[ipgyst]

Finally got some money into an account so I can start playing. Here's what I did:

1) I pored over SSHE
2) I applied the concepts from the book verbatim at a micro limit full ring game

I think I played okay. When you don't know much it's hard to judge. There were a few hands where I should have bet/raised more with non-nut hands on the river. And there were two hands with middle-pair-great-kicker that I think I misplayed - I lost them both and put too much money in the pot. Pre-flop was easy, I just followed the charts, although as the table would loosen/tighten as players were replaced, I switched charts a couple times. (there are 2 charts, one for 3-5 callers on average and the other for 6-8_)

The table was just like Sklansky said it would be. TPBK calling TPTK to the river. People cold-calling raises while infrequently raising themselves. Some of the people in the blinds called with the most awful crap - they were constantly dominated. I consistently saw people playing "any ace" and "any two suited cards" from any position. I even had a couple people chatting who were tired of their good hands losing and decided to "just play anything because that's what everybody else is doing".

Overall I played 130 hands in 2 hours. (The software counted my waiting time as game time - go figure). I was +13.3 BB, but +18 BB if you count bonuses.

The money I won isn't even enough to buy a gallon of gas, but I had a lot of fun. It seems like a good place to start.

Ask questions if you'd like. I'm going to bed now. Here are some statistics - I don't know what to make of them because I don't know what's good or what's poor.

[noelsarchs]

You can throw away all the books and conventional wisdom when playing micro limit. People play anything and everything and from any position at any time. Talk about a complete crap shoot.

[shadesofgrey]

i like playing poker.. i am with 99%evil on this... there's no shame in playing micro ABC poker..

but at the same time, i find i pick up bad habits playing micro...

130 hands and you reraised once? dude its poker, i dont care what stakes you play... poker is great. play on player!

[Chipmunk]

Originally Posted by noelsarchs

You can throw away all the books and conventional wisdom when playing micro limit. People play anything and everything and from any position at any time. Talk about a complete crap shoot.

You just need to adapt and take advantage of their mistakes regardless of the level. In NL5 its pointless to try to steal the blinds, but your drawing hands have huge implied odds since the players are deep and will stack off with TPGK. I think its great to start low, you'll start to see what works and what doesn't and most villains don't know how to exploit your weaknesses while you'll get experience.

[Colquhoun]

Originally Posted by Chipmunk

You just need to adapt and take advantage of their mistakes regardless of the level. In NL5 its pointless to try to steal the blinds, but your drawing hands have huge implied odds since the players are deep and will stack off with TPGK. I think its great to start low, you'll start to see what works and what doesn't and most villains don't know how to exploit your weaknesses while you'll get experience.

I agree. Micro stakes are all about exploiting bad players mistakes. Some strategies (pushing people off pots, bluffing) that you might apply to higher-level games simply won't work here, and that's fine. If you stick to playing strictly odds, as SSHE illustrates, you'll do great here.

[smoore]

Very cool. Don't forget to use resources like PSO and BonusWhores.com

[cdnmoose]

Originally Posted by ipgyst

Finally got some money into an account so I can start playing. Here's what I did:

1) I pored over SSHE
2) I applied the concepts from the book verbatim at a micro limit full ring game

I think I played okay. When you don't know much it's hard to judge. There were a few hands where I should have bet/raised more with non-nut hands on the river. And there were two hands with middle-pair-great-kicker that I think I misplayed - I lost them both and put too much money in the pot. Pre-flop was easy, I just followed the charts, although as the table would loosen/tighten as players were replaced, I switched charts a couple times. (there are 2 charts, one for 3-5 callers on average and the other for 6-8_)

I don't understand. Were you playing limit or NL? Isn't SSHE a limit book?

[dad604]

ABC poker is fine at microlimit. You will make money, play too fancy at microlimit will lose you money.

You didn't give too much info. What stakes, FL or NL, full table or 6 max? All those affect how to play your cards.

[ipgyst]

Sorry for no hand histories everybody. I'll try to save the good ones from now on and post them.

smoore - I'm doing a PSO UB promo right now. Will be interesting to see what happens to AP in the PSO lineup what with recent revelations and all.

shadesofgrey - I would have reraised more, but nobody was raising! (except the guy to my left who played way too loose preflop but decent postflop) After my first micro game, I'm also of the opinion that it's a good way to learn poker. I think if a person totally new to poker started with Poker For Dummies then read Small Stakes Hold 'em and started playing micro online, he'd be off to a good start. I feel no shame playing 5c/10c...

Chipmunk - You're right, in these games you must have the best hand to win the pot (at least that's what all the books say). You get called when you have a better hand because somebody else has a decent hand and can't throw it away - his lack of preflop discipline is your profit. Those players also do not want to get bluffed out of pots. As you increase in limits, you have to put more tools into your poker-kit (like semibluffs) to be a winner. At low limits, you just need the best hand or a great draw, then you bet and raise.

