Couple of questions starting out

Inquitus

1. I am currently playing mainly on Paddy Power, which probably isn't the best site around but it's easy to deposit using laser and easy to cash out (not that I have done that ever!).

I want a program which I can use to analyse my hand history, can anyone pls recommend some software that works with Vista and Paddy Power.

2. I cannot make rational choices when playing at $.05/$.10 NL level as in the back of my mind I know I should not call but find the urge irresistable when the money at stake is pretty inconsequential. How do people deal with this when starting out?

I sometimes play up to $.50/$1 NL but feel out of my depth a bit here. I hold my own at $.25/$.50 NL but it is only below this that I feel I have an edge, but I run into the problem above.

Is playing multiple tables a solution? I find when I do this I can run 2-4 tables at once and do fine, however this feels more like playing a system as I really cannot keep track of the individuals with this many windows on the go, so I treat everyone with equal respect and tend not to spot the fish.

Any advice greatfully received.

Tnx

Inqui

Macspower

Ok my advice for what it's worth although it's been a while since I played those levels...

get poker tracker from pokertracker.com and also get GT+ a free program to overlay players stats onto the table.... Use the program by analysing hands yourself or with someone who knows a bit.... post some hands on here... there is always someone on hand to give advice..

You have to learn dicipline.... Make a call because it is the right thing to do not because of the ammount of money involved... In general make them make the calls and you do the betting...

start off playing 2 tables and when you get good enough at this move to 4 and so on.. it will become like second nature to you after a while....

Play the level that you are bankrolled for... you'll fnd plenty of threads on here and someone might even give you some link to them... read the stickeys here
Also play at a level you feel comfortable at until your a consistent winner at this level then think about moving up and don't be afraid to drop levels if it's not happening for you.

Just my few little bits... but I'm sure there will be some more good advice as well.

Best of luck and welcome to boards,

Mac

NickyOD

If you're not earning a bonus on PPP I think you should try depositing on other iPoker skins. Most offer a very good 500 to 600 bonuses that would be a welcome boost fora small bankroll.

I would also seriously consider SnGs as an alternative to low limit cash games.

luckylucky

Inquitus wrote:

I want a program which I can use to analyse my hand history, can anyone pls recommend some software that works with Vista and Paddy Power.

Pokertracker as macspower said, pokeracehud from www.pokeracesoftware.com. It's not free like GT+ but it is generally regarded as being better, try GT+ out anyway and you can try a demo of pokeracehud too.

Inquitus wrote:

2. I cannot make rational choices when playing at $.05/$.10 NL level as in the back of my mind I know I should not call but find the urge irresistable when the money at stake is pretty inconsequential. How do people deal with this when starting out?

So many people mention what Bankroll you need, it's an important topic when dealing with large sums of money, however at lower limits it doesn't apply anywhere near to the same degree, i.e. at those sort of limits you are hardly relying on the money, you will not be a pro and have other sources of income, so going bust is not a disaster. Considering this, playing at a level that is boring and where you end up calling too much due to not caring enough. At least in my opinion, letting a small bankroll dictate you play at a such a low level where you are not playing at your best is not a good idea.

How about playing .1/.2, do you think you can beat this and stay focused?

Inquitus wrote:

I sometimes play up to $.50/$1 NL but feel out of my depth a bit here. I hold my own at $.25/$.50 NL but it is only below this that I feel I have an edge, but I run into the problem above.

Is playing multiple tables a solution? I find when I do this I can run 2-4 tables at once and do fine, however this feels more like playing a system as I really cannot keep track of the individuals with this many windows on the go, so I treat everyone with equal respect and tend not to spot the fish.

You get gT+ and pokeracehud you will be able to spot the fish and the maniacs.

I agree with Nicky that sngs are a good way for a 'newbie' to ease their way into the game, the nature of them I think lends itself to concentrating that bit more. So you end up doing less calling just because you're bored.

alsacelorraine

hi there.
i find pokerstars is my favourite site for graphics and everything really.
i personally think playing cash games dont help improve your skills the way playing in tournaments.
i dont know what paddy power is like but you can make some money even playing in 6 dollar tournaments.
i think you waste alot of money goin in on crap cards.playin tournaments help you realise this and suddenly you find the worst cards you would ever go in a hand with would be something like 10 jack unsuited or queen 6 suited.believe me youll save alot of money.
maybe hone your skills playin in tournaments and then try the cash games.
remember with cash games the house always wins overall.
good luck and hope you win loads
alsacelorraine

alsacelorraine

oh yes www.sharkscope.com is a good site to see your own and people your playin against.i hope it works with paddy power

cooker3

alsacelorraine wrote:

i personally think playing cash games dont help improve your skills the way playing in tournaments.
remember with cash games the house always wins overall.

What?
How do cash games not improve your skills?
The house is not the only one that wins, if your good enough you will as well. You are not playing craps.

[nicK]

cooker3 wrote:

You are not playing craps.

why do i find this funny?

Inquitus

Ok I just played an hour long session taking onboard the advice I have been offered. I am keeping a uniformity of bet, playing with patience and letting logic dictate my calls. I won consistently in this session bar one showdown I lost AQ against AK, but thats just the nature of the beast I presume.

Anyways can anyone pls cast their eye of these stats and let me know if they show anything alarming.

luckylucky

Inquitus wrote:

Ok I just played an hour long session taking onboard the advice I have been offered. I am keeping a uniformity of bet, playing with patience and letting logic dictate my calls. I won consistently in this session bar one showdown I lost AQ against AK, but thats just the nature of the beast I presume.

Anyways can anyone pls cast their eye of these stats and let me know if they show anything alarming.

tbh I doubt if any serious poker players use the 'in-house' statistics. If you want to get serious evaluation, then get yourself pokertracker, the demo is free but you will only be able to import your first 1000 hands. Post the main stats that you get from this program after those 1000 hands. Stats such as VPIP(Voluntarily Put into Pot Preflop) , PFR(Pre Flop raise), AF(Post Flop aggression Factor). It's also important to inform us whether you're playing 6, 8 or 10 man tables.

dvdfan

This recent thread on boards might help?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=53632398#post53632398