General beginner questions

Hello to everyone here at the forum, been lurking for a week or two, and finally decided to sign up.

My experience with poker is pretty limited, even though i am aware of the basis of the game. I lost 50$ at partypoker at month ago or so, and lost interest for some weeks, until i started reading a lot on the 'net. So as I write this I am totally hocked on poker, reading all I can, trying to figure the best and fastest ways to improve my game.

At the moment i play at pokerroom and have played 15 SnG's at the 5'5$ pay-ins, I've won 7$ wich aint much, but that fact the I dont win that much don't bother me as much as the fact that I don't really now how to move on from here. I guess I fell I need a plan, on what to do, for the next week, and the next month and so. For making that plan I've got a few questions:

Should I focus on SnG's or ring games?
- Please take into account that my bankroll is very limited.

I wonder if there is any tools for me to use, wich would help me significatly (misspelled iknow)?

And what would you do know, if you had to start all over again?

Thanks in advance.

Should I focus on SnG's or ring games?

Which one do YOU enjoy playing more? That's your answer. I used to play solely SnG's, but due to a number of reasons switched to ring. Do what works for you.

PokerTracker will help you.

Open a Neteller or equivalent account in US $$ and do all transactions through that.

What is your BR? If it is $50 again, Is it replaceable or can you not afford to go broke?

Originally Posted by AHiltz

Should I focus on SnG's or ring games?

Which one do YOU enjoy playing more? That's your answer. I used to play solely SnG's, but due to a number of reasons switched to ring. Do what works for you.

PokerTracker will help you.

Open a Neteller or equivalent account in US $$ and do all transactions through that.

Thank you for your advice on the neteller and pokertracker tips.

For what I enjoy the most, I guess I enjoy SnGs at the moment, but in the long run I would like to play the type that will bring me the most money with an acceptable consistence.

Originally Posted by swiggidy

What is your BR? If it is $50 again, Is it replaceable or can you not afford to go broke?

It's 50$ again, and it is replaceable when we get to the end of the month. I could maybe even invest 100$ if it would make a real difference.

Since your BR is replaceable, you're fine in $5.5 for now. Keep in mind it is very possible you will go busto (even with perfect play) because of variance.

If you can add $50 a month that's probably a good idea to get started. When your BR gets to $100 there are some easy blackjack bonuses that should get you close to $500, then it's off to 25NL.

I think this is pretty standard.

Make sure you keep reading though.

Originally Posted by swiggidy

Since your BR is replaceable, you're fine in $5.5 for now. Keep in mind it is very possible you will go busto (even with perfect play) because of variance.

If you can add $50 a month that's probably a good idea to get started. When your BR gets to $100 there are some easy blackjack bonuses that should get you close to $500, then it's off to 25NL.

So, your saying that I should keep playing 5.5 SnGs until I reach 100$, now what are these blackjack bonuses?

And by the way, should I invest in pokertracker this early?

Originally Posted by Kauf Jr.

Originally Posted by swiggidy

Since your BR is replaceable, you're fine in $5.5 for now. Keep in mind it is very possible you will go busto (even with perfect play) because of variance.

If you can add $50 a month that's probably a good idea to get started. When your BR gets to $100 there are some easy blackjack bonuses that should get you close to $500, then it's off to 25NL.

So, your saying that I should keep playing 5.5 SnGs until I reach 100$, now what are these blackjack bonuses?

And by the way, should I invest in pokertracker this early?

Firstly welcome to the boards.

If you have $50 per month in my opinion its worth saving untill you have a $100 deposit. Then you have a number of choices.
$100 is enough to play moderate SNGs, say $5.5 on a lot of sites. It is also enough to deposit for a blackjack bonus (deposit, get free money, play a number of blackjack hands and then profit) which will hopefully get you to at least $200 where you are rolled to play $10nl on a number of sites.

