Taking shots in poker

After the Radio show my buddies do every week, we decided to sit down on stars and play some $5/$10NL. Now, most of these guys have a big enough bankroll online to play that level and not worry too much.. One of my buddies decided to stake me for the game. I ended up getting stacked, rebuying getting it back, getting stack, and finally bought in with my own money and losing $100. So, only losing a $100 of my own money sucked, but not as bad as some of the guys and gals at our table..

I thought about the game after it was over and realized that #1 It's funny because just 4 years ago I thought a $20SNG was huge, and #2 I want to play $5/$10 now..

So, I think it's time I start getting serious about my poker playing. After a year of not playing much, I think it's time I set some goals for myself and stick to them. I also wanted to post a bit about taking shots at the next level and seeing where you end up.

I know several people that started playing a year and a half ago and they are now playing $5/$10 NL and winning. In the back of my mind I keep thinking that I just don't have it in me to move that high, but after last night I realized that the only thing stopping me was my bankroll. I am confident I can beat that game or any other, but that is just talk until I do it. I'm starting with a bankroll of $500 and I’m going to play 50NL to acquire the proper bankroll to move up to 100NL, build up some more and move up to 200NL, and so on. I have played plenty of 100NL and 200Nl with some shots at 400NL with decent success.

I think everyone should take a shot at the next level to gauge where their comfort level is. Taking shots is a calculated risk that requires discipline and patience. Above all, you need to be clear on your goals while playing and taking shots. So, starting today I will be setting aside time to get some hands in and build my bankroll. I'm going to keep my bog and the forum updated on my progress and upload the bad sessions to the replayer..


So, I'll keep everyone updated..

__________________

It helps to run good when you take shots, believe me. I'm nice and cozy at 1/2NL now, but I have been trying some 2/3NL tables on Bodog as well because the games are just so soft. I'm ordinarily a bankroll nit and not the type to take shots, but I figured, what the hell, 300nl isn't much of a jump from 200nl. Turns out 2/3NL is absolutely killing me, I run like absolute dog crap there for some inexplicable reason... I have to swear off it for now. Look what happened this month so far thanks to 500 hands of 2/3NL -

200NL -


300NL -


Combined -


So, definitely, take shots if you are confident about your chances. Just make sure to run good

I remember your first shot at 1/2NL didn't go that well either at first, but you tried again and now look at ya

There is a lot something to the mental aspect of moving up to a new level. Part of your brain is telling you that the players are better and more advanced. Sometimes you run like god shit too, which doesn't do much for confidence either.

Slowly you realize you are better and can handle the games at that level. Of course the money plays a role too. Losing a few buy-ins at 50NL is very different than losing a couple at 100NL.

I think snickers made a good point in his about about not thinking of it as money, but more as a tool we need to beat the game. Also, taking the long view which is something you hear in business all the time. You must think long term!

__________________

Look forward to your progress Randy.

__________________
My Blog updated Tuesday, September 30th

Randy,
I know exactly where you're coming from here with your statement "the only thing stopping me was my bankroll".

This is precisely what led me to my decision of just playing some MTTs through the summer and really taking this seriously come September. For me, I'm going to start with like $250-300 and play $10NL until I can safely move up to $25NL, so we're on different levels, but I've played & seen enough $20NL and $25NL to know that I can play at that level for a profit. The only thing that has sucked for me was that when I buy into a $25NL game with a max buyin, It represented 20% or more of my entire bankroll.

Let's both make goals to get to the next level by Christmas. I know it's my goal to start withdrawing on a regular basis by then (while leaving plenty in the online bankroll of course).

__________________
Check out Bigloser's Blog: The Genesis of a Micro-Grinder...

http://www.feltpoker.com/blogs/bigloser (updated 5/25/08 )

I think where I started to play less was when TP went down the tubes and we started working on getting the new forums up and running. Once I started I couldn't stop, TP wasn't built in a day and neither will our forum be.

Now I think the forum and websites are doing ok, not great but ok I really want to focus more on something I know I can do, play poker.. I was playing 200NL regularly when I decided to take a break. I cashedout most of my roll and decided if I wasn;t going to put the effort in to move up, I might as well play for recreation more than taking it serious.

There was a point not too long ago i counted on the monthly withdraws from my poker playing, but due to soem wise investments, a stable job, etc. I no longer needed to have thta money, it;s great to have but it wasn;t essential anymore and I started "gambling too much and I didn't like where it was heading. So, a break was needed..

I've always sucked at Bankroll management and probably always will. I'm not even sure the what the guidelines are really. If i had $500 in my account, I wouldn't think twice about playing 200NL. It's just my nature and it wasn't devistating if I lost.. As reckless as I have been, I've only had 1 losing month in the last few years and it was probably the worst steak of bad decisions and running bad I'll ever have. More bad decisions than anything..

Anyway, we probably need a good article by someone that knows more about it than me regarding bankroll managment and guidelines.. The game is on though, I will stick with my personal guidelines for now, I'm going to multi-table 50NL and 100NL and see where I'm at come the end of the month..

__________________

Me too. Always like to read about people who are striving to get to the next level.

__________________
"I'm disappointed in you, Scotty" -- Michael DeMichele at the 2008 WSOP HORSE Final Table
Check out My Blog, updated 10/06/08

This kind of stuff makes me think of Chris Furguesson and his 2 successful attempts at turning 5$ and -0$ into over 20k. Shows you that with a proper and attainable goal what you can achieve.

Great point guys. I think actual focus is what a lot of us lose over time. Anyway, the first progress update is that I'm up $74 after about an hour of 50NL. I'm playing on Cake which keeps me from having actual stats. i know I could use the Cake converter that Mew made, but I somehow blew up my PT@ a couple months ago.. So, I guess I'm getting HM or PT3 in the near future..

__________________

Quick update, played another hour of 50Nl this weekend, and I'm now up $132 total. There was a few rough hands I'm going to dig out and post. All in all it feels good to play with more of a purpose again.

__________________