Advise for first time real cash sit and go micro stakes

[722Wade722]

So I finally feel like I want to try playing low stake (1/2 cent) sit and go on pokerstars, I did the $20 first deposit early September this year and did well with the spin & go tickets and have been somewhat consistent with the casinoorg free rolls and even cashed my first cardschat Saturday free roll(I found the field more skilled than the cansioorg free roll lol). Got my bank roll to just over $120.

For some reason I feel nervous about playing even at micro stakes, I’ve mostly played live and on and off online (play money) but feel I need to make the transition in order to improve.

Just wondering for those that have felt the same and gone through the transition what tips you may have or insight to what I may expect different play wise from the free rolls (I’m already aware play and real money games are a world apart as I’ve experienced playing the free rolls .

 

[Gallarado777]

play at low limits until you earn x100 then you can raise your limits and play with stronger players don't worry this feeling will go away over time and the worry will not be advice the main thing is to play bankroll

 

[eberetta1]

It is good you are trying to improve. You must keep in mind what your goals are. For me, I do not like the added stress of playing at higher limits. However, if you do like playing higher limits, I would let the size of my bankroll do it for me.
Heard of way too many people turn $20 into $120 playing 1c/2c and 5c/10c only to lose it all because they move to $1/2. Play at what keeps making you money.

 

[fundiver199]

A sit and go is a tournament, which begin, when a certain number of players like 8, 9 or 18 have registered. However when you talk about "1c/2c", it sounds like, you are referring to the size of the blinds, which would then be a 2NL cash game? Regardless its important to not play higher stakes, than you are bankrolled for AND feel comfortable playing. With $120 its not unreasonable to take some "shots" at 5NL cash games, but if you are not comfortable, then just stay at 2NL for the meantime. If you really do mean SnGs, then $120 is enough to play $2 games. But again if you are not comfortable, just stick to $1 games. The $1 "on demand" SnG on PokerStars is a nice small MTT, which is excellent for both practice and bankroll building.

 

[722Wade722]

A sit and go is a tournament, which begin, when a certain number of players like 8, 9 or 18 have registered. However when you talk about "1c/2c", it sounds like, you are referring to the size of the blinds, which would then be a 2NL cash game? Regardless its important to not play higher stakes, than you are bankrolled for AND feel comfortable playing. With $120 its not unreasonable to take some "shots" at 5NL cash games, but if you are not comfortable, then just stay at 2NL for the meantime. If you really do mean SnGs, then $120 is enough to play $2 games. But again if you are not comfortable, just stick to $1 games. The $1 "on demand" SnG on PokerStars is a nice small MTT, which is excellent for both practice and bankroll building.

Yes sorry, I did mean the blinds and not a tourney, still learning the proper terminology lol. My goal for now is to get experience and play hands but not burn the the money. I think you nailed it as it is a comfort thing for me for now as I’m trying to play as much as possible with the least risk as possible. Just felt playing for play money wasn’t doing much anymore and was too random (everyone calls the blind pre flop and it goes from there or crazy all ins) would much rather play where people play “proper/honest” poker, if that makes sense.

Again, thanks for the reply, this forum has been most helpful this far! Much appreciated!

 

[fundiver199]

Just felt playing for play money wasn’t doing much anymore and was too random (everyone calls the blind pre flop and it goes from there or crazy all ins) would much rather play where people play “proper” poker, if that makes sense.

That makes a lot of sense, and years ago I also started with play money poker. 2NL is quite different already, if nothing else because there is less crazy shortstacking compared to say Zynga Poker. However there is also a big gap between 2NL and 5NL, so if you want to learn to play in games, where people play "proper poker", then 5NL is perhaps a better learning tool. But no point in rushing it, if you dont feel comfortable moving up.

 

[722Wade722]

It is good you are trying to improve. You must keep in mind what your goals are. For me, I do not like the added stress of playing at higher limits. However, if you do like playing higher limits, I would let the size of my bankroll do it for me.
Heard of way too many people turn $20 into $120 playing 1c/2c and 5c/10c only to lose it all because they move to $1/2. Play at what keeps making you money.

Thanks for the reply! My priority isn’t to try to make a lot of money, just get in as much playing with minimal risk of going through my cash. I’m understand very well I could still go broke with the bank I’ve accumulated thus far, just would not wanna blow through it in a day lol

 

[pirateglenn]

I started out at Pokerstars playing mainly 45 handed 50 cent sit and gos and whenever i am looking to grind up a roll - this is always a good place to start for me.
Cash games wise - previous advice given on bankroll management is vital and playing at lowest table stakes is my recommendation.
As you develop and grow BR - then and only then is it worth looking to move up a stake level but i always say try that for a trial period and continually evaluate your game.

