Hi everyone, I've been playing no limit hold'em in live games for about 2 years now and am currently considering delving into the internet scene.
Looking back a year ago, I realize how bad of a player I was. I never raised, thought anything suited or painted was a good, and of course, I always fished. After reading Super System and one Sklansky book, I foolishly thought I was a good poker player; good enough to beat the pros even. About 6 months later and a bankroll lost, I've been humbled, and I've realized I'm probably at best, a slighty above average player, certainly not the type of player that can make a living on poker alone. I know now that there's a lot to improve on, and hopefully this site and the people here can help me with that.

I know I've bored all of you with my life story, so on to the questions...

1) What poker site do you guys suggest I start out with?
I'm absolutely clueless on this, I'm tempted to take the one with the highest cashback on deposit, but I don't want to play at a place where the skill level is incredibly high.

2) What table limits do you guys suggest I play on? (I plan on playing no-limit)
I have about $300 set aside just for poker. Also, when would be a good time to move up in limits?

3) How do you play more than 1 table at the same time?
My friend played on pacific poker and he couldn't find out how to play on more than 1 table. Is it just an option that some sites carry and some don't?

4) How do most of you raise pre-flop?
I know when I played my hands for a raise I would always raise the same amout (3xBB) no matter what hand I had. However, there are times I would want to raise more, like with high PP to push out opponents, but I didn't want to be too predictable. Should I just raise higher with every hand?

5) I try to be aggressive on flops, but when I bet at the pot and get re-reaised, I generally get scared and fold. What would you guys do in a situaion like this?

You hold from early position and raise. Everyone folds except the button, a solid player, who calls.

The flop is

You bet and the button raises. What do you do? (This is actually a hand that I experienced).

6) I know the area I need most work on are marginal situations. What to do in a situation like this?

You hold in the big blind.
It's checked around and the flop is with 4 players
What do you do in a typical table? A tight table?

What about a situation where you flop middle pair (Instead of a you hold a )?


I know these are all just hypothtical situations and there many things to factor at the poker table, but I still think your thoughts will help me improve on my game. Also, any tips or advice you'd want to give to a budding player would be much appreciated.

1) Yes, plick a site that offers a good bonus.

2) Start with $10-$25 tables. Play there until your bankroll is $500 or above before moving up.

3) You can't play multiiple tables at Pacific. Most other sites allow you to open multiple tables.

l4) Read a couple good poker books. The new one by Dan Harrington is quite good.

5) You shoudl definitely continue with the hand. Pop another raise, or possibly push all-in. This will force the opponent to make a decision and hopefully it will be to your favor.

6) If you hold top pair, bet. If you hold middle pair, check.

1) Gaming Club has a great bonus and very soft NL games. CLick the link at the top of this page to try it out

2) With $300, I would start with the $10NL games if you start winning you can quickly move to the $20NL games

3) AT Gaming Club and most other sites you can play up to 4 tables or more at some places. I suggest you start with 1 or 2 at max until you get used to it.

4) I hate the 3BB raise. I raise at least 4 BB at all times and have no problem making it 5 or 6BBs...Even more if there are multiple limpers.

5) Depends on alot of factrs, but theres not shame in folding that hand to a big raise. (or even a minimum raise for that matter)

6) With 4 players and I have Top piar lousy kicker, I usually check and see what happens. It anyone besides the last person to act bets, I fold. People dont bet that flop with multiple people in the pot unless they have a king. If the last person to act bets, then I might raise. he will bet w/o a king alot of times.

I'll answer a couple of your questions, but Iceman gave you good answers on all of them.

2) General rule of thumb: Move up when you double your bankroll through strictly NL play. (i.e. don't count the $$ you make from Limit or tourneys). Start out at the NL10 games and move up when you get to $600 or so.

5) Re-raise, the guy is on a draw. If he flopped the flush he wouldn't have raised you.

6) Mix it up, if the opponents are tough and showing down a lot of good starters then I might check/fold this flop. If the table is a little softer I might bet out and see what happens. You have top-pair and could hit a runner-runner flush, which will get paid off pretty well if anyone else sticks around. Just watch out for KT as a lot of weak players will limp with that garbage.