So Poker is a great game where you can sit with the best and come out a winner. You can make ridiculously bad plays and they come off. Its what keeps the game alive. Hey a one in ten shot really ain't that bad when you think about it. I try to be the guy who gives that one in then shot shot, with pot odds of 2 or 3 to 1. Yeah they hit sometimes, sometimes it feels like they hit all the time, but hey, that's the game.
So this leads me to the gentle art of self deception. How do rate your poker game. I figure I'm not the best around but I'm willing to do the work off the ball to use a soccer analogy. I'm watching the other players as they watch the flop, I'm reading books, visiting websites, keeping records and reflecting on my game. That's my edge over the lazy player who just turns up and plays.
So I visited my records the other day and I was surprised at what I saw. Ive read three poker books in the last five years! My whole self image of the hard working player, always trying to improve has been shattered. So I'm taking things seriously now, reading and studying furiously, but that image of the knowledgeable player has been shattered once and for all.
That's not the only way the poker infuses self deception into your life, most of us think were better than most of the other players. But how are your results? Make allot of final tables but miss the cash? I know I do. Sit there all patient for a couple of hours then get loose and blow your cash? That's me two.
So as I have five years of laziness, while I playing more than ever before to make up for, I better get out of here and hit the books.
Good luck in your poker playing! You will need it if your as lazy as I am.
P.S. Over my lifetime Ive consumed 15 books, 5 DVDs, read numerous articles on sites like www.Poker1.com and watched a few online vids so I'm not that uneducated. However education needs to be a continuing process, if your not improving your being left behind.
Going Pro is out.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
A Game oh A Game where for art thou oh A Game
Hey there Going Proers
So the A game hasnt been sited in the last week or so. What to do? I guess the first thing is to drop down a level or two, play in easier games and get back in the grove again. Another solution is to walk away from the tables for awhile. I usually hit the books, reflect in my poker journal and study up on the basics. Getting away from the tables and finding other ways to build your game can save quite a bit of cash.
Im doing all the above at the moment till I feel Im back in the grove.
So while theres not much to talk about as far as going pro is concerned, I thought it might be good to reflect on the importance of a strategy for when your losing often and realize its due to poor performance rather than bad luck. Of course your going to get drawn out on occasionally, actually if your a half decent player you will be drawn out on alot. I play a reasonably (Not always reasonably, often maniacally) aggressive style of play. When you play this style you get alot of callers on your big hands and marginal ones. The risk of going after that one in ten shot becomes attractive and so once every ten times it gets hit and I lose the pot. Its actually a great thing in the long run and for the game of poker for those long shots to hit, its what keeps the game of poker alive and well. If it wasnt for the occasional long shot then Doyle Bronsen would have all our money already and the game of poker would be a thing of the past.
Just by the way looking at the probabilities of people hitting one of four cards in the deck to crack your hand, its actually not that unlikely. when you compare it to the likelyhood that you were the one sperm of the millions via for that spot in your mothers womb its nothing. Mathematical unlikelyhoods occur all the time in the real world and you have to expect them in poker too, its what keeps the game alive, if it starts effecting your game though, take a break, move down, dont follow the temptation to play in the bigger games where they play 'properly'.
So its on me the remember how to beat those easy games I used to eat up. Stop bluffing calling stations and checking to weak tight rocks. C game youve kept me company for so long your a comfort in many ways, Im sorry but my first love is my A Game, she is the one who deserves my devotion.
Hope your going well Going Proers and bringing your A Game to the tables.
Going Pro.
So the A game hasnt been sited in the last week or so. What to do? I guess the first thing is to drop down a level or two, play in easier games and get back in the grove again. Another solution is to walk away from the tables for awhile. I usually hit the books, reflect in my poker journal and study up on the basics. Getting away from the tables and finding other ways to build your game can save quite a bit of cash.
Im doing all the above at the moment till I feel Im back in the grove.
So while theres not much to talk about as far as going pro is concerned, I thought it might be good to reflect on the importance of a strategy for when your losing often and realize its due to poor performance rather than bad luck. Of course your going to get drawn out on occasionally, actually if your a half decent player you will be drawn out on alot. I play a reasonably (Not always reasonably, often maniacally) aggressive style of play. When you play this style you get alot of callers on your big hands and marginal ones. The risk of going after that one in ten shot becomes attractive and so once every ten times it gets hit and I lose the pot. Its actually a great thing in the long run and for the game of poker for those long shots to hit, its what keeps the game of poker alive and well. If it wasnt for the occasional long shot then Doyle Bronsen would have all our money already and the game of poker would be a thing of the past.
