Slevins: One day at a time

Man, it's tough to know what lesson to learn from those hands. That's f'in brutal. Good move going to 4 tables, imo.

Cheers playtowin the sngs were a good idea I've managed to cash in 3 out of 4 $20 double or nothings so am just about back to my $150 bankroll. I took a shot at a $20 prepared to move down to $10 (following the min 10BI advice for don's) should I lose but thankfully cashed which was nice. Then won the next two out of three.

I played a ton of these on the boss network when I was playing there for the FTR holiday promotion, they're called 'coolers' on the Boss network - because you can play so tight and still profit. The change of pace is just the sort of thing I needed.

It's funny the crazy thoughts that enter your head when you go through a bad phase of run like that, I've never experienced it before, usually I've been unlucky for 3 or 4 hands in a close time frame, but not over thousands of hands like this, It was a new experience to me. Illogical thoughts such as I wonder if someone has hacked the PS software for a joke and changed all the probabilities came into my mind.. lol - yeah I know that's a crazy thought and absurd to even think lol.

I guess this is all part of becoming a winning poker player. Just as well I'm playing with a decent bankroll strategy at last or I think this would have been too much pressure to handle. So my 5NL stats show me 8BI's down on the first day, looks like I have some serious grinding to do over the next few days

I'm going to be updating this blog less frequently for the next while as I focus on the poker but I'll update it from time to time to let everyone know how things are going, after the sessions I'll just post main hands that I want to review in the main forums for now. I like blogging but I have a tendency to write alot and often and I think it makes me over think things It's simply a matter of sticking within a decent BR strategy and playing good poker now and climbing out of the micros ASAP within those rules. I know from reading FTR that these things happen from time to time so why spend so much energy telling everyone lol... anyway thanks guys for the confirmation that I was getting coolered and not mis playing the hands, appreciate it!

i just read the entire 4 pages..(not like thats a feat of some sort..)...but i am impressed to say the least....

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

I wonder if someone has hacked the PS software for a joke and changed all the probabilities

Nah, you just play bad.

You are playing poker to build your bankroll not to improve at poker. This means you are pushing where you have no edge and end up in high variance 0 EV situations.

You need to learn pot control.

You need to respect people's raises. Why is he raising? Sometimes the smallest raise is the one you should fold to most often as it's the size the villain choses when he wants you to continue. He wants you to continue because he's stupidly strong.

You overplay top pair/over pairs. Think about SPR - what's a good SPR for a TP or overpair to stack off? You routinely stack off with SPRS above 10. That can't be good. There's nothing wrong with occasionally checking a street with a top pair/over pair and keeping more of the villain's weak range in the hand to pay you off another street instead of constantly pushing pushing pushing and ensuring that if he does call or play back at you he definitely has you crushed.

Check a street occasionally. Fold occasionally.

When your opponent wants to build a big pot proceed with caution and top pair/overpairs are only good if you have a read on the villain that says so.

Even when your opponent isn't trying to build a big pot sometimes you get more value out of a hand by playing the occasional street passively to keep your perceived range wider and weaker. Sometimes it's right to let the opponent improve to a second best hand.

The multitabling nits bible says to play pocket pairs to a single raise, make sets and stack off. It doesn't say to hit top pair and stack off.

Oh btw, all the slapping in the previous post is fully intentional. Stop whining and start analysing. Open your mind.

I'm not saying my analysis is anywhere near spot on. In fact, I'd be surprised if it was. I'd hope you would call me out on the bullshit I spew, but I'm afraid you'll just thank me for the help and go on your merry way.

STOP.

THINK.

Accept this: You have lost because you play bad.

How have you played bad? This is for you to find out.

I think you're on a big fat dose of entitlement tilt. You're not satisfied to wait for +EV situations to arise and money to fall into your lap - you want to make it happen, you want to build your bankroll, so you push where you have no edge and play a lot of huge pots with around 0EV. 0EV can be achieved by folding, and I think you're probably embracing variance for no good reason. Your poker would be so much more profitable if you just embrace patience and wait for the good situations. And while waiting, start entertaining more types of good situations than just hitting top pair and stacking off. That's a pretty narrow strategy that can't be profitable very high.

wait.

you were playing $20 DoNs with a roll of between $100-$140?

Originally Posted by sil693

wait.

you were playing $20 DoNs with a roll of between $100-$140?

THIS

Wtf slevin. Had you lost them, we would just be hearing, "O you guys know what happened... I donked away my roll again..." Like wtf possesses you to play SO far outside your BRM? I just don't get it. You have been saying how you want to "get out of the gambler's mentality" when it comes to poker, and "stop treating it like a slot machine." Well for the love of God man, DO IT ALREADY.

I don't see how anyone who is as dedicated to not losing/sucking continues to shoot himself in the foot with improper BRM. I mean shit, yea I did it in the first month of my blog/operation, but I got lucky and managed to rebuild my trashed roll, but I LEARNED FROM MY ONE MISTAKE. I just don't understand it I guess...

Good luck and all that junk, because it seems your game is more about luck than EV...

triple WTF! $20 DoN????

Slev, stop all this jumping around. "oh, Omaha I run good, this is my game", "Oh look, I won some hands of $10nl, $100nl here I come!", "Easy money at DoN", ......

just knuckle the fuck down at $5nl or where ever the f you're rolled for, and get on with it.

wat.

I'm done. You're going to lose everything you own coz ur dumb. Maybe then you'll learn your lesson.

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Cheers playtowin the sngs were a good idea I've managed to cash in 3 out of 4 $20 double or nothings so am just about back to my $150 bankroll.

one...fucking...week ago you blew your roll playing lame-ass DoNs above your roll. Now you do it again on slightly cheaper (but still above your roll) DoNs? And now you decide it was a "good idea" because you happen to luckbox a few?

*headasplode*

Jesus Christ Slev.

Jesus Christ.

Hang on a sec I played one $20 with the intention of moving down to $10 if I lost it, I wasn't going to gamble my role away, after I posted about my success I lost one of those DON's if I was doing the same thing I did last week I'd have then played a 50 but I had no intention of doing that. I didn't really luckbox them I have spent a fair amount of time learning how to beat them, they are low variance and I've played about 300 in the last 4 months, on Boss I was playing 20,30 and 50 euro DONs so I do have some practice with them. If you guys think 10BI's for these is too aggressive let me know and I'll stop playing them. Erpel interesting what you say, I don't think I nescesarily agree, but interesting. I'm taking coaching within the next week or two - so hopefully that'll help me figure out if I am actually playing badly and if I am I shouldn't be for much longer. Wilburfoce I have just short of $200 BR at the moment, I was going to try 10NL as that's what I'm starting my coaching sessions with, but I'm not going to following your advice I'm sticking with 5NL cheers. As always thanks for the comments guys, don't worry, there will be no more busting of bankrolls, I have not got the time to waste running around square one in a loop anymore so am not going to waste my last bankroll (which this certainly is) I can assure you!

