blonde poker forum

When I started playing poker a couple of years ago, I started out at the cheap £1 stt's on Betfair, now, well, I'm only really playing up to $50 mtt's and the low levels (NL25/NL50) cash games.  It's not brilliant I know but I enjoy it and that has to count for something (make me feel good, say it does!)

I see some of the high stakes players here are students which amazes me.  When I was that young, I couldn't afford to throw away one of the big blinds that these guys play at, but I do wonder at what level people start playing at and how does that compare to what they are playing now.  Doesn't have to be the higher game players, just curious if I'm alone in not really progressing or it's quite common.

It's not all doom and gloom down here though, I do have some things I can say I've done that I'm pleased with but I'm certainly no Brian T unfortunately, although the missus wouldn't even begin to grasp the figures he plays with :D  I'm not sure what she'd do if I told her I played with $100 sometimes, yet alone lost millions and then won millions!

I've moved up less than you Graham.  Started on £1 stts like you and now play max $20 MTTs (with the occasional bigger one thrown in for fun).  Difference is I don't do bankroll management (and don't choose to, because I play for fun).  Don't know where I'd be if I did (probably not playing any more tbh)

Personally I have been playing for over two years on line and still bumble about at the lower levels. The main reason being I enjoy playing my poker within my means and have been doing ok (also I'm crap which doesn't help) no huge bankroll but not many reloads either. I enjoy the social side of the live games budgeting wisely for the games I play and don't have to worry if my next bet is going to put me into debt. I hit Vegas once a year for the experience (came back earlier this year winning which was a bonus).

So Graham, my opinion is enjoy your poker and if at some stage you feel comfotable with bigger stakes then go for it, but if you lose your enjoyment it defeats the purpose. I play because I love the game and any win is a bonus !!

This of course is my own opinion and while I do want to improve my game my ambitions don't lie in the big league.......

I'm not that far off there though, I don't play that many $50's, my average buy in is probably only around $15-$20.

Bankroll management isn't my strongest point, well, I'm not bad at it, but take cash games for example, I can't handle the thought of playing with at least 20 buy in's in reserver - at NL25 that's $500 being conservative - I mean we're really only playing for  $25 here, lets be honest a double up is fantastic.  That said, I do really appreciate the need for decent bankroll management, especially for ring games and it's the main reason I don't play that much cash.

Edit, this isn't a negitive post, I really enjoy my poker and I am happy(ish) playing at my levels, I'm just curious where others are at.

Apart from it being nearly two years rather than over two years this is where I'm generally at.

I've increased my bankroll and skill enough that I will take the occasional shot at higher buy in tournaments but I'm just as relaxed/focussed playing a freeroll as I am playing a $1, $10, $100 or $1000 tournament.

In terms of the original question, I think most people will find a level they're most happy with and stick mainly to around that level. For me it's the $10 level for others it might be the $1 or the $10,000 level, but wherever it is I don't think you should worry about whether you could or should be playing consistently higher just enjoy where you're at.

Oh no, I'm not fussed about the level I'm at, I do enjoy it, I'm just curious as to the progression of others in general.

I have played the lower levels (and still do) and I have played upto 30-60 2-7 Limit Triple draw (not a good idea unless you have a 180k bankroll IMO as the swings are massive). Played 10-20 2-7 triple draw (fixed limit) for a fair while...and damn near lost my bankroll doing it (which is why I now understand that you need a very big bankroll to play that particular game..a very wise lesson and a GREAT game learnt)

It's not about what levels you play at...I am a losing cash player as soon as I move upto 5-10 in ANY game other than Triple draw and at 10-20-/15-30 I don't have the bankroll so can lose my entire bankroll if I have a bad run (or a few days where I play crap)....it's about what levels you're still a winning player at and you can afford to play.

