Another "Am I ready?" topic

[Lohengrin]

Hello all. I found this site a few days ago and find it as informative (and much more entertaining) than a poker book.
To the point:
I play freeroll tournaments almost every night that are a satellite into a small cash tournament. Loads of players (9000, which will give the site away) and tons of stupid plays.
I play fairly tight early and open up a bit later on these wild tables and often (30%) make it into the top 200-300 (72 places advance). I can also get to the final table of freeroll 6-table SnG about a third of the time I play them. Again, it has as much to do with my patience (passing 40 does wonders for that) as any skill I might be developing.
I am working my way through Harrington's 1st book and have already ordered his second. I tried Sklansky's "Theory" and while I understood what I was reading, it's a bit more than I can apply right now.
I believe it might have been a comment in this forum that made me think of this...I was thinking of playing for real money but I figure that until I can at least get past a freeroll satellite (not to mention place ITM) I am just not ready.
What are the thoughts of some of the more experienced players around here?

Thanks.

[golddog]

Got money? You're ready.

Try out the small stakes, see how it goes. Don't deposit more than you feel comfortable losing. Post hands for questions, read to learn, etc, etc, etc.

[jimmer]

Comments like

....... Loads of players (9000, which will give the site away) and tons of stupid plays................I play fairly tight early and open up a bit later on these wild tables...............................it has as much to do with my patience................I am working my way through Harrington's 1st book and have already ordered his second. I tried Sklansky's "Theory" and while I understood what I was reading, it's a bit more than I can apply right now................

suggest to me that you have researched poker quite well for a beguinner. I think you could try holding your own on the micro stakes.

Keep us posted on your desicions, and welcome to the forum

[Lohengrin]

I paid my way through college so I am looking at this (initially) as an education.
I started with $250, allocating $50 for materials (books so far) and $200 for tuition.

I've been playing for two weeks and have made the following observations:

First, sharks swim in shallow water! I wondered how the top players I read about could play so many tables/tournaments at a time and now I know. While many play high buy-in or limit games, most play multiple low stakes and take the fishes apart slowly.

I am playing in the <$3 MTT's for now (I don't have the skill or bankroll to multi) to get in as many hands as I can in the limited time I have available. I've done ok, I guess. 14 entries and 5 ITM. It's still negative, but I am learning fast. With so many players I start off very tight and get aggressive when I get a good hand. It's easy to get paid early on. Almost every bad beat has been overshadowed by someone calling with their AdAc to the river with 4 hearts on the board.

Anyway, thanks for that last bit of advice to get me in there. I'm having a blast and learning at the same time.

[jimmer]

Good to hear you are having fun, cause ultimately that''s what it's about!

I have two questions;
1.How many games have you played so far?
2. When you say [the sharks] "take the fish apart slowly", what do you mean. (May be an example?)

[Golden Holden]

I'm curious... what have you found useful on this site and what did you find lacking?

[jeffonline]

Got money? You're ready.

This LOL.

Took me 18 wasted months.