Just by the way looking at the probabilities of people hitting one of four cards in the deck to crack your hand, its actually not that unlikely. when you compare it to the likelyhood that you were the one sperm of the millions via for that spot in your mothers womb its nothing. Mathematical unlikelyhoods occur all the time in the real world and you have to expect them in poker too, its what keeps the game alive, if it starts effecting your game though, take a break, move down, dont follow the temptation to play in the bigger games where they play 'properly'.
So its on me the remember how to beat those easy games I used to eat up. Stop bluffing calling stations and checking to weak tight rocks. C game youve kept me company for so long your a comfort in many ways, Im sorry but my first love is my A Game, she is the one who deserves my devotion.
Hope your going well Going Proers and bringing your A Game to the tables.
Going Pro.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
A Poker Education
Hi There Going Proers
Today as theres not much happening on the playing front I want to talk about my poker education.
I was always the easy money at the table, that perfect opponent, a loose passive player. The player who when he actually gets a hand then checks to trap. Easy money. So what happened how did it change? Well there is an argument that not much has changed, but the essential difference today is the poker literature.
After five years of playing and generally loosing a stumbled on a book, not a poker book, a body language book. The book was 'Body Language' by Alan Pease. The next game in a tournament style against twenty players I took down with ease. What was the difference? I wasn't picking up tells at that stage, a body language book generally wont give you much help in that regard. It was the different mindset, thinking about my opponents rather than about myself. What does my opponent hold, how is he playing.
That set my mind to thinking, what if I could find a poker book. If a body language book was so helpful, what could a poker book do for my game? So here is a few books that I have read and a little about each one. Poker books have certainly helped my game along and revisiting them I find helpful, theres always gaps in your game or improvements you can make, even if the improvement only adds 50c an hour, over a lifetime of play that could add up to thousands of dollars.
Holdem Poker - David Sklansky
Fortunately for me the first poker book I read was Holdem Poker by the eminent poker theorist, David Sklansky. Its just a basic introduction mainly focusing on the low limit game. An introductory book is always a good place to start and I find I need to go back to basics again and again to stay sharp and a winning player.
Super System - Doyle Bronson
The bible of poker was my next book. A fantastic read, with chapters on all the mainline forms of poker. Unfortunately no mention of three card Manila, which was played widely in Australia until recently. This book took my game to a level I could not have imagined previously, a great read with chapters by a Host of poker pros. Its probably one of the must read texts to become a great player.
The Theory of Poker - David Sklansky
This book deals with all the nit bits of poker. With an explanation of the Fundamental Theory of Poker as its heart. Chapters on Pot Odds and Implied Odds as well as a large variety of concepts. Dont expect to understand it, but with careful attention and a couple of re-readings this book will give the theoretical side of your game a real boost. In the long run its essential reading.
Caro's Book of Pro Poker Tells - Mike Caro
This book by the Mad genius of Poker was really up my ally. Im not sure if all the value per hour figures are correct. The tells work with weaker players in my experience, they certainly can let you know where you can bet to take a pot with impunity. In the first few years playing in smaller games this book will pay for itself many times over. Just to get out of your own head and concentrating on the fact that your in a people game played with cards. Its amazing at all limits how many players still watch the flop and not the players in the hand, Mike will help you remove this habit from your game.
Maybe reading these books will make you a winning player, I was certainly a better player after reading them. I had a run of coming second in freezeout, (First gets all the cash) tournaments of about two years after reading them. When I convinced my buddies to change to first gets 75% second gets 25%, I won every time. Maybe it was the lack of pressure, maybe the loss of concentration in heads up games, maybe I just needed the practice playing heads up. Its hard to tell. The point is you need experience and theory, or I did anyway.
At this point Im a winning player at limit Holdem to 5/10 but theres not limit games in Sydney. Ill also win a fair amount of tournaments. As Im coming back though I still need some work to get rid of the rust. I should win about once every ten entries in micro tournaments, (under 50 players) generally making final tables ever 2.5 entries.
So good luck with your Poker, hope to see you at the tables.
Going Pro.
Today as theres not much happening on the playing front I want to talk about my poker education.
I was always the easy money at the table, that perfect opponent, a loose passive player. The player who when he actually gets a hand then checks to trap. Easy money. So what happened how did it change? Well there is an argument that not much has changed, but the essential difference today is the poker literature.
After five years of playing and generally loosing a stumbled on a book, not a poker book, a body language book. The book was 'Body Language' by Alan Pease. The next game in a tournament style against twenty players I took down with ease. What was the difference? I wasn't picking up tells at that stage, a body language book generally wont give you much help in that regard. It was the different mindset, thinking about my opponents rather than about myself. What does my opponent hold, how is he playing.
