blonde poker forum

Hi Guys,

Have been lurking around on this forum as a a guest and a member for a long time. I have seen how much help you have given to new and experienced players and thought id seek some advice.

Basically i started playing poker around 4 years ago and was a massively -EV player. Just played £10-£50 comps without a bankroll and only cashed once in 3 months.

I then started university and began dealing at the local Gala casino. This really started to help my game as i also played online whilst working there. I had a couple of decent MTT results and made a profit of $5k in 6 months.

Because of gala rules i couldn't play much live but made the odd trip to broadway. I then won or split 3/4 tourneys and all of a sudden felt my live game was invincible. Boy was i wrong!

The expected MTT downswing came and without a proper bankroll i took shots here and there when i had some money, the odd £300 dtd deepstack etc.

I quit Gala last year to go on a 1 year work placement to help finalise my degree. This opened me up to play at DTD. Again without a bankroll played alot of £50 tourneys there. I came 5th in the inaugural DTD grand prix. And have split a few of the evening comps. I would say i play on average 3-4 times a month live. I also won a tourney on pokerstars for $4.2k and proceeded to give half of that back before taking a break from the game.

I felt like i was starting to lose control due to my bad runs and decided to take a couple of months off.

PROBLEM -  Parents booked me a trip to Vegas for my 21st. I went and ended up winning a $120 tourney for $3.8k which left me with a $1.5k profit after the usual Vegas fun.

Since i returned i have bought a new flat and moved in with my missus. This is crippling my funds so i have pulled back on the poker front. The odd super 50 here, and grand prix. The incredible £100. i prefer tourneys over £100 as i feel i am +ev here due to the deep natured structures.

Now i am going back to university for my final year, and have been given a lump sum from my placement company that will help me through. My student loan covers living costs and i have a par rt time job.

I have read alto of book lately and set up Bankroll management. I have set aside £2000 for poker as my live roll.  This is the most i can set aside and my question is:

Unstaked is this enough to play some £100 events? Also should i look for staking. It would break my soul to move down to £20 tourneys again. Am i rolled for £50 tourneys?

Any advice appreciated.

Good luck Dan, get a job back at gala (leicester) as they are desperate for decent dealers  Js 6d

Nige,

Thinkning of doing a few months there in a couple of weeks time, any money made there would be used to boost the BR.

I think the bankroll guide is 100 x the entrance, i.e. £100 comps would require a bankroll of £10,000, probably £11,000 when you factor in the juice.

Obviously ~18 buy-ins (factoring in rake) is underrolled, even for super-soft live tourneys.

If you were playing £100 tourneys as a shot, but your average buy-in was ~£40 you might get away with 50 buy-ins as long as you're willing to go busto.

This sort of post is familiar, but respect to you for asking the questions.

I would say a few things that others will probably re-iterate.

A 2k roll is very small, especially for tournaments. You may get away with it in 50p£1 cash games if you are any good and competent at playing all three streets and truly understand implied odds, especially reverse implied odds.

A roll that small however you would force you to be pretty tight peflop, but this is not necessarily a bad thing at live cash, where generally, most players are truly awful.

I have said this to others on blonde, but in my humble opinion, any player needs to take tournament results (from a small sample size) with a pinch of salt, as luck is a significant factor. Most people now have an idea what they are doing preflop and with generally crap structures, tourneys can often just be a test of your ability to win coin-flips, or just not get unlucky. If you have any skill edge you won't see it in any tournament with less than a £300 buy in and by the sounds of it you can't afford to play those.

I would grind cash for a bit, play the satellites to the big tournaments and continue to study the game. It sounds like your head is already in a good space, so keep positive, study the game and good luck.

2k is not enough to play £100 comps, not even close really. It's not really enough to play £50 comps, but they are so soft that you could probably get away with it and so long as you didn't run terrible at the start you might be alright. The £100 comps don't happen that often at DTD so maybe when they do, put in £60 and sell 40% to some mates, that way you're playing the comp with the good structure and big prizepool but not risking too much.

I know so many people in your position. What I'd recommend is this.

You have 2k in the poker roll and about 10 months left at uni right? Put £200 aside each month. Every month try and spin that £200 up playing cash or a couple of £100 freezeouts, or 4 £50 ones. Most months you'll bust it obv, but it doesn't matter, you'll just try again next month and the one time you run good, it may set you up to be properly rolled for playing all the time. This way you won't go broke ever, until the end of the year when it doesn't really matter and every month you'll have a shot and it'll be something to look forward to.

