Frustrated gambler advice

[bawcerelli]

oh yeah, the learning curve you have ahead of your will be no fun either, king. just letting you know what you're in for. good luck.

[SonnyJay]

First, the obligatory (because it needs to be emphasized) comment about "don't move up in stakes because people will respect your raises." This will undoubtedly cost you money.

Second, it's not possible to do EV calculations for each decision as you're making it, because you simply don't have time and even if you could you can't do it the result is imperfect because you don't have an exact range of hands. Download Pokerstove (there's a link in the FAQ...always the second thread listed), look at your hand histories and play around with situations that you aren't sure about. You can test the percentage of the time your hand wins against different ranges of hands (ie. I have 88 and he will call me with any pocket pair or any ace). If you're committed to playing SNG tournaments then it would help to download SNG Power Tools (also in the FAQ). It costs money, but it can help you analyze your play at a deeper level using a theory called the Independent Chip Model (if you're interested there have been a bunch of trainwreck threads about it lately that I was a part of...you may be able to find more reasonable threads by using the search function).

You don't sit at your computer calculating EV, but once you play a lot and analyze your game you begin to intuitively understand certain decisions that come up frequently (ie. pocket pair vs. 2 overcards). It comes with study and experience.

Beyond that, read this forum and post hands that you have questions about. Best of luck to you.

-SonnyJay

[sofere]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the quick responses.
A couple of question. I hate to be the newb but I looked around and could not find the sng faq.
Also not to sure what +EV is. Are you are talking about offering unfavorable pot odds and being constantly called with semi weak hands?
Thanks again for the response I appreciate the advice.

[/ QUOTE ]

The SNG FAQ is the second sticky post from the top of this forum.

If moving to SNGs, the best general advice is very tight early, very aggressive late when opening the betting. Get very familiar with ICM and how to use it. If your willing to put a little money in, buy SNGPT...I can't tell you how useful and eye opening that program has been (It pretty much does ICM analysis for you).

[DDH]

Just putting more emphasis on what has been said about moving up limits. Becuse of my bankroll, I started out at the 5s, played those till I had anouogh money to play the 10s, and played those till I know have a large enough bankroll to play the 20s.

Yes, the play in the five is very loose and carefree, but use them to work on making good poker decisions. Yes, I'd get sucked out, yes, I got beat with hands that people have no reason playing, but as long as I was making the right decisions I felt I was okay. And I learned more and more through playing how to make those decisions. Then I moved up to the 10s, the play was a little more sane, and I was a little better player then when I started the 5s, the same was true for when I started the 20s. I learned more about poker and how I wanted to play and my style in the 10s and when I had the bankroll to move up to the 20s, I was a better player then when I started the 10s. And now, in the 20s, I'm still learning. Things that I may have been able to do in the 10s won't work as well, so I have to learn new things.

Read the books, read the threads listed here, and most importantly, don't expect to happen quickly. I've been playing for about 15 months now, and while I'm a better player now then I was, I still knwo that I'm nothing great. I'm not a bad player, but I hesitate to label myself as anything better then "above average." But I'm learning, and I know I'm getting better. That's the most important hting for me.

[SonnyJay]

Just a quick note on the buyin level:
If you're playing a $5 SNG that's a 5+.50, then it's fine, but if you're playing Party you're much better off playing the 10+1 instead of the 5+1. Beating a $1 rake in a $10 tournament is much easier than doing it in a $5 tournament. If your bankroll can support it make sure you aren't paying more than 10% rake.

-SonnyJay

[tigerite]

Citanul will be pissed that you wrote that..

Similarly I should play the $215s because it's less rake, I guess? It doesn't always follow. It's not wise to have a stab at the $11s when your bankroll is around $180, but that is 30 buyins at the $6s.

[SonnyJay]

Obviously, I made the "if your bankroll can support it" disclaimer. I personally don't feel that the play difference is significant between the $6s and the $11s, though obviously there's a big difference between the $55s and the $215, never mind bankroll constraints.

*EDIT: For example, with your $180 example I can see the $6s as a viable option, but if I'm sitting on $300 and it seems like I can beat the $6s I don't think you're going to face much tougher play going up to the $11s.

Just to clarify.

-SonnyJay

[tigerite]

I know, but if I don't post it, he will.. and he'll still be pissed.. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Cactus Jack]

[ QUOTE ]
I hesitate to label myself as anything better then "above average."

[/ QUOTE ]

Me, too. But that's because the average is so low. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[raptor517]

[ QUOTE ]
Citanul will be pissed that you wrote that..

Similarly I should play the $215s because it's less rake, I guess? It doesn't always follow. It's not wise to have a stab at the $11s when your bankroll is around $180, but that is 30 buyins at the $6s.

[/ QUOTE ]

if i ever had a 16 buyin downswing in the 11s i would probably never play poker again. if you have 180, there is no way you shouldnt be playing the 10s. who cares if the ror is a tiny bit higher. dont donk off chips early and you will be fine. holla