Leap of Faith

[DukeOfDeath]

You know what kind of posts I like to read?

• ones that make me literally laugh out loud
• ones that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside
• ones that make me think about something in a new way
• AND GOOD NEWS POSTS

I really like to here when an OP66 memeber has a good cash online or live. I also really like to hear a player make a goal and keep us updated on their progress.

However it's been awhile since I remember one of those threads. I remember having a one day goal back in May and Sandy's New Year's Res, and I'm not sure if DeanReeve's has been over a year now.

Anyway, I obviously want to continue hearing of your wins. But I'd love another good "grind story". Is there anyone interested in setting some goals and keeping us updated. I personally would love to, but my hands/week ratio is low with med school and still living life. Not trying to push someone to make goals, but if any of you were on the fence (or doing it without letting us know) I want in on the juicy details.

Furthermore I know a lot of people who play real money side and a lot of play money folks who will never switch. But is there any play money person looking to make The Leap? If so you can PM me. I can give some advice (having built a couple hundred from nothing). Also might even consider staking someone 10 or 20 to get going (and avoid endless 10c double ups). That's assuming it's within the rules and other criterion exist. But either way PM me. Or just do it on your own, but either way let us know.

Good luck and see you around.

[crinkle62]

I've started to play money side, i never put any of my own money in, just use what i won from my first 'outlaws' (played with ticket)and built up from there. It's not mega bucks, but i have fun playing, it's quiet and i'm building up my Vegas coffee fund!!!

[teebs]

Interesting post Duke. I've always wanted to make a deposit on the cash side. However, it just feels like everyone is playin some mutated form of poker, which I personally dont like.
I enjoy playing live poker, and I enjoy the free daily games...and thats as far as it goes. I dont want to deposit money and let luck decide wheter I make a profit or not..
Again this is just my opinion.

[Pocket_Ducks]

I made a thread a while back about my commitment to the game, during a stage where I was borderline thinking about making 'the leap'

But, looking at my game and also with being in uni etc etc I decided not to set any stringent goals, and basically just play whenever I a) am in the mood and b) when enough time/not too busy

I wish all those who have set themselves limits the very best of luck

kwak

p.s. Of course whenever I do play I aim to WIN!

[jimggoldwing]

Great thread, Duke...

Been on the money side for some time now... admittedly, I too have not made any deposits... I've seen some wild swings, once winning $150 when finishing 2nd place (out of 441 entrants, if memory serves me correctly) on the First Depositors freeroll.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I have had many "poker lessons", having lost some large sums here... and I nearly bankrupted completely near the end of last year... came very close.

To the point of your post, I decided at the beginning of this year that I'd set a goal of rebuilding the bankroll... and I track my progress on a weekly basis... aside from a couple of bad weeks ($10+ in losses). I've had a couple of good weeks as well... overall, I'm up on the year (nothing substantial), but plugging towards my goal.

Like you, my hands/week ratio is not very good and won't be the balance of the year... as to "what works", while I have had some success on the double-ups (anywhere from $0.10 to $2.00), I think my best success is on the rings... I just have to ensure that when I sit that I have time... because I find that a patient approach seems to work so much better (in the long run) as opposed to aggressively swinging for the fences and trying to hit the home run ball. Though I've not played much this year, I did have some success at the deep stack freeze out tournies --- again, patient approach seems to work well (witness how well Rad has been doing!).

Again... great thread, Duke! Thanks for starting it!

Cheers!

[stjimmy]

Originally Posted by teebs

I've always wanted to make a deposit on the cash side. However, it just feels like everyone is playin some mutated form of poker, which I personally dont like.

Well, from my experience, the cash side here is the same as anywhere else I've played. I've played more than 10 sites, including the worlds 3 largest, and low stake tourneys with buy-ins around $10 or bellow have always been quite a poor standard wherever I've played. Played a few $55 tourneys and always finished just outside being placed, And a couple of $110 tourneys too. The standard on these higher buy-in tourneys has been pretty good from what I've seen, but you still get some absolute donks there too. What I'm trying to say is, here is as good a place as any for playing cash as I've seen. I don't use any other sites anymore.
I've been close to some very big wins over the last couple of years, but just missed. But my 2 best wins are $400 from a $2 re-buy (spent $6.20 total) and $970 from a $5 re-buy (spent $10.50 total)
I am Down on all sites by more than a couple of K over the years, but have been close to a nice win a few times. It's all good fun though, I just find playing for real money much more exciting than play money, And obviously take more care playing for real money.
I still really enjoy the 5 free tourneys here though, good banter with good friends.