A few of my mates are like that, they have jobs, get paid each month, pay bills/general expenses then they'll have 300quid leftover or something and try spin that up. Seems to work ok.

Sounds like is a very important time for you. Last year of uni, work placement, new flat with the mrs. You should focus all your efforts and attention on making a success of these vital things because they will have a lasting impression on your life. Carry on playing poker as a semi-serious hobby for another 12 months. Your soul will not be broken.

PROBLEM -  Parents booked me a trip to Vegas for my 21st. I went and ended up winning a $120 tourney for $3.8k which left me with a $1.5k profit after the usual Vegas fun. Where is the problem here?

Why would it break your soul to play £20 tournaments?

Sounds like you have the makings of a gambling problem if the buzz of winning a £20 comp already isn't enough.

Concentrate on studies and keep poker as a hobby. Forget BRM because if you're not playing £20 comps you haven't got any.

Just play whatever you want and when the money's gone just stop playing until you can save up enough to play again.

Welcome aboard!

This would be my advice for whatever it is worth,

1. Do not get staked, firstly, and no disrespect to you you prolly aren't good enough - for a staking deal to work the stakee HAS to be proven to beat the games he is playing, a proven winner needs ahuge amount of experience that from the tone of your post it doesn't seem like you have. Whereas getting staked would seem like an excellent theory, if you're not defo beating the games it falls apart quickly and getting into a hole can really damage your mentality unless you are assured you can win (which only experience and result can provide) - this comes form personal experience of both staking and being staked.

---This isn;t to say that you couldn't for sure be a winner in any game you put your mind to, I would imagine you can---


2. Dont ever use money you've earnt from working to fund a poker bankroll, money earnt is valuable because you have a tangible acrifice for it, as in you working for 20 hours to earn £150, and then when you lose it in 15minutes you feel awful, losing £150 you've won from poker previously feels completely different. This will really damage your mindset

3. You really should "bring yourself" to play £20 comps, if you are a serious player, playing to a bankroll you have to play in games where the best value for your bankroll is, if these are £20 games then they are £20 games, I've played big games on a monday, to be playing pretty low stakes on Tuesday because I think it's the best use of my time/bankroll.

4. Alex's advice seems pretty good, as it prevents a REAL downswing in morale, which is crucial - advice I'd give as well (which alex will be expecting :P ) is to put a small amount of money online and grind small stakes and REALLY learn, you won;t make fortunes but poker isn;t get rich quick.

5. and again no offence, If someone had said these words to me when I started out in the game I'd have CONSIDERABLEY more money than I do now...But you are not as good as you think you are, nobody EVER is. The most long term successful players I know are people with a real grasp of the own ability and who work hard constantly on their game - I know guys starting out in not too disimilar position to yourself who really refuse to take advice about there game on board, it's mental. Speak to better players, constantly ask questions and use every possible resource you have - it's lucky here because most poker players LOVE to talk about poker so actually really enjoy when people ask questions.

Very best of luck, any troublesome hands you encounter post them on the PHA as some pretty dam sharp poker minds like the current champion of monte carlo post on there and this is a great way to gain free insight into the way really successful players think.

You've had good results so far so I'm sure if you dont go mental you'll do great! and remember

REAL LIFE >>>>>>> POKER. Always

Any suggestion that the poker is getting in the way of your final uni year, ditch it straight away. For me, the emotional swings are so distracting, and I find poker so much more interesting than studying, I couldn't mix the two there. But you sound pretty level-headed.

Excellent summary.

Will instantly stop if this happens 1 year of your life could make a huge difference in the future. Poker can be played anytime. Final year cant.

Thanks

Only as these tourneys are so badly structured end up being crap shooots. I have actively looked for tourneys with good structures. Although playing until money runs out sounds same as what Alex is saying and i like this idea

Love this advice and feel this could be the way forward!

although i know what you mean - if you perfect shove botting you will crush these games and build a roll

i suppose, my other concern is i would have to drive 1 hour + to get to a place to play £20 comps and with the current petrol rates not sure if i cant make this pay.

play online imo

Very much this^^^^^^
Your oppos in these probably have little knowledge of push/fold strat, this is where your edge becomes huge imo.
If your not that familiar with Push/fold or ICM, the just play a load of very low stake STTs, you'll pick it up in no time

Thanks for all the advice, feel i am stepping backwards in the game but hopefully for the better think ill continue to play small tourneys online with good structures. And put aside £200 a month for live tourneys as mentioned by Alex for 2 or 4 events.

