Interest in a Strategy group chat for those playing $500-$1500+ buy-ins (Cash + Tournaments)? (1 Viewer)

Senzrock

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What's Up PCF -

In reading over an interesting thread that @codeman00 posted on here yesterday, it brought me back to an idea I've wanted to propose on here. I know there are a wide range of stakes that PCF'ers play on here, with most playing for smaller stakes, ranging all the way up to a few high stakes players. I am interested in starting a "mid stakes" group chat aimed at players who's average buy-in hovers between $500-$1500, either for cash or tournaments. I have a solid group of local players by me but most are not actively interested in discussing strategy and the few who do I would rather not discuss strategy with as my win rate depends on how fast they are adjusting to me :). If you are interested in something like this, I ask that you please just ready over the following criteria below and message me if you think you are a good fit.

My thoughts on criteria for a group chat (4-10 people tops):

1. Interested in actively discussing strategy & improving your game. This includes sharing your own thoughts/analysis and being open to listen and learn from others. I have a few poker friends who say they are invested in learning, but they really aren't. By this I mean, they watch videos and discuss hands, but they are not actively measuring progress in any way and still discuss hands on a level they did maybe 5-6 years ago.

2. While average buy-in only tells part of the story, I think it makes sense to limit this to players who play *at least* a $1/3 ($500+ cap) game and above. I think this will help differentiate the discussion from those that play primarily $1/2 ($300 cap) and lower (I play these lower stakes myself still pretty regularly because often it is all that runs locally and I love it but again, not the purpose of this group). Of course, if you can only play $1/2 where you are but aim to play higher (and you do play higher when traveling to casino's where you are able to), then by all means, shoot me a line and we will see if it's a good fit.

3. Average group member will ideally play at least 2 sessions of poker/week with a fairly significant lifetime volume (ie. some level of experience). Hopefully you will be subscribed to one or more paid services like PokerGo or one of the training sites and you follow the games decently closely (don't need to watch everything, but you try to "keep up" on some level.

About me: I've been playing poker for a little over a decade. Because of my day job as a social worker, and living in an expensive place like New York City, I've always been on the very conservative side when it came to bankroll management, starting at the micros and working my way up to $2/$5/$10. My average buy-in during casino cash games currently will hover between $600-$1000. I will be playing an ambitious ~$6500 tournament schedule this summer in Vegas, potentially playing even adding on the $10k Main Event depending on my work schedule. I have been a profitable player at every stakes I've played and am happy to share win rates & graphs with folks in the group. Because I live in New York City, I don't have access to a nearby casino, which has been a big obstacle in terms of playing more hours than I do. I also am married (no kids) and spend a lot of time with family & friends here in NYC, making even just 3-4 day trips to Atlantic City more challenging for me than perhaps your average player (there's always a birthday party or social engagement of some kind to attend - you know the story. To make up for this, I am actively involved with hosting/attending home games and underground games in and around NYC. I host a game myself several times a month. I also do a lot of study on my own. My study is mostly in the form of close watching of tournament or cash streams, noting interesting hands/spots and running them by friends. I have not jumped into the solver streets yet, although I am interested in doing that, mostly because my volume doesn't quite justify spending ~$500-$1k on the necessary software per year. This might be something I would be willing to split the cost of with one or more players should people be interested.


I honestly am unsure if there will be interest for something like this, at these specific stakes, but figured I would throw it out there and see if this intersects with other peoples aims of improving their respective games. Good luck at the tables!
 
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Will games like Draw2ma, DrawMaHa 21,49, blackjack - double board discard Scarney, and derailment be discussed?


If so, in.
Are you able to play those games for the stakes outlined? Honest question? I assumed this would be primarily NL with maybe some PLO or other mixed games that they offer at casinos in the mix.
 
$500 yes - but not $1k.

PLO, PLO8, 5 Card for sure.
Yeah, I mean I had a great time playing games like Draw2ma, DrawMaHa 21,49 & Scarney at a meetup last year but I have never seen them played anywhere else (and honestly I would not be of much help myself on any strategy related to those games lol)
 
While I am not an active $1/$3(+) player these days, and cannot commit to playing more than a couple times a month at the local room or home games due to distance and 2 young children. I am always willing to discuss strategy.

