Personal Theory for NL Games

Hello,

I don’t know if it will make sense but I have a theory. Well, I believe that this theory can be the bible of all players longing to win at poker. However, I’m not implying anything. And I am not totally sure if my theory is right.

I am actually writing to you now because I want to hear your opinion about the theory I have in mind.

I’ll start off by sharing that I started playing poker about a year ago, and within that span, 1 was able to open my mind for some realizations and my body for paradigm shifts. I was also able to try $1-$2 No Limit on the Internet. Luckily, I have played 16 sessions in a row in which normally I am buying in with $200 each time and making between $150-$300 profit every game. Typically, the sessions I have lasted for 3-8 hours, and oftentimes I end them by having $200 as my total winnings. Say for an instance, I had worked my stack up to $250, and then doubled through another big stack to $500, then I would consider quitting as $300 is already pretty good for 5 hours, in my opinion. I believe my attitude was the product of some psychological issues.

In general, I played very conservatively in hands that were somewhat contentious. I make it to a point that I would make my money on trips, straights, full houses and flushes. Largely, I would fold top pair with Ace kicker, or hands of similar strength, to an opponent who was going nuts betting more than the pot. Also, from a player who wasn’t a total fish, I would fold hands like bottom two pair to an all in bet.

At times, I tend to be quite aggressive, particularly when playing conservatively by my normal standards. And whenever in late position, I would raise to $8 in the event I had AK AQ, any pocket pair, any suited connector. If against 1 or 2 players and then the flop comes out, I’d bet the pot or half the pot about 80% of the time, whenever everybody checked to me and I was the last to act eventually.

When playing a suited Ace, not heads up against an aggressive pre flop bet, usually it’s like looking for family pots and a flush. Well, it’s actually something I like, particularly when you’re one card away from hitting your flush. Typically, people draw to a smaller flush when my draw is totally strong. At times, I watch out for small flushes, never even thinking of raising my Jack high flush.

In other words, I just lose some chips in total till I’d eventually double or even triple my money and quit finally.

Similarly, I play a draw strong in a family pot and bust smaller flush when me and my opponent are finally on for the river. I also play a lot more aggressive particularly for hands that are closer, and that I may or may not be ahead in. However, this is just in some rare cases. Actually, when I do this, it’s just all or nothing. In case, may be I just can not hit any good hands or else my pocket pairs that I’m raising with pre flop are not hitting as well as my flushes that I’m playing strong. Possibly, the amount of premium pre flop hands I’m getting is also down, that’s why I don’t have a choice.

Now what do you think about my theory? Did I played well in most instances? Have I really survived the challenge of poker?

And one more thing, do you think with the help of my little method, I could make $2500 by playing $1-$2 limit about 30 hours per week? I think it’s possible actually. But I don’t think $2500 will be enough. Any advice?

Thank you!

Jimmy

Jimmy,

It sounds like to me that you have a good solid strategy that is working well for you. I really cannot say that you have survived the challenge of poker for several reasons. First, this is just one variant of poker. Next, you have only been playing a year and at low limits. You haven’t really been through the swings that can come playing poker. It also sounds like you are playing a lot of short sessions. Have you tried to play for longer periods of time. The key to big wins in Holdem revolves around making the money when the money is good. Quick little hits don’t always translate into long term profits.

As to whether you can make $2,500 a week playing $1-$2 NL, its possible, but I would set a more realistic goal such as $1,000 a week.

Tags: $1-2 NL, all in, bet, flushes, full houses, Holdem, low limits, poker, solid strategy, straights, theory, trips