<span> </span>I wish I had a buck for every time someone posts in PD that they have $50.00 to deposit and what should they play to build a roll.<span> </span>I don’t mind helping people out with ideas, or reading what others are suggesting.<span> </span>That’s what this post is about, to share some of my knowledge with the new online players about micro stakes, and what they can expect.

<span> </span>I’m a hobby player who plays a few hours here and there.<span> </span>I’ve satellited into a few Sunday million(try the 8.80 6 max TS, or the 11.70 DS, both are very soft).<span> </span>I’ll also occasionally take a shot at the nightly 70k, but other than that I’m a strictly micro stakes mtt/sng player.<span> </span>I’m currently working on a goal to play 1,000 1.10 45 man turbos, and to date I’ve played almost 600 with a 9% roi(got some work to do, hopefully the next 400 will see my roi quadruple).<span> </span>Altogether I’ve played over 2k mtt/sngs, and over 100k hands.

<span> </span>I still remember that feeling when I won my first 45 man play money tournament.<span> </span>I came to the online scene late in the game, in early ’08.<span> </span>My first experience with real money poker was at Turningstone via a $250.00 buy in to the WSOP ME Super satellite, where top 9 won $10,000.00.<span> </span>I lost when my A8h lost sb vs bb to KK, but this experience made me feel I could win at this game.<span> </span>So I deposited on stars having no idea about bankroll management or what I was in store for.

<span> </span>Here’s my first bit of advice, before depositing one penny onto any site read up on bankroll management there are several excellent choices on this page, http://www.pocketfives.com/poker-strategy.<span> </span>While you’re at it if you don’t have an account yet, check out rakeback.<span> </span>You may not make any huge amounts in the beginning, but you won’t be crying that you’re missing out on rakeback when you’re playing the higher stakes.

<span> </span>Back to when I first deposited, I had $100.00 it was a Sunday and flashing across the pokerstars client was an ad for an $11.70 satellite to the Sunday Million.<span> </span>I got a hundo, 11.70 buy in, I’m good to go.<span> </span>Obviously that hundo went quick.<span> </span>My next foray was the Step’s to the WSOP ME, boom another couple hundred gone.<span> </span>This is how you should NOT start out, trust me.<span> </span>At the beginning of my first deposit, I was sweating Barry Greenstein on pokerstars, and he kept bringing up pokerroad.com in the chat.<span> </span>So, I checked it out, and got hooked on the WSOP 2008 coverage.<span> </span>During the commercials pocketfives was advertising so I took a look and started educating myself about online poker and I joined as my pokerstars player name, rebelfd.

<span> </span>Here’s my next bit of advice.<span> </span>Always keep learning, read, read, and when you’re done reading, read some more.<span> </span>There are those savants who say they’ve never read one poker book, or even a strategy article, and they’ve made it big time.<span> </span>For the rest of us mere mortals, we’re going to have to hit the books, forums, get some coaching, or some online video training.<span> </span>For books there’s so many out there, but for a beginner, try Harrington on Hold ‘em I & II for general strategy.<span> </span>Winning Tournaments one hand at a Time I & II are also MUST reads.<span> </span>Nothing however will substitute for actual play.<span> </span>So start grinding.<span> </span>If you’re like most us true beginners, expect to lose.<span> </span>As long as you’re not breaking the bank of your life roll, consider the losses as tuition.<span> </span>If you hit a nice score, stay away from CASH games.<span> </span>After I won my first 4.40 180 man, I figured I’d play some cash games.<span> </span>I’d played 1-2 at Turningstone, how different could online be, right?<span> </span>We’ll it’s like playing 10-20 live, I got killed, and it was like burning $100.00.<span> </span>Cash games are filled with sharks that will eat you alive, so steer clear.<span> </span>

<span> </span>Some of the general things I’ve learned about micro stakes is that you need to beware of the min-raise.<span> </span>9 times out of 10 you’re going to be up against a monster, unless you have a monster as well be very careful.<span> </span>I have sniffed out bluff min-raises, but they’re few and far between, and very read dependent.<span> </span>Speaking of bluffs, don’t overuse them at the micro stakes, a lot of the players you’ll encounter won’t respect them.<span> </span>They’re thinking, bust me, that’s ok, it’s only a buck, and I’ll register in the next buck tournament that is starting or is late registering.<span> </span>

<span> </span>Last thing, if you want to learn this game we love, be prepared to pay in time, money, and heartbreak; especially when those 1 and 2 outers hit to bust you when you’re oh so close to final tabling a huge field that the micro stake's mtts bring.<span> </span>So when you encounter the inevitable bad beats, don’t give up, your heater will come, keep making profitable plays and it’s guaranteed.<span> </span>GL at the tables.