Your choice is two fold. Either deposit $50 and hope you run goot at SNG's and build a bankroll quickly for your stakes or wait a month or something and make a $100 deposit and play near enough fully bankrolled for those same SNG's.
Other wise, either take on BJ bonuses to get to $500 OR deposit $500 and play 25nl on party poker (an easily beatable game with the correct play)

Imo, if you have limited poker experience load up $100 and play small stakes SNG's and learn. Then when ou feel you are beating SNG's over a nice sample try to get a br to $500 and move to cash game play where id argue the real money is to be made. Of course, if you become awesome at SNG's then forget ring

Originally Posted by Kauf Jr.

So, your saying that I should keep playing 5.5 SnGs until I reach 100$, now what are these blackjack bonuses?

I'm saying keep playing $5 as long as you are comfortable possibly going busto. At the end of the month and another $50, if necessary repeat until you get over $100. Then blackjack bonus. They are detailed in the house of cards part of the forum.

And by the way, should I invest in pokertracker this early?

I don't think it's necessary early, especially with SnGs. Take notes in game in case you run into the player again, track your winnings in a spreadsheet.

I got PokerOffice (similar to pokertracker) as part of a $25NL bonus, which could be an option later.

Deposit $50 in a site that have $1 or $2 Sngs (I know stars and VC has them) play those till you hit about $150 then move up to the $5.5

First of all, thank you for all the answers.

I'm hearing all of you, an after some thinking, I belive that I am better of keep playing 5.5$ SnGs till i reach 100$ and then start bonus hunting. The reason for me not starting at the lower level SnGs is because I can replace my BR and aint scared of loosing as long as i play "right".

I don't now if this is the right place to ask, but anyway:

When I'm playing SnGs I think I'm playing it to tight because I've bobbled out 3 out of the last 4 times. I dont really see where I'm going wrong as the articals are all saying that you should play it very tight at first, but its not easy to "loosen up" when you havent got any money to play for

Thanks again for all the input, it's greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by Kauf Jr.

First of all, thank you for all the answers.

I'm hearing all of you, an after some thinking, I belive that I am better of keep playing 5.5$ SnGs till i reach 100$ and then start bonus hunting. The reason for me not starting at the lower level SnGs is because I can replace my BR and aint scared of loosing as long as i play "right".

I don't now if this is the right place to ask, but anyway:

When I'm playing SnGs I think I'm playing it to tight because I've bobbled out 3 out of the last 4 times. I dont really see where I'm going wrong as the articals are all saying that you should play it very tight at first, but its not easy to "loosen up" when you havent got any money to play for

Thanks again for all the input, it's greatly appreciated.

A key concept in Sng's is blind stealing.
Most of the time you steal with pretty weak hands that has some chance to hold up if you get called.
It is a complete change of state from the early stages.
Once your M gets to around 4-5 you want to push pretty much any two when you can open the pot

" you want to push pretty much any two when you can open the pot"

What do you mean when you're saying opening the pot?

I've trying blind stealing, but it these 5.5$ most of the people will call anything down, so I've had some tough beats, doing the all-in blind stealing.

Opening the pot meaning you are the first person to raise.

If people call with anything then you should be a bit more selective, but if you get short stacked push any PP, and SC 78+, J9o+

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

Firstly welcome to the boards.

Oh ya, welcome to FTR!!!

Read through the stickies, then older posts in the SnG forum. A good one to start with would be taipan's new post.

Gap concept is HUGE on the bubble of a SnG, e.g. it may be correct for you to push with A3, but would be incorrect to call with A7. At lower limits I don't like to push any two until I'm quite short, or I know player is super tightie.

But, yah, poke around the SnG forum and post the occasional hand, it'll start to come together.

SNGs are fun when starting out, because its close to what you see on tv. However i think the real $$ is at NL ring.

Oh ya, welcome to FTR!!!

Thanks alot, it's a great site with tons of information, I've been living here for a couple of days now

The artical is very good, and is just the advice i needed, I'm right off to try it just now

SNGs are fun when starting out, because its close to what you see on tv. However i think the real $$ is at NL ring.

When I've reached $100 playing SnGs and whored caisnos till my bankroll is around the $500, then I'll start to focus on the ring games.

I think I've gotten my questions answered, for the moment.
Any generel advice you think I may have forgotten, please post it.
If i get any for questions I'll post them in this thread again.

Thanks for all the help