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Tips for coming back ONLINE full-time!

  • 25-07-2008 12:34am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭


    Right, I am starting back online full-time in 2 weeks or so. I have read some posts and information on tips for playing online poker. I want to do everything right this time and make loads of cash. I've a few questions that might help me have everything set out right this time.

    My plan is to start on 50/1 with 50-60 Buyins and work my way up the stakes.
    I used to play 1/2 and 2/4 alot, but would i be right to fall back to 50/1 again, as i haven't played cash on the Ipoker network in a while.

    I while be buying a new monitor soon to go with my DELL Inspiron 530 and getting a fairly good ghrapics card to run with my one or two monitors. I am also setting up poker tracker, SharkScope and a Neteller A/C. What other things might i need?

    I have heard from certain online players that the Ipoker network seems to be getting harder and harder... They are telling me that the stardard has risen very high recently. Do you agree with this and do you think it's harder or easier to make a living of this site?

    I am setting myself out some rules that I CANNOT break. Rules like, Not playing tiered, sticking to proper levels to suit my bankroll, stop playing if i feel im not playing well or on TILT, never playing on more than 8 tables, never mixing games, always spend a few minutes watching the players before sitting down at a cash table, give your full concentration to tournaments and watch players carefully, go through what happened in the day after the end of the session has finished, move up stakes if your bankroll exceeds ....
    What other rules do you think i should set out?

    Thanks in advance


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 458 ✭✭Pulsar Eagle


    Good luck with this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,513 ✭✭✭RoadSweeper


    You dont need sharkscope for cash.

    You'll have to buyin for 100bbs to play propper poker.

    Its gonna be v hard to build a roll and live off 100nl unless you have a v high winrate (maybe you not living off it)

    Ipoker standard has gotten alot nittier due to bonuses and people adapting to making the most form their bonus , not play poker.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭Requiem4adream


    davidgti wrote: »
    I am setting myself out some rules that I CANNOT break. Rules like, Not playing tiered, sticking to proper levels to suit my bankroll, stop playing if i feel im not playing well or on TILT, never playing on more than 8 tables, never mixing games, always spend a few minutes watching the players before sitting down at a cash table, give your full concentration to tournaments and watch players carefully, go through what happened in the day after the end of the session has finished, move up stakes if your bankroll exceeds ....
    What other rules do you think i should set out?

    Thanks in advance

    Replace the word rules with aspirations. These are very good aspirations too and the closer you follow them the better.

    Having 'rules' wont work - breaking them carries no consequences. Some aspirations are more difficult to achieve than others. "Stopping when you feel you're on TILT/playing badly": tilt is a loss of control induced by internal or external factors, such as emotions, feelings, bad beats, getting no action off monsters etc. How do you control a loss-of-control? Not easily.

    Similarly, recognition of how you're playing is very subjective - and can be muddled by the fact you can play brilliantly and lose, play terribly and win. Winning or losing can blur the lines between playing good and running good (or bad). That's without mentioning EGO, most players have faith in their own ability, rightly or wrongly, and will have faith in themselves to turn around a losing session or to play better. Awareness of how well you're playing and over-riding the ego to stop playing, is difficult.

    Personally i never analyse a session, i play too high a volume to make it worthwhile to sit down for hours analysing it. It'd be easier to do in cash games where the sessions are far shorter. I think actually playing > analysing in terms of improving your game. Improving your muscle memory, building up a knowledge of opponents,

    In general, to succeed at online poker fulltime, you just need to be ultra low on committments and responsibilities - wife/mortgage/kids etc forget about it imo! Comfy chair, decent pc, and a fairly chilled disposition are all very helpful :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 172 ✭✭OutOfPosition


    davidgti wrote: »
    My plan is to start on 50/1 with 50-60 BB and work my way up the stakes.

    i may be reading this wrong, but your starting with $50 - $60


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,201 ✭✭✭Macspower


    very best of luck with this..

