Anyone play online poker?

[ksuno1stunner]

Any tips?

Figured I'd go in with $50 a week ago to see how far that would go, and if I lost it all, then &@#% poker I quit.  I consider myself somewhat decent, I can usually get a good read on what players do, and I try to avoid a lot of dumb calls.  Started off with .05/.10, lost $30 after losing 4 straight all-ins on the river, moved up to .15/.30 3 days ago, (figured I should step it up so that most games don't go down to the river), and after a few "ups and downs", I now have $125 after doubling up after a hand (stayed patient, knew with AA and facing a loose cannon I'd win a decent amount...and fortunately he had KK).

Sorry to bore y'all with the story, but do I sound like someone who has just gone through a nice week of beginners luck?  Should I move up?  Like are the players significantly better, from, like .15/.30 to $1/$2?  It seems like there's a lot of dumbasses at the level I play at, and I'd like to continue to pwn n00bs.  Should I start learning odds or whatever, because I usually just go off of what I'm feeling.

My goal isn't like the other betting thread (where I had thought I could beat the system, but really, it's been tried a billion times before unsuccessfully), I've just always liked poker, and would like to improve.

[ksuno1stunner]

ttt

[FBWillie]

my advice, if you want a get rich quick scheme, kansas lottery probably has your better odds.

[yosh]

If your in it just to make some side money, stay at a level you can dominate.  If you are more interested in the competition and don't care about the money...move up.  You can make easy money playing at the chump level just by being conservative and patient.  Half the people at that level just throw there money away.  You'll find it much tougher at higher levels...and if you want to win, you'll spend a lot more time playing becuase the players are better, more patient, ect. (which kinda sucks)

[ksuno1stunner]

If your in it just to make some side money, stay at a level you can dominate.  If you are more interested in the competition and don't care about the money...move up.  You can make easy money playing at the chump level just by being conservative and patient.  Half the people at that level just throw there money away.  You'll find it much tougher at higher levels...and if you want to win, you'll spend a lot more time playing becuase the players are better, more patient, ect. (which kinda sucks)

That's what I figured...it's so easy to read the players at the level I play at, but I'm worried that my own play is too predictable.  Like you said, it seems like at every table, there's at least two dumbasses that figure they can buy every pot, and all you have to do is stay patient.  Is it a good strategy to go to a table, try to identify the retards, and if there aren't any, just leave?  What stakes do you think divides the retards from the decent players?

[yosh]

If your in it just to make some side money, stay at a level you can dominate.  If you are more interested in the competition and don't care about the money...move up.  You can make easy money playing at the chump level just by being conservative and patient.  Half the people at that level just throw there money away.  You'll find it much tougher at higher levels...and if you want to win, you'll spend a lot more time playing becuase the players are better, more patient, ect. (which kinda sucks)

That's what I figured...it's so easy to read the players at the level I play at, but I'm worried that my own play is too predictable.  Like you said, it seems like at every table, there's at least two dumbasses that figure they can buy every pot, and all you have to do is stay patient.  Is it a good strategy to go to a table, try to identify the retards, and if there aren't any, just leave?  What stakes do you think divides the retards from the decent players?

Usually I played single table tournament style, so you can't really move around to a bunch of tables.  At the lowest levels there are 'tards who can't hold their wad.  They either refuse to play from behind, or are  gambling junkies.  They just can't wait to go all in the first decent hand they get...often they will raise and re-raise trying to create monster pots before the flop.  Just stay out of the pissing matches, and lay low for a few times around.  Then you'll end up with about 4 players left...one guy with a bunch of chips who is trying to strong arm everyone.  He usually sucks and is easily parted with his money.  Set traps for that dude, play the other people straight up...you pretty much can't lose money.

I guess the stake level vs. percentage of retards is dependent on how good you are.  If you can't identify the tard...then you ARE the tard.  I found that I could still win going from $5 buy-ins to $10, but the amount of time it took to play a tournament would triple, and I was probably 25% less likely to finish in the money...so my winnings were actually better at the lower stakes.  Cash games would obviously be different.  I don't really consider myself a great player, but I'm definitely better at tournament. 

[J Rake]

Try to win your money after the river. In other words, slow play everything and try to see all the cards as cheaply as possible (unless, of course, you make the nuts or have a dominating hand prior to the river).

