to my usual reg/deep stack mtts i like to play in. still, i hate turbos and i really hate hyper turbos. however, i've noticed at the micros, the type of players is still terrible so i'll mix some here and there (one turbo/hyper turbo out every 30(?) reg/deep stack mtts. just know that as a grinder/micro stakes player, you're not going to have a favorable hrly rate, but as long as you're +roi, +profit, you're in good shape.
 
Colbefc

Colbefc

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 22, 2009
Total posts
2,656
Awards
2
Chips
524
It doesn't matter what type of poker you play, you will build a bankroll if you are a winning player and will not build a bankroll if you are not.
Play whichever type of poker you feel comfortable with and enjoy, you are far more likely to win than if you force yourself to play a game you hate.
Personally I love hyper turbos but I also love MTT's. I hate ring games cos I just cannot beat them so i don't play them.
 
G

GeoJake

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 2, 2014
Total posts
11
Chips
0
I play regular speed games exclusively, mostly 9 mans but every regular speed format up to $15's is super fishy.

I'm currently studying full time at university so I don't play too much probably 50 hours a month on average. Regular speed games are great for low variance so you can expect small swings and nice looking graphs assuming you can beat the games.

This is my recent 9 man games mostly $7's and $15's and some $3.50's.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fmmjg88p8el3qaw/Normals.jpg

So to answer your Q!

Yes you can build your bankroll playing them, in fact you can print money playing them!

I play in sets. I'll load up 12-15 games and play them down. In the evenings this take ~1.4 hours from start to finish. I think mu hourly is ~$14 not including rakeback.
 
tARsh

tARsh

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 24, 2014
Total posts
213
Chips
0
Ok, so I did NOT read any response and frankly not even all of your initial post.
YES you can avoid turbo completely, there are so many sites and options now a days you do not have to play turbo.
That being said, whilst I find variance larger in turbos I also find a good players edge to be larger in turbo. It is a much more exploitable structure.
With you BR I would be playing any and every 6/9 handed MTT regardless of format that I could get my grubby paws on; barring time constraints.
GL!
 
Top