That set my mind to thinking, what if I could find a poker book. If a body language book was so helpful, what could a poker book do for my game? So here is a few books that I have read and a little about each one. Poker books have certainly helped my game along and revisiting them I find helpful, theres always gaps in your game or improvements you can make, even if the improvement only adds 50c an hour, over a lifetime of play that could add up to thousands of dollars.
Holdem Poker - David Sklansky
Fortunately for me the first poker book I read was Holdem Poker by the eminent poker theorist, David Sklansky. Its just a basic introduction mainly focusing on the low limit game. An introductory book is always a good place to start and I find I need to go back to basics again and again to stay sharp and a winning player.
Super System - Doyle Bronson
The bible of poker was my next book. A fantastic read, with chapters on all the mainline forms of poker. Unfortunately no mention of three card Manila, which was played widely in Australia until recently. This book took my game to a level I could not have imagined previously, a great read with chapters by a Host of poker pros. Its probably one of the must read texts to become a great player.
The Theory of Poker - David Sklansky
This book deals with all the nit bits of poker. With an explanation of the Fundamental Theory of Poker as its heart. Chapters on Pot Odds and Implied Odds as well as a large variety of concepts. Dont expect to understand it, but with careful attention and a couple of re-readings this book will give the theoretical side of your game a real boost. In the long run its essential reading.
Caro's Book of Pro Poker Tells - Mike Caro
This book by the Mad genius of Poker was really up my ally. Im not sure if all the value per hour figures are correct. The tells work with weaker players in my experience, they certainly can let you know where you can bet to take a pot with impunity. In the first few years playing in smaller games this book will pay for itself many times over. Just to get out of your own head and concentrating on the fact that your in a people game played with cards. Its amazing at all limits how many players still watch the flop and not the players in the hand, Mike will help you remove this habit from your game.
Maybe reading these books will make you a winning player, I was certainly a better player after reading them. I had a run of coming second in freezeout, (First gets all the cash) tournaments of about two years after reading them. When I convinced my buddies to change to first gets 75% second gets 25%, I won every time. Maybe it was the lack of pressure, maybe the loss of concentration in heads up games, maybe I just needed the practice playing heads up. Its hard to tell. The point is you need experience and theory, or I did anyway.
At this point Im a winning player at limit Holdem to 5/10 but theres not limit games in Sydney. Ill also win a fair amount of tournaments. As Im coming back though I still need some work to get rid of the rust. I should win about once every ten entries in micro tournaments, (under 50 players) generally making final tables ever 2.5 entries.
So good luck with your Poker, hope to see you at the tables.
Going Pro.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Training Days
So Ive been spending the time training and playing online mainly for practise purposes. Trying to freeroll into some major tournaments and the like. I also played in a mini tournament played ok but made a couple of mistakes and found myself on the rail. As per the last post Im forcing the discipine of playing practise games till I build a play money roll of 1,000,000 which is actually proving harder than I expected.
On a couple of more positive notes, I found a site www.pokerstrategy.com which if you register and do a quiz they give you a $50- bankroll on a poker site. Its a great way to get started and they have some great strategy information, theres also a whole heap of videos uploaded by players a forum to discuss poker and a whole lot of articles. I havnt checked it out yet just registered to get my $50- but it looks pretty good. Not sure if I agree with everything in the short stack strategy but the big stack strategy seems pretty good.
Anyway Im off to continue building this play money bankroll.
All the best
Going Pro
On a couple of more positive notes, I found a site www.pokerstrategy.com which if you register and do a quiz they give you a $50- bankroll on a poker site. Its a great way to get started and they have some great strategy information, theres also a whole heap of videos uploaded by players a forum to discuss poker and a whole lot of articles. I havnt checked it out yet just registered to get my $50- but it looks pretty good. Not sure if I agree with everything in the short stack strategy but the big stack strategy seems pretty good.
Anyway Im off to continue building this play money bankroll.
All the best
Going Pro
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The Learning Curve
So it seems I have been failing to bring my A game to the tables. Im putting this down to two main causes. The number one cause is Im playing at a level that Im financially uncomfortable with. I generally like to play a tight aggressive to loose aggressive game, with the buyin being 3/3% of my total bankroll in a no limit game Im finding myself tightening up way too much. This effects my play and so I need to build my bankroll substantially before returning to the casino. The other reason is Im returning to the game after a good six months off, so while the game has moved on Ive stayed right where I was, actually Ive gone backward. Not to fear however I have a plan.