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

I didn't really luckbox them

Yes you did, winning any single tournament requires an amount of luck which is why we have BRM.

You can rationalize your BRM degeneracy any way you want but it's still bad and is the reason you keep going broke. So you didn't risk your ENTIRE roll, good, that's better than your recent drunken hijinx -- but risking 1/8th of your roll is still bad.

How many hours of 5NL grinding on average do you have to do to win 4BI?




"oh, I'll just play THIS ONE tourney, then move down if I lose"

sounds a little too much like an alcoholic saying

"oh, I'll just have THIS ONE drink, then drink water"

...coming from you, given your history...

Seriously slevin... you just don't get it. You have said that you want to spend the time learning the game, and take the time to get good. Now you're saying you don't have time to spend at square one anymore. What is the big hurry? Seriously, you can luckbox ur way to a 10 or 25nl BR, but you wont be able to do anything with it becuz u havent learned the necessary skills to beat that level. THATS WHAT THE MICROSTAKES ARE FOR.

You have to learn to beat 2nl first, then 5nl, THEN 10nl+. Seriously, I spent forever at 2nl, but if felt so liberating to know I beat it properly. Now I'm at 5nl and beating it quite handily too. I feel my game will be ready for 10nl soon, and I will take my shot when my BR permits, but you just want to get on the fast track and try to gambool your BR to win a small sum, instead of taking the time to pwn the stakes like you should and make consistent money over the long run.

Whatever dude... You need help, fast, but I dont think there is anyone around that cares anymore. Good luck to you sir.

Dranger 'whatever you need help' is a little OTT I don't think you actually said anything constructive in your post but thanks anyway.

Originally Posted by d0zer

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

I didn't really luckbox them

Yes you did, winning any single tournament requires an amount of luck which is why we have BRM.

You can rationalize your BRM degeneracy any way you want but it's still bad and is the reason you keep going broke. So you didn't risk your ENTIRE roll, good, that's better than your recent drunken hijinx -- but risking 1/8th of your roll is still bad.

How many hours of 5NL grinding on average do you have to do to win 4BI?




"oh, I'll just play THIS ONE tourney, then move down if I lose"

sounds a little too much like an alcoholic saying

"oh, I'll just have THIS ONE drink, then drink water"

...coming from you, given your history...

When you put it like that Dozer...

I guess it wasn't the most sensible thing I could have done, in the past losing 10-20% of my role resulted in me playing outside of any BR and crashing my BR. I had no intention of continuing if I had lost, but then again, I haven't in the past, while I felt more disciplined this time around, I shouldn't have put myself in that potential pressure situation so early on in the rebuild and so soon after playing a huge losing session. The biggest EV thing about my blog that it often points out to me quickly and plainly if I've done something wrong. I was going to play another round of $20 DoN's I won't now I'll head back to the 5NL tables. Thanks Dozer I value your advice and thanks everyone else for their comments.

Im actually quite certain almost everything I said should have been helpful. I was basically telling you that you shouldn't have (or want) to gamble with your BR if you want be a winning poker player. You have to learn to control your impulses, or you will never make it. You stated in a post that you were going to take a shot at 10nl soon after you won those $20 DoN's. Why would you even attempt 10nl when you've just had a couple of losing sessions at 5nl and you haven't proven you can beat it? Its just senseless waste of you BR.

THAT is what I meant about you needing help. You need help realizing that risking 10-20% of your BR on a stupid luckbox tournament is dumb. You need help learning to not gamble with your roll. You need help not wanting to move up in stakes before you are ready. You just need help lol. Get your head screwed on straight.

Don't even try to play the fool either. You KNEW that playing those DoN's was bad BRM, just because you've played them before and have had some "experience" with them doesn't justify going out of your roll to play them. Do you understand now why I'm getting so pissed off? I dont want to watch you destroy your roll again. I'm sick of seeing you get grilled by everyone on FTR because you did something stupid.

Dranger I don't care much for your tone, if you can't communicate in a respectful fashion please don't bother.

Hahaha whatever dude. Ill just not post on ur op anymore, but don't say I didn't tell you so when you donk off your roll again.

Good luck

It's not nice having people talk down to you Dranger, Muzzard has a way of tilting me when he posts I shouldnt let that bother me but I still do. That affected the way I read your blunt, yet well intentioned advice. I've re-read it objectively and can see I probabally mis interpreted it. Anyway sorry for that. My ego was dented, it usually is when I've done something dumb and get slated for it in my blog. That was my ego responding to you, sorry, and thanks for your well intentioned comments.

Slev ...I really am surprised by what I'm reading.when we chatted before the sweat sesh we did,i talked about no deposit options to get your bankroll going without risking any more of your own money ..Next thing we're reading that you have deposited 26$ anyway because you couldnt wait and hey i've learnt my lesson now I'm going to grind this up and use bankroll management.
you still play omaha though which i think is probably higher variance than holdem.then we're reading that you are playing 20$ double or nothings and roll is approaching $200 all in less than 5 days. As Dranger said you're now thinking of virtually skipping 5NL and jumping to 10nl.
The whole theme running through this is that you have no patience. You want it all and you want it now.You're mouthing words like bankroll management but maybe in your case the words being used should be RISK MANAGEMENT. this also encompasses bankroll management but you should really step back and think how risky every part of your play is. Why be a jack of all trades instead of mastering one . It comes across as though you get bored incredibly quickly with one particular game and jump across to another. Whiilst some skills will transfer between games they all have different skill sets. Youre playing omaha, 5NL and SNG's. Why can't you just pick one genre and try and master it. You can still move up the levels and the game will change as you go .
It also screams of the gambler in you being unfettered and coming out to play. ok you didnt donk off all the bankroll (yet) but you are putting far too high a % of your roll on the line at any one time. Have you actually withdrawn any and put on one side as a contingency fund ..or is that always going to be a case of i'm going to get to the next level before i do that .
Maybe for you , what you should be doing is giving a commitment to only playing one type of game and instead of a monetary amount before you move up , set a date and bankroll before you move up .i.e commit to grinding 5NL for a month unless the bankroll drops to $100 when you'd then move down.You could then only move up for 11th Aprill and as long as you have a $300 bankroll. this will help to drum in some patience and reinforce the bankroll management.