I have not kept detailed records of my play, but I have been a profitable lifetime at stakes up to $1/$3 with a little bit of $2/$5. It's just been a little over a decade since I played those stakes regularly. Anne I was regularly playing 100nl and 200nl online profitably up till black Friday. Whole those games are much harder now, I think being able to beat them then is still fairly equivalent to beating $1/$3 and $2/$5 live in today's environment.

I've been playing a mix of live and online (NLHE and mix, no PLO) since 2004 and had as high as a low 5 figure bankroll before I stopped playing for secondary income in 2008.

Once I get back from my Vegas trip, I may be trying to play a couple times a month at the local room depending on how things go. Which will primarily be $1/$3 500cap and $300-500 tournies.
 
I’m interested. $500–$1500 is my sweet spot for PLO. I’m not much of a NHLE player lately.

Any racist or homophobic language, please find another space. If you get really excited about Canadian Truck drivers or you are a big Tucker Carlson fan, I will respectfully ask you to not share this space.
Not sure what this has to do with a strategy thread. Racist and homophobic language hopefully is not tolerated anywhere on PCF. And is someone’s political leanings relevant to a strategy thread? I’m really hoping none of that is discussed.
 
I’m interested. $500–$1500 is my sweet spot for PLO. I’m not much of a NHLE player lately.


Not sure what this has to do with a strategy thread. Racist and homophobic language hopefully is not tolerated anywhere on PCF. And is someone’s political leanings relevant to a strategy thread? I’m really hoping none of that is discussed.
I would hope not either but I'm sure you've been in a few group chats where stuff comes up so just trying to avoid it in advance.
 
I'm interested, play a lot of casino $1/3 and $2/5 when I'm in Vegas, headed out next month planning to play a couple $500-800 tourneys. Our $1/1 home games usually play about $3-700 effective with $4-6k on the table, so basically $1/3 if not bigger with our constant straddles. Have subscribed to Crush Live Poker for about 4 years, studied some of Solveforwhy's course work and probably watch 5+ hours of streamed games/week.
 
I'm interested, play a lot of casino $1/3 and $2/5 when I'm in Vegas, headed out next month planning to play a couple $500-800 tourneys. Our $1/1 home games usually play about $3-700 effective with $4-6k on the table, so basically $1/3 if not bigger with our constant straddles. Have subscribed to Crush Live Poker for about 4 years, studied some of Solveforwhy's course work and probably watch 5+ hours of streamed games/week.
Sounds like you and I are on a very similar point in our poker (playing) journeys - this is exactly the kind of profile I had in mind!
 
I like that we have a nice mix of NL & PLO players in here so far (for obvious reasons - PLO arguably much more profitable live than NL these days)
 
tbh I limit my higher stakes to home games in which play is poor but rake is high. I’ve only played 25-50 a few times at aria and bellagio, and nlh once. i learn and improve a lot more at 10-25 and below. Looking forward!
 
If you’re playing 10k tournaments and consider yourself conservative, you must have millions in the bank in poker winnings. :eek:

“Anne I was regularly playing 100nl and 200nl online profitably up till black Friday. Whole those games are much harder now, I think being able to beat them then is still fairly equivalent to beating $1/$3 and $2/$5 live in today's environment.”

Not even close IMO. Closer to 5c/10c though depends on the city and depends on what server.

A 1/2nl game online on international servers that’s like any 5/5nl game I’ve ever played in would blow up the wait list and crash the server.

Not saying all live players are shit but even a top online 25/50c nl winner is in all likelihood making a more money than the biggest 5/5nl live winners. 10-20x as many hands an hour, less than half the rake (of which some and usually most is returned in benefits), and no commute time or costs.

I’d participate. I fit into the stakes guideline but don’t play twice weekly. I used to play huge volume online, and played live regularly until covid - the Games I used to play in haven’t started to again efen thofuh the casinos are open. As it turns out old guys are somewhat reluctant to go to casinos during a pandemic.
 
If you’re playing 10k tournaments and consider yourself conservative, you must have millions in the bank in poker winnings.
Playing the Main Event is more of a life achievement than anything else. I will be selling action for that for sure if I do fit it into my schedule. Agreed that the online games are incredibly tough internationally (not as tough here in the US but still way tougher than live).
 
Glad to see there seems to be a lot of interest. I will keep letting folks drop in and next week I will see about creating a WhatsApp group for us!
 

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