$50 to $1000 on pstars day 1

[Smasharoo 0]

The GoalTo turn $50 in my first Pokerstars deposit into $1000.The RulesI'll play only Limit games, primarily Holdem, though I might mix in some O8 or Stud etc. later on.I won't move up in limits without at least 300BB for the new limit. I will post hands that I win and lose and explain my thinking behind how I played them.I'm too lazy to spellcheck. Deal with it.Day 1 First ImpressionsFirst let me say before today I wasn't very fammiliar with the PokerStars software. I think I'd looked at it maybe once before, but today was my first real experience playing it. I decided to forgo the usual advice about playing free money games to get used to the software, trusting that my well traveled internet poker road warrior self wouldn't have any trouble.Well, I didn't have any trouble figuring out the various buttons, but I have to say the software itself was very disapointing. I'd say it's even worse than the Party software which I consider pretty bad to start with. It could be that I just havevn't found certain options that I can change but the following things were farily annoying to me:1. No real time pot size notation without mousing over the picture of the chips in the pot. Very annoying. If there's a way to change this, someone please let me know. 2. No on demand hand history browser. Mind boggling. Is the only way to browse hand history to have them emailed? Again maybe I'm missing something, but wow, what a pain in the ass.3. It's SLOW. I don't know if it was the players or the software (I'd tend to thnk the later) but I felt like I was only seeing maybe 40 hands an hour at a full table. Anyway, all that aside, it's wasn't going to stop me from jumping into the deep waters of the wild and wolly world of .05/.10 limit Holdem. (How's that for a mixed metaphor with a side of alliteration!) I picked a table from the lobby list that seemd pretty ripe, flop percentage of over 50% and a fairly high pot size.I wasn't dissapointed with the quality of play. People randomly going to the river with any two cards, calling river raised with middle pair, etc.I picked out two target players fairly quickly both were raising about every hand and were on my left. It was pretty much impossible to isloate them from where I was pre-flop with everyone cold calling raises so I looked for a shot to catch one of them after the flop with any kind of hand and hopefully get it heads up.I sit with $3 at this limit so I had folded a few blinds or hands on the flop and been whittled down to $2.40 before this hand. My screename is "thecandle". My wife set the account the up and she automatically picked that one.PokerStars Game #1080612223: Hold'em Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2005/01/15 - 03:52:22 (ET)Table 'Bitias' Seat #4 is the buttonSeat 1: Opie11 ($1.93 in chips) Seat 3: ibara ($6.88 in chips) Seat 4: freshkill ($0.61 in chips) LAG 1 Seat 5: thecandle ($2.40 in chips) Seat 6: EricIU23 ($1.90 in chips) Seat 7: DeeElGee ($2.71 in chips) Seat 8: LaKeRgUrL86 ($29.27 in chips) LAG 2Seat 9: ldejr ($1.47 in chips) Seat 10: samtablot ($1.98 in chips) thecandle: posts small blind $0.02EricIU23: posts big blind $0.05*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to thecandle [Th Js]DeeElGee: calls $0.05LaKeRgUrL86: raises $0.05 to $0.10ldejr: folds samtablot: folds Opie11: folds ibara: folds freshkill: calls $0.10thecandle: calls $0.08EricIU23: calls $0.05DeeElGee: calls $0.05I'd normally complete this in the SB, and the raise from the LAG player means pretty much nothing to me. I was willing to take a shot here with a pot this big of making a fairly loose PF call looking to blow everyone else out of the hand and isolate if I hit the flop.I had been playing very tightly before this hand, not that anyone nessicarily noticed, but the rest of the table aside from the 2 LAGs seemed very weak, willing to lay down hands to a flop raise regularily, and the two LAG players were basically running over the table.*** FLOP *** [4c Jh 6d]thecandle: checks This is exactly the flop I want (well I guess QKA rainbow is exactly the flop I want, but this'll do). Acting first I can be almost guranteed I'm going to get a bet from one of the LAGs so I check planning to CR."You have top pair with a weak ass kicker!!" You say? You're right. Pure gold against these knuckleheads. Pure gold.EricIU23: checks DeeElGee: checks LaKeRgUrL86: checks freshkill: bets $0.05 thecandle: raises $0.05 to $0.10EricIU23: calls $0.10DeeElGee: folds LaKeRgUrL86: calls $0.10freshkill: raises $0.05 to $0.15 thecandle: calls $0.05EricIU23: calls $0.05LaKeRgUrL86: calls $0.05I almost capped it. The re-raise meant he had probably hit the flop somehow but I still think I'm probably best here. I get one fold, and the calls to me mean overcards for the passive players. I'm planning on them probably dropping out on the turn, but I'll slow down if a bad card comes or if it loks like they're going to stick around.