First Post...stealing blinds, PT, and moving up

[TerraG]

Hello all, I have been a lurker for a while, but have really learned a lot on this forum over the past year, so thank you to all who post...it really does help out us beginners.

My current situation is multi-tabling the $10 N/L. I play 4-5 at a time, and have been averaging about $100 bucks a day doing this.

So here are my questions.

1. How much of a help is poker tracker for no limit? I know this is extremely hard to quantify, but any input would help. The ideal answer I am looking for is "I used to make $75 per hour...but after pt...i now make blah blah an hour!" But...any answer will be appreciated.

2. How much of a difference is 25 from 10 nl? If someone could list the major differences they found, that would be great.

3. On blind stealing and blind defending. This is such a weak area for me.
What should I need in order to make a successful blind steal...and what should I need to be able to defend my blinds successfully?

Thanks again for the great forum...looking forward to your answers!

[Miffed22001]

1. Buy PT.
2. If you have a bankroll for 25nl then move up if you are killing the game (i.e making $100 per day)
3. At small stakes just defend your blinds with your normal range IMO. Most people dont understand the concept of blind stealing at small stakes and wont be doing it for that reason. Also, your big hands will get paid well anyway, so blind defence/stealing isnt AS important as it maybe at higher stakes.

[BankItDrew]

I found 25NL easier than 10NL.

[Beck]

i to found 25NL easier then 10NL. and I think 50NL is easier then 25NL. But maybe it is because I got better but the fish stayed the same

-beck

[Jupit3r]

1. Before pokertracker I didn't know what I was doing wrong, wasn't very capable of reading my opponents (you can get a free HUD like GameTime+) and it sure is fun to watch your winnings graph point north-east.

2. Surprisingly I found 25NL easier too. Again, it could be because I'm getting better and it could be because I changed the site when I moved up.

3. When defending blinds with weak holding you gotta have a good read about the stealer IMO. Stealing from LAGs isn't very wise either. In no limit blind stealing isn't nearly as effective as in limit because you get so little and can lose so much.

Btw. $100/day is awesome @ NL10. You're most likely a better player than me. If you have >$500 BR I suggest that you move up right away. I'd ask what your BB/100 is but as you don't have PT I assume you don't know it.

[benny999]

here's a good article for blind stealing - http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...=0&page=1&vc=1

I reccomend PT as well, it's a great way to organize and analyze hands and stats.

depending the tables you sit at, even 200nl (the level I mostly play now) can/will be easier than 10nl, so be sure to learn good table selection and move up asap.

[IowaSkinsFan]

Get Pokertracker it more than easily pays for itself.

[pokerroomace]

not much difference between 10nl and 25nl imo.

i don't think blind stealing is so important in cash games at low stakes. (maybe i don't fully understand). but you are probably doing it without noticing.
when it gets folded to you on the button and you raise with JTo - you are basically making a steal. but the raise isn't really bluff. you may well have the best hand 3 handed and you have position on the other players.

i think stealing blinds in much more important in tournament and sng play. towards the end of an sng - a lot of blind stealing goes on.

i don't think it is too important to defend your blinds at low stakes. i think you shouldn't in fact. at higher stakes when someone is constantly raising your big blind when it's folded to him on the button. he is trying to steal your blinds. i think then it is a good idea to come over the top of him with a raise every now and then. (but i really don't know so much about stealing).
at $10 and $25NL forget about defending your blinds. at $50+ you can start to think about it.