How much did you lose in your poker "education" before turning around?

[DougThor]

Hello all,

This is a random question but I'm hoping to get some reassurance about my play and bankroll loss. I've probably got 200 hours of live and online play combined which I understand is an insignificant sample so don't jump all over me and say come back when you've got 1000 or 5000 hours.

I consider myself to be a developing player who's game certainly isn't at the level of many posters here but I'm playing low limits up to 3/6 with a weak/tight to weak/aggressive style. Yes, I admit I play weak/tight sometimes. I've read all the books numerous times and think I'm an allright player, however I haven't made a dime of profit yet.

My bankroll fluctuates all over the place but I've never been in the +BB/hour range yet. I've come close to even and then dropped down to as low as -$450, which is where I'm currently at, playing 1/2, 2/4, and 3/6 at Party.

I guess my question is how long, as a new player, did it take you to dip out of the -BB/hour and start showing a profit? I've read posts here about new players with great win rates immediatley after picking up the game or at least within 200 hours of play. Should I be concerned that I've got huge leaks or should I persevere and stop listening to friends and family telling me that I'm just flushing money down the toilet and I'm wasting my time.

This really isn't meant as a whine-fest. I'm just looking for some war stories and possible advice.

Thanks,

Doug

[siccjay]

I bought in on Party for 50 bucks 3 times before I ever bought a book and read up on things. I knew mostly just starting hands before I got serious, and of course that isn't enough to be successful.

I suggest reading Winning Low Limit hold'em by Lee Jones and playing Party .50/1 while you study the game more. If you play by this book you WILL make a profit, simple as that. While you are doing this you can better yourself and learn to play different types of situations. Also, Party has a $5+$1 NL Hold'Em tourney everyday at 10:30AM eastern. Great experience for a cheap buyin.

Good Luck

[bicyclekick]

0 online. I got a free ride on the OIC train and have taken it from there.

I guess now that I think about it I dropped a couple hundred at a casino playing 2/4 over like 4 trips before I played that online, but that was all profit from playing with friends. So all in all i'm a confused man. haha. That profit i got from friends wasn't earned until i lost 150 this summer to friends.

so I guess my poker life went like this:
-150 no limit friends
+500 no limit friends after reading
-200 casino after reading
+x online
+200 casino after online

Take from this what you want. I don't think i need to get into how much i've won, but it's quite a bit and that's all that anyone needs to know.

[joker122]

The problem I see with you is that you say you have a negative win rate yet you still play all sorts of different limits. Try sticking with .5/1 or 1/2. When you beat that for 3 or 4 BB/100 hands then move up.

[Nottom]

Like everything else in poker, it depends.

I was pretty lucky, and started winning right off the bat pretty much. Now I wasn't a winning player at that point, but I was still winning and managed to win enough that I didn't go broke before I realized I needed to improve. Its really only been in the last few months that I would really say I was anything more than a breakeven player.

GOT on the other hand was likely able to beat a 30/60 game within about 15min of learning the game.

[sthief09]

December 02-September 03 (when I thought I was good and online poker was rigged)

Lost $50 at Party
Lost $50 at Party
Lost $50 at Stars
Lost $50 at UBet
Lost $70 at Party
Lost $50 at UBet

Strangely won $75 and $350 at 3/6 in 2 trips to the only B&M I could find that would let in my pre-21 ass (Turning Stone in upstate NY). I caught amazing cards. I probably averaged AA every 2 hours and won almost every time
-------------------------
September 03-February 04 (when I thought I just sucked)
read a whole bunch of books, and played a whole lot of hands on Turbo Texas Hold'em and joined Poker School Online, and constantly though of my revenge on online poker
-------------------------
February 04-Present (where I'm humble about what I don't know, but confident in my ability)
Won $1100 on Party after they gave me a free $20 and cashed out (I credit this to luck)
Currently up $750 on Party
Lost $150 at 3/6 B&M (Turning Stone) and won $80 at B&M (Tropicana in AC) 2/4


See if you can tell where the turning point was...

