Well after my bitching and moaning about a few hands I have been hit by in the micros. I have decided to have a real dip at the low limit games. The problem is I haven't tried low limit before and would like some help in setting up my game for the type of players I am going to come up against.

1)Will I see the same type of players making the same type of calls that essentially happens in almost every hand in the micros (eg all in with K2 sooted? PF?)
2)Are the games in general tighter?
3)Bluffing? Do many of you try it??

And the main one:

4)If you were my Jedi Poker Master and I your little Paduan Bitch what would be the basic strategies and mindsets to apply to this level that will see me become successful over the mid to long term (short term I know I am going to take some mistake riddled hits).

If there is anything else I should be doing/studying for this level I am very much interested in getting your thought and ideas on the matter.

<suck through straw> I respect many of your opinions on this board and am constantly re-evaluating my style based on what I read. Any help and advice is very much appreciated. </suck through straw>

Guys will typically play the same even moving up to limits of 1/2 imho.

Few Questions:
1) Sit with Max amount, or minimum amount?
2) Which game? O8B,OHL, 7CS, 7CSHL, LHE, NLHE?
3) How long have you been playing? How many hands?
4) What limits are you playing now?
5) What type of player are you Tight, Aggressive, Conservative, Passive?
6) How many hours do you play a week?
7) What books have you read so far?

Without answering all of these question right away, I can tell you to stay with solid hands, raise in the right position, and if it's good enough to call, it's good enough to raise with. Don't be afraid to release hands, and bluffing in position once the texture of the table is right is, and your image good - is a good thing.

Read a few books - Low Limit Hold Em By Lee Jones, or Small Stakes Hold Em by Sklansky/Malmuth, and of course Theory of Poker by Sklansky.

Originally Posted by Diggler

Guys will typically play the same even moving up to limits of 1/2 imho.

Few Questions:
1) Sit with Max amount, or minimum amount?
2) Which game? O8B,OHL, 7CS, 7CSHL, LHE, NLHE?
3) How long have you been playing? How many hands?
4) What limits are you playing now?
5) What type of player are you Tight, Aggressive, Conservative, Passive?
6) How many hours do you play a week?
7) What books have you read so far?

Without answering all of these question right away, I can tell you to stay with solid hands, raise in the right position, and if it's good enough to call, it's good enough to raise with. Don't be afraid to release hands, and bluffing in position once the texture of the table is right is, and your image good - is a good thing.

Read a few books - Low Limit Hold Em By Lee Jones, or Small Stakes Hold Em by Sklansky/Malmuth, and of course Theory of Poker by Sklansky.

1) Sit with Max amount, or minimum amount?
Whats better? Was thinking max amount?
2) Which game? O8B,OHL, 7CS, 7CSHL, LHE, NLHE?
Should have mentioned this NLHE
3) How long have you been playing? How many hands?
Playing on and off for about two years, fully for the last 6 months. Have 1000 hands recorded in Poker Office (seriously been using it for only the last two weeks - though had it for a few months)
4) What limits are you playing now?
Zee Micros!!! Mainly .01/.02 - but up to .05/.10 - basically see no difference in playing style of the opponents at these levels.
5) What type of player are you Tight, Aggressive, Conservative, Passive?
Poker Office has me as Aggressive Pre, Passive Post
6) How many hours do you play a week?
As much as is possible with work and family to contend with - up to 15 hours during the week and about the same on the weekends
7) What books have you read so far?
Harrington I + II
Doyles SS I and II
Got those when I was fully into tournies and SnG's, but am finding myself swaying towards the ring games now.

Out of those books you have suggested would Theory of Poker be my first choice? And what would be next after that??

Good info.

1) Sitting with minimum will allow to minimize your losses when learning the game, alternatively it prevents you from maximizing a made hand. Usually it's best to sit with slightly above minimum if you're just getting used to cash games, you'll minimize your losses.
2)Ok.
3)Alright.1000 is impossible to go off of, you may want to get PokerTracker to identify your leaks.
4)Playing the limits you're playing now, you won't really find a difference in the comeptition. You will find slightly better playing around .25/.50, but there's still lots of donks around. Stick to good hands, and raise in position.But be aware of the texture of the table at all times.
5)You should definately get PokerTracker to identify and solidify what type of player you are. Why be Aggressive PF, and Passive Post Flop?
6)15 hours is good to catch a flow Part Time.
7)Great books you've read so far, but the Harrington books are obviously all tourney, and the SS/SS2 books really don't get into Low Limit HE. Check out Lee Jone's book "Low Limit Hold Em" to get some good basics, and definately ToP by Sklansky - what a great book.

Deposited in Doyles Room (by the way their support is basically crap - bad customer service there).

Playing .10/.20 tables and am nearing my initial deposit of 75 dollars after 2 hours of play?!?

