Poker Novice Questions

[Tom Hedonist]

Originally Posted by Crouch Potato

GaF, continuing on from your original advice about not even semi bluffing at low levels, at what level should I start making continuation bets? For example, I raise pre flop with AQo, flop of say 8-8-6, if I am acting early or it's checked to me, when if ever would it be a good idea to make a continuation bet, and how big should it be?

Crouch, I've also been playing low level cash recently (0.05c/0.10c), on Virgin. Sometimes it can be disheartening. Last night I had a pocket pair that tripped on the flop, which also showed a flush draw. I made a pot sized raise, and got called by the large stack (who had 4 x the buy in). The flush draw didn't improve on the turn, so I raised again and the big stack reraised, putting me all-in. I called and the big stack made his flush on the river

Although I was pissed off, I reloaded and continued playing tight. A couple of hour later I was slightly better off than evens for the night. I won a fair chunk back from the big stack who continued to make big bets fishing for straights and flushes.

I think it was the first time I've gained inspiration from losing my buy-in

To have a go at answering your question, for me it very much depends on the other players at your table, your image and most importantly your position. If I was last to act, and eveyone had checked before me, I might make a smallish bet. I'd be prepared to fold to any reraise, otherwise I'm hoping to get to check the turn and the river to see if I hit anything.

If I was in early position, I'd probably just check. Bear in mind that any callers probably already have at least 2 pair, so I really would be wary of any aggression.

[GotaFancy?]

For a continuation bet, as Tom says, depends on your opponents ..... In general, at low buy in, where people will call when they should fold, it is probably a bad idea .........

It's almost always a bad idea to continuation bet against more than 2 opponents.....

[Crouch Potato]

Can someone explain to me about the various networks and what sites are which? (Boss, Prima, Ongame etc.)

Also, what sites are good for micro limit cash games? I'm thinking sign up bonuses should be important, but maybe other criteria too? I've also been reading a bit about certain sites having a certain 'level/standard of play'. How important is that at low levels and in what way are they significant?

[GotaFancy?]

You can see a lot of the poker room networks listed in this thread (after the PL ad) - Poker News, Blogs and PL Poker Links

Micro Limit:
iPoker (Betfred / Titan ) 1c/2c
PKR.com (2c/4c - 3d, HUGE download - needs a fastish PC - massive amounts of really bad players)
Boss (Virgin/poker.co.uk) 5c/10c
Party Poker 2c/4c
Pacific 5c/10c
Poker4Ever 5c/10c
Ladbrokes 10c/20c
Prima/Microgaming 5c/10c

Nothing has as bad a standard as PKR.com imo .... if you can stand all the messing about ...... it's more of a computer game than poker .... and thats how people play it.....

[Crouch Potato]

Ok GaF, thanks for all your help recently. I see Titan have a 150% sign up bonus (I think), so I might considering taking advantage of that, although I see Doyle's room also has a pretty good bonus on offer. Am downloading Pkr atm, **** me it says it's going to take me about an hour!

Btw, I see pokeroom advertised in that link. Aren't they blacklisted?

[GotaFancy?]

You're right - Pokerroom banner removed

[betforlife]

I am a beginner at online poker too. Started just recently at expekt and I got around with it quite fast. Started at the smallest tables and got on bigger ones. Now I am trying luck at tournaments, freerolls included, which is a good chance to win some money without risking your own and get a lot of expierence.

[Jimany]

Originally Posted by betforlife

I am a beginner at online poker too. Started just recently at expekt and I got around with it quite fast. Started at the smallest tables and got on bigger ones. Now I am trying luck at tournaments, freerolls included, which is a good chance to win some money without risking your own and get a lot of expierence.

Check out GotaFancy's daily poker thread, it will be a sticky in the Tourney section. There will be a list of various buy-in events including freerolls. Good luck

[mark00]

hi guys
im hoping someone out there can help me out ,or at leastpoint me in the right direction.im not really that new to pl, but ive only been playing poker for about 15 mths.i,ve tried playing the low limits cash games which i,ve had various results,however i tend to favour the tournaments more especially the "turbos". i no most players frown on these gamesas(crap shoots),but i find i can make a reasonable amount of money playing them.
at present i only play on corals,ive tried betfred but that was crap.
if someone out there knows where i can get a decent game arond lunchtime, normally in $5 to $10 categorie like at corals i,d love to knowas people are getting to know me to well, and my strategy

[GotaFancy?]

I've started playing the Short handed STT Turbo's on boss, and have found some of the play shocking .... you can definitely get an edge, even at the higher levels......

In general, players seem too loose aggressive early, and too tight passive late - they just dont seem to adjust to the stage of the game.....

Afraid I dont know of any lunchtime MTTs... (europe is working, America is sleeping - suspect you might be struggling .... maybe worth checking out some Australia/Asia focused sites for their evening games....

[stooo V2]

I play very similar tournaments from a vey similar experience level.

I find betfair and willhill the best to play as in general the players arent very good.

[NafYepmop]

PokerStars is the place to be, games start pratically instantally and the player base is so large that you'll rarely find yourself up against the same opponents.

Personally i dont think that the turbos are crapshoots, as long as you have a good push fold strategy you have a massive edge against the average internet fish.

[AK1979]

Hi all. I'm not a massive poker player but I like the odd game and pop in here every so often to read what the experts are up to

I've heard the phrase "fold equity" bandied about a few times i.e. "you have no fold equity" Can someone explain to me what this means please as I have no idea!

Thanks

[GotaFancy?]

There are 2 ways to win a hand in poker. One way is to showdown with the best hand. The other way is for everyone to fold.

The only way everyone will fold is if you bet. Your "fold equity" is the chance that your opponent will fold if you bet.

If someone goes all in, then you have no fold equity. You can call, but it will go to showdown and you must have the best hand.
If someone is pot committed, then you have no fold equity - you know that regardless of the bet you make, your opponent will call you, with any 2 cards. Again you must showdown the best hand.
To have fold equity you must place a big enough bet that your opponent has a decision to make on whether to call (or raise) or fold.

Fold equity is the reason that aggression is so important in poker - you have 2 ways to win a pot, whilst passive players can only win the pot by having the best hand.

[GotaFancy?]

A good definition

The value that comes from the possibility that other players will fold when you make a bet. For example: It is often better to make a bet than call a bet because betting has folding equity, whereas calling does not.

[GotaFancy?]

Quite a good poker glossary on wikipedia

Glossary of poker terms - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[AK1979]

Thanks GaF, i've added that Wikipedia page to my favourites