Saturday, June 11, 2005

Interesting Dilemma

I posted awhile back about a mental struggle with the amount of money I play with. I've overcome that. I've never really had a problem once I sit down. Chips are chips. It was the sitting part that gave me problems.

~~DoubleAs

Even though DoubleAs plays for a lot more money in NL than I do Limit, I too am having that problem. Its not that I have doubt in my ability or fear of losing; I think it is that I have gotten so use to playing one limit clearing these bonuses that it is a comfort zone issue.

Once I commit and sit down, everything is fine. I guess I will just have to force myself to keep sitting at the higher limits till it becomes natural for me again. Had a fantastic run today at $3/$6 so hopefully that will ease the pain a little.

On a side note of sorts, you have to love this Blogger Nation of ours. I have no sooner realized that I am having an issue and there someone is, posting about it and all seems right again. One huge library at your finger tips for strategy, advice, fun, drinking tips and what ever else. Great place to be a part of.

Till Next Time!


Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Some Bonus Chasing Advice

As most of you already know I started playing full time unexpectedly after turning down yet another transfer from my job. I was not bankrolled fully but my wife decided to go back to work so I could give it a shot. I figured it would be successful experiment if I could pay half the bills at home. This was in November 2004.

Everything worked fine until January turned into a marginally profitable month and February I loss money. I still paid half the bills and actually started to look for a job. I wasn’t too discouraged and figured the experiment to be a success; I was just under bankrolled and hit a bad run. Then March came a long. As I am sure you remember, March was a bonus chasers dream come true. Most every site I play at had at least one reload and most did more. I had become a full fledge bonus chaser and because of that I am still “experimenting full time” still. My bankroll has grown tremendously while still keeping up with my commitments. Now I have decided to cut out most of the bonus chasing except for a few reloads.

I Yahoo searched “poker+bonus+chasing” and came up with 62,200 hits. It is a popular subject. For my overall view I would say bonus chasing is a good thing. A good bonus chasing plan can be very profitable and worthwhile. I would like to point out a few things that might help you before you get started.

1) Have a plan. Max out your first time deposit bonuses. There a so many first time deposit bonuses out there now, make sure you pick ones that max out you bonus potential. If you don’t have enough bankroll to max it out, find another site and then come back after you have built enough.

2) If you are bonus chasing to build a bankroll, be very aware of the terms and conditions. Most bonuses are cleared faster at the $1/$2 level so if your not bankrolled for that don’t play there and except it will take longer to clear. There are many reasons to numerous to list on why you shouldn’t play over your limit. To me the hardest one to detect and fix is the habit of playing weak/tight.

3) If you are bonus chasing to pad your bankroll, be aware that most bonus chasers ignore number 1 and are playing over their heads and are weak/tight. Go take advantage.

4) EVERYONE flocks to the Party Skins reloads. If you are gravely affected by variance in your bankroll, try to wait till the last minute to reload and clear the Party Skins bonuses.

5) Beware of the site before you deposit. This one is pretty obvious but if there are not enough games being played, you are wasting your time.

6) Play poker to win…..DO NOT play poker to clear bonus. At one point I had so many bonuses to clear and money spread out over so many sites I would play just to clear points. Expiration dates coming fast and I was just putting in hands mechanically. This is no way to play winning poker and puts leaks in your game you will eventually have to fix.

7) Know when to say when. Somewhere at or after the $2/$4 level, you will make more playing poker than you will chasing bonuses. Realize that as you progress through the limits and learn the game that eventually the bonuses are not worth the hassle.

8) There is a lot of bonus out there to grab. You can build a bankroll rather quickly. Bankroll is not the only requirement needed to move up in limits. Nothing can replace knowledge and experience. It is easier to avoid the few players better than you that will always be there than it is to avoid the devastation of a whole limit better than you.

I hope this helps. As you see, I fell into the weak/tight - play just to clear bonus trap. I have a tendency to lean towards weak/tight anyway and now I feel I am starting all over again with my aggressiveness. In a way it is very frustrating to be having this aggressiveness conversation with myself again but it is another lesson learned and grown from. I have a feeling I will be having this conversation with myself a lot.

Till Next Time!

Monday, June 06, 2005

Almost Consolidated

Got about $25 to clear at Absolute Poker and will be ready for full time Ultimate Bet. So tonight should be last night at AP for a while. I don't think I will be bomus chasing to the extent I was anytime soon if ever again. The 100% up to $700 at Noble Poker does intrigue me but mainly due to people telling me how soft the $3/$6 tables are and how fast the bonus clears.

After I finish tonight at AP I will have 1/3 of my roll at UB, 1/3 at Stars and 1/3 in Neteller. I don't think that is a bad mix and will probably stay that way for a while. I posted before about playing one site only but after I thought about it and talked with some others it had more negatives than positives. So I think it I will keep it between three sites and Neteller. That way I can pounce on reloads and still have a choice on where I play every day. I like having the options I think. Like now, I can play at UB and Stars and have enough in Neteller to reload AP and their many many reloads or go to Noble, if I want to try something new.

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The next update from David Ross has been written. Year 2 is a very good read. I for one have really enjoyed all the posts from the David Ross experiment. A lot has been learned by reading these post.

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How could I possibly post anything without refering to the Vegas trip reports coming out now and hopefully all week. I have read a few and looks like Event 2 was as good as Event 1. Take the time to read the blogs listed here. You will not be dissappointed I promise you.

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Lastly I am planning my own Atlantic City trip for later next month I think. Maybe I can round up some guys who are not dead from Vegas and make a nice weekend of it! I you think you might want to come, drop me a line and lets meet up!

Till Next Time!