ITH Poker Forum

[Polar_Bears]

Okay, first I should say that majority of what I play are SnG's and MTT's. MTT's are my passion, and I try to support that habit by grinding SnG's. I am not exactly where I need to be on SnG's just yet, but do fine at lower levels and continue working in this area.

Cash games are definitely my weakest area when it comes to poker in general, and if I do play cash, it will usually be PLO (I just seem to be naturally better at it and don't get bored as easily). However, it is definitely time to start focusing more on cash games, especially now that I am living in Vegas and have access to B&M all the time.

Pretty much everywhere I go (site wise) you always hear people talking about grinding NL versus limit games. However my impression since I have been reading up on your site is many people are actually grinding limit games versus NL. Am I misinterpreting this? Majority of the bankroll management stuff I have been reading refers to BB/hr or BB/100 and a lot of it seems geared towards limit bankroll management.

I understand NL has higher variance than limit, but the things I have heard over the years is "you can't make any money at lower limits in limit poker." Games like 1/2 & 2/4 limit are virtually impossible to beat online, and in fact, a pro from another site I worked with years ago would constantly tell people this over and over again. But listening to you all talk that doesn't seem to be the case.

I am not a terrible cash game player, and probably a better limit player than NL, but limit has always just seemed very mechanical and never really found much interest in it, or should I say gravitated towards it. There is no doubt that I need work in both NL or limit. In fact, the next two books on my shelf to work through are Harringtons cash game I & II. Since I am not a grinder of cash games, and need to head that way next, I guess I wanted to get some advice on which direction I should be taking. I never really thought about exploring limit poker until I came across your site. Bankroll management is definitely my main focus right now, but where should I place my focus to do this?

Advice, thoughts, comments, concerns, etc...?

Thanks!

[nsidestrate]

You have to remember that book that started this forum was a limit poker book, so most of us came up with a limit background. There are people who have moved into NL since many of the posts in this forum were made and we have posters who play most forms of poker, but historically this has been a pretty limit poker dominated forum.

If I was at the point at the point you are in poker today, I would concentrate on NL or PLO.

[Polar_Bears]

Oh yea...and while we are at it, based off the little bit of information I have provided, any suggestions on which book I should approach first? I plan to purchase Matthew's Internet Texas Holdem & Texas Hold'em Odds and Probability. Obviously if the suggestion is the limit direction from the post, it would be ITH book, and if it was NL, then maybe Harrington's books. But after reading the review on Odds and Probability, I am wondering if I should focus on this one first.

LOL...just what I need, more books...I still have 5 other books on the shelf I still haven't gotten to, but I am thinking Matthews should take priority as I adjust into the site and plan on doing some work here.

Thoughts?

[nsidestrate]

ITH would be perfect if you decide to play limit. If you play NL, I prefer the Miller book, but other people disagree with me.

There was a recent thread in the book forum more or less on point.

I love the odds book, but it is maybe one I'd wait a bit on in your shoes.

[Polar_Bears]

When you refer to "Miller's" do you mean No Limit Hold 'Em Theory and Practice or Professional No-Limit Holdem:Volume I?

I have already been through Theory and Practice along with TOPS. I do have Professional No-Limit Holdem:Volume I as one of the 5 books on the shelf waiting for me to get through.

Thanks for pointing it out about most people coming up through a limit background. I am thinking NL is the way to go only because you don't find many limit games spread out here in Vegas like NL. In fact, the place I hang out in they usually just have one 4/8 limit game going the rest of the floor is spread with mostly 1/2 and 2/5 NL. I have actually heard people making a good living at 2/5 alone, but I haven't played a ton of B&M cash games. Usually when I go up to play live, I end up playing MTT's. I haven't been playing much live lately though because like I mentioned I suck at BR Management and really hurt myself playing in games I probably had no business in.