*** TURN *** [4c Jh 6d] [3d]thecandle: checksEricIU23: checks LaKeRgUrL86: checks freshkill: bets $0.10thecandle: calls $0.10EricIU23: calls $0.10LaKeRgUrL86: calls $0.10I should really probably have popped this again with a raise, but with the trey completing a possible gutshot for some silly bastard holding 25 I slow down. Probably wrong at this limit.*** RIVER *** [4c Jh 6d 3d] [4s]Not really what I want to see here, but there's no way I'm laying down top pair in this pot. I'm happy to see this shown down free here, and fine with calling a bet.thecandle: checks EricIU23: checks LaKeRgUrL86: checks freshkill: bets $0.10thecandle: calls $0.10EricIU23: folds LaKeRgUrL86: folds The overcards dropping out here tell me I was probably right to raise the turn rather and charge them for drawing, but, again the chance of that gutshot slowed me down a little. *** SHOW DOWN ***freshkill: shows [Jd 8d] (two pair, Jacks and Fours)thecandle: shows [Th Js] (two pair, Jacks and Fours - Ten kicker)thecandle collected $1.70 from potLucky? Maybe. Worth making a stand against the LAGs and sending a message to the other players that I'm not playing a weak game...honestly probably not Had the effect I wanted, though. The LAGs slowed down when I was in a hand (a little) and I got paid off more by the weak players.Few hands later, we're down to 7 players:PokerStars Game #1080628309: Hold'em Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2005/01/15 - 03:59:28 (ET)Table 'Bitias' Seat #1 is the buttonSeat 1: Opie11 ($2.79 in chips) Seat 3: ibara ($7.55 in chips) Seat 5: thecandle ($3.57 in chips) Seat 7: DeeElGee ($2.11 in chips) Seat 8: LaKeRgUrL86 ($29.14 in chips) Seat 9: ldejr ($1.30 in chips) Seat 10: samtablot ($1.86 in chips) ibara: posts small blind $0.02thecandle: posts big blind $0.05*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to thecandle [5h 7h]DeeElGee: folds LaKeRgUrL86: raises $0.05 to $0.10ldejr: folds samtablot: calls $0.10Opie11: folds ibara: calls $0.08thecandle: calls $0.05Another raise from the same LAG. I normally much two suited cards without much other value to a raise but I see this raise again as fairly meaningless and I'm willing to pay to see the flop unless I see agression from a tighter player.*** FLOP *** [7c 7s Kd]ibara: checks thecandle: checks LaKeRgUrL86: checks samtablot: checks Again good position to C/R, but surprisingly no bet from the LAG PF raiser.I figure no one has a K as even the weaker players probably bet that on this flop.*** TURN *** [7c 7s Kd] [Jd]ibara: checks thecandle: bets $0.10LaKeRgUrL86: calls $0.10samtablot: calls $0.10ibara: calls $0.10Fool me once, etc. I'm playing this fast from here to the river. *** RIVER *** [7c 7s Kd Jd] [8h]ibara: checks thecandle: bets $0.10LaKeRgUrL86: folds samtablot: folds ibara: calls $0.10*** SHOW DOWN ***thecandle: shows [5h 7h] (three of a kind, Sevens)ibara: mucks hand thecandle collected $1 from potAmazingly the LAG folds.Maybe he was catching on.Next SB I catch KT. Not great, but I'll complete or call a raise from the LAG with it.PokerStars Game #1080630889: Hold'em Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2005/01/15 - 04:00:41 (ET)Table 'Bitias' Seat #3 is the buttonSeat 1: Opie11 ($2.79 in chips) Seat 3: ibara ($7.25 in chips) Seat 5: thecandle ($4.27 in chips) Seat 7: DeeElGee ($2.11 in chips) Seat 8: LaKeRgUrL86 ($28.94 in chips) Seat 9: ldejr ($1.30 in chips) Seat 10: samtablot ($1.66 in chips) thecandle: posts small blind $0.02DeeElGee: posts big blind $0.05*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to thecandle [Kd Tc]LaKeRgUrL86: calls $0.05ldejr: calls $0.05samtablot: folds Opie11: calls $0.05ibara: folds thecandle: calls $0.03DeeElGee: checks No rasie from the maniac. Either I'm starting to get some controll over him or he's running out of beer. He leaves on the flop, I'd like to think he's annoyed with me playing back at him, but more likely he passed out.