    I managed to live off the i-poker network for 18 months while I was out of work...

    things that were essential for me....

    1) bankroll management!!! this was the key to it really.... I alway played overrolled and was able to handle the few masive swings this way

    2) make sure to have a real good "loyalty" scheme.... there were months where the only money I made was from my bonuses

    3) I took a "wage" each week/month whether I won or lost.. As it happened I think i only had one loosing month overall but some others did come close.... I set the mimimum amount I needed to make it worthwhile and live off it.. for me it was 500 pw and I took this regardless from my roll.. i decided that if I couldn't make this amount I would give up...

    4) get tooled up for the job..... I think you'll need eyepoker/ reload script/ large monitor / pokertracker/holdem manager/ reload betpot script/ iboilde/ decent mouse

    5) cardrunners helped me as well.... there are others just as good/better I believe....

    6) post hands for analysis and use this forum and others to your benefit..

    7) I like your "rules" but they never worked for me.... I regularly made them and broke them... I had a rule where if I lost 3 buy in's i would stop playing for the day... turned out a bad rule for me.... As I rarely tilted I could play on regardless and often ended up with a winning session despite being down a few buy in's to start with.... sometimes you'll have to play tired as the games might be too good to leave... some time you'll have to leave fresh as there are very few good tables.

    8) plan your hours... i-poker is a lot tougher during the day.... so maybe play 1 daytime session with the intention of building rakeback and then play more in the evening/night... I found about 2/3 am it became tougher again and the golden hours were 8pm till 1 am...

    9) game select well.. very table your at should have a reason to be there....

    10) most important one.... RUN GOOD!!!

    anything else you need help with just ask....


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭big_iain


    GL with this.

    I have never play full time for my salary so i wont pretend to know much about it. I would suggest that you limit the risk by maybe using different providers such as ipoker, stars and another. You may find that you can be more profitable on different sites at different times.

    From listening to many leading professionals on podcasts on pocket fives. I think a common rule is routine. Start at the same time everyday. Play only 8 hours. Ensure you take breaks as you would a regular job. Ensure that you do not play any game for the craic. Keep it professional always.

    As i said GL. I wish you all the best.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,854 ✭✭✭zuutroy



    I think actually playing > analysing in terms of improving your game. Improving your muscle memory, building up a knowledge of opponents,

    I don't agree with this in terms of playing cash anyway. If you play and never review what your doing then you'll never iron out your leaks. Practice makes permanent when it comes to poker. I think the time spent reviewing your session and reading HH's on 2p2 is where you actually program the neurons to what they're meant to and the sessions are just about executing. The same goes for getting a feel for your opponents. There's only so much you can pick up about them if you're 4-6 tabling. But if you look up how they play their big hands in HM or PT you'll learn about how they think a lot quicker. I'd recommend at least an hour of analysis for every 2 hours play.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,438 ✭✭✭TwoShedsJackson


    davidgti wrote: »

    My plan is to start on 50/1 with 50-60 BB and work my way up the stakes.
    I used to play 1/2 and 2/4 alot, but would i be right to fall back to 50/1 again, as i haven't played cash on the Ipoker network in a while.

    So what do you do if you get stacked in the third hand you play due to set over set or something?? You need more than 50-60BB.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,537 ✭✭✭Ste05


    As R4aD says your "rules" are very subjective and you will definitely break and that could have a negative affect on your mental state.

    Instead keep them as aspirations and instead set yourself real hard and fast rules that are not subjective. Such as I will play for X number of hours this week, X on Monday, Y on Tuesday, Wednesday off/ studying analysing my game for X hours, etc. etc. weekend nights are the most profitable times of the weeks so plan to play those times, etc. etc.

    I wouldn't set yourself a stop loss unless you find once you're down you end up spewing money trying to win it back, but you have to approach it as a proper job and put in the time and effort required.

