Biggest changes in the game

[Ando37]

I have had to take around 4-5 years off due to financial difficulties due to getting married, buying a home etc. So my bankroll that I had built up is no more and I need to start rebuilding it.

I am wondering though, what has changed over the past few years that I have been away? What tips would you give me getting back into the game and what sites, other than Cardschat do you recommend I check out?

Having to start from scratch with money from wages at the minute, but hopefully I can get back to where I was before and beyond!

 

[Psyanide14]

Not a whole lot has changed. Most US can’t play still. This site is great for the freerolls they offer. Great way to start building a bankroll for free. Watch out early in the large freerolls as you will see a lot of all ins with junk from the very first hand.

Oh, they also changed the hand rankings. A missed gutshot straight is now the best hand you can make. Also, if you are dealt pocket aces in a tournament, you have to fold.

Welcome back.

 

[deform fedot]

Now a lot of promotions, both pokerstars and 888, you can use them to quickly start the bankroll, but keep in mind the safe limits. Read the topics on this site related to the construction of the bankroll and its development.

 

[Peppinotom]

Not a whole lot has changed. Most US can’t play still. This site is great for the freerolls they offer. Great way to start building a bankroll for free. Watch out early in the large freerolls as you will see a lot of all ins with junk from the very first hand.

Oh, they also changed the hand rankings. A missed gutshot straight is now the best hand you can make. Also, if you are dealt pocket aces in a tournament, you have to fold.

Welcome back.

You can NOT throw away pocket aces, as you have two nut flush draws

Welcome back to the circus and good luck, just stay here with us and you'll be fine in a while!

 

[neafana]

The game has changed. 3 4 years ago I was making it to the final table of micro MTT, getting thousands of dollars. I have seen players that 3-4 years ago they where playing in mid stakes getting deep in sunday million and winning medium stakes tournament and now they are playin microstakes 1.1 MTT also). So, I thought it's just me, but there are also other that didn't improve their game according to 2018.

There is a lot of free information now, players are signing contracts with backing sites, getting free training. Others hired good coaches and so on. If you don't keep up, you will be stuck in the microstakes forever.

 

[Zhud]

Playing on the micro-limits, changes in the game, most likely, you will not see. All innovations bring into play those people who play at large limits

 

[Ando37]

Lots of good tips here for re-entering the fold!

Money is going to be tight for another few months, so will start off small and join some of the free rolls with you guys once I am eligible.

I know a few guys that play pro so hoping that I can either get some free advice or cheap coaching!

 

[Pwohar43]

The biggest to me is the number of players, the television promotions, number of blogpost, and added websites that contribute to the game. The list is endless, Pat

 

[Dejange]

Can not outline the most important changes compared back to 3-4 years ago, but I have a feeling that Pokerstars changed their Dealing Software since yesterday! The draws now are not happening so easy, no miracle rivers - almost each hand finishing with the initial odd leader

I could now compare Pokerstars with party poker for example, strange and confusing for those of us who used to deal with PS software so far ...

 

[Ando37]

What are the websites that everyone uses for studying, working on their game etc?

 

[Pwohar43]

I would suggest purchasing some books from players like, Doyle Brunson, Phil Helmmouth, and Daniel Nagraunew. Sorry for my spelling of their names. They are cheap and you. Can go from there, Pat

 

[DaveE]

You can NOT throw away pocket aces, as you have two nut flush draws

Welcome back to the circus and good luck, just stay here with us and you'll be fine in a while!

Almost a strong as 5-10. You can't have a straight without one of these, having both doubles your chances.

 

[Luvepoker]

As for areas to learn from you have it right here. There is a lot of players here who are trying to learn new aspects of the game and many who are good players who are wiling to help others learn the game. For reading materials I would look up Jonathan Little's latest book as it is quite good and will help a lot.

As for the game, it has gotten harder. Many of the really bad players have improved a lot or just left the game. One think thats new and I just played in for my 1st time is the big ante. Instead of everyone putting in some amount of chips each hand the BB get to put in a double ante and the ante is overall worse per level. IE the one level I was in was 3000/6000 with a 6000 big ante.

 

[akmost]

Mostly play on PS some micros and SnG I feel that those stakes have many regulars nowadays and they are better studied than some years before. Hope I could play some years ago.

You will also understand that the standard open raise is most of the times the minimum 2x and you will see some tiny cbets take down the chips on the flop. The standard cbet size varies from 25% to 50% because I know that some years before the open raise was at least 3x and the cbet at least 1/2 pot or pot.

Welcome back and I would suggest you study/watch some streams on twitch before you start playing again.

 

[redmast]

I would not be in a hurry to contribute my money. You can freely create your bankroll on freerolls.

 

[Bozovicdj]

I have had to take around 4-5 years off due to financial difficulties due to getting married, buying a home etc. So my bankroll that I had built up is no more and I need to start rebuilding it.

I am wondering though, what has changed over the past few years that I have been away? What tips would you give me getting back into the game and what sites, other than Cardschat do you recommend I check out?