Colquhoun - I tried to bluff once or twice early in the session. They both failed miserably. Lesson learned!

dad604 & cdnmoose - Yes I was playing fixed limit. A 10-seat 2c/5c blinds 5c/10c limit hold em poker ring game. I'm starting at full ring games because that's what SSHE was written for. When I get comfortable there, I will learn what adjustments to make at a shorthanded table and try those out. I also want to learn to beat micro limit stud and omaha games (maybe pineapple too since there is no literature and I bet the juicy games are really juicy), but one thing at a time. I think being a hold 'em specialist is fine since that's what 90% of people want to play anyway, but I like variety and I want to develop good fundamentals in all popular games. Throw in badugi, razz, and lowball as well I suppose. Chinese poker is boring.

My favorite hand of the session - It was good in a way and bad in a way

I'm on a mini heater (2 of 3 hands or 3 of 4, can't remember which) and I've shown huge cards like AJs and TT.

Hero is dealt in late position
Four players limp
Hero limps (I'm on a heater! Plus preflop raising is rare so I will see the flop for 5c)
Blinds limp and check (7 players to flop, $.32 pot)

Flop is
checked to Hero, who bets
Blinds call
EP player raises
All folds to Hero, who reraises (my one flop reraise - check the stats)
Blinds fold
EP player calls (2 players to turn, $.68 pot)

Turn is
EP checks, Hero bets, EP calls ($.86 pot)

River is
EP checks
Hero checks (wimp I know)

EP shows
Hero shows and wins $.86

I was lucky to hit the flop, that was good. I should have bet the turn, that was bad. My fear of a flush or a straight was justified because almost everybody at this table slowplayed, and if my opponent had the case 7 I was almost certainly outkicked. But, EP check-called the turn then checked the river (WEAK WEAK WEAK) and I should have taken a stab at another big bet.

[littlebu]

ahh another limit player. Definately need to check out the 6 max games though. Honestly at the stakes your playing having read SSHE you'll be light years ahead (not a dig we all played there at some point some/many still do) The best short handed book out is Winning in Tough Hold'em games. Post up some hands recieve and give feedback and you'll be on your way.

Originally Posted by ipgyst

Sorry for no hand histories everybody. I'll try to save the good ones from now on and post them.

smoore - I'm doing a PSO UB promo right now. Will be interesting to see what happens to AP in the PSO lineup what with recent revelations and all.

shadesofgrey - I would have reraised more, but nobody was raising! (except the guy to my left who played way too loose preflop but decent postflop) After my first micro game, I'm also of the opinion that it's a good way to learn poker. I think if a person totally new to poker started with Poker For Dummies then read Small Stakes Hold 'em and started playing micro online, he'd be off to a good start. I feel no shame playing 5c/10c...

Chipmunk - You're right, in these games you must have the best hand to win the pot (at least that's what all the books say). You get called when you have a better hand because somebody else has a decent hand and can't throw it away - his lack of preflop discipline is your profit. Those players also do not want to get bluffed out of pots. As you increase in limits, you have to put more tools into your poker-kit (like semibluffs) to be a winner. At low limits, you just need the best hand or a great draw, then you bet and raise.

Colquhoun - I tried to bluff once or twice early in the session. They both failed miserably. Lesson learned!

dad604 & cdnmoose - Yes I was playing fixed limit. A 10-seat 2c/5c blinds 5c/10c limit hold em poker ring game. I'm starting at full ring games because that's what SSHE was written for. When I get comfortable there, I will learn what adjustments to make at a shorthanded table and try those out. I also want to learn to beat micro limit stud and omaha games (maybe pineapple too since there is no literature and I bet the juicy games are really juicy), but one thing at a time. I think being a hold 'em specialist is fine since that's what 90% of people want to play anyway, but I like variety and I want to develop good fundamentals in all popular games. Throw in badugi, razz, and lowball as well I suppose. Chinese poker is boring.

My favorite hand of the session - It was good in a way and bad in a way

I'm on a mini heater (2 of 3 hands or 3 of 4, can't remember which) and I've shown huge cards like AJs and TT.

Hero is dealt in late position
Four players limp
Hero limps (I'm on a heater! Plus preflop raising is rare so I will see the flop for 5c)
Blinds limp and check (7 players to flop, $.32 pot)

Flop is
checked to Hero, who bets
Blinds call
EP player raises
All folds to Hero, who reraises (my one flop reraise - check the stats)
Blinds fold
EP player calls (2 players to turn, $.68 pot)

Turn is
EP checks, Hero bets, EP calls ($.86 pot)

River is
EP checks
Hero checks (wimp I know)

EP shows
Hero shows and wins $.86

I was lucky to hit the flop, that was good. I should have bet the turn, that was bad. My fear of a flush or a straight was justified because almost everybody at this table slowplayed, and if my opponent had the case 7 I was almost certainly outkicked. But, EP check-called the turn then checked the river (WEAK WEAK WEAK) and I should have taken a stab at another big bet.