Building Bankroll from $25...

[rvrking22]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on FTR. Just a little bit about myself before i get into the topic. I mostly play 10nl and 2.25-5.50 SnG. I play at FTP and cake,my nic is prefontaine10 on FTP and rvrking22 on cake. Been playing for about 3 months and i think im starting to grasp the game. Some of my poker goals include building my $25 roll to $1k. And further developing as a poker player. Ok, so on with the tread. My current BR is $25. I know im pretty restricted as to what i can play in terms of BR management. So I was wondering what types of games I can play to start building my BR back up? Im was thinking the 1.25 SnG, but im not sure..

Any replies, thank you in advance

[spoonitnow]

stars has a lot of $1 sngs, everything from hu to 45-player

[Ash256]

Deposit $75 more and play 2NL IMO

[dev]

I'd suggest you pick a type of game and stick with it.

You have to have a really significant edge to beat 1+.25 sngs, because the fee is such a big percentage of the buyin. If you do those, try to stick with those. Keep track of your results, post in the 2 street bingo, I mean SNG forum.

Cash games are probably not the best place to start, but when you're starting out you really should stick to one form of the game. With $25 you should probably be buying in short on the $2 games. You really should add at least another $35 to your account if you want to try this.

The MTT option is open, the good thing about that is that you can play freerolls and there are a lot of short buyin/0 fee tourneys on some of the major sites. The bad thing is that you can't always decide when you can play.

I'd suggest a mix of freerolls and small buyin SNGs.

Get poker tracker if you can. Keep track of all of your wins and losses. If you play tourneys or SNGs make a spreadsheet to keep track of how you do.

[rvrking22]

I think thats what im going to try and do. Stick to the $1 SnG until I have about $50-60...then take a shot at the $2 SnG. I would like to get more involved with the MTT area...however I dont know if I have the skills required to beat them. I've heard the HOH volumes are great reads...but some of the info might be over my head considering I have only played 3-4 small buyin/freerolls. Any idea on strategy/guides for beginners? Websites? Forums?

[Ash256]

Cash games are probably not the best place to start

Strongly disagree - ever heard of the term tourney donk?

[jyms]

I think he means because he's at Full Tilt and has a $25 BR. At least I hope that's what he means.

[Unibomber14]

Any idea on strategy/guides for beginners? Websites? Forums?

Try our strategy and guides for beginners under the beginners guide. Also, this is a really good website and forum. I don't know any other place online where you can find a community this helpful and focused on what they do. The admins and the experts work hard to keep it that way. Watch the videos, and read the articles. The book reviews will help you with what books are good for what level of play. Post hands and get some constructive criticism. Study, practice, play. You'll start winning before you know it.

[swiggidy]

You have to have a really significant edge to beat 1+.25 sngs, because the fee is such a big percentage of the buyin.

1) breathing, check
2) found ftr, check

sounds like your edge is big enough to show a solid profit at $1+.25 anything

[pankfish]

Play 2.20's. If you lose your money load another $25. If you can't afford to spend another $25 on poker, use the money on groceries.

[dev]

I think thats what im going to try and do. Stick to the $1 SnG until I have about $50-60...then take a shot at the $2 SnG. I would like to get more involved with the MTT area...however I dont know if I have the skills required to beat them. I've heard the HOH volumes are great reads...but some of the info might be over my head considering I have only played 3-4 small buyin/freerolls. Any idea on strategy/guides for beginners? Websites? Forums?

You're on the right track. Keep playing freerolls while you're at it.

[Khabbi]

I'm doing the same thing: I started with $4 and bought in for $1 at the .01/.02 tables. I did that until I made it to $30. Now I've just started buying in for $2 at those same tables and I'm up to $38. On PS, you can buy-in for up to $5 on the .01/.02 tables, so once I get to $60, I'll increase my buy-in to $3 at the .01/.02 tables and take shots at the .02/.05 tables when during peak times when the tables are fishier.

Last year I ran $50 to $1600 then got burnt out and cashed out, bought a computer and started playing computer games instead of poker. Now I have the itch again and a small bankroll. I'm just doing this for fun, so I don't need to be making oodles of money right away.

