Stoxtrader is "In the Well"

[stoxtrader]

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When you play against an unknown, what are the first things you pick up? Esp. things like timing tells, bet sizes etc.

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probably vpip, because that only takes 25 hands - I'm still a big believer in small sample stats because I think it's much more reliable than 1-2 single observatinos.

I do however take care to make sure and check showndown hands in showdown pots and often I can tell if a player is poor in 1-2 hands. (this is not something special, most can do it).

[stoxtrader]

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crypto had awesome customer support and I got to meet most of their team, such a shame the games there dried up and they can't allow americans anymore.

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Other than Stars, what 3-4 sites do you think are the best to play on for 100-200 (limit hold'em) or above? (factoring in whatever you think is relevant, like amount of action or reasonable customer support or whatever)

I might get on Full Tilt but is there anything else you recommend? Is Crypto totally dried up now?

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I don't know about crypto because i haven't checked in a long time (they are still noS as far as I know). If you can play party probably play there but I really hate their 5$rake. Other than that I think FTP and stars are the two main places.

[stoxtrader]

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you can make 2bb/100 at 5/10, but you have to press up up down down left right left right B A start first.

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no, if you do that you can make 10bb/100 because it gives you a superuser acct. Well, only on absolute. nice nintendo reference.

[stoxtrader]

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What is your longest break even stretch at a mid stakes short handed lhe game?

What is your best non hold'em game?

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breakeven stretch is tough. I haven't had a losing month in at least a year, I had 2 losing months in 2005 and I think 1 in 2006. I guess 45 days breakjeven maybe?

best non-holdem game would have to be Axis and Allies or Acquire! Honestly I'm pretty bad at anything non-holdem because I have never played anything besides LHE and NLHE

[stoxtrader]

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What are some of the major leaks you see in the average small stakes 2/4-10/20 SH lhe games when you make videos? I know a lot would depend on the site and seat/table selection but are there some general leaks you see over and over by the typical players?

You talked earlier about bankroll considerations when you started out and how you didn't have to depend on just your poker bankroll. I assume this helped and you moved out of the high-rake games fairly quickly? How important was taking shots and how did you manage that aspect of your game?

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most common leaks I see will probably remain standard forever - playing too many hands postflop and going to showdown too often - though many players are playing the second style well these days.

for moving up, I moved up to 15/30 without worrying about bankroll but did "prove to myself" I could play at each limit on the way up. This was a while ago but I'm pretty sure I logged 10-20k hands at each 5/10 and 10/20. Then 15/30 was the highest game I knew (this was before party added 30/60 and I didnt play the stars "restricted game). I don't really remember the move from 15/30 - 300/600 to be honest (I know, weird) but I think it was about a 9-10 month process from spring of 2004-march 2005, with a chunk of 100-200 play in between. fortunately, I ran well at 300/600 my first month there and never really got stung too too much with my first downswing approaching 100k well into my career there.

taking shots when you can/the games are good is VERY important, but its LESS important than protecting your bankroll if you have no other source of income. at that point, a dollar lost is worth more than a dollar won lots of times.

[stoxtrader]

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Hi Stoxtrader. Thanks for going into The Well.

What do you believe are the best poker books ever written? Which helped your game the most? Have you read Mathematics of Poker? If so, what did you think of it? Did it improve your game?

You are hosting a poker game. You may pick the number of seats and the stakes. You can choose to invite absolutely any person ever living or deceased and they will accept. Who do you invite and what stakes will you play?

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best poker books (that I have read)

winning in tough holdem games herzog/grudzien
small stakes holdem miller
winning in low limit holdem jones (i read this a long time ago and it is very good for no foldem holdem)

I have read mathematics of poker and liked it. I think they can write a follow up APPLYING some of what they wrote about in volume 1, or they could work on solving HU LHE.

wow, poker game...I can go three ways with this.

1k/2k LHE

skywalker (rumored to be tony parker)
sansone (oil money?)
guy laliberte (spelling wrong, sorry founded cirque du soleil)
farha
elezra
spitter (crypto player no idea who)
nolazy (crypto player, italian i think)

These are all guys I would love to play with and meet, But I would need to be ready for some big swings!

table II 25/50c mixed game

thebryce
leatherass
stoxpoker CEO JIM
kyle cottonseed hendon
collin moshman
gbecks
poker toront
matt matros
actionbob
dmunnee

Table III LHE/NL 100/200 //// 25/50

matt hawrilenko
bill chen
jerrod ankenman
tore lagerborg
emile (matdamon on crypto)
kirderf (fredrik)
odd (prikken)

I'll probably add to this table if i come back to this post

[Beastmaster]

Thanks Stox: I play for side-income as both the wife and I have nice jobs. Live in the Midwest where the cost of living is pretty good so my dilema is trying to grind 4 tables at the low stakes and just take my 1k-2k each month after rb/bonus etc.. and be happy or take shots higher and not cashout so often. I play on Absolute (still has the best benefits IMO for a low stakes limit player and I doubt any superuser acct would bother playing those stakes)

MY WR is about breakeven over 200k hands of 2/4-3/6 on a high-rake site. I have taken some shots but not near enough IMO. It just seems like I'm spinning my wheels at the lower limits and with high-rake , and a BBJ rake the games seem almost impossible to beat for a high WR at least at the lower stakes? Seems like I should probably reduce my tables from 4 to maybe 2-3 and play a little higher when the games are right and just keep some extra BR online?

What would you do if you were starting out in the low- stakes limit games today...just move over to No-limit?

[Dmunnee]

If online poker actually got doomswitched, would you be a live (gulp) pro?

[stoxtrader]

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Thanks Stox: I play for side-income as both the wife and I have nice jobs. Live in the Midwest where the cost of living is pretty good so my dilema is trying to grind 4 tables at the low stakes and just take my 1k-2k each month after rb/bonus etc.. and be happy or take shots higher and not cashout so often. I play on Absolute (still has the best benefits IMO for a low stakes limit player and I doubt any superuser acct would bother playing those stakes)

MY WR is about breakeven over 200k hands of 2/4-3/6 on a high-rake site. I have taken some shots but not near enough IMO. It just seems like I'm spinning my wheels at the lower limits and with high-rake , and a BBJ rake the games seem almost impossible to beat for a high WR at least at the lower stakes? Seems like I should probably reduce my tables from 4 to maybe 2-3 and play a little higher when the games are right and just keep some extra BR online?

What would you do if you were starting out in the low- stakes limit games today...just move over to No-limit?

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Man, high rake + BBJ is such a ripoff - party monster promo was outright stealing.

one reason you can get RB and bonsues is because of the rake.

I think you should (as I would if i was in same spot), step back and take a 100mile view of the overall quality of the games at the levels you play. are you able to often find 1-2 decent sized fish at each table you play? If the answer is no, I would start looking for alternatives. If yes, maybe examine my play - both are worth doing in any event.

taking shots are great when they work, but can be devestating if they don't so don't be so quick to do it on a light bankroll - it sounds like your curretn setup may be somewhat frustrating, but is actually a nice add to your overall quality of life...I guess what I'm saying is that it could be worse.

[stoxtrader]

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If online poker actually got doomswitched, would you be a live (gulp) pro?

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unequivically no. I might stop playing altogether. I jsut value my time at home to much to travel and we're not moving. No idea what I would do though, I guess work even harder on my golf game.