[teebs]

Originally Posted by stjimmy

Well, from my experience, the cash side here is the same as anywhere else I've played. I've played more than 10 sites, including the worlds 3 largest, and low stake tourneys with buy-ins around $10 or bellow have always been quite a poor standard wherever I've played. Played a few $55 tourneys and always finished just outside being placed, And a couple of $110 tourneys too. The standard on these higher buy-in tourneys has been pretty good from what I've seen, but you still get some absolute donks there too. What I'm trying to say is, here is as good a place as any for playing cash as I've seen. I don't use any other sites anymore.
I've been close to some very big wins over the last couple of years, but just missed. But my 2 best wins are $400 from a $2 re-buy (spent $6.20 total) and $970 from a $5 re-buy (spent $10.50 total)
I am Down on all sites by more than a couple of K over the years, but have been close to a nice win a few times. It's all good fun though, I just find playing for real money much more exciting than play money, And obviously take more care playing for real money.
I still really enjoy the 5 free tourneys here though, good banter with good friends.

Which is kind of the point im trying to make. If having to play a 100$ buy in or just under to get myself a nice standard of play and enjoyable tourny, I'd much rather go down to the casino and play there. The reason being is that I can actually SEE who I'm dealing with, and I just find it generally more fun.
I guess its all down to what you feel you like best, and for me, I really enjoy a live game much more.

P.s Congrats on those big wins by the way

[stjimmy]

Originally Posted by teebs

Which is kind of the point im trying to make. If having to play a 100$ buy in or just under to get myself a nice standard of play and enjoyable tourny, I'd much rather go down to the casino and play there. The reason being is that I can actually SEE who I'm dealing with, and I just find it generally more fun.
I guess its all down to what you feel you like best, and for me, I really enjoy a live game much more.

P.s Congrats on those big wins by the way

Yeah, I know what you mean, I love playing live, funnily enough I prefer cash tables live, and tourneys online. 3 times I've walked out of a casino well up on cash tables. (twice with players from op66 with me too) I play weekly pub tourneys too, which are fun.
I find cash tables live "pure poker" as reading and keeping cool is as important as the cards you get, maybe more important.
Online tourneys you need to use the odds more, and defiantly rely on you're cards more too.

[daddyspoon]

Originally Posted by jimggoldwing

Great thread, Duke...

Been on the money side for some time now... admittedly, I too have not made any deposits... I've seen some wild swings, once winning $150 when finishing 2nd place (out of 441 entrants, if memory serves me correctly) on the First Depositors freeroll.

how did you enter the first depositors freeroll if you never made a deposit?

[DukeOfDeath]

Originally Posted by crinkle62

It's not mega bucks, but i have fun playing, it's quiet and i'm building up my Vegas coffee fund!!!

same here. my entire bankroll online is barely over a 100bb buy in at the lowest stakes at Vegas.

Originally Posted by teebs

Interesting post Duke. I've always wanted to make a deposit on the cash side. However, it just feels like everyone is playin some mutated form of poker, which I personally dont like.
I enjoy playing live poker, and I enjoy the free daily games...and thats as far as it goes. I dont want to deposit money and let luck decide wheter I make a profit or not..
Again this is just my opinion.

dailies are great, but honestly other than them the cash side is actually better than (or often the same as) the play on play chips side. Do like Jim or Crinks and I, play cash without depositing. Freerolls are somewhat painful, but Ultra Outlaws take less than half hour. They are fun conversation like dailies and a ton of action. It's not that hard to win at least one in a week if you play them regularly and stay smart. Then it's like a dollar straight in your pocket. You are guaranteed money if you play Outlaws 3 way and can make an even bigger cash if more show up. Then with double ups going as cheap as 10c you can easily follow bankroll management rules to grind your way up to a decent roll. Not saying you have to do it, but I would encourage it. I've had fun doing so, and even if something happens, I don't lose a penny.