[ ] BRM ITT

The best way to turn into a loser at this game is to think that there is nothing more for you to learn. I make mistakes (and I mean, lots) - you make mistakes.

Your ego gets in the way A LOT. It's very true when people say that you are your own worst enemy (not specific to you, but in general for all poker players). You need to accept that regardless how far you've come there are whole dimensions to this poker thing you don't yet know exist and haven't explored in any meaningful detail.

Refusing to take some money offline is stupidity. You're saying that it has to go right this time - you can't mess it up this time. Why not? You're human. You make mistakes. Rather than getting stubborn and stupid and saying that failure is not an option own up, admit that failure IS an option and make sure you have a plan to address it. That's the professional way to do it and the reason risk and bankroll management are key poker skills.

The reason we're all harsh on you is something you probably know. Unfortunately knowing is not helpful. Your opposition here, your villain, is your ego. We deliberately go out of our way to give your ego a good bashing to help you examine it more closely. Your ego is responding here and trying to pretend the problem is something other than what it is. Knowing that we're in effect trying to manipulate you to let you help yourself makes it easier for you to dismiss the bashing. You've got to let it sink in.

I think you are very much on entitlement tilt. You play poker now not to improve but to build a bankroll, of that I am certain. It's all you talk about - the size of your bankroll and the bankroll growth which you are (rightly) proud of. It's counterproductive. Aggressive bankroll management is just a different word for gambling.

Now read these:
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ed-t57951.html
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ed-t58178.html

You need to make sure your bankroll provides a statistically sound ability for you to be playing the levels you are playing. On top of that you need to exercise the balancing act GW describes.

Tell me truly: Do you think about the size of your bankroll while you are playing?

What do you think that means?

When I joined FTR I did so to learn how to make money at the game, but then I was told I had to play the ultra- micros to start.

The sensible side of me knows this is right as everyone hear knows what they're talking about the fact that the money was insignificant at 2NL made it about ten times harder. At 5NL it's a little easier because although the stakes are still small if you win 6 BI in a day, which can happen from time to time that's $30 and at least approaching something usuable.

Part of the reason I have gambled with my BR so much in the past is because once I spend days grinding, if I then lose some and the roll moves back to about $50 I think the amount I have to gain by playing outside of that roll outweighs what I have to lose. I can deposit $50 next week or the week after If I lose it, but If I get it back to $100 at least I'm not stuck in that infernal 2NL grind anymore, thats the thinking anyway. It's when I lose that I gamble my BR, because I think I've got more to gain than I have to lose by playing outside of my bankroll when it's so low and can be redposited.

What actually happened recently was this. I deposited £20 ($27) I grinded I lost some 2NL, I won alot of Omaha, I won some small $1 SNGs. I then had a day where I crushed 2NL won about $30 in one day. Next day I lose some more at 2NL. Next day I lose some more at 2NL. Then I lose some Omaha. I went from $101 to $80 in the same day. Then I thought jesus I'm going to be grinding 2NL for the next week to get that back, It isn't worth it. I may as well try to win it back so I can start 5nl again which is where I would have been anyway if I'd have just stopped when I was $100 at 2NL. Countless people have told me wheather you start your poker journey at 2nl, 5NL, or 10NL doesn't matter it's bankroll dependent but there's no real knowledge to be gained by progressing through those ultra micros in an orderly fashion. So my BR was at $80 odd two days ago I played a $20 DoN which I lost. Dumb I know then my BR was about $64.

3 days wasted into the op despite the best of motives, I've done it again and donked 4 buyins away now I'm at $64. Well I need to get out of this stupid stake. So I reverted to my old ways and bought into a $60 10-man SNG, with the last of my bankroll. I end up winning it, obviously extremely lucky to do so. This brings my BR to $250, this was two days ago. Obv didn't mention this a couple of days ago as I knew people would be dissapointed, infuriated, or a combination of both. Then I start playing 5NL go on a massive cooler as I posted yesterday and am down $40. That's when I decided to play the 20 DoN. With the real intention of dropping down to 10 if I lost. I played 6 and won four which brought the BR back to $249.

I want to make money at this game but at the moment I don't know if I will ever develop the discipline to do so. Realising that's the only way to make money at the game I'm not too sure If It will be possible for me to be a winning player.

I don't enjoy being the laughing stock of the FTR blog forums. Becoming a winning poker player is the hardest thing I've ever tried to do in my life. I've studied A-levels before, I've studied English Lit. at degree BA level. I've setup computer networks for embassies in London and I've tried to become a pro snooker player (although I was never anywhere near good enough, but I tried) travelling hundreds of miles for the best coaching in the world when I was in my late teens. All of these are nothing compared to how hard I find it to become a winning poker player. Yet the income that the high stakes winning players on FTR generate is was constantly drives me to do it. I desire a better life for myself and if I was a winning poker player, I would have that better life. That is why I keep trying, even though I find it virutally impossible to follow a sound BR strategy once I've had a couple of big losing sessions.

I had arranged with JGB to pay for the GS scholarship next week (this was the date setup for payment weeks ago when we set it up) - because that is when I am getting payed some money owed to me by a company I did some work for. Now I've got $249 in PS I'm going to pay him out of that, which will leave me with $199 in my BR. The highest it's ever been.

In terms of my game I am not sure where I should be playing or where I go from here. My BR is the biggest it's ever been and I'm rolled for 10NL now. But I think I should probabally grind 5NL but I'm not sure how long for. I've worked hard to becoming a winning player but am not sure if I will ever be able to overcome my poor discipline.

It does worry me that I may never master the discipline needed to develop into a winning player. There's nothing I want more at the moment than to become a winning player.

Slev, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a recreational player. That is what you are, because that is how you play, and there's nothing wrong with that. You are gambling. It took me over 3 months to do what you did TWICE in just over a week. You didn't do that by following BRM, you gambled, and that's OK. Just be honest with yourself. The world doesn't need another pro poker player. But if eventually going pro is what you want, master one game at a time, play within your roll, and maintain your discipline. GL.

Nibbles thanks for your reply it was really useful and gave me the sense of perspective I'd lost, cheers man.

