Hey all,

I've been an exclusive live 1/2 player w/ occasional shot takes at 2/3 (they were successful I think because I was runnin' really hot)

I've had my learning moments where I played bad and also have had a bad luck streak for a little bit (set over sets, bad beats, etc...) so I need to play in a lower level to rebuild my bankroll and of course get more practice w/ the fundamentals.

I'm not really computer savvy so I don't know what programs people use to tell ppls VPIP/aggression/etc...

Any suggestions?

Sorry to the mods if this is in the wrong forum, I looked at the Internet Poker/Software section but couldn't really decipher what the programs where.

Thanks in advance.

Prolly need to move to MicroStakes online... but...


HEM or PT3 are the popular choices for HUD apps. If you're serious about playing you need one. I personally like HEM. But w/e PT3 caught up to them and they are about the same now.

Online is more aggro because of the amount of hands played. One could say its played more "properly" because of the opening raise sizes. Do not limp like you do live. You will get picked off time and time again.

You need to learn to multitable. The only reason anybody is making money online is because they play 8+ tables.

Bankroll management is hugely important online (it is live also, but because the games are more difficult online its harder to overcome the bigger losses you'll have). Some say 20BI, 50BI, 100BI. Do what makes you feel comfortable, but dont ever go below 20BI

The most difficult thing in the transition is having to play such small stakes. You'll want to play 200NL online because thats what you're used to live, but I'm telling you now, you will be eaten alive! Especially if you are only deposting a small amount. Your gonna go busto. Having to play the micros though is a tough thing to do. You need to be humble and grind it out.

Dont let your ego get in the way of dropping stakes. You may graduate to 25NL from 10NL more than likely though you will lose a big chunk 1,2,3, or maybe even more times before you finally catch on. During those times drop stakes and rebuild.

Awesome! Thanks, I'll definitely get those programs.

I just started playing today (my deposit just went through) at the .02/.05 full ring. Do you think that's too high or too low? I definitely have no problem slowly grinding it even if I need to do it starting from .01/.02 , I have learned great lessons on humility at the poker table in my 9 months of playing.

Now, I'm just trying to get a) a bankroll b) better at fundamentals so I can go back to live 1/2 and hopefully crush it.

Live is really where I prefer to play, cuz I'm pretty good at people observation.

If live is what you prefer then dont even play online. Its going to mind eff you so much that when you go back to live you'll need to start over again. If you want to play both then great. Realize though that there are different adjustments. If you are pretty good at people observation its going to do you no good online. You need to know math and know it somewhat good. You'll focus on ranges a lot more online than you will live. Playing 5NL online will not help you crush 1/2 live. Instead play more 1/2 live and post questions on the forum. Read Harrington On Cash if you want to brush up on fundamentals.

5nl is good place to start on-line. 2nl is almost like play money, nobody respects the stakes. Also, start with 1 table. Yes, you hear about people 24 tabling but you'll need to work up to it. You're going to see about double the number of hands per hour that your used to and you're at best going to get 45 seconds to make a decision (and that's once, if you use your time bank up, it will be more like 15 seconds after that). For a live player, there isn't much time to make a difficult decision.

As said above, if you like live better, then I'd simply get better at the fundamentals playing live. Playing on-line can be soul draining unless you like it.

Hmmm, I kinda wanted to do online to rebuild my bankroll and to play more hands for more experience.

Part of the reason that I think I'm low on funds is that I started playing live w/o a sufficient bankroll for the variance (Only about 5-6 buy-ins @ $200 or 25 BI at Commerce $40 BI ) and my learning curve/mistakes.

I multi-tabled .02/.05 last night on 2 tables for two 2 hour sessions and am up 3 buy ins (about $15) is this unreal/beginner's heater? I noticed that people actually know how to fold and don't try to "just see the flop" for 3xbb. Plus, most post-flop is btwn 1 or 2 opponents.

I played TAG for a good period of time and started playin' some LAG and was surprised how comfortable it was and how players were tight/passive.

Reading this forum & posting has gotten me to consider standard lines/betting patterns so that helped too.

So my question, I guess, is - Is this standard .02/.05 or did people just play tight w/ me cuz they have no stats on me?

Right now, I'm at 23 buy-in's for .02/.05 and I'm planning that if all goes well, I will wait until I'm at 25 buy ins for 10NL then shot take there.

Thanks

beginners luck... Variance online>>>variance live.

You'll be up 3BI's today and down 5 tomorrow. Playing online is like a big huge dragging grind to me. Its very slow to build a roll (especially when you start at 5NL) unless you are playing 5-8 hours a day every day. Basically you become a hermit. What I am saying is dont use online 5NL, 10NL, and even 25NL to build a bankroll for live. There are faster ways to do it. Its called savings and shot taking.

150ptbb/280 hands * 100 = 53ptBB/100.

That's a massive heater. A realistic top win rate at 5nl is about 5ptBB/100 for someone who isn't fooling around at a level way below they can play. Most people don't hit that because at 3ptBB/100, it only takes 16,700 hands to build your roll to move up.

As for your other question, most players at 5nl don't have a HUD, so they are playing you like they play everyone else. There are extremely few "regulars" at 5nl. Either they are so bad that they are at most weekend warriors or earn enough quickly to move up. The main weakness of 5nl players is that they call too much to raises pf and bets post flop.

You know if you want to learn patience, how to 8 table, and still grow your bankroll than just nit it up and set mine. Open up 8 tables, only play pocket pairs through AJs and bingo you now play like any low stakes grinder. Yeah you're not going to become a pro this way but it'll grow your bankroll and you can slowly open up your game once you get more comfortable with all the tables you got in front of you.

What level of on-line poker do you regularly play?