A Short Update, As Promised

I had a post up in the NL HH section for a few days that generated a lot of reactions.

Near to the end of that post, I promised to update on how my progress at the $10 NL tables went over my next 1000 hands. As some of you know, I've been having an anxious time with moving up from $2 NL to $10 NL, exemplified by the crappy way I played AK in the aforementioned HH post.

Anyhow, I'm happy to report that I've found my confidence and my old game, and I'm feeling right at home at the new limits.

I'd write a longer post, giving some specific advice for players like myself, who are defensive pessimists by nature, and who may be a tad nervous with both bankroll and the thoughts of the what sorts of player exist at the higher limits.

I can honestly say that the players are even worse at $10 NL than at $2 NL, at least at Paradise.

Before I shrugged off my nerves and my inconsistent, semi-tilt-like mentality I was at 3000 hands at the $10 tables in my PT database. I was at -11.65 BB/100 hands and at -$74 or so. As of 10 minutes ago, I have 3971 hands in PT at the limit of choice, am at -5.07 BB/100 and at - $40.

Yeah, it's all still negative, but it's a vast improvement and I now know what it takes to win at this limit: the same thing it took to win at the lower limit, pretty much.

The key is keeping the same strategy as before, but adapting the betting amounts to reflect the higher limit. That was, perhaps, my biggest problem. Thinking that a 60 cent raise would mean something at this limit was a huge mistake. I'm still making mistakes, but they are less.

Thanks to all who advised, criticised and humourised.

Jigs

Interested to see how it progresses Jiggus ... I'm having a lot of the same dilemmas at 2nl. The more I read and learn I'm finding low levels harder in some ways ... becuase your opponents dont think it through and ignore the correct play. Was thinking it might be better at 10nl but doesnt sound like it.

My current standing at 2nl is 11BB/100 after 1500 hands.

Well I'm not usually one to say I told you so...

Good going Jiggy

Well done Jiggus. I knew youd make it :D. I wouldnt agree that the 10NL players are worse than the 2NL but theres not alot of difference.

Looks like im still right alongside you in terms of where we play. Im now very at home with 10NL and have found the games pretty easy to kill once i found my confidence. Glad you are now finding it the same, you clearly deserve it playing against these guys.

I think the biggest thing to realise when playing these stakes is that varience is going to be huge. Losing 2 buyins is not the end of the world although it may seem huge compared to the $2 stakes.

I won a $28.14 pot the other day through a 5 way allin with a few medium/short stacks when i 'only' had a 63% chance to win. The point is the right moves might not pay off for a while but when they do, the payoff is massive. Losing the first few of those coin flips after moving up really batters your confidence but after a while, if you stick to your game you begin to realise that it is/will pay off. IMO winning at these stakes is 60% playing correctly and 40% confidence.

No to hijack post, but what 10nl you play at and what you think are the softest? Rite now im at bodog, and depending on time...its rock. (plus bodog interfacec just sux in general).
Im thinking of switchign to paradise, how is it?

we both play at paradise. Its lovely :) Seems one of the softest places ever if you like lots of callers ... ive never played at bodog though.

Hey, a reply from a cybercafe in Glasgow for you,...

Pelion, yeah, I'm comfortable again. Back to triple tabling as well. Been doing it for the last 1000 hands in fact.

No, I really do think that the players at 10 buck at Paradise are worse than at $2. The reason, I'm guessing, is that at the $2 tables, there are players like us who are looking to get experience and learn the game. At the $10 tables, there are more casual gamblers and drunken louts, I think. Perhaps, too, some home players who've watched too many WSOP games on TV, and think that they're now the next Doyle Brunson.

I see a lot of strange-ass attempts at bluffs at this limit. Though, it does depend on the day and the time. When the tables are mostly European it's easier to steal pots. When the Yanks come on, it's a lot looser. Don't you find that? And weekends are the best. Moron City.

WCX3, I find the Paradise software the best that I've played with. That would be Party, Inter (crap), Pacific (unspeakable) and some other one that escapes me at the moment.

Paradise must have made some major marketing moves, 'cause about one or one and a half years ago, it had a rep as being one of the hardest places to play. It now seems incredibly different, but maybe that's because I'm a better player.

Jigs

P.S. The variance in limit is much more discouraging than at NL. The blinds can kill you there.

I had a horrible experience with 10nl, so I rolled my self for the Party 25 and haven't regretted it. I am stabilizing at around 12bb/100 (not great I know, but better than I was doing at the 10nl).

Congrats Jiggus.

12bb/100 (not great I know)

Sounds pretty bloody good to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by biondino

12bb/100 (not great I know)

Sounds pretty bloody good to me.

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for NL can't good players sustain 15-20?