Switching from Bwin to Pokerstars

I've said this a few times already, but I'll say it again, cardmates.net has truly been a healthy process for me so far and reading all the other posts, reflecting on my own relationship with poker and learning many things really has been a great thing.  I can genuinely say I'm a better person for the experience!

First of all, I've been very much re inspired to play and to do aswell as I can in poker.  I believe I now have the skills, knowledge, experience and confidence to play well.  It is my new goal in October to begin playing on Pokerstars on which I have an account while also continue to play on my more favoured 'just as it says on the tin' Bwin.

The reason I've decided to give Pokerstars a go is for the one and simple reason, and that is that it runs 10 max tables rather than the restricted 6 max tables on Bwin.  My aim is to apply many of the preflop and post flop strategy rules presented by Sklansky, Miller & Malmuth in their books...sensibly and realistically.  I am fully aware it doesn't always go that way and am prepared for anything to happen!  From previous experience of playing on one of the biggest poker sites in the world, begun by a young man who had gotten the idea while travelling the world, is that the players then were loose, wild, crazy and often hit crazy suckouts.  Not that eventually I didn't go for these kind of plays and would act crazy on the tables at times too.  If I was to speak to that guy I was 15 years ago I would tell him, 'calm down' 'don't follow the crowd' and 'keep playing your own game'..

At the same time, I'd also like to check out the higher stakes tables, by joining in on the tables, but simply sitting out and watching the tables. I'm talking the $25/$50 big time cash game games. Just to sit and watch and observe their patterns of play and the pots created. Why not dream hey?

How to approach the game next month at Pokerstars ...and Bwin?

For me, it is important not to be competitive.  Sounds counter productive right?  Well the reason for me saying this is that I'd prefer to 'keep it Zen', play tightly, fold a lot and allow the good cards just to come.  I'll stick to my guns (my own game) and not mould my game around others' patterns of play; why would I follow other players who on the most part are unsuccessful players?  I will play by the Maths, not through emotions and follow the advice of proven successful poker players.  

When it comes to keeping control of emotions, I know this will be an incredibly hard thing to do, as I'm definitely an emotional and passionate person, so I will have to have my full 'zen' hat on.  If I lose because the Maths told me to continue with the hand, that is what I'll do, if it is better for my profits in the long term to play this way.  So third, basically maximising profits - keep reading and learning about this.  Fourth, don't get pigeon holed.  What I mean by this is that I very much dislike 'labels' or being labelled, but then again in poker this could be useful as you can present yourself as a poor, weak mediocre player and then come out strong with a monster hand at exactly the right time!  Just don't get pigeon holed as someone who other players think they can easily bully or intimidate.  Show them this isn't the case with me.  Finally, go by the 'zen' guidance and don't follow too many goals or desires.  Take it day by day.  Don't tell anyone the 'secret' true goal!  So don't do it for the money or any other target, just play, in the moment, simply to play and to practise a discipline in a chaotic world of cards each day.  This can teach me many lessons.  Is the ultimate goal to win or is it to master one self?  Let's see what happens in October :)

A case study - Trueteller (Timothy Kuznetsov)

Further inspiration for moving to Pokerstars is learning about the Russian poker player, Trueteller Timothy Kuznetsov, considered to be one of the greatest online poker players in the world.

He specialises in Pot Limit Omaha and NL Texas Hold'em.  He went from a losing player with friends, before studying and grew to become a great online player as he found more success, and began to enjoy the game immensely.  Trueteller began to think about the game at a deeper level, and analysed every action he and his opponents took at the table.  He said it's important to consider every small action you take and what it leads to.  In 2011 he began to play at the highest stakes in Pokerstars taking on opponents like otb_redbarron and poker news sites began to write about him.  He credited his success to staying calm under pressure and taking risks.  From 2011-2018 he made a $3.1 million profit. (Youtube)

Overall conclusion - Poker provides a golden opportuntiy to get to get out of the 'rat race'.

There are so many idiosyncrasities of personalities connected with NL online poker, especially online, as it attracts so many different people and styles of play, like in any walk of life, but particularly poker because anyone can play it from anywhere and it's a fun game!  This means, of-course, that there are hundreds of poor players out there who play exactly the same as each other.  I'm interested to see the level of players on Pokerstars now.  Perhaps the game has moved on and improved massively.  We'll see!  Looking forward to trying.

Living the dream

Overall, if you can find the key to winning success, poker can definitely be a steppingstone stone to living the dream life you want.  There was a time when I wanted all the glory, girls, fame and champagne lifestyle that came with playing poker.  That was a fallacy.  I'm not bothered about that anymore; but a nice log cabin by some mountains and woods would be nice!  Perhaps I can buy some land and set up a retreat for other people who hire it out?  Could be an easy way to make money and you'd get some regular fresh air.  That's all I need really.

Thanks for reading all. (Girlfriend's bag by the way, not mine!)

Maroonfish