Tourneys...I can play any level fairly comfortably now..my first $650 WSOP qualifier I was bricking it..it was just SOO much money for me (even though I satted in on stars I knew I could play 6 other tourneys with my W$) that it made me play the worst poker of my life.
These days i understand that..it's just poker and I'm comfortable at any level (which doesn't mean I can afford to play the constantly..as I can't, I just have to sat my way in or make enough playing lower level games to have the occasional pop at one :)

I like every started off playing 'a bit of cash, STT's at various stakes, and low buy-in MTT's'. I have always been a break even cash player, nothing special, but worked out that STT's & MTT's were where I could make money. I now play at around the $50 level and continue to move up levels when the bankroll is sufficient. It also reached the level where 6 months ago I can buy into the various $100 MTT's (mainly the $20K crypto at 8 every night), and a few on Mansion.

BUT, sometimes now I find that i'm not enjoying poker as much as I should, in fact less than when I started beacuse now I EXPECT to win, and winning is not a 'bonus' to having some fun like it used to be... Maybe just a phase, who knows...

It's not fun when you're scared to lose at whatever level you're playing.  That's a mistake that I've made, and I guess I'm not alone there.

That's a pretty safe guess

the level i play varies emmensley depending on my bankroll.

unfortunatly i dip in and out of my bankroll for everyday living expenses so whenever i have a nice win (not often at mo)i use it for other things.

hopefully in 2008 i can start to build a poker only bankroll and play at a good level.

as for playing scared kin i must admit this is something i do at timesand it certainly effects your usual game.

I've also taken money from my bankroll to buy stuff.  This has probably slowed me down in terms of being able to move up to a higher level (where I'd hope to be able to increase my hourly win-rate).  But at least it means I have something to show for my hobby, and even if I blow the rest of my roll, I won't go away empty-handed (or just with a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen).

I've got about 5 of them by now.

At the start (around 2004), I only played freerolls.  Hubby said if I wasn't good enough to cash in one of those, I had no business making a deposit.  Got to the point where I had over $800 built up from freerolls and small penny tables, but couldn't take it out because I hadn't deposited, so he dusted off the credit card and let me at it.  Left $50 there and cashed out the rest to pay for a week-end away with the family.  Stuck to freerolls, $1 stt and penny tables until about a year ago.

The past year has been small buy ins (not much more than $20) and I took another chunk of winnings out 6 months ago to treat the family.  Nice to have something 'real' to show for all the hours sat at the computer.  The word 'bankroll' does not exist in our house.  If we can afford to enter a tournament, we do...if we can't, we don't.  I love poker, but don't have to be playing to enjoy it...especially not if it puts pressure on the people in my family. 

Would never have dreamed of spending money on satellites this time last year.  Just wanted a straight comp with cash prizes at the end and couldn't grasp the satellite theory at the time.  After gaining the entry to Waterford through the Blonde satellites, it's given me a taste for trying more of the same in the new year. 

Apart from that, I don't imagine I'll be moving up the buy in ranks any time soon unless I get hit by some bright spark and suddenly learn how to play this game called poker.  lol

 i will only play at a level my bankroll allows,,i win more than i loose at low level stakes and enjoy treating myself when i cash in the odd bigger tournament i have qualified for ,if i decided to deposit cash from my own bank account i could play cash games at a higher level but my bankroll will tell me if it gets big enough that i am now good enough to play at this higher level,till then i wont move up, whether your backing the horses or playing poker  its gambling and sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a gambler is betting bigger stakes and getting lucky and winning early on,they tend to give it all back with interest

lol I've moved down!  When I was working i would play epts and high limit games, but now that I'm playing for a living I will only play at a level that I know I can win.  Having said that the relative skill levels have changed dramatically and a winning game at 400nl now would have easily beaten 2000nl a couple of years ago.

Started in 2003 at $0.05-$0.10 NL and $1-$2 FL, when STT's came along $5 level.

Coming into the start of 2008 i don't play NL cash, but do play PLO at 5-10/10-20, 30-60 and 50-100 FL and £1000 MTT's


It's been a fun ride!