    Also, I assume he meant 50-60 Buy-Ins, not Big Bets?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,537 ✭✭✭Ste05


    Another quicky; NEVER NEVER NEVER play drunk, would you go into work drunk? If you did you could expect to be fired, the same could happen if you play drunk, i.e. BR destroyed!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,646 ✭✭✭cooker3


    zuutroy wrote: »
    I don't agree with this in terms of playing cash anyway. If you play and never review what your doing then you'll never iron out your leaks. Practice makes permanent when it comes to poker. I think the time spent reviewing your session and reading HH's on 2p2 is where you actually program the neurons to what they're meant to and the sessions are just about executing. The same goes for getting a feel for your opponents. There's only so much you can pick up about them if you're 4-6 tabling. But if you look up how they play their big hands in HM or PT you'll learn about how they think a lot quicker. I'd recommend at least an hour of analysis for every 2 hours play.

    Yeah. I completely agree with you here. Most of the decision you make while playing are fairly robotic. For me learning how to be a good player comes away from the table, from studying hands, figuring spots your unsure of and asking questions and thinking about what to do.

    Also I assume he means 50-60 buyins, not bb's. That would be the worst plan ever.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,201 ✭✭✭Macspower


    I also assumed 50-60 buy in's and anything else wouldn't make sense and as david laued a lot before


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 595 ✭✭✭Tight Ted


    I read it as that he's going to be buying into the games for 50-60BBs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,472 ✭✭✭AdMMM


    Best of luck with this Dave.

    Firstly, get a tracker like Hold Em Manager and learn how to use it by watching a video like this on DeucesCracked. In fact, given how you haven't been playing online in along time, it would be of great benefit to subscrible there as the games have changed dramatically since you last played! I'd then recommend you purchase hand histories from somewhere like HandHQ and load these into Hold Em Manager. These will prove invaluable as you'll have tonnes of information on almost every reg at a particular level before you even play a hand!

    My own rule of thumb is to only play a level with >20BI's, and by a buyin I mean 100BB's. Half stacking (50-60BBs), if that was what you were alluding to, is just gay and awkward. You're far better buying in for a full stack as you won't be losing value with your big hands. Say for example you flop a set vs a full stacked fish. You would have stood to win $200, but by buying in short you're only winning $100. That's a massive amount of value to be losing! Stick to buying in for a full stack, even if it means playing a lower level in order to have enough BI's behind you!

    As for your playing set up, you seem to have the right idea! I'm currently playing on 8 tables on a 15" laptop screen which is far from ideal - there's overlap everywhere and misclicking my stack away with 8 high is not uncommon! I don't recommend starting with 8 tables though, start with something like 4, or even 2, and keep adding tables and you get more comfortable with the pace. I read in someone's well on here recently that at the lower levels, it's best to get yourself into as many different and unique spots as possible by multi-tabling. I agree with this, but only to a certain degree as there's no point in 8 tabling if you can't keep track of what's going on!

    While playing, be disciplined! I have lost countless amounts of buyins on tilt and making strange plays. It can be argued that such spewy moments is good for your table image, but there's no doubt that poor play when not in the right frame of mind stunted my progress through the levels... in fact it still is, and it's something I'm working on as a matter of priority! Also, poker is not a matter of pride! You say you'll be starting at $100NL which is fine, but don't be afraid to drop down to $50NL if you're running bad and fall below 20BI's for your prefered level. To not do so would be irresponsible on your behalf and a sure fire guarantee for failure.

    Finally, immerse yourself in forums like Boards and twoplustwo and make good use of your Deucescracked subscription. Post up hand histories for analysis, but also don't be afraid to critique other peoples hands. In fact, some of the biggest flaws in my game were put right by other players saying that my own advice was bad. So for that reason, don't be afraid to get involved in discussion of hands. You and your actions (and your recommended actions) may very well be criticised, but it's all constructive criticism that will help improve your game. Now go and enjoy yourself!

