Cautionary tale of Bad Habits learned - Testify!

Okay, so a lot of the old timers here are going to warn you about developing bad habits at the lower stakes games. I haven't posted in a while, and I'm back to learn more and to post a cautionary tale about this.

I used the InstantBankroll bonus mentioned on this site to get going on PartyPoker. It was a great way to get started for me. You get $75 and have to clear a bonus to make that $75 "real" (or withdrawable). If you clear the bonus, you also get $25. Great, right. By the time I cleared the bonus I was up to $150 (including the $25 at the end). I had been multitabling NL$5 and then NL$10 tables, quickly moving to nothing but NL$10s (two or three at a time) because you actually want to have a high rake per hand to clear the bonus. So I was feeling pretty good about myself, and started entering some of the $6 STGs and pretty much beating those up too.

Then I wasn't able to play for a while, and when I came back PartyPoker said I could no longer play the "Beginner's Tables" (NL$5 and NL$10). No problem, I thought, and jumped on the NL$25 tables. My bankroll was at $175 or so. I know, that's tiny compared to the good players on this board, but since I started from nothing I was happy.

Before long I was slammed down to $125 or so. I've had to stop and think. I got used to a lot of bad habits that just don't fly at NL$25. Here's some of my leaks that I hope will help warn other people:

* Playing any two on the button. Worked fine at NL$10, leaves me forever behind at NL$25.
* When first to act with two overcards to the flop, I got in the habit of firing a c-bet both on the flop and on the turn to shake people off. That got real expensive real fast with the higher stakes, and with people playing higher quality starter hands to begin with.
* Ace-trash suited playing from late position. But it was sooted!
* Flop comes with two of a kind, and you hold a third but your kicker is trash. That guy who follows your c-bet has a better kicker, or is heading for the flush that is inevitably on the board.

Anyway, so when they warn you about habits that work now, I'm here to remind you to listen.

Now I've got to go back, concentrate, read a lot of the good posts here, and try to dig back in.

good post

Originally Posted by Dunk

* Ace-trash suited playing from late position. But it was sooted!

As long as you arent paying much to see a flop (i.e. just limp it), Axs is still a good hand in a multiway pot. As long as you realise you are in it to hit a flush and not the A you'll be fine.

Pelion OTM

Playing any two on the button. Worked fine at NL$10, leaves me forever behind at NL$25.

Depends what you mean by "playing". If you mean limping, or raising after several limpers, then yes, bad move. If you mean raising properly after maybe one limper, with weak/tights in the blinds, then I don't have a problem with this.

Originally Posted by Dunk

* When first to act with two overcards to the flop, I got in the habit of firing a c-bet both on the flop and on the turn to shake people off. That got real expensive real fast with the higher stakes, and with people playing higher quality starter hands to begin with.

i (mostly) agree on this one but the others are a bit scetchy to me


flopping a set is pretty strong, maybe you need to cut down the # of villans with some preflop raises or do not play weak cards

moving out of the beginners tables of party is not fun, you have to play a better game out in the real world. try to find some soft 5NL tables on another site

good luck
flomo

Originally Posted by biondino

Pelion OTM

Playing any two on the button. Worked fine at NL$10, leaves me forever behind at NL$25.

Depends what you mean by "playing". If you mean limping, or raising after several limpers, then yes, bad move. If you mean raising properly after maybe one limper, with weak/tights in the blinds, then I don't have a problem with this.

I think some of the people who play bigger stakes forget what these players are like at NL5 and NL10 - They dont' have many weak tights at those levels - You have a lot more calling stations at those levels. Raising from the button you will get called at that level so often its not even worth it. What is worth it is to bet large when you've got a hand - They call down with very little, so that's when you can make them pay - With those players, you really have to play ABC poker and just show down the best hand. I think those who play bigger stakes lose touch with those kinda players - I can't remember many players being weak/tight at that level -

But then again, I dont' find the NL25 players much better - The decent ones are pretty easy to spot and stay out of the way -