Poker project...starting @ .50/1

[pmdvert18]

I am starting with an initial $400 deposit and 4-tabling full tables. How many BB should I make at each level before moving up? I was thinking 300 or 400 bets. It would go something like this (assuming 400 at each level).

.50/1 $400-800
1/2 $800-1600
2/4 $1600-3200
3/6 $3200-5600
5/10 $5600-9600

Also, should I add secondary levels playing 6 max as well? If so should I make an additional 400 bets at that level??

[W. Deranged]

Your project is a good one, though it's frankly pretty conservative. 300 bb is enough to play a level comfortably. So, you only need 1800 to play 3/6, for example; waiting until 3200 is good as far as practice is concerned but if you feel comfortable you might consider moving up sooner.

As for 6 max, be careful. Wisdom suggests that you need more BB for that; try 500.

A good idea might be something like this: when you reach 2/4 full, you might try playing 1/2 6 max. Play that for a while, then, when you have the bankroll, move back to full ring, and try playing 3/6. Play 3/6 for a while, and then try 3/6 6max. You get the idea... playing 6 max greatly improves your full ring game, so alternating periods of playing each I think will make you a more complete player.

[pmdvert18]

W,
revise mp
Thanks for the advise...im sure i will revise my plan along the way...but for now its full ring .50/1.

Updates coming periodically

[UCLAseetoK]

You should play at a level until you feel your game has improved enough to show a decent winrate at a different level. For example, if you grind out the 400bb at .5/1 thats great...... but if it's at a very marginal winrate, you should consider looking for leaks in your game before moving up.

[pmdvert18]

Well I am off to an insane start!!! I've been 4 tabling 10max .50/1 and I am up 83 BB in 242 hands. Yes you are reading that correctly, 83 BB in 242 hands. Obviously this win rate will level out but I like my start. I will probably go with the "conservative" 400 BB approach to ensure I don't dip too far into my bankroll if I hit a big downswing. I think I will definetely add some 6-max at the 1/2 level since, from my experience, more ppl know what they're doing at 2/4 and higher than at the lower limits. I have tried this project with minimal success previously because I couldn't commit the hours to play and when I did have time I wanted to play NL. Lets hope I can stick with it this time!!!

[Ignignokt]

Interesting project, but I might be missing something: this is just your long-term plan, right? Because most people find that doubling their money at each level takes a while, what with variance and all.

That said, looks fine. The conservative BR levels mean that by the time you earn the BR for the next level, you're more likely to be a consistently winning player at the level you're at.

Yes, it's good to play 6-max in between. Maybe play that after you've made enough for the next level, and play at least a certain number of hands (more if you dip below your next-level BR).

[pmdvert18]

Yes, this is a long term plan. I'd like to keep this up for atleast the next year. I am thinking once I hit 5000 and 10000 hands I should evaluate where I am and adjust. If I am winning at a good rate, move up early. If my winrate is bad, play at that level until I achieve a desired winrate.

[Ignignokt]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, this is a long term plan. I'd like to keep this up for atleast the next year. I am thinking once I hit 5000 and 10000 hands I should evaluate where I am and adjust. If I am winning at a good rate, move up early. If my winrate is bad, play at that level until I achieve a desired winrate.

[/ QUOTE ]
Cool.

This thread (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=micro&Number=3740788&fpar t=&PHPSESSID=) from MrWookie includes a good metric for determining with reasonable certainty whether you're winning at a particular level. That is, if you trust that math stuff.

[pmdvert18]

That is, if you trust that math stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

Gotta trust it...I'll check out that link and keep anyone interested updated. I'm sure plenty of people do this, but hey, what's one more!!!!

It's spelled P-O-K-E-R Phil!!!!

[pmdvert18]

How do i figure out my BB/100. Here is how I have been calculating it, not sure if its correct. I've played 551 hands and won 86.52 BB so my calculation has resulted in this.

100/rakedhands*wintotal = 15.70BB/100 Now should I divide this # by 4 since I am 4 tabling??? = 3.925BB/100

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[smoove]

[ QUOTE ]
How do i figure out my BB/100. Here is how I have been calculating it, not sure if its correct. I've played 551 hands and won 86.52 BB so my calculation has resulted in this.

100/rakedhands*wintotal = 15.70BB/100 Now should I divide this # by 4 since I am 4 tabling??? = 3.925BB/100

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

15.7 is right. Prepare for brutal downswing. You don't have Poker Tracker yet?

[pmdvert18]

15.7 is right. Prepare for brutal downswing. You don't have Poker Tracker yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

Should I divide by 4 for 4 tabling??
Yeah I know, I was running great early on. I was actually running at 34.2 for the first 200 or so hands and then its leveled off since since. I should have poker tracker within the next week or two. I just cleared my pacific bonus from PSO.

[smoove]

[ QUOTE ]
15.7 is right. Prepare for brutal downswing. You don't have Poker Tracker yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

Should I divide by 4 for 4 tabling??
Yeah I know, I was running great early on. I was actually running at 34.2 for the first 200 or so hands and then its leveled off since since. I should have poker tracker within the next week or two. I just cleared my pacific bonus from PSO.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, you don't divide by how many tables you're playing--the calculation is strictly number of big bets won/100 hands played (on 1 table or 30). Poker Tracker does the math for you. I'd also recommend getting PokerAce HUD for another $25 (links to it in Poker Tracker forums). It works with PT to overlay your opponents' statistics right on the table.

[pmdvert18]

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll take advantage of the information out there as it can only help. I tend to be an information junkie and poker tracker seems to nail that all down (I just started up a trial version until I get the full version in a few days).

Thanks to all who have replied, I appreciate the posts.

Back to the tables....

[pmdvert18]

Well so far here are my stats. I went on a terrible downswing to start the day (-35BB in 144 hands) but recovered by the end of my session to end the day at 6 BB in 272 hands. Not a very good day but ill take it considering I was running terribly early on. It seemed like every second pair never was good, top pair was either outkicked or became 2p, my straights we no good to flushes, just one of those days I guess. My 3 day stats since the project started look like this;

93.78 BB in 923 hands = 10.13BB/100

So far I am pleased with my start. I can't wait to get pokertracker in the next few days in order to analyze what I have been doing so far. I noticed my position play and small pair play needs to be tightened up (I imported some old hands and about since the project started into a trial pokertracker version).