Smoothest possible transition to 1/2 - Where to start?

olavfo · #1 03-06-2005, 04:26 AM

Hi all,

I'm grinding away at Party 0.50/1 at a steady pace and I'm growing a bit restless, since it's becoming gradually less challenging. I boldly assume this means I have learnt a thing or two (a lot of it learnt here at 2+2) and that it might be a good idea to start thinking about the next level. I want to develop as a poker player and this means I have to keep pushing, right?

However, I am realistic and I expect I'll get my ass whipped if I move up to Party's 1/2 just like that. Therefore I'm looking for the softest online 1/2 game known to man. After building some confidence I'll return to Party and see what happens.

I have heard nice things about the low limit games at various sportsbooks (Betfair was mentioned), where the players are supposedly bad beyond words. Anybody out there with experience from such alternative poker sites?

olavfo

hate · #2 03-06-2005, 04:40 AM

I've spent the past 10k hands at 1/2 ring, and I have to say that the only big differences I've noticed is lower variability. I'm still at a solid 2+ BB/100 after a pretty bad beginning, and raising that up to 3+ will be coming pretty quickly. It'll take awhile to stop playing scared, which is most likely why I did so poorly to start off with. It's not a rock garden here, it's quality, and all the dire warnings are really a result of bad table selection and/or mistakes you're bringing from .5/1. Going to a different site is a mistake, it's just respecting bad players here at party 1/2. VP$IP lowers to like 17 or so, that's the one other thing, I was easily able to stick at 21-22 at .5/1 very profitably.

olavfo · #3 03-06-2005, 04:47 AM

Interesting comments. In hindsight, what do you think were the worst habits you brought along from 0.50/1?

olavfo

hate · #4 03-06-2005, 05:03 AM

Not respecting raises from people I should be respecting raises from was my big thing. My other leak was being 100% fit or fold at the river with like AKo. This depends a lot on the player you're against, but against higher WtSD opponents you should be more liable to call their bluff bet. I was also betting into these people for fold equity, when you have none against them. Overvaluing pocket pairs. Think that's it.

JoshuaD · #5 03-06-2005, 05:07 AM

Party 1/2 is a playground. If you're a winning player at .5/1, you'll be a winning player at 1/2.

olavfo · #6 03-06-2005, 05:21 AM

From the comments it looks like I worry too much. I'll put in 5k more hands at Party 0.50/1 and then we'll see.

Thanks for the replies!

olavfo

hate · #7 03-06-2005, 05:34 AM

If you've got 400BB and you're willing to drop the 100BB in adjustment game, it's a breeze. I lost 150BB because I had hideous cards and I was playing like every hand had my doom in the pot.

parappa · #8 03-06-2005, 06:19 AM

[ QUOTE ]
If you've got 400BB and you're willing to drop the 100BB in adjustment game, it's a breeze. I lost 150BB because I had hideous cards and I was playing like every hand had my doom in the pot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree. I put up an "adjusting to 1/2" post about a week ago. My subjective experience was that it was a much tougher game. Posters here told me that it wasn't so. I did some datamining, cut down the multitabling, got some reads, and realized that I was giving too much credit to my opponents and was freaked out about the bigger bet sizes. Things levelled out soon after.