Don't Lose Hope!

[Molinero]

I was scrolling through the Beginner's Circle, and I was struck by the "Do I Suck?" tone that a lot of the posts here seem to have.

It reminded me that I used to wonder that very thing -- in fact, I still do sometimes.

I am a beginner. I am a beginner with that verrrry dangerous thing: some knowledge and some experience. I am not that far-removed from the nerve-wracking, gut-wrenching, confidence-killing stage that can be One's First Whack At Poker.

I'm mostly writing this post as encouragement. I know how frustrating it can be when you make your first real stab at this game: the swings can be intolerable, the attitude of your equally-fishy opponents can be maddening, everyone seems to think they know what's wrong with your game; everyone with cable is a poker expert. And, on top of all that, you can't tell the difference between playing well and getting lucky. All of this can really affect your focus and interest in the game.

But keep your chin up! Read! There are so many valuable posts and threads on this forum, you don't even need to buy a book yet!

But you will.

Start, however, with a500lbgorilla's post about bankroll management. Reading that post really made a difference in my attitude about my winnings; it's not just cigarette money anymore! And Toasty's "New Player Guide" is fabulous as well.

Find posts by Soupie and Ripptyde (and others!!!) about tournament play -- there is such a wide array of strategies and tactics that have been shared on the forum, you're bound to find one that suits your style of play and personality.

And that is what is most important, IMHO. Yes, learn the math (my weakness). Yes, learn betting strategy. But you must also adapt whatever information and advice you absorb and MAKE IT YOUR OWN. If Dutch Boyd is your favorite player (as is the case with many FTR members ), that's great -- but you're not Dutch Boyd. Learn from him, or from whomever IS your fave...but play whatever style feels natural.

Feeling natural makes you feel secure, and security breeds confidence. And confidence is essential.

Share!!! Analyze!!! Play!!!

Talk poker with your buddies. Post hand histories from OL games into this forum. Seek feedback, and be prepared to be told how badly you effed up a hand. Find a free poker league nearby and play as often as you can. Sure, the competition blows, but what can replace playing hundreds of hands a week?

Be Humble!!!

Don't get cocky the moment you start winning $5 SNG tourneys. Before you know it, your meager $25 bankroll will swell into th $200 range, and you'll think you're ready for the $30 SNGs.

Oops!

Play within your limits. Accept that you don't rule yet. And know when you're in over your head.

Leave the game if you start thinking "it's just $25; I can reload" or "Ah, hell...I'm sick of this sh*t" or anything equally frivolous or defeatist.

I think I'm rambling now, so I'll stop. Does anyone have anything to add?

[Molinero]

and my apologies if I seem condescending or presumptuous...hehe...

[aokrongly]

Good post. I don't think there's anyone on the site, whether they're trying to double their first $50 bankroll into $100 or are shooting to make $30,000+ this year that isn't a student of poker, who doesn't still consider poker very much a learning and humbling - and exciting - pursuit.

In the beginning you'll lose more than you'll win, but that's part of the process. Those who can't stomach losing a $50 initial buy go on to building model cars or playing golf (and golf is a hell of a lot more expensive). And then there are those who think "I can learn this" and they stick at it. They try to find the holes in their game. They try to learn. That's what brings them here. I visit the site every day and I would certainly consider myself at least semi-pro in skills.

If you want to be one of those people who "knows how to play", then you're at the right place.

My advice is to learn your game, and learn how better players play, then compare them and start eliminating your own mistakes. The best players make the fewest mistakes, pure and simple.

There's nothing magic about it. All the charts and tips are ways to help beginning players start eliminating the most common mistake (playing too many hands). Then you start learning how to avoid situational mistakes, mistakes that are caused by impatience, mistakes caused by poor observational skills, etc.

It's a process that can be learned. And the great part is that it's a fun process to embark on. No one ever finishes. Daniel Negreanu and Dan Harrington are two people I believe are at the top of their game, but neither of them get it right 100% of the time. You certainly don't see them at every final table, or even in the money 100% of the time. And they're masters.

But it's one of the few passtimes, hobbies, activities (call it what you may) where you can buy in for as low as $50, pick your game and stakes, and make money while you learn - or at least spend less than say GOLF. Which, compared to poker, is the most frustrating and expensive hobbie you can have.

The people who post here are helping each other and helping themselves. The people who visit are already making their first great Poker decision. And the people who stay are staking a claim on their poker playing future.

I WILL be one of those people who "knows how to play"!!

Good luck!

[UG]

Nice posts, guys. This is truly helpful stuff for beginners.

[™]

Ya just make sure your ready for the swings. No one starts out by winning everything. You have to lose in order to learn how to improve your overall play. If you play within your bankroll hopefully you wont lose it all. Im not that good i put $50 online a while ago and im still just hovering up and down around $50 but im steadily improving my play, and hopefully my bankroll will go up and keep going up soon.