[Monty3038]

If you are comfortable with the $1 SNG's on FTP, go for it, I suggest early morning on Saturday/Sunday, seems to be more donkish, thought sometimes I qualify that way as well. But they seem to be fairly easy to beat if you are patient and disciplined.

[deacon_bluez]

I'm doing the same thing: I started with $4 and bought in for $1 at the .01/.02 tables. I did that until I made it to $30. Now I've just started buying in for $2 at those same tables and I'm up to $38. On PS, you can buy-in for up to $5 on the .01/.02 tables, so once I get to $60, I'll increase my buy-in to $3 at the .01/.02 tables and take shots at the .02/.05 tables when during peak times when the tables are fishier.

Last year I ran $50 to $1600 then got burnt out and cashed out, bought a computer and started playing computer games instead of poker. Now I have the itch again and a small bankroll. I'm just doing this for fun, so I don't need to be making oodles of money right away.

This looks perfect to me.

[kingnat]

play the normal speed $1.25 9-man SnGs to start... read everything here:
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...re-t36043.html

Make big raises with QQ+, and AK, limp some pp's but only in late position or in the blinds, until you have an M of 3-4.. then steal like a monkey.

[rvrking22]

Thanks guys for all the help!

[XBOXXBOXXBOX]

This seems like a good strategy. For me, the $.10 and .25 cent MTT tables seem to do it for me. It's not much of a profit, but if you win just 1 hand and double up, you always win some type of cash.

[Ronnie]

I'd suggest a mix of freerolls and small buyin SNGs.

Get poker tracker if you can. Keep track of all of your wins and losses. If you play tourneys or SNGs make a spreadsheet to keep track of how you do.[/quote]

I would say that i am in in simular position to you in that i am trying to improve my game/build on my bankroll and this is pritty much what i do. I started a thread on peoples opinions of freerolls not too long ago and it was suggested by quite a few members that freerolls are good for building a bankroll.

[swiggidy]

stay away from free rolls. You're better off working one extra hour a week (or buying one less beer, or skipping a bag of chips or something) and investing the $5-10 or whatever you make after taxes into your poker fund. I would be surprised if the expected $/hr was over 0.01.

I would have to think < $1 MTTs are about the same way.

I deposited $25 on stars and played the $1-45man. By the final table people are WTF bad.

[Fnord]

.01/.02 on stars is unraked

/thread

[spoonitnow]

.01/.02 on stars is unraked

/thread

This is untrue -- it's raked but just very lightly. It's only raked when the pot gets to $1.

[Fnord]

Vastly better than the $1 SnG highway robbery.

[bjsaust]

On the other hand, you wont clear your deposit bonus playing 2NL on stars.

I built from $50 to $1k playing sngs, took a few months, but then I started from total scratch skill wise and played played relatively casually.

At this point, its probably about which style you have an edge in. If you've been playing for a few months, you should know which style you can beat the most.

[edit] Hmm, actually I'm not sure if the $1.25s generate FPPs either. I think its 5 per $1 rake, or 3 for the $5.50s 50c rake, but not sure you get anything for the $1.20...

[spoonitnow]

Vastly better than the $1 SnG highway robbery.

Obv.

On the other hand, you wont clear your deposit bonus playing 2NL on stars.

I built from $50 to $1k playing sngs, took a few months, but then I started from total scratch skill wise and played played relatively casually.

At this point, its probably about which style you have an edge in. If you've been playing for a few months, you should know which style you can beat the most.

[edit] Hmm, actually I'm not sure if the $1.25s generate FPPs either. I think its 5 per $1 rake, or 3 for the $5.50s 50c rake, but not sure you get anything for the $1.20...

All tournaments with a rake give FPPs.

