realistic goal , best approach?

[SenecaJim]

I didn't know which forum this fits in so forgive me if this isn't the best one. I thought that players best able to help me would probably peruse this forum regularly.

I haven't been able to play much since I started to get serious couple of years ago. My time plus game availablility were hurdles. Games now available and am retiring in May. (52)

My goal is to not be world class or on tv. I much prefer live to internet but mostly prefer improving and money in my pocket. I would like to become (semipro?) and increment my retirement to possibly 15-20 hour long term (averaging $13/hour last 3 months).

Is there any advantage (regardless of preference) to working on my game as I gain experience in either live casino / house spread games vs.the internet? Does my goal seem realistic? I study everyday and play as much as possible. I am reasonably intelligent ( 138 ) and math / science inclined and AM NOT afraid of hardwork.

[Mike]

Playing on the internet is going to force you to understand the mechanics of the game faster than any other method. I am of the opinion B & M will give you better profit for the amount of 'work' involved.

In any case, experience can't be bought or studied past a certain point. gl

[SenecaJim]

Thanks Mike. Do you say that about the mechanics because of software like pt laying out stats for you, or because you get so many more hands played in given time?

[Mike]

I guess for many reasons, I will name what I think of off the top of my head.

No tells online, so online poker is more mechanical. Of course online makes you more sensitive to pattern play I understand. This would help you to identify weaker players faster.

The front end software obviously. You can select tables quickly, change tables quickly and even change sites quickly. That is a premium advantage compared to b & M.

Making the correct choices is easier I think. Without the nonsense going on that goes on in B & M, your choices will be clarified. With the amount of 'helper' software available it is a lot easier to make good choices. It would not be too difficult to have the material in front of you to choose the correct play more often than not even without the software.

With the software and a good database of players, you have some cherry picking that could make your win rate much higher than B & M. On the downside, I think the game is too available. You may find yourself playing when you shouldn't be, and it would be like working from home...fun until you do it.

Playing in B & M, even though players are called fleas, it has its good points. Someone serves you drinks and food, free or for a minimal cost. Bad play is prevelant, especially as you see many of the same players every session who are not there to win. Gambling addicts are present at every B & M I have been in, they keep the game in $$. Players are proably not as tough as online because they are there for the action, not the $$.

Just being online you can look at all the tables and choose the one that fits you best, eg, tight, loose, agressive, passive.

One final thought there are four or five different styles of play you should learn and play, just because you will encounter them daily, and if you have played those styles you know those players think, and then you know how to beat them. I would also suggest that you do not fall into the trap of always playing one style. Some times a weak approach brings in more wins than ram and jam that is so popular today.

Whatever you do, do not be afraid to experiment. It's only some money you are losing if your idea(s) do not work, and it is only short term losses.

[SenecaJim]

Mike, that was a very readable and helpful list of insights. I know that took some time to write. Thank you.

[bigmac366]

for someone who seems dedicated to playing well, i think its a very realistic goal. many players on this site, myself included make nice supplemental income off of poker. since your willing to put the work in i dont see any reason why you cant turn a profit. good luck!

[timmer]

I Wouldn’t call a 138 a reasonably intelligent person.

A 138 resides in the lower part of the 99th percentile, which I like to refer to as pretty darn smart.

Not intelligence is measured in a number of ways these days but 138 is quite high how ever it is cut up.

Any way I think these goals are very reasonable. such a person shouldn't have much trouble achieving then If he is willing to apply his self to the project.

timmer

[K C]

I guess it depends on where you plan on playing. Of course you may not have decided this yet. It stands to reason though that if you don't plan on playing B&M's then you should dedicate yourself to online. While skills gained at one do transfer to the other in a lot of ways, in some ways they don't, and in some ways they can actually throw you off. There are plenty of successful B&M players who struggle at first when faced with online poker. And the reverse is true as well, although it doesn't seem to be to quite the same degree.

My advice would be for you to develop your online skills, and look to that as your avenue for the future. Someone mentioned "cherry picking" and that's probably the main reason. It could be compared to having a corner store compared to a multinational corporation. Your reach is severely limited, as opposed to limitless. You can select the easiest game on the planet as opposed to being stuck with whatever your local card room offers. There are many other advantages to online play but I'll leave that to another day /images/graemlins/smile.gif

KC
kingcobrapoker.com

[MsFish]

Well if money in your pocket is what your looking for remember online there is no tipping, and online sites do offer bonues etc, so over time that money adds up. Figure out in one session live how much you paid in tips. also online you get more hands per hour.........

[dealer_toe]

the percentage of the rake online is less also. (up to a certain limit)

[Scuba Chuck]

I am of the opinion B & M will give you better profit for the amount of 'work' involved.

I totally disagree with that statement. There are some serious factors involved. The first and most important factor is game enjoyment. But if this is not the most important factor, and increasing $/hr is, then the internet is the way to play.

It's a lot easer to play 4 tables on the internet than it is to play 4 tables at a B&M. If you play limit, and you average 1.5-2 BBs an hour, if you can learn to four table, it's more likely you'll be at 6BBs an hour or more.

Personally I play the NL 1 table tournaments. I average from about $19+ an hour 3 and 4 tabling. I've played nearly 1,000 of them over the last two months, for example. At the $33 tables, I average about $6.6 per tourney. Each tourney on average lasts 40 minutes. If you played 3 an hour ...well you can do the math from here.