Everyone says I should give cash games a try...

**Chipless Wonder** · 10-08-2008 06:10 PM

I've always preferred the constantly rising pressure of the increasing blinds and antes that is so typical of tournament poker. For this reason, I've only played a handful of cash game sessions. Lately however, several of my poker buddies have suggested that I should give cash games a try. I plan to take their advice, and I'll use this thread to document my learning process.

**Chipless Wonder** · 10-08-2008 06:40 PM

Session #1 - $.05/.10 NLHE

This morning I played 500 hands at 9-handed tables. I was multi-tabling anywhere between 2 and 5 tables at all times.

Invested $80.00, cashed out for $81.25, profit = $1.25

Played 500 hands in 1.83 hours on 2 to 5 tables, averaging 273 hands/hour.

Earned $0.68/hour or 2.5 BB/100 hands. Now this is what I call 'grinding'.

**Chipless Wonder** · 10-08-2008 06:46 PM

Session #2 - $.10/.25 NLHE

This afternoon I played 975 hands at 9-handed tables. I was multi-tabling anywhere between 2 and 6 tables at all times.

Invested $200.00, cashed out for $208.55, profit = $8.55

Played 975 hands in 3.08 hours on 2 to 6 tables, averaging 317 hands/hour.

Earned $2.78/hour or 3.5 BB/100 hands.

**erminator06** · 10-08-2008 06:47 PM

live cash games are MUCH easier to beat than online....well maybe not $.05/$.10 but once u get up to $.50/$1.00 imo live cash games are easier

**otbdave** · 10-09-2008 08:16 AM

FYI: I win about 2BB/100 currently at 1/2... Some of the winningest players at 1/2 have a rate of less than 1BB/100.

**Goldnutz69** · 10-09-2008 05:49 PM

Good advice to start playing in the cash games would be to stick to one Level. Each level plays completely different, so switching from one to another can cost you some money in the long run. A good goal to judge yourself would be getting to 8-12bb/100hands. When you can keep your stats around there consistently, and have the bankroll, move up a level. Also keep in mind that you need about 5-10,000 hands for you to get a realistic view of your stats. Also you need 50 max buy-in's to play at any level everyday.

**otbdave** · 10-09-2008 08:20 PM

8-12BB/100 hands? I have never witnessed that winrate online at any level above nickel dime by any player in the world over a realistic sample size.

**niner1984** · 10-10-2008 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by otbdave

8-12BB/100 hands? I have never witnessed that winrate online at any level above nickel dime by any player in the world over a realistic sample size.

look up nofx34 on fulltilt poker

**ThePenguin22** · 10-10-2008 10:05 AM

I make 14BB per 100 hands on Carbon Poker. I have no proof as I do not use any kind of Poker Traker etc. This is an estimate but it is estimated to the lowest number (I make more). Here is how I have calculated it.

I play on average 5 days per week.
My AVERAGE session will be 250 hands.
I have been on Carbon for 70 days.
In this time I am $1300 profit (this includes rakeback(30%) and a $70 bonus I have accrued).
Because I sometimes play more hands (sometimes less 250 is best I can estimate) I have based my calculation that I play every day (which I dont). This will give me a true minimum of what I win.
So I have played 17,500 hands (70 days x 250 hands per day).
17,500 / 100BB is 175.
$13,000 / 175 = $7.4 every 100 hands.
I play .25 .50 so I am making 14.8 BB per 100 hands.

I have to point out that I do not multitable (I occasionally play 2 tables and this DRAMATICALLY decreases what I win. I also play small stakes .25 .50. I play 6 seat tables only which I imagine would change your win rate a lot.

A question to Goldnutz. I am going to raise my stakes when I have $2000 in my account. The new stakes I will play is .50 1.00, surely 20 max buy ins will be enough to cover the worst run of cards I have ever had? The worst drop of buy ins Ive had at cash games is 6.

PS. Advice for Scott. I think that Goldnutz advice about sticking to one level until you beat it is good advice. Although I would suggest you start at .25 .50 you may get a little burnt until you are used to what is going on but the amount you have won in tourneys suggests to me that you can beat this level. Also the amount you have won in tourneys will haunt you because if you grind everyday at .10 .25 you are not going to be making enough money to keep you interested. I have only played you once but on that basis I would say you are more suited to 6 seat games (these games are looser and in my opinion bluffs and general skill play a bigger part, just like 1 on 1 requires even more skill). Good luck, I find cash games to be far more exciting than sngs or mtts.