[youngsterrr]

can you save some money and put more than 25 bucks? i doubt you are going to "build" your bankroll

[rvrking22]

currently $168.......so um yes I am building my BR...and oh dont assume things on post...it makes you look like a dumb***

[daven]

currently $168

nice work!!! impressive effort from that starting stake.
just re-read your post, FullTilt account already... you based in the US? otherwise build up roll until you can max the party and empire bonuses

[rvrking22]

Thanks daven...im a US player so yes I play on FTP.....and I will for sure read this over...very good post about building a BR from scratch....

[pduan]

I'm doing the same thing: I started with $4 and bought in for $1 at the .01/.02 tables. I did that until I made it to $30. Now I've just started buying in for $2 at those same tables and I'm up to $38. On PS, you can buy-in for up to $5 on the .01/.02 tables, so once I get to $60, I'll increase my buy-in to $3 at the .01/.02 tables and take shots at the .02/.05 tables when during peak times when the tables are fishier.

Last year I ran $50 to $1600 then got burnt out and cashed out, bought a computer and started playing computer games instead of poker. Now I have the itch again and a small bankroll. I'm just doing this for fun, so I don't need to be making oodles of money right away.

What's your strategy with those games? I just lost my entire bankroll of $25 on those tables

[deacon_bluez]

It's very easy to go through $25 if you just run bad for a while. I would reload and:
1. play pretty tight, so that when you choose to play a hand, you can do it with some confidence.
2. be sure you know more about poker than your opponents do, by continuing to study and learn the game.

[Scattershot]

I'm doing the same thing: I started with $4 and bought in for $1 at the .01/.02 tables. I did that until I made it to $30. Now I've just started buying in for $2 at those same tables and I'm up to $38. On PS, you can buy-in for up to $5 on the .01/.02 tables, so once I get to $60, I'll increase my buy-in to $3 at the .01/.02 tables and take shots at the .02/.05 tables when during peak times when the tables are fishier.

Last year I ran $50 to $1600 then got burnt out and cashed out, bought a computer and started playing computer games instead of poker. Now I have the itch again and a small bankroll. I'm just doing this for fun, so I don't need to be making oodles of money right away.

What's your strategy with those games? I just lost my entire bankroll of $25 on those tables

Not an expert, but I have been doing the same thing. I took roughly 0.90 from 2 freerolls I did for fun and I am up to $107 in about 3 weeks.

Read the entire digest here. Play a short session and read it again. Tight, basic poker is going to win you money. If your afraid to lose money, you will lose money. You will be pushed out of hands. If your afraid to lose, then maybe start with 0.01/0.02 limit? (again I am still a noob, so feel free to tell me if I am wrong)

Fold. I have found that even at 2nl big bets on the turn or river aren't bluffs. This is the hole in my game. I have a nasty habit of knowing I am beat and still paying to see that he had the cards. Conversely, if you have a good hand and you know they are drawing, make them pay. They will pay. Generally at any cost. Calling stations abound down here. (I admit that they give me trouble as I often can't read them as well if a draw isn't on the board. Another hole. If they bet or raise back at you, they are ahead and let it go. Don't slow play your sets. You're asking to get outdrawn. Just be patient and realize that not every set is going to net you huge.

So in my short noob run its been about patience, knowledge, and control.

edit: Sorry, I should clarify that my experience is from full ring. I didn't want to start with sngs, and after I had built up over $20, I didn't really want to mix games as the styles were different and it would throw me off.

[pduan]

I'm doing the same thing: I started with $4 and bought in for $1 at the .01/.02 tables. I did that until I made it to $30. Now I've just started buying in for $2 at those same tables and I'm up to $38. On PS, you can buy-in for up to $5 on the .01/.02 tables, so once I get to $60, I'll increase my buy-in to $3 at the .01/.02 tables and take shots at the .02/.05 tables when during peak times when the tables are fishier.

Last year I ran $50 to $1600 then got burnt out and cashed out, bought a computer and started playing computer games instead of poker. Now I have the itch again and a small bankroll. I'm just doing this for fun, so I don't need to be making oodles of money right away.

What's your strategy with those games? I just lost my entire bankroll of $25 on those tables

Not an expert, but I have been doing the same thing. I took roughly 0.90 from 2 freerolls I did for fun and I am up to $107 in about 3 weeks.

