Eric's full time poker thread

[IowaEric87]

So I am very new to the online world of poker (I have been playing since Oct. 2006). Due to a unique financial situation I do not have to work. So I am going to start playing poker full time. I will post everything that happens here, in this thread. It will be a way for me to keep track of the evolution of my own game, as well as a way to get feedback from other more experienced players. I am up about three hundred dollars since I began playing. Went through some very bad losses early on, due to my game just being bad. But have been able to bring myself back into the black. I will be putting $500 into my Full Tilt account to start off (looking to take advantage of the Bonus offer). My goal is to play at least eight 55 minute sessions a day, starting out at the 10NL tables. I am going to start over there, build my bankroll, then after maybe a month there move up to 25NL. I also like to play in tournies. So i will more likely than not play two tournies a day, maybe a sNg or two as well. I do not have Poker Tracker or any other tool yet, but am considering getting it once I have my bankroll up to $650, then to take the BR up to $1500 by the end of January. Anything that you guys and gals think might be helpful to me post up. Look forward to hearing from you. BTW I play a very loose and aggressive game.

Eric

[Pelion]

Oh no not another Eric!

Welcome to FTR.

Read all the stickys especially the stuff in the beginners digest.

Get pokertracker.

goodluck and have fun

[Benoso]

Why eight 55 minute sessions? I think it takes at least 45 minutes to get into one's stride, to start developing reads and so forth so I'd recommend you play longer sessions, even if you have to play less sessions to accommodate for it.

Also PokerTracker would be an extremely good investment, especially if you want pointers on how to improve, hand histroies help people to help you but PT is also critical if you really want to improve.

Lastly, don't take this the wrong way but with your level of experience and the stakes you play, it's going to be a while before you make a living out of playing poker. That is, a comfortable and consistent living. I don't know how much you're going to rely on your poker earnings but bare that in mind.

I'd also strongly recommend you read Sklanksy's NoLimitHoldEm- Theory & Practice.

Good luck.

[IowaEric87]

I'm not depending on poker for as my source of income. I just do not have to work in order to take care of things. As far as the 55 min sessions that just seems to be how long I can usually play for before something comes up that requires my attention. I really want ot just try and play eight hours a day. If I tell myself that I have to play for at least 55 minutes or an hour every time I sit down, no matter what then that will probably be more beneficial than sitting down for twenty or thirty minutes at a time. But you think that I should shoot to be playing for more like 90 to 120 minutes or something like that, yeah?

[bode]

first, good luck.

second, get PT as soon as possible. If you sign up through PSO (pokersourceonline.com) you can get a free copy of PT or PokerOffice2 (which i would recommend) while also clearing the bonus.

Third, if you have a $500 BR, why not start out with $25nl? If you drop a few buyins or go below say $400, drop down.

[Pelion]

Third, if you have a $500 BR, why not start out with $25nl? If you drop a few buyins or go below say $400, drop down.

Personally Id always start a new game at the lowest possible stakes no matter my BR. If you can easily beat 2NL for 5k hands then you can try 10NL. If you can easily beat 10NL for 5k hands then try 25NL. Then move up as your BR allows. Chances are an absolute begginner will only be breakeven at 2NL for at least a week or 2. Starting low means you make your losses as small as possible.

[IowaEric87]

I was thinking along the lines of I don't want to start off too high, but I also am on the edge about playing 25NL. I have been playing there off and on. I have been doing ok for the past few weeks. Between that and the sNg's I play I have made my money back. The only thing that is keeping me from playing 25NL right away is that I want to build my roll, and be absolutely sure that I can beat 10NL before I commit to 25NL. I want to know that I've got 10NL down pat so that if I go on a bad downswing I can always drop a level to build back up. I am positive that Full Tilt doesn't have 2NL, or at least I can't find it.

[biondino]

I think Pelion is (unusually) wrong. I don't think there's any benefit in starting at $2 because the rewards will be so small, it'll feel like it takes an age to get anywhere and you might end up quitting out of frustration before ever moving up. I'd start at $10NL because even the most basic poker knowledge (used properly) should allow you to break even.

Following on from this... if you are a relative beginner then I *strongly* suggest that playing "a very loose and aggressive game" may not be the way forward. It's vital to understand the mechanics of ABC poker as soon as possible and I really doubt that playing maniac style is going to do this - not to mention that many noobs completely misinterpret the word "aggression".

[Pelion]

I think Pelion is (unusually) wrong. I don't think there's any benefit in starting at $2 because the rewards will be so small, it'll feel like it takes an age to get anywhere and you might end up quitting out of frustration before ever moving up. I'd start at $10NL because even the most basic poker knowledge (used properly) should allow you to break even.

I dont necessarily think OP should start at 2NL since hes already been playing a few months. If hes rolled for 25NL and he has a decent game then 10NL should be fine.

My main point is that you shouldnt just work out which level you have 20 buyins for and jump in there as an unproven player. Normal bankroll guidelines assume you are a winning player. You must start at a level you can beat (or nearly beat) how ever big your bankroll imo.

[uscheese]

I say if you've oddly walked into an unusual amount of money you should either stake me in the great american uscheese experiment of 2007 or find me in some $10NL rooms and bet often and bet big on just about anything