thanks everyone, will take a look at those suggestions...

Thanks guys, some really solid and thoughtful advice.

To answer some of the questions: I want to play for fun, make a few quid if i can and play some of the bigger tournaments online and live (probably and realistically getting in through satellites). What i don't want to do is sit and grind cash for 8 hours a day chasing the small profits. I can support poker through other income and its all about having fun, but the lure of making extra cash is nice and playing bigger tournaments. I live in London so a few casinos to choose from!

When playing at university I deposited £100 into Stars and £100 into Ladbrokes. On both sites i took out my initial stake once i made enough and was effectively playing for free and made small (£100-£200) withdrawals every so often to pay for nights out and beer. That suited me perfectly at uni.

I want to play tournaments only. I'm not comfortable grinding cash and the MTT style suits my way of thinking. Plus i know what the entry cost is and how much i can loose each game.

Satelittes into larger or live tournaments, plus mid level tournaments will be my starting point i think.

Any advice on which other sites to consider. I play on stars and someone mentioned sky poker. Any other worth looking at considering tournament play?


Thanks again all...

Hi guys, used to post a little bit 10 years ago during the poker boom when I and a lot of people got into poker through university. It was a great time, I setup and run the university poker society for 3 years, had a few minor successes and had great fun with a great bunch of guys playing poker.

After uni the career and work life came and took over. I decided at the time to focus on a career but keep playing on the side. Eventually it became impossible to play seriously as I had hardly any free time at all and I haven't played seriously since.

Roll on 10 years or so and I'm now working from home, have a family and a lot more free time. I loaded up PokerStars to see I still had $200 on there and won a few STT straight away. The poker bug is back!

Wanting to study the game a bit more and having a disposable income where I can play higher stakes than before at uni, my thinking is to take the game seriously and learn more about the game whilst trying to play more online. Mainly MTT and STT.

If you were in my position, how would you tackle this new found passion for the game and what advice would you give me?

I also intend to start playing more live games than sitting online.

All advice most appreciated...

anyone read this yet? worth buying?

now not available until 30th Sep according to Amazon. Might just order this from one of the US stockists and wait 7-10 days for delivery.

[Q]

here is a question and answer from Scott fischmans blog on cardplayer. it brings up a debate i was having with a friend the other day and a situation i feel myself in:

Q Lately, I've been running bad, losing to two outers, etc. - I'm sure you know the drill! I've noticed that it is really hard getting players off of marginal hands before the flop, and with any kind of drawing hand after the flop. I am mostly playing in lower buy-in tournaments, where a lot of the players aren't very good. Would it be better to save up a bankroll and play more expensive tournaments, where I may still run bad, but will feel more comfortable with the quality of play? Or should I stick it out where I'm at? I'm getting tired of only feeling comfortable with quads!!!
-Cory

A First of all, I don't blame you for being frustrated! I believe that your instincts are correct: you can't get over the hump of "I have to make a flush to win!" until you start playing in the bigger-buy-in tournaments. Smaller tournaments can often be card-catching contests - if you want to experience great play, you're going to have to find your way into the more expensive tournaments. I got lucky, finding financial backers who gave me the chance to play at a higher level before my bankroll would allow it. Assuming you don't have someone willing to invest in you, then I'd say "yes" to your question: Spend a couple of weeks saving up for a bigger-buy-in tournament, or try to play your way in using satellites and supersatellites. While you're saving, take some time to "sweat" the big tournament, analyzing the play and identifying as many factors as you can before risking your own money.



what is everyones thoughts on this. i constantly find myself outdrawn by fish who can't lay down AJ pre-flop or chasing straights or flushes they don't have the odds to chase. i am still able to make money at this level (i'm in profit, not any huge amounts) so please don't see this as a moan about not winning or bad beats.

the debate i had with my mate led us to settling on there being an optimum level where your skill level is suited and for some of us we can struggle to build a bankroll to get up to that level without having to deposit cash from other sources.

For those that have gone through the limits from lower to the higher, did you notice a difference in skill at certain levels, did you ever feel out of your depth?

discuss...

how much money are you looking to spend? there are soo many options out there ranging from 1 or 2p a chip to £1-£2 per chips. all depends on your budget and how many chips you need

6 months ago I sent an email to the development team behind the 'Shad of Glass' but thus far no one got back to me.

TBH, I thought that the building wasn't getting built.

i would guess they are working for a full planning permission, which can take years, but then i may be completely wrong lol. i hope it does get built.

not to sure to be honest, i know they have secured an outline planning permission.

the company i'm about to start working for is trying to secure planning permission for the largest residential tower in europe next door to where the 'shard of glass' is going. The next 10 years is going to change the london skyline dramatically with loads of large skyscrapers in the pipeline.


that bull ring shopping centre is horrible in my opinion, how planning ever let that design through i don't know!! i went there last year on a field trip at uni. lots of good developments in brum but that bull ring is just wrong.

you seen the 'shard of glass' building which is going to be developed at london bridge?!?

http://shardlondonbridge.com/gallery/

http://shardlondonbridge.com/development_team/project_managers.php


beautiful building in my opinion

Try ebay Casino-Poker chips
500 11.5g dice chips for around £25
Paulson and other types as well for quite a bit more

like all things on ebay, be careful. with poker chips they wil advertise as 'casino quality' and as 'paulsons' but are not near a good quality chip. i've rarely found any good chips on ebay, but there are occasionally some gems

So Does anyone know where i can get a decent set from ? Without stealing 

right, i've done loads of searching on the internet for a decent set of chips and for europe, there is hardly any on offer, all the ones shown in the links are plastic 13g chips. the best place in the uk to buy chips (good chips, casino quality chips) is http://poker.marlowcasinochips.com/

they stock paulsons, tr kings, chipcos amoungst many others. They do come at a price and you won't be able to beat the price by buying in the US and shipping to the uk. Trust me, i've tried. I suggest you buy samples of the chips you like the look of and see which one you want to buy.

i've got samples of loads of chips but never bought any from marlow. I got involved with a group buy on another forum. A good option if you don't mind waiting a while for the chips. they can get very cheap to.

got any questions please ask, i probably know more about poker chips than actually playing poker lol

I'm watching the last 2 hours of the final right now...from 4 handed down


got a good torrent for it

fascinating stuff

could you pm the link to me?

nice, i'm looking to get some kind of poker table for my home games, where did you get the felt from?

it looks that way, i haven't seen or heard anything else