Playing real tight and real agressive, still at this level people are falling over themselves to give money away (though not as bad as 'zee micros'). This seems to be a nice level - but I still think I am under rolled - for .10/.20 cash games what should be my bank roll??.

I'd go in with 500 BB's personally...but that's me.

I never go up a level until I have at least 500 blinds to move up into the next level, but to each their own - this is just how I do it, and I've deposited 3 times in 3 years - all of which being in the 1st year, at 3 different sites.

Originally Posted by Diggler

Good info.

1) Sitting with minimum will allow to minimize your losses when learning the game, alternatively it prevents you from maximizing a made hand. Usually it's best to sit with slightly above minimum if you're just getting used to cash games, you'll minimize your losses.
2)Ok.
3)Alright.1000 is impossible to go off of, you may want to get PokerTracker to identify your leaks.
4)Playing the limits you're playing now, you won't really find a difference in the comeptition. You will find slightly better playing around .25/.50, but there's still lots of donks around. Stick to good hands, and raise in position.But be aware of the texture of the table at all times.
5)You should definately get PokerTracker to identify and solidify what type of player you are. Why be Aggressive PF, and Passive Post Flop?
6)15 hours is good to catch a flow Part Time.
7)Great books you've read so far, but the Harrington books are obviously all tourney, and the SS/SS2 books really don't get into Low Limit HE. Check out Lee Jone's book "Low Limit Hold Em" to get some good basics, and definately ToP by Sklansky - what a great book.

1)Roger
3)Poker Office is the same as tracker basically - I have tried both and prefer PO
4)Trying out the .10/.20 tables at Doyles - what should my BR be for that level?
5)Same as 3
6)Not sure whatyou mean by that statement??
7)Will look into those books

EDIT - Bloody no support for Doyles yet with PO - Have to wait another version or two (about a month - bah!). Might have to cash out and try some other Room (though I do like this one)

Originally Posted by Diggler

I'd go in with 500 BB's personally...but that's me.

I never go up a level until I have at least 500 blinds to move up into the next level, but to each their own - this is just how I do it, and I've deposited 3 times in 3 years - all of which being in the 1st year, at 3 different sites.

So .20 * 500 = 100 dollars? Correct?

Some things you should know:

1.) Almost everyone (my guess: 95-99%) through the $100 games have no idea what they're doing. Most people (my guess: 75-85%) through the $1000 games are the same. This is in regards to online play. Biggest I've played online was $2500 and I got the impression that they were a lot of tournament players donking off their winnings. It was more hi-variance than when I played $25 and $50 games, so that stint was a very short one and I actually quit NL for almost a year after that because I went on MAJOR tilt.

2.) "Moving up" has little to do with skill. It has mostly to do with whether you can afford to play the games. Poker is gambling. Yes, the bad lose, but the good do as well. I consider myself a Hold 'em player of average skill level. I make money over every 60-day span because I can afford to get trounced and outplayed because the fish outnumber the sharks. Fact is, cold decks come along as do bad games. If you can't lose 10 buy-in's and still play the same game comfortably within your roll, it's too expensive because you won't be able to take the swings.

3.) When you understand #2, you'll learn to love bad players.

4.) Don't be a calling station. Post more hands here and read the analysis forum to recognize raise/fold spots better.

Originally Posted by the alex

Some things you should know:

1.) Almost everyone (my guess: 95-99%) through the $100 games have no idea what they're doing. Most people (my guess: 75-85%) through the $1000 games are the same. This is in regards to online play. Biggest I've played online was $2500 and I got the impression that they were a lot of tournament players donking off their winnings. It was more hi-variance than when I played $25 and $50 games, so that stint was a very short one and I actually quit NL for almost a year after that because I went on MAJOR tilt.

2.) "Moving up" has little to do with skill. It has mostly to do with whether you can afford to play the games. Poker is gambling. Yes, the bad lose, but the good do as well. I consider myself a Hold 'em player of average skill level. I make money over every 60-day span because I can afford to get trounced and outplayed because the fish outnumber the sharks. Fact is, cold decks come along as do bad games. If you can't lose 10 buy-in's and still play the same game comfortably within your roll, it's too expensive because you won't be able to take the swings.

3.) When you understand #2, you'll learn to love bad players.

4.) Don't be a calling station. Post more hands here and read the analysis forum to recognize raise/fold spots better.

Great advice thankyou.

I think I am getting away from being a calling station. Over the last month I have adjust my range of hands etc - and finding that I am staying about even/losing alot less than I had been. Next step is to work out strategies and limits where I will win and keep those winnings.

The bad player scenario is one I am coming to grips with (me being one myself lol) - yes I love it when I hit against them and I tilt slightly when I see what they've played and I lose - but the thing I really need to adjust is when I have a bad patch and they add salt to the wound - that I find difficult to let go of.