Holy Variance Batman!? (Book suggestion)

[MagyarSHU]

***Please pardon the double post...I originally posted this in the SnG forum on which I usually lurk, but then it dawned on me that this may be a better place for it.***

Hello folks. I still constider myself relatively new to the game of poker, but I like to think of myself as a student of the game. After reading-and rereading- HOH 1-3, I finally decided to delve into a new book. I looked around a bit and decided that since I'm a finance major, The Poker MBA would be next on the list. I went to Barnes and Noble, but they told me it was out of print . Luckily, I had enough FPP to get one through PS (harcover, too...kinda annoying that the pages flip closed by themselves, but meh). It's a business book which uses poker terminology, but the lessons can easily be transfered over to the card room.


The book made alot of sense to me with a business background. While HOH was more technical, this rehashed some of the same principles like EV and variance and delved into many other interesting topics focusing more your surroundings than yourself. I feel I've picked up a few business nuances which I've now incorporated into my game, and I believe the recent results show it(I know not to be resutles driven, but I'm not quite sure how else to put it besides ROI and ITM).

My ROI/ITM over 350 SnG games has been ~6-7%/41-42%. I know this may be a small sample size, but it has been consistent. I took a break to read the book, and my ROI/ITM over the last 24 games has been 80%/58%. I realize that this is an extremely small sample size and could just be the result of variance, but I'm confident that when the numbers settle down a little, they will be better than what I've been running at.

It's not only the numbers that have change, my play style has as well. I used to think I was TAGG, but now I think I was just fooling myself into imagining I was playing 'solid' poker. I'd play TAGG early in the SnG, but when it came to short-handed play, I revert to TW(rock-like) and not take advantage of many opportunities even if the practically gift wrapped themselves. In my new game, I've opened up myself to those opportunities and have flourished. Before, I'd rarely accumulate that many chips short-handed, but now I'm playing with a healthy stack/competing for the lead. I used to hope to survive my way to make it ITM, now I look for places to take the shorter stacks out and prey on their desperation. I believe I'm doing this well because I know where they're coming from...sadly after being there myself.

Long story short, this book was an excellent complement to the HoHs (especially if you're from a business background). It's opened up my game and built on my confidence. A must read for anyone feeling stuck in neutral and looking for a fresh perspective.

[Chopper]

dont take these comments the wrong way please.

1) good book idea. but, did you see there is a book club forum? i'd also post this in there. copy/paste it right on in.

2) i noticed your "goal" signature, and wanted to ask a question. when you get to $200 (congrats, btw), are you going to be playing $10 SNGs exclusively? or do you play other games, too?

seems to me that <20 buy-ins is not proper for any tourney. i have read that you should be looking 50+ minimum.

[MagyarSHU]

I was going to post in the book blub, but my post wouldn't correspond to the formatting there. Each post in that forum deals with a particular section of a book that is being reviewed or has been reviewed(the books are picked by the moderators). If a moderator thinks this overview would fit, feel free to copy/move it.

...silly me, just changed the goal to $220 to reflect the $1 entry fees.

As to the second question, my plan is to start playing the $10s as soon as I get to $220(20 buy-ins). My theory goes that I'll keep playing the $10s until I finish out of the money. Then I'll got back to the $5s until I win and go back to $10. I plan on alternating between the two until I have 25 buy-ins ($275). After that point, I plan on playing the 10s exclusively if I'm comfortable.

I also posted a question about the proper bankroll amount necessary for moving up a while ago on the SnG forum, and responses ranged from 20-50 buy-ins depending on how conservative you want to be. They also told me that the $10s play alot like the $5s, so that's the reason I'm leaning toward the less conservative end. My plan is to be able to get my feet wet without risking too much. If it holds true that they do play similarly, I can also take advantage of the up side. If anyone else feels this may be a mistake, please let me know. Thanks for the constructive criticism, Chopper. I hope my answer clarified my situation (The operations manager would keel over if I tried fitting the above in, hehe).

[Chopper]

it did. just didnt know if you were aware.

obviously, you had given it the proper amount of thought. good to know.

[gingerwizard]

Sounds almost like Taipan BR management to me. Although he would advocate 30 for the lower buyins I think. $10s are ok, but you'll make more $$ per hour on the $6.50s.

[JeffreyGB]

FWIW, I used 20 buyins up through the 55's. That was back when you didn't face decent competition at the 33's or below though. I think the plan you're using should be fine.

[MagyarSHU]

Sounds almost like Taipan BR management to me. Although he would advocate 30 for the lower buyins I think. $10s are ok, but you'll make more $$ per hour on the $6.50s.

If memory serves, it was in fact Taipan's idea to go back and forth while building my BR. Ya, I hear the turbos are more lucrative, but I'm a bit squeemish still at the notion of playing one. I hear there's a bit more variance involved in them with the nature of how the games tend to come down to push/fold earlier than the normal speed SnGs. Could anyone go into some of the big differences in play styles necessary for turbos? Exactly how aggressive are we talking about being? I suppose I'll observe a couple and maybe get into them once I'm rolled for the $10s. If anyone has a tourny HH, it'd be much appreciated, too.