1 - I re read all the poker books in my possesion
2 - I buy and read a poker basics book, easy to find and the basics is where Im falling down
3 - I build my play money bankroll up to 1 million dollars from the 350,000 it currently is. (This is simply to build in the discipline of playing winning poker, even against weak opponents I recommend the practice)
4 - I build my online cash game/bankroll to at least 10,000. I currently play at PokerStars a notoriously difficult site. The plan will involve joining two other sites, Party Poker and Chilli Poker and building my online game. Although many of the higher skills and so allot of my edge comes from live play, the discipline of reading opponents through betting patterns and using the more mechanical elements of poker, the mathematics and general game play will build my game and should plug the leaks in my game
5 - I will continue to play in small stakes live tournaments, looking for weaker games in order to build a substantial bankroll. This discipline in gaining dominance in the small stakes games before returning to the casino is also important. A bankroll of 5,000 built over the next two to three months is the initial goal. This will be updated at the end of June and again at the end of July.
So that's the plan, don't fear to much Going Proers we will get there just need that patience and discipline the keys to a great poker game.
By the way I picked up some great advice on some sites that I have found subsequently to be of great help. I already new about the two plus two forum, but DuecesCracked is a great site as well allot of great advice on online play, with plenty of videos and a free seven day trial.
Just to keep you all interested I will be playing Freeroll qualifiers to all ANZPT events through PokerStars. The next event is in Queenstown New Zealand. Of course this route means beating a large amount of players to qualify and there is a luck element, though persistence pays off.
So till next time stay tuned.
Going Pro.
1 - I re read all the poker books in my possesion
2 - I buy and read a poker basics book, easy to find and the basics is where Im falling down
3 - I build my play money bankroll up to 1 million dollars from the 350,000 it currently is. (This is simply to build in the discipline of playing winning poker, even against weak opponents I recommend the practice)
4 - I build my online cash game/bankroll to at least 10,000. I currently play at PokerStars a notoriously difficult site. The plan will involve joining two other sites, Party Poker and Chilli Poker and building my online game. Although many of the higher skills and so allot of my edge comes from live play, the discipline of reading opponents through betting patterns and using the more mechanical elements of poker, the mathematics and general game play will build my game and should plug the leaks in my game
5 - I will continue to play in small stakes live tournaments, looking for weaker games in order to build a substantial bankroll. This discipline in gaining dominance in the small stakes games before returning to the casino is also important. A bankroll of 5,000 built over the next two to three months is the initial goal. This will be updated at the end of June and again at the end of July.
So that's the plan, don't fear to much Going Proers we will get there just need that patience and discipline the keys to a great poker game.
By the way I picked up some great advice on some sites that I have found subsequently to be of great help. I already new about the two plus two forum, but DuecesCracked is a great site as well allot of great advice on online play, with plenty of videos and a free seven day trial.
Just to keep you all interested I will be playing Freeroll qualifiers to all ANZPT events through PokerStars. The next event is in Queenstown New Zealand. Of course this route means beating a large amount of players to qualify and there is a luck element, though persistence pays off.
So till next time stay tuned.
Going Pro.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The tide is Yet to Turn
So another couple of games and another lose dear follower. I played a tournament in Chinatown quite a nice little game actually then made an error trying to take control of a table and lost my stack. I followed this by heading to the casino where I made a few more mistakes eventually losing me 100 dollars. So the bankroll is under pressure and I need to start getting some runs on the board or this experiment will be a short one. On the bright side though I have been given some great advise on online poker from a couple of good players and told about a couple of instructional sites which I think I will follow up. Not sure if I will get in a game over the next couple of days, may play a little online.
I am finding that while Im concentrating on reading players body language which there is plenty at any poker table, Im losing the fundamentals, all my mistakes are simple ones that I really should not be making. It looks like I have to go over the fundamentals again, concentrate on the simple stuff, get that right and the rest should flow.
Another great thing to note is the tournament I played tonight is quite winnable, no great players there. I think I should crack it in under ten attempts, so keep watching this space to see if my prediction is right.
Till next time, Going Pro is Signing Off.
I am finding that while Im concentrating on reading players body language which there is plenty at any poker table, Im losing the fundamentals, all my mistakes are simple ones that I really should not be making. It looks like I have to go over the fundamentals again, concentrate on the simple stuff, get that right and the rest should flow.
Another great thing to note is the tournament I played tonight is quite winnable, no great players there. I think I should crack it in under ten attempts, so keep watching this space to see if my prediction is right.
