9 Rings of Microstakes Hell

[bigslikk]

After two years of live games and screwing around with freerolls on the internet (and having a $200 freeroll-ground bankroll taken away after they realized that my real name wasn't "James Bond"), I've made my virgin deposit to a poker room: $100 on stars. While I'd like to start off at the .5/1 tables, I know that I better start small where I'm properly rolled. This is either 50 buy-ins at the 0.01/0.02 FR or 30 BI at $3.40. Welcome to Microstake Hell. Here's the plan:

Starting Bankroll = $100

$1.00 + 0.20 SNG………….……….. 50 buy-ins = $60.00

$3.00 + 0.25 Turbo 6-Max SNG……. 30 buy-ins = $97.50
$3.00 + 0.40 Turbo SNG………........ 29 buy-ins = $98.60, stop loss $68.00 (20 BI)

5.00 + 0.50 SNG………….………… 30 buy-ins = $165.00, stop loss $110.00 (20 BI)

Goal = $200

I've decided to start at the 3.40 turbo SNG's. I have a lot more experience playing SNG's on the internet, though I've played plenty of FR live. I want to start with the SNG's so that my initial gambling can go with a controlled, slow pace. I like SNG's because they have a distinct end, distinct places to quit. I want to make it to $200 just to know that I can win here. I'll probably attempt to switch to 0.02/0.05 HE when I get to $200 (this will be 40 buy-ins).

Oh and I played my first 3.40 turbo today. Blinds up every 5 minutes, so kind of a crap shoot, but the non-turbo SNG's on stars are inappropriate for my current bankroll (either 1.20 or 5.50, too small or too big of games). Got lucky a few times- QQ preflop when the blinds were big. Got HU, doubled with A2 v QJ and won a race my QQ v his AK to win it. I guess Satan wants to encourage my vices.

[swiggidy]

2NL, play only premium hands, you'll get paid. It'll be monotonous, but now where near SnGs. You should be able to play more tables, and your $/hr will be closer to $5 instead of $1. AND, you'll come out of the experience a better poker player.

[bigslikk]

Well, I am experiencing the ups and downs of (real money) poker once more. I fucked up a few times; hopefully I got my fuckups out of the way so I can play some disciplined poker now.

Basically I busted ugly 3 SNG's in a row, and my $100 bankroll is now $101, so I'm back where I started. I'm also a little scared because I fear I will play shittier once I dip below the my original deposit ($100). It's some mental handicap of mine, but whatever... I will fight to make sure I don't do anything stupid. The major mistakes I made tonight:

1. Played more tournaments than I said I would. (I want to cap the # I play a day, if any, at 2 to begin with. I don't want to start tilting / chasing after losses like I have done in the past.

2. Made some donk calls for all the chips. The turbo SNG's (5 minute blinds) suck IMO because I play abc poker, which seems too tight. Three bustos tonight were: trying to make a move with trash when the blinds were monstrous (this move was okay). CRAP calling of a shove with 66 (why do I put myself in spots where I'm flipping or worse? terrible). Third, calling off when some donk hit a four outter on me. I turned out to be the bigger donk, as I know that these microstakes players NEVER raise with less than 2 pair in general.

So, a few bad decisions on my part (playing too much, some poor allin calls), and now I'm back to reality.

Maybe I will try 2NL as you suggest Swiggidy. Hopefully I can fare better there (okay, I know I only have 4 SNG's under my belt, which is nothing). I know that skill theoretically *should* factor in more comparing FR to turbo SNGs.

[martindcx1e]

I 2nd the $2nl notion. It's going to be really slow profit in any form of microstakes, but most agree there is more money to be made in cash games in the longrun and you should start practicing your online cash game asap. GL man!

[daven]

play cash and beat the rake.
Or not.
Good luck regardless!!!

[bigslikk]

Well I started my shot @ 2NL today. Played for a couple hours. I got bored with 1 table, so I opened up a 2nd one to stave off boredom (I was playing tight abc poker as suggested). I seemed to be card dead, funds and confidence slowly and surely dwindled.

After winning a big pot though, I got back on track. Opened up a total of 4 tables which was perfect for my tight style (it actually makes tight play a helluva lot easier). I was playing better TAG poker than anyone at my tables IMO. Most of the players at 2 NL ring would limp almost every pot. I was playing tight, positionally aware poker, and raising 4x (+ 1 per each limper) BB each time without fail. Raises were good, and I made some good stackings by fast playing sets (e.g. QQQ) and straights. It was overall solid poker.

