The POKER thread
Discussion
This is a really interesting thread. I would love to get into playing poker, but live in the sticks and no one plays in the pubs any more. Whats the best was to learn to play? I understand the basic basic rules but need a lot more knowledge to say I know how to play poker! So where can I learn?
Gutted..........
Entered a texas hold em tourney last night in Brighton.
Some very seasoned players there but held my own against 39 entries to finish just outside the money with a 8th place finish.
Final table had an average chip stack of about 47k, i had 22k so knew i wasn't in for the long run. scored a couple of bounty chips and had a good time so all in all a great night.
After a few years playing in mates houses and not really gaining anything i have found that playing strangers is better as they don't get to learn my habits.
best hand was pocket Aces with and ace and a pair of queens on the flop. led everyone into a false sense of security and took over 25k in chips.
Entered a texas hold em tourney last night in Brighton.
Some very seasoned players there but held my own against 39 entries to finish just outside the money with a 8th place finish.
Final table had an average chip stack of about 47k, i had 22k so knew i wasn't in for the long run. scored a couple of bounty chips and had a good time so all in all a great night.
After a few years playing in mates houses and not really gaining anything i have found that playing strangers is better as they don't get to learn my habits.
best hand was pocket Aces with and ace and a pair of queens on the flop. led everyone into a false sense of security and took over 25k in chips.
Wheat said:
This is a really interesting thread. I would love to get into playing poker, but live in the sticks and no one plays in the pubs any more. Whats the best was to learn to play? I understand the basic basic rules but need a lot more knowledge to say I know how to play poker! So where can I learn?
Quickest and easiest way into the game will be jumping in online, but it would be worth having so!e experience of poker first so you don't throe away whatever you've invested. I'm currently reading Doyle Brunson's Super/System which has helped my game already. I'd also recommend The twoplustwo forums but, above all, get stuck in and just play a tight game. It's a different world playing for cash in comparison to the play money.
MrAdaam said:
Quickest and easiest way into the game will be jumping in online, but it would be worth having so!e experience of poker first so you don't throe away whatever you've invested.
I'm currently reading Doyle Brunson's Super/System which has helped my game already. I'd also recommend The twoplustwo forums but, above all, get stuck in and just play a tight game. It's a different world playing for cash in comparison to the play money.
This. Even small stakes cash games online are a completely different game to tournament play or casual in-person play. It took me a while to adjust. The fundamentals are the same, but the plays are totally different, at least, in my experience. You have to play a bit tighter, and 85% of the action is all position and pre-flop play. I'm currently reading Doyle Brunson's Super/System which has helped my game already. I'd also recommend The twoplustwo forums but, above all, get stuck in and just play a tight game. It's a different world playing for cash in comparison to the play money.
Jimmy No Hands said:
I got done earlier. Pushed a keeno in while I had pocket aces, nothing huge, think the pot settled around $52. Off top of my head he had something like KQs. Flop was 5 3 4, popped a 6.. and then a bloody 7.
Pocket aces are not all they are cracked up to be, you are limited by as the only card to help is another ace on the flop but still gets beat by any full house, straight, flush . Also gives mistaken confidence especially on line where you can't read the other players. The volume of deals on line adds up to some very strange looking hands Playing live , Aces allowed you to raise big
Used to play online a lot and had a different approach to playing in a casino. Best win on one hand online was a little over £900. Had to play less as it could be a problem for me so I stop for a while to get my self control back.
Still do casino but limit how much cash I take, take £400 and if it's lost that was the cost of the night out but anything I am up can be played with. Mostly play blackjack now
Best night in a Casino was around £3.5k mix of Roulette and black jack (love roulette but just luck)
z4chris99 said:
used to play online loads, party poker mostly.. few nice wins
then started to play in the pubs, good fun but not for money, got through to final table for a WSOP seat package through the english poker league, i think they went bust.
then started playing at the gutshot/international again few nice wins
then started working so gave up, i see the international has closed down. anywhere similar in london?
The place I've primarily looked into is Empire at the Casino on Leicester Sq - but I think it's pretty commonplace to see the casinos. then started to play in the pubs, good fun but not for money, got through to final table for a WSOP seat package through the english poker league, i think they went bust.
then started playing at the gutshot/international again few nice wins
then started working so gave up, i see the international has closed down. anywhere similar in london?
Let me know if you find somewhere!
TheCarFather said:
How did you get into playing poker for a living? How did you improve? Did you ever play live poker or just online?
I basically stumbled into playing poker for a living. After 3 years i dropped out of university (lol) and happened to be quite keen on poker at the time. I had just switched to playing cash games from sit and gos (broke even for 3000 games), and was finding it easy to grind out about $15 an hour playing 25nl (10c/25c).Basically i couldn't be arsed getting a job as poker was way more fun/profitable, and as i increased the stakes i played over the years, my hourly crept up too.
I improved basically via mass practice, watching instructional videos and making friends via forums etc, who i would then add on skype and discuss hands with etc.
