Micro stakes grinding

I am resuming my serious online poker play (serious in attitude, not stakes). I got caught up in the poker craze just like so many other people and started online play. I bought into Paradise Poker for 50 bucks and would grind out micro stake hold em games (both limit and nl) and cash out 50 dollars every time I reached $100. Then that bucker Fush banned online gaming, so I had to cash out and switch to Jokerstars.

At Jokerstars I got my only tournament win ever. I won the $2 heads-up winner takes all tourney and won $256. As the norm I cashed out leaving a roll of $50 and continued my grind. Oh yeah, my games are NLHE 0.01/0.02 (0.02/0.05 when running good) and PL omaha 0.01/0.02, with the occasional $1 MTT. After a few more cashouts, I ran into this little nasty bitch named variance. No need for details as I'm sure everyone is familiar. Lost my roll, felt frustrated, and didn't rebuy.

I recently got the itch again and had a friend transfer $5 to my account and said I'm gonna start an Operation of my own. I've been playing again for 8 days and my roll is $19. 68 (was $21.88 last night), and I haven't repaid the loan yet. My goal is to develop a bank roll and see where it takes me. I will not cash out, but will move up in stakes as roll permits.

I am a true grinder. I don't play ring games the way most do. I am a nut camper (I have the patience of Job). Then once I show down a high % of winners I make the bluff here and there. The reason I love the microstakes is that people pay you off big time. They can't fold AA b/c they don't realize it is just a pair. But the suckouts are numerous.

Anyway, I will post updates regularly. I usually just read your site, but I figured I should post my game and contribute. Remember these two things. U can't lose what you don't put in the middle. All u need is a chip and a chair.

BTW, I love that PokerStars added $0.10 MTTs. It wasn't there when I used to play.

Good luck, sir.

*Last edited by nibbles on Wed, 12 Nov 2008, 8:18pm; edited 1 time in total*

Thanks Illfavor. I just knocked out a quick 90 minute session before I eat last night's leftovers. Even though we should focus on thousands of hands, I think this session is a great example of my play. Below are my stats for the session and the two big pots I won that significantly increased my bank roll, precentage-wise. Sorry, I don't use any of the poker software.

During current Hold'em session you were dealt 78 hands and saw flop:
- 3 out of 8 times while in big blind (37%)
- 2 out of 10 times while in small blind (20%)
- 5 out of 60 times in other positions (8%)
- a total of 10 out of 78 (12%)
Pots won at showdown - 2 of 2 (100%)
Pots won without showdown - 8

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($1.30)
Hero (SB) ($1.48)
BB ($1.28)
MP2 ($0.99)
UTG+1 ($2)
MP1 ($0.92)
MP2 ($0.99)
MP2 ($0.99)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7

, 7

1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.02, MP1 calls $0.02, 2 folds, Button calls $0.02, Hero calls $0.01, BB checks

Flop: ($0.10) 7

, 5

, 2

(5 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Button checks

Turn: ($0.10) 6

(5 players)
Hero bets $0.10, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.10, 1 fold, Button calls $0.10

River: ($0.40) J

(3 players)
Hero bets $0.14, UTG+1 calls $0.14, Button raises to $0.56, Hero calls $0.42, 1 fold

Total pot: $1.66 | Rake: $0.05

Opponent #1 (button) showed [Jc 8c] and lost with a pair of Jacks
HERO (small blind) showed [7h 7s] and won ($1.61) with three of a kind, Sevens

The very next hand (Tilt move)

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($0.62)
Hero (Button) ($2.41)
SB ($1.26)
UTG ($0.90)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A

, A

(unknown) calls $0.02 (All-In), UTG calls $0.02, 1 fold, (unknown) calls $0.02 (All-In), MP raises to $0.62 (All-In), Hero calls $0.62, 3 folds, UTG calls $0.60, 1 fold

Flop: ($1.91) 5

, 2

, K

(4 players, 4 all-in)
UTG bets $0.28 (All-In), Hero calls $0.28

Turn: ($2.47) 2

(4 players, 5 all-in)

River: ($2.47) 3

(4 players, 5 all-in)

Total pot: $2.47 | Rake: $0.10

Opponent #2: shows [Th 8h] (a pair of Deuces)
HERO: shows [Ah As] (two pair, Aces and Deuces)
HERO collected $0.51 from side pot
Opponent #1: mucks hand
HERO collected $1.88 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.49 Main pot $1.88. Side pot $0.51. | Rake $0.10
Board [5c 2s Kc 2h 3s]

Anyone can post some winning hands, but I'm doing this as an example of how easy it is to turn big profits (relative to the blinds) without any effort at these stakes.