[TheArtist]

It took me almost 4 months before I started to show a profit. I lost about $500 U.S during those 4 months. I was playing .5/1 limit at the time. A a year and half later, i can beat 10/20 live games here in Vancouver, and Party Poker. I was lucky I was able to find soft games during my early stages which made winning much easier. But I have to say it takes alot of playing times and thinking of the game to get good at poker. If you not winning, keep trying. Is not as easier as some people make it to be. Some begginners will tell you that they are winning when infact they are not.

TheArtist

[MrGrob]

I lost about $1500 to $2000 (some of this being a table bonus I won at Paradise). I moved up too fast, and kept losing anything I won, and then being short stacked for the small limits etc etc.... Since then, I have made back over 3x that amount playing .50 / 1 and 1 / 2 -- at this time, I am playing up to 5 / 10 and really feel I have my game under control. I credit most of my early loses to FPS (fancy play syndrome).

[GuyOnTilt]

Started playing in late April of '03 and dropped my first $200 deposit at Party playing .5/1. Then joined this forum and read HPFAP, redeposited another $200, and've been playing off that ever since. Best investment I ever made, and probably ever will make.

GoT

[Peter G]

I didnt deposit for the first 4 months of my poker life, I learnt the basics by playing freerolls and 1c 2c limit holdem. Then payed for my loses by chasing bonuses. I play mainly sit n goes on stars and party now. Started at the $5 and when I had 40 buyins move on up to the next limit. I am now on $100 with the occasional stab at $200.

[sthief09]

GoT

What limits to you typically play now? What was the biggest step toward playing exclusively middle limit games? What prepared you best for it? I think I'm going to make the jump at some point in the next year or so, but I'm wondering how I can best prepare myself. Thanks in advance.

[1800GAMBLER]

About T10 000 fake money chips over 3 months of fake NL tournments on prima. Got a big ass book collection, Carson's /images/graemlins/smirk.gif book directed me to this website, in May last year.

Put $40 in, worked my way up through micro-stakes, got up to $1k NL in Nov. Cashed out, travelled, back at the $200 NL now.

You can become a winning player very quickly, but in those new stages it takes more effort away from the tables than it does at them. Buy TOP, study, work, play, apply. Understanding a lot of poker books isn't about reading them once. Could you pass a math exam buy reading a math book once? Poker isn't any different.

[1800GAMBLER]

Become numb to money.

[pudley4]

I bought and studied WLLHE. I bought and practiced on Wilson's Turbo Texas Holdem. After about 2 weeks, I deposited $100 on True Poker. That's the only time I ever needed to put money in online.

I'm not sure that helps /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[tommy2]

About 1500 over 2 months...then decided to play correctly and am positive now over 1400.

[scotnt73]

i deposited 50$ at party about 1 year ago and lost it in 3 hours after seeing the wpt on tv. I then found this forum and got wllh by jones. I studied for one month an used play money to practice. I then deposited 200$ into party and went up and down but lost it in a month from tilt and playing too high. I then bought hpfap and top and studied for 2 months. About 7 months ago i deposited 200$ at party and have cashed out over 2k for different things and still have 1200 in my account. Im not cashing out anymore until i have a bankroll for 5/10 shorthanded(3k).

[lostinthought]

It's hard to tell, but I think at my worst since I started (about 1 year ago), I was about $800 down. (at that point I was probably at around 150 hours) I attribute most of it to experimenting at different limits (most of which I shouldn't have been playing at yet), tilt control, and not knowing which books to read. I got rid of all the junk books I had (I won't mention names here), bought WLLHE, TOP, HEP, HPFAP, started reading quite a bit, starting reading this forum, purchased pokertracker and stat king, and after I started putting in the hours and playing at appropriate limits, I started winning consistently. I think I could have progressed way more quickly if I had someone pointing me the right direction, although it was kind of fun discovering it myself. I was a bit scared at on point if I would ever break even, but if you want to learn the game, you just have to keep pushing. There are super soft games everywhere, and if you play well, you will make money eventually.

[bailey37902]

I've been reading this post intently since I think I'm in the same boat as the original poster. The last post referred to some books that it would be to one's advantage to read. Could some on tell me what WLLHE, TOP, HEP, and HPFAP stand for, as well as suggest any other books that are worth studying. Thanks.

