2 – 3 years ago I played a lot of poker and was active on this forum. When the Black Friday hit, I got my FT bankroll frozen. I panicked and cashed out my PS winnings. I didn’t play much since then. Just every now and then I would deposit enough for tourney buy-ins and that’s it. As my heart was not in it, I didn’t win much. And I cashed out everything again. Now I start feeling that I am ready to play more poker. Not right now. I will wait when EURO 2012 is over, then I will take a vacation with my family in Croatia and then I will start grinding. But meanwhile I’ll be playing every now and then. To make things fun, I decided to start from scratch (well… almost)… I deposited 50 USD on PS and will be climbing up to the limits that I used to play before the Black Friday (20+ buy-in tourneys and NL25 - 100). Why do I post it here, when we have many similar challenges? I’ll explain. I’ll have to start at the lowest limits, the limits that most of the forum mates play and I will try to beat them in a certain manner. We were told many times, that the best approach to micro limits is to play by the book. Well, I’ll be playing AGAINST the book. It doesn’t mean that I will be playing like a maniac or lotto gambler, but I will definitely break many rules of ABC poker. Here is a hint of what I mean: All books on poker are written by poker pros for more or less advanced players and are not applicable for 1$ buy-in tourneys. For instance, those books say that you should not limp into a pot: raise or fold. Well, this is crap advice for micro limits. I will be limping a lot. Betsizing suggested in the books is all wrong for these limits. I’ll have my own bet-sizing scheme.  And many other things, that I am not going to list here because my post is already too long. I will update you on my progress and will occasionally post some hands characteristic of these limits.
Posted by Mysik86: It promises to be interesting thread... Nice vacation and good luck on the tables
Thank you. Maybe I will not wait for the end of my vacation and decide to play a session later today. There will be a dilemma, of course: to play poker session or to make love to my wife. We'll see... Or maybe I'll manage to do both. A brief poker session and then make love. Or vice versa...
Joined: Jan '10
Location: Indonesia
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 1875
Welcome back !! I think you start good thing with post this thread.Build your poker spirit, right ? I like your concept : not play as same as poker book/theory at micro buy in. I thought the same. Will be nice get your share hand history in next few days . I ll waiting. Good luck .
Posted by Mober: If you are having such dilemmas schmoyster now, at this age, i think you are on the wrong track with all the marriage thingy
Technically, I am not married. So...there are no wrong tracks for me
Posted by Mober: The vice versa is a poker session and brief sex?
Wrong order of events. Brief sex first and then poker session.
Posted by Mober: gl on your goal but be careful, cause you might hit that one, and lose on another that you thought for granted. (hint: the above lines ).
Been there. Know it all. I didn't say I'll crush it, did I? I am aware that anything can happen but I am pretty confident that the game style that I intend to use is the right one.
Joined: May '08
Location: Netherlands
Age: 53 (M)
Posts: 6197
Posted by schmoyster: Well, Ill be playing AGAINST the book. It doesnt mean that I will be playing like a maniac or lotto gambler, but I will definitely break many rules of ABC poker. Here is a hint of what I mean: All books on poker are written by poker pros for more or less advanced players and are not applicable for 1$ buy-in tourneys. For instance, those books say that you should not limp into a pot: raise or fold. Well, this is crap advice for micro limits. I will be limping a lot. Betsizing suggested in the books is all wrong for these limits. Ill have my own bet-sizing scheme. And many other things, that I am not going to list here because my post is already too long. I will update you on my progress and will occasionally post some hands characteristic of these limits.
Goodluck, i allways say about poker why invent the wheel when the wheel is allready there, but you make another approach.
Well, after all, I decided to play a brief session today. Poker Stars. 9, 18 and 27-player sit&goes with a buy-in 1,50. Starting bankroll 71,41$. Will report after the session.
Posted by schmoyster: Poker Stars. 9, 18 and 27-player sit&goes with a buy-in 1,50. Starting bankroll 71,41$. Will report after the session.
