FTOPS and cash games

So February is all about playing some FTOPS events and re-visiting cash games.  The FTOPS is a twice yearly online tournament hosted by Full Tilt with large guarantees.  Each time it is on I try to win entries into a couple of the events via the satellites Full Tilt put on.  Normally I burn a huge amount of my bankroll when FTOPS is on and this month will probably be no exception.

So why do it? This is my chance to take a shot at some bigger tournaments.  Normally I play$11 and $26 tournaments so my average buy-in is $15.  Even with last months 161% ROI (which is quite an impressive number) I only win less than $4000.  To win the really big money you have to take a shot at larger tournaments and FTOPS is one time I take my shot. Some of the FTOPS tournaments pay 400 or 500 thousand dollars for first place. Can you imagine that return from one tournament.  The top players sure can.

Cash games. I flirt on and off with cash games online and rarely make much headway. I have focused my poker training on tournament and SnG play and mostly skipped the sections on cash games. But I think I need to learn to make me a better all round player.  I know you can win and lose a LOT more money in cash games so I need to figure them out for long term poker success 

Most poker newbies do not understand why cash games are so different that tournament play. They also might be surprised that cash game play is so complex.  I must admit I have never mastered the complexities yet and February is going to be dedicated to that goal.

So for February, forget the ROI (it will probably be skewed because of FTOPS anyhow) and forget the attempt to make $100 per day profit. My main goal in February is to understand the ebb and flow of cash games and figure out how to play them consistently. FYI, I will be reading and re-reading the cash sections of the followign books:

Harrington on Cash games volume 1 and 2

Supersystem 1 and Supersystem 2 by Doyle Brunson

Sklansky = Theory of Poker

Sklansky and Ed Miller - No Limit Holdem Theory and Practice

I will also be scouring the pokerXfactor forums and training videos for everything on cash games. I will be searching google and pokertube for training material and articles. I will be reading poker forums at 2+2 and pocketfives and anywhere else where I might get some knowledge.

Yes, I am on a quest.....it all sounds like bloody hard work!