getting my feet wet

[bassy]

i started playing texas hold em about 6 months ago and have been playing in the play money tables at pokerstars. (i got interested in the game after watching late night poker on the tv). However, i find that the play money tables seem to be more a game of luck than of skill as most people seem to bet almost every hand they have - even if they only have 64 unsuited at the start. (it finally came to a head playing against someone who bet 1k before the flop each time and him telling us we should play against him as it was just play money).

So i thought maybe i should move into the real money tables were i would suppose people take the game a little more seriously. I know i have only got 6 mths experience of the game - is this enough before i start playing for money? Has anyone got any good advice for me to start off (eg. which tables to play in etc)

[HalfSugar]

The danger of moving to real money tables is choosing the wrong limit. Low limits such as $.25/$.50 are as loose as play money tables so ur just throwing money away but large limit tables could well eat u alive and take u for a lot which is also not good.

You could try some real money tournaments first for say a £10 buy-in bcos it'll give u a good taste of tighter, more premeditated play more akin to higher limit tables. Tourneys are also fun and generally last longer if u play tight so I think that's the way 4u to go personally. Good luck!

[bassy]

thanks for that - i took your advice and tried my first money tourney (only $5 buy-in) - i came in 5th on the table - got a bit of bad luck in that someone bet all-in before the flop on an Ah3s and i had QhQc so checked them - unluckily 4 hearts came up (no aces) so that left me short stacked. i did also overplay one hand and was a little overly wary on a couple of other hands which if i either folded on or just checked. maybe i need to get a good poker book

[nreed]

Play some low buy in online tourneys to get a taste. As far as the medium limit games, if you are tight but aggressive you should be able to make alot of money with good judgement. Bring the goods and if you flop something, raise. I wouldnt put too much money into online poker though.

[HalfSugar]

I wouldnt put too much money into online poker though.

That's the soundest piece of advice u can get if u ask me! Did 5th place get u any money bassy?

[bassy]

nope 3rd and up got the money - i was hoping to scrape a 3rd but those two Qs lost me that hope ... online is the only place i really play as i have absolutely no idea about casinos etc

[Tralfaz]

Hey:

The low limit one table sit and go tourneys are a great place to get practice at Poker Stars. You can win some money if you do well and your potential losses are capped at the buy-in amount.

I personally think it is a great idea to read some books on NL holdem. I like Sklansky. I would start with his basic book "The theory of Poker" and move on to the Advanced holdem book. Good luck.

Tralfaz

[nreed]

id read super system if you can understand the basics as well as vorhaus's killer poker, a book that i think helps you more with improving your current game than any other book ive read and ive read over 40