Till next time, Going Pro is Signing Off.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Time for a Step Down
So after much consideration I have made the decision to make a step down to the small tournaments. There a alot of tournaments going around for 55 dollars and under, as I dont feel quite sharp enough at the moment and feel that 3000 is a limited bankroll for 100 dollar no limit tables I think this is a good decision in the long run. The problem is that in tournaments it is alot harder to cash. I need to cash every week to build a bankroll and this is ambitious. The good thing is that if I can find a few good games with weaker opponents my experience in some of the harder games around town should see me go along way to this end. Ill also sharpen up my skills which are in need of some practice. The tournament game is alot different to cash games a constant need for adjustment and quick information gathering on opponents, along with added stress increase the likelyhood of mistakes. So Ill see how I go this week in a few small stakes tournaments, with a few online games to increase the feel. If I can build a bankroll this way I can hit the casino again once I have 5000 in my bankroll, any less than that and I will be worrying about loosing the 100 buy in and not really concentrating on the game Im playing in.
So next update tonight.
Going Pro signing off.
So next update tonight.
Going Pro signing off.
First Shift
So I went down to Star City for my first shift. Sat down at a lovely loose aggressive table with no solid players. Took down a couple of early pots and felt in control and enjoying it. Then I got overconfident and my top pair with A kicker ran into poket rockets and I lost my stack. Then the lovely loose aggressive table got broken up and I ended up at a much tougher table. I managed to get some back but ended up down 59 dollars.
The lesson for all you budding players out there is as usual don't lose concentration. So not the start I had hoped for but at least I can see the mistake that I made and so I can correct it next time. As I am generally a tournament player but need to move to cash games in order to move up in the poker world I need to put in the hours at the 100 dollar no limit tables and might need to earn my stripes here the hard way. Still I can see plenty of opportunity for money making. There is an opinion in poker circles in Sydney that you cant make money on the hundred dollar tables and Star City, there being no competition the rake and table charges are quite high. However there are plenty of good games going around and plenty of weak players that should provide a good starting income.
Well see over the next hundred hours or so how I go. For now I have plenty of motivation to hit the books, try to get my mind sharp before tomorrows session.
Till next time, Going Pro signing off.
The lesson for all you budding players out there is as usual don't lose concentration. So not the start I had hoped for but at least I can see the mistake that I made and so I can correct it next time. As I am generally a tournament player but need to move to cash games in order to move up in the poker world I need to put in the hours at the 100 dollar no limit tables and might need to earn my stripes here the hard way. Still I can see plenty of opportunity for money making. There is an opinion in poker circles in Sydney that you cant make money on the hundred dollar tables and Star City, there being no competition the rake and table charges are quite high. However there are plenty of good games going around and plenty of weak players that should provide a good starting income.
Well see over the next hundred hours or so how I go. For now I have plenty of motivation to hit the books, try to get my mind sharp before tomorrows session.
Till next time, Going Pro signing off.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The First Steps
So after a few years of shuffling the cards and hanging around the card rooms its time to try my hand at playing for a living. I'm starting with a bankroll of $3000- a bit short when the only games in town are no limit so the first step is to build myself up to around ten grand.
My experiment in moving from regular card player to playing for a living will start with playing for two hours a day for the next month. I find I'm a winning player at Star City if I limit myself to two hour sessions so that's where I will begin. Playing poker is all about discipline, while it actually attracts very undisciplined individuals, that's the beauty of it. So my first discipline is to play for two hours a day, Ill see what my hourly rate is after 100 hours and hopefully its enough to live on.
The blog will follow my progress as I try to make it in the poker world. I hope you enjoy following my exploits or lack there of over the next month and hopefully more.
Ill update my blog with daily results from Thursday onward, with a running total and comments on the best and worst games I find. My goal after the testing period is to make 75,000 in the next financial year, a reasonable goal I think though it will have to be reevaluated after the first hundred hours.
So I hope you enjoy following the journey as much as I enjoy living it.
Good luck in your card playing adventures!
Going Pro.
My experiment in moving from regular card player to playing for a living will start with playing for two hours a day for the next month. I find I'm a winning player at Star City if I limit myself to two hour sessions so that's where I will begin. Playing poker is all about discipline, while it actually attracts very undisciplined individuals, that's the beauty of it. So my first discipline is to play for two hours a day, Ill see what my hourly rate is after 100 hours and hopefully its enough to live on.
The blog will follow my progress as I try to make it in the poker world. I hope you enjoy following my exploits or lack there of over the next month and hopefully more.
Ill update my blog with daily results from Thursday onward, with a running total and comments on the best and worst games I find. My goal after the testing period is to make 75,000 in the next financial year, a reasonable goal I think though it will have to be reevaluated after the first hundred hours.
So I hope you enjoy following the journey as much as I enjoy living it.
Good luck in your card playing adventures!
Going Pro.
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