Improving my Poker Game

[hackers238]

Hey everyone, I've been stalking the forums for a couple days now, reading some old posts and seeing who's still around.

First of all I would like to say that I admire this forum and think that is a wealth of poker information and discussion, and everyone here contributes something (other than eejit apparently, who takes money occasionally).

Most of you probably don't remember me, I was last seen about 2-3 years ago when I used to play poker online. After some -ev play and being angry at the swings associated with poker, I quit online play, only played home games, and occasionally visited the casino. However now I'm interested in getting back into poker, so I have deposited $200 into stars and am looking for a plan.

So here is my current plan: I plan to play 100 $1.00 + .20 SNGs at 'stars over the next month (I play NL Hold 'em). What do you think of this plan? Basically I consider myself able to do the basic math behind poker well (calculating pot odds and implied odds), but am unable to make long term reads. I attempt to make reads in the course of a hand, as in from the beginning of the hand to the end of the hand, and make the right read about as often as the wrong one. But what I can't do it play with the same people for a couple of hours and then read them based on their previous play, and this is what I would like to be able to do.

Here are some basic questions I would like to ask people of this forum, if they take the time to read this post/answer.

1. Is $1 + .20 too small of a buy-in to play consistent poker at? For example some games I get into 2-3 people will push the first hand with junk, which doesn't say much for their playing style. Then again maybe worse people just means more money in the long run... thoughts? I don't have problem moving up to the $5 buy-ins, as I could deposit a couple hundred $$ without a problem, but going much higher than that would strain my life outside of poker.

2. I consider myself better at ring games, because I play tournaments the same way that I play ring games, which I know is incorrect. Would anyone recommend screwing my 100 SNGs idea and just playing ring games? Or is it really just my preference? If so what ring games should I play where I can play against decent players rather than Maniacs at $0.01/$0.02?

3. Is there any software I should buy? I don't feel like throwing down $50 on something right now, but I would definitely keep it in mind for the future if there is one program everyone uses now.

4. Book recommendations? I have never read Super System I or II, or any other significant book. I think I read a little a sklansky's book back in the day, but then again "read" back then meant more like skim and nod, whereas now I would be more interested in learning the book. Of course I'm not going to go out and buy $50 worth of books either, but thoughts are nice

I think that's it, but as a final note, look to see some hands showing up in the hand history because there are PLENTY of situations I run into now where I can't decide what I should do. (One of the ways I can tell I have a lot of room to improve).