New to Poker

[pokervirgin]

I'm new to poker and a friend of mine recommended me to this forum. Not disappointed at all. I've also read a couple of NL books and done a fair share of research online. I'm more interested in playing live and since I live in Southern Cali, I have a couple of decent rooms to choose from and that is why I need your help:

1) Which casino would you recommend for a newbie? I only have 1k that I can afford to lose.
2) I called Hollywood Park and they mentioned something about $40 buy-in NL. Is this too ambitious for me or it's something I can tackle.

Any advice will be appreciated.

[Teh1337zor]

I would start of with the 40 dollar games and once you tackle that (I am 99 percent sure you will if you have read poker books and researched like you say you have) and then after a winning session or 2 jump straight into 1/2 200 NL. Even though you are extremly under rolled the softness of the games make up for that IMO.

[Keys Myaths]

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Even though you are extremly under rolled the softness of the games make up for that IMO.

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Not really. Those games are very soft, but high variance.

[pokervirgin]

Thanks Teh. Do you think it's better to add more money? Would it be wise for me to do so? I just didn't want to dip into my savings and end up being someone's fish.

[Teh1337zor]

I dont thin youll be a fish compared to other people who play these stakes if you have basic knowledge, I would start out being a nit (playing very few hands) and playing straightforward. As you get a feel for the games you can switch up your play but I think you will quickly move up in limits with basic skill. However like Keys just said their is high varience so I would not try to get my money in with coinflippish hands.

[Keys Myaths]

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Thanks Teh. Do you think it's better to add more money? Would it be wise for me to do so? I just didn't want to dip into my savings and end up being someone's fish.

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I think you should try the $40 games, sticking strictly to the strategy you've learned, and post hands here.

[pokervirgin]

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Even though you are extremly under rolled the softness of the games make up for that IMO.

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Not really. Those games are very soft, but high variance.

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How many buy-ins should I take with me the first time? I'm starting this Friday evening.

[pokervirgin]

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[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Teh. Do you think it's better to add more money? Would it be wise for me to do so? I just didn't want to dip into my savings and end up being someone's fish.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you should try the $40 games, sticking strictly to the strategy you've learned, and post hands here.

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Will do.

[Teh1337zor]

3 even if you are playing great and the game is soft, you probably wanna call it a night and head back out the next day, once you start chasing lossses it can turn ugly fast.

[dd323]

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I would start of with the 40 dollar games and once you tackle that (I am 99 percent sure you will if you have read poker books and researched like you say you have) and then after a winning session or 2 jump straight into 1/2 200 NL. Even though you are extremly under rolled the softness of the games make up for that IMO.

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At HP (and in all of So Cal) the $40 game is 1/2.. bring lots of buyins..

[pokervirgin]

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At HP (and in all of So Cal) the $40 game is 1/2.. bring lots of buyins..

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Can you please elaborate? Will I be losing a lot or rake, etc?

[Dominic]

if you're just starting out, I'd learn limit hold'em first. Have you studied any of those books? Play in the $2/4 limit game at Hollywood Park - that's how I started. If you make a mistake, at least it won't cost you your whole stack - only about $12!

If you are adamant about playing No Limit, I'm not sure if the $40 game will be worth playing - you won't learn anything playing such a short stack in relation to the blinds. I'd go with the $100 game and treat the money you lose like an entertainment expense. Don't expect to win for awhile.

[AKQJ10]

You will be losing a lot of rake, but I took dd323's point to be that a $1-2 game with $40 stacks is going to be higher variance than say an online 10c-25c game with $40 stacks.

The blinds are the primary determinant of the stakes in NLHE. All of us tend to obscure this by talking about "NL50" or "the $40 game", but stack size is secondary.

The advance to jump right to a $200 buy-in game with a $1000 is thoroughly irresponsible. If you could buy in for $50 or $100 and play short-stacked, it would be defensible. I don't think most SSNL LA-area games allow short buyins, do they? But before you worry about bankroll, your primary consideration should always be whether you can beat the game you're playing in.

You may not beat the $40 game for much because of the rake, but make sure you're beating it before you try to move up. Then try to have at least 10-15 buyins, ideally more unless you want to move right back down the first time you bust out.