Micro stakes grinding

Didn't get much poker in this week. Played just under 600 hands in ring games, and a few S&Gs for the heck of it. When I did play ring I just single tabled it. The play at 10NL has been weird so far. Everyone seems to suffer from fancy play syndrome. I've seen players open limp QQ+ in the CO/BU, and one guy in the BB flat a PFR from the UTG player with two other callers while holding AA (and deservedly got 'em cracked). Here is a hand from today where villain tried to run what I consider a dumb bluff.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (UTG) ($8.50)
MP1 ($3.85)
MP2 ($5.70)
CO ($13.20)
Button ($2.15)
SB ($12.10)
BB ($1.60)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K

, Q

Hero bets $0.40, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.40, 4 folds

Flop: ($0.95) A

, 9

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.60, MP2 calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.15) 10

(2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $2, Hero raises to $4, MP2 raises to $4.70 (All-In), Hero calls $0.70

River: ($11.55) 3

(2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $11.55 | Rake: $0.55

Results:
Hero had K

, Q

(flush, Ace high).
MP2 mucked K

, A

(two pair, Aces and nines).
Outcome: Hero won $11

I thought his play was weird. He's got the near nutz on the flop and just calls instead of just stacking off against a possible AQ/AJ. Then he turns his seemingly best hand into a bluff. I dunno.

I still have difficulty with bet sizing when I am OOP. In the hand below villain seemed like a tight-passive (though only after 30+ hands) as he hadn't raised pre-flop on any hand he played. I got lost on the turn.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($13.20)
BB ($7.40)
UTG ($2)
UTG+1 ($10)
MP1 ($2.25)
MP2 ($3.05)
CO ($11.10)
Button ($2.30)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 4

, A

6 folds, Hero bets $0.40, BB calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.80) J

, 4

, J

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.60, BB calls $0.60

Turn: ($2) 9

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.60, BB calls $0.60

River: ($3.20) 7

(2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $1, Hero calls $1

Total pot: $5.20 | Rake: $0.25

Results:
Hero had 4

, A

(two pair, Jacks and fours).
BB had A

, Q

(one pair, Jacks).
Outcome: Hero won $4.95

Reviewing the hand I see I should have put in at least $1 on the turn, but his flop call concerned me as he seemed to be a fit-or-fold type, and I didn't want to just give up the hand by just checking. I get lost in blind vs blind situations with marginal holdings, especially when OOP. <sigh> bet sizing, bet sizing, bet sizing.

Staying in this weekend so expect to log a bunch of hands. I will give 2 tabling a try at 10NL, and if all goes well will add a third. Still a ways to go but would really like to complete this op by the end of the month. Roll is at $441.35.

Didn't get the volume in I expected, but I did win a buy-in. I actually won two buy-ins but I dropped 10 bucks in S&Gs and PL Omaha. Anyhoo, roll is at $451.55. I got up to 7 tables at 10NL. I increased because I was getting bored at one table and started playing a bunch of marginals and slowly bleeding chips. 10NL is no big deal as there are a whole bunch of donkeys donating chips. The only problem is the super short stackers that buy in for 20bb. They get on my last friggin' nerve, and like roaches they are everywhere. They overrun a table and I end up having to leave.

$451. Almost finished! Tomorrow I will try 9 tables.

Although I don't love short stackers, I often find them to be the worst players @ the table, so I have mixed feelings about them.

Got 657 hands in 7 tabling and dropped half a BI. I feel it though cuz I was up almost 2 BI early. In my first 50 hands or so my AA ran into KK and QQ for stacks and nice profitz. But then my AA got cracked by 88 (set). The rest of my losses just trickled out slowly over the remaining hands as I kept missing flops and made a few bad bluffs. Anyway, will just cut the losses for the day and will just play a cheapo S&G till I crash. Roll back down to $446. sigh

Today was a bit better. Played a 2 hour ring session b4 tonight's freeroll on Stars. I decided to stick to 6 tables at 10NL from here on out. I got in ~750 hands and made $7. Played the freeroll and finished in 3rd for $40. I was really happy with the cash cos I bubbled in like the last 3 or 4 freerolls I played, which always sux. Anyhoo, I'm $7 away from finally finishing this op. I don't feel like playing anymore tonight, so I guess it'll hafta wait until tomorrow.

