I'll probably be burned in effigy somewhere for saying this, but I *shortstacked* the 50nL game.

I'm not sure why- and maybe this is just a psychological thing with me, but I always seem to do much better on 50nL games than on 25nL games.

25nL seems to be filled with TAG nits, where 50nL 6 max (at least from my experience) has players who've opened up their games a tiny bit more, and are willing to gamboool.

But ya, I'll behave in the future. It was a silly move and I got lucky w/ the quick profit. I found another shortstacker who was buying in for 11.50 and pushing darn near every hand, then followed him around waiting for his pushes so I could call with better hands. By the 4th table he figured this out and either went invisible or logged off (darnit-all).

i grow weary of all the hate towards shortstackers. it is a legal and often profitable stategy. it would be simaliar to not allowing check-raising. good players will adapt to short stack players.

Agreed.

That very night I ended up at $101 instead of $120. But today I started fresh and worked it back up to $143.... still hacking!

I gave 9-tabling a try for the first time today, I feel pretty comfortable with it. I even handled being 5-handed or shorter on all 9-tables pretty well.

I was feeling kind of burned out last night so I only played 1 table of 10nL. Didn't expect much, but it ended up working out pretty well. The table talk make these 2 hands priceless.

And ya- my bet sizing was unstandard- cuz they'd been shoving and bullying so much. I wasn't quite sure what to do with my draw, but was pretty sure if I hit and shoved, I'd get a call.

Current Bankroll: 550 total.

Hand 1:

POKERSTARS GAME #14902921100: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/01/29 - 01:31:22 (ET)
Table 'Virginia' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: MEC2210 ($12.15 in chips)
Seat 2: fattjoey ($5.70 in chips)
Seat 3: Ninjahedge ($11.70 in chips)
Seat 4: scandles ($22.95 in chips)
Seat 5: Starrduster ($10.30 in chips)
Seat 6: darEalDonK ($10 in chips)
fattjoey: posts small blind $0.05
Ninjahedge: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Starrduster [Ad Ah]
darEalDonK said, "i bet max. another half an hour"
scandles: raises $0.30 to $0.40
Starrduster: raises $0.60 to $1
Ninjahedge said, "lol i'm just warming up to you foools"
darEalDonK said, "5$"
darEalDonK: folds
Ninjahedge said, "its so obv how u play"
MEC2210: calls $1
fattjoey: folds
Ninjahedge: folds
scandles: calls $0.60
*** FLOP *** [8c 5d Ks]
fattjoey said, "id bet but i wont be here that long"
scandles: checks
fattjoey said, "ill bust out b4 then lol"
Starrduster: bets $2.60
MEC2210: calls $2.60
Ninjahedge said, "i'll bet i crack all yur azzes in the next half"
scandles: calls $2.60
*** TURN *** [8c 5d Ks] [4c]
scandles: checks
Starrduster: bets $6.70 and is all-in
MEC2210: calls $6.70
scandles: calls $6.70

(two callers! I'm fkked! even though they've been playing bad- I've got to be against 2 pair or a set, Daaaaammmit!)

*** RIVER *** [8c 5d Ks 4c] [Jd]
Ninjahedge said, "bring on the sticks and stones"
Ninjahedge said, "hey mec u suck"
Ninjahedge said, "lol"
scandles: bets $12.65 and is all-in
MEC2210: calls $1.85 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
scandles: shows [6s 4s] (a pair of Fours)
MEC2210: shows [Qc Kc] (a pair of Kings)
MEC2210 collected $3.55 from side pot
Starrduster: shows [Ad Ah] (a pair of Aces)
Starrduster collected $29.55 from main pot
scandles leaves the table

About 5 hands later...

