Friday, April 29, 2011
Update Coming
I'm in the process of relocating and hope to have an update in about two weeks. If anyone has relocation questions, feel free to email me - I've done tons and tons of research on it.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Mid/High Stakes Multitabling Tips
Most of this post applies to the mid/high stakes games where there are generally few games running and the games that do run are predicated around a recreational player.
Some of this may sound trivial but I always try to look at things in terms of big bets or dollars. Most people spend a lot of time working on their actual game but overlook things like this. To me this is no different than learning a new profitable line or plugging a leak in your preflop game. They both will increase earn over time.
Here are a few tips:
-Make sure the lobby is clearly visible while you're playing.
It's extremely important at mid/high stakes to get into a new game quickly. Most of the time a recreational player sits and the table fills within a minute, sometimes a matter of a few seconds. And within a few minutes the waiting list is often several players deep. Some of these players lose at a clip of 5 BB/100 or more and to miss out on the table, particularly when other games aren't running, is costly.
In my setup I have a sliver of the PokerStars main screen showing on my monitor. It shows just enough of the screen that I can see the tables and # of players at each. I have this placed on my main monitor to the right of the tables I'm playing so I can easily see it without having to turn my head. I've made it a habit to look over any time I have a break in the action.
-Click sit out next big blind when a player the game is built around often leaves the game after only playing an orbit or two.
Pretty self explanatory. When a recreational player leaves the table in the mid/high stakes games, everyone instantly clicks sit out next big blind. It's an unfortunate reality but to avoid being the one who pays their big blind, you're forced to follow suit. I've found players that table hop constantly playing an orbit or two and with these types its important to anticipate them sitting out when seated immediately after them.
-Always check to see who's on the waiting list after you before refusing a table.
Sometimes you'll be offered a seat at a table where the recreational player has left and all good players are sitting out. Before refusing the seat, check to see who is on the waiting list after you. Sometimes a recreational player is waiting and often one of the good players will leave assuming the game has broken, the recreational player will sit, and the game resumes.
-If at capacity in terms of tables and a table becomes available that you don't want to sit at, immediately get back on the waiting list.
Pretty self-explanatory again but in the mid/high stakes environment there generally are a limited amount of games and the ones that do run can break at any moment. So it's important to always be on the waiting lists of all full tables no matter how many you're playing at.
-Do not use the auto-seat option.
Poker Stars did an update a few months back and this was auto-checked for everyone so it would automatically seat you at a table. Sometimes more than one seat will open at a table and there's always more value in having a choice where to sit. You can uncheck this under Options/Advanced Multi-Tabling Options
-Always check to see how much money the recreational players have at your tables before refusing to join another table that you've been waiting on.
Sometimes the recreational player the game's built upon will be shortstacked. If this is the case, it's best to accept the new table and sit out in case the player busts and the game breaks.
-Get on the waiting lists of tables fifteen to thirty minutes before you intend to start playing.
Part of my morning routine involves getting on the waiting lists of games soon after I wake up. Rather than sitting idly waiting to get in game, I can make coffee, read emails, etc. while I'm on the waiting list.
Some of this may sound trivial but I always try to look at things in terms of big bets or dollars. Most people spend a lot of time working on their actual game but overlook things like this. To me this is no different than learning a new profitable line or plugging a leak in your preflop game. They both will increase earn over time.
Here are a few tips:
-Make sure the lobby is clearly visible while you're playing.
It's extremely important at mid/high stakes to get into a new game quickly. Most of the time a recreational player sits and the table fills within a minute, sometimes a matter of a few seconds. And within a few minutes the waiting list is often several players deep. Some of these players lose at a clip of 5 BB/100 or more and to miss out on the table, particularly when other games aren't running, is costly.
In my setup I have a sliver of the PokerStars main screen showing on my monitor. It shows just enough of the screen that I can see the tables and # of players at each. I have this placed on my main monitor to the right of the tables I'm playing so I can easily see it without having to turn my head. I've made it a habit to look over any time I have a break in the action.
-Click sit out next big blind when a player the game is built around often leaves the game after only playing an orbit or two.
Pretty self explanatory. When a recreational player leaves the table in the mid/high stakes games, everyone instantly clicks sit out next big blind. It's an unfortunate reality but to avoid being the one who pays their big blind, you're forced to follow suit. I've found players that table hop constantly playing an orbit or two and with these types its important to anticipate them sitting out when seated immediately after them.
-Always check to see who's on the waiting list after you before refusing a table.
Sometimes you'll be offered a seat at a table where the recreational player has left and all good players are sitting out. Before refusing the seat, check to see who is on the waiting list after you. Sometimes a recreational player is waiting and often one of the good players will leave assuming the game has broken, the recreational player will sit, and the game resumes.
-If at capacity in terms of tables and a table becomes available that you don't want to sit at, immediately get back on the waiting list.
Pretty self-explanatory again but in the mid/high stakes environment there generally are a limited amount of games and the ones that do run can break at any moment. So it's important to always be on the waiting lists of all full tables no matter how many you're playing at.
-Do not use the auto-seat option.
Poker Stars did an update a few months back and this was auto-checked for everyone so it would automatically seat you at a table. Sometimes more than one seat will open at a table and there's always more value in having a choice where to sit. You can uncheck this under Options/Advanced Multi-Tabling Options
-Always check to see how much money the recreational players have at your tables before refusing to join another table that you've been waiting on.