Originally Posted by Pocket_Ducks

looking at my game and also with being in uni etc etc I decided not to set any stringent goals, and basically just play whenever I a) am in the mood and b) when enough time/not too busy

I feel you on the time constraint from uni. I'm not keeping up nearly as much in school as I should. Even if I stop playing as much, poker still seems to get in the way (maybe I should finally sit in on the OP66 support group ) I'd be lying if I said I haven't missed important information on phosphatidylserine biosynthesis while considering maximum EV plays against a LAG check raising a turn against your top 2 pair. I'm a mess.

Originally Posted by jimggoldwing

Great thread, Duke...

Been on the money side for some time now... admittedly, I too have not made any deposits... I've seen some wild swings, once winning $150 when finishing 2nd place (out of 441 entrants, if memory serves me correctly) on the First Depositors freeroll.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I have had many "poker lessons", having lost some large sums here... and I nearly bankrupted completely near the end of last year... came very close.

To the point of your post, I decided at the beginning of this year that I'd set a goal of rebuilding the bankroll... and I track my progress on a weekly basis... aside from a couple of bad weeks ($10+ in losses). I've had a couple of good weeks as well... overall, I'm up on the year (nothing substantial), but plugging towards my goal.

Like you, my hands/week ratio is not very good and won't be the balance of the year... as to "what works", while I have had some success on the double-ups (anywhere from $0.10 to $2.00), I think my best success is on the rings... I just have to ensure that when I sit that I have time... because I find that a patient approach seems to work so much better (in the long run) as opposed to aggressively swinging for the fences and trying to hit the home run ball. Though I've not played much this year, I did have some success at the deep stack freeze out tournies --- again, patient approach seems to work well (witness how well Rad has been doing!).

Again... great thread, Duke! Thanks for starting it!

Cheers!

Thanks Jim. Good feedback. I probably have the best record at the Sit n Goes but make the most sheer volume at rings. I just can't get it going at the tourneys. I either commit to a hand and get sucked out on or play super tight and blind out early every single time.

I like that you track your progress. I started doing that beginning in April and it's helped a ton. I've seemed to hit a roadblock though. I'm on a plateau right now. I seem to win lose win lose and stay motionless. I need to piece a few wins together to really bump up a level into a more comfortable zone.

I guess on the bright side I've made almost $100 in the past 6 months while either working or schooling full time. I guess getting about $1 an hour for having fun ain't bad.

Originally Posted by stjimmy

I've been close to some very big wins over the last couple of years, but just missed. But my 2 best wins are $400 from a $2 re-buy (spent $6.20 total) and $970 from a $5 re-buy (spent $10.50 total)
I am Down on all sites by more than a couple of K over the years, but have been close to a nice win a few times. It's all good fun though, I just find playing for real money much more exciting than play money, And obviously take more care playing for real money.
I still really enjoy the 5 free tourneys here though, good banter with good friends.

Compared to any results I've had, those are some major wins. Congrats

Originally Posted by daddyspoon

how did you enter the first depositors freeroll if you never made a deposit?

haha. Someone is a detective.

Thanks all for the very informative very quick replies. I wasted even more time from studying, but it was worth it.

[DreamALot]

Mr. Death,

I to took a leap just yesterday for the 1st time and thought I was doing well until three rivers in a row gave the oppenents a straigt, flush and another straight. The first case I had a pr aces, 2nd 2 pr's k's and t's and the one that put me under was had trip Q's.

Today, I entered one of those penny tables until I realised that this game never ends with the re-buys.

What I have learnt from the first game yesterday is that I can't wait for a big blind when I have decent cards. Need to raise the pot early and chase peeps out of the river card where anything can happen.

2nd game this morning, lol, read the rules first.

I will give it ago again since I have a little money left to try.

Good thread!

[DukeOfDeath]

Originally Posted by DreamALot

Mr. Death,

I to took a leap just yesterday for the 1st time and thought I was doing well until three rivers in a row gave the oppenents a straigt, flush and another straight. The first case I had a pr aces, 2nd 2 pr's k's and t's and the one that put me under was had trip Q's.

Today, I entered one of those penny tables until I realised that this game never ends with the re-buys.

