Getting started

I've been playing poker for fun for a while now, I think it's time to step it up, I do fairly well in home games and don't do too bad online, although I often play silly and for little money.

Now I am serious, I have $50 in my pokerstars account and I am going to start grinding away on .5/.10NL tables trying to get to $150 as a start, if anyone has any advice and tips please feel free to help out.

(on a side note I am using poker tracker v2, although I only have the basics of it any tips with that would prove invaluable)

Boo-ya! Sig.

If you want to make that $50 last and not deposit again you should move down in limits and play $0.01/$0.02 or $0.02/$0.04.

Because even winning players can have streaks of losing 20 buy-ins. You would only be playing with 5 at 10NL, you could easily go busto.

thank you, on that advice I have gone down in stakes and i'm slowing grinding up

good luck!

slight decline: 59.95

Post some hands, please.

I'll post some hands soon, but in the meantime he's and update: I am currently on106.30, more then doubled my bankroll, I've been playing .1/.2 and sometimes playing the odd .2/.5 cash games, also i've been playing the odd $4+.40 180 man SnG MTT on pokerstars, cashed 4 times, once getting 4th for $50~

Hands to come when I shift through them on poker tracker.

On another note I've recently finished Doyle Brunsons super system, further more if anyone can recommend any other poker applications I'd appreciate it.

Dude... bankroll management. Learn it, love it, use it. If you continue sitting down with half your bankroll on the line, I promise you will go busto.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...poker-4971.htm

I think you are mistaken mate, in .1/.2 (cent) I take only 3 bucks in at a time and the 4 buck stg is less then 5% of my bankroll, I have read about bankroll managment before but I will read this too, thank you

I realize this is a bad move, if i'd have just checked I could have saved myself a bit of cash here:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

SB ($2.71)
BB ($1.06)
UTG ($1.46)
UTG+1 ($2.83)
MP1 ($0.56)
Stu ($3.70)
MP3 ($0.17)
CO ($0.56)
Button ($3.30)

Preflop: Stu is MP2 with , .
3 folds, Stu raises to $0.04, 1 fold, CO calls $0.04, 2 folds, BB calls $0.02.

Flop: ($0.13) , , (3 players)
BB checks, Stu bets $0.06, CO calls $0.06, BB folds.

Turn: ($0.25) (2 players)
Stu checks, CO checks.

River: ($0.25) (2 players)
Stu bets $0.62, CO calls $0.46 (All-In).

Final Pot: $1.17

Results in white below:
Stu has 7d Ad (full house, fours full of eights).
CO has 8c Js (full house, eights full of fours).
Outcome: CO wins $1.17. Stu wins $0.16.

Much better.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP3 ($4.91)
CO ($10.22)
Button ($5.21)
SB ($10.24)
Stu ($5.92)
UTG ($5.33)
UTG+1 ($2.25)
MP1 ($5.74)
MP2 ($4.95)

Preflop: Stu is BB with J, J.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.05, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.05, MP3 calls $0.05, 2 folds, SB completes, Stu raises to $0.15, UTG+1 calls $0.10, MP2 folds, MP3 calls $0.10, SB calls $0.10.

Flop: ($0.65) K, 8, 8 (4 players)
SB checks, Stu bets $0.1, UTG+1 calls $0.10, MP3 folds, SB calls $0.10.

Turn: ($0.95) J (3 players)
SB checks, Stu bets $0.1, UTG+1 calls $0.10, SB calls $0.10.

River: ($1.25) 4 (3 players)
SB checks, Stu bets $0.35, UTG+1 folds, SB raises to $9.89, Stu calls $5.22 (All-In).

Final Pot: $12.39

Results in white below:
SB has Ks 8s (full house, eights full of kings).
Stu has Jc Jh (full house, jacks full of eights).
Outcome: SB wins $16.71.

(edit: something quite right with the conveter, but I won that hand)

Hey Disco,

No offense but I don't really like how you played either hand.

Hand 1: This really should be a fold preflop from MP. you can raise hands like these from the button profitably, maybe even CO, but not from MP. If you are going to raise, don't minraise. Make it 3-4xBB +1 for each limper.

River shove isn't the worst part of the hand imo, vs. a nit who doesn't slowplay it could actually be profitable. I think you might be being "results orientated" here (not saying I would push the river - I wouldn't but it isn't totally horrible.)

Hand 2, again I think you should be raising way more pre. I would make it at least 0.3, probs more like 0.4. Vs. poor opps like you get as much money in the pot pre with good hands, and you need to thin the field as JJ is vulnerable.

I don't get what your flop bet is trying to achieve. I would check here, putting in a .4 bet is ok too.

The turn is really bad. You have a stunning hand and you bet 10% of the pot. Opps at this level LOVE to call. I would bet $1, building a nice pot.

The river bet is also WAY too small. Why bet 1/4 pot here. Tbh I would probs be shoving here lol, it's waayyyy more profitable.


Vs. poor opps who love to call you really need to value bet them like mad. Keep posting hands though!

you bet too small dawg.

"shiny disco, disco, shiny disco balls" I love that song

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP1 ($10.90)
Hero ($5)
MP3 ($9.60)
CO ($25.64)
Button ($9.93)
SB ($5.85)
BB ($6.77)
UTG ($4.17)
UTG+1 ($5.12)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Q, T.
3 folds, Hero calls $0.05, 4 folds, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.12) K, A, 5 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($0.12) J (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.05, BB folds.

Final Pot: $0.12

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins $0.12.

trying my luck at $10NL got a bankroll of just under 150 at the moment.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($7.20)
UTG ($2.60)
UTG+1 ($4.65)
Stu ($16.40)
MP2 ($10.40)
MP3 ($1.75)
CO ($11.15)
Button ($18.65)
SB ($1.30)

Preflop: Stu is MP1 with A, K.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.10, Stu raises to $0.4, 4 folds, SB calls $0.35, BB raises to $0.7, UTG+1 folds, Stu calls $0.30, SB raises to $1.35, BB calls $0.60, Stu calls $0.60.

Flop: ($4.05) A, 4, J (3 players)
BB bets $1.5, Stu calls $1.50.

Turn: ($7.05) 8 (3 players)
BB bets $1, Stu calls $1.

River: ($9.05) Q (3 players)
BB bets $3.4 (All-In), Stu calls $3.40.

Final Pot: $15.85

Results in white below:
SB has Qh Kh (one pair, queens).
BB has Jc Jd (three of a kind, jacks).
Stu has Ad Ks (flush, ace high).
Outcome: Stu wins $15.85.

Very close to breaking my target, any suggestions as to my next operation should aim for?

Current BR: 148.38

I was also thinking about moving from pokerstars to another site, good idea for bonus? Any suggestions if so, I hear full tilt is worth a bash.

you only get first deposit bonuses once. Make sure you max them out. Don't go to FullTilt until you have $600. Suggestions, I have a couple but it depends on whether you are US based?
Also, don't open a new account without checking out rakeback potential (use someone here to refer you to an affiliate), bonus clearing rates etc. Bonuswhores.com is good on that front, but post your thoughts here and get them confirmed.
Gratz on completing the op, first of many!

Thank you very much, it is now totally complete I have over $150, I am English so I can use whatever site I like, I will look at the rakeback soon and make a new operation.