*** FLOP *** [Ts 8d 4s]thecandle: bets $0.05DeeElGee: calls $0.05LaKeRgUrL86: folds ldejr: folds LaKeRgUrL86 leaves the tableOpie11: raises $0.05 to $0.10thecandle: calls $0.05DeeElGee: calls $0.05I dispense with the C/R with the spectre of possibly giving a free card to the spade draw here, so I bet it. I see the late position raise and think "free card play" immediately and put him on the flush draw. I'm betting the turn on any non spade or over card. It occurs to me later that there probably aren't that many free card plays made at .05/.10 but I'm a creature of habbit. *** TURN *** [Ts 8d 4s] [8h]thecandle: bets $0.10ldejr leaves the tableDeeElGee: calls $0.10Opie11: folds I'm not slowing down to a paired board here. I figure if the flop raise was a set or two pair with an 8 I'll hear about it now. When I don't I'm autobetting the river pretty much on any non-spade.*** RIVER *** [Ts 8d 4s 8h] [2d]thecandle: bets $0.10DeeElGee: calls $0.10*** SHOW DOWN ***thecandle: shows [Kd Tc] (two pair, Tens and Eights)DeeElGee: mucks hand thecandle collected $0.95 from pot/shrug.Table eventually breaks up and I hop over to a another. This one gets short pretty fast and it's 4 ways. Players seem fairly weak and I try to run over them here and fail miserebly:PokerStars Game #1080703705: Hold'em Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2005/01/15 - 04:38:42 (ET)Table 'Erato' Seat #10 is the buttonSeat 4: thecandle ($2.40 in chips) Seat 6: Boldfire ($1.35 in chips) Seat 10: dmkmj ($1.49 in chips) jibber65: is sitting out jibber65 leaves the tablesilverbeard joins the table at seat #8 thecandle: posts small blind $0.02Boldfire: posts big blind $0.05*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to thecandle [7c 2d]silverbeard is sitting outsilverbeard has returneddmkmj: folds thecandle: raises $0.05 to $0.10Boldfire: calls $0.05People had been stealing blinds pretty regularly, so I figured it was my turn.No joy.*** FLOP *** [9c Qc Qd]thecandle: bets $0.05Boldfire: calls $0.05Good lookin flop to fire again!I do.No joy.*** TURN *** [9c Qc Qd] [Jh]thecandle: bets $0.10Boldfire: calls $0.10Check it down now? Heads up?No way!Third bullet.*** RIVER *** [9c Qc Qd Jh] [Kd]thecandle: bets $0.10Boldfire: calls $0.10Well, in for a penny....*** SHOW DOWN ***thecandle: shows [7c 2d] (a pair of Queens)Boldfire: shows [4s Kh] (two pair, Kings and Queens)Boldfire collected $0.70 from pot*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $0.70 | Rake $0 I honestly think I pick this up if the king doesn't hit on the river. This guy was that weak.,Still short, slighty diffrent line up:PokerStars Game #1080707181: Hold'em Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2005/01/15 - 04:40:55 (ET)Table 'Erato' Seat #4 is the buttonSeat 4: thecandle ($2.40 in chips) Seat 6: Boldfire ($1.45 in chips) Seat 8: silverbeard ($1.90 in chips) Boldfire: posts small blind $0.02silverbeard: posts big blind $0.05*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to thecandle [Jh Td]thecandle: raises $0.05 to $0.10Boldfire: calls $0.08silverbeard: calls $0.05I'm a pretty good short handed player, so in the short hands you're going to see me be much more agressive with marginal hands, and sometime with no hand. For those of you that don't play this short often it might seem sort of maniacish, it's not, trust me.*** FLOP *** [Qd 8d Jd]Boldfire: checks silverbeard: checks thecandle: bets $0.05Boldfire: raises $0.05 to $0.10silverbeard: calls $0.10thecandle: calls $0.05I see this raise as a play at the coordinated flop, which turns out to be a bad read, but there's no way I'm letting go of middle pair and gutshot on this flop three handed.*** TURN *** [Qd 8d Jd] [9c]Boldfire: checks silverbeard: checks thecandle: bets $0.10Boldfire: raises $0.10 to $0.20silverbeard: folds thecandle: calls $0.10Hit the gutshot and bet out. Another raise. Now I'm a little concerned. I don't think anyone raises that flop at .05/.10 with KT but the flush possibility gets a little more scary. Clearly can't lay it down though. *** RIVER *** [Qd 8d Jd 9c] [Kc]Boldfire: bets $0.10thecandle: calls $0.10I'm almost relieved when he doesn't go for the elusive tripple check raise on me (a rare and dangerous beast rarely seen above .25/.50). I'm not sure I bet this river for value if he checks or not. I tend to think I would, but calling a raise would be close. *** SHOW DOWN ***Boldfire: shows [8h 8c] (three of a kind, Eights)thecandle: shows [Jh Td] (a straight, Nine to King)thecandle collected $1.20 from potWho's the king of gutshot suckouts?I am!!I could post some other hands but they're all pretty straigtforward. I lost with AQ to AK for a few BB, I hit an A on the river to set over set someone wtih 88 when I had AA, etc.The ussual low limit stuff.ResultsStarting Bankroll: $50Ending Bankroll: $53.07Playtime: 2:35Net: $3.07BB/Hour: ~10+We'll see how tommorow goes.

