[geewhiz41]

I am brand new here but want to introduce myself. I am very interested in participating in good discussions about poker and poker stratey, and the occasional exchange of horrific bad beat stories. Just kidding, the latter not so much.

I am a recreational player, nearly all online (Paradise), although I do play in a monthly or so home game. I have also been known to play in Vegas once or twice, and have done fairly well in the live tournaments out there.

Okay, so what to talk about? Um... I know! Single table SNG's, multi-table tournaments, single table ring games... online... pros and cons of each.

I'll start... in terms of profit, I have had the most success in single table SNG's. For me, 10 players is a good number of opponents to take on, the payout is reasonably good, and I feel it is a good use of my time. I used to play a lot of big multi-table tournaments but got frustrated because there was so much loose, wacky play, especially early on. I also didn't like playing for hours, outlasting 90% of the field, and winning a big fat $0.

I like live ring games, but I think they can be a little dull online. I like tournaments because of the elimination factor, and I like that there are increasing blinds to force the action. Left to my own devices, I feel I could sit at a ring game for hours and not do anything.

[smoore]

welcome to the forums.

I've had good success playing SnG tournaments also but have molded myself (for better or worse) into a MTT specialist. My ROI in low-limit SnG's (up to $33) bounced between 10% and 30% for a couple years. Since they only last an hour or so that's a pretty good hourly rate. The reason I've decided to pursue MTT tournaments are the incredible amount of dead money that enters. I've been playing $5.50 and under MTTs for the past couple years and this year I made myself "take off the skirt." I played quite a few of the 'stars $22*180 tournaments (beat them well) and some of the $22 large field tournaments. I'm still playing the micros sometimes and have settled into $11 large field tournaments as I'm BUSTO once more.

Now... my hourly rate in these MTTs isn't as good as my SnG rate was but my ROI is through the roof. I take this as a good sign, since I haven't yet played a tournament higher than $22. This is going to allow me to take occasional shots at $109+ buy-in tournaments once I get a roll back together. I've been studying some satellite-specific theory also, to allow me to get into the 'stars sunday million for cheap. One FT at that bad boy could make my year.

Most of my ring game experience is in LHE, full at first, then 6max. I'm good at it. I usually beat 2/4 for 1.75BB/100 while multitabling. I've always played ring at Party, but I think the latest "Monster" promotion has caused me to swear them off for good. Perhaps I'll go play on the action network or ipoker, as neither of those enable pokertracker to work and you can find some really good games. I'm getting better at deep-stack NLHE so I've been playing some micro ring games of NL. I'm basically a nut-peddler so far, I need to learn how to make speculative preflop plays more often.

So the point of this whole novel, I like MTTs because:

1) Huge ROI potential.
2) Ability to take "year making" shots for very little $.
2a) The chance to take winnings and go for a truly "life changing" shot.
3) When I play 4 hours of SnG's, I'm wiped out. I'm not playing my A game, probably not even my B game. If I'm 4 hours into a large field MTT it means I'm doing well and have a shot at the FT (if not already there). I'm excited and paying very close attention.

[VARoadstter]

Welcome to the site.

If you like talking strategy then I think you'll be pleased with the discussion held here. We don't yet have a subforum dedicated to tournament play but if the site continues to grow larger then I suspect that will eventually happen.

Regarding your preferences regarding tourney types - I see reasons to do both. It really depends on the moment. If I have 3+ hours to invest in a MTT, I will definitely do it as I find a lot of satisfaction in playing big stack poker (with blinds still pretty low, giving you the ability to play strategy appropriate for 100xBB and above stacks). Not surprizingly, I prefer deep stacked cash games as well. I think my version of heaven at the poker table would be playing the same stakes as they do on HSP but with the same idiots you encounter in online $1/$2 NLHE.

S&Gs are good also. If you're trying for an hour or so quick fix before getting some sleep, a good single table S&G is a good place to be. The payouts are a little flat for my taste (~30% or so paid) but other than that I like them.

Hope to see more contributions from you in the future.

Good luck.

Oh, and play in our fourm's weekly private tournaments on PokerStars. Sounds like you'd really enjoy it. Check the stickys in the Contests and Tournaments forum.

[Matthew]

Welcome to the forum.

I do not play online so I have nothing to offer there.

For live tournaments - I actually prefer SNG's. They are just like the home game tourney we do every Friday before the cash game.

When ever I have played in a live Multi-table game - I'm so much more nervous before the game starts - just with the increased number of players.

[geewhiz41]

Very interesting, and thank you for the welcome.

I tell myself all the time I play poker for fun, not because I am trying to get rich. We keep score by the size of our bankrolls, but I also just like the mental challenge of the game.

Sure...

That said, I would love to get into a big tournament some day and make the final table and be on TV and meet Shana Hiatt lol. I know, she's gone now.

I don't think I would ever want to play poker professionally, I'd more like to be like Steve Danneman, an average Joe who got lucky one week and became a millionaire.

So what does this have to do with anything? I play $11 and $22 SNG's as a way to build a bankroll. I want to be able to have enough stockpiled away that I can afford the occasional flyer on a $200 satellite. I just want to have my one week of luck.

[jamby]

Welcome to ChipTalk Gee. Nice to see you found your way here. I think you'll be right at home.

All, please extend the usual CT warm greetings to my friend and poker mentor, Geewhiz41. I'm really happy that he's joined us here and plans to play in our weekly tourneys.

-jamby

[geewhiz41]

Thanks, jamby, although I dunno how much of a mentor I am. Gosh, everyone is so niiiice here!

[jamby]

Aw shucks.

Originally Posted by geewhiz41

Thanks, jamby, although I dunno how much of a mentor I am. Gosh, everyone is so niiiice here!

[imthatguy]

Welcome to the site, you'll find a lot of helpful members here.

Just last week, I decided to take online poker seriously and wanted to make it a real challenge by starting with $100 at .50/.50NL. Five days into it I'm at $284. Not bad, but not great either - but this time I'm treating it a lot different and looking long term, rather than fast gains.

Since the discussion is going pretty well here so far, I guess I'd like to know if I'm going about this the right way. I want to build a pretty healthy roll before I move up a level, but have I started with too little? I find that I'm fairly decent at SNG's, but find that the time invested isn't always worth the 50% to 1st. Ring games at these lower levels are pretty easy and I find that almost all my sessions are profitable. Is it time to move up, or should I focus and build up the roll?

[Slim7]

Welcome to your newest addiction!!!!