$nidely's Newbie Journal

[willie beaman]

Great job on cashing in the freerolls. Hopefully, you'll build a solid bankroll and dominate the cash tourney scene.

[$nidely]

Cashed on another freroll today {Full Tilt} but I'm not at all happy with myself. I made some just plain stupid moves at the end when I was in a position to make the final table and possibly win the whole thing. On the positive side, that's three cash's in a row so I guess my consistency is improving.

I don't think I ever realized just how much I played by instinct and observation on real life tables. This is almost like learning to play from scratch.

May your straights never be flushed

$nidely

[$nidely]

Well, I guess it's not much of a journal if I don't make an entry.

Cashed twice in freerolls this week, and overall, I'm pretty much OK with my play. I don't like the way I'm going out though. With the exception of 1 idiot who called with junk and drew out {and you can't plan for that} I had three bad beats. I was dealt pocket J's, K's and A's. Each time my card hit the flop. Wound up all in, and got beat by straights on the river each time. Each of these was late in the tournaments. In two, it resulted in not getting nearly as much payout, and I got busted on the J's a few minutes ago busting me 2 seats from cashing. I didn't save the hand histories so I can't show them, but I felt like I was playng them properly each time. I guess I need to tighten up toward the end of tourneys, but it's hard to give up trips, and It was a lot for the opponents to call on a draw. {This doesn't count the 4's full of 6's which got beat by 6's full of 4's...prob should have seen that one coming}

Been playin a lot of SNG's at Bodog, Single Table so they're short, and you earn points even on play money tables you can use to enter real money tourneys. I try different strategies, and don't have as much time invested if they go south. Single Table is where I'm at my best. There is time to get a read on players

Also downloaded Carbon Poker...So far I like it. Not only casino games, but also Backgammon. Haven't played that in years

Any input on where I'm going wrong in tourneys is more than welcome

May your straights never get flushed


$nidely

[jacks_off4me]

Hi!

just noticed your interesting thread. good to know you are a grown up for a change (tired from kids) and seems like there is a point at what GT said about you beeing a ROCK.
and i think theres nothing bad with a rock. i know several steady but profitable rocks and style changing is same like changing our personality. in live play its possible but much harder online because you dont see the players, only their cards.....

let me ask you a Question: do you consider yourself better cash or tourney player? please explain why.

[willie beaman]

It's good to see that you have your play in perspective. Normally, people don't evaluate their own play and sulk over bad beats. You seem to be enjoying poker, which is always a plus. Continue to grow on the felt and you'll win tourneys in no time.

[$nidely]

In response to whether I'm better at tourneys or cash games: I'd say I'm much better at cash games, and for a few reasons. 1) Patience: In a cash game I play for as long as I stay good and focused. If I'm losing my edge, I cash out and then get back in later when I'm fresh again. You can lose a lot of ground if you sit out very long in a tourney. 2) Reading players: My best skill is reading people and it's easier to read in cash games. You don't always get an honest read on people in tournaments because they don't play hands they normally would. An opponents play is generally more consistent in a cash game, where in a tourney they will be tight at times and loose at times based solely on their position in tourney. 3) Experience: I haven't played a lot of tourneys, except online, and I don't much enjoy the ring games I find online. There always seems to be one big stack who pushes others around. Maybe my perspective on that will change when I feel I've progressed enough to start making cash deposits and play more real money games. So far the only cash games I've played are with the small amounts I've won on freerolls.


On being a rock: I am a bit of a rock, although I'm starting to loosen up some. I still don't like playing bad hole cards and counting on the draw. This, to me, is just luck and would take the fun out of it for me. I do, however, take the odd stab at a pot if I'm in position, or if other players seem weak and easy to manipulate. And I sometimes play hands on feel or just to keep opponents from getting a read on me.

Appreciate the feedback

$nidely

[pro417]

I play a lot of freerolls on Ultimatebet but never been in final table sometime i play in 4h

[$nidely]

Finally made a final table and finished 4th in a freeroll. It was only a 50$ tourney so I only made a couple of bucks, but it felt good to break the barrier. Now to start consistently make final tables, and actually get a few wins.

$nidely

[willie beaman]

I'd reccommend changing gears often while playing tourneys and cash games. It's great that you have tghe discipline to be a rock, now use that to your advantage and pick up dough where you may not have done so previously.

[$nidely]

Yeah, that's what i've been doing. I've been playing turbos to force myself to play more hands. I still think I'm pretty conservative, but I take a few more gambles and play hands more aggressively. I even bluff and steal a few here and there. I think I'm moving from rock to grinder. I'm only now using my freer strategy in freerolls, so we'll see how it goes.