[scotnt73]

winning low limit holdem
theory of poker
holdem poker
holdem poker for advanced players

[fireman664]

The theory of poker, and Hold'em Poker for the advanced player are must reads (HPFAP if you play limit)...they should be studied like a text book.....and for NLHE...Sklansky, PLEASE write a book for us!!!! lol

[CCass]

From August to December of 2003, I made 6 different $50 deposits to Stars and Party. Lost all of it. Found this website, bought and read HPFAP (which made me realize I knew nothing about WINNING Poker), deposited $50 more, and have been a winning player since. I also now own TOP, and am in the process of reading it. I started at $0.5/$1 games, and now play 2/4 and $50 NL on Party/Empire.

As a side note, when my flops seen went from around 30% to around 20%, I saw a huge jump in my winnings. I don't think it is a coincidence.

[Gamblor]

were never spoken.

The only way to play properly is to completely forget the amount of money on the table until you get up.

I am a student living on about $1500 Canadian a month rent+food+social+everything all inclusive.

It sometimes boggles my mind that in a B+M I'll buy in to a 20-40 game for 2/3 of that, and often walk out with an entire monthly budget of profit. Insane: 1 BB is about how much I'll spend in a night of drinking or 2-3 BB on a date.

But the money goes to the roll, not my life, and alas, I still live like a pauper. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

So don't think in terms of money won or lost. Think in terms of bets and bankroll for a given limit. That's when you know you're a poker player. One day I'll be able to siphon off thousands for no reason at all and not even think twice. But my roll needs that money more than my social life does. When you see me playin $1,000-$2,000 with Johnny, Phil, Dan, and daryn, I'll start takin money out of the roll.

[bicyclekick]

[ QUOTE ]
It sometimes boggles my mind that in a B+M I'll buy in to a 20-40 game for 2/3 of that, and often walk out with an entire monthly budget of profit. Insane: 1 BB is about how much I'll spend in a night of drinking or 2-3 BB on a date.


[/ QUOTE ]

You spend 40 bucks on a night of drinking usually? Damn you're an expensive drunk. And 80-120 on a date? Huh. Less you're talking the everyonce in a good while dates, you're and expensive dater, too. lol.

[pudley4]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It sometimes boggles my mind that in a B+M I'll buy in to a 20-40 game for 2/3 of that, and often walk out with an entire monthly budget of profit. Insane: 1 BB is about how much I'll spend in a night of drinking or 2-3 BB on a date.


[/ QUOTE ]

You spend 40 bucks on a night of drinking usually? Damn you're an expensive drunk. And 80-120 on a date? Huh. Less you're talking the everyonce in a good while dates, you're and expensive dater, too. lol.

[/ QUOTE ]

He's canananadian - $80 Can is probably just enough to buy a couple of Big Macs /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[nykenny]

for the first 300 hours i won, then for the next 1000 hours i lost, then i kept on winning

[nykenny]

[ QUOTE ]
Become numb to money.

[/ QUOTE ]

best preparation is to know you are good enough to WIN at the end of the 40 hour (week) stretch, period. now with enough money to last you that long, u can play whatever limit that money allows.

feeling attached to money or not isn't so important because you will be desensitized natually...

Kenny

[bisonbison]

Last september - october: down $300.
Since: up about 2k.

[DGB13]

I deposited $100 in late October. Withdrew $600 in January leaving $200 in my account. Never had to add to my original deposit. I show about 6 BB per hour at .5/1 on Poker Tracker. Not as successful at 1/2, but showing a better bb per hour at 2/4.
Now for a dose of reality.
I ran my bankroll back up to $600 at the end of February then hit a bad streak. I withdrew $400 last Friday and have a zero balance right now (200 bb losing streak). I'm taking a sabbatical and re-reading Lee Jones' book. My bottom line is $900 profit in 5 months. My style is tight aggressive and I think my current bad streak is caused by being overly aggressive coupled with an inability to give up strong starters when they're obviously beaten.

I needed to express this some place and this seems as good a thread as any.

[CardCuda]

Online -

Sept-Oct 03 -300.00 @ .50-1.00 LHE

Registered here,studied, read and re-read -

Haven't looked back since up over 2000.00 since 11-01-03
at various limits up to $2-4.

B&M (LHE) or Home games (mixed poker usually Chicago what a pathetically easy game to make $ at) -

Down about 500.00 @ the local B&M (there rake structure sucks bigtime 1BB an hour just to play) $3-6 game only. I don't play there anymore.

