Good Books or online resources and when to start playing live.

[ayrshireChris]

Hello,
just thought i'd say hello as i've just registered for the forum. I've been playing 'free money' online for a few months now and have just started playing very low level real money, with nowhere near the level of success i was having on play money (not that i'm surprised)
I was wondering if anyone could recommend any good books or whatever that will help my game?

I was also wondering what the general opinion was on when to start playing live games. I have played a few home games against mates but i recently took a membership at the Cincinatti club in Glasgow. I was well up for playying a couple of the low buyin tournaments, but my recent hammering online have made me realise just how much i still have to learn.

thanks in advance.

Chris

[TightEnd]

Hi Chris, welcome to Blonde


Check out the book review section for a few books to get you going....


http://www.blondepoker.com/index.php?q=taxonomy/term/4


Particularly check out the Harrington review IMO

[steeley68]

  and

You will have a blast here. I also am a bit of a live virgin.

I organised a satellite to the Mad MArty weekend at Cincin's and cut my teeth there. It was a great night and people like cambo, Tenjack, etc made me very welcome. I also managed to prise a polo shirt off of Sid. A great night. Give them a phone. I think the student afternoon on a Tuesday might be best, but take your pick and jump in...

[ACE2M]

 

If you are happy with how the game functions then i urge you to experience a live game, there is nothing like the buzz of it. Don't be intimidated by the regulars and miseries who may get on your case. It was their first time once as well.

[ayrshireChris]

Hi There,
To give you and example of the problem i seem to be having with playing for real money. Last night in a tournament the person to the left of me was a much better player, they called me when i was pushing my luck, folded when i had a decent hand and pushed me out of a few pots with big raises when i was low on chips. I swear it was like they could see my cards. The thing is that i never lost a hand to another player at the table, very frustrating.
I really want to play live as i sit in front of a computer all day everyday at work and would prefer to play poker in a slightly more sociable atmosphere. Plus it's less likely that the wife will start hoovering round about you when you are in the middle of a big hand ;-)

I'll check out the books as suggested, and maybe see some of you in Cincinatti soon.

Chris

[ACE2M]

Hi There,
To give you and example of the problem i seem to be having with playing for real money. Last night in a tournament the person to the left of me was a much better player, they called me when i was pushing my luck, folded when i had a decent hand and pushed me out of a few pots with big raises when i was low on chips. I swear it was like they could see my cards. The thing is that i never lost a hand to another player at the table, very frustrating.
I really want to play live as i sit in front of a computer all day everyday at work and would prefer to play poker in a slightly more sociable atmosphere. Plus it's less likely that the wife will start hoovering round about you when you are in the middle of a big hand ;-)

I'll check out the books as suggested, and maybe see some of you in Cincinatti soon.

Chris

if someone has got your number avoid him until you can figure him/her out.

[Sark79]

Hi,  welcome to blonde

[matt674]

As well as reading books i'd also suggest keeping your eye on forums like this one. The occasional problem you get with books is that each different book is geared towards one style of play depending on who wrote the book. By reading a book by an author who takes a different view on the style of playing the game to the one you currently play could lead to you trying to play in a style that you are not accustomed and may actually take your game backwards slightly.

The good thing about forums is that you get the whole spectrum of playing styles and the best ways (and worst ) of how to play each particular one. This way you can take the information that you think will best suit your game and incorporate it where you best see fit

Enjoy the site and welcome to the madhouse  

[Sark79]

As well as reading books i'd also suggest keeping your eye on forums like this one. The occasional problem you get with books is that each different book is geared towards one style of play depending on who wrote the book. By reading a book by an author who takes a different view on the style of playing the game to the one you currently play could lead to you trying to play in a style that you are not accustomed and may actually take your game backwards slightly.

The good thing about forums is that you get the whole spectrum of playing styles and the best ways (and worst ) of how to play each particular one. This way you can take the information that you think will best suit your game and incorporate it where you best see fit

Enjoy the site and welcome to the madhouse 

As ever Matt's advice is good.  I tried to play in the style of " Play poker like the pro's". ( Very tight ).  Then during a Blonde game Kev said to me " christ that rock must have Aces " after I raised.  That was the first time I realised how predictable I was.  I did have Aces...lol .  I aim to play my own style now.  You could compare it to a trout, haddock or  mackerel. 

[ayrshireChris]

Yeah, i stumbled across this forum recently, and it seemed a friendly sort of place.

I think i'll definitely give a live game a shot in the next wee while (possibly this weekend as my missus is away) and see whether i develop gills and fins or not ;-)

Cheers

Chris

[Josh]

In my opinion, which isn't very valuable regarding poker, but I'll give it anyway..
You're not likely to learn alot from playing with play chips, as the decisions aren't the same for alot of people, in comparison to cash...although in theory they should be.
Get involved regularly in cheap buy in tournaments, and just play tight so you can last as long a possible... with the sole aim of just watching how other people on your table play...pay attention to every pot..and when there's a showdown or cards are shown...think about how they played their hand before and after the flop etc..
or, get yourself sat down at a cash game... play tight..or as an extreme example only play your blinds, and just watch other players.

[Pab]

Shadowing good players is a great way to learn, its how i got started . Watchin some good players play full tournaments and eventually talking to a few via msn and discussing hands etc..

best of luck

[Tonji]

Welcome to Blonde chris,

on the asumption that any advice is good advice, IMO its better to jump right in & get playing, books will fill the gaps at a later date, but experience counts. Play within your budget, have fun, don't take it too seriously. Good Luck.

& always wear a hat in the sun.

Tonji.

[ayrshireChris]

i think i'll just keep playing low level tournaments and cash games online. I'll need to keep playing tight and stop doing stupid things when i know better, I have a bad habit of calling bets when i think i'm beat, just 'cause i don't want to back down, still i suppose i'm not the first to have that problem.

I'm going to try and get down to Cincinnatti Club pretty soon as well as i think seeing live games will help a lot as well.

Can anyone suggest a good night to go down for a first visit?

Chris
 

[Decider]

Most folk will say Thursday is the best night, they also have a game on a Tuesday afternoon.