I basically never play live poker as i find it too slow and boring, although it is generally very soft.
MrAdaam said:
The place I've primarily looked into is Empire at the Casino on Leicester Sq - but I think it's pretty commonplace to see the casinos.
Let me know if you find somewhere!
The new Hippodrome around there is pretty decent, starts with £1/2 games. There's some easy pickings there (people just on a night out, etc.), just make sure you start with a decent stack.Let me know if you find somewhere!
The key thing with poker is patience, and having a game that works for you.
I will raise 2.5 times the big blind all day and night irrespective of position and hand pre flop to avoid giving anything away. I could be playing suited connectors, a pocket pair or absolutely nothing at all and you learn nothing from it.
The number of people who see this as bullying/get scared and fold is incredible. I've seen people fold two decent picture cards when I 'only' had a lower pocket pair that I only played because of position and previous action. They showed them to me and said 'lets see your aces then' ... they clearly hadn't paid attention at all.
I will raise 2.5 times the big blind all day and night irrespective of position and hand pre flop to avoid giving anything away. I could be playing suited connectors, a pocket pair or absolutely nothing at all and you learn nothing from it.
The number of people who see this as bullying/get scared and fold is incredible. I've seen people fold two decent picture cards when I 'only' had a lower pocket pair that I only played because of position and previous action. They showed them to me and said 'lets see your aces then' ... they clearly hadn't paid attention at all.
RKi said:
I basically stumbled into playing poker for a living. After 3 years i dropped out of university (lol) and happened to be quite keen on poker at the time. I had just switched to playing cash games from sit and gos (broke even for 3000 games), and was finding it easy to grind out about $15 an hour playing 25nl (10c/25c).
Basically i couldn't be arsed getting a job as poker was way more fun/profitable, and as i increased the stakes i played over the years, my hourly crept up too.
I improved basically via mass practice, watching instructional videos and making friends via forums etc, who i would then add on skype and discuss hands with etc.
I basically never play live poker as i find it too slow and boring, although it is generally very soft.
I've taken a liking to 0.15/0.30 cash and I'm progressing. Still got some leaks and make some really avoidable mistakes but half of the battle is patience. I don't think I play certain hands maybe as well as I can. I'm probably $300 up in a week but I can't tell if its a combination of blind luck and a bit of skill versus me improving. Basically i couldn't be arsed getting a job as poker was way more fun/profitable, and as i increased the stakes i played over the years, my hourly crept up too.
I improved basically via mass practice, watching instructional videos and making friends via forums etc, who i would then add on skype and discuss hands with etc.
I basically never play live poker as i find it too slow and boring, although it is generally very soft.
conanius said:
The key thing with poker is patience, and having a game that works for you.
I will raise 2.5 times the big blind all day and night irrespective of position and hand pre flop to avoid giving anything away. I could be playing suited connectors, a pocket pair or absolutely nothing at all and you learn nothing from it.
The number of people who see this as bullying/get scared and fold is incredible. I've seen people fold two decent picture cards when I 'only' had a lower pocket pair that I only played because of position and previous action. They showed them to me and said 'lets see your aces then' ... they clearly hadn't paid attention at all.
Suited gap connectors is where I seem to get well paid.I will raise 2.5 times the big blind all day and night irrespective of position and hand pre flop to avoid giving anything away. I could be playing suited connectors, a pocket pair or absolutely nothing at all and you learn nothing from it.
The number of people who see this as bullying/get scared and fold is incredible. I've seen people fold two decent picture cards when I 'only' had a lower pocket pair that I only played because of position and previous action. They showed them to me and said 'lets see your aces then' ... they clearly hadn't paid attention at all.
9h-7h , etc.
You can hit both straights and flushes without being obvious for the straight.
Yeah, a lot of people I play live with swear by 7,9 or 8,10 connectors. The problem with suited connectors that are picture cards is people are already scared, and you only luck through by getting a high flush... and unless its AK... you stand a chance of being beaten if the flop had 2 cards of the same suit.
It gets more like real poker the higher the money, a few cents and people will risk staying in to see the flop against a modest raise but if it's £20 to stay in you get more traditional players
It's like somebody said earlier Know the percentages and calculate the risk Vs the possible return with an eye on position
It's like somebody said earlier Know the percentages and calculate the risk Vs the possible return with an eye on position
Shaoxter said:
The new Hippodrome around there is pretty decent, starts with £1/2 games. There's some easy pickings there (people just on a night out, etc.), just make sure you start with a decent stack.
Yeah, I like it in there. It's a nice venue. Mrs likes it too, perfect reason to get onto the tables rather than Roulette for a change! Empire do a tournament fairly often with ~£20 buy in. Was looking to get down one Saturday for it. Both would appear to be easy targets with people coming in and fancying their chances. Problem with playing bad people is they are unpredictable and you just need to play solid hands or you'll be caught out.
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