Home games up 1200.00 - (they don't invite me to play anymore) /images/graemlins/frown.gif

Online poker is a savior may it live longer than I. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[bicyclekick]

I started out about the same way (super high bb/h...was at 5bb/h at 2/4 for 10k hands)...it's just a gigantic rush. It will drop, I gaurentee it.

DOn't feel bad, though, it's just 5 bb is not a winrate a 'good' player could make. Now an astromical player could probably make 5 bb at .5/1 though.

[BIGRED]

[ QUOTE ]
As a side note, when my flops seen went from around 30% to around 20%, I saw a huge jump in my winnings. I don't think it is a coincidence.

[/ QUOTE ]

Regarding your flop %, is this including your blinds? Probably not right? This 20% PF stat is voluntarily putting $ in the pot PF, right?

[charlie_t_jr]

Kind of my same problem. I'm showing profit at .50/1, 2.78BB/100. But just about break even at 1/2 and 2/4. When I get ahead, I jump up to 2/4 and when I hit a bad run, I'm back at .50/1. Been chasing my tail for awhile now.

I'm trying now to be disiplined enough to stay at .50/1 & 1/2, building BR and WR, before going back to 2/4.

[DGB13]

I know I was too high on BB per hour and that it would level out, but it is easy to get spoiled and that probably fueled some unreasonable expectations on my part. I decided it was time for a break.

[BugsBunny]

Short version
Started online in summer of 03. Dropped about 700-800 playing NL/PL. Decided there was lot's of money to be made and there were lots of fish, but also that I was a fish. Didn't like that.

Invested about $200 more and decided that was it. Of that deposited $70 at Stars and used the rest to buy a poker library after investigating what books where worth it. Primary first book was HEFAP (along with TOP, Supersystem, and a few others). Read a lot between the lines in HEFAP which enabled me to use it, succesfully, at the supermicros. I also took the attitude at that time that even if I wasn't playing at maximum efficiency for that level my primary purpose was to learn what I was doing for higher levels anyways.

Then started playing (Sept 03) at Stars .05/.10 (after a few days at .02/.04). Stayed there till I had won $300, jumped to .25/.50. Stayed there till I had won another $500.

Haven't looked back since. Currently I'm playing mainly 3/6 at Party and getting ready to move to 5/10 - although my bankroll is enough to go higher than that I play to an ultraconservative bankroll, since I plan to never add to it again (although I may "borrow" additional funds for bonus purposes etc if I need them in a hurry, but they get pulled out again ASAP)

These forum's helped a lot also, although I didn't get involved here till I was already playing 1/2 (or maybe just before).

[turnipmonster]

I have had some bad runs, but had a good run starting out (basically just got lucky) so fortunately have never been in the red.

personally, I think you should reevaluate your game and make sure you really are playing tight. just as an exercise, try never ever coldcalling a raise on party. either reraise or fold (mostly fold). the biggest thing I see on party in the low limit games (I play 3/6 and 5/10), is people cold calling raises with trash (i.e. AJo, KJo, etc).

--turnipmonster

[DougThor]

Very suprised, and pleased, by all the responses to my question. I really appreciate everyone sharing their stories. Makes me feel better that I'm doing the right thing by studying, getting the hours in, and posting here. Hopefully the long run will kick in sooner rather than later. I think I jumped up to 3/6 because I had the 300BB bankroll and thought I could handle it. You're all right that I need to beat the micros steadily before moving up.

Again, thanks a lot.

[bisonbison]

Just remember too that if you're used to playing live, the limits are not equivalent. .5/1 at party plays like 2/4 or 3/6 live. 3/6 at Party plays more like 6/12 or 8/16.

[illmatic]

Good question, this is exactly the type of post I wanted to see when I was floundering around 9 months ago when I started playing. You just need to learn more, however many hours/books/simulations/poker tracking programs it takes, and whatever works for you specifically.

I read Winning LLHE and started in July 2003 with $200. I lost it in less than a week playing 50c-$1 very badly. I reread WLLHE and deposited another $200. I lost it in less than two weeks playing slightly less bad 50c-$1.

Then I got pissed off and serious.