Roll is at $493.07

Boy would it suck to get cold decked or hit negative variance right at the end of this thing, lol!

GOGOGOGO

Finish your op and make your next one to five grand.....good work nibbles

Thanks brant. I have been giving some thought as to what my next poker goal should be. 5 dimes seems pretty lofty right now. My next goal will probably be $1500, which will give me the bankroll to play low stakes games and complete my micro stakes grind. Not that I will necessarily start playing 50NL when I hit $1500, but will at least have the option.

I haven't been playing as much poker as I used to. I pretty much spent the entire winter like a hermit paying off my debt, so I've been doing a bunch more socializing of late and less poker. I'm actually about to go kayaking with some friends on the Hudson River. I've never done that before but the Downtown Boathouse on Pier 26 is giving free lessons all this week. Who knows, I might get hooked and have a new activity.

I do want to take this game seriously in the long term and I feel I have what it takes to have long term success. Only time will tell.

Finally done!!! Roll is at $515. The FTR freeroll cash really sped thing up. !Muchos gracias! It really feels good to get this done. $5 to $500 in one shot is pretty impressive, if I do type so myself. Here is the hand that put me over. Table was really loose and aggressive with a PFR practically every hand. Gotta luv 'em.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop | saw showdown

MP1 ($6.40)
MP2 ($10.30)
MP3 ($10)
CO ($5.20)
Button ($11.90)
SB ($6.60)
BB ($9.55)
Hero (UTG) ($9.40)
UTG+1 ($12.05)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A

, A

Hero calls $0.10, UTG+1 bets $0.20, 4 folds, Button calls $0.20, 1 fold, BB calls $0.10, Hero raises to $1, UTG+1 calls $0.80, Button calls $0.80, 1 fold

Flop: ($3.25) 3

, 6

, J

(3 players)
Hero bets $2.30, UTG+1 raises to $4.60, 1 fold, Hero raises to $6.90, UTG+1 raises to $9.20, Hero calls $1.50 (All-In)

Turn: ($20.05) 10

(2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($20.05) 8

(2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $20.05 | Rake: $0.95

Results:
Hero had A

, A

(one pair, Aces).
UTG+1 mucked 9

, 9

(one pair, nines).
Outcome: Hero won $19.10

So my next target will be $1500. That is 30 buy-ins for 50NL and the start of "low stakes" poker, which is also the end of micro stakes poker. I will keep this same blog as I will still be grinding the micros, but Part 1 of my micro stakes grind is COMPLETE!!!!

Nice work. Very Happy

Thanks Jason. I appreciate the advice given along the way. Thanks again!

Note taking to maximizing profits. Now that I've cut down to 6 tables I am able to take real-time notes on players, which for me was impossible when 9 tabling. This hand was against a guy I've had ~200 with. One of my notes on him was "stacks off light", and in this hand I put him to the test.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($2)
SB ($6.05)
BB ($10.10)
UTG ($12.60)
UTG+1 ($10.65)
MP1 ($1.90)
MP2 ($9.60)
MP3 ($10.15)
Hero (CO) ($10.65)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 10

, A

1 fold, UTG+1 bets $0.20, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.20, Button calls $0.20, SB calls $0.15, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.90) K

, 8

, J

(4 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero checks, Button checks

Turn: ($0.90) 3

(4 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero checks, Button checks

River: ($0.90) 9

(4 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 bets $1, Hero raises to $10.45 (All-In), 2 folds, UTG+1 calls $9.45 (All-In)

Total pot: $21.80 | Rake: $1.05

Results:
UTG+1 mucked Q

, 7

(flush, Queen high).
Hero had 10

, A

(flush, Ace high).
Outcome: Hero won $20.75

He failed the test. Couldn't lay down 3rd nut for his stack. Normally against an unknown I would have just raised to 3 dollars, and missed out on additional monies. There are a ton of donkeys at 10NL. And I have adjusted to the short stack style of play up here. The only thing is I need to pay attention as there are also a lot more tricky players here. That is why I have settled on 6 tables. It allows me to do all the things needed to improve my game play (while still logging a lot of hands) whereas 9 tabling only resulted in auto-pilot play. And to be honest, my game isn't strong enough to thrive on auto-pilot. The second part of my micro stakes grind should be significantly shorter than the first part. As long as I get the hands in. I would love to be at 50NL by year's end.

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