[deadlysyns 0]

Go to options then click on the "Display Bet Amount"

[HoosierGrady 0]

do you think anybody really cares about all this?

[allinbluff35 0]

do you think anybody really cares about all this?

then don't read it, smash posted a subject asking if anyone would read it if he started a daily report.

[Azalin 0]

Keep it going smash. I am going to read this every day because i find it educating (i play these limit in pokerstars as well).

[deadlysyns 0]

go start a blog...

[Nacho 0]

I'm bored at work, so it's the best thing I can read...Keep it coming 8) :-) :roll: :shock: :wink: ....like I said, BORED

[Ed 0]

Thanks for posting this, Smash.Regarding Stars, I have not seen anyway that you can get the on-demand hand histories. It does appear that the only way to view them is via e-mail and I agree, that is very annoying.I am actually playing the limit lower, .02/04, for my experiment. I put $50 in, as well, but only dedicated $12 for this limit, the rest for Negreanu Opens and other tourneys. Not moving up to .05/.10 until I've turned the $12 to $30. Last night the quality of play was much different than it had been in my 5 sessions previous. I don't know if it was a Friday night thing, a beer thing, or a end-of-the-week rage thing - or a combination of the 3, but it was definitely different. Normally, people's "crazy-play" meter, even at that level, is relatively low. Last night it was higher, and I didn't adjust and it cost me. But another reason I'm glad that you posted this is that it reinforces something I thought I was doing wrong but haven't reviewed enough hand histories to establish any statistics for. I definitely slow down too much. I am way too quick to give opponents (even heads up) credit for the one hand the board offers that could beat my hand - slow up after playing aggressively up to the river, and then invariably cost myself at least 1 more bet at the end. I think this has been a major leak that has gotten me off to a slower start (+6.5 BB/hr. for a little more than 11 hours of play) than I anticipated.I'd be curious also to see your stats in terms of flops seen percentage, etc. It seems like you may take more flops than I would, but it'd be interesting to compare. I'm at 29.8% to this point - 286 seen from 961 hands. In terms of the hands seen per hour, I wanted to write that you might have just seen a particularly slow table. But as I check my stats, I'm only averaging 42 hands per table, per hour, in my 6 sessions so far, too.Looking forward to the next update.

