Random Ramblings II: Cracking Open the Inbox Again

I'm back, with another look inside the weird, and sometimes wacky, world that exists in my inbox. I'm guessing that a few of you have asked these same questions to yourself.



Bob: How would you recommend that a person begin a career as a professional player? Should he play a certain limit until he gets a certain amount of money, and then move up as money and skill allow?



Also, I have had a problem with this: If you need a bigger bankroll to move up to another limit, when can you take some money for living expenses? Some of these issues confuse me.


Joe: Bob has asked a question that I think applies to so many of the younger players coming up right now. Many times, a pupil of poker is most focused on learning the game as an end, when in actuality, the learning of poker is a complete journey unto itself. In all honesty, a player's haste in attempting to move up is often his downfall in the end. This is because he wants to play at higher stakes so badly that he fails to learn what he should at the lower stakes. You can imagine what kind of disaster this breeds when a player does try to move up.



The truth is that poker will tell you when it is time to become a professional, or just whether to move up in limits or not. If you are questioning whether or not it is time to move up in limits, it probably isn't time yet. When I started playing, I too was more focused on continually moving up in stakes than what I should have been focusing on, which was just learning the game well. When it is time to take the big jump up a level, you will know, because you will be a consistent winner and able to outplay your opponents pretty readily. I know it can be frustrating to wait it out at those lower limits, but rest assured that you are doing it for a reason, as it is going to make you a better player eventually.



Bob's other question on bankroll is related to his first one on moving up in limits. In order to be able to leap up a playing level, you need to be able to cover your living expenses and still be able to play comfortably at your current level. If you are struggling to do both, you have another reason to move down a limit. Keep in mind that playing ability isn't the only thing related to what stakes you should play. The whole point of playing professionally is to make enough money to live. Clearly, if you are sweating your living expenses, you aren't able to make enough money to live comfortably.



I know that many of you want to play high so that you can make the big money and live the big life. I promise you, most professional players are more of the Joey Knish variety than the Teddy KGB. You gotta grind in poker if you wanna make it, and that includes not living the big life when you can't afford it.



Rosy: I am continually confronted with an issue when playing on the bubble. I can't seem to decide whether I'm trying to win or simply cash in an event. What often happens is that I get aggressive, open-raising with a hand like A-10 offsuit, and then get greeted with an all-in raise from one of the (relatively) short stacks in the blinds. This type of situation ends up being a lose-lose: When I call, I'm frequently facing a hand like A-Q, and when I fold, I find myself in a virtual four-way tie for second, with the rest of the table having the impression that I'll release a hand preflop in the face of a big raise. Do you have any suggestions for this type of situation? I know it seems fairly specific, but it seems to plague me quite often.



Joe: Regarding Rosy's first issue, which is whether to play to cash or to win, I have a hard time finding advice. I am always playing to win the event, and if my aggressive play near the bubble means that I get knocked out there, so be it. I have skidded out on the bubble many times, and I am sure it will happen many more times before I am through. I have accepted this.



It is a valid question, though. If you are merely playing to cash and take home a little dough, you certainly should play a little differently, and less violently, as the bubble approaches. Keep in mind, though, that some players see this time as their most lucrative, and will kick their attack into high gear. If you do wake up with a strong hand, you may have one of your more aggressive opponents at your mercy. Many times you will get players moving in with hands like 8-8 or the A 7, knowing they can get you to lay down hands as strong as A-K as the bubble approaches. It may be your strategy to avoid these confrontations when a payday is so near, but it isn't theirs. This is something for you to be aware of as this critical period approaches.



Rosy's other issue, of raising with weak hands and then being put in tough positions, is much easier to deal with. You have to tread lightly when you come into a hand with a weak holding, like A-10 offsuit in this case. Of course, position and the other players are going to play a huge role in whether or not you decide to play a hand like this, and when.



With several short stacks on the table, I probably would pass on this hand most of the time. It's just too likely that someone is going to move in on you. Remember that the short stacks are just looking to get their money in at some point, and are looking to do so with almost any pair, and often a hand as weak as A-J, which has you crushed. I think it's much better to pass and find another opportunity.



Additionally, it would be next to impossible for me to call any kind of substantial all-in bet with the A-10 offsuit. As Rosy stated above, you will very often be in tough shape there, usually losing the hand and putting yourself in dire straits. You don't want to get into the habit of regularly calling all-in bets with hands like this. Most of the time, you will be praying for a coin flip, and that's not the position in which you want to put yourself.



It seems that the question you really need to ask yourself is whether you are playing for first place or the smaller money that comes along with simply cashing. Once you have this answer, you will have a clearer idea of how to proceed in the later stages of a tournament, and how to slap around those who are playing a style that is opposite of yours.



Joe loves to receive your questions and comments. You can reach him at [email protected].