posted
Webcams everyone! Although I'm still wearing pajamas on this ice day, so it wouldn't be very interesting.
PokerTracker apparently doesn't support PokerPages (not that I've found a way to export hand histories in the first place). Shame, as I like logging everything. As far as I can tell ALL of their tables are free -- hence the myriad ads for real casinos -- but hey it least that means less hassle to start playing, NetTeller or not. Free tourneys sound interesting, considering I've never played NL.
PartyPoker (and its many affiliates) do have free tables, as well as an option for private tables, but not both unfortunately.
[ January 27, 2004, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: Richard Berg ]
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok, so they're affiliated with Bugsy for money games, found the appropriate hand history option, etc. I see. Hardly any active limit games and only a few tourneys there, so I think I'll stick with the foolish masses at Party. The free stuff looks fun, though.
Oh, and the PokerSchool subscription looks like the worst deal in the history of casinos. Paying for the chance to win nothing? Thanks but no thanks. If all you want is the expert advice, pick up some of the classic books (anything by Sklansky) head to http://twoplustwo.com/
[ January 27, 2004, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: Richard Berg ]
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Richard, the NL tables at party poker are actually pretty easy to make money on. atleast the lower buy in tables, $25, $50. the play isn't very good, and as long as you don't make any stupid plays you should come out alright. and given what you've said about your play i don't think you'd have a problem with that.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
It seems to me that NL games require more strategy. With limit poker I've had a lot of success but my internal rules are quite simple: memorize the probability of the most common hands, compare with the pot odds, bet. I engage in semi-bluffs and the like if I've gotten really familiar with a table, but the vast majority of my bankroll was won being patient for big hands and slow- or fast-playing depending on who's still in.
My impression of tourneys is that the blinds go up too fast for a very tight player. Moreover, a deceptive play is correct far more often than in low-limit (where calling stations usually make it pointless). These factors actually sound intriguing, but I want to read more before I jump in. Good to know that the Party/Empire/etc. NL players are just as stupid as on the ring side, though Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I've found a couple issues with pokerpages that Iwonder if they occur on other freeplay sights (these probably won't happen with real money involved).
Punishing the chips leader: I saw this as an observer once, and then had it happen to me. Basically, when there are only two people left, and one has a large chip advantage on the other, the losing player will concede, but do so by bleeding their blinds if you try to raise as the winning player. This does 2 things, messes with my accumulated hands stats, and it takes a while to win the table.
All-In Earlies: At almost every table, within the first 2-3 hands, 3-6 of the players go all in, regardless of their hands. Now, I've been playing pretty tight (I tend to play only hands where I have pairs, or 2 cards J or higher, i'm not picky on suit, though I know I should be), and this bothers me because it means that I will inevitably be down big early to whoever actually happens to win that monster pot.
I mean, I know it's play money, and I know fast action is alluring, but [EDIT: why bother playing the game for the lucky hand, isn't that what slot machines are for? ]
I've actually been proud of myself on a couple of occassions where I knew the players were legit, I've bluffed a table by looking for a 3rd card of a similar suit is turned over, where I will try to check-raise, or, more often, just put in a substantial percentage of my pot. I try to make sure I have a little backup (a pair), but sometimes I don't even bother with that.
posted
Silly me, Party does have (single-table) play money tourneys, squirrelled away under a tab I never saw.
Anyway, I've never played free NL games so I'll shut up. There are literally like 700 free NL tables at Party so feel free to experiment.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Bok, you should try the tourneys on PokerPages. They may take much more time than a single table, but you will not find too many of these all-in in the first 3 hands types. I think some players take their stats seriously or something.
Richard, I hope to try out some free tables at Party soon.
Posts: 115 | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh, forgot to mention -- if anyone wants to play for real at Party, there are always great referral deals going on (read: at least $100 + % of rakes as bonuses), so email me.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Richard, I saw that about the referral when I tried to sign. I had some kind of problem signing up, so maybe I can still use you when I attempt it again. I will email you when I try it again.