I am one of those people who is an info and stimulation junkie and so what worked for me was to read nearly every possible book on poker and the archives of every poker site out there. Two weeks later I deposited $200 and have been playing and withdrawing off it since.

I started to get better once I let go of my ego and learned that when I think I'm the greatest poker player alive, that's when I need to read more and try and up my game in another dimension. Winning also builds on itself, because not worrying about your losing streak frees you to bluff and steal more pots, etc.

At some level and in some games you can still win a little playing weak-tight, but nowhere close to what you could. When I added the bluffing portion of my game it where I gained the most. Also, try NL. It works for my style of play -- I hate limit hold em. It may work for you, so while you're experimenting you should give it a try.

Good Luck!

later.
illmatic

[OnlinePokerCoach]

I lost my first online deposit of $200 and then redeposited and never looked back, especially after having a very good and lucky first few weeks online. I jumped up in limits very quickly as I won (ignorance is bliss!) and had a bankroll of $4000 in one month from playing 10/20. This was way back in June 2000, when Paradise was the only decent place to play (and when it was softer).

In my opinion, because of the very low limits available online, beginners do not have to risk much in order to learn. Start off low and move up as you get better and as you build your bankroll. Read the right books and get the right guidance and you will be set. I am always discouraging my coached players from moving up too quickly. Some players are so eager that they want to play 3/6 for example even before they have read their first book. At most, I suggest that players can take a stab at higher limits to see how they fare and move down if they take a loss.

Best regards,
OnlinePokerCoach.com

[umdpoker]

$40 for a night out drinking isn't too bad. i have spent close to $80 before, including tips. never forget to tip your bartender! 10 or 12 beers at $4 a pop, plus paying for pool or drunken food really adds up.

[nykenny]

[ QUOTE ]
Some players are so eager that they want to play 3/6 for example even before they have read their first book.

[/ QUOTE ]
i started at 5/10. then 10/20, 20-40, then 15-30 then eventually 3/6 hahaha.

so what limit do you play (or like the most) these days?

Kenny

[afk]

Bought books and began studying in October 2003. Started with play money on Party.

Feb 7, 2003. Deposited $50 at PokerStars to play .05/.10. Currently up $15.78 /images/graemlins/grin.gif - Mind you I only have the time to play for a bit more than an hour a day or so, and I haven't started multi-tabling yet. I'm learning on the cheap and I haven't been below my original $50 so it's ALL PROFIT BABY!

[cornell2005]

msybe try some cheap sit and gos and cheaper limit tables to eliminate the feeling of playing scared with your money. (maybe you arnt, its just a natural tendancy i think to play poorly when thoughts of money are involved)

i would recommend not jumping around at all at this point, prove to yourself you can beat a certain limit for an extended period then move up.

not sure if my story will help, but here it is anyways
played play money talbes for three weeks during a winter break and learned the very basics of the game. then deposited 50, went up to 100 on low limit NL talbes, then lost it. deposited another 50 about 2 weeks later to give it a shot, and got really interested and have played up to about 5000 in a couple months.
i played small ring games, lost money or stayed about even, and then started 5 dollar sit and gos. i palyed these for a really long time, as they were perfect for learning a whole bunch of different aspects of the game. it taught me to move between playing tight to playing aggressive, reading players, ect. but anyways, eventually i started playing 10 dollar sngs, then moved to party and played all ring games. i played 25nl forever until i had like 700, then moved up to 50nl and then finally 100NL when i was up to around 2500.
i guess what ive learned is to stay at a certain level till you can dominate. GL with it

[Saborion]

I had a few $$ over at IC since I had been exploiting their monthly casino bonus. Those few $$ is all I've ever needed. Bought a few books, started reading on 2+2 plus various articles on the Internet.

One thing I'm almost 100 % sure is true, is that you really don't need a lot of skills to be a winning player at the .5/1 limit. Almost feels as though decent starting hand requirements and knowing when to jam the pot is all you need.

What I don't understand though, is why you're playing everything between .5/1-3/6 with that low a BR? Stick with .5/1 until you KNOW you beat that game and have a solid ground to stand on. Then move up to 1/2 and so forth. Why make the education more expensive than it has to be?

