Table Selection and Going up limits

[zenbitz]

So, now that I am offically a novice (1000+ hands @Party), I have a couple of key non "play" based questions:

When do you drop a table because it's too tight? How many orbits to get a good read? If 1/2 the players are good and the rest are free money, do you stay. or find a really fishy table?

I have been playing soley .5/1, and I like to do other stuff at the same time (i.e., this morning I have been organizing my iTunes). I can see the advantage to playing 3-4 tables, but that sounds like it would cut into my screwing around time.

How much harder is 1/2 than .5/1? My plan is to build my bankroll up to $200+ before I try it, but if I actually have to work at it, I will probably just stick to the lower limit.

[Nehmer]

When do you drop a table because it's too tight? How many orbits to get a good read? If 1/2 the players are good and the rest are free money, do you stay. or find a really fishy table?

I never drop a table because it is too "tight". I will only drop a table if there are two or three people that really just seem to have my number(usually people that are very aggressive). If half the people at a table are basically free money, you better not leave that table.

How much harder is 1/2 than .5/1? My plan is to build my bankroll up to $200+ before I try it, but if I actually have to work at it, I will probably just stick to the lower limit.

1/2 is not much(if any) harder than .5/1 at all. The good rule of thumb before moving up limits though is to have 200 times the big bet. This would mean having a bankroll of at least $400 before moving up to 1/2.

[elipsesjeff]

I never drop a table because it is too "tight".

Good point. However, if you find when you raise with quality hands (like AA, KK) and you steal the blinds, it might not be worth it.

How much harder is 1/2 than .5/1?

I was playing on Pacific last night and play was capped preflop 3 times by 8 people!

Its not always like this, and most of them folded post flop. But they do give you odds to chase that gut shot!

[zenbitz]

I'm not saying that you can't win money at a tighter table, but there must be 100s of low-limit tables out there... why not just finish the orbit and try another one.

As for Bankroll... I can see needing 200XBB to stop a bad streak.. but I would probaly go in with 100BBs to 1/2... if I hit a losing streak drop down limits again. If I still lose, I can always get $50-100 out of the the ol' saving account (as long as the wife lets me! )

I used to play a PBM game (like everquest, but snail mail and even stupider) for $100s/month as a hobby, with no hope of payout... poker for me is just a game, not a job (maybe if I actually learn to play WELL in a couple years ... and still don't have a real job.)

[Fnord]

I never drop a table because it is too "tight". I will only drop a table if there are two or three people that really just seem to have my number(usually people that are very aggressive). If half the people at a table are basically free money, you better not leave that table.

Sure they're good and not just running good?

At 2/4 and above 1 or 2 really bad players can make a table worth playing. The other guys at the table are just not as likely to contribute to my profits.

[nemofromuscl]

I just broke 200 (After depositing 40 and continually going up to 100 then taking out 40 or 50 for about 2 months) and now I play mostly just .5/1, but I can only play at pokerroom.com because I have a mac. I was just wondering what kind of tables were at the other sites. I'd say a good table for .25/.50 has a 60% players/flop and maybe 6$ for the average pot size or better. For .5/1, a good table has maybe 45% or 50% of the players seeing the flop and maybe 10 or better for the average pot size. Is this the kind of stuff you see at other sites?

[elipsesjeff]

nemo,

50% is normal for places like Poker Stars, higher for Party. I like around 60% for my liking.

Pacific also allows you to play via java application without downloading anything, check them out. They also have a nice bonus there, although takes a while to clear.

Pokerroom though is a good place to stay if you have to stay there. When I've played there I have found that the tables are loose, but not as loose as Party skins. I feel you will run into better players at Pokerroom so if you can beat it, stay there.

There will come a point when I run out of bonuses to whore, and at that time I will have to choose a 'poker home.' And Poker room is among the finalysts.