I edited this post so hands are easier to read.

I guess I should explain my "get rich" scheme. I don't expect to get rich grinding the micro stakes. I play the ring games to finance my MTTs. So I take a portion of my ring game gains and use it for MTTs. Problem is I've only been lucky enough to win 1, and that was just heads-up. I cash in about half of the MTTs I play, but no final tables. But I am getting better. I recently finished 19th out of a field of 4000+ players (only $0.10 buy-in though). I play the standard tight-aggressive style in tourneys, not like my ring game style of play.

Just finished my second session of the day. End of day bank roll is $23.73. My ring game stats at 0.01/0.02 NLHE is:
During current Hold'em session you were dealt 132 hands and saw flop:
- 6 out of 16 times while in big blind (37%)
- 4 out of 17 times while in small blind (23%)
- 14 out of 99 times in other positions (14%)
- a total of 24 out of 132 (18%)
Pots won at showdown - 4 of 5 (80%)
Pots won without showdown - 4

Believe it or not, but the key to winning poker when under rolled is a tight-passive style of play. I read a thread in the "beginner's circle" where some guy turned 5 bucks into 100 (I think he's a TAG), and that's great. But IMO, it's also lucky. Proper bankroll is key for TAG style of play in ring games.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking the TAG style, but when under rolled you HAVE to play tight passive. Minimizing your losses are way more important than maximizing your gains at this point. Lose a few coinflip races and you're on the rail. When I play the MTTs I go into my TAG style (failed to cash in the 2 MTTs I played today, one $0.50 and a $0.25), but only a tiny portion of your roll is at stake.

Who'da thunk it?

GL on turning that $5 in more. And quite cashing out at $100 for gods sakes! It takes time to get to your first $1k but after that it starts coming in quickly, and while you think you are earning money by cashing out the $50 you are costing yourself even more money by doing so.

I start with $7 last december from a freeroll win and it took till Feburary or so to make $400. I was so happy I cashed it out and deposited $50 on PokerStars and started re-grinding. It till till May to get back up to $340 or so. But since then I hit $1k in June. And just hit the $8k BR mark yesterday. If I would have kept the $400 in and kept griding, there is a good chance I would be well over $10k BR right now.

It's an investment. Treat it that way.

*Last edited by nibbles on Tue, 11 Nov 2008, 2:05am; edited 1 time in total*

Thanks for the encouragement XxStacksxX. Right now it seems like poker is a safer investment than the stock market. Smile

I'm trying out the hand converter, but how do I get the results?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver

UTG+1 ($2)
Hero (MP1) ($1.15)
MP2 ($6.87)
MP3 ($1.91)
CO ($3.01)
Button ($1.97)
SB ($5.62)
BB ($4.66)
UTG ($3.38)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , Qd Ad
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.12, 6 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.27) ,6c As Qc , (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $0.10, Hero raises to $0.20, UTG+1 calls $0.10

Turn: ($0.67) [6c As Qc] [6s] (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $0.10, Hero raises to $0.44, UTG+1 calls $0.34

River: ($1.55) [6c As Qc 6s] [Td] (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $0.10, Hero raises to $0.39 (All-In), UTG+1 calls $0.29

Total pot: $2.33 | Rake: $0.10

Anyway, I won this hand. UTG+1 had AJ. This is a really good site!