Try and satellite the £300 every now and then.

The advice from SuuPRlim is excellent. The only thing I would add would be to consider not playing at all during your last year in Uni, spend the money enjoying yourself and use the time you would have spent playing utilising every available resource to learn everything you can about the game. Once you have your degree you´re in a much better spot to decide what role poker will play in your future.

Dan mate

I think Alex's advice is spot on.

I never have had a poker bankroll unfortunately I know I should but when self employed with 3 kids the roll will be spent my kids wife house holidays etc all come before poker.
If I have a win I book a holiday lol maybe one day I'll do it properly
Which is why Alex's advice sounds the one
Very best of luck mate your a nice guy and I hope you do well

What they said...

I really do think the point about concentrating on Uni should be reiterated a few dozen more times...

I have a friend who grinds high stakes SnGo on Stars who just got his degree this year. ..

He did 'ok' in his degree and ended up with a 2:1 and while I don't want to say he cruised through his last year, I am 99% certain he would admit he didn't do as much as he could have done and the major factor contributing towards that was poker. Obviously I am in not much of a position to judge what grade he could have earned had he focused a little more on his degree instead of splitting it with poker but I am sure he could have at least made a 1:2 if not better. He already has a few regrets about this and I am sure that its something that over time will gnaw at him, especially when he eventually goes to a job interview and gets lumped in with all the other mind numbingly boring candidates who scraped through with degrees putting in twice the effort he did...

Its not just the travelling time and time spent playing poker you have to consider in this decision, its also other considerations like mental fatigue and all the associated knock on effects that being a poker player presents itself with (ie late nights, shitty food, conversations that induce your braincells to skydive out of your nostrils with no parachute...).

If your looking at monetary reasons to play poker, heres a couple of reasons why you shouldn't...

Firstly, getting the best possible degree/qualifications is extremely important at your age. Hell it was extremely important at my age, I just wasn't that academic and didn't have the experience/vision to know it. We all know these days, even with the best in the land, degrees do not mean you have a guaranteed job. BUT... try getting a job without one... You need to find your way to the head of the queue somehow and spending time in casinos just isn't gonna cut it.

Secondly, assuming you get to the head of the queue, congratulations! You are on your way in your chosen career! It may not sound like much, but even getting into your career path a year or two earlier than you might otherwise have done is absolutely massive as far as earning potential goes. These days your either a high flyer or your scrubbing the bogs in Maccy D's and you need to have something to show them that you can get shit done. Sharkscope/Hendon Mob screenshots only impress other poker players.

Don't even try to think that you can balance them both because it doesn't work like that. You need time to live, see your friends, shag totally improbable girls and forget all about it the next day. By all means play now and again for shits and giggles but don't set yourself into a grind mode or even committing to play each week because while your poker may suffer from Uni work, your Uni work suffering from poker isn't a risk you should be willing to take.

Could write a helluva lot more, and I may come back to do so after eventually getting some sleep but I think you get the idea...

I think that a lot of the players in the £300 at DTD are not 'rolled' for it.

There are some good players who are, but I'd imagine they're the exception rather than the rule. Some are independently wealthy enough to buy in each month and can afford to lose that money. They don't use bankroll management, they just use disposable income.

With your bankroll and revenue stream you obviously aren't able to buy in to the tournament each month. Someone mentioned it earlier, but the simple solution is trying to satellite in. The same goes for the 6-max tournaments that might become a regular thing at DTD.

The cost of the satellites will come from your monthly bankroll allowance, and so you can play them each month and hopefully score a few seats. My advice would be to look for the value in the satellites and play those. One month you might be able to bag a few seats, so you can roll the additional seats to subsequent months. Then all you have to do is win the main event :D

I don't know what course you're doing (might have missed it if it's been mentioned in the thread), but I'd expect that from the New Year until your final exams you are going to have very limited time for poker. You will have a long time as a graduate, so obviously your degree has to come first. Poker will be around in June, so don't think that you're missing out on opportunities.

