Some Advice Please

HajiSpringer · #1 09-18-2007, 01:40 AM

I'm relatively new to poker; been playing on and off for about a year. It's a game I have grown to love, but I am currently at a stalemate of sorts in my objective to become a solid player.

I lack any sort of monetary means to play online or otherwise, as I'm a Freshman in college with a very very limited budget. So my question for you guys is what can I do to improve as a poker player without playing for money?

Obviously, books are an easy option, but I don't even really have the money to buy a [censored] book.

Play money tables feel counter-productive to me. Same for most freerolls.

Any adivce you could supply me with would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Peleus · #2 09-18-2007, 01:47 AM

Post $10 in there. If you really are a solid player you should be able to grind it out no problem.

RyverRat · #3 09-18-2007, 01:54 AM

Agree with Peleus. Get some real money on there. $10 is enough to grind up and get going. Keep that alongside reading the books and forums/articles on 2p2.
Play some freerolls alongside this aswell. chances of winning theses are slim but downside = 0 with a chance to bolster your bankroll.

stick to strict bankroll management and you may find this $10 lasts for a very long time.

Good luck

Rek · #4 09-18-2007, 02:01 AM

He did say he has no money. Assuming that means none then $10 he may not be able to afford.

So on that basis go for freerolls. Practice can only help but I have to admit the standard is dubious in these.

As for books if you can't afford them and you can't borrow any then the internet is a godsend. There is so much info - just search for it and continue at forums such as this.

HajiSpringer · #5 09-18-2007, 02:24 AM

I appreciate it guys, in particular those who conveyed a basic level of reading comprehension.

A couple months ago I actually cashed for 4 bucks in a freeroll, and proceeded to grind it out in $3 Sit & Go's to about $150, at which point my previously logical approach to bankroll management vanished and I crashed and burned at higher stakes. I attributed this to variance and inherently, my game not being up to par.

My first order of business will be to aquire those books somehow, thanks again guys.

Rookcifer · #6 09-18-2007, 02:56 AM

Haj,

I sold off a bunch of play money and got $2 transferred to my P Stars account. This was like 2 days ago. I have since ground out micros and have built it to $15 (had it to $20 but lost a few bucks on one hand).

Perhaps this might be an option?

Yossarian147 · #7 09-18-2007, 01:56 AM

Try to find a library with Getting Started in Hold em and Small Stakes Hold Em, both by Ed Miller. Deposit a few dollars at a site and grind out microstakes. Those books are a worthwhile investment even if you have to buy them, they will pay for themselves hundreds of times over.

JanelleBB7 · #8 09-18-2007, 09:11 AM

Haji,

You don't need a credit card all you need is a bank account. If you don't have a bank account, do you have a friend that plays online already? You can give him/her cash and they can transfer you the money... that is what I did. It is well worth it to put $10-50 bucks in if you can make $$$$$. I knoe exactly what you mean about not having any cash to spare! BUT if you are good it is worth it! Maybe if you have a good friend they will let you borrow the money from them and you can pay them back with your winnings... bankroll you so to speak. Tell them it is an investment [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Rek · #9 09-18-2007, 09:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Haji,

You don't need a credit card all you need is a bank account. If you don't have a bank account, do you have a friend that plays online already? You can give him/her cash and they can transfer you the money... that is what I did. It is well worth it to put $10-50 bucks in if you can make $$$$$. I knoe exactly what you mean about not having any cash to spare! BUT if you are good it is worth it! Maybe if you have a good friend they will let you borrow the money from them and you can pay them back with your winnings... bankroll you so to speak. Tell them it is an investment [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I can’t agree with this. This is a newbie player who should not be borrowing money to play. Yes if he can get a backer that if he wins shares profits then fine. But you cannot promise to pay back from your winnings. That may never happen.

There is a big mis-conception at times that you put in a bit of effort and you will be a winner. The majority of players lose money – if they did not we would have no winners.

And pzhon, I know what you are saying but this is a beginners forum and I do think a little less aggression in replies should be shown as a result.

JanelleBB7 · #10 09-18-2007, 12:31 PM

I think maybe you took what I was saying wrong. I don't mean that you can promise them the money back. They should only give you the money if they are okay with it being lost. A friend let me have $30 + I put in $20 = $50. You do need to be careful not to promise someone their money back. However, if they are a good friend or friends, they may do it even though they know you may lose it. You may offer them a % of winnings if they let you loan the money and if you lost it they need to be willing to accept it as a loss. This would be especially good if several friends were involved, and they gave you an inconsquential amount of money. But it was only a suggestion and it is based a lot on the relationship you have with your friends. MANY pro players have been bankrolled so it is not a bad suggestion. I do understand why you would want to warn against it, but he could just explain to his friend/s that it is possible to lose the money and never get it back.