Poker Players

themajormt · 10-16-09, 08:31 AM

A few summers ago when I was still in college I played all summer and turned about a $700 bankroll into $5k by the end of the summer... Since then I do not have the time to play as frequently, to get my fix I have been playing online for a couple hours here and there but the results have been TERRIBLE. I have never done well with online poker for some reason... I think its the people who play 6 tables and take shots on ridiculous draws with no pot odds because they have other hands going... I threw in the towel and will only play live games now...

jayc88 · 10-16-09, 08:39 AM

it was a lot easier to make a living playing poker about 5 years ago ,
its still possible, but as more and more players realized they can make money by playing online poker,
competition has tightened up considerably

themajormt · 10-16-09, 08:42 AM

Jayc, whats sites do you play at or do you play live?

Any thoughts on my comments?

Dexter · 10-16-09, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by themajormt

A few summers ago when I was still in college I played all summer and turned about a $700 bankroll into $5k by the end of the summer... Since then I do not have the time to play as frequently, to get my fix I have been playing online for a couple hours here and there but the results have been TERRIBLE. I have never done well with online poker for some reason... I think its the people who play 6 tables and take shots on ridiculous draws with no pot odds because they have other hands going... I threw in the towel and will only play live games now...

when i play live it really is all about adapting to the players at your table.

online you usually dont know the players styles, so i think a more set approach is correct. basically, somewhat tight early, then ultra aggressive when down to 4-5 players. cant be afraid to bubble.

my faorite move short handed, is the smooth call in position. then grab the pot on 4th street when he checks.

jayc88 · 10-16-09, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by themajormt

Jayc, whats sites do you play at or do you play live? Any thoughts on my comments?

used to play a lot 2 or 3 years ago , not so much today as i got kinda bored over the course of time.
I've played at almost any site, but most of the time at pokerstars, fulltilt, partypoker and ipoker network.

If you are doing terrible right now and did just fine rest of the time , you are probably just experiencing bad luck ,
i've played well over 10 k hands once and lost about 10-15 buyins,
next 10 k hands i was winning like crazy and got it all back and some ,
poker is pretty nasty when it comes to down and upswings.

themajormt · 10-16-09, 08:54 AM

Dexter, I agree... I keep notes on some of the players but mainly just stick to my strategy... I just was taught/studied poker by the book and believe in pot odds, etc is key to winning long term. I see some of the sickest shit in the world whenever I play online... I started a thread a few days ago about what happened to me in a 10 minute time span on Cake last week... guy calls close to $175 on close to even money all in with a gut shot draw, with all under cards... Hits it... then calls 1.4 pot odds for close to the same amount with 2 all ins with 2,3 diamonds pre flop... its just crazy and I dont enjoy playing like that...

milwaukee mike · 10-16-09, 08:59 AM

unless you play late night lower limits against bozos at places like Bodog (like i do), it's tough to make a living on poker.
even the best players like dwan have been broke at least once.

any edge a top player gets (unless it's in a major tourney like the main event where you know people are playing scared and can be bluffed easily) is probably 90% eliminated by the luck factor.

i wholeheartedly agree that poker was a much easier game to beat in the past. but i wouldn't say 5 years ago, i would say 10 years ago + when hardly anyone that played understood the math and/or had the experience of playing hundreds of thousands of hands.

keyboarding · 10-16-09, 09:46 AM

My friend plays professionally. High stakes NL HU turbos.

SamsNCharge99 · 10-16-09, 09:52 AM

I have played online since I was 12, made over $13,000 in winning including winning my dad a seat into the WSOP Main Event in 2007.

I stopped playing online b/c I'm a better live player. I will 100% play in WSOP Main Event and mini events when I turn 21.

MrX · 10-16-09, 11:10 AM

I played full-time from '93 to '01. By far the greatest turning point in my career was realizing that there were better opportunities in the gambling world than poker. But that's just me. Some find it very satisfying.

Online poker has become an entirely different game in the last 10 years. If you're not using at least 2 computer applications to aid in your play, you're starting at a huge disadvantage.

fsugolf · 10-16-09, 11:12 AM

pokerstove is my best friend......that is all

wal66 · 10-16-09, 11:29 AM

I don't play as a living. I play more like continuous recreation. I have found though that playing at Sportbook sites is far more profitable than say the main poker sites. Whether it's the program themselves or the players I'm not sure but better play and better hands tend to do better. Still the occasional bad beat and you will always encounter the "What The Heck" types but overall the past month I have been playing at a sport's site I have enjoyed it greatly.