[Suited_Up 2]

Smash... I didn't read all the hands yet, just got through the first one... but might I remind you that you ridiculed me for calling with KQ after a raise, and then you played J10 and said it was ok because the players are bad... which was exactly my reasoning for playing KQ at low limits... and you still argued with me about it....

[tekn0wledg 0]

1. No real time pot size notation without mousing over the picture of the chips in the pot. Very annoying. If there's a way to change this, someone please let me know.

Enable the 'Display Bet Amounts' option on the main poker stars lobby and that will display the individual bet amonts in text next to them. In addition the 'pot' is real time and is displayed at the top just above the dealer tray.

2. No on demand hand history browser. Mind boggling. Is the only way to browse hand history to have them emailed? Again maybe I'm missing something, but wow, what a pain in the ass.

Correct. E-mail only.

3. It's SLOW. I don't know if it was the players or the software (I'd tend to thnk the later) but I felt like I was only seeing maybe 40 hands an hour at a full table.

I have been playing there for years and I don't think I have ever seen a number as low as 40 hands per hour. It's quite possible you just found some slow tables.... it might be the limits *shrug* but I see far more hands per hour every night at single tables.

[AnnChristiansen 0]

do you think anybody really cares about all this?

Yes. I care very much about it.Here you have a player who makes $50K/yr playing poker part-time telling you, for free, how to play micro-limits.

[TylerBeal 0]

ya I actually appreciate it.I do something similar just not the hand history in my blog

[KingAustin 0]

Thanks for posting this Smash, really cool stuff. I support you all the way!!!! *asks for 10% of the winnings*

[beyeond 0]

I'm new to this website, and I have to say its become one of my first stops when i get online. This experiment Smash is doing has helped me alot. My bankroll is currently at $600, built at the 2-4 level. I realize that i should be playing lower, but for some reason I am too impatient to play the micros, and just feel i'm good enough to play at the 2-4 level. I've got 358 hours logged, which isn't enough to evaluate my skill level accurately. Seeing an accomplished (I have no reason to doubt him, based on what i've read) doing this experiment has helped me to feel more comfortable moving down (that sounds strange, i'm sure), thus playing more within the means of my bankroll. Good experiment, ready for day 2....[/code]

[Vensula 0]

Smash... I didn't read all the hands yet, just got through the first one... but might I remind you that you ridiculed me for calling with KQ after a raise, and then you played J10 and said it was ok because the players are bad... which was exactly my reasoning for playing KQ at low limits... and you still argued with me about it....

the differce is though a bit weaker for pairs, any straight the JT makes (if no jack or t is on the board) is the NUT straight... and it gives more options than the KQ straight. I admit an over fondness of the JT hand but i love the reaction when i turn it over :Pjust my 2 cents

[Smasharoo 0]

Smash... I didn't read all the hands yet, just got through the first one... but might I remind you that you ridiculed me for calling with KQ after a raise, and then you played J10 and said it was ok because the players are bad... which was exactly my reasoning for playing KQ at low limits... and you still argued with me about it....You argued cold calling raises with it automatically, I was calling in the SB to hopefully isolate one particular player who was raising every hand PF and even then I noted that it was a loose call PF in my notes and that it probably wasn't a good idea.Folding is probably better, even in the situation I was in.When I included it in the post I knew people would comment that it was a loose call PF and it is. I'd expect to lose money if I called a raise from the SB with JT regularly.

[Smasharoo 0]

I didn't mention it in my original post, but I have to say that Stars has some of the tightest post flop micro tables I've ever seen. I was often able to just run over people with marginal hands and pick up pots without showing down. Something I'd never expect to see happen at .05/.10 normally.Of course, it was 4 AM.

[thrasher48 0]

If you are trying to turn $50 into $1000 why are you playing such low limits? It seems to me taht you played for 2.5 hours and made just over $3. What is the fun in that? You are obviously an experienced player so why not play soem .25-.50 NL with like $10 and increase your bankroll exponentially?