Oh, I can't post any URLs until I have ten posts. Hand converter is full of them. Oh well. will try later. I had AQ suited vs opponent's AJ off/

Another session sorta complete. Gonna play a $0.25 MTT in an hour, so ending ring play. Stats for today:
During current Hold'em session you were dealt 229 hands and saw flop:
- 14 out of 30 times while in big blind (46%)
- 12 out of 33 times while in small blind (36%)
- 29 out of 166 times in other positions (17%)
- a total of 55 out of 229 (24%)
Pots won at showdown - 4 of 6 (66%)
Pots won without showdown - 17

Start of session bankroll was $23.73 and my roll currently sits at $23.90. One of the two pots I lost at showdown ate my profits. I was about to leave the table for a break before my MTT and said "I'll just play until the blinds come". Got dealt AQ suited, flopped top 2pr and lost to a set. You hafta luv this game.

Anywho, made a big mug of chamomile tea and getting into the right mindset for my tourney. I really want to get ITM so I can register a profit on the day. I've failed to cash in my last 5 or 6 of these. That's a shame because it's fairly easy to do at these stakes.

I am dead serious about grinding my way to big money. U guys just wait and see. If XxStacksxX can do it, so can I, and so can U. I never understood the players that dump all of their money on these sites. If you run low on funds, grind the penny tables. If you can't beat microstakes and the players just donating their chips, you can't run with the big boys.

No good in MTT. Finished 1135 out of 4000+ field. ITM was 701st place. Not running well lately. Can't catch a break. Oh well. I told myself I would not gripe about beats on my thread, but it does piss me off. It just feels like these 50/50 coinflips are really 25/75 in my opponents favor.

Anyway, going to bed. End of day roll is $23.65. Hopefully tomorrow is better.

Quick question about optimum play of a hand. Didn't have a read on players as I was fairly new to the table (20 or so hands dealt). Oh yeah, I should have mentioned before that I always buy in for $1.50.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP1 ($2.84)
MP2 ($3.64)
MP3 ($2)
CO ($2.41)
Button ($2.17)
Hero (SB) ($1.45)
BB ($3.03)
UTG ($2.06)
UTG+1 ($1.47)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A

, K

2 folds, MP1 calls $0.02, 1 fold, MP3 (poster) checks, CO calls $0.02, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.12, BB calls $0.10, 3 folds

Flop: ($0.30) 3

, 9

, 3

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.18, BB calls $0.18

Turn: ($0.66) A

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.30, 1 fold

Total pot: $0.66 | Rake: $0

After I won the pot, I immediately felt I should have checked the turn giving him a chance to bluff the A or catch his weaker flush draw. But with no read there is no assurance he would bluff. Was this a less than perfect play?

New day. Decided to do a quick ring session before I play the 4 p.m.(EST) $0.10 MTT on stars. Had a nice little run. :

During current Hold'em session you were dealt 38 hands and saw flop:
- 7 out of 8 times while in big blind (87%)
- 3 out of 7 times while in small blind (42%)
- 5 out of 23 times in other positions (21%)
- a total of 15 out of 38 (39%)
Pots won at showdown - 5 of 7 (71%)
Pots won without showdown - 1

I will post some of my hands from this session, one of which I am very ashamed of (gotta share the good and the bad). My passivity got the best of me and I folded a hand that even the newest of newbies wouldn't have folded. I did it for three reasons. I knew I didn't have the best hand, I could sense the table was about to break up (which it did), and b/c of what happened to me last night. Wrong is still wrong, but like I stated in 1st post, u can't lose what u don't put in the middle.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($2.98)
MP1 ($1.33)
MP2 ($1.79)
CO ($1.97)
Button ($3.08)
SB ($0.54)
Hero (BB) ($1.50)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5

, A

UTG calls $0.02, MP1 calls $0.02, 1 fold, CO calls $0.02, Button calls $0.02, SB calls $0.01, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.12) 6

, 2

, A

(6 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets $0.02, MP1 calls $0.02, CO calls $0.02, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.02

Turn: ($0.20) 10

(4 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, CO checks

River: ($0.20) 4

(4 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, CO checks

Total pot: $0.20 | Rake: $0
My ace was good.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($2.88)
BB ($1.23)
UTG ($1.75)
MP ($2.12)
CO ($0.50)
Hero (Button) ($1.65)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q