Ok Slev, I'll try to give you my opinion on a constructive basis. Bsically, I think you've identified the problem is in your head and you know there's no point in trying to succeed in this Op if your not gong to commit to it fully and embrace everything about the grind. You have to just enjoy playing the game whether that is being coolered, being owned or pwning another player because it's all part and parcel of this game we love. If you don't love playing the game and it's all about the cash then I would give up now but if you do really enjoy the game and want to become better you have to put the hours in on the tables and grind your ass off.

I know what it's like when your losing a lot and you feel the need to earn it all back as quicly as possible but it doesn't all come back in an instant unless you are extremely foolish with your BR and get very lucky. Whenever you're feeling the effects of a losing day just remind yourself that you're playing a game and that losing is just as important as winning when you're trying to progress as a player and if your ego is getting in the way then close the client down and forget about poker for a while. Hope this helps man. I don't want to give up on you yet as I think you do understand how to succeed it's just a matter of putting it into practise!

Thanks connect

My focus going forward now is just to enjoy the game, I lost something of the enjoyment from the game these past few months.

I'm just going to enjoy playing in future whatever I play that's the main thing I think.

Slevin, I wish you all the best, but I can't stand to hear any more of your poker train wrecks. I'm gonna have to stop contributing to your threads. No offense, but these threads just make me hate life.

I sincerely hope you fix what's broke with Slev the person and Slev the poker player. Viya con Dios, sir.

theres nothing wrong with slev the person mate but cheers good luck in your op too, thanks

I think this tone is productive.

Try to search around a bit for notes on people who have gone pro and how they have reacted to that emotionally. Amusingly it's quite a scary set of stories. There's the story of the air traffic controller (reputed to be the most stressful job there is) who went poker pro and went back to air traffic controlling after a year as a pro, because he couldn't handle the stress of being a poker pro.

The point is, once the money you are playing for when you are playing poker is a real amount to you it becomes so much more stressful and it puts you on all kinds of tilt. It's probably fair to say that the gambling aside (and I think more and more that it really is an aside) your problem is that you want too much out of poker too soon. You want to be a winning player and the way you judge for yourself if you are a winning player is if your bankroll goes up. You have yourself in this thread quite recently exposed the logical fallacy therein, but what you also need to consider is the tilt trigger that it is.

Poker as a job seems to be the one of the most genuinely demanding jobs that do not have any short cuts. There is no relaxed day at the office and there is no bullshitting your way into a well played cushy job. I know the term is somewhat overused, but you need to consider your poker playing your poker education. And when you need 3-4 years or studying to get any kind of degree in any other field it should come as no surprise that it's similar in poker. Years and years of study. And by study I mean - when is the last time you feel that you learned something that improved your fundamental poker knowledge and skillset? Just playing isn't cutting it.

By thinking that you should be profitable NOW you are putting pressure on yourself that virtually guarantees that you will fail. This is not about your bankroll - it's not even about risk management. It's about managing your expectations and you have set yourself goals that come with a set of expectations that there is zero chance you would ever live up to. Congrats on shooting yourself in the foot.

I think the only monetary goal that is appropriate for poker right now is money you can earn through poker that will give you the tools to learn poker better. Money for training sites, books and coaching should come out of your poker bankroll. And then it doesn't matter if you are playing 2nl, 25nl or 200nl. It really doesn't. Or rather, you have to make sure that it doesn't, because if it matters YOU WILL TILT.

Good advice Erpel I'll take some of it on board, one things for sure I was putting too much pressure on myself to succeed. I feel better since reading nibbles and connects comments. At the end of the day it'd be nice to earn decent money from poker so I'll continue trying, If I fail another 100 times its no big deal, i'm enjoying the poker, I enjoy playing and I enjoy reading FTR that's what keeps me playing and that's the main thing I think, lifes too short to dwell on the past. So I'll just enjoy the present and look forward to the future.

Slev, you're a long way from earning decent money at poker. You've lost a lot of money playing poker.

But thats fine. If you learn.

It's not that hard. Just stop trying to GAMBLE, stop trying to run. you can barely walk.

They'll be no big epihany at 5nl, 10nl, 25nl....where you suddenly start raking in £k's.

it's really not that hard where you are. just stop fking about playing high limits and blowing bankrolls. end of. WTF is so hard????

this OP gets so much traffic cause you're a likable trainwreck. just wise up. F's sake.

Thanks mate that's great. I'm concentrating on 10NL from here on in, I'm also going to post my notes from videos I've watched at GS if any thing I say is wrong because I've misinterpreted it or something I'd appreciate it if someone speaks up and lets me know!

Notes from Spenda's video.

The three things I'm going to consider before entering a hand, is my position on the table, the strength of my hand and the tendencies of the opponent yet to act.

In terms of cards I'm playing, I'm going to be playing any pair, any suited ace, any off suit ace ten up, king-ten suited up, and king-jack off suit up, i'm also going to be playing 56(s)+ - I'll vary the number of these hands I include in my range depending on my position on the table.

I'm going to 3bet QQ+ and AK - and I'm going to fold AQ to a 3bet, I'm going to call a 3bet with QQ and re-raise preperared to get it all in with KK and AA. When I 3bet I'm going to 3bet 3 to 3.5 x in position and 4x out of position.

I'm going to play a wider range of hands in position than out of position.

If I have loose players on my left I'm going to shorten my raising range.

If I'm cbetting on the flop, I'm going to CBET about 80% of pot.

You're done slevin.
The sooner you quit, the less money you will loose. That's all I can say to you.

Over 700 posts, and you don't even understand the absolute fundamentals of the game... and you don't even need to understand, you just need to follow.

here's an idea why dont you take your bitterness and smarmy comments somewhere else? and get a life?

Originally Posted by oskar

You're done slevin.
The sooner you quit, the less money you will loose. That's all I can say to you.

Over 700 posts, and you don't even understand the absolute fundamentals of the game... and you don't even need to understand, you just need to follow.

He's right

I'm done with this blog. Thanks everyone that's contributed to my development as a poker player and offered decent advice. I don't mind dealing with people that post negative ignorant comments, but when one of them is a mod I just give up. I'll be posting now and again in the main forums still of course. Especial thanks to Chardrian, Erpel, Dozer and Wilburforce for your comments and discussions! Cheers all, good luck at the tables!

The truth hurts I guess

Slev.

I've been behind you for as long as I can remember. This is hard for me to say, but: Grow the fuck up and quit blaming everyone else for your mistakes.