    Oh and stay away from the roulette!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭davidgti


    Sorry for the confusion lads, i meant to write buyins. Thanks for all the replies. Want to make sure i have everything right this time.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭davidgti



    Oh and stay away from the roulette!

    Oh believe me Adam i will ;)
    Replace the word rules with aspirations. These are very good aspirations too and the closer you follow them the better.

    Having 'rules' wont work - breaking them carries no consequences. Some aspirations are more difficult to achieve than others. "Stopping when you feel you're on TILT/playing badly": tilt is a loss of control induced by internal or external factors, such as emotions, feelings, bad beats, getting no action off monsters etc. How do you control a loss-of-control? Not easily.


    I understand what your saying but I really feel that i need rules set out for myself. Otherwise, I feel i will be unproffessional and make lots of mistakes and impulse playing. Personally, I feel i won't break the rules I will stick with them and know that the rules are set out for disipline and for making money online. Maybe i should head it with Aspirations to make money online.

    Consequences will be harsh, no food for weeks etc :D. just kidding but i know i won't break the rules if i have them all set out perfectly.

    Ste05 wrote: »
    Another quicky; NEVER NEVER NEVER play drunk, would you go into work drunk? If you did you could expect to be fired, the same could happen if you play drunk, i.e. BR destroyed!!

    Totally agree with you here, I rarely drink anway only one or two drinks at live events.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,836 ✭✭✭connie147


    GL in this David. I hope you succeed. I'm afraid I cant give you any advice on cash game play as I still havent got round to playing it online except for the odd dabble. I keep promising myself I have to have a crack at it, but I enjoy playing the mtt's and never seem to switch over. Anyway, from what I read its a totally different game (its probably something I'll start a thread about shortly), but as youve played it before, you should, with the right dicipline, be able to get back into it.

    Post a hand or two a day in the theory forum and you wont be long finding out if your train of thought is along the right lines.

    GL

    Connie


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,933 ✭✭✭H8GHOTI


    I'd then recommend you purchase hand histories from somewhere like HandHQ and load these into Hold Em Manager. These will prove invaluable as you'll have tonnes of information on almost every reg at a particular level before you even play a hand!

    I was reading the Prohibited Online Poker Software FAQ section on Poker Stars the other day, about what tools they allow and what's not allowed and this isn't allowed. You're only allowed use info gained against players you've actually played with yourself.

    iPoker might be different?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭Lurker1977


    H8GHOTI wrote: »
    I was reading the Prohibited Online Poker Software FAQ section on Poker Stars the other day, about what tools they allow and what's not allowed and this isn't allowed. You're only allowed use info gained against players you've actually played with yourself.

    iPoker might be different?

    Yes but how are they going to stop people buying them? There are no commercially available datamining programmes for Stars afaik but buying HH's from hand HQ's is never going to be traceable fwiw.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,537 ✭✭✭Ste05


    Deleted the chat about davidgti being a possible troll. He's clearly not and has been a long time poster.

    Ste05


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 270 ✭✭The Istanbul


    Although, in fairness ,most of his posts are shi...te:pac:

    Seriously GL this time-and invest in roulette barring software!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 588 ✭✭✭Lao Lao


    Hi David, GL with this venture, really hope it works out! Do you mind if I ask some questions as I'm quite interested in this?

    You say you used to play 1/2 and 2/4 before, was this full time of just recreational?

    If it was full time before, why did you stop and how long did you stop for, what did you do instead for a job and why have you decided to go back to the poker now?

    You have a bankroll of $5K - $6K correct?

    How manys hours / hands do you plan to play per day?

    What is your target profit either per day/session/week or even per year?

