Texas Holdem Poker
I have been member of the forum for a few weeks now. About the time I found this site the Hollywood casino in Shreveport opened a poker room and I decided to try my life long dream of "playing poker for a living". Due to bankroll considerations I determined the 10=20 limit was right for me. I won my first 5 sessions{max $1000 min $250}. I'd like to point out I've been playing poker over forty years here in the east Texas area and for the last three years have tried to become a real student of the game with computer software and almost going to the extent of memorizing numerous holdem books. I'm talking some serious hours spent here. So, it's with a high degree of confidence that I embarked on the ambition I've had since I was 16 years old. Here is where things are getting tough. The 10-20 game I play in has attracted the mentality and playing texture of a 4-8 game and I've booked 2 pretty heavy losses running...playing against players who would't know a pot odd from a pot holder. It's impossible to put them on hands because even at 10-20 limit they have no respect for the money and will cold call raises pre floop to 4-5 off suit. It beats all I've ever seen. Now with 2'3'4 of these type players in the game it would make all the difference in the world...but with 7-8 of these habbitual callers in the game, they "run you down" just like in a 3-6 or 4-8 game. Before long, while you draw rag after rag 9-10 off suit in earily position seems to look pretty damn good....after all these unsofisticated peasants are doing it with ease....Do you know the feeling? I feel my best strategy is to move to the 20-40 limit, though the players are more knowledgable, there seems to be an order to the game as opposed to the feeding frenze of the 10=20 game. You must understand there are not unlimited game selections available where I play. Shilo, in his post about not playing "low limit poker" is telling it like it is with this good advice....that is if you want to win. I would have thought 10-20 stakes would have slowed down the "any 2 will do philosophy" style of play most 3-6 4-8 "no foldum holdem" players but it has not. Maybe it's different in different areas of the country but these folks will beat you in the pot to cold call a $20 raise. It is a difficult delima for me...do I continue with this 10-20 game where, and I'm not being egotistical, I really feel I'm usually one of the top players in the game but am getting killed by less experienced players or move up to the 20-40 game where I've only played once but did win $1000 on that occassion? I am determined to do one of the other this week. I have experienced what I would consider an extremely poor run of cards for the last month with the exception of making a few "monsters" such as several sets of quads and even a royal flush. Alas, killer hands only win "one" pot regardless of how thrilling they are. Some of you guys might have asperations to try your hand at playing full time one of these days. Not that I feel I am even profficient as a writer, but you might want to follow along and keep tabs on what happens here. I really believe in my heart of hearts I can pull this off. It means a great deal to me but I have the added pressure of my and my partners business going down the tubes a few months ago and I really don't want to hunt a job. Basically this is my one shot to accomplish a dream. Without question, bankroll considerations are a priority concern as I had only about half the 300 big bets for my grub stake. That should be a major concern of anyone taking a shot.There is one other observation I would like to share with you....The astounding number of players, normally good solid players who will go on "total tilt" if they get off looser. I've seen this from 75 year old normally rock types to rookies just starting out. I at least am not guilty of this. I am a gentleman at the table in every aspect ...though I'd like to have the power to "fire the hell out of some of these casino employees." I'm also blessed with a super spouse who knows how much I want to give it a go.....of course she also knows there will be no excuses if I don't make it and I will not let her down if it comes to getting a 9to5. Anyway it is an interesting, stressful, and challenging time of my life. I hope I haven't boared you by sharing it with you and would enjoy keeping you posted on my results. I will tell it like it comes down....good or bad. I would also like to hear from anyother players who are playing professionally or anyone that has sussestions. I hope you'll wish me luck.
Hi Steveg12. You are right. The 10-20 game I've been playing plays more like a "no foldem holdem 3-6 game". These folks will cold call a raise pre flop and run you down with a gut shot to 7-8 offsuit. About got me talking to myself! Ha! I have not seen any $3000 cash outs but $12-1500 is fairly common. Like you, I think it would hurt my game to have a pre-established satisfaction goal of 1 to one and a half big bets per hour although after completing a couple of 20 hour sessions lately, maybe that wouldn't be too bad. I think most players, even though they would hate to admitt it, start to loose concentration after 10 hours or so...guess it depends on how bad we might be stuck, right? Boy, I'm just having a hard time breaking out winner from the get go. Seems I'm playing catch up too much lately. I stated in a previous post, I've decided to bump it on up to the 20-40 limit as I think it fits my style of play better as opposed to the range wars of the 10-20 game. Speaking of pot limit, there is a wild one at the Hollywood, here in Shreveport, La. $2000 buy in but it is common to see players with $10-25,ooo on the table. There is one "trust fund" player about 25 years old who has a $40,000 monthly allowance who really juices it up. That would be hard to take, would't it? I've got a buddy who wants to put up half the jack and go in with me to take a shot. I haven't played pot limit in years but there is flat out some money to be made in the game if a man can catch a few hands and manage to stay out of the traps. Nice visiting with you and good luck.
I have a few thoughts on your comments about how much a good player should expect to win in a 10-20 game. Lately Ive been playing a lot of hold em, maybe 30 or so hours a week. Some 10-20 some 15-30, and they have recently opened up a no limit game at the casino play in that has been fairly easy. The one thing I am finding is that although it seems the more hours you play, the more you should win, assuming you are better than yuor competition, this does not hold true for me. Althuogh I try to look at my playing as one long session, after about 10 hours or so, I go braindead without even realizing it. I start making calls I normally wouldnt make is there isnt much logic to my decisions. Often times when playing in these games for a long time I notice that there usually isnt a tremendous amuont of money on the table. I have to remind myself to look at the chips on the table and get a realistic of idea of how much more I could win even if things are going well. In some 10-20 games, if the cards are hitting I think a thousand dollar win is not out of the question, even in 4 or 5 hours. However, I think in some 10-20 games a four hundred dollar win is about all that can be taken away without really going on a big rush. But you bring up a very interesting point. Personally, I dont think there is any number that one can set to expect or hope to win in any one game, because some 10-20 games play like 5-10 games and some of them play like 20-40 games.
Thanks for the response. I realize that many hours are required to establish long term win rates and yes, many players fail to take it into consideration. They beat the game 2,3,4 times running and they think they are ready to go pro. This crazy game of Texas holdem has so many facets to it that it can be mind boggeling to me. The type of game, the game texture, even the days of the week one plays are all factors, don't you think. I know that the weekend action where I play is much easier than sitting down with the local grinders on week nights.