Good Luck!

 

[wavetune]

are you nervous about losing $20? there are no words, I live in a country where the income level compared to canada is several times less, to earn $ 20, here we have to work much more hours than in Canada, but I never had any fear of losing any pennies when I started playing, and it's unlikely in our country, I will meet a poker player who has such fears, and when you lose $ 1000, and this sooner or later happens to any player, what will you do then...
in any case, good luck in the game

 

[722Wade722]

are you nervous about losing $20? there are no words, I live in a country where the income level compared to Canada is several times less, to earn $ 20, here we have to work much more hours than in Canada, but I never had any fear of losing any pennies when I started playing, and it's unlikely in our country, I will meet a poker player who has such fears, and when you lose $ 1000, and this sooner or later happens to any player, what will you do then...
in any case, good luck in the game

Not quite sure how to interpret this. What I will say and what my goal is, is to play as much as possible with minimal risk to learn and gain experience. I just don’t want to blow my roll and play very little and come out of it not learning anything except I’m hemorrhaging money. If I lose 20 I lose 20, but I want to have played as much as possible so I at least come out improving my game or at least playing better as an end result.

I think my nerves come from my state of mind going from playing only play money online and now taking the leap into real money as I felt play money wasn’t doing anything for me anymore. I’m pretty sure it’s just me being in my head and over thinking it more than anything. Everyone’s living situation is different, I have 2 young kids and my priority is them, I just again don’t wanna bleed money into the game but wanna maximize what I can learn and experience with what I’ve already established. I’m playing more for fun as a hobby than to make a living off poker (don’t get me wrong, that’d be great!). I also for now wanna try to not have to reload cash or just keep it infrequent, I just think I’d rather invest in my young family primarily and poker second and just enjoy playing. Just trying to make the transition less stressful I guess.

 

[ipagan]

are you nervous about losing $20? there are no words, I live in a country where the income level compared to Canada is several times less, to earn $ 20, here we have to work much more hours than in Canada, but I never had any fear of losing any pennies when I started playing, and it's unlikely in our country, I will meet a poker player who has such fears, and when you lose $ 1000, and this sooner or later happens to any player, what will you do then...
in any case, good luck in the game

I understand your position bro and have pretty musch the same situation. But I guess the author's thread is not about the fear of loosing money...I feel that it's more about beeing out of your comfort zone. I understand that. When you "hacked" the idea of how to play the spins or freerolls etc and know you are good at this and winning it might be uncomfortable to go upper. As I found frerolls, for example, is a whole differen world, because people are not loosing real money. And even on cash tables 1-2$ limits there is a game and not the worst you can imagine (from my noob point view haha).

I can say that it's ok to feel uncomfortable when switching. but I guess in your case it would go totally fine man. If you are able to win freerolls, then you'll be able to win at low limits. Most probably you will need to adjust your game and it will take some time, but you have a 120% proper bankroll to do this. So you'll have a great margin of safety here

 

[Kinalha]

are you nervous about losing $20? there are no words, I live in a country where the income level compared to Canada is several times less, to earn $ 20, here we have to work much more hours than in Canada, but I never had any fear of losing any pennies when I started playing, and it's unlikely in our country, I will meet a poker player who has such fears, and when you lose $ 1000, and this sooner or later happens to any player, what will you do then...
in any case, good luck in the game

In brazil, the minimum wage is more and less U$242,00 or more and less U$8,00 per day for 8 hours working...

 

[wavetune]

I understand your position bro and have pretty musch the same situation. But I guess the author's thread is not about the fear of loosing money...I feel that it's more about beeing out of your comfort zone. I understand that. When you "hacked" the idea of how to play the spins or freerolls etc and know you are good at this and winning it might be uncomfortable to go upper. As I found frerolls, for example, is a whole differen world, because people are not loosing real money. And even on cash tables 1-2$ limits there is a game and not the worst you can imagine (from my noob point view haha).

I can say that it's ok to feel uncomfortable when switching. but I guess in your case it would go totally fine man. If you are able to win freerolls, then you'll be able to win at low limits. Most probably you will need to adjust your game and it will take some time, but you have a 120% proper bankroll to do this. So you'll have a great margin of safety here

I do not know, maybe there is no fear, but if I set myself the task of playing for real money and raising limits, what kind of nerves are we talking about, in general, I did not understand it maybe

 

[wavetune]

Not quite sure how to interpret this. What I will say and what my goal is, is to play as much as possible with minimal risk to learn and gain experience. I just don’t want to blow my roll and play very little and come out of it not learning anything except I’m hemorrhaging money. If I lose 20 I lose 20, but I want to have played as much as possible so I at least come out improving my game or at least playing better as an end result.

