Need Advice (noob)

So I've started strictly playing MTT. I'm currently playing any Hold Em freerolls or I'll play 1$ buyins. I need some advice or inspiration as far as being patient and waiting for the right cards. I see to be more impatient online than when playing at a live casino, or a live game. Over this break I am planning on playing at a real casino that is 1.5 hours north of me (Fixed Limit HE). Anyways, I seem to get cold cards all the time. Or for example, today I was playing in a tournament, had QT, flopped a straight, but the flop was all hearts. Ended up someone had A3 of hearts (flopped the flush).

I know I didn't really request specific advice, but for anyone willing to take the time to respond, do you have any inspiration to give me, or advice on cold cards? Anything will be great!

[ansky451]

Well, first of all recognize that you don't get colder cards than other people. You should try to keep yourself busy at the table. I hate listening to music at the table, but some people do it. I like to keep my ears free so I can hear the players and the dealer, and it's annoying when people slow the action cause they have to take off their headphones every time its up to them to see whats going on. So if it doesn't bother you, you could that. Also, don't wonder off, or think about other crap, focus on the game. You won't be bored if every hand you are watching the players and trying to read their hands. I assume you have seen some of the hand ranges posts that people put here. Where we know no ones cards, and we have to put them on ranges. Try to do that, it will keep you busy, and it will definitely improve your reads on them.

Hope that helps.

Yeah, like Ansky said. If you are the casino the hand doesn't end when your cards go into the muck before the flop. Read the table. Notice the aggressive and rock like players. Notice some betting patterns. If they tend to play big hands fast or slowplay them. See what kind of hands they are raising from and where. For example, they are raising KJ suited UTG+1. Or if they re-raise only with aces and kings.

While the hand is happening practice what hands they have. See if they check/call on draws,etc.

Mike Matusow was asked a question not too long ago about how he got so good at reading people. He responded that it had to do with years of being a poker dealer and moving the cards forward to show the winning hand before the cards were even turned up. You can do this too, in a sense, by reading people outside of a hand.

Good luck.

Thanks guys, and also, thanks for taking the time to write out what you did.

I'll let you know how I do when I get back!

Just finished a $1 MSNG on Stars. At one point I was the chip leader, and 2 stupid plays sent me to the bottom. Anyways, final table, I am short stacked, 9/9, and get KJs. One guy raises 1000, another guy calls, I go all-in with 1500 or so. Cards come up, first raiser has 67s, the other has T7o. Flop comes 89K. I have top pair. Turn is a blank, River brings a 5, giving the first raiser a straight and knocks me 9th and the 2nd raiser out in 8th. (Ouch).

I know this doesn't go here, but I'm writing since this thread was where i was talking about everything.

I just got back from a real casino. I ended up playing 2/4 Limit Hold Em. I won $80! [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

I had some great hands. In the BB, I checked K3, and ended up flopping KKx, and then a K on the river. Some guy had AA and he couldn't believe I had Quad K's. And then I had a full house with Queens. I raised preflop, flop was undercards, Q came on the Turn. The other guy in the hand was a big calling station, would play any pair he got, so I bet the river, he raised me, I reraised, he called, and took him down.

It made me realize that losing 1$ at a time on those MTT/MSNG is nothing to worry about.

I also saw a young guy wearing a personalized Full Tilt jersey. Kind of neat...

Anyways, I'm off to some online poker!