Posts: 115 | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:My impression of tourneys is that the blinds go up too fast for a very tight player. Moreover, a deceptive play is correct far more often than in low-limit (where calling stations usually make it pointless). These factors actually sound intriguing, but I want to read more before I jump in. Good to know that the Party/Empire/etc. NL players are just as stupid as on the ring side, though
well, the NL tables i was talking about are regular no limit tables not No Limit tourney's, i've never played those.
i usually mainly play the single table structured tourneys. and i really like the way the stakes work on them. the blinds start out low enough and build at what i consider to be a nice rate. those tourneys are all about adjusting your game to the stakes. if you can do that well, then you're shoe in. the probabilities are important. but you need to adjust those probailites given not only the pot odds and hand odds, but of percentage of your stack.
you should try playing some of the lower stakes ones to see how you like it. play a cheap $10 one. and only move up to the $30 or $50 if you like it. they also of course have No Limit and Pot Limit tourneys if you wanted. or you may just not be a tourney person.
posted
They advertise a deal where you get $50 (signee) + $25 (referrer), but I thought I'd let everyone know there's a way to get 20% of your first deposit up to $500 (signee) + 12.5% of the signee's rakes (referrer) forever. The way I do it with the person who referred me is to track my rakes in PokerTracker and split them 6%/6%. (Party doesn't break down how much bonus comes from which person.)
So yeah, there's plenty of newcomers to go around, Strider Everyone else: that $100 buys a lot of $.50/$1 games, and I promise not to whine about their tiny rakes being less than the other deal's $25...it's all about sharing the love of the game
[ January 28, 2004, 10:54 AM: Message edited by: Richard Berg ]
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Haven't been in California for more than a short visit in several years (quite awhile before I started taking cards seriously). I'm aware of their serious club scene, though -- lots of famous authors make mention of it.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think I've won one game and lost something like 12, so I'm currently down. The great thing about NLTH is that if I win the next game I'm up big. I wish they kept track. I've come in second twice, but the bad part is that second is the same as last place.
It was fun, and I think its awesome that 3 out of the 15 or so players tonight were hatrackers. Hope to see more people on next time.
There is the problem of half the table going all in on the first hand. Whoever wins the first hadn all-in orgy usually wins the game. Its hard to take down someone with five times as many chips as you.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
I know what you mean. The early all ins are extremely annoying (although I've been guilty of it myself). Try playing in the Tourneys. People play with a lot more strategy there because your performance is being tracked by the ranking system.
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
The problem when I try to join the tourneys is that it tells me I need to register at Bugsy. I am registered at Bugsy though. I even sing in using the Bugsy software and it still wont let me join. Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Okay, works now. Had to re-register. Not sure why. I'm signed up for the 4:30AM one . The funny thing is that I am super tired already, and have been since midnight as I had 4 hours of sleep last night.
Oh well. Either I go out early and go to bed, or I win and have fun...
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I use the Pokerpages software and then signed up for Bugsy. Are you going to the "Freeplay" -- "Tourneys" -- "Bugsy Bonus Point N/L"?
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Okay, I eventually lost. I'm proud that I was the chip leader at one point though . Tourney's definitely are better.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh and I mostly went all in there because I was mostly killing time before the tournament. But also it wasn't a horrible move, since I picked up my ace. I got lucky with the 6 there on the river though .
It turned out that I was still playing that game during the first few hands of the tourney, and was winning big in both games!
I won 30,000 on the first hand of the touney. I had pocket fours, and another four came on the flop. Two people went all in against me . Then on the next hand I got 10,000 from someone with pocket aces.
The guy I eventually lost to is now the chip leader with 115,000. 50,000 of that he got from me with a flush (against my two aces). I hope he wins.
quote:I don't know of any other sites that offer free play in tourney format.
Poker paridise has a $300 free roll. Next Hold'em tournament is in 6 hours (registration starts in 4 hours.) If you download the software, click on tournaments and find the Island+$300. They also have regular games that you can play with fake money. It's a good place to learn different games. (Omaha, 7 Stud, 7 Stud Hi Lo, 5 Card Draw, 5 Card Stud and Pinapple.)
Posts: 171 | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
The tournaments at pokerpages are really the combined listing at Bugsy/pokerpages. The free ones have "freeroll" (I think) by in one of the columns (entry?).
I finished 225ish out of 400 in my first tournament. A tip at these free situations. DON'T feel compelled to play a hand. Be patient... You will outlast most folks.
posted
I have been playing with Play Money at PartyPoker and it seems pretty fun. I haven't found any multi-table tourneys like at PokerPages, but they do have buy-in's and payouts for the single table tournaments. They also have tables with NL and fixed limits. I feel like there is a little more on the line, so people are slightly more serious.
