I've played online poker for two years but just recently(2 1/2 months) started playing live, as I just turned 21, as well as I've started taking poker seriously off the felt. From my minimal experience I have developed a few questions.

1) Over the last 2 months I've played 32 hours with a win rate of $22.13 an hour. That's better money than I would make at any college job and I'm considering playing many hours over one month to see how viable playing is for me over a college job. So I am wondering whats a good sample size of hours to play in a single month to check is it is a good option for me?

2) Tips for playing longer hours? Most of my sessions stick to around the 4 hour mark and generally around that time I start to play worse due to fatigue/boredom (goes along with 3) and or I start to get nervous about stacking off all the money I've made.

3) I feel as if 1/2 is making me a worse player. It just gets old just sitting around waiting on a monster, raising big pre-flop to fold out 5 of 7 limpers, and maneuvering from there with no real idea about my opponents range. I feels like nothing I learn from studying or the edge I'm building ever takes shape because of who I play against. (I know this isn't a question but I felt as if I should share to get some advice)

Any tips are greatly appreciated. Thanks
petersenpoker is online now Report Post

32 hours isn't even 1k hands so it's no sample whatsoever

1) sample size needed = as many hours as you can play. You should be playing every Saturday and Sunday as well as any nights you have free. I wouldn't start the new year without a solid summer of play under my belt to know where I stand before classes start.

2) Take notes while you play. If you do this there won't be any downtime. You will either be taking notes on your last hand for analysis later or taking notes on how your opponents are currently playing. There is a lot going on at the table so watch it all.

As for fatigue, get up and take a walk around the casino. You don't have to play every hand.

As for stacking off, that's a mental hurdle. Its a lifelong game. Does it matter if you stack off at the end of this session or the start of the next one? No. Sounds like you lack confidence a little bit.

3) 1/2 live is much easier than online.

You're at $22/hr so far. If you maintain, that is a solid win rate, but beatable. You should be asking yourself why you aren't winning $30/hr and plug the leaks. So, you still have things to learn, at least about beating players at 1/2 for more money. If it bothers you that much, jump up to 2/5 or 5/10.