[Chiproll]

I know I know, dont start lining up outside my apartment, but seriously, this site is making me sick. My wife always complains when i start a new hobbie because she knows how obsessed I can become. Today i was browsing e-bay and bought some poker dvd's from 5star. I noticed that there was a little message "this item qualifies you for free shipping on your order". I'm like "sweet, lets see what kind of chips they have." So anyways i bought my first ever samples, Paulson trademarks, river poker tour (chipco's i think), WPT (cuz i like liscensed products and so i can see how much better the "real thing" is), desert sands and some coconut trees.

Now back to the mentor part. I live in mid-missouri and am seriously wanting to play poker as a semi-pro (holding down a regular job, but playing as often as i can afford). I am the best poker player that i know personally, not that I don't know of good players, I just dont know anyone personally that is better than me (dont have many friends to speak of).

My main weakness is I can't read long things (i.e. anything longer than a magazine article or this post, lol). I've had mixed success online and I know I'd be in the money except for the minimum cash out rules. So i usually end up loosing my winnings bcuz i buy in at the site minimum and I stay too long trying to recoup bad beats or wasting my $$ in tournaments. Also online I fall into the trap of "trying something new".

I went to KC (Harrah's) last weekend and sat down for the first time ever at a 2-5 NL game (really the only game played widely in MO). I did pretty well buying in for $130 and cashing out at over $300 when the table broke up. I came back to my little town and played 2-5 and was up another hundred or so when i lost my stack on a bad call w/ top pair but the other guy had the boat. I was really discouraged and I decided to buy some instructional dvd's to teach me some basic principles that i'm sure i've yet to pick up on my own.

So as a relative newb to this site and to live poker i have to ask, at the risk of ridicule, is there someone that lives near Columbia, MO that would seriously consider being a poker buddy/mentor or just shoot the sh*t.

PM me if u would seriously consider meeting up, and thanks to everyone who contributes to this awesome site.

[ACE'S FULL]

PM sent.

[w16227]

What game is of particular interest? Knowing this will help us recommend a decent book.

If you want to be a semipro (or even just pick up some extra $$$ sometime), you will need the discipline to read a poker book or two. I am not trying to be mean - it is one of the best ways to inprove your game. Start with Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein. This book is an easy read - yet contains a lot of good information. If you play any meaningful limits the majority of the table will have looked through a book or two. If you have not put in any study, then you are giving up a great advantage to the field. Also be prepared to invest time/$$$ in tracking software (if playing online) and going over your play.

I also need to address the "id be a winning player if" comments, if you have not pulled out or have in accounts more cash than you put it, then you are not a winning player. Again, I am not trying to be mean, but there is a harsh reality for poker, only 10% of all poker players can make money on a regular basis. Bankroll swings happen, even if you are a winning player. Losing your roll is also not an indication that you are a losing player.

Look over the strategy sections of the site. Ask questions or post hand histories. for comment. Read that 1st poker book. There are other good strategy sites as well - like 2 + 2, but you will find this site to be friendlier then others.

The site runs a weekly tournamnet over at pokerstars. Fun and good competition. Join in.

good luck

[A-Ro]

Welcome to the site...I'm from Missouri but, now live in Wichita. I'd help if I could.

[hachkc]

Originally Posted by w16227

The site runs a weekly tournamnet over at pokerstars. Fun and good competition. Join in.

You left out the important part about TOUGH competition. Just playing in this has helped my game immensely plus it gives me a goal to shoot just by trying to consistently finish high in the tournament.

For a few more details, we hold a weekly NLHE tourney with league standings and such. Also, most mondays we hold a side game (non-league) with games usually other than NLHE like Limit 7CS, Limit HE, PL Omaha, etc.

[tomb1]

Come play in the weekly Thursday night Chiptalk tournament on Pokerstars. It's the best competition/education you'll get for ten bucks anywhere.

[SpeakEasy]

Originally Posted by Chiproll

I live in mid-missouri and am seriously wanting to play poker as a semi-pro

I went to KC (Harrah's) last weekend and sat down for the first time ever at a 2-5 NL game. I did pretty well buying in for $130

I played NL at Ameristar in KC on Saturday, but it wasn't my first time. I did pretty well buying in for about $1000 (the 75% rule is great).

[IlliniTomahawk]

You say that you can't read poker material in long sessions without losing your focus (i.e. anything more than a magazine article without getting bored)?

If that is the case, I highly recommend buying Phil Gordon's Little GREEN Book on CD (I think it is like $20 on Amazon). I drive to work every morning (about an hour each way) and got through the "book" 3 times over a two week period. Not the best strategy book I've read, but there are some nice tips in there that paid dividends for me right away. Plus, Phil narrates it himself and does a pretty good job.

Good luck!

[w16227]

Originally Posted by IlliniTomahawk

You say that you can't read poker material in long sessions without losing your focus (i.e. anything more than a magazine article without getting bored)?

I drive to work every morning (about an hour each way)

snip

Good luck!

If you have that long of a drive - download the circuit from cardplayer and burn some audio CDs ( or get an ipod and radio hookup). AWESOME information.

One of the reasons that I recommended Ace on the River is that if someone cannot sit still enough to read that book, then they may not have the patience and desire to play serious poker. The book is a great read and does not concentrate on many of the boring aspects of poker.

Most times, I recommend Theory of Poker - as if you can get through that and still be enthusiastic about poker, then you have a shot at becoming a winning player. Chip seemed to be predispositioned to rejecting "boring" books, so a storytelling one seemed to be a much better choice to start. If he cannot remain interested in that book, then realistically there is little chance of being a winning player for a reasonable limit. The discipline needs to be there to fold for an hour straight if you need to. If your interest in poker cannot get past reading a 10 minute article, then the player will most likely get way to bored at the table to play the tight -aggressive game that is needed. Sure, there are some pros that have not read a poker book, but this is rare.

[Chiproll]

I'd like to say thank you to everyone that took the time to read and contribute to this thread. I think "w" is on the right track. I do have a certain lack of discipline to sit still and read, and this does correlate to how I usually end up playing poker. Its almost always the same story, I sit down with my game plan, game plan works, then i get bored, divert from gameplan and money either dissapears or I realize I'm diverting from the plan and I quit before bankroll is gone. If I play for an hour or two, I win. If I play for 6 or more hours, I almost always go broke.

As far as which games, mostly NLHE because thats whats popular. I also like Omaha & O/8 but games are hard to find. I don't know why, but I always play better in cash games live or online than I do in tournaments. In tournaments I definitely make more moves than I would normally due to succombing to the pressure of increasing blinds. I start to get nervous and try to chase down pots I shouldn't be in or try to bluff people that just don't fold. Your probably going to frown, but i did already order some Phil Helmuth DVD's. I did this because if anything, like the guy or not, he is one of if not the winningest NLHE player in history. I'll definitely look into the books "w" mentioned, but right now i'm strapped for cash.