[Smasharoo 0]

If you are trying to turn $50 into $1000 why are you playing such low limits? It seems to me taht you played for 2.5 hours and made just over $3. What is the fun in that? You are obviously an experienced player so why not play soem .25-.50 NL with like $10 and increase your bankroll exponentially?Because I don't play limits without the proper bankroll.I'm not intrested in losing money because of variance. I'll move up to .25/.50 when I get to $150.

[joshrogo 0]

Count me among the people that care ..It is very interesting and informative to learn from someone else (books only give u so much insight) ..I admit I have never had the patience to play such small limits, but I would love to try the same experiment.Keep the updates coming!

[CharlieBrody 0]

I for one, think its really freaking annoying when your posting so many hands explaining your thoughts after flop, turn and river, and then collecting 1 dollar from the pot. I mean nice job dude maybe you can do to McDonalds with all the hard work you put in, but the fact is anyone who plays 5-10 cent poker either Sucks, is broke, or is just clowning aroumd. You really need a life and need to stop justifying every play you make i.e well he was the maniac at the table, i was fairly sure top pair was good. Maybe if this was 100-200 id care, but until you get to your pefect 300X bb for that stop posting.

[Smasharoo 0]

I for one, think its really freaking annoying when your posting so many hands explaining your thoughts after flop, turn and river, and then collecting 1 dollar from the pot. Well, not everyone is intrested in learning the game. Some people are former Wheel of Fortune viewers who've decided poker is the hot new game show now that "Millionare" is in reruns.I mean nice job dude maybe you can do to McDonalds with all the hard work you put in, but the fact is anyone who plays 5-10 cent poker either Sucks, is broke, or is just clowning aroumd. Or has a short bankroll for some reason.I expect them to suck. I expect the people playing 5/10 to suck often as well. The game doesn't change because of the cash amounts involved.You really need a life and need to stop justifying every play you make i.e well he was the maniac at the table, i was fairly sure top pair was good. Maybe if this was 100-200 id care, but until you get to your pefect 300X bb for that stop posting.If you ever tell me to stop osting again I will verbally rip you into tiny litttle bloddy chunks, jump on the chunks, put the chunks in a wood shredder and walk through the fine red mist flying out of the other end and cover my body with your warm blood.I may rip your still beating heart out and show it to you first if I'm in a good mood.Metaphorically of course.

[Guest]

I for one, think its really freaking annoying when your posting so many hands explaining your thoughts after flop, turn and river, and then collecting 1 dollar from the pot. I mean nice job dude maybe you can do to McDonalds with all the hard work you put in, but the fact is anyone who plays 5-10 cent poker either Sucks, is broke, or is just clowning aroumd. You really need a life and need to stop justifying every play you make i.e well he was the maniac at the table, i was fairly sure top pair was good. Maybe if this was 100-200 id care, but until you get to your pefect 300X bb for that stop posting.

if you think its so annoying, then dont read the posts in this topic lmao.

[KingAustin 0]

I for one, think its really freaking annoying when your posting so many hands explaining your thoughts after flop, turn and river, and then collecting 1 dollar from the pot. I mean nice job dude maybe you can do to McDonalds with all the hard work you put in, but the fact is anyone who plays 5-10 cent poker either Sucks, is broke, or is just clowning aroumd. You really need a life and need to stop justifying every play you make i.e well he was the maniac at the table, i was fairly sure top pair was good. Maybe if this was 100-200 id care, but until you get to your pefect 300X bb for that stop posting.

Wouldnt it have been easier to just hit your back key to go back to the topic listings and just move on with your life and ignore this thread instead of reading it and then posting? No one taped your eyelids open or forced you to click your mouse while over this thread to come here.I think what he's doing is going to help out a lot of people here make better choices by showing the play by play. You're not helping anyone out by complaining, and neither is my complaint about you, but I just had to get it out there.Keep up the good work Smash

[theKAbag 0]

we all need to get together and have a keg party when smash becomes the first person to hit 1000 posts.