If you are going to play against the ABC rules of poker, and you are playing 3 sng, I bet your new bankroll now should be $66,91. Just joking, of course. Good luck in your new point of view.
Joined: Mar '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 6714
I did this(something like) after deciding to take my game live, took out most of my BR around X-Mas, left around 500 to just pass time and see if I can build from it with BRM. Here is what I found, no interest, I wanted to be playing the same limits that I was when withdrawing. IMO, there is no real need to have a BR, just readies to be happy to play with, at the limit you like playing. I just deposit what I am happy to play with that day, then at the end withdraw(the next day, stupid rules) "All books on poker are written by poker pros for more or less advanced players and are not applicable for 1$ buy-in tourneys." This is not true, in short it implies that the pros could not beat low stakes. There are times to limp in any game, just limping in general is a no no. Not sure how you come about the bet sizing bit, it is table depending, books may give a guidance, but its a guide. Anyway, could go on myself, but will just say GL.
Not for these limits. I have HM1 but I used it only when I played NL25 - 100.
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Posted by B1gfoot: Here is what I found, no interest, I wanted to be playing the same limits that I was when withdrawing.
I will play higher limits from time to time. But I decided to run this thing too for the fun of it. I am a recreational player and I don't have to stick to higher limits to make profit for a living.If I stop enjoying this challenge, I'll quit it immediately.
Posted by B1gfoot: This is not true, in short it implies that the pros could not beat low stakes. There are times to limp in any game, just limping in general is a no no. Not sure how you come about the bet sizing bit, it is table depending, books may give a guidance, but its a guide.
You are right on all points. In my first post I got tired typing and didn't make it too clear what I meant criticizing books. I hope I will make myself clear when I post some hands and comment on them.
Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 3361
I take a lot of crap from my opponents at Carbon, since most have played with me at this point. I stick to the micros ($1.10 to $5.50) and a lot of limpimg is the way I play. I watch to many players lose their hands due to their reckless betting techniques. Yes, sometimes I wish I would have raised, but most times I'm content. Good Luck on the Tables and welcome back.
I spent some time away after "Black Friday" myself and was a bit skeptical.
Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
i like your approach on limping- personally i think this is the best thing you can do- especially in micro limits, no one know your holdings, and when you hit big you will be paid off more often...and the best thing you do is by starting small- $50 is nothing even if you make it to a million and your account gets frozen again- you will just lose $50...that's the way to go- good luck
Posted by pochui: especially in micro limits, no one know your holdings,
This is the universal problem on micro limits: nobody can guess what your opponent is holding. On the higher limits sometimes when river is dealt you know EXACTLY what your opponent is holding. But on micro limits most of the times it is ATC. Most of the poker books, as a matter of fact, will try to teach you on how to put your opponent on a hand or at least on a certain range of hands. But this is the advise which doesn't work on micro limits. It is virtually impossible to put 95% of your opponents on a hand.
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Posted by magatt966: be careful or I will challenge you in a highstakes playmoney HU
For this kind of challenge I will put up my 8-year old son. Naahhh... forget it. He is too good for you. You can play my younger son. He is almost 3,5.
BR before the session: 71,41$ BR after the session: 77,64$
Could be much better but there were many bad beats and coolers. Also played a lot of hands that can be posted to illustrate my game style but didn't have time to look at hand history to choose one or two. Maybe I will do it later today. I won't be playing today because I am going to watch Spain vs Portugal
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Portugal
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 4827
This Euro 2012 period is considered as a good oportunity to catch some fish for many players, because its usual to see movements of people which aren’t regular poker players who go for the sites to bet on the games and take a bit of time to go to the poker rooms to try their luck. We only have to know the most crowded bet sites with poker rooms to go there try to get some easy Money. But, like you said, you will only return after your vacation, so enjoy them, then take the sunglasses and sit in front of the PC for a new journey. GL