I was a up a heap, until right before I quit, in which I got bad beat a few times, but also made some dumb calls. KK hit a 2 outer, Ax hit x after the money went in, etc, etc. Also, a I hit like 5 sets (!) but only a few got paid.

One hand, I lead out a near-pot sized bet into a multi-way hand when I hit mid set of nines. No action.

So, a little bad luck but some bad play at the end too. Two hands of note:

I call a standard raise with AJ on the button, flop comes AQx of diamonds. The pot builds rapidly, and I figure, the only realistic hand that beats me is AK. I ended up calling a big bet, stupidly, since when both a 9 and a T came off on the turn and river, what in the hell was I hoping he had?? Turns out he had QQ anyway, but I could've easily gotten away from that one.

Another hand was trickier: My AK hits AKQ 2 diamonds against a shorty and we felt it. I was the preflop agressor, and he was making quick calls, so QQ+ seems unlikely in my opinion. I guess I was hoping for a draw / AQ/ KQ. I knew JT was in his range but figured it to be a small part. Well, I don't know if my assessment was right but he had JT. Bummer.

Anyway, I ended up about even after 2 1/2 hours of play which is a bummer. I mean, at these stakes, I feel I should be crushing the game with "abc" tag style. Basically, value betting the bejesus out of made hands and bluffing sparingly. I don't know if I've caught a little negative variance (rofl yeah right) or if I'm no better than the other donks on stars.

One lesson learned today: if the call is "debatable" or "marginal" and /or you have a bad feeling, fold it.

Also, I'm going to have to get more disciplined with playing time, I said I'd only play for 2 hours, but went over a little ("I was feeling it"). It's not so much that my play suffers, as that I got to keep this new addiction in check. I mean, I've got school and a job to worry about. And other shit to do.

I'll probably lay off til the weekend.
Fuck that I WILL stay off til the weekend.

Current Bankroll: $100 and change. (I made like $0.50 in 2.5 hours).

[bigslikk]

Lots of good news. First, didn't play til tonight (the weekend), as I promised myself. Second, I logged in a good number of hands with a win rate of 5ptBB / 100 hands. At 2NL, I think I can do better but at least, FINALLY, I know I can beat this level (not too impressive, but I was worried initially). I had 6 tables going easily and was playing pretty good once I got warmed up. I might try for 8 tables next time. 5NL here I come.

[martindcx1e]

Lots of good news. First, didn't play til tonight (the weekend), as I promised myself. Second, I logged in a good number of hands with a win rate of 5ptBB / 100 hands. At 2NL, I think I can do better but at least, FINALLY, I know I can beat this level (not too impressive, but I was worried initially). I had 6 tables going easily and was playing pretty good once I got warmed up. I might try for 8 tables next time. 5NL here I come.

great to hear man! just always remember that even if you are a good player you can easily have a downswing at any moment and that if you break even for 10k hands it's not the end of the world lol. i'm glad you are doing well so far. keep it up!

[daven]

5NL here I come.

the sky is the limit yo
crush it!

[bigslikk]

Well, I made some severe fuckups. I'm over it; and I'm wiser for next time. I took my roll from $119 to $125 after a couple hours of multi-table 2 NL. All's good. Even tried 8 tables... game is pretty easy. 2 NL on PS is kind of a rock garden, though, not as much "free money" as you would think. I'll post about that in the forum I'm thinking.

Anyway the fuck-ups- deciding to play "one" turb0 SNG after my session, for the hell of it. Bad beat out of that one, frustrated, played another... well, you can see the idiocy right there. Pissed it away down to $110 after busting out of numerous $3 and $1 turbos. The turbos are crap... it becomes a shovefest, which I have an edge in, because I know what I'm doing (I push very wide too, and the tight players let me have it every time). However, lose a few flips, or run into a nit who waited for aces... easy losses.

Basically, I was an idiot in playing (unscheduled) turbo SNG's. Impulsive buying-in = massive -EV. Anyway I'm not playing any more SNG's or tournaments, at least for a month. It's a losing endeavor, especially the turbos. I'm just going to stick with the multitable ring. It's better for 2 reasons:

1. I may bust / lose at a ring table short term, but after each session I'm always up, since 8 tabling for a few hours resembles the long-term more than the 1-time SNG.

2. If I bust at a table (rather rare as a side note), I just reload and don't care at all. This differs from an SNG is which losing sucks. I don't why this is, but it is.

So... I paid a few dollars to learn a few lessons. Probably won't play for a few days, or a week.

[bigslikk]

I've been on fire lately. I'm doing 9 tables now, could probably do more. Why not push the envelope when I'm playing as standard abc poker as possible? I'll be be at 5 NL after 3 more sessions. $5 buy-ins o goody!