I'm new, how good are my recent results in $1/$2 NL HU Play Money Cash Games? - Beginning Poker Questions

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I'm new, how good are my recent results in $1/$2 NL HU Play Money Cash Games?

View Poll Results: How good are my recent results considering my low experience?

Great

0 0%

Good

1 10.00%

Okay

1 10.00%

Not Good

1 10.00%

Bad

4 40.00%

I Don't Know

3 30.00%

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09-10-2008 , 06:29 AM

Yojimgari

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,634

I play Texas Hold'em online at PokerStars. I single table only so far until I improve. I play only $1/$2 level until I improve. I play with play money now but will later play with real money. I play no limit heads up and I play cash games now but I may try tournaments and sit & go soon.

Here are the important dates in my Texas Hold'em history...
2005/2006 - Played Texas Hold'em on pc sometime for a couple weeks maybe, did good
Monday August 4th 2008 - Started playing Texas Hold'em on Facebook
Friday August 8th 2008 - Started researching Texas Hold'em
Monday August 11th 2008 - Signed up on PokerStars to play with "play money"
Friday August 15th 2008 - Sign up on Twoplustwo.com forums as Yojimgari
Friday August 15th 2008 - Bought Dan Harrington - Harrington on cash games - Volume I
Tue 09-02-2008 - Bought Dan Harrington - Harrington On Cash Games - Volume 2(haven't started yet or finished Volume 1)

...upcoming...
I'll finish Dan Harrington - Harrington On Cash Games: Volume 1 today and get started on Volume 2 next. This week I'll get demo's of Poker Tracker and Hold'em Manager and possibly other programs. Sometime within the next couple months I hope to play Texas Hold'em for real money on PokerStars. I also may sign up Full Tilt Poker since I know it's also very popular, has the most pros, and a lot of people have accounts for both PokerStars and Full Tilt at the same time.

I'm doing a decent amount of Texas Hold'em stuff right now but next month when I get busier I'll have time only for: 60 minutes of playtime on PokerStars, 60 minutes of reading books. 60 minutes of watching Poker on tv and simultaneously using these forums. Those are rough guidelines. Also I don't feel like reading articles and training information on websites much now because I like books a lot more. Should I use the websites now though? Should I use the websites later after finishing a bunch of books?

Twoplustwo.com forums I read currently...
GPD: Beginners Questions
GPD: Books & Publications
GPD: Televised Poker
GPD: News, Views, and Gossip
GPD: Poker Theory
PL/NL TH: Heads up NL

I'm keeping a log of my daily Texas Hold'em on PokerStars information, here's a sample of my most recent days, starting from when I first really started to focus on Heads Up play, which I am best at. I recommend copying and pasting the text into notepad so you can read it easier...

Code:

Fri 09-05-08	+507	T=1507	2:15PT	+$225.33/H	ON@PS, TH, 1/2, 1T, NL, CG, Various(mostly Heads Up)
------------	
Session start	11:05pm(1000)
Session end	 1:20am(1507)
Comments:	I seem to be playing better at Heads Up. I'll start playing more Heads Up now.

Sat 09-06-08	+13	T=13	2:00PT	+$6.50/H	ON@PS, TH, 1/2, 1T, NL, CG, Heads Up
------------
Session start	10:00pm(1507)
Session end	12:00am(1520)

Sun 09-07-08	+4704	T=6224	8:45PT	+$711.31/H	ON@PS, TH, 1/2, 1T, NL, CG, HU
------------
Session start	 9:45pm(1520)
Session end	 6:30am(6224)

Mon 09-08-08(1)	+1334	T=7558	3:45PT	+$355.73/H	ON@PS, TH, 1/2, 1T, NL, CG, HU
------------
Session start	 5:10pm(6224)
Session end	 8:55pm(7558)
Comments:	HU/NL is my best. I'll try Tourn's and Sit & Go though soon. I'll only play ON@PS/TH now. Later higher stakes and multi-table as I improve.

Mon 09-08-08(2)	+98	T=7656	3:00PT	+$32.67/H	ON@PS, TH, 1/2, 1T, NL, CG, HU
------------
Session start	 1:50am(7558)
Session end	 4:50am(7656)
Comments:	I need to decide early in my HU games if my opponent is weak and profitable enough to continue playing with, and not too strong for me.

Tue 09-09-08	+403	T=8059	3:05PT	+$130.70/H	ON@PS, TH, 1/2, 1T, NL, CG, HU
------------
Session start	 11:30pm(7656)
Session end	  2:35am(8059)
Comments: Today was harder than the other recent days. I think I got lucky to win that $403, I could also have been down a thousand.

Notice for today that I gained $403 to get a total of $8059 with 3:05 hours of playtime and an average hourly gain of $130.70. I played Texas Hold'em online at PokerStars and $1/$2 level, 1 table at a time, no limit, cash games, heads up. Are my results good? What daily training should I do? Thanks for your responses, Yojimgari

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09-10-2008 , 06:35 AM

bw89

journeyman

Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 279

wow. That's...detailed.

tbqh I don't you think can judge anything from play money at all because everyone plays so loose/poorly.

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09-10-2008 , 06:36 AM

Pepwa

adept

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 783

Seems like you are organised and motivated enough to ateast deposit $50 into pokerstars and grind the 1/2c tables.

Other than that its almost impossible to tell if you are good or not - this is play money we're talking about so your playing the absolute worst players.

You'll thank me later if you seriously deposit money onto pokerstars because it is soooo easy and it looks like you are definitely ready to start looking into it.

Goodluck.

