Are they right?

[cherubsweetpea]

Yes, I am a newbee to this forum (just found it) and to the game. I have been reading websites and currently finishing reading my fist book. Play is about 3 hours a day (in spurts - sometimes all in a row) on an online sight.

Q1: I got nervous when I read this today: If you're new to no limit texas holdem tournament play, start slowly. You need poker experience, so tread lightly before playing holdem with the big boys. Are they referring to WSOP??? Or is it that, I think I am almost ready for real $$ play and I am being warned against? What do you think??

Q2: In live I only play in two different free locations for about the past 2 months. Most at the place I frequent know I am new. I took two weeks off live play to read, study, and educate myself. Well in coming back, the last two nights I took 10th and last night took 2nd. But man I was getting heckled!

Prime was a 25s in BB; all checked; 256us came on the flop, so I called the small raise (assuming no one would bet a 34 hand before the flop and knowing with 2 pr I beat pocket anything), then a 2 on the turn and 4 on the river. Of course I went all-in knowing I had high hand. Two players continued to called and raise, but when they saw I won the main pot - some started throwing jabs. So I replied with "what do you expect, I was in BB?!" Am I missing something?

[MrDarling]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Poker and this here forum.

where people go tilty , lose their mind and money but all in good spirit

Q1 : Haven't ever read people warning someone from play Tournament, but I do guess they refer to big buyins tournaments. And you do not have to look as far as the WSOP. Online you got some heavy MTT's with big buyins.
No point of putting all your BR to risk on a tournament. But feel free to play small buyin ones.
You need practice to get better, and playing freerolls or play money will only get you that far. You need to risk money to become better.

Q2 : if you got to see the flop for free from the BB, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your play. people simply do not like to lose and will berate you often. Ignore everything you people tell you at a table, especially after you beat them.

[cherubsweetpea]

Thanks!

On Q2 the two ppl left in did do small raises to call the turn and the river. Based on knowing I had high hand throughout (as those two players usually do not play small pairs), I called their bets. When the river came up, someone went all-in and so did I.

Thanks, you made me feel confident about my play. Guess he was mad as I did pull him out of the game .

[jimmer]

.....but when they saw I won the main pot - some started throwing jabs. So I replied with "what do you expect, I was in BB?!" Am I missing something?

Next time, just reply; "Man I played stupid and still took your money. That must make you feel really bad".

You are always gonna get players who think they're better than you, you're also always gonna get different opinions. You just need to decide which info you listen too and what you ignour. Your play looked ok to me.

Welcome to the forum.

[steffend]

Regarding Q1 I think people are talking bankroll management, meaning you should not play higher stakes than you can afford and in MTT ( multi table tournaments ) you should have at least 100 times the buy-in on you poker bank roll ( depending a bit on the size of the field you are up against ).

Regading Q2 you played just fine from what you told.

[MrDarling]

btw, I would play that hand much faster. You have bottom 2 pairs on a draw heavy flop against several opponent. This is actually a vulnerable hand. I would try to get all the money in on the flop. either lead or c/r but your hand can easily be counterfeited. If the turn was 4 instead of 2 your 2 pairs would have been useless against an over pair.

Of course once the turn fill you up you need to find ways to put all the money in

[Sean_in_NJ]

Regarding Q1 I think people are talking bankroll management, meaning you should not play higher stakes than you can afford and in MTT ( multi table tournaments ) you should have at least 100 times the buy-in on you poker bank roll ( depending a bit on the size of the field you are up against ).

Bankroll is only part of it. Having the means to play in a game is one thing, beating it is something else entirely.

If you're just starting out, you will lose for a while. You can read all the books you want, play all the play money games you want, watch all the TV shows you want and none of it will matter till you get some experience. Doing the correct thing in a situation is a lot harder to do when it's your money at stake.

[cherubsweetpea]

You can read all the books you want, play all the play money games you want, watch all the TV shows you want and none of it will matter till you get some experience. Doing the correct thing in a situation is a lot harder to do when it's your money at stake.

Even being a novice I totally agree. The people I having been playing with (even the mod of the local free tourney) know I have only been playing a month and have totally flipped my game around. I too notice others playing cards they shouldn't just because it is free.

In fact, I like to test both sides of what I am learning - put it to use and and play loose (to prove to myself why not to play like that). Last night I was high and tight and won first place and then the second go around only came in 13th.

Get this - best learning mistake from last night: down to three players on the flop and two of them went all in. I had enough in my stake to beat them both. They both flipped pair 6s in the pocket and after the river as we all were looking, the two other girls squealed (only because their cards matched). Because I was paying attention to the football game and trusting the board play, I mucked my cards. Dealer said ok pr 6s wins - I had 2 overcard high prs after the river!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOST THE POT & they both stayed in!!!!!!!!

NOW I KNOW - NEVER MUCK YOUR CARDS AFTER THE RIVER!!!!!!!!