What I have learnt from the first game yesterday is that I can't wait for a big blind when I have decent cards. Need to raise the pot early and chase peeps out of the river card where anything can happen.

2nd game this morning, lol, read the rules first.

I will give it ago again since I have a little money left to try.

Good thread!

yeah there are a lot of games that seem nice, but you don't remember the rules. I remember back when this site had freerolls every couple hours but one of them was limit and I coulda sworn it was just a glitch when it wouldn't let me go all in.

Anyway one thing I'd like to clarify on something you said. There's no such thing as chasing peeps out of hands. Now yes a raise is right, but you have to think about it in different terms. You want to make the correct moves and cause them to make the incorrect moves.

In general betting is to either force a fold or get someone to pay you off. However, if people never fold it extremely weights it to the latter. Just like you hear, never bluff a fish. So you should bet your hands to get value out of them.

Even against a good player that knows how to fold you should make the right sized bet. If they have an Ace suited in hearts and two hearts are on board and you bet 1/4 of the pot they're getting 5:1 to call on a 4:1 shot by the turn and 2:1 by the river.

So if you bet the right size they will still catch against you, but for every time that happens there will be two times they gave you money for absolutely no reason. So just make sure you are making more money than them in the spots and your golden.

I hope that made sense. Either way though good luck on your plunge.

[jimggoldwing]

Originally Posted by daddyspoon

how did you enter the first depositors freeroll if you never made a deposit?

I started earning 'cash' on freerolls back when we were on script 2... when we moved from there to the current script, we moved the cash and the site considered that a "deposit" which qualified us for the tournament (several OP66'ers did well --- over the space of a couple of tournaments).

Funny enough, now that you bring it up, there was a kink (imagine that) and again, several of us actually were able to play in 2 straight tournaments... I cashed in the 2nd one as well, but pretty far down --- was doing quite well but got reamed out holding KK's or AA's.......

[DukeOfDeath]

Originally Posted by jimggoldwing

I started earning 'cash' on freerolls back when we were on script 2... when we moved from there to the current script, we moved the cash and the site considered that a "deposit" which qualified us for the tournament (several OP66'ers did well --- over the space of a couple of tournaments).

Funny enough, now that you bring it up, there was a kink (imagine that) and again, several of us actually were able to play in 2 straight tournaments... I cashed in the 2nd one as well, but pretty far down --- was doing quite well but got reamed out holding KK's or AA's.......

hmmm maybe I should try that. Haven't attempted one yet.

[jimggoldwing]

The bug of playing more than once was definitely fixed... if you haven't played one yet, try and register... totally free... but there 'might' be a time limit from when you "made the deposit"... simple enough, just try and register (you can always "unregister"). That'll give you the answer right there.

Cheers!

[DukeOfDeath]

Originally Posted by jimggoldwing

The bug of playing more than once was definitely fixed... if you haven't played one yet, try and register... totally free... but there 'might' be a time limit from when you "made the deposit"... simple enough, just try and register (you can always "unregister"). That'll give you the answer right there.

Cheers!

I had to have deposited between July 30th and today. So no dice. Missed out on that window of opportunity.

[daddyspoon]

aww was hoping there was some loop hole. iv always wanted to play it

[telboy]

made a thread many moons ago about pocket money poker,i.e. 10 pounds deposit and playing small cash games,is no different than putting same amount in a fruit machine,except your tenners gonna last alot longer in a poker game.
i play GTD tourneys and deepstack tourneys now max buy in $5 and do ok with these,over the last two weeks ive placed 3rd and two 4ths winning about $100 .never been much of a rings player cash or free but some times venture down to the 5/10 cents tables if im waiting on a tourney to start.
been up and down on my cash over the last year but enjoy the tourneys

[MRCOOL1]

Originally Posted by DukeOfDeath

I had to have deposited between July 30th and today. So no dice. Missed out on that window of opportunity.

Originally Posted by daddyspoon

aww was hoping there was some loop hole. iv always wanted to play it

I've never deposited cash here and last won an cash from outlaw games over a year and a half ago. Saw this thread last nite and searched out the First Depositor's tourney to check it out. I was allowed to register! Apparently there IS no time limit.

[daddyspoon]

yeah iv tried before. i must have started my cash side after the 2nd script. how did you get on in it by the way?