Chess Junkie turned Card Shark

[bmbeeman]

Okay, I admit it, maybe I don't qualify as a "Card Shark" quite yet. I have marginal experience with Poker. I'm part of the Moneymaker generation. We started our home game shortly after the rush in 2003. Since the home game stopped after I graduated high school my relationship with Poker has been on and off. Now that I am old enough I wanted to give Poker a serious shot. I have a limited bankroll and wanted to make the most of it. I thought about going to our local cardroom at the grayhound track, but they're ring games seem to eat up money fast and the lowest tounament buy-in is $25+1. It was suggested I try some online tournament, but I'm apprehensive. I have a few concerns:

1. There is no measure of skill level in Poker. More expensive Buy-ins and bigger bankrolls don't always mean more skill. I'm concerned about being outmatched from the beginning.

2. I have a deep hatred of engines and tracking programs. I hated chess engines when I played Correspondence Chess and I don't really like the idea of being tracked just so my opponent can bring up my career statistics.

Are my fears grounded or is online poker not what I think it is. I've heard everything from "it's a rigged mess" to "it's full of grinders." If I wanted grinders I'd take my chances on the fel at the room. I'm just looking for a place that I can sit in on some Micro-Stakes action and some Micro-Tournaments to build my experience. I'm not really into making money, although it wouldn't hurt. My mentallity still comes from chess. I like have a definitive start-end, so ring games aren't a big draw for me. I would also be happier with topping a sites tournament leaderboard than making money. Are there any sites out there I should check out. I have a PokerStars account, but I've only ever tried play money, and it seems to be full of idiots, but the money is fake so I guess I can't expect much. I did, however, call an all-in with a 2-7o and win with a full house . That made my tilt go away really fast. PokerStars seems to have a tough playerbase by reputaion and I'm worried I'll be outplayed at my beginning. Any sites cater to beginners, and any that have managed to block trackers, I prefer to use my wits to make reads?

[KiD[ReD]]

Welcome to PFO bmbeeman.

I used to be a crazy chess addict when I was younger, and like you, absolutely hated chess software. It's the main reason I quit; chess started to become more about memorization than it did about creativity and strategy.

Out of curiosity, what was your USCF or ELO rating?

To me it sounds like you're more interested in the competitive nature of poker and to improve and learn rather than the money, at least for now. I would therefore recommend playing tournaments and SnG's rather than rings games. While there will be donkeys everywhere, you usually see them penalized for their mistakes faster in tournaments since you always start with a fixed stack (unless it's a rebuy). Therefore, they can't simply go all-in and lose and then rebuy back in and play all night.

Also, tournaments and SnG's are just a lot more fun IMHO. You said there is no measure of skill level in poker, which is somewhat true, but you could always shoot to try to get on the TLB on PokerStars for example, or try to place higher in a big tournament or multi-table SNG...

[Pinguaq]

The reason people suggest online play when you are getting (back) into the game is because you can see and play sooo many more hands/hour. Although there are differences in game play at different stakes , some are subtle others illogical. To start, don't worry about them. If you read, learn, study various game play styles, a few days/weeks/months online can give you an idea of how that style works for you.

It also can get you use to making quick mental calculations like knowing immediately what you have, and what your draws and odds are. And what other people likely have considering how they bet/react. Recognizing of course that live play is usually much looser. That way, when you sit down live you can relax, chat have fun and still know exactly what's going on in each hand.

Good luck, and have fun.

[bmbeeman]

I played in Scholastic leagues and later in the ICCF after graduation and the lack of a Community College chess club/access to tournaments. I got to the mid 1600's, the exact number slips my mind. I just lost it after that. The frst half of the game would zip by because we're playing a starting position out of a book (that I ususally had memorized) and then it either got down to playing an engine, or you'd play a newer member that used the chess book to get this far, but doesn't know how to play midgame in this position, both of which didn't really teach me anything or offer an intersting game. The SnGs and MTTs are really what I'm looking for after trying some free one's out. They offer a gratuitous amount of playtime and it seems to be the way to go. I know exactly what it will cost me and it has a definite end. No deciding when to cut losses (or winnings) and stand up. You mentioned PokerStars had a Leaderboard, any other sites have such a feature. Is there any way I can rate the style of play on a site, or should I just give it a shot? Is there any way to limit my exposure to tracking? I'm leaning towards the Cake Network. I've heard that Doyle's Room allows you to change your username, making tracking all but futile. I'm downloading the software as we speak. I'm probobly going to scope out a bunch of rooms over the next few days/weeks, taking all recommendations. Once I lay my money down it's going to stay put. I've got a petty bankroll ($50) and can't really afford to split it up on sites, and it will make managing things a heck of a lot easier.

[KiD[ReD]]

bmbeeman, I beg of you, please paragraph your posts! (You too Pinguaq, haha)

I'm sure other sites have a similar form of PokerStars's TLB feature, but no other site can compare to PokerStars tournaments. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that all the other poker sites combined still don't match up to PokerStars in terms of tournaments and possibly SnGs.

As far as being scared of other people using poker software. I really wouldn't worry or fret over anything at the limits you're playing. While some might be using the software at those low limits, chances are that they don't really know how to take proper advantage of them. In fact, it might even be hindering them.