You either play poker to make money, and that means exercising bankroll management for no other reason than it's the right way to do it.

Or you play poker for fun, and that means putting whatever money you want up against either not drinking beer that week, or drinking more beer than normal.

You say you want to earn lots of money. But you're playing FOR the money, instead of playing for the love of the game, and the challenge of fleecing idiots. Play for the right reasons, be accountable for your own goddamn actions, and own your decisions! What do I mean by owning your decisions? The buck stops with you. "yes I made a mistake" Say that, say that and believe it.

I'm glad you're done with this thread, because I was getting scared I was going to have to give up on you too, something I wasn't prepared to do for a friend.

I'm not blaming anyone for anything to do with my poker as there's no blame to apportion. It just kind of gets under my skin when people like muzzard constantly post in threads with no other intention than to provoke a reaction. People like Oscar come out with nonsense like 'your done slevin just quit' and then to top it all off Jyms a mod chimes in not only condoning it but agreeing with him. I didn't expect much different following Jyms penultimate post in the thread but Is this really productive? No it isn't that's why I have decided to stop using this blog. It's really that simple. I'm all grown up and have broad shoulders it doesn't bother me too much, I just can't be bothered wasting my time on them. Muzzard has been a jerk from the getgo, I'm surprised at Jyms though I expected more, he sounded like a decent enough bloke in his videos. In terms of the financial goals you've mentioned I've kind of given up on all of them for now, my one goal is to enjoy playing poker. Poker lost its shine for me the past few months, and I'm going to try to find it again! Anyway thanks for your kind words at the end btw =) off to eat now, peace!

I actually wished you good luck, once it looked like you started to abide by BRM and actually play well. Then, ldo, it all went back to the old days.

I just don't really have any tollerance for ppl who make an OP and dont even follow basic BRM or don't listen to ppls advice consistently. What't the point of having an operation thread/goals - if your going to mess it up everytime by not abiding to BRM? None. If you want to gamble it up, go for it, I don't mind and I'm sure the whole of FTR doesn't either. But don't waste ppls time on this forum by tryin to convince yourself you are playing seriously when you just can't resist the 'gamble' in you.

I wish ppl spent the time in my blog as much as they do in yours trying to give you sound advice.

I spend time in your blog Muzz... lul

Originally Posted by Muzzard

I wish ppl spent the time in my blog as much as they do in yours trying to give you sound advice.

Originally Posted by Muzzard

I just don't really have any tollerance for ppl who make an OP and dont even follow basic BRM or don't listen to ppls advice consistently.

Whether people follow proper bankroll management or listen to advice really shouldn't be your problem. If you want to give advice, give it. If you don't want to, don't. If someone doesn't want to listen to your advice, just shrug your shoulders and move on.

I'm a little annoyed by people coming to this thread and ranting about how much they hate this thread and how stupid they think the OP is. It's your choice to read or not to read. If you don't like what's in this thread, don't read it. Let the owner of this blog write what he wants to write and you can comment or give advice if you want to. What's the point in being insulting or getting angry?

Slevin,

Keep your chin up, man. As long as you don't consistently play outside of your roll, you'll be okay.

And even if you do play out of your league too often, If poker is fun, keep playing and play at the stakes that don't bore you. Don't feel guilty depositing new money, AS LONG AS YOU ARE HAVING FUN PLAYING (and as long as you aren't gambling with money you need to pay for beer or food or alimony or electricity or toilet paper or something important like that).

Originally Posted by Muzzard

I wish ppl spent the time in my blog as much as they do in yours trying to give you sound advice.

I check out your blog due to the hott chick in your avatar...also because you helped organize the HU Tourney.

And I'm going to start playing at the 100NL tables...hopefully that'll increase traffic to my blog.

Originally Posted by BooG690

...And I'm going to start playing at the 100NL tables...hopefully that'll increase traffic to my blog.

Sounds pretty solid imo!

@Slevin: If you find the recreational poker is more for you, more power to you. That's a +EV(life) move, if not necessarily the most +EV(poker). And when push comes to shove, life>poker. I wish you the best. (Just make sure to keep it recreational and not "gambler's anonymous" type fun. I've had friends go down the latter road, not fun.)

Thanks yeah that's basically where I'm at at the moment just playing whatever I like with the only criteria being that I enjoy it, I played in an $8 rebuy earlier today, hadn't really played any MTTs before I enjoyed it and was really surprised how loose people played there. I ended up buying in twice before the rebuy with the double stack as I got busted twice, and I also bought an addon at the rebuy period, both times I had to rebuy I was in front before the flop but flop wasn't kind! I ended up going out 200 odd out of 1200, with a 30k stack a little over average, went out when I hit part of the flop against someone I convinced myself didn't have a hand. I'm enjoying experimenting at the moment, all in all past couple of days I'm about even on the br front so it's not going too bad atm. I'm also just about to achieve silver star never managed that before, so that's quite exciting too !

Just ordered my books for the poker bonus I cleared a week or so ago, they're being shipped within the next few days by airmail - I chose:

Theory of poker
Harrington on Holdem Vol I
Inside the poker mind
Skalinsky on Poker
The Mathematics of Poker

I think this is the best value bonus I've cleared so far, looking forward to putting them to some good use when they arrive!

Played another rebuy earlier this time a $3 one, again pretty loose table (I can't beleive how bad these guys play) considering its 40k guaranteed. Got rivered a little after the first break, I had flush and had the maniac chip leader who I happened to have position on (nice touch ) - call my all in on the turn. Then river paired the board and gave him a full house - very enjoyable though.

At the moment I'm doing fairly well in the double or nothings and that is carrying my mtt experimentation - next goal is to cash in an mtt! I'm also going to try to reach Goldstar by the end of the month, 1691 points to go, just for a fun challenge!

Just to let you guys know I had a lot of fun playing whatever I wanted (yes I know I have degen tendencies ). For about two days I played mostly $20 and $50 double or nothings and broke even, I then lost a few played some 100NL and was coolered, bankroll remaining was $11, although I do have 1700 fpp which I can also exchange for a $27 tourney ticket. I have decided now once and for all to do this properly I've had alot of fun with poker but now i'd like to make some money from it.

I'm going to play SNG tournements, starting with $1 SNGs and then moving up to the next stake in line. From playing the double or nothings which I played on Virgin poker, and also the recent ones on PS - I have discovered that I really love the challenge of bubble play, and picking which opponents to steal from, and this is why I've decided to jettison cash game for now and focus on SNGs. I have no money targets my one focus is that I'm going to play 1 thousand tournements at the current stake before I move up. So I'm about to start the first of my 1,000 $1 sng tournements.