I think my nerves come from my state of mind going from playing only play money online and now taking the leap into real money as I felt play money wasn’t doing anything for me anymore. I’m pretty sure it’s just me being in my head and over thinking it more than anything. Everyone’s living situation is different, I have 2 young kids and my priority is them, I just again don’t wanna bleed money into the game but wanna maximize what I can learn and experience with what I’ve already established. I’m playing more for fun as a hobby than to make a living off poker (don’t get me wrong, that’d be great!). I also for now wanna try to not have to reload cash or just keep it infrequent, I just think I’d rather invest in my young family primarily and poker second and just enjoy playing. Just trying to make the transition less stressful I guess.

it means playing on micro limits, there are a lot of understanding and experienced people on the forum, believe me you will get good advice

 

[wavetune]

In Brazil, the minimum wage is more and less U$242,00 or more and less U$8,00 per day for 8 hours working...

it seemed to me that you have a more favorable economic situation, the figures you gave are not large, Brazil should be among the leaders of the world economy, countries with such territories should not live poorly, there are a lot of resources there, etc. why this does not happen, I do not know, I can say for my country, these are 3 problems-corruption, blockade and a war that has not stopped going on for 30 years, but this topic is not for this topic...

 

[Rost]

Freerolls are the most optimal option for building a bankroll. By playing freerolls, you don't risk your own money, and in addition, you gain experience and improve your skills. I think it's perfect. Over the last six months or so, I managed to increase my bankroll by 350-400 dollars in total, and that's only thanks to freerolls.

 

[722Wade722]

Just wanted to follow up after I hit the table!

First, thanks those of you who commented, it was very insightful and tremendously helpful!!

I bought in for $1.17 (gave me an even balance lol) and I played for just over an hour. First thing I noticed was people played tighter, more folds pre flop and no all ins pre flop. Though I was nervous at first, after playing a few hands I settled right in.

I found the whole game way better and I wasn’t ever worried about crazy bets/all ins at any point like I’d see with play money. It’s definitely a whole other game.

I think I was mostly concerned with the change as I played pretty tight when playing play money only to be like “you called with that? Or you actually played that hand down?” Not the case from the experience with real money. A lot less bluffing as well.

All in all I’ll be playing low stakes from here on out to continue to progress, I’ll only doing play money when my son wants to watch me play.

Again, a huge thanks to this community that I’ve recently joined, everyone is super friendly and actually willing to help, unlike another site I used to lurk at. I really look forward to growing and improving as a player and as well utilizing this great community for help, tips & education on the game!

Oh and I did come out at $1.78, did get as high as $2.20. I feel good with the result even though it’s so small Also I only play 1 table at a time as I mostly play on my phone.

 

[D0nk3y Hunt3r]

So I finally feel like I want to try playing low stake (1/2 cent) sit and go on pokerstars, I did the $20 first deposit early September this year and did well with the spin & go tickets and have been somewhat consistent with the casinoorg free rolls and even cashed my first cardschat Saturday free roll(I found the field more skilled than the cansioorg free roll lol). Got my bank roll to just over $120.

Congratulations.
These SNGs you talking about - do you mean they have $0.01-$0.02 buyin? What is the field (number of players) there? On GGPoker there are no mtt/sng for less then $0.25.

Just wondering for those that have felt the same and gone through the transition what tips you may have or insight to what I may expect different play wise from the free rolls (I’m already aware play and real money games are a world apart as I’ve experienced playing the free rolls .

I would suggest to tighten your game in the beginning and observe how the play looks like. It's tougher when money's at stake, but it's not that much different after all.
You can also open some of the running tournaments in observer mode. This is how I observe the ones with $25k buyins which are outside my reach yet.

 

[722Wade722]

Congratulations.
These SNGs you talking about - do you mean they have $0.01-$0.02 buyin? What is the field (number of players) there? On GGPoker there are no mtt/sng for less then $0.25.


I would suggest to tighten your game in the beginning and observe how the play looks like. It's tougher when money's at stake, but it's not that much different after all.
You can also open some of the running tournaments in observer mode. This is how I observe the ones with $25k buyins which are outside my reach yet.

Sorry it was my mistake, I was corrected by a previous poster. It’s not actually sit & go like a tourney but a 1/2 cent blind table.

I already played pretty tight so I actually had a pretty good time adjusting to real money lol and I’m loving it!