Hi,im new to this forum.I just thought that my experiences could be of help to some players.
Im a 43 yr old pro who plays at Star City Casino in Sydney Australia.Ive been pro for just on 3 yrs now.
My game of choice is 1/2 nl,the buyin is $80-$200(i buyin for $100).Unfortunatuly we get raped with a $5 hourly time charge as well as a rake of 10% capped at $8.My bankroll is $16000 which for me is 160 buyins
I play 40-50 hrs/week and average $800/week in winnings over the 3 yrs.I think given the time charge and rake that i am rather successful.The game is soft and at the same time can be frustrating due to the donks.Ive of late found that playing from midday until 8pm is the most profitable due to the old timer regulars that play during the day.These players seem to have an endless supply of cash and obviosly play for fun not profit.At night its more a donkfest with a lot more variance.
I would be interested in answering any questions and also would love to hear from any other pros that play the same limit

You must always put your opponent on a range of hands based on previous hands,did he raise, did he call,what position is he in?After the flop im looking at betting patterns ie size of the bet or how he reacts to my bet.Always ask yourself why did he do what he did?Does he want you to stay in the pot or is he trying to get you out of the pot?Does your opponent bet draws or does he like a free card?If you only play your cards and dont put your opponent on a range or take notice of his betting patterns you will find it hard to win.Then of course you need the courage to go with your read

That rake and hourly fee is gonna get ya in the long term. All though I'd be there too if there was a place remotely near me to play at .

Although what i stated is obvious at the 1/2 nl level its very abc.I win because i make less mistakes then the average joe who plays occasionally.
Tells at this level can also be misleading because you are not dealing with regular poker players.Sometimes its hard to tell if a guy is nervous because he is bluffing or has the nuts.One tell that ive found to be accurate is a players voice.When announcing a bet or raise with a strong hand there tends to be more authority in the voice
Bluffing is also overrated at the 1/2 nl level unless you know the player is capable of putting you on a hand that beats him.Sometimes thinking at too high a level will get you in trouble.
As for working out if they want you in a hand or not look at the size of the bet compared to the pot and a reraise will help to determine there objective.Where i play bet sizing gives away a lot of hands.I look for a weak bet to make my move.But all the bet sizing to determine if they want me in or out is based on previous experience with the opponent.
Its not hard to see weakness or someone betting big to fake strength.Im convinced that the 1/2 nl where i play is no stronger then 0.5/10cent nl online

Originally Posted by FSMK

That rake and hourly fee is gonna get ya in the long term. All though I'd be there too if there was a place remotely near me to play at .

I worked out that in a typical session i pay about $160 to the casino.I actually spoke to Daniel Negranue when he was in Sydney a few months ago and he basically said we were getting screwed and he couldnt believe players could beat the game.Not many of us do.Im just lucky that the standard is so poor.
Im lucky that i live 15 minutes from Star City.I honestly believe that we have the worst players in the world at Star City.All gamblers,very few poker players.

My pre flop raise is just about always $15.If im in late position with no action in front of me i may make it less with a big hand so i get a caller.
Congrats to your friend.Our $200-$500 game is $5/$5
Do your pots get raked as well as the 3 pound yime charge?