First Time Poster

[MikeCH06]

Hey guys. This is long but please read if you have time. I ran into this site after a google search and I'm glad I did. I read all of the tutorials and put the strategies to use and my BR has since surpassed my expecations.

I'm currently a full time student at Clemson University, so I don't have an extremely lot of time to play, but I still manage a couple hours a day.

I started playing online $0.25-0.50 NL Hold 'Em at PokerRoom about 2 months ago. I won 50 bucks pretty quickly and was pleasantly surprised. However, my strategies weren't sound and my luck eventually ran out. I kept buying back in to try and get my money back. One night, I tried the $2-4 tables. I got up to $280 from $100 at a table and went all-in with trip Aces with K kicker, only to lose to a straight. I was on tilt and later went all in trying to bluff and lost to a good hand. Before it was all over, I was down $750. You can imagine how pissed my fianc'e was. I stopped playing for a week and didn't think I'd ever play again. That's when I ran into this site and a few others and read a lot online about good strategy.

I decided to invest one last $50, and got back into the $.25-.50 NL tables. I had my share of bad beats, but I played tight and fundamentally sound poker, only bluffing when I had 100% confidence in my reads, etc. I also read how table selection was important and even seating position. My BR increaded from the initial $50 to $400. I responsibly decided it was time to at least try the $0.50-1 NL tables just 5 days ago. I found that my strategy and game play is even more effective at these tables, where my BR has now incread to $790, just $10 shy of the $750 I lost and the $50 I invested.

I know now not to get cocky when I win, and not to go on tilt when I lose. Sorry if this was long. I just wanted to share my story.

Now, some questions:
Since I'm just a member of PokerRoom, I'm looking to join other sites and get some bonus money. I read about joining both EmpirePoker and PartyPoker and didn't understand exactly how it worked. Is it worth it to join these two sites? Also, how does the friend refferals work? Do I have to play to get bonus money or just them?

Also, I read about the site with the 1000% bonus. I know they give you a year to collect your bonus, but can I expect to do this if I get busy and only play 5-8 hours a week?

Are there any other sites I should consider joining for bonuses?

Sorry, one more question: When I play on PokerRoom, the $0.50-1 NL tables usually have an average of 60% per flop for the 5 player tables. Do EmpirePoker and PartyPoker have simliar numbers or are the player really known for being worse and seeing more flops?

[jmontis]

I signed up on pokerroom as well for a 40% bonus, and also considering where to go afterwards...

I am sure the 1000% bonus is going to require a lot of play time, so 5-8 hours a week may be a futile effort. Don't let me discourage you though, go for it.

[arkana]

Find a site which suits your style of play and whose hands per hour are high. The bonus is not that significant if you keep in mind the amount of time required to clear it (unless you are a losing player). Referrals are also a nice way of earning some cash, Bodogs referral system currently earns you 20% (instant i think) of your referral's first deposit.

[drmcboy]

You are very short stacked to play .5/1.

Highly recommend reading the bank roll stiky post that rilla did.

[DaNutsInYoEye]

Bah, Clemson... I'll look past that though and echo drmcboy's advice to play more within your bankroll. If you want advice about getting/clearing bonuses you can PM me and I'll be happy to help. www.bonuswhores.com is a also a great resource. When you sign up for the new sites remember to go through the FTR links and you should strongly consider getting set up with a rakeback program at at least one of the party skins if you plan to play somewhat regularly.

[sykotik489]

Welcome and ignore DaNuts, longtime Clemson fan here...The bonuses are pretty easy to clear at party so go right ahead.

Off Topic- Don't know if you're a football fan or not but did you make it to the spring game and if so how did the team look. (I'm stuck in OKC in the AF).
Anyway hope to see you at the Valley. I should make several games this year.


GO TIGERS!!

[MikeCH06]

Thanks the advice, guys. Also, should I play at tables with 10 people or 5 people? What would be the advantages/disadvantages of each?

SYKOTIK--- I'm definitely a huge football fan, been going to the games since I was 6. I made the spring game and the offense looks a lot better. Proctor played well so that will help if Charlie goes down with an injury. The passing game was much better than the running game, though. The team speed overall is the most I've seen in years, too. If we didn't have such a tough schedule I'd say 8 wins would be a good possibility, but with our's 6 is more realistic and I would take 7. Can't wait until August!

[Eric]

Welcome MikeCH06,

It is nice to have you in the forum.

[Greedo017]

6 max games, you need a higher bankroll to play as there is more variance. but, they're more fun, you bet more, more aggression, and potential to make more is higher. 60% seeing the flop is a little bit high, but not by much, you'll see similar numbers at other sites.

full ring games are slower paced, but more reliable. less of a bankroll needed to play them. you play less hands. you have less variance. aggression means better hands generally.

I personally play full ring. I just like it better, I don't know why.



You catch the UVA game last year?

Go HOOS!

[MikeCH06]

Thanks for the advice.

As for UVA..... I'm glad we don't play y'all again this year.

[biondino]

Hi,

This seems a decent place to introduce myself too. I'm just coming off the back of an horrendous few days of poker hell, and am feeling very fragile right now, but hopefully things are improving!

I have been mostly playing single table, low stakes tourneys since I took up the game in February, and I'd got to the point where I was consistently up (about $2 up per tournament if you average it out). While I found this satisfying, and really enjoy the tourney style, it's not wildly exciting financially, so I wanted to try my hand at ring games, where there's the potential for winning a lot more.

And losing a lot more. A LOT more. Sigh.

So I guess this post is an inquiry about how people perceive differences between tourney and ring game play. I've got some theories of my own, but advice from you all (this forum seems a fantastic font of knowledge so far) will hopefully help me understand these differences and adjust my game accordingly.

Thanks!

[sykotik489]

Hey Greedo did you catch the first 29 Clemson/UVA games??

Thanks for the info on the team. Hopefully we don't have to worry about Whitehurst and Proctor can develop for another year. I also hope Chauncy stays healthy this year the move to reciever was definately good for the team and him. I think 7 isn't too unrealistic if the defense successfully plugs the holes left from Miller and company departing. Think it should be a good year.

Also we ought to get together after one of the games that I make it to this year and play some poker, or party whichever.

[drmcboy]

One big difference between tourney and ring is the lack of pressure in a ring - no one is going to be blinded out at a ring game, so every one can wait until they have (whatever they consider to be) a good starting hand to play, avoid scary flops, etc.

Often times in a tourney you will HAVE TO play an Ace high hand, a small pair, KJo, insert random hand here because the blinds are eating you up... the clock is ticking. Also chip stack plays a bigger factor in tourneys than ring games - a hand you may play aggresively against a small stack you might not play at all against a big stack. This concept really doesn't apply as much in ring since 'going broke' just means you hit the rebuy button and keep going.

[biondino]

Cheers drmc - that all makes good sense. My mind, though, gets intimidated in ring games - in tourneys I know I can only lose the buy-in, whereas in ring games I can lose as much as I choose to. And after recent bad luck (and bad play), that's become enormously intimidating.

I think in tournament play I'm good at using the rising blinds against people - my attitude is that they rise the same for everyone, but I can see some people get scared that suddenly everything's costing double. Other people being scared = a good thing