Read the entire digest here. Play a short session and read it again. Tight, basic poker is going to win you money. If your afraid to lose money, you will lose money. You will be pushed out of hands. If your afraid to lose, then maybe start with 0.01/0.02 limit? (again I am still a noob, so feel free to tell me if I am wrong)

Fold. I have found that even at 2nl big bets on the turn or river aren't bluffs. This is the hole in my game. I have a nasty habit of knowing I am beat and still paying to see that he had the cards. Conversely, if you have a good hand and you know they are drawing, make them pay. They will pay. Generally at any cost. Calling stations abound down here. (I admit that they give me trouble as I often can't read them as well if a draw isn't on the board. Another hole. If they bet or raise back at you, they are ahead and let it go. Don't slow play your sets. You're asking to get outdrawn. Just be patient and realize that not every set is going to net you huge.

So in my short noob run its been about patience, knowledge, and control.

edit: Sorry, I should clarify that my experience is from full ring. I didn't want to start with sngs, and after I had built up over $20, I didn't really want to mix games as the styles were different and it would throw me off.

Which digest do you speak of? Link?

[Scattershot]

There is a sticky in this forum called "Beginners Digest." It houses links to a lot of great articles.

[GatorJH]

rvrking - welcome to FTR dude.

1) breathing, check
2) found ftr, check

Where have I seen these comments before? Hmmmm. Oh yea, in just about every other welcome thread you reply to!!!

[AnTman_69]

Good luck dude

[jasekelly]

Good luck with it!! it can be done i started a $100 br and now sit at just over $800, granted its over a couple of years playing for fun but i too started on sngs but have now swapped into cash as think its more profitable....

[baron_greenback]

I had 2 false starts, then ran $10 up to $300 in not much over a week. I'm now starting again on Stars with $20. Hopefully the $1 45-man games will be my friend!

Oh yeah, where does stars save my HHs? I I have a file in programs with all poker stars stuff, but I couldn't see HHs. Any help appreciated.

edit - 3 $1.10 45 man turbos played 1st, 7th and unplaced. 1 $1.10 sat to $100k - unplaced. The standard in these tournaments is definitely not great!

[DocRazor]

Oh yeah, where does stars save my HHs? I I have a file in programs with all poker stars stuff, but I couldn't see HHs. Any help appreciated.!

If you did a standard install the files are in C:\Program Files\PokerStars\HandHistory\{username}\

In that directory you will find a file for each table you played or if you play tournies and SNG's there will be a file for each one.

[Hawk]

Oh yeah, where does stars save my HHs? I I have a file in programs with all poker stars stuff, but I couldn't see HHs. Any help appreciated.

You have to tell your software to save the HH's. I'm at work now, so I don't remember exactly which menu it's under (likely Requests or Options), but it should say something like "Instant Hand History Options"

Here you can set the directory that is will store your HH's in.

[baron_greenback]

Oh yeah, where does stars save my HHs? I I have a file in programs with all poker stars stuff, but I couldn't see HHs. Any help appreciated.

You have to tell your software to save the HH's. I'm at work now, so I don't remember exactly which menu it's under (likely Requests or Options), but it should say something like "Instant Hand History Options"

Here you can set the directory that is will store your HH's in.

Winner

[jasekelly]

tough to play in those games cos the standard is soooo poor!! you get calls and beats when you normally wouldnt, Good luck

[belikeme]

How much i need to start to play?

[littleogre]

1 play 2nl
2 beat it for atleast 10BB/100
3 play atleast 6 tables at a time
4 play atleast 10 hours a day.
You will get to 5nl in no time when you get their just repeat. Honestly i can't do all that as i suck at multi tabling and my butt gets tired after just a couple hours

[laurel]

Play 2.20's. If you lose your money load another $25. If you can't afford to spend another $25 on poker, use the money on groceries.

If you lose and can't afford to spend more money, check this
http://www.pokerstrategy.com/uHXV7Z
If you need to change the language, you can do so in the top right.

[littleogre]

another tip i have read from unl pros is to always shove with aces if their is any action in front of you.