    Apologies for the bombarding of questions but as I say, I am quite interested in this. Again, best of luck in this, I wish you every success, unless you end up at a table with me ;)

    Cheers

    Brian


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,646 ✭✭✭cooker3


    Do you really have only around $6000? That is really not that much, especially with how the $ is. Do you have a backup plan up if doesn't work out. Are your out-goings big. That's all pretty important.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 444 ✭✭dacman


    My single best piece of advice is hire someone to cook and clean your house for you:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,472 ✭✭✭AdMMM


    I was reading the Prohibited Online Poker Software FAQ section on Poker Stars the other day, about what tools they allow and what's not allowed and this isn't allowed. You're only allowed use info gained against players you've actually played with yourself.

    iPoker might be different?

    It's certainly a grey area, I'll admit that. However, I was following the development of the datamining software for iPoker (GoldMine), and from what I could gather, Playtech didn't raise any reservations about the software being released. In fact, the developer of the software and the hand history website is a member here, so maybe he could clear this up?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,615 ✭✭✭Mr.Plough


    Ste05 wrote: »
    Another quicky; NEVER NEVER NEVER play drunk, would you go into work drunk? If you did you could expect to be fired, the same could happen if you play drunk, i.e. BR destroyed!!

    flips ldo


    Also, I also decided to not play tired anymore. I've gotten 8k hands in this month.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭Caboose


    Gl with this David and cheers for posting it up.

    I havent played online properly for about a year and was thinking of getting into it part time again to pad the wage. Finding time to set aside EVERY day is becoming an issue so hence the part time stuff.

    Keep us updated on the progress.

    Cheers
    Caboose


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 822 ✭✭✭Tony_Montana


    GL Dave, can't wait to play you over at the cash games in lawlors hotel with loadsa cash :D. As you know i'm also playing online and doing the odd, regular job, day here and there when i get the call. So everything is easy for me at the moment, i just hope it lasts hehe. Wish you every luck and success in the world bud , you can do it ;)

    Best thing to remember, is keep the discipline and stick to the rules that you set out.
    I've seen you kill 1/2 and 2/4 before for a hefty bankroll. No Roulette now or fishing, and we all know you love them draws lol.
    On a serious note, you have the game to do it buddy ;)
    All d best.
    P.S. we on 10% :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27 MadDonna


    Ste05 wrote: »
    Another quicky; NEVER NEVER NEVER play drunk, would you go into work drunk? If you did you could expect to be fired, the same could happen if you play drunk, i.e. BR destroyed!!

    But make sure that your working hours include playing while others are drunk ! Ive cracked some wine and had a couple of late nights. WOW what a difference. I may start playing nights :eek:

    I would work your way around the skins too make sure you maximise the bonuses to help the roll building

    GL


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,080 ✭✭✭HiCloy


    MadDonna wrote: »
    But make sure that your working hours include playing while others are drunk ! Ive cracked some wine and had a couple of late nights. WOW what a difference. I may start playing nights :eek:

    This is solid advice. I wonder is there any way in PT/HEM to seperate your database by day/time of day? I'd say the difference in win rate in some of the games I play would be huge


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭davidgti


    Lao Lao wrote: »
    Hi David, GL with this venture, really hope it works out! Do you mind if I ask some questions as I'm quite interested in this?

    Thank you, no problem

    You say you used to play 1/2 and 2/4 before, was this full time of just recreational?

    Full-time

    If it was full time before, why did you stop and how long did you stop for, what did you do instead for a job and why have you decided to go back to the poker now?

    Well, i stoped playing poker online full-time as i had lost all my bankroll. I was doing quiet well off 1/2 and 2/4 at the time. I used to get max 4 to 6 hours sleep a day, and i was up between 5/6 every morning multitabling 8/12 tables. I had built my bankroll to 38k. One day, the site introduced a roulette table into the site. I decided i'd give the poker a break for the night and watch a film with a few beers. I played on the roulette table and i kept the same betting pattern throughout. My bet each spin totaled 14-16$. I was up an estimate of 400$ after 2 hours of playing. I thought to myself, if i make my bet bigger and keep the same strategy of playing i would increase my profits. I wanted to hit the 50k mark while i was watching the film. I went to betting $100 and then it went to $500 on numbers. Sometimes i was just betting on numbers and pressing the re-bet button. Within 15-20 my whole entire bankroll was down to $650 dollars. I've never ever felt so down and depressed after it. I make a HUGE mistake, and i am embarressed and ashamed about it, but this time i want to do everything right and make no mistakes. I think i have learnt my lesson :o


    You have a bankroll of $5K - $6K correct?