Also, think about your missus. You're going to be busy studying and also playing a bit of poker. Make sure you maintain the balance.

Do this!

Dont do this unless you can easily stop playing/enjoy doing your uni work!

what is a 1:2?

degree grades are:

1st
2:1
2:2
3rd
fail

Lol shows how academic I am just a bit lol

Isn't there one between a third and a fail? Some form of general non honours degree or something.

yep, there's a pass which is a degree without honours, some weird latiny named thing which is a pass with honours but not graded because you were too ill to sit the exam and a double first if you're dead clever and go to a poncy uni

A 2:1 can also be known as a sportsman's first. You would/could have got a first class degree, but you also had a life at uni.

And there are 2:1s and 2:1s. Maybe try going for a first and missing it rather than trying to avoid Desmond and scraping in is the best plan.

Well today is the start of my 3rd year quest.

Just got a first for my 3rd year (placement) and got first lectures monday.

Anyways going to start my poker quest today with 2 shots at the satellite into tonights satellites on dtd.
Will also be buying into the 6 max sat tonight. Dont know if anyones interested but thought id put it out there

What's your name just incase you are on my table?

Would be helpful to know who the scared money is  :P

This. Would be nice to be present at the start of a potential career. Want to know with whom I will be chopping the 6max this weekend. :)

Guys i think it would be poker -EV and life -EV to name my name.

One of my biggest problems online is trash talking which i have tried to remove from my game. Going forward Ive realised if i have nothing nice to say, not to even talk. Its going well so far.

Anyways i played the 5 euro sat yesterday and had 1 re buy. Also played the 6 max sat (2.75) with no re buys and got no seats. Glad i didn't though as a huge life problem came out and i was out all evening from 8 onwards so couldn't play the 6 max sat etc.


Just played the 2:30 and 3:30 group of Sat's for (16.50 Euro total inc re buys) and shipped a 50 euro seat for tonights sat. (In before anyone - You can now go check and work out my username if it bothers anyone that much lol)

Feels weird discussing this kind of stuff especially in a public forum, but its good for me to man up and realise that i have been playing well above my limits (Taking shots) for way too long.

Without the advice received on here I'm pretty sure the £2k would last 3 months max (Without a win) and i would of played the 300 and 150 straight buy ins.

Maybe i was abit of a degen, as i would play till i had no money left to my name but writing this should help me control that and get back to level mindedness.

Also no matter my financial state or bankroll i would never play 'scared poker', i play every tourney the same regardless of this.

Thanks again for all advice received so far.

NIT! deffo just say your name lol, people are offering help and wanna know who they are helping! will be fun to rail your rise to the top also

This.


Also don't worry about this; just have a read of some of the diaries and you'll soon realise that everyone knows everything about everyone else and as you already know, people on here are way more sympathetic and helpful than you probably expected (probably safe to assume you were a 2+2 forum member ;))

Blonde name is a clue

Ok ok, its more because ill of probs made loadsa enemines over the last few months.

Dtd online name: crzymandan ( Waiting for abuse)

email address is also a bit of a giveaway.

Still cant work out why my blonde name gives it away though George/...

was gonna out you Dan but decided better of it  ....gl mate

mmmmmmmmmmmm

after some pretty epic detective work I think I might have solved this 'ere riddle.

Dan Kilsby. Good Luck

congrats on your 5th place finish in the DTY grand prix on the 29th of october 2010.

we have the same pic on the hendon mob :)

Ha, the Blonde detectives are too good......

Anyways i went out the sat early on, played a hand strange and couldent put the guy on a straight when it was screaming straight or bluff. Got it in with my 2 piar and the dream was over again

WIIIIIII, Sats the way to do it.

I have been playing the 5 euro pre sats to each nights 50 euro tourney. I think i have prob spent around 35-40 euros on the sats.

Cliffs - Ship a seat in the 6:30pm sat to the 50 euro 9pm sat. Then ship a 300 seat. Boom!

See everyone there saturday.

well done Dan nice one ...

pm sent

Wp Dan, come and say Hi on Saturday!!

Will do, will try and look for the guy standing near the results screen circa 5pm, pretty sure itll be either yourself or someone working for you.

Thanks Lee, top guy as per usual saves a tilting train journey. Will pop a text over today.