Party Bonus
I knew I should have just waited and not posted about how well I was running…Friday I was four tabling Party to work off some more of the bonus, well and to hopefully walk away with some more money from the Friday night gamboolers.
I played about 600 hands, some with SirFWALGMan and Poker in Chile, and was stuck about $50 total until my last hand at my last table. I got AK and ended up making a nut flush and earning enough to get back to being down only $15. Not great, but in the end, not bad.
Saturday I played the remainder of the Party bonus. I was down for the night, but over the course of the bonus I won $260 (all at 50NL), so it was a nice little run.
There’s been some talk about the lack of bloggers playing on Party lately. I’ve been there, but I’ve been hiding myself from search for a while now. Unfortunately, for a while it was getting to the point where half of at least one of my tables would be other bloggers. Talk about poor table selection. I play to have fun, but then again, there are times I want to play and win some money. So, no offense, I’m not trying to be holier than thou, I’m just starting to play well at NL and it’s just easier for me to play when I’m not having to pay attention to the chat all the time. I’m also one of those who lost more at the blogger table than I was winning at the regular tables which was not fun. Therefore, your best bet is to IM (if I’m on, which I’m not a lot when I play due to the same reasons, I can’t pay as much attention to the game), or via email and let me know you’re there.
Bankroll
Checking my spreadsheet, I’ve noticed that my bankroll sits in a really nice place. I’m way over rolled for what I’m playing. Working with the 300BB for limit, and whatever for NL, I’m way over rolled for the 50NL and even for the 100NL. What is the measure for NL, 10 buyins? If so…Wow.
Basically, NL has turned out to be a good move for me. Thanks
So the obvious question is: do I move up? I’m definitely going to settle in at the 100NL for now. I’m comfortable there, after all, it is the lowest you can play at Crypto and I’ve got a ton of hands there. If things continue to go well, at the beginning of May I’ll move up to the 200NL.
Basically I’m comfortable with where I’m at. I feel no risk sitting at the 50NL tables. Even if I lose a buyin, it’s not a big deal, even if I don’t win it back. While I don’t like it, it doesn’t “hurt”. Not that I want a loss to hurt, but there’s really no risk to the 50NL either. The players aren’t very good on the whole and it’s easy to come out ahead (in the long run). Bonuses help move the roll up, even with break even play (although since the beginning of the year I’ve definitely been winning), especially when you just play the lower levels since the bonus is a bigger proportion of your level (does that make sense?). My play, however, is getting better and I think I could make it grow even faster if I move up.
I guess I just need to quit being such a wuss. I’m not hung up on what other people think about my poker ability based on the game level that I play at. Some people seem to think that if you’re not playing at 15/30 then you must not be any good. Now I admit I’m not the best, but I’m good enough to be a winning player at my current levels. I’m not killing the game, but I’m doing well enough for what I need/want.
The other side of this is that if I’m able to win, then I may as well win more dollar wise. I guess this was a long winded “think out loud” type of thing. I’m going to play a month at the 100NL everywhere and if things continue to go well, I’ll move up at the end of April.
Plus I want to get some more together for Vegas in June 
If $100NL is the lowest they have at Crypto, it’s an easy jump. No-brainer. It’s probably the same as at other sites with the same structure–hardly ANYBODY buys in for the full $100, and many don’t even buy in for half of that. It’s much easier to pick on all the short stacks, that’s for sure.
I’ve heard all the bonus whores hit up the $100NL at Crypto and the easier games are actually beyond that. I’ll check it out next month when the bonus reloads for April.
I’ve finally breached $2/$4 and $3/$6 limit and they seem way easier then the $1/$2 game for the same reason.
I’ve been struggling since Party changed the blind structure. I’d been killing the $50NL but moved to $100NL to keep the same blinds. I could just be running bad this month but I’m worried that now with more levels below me there are that many fewer fish at this level. Crypto is still great since that’s the lowest level. Just keep that in mind if you move up at Party. I’ve considered moving down to $50NL to see if I notice a big difference.
i hear you about the blogger tables. i love playing them but they exaggerate the -ev’ness for me lately since i’m struggling in my game in general. i probably should “go dark” for a while and build up the ‘roll before i venture into the sharky blogger waters again. eh.. i’m just gonna take for a while. i think i need one.
I personally LOVE the new Party structure. If people don’t want to play “correctly” by short buying, fine by me. I’ve played some there, but while clearing the bonus I played 4×50NL, but as more “serious” play I’ll move up.
I’m pretty sure everyone has missed seeing me around. I mean, your day’s not complete if you don’t play some cards with me, right?
I don’t remember the last time I played the blogger table. Probably January. I don’t think that table is necessarily -EV, but sometimes you don’t want to play in a game where 3-4 players are constantly putting pressure on you. On top of that, we’re paying for the privilege of pushing money at each other. For bloggers as a group, that’s -EV. Hell, if we’re going to do that, we might as well play Blackjack on some casino site.
If I’m on, you’ll catch me at Full Tilt.
Dude…. just move up. The players are just as bad and if you’re winning now, you’ll just be winning at twice the rate.
The only hard part is stomaching the loss of a couple buy-ins as compared to a couple at the lower level. Once you get past that… It’s ON!
Just stay away from the NL $100 6max tables. Those are MINE.
Chris,
How is InterPoker at customer service? I did not get my Poker Listings $200 bonus when I signed up, so I called ‘em. The gal acted like she knew exactly what happened, said she’d leave a note for the poker manager, as if if would be taken care of right away. Nothing yet, not even a phone call or e-mail.
Al
Also, is there a way to check on your progress at InterPoker? I do not see a “hands left” countdown anywhere.
Chris,
Thanks for the e-mail reply. Next question, do they release your bonus right away, or does it take awhile?
They will release the bonus basically right away. You have to leave he table, but at least at InterPoker it seems to be almost immediately.
Thanks, I called regarding my bonus “goof”, and Marie told me I had 12 raked hands left to clear the $90 one, which I did right away. Can redeposit $100 on 4/1 now and get the April one, I assume.
FYI, Ryan gave me $100 with no strings attatched in lieu of the $200 bonus, so it was slow, but OK.