Speaking specifically for Bodog and Poker Stars, it's unbelievable the stuff that happens when you're all in either pre-flop or on the turn. Worst of all, it's completely out of your hands at that point. Try to build small pots and then decide whether you have the winning hand once all the cards are out on the table. Your ability to make a better decision than your opponent is what will net you money (safely).

I'm sure some will think that's terrible advice. But I've seen too many running straights/flushes on the turn, or just ridiculous cards falling on the river.

Enough to make me want to  .

[ksuno1stunner]

If your in it just to make some side money, stay at a level you can dominate.  If you are more interested in the competition and don't care about the money...move up.  You can make easy money playing at the chump level just by being conservative and patient.  Half the people at that level just throw there money away.  You'll find it much tougher at higher levels...and if you want to win, you'll spend a lot more time playing becuase the players are better, more patient, ect. (which kinda sucks)

That's what I figured...it's so easy to read the players at the level I play at, but I'm worried that my own play is too predictable.  Like you said, it seems like at every table, there's at least two dumbasses that figure they can buy every pot, and all you have to do is stay patient.  Is it a good strategy to go to a table, try to identify the retards, and if there aren't any, just leave?  What stakes do you think divides the retards from the decent players?

Usually I played single table tournament style, so you can't really move around to a bunch of tables.  At the lowest levels there are 'tards who can't hold their wad.  They either refuse to play from behind, or are  gambling junkies.  They just can't wait to go all in the first decent hand they get...often they will raise and re-raise trying to create monster pots before the flop.  Just stay out of the pissing matches, and lay low for a few times around.  Then you'll end up with about 4 players left...one guy with a bunch of chips who is trying to strong arm everyone.  He usually sucks and is easily parted with his money.  Set traps for that dude, play the other people straight up...you pretty much can't lose money.

I guess the stake level vs. percentage of retards is dependent on how good you are.  If you can't identify the tard...then you ARE the tard.  I found that I could still win going from $5 buy-ins to $10, but the amount of time it took to play a tournament would triple, and I was probably 25% less likely to finish in the money...so my winnings were actually better at the lower stakes.  Cash games would obviously be different.  I don't really consider myself a great player, but I'm definitely better at tournament. 

I'm not sure how tournaments work on full tilt...it says like "45 player single game"...oh well.  I think I'm doing fine though, I'm at 180ish (I still can't believe it considering I started at 50), though I was over 200 before I got cocky and started playing way too loose, calling when I shouldn't and shooting for draws.

Try to win your money after the river. In other words, slow play everything and try to see all the cards as cheaply as possible (unless, of course, you make the nuts or have a dominating hand prior to the river).

Speaking specifically for Bodog and Poker Stars, it's unbelievable the stuff that happens when you're all in either pre-flop or on the turn. Worst of all, it's completely out of your hands at that point. Try to build small pots and then decide whether you have the winning hand once all the cards are out on the table. Your ability to make a better decision than your opponent is what will net you money (safely).

I'm sure some will think that's terrible advice. But I've seen too many running straights/flushes on the turn, or just ridiculous cards falling on the river.

Enough to make me want to  .

I did notice that a lot playing lower stakes...that's actually how I went from 50 to 20, losing to ridiculous hands on the river.  I don't think it's rigged though, I looked into it, and it's not like they would rig it, they're essentially "renting space", and they would lose so much money if they were suspected of having unfair games.  I think when 60 hands are dealt an hour, crazy hands are bound to happen.

[ksuno1stunner]

So after passing the $200 mark, I'm now down to $115.

Have you ever had this ridiculous of a beat before?

I had 77, somebody had 5 and something else I don't remember.

After limping in, the flop was 755.  We bet quite a bit.

The next card was worthless.  We are both all in.  Pot is about 40-50.

The next card...is a 5.  He hit his &*$@!ing 4 of a kind on the river.

Never in my life, real money, play money, or in real poker (LOL @ "real life" btw) have I ever seen anything like that.

[waks]

A KSUFans poker game would be pretty cool.

[cireksu]

I've read articles about poker and the cheating that goes on.  I had a couple friends that would sit in and Im eachother hands to get an advantage.  FWIW.