POKERSTARS GAME #14903502023: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/01/29 - 02:20:38 (ET)
Table 'Virginia' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: MEC2210 ($19.50 in chips)
Seat 2: Krafty_lt ($13.90 in chips)
Seat 3: Ninjahedge ($7.25 in chips)
Seat 4: Neglecto ($12.35 in chips)
Seat 5: Starrduster ($30.15 in chips)
Seat 6: wrobinhood ($2 in chips)
Starrduster: posts small blind $0.05
wrobinhood: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Starrduster [Kc Ts]
MEC2210: folds
Krafty_lt: calls $0.10
Ninjahedge: calls $0.10
Neglecto: calls $0.10
Starrduster: calls $0.05
wrobinhood: checks
*** FLOP *** [3s Jh Qd]
Starrduster: checks
wrobinhood: checks
Krafty_lt: bets $0.40
Ninjahedge: calls $0.40
Neglecto: calls $0.40
Starrduster: calls $0.40
wrobinhood: folds
*** TURN *** [3s Jh Qd] [9h]
Starrduster: checks
Krafty_lt: bets $1
Ninjahedge: calls $1
Neglecto: folds
Starrduster: raises $4.90 to $5.90
Krafty_lt: folds
Ninjahedge: calls $4.90
*** RIVER *** [3s Jh Qd 9h] [Qc]
Starrduster: bets $0.50 (ok so i was playing around)
wrobinhood said, "instacall"
Ninjahedge has timed out
Ninjahedge: folds
Ninjahedge is sitting out
Starrduster collected $14.20 from pot
Starrduster: doesn't show hand

Sometimes 28:1 just isn't enough, even when someone is going to bust the whole table.

How do I get in on this fun? I'm trying to build a BR from a $60 friend transfer for doing some network setup for him. I had it up to $140 at one point and ran very bad (and went on monkey tilt) and dropped it down to $40ish. Now have it back to $70ish through a few SNG cashes.

I'm avoiding the limit tables this time, although I won a fair amount at 25c/50c this morning.

I'm a B&M player and this is my first time playing online. It's interesting...

Poker Stars $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

MP1: $0.68
MP2: $1.25
Hero (CO): $3.57
BTN: $0.63
SB: $2.68
BB: $1.15
UTG: $1.12
UTG+1: $0.66

Pre Flop: Hero is CO with K K
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $0.10, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.40, 3 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.83) J 6 J (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $0.26, UTG+1 calls $0.26 all in

Turn: ($1.35) 9 (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($1.35) A (2 players - 1 is all in)



Errrm. Wow? I don't know what this guy was thinking but I kinda like NL

Piece of advice (coming from a B&M player who only plays online a little) - throw out all your expectations and standard opponent-expectations. It's a totally different game online, the optimal plays are very different.

One of the big things that you'll probably have to watch out for is that tilt control. My experience is that it's much easier to tilt off money online because the bankroll is a little closer. Live you at least have to physically go get more money, online it's a click away.

I just lost two hands that I know I played really badly. Still up a buck or so at this limit this morning

At least I know I played them badly. You're right about the expectations - I cannot believe some of the calls I'm seeing.

SellingtheDrama--

Interesting. I've always found it easier to tilt live. The casino environment is designed to get you to ignore money: the use of chips, the peer pressure, etc. etc. Meanwhile, when I'm online, I'm dealing in numbers and can stay inside my own head. (I like to think I'm stronger than the casino pressures live, but either way I think it's much tougher.)

That said, certain personality types will certainly find the speed and immediacy of everything online to be more conducive to tilt. Actually, an interesting inquiry might be made along these lines. E.g., I think I fit into the one category because I'm (I think) pretty close to the healthy end on the deceneracy/addiction spectrum (so controlled online) but a highly socially suggestible person (so less controlled in a casino). Hmm.

--Nate

I actually think I do better live, but I've only tried online for a month or so seriously. Having said that I've taken a few beats this morning that would've definitely put me on mega tilt at a casino. I'm trying to stop the "how the hell did he just call 30bbs with no pair no draw" entitlement feeling. It's working a little better knowing I can just do this all day and not worry about it.

Not sure on the multitable thing - I have three up right now and that's about my limit. Don't know how you guys do 10+!

Yeah that's true. She asked her mom to deposit money for her one time and her mom told her no way. She grinded from freerolls snd won a million or two online before winning the major live tourn.

