My 6 month Journey From Being A Complete Novice To A........Well Novice

CardiffAce

Hi Guys,

Just thought I would give my experience of being a complete beginner at Poker & the journey so far. I started as a fresh(ish) faced 27 year old in May this year. I stumbled across Channel 861 & some random guy called Rich Orford who got me interested. Out of curiosity I registered to Sky Poker & what a 6 months it has been.

After playing (& losing) on a few cash tables I decided to register for my very 1st MTT which was the £250 GTD Speed. I went & cashed in 15th place for £15.95, coming 15th out of 75 players & was ready to rule the world of Poker & win the big bucks. All I can say is LOL.

The big bucks didn't come but a very steep learning curve did. Playing against numerous players on here has helped me no end, but has also opened my eyes as I need to really imrpove my overall game. 

Now that is the million dollar question. I need to improve but what should I look at? Im concentrating on playing good ABC poker but there is so much more. I have pinpointed certain aspects from chilling out when I'm the big stack & not needlessly giving away chips, calling all ins for the sake of it in a BH & doubling someone up, over playing/valuing 2 pair & my all time favourite chasing a card to complete my flush/straight & failing miserably.

Is there any books/videos anyone can recommend? The Community & 861 have been invaluable in helping me & I really appteciate it. It is so good to see a forum where everyone wants to help everyone - and not just abuse them as a beginner asking stupid questions.

So fast forward to the present day. I am 6 months in & won my first ever MTT last week. It was the £150 BH & this has given me even more determination to improve. I must be heading in the right direction which I am very pleased about, but I am not nieve enough to think I have nothing else to work on.

I am in the dreaded red on Sharkscope (as expected) so my aim for the next 6 months is to try. & get into the Green but to more importantly become a better player & to not put myself in stupid spots. 

Thanks to everyone who has helped me directly (& indirectly) I really appreciate. I never knew I could enjoy a game of cards so much (even if my misses is fed up of me being glued to the laptop).

See you all at the tables & take it easy on me!!

Gavin aka CardiffAce

shakinaces

Good luck with your quest Gavin, and congrats on taking down your first tourni!

mrsduck

Oh Gavin what a lovely opening post!
It's great you're enjoying the game and congrats on your first win!
I'm not good with advice, but really really good luck!!
MrsD

Tikay10

Great Post that Ace, good luck!

Several of the Sky Poker Jackpot winners come from Wales.....;)

Talon

  Good luck with your personal challenge and i hope it goes well for you. 

 Have a few things to point out to you to help you on your way. Answer these questions honestly to yourself before making decisions.

 Why do you play? is it fun or to make money or a combination of both

 What is your best variant? is it the 2 or 4 card games.

 What is your best fromat? cash, sngs or tournies

 What is your favourite format? same as above

 What are your strong points and weak points? both need to be worked on to improve

  Ask yourself these questions( no need to tell anyone else). Then you will know where you stand and the best direction to go in.

Chris_Mc

Good luck, 

Im reading a couple of books just now. Gus hansen every hand revealed is quite good, the mental game of poker is very good, and theres 2 of them.  Also one im looking forward too is the nrw chris moorman one... which im lucky too have just one a signed copy.

This is the best place too learn in my opinion, mostly everyone on the forum can give great tips and point you in the right direction.

Trying myself too improve and focus on my game but just now looks like that will be next year before i can really focus on that, i love the game and would definitely like too make more money from it, but always remember why you started.  Because you enjoy it and its fun..... soon as its just about chasing losses then its alot more diffucult and you forget why u started in the first place, 

Will ebjoy reading your progress and  mabye see you at the tables.

CardiffAce

Thanks all, just a little ramble from myself. Don't ask me why, I just felt the need to write it. Pressure is on now though to improve

Haha Tikay lets hope I can be a future Jackpot winner.

Never say never but at the moment I am playing because I enjoy it. While winning is obviously nice I won't put myself in the position where I NEED to win. Where else can you get a few hours entertainment for so cheap - a night out would easily cost me £80+!! (until I start to enyer the big buy-ins). Really enjoying Tournies with a few SnGs thrown in so will stick with that at the mo. Cash doesn't seem to happen for me atm.

Thanks for the books, I will defo be on the hunt for Moormans (chris you must have won my copy I was in the hat for last week!) haha. 

I won't be a stranger around here anymore so will keep you updated - this Community will really help me.

Cheers Guys

IDONKCALLU

loads of videos on youtube to look at poker  to help and 861 is a good show to watch

GELDY

a must read for you is the craigcu12 diary. He shows how a diary can be used to great effect to discuss his play and chart his development. Will give you lots of tips for running your diary and also learn from his play. 

glgl from taffy GELDY

CardiffAce

Hi All,

So I just thought I would give a little update on this since this past week has been a really good one for myself. A nice little win on Sky Bet on Tuesday has set me up a treat for one of the best winning weeks of my life. As a poker player when you cash it is brilliant, but as as 'small stakes' player I really do appreciate it.

I've been reading a number of threads on here & especially Craigcu12's diary as Geldy suggested and I am riding a little wave so far. I played in a Wales Civil Service competiton at Grosvenor casino in Cardiff a week or so ago and ended up winning the whole thing. I followed that by playing in my local poker night on Thursday and placed 2nd for £80, followed then by playing in the £1k BH on Friday night, final tabling and coming 3rd for £70 (+£33 in heads).

Now for me to walk away with £180 in the space of 2nights was amazing and I really had a buzz. I decided to then save the best until last as last night I played in the mini roller, which I also final tabled & came 3rd for £287!!!!

WOW. To say I am buzzing is an understatment, not only for walking away with nice cash just before xmas & also puts my Sharkscope into the green but to show to myself that I am going in the right direction & am becoming a better player. Like I said before I play for enjoyment & if I bust out 1st or win I am happy.

Just thought I would give a little update since I know a number of these threads start & then are never heard of again! Hope to you see you at the tables soon

Gavin

(PS as much as I would like to change title of the thread - I am defo still class myself as a novice haha)

devonfish5

NICE GOING GAVIN... VWP

BEST WISHES,

dev