Started with freerolls, then the lowest level mtts before moving on to stts.
Went from the lowest to $20 stts before withdrawing all my roll to pay for more important things.
Have sod all roll at the mo so back to playing the micro levels. Trying to avoid depositing again

But it's more exciting when the amounts you are winning or losing genuinely mean something to you.
It's good to take a shot sometimes..........

Agreed.  As long as it's a 'shot', and not the delusion that you can sustain playing at the level for long-term and ignoring 'variance'. 

yeah its ok to have a shot every now and then, the best advice i could give to all gamblers to think about was from a brilliant book on the psychology of gambling , some gamblers get there kicks from how much they stand to loose,this is the problem a lot of addictive gamblers slip into, they will just gamble everything away, even when they do get the odd big win they just up there stakes till they loose, other gamblers get there kicks from how much they stand to win,they have a realistic chance of winning at gambling i read the book a long time ago ,the question it gave was ,ask your self what do you prefer, £1 on a 10/1 winner or £10 on a 1/1 winner,it will surprise you how many people will say cant be arsed having a £1 bet on a 10/1 shot ,just not bothered i would rather have a £10 bet on 1/1,they get there kicks from how much they stand to loose, and could have a big problem  now or in the future with gambling . it dosent mean you only bet £1 on outsiders all day.just dont get your thrills from how much you stand to loose in gambling,

I started straight in at $2 $4 NLH - and lost LOTS!! ooops - but lesson learned. Did not play cash for a year or two .
Then played $10 $15 STT's moving up to $25 $50 STT's with the occassional shot at $100 STT's

Also played the $27 and $15 rebuuy tourneys on Tribecca along with any other tourney on Tribecca (on most nights as many as 5 or 6 MTT's)

Got back into cash about 3 years ago playing $5 $10 NLH and moving upto $10 $20 NLH and was doing very nicely thank you.

Then had a period of about 3 months playing $10 $20 where I donked off practically ALL of the roll (playing when other things in your life aren't great is not a good thing)

Back down to MTT and STT and built it back up again - reaching $5 $10 NLH

Then the live bug took over and I used it all playing live - and playing live is VERY hard to keep a bankroll going as the "cash" is REAL and all too tempting to spend.

Now I mostly play live events and live cash, but do still play the odd MTT online and getting back into cash again - trying to build up an online roll - currently playing 50c $1 and $1 $2 omaha and NLH. Together with online SATS.

STT's are a no no for me as I find them booring.

Other income means I do not rely on Poker as a source of Income so money won gets spent on "luxury" items.

I hate to lose money, even small amounts. So I prefer to satellite into tournys and cash out my wins instead of building a bankroll and playing at higher limits. I wont play below $10 as the play is too random, but I have a nice enjoyable game at low limits and I win which makes me happy. I was playing cash for a whle and built up from 5 c/10c to 25c/50c but I hated it when I lost $50 or more in one hand.

For live play I don't have a bank roll and just 'spend' what I can afford to, I don't expect a return for live play and if I get any then its bonus spending cash.

If I get richer in my day job (and get on top of my mortgage payments) then I would probably up my limits, but I have no intention of going pro.

i play freerolls

Diff is Booder - you actually win em as well!!

A tough feat in itself

I am still playing around the same level after six years, even though I have cashed out a 6 figure sum over the same period ( $ 6 figures ) When I get a big win or build up to a certain amount I cash it out. Young family, big mortgage, love of champers and fine wines etc, there is always a home for it. I only play mtts, unless I have had to much of the champers and wine :) another reason for cashing out :)). As long as you are comfortable at the level your playing, you have a chance of winning.

Off topic,   Its nice to see a lot of the old 1808 gang posting great times and good banter

Tribecca - RIP :(

Used to stick to $2-$5 mtts as i'm not a fan of cash or stt's. always f/outs and never rebuys.

now i'll quite happily play $20 mtt's and not get worried if I bubble etc... I try to keep my play the same..

so decided tonight as a one off I'd see if it were true at higher levels...

