How to: make an online poker pro.

[gotme]

Hey,

What are the benefits of playing NL in terms of profitability/enjoyment?

I guess i'm concentrating on limit because I've heard it's better for the beginner.

[fnord_too]

In general, NL is lower variance. A 1/2NL game (blinds) plays much bigger than a 2/4 limit game. In terms of earning potential, a really good player can make about 20 big blinds per 1in the NL game (a PTBB for NL is 2*Big Blind, you will see the PL/NL ppl talk in terms of PTBB's, so 10 PTBBs/100). That is about what a really good player can make playing in a 5/10 game.

[theben]

you must get PT, its great.

check out PSO and get it free.

aside from BWing, pick a "main" site and get rakeback there.
try getting rakeback at party

[gotme]

Okay,

So my initial learning phase of 3-4 weeks will concentrate on limit. Then perhaps I should try and head toward NL?

How would one concentrate on NL?

[AKQJ10]

Well, in short I'm of the opinion that neither limit nor NL is inherently better for beginners. I put a discussion of some pros and cons at http://poker.wikicities.com/wiki/No-limit_hold_%27em .

The classic reason for recommending limit to beginners is that they might lose their shirt playing against seasoned NL opponents. With the advent of $0.01-0.02 blind $1 min. buyin NL games, and 50c tournaments including sit-and-gos, this concern strikes me as obsolete.

New (and bad!) players are coming into all forms of Hold 'em, but many are motivated by the tournaments they see on TV. If you feel the same way -- in other words, if your aspiration is to play in the WSOP main event one day -- then I'd say go straight to NL tournaments, probably starting with mostly sit-and-go. But your aspiration could just as easily be to hold your own in the Bellagio $2000/4000, or for that matter to win a WSOP event in limit hold 'em, 7-stud, or even something likerazz!

In short, play whatever you like best. And don't be afraid to try a few variants and see how you like them.

[SheridanCat]

[ QUOTE ]
Okay,

So my initial learning phase of 3-4 weeks will concentrate on limit. Then perhaps I should try and head toward NL?

How would one concentrate on NL?

[/ QUOTE ]

I tend to be an advocate of limit for a beginning player because NL tends to punish players more. However, I agree with AKQJ10 that the very low buy-in NL games are pretty safe. Just by understanding there is more to the game than just shoving your chips in and praying, you'll be ahead of most at that level, I think.

I would start learning NL by reading Ed Miller's GSIH and then move to other NL books such as Ciaffone/Ruben's Pot-Limit and No-Limit Poker. Also, read the NL forums here - that's probably the best education currently available.

Regards,

T

[bholdr]

[ QUOTE ]
- Any other tips? etc etc

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't try it- you'll fail (90% probability, and that's being generous) or you'll hate it (5%- also a charitable number). if you happen to become a winner that actually enjoys sitting in frot of a screen clicking a mouse for six or so hours a day(ugh) and are then able to earn enough to survive, you'll have no credit, no resume, no health insurance (is austrailia on universal care? nevermind if it is), no prospects for raises/promotions, no paid vacation, etc, etc...

starting with a $100 BR, it'll take you several months to accumulate enough to make this even remotely plausable, i wouldn't try it with less than 10k, and i'd want a whole lot more. I have turned $100 into over 10k since jan 1 this year (I needed the rest of my roll to pay for x-mas and a new apartment, so decided to do the $100 --->10k challenge), but i would not be able to do it again- the games seem tougher now, the really really good casino bonuses are all dead, the poker bonuses are smaller, rakeback appears to be dying off, etc, etc... I'll consider myself a fourtunate man to make another 6 or 7k this year- and I play anywhere from four tables of 2/4 and 3/6, up to 4/8 and 5/10. my playing roll is over 3k, and if i were to try to go pro (i won't) i'd want at least double that, not to mention several month's rent/expenses in my savings.

Bottom line? poker is a great game, and i'm thankful that i finally have one hobby that's almost as profitable as my others are expensive. keep it as a hobby/part time gig, and you'll be richer, happier, and much more secure. I do highly reccomend that a person with your background learn the game- you have some advantages, but keep in mind, poker is a lot rougher than trading (which is pretty damn cold itself) when it's not going your way. Good analystis don't nessecarily make good players. but, if you find that you're good (only perhaps 5% of players are long term winners) and you like the game, you'll have a great hobby for life. go that way, my friend, trust me on this one.