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09-10-2008 , 06:40 AM

f3nix35

veteran

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,104

seriously just deposit, you're dedicated enough to get grinding on it. And as you play on stars which dont have micro hu tables, get practicing 6max/full ring. Doubt reading harringtons is much useful if you plan on just sticking to hu as its a diff game.

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09-10-2008 , 06:49 AM

Yojimgari

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,634

Thanks for the information! I'll sign up for real money play when I get more money in 2.5 weeks from now. But before I sign up for real money I have some questions that I'm trying to get answered. Please post in my thread I made on this topic...
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/32...-money-295239/

I'm looking forward to playing with real money, but I need those legal/tax/record issues and questions of mine resolved first. I'm going to research so that I feel more informed and ready. Anybody else have any comments on my skill level so far? Also, what other information should I keep track of in my daily log files?

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09-10-2008 , 06:51 AM

French_Kido

banned

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 880

Well i was amazed until i realised it was play money.

Play money doesn't equate to any level of skill or knowledge so you can't tell if you're any good from that.

My advice would be to not spend anymore money on books. Use the 2+2 bonus scheme on here to get books free. I hear that the everest bonus only requires a deposit for you to get 5 books. Also get stoxpoker membership via the same method. Sign up and if you play enough hands you get stoxpoker for 6 months. Again i think party poker is the easiest for this.

Aside from ways to get free learning resources i'd say that you should make your first deposit enough to play whatever level you want to play.

Follow bankroll management

i can't stress how important this is. If you deposit $100 you'll have more than enough to play 0.01-0.02.

Also check out the stickies in the mico no limit forum. Assuming you're playing NL.

Good Luck

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09-10-2008 , 06:56 AM

deadcat3x

journeyman

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 356

Heads up for real money is very swingy you should expect returns of around 55% {winning sessions} if your any good :>

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09-10-2008 , 07:03 AM

Yojimgari

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,634

Thanks for the posts. I'll look into the 2+2 bonus scheme. I will deposit $50 and get a free bonus $50 for a total of $100. What level should I start out at, $.10/$.05 cents level, or the bottom level $.01/$.02?

I wonder how much harder the 1/2 level is going to be with real money vs play money.

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09-10-2008 , 07:17 AM

noImagination

grinder

Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 546

You should start at 0.1/02c and learn,learn and learn some more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yojimgari

I wonder how much harder the 1/2 level is going to be with real money vs play money.

I'll take a wild guess and say a little harder since I don't play at that level yet.

Quote

09-10-2008 , 07:27 AM

#10

Yojimgari

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,634

Thanks, I'll start at the bottom level and see how far I can go with it. That's the $0.01/$0.02 level tables. Any tips for me regarding my legal/taxes/records questions? If so please post in my thread...
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/32...-money-295239/

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09-10-2008 , 09:56 AM

#11

Pepwa

adept

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 783

1/2c is pretty close to play money but theres obviously an very small increase in skill levels.. As you move up and continue to post here i guarantee you'll get better...

Ill also add that when you deposit like $50 and grind the 1/2c tables you'll make your deposit back in 2weeks MAX.

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09-10-2008 , 10:01 AM

#12

runout_mick

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,171

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yojimgari

Any tips for me regarding my legal/taxes/records questions? If so please post in my thread...
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/32...-money-295239/

Seriously, you're not going to have to worry about this kind of thing for a long long time. You seem to be under the impression that poker is this big happy money tree that is going to drop hundred dollar bills on you faster than you can pick them up.

It's not.

It takes a lot of work and dedication to become a winning player at even the lowest stakes. Good luck.

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09-10-2008 , 10:33 AM

#13

jaden'sPA

enthusiast

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 55

Hey there,

I REALLY like your enthusiasm and all, but I think it's worth to tell you some things none mentioned before. I really don't want to hurt or offend you but I think it's best for you that somone tells you that it probably won't be the same thing when you play for real money than when you play play money. NOBODY cares loosing plamoney. You reload and start over again. NOBODY is taking that serious! With that being said the best thing you can do is deposit your 50$ and start playing for real money. I actually don't thing this is much much harder to gain a profit, but it is different in a way that you know you play for real money and it's more pschology involved. What if things don't start out like you expected? What if you recognize you gain less than you thought? What if it is slow to build your roll with this stakes, will you have the patience to play your best game even if you are bored and think you can crush higher stakes allready? There is so much more to it than just reading some books and articles. It's within you. And that is were the fun actually starts!

STOP thinking about taxes and stuff! They don't care.
STOP thinking about playmoney profits! They don't count
STOP expecting too much, you are NOT GOOD and that is perfectly OK! everybody started out not beeing good...
START thinking about improving your game! post hands here, read related threads...
KEEP your motivation and I hope to see you some longer time around!!

good luck and fun playing poker!

jaden

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09-10-2008 , 03:06 PM

#14

Lego05

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 24,916

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yojimgari

$1/$2 NL at real money will be infinitely harder than $1/$2 NL at play money. DO NOT start out playing $1/$2 NL for real money. Start lower.

Quote

09-10-2008 , 03:52 PM

#15

Yojimgari

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,634

Thanks for the great posts! I'm looking forward to signing up! I'll demo Poker Tracker and Hold'em Manager today and later buy one or both. Not sure if there are any other programs I need yet. I can't wait to finish my first Texas Hold'em book today also! What do you guys think about me also signing up on Full Tilt Poker, should I just stick with PokerStars or should I play on both? Yojimgari

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09-10-2008 , 03:57 PM

#16

Protential

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 12,460

sent you a pm...i'll help u out.

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09-10-2008 , 04:05 PM

#17

Yojimgari

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,634

Thanks!

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