Playing the 40k $100 f/out on Ipoker... pays 50.. am 33/54 at the break at the mo. And surprise surprise flushy is sitting 2nd lol

I get by listening to the sounds, best thing blue square ever did bring the sounds back!

I started at the $5.50 sngs on stars and the uber micros, then switched to limit holdem and stud8 cash games which I played for a year and made around $3-4k playing 1/2-3/6.

Then UIGEA hit and I took a break from poker as it really hit limit games pretty hard initially anyway, started playing again in november and switched to NL - decided to start at 25NL on a $500 roll, and am up to $2100 ish and looking to move up soon. ( $416 of that was playing the 2700 FPP turbos to sunday million on stars and selling the seats ).

Jan the 8th will mark the "two full months of NL" mark.

I'm still playing at the am level I started with 2 1/2 years ago lol

Been travelling for a year so haven't had the chance to play any poker apart for once in a hostel in Perth Australia but the kind of poker you don't win chips but ...... have to remove an item of clothing lol

I want them to bring back the trumpet at the start of tournies. Always put me in a better mood.

I started playing around 18 months ago. Started playing on the $1 stt's, freerolls and 0.02c/0.04c cash.  Aim was to build this up to a decent bankroll following the 5% rule.  Although my bankroll now alows me to play at a higher level I have found that I dont like to play for that cash & stick to what I know.  Maybe not confident enough in my game yet.

My current level & format is $10 stts and have started dabbling on the $20 ones (6 seater).  Like the double your money ones on Will hill also.  Play Mtt's at $5 - $20 level.  Can get to the cash but need to turn cashses into FT's and top 4 to get some good returns.  Have moved away from cash.  I have found that I can be very patient on the 50/1 and build up a good ammount with some steady play, but the swings of loosing hands with the nuts really does my head in!  You can go from hero to zero so quick on cash.  Stt's are more stable and can limit losses (do like to gamble some times).

I have said this year that one of my goals is to build up a bankroll to move to the next level.  I really want to improve my Mtt play and get to more FT's and higher cashes, using the cash made from Stt's to do this.  I tried a $100 f/o last week and felt really out of my depth.  Although nearly got to the cash, I think my bankroll needs to be higher to get there.  I fancy a trip to vagas n all to try against the big boys...

It always made me think of the "Kentucky Derby" stall at Alton Towers, and made me sign the song from there for hours. Very annoying!

my original spiritual home, I won a fair bit, then i donked off a fortune, then won it all back on tribecca. Love old school VC poker.

I've always lacked discipline so it's boom and bust for me, currently bust. I always withdraw big lumps when i need it so thats always affected what levels i play. I started at 2/4 and 3/6 on VC and have played everything below it and above it up to 25/50 plo (only a few sessions for kicks).

Strarted off in the £10 rebuy rookie tournaments in Luton on Tuesday......still play them.......on line is fine......but I jive when playing live

I began playing poker live initially, before discovering online poker too.  I started by playing in a pub league in Oxford, which had no cash prizes, only like tiered sateliites with entries to other tournaments to play for seats into big events.  This was a little over a year ago.  After a few months I ventured down to the Vic and The Western to play the £30 freezeouts and a little bit of cash.

During the summer I began to play at higher levels, entering some £100 comps, and eventually freerolled myself a seat to Poker 6, where I had a biggish cash.  That enabled me to be able to permanently step a couple of levels.  Continued playing £100 comps, and £1/£2 live cash, with a few bigger events thrown in where I could (GUKPTs etc). 

Now I can usually be found down my local casinos playing £50-£300 buyin tournaments and stts, £1/£2 live cash, I've also started playing some dealers choice too.  If I'm online I'm usually playing satellites for big live events or trying to spin the money up to enter them.