Making the transition from limit to NL

[jacattac]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post in the NL section of the site as I have been concentrating on my limit game. I started playing back in May of this year and have done quite well (by my standards) playing $.5/1 1/2 2/4 both full tables and 6 max. While I still have light years to go before I will even pretend to be a decent limit player I tought I would try a little NL to mix things up a bit.

So far, I have played in a couple of tourneys, one of which I placed thrid at my local casino, sit & goes and a couple of ring games. At times I have done well and other times I've had my ass busted and sent packing. However, I still want to give it a shot.

So far all that I have done to learn NL is to buy HOH 1&2. I know this usually only applies to tournaments, but I was hoping that it would also help my basic understanding of NL. What area should I focus on first, tournaments, cash games, S&G's...also what other material should I get to improve my game. I'm literally starting from scracth here so any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

The money is in the cash games so start there. Just keep reading these forums since there aren't any good cash game books.

[jacattac]

Thanks for the input. I would have figured that the money would be in tournaments...shows you how much I know about the NL sceene. Any other adicve & insight would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

[Bco1/75]

There is more money in Ring Games, but more variance. Since you are seasoned, check out "Big Bet NL and PL Poker" by Ciafonne. It is not a play hand Ax like this book.... so it will be a quick read and get you started with correct bet sizes, ect.

There is more money in Ring Games, but more variance.

Not true. There is much more variance in tournament poker than in ring games.

Dumle

[kitaristi0]

[ QUOTE ]
There is more money in tournaments , but more variance. Since you are seasoned, check out "Big Bet NL and PL Poker" by Ciafonne. It is not a play hand Ax like this book.... so it will be a quick read and get you started with correct bet sizes, ect.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

[dgoldsmith]

Get Getting Started in Hold'Em (GSIH) by Ed Miller. Read the section on NL. Follow the ultra-tight guidelines.

I just started play Party NL $25 about 10 days ago and have also been playing the $10+1 SNGs. Doing well in both following Miller's guidelines.

Dave

[Bco1/75]

Thanks, I agree on Tournaments. My thinking was comparing Ring Games and Sit and go, since not too many would try a bankroll building expedition with $100. Could you imagine the agony of continuously playing $5 Tourneys with 500+ players?

[Malachii]

My warmest congratulations sir for growing a pair of testicles.

[6471849653]

To me there are three differences. The bet size is a living thing that one needs to keep in mind; The need to know the style of any player is much more important; Making an information bet or a raise is often unnecessary. After getting the new "patterns" (and the style of some game just like in any limit game) clear enough (so that one understands what's going on, the style of the table, from experience), one should focus on those three things; the first of them is part of the patterns but needs special attention not only strategically but tactically too; winning and losing can depend of a little weakness in reading sizes and making the right sizes.

In limit one thinks if one should bet, while in NL one thinks additionally about the amount one should bet/call, that's strategy, while tactically one/the opponent can make just the opposite, so one needs to be aware of that too; so, betting and calling is more complex. It's not a good idea to think NL is different from limit, but one should instead think that it's like any limit game but rates to have a not so ordinary limit style, but still just a difference in style. Then focus on those differences.