[Humphrind]

{made sticky}

[LeFou]

Find a free poker league nearby and play as often as you can. Sure, the competition blows, but what can replace playing hundreds of hands a week?

Playing hundreds of hands an hour, Mr. I-don't-need-the-internet.

Congrats on the sticky. I agree there is a lot of good straight talk here.

[Xianti]

Molinero and Aokrongly:

Excellent thoughts, guys! Thanks for posting. Many will find your words helpful and encouraging.

[Molinero]

Find a free poker league nearby and play as often as you can. Sure, the competition blows, but what can replace playing hundreds of hands a week?

Playing hundreds of hands an hour, Mr. I-don't-need-the-internet.

Congrats on the sticky. I agree there is a lot of good straight talk here.

More like Mr. I-Don't-HAVE-The-Internet.

[jmontis]

Oh ya, you WILL encounter a big losing streak, everyone does and it will make you feel like you've never felt before.

Then, after weeks of pissing away money, you'll hit a monster, then another , and another. And you're back to your old game.

[Tom_s00]

Thanks this thread had helped alot, and has persuaded me to make an account here at the FTR forum. im sure ill learn alot.

[EricE]

I originaly read this weeks ago...before I started playing for $. Thanks for the bump.

[WhooFleuryScores]

Amen to that.I first started my online poker career with $20;sat down at the NL 10 tables expecting to triple up and then double up.After going bust(three times with $20 each time) I took time off to rethink my strategy and game.Visited forums such as FTR and did my reading hw;now I have $868.00 to show for and I plan on making $1000 and then some.All it is is practice,patience,and a willingless to learn and be hunble.

[outphase]

Poker is gambling, accept that fact and you won't feel too bad at the start. With that out of the way, you can still learn when your gambles are in your favor or not (expected value/odds etc). I can say I'm a decent NLHE player and a proficient LHE player, but this all came out of losing to learn what works and what doesn't. For ex: I quickly learned that unsuited connectors/gappers are not worth playing unless you're in late position with a few limpers. Also, I nearly tapped my bankroll when I first learned how to play limit. Being a seasoned NLHE player, I had always considered limit the "wussy" version of NL. I would make NL plays which many were weak in limit. After time, I began to realize that Limit and NL are two different beasts, and I proceeded to study as much as I can here.

I can safely say that if it wasn't for reading every constructive post (ie: DO NOT READ THE BAD BEAT BOARD!!!) I wouldn't be a better player. Posting bad beats or always mentioning them will make you fixated on the past. Cards are made of paper/plastic, they have no memory. A bad beat is simply variance at work, the 20% of hands that you're statistically supposed to lose. Sidenote: I did not take up limit to avoid bad beats, in fact, there are even more in limit.

Instead of screaming out "WHY THE HELL DID YOU CALL THAT??" against a suck out, you must first ask yourself did I do anything in this hand that invited trouble? Ex: Say you hit TPTK with a drawing board, and you do the most common rookie thing to do... slowplay. You just gave your opponent a free card. You then proceed to complain about the bad beat you just took when in all fairness the player was reasonable enough to fold to a good sized bet.

I digressed, don't give up

[gatorboy]

Amen to that.I first started my online poker career with $20;sat down at the NL 10 tables expecting to triple up and then double up.After going bust(three times with $20 each time) I took time off to rethink my strategy and game.Visited forums such as FTR and did my reading hw;now I have $868.00 to show for and I plan on making $1000 and then some.All it is is practice,patience,and a willingless to learn and be hunble.

I did the same thing. I blew through hands that I wouldn't have used playing Go Fish with my son Since losing my first two bankrolls ($30 each), I slowed down, started reading, started asking questions and most of all, started thinking.

[WhooFleuryScores]

Since losing my first two bankrolls

In the past couple days I've lost half my bankroll.I am doing my best to stay away from the tables.I'm losing my mind and wow this is horrible.

But they say when it's over it's over.

[EricE]

I just finished a horrible week at poker. It could be a “tale of poker” but it belongs here as a warning to others.
I had moved up in stakes and was playing tight. I wasn’t loosing money fast but I couldn’t make money AT ALL. Every time I got a hand I’d get all folds to any bet. I began to wonder…“do I suck?” To make a long story short I went back to the stakes I was comfortable at and ZING…I was back on my old game and up two buy-ins in no time. So the problem turned out to be playing scared money. I’ll spend some time at these stakes to rebuild my BR then move up again. When I do, I’ll mix it up and make an effort to not play weak tight (A.K.A scared money).

The moral of the story is if you are reading this because you have moved up stakes and are not on your game, take a look at your play and make sure you are not playing “scared money”.