She is an exceptional natural talent however. Most of us will never have her level of proficiency.

That could have gone better



Back down to $394.16

Ouch Sput! But at least yer still up 389 from where you started, eh??

Cant complain. Especially with the way I played. And especially after saying PLO8 was unfair on the fish

Stupid karma

I am back up to $225 after being at like $35 when this thread was started. I was getting so many bad beats in $3 turbos that I was worried I would have to drop back down at $100 but I just got 3rd in a $4/180. The bubble was fairly difficult because I was still near 1500 chips with 40? left, but I won a few coinflips when I needed to and made it through. The last 2 players were really bad/aggo and I could have gotten 1st if I played better I guess.

It is tempting to step up to $6.50 turbs because the play is about the same as $3.25s, but I am going to wait until I am over 50 buyins at least. The $4/180s feel like a great place to start working on MTT-like skills, so I think that I am going to keep mixing them in with what I play. $1K by the end or even middle of February should be a decent possibility if I keep playing well.

Getting a HUD and playing 4-6 tables at once has helped me immensely to control tilt. Tilt and playing with scared money was destroying me really more than lack of ability I think. Once I establish myself at $6.50 45 mans and maybe $4/180s and have more than enough BR, I might move up, buy a 2nd monitor or some coaching subscription. For now though I am happy with where I am at and the progress I have made this week. Best of luck to you all.

I started my roll at $50 on Dec 30 and now just shy of $500 if it werent for a bad beat all in my high full house vs royal flush....

Update $506

I wonder if I should try this challenge starting with HU SNGs or 6man SNGs?

Probably whatever you are better at. I was grinding $2 HU and $1 45 man turb/reg/sat for a while and finally got beyond it. As much as I may suck compared to experts, I pwn clueless people at HU HORSE and any derivative game even PLO8. If you see who is waiting to play and check their stats, then only play the fishiest of players, you can win just by not being stupid.

I had $12 on FTP after being forced to withdraw everything else due to some RL issues. Its not the best site to have a tiny bankroll on because their lowest limit is 10NL.

Regardless of that, what I've been doing is playing short stack poker with 20BB ($2 buyin) because the risk of ruin is far too great to buy in for $10.

After about a week of casual play my BR is up to $22.

My advise is short stack poker, unless the site you are on offers games smaller then 10NL.

I feel ya!

I can own everyone at those levels, but I wonder which game will get me to 1000 the fasted, and with the least amount of pain?

Wednesday Update:

I'm sitting at 569. I've taken some hits in donkaments (forgot how to cash), but have earned a little in ring games. Enclosed is the updated graph.

Hi Ginasd,

I think its awesome what you did, and would like to attempt to get my $50 bankroll up as well. However, I am a noob and can't seem to find a foothold just yet. I keep switching from the penny games(2nl) on stars to the $1.20's, and I just can't seem to make the bankroll go up. A lot of my cash sessions, I will start out good, then run into aa with my kk or something and then just work it back up to break even. Do you have any tips about grinding those penny games? Anything to chew on? Its a long journey if I stick to these cash games and insight would be very much appreciated.

Hey Gina,

Good job keep up the good work. I love threads like yours. I am working on what I call the "Million Dollar Challenge". looking to take my BR to $1,000,000. It's at a whopping $266.00 right now.

I'm probably the worst person here to give strat advice, as at least half of the time I don't play TAG - though I know it is a solid variance reducing strategy. If you check the micro forums for six max or full ring, they're loaded with gems that will help improve the winrate of anyone in the micros.

I'm not discounting TAG, and I've tried it off and on with reasonable success most-times. The long stretch without gains in my graph was when I tried to adopt a 12 tabling TAG approach last weekend on my laptop w/o an external mouse- bad idea. Everything after was from playing 1 or 2 tables where players were deep (over 100 bb) and reasonably passive preflop/ weak postflop, using a LP/TA style.

If your opponents will let you limp and pay off postflop with relatively bad hands it's a fine strategy at low levels and readily attainable by relative beginners who can then learn 'proper' play with someone else's money.