    Yes

    How manys hours / hands do you plan to play per day?

    Starting off playing as many hours as i can. Using as many breaks as i can.
    I'm currently in the process of planing my hours out for myself.


    What is your target profit either per day/session/week or even per year?

    No target per day or session.
    Instead i'm going to set myself targets every month according to the stake im currently at.


    Apologies for the bombarding of questions but as I say, I am quite interested in this. Again, best of luck in this, I wish you every success, unless you end up at a table with me ;)


    No problem, glad to give you an insight into this.

    Cheers

    Brian

    ty


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭davidgti


    cooker3 wrote: »
    Do you really have only around $6000? That is really not that much, especially with how the $ is. Do you have a backup plan up if doesn't work out. Are your out-goings big. That's all pretty important.

    Yes i will have just over $6000. Do you think i should have more for the stakes i am going to play?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,771 ✭✭✭TommyGunne


    6k is fine for 0.50/1.

    Don't limit yourself to iPoker is the biggest single piece of advice I can give you. The games can suck really badly there sometimes. Mornings can be really ghey so it always helps if you have the option of playing on an american site like FT or stars imo.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,454 ✭✭✭hf4z6sqo7vjngi


    very best of luck with this, not many people would own up to doing that sort of money on that sort of thing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 588 ✭✭✭Lao Lao


    Cheers for the reply - Fair play to you. Not many people would come on here and post about the roulette like that!

    Best of luck with the new venture - I would agree with Tommy Gunne re iPoker, when I have played there during the day, it can be pretty sh1te!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,646 ✭✭✭cooker3


    davidgti wrote: »
    Yes i will have just over $6000. Do you think i should have more for the stakes i am going to play?

    Well it depends more on your outgoings and situation. How much you spend per month etc. It would be more then enough for a casual player but if I was to do it as I suppose I am sort of am currently I'd want to be playing higher or just have something in reserve


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,646 ✭✭✭cooker3


    Also TG makes a good point. Anyone have suggestions for good games in the mornings?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,953 ✭✭✭dvdfan


    Very brave and honest to admit that loss on here. I went pro if youd even call it that less that a year ago IIRC, my plan was bad from the beginning and to be honest looking back i wasnt even near anywhere good enough and im still not sure if i am still good enough. Ive little or no living expenses, no kids, mortgage, car etc and i had a job waiting for me if it didnt work out so id nothing to lose.

    I didnt have a big bankroll maybe 30bi and i started at 100nl, not sure details are a bit sketchy but i was running hot for the month before making over $5k at 100nl. So i thought it would be easy and the plan was to move to 200nl asap and then make a living off that. It didnt work out like that though and ive been living off rake mostly if im honest, Quickly looking at this years profits im up $1200 and about $6k in rakeback, and probably $1.5k in tourneys and possibly another $2.5 in bonuses etc so thats $11,200 for 7 months i.e $1600 per month which is brutal.

    My ideals were based around rakeback, if i play x amount of hands and breakeven, at one stage i was 12 tabling, constantly timing out and making split second decisions, not thinking about the hands and things went pair shaped. Im eventually at the conclusion that the only way i have an edge over people is to 4 table and no more and concentrate on every decision, when i do this and stick to it i do very well but when i get greedy an add extra tables i make way too many mistakes and am much more likely to continue to make more and this has been where ive made most of my big losses that contribute to my poor results.

    I really admire people who can put a thought process into the game while playing 6 or more tables but i have to concede that i cant and probably never will be able to, just like i cant do quick subtraction so i guess it comes down to genetics etc and natural ability.