Having to start from scratch with money from wages at the minute, but hopefully I can get back to where I was before and beyond!

I have been playing for about 6-7 years now, and one think I noticed is that online games are as variable as they always were, perhaps, are even worse then before. Variance can really get a hold of your bankroll, so arm yourself with patience and nerves as well as with enough buy-ins for the preferable levels.

Aside from online poker. In live play, I find that players are opening a bit wider then before, playing a lot of suited hands, almost all of suited hands, but overall tight post flop as they did before. However, this may not be the case on a global poker level, since casinos I play at have a rather small number of players that are playing, so it is maybe just the fact they are all used to each other and are playing accordingly.

Best of luck in starting anew!

 

[radartodd69]

People call and 3x bet with weak hands nowadays. Seems like people also like to check raise with air sometimes. People are just not scared to get it in with marginal holdings. Funny part is a lot of times they're right and actually are ahead with those holdings.

 

[SoCalGrndR1]

In tournament poker, I would say the live "No ante" structure is new and gaining popularity. I have played a couple variations utilizing the Big Blind or the Button. I like the increase in speed and it creates fewer errors etc.... I definitely prefer playing this structure on the Button. When the "no ante' is on the BB it can create such an imbalance. Any short stack throughout the tournament but also near the end stages when the blinds are massive and the number of players per table is reduced it really effects the play. I know the argument is that it is the same for everyone so it is fair, I understand and I am only stating my preference.

I have played in several casino events in SoCal this summer utilizing this structure and the Commerce Casino utilized the BB, the Bicycle Casino utilized the button, I dont remember the Gardens Casino - I think I only played 1 tournament in the WPT series.

SoCal

 

[Ando37]

Mostly play on PS some micros and SnG I feel that those stakes have many regulars nowadays and they are better studied than some years before. Hope I could play some years ago.

You will also understand that the standard open raise is most of the times the minimum 2x and you will see some tiny cbets take down the chips on the flop. The standard cbet size varies from 25% to 50% because I know that some years before the open raise was at least 3x and the cbet at least 1/2 pot or pot.

Welcome back and I would suggest you study/watch some streams on twitch before you start playing again.

Any idea why this is the case? Is there any strategic advantage to the minimum open raise being 2x rather than what I remember as 3x?

Really appreciate all the advice folks, will take my time before jumping in the deep end, will continue reading up and see if I can find some streams to watch!

 

[popstani]

Just play freerolls, to see what is happening, and don’t get bad habits to call all ins with junk. Yes, there will be some bad beats, but good ABC poker will be enough to make some bankroll. Just play your best game, and you will be fine

 

[akmost]

Any idea why this is the case? Is there any strategic advantage to the minimum open raise being 2x rather than what I remember as 3x?

Really appreciate all the advice folks, will take my time before jumping in the deep end, will continue reading up and see if I can find some streams to watch!

I feel that the answer here is because they want to save some big blinds. You can see the whole thing with this example: you have 20bbs I feel that you will be more comfortable my open raising 2x than 3x and in a tourney.That play will make you be more aggressive?!?

I am talking about tournaments with a buy in , I see 3x-5x in some freerolls/ micro buy ins mostly on ACR where I participate sometimes. I like the 2x , if an opponent thinks that he has a better hand than you or he wants to fight back he can 3bet you 3x-4x your initial raise amount!Maybe the above trend make the players go more often to the post flop game.

The only stages I open raise more than the minimum is the early stages of a tournament with no antes.

The thing is that every streamer I watch and have some open raisers at their table of that amount,3x, they are always questioning so it's no what I am saying but what is happening nowadays!

Hope I helped you here with my current knowledge/experience and with this answer full of grammatical mistakes ha ha

 

[Peppinotom]

What are the websites that everyone uses for studying, working on their game etc?

I'm sure , somebuddy recommended already the Pokerschool on Pokerstars, and the books are collectable , there are pdf. files on the net. I found out, some of them are already 30 years old, but fun to read, once you have the basics. We all know, there's no bible for winning in poker, but all the fundamentals you find here in the strategy section. Spicing that up with some thoughts, hints and anecdotes of the big players, Brunson, Negreanu and last but not least Phil Hellmuth jr. (he's better to be read than to be watched on TV/YT), is sure net-profit.
In case you are interested I can send you where to find them.
The best book is the one you write yourself, so back to the tables, you need practice:damnmate:

 

[Ryan Laplante]

I have had to take around 4-5 years off due to financial difficulties due to getting married, buying a home etc. So my bankroll that I had built up is no more and I need to start rebuilding it.

I am wondering though, what has changed over the past few years that I have been away? What tips would you give me getting back into the game and what sites, other than Cardschat do you recommend I check out?

Having to start from scratch with money from wages at the minute, but hopefully I can get back to where I was before and beyond!

Small ball is the name of the game, as is well timed aggression.

Small leverages are very important in tournaments.

Raises are smaller pre, but 3b are larger.

Cbets are generally smaller, but much more dynamic.

Things like PIOSolver are much more commonly used and studied.

Lots more great info to learn from!