Downward spiral.

Hi, Jake,
I suggest you take the NL Beginner's course -- click the logo in my sig.

Don't expect much from the freerolls.
Variance is huge. There is an article on How to Play a Freeroll in the strategy section.

I play them on Party -- and I cash every so often, but it is mainly for practice. For example, today I played almost 2 hours and got $0.17

I don't play on William Hill, but if the NL 2 tables there are anything like the ones on Poker 770, be a vulture -- wait for an opportunity then pounce. Yes you will lose some of the time.

Be selective about the hands you open raise with -- print the starting hands chart.

Most importantly, if you are feeling discouraged, take a break from play.
During that break, read the articles, watch some videos.

It is really helpful to post hands in the hand evaluation forums.
I can't help you with William Hill hands, but if you post a question in the William Hill forum, one of the people that know will be able to tell you.

Good Luck!

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
Hi, Jake,
I suggest you take the NL Beginner's course -- click the logo in my sig.

I've looked at that and followed through a few lessons, plan to continue to work through them eventually.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
I don't play on William Hill, but if the NL 2 tables there are anything like the ones on Poker 770, be a vulture -- wait for an opportunity then pounce. Yes you will lose some of the time.

Be selective about the hands you open raise with -- print the starting hands chart.

Most importantly, if you are feeling discouraged, take a break from play.
During that break, read the articles, watch some videos.

I'm pretty confident with my preflop, it's just everything that happens after (although I've been reading a few articles on that too and definitely getting more confident.

I'm also pretty confident in avoiding tilting, but it's hard to not feel bad about your play if you get sucked out a few times.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
It is really helpful to post hands in the hand evaluation forums.
I can't help you with William Hill hands, but if you post a question in the William Hill forum, one of the people that know will be able to tell you.

Good Luck!

I've managed to fix that issue by finding one that works now!

http://weaktight.com/hand/

Thanks for your input, Vorpal!

I've decided to do some SnG at $0.10 buy in to get a bit more confident in the scene.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
I don't play on William Hill, but if the NL 2 tables there are anything like the ones on Poker 770, be a vulture -- wait for an opportunity then pounce. Yes you will lose some of the time.

I play on Titan, yesterday I made 20 dollars at NL2, there are alot of fishes, I myself not being a good player either.

As far as I know the majority of the tables are the same tables for every Ipoker skin with few exceptions.

Originally posted by Jaiimc

Thanks for your input, Vorpal!

I've decided to do some SnG at $0.10 buy in to get a bit more confident in the scene.

That sounds like a good idea.

Another thing to watch for is time of day.

My "evening" is 00:00 - 06:00 Z
There are few tables active at that time, and most of the players are solid TAGs

To put it another way -- try to select tables that have a few loose players.

Good Luck!

Edit: Won 2 SnGs since posting this post - almost won a third but went all in and had a bad beat. Not won much, about a dollar in total, but it feels good to win some SnGs.

Well, my third SnG at $0.10 - managed to come second finally.

Won a little under 2 buy ins for the SnG stakes I'm playing ($0.18)

Felt like I shoulda come first really - the dude limped in on nothing.

Looking back at it, I did bet VERY weak, allowing him to chase - but with a J high, I wouldn't have even called 200.

No Limit Holdem Tournament
iPoker
2 Players
Hand Conversion Powered by weaktight.com

Stacks:
SB Jaiimc (4,560) 46bb
BB GJHDEYFXFCNB (4,440) 44bb

Blinds: 50/100

Pre-Flop: (150, 2 players) Jaiimc is SB A♣: K♣:
GJHDEYFXFCNB calls 100

Flop: 4♥: 5♦: A♦: (100, 2 players)
GJHDEYFXFCNB checks, Jaiimc bets 200, GJHDEYFXFCNB calls 200

Turn: 6♦: (500, 2 players)
GJHDEYFXFCNB checks, Jaiimc bets 4,160, GJHDEYFXFCNB goes all-in 4,040

River: 8♠: (8,580, 2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: 8,580
GJHDEYFXFCNB shows Flush
3♦: J♦:
Jaiimc shows Pair
A♣: K♣:

GJHDEYFXFCNB wins 9,030 (net +4,590)

Jaiimc collects 240 (net -4,170)

May i suggest only playing nl2 or don until u get a br that can handle mtt

Variance is too high to on mtt and sngs (unless u play like freerolls 0.1$ or 0,01 ;D)

Don can be hurtfull too, but not as much as mtt and reg sng's.

Only my cents ;D

I got told to try double up, seems the lowest buy in is $1 - came 4th, which was just out of the money.

There goes all my profit for the day

Played 3 now, came 4th twice in a row and then finished 6th - on my first hand. Got KK versus J6 and the dude hit trips on flop.

My BR is about to go bust - got some really sucky loses too.

Down to $1.16 - which isn't even enough to join a $1 double up due to rake

I've cleared above the $0.50 rake I needed to, to unlock my next $10 - but I'll be waiting 6 days for that - live and learn I guess.

Edit: Played a 4th, lost with KK to 67... God, my luck with kings is sucking. Bust BR now.

Time to take a week out and wait for my next $10 bonus - read more and get some perspective on what to do when getting really sucked out.

I was down to $0.03 in my BR, there was some SnG which was $0.02 buyin... So, I decided I've got nothing to lose - it's 2 cents, why not.

Didn't pay attention to the rules of prize, just wanted a laugh.

Turns out it was a Single Hand and the prize was a seat to a stage 2...

If I come 10th or above in that, I win a seat to ANOTHER tournament - which I have to come first in to win anything at all - but it's $165... Long or very short day of poker tomorrow!

Just play freerolls or even better you deposit money, there's a higher chance you'll play a better game because they are your money on the line and you'll have a better motivation to learn the game of poker.

If you play freerolls, be prepared to stay 6 hours to be in final 3. Also remember that means to stay awake 'till 2AM.

And many times you'll just get some cents since only the final table really worths something, well that's how it was for me.

If I were you I'd deposit and not waste time on freerolls and use that time to play the type of game I WOULD WANT and learn that type of game. Finally if you deposit you'll also clear the first debosit bonus!

Originally posted by ninuu
... there's a higher chance you'll play a better game because they are your money on the line and you'll have a better motivation to learn the game of poker.

Your comments about freerolls are spot on.
It takes a long time to get anywhere, but the risk is 0.

One of the fascinating things about poker is that you can only win a hand if you put chips at risk. The amount you can win is proportional (usually) to the amount you risk.

the skill of poker comes from assessing the risk.

For some people -- me for example -- the fact that it is my own money makes it harder to risk it. I worked hard for that money.

As you build a bankroll, you will eventually be risking other people's money. Money that you have won. For some it is easier to risk other people's money.

Poker is strange because in order to win, you must really want to win -- but at the same time, not care if you lose.

--VS

Wasn't doing too bad in the tournament - was up to 15k chips at some point and was ready to continue but sadly something irl cropped up with my little brother, so I had to drop out for a bit.

Came back to around 3k chips, proper small stack play this late in to the tournament. Blinds had just turned to 250/500.

Managed to double up on AQ - but then went bust on 9s.

Little aggravated that I had to drop out when doing so well, but sometimes things happen in life. Ah well!

Always the freeroll later on tonight.

Thanks for the feedback by the way guys.

Edit: Forgot to mention - finished 38/141. Not too bad if you ask me.

deposit more than $10

There isnt much you can do with that unless your gonna grind the freerolls and that is liable to make you go crazy.