    The thing is over them 7 months ive averaged 16k hands a month, and i was away on 3weeks holidays and didnt play for a week after i got back so the results are really over 6 months. Im now playing 5k hands a week but just running at 5bb/100 per week for 5k hands should net me close to $850 per week inc rakeback x 4 weeks = $3400 x next 7 months = approx $24k and thats probably about 20 hours a week 4 tabling. If i 8tabled for 20 hours instead i think id probably see around $11k again.

    I did move to 200nl but there was a good few times when i fell close to dropping to 100nl and probably should have because i was spending more than i was making. Then i deceimated my bankroll to go on a holiday to Asia for 3 weeks and my bankroll was $1400 when i got back about 6 weeks ago. When my rakeback comes in in a few days ill be back to $6k and playing 200nl although some of that money i earned doing a part time job i took on the internet but 7 months later im no better off than i was but dont really regret it. I try to think of it as a business, the first few months you have to be prepared to take a wage cut while you build the business and then get to reap the rewards when its built up. I hope ive learned enough in the last year to reap my rewards now.

    So my point is and even if i read this 6 months ago i probably wouldnt listen but concentrating on your game and making the right decsions and thinking and posting hands will likely be more profitable than trying to achive x amount of rakeback especially if youve been out of the game for a long time.

    Now the amount above might not be much to most people and living off $11k over 7 months might sound like a nightmare but i really enjoy having the day to myself, to do what i want, go to the Gym, game of pitch and putt, lie on in bed, fcuk off to Asia for a few weeks or somewhere for the weekend wothout worrying about work on Monday monrning, live anywhere in the world that has decent internet access.

    Of course if i only make the same in the next 6 months then i probably wont be playing poker at that stage but i really hope i will be as this is the ideal job for me and id love to be living in a nice condo somewhere in Asia playing poker for a living and living for at least 1/5th of the cost it would cost to have the same lifestyle here.

    So good luck with it David, btw in May i had a 30bi upswing followed immediately by a 30bi downswing both within the same 30 day period so although i would have said that 30bi is fine for this level when your playing for a living you really should have 50bi+ although i dont currently follow that advise myslef its a bit cheeky to be giving it out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭davidgti


    Ok im after writing down some rules for myself. I got some of these of the internet and some posts on boards.
    What rules do you think i should delete and what other rules i should add etc...
    I know not everyone agrees with having rules, but i feel it's my best way to start so that i treat it properly as business.
    Also, what other quotes should i add to inspire me when i read the rules.

    Money Making Online Poker Rules
    Remember: You goal in poker is to deduce the right action to take given the information you have available in relation to the particular situation you are in at the present time in the present hand. It is not to attempt to win every day or every hand.

    Try not to make playing higher your goal make playing better your goal.
    Never play under 30 buyins. You will always have 50 buyins before you move back and 60 buyins to move up a level. Hense, you will never go under 25 buyins.
    STAKES BUYINS NEEDED DROP BACK BUYINS
    50/1 3,000 2,500
    1/2 6,000 5,000
    2/4 12,000 10,000
    3/6 18,000 15,000
    5/10 30,000 25,000

    PS. This has really confused me, and am i on the right track.

    Never mix games i.e. Texas holdem and Omaha at same time, play tournaments and cash at the same time or mix 10 seats with 6 seaters.
    Never play more than 4 six seater tables or 8 ten seater tables at same time.
    Never fall victim to the trap of overemphasising your wins and dampening your loses.
    Never play when you are tiered.
    Never bet on the river when only a better hand is calling you.
    Never go on tilt, and take your bad beats well.
    Never play when your not feeling well or in bad form.

