Hello all,I just signed up to this site yesterday.

I just started playing Texas NL Hold'em I say 6 weeks ago.I got sucked in from watching it on TV all the time.I also watch poker night live every night since I've started to play,and that show helps alot.

So now that I've decided to give poker a try.I'm now kicking myself for not learning this game earlier in life.I love every little bit about this game,it's the type of game where the learning never stops.

So before I bought any books I went jumping around to different poker forum sites and read up on hand selections,how to bet,what position to play these hands,and so on..Pretty much the basics.I didn't even know the hand rankings lol.

Anyway,in the 6 weeks of playing 10NL I say I'm doing pretty well.My bankroll to start with was $60($57 can).The first 2 weeks of playing I went up to $70.I say in the 3rd week I tried to loosen up a bit more and found myself down to $30.

I went back to playing tight aggressive and got myself back to even.

I say around a month ago I bought my first book, Harrington NL-V1.I have to say after ready this book, it just opened up the flood gates.I've learned so much from it,after reading this book my BR is now $170.

Last weekend I just bought Sklansky's "The Theory of poker"I'm almost finished it and what a book.This book has really open my eyes up to the game.Now I can see why players make certain moves at certain times.

I see that Harrington is coming out with a cash game book Feb 1st, all I have to say to that is HELL YEAH!!!


I know all the question's I have to ask will be on this site already so I'll do my own searching so I'll save you guy's from repeating yourselves for the millionth time.

I do have 1 question I guess I could ask.I'm staring to venture out in playing 1 gap suited connectors(J9s,10-8s).Only on the button or 1 off with limpers,or if it's just the blinds are left.

If I miss the flop I'll fold if there's a bet.Unless that bettor is a weak player then I'll go after him.I'm just wondering in the long run are the 1 gapers profitable.Which ones are the strongest if there's such a thing?

Chow for now.

You might check out Ed Miller's blog site:

http://www.notedpokerauthority.com

He's putting together a NL starting hand chart. So far he's only covered early position hands, but you might find his general comments on the topic helpful.

As your read more poker books, you'll see very specific hand lists for specific situations. For instance, in Small Stakes Hold 'em (which is a limit book, but I don't think the list would be greatly different in a NL book), Miller/sklansky/Malmuth list which hands are playable (positive mathematical expectation) for different positions and, and in tight versus loose games, in small stakes.

For example, in late position in a loose game, they list the following one-gappers as playable if there is no raise:

Any suited aces or kings, regardless of gaps
Any suited queens down to Q8s
Any suited jacks down to J7s
T8s-53s

Keep in mind that:

1. This is a limit book, so this list might not be exactly mathematically correct for NL

2. This is a very specific list for very specific conditions--LHE/late position/no one has raised/an average of at least six people seeing the flop.

But looking at those types of lists, in this and other books, will at least give you an idea of when gapped connectors might be playable.

I will say that you're starting faster than I did. I started all the way at the bottom, grinding out 1/2 cent cash games and $1 SNG.

Keep doing what you're doing, keep studying and learning. Don't try to move up in limits until you're absolutely crushing the games where you are now, and/or you are a consistent winner over a longer period of time than six weeks.

You're already starting higher than a lot of people, so don't go any higher until you're sure you're ready, and you have the bankroll to withstand a run of bad cards.

There is an opponent out there for any starting hand you might hold, that would make that hand profitable.