[OnlinePokerCoach]

These days I am playing and enjoying the 15/30 game and its terribly cruel swings. Bad beats at 15/30 seem to have a different meaning if you are not used to the stakes. Losing $700 pots to 2 outers on the river can put Buddha himself on tilt. I have a higher hourly rate at 10/20, but 15/30 is pretty fun. It is funny to see an entire table disintegrate the moment the big fish leaves.

Cheers,
OnlinePokerCoach

[Dylan Wade]

*bump* this thread in a couple years and I'll get back to you.

lol /images/graemlins/wink.gif

See, I've made a few grand at the low limit tables, but I've lost close to that, in what could very well be swings, at a dozen hours of the 30/60 commerce game. (I know, I know, my bankroll isn't sufficent, but I gotta watch the sports games while I play). So I guess the moral of the post is that even though I might be able to beat the sissy games, my poker "education" is far from over..... well unless I stopped playing. There's big fish medium fish tiny fish shrimp and sharks. Doyle brunson is a whale( Figuratively and literally). I'm a medium fish. I'm big and fat for the sharks because i've been eating up shrimps all day.
Yeah.

[TheArtist]

or when you have your normal 50BB loss session at 10/20+ it's equate to an all inclusive trip to Mexico!!!

Like I won't spend $200 on a leather Jacket, but losing $1000+ is okay.

LOL~

TheArtist

[bicyclekick]

[ QUOTE ]

or when you have your normal 50BB loss session at 10/20+ it's equate to an all inclusive trip to Mexico!!!

Like I won't spend $200 on a leather Jacket, but losing $1000+ is okay.

LOL~

TheArtist



[/ QUOTE ]

I know. I'm suprised it doesn't bother me. It seems absolutely silly to me, but it's all operating costs.

I guess I'm just thankful it doesn't bother me. I dabbed in 15/30 once and lost 180 in one hand, and it didn't phaze me cause I knew I played it right...as if i were playing normal 5/10 and they were just 'big bets'.

[mackthefork]

From the way you descibe your playing characteristics Party players may be running over you with nonsense hands, I use a couple of different sites, but I can't break a profit on Party, PokerStars I clean up, even though I think they play better, I think I give the maniacs too much respect. However I find I can never gets heads up against them and end up feeding my chips to others if I play. First the maniac goes broke then I do, I'm staying away.

ML

[CCass]

That includes the blinds, the games I play in are generally very loose passive. When I only play premium hands (lower flop %), there is a lot less fluctuation in my bankroll.

[SinCityGuy]

A lot depends on your bankroll. I've logged a substantial amount of time on Party at different limits. I kid you not -- the 15/30 game is actually softer than the 5/10 game, but you MUST have the bankroll to withstand the swings.

[sfer]

~$200 + the $100 bonus at Party playing .5/1. Then came the reading, thinking, playing much tighter, losing about $50 more, then playing tighter still.

The general rule when you first start out is that you're not playing tight enough.

[MrDannimal]

I've been pretty lucky, but it's also because I've been pretty paranoid about losing money.

I started (online) with $200 at UB after watching the 1st Aruba show of the WPT in June of 2003.

Before that, I had played a small amount in Vegas (2002) and won a little out of luck. I got WLLH for XMas of '02 (I wanted to play more, but also not get waxed) and was playing in a home game my brother ran (nickel poker, no big money). I played in Detroit and got thumped in March of 2003, but it was a 3 hours session and not really an indicator of anything.

So I started at UB, playing .01/.02 (even then I was worried $200 wouldn't be enough!). I played, read WLLH, somehow picked up HEP, picked up Turbo Texas Hold 'Em. I found these forums (I don't remember if it was a Google search of HEP that got me here). After becoming comfortable playing for pennies, I moved to $.25/$.50. I got up $100 at UB, pulled out that $100 and put it in Party.

I've since picked up HEFAP, TOP, Gambling Theory and Other Topics, read my ass off here, gotten PokerTracker (the day Pat added UB support, just like I promised), and all that.

As of right now, I have $200 at Party and $675 at UB. That includes bonuses, but I'm still net +$ online. It also doesn't include the $200 I won through the OIC and related freeroll play at TGC (I still have $50 there, but don't play it).

I hope never to be -$. My plan is to stay at $.5/$1 at Party until I have $400 then go to $1/$2. I'm at $1/$2 at UB, until I het $1000 and then $2/$4.