    Always take your time remember, patience is its own reward!
    Admit to yourself that you make mistakes but don’t leave them get you down Try to carve out and fix these mistakes.
    Always spend a few minutes watching the players before sitting down at a cash table.
    Always take notes on players and keep them up to date.
    Always move up stakes if your bankroll exceeds 60 buyins.
    Always keep notes on your session in a diary.
    ie. played well, lost with AA all in pre twice etc. This will help you feel better when you’ve made a net loss over a few days. Also write down why you won money ie. guy tilted, won a race, got lucky etc.
    Always analyse your notes and hand history after each session.
    Always play ABC poker until you win your first pot or for the first 20 minutes.
    Always set aside the number of hours your going to play for in a session.
    Always leave if the game is very tough, or you feel you are not playing well.
    Always stay if the game is very weak or you are playing your best game.
    Always play every hand individually and give it your best play at every giving time.
    Always take your time on every situation.
    Always stick to your game plan.
    Always give your full concentration to tournaments and watch players carefully.

    Under no circumstances will these rules be broken. Always remember these rules are set out to make you money, so stick with the rules and role in the cash ;)!!!

    Thank you everyone for the replies and well wishes, ill get back to everyone in time.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭davidgti


    AdMMM wrote: »
    Best of luck with this Dave.

    Firstly, get a tracker like Hold Em Manager and learn how to use it by watching a video like this on DeucesCracked. In fact, given how you haven't been playing online in along time, it would be of great benefit to subscrible there as the games have changed dramatically since you last played! I'd then recommend you purchase hand histories from somewhere like HandHQ and load these into Hold Em Manager. These will prove invaluable as you'll have tonnes of information on almost every reg at a particular level before you even play a hand!

    I just had a look at the link you sent on. Do you think this is the best one to use?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,472 ✭✭✭AdMMM


    People will tell you that's there no much in the difference between the two main trackers. At the moment, I feel Hold Em Manager is the more complete package!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,771 ✭✭✭TommyGunne


    davidgti wrote: »
    Never mix games i.e. Texas holdem and Omaha at same time, play tournaments and cash at the same time or mix 10 seats with 6 seaters.
    Never play more than 4 six seater tables or 8 ten seater tables at same time.
    I mix games all the time, as do most people I know. It shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't limit myself to 4 tables for sure as well. More tables = more money if you can handle them
    Never bet on the river when only a better hand is calling you.Badly phrased as you obv have to bluff now and again, but the concept of not turning your hands into a bluff unintentionally is a mistake that a hell of a lot of beginning to intermediate players make. When they get better they just say its really thin.
    Always spend a few minutes watching the players before sitting down at a cash table.Probably a waste of time. Thats why you have datamining tools.
    Always move up stakes if your bankroll exceeds 60 buyins.Couldn't disagree more. Why would you move up if your only a marginal winner at the level? A good few posts I have seen from pros advocate a roll of up to 100bi anyway
    Always play ABC poker until you win your first pot or for the first 20 minutes.Why limit yourself to doing this? Just don't get overly creative against someone that is quite likely to like calling.
    Always stick to your game plan.Having a game plan is silly and implies that you don't think and act dynamically.

    .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,192 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    I dont have anything to add in terms of advice, just wanted to add my best wishes to ya on this Dave.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭davidgti


    Thanx for your response TommyGunne. As i have said, I have played online before and i really feel i need these rules. I have mixed games in the past and they have made me make a few mistakes so thats why i don't want to mix games.
    The never bet on the river rule.... i agree it is badly phrased, and is pretty standard knowledge to a good poker player. I definetly have to revise this rule.
    When do you think i should move up or down stakes?
    The reason for playing ABC poker at the start, is to try and get off to a winning start and also to get a greater knowledge of my opponents play.
    Having a game plan is silly, but my plans will be simple like a target to find the fish etc. etc.
    Thanx for your help really appreciated.
    Anyone have any other rules that would be valuable?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,472 ✭✭✭AdMMM


    You should move down stakes when you're no longer rolled for a particular level and you should move up stakes when you feel like you can beat the level.

    By using a tracker and a HUD, there's no need to play ABC poker to gain knowledge of your opponents play and get off to a winning start as you already have all the info I need!


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