The Concept
I love poker. I can't get enough of it. Hell, I don't even care if there's money riding on it (however, putting money on something always makes it more interesting). I'm just as happy getting together with friends and family to play just for chips (and bragging rights) as entering the weekly Saturday multi-table tournament at my local brick and mortar casino.
As my life has gotten busier, I've found I don't have the time or disposable income to build a decent bankroll. You can read all the poker books you want (and I do, the nerd in me devours poker books) but it's no substitute for playing hands. I've tried online "play-money" games and have had a lot of fun but found most of these turn to be Tijuana Donkey Shows with jackasses making 50X BB raises under the gun with 9-2 offsuit and sucking out. The tournaments are somewhat better as there is a bit of a consequence to getting busted out, but trust me, there'll always be at least one guy who'll type "OK. EVERYBODY ALL-IN. COME ON YOU PUSSIES. LOL. OMFG. ROTFL!!!!!!1111." on the first hand. Yeah, don't even get me started on the chat.
So what's a poker geek to do for action? Stick it out in the play-money tables and go insane from frustration and develop bad habits or play cash games but less frequency? The answer lies in two discoveries I made in the last couple weeks. The first was the ultra-ridiculous micro-limit games at PokerStars ($0.01-$0.02? That's crazy). The second was a podcast (yes, I'm that nerdy) with Chris "Jesus" Fergusson talking about turning a buck (yes, one dollar) into twenty-thousand playing online, stressing the importance of bankroll management. The idea intrigued me. How far could I go on a buck?
So here's my plan. I'm going to start with one dollar and see how far I can go, grinding my way up the levels playing No-Limit Texas Hold'em ring games. I'll start with the high-roller $0.01-$0.02 tables and go from there. I'm hoping the quality of play at these tables is better than the play money tables. I'm banking on that going through the hassle of setting up a money account will keep the riff-raff out. I haven't really figured out what kind of time limit I'll give myself (one year has a nice ring to it. But hell, who am I kidding, I might be busted out in a day) or how many tries I give myself (will I swear off poker for life when I'm busted out? probably not). I guess I'll figure it out as I go along.
I'll use this blog to record my progress and relate interesting hands (who doesn't love to hear a bad-beat story. heh). As I mentioned before, I love studying poker, so I'll probably include book reviews and the like.
I love poker. I can't get enough of it. Hell, I don't even care if there's money riding on it (however, putting money on something always makes it more interesting). I'm just as happy getting together with friends and family to play just for chips (and bragging rights) as entering the weekly Saturday multi-table tournament at my local brick and mortar casino.
As my life has gotten busier, I've found I don't have the time or disposable income to build a decent bankroll. You can read all the poker books you want (and I do, the nerd in me devours poker books) but it's no substitute for playing hands. I've tried online "play-money" games and have had a lot of fun but found most of these turn to be Tijuana Donkey Shows with jackasses making 50X BB raises under the gun with 9-2 offsuit and sucking out. The tournaments are somewhat better as there is a bit of a consequence to getting busted out, but trust me, there'll always be at least one guy who'll type "OK. EVERYBODY ALL-IN. COME ON YOU PUSSIES. LOL. OMFG. ROTFL!!!!!!1111." on the first hand. Yeah, don't even get me started on the chat.
So what's a poker geek to do for action? Stick it out in the play-money tables and go insane from frustration and develop bad habits or play cash games but less frequency? The answer lies in two discoveries I made in the last couple weeks. The first was the ultra-ridiculous micro-limit games at PokerStars ($0.01-$0.02? That's crazy). The second was a podcast (yes, I'm that nerdy) with Chris "Jesus" Fergusson talking about turning a buck (yes, one dollar) into twenty-thousand playing online, stressing the importance of bankroll management. The idea intrigued me. How far could I go on a buck?
So here's my plan. I'm going to start with one dollar and see how far I can go, grinding my way up the levels playing No-Limit Texas Hold'em ring games. I'll start with the high-roller $0.01-$0.02 tables and go from there. I'm hoping the quality of play at these tables is better than the play money tables. I'm banking on that going through the hassle of setting up a money account will keep the riff-raff out. I haven't really figured out what kind of time limit I'll give myself (one year has a nice ring to it. But hell, who am I kidding, I might be busted out in a day) or how many tries I give myself (will I swear off poker for life when I'm busted out? probably not). I guess I'll figure it out as I go along.
I'll use this blog to record my progress and relate interesting hands (who doesn't love to hear a bad-beat story. heh). As I mentioned before, I love studying poker, so I'll probably include book reviews and the like.
posted by Bottom Dollar at 10:55 AM
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