If need be I can deposit more money next week (I know $11 is hardly rolled for $1 sngs's) BUT I commit to playing nothing but $1 SNGS for the next 1000 games I play.

The finite nature of the sngs should give me a concrete target (i.e. 1000 sngs) almost every person I repsect on these great boards is a winning player, and I would like to join that elite club, and think I am now ready to do so.

Dozers comment about my BR is the reason I still have $11 left, I read it as I was about to post this update and enter a $10 SNG, which I cancelled and that's why I have at least some small bankroll left.

I don't expect you guys to believe me when I say I'm going to play nothing but 1k of SNGs. I have to prove myself on that front. I've really enjoyed my past failed at attempts but have now realised and accepted that If I don't change my ways I am forever going to be a donk. A fish in the poker tank, a tragedy because unlike so many other players out there trying to win, I have access to FTR and the quality instruction on what to do to win. Ragnars comment was true. I need to grow up. Grow up and start doing the right things with my poker.

Here's to the next 1k of sngs being good.

Thanks all, FTR is a source of great entertainment and joy now in my life, I wish you all great luck at the tables! I really love the site. One day I will start earning money at this game. Hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later!

slevin, anyone with a half a brain on this forum doesn't believe you. You aren't going to stick your own rules and you know it. Be honest with yourself and be honest with us.

I can not predict the future so if I will succeed this time I do not know. One thing I do know is that until I stick to playing within my bankroll I will not prosper at poker so that is something I am trying hard to do. I understand your reluctance to believe me and to have faith in my ability to keep my word. All I can say is I will do as I've always done and give it 100%

He conquers who endures.
- Persius

Perseverance... keeps honor bright: to have done, is to hang quite out of fashion, like a rusty nail in monumental mockery.
- William Shakespeare

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.
- Newt Gingrich

Thanks!

Alot of everyones comments on your blog were well, unfortunately pretty justified. I'm assuming you've realized this - so learn from it.

I read your entire operation, and no I didn't stop after your huge fail, so please repsect the fact that I chose not to close this thread in disgust, as I'm sure some people did.

I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or tilt you or insult you but...
Here's my impression of you: You are a degenerate gambler who doesn't like money.

Why don't you like money? Why are you so eager to win money now? Especially if you don't like money?!

I think the reason you've failed is because you just wanna play for big bucks. You want to make money - material amounts of money. You want to make $50 an hour, not $5 an hour. But unfortunately, the process in which you've chosen in the past to make this happen was wrong.
I'm sure you've learned from this now.

I'm telling you this because I want you to prove my first impression wrong. I also want you to prove everyone here at FTR wrong. No one thinks you can do it, they only hope to see you do it. In the back of their mind they see you as slevin, the guy who cannot discipline himself. You're in the drivers seat - you are in control. It doesn't matter what anyone tells you, you'll make your own choices in life. That's the same for anyone. For instance: If you were to tell me to go fuck myself, I would not even consider taking my dick and sticking it in my ass. See how easy it is not to listen to someone? However, you seem to do a good job at listening to others. In fact, this is probably one of your stronger traits. However, it is clear your weakness is discipline and money management. The problem with this is no one can make you do it right but yourself. Think about how much easier money management is than say, putting a strong opponent on a range. It's way easier to just follow a bankroll management chart super strict than it is to get inside a top professionals head, so why not follow the damn charts and abide by stop-losses and forget trying to play against people who will own you at this game because you aren't ready for that yet.

Although this may not be the greatest advice, I'm being sincere here and I really do hope you succeed:

Forget about the money. Play to play good, not for money. Play to learn and grow as a poker player - don't play for the $/hour! At the microlimits playing for $2 an hour or whatever it is you're pulling will only put you on uber-monkey-tilt! You're playing for big blinds, it doensn't matter what stake you play. Might as well play the stake your bankroll tells you too that way you don't lose much money if you go on monkey-tilt.

As of your last post, it looks like you're keeping things positive, which is great. Stay positive, but also remember poker is a long term game, and it will take you weeks, maybe even months to move up to bigger games. Just be patient, you'll get there.

"Successfull business people often recognize that a small sacrifice in the short term can lead to larger benefits in the long term"

To dumb it down for you: Fuck trying to make $50 or $100 or whatever an hour now. Just stick to $1 or $2 or whatever that figure is, learn poker, study poker, work hard now and then eventually work your way into games that you have long prepared yourself for with experience and discipline. That's when the $$$ comes. Learn as much as you can about poker now while the cost of screwing up is cheap. Then when your bankroll and your game is ready for the next step, move on up!

Poker is alot like managing a business. You can't let your debt/equity ratio get too high relative to the industry average (you can't let the stake you play be too small a percentage of your bankroll). If you do, you'll have a hard time balancing your loan payments and any unexpected expenditures that may arise (you'll get your bankroll down to the point where you won't even have enough to add-on when you multi-table) - in which case, you fail to pay off your debts and declare bankruptcy (start losing more to the point where you go on super-donkitup-tilt and go broke)

I'll leave it at that. Just want to remind you to take it slow, learn alot, have fun, and always stay positive. Good luck on the grind sir, I'll be following this operation. Don't get out of line ever again, you've got the skills now apply them.

-Micro

Thanks for your post Micro you made some interesting points. I've tried to tackle the problem of the BR being small (and consequently the gains being small) by focussing this latest push on number of games played rather than some fiscal target. I've also switched from full ring to SNGs as I find them more engadging. I think the monotony of 'the grind' when the financial rewards were so low is one thing that's driven me to distraction in the past. This is one reason why I've switched to playing SNGs now.

Thanks for the obvious thought and time you've given to my OP that's kind of you, much appreciated my man. Thanks!

