Is it really possible to beat the 5c/10c games at Stars? I'm trying to practice the handreading skills and put the tips from the videos into practice but it seems that I am suffering from so many bad beats. The guys at this level rarely seem to fold and make some incredible suckouts. It feels like I win lots of small pots and then lose monsters. Table selection seems like a problem as the loose tables are nightmares with multiway pots and super loose calls while I consistently miss the flop at the tight tables and get pushed off hands.

I am beginning to wonder if I should move up the stakes to a level where there are less donks.Bankroll is not an issue. I am happy to deposit more money. Problem is, I am a big donk myself at would probably be a victim there too. Do I struggle on at this level until I become a better player or do I move up?

FYI
I worked my initial buyin of $30 up to $90 (including $30 of bonuses) playing 2c/5c
I fell back to $20.
I worked my way up to $140 and started playing 5c/10c
I went bust
I reloaded for $30 went up to $70
I have now fallen back to $30.

I have played about 30,000 hands.

Thanks

i understand what you are saying, before i came to OP , i struggled and was highly aggravated at 10nl and 25nl. i won, but not as fast and consistent as i thought i should. But OP and the first 10 atta22 videos showed me the way to crush these games.

if $$$$ not an issue, but the pride of winning and desire to improve and move up i would do the following

1 get a stats program, i prefer holdem manager

2 watch the first 10 atta22 videos, i watched each one 2 or 3 times and took notes before i looked at the next one
i played and focused on using the concepts in that video before i went to the next video, there is so much info in those videos, you cant learn and use it all at once- i still go back and review my notes when i run bad for a while

3 skip the 0.02/0.05 games, the atta22 videos will let you crush 10nl or 25nl almost immediately

4 after watching the atta22 videos check out some of my videos, especially the 1 on using stats program on micro games
i make no claims to being a great player, but i think my videos do show how i used the basic concepts and ideas from atta videos to crush the micros and be able to move up and beat the 100 and 200nl games

the main things to remember at the micros is discipline on hand selection and you will be value betting donks to death, not bluffng or fancy plays or hero calls, value betting, value betting, value betting. If a player makes a big bet late in hand 1 pair is almost never good, let it go, the fish got lucky and sucked out dont pay it off, dont do what i used to do and call to see what crappy hand just beat you, it doesnt matter what beat you, just accept it and fold

hope this helps hg

There are going to be donks at all stake levels. I am not a pro, but being a memeber here has definetly improved my game. We all go on a bad run some time or another. That's why bankroll management is so critical.

hockeyguy wrote:the main things to remember at the micros is discipline on hand selection and you will be value betting donks to death, not bluffng or fancy plays or hero calls, value betting, value betting, value betting. If a player makes a big bet late in hand 1 pair is almost never good, let it go, the fish got lucky and sucked out dont pay it off, dont do what i used to do and call to see what crappy hand just beat you, it doesnt matter what beat you, just accept it and fold

I agree with HG completely. No need to donk off chips just because you have top pair. Well, I mean if you don't have much vested already. You gotta read the board too. If I think they hit their hand and I only have a $1 left in my stack, I'm tossing it in the pot. Why not if you are getting 10 or 20 to 1. The one time you are right easily makes up for the times you are wrong. However, if the odds aren't that favorable lay it down. It's no big deal. There will be plenty of oppurtunities to come.

I don't think it matters if it is at poker stars or where ever. You definetly can beat the $10 buyin games. Get a stats program like HG said. It's worth every penny. Then, if bankroll is not a problem, I think you need to decide what you really want to invest in poker and make that one deposit. After that, just play in the games you like, that good bankroll management will allow. If you get another bad run, don't be ashamed in dropping down a level. Doing that will keep you away from the ATM.

Moving up in stakes is more like chasing losses. As far as I know that doesn't really work.

Meanwhile, keep watching the videos
I see this was posted a while back. I'm wondering how things are going now.