Begginer's luck vs. beating fish at the micro stakes

Hello. I've been lurking around here for a while but never posted before.

My background: I played limit for a couple months or so before the US-legislation went through, getting $40 up a bit over $100, but then they wouldn't let me play and I cashed out (and didn't really even think about looking for other places.)

Recently, I remembered I never actually looked around for a new site and decided to deposit $40 at Stars. I picked up the ol' limit game pretty fast, but got kinda bored with it (mostly realizing how much more I could be getting out of the big hands) and started trying NL again. I got stacked a few times at first (this was my general experience with NL at this point) but hey, how else will you learn to fold? Well, I kept at it and have settled into playing 2nl 6max, made back the money I lost at first and have been holding a steading upward rate since I got going.

Now, here's my question (sorry it took so long to get to): I've been very skeptical about my skill level, always worrying it's just variance. However, I'm starting to think maybe it's just the micro stakes and people not knowing how to play poker. Is a few way weeks too short to judge my play (playing at least a couple hours a day 1-2tables)?

I've read a couple limit books, and I think I grasp odds and position pretty well, and I've learned a lot more about post-flop play switching to 6max. I know I'm just mucking around at the bottom of the bottom but, damn, can it really be this easy? I keep working on my game and keeping discipline, but in the back of my head I keep waiting for the floor to drop out underneath me and realize I had holes to plug.

Hmm, sorry if that wasn't terribly focused, I guess better posting than lurking Very Happy

edit, sorry, yes, the microstakes are very beatable, but there is also much variance involved. judge your winrate at 10k hands or so.

welcome to ftr btw.

Poker is not easy, however I think anyone who takes the time to learn the game (and if you are in these forums apperantly you are) who is disciplined enough to have strict Bankroll Management can beat micro limits. Even in micro limits you can have variance hit you in the face, you need to log in a few thousand hands to start having an idea of where you stand.

If you are serious about the game spend some time reading the beginner circle and the NL forums, post some hands that you had trouble with (doesnt matter if you win or lose them), I have a feeling you will do fine

And welcome to FTR

I'm feeling a bit more grounded again after hitting some negative variance again Wink

I think I was just getting nervous waiting for a more believable winrate. I have been spending a lot of time in the beginner digest and trying to soak up as much as I can, but a lot of it takes multiple readings, and it's hard to focus on applying too many things at once, but I'm definitely seeing the good it's doing for my play.

Much thanks for your replies! I've played 3165 NL hands since I turned the hand history logging on, I don't remember when that was though. (edit: oh, the date is in the logs Razz

that was in 11 days) I guess I'll just keep at it then.

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Begginer's luck vs. beating fish at the micro stakes

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Begginer's luck vs. beating fish at the micro stakes