Slev , can I suggest an alternative method of bank roll management you could employ. Do you have a friend /family/wife who would set up an account at PS which would hold most of your bankroll.with your winnings you transfer that back to the escrow account so that you leave yourself 3 or 4 buyins for the level that you are properly rolled for.should you NEED any of your roll back due to a losing streak they will only transfer back say 2 buyins per day.
Once you've blown it for the day , thats it , go do some study , watch some videos and prepare for the next day. You may decide to grind the 2 BI allowance up on the 2NL tables but once you have passed the 4 BI limit on your account you transfer some back to the escrow.
The whole point of this is to try and instil some discipline. It might annoy the hell out of you doing it, but how much have your past failures done that too.
Another thing you really must face up to is that you have a gambling problem. The signs are all there just by reading this blog. You have to accept it and ultimately decide whether you can manage your problem whilst playing poker or whether in the long run, unfortunately , abstinance is going to be your solution.
A classic symptom of a problem is trying to hide it. After the drunken blowout we heard that its all changed I've learnt my lesson. then we heard about the 20$ DON 's and even later we find out that the 20$ DON's were financed by a 60$ SNG where your entire bankroll could have disappeard in moments.I'm not sure If the 100NL was a typo or not but if it wasn't , what were you thinking of. Anyway thats the reason for my proposal for having an escrow hold your bankroll so that you can never put it on the line in its entirety again.You're also going to have to let the escrow be able to log in or see your cashier as well so that they can keep a check on how much you are keeping in your account and the escrow.

Here's a plan for becoming a better poker player.

Don't commit to playing a certain amount of hands. Don't commit to playing a certain limit. Don't commit to winning a certain amount of money or big blinds. Don't commit to playing a certain amount of hours.

These things only peripherally and indirectly help you improve.

Commit to this:
Spend x hours per day studying poker. Once you've done that, consider if you want to put in a little session. Then study some more.

Don't fool yourself into thinking you can 'study at the table'. It doesn't work.

The time that you spend at the tables is almost the least important part.

Study. Study some more. Very quickly stop just looking to find more things to read and instead pose questions and try to find out ways to answer them. You need to get not only someone elses regurgitated wisdom, but you need to puzzle out your own.

Choosing to play rather than study is choosing to gamble rather than improve as a poker player.

As in so many posts I'm my own target audience as much as you are.

@Keith: Good stuff the idea about having some kind of escrow is something I'd have shied away from in the past, but given my past failings is probabally not a bad idea. The phrase gambling problem has all sorts of negative connotations to it but, I will be the first to admit the way I gamble with my BR is definately a huge problem for my poker development. I never spend money I can't afford to lose, I'm not the sort of person who would gamble my last couple of quid trying to win some money back or anything like that, but the way I gamble on the poker tables is definately harming my development as a poker player and thats definately a problem!

@Erpel: Yeah I agree some study definately wouldn't go amiss, I'm no expert at the tables far from it, but I would say I know a little bit about poker now, what's costing me, which has always been costing me, is my discipline at the table, and I don't think any amount of studying will teach me how to be disciplined at the table, that's something that's got to come from inside myself. That's what I hope to develop over the next 1,000 SNGs.

One thing I've decided to do though is take things a bit more slowly this time around, in the past I've just been full intensity playing poker at every opportunity trying to cram in the sessions thinking this would increase the BR and the speed I climb up the poker ladder. I'm slowing down now, taking things at a more leisurely pace, since I decided to start the SNGs about twenty odd hours ago I haven't played any, I've just relaxed, read some FTR and chilled out at home now I'm about to play some I feel very relaxed and am looking forward to them.

Went to a nightclub yesterday had a good time it was far too long since I'd been to a night club, I need to start going more regularly. Put me in a great frame of mind for doing well in the poker.

Played 24 SNGs so far and am $11 down. Going to take a break for today, it's a nice sunny day so I'm going to enjoy some sun!

Tomorrow I have my first coaching session, so hopefully things will pick up soon =)

The "Gambling problem" I'm referring to is the way you can suddenly chuck all the Bankroll management out of the window and the reasons behind it. Do you get a buzz from the increased risk ? or are you just overestimating your ability and assuming that it is going to pay off.?
The speed you went from 26$ to >200 was amazing , however this was achieved by an ultra high risk strategy which ultimately came to a halt when the inevitable happened.
with the SNG you are playing ...are they the conventional ones or the double or nothings. If the DON's on stars , theres some that are 1$+.1 and some that are 1$+.2. No need paying extra rake when you can avoid it.
The DON's may be the best way to start. If you estimate that through edge from experience that you can cash in 60% over the 1000 tourneys you'd make $1200 from winnings , lose 1000 on the entry fees and pay 100$ in rake so would make 100$. If you pay 0.2$ in rake per game you break even.

Interesting point - the sngs were the conventional ones but I might try a few of the $1 don's - I think I have an edge at them, and it's still obeying my play 1000 $1 SNG op goal.

Originally Posted by Deanglow

slevin, anyone with a half a brain on this forum doesn't believe you. You aren't going to stick your own rules and you know it. Be honest with yourself and be honest with us.

I have been lurking for some time now and am amazed at how much time and effort you guys give slevin. Were this his first OP you could understand but this is more like his 5th and each one rattles on for over 5 pages with good people giving him their time, energy and experience.

In each OP he is given advice and he either ignores it, calling anyone who criticises him or he vows to take it but ultimately never does. And incredibly you guys still persist. This happens countless times in any one OP and he has now had multiple OPs. Have you noticed how now every losing session is down to cooler after cooler? Or because he was drunk? Criticisers are dismissed as intentional saboturs and if people he values criticise him he suddenly doesn't care what they think? A bit convenient isn't it?

Slevin has done in this post what he has done before in that he claims to own up and have one last attempt yet here we are about 5 OPs later. SNGs, MTTs, FR, 6 Max, Omaha, DON.....He changes his focus with the wind.

Sickeningly you guys are still persisting. I can't remember who but one of you said you have finally had enough yet this has been said since the first OP. Your time and advice is always wasted. And it's not by chance or luck. It's over and over when other members are give just two chances before they are ignored or given strikes and that just makes a mockery of FTR and is what has stopped me from joining in more fully.

It comes as no surprise that having failed to stick to sound BRM principles slevin has chosen to give himself another get out of jail card when the truth was staring him in his face. He finally admits he could be wasting his time but rather than give up or knuckle down he takes connects advice as an excuse to continue his gambol ways and say he is now going to play for fun and play whatever he likes irrespective of BRM. Ain't that a coincidence? Doesn't this hit home with anyone? He has NO intention of ever stopping his degen ways!

Despite this you guys still hang around doling out advice when he has repeated the same old same old and even when you have said you will stop because he never learns. Well that makes two of you then because you're still persisting with him! when it comes to the crunch of facing up to his gamboll he decides to play for fun with no BRM. Yet you guys just can't seem to see this and yet will no doubt contribute another 5 pages to his next OP.