I'm pretty lucky, but I'm also overcautious with my roll so I think that's equally the reason for not busting so far.

[cjs]

Started about 6 monthes ago with $200 and no clue. Lost that playing 1/2 at party and discovered this forum. Asked about a good intro book and WLLH was the one most recommended. Great advice. Put $50 more in and lost it playing 1/2 short. After posting hands here was advised to play and beat .5/1 before doing anything else. Also great advice.

Since - never had to redeposit. I am at 3/6 now and looking at 5/10. Bought TOP, HP, and HPFAP and read these forums. Alot of work but it pays!

[BIGRED]

[ QUOTE ]
That includes the blinds, the games I play in are generally very loose passive. When I only play premium hands (lower flop %), there is a lot less fluctuation in my bankroll.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this typical of winnin players? It seems VERY tight too me.

[astroglide]

i got my ass handed to me playing stud on paradise in 2000. i probably went about 10k in the tank before i figured it out.

[Big TR]

Mr Dannimal, you mention winning $ through OIC and freerolls at TGC. Please let this newbie know what you're abbreviations mean. Thanks much.

[el_grande]

People make fun of me sometimes because whenever I start something new (chess, ping pong, mountain biking, triathlon
...) I buy books on the subject because I want to know how to do it the right way from the start.

That attitude has paid off for me because I did that with poker. I've never been in the red.

Started with $100 at party.. played and studied. That's now at $700. I play no limit tourneys at UB and I'm even there. Most of my playing is B&M 3/6 and I'm up slightly in that.

[maurile]

I lost $20 at $1-$2 hold 'em in my very first session (at pokerroom.com). I won $20 in my second session, getting me even. I won again in my third session, and I've been ahead ever since.

I read WLLHE twice before I ever played a hand.

[peacemaker]

I started diong play money in march 2003. At this point I also started to read everything about poker I could. I found this site and spent many hours reading. I finally got to the point that I was beating the play money tables with ease.

In Dec 2003 I made my first $50 deposit at Stars. within one week I was down to $32 playing .05-.10 limits. I then tightened up my game and ended my first month with a $10 profit.

When I got got up to about $70 I took a $15 for a shot at the .25-.50 limit if I lost this I was going back down but I had a nice little run and quickly got up to $120. After a little set back I had a 3rd place finish in a $1+0 limit tourny and jumped up $50 in one shot.

I'm currently at around $250 and taking this time to work on my playing style and perfect my game. So my poker education is still ongoing but since I have been taking it slowly it has just cost me a couple thousand hours off my life /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[OnlinePokerCoach]

My bankroll is more than big enough for 15/30 and would suffice for 30/60. I very much disagree that Empire 15/30 is easier than 5/10. Occasionally, you may find such 15/30 games, but generally, 5/10 is much easier. Often, 15/30 games are held together by only 1 fish for example. Once he goes, the whole table disintegrates.

Humbly yours,
OnlinePokerCoach.com

[astroglide]

eh, i never run into 15 tables on party that have only 1 fish; it's usually 3-5.

[SinCityGuy]

[ QUOTE ]
eh, i never run into 15 tables on party that have only 1 fish; it's usually 3-5.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. I have yet to see a 15/30 table full of solid players at Party. Typically, I'll see about 3 or 4 tough players per table. The remainder varies anywhere from mediocre to horrible.

[JTrue]

Damn

[JTrue]

NOt sure

[tolbiny]

It will be tougher for you, but i learned to play with a couple of friends and we can talk poker for hours sometimes. Its like having a live version of this forum- more importantly they can see my hands exactly as they happen and they know the table as well as i do. Sadly several have moved away, but i am getting a friend of mine to learn to play. So find someone intelligant and talk poker- they will notice holes in your game you are turining a blind eye to- also if they are willing to call you out and insult your bad play (as a true friend shoud /images/graemlins/smile.gif you will be to embaressed to keep making them.

[scrub]

[ QUOTE ]
the biggest thing I see on party in the low limit games (I play 3/6 and 5/10), is people cold calling raises with trash (i.e. AJo, KJo, etc).


[/ QUOTE ]

Don't forget completing the microSB too often at 3/6 or open limping in LP with stuff like suited connectors.

scrub