Posting this here so i can update it from time to time.
Background : I'm a recreationnal poker player for quite a while...6-7 years but stopped playing a lot of times due to different reasons. Anyhow, i always had a thing for heads-up. Probably because i find it the most challenging and fun. I don't have that much history in HUSNG ...ive had decent sucess playing 3.50$ turbos in the past but i don't call myself a good player as i do a lot of things without much thinking. My mind is set up to adjust automatically to certain players when i see patterns but i don't use any software whatsoever to find these. When i play HUSNG, i'm the loose agressive type of guy.
Anyhow, my goal is to learn the game better at microstakes and more precisely improve my play. However, i have no clue how i can achieve that goal. Here are some questions for you ?
1) Is watching videos worthwhile even for 1.50s? I'm asking this because i don't have that much freetime to begin with. So i would prefer playing whenever i can instead but i guess i can't learn more without having better knowledge.
2) Should i get a tracker software even tough my roll will probably be quite tiny to begin with. I will make a deposit of 75$ later this week to begin the challenge. (Previous BR was withdrawn months ago). Money is not a problem tough but still wondering if it's really worth at microstakes
3) Should i only play 1 type of game ? turbos, hypers? Right now, i think i'm a better turbo HU player but i don't have much experience in Hypers so who knows if i wouldnt be able to beat them too.
4) How not to deviate from the theory i learned? I'm afraid if i think too much, i will take too much time making my decision/move and thus reverting back to my old habits. How do you get faster playing HU?
5) Should i only play one HUSNG at once?
I might post more later. Thanks for your help
Hey,
*I think watching videos in general is always a good idea. As poker players you can never stop learning imo.
*Getting a hud is a good idea, but you can do a few trial versions to make sure that it is something you would want to invest in.
*A lot of action has made its way towards the hypers, but plenty still to be won in the turbos. I think it is really up to you in the long run.
*Repetition will make it easier for you to make decisions while in game. Also, studying and a basic understanding will make decisions easier aka faster.
* When first learning the fundamentals, single tabling is the way to go :)
Hope this helps
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Thanks for your help pbogz1114...given the success i had with the 3.50s ...would it be too dangerous to play on these with a 100$ br?
what should my BR rule be if i single table ?
Also to follow-up on your answers :
Any specifics videos i should watch?
I already tried both HM2 and PT4 in the past so i can't get the trial again. So what's your advice on their necessity at micros?
Is there a big difference in hyper vs turbo play except for variance? I suppose hyper would be better to build BR?
Well your bankroll really depends on if you are going to play hypers or turbos. The swings in hypers are more severe, so you would need at least 50 buyins.
If you are playing the turbos i'd watch some old school stuff with HokieGreg, mers, Primo .... and you can watch a few of mine as well :). So of the older stuff is a little outdated but still good for theory purposes.
I think a hud will improve your game in the long run imo.
Big difference in hypers when talking about aggression and ranges. Hypers are more math based. Turbo you have more room to develop reads and play more poker. Ultimately it is your call :)
View my coaching page.
I guess i'll begin with turbos and see from there. thanks for your help
1) Yes. Videos will help fast track your fundamental framework for thinking about decisions. If you play for an infinite time, continuing to think about the game and iteratively improve, you will converge to an expert player. Videos help you grab those "low hanging fruit" which helps plug your big fundamental leaks to move you more quickly across the learning curve.
2) Yes. Tracker is mandatory if you want to play poker seriously. To get good at poker you will need to analyse your game much harder than the average player does. Trackers are an excellent tool for assisting with a process of continual self improvement. Trackers wont make you a winning player by any means, but if you want to make poker a serious hobby you'll be severely disadvantaging yourself by not having a tracker. The investment is steep for both 1 & 2 but they will help you a lot if you're serious about poker. If you're not serious, it will probably be a costly exercise anyway :P
3) Personally I think it's better to focus on one game. Mastering one game is difficult, playing more than one with some sort of competence is harder yet, That said, I think playing different forms can yield insights into your main game too. I found this to be the case when I dabbled in PLO.
4 & 5) Poker is a hard game. Poker is a thinking game. Anyone who suggests otherwise either is a genius or doesn't understand poker. (Hint: there aren't many geniuses around) I suggest playing one table and focusing (5 seconds at least) on every decision when you first start. If you already know the correct decision, allocate the time to thinking about how you are going to play your hand based on the cards that can come on future streets within the context of the various lines your opponent can take with different parts of his range. Focus on maximising your expectation. You will play better and learn more.
Best of luck to you :)
by the way, should i play the 1.50s turbo? Rake is harsh at 6.1% ...havent played much for now but winning about 60% of them.