I read dean's post and luhled. I scrolled down to see all these paragraphs and luhl'ed again

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Perseverance... keeps honor bright: to have done, is to hang quite out of fashion, like a rusty nail in monumental mockery.
- William Shakespeare

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.
- Newt Gingrich

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.
- Henry Ward Beecher

BAM!

Originally Posted by Val Kilmer

It's over and over when other members are give just two chances before they are ignored or given strikes

Good luck not getting a strike yourself for this post like I did when I made a very similar one. You're only supposed to stick up for the little guy around here, not the awesome regs. Now I just lurk for the great advice because I want to puke that I got the strike and Slev is some kind of upstanding forum citizen for his behavior.

I'll prolly get another one now for this post but what the hell. Maybe FTR is ready to realize how stupid this is and maybe my post will help.

@Trolls - you know I don't bite, so you're wasting your time, I'd just repeat what I've told most of you before, don't read my blog if you don't want to. =)
___

Pokers going well at the moment! I'm getting into live play and am really enjoying it. I won a local ten man sng last week, and got to the final 5 of 20 in another local tourney before, someone called my blind steal (I'd been so tight all night... but the guy was determined to defend his blind with anything... will remember that for next time) J9(o) beat my AT(o) ! Shortly after that I busted but it was a really nice atmosphere the guy that went on to win it said I deserved to cash for the way I played which was nice.

I also travelled to East London on friday night and had a good time playing in a 90 man SNG and some cash play.

My poker books arrived and I've been reading a fair bit of Skalansky on Poker, I'm going to read that another couple of times before I move on to the Theory of Poker.

I'm really looking forward to reading the Mathematics of Poker it looks nice and deep and my math has generally been a weakness so I'm going to make sure I assimilate everything in that properly.

The conversational style of Skalansky on Poker was a great way to start the serious study nice and gentle. One big thing that's already changed in my game is I'm not playing as predicatably as I was before. It's already reaping some nice results and playing less robotically also has the nice side effect that I'm finding playing more interesting than before.

I cashed out 1700 fpp's for a 27 tourney ticket and was doing OK, before I got busted. Have decided to focus on live play now and the occasional couple of tournies online. I'm no longer going to be grinding an online bankroll out, not until I have about 2,000 to invest in my bankroll. Until then I'll just continue to play pretty much whatever takes my fancy! I have $50 due from someone in PS I'm going to play some 20 and 50 dOn's with that and see what I can spin it up to.

Thinking of entering a large tourney in Nottingham in a couple of months. This blog will probabally focus more on my live play from now on, as that's where I'll mostly be playing.

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Thinking of entering a large tourney in Nottingham in a couple of months. This blog will probabally focus more on my live play from now on, as that's where I'll mostly be playing.

If you are talking about DTD - cool. A while ago a few of us went - about 6 I think froom FTR. It's a good venue. Which event were u thinking of?

Nice yeah DTD is what I had in mind, I was thinking of going up there June 6-7th for the 300+30 deepstack. Would be great to team up with some of you guys if you're thinking of going. I'll probably take the train up from London.

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Nice yeah DTD is what I had in mind, I was thinking of going up there June 6-7th for the 300+30 deepstack. Would be great to team up with some of you guys if you're thinking of going. I'll probably take the train up from London.

I'm not sure how many UK guys are rolled for that on FTR. If I've got over 10k, I might give it a shot. Pretty sure Miffed is the only other person who'd play/is rolled. Plus, with it being a European Ranking event, I'm not sure how soft the cash games would be.

Got you, well if it means a few more people might be interested I'd be happy playing the 50 or 75 instead, what did you guys play last time you entered? I'm basically up for any event in June, it sounds like a nice venue - and it'd be great to meetup with some of you.

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Got you, well if it means a few more people might be interested I'd be happy playing the 50 or 75 instead, what did you guys play last time you entered? I'm basically up for any event in June, it sounds like a nice venue - and it'd be great to meetup with some of you.

We went on a Friday, the £75 f/o. A couple just played cash, I think me and someone else got deep, the others just hopped straight onto the 0.50/1 cash table when they bustoed the donkament, pretty soft.

Jeesh. Everyone and their brother seems to be stopping by in this thread so I figured I'd pop my head in and have a look-see.

Slev, dude. Seriously. We all appreciate the loads of cash you've gambled away into the poker community. But for crying out loud, stop already. Managing your bankroll properly should be your number one priority. It is the most important "skill" a poker player can have. Hopefully you've learned from your countless mistakes in the past and start taking this game seriously. Isn't that why you came to this site in the first place? There's obviously people here who want to help you. Take advantage of it!

Good luck to you.

Thanks airles, but until I have a decent size bankroll I'm not going to be following the suggested bankroll guidelines, if I get to the stage where I have 2k online I'll start following a decent BR system, until then - I'm just going to play recreationally with the focus being on enjoyment. Playing whatever stakes my free cash allows me to play. I've officialy resigned from the penny grind.

Well how about this. You've obviously re-loaded numerous times correct? And you apparently have the money to do it. So why don't you just save up $2k, and in the meantime, study your ass off and practice what you've learned where it doesn't cost much. Don't think of it as wins/losses or money earned/lossed. Just think of it as practice. When you've saved up $2k, put it online and follow a NITTY bankroll management project. You'll have 40 BI for $50NL. Hopefully that's enough of a cushion for you. I realize I may be fighting a losing battle here, given the previous arguments for sound BRM with you throughout the forums, but I figure I could at least give you a suggestion.

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Thanks airles, but until I have a decent size bankroll I'm not going to be following the suggested bankroll guidelines, if I get to the stage where I have 2k online I'll start following a decent BR system, until then - I'm just going to play recreationally with the focus being on enjoyment. Playing whatever stakes my free cash allows me to play. I've officialy resigned from the penny grind.

I really don't care if you choose to follow traditional bankroll mgmt or not. It's your money. But I'll suggest that it's more likely you will 1) actually reach 2k online and 2) reach 2k online quicker if you do follow proper bankroll mgmt.

Thanks I do appreciate your advice, I think I will cut right down on the online play now I kind of like the idea Airles suggested of saving a BR. In the meantime I'll play the odd small tourney and some live games.

I am really enjoying the Sklansky books should have got hold of them sooner, then again I think one of the reasons I'm enjoying them so much is I have a lot to build on, the knowledge I've gained from FTR over the last year or so for instance. It's quite exciting just how much more there is to learn about the game, I'm realising that I'd barely touched the surface so far.

Thanks again for your advice guys