Richard, the account that I am using is the one I had problems with, but it worked the next day. I haven't made a deposit yet, so perhaps I could still sign you up for a referral. Email me sometime and if you know how I should go about that.
If anyone wants to play some on PartyPoker for free today, let me know. I think we can create a private table.
Posts: 115 | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Only gamble with 10% of what you are willing to lose. Then when you win only gamble with 10% of that money pretty soon you will have a nest egg.
2ND TIP
ONLY PLAY REALLY GOOD HaNDS IN THE BEGGINING ROUNDS. Then when you have shinoalla you can bluff out the other players especially if they are checking and betting like their hands arnt strong.
Sometimes i WILL JUST check AND CALL TO WATCH HOW THE HANDS Are going. If i realize the others are not betting like they have a winner by the time the river card comes out I bet real big and bluff them into folding. How ever you have to keep track of what hands can beat yours and be prepared because some fool is out there playing like you and betting and bluffing or not bluffing the same way. I have been playing on party poker.com and actually win or at least place 2nd or third in all the games I play. When they realize i only play on a winnign hands at first and I have knocked out three or four players. Then I can bluff and make extra cash when I have a weak hand or nothing at all. The key is watching players the first few rounds establishing what kind of player you want them to think you are and then using all of this to your advantage. Dont go for it all if you are pretty sure you have a loser. Bluffing then rarely works. Especially if the other player has a really good hand.
posted
Thrak, I don't think there's any place to enter a bonus code once you've registered. If you find one let me know.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Richard, I haven't made my initial deposit yet. I think that would be place that I enter the code. I could try... maybe tomorrow night.
Posts: 115 | Registered: Aug 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I emailed you the standard $25 deal. Like I said I'm pretty sure the code has to be entered at registration...but if you didn't use that email address with the 1st account, no harm done Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
One of the interesting things about pokerpages is that it keeps a lifetime stat of your playing style. Do my stats convey a certain style of play?
I would love to hear some expert analysis of this.
--------Preflop Flop Turn River
Fold.....43% 25% 13% 13%
Check.....8% 47% 47% 34%
Check.....0% 1% 1% 2% raise
Call......35% 17% 16% 10%
Bet.......n/a 19% 13% 16%
Raise......18% 5% 4% 6%
Reraise....4% 1% 1% 1%
All-In......5% 15% 24% 35%
Won........26% 36% 43% 47%
[ February 03, 2004, 12:46 AM: Message edited by: Beren One Hand ]
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
In low-limit games your pre-flop call + raise should be about 10% *total*...maybe 15% if you consistently find yourself at loose-passive tables. The rest of the stats aren't that enlightening the way they're broken down. /me huggles PokerTracker
Also, how many hands is this over? Anything less than 1000 isn't very significant.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
The stats are based on 1809 hands of NL Texas Hold'em. I thought I was a patient player. But apparently not. Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
NL is different, of course. But not that different -- however more aggressively you need to play in NL, it's probably countered by the fact that everyone is playing with fake money, so basically ignore this post.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yes. When the board pairs up you have to be ready to run away from any sort of action, unless you're holding the nut boat (or quads, heh). In the meantime, feel free to send me your JJ's.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
JJ is significantly stronger than AKo. If you believe statistics, even very low pocket pairs are better than unsuited big cards, if you can tolerate higher bankroll swings. (And depending on what you consider big cards, your play may be simply wrong -- stuff like KTo is trash in my opinion.)
Edit: I could give some more guidelines, but since we're all geeks here, just play with a number-cruncher and/or visit the twoplustwo.com forums. (Can't go wrong when it says "moderated by Mat Sklansky" at the bottom).
Edit again: that program is not very good for accurately measuring pre-flop hands against a broad field, greatly deemphasizing the value of draws because it doesn't consider the extra money that will be in the pot. I'll have to dig up the link to the one I'm really thinking of.
[ February 06, 2004, 04:15 AM: Message edited by: Richard Berg ]
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Everyone else: that $100 buys a lot of $.50/$1 games, and I promise not to whine about their tiny rakes being less than the other deal's $25...it's all about sharing the love of the game ![[Wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Hat]](graemlins/hat.gif)
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