Sometimes the recreational player the game's built upon will be shortstacked. If this is the case, it's best to accept the new table and sit out in case the player busts and the game breaks.
-Get on the waiting lists of tables fifteen to thirty minutes before you intend to start playing.
Part of my morning routine involves getting on the waiting lists of games soon after I wake up. Rather than sitting idly waiting to get in game, I can make coffee, read emails, etc. while I'm on the waiting list.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
March in the Books
March was a great month, one of my best ever in fact. I ran exceptionally well particularly at 50-100. I've been really fortunate all year not to run into any extended downswings, hopefully it continues that way for a while. I think I played pretty well this month, I wouldn't say great but maybe my B game on average.
Looking forward to April I have a 5 day pool tournament at the end of the month. And looking even further to May and June, we're heading to Vegas for the WSOP. Even though the WSOP is such a grind and chances are I won't make a final table, I still really look forward to it. The atmosphere is something I love.
One the VPP front, I'm about 6 or 7 days behind right now. I was 10 days behind and am hoping to continue making up ground and be at least on pace by the time the World Series starts since I'll be missing a lot of time that month.
I'm planning on doing at least one strategy post in April as well.
Good luck to everyone at the tables.
Looking forward to April I have a 5 day pool tournament at the end of the month. And looking even further to May and June, we're heading to Vegas for the WSOP. Even though the WSOP is such a grind and chances are I won't make a final table, I still really look forward to it. The atmosphere is something I love.
One the VPP front, I'm about 6 or 7 days behind right now. I was 10 days behind and am hoping to continue making up ground and be at least on pace by the time the World Series starts since I'll be missing a lot of time that month.
I'm planning on doing at least one strategy post in April as well.
Good luck to everyone at the tables.
Monday, February 28, 2011
February in the Books
February was an unusual month, about 20K hands or halfway through I was even in money terms and down about 100 big bets. From there I went on one of those meteoric upswings where I won roughly 600 big bets and 60K in 10K hands.
I think I played a lot better this month. I was sick for about 4 or 5 days and playing my C game. Aside from that it was mostly my B game or better so I'm happy with that. I spent a lot of time taking notes on regulars and semi-regulars and focusing on areas where I think they're exploitable. At this point, I think my default game with no adjustments is probably a break-even to .5 BB/100 winner and the rest of my profit is coming from those adjustments.
I really haven't been in a blogging mood, hence the lack of updates. That could change but the days of multiple strategy posts in a month are probably gone with so much of my competition aware of this blog. I might write a book at some point but probably not till I'm done playing which I don't foresee anytime soon.
Looking forward to March I have my annual Vegas trip with my best friends I grew up with. It's something I look forward to all year and is a great time. I need to continue to be focused and motivated at the tables and that's the plan.
Good luck in March to everyone reading.
I think I played a lot better this month. I was sick for about 4 or 5 days and playing my C game. Aside from that it was mostly my B game or better so I'm happy with that. I spent a lot of time taking notes on regulars and semi-regulars and focusing on areas where I think they're exploitable. At this point, I think my default game with no adjustments is probably a break-even to .5 BB/100 winner and the rest of my profit is coming from those adjustments.
I really haven't been in a blogging mood, hence the lack of updates. That could change but the days of multiple strategy posts in a month are probably gone with so much of my competition aware of this blog. I might write a book at some point but probably not till I'm done playing which I don't foresee anytime soon.
Looking forward to March I have my annual Vegas trip with my best friends I grew up with. It's something I look forward to all year and is a great time. I need to continue to be focused and motivated at the tables and that's the plan.
Good luck in March to everyone reading.
Monday, January 31, 2011
January in the Books
I didn't play very well this month. The .6 BB/100 is likely indicative of my play as I think I ran about average on the month. I was very fortunate to run well at 100-200 or it wouldn't have been nearly as good of a month. I had been running really poorly in the 1-2 games so things are evening out I suppose.
I made a few strategic changes for 2011. I decided I'm going to play a lot of marginal heads up and 3-handed games that I was passing up the last two years. There are a bunch of heads up and short-handed players I feel I have 1-2 BB/100 edge on that I was passing up. This is already paying off. The other big change is that I'm planning on playing any 100-200 games that are running. I have a friend willing to go halves with me in the games and about half the hands I played this month we're shared. This will probably be the norm for a while until I build up a comfortable bankroll to play them on my own.
On the VPP front I managed to earn about 75K VPPs despite missing ten days while playing the PCA. So I'm about 4 days behind there and plan on playing as much as possible in February. I need to step up my game this month, I've been distracted and unfocused way too often lately.
I made a few strategic changes for 2011. I decided I'm going to play a lot of marginal heads up and 3-handed games that I was passing up the last two years. There are a bunch of heads up and short-handed players I feel I have 1-2 BB/100 edge on that I was passing up. This is already paying off. The other big change is that I'm planning on playing any 100-200 games that are running. I have a friend willing to go halves with me in the games and about half the hands I played this month we're shared. This will probably be the norm for a while until I build up a comfortable bankroll to play them on my own.
On the VPP front I managed to earn about 75K VPPs despite missing ten days while playing the PCA. So I'm about 4 days behind there and plan on playing as much as possible in February. I need to step up my game this month, I've been distracted and unfocused way too often lately.
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