, A

UTG calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02, CO calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.04, 1 fold, BB calls $0.02, UTG calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02, CO calls $0.02

Flop: ($0.21) 10

, K

, 10

(5 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP bets $0.04, CO calls $0.04, Hero calls $0.04, 2 folds

Turn: ($0.33) 5

(3 players)
MP bets $0.04, CO raises to $0.08, Hero calls $0.08, MP calls $0.04

River: ($0.57) J

(3 players)
MP checks, CO bets $0.08, Hero raises to $0.16, MP calls $0.16, CO calls $0.08

Total pot: $1.05 | Rake: $0.05
My ace high flush was good.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($2.87)
UTG ($1.21)
MP ($1.69)
CO ($1.90)
Button ($0.14)
Hero (SB) ($2.27)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q

, Q

UTG calls $0.02, 1 fold, CO calls $0.02, Button calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.12, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.10, CO raises to $0.22, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.10, UTG calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.70) Q

, 9

, A

(3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, CO bets $0.20, Hero raises to $0.40, 1 fold, CO raises to $0.60, Hero raises to $2.05 (All-In), CO calls $1.08 (All-In)

Turn: ($4.06) 6

(2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($4.06) Q

(2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $4.06 | Rake: $0.20
My opponent had ace rag.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($2.67)
BB ($0.79)
UTG ($0.89)
MP ($0.67)
Hero (Button) ($4.19)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A

, J

UTG calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.04, 1 fold, BB calls $0.02, UTG calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02

Flop: ($0.17) K

, 9

, Q

(4 players)
BB bets $0.18, UTG raises to $0.50, 1 fold, Hero folds, BB raises to $0.75 (All-In), UTG calls $0.25

Turn: ($1.67) 10

(2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($1.67) 6

(2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $1.67 | Rake: $0.05
The winner flopped a straight.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($1.72)
SB ($0.63)
Hero (BB) ($4.15)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9

, A

1 fold, SB calls $0.01, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.04) 9

, 3

, 10

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.02, SB calls $0.02

Turn: ($0.08) 6

(2 players)
SB bets $0.04, Hero calls $0.04

River: ($0.16) J

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $0.16 | Rake: $0
My nines were good.

I thought one of those two guys flopped a straight, but I had a draws to both nuts. That was the wrong move on my part, right?

I highly suggest you make your way to other forums rather than just post in this blog, as judging by those hands you have alot to learn still. You missed alot of value in some of those hands, and most were messed up preflop so it's hard to even give advice on later streets, as the situation you created is drastically different than what you want.

A few things that if you implement will help your game right away. Learn proper betsizing. Your standard right now should be 4xbb + 1bb per limper preflop, with EVERY hand you intend to raise. That is if there are 2 limpers and you decide to raise, raise to 6xbb ($0.12). This helps get value out of hands, as well as cut the field, and get better SPRs.

Postflop start thinking of your bets in terms of the size of the pot. Start betting somewhere between 1/2 - full pot for now. You need to get value (pretty much the opposite of what you did in the AQ hand).

As stated, go read in other forums as your game needs work. Head to the beginner's forum and read the Beginner's Digest.

I hear you Stacks, but I am intentionally playing a tight passive style of play. I am under rolled and cannot survive the normal swings of TAGG play with my current roll. As I stated earlier, for me at this point it is much more important to minimize my losses than it is to maximize my gains. Donks will felt themselves just for the heck of it and I try to be the one they felt it to as cheaply as possible.

There really isn't much difference between the play money tables and the $0.01/$0.02 tables. Pre-flop hand values go right out of the window down here. 3 betting and bet sizing don't mean that much down here. If these donks want to see a flop, they will see that flop regardless of your pfr.
I am well aware that my current style of ring game play wont be effective at higher stakes, but I plan on going to my TAGG style when my roll can support it. Remember, I'm playing off of a starting roll of 5 bucks. There is no other way to effectively play that other than tight-passive.

I do appreciate your input, and understand how you can't advise me on my current unique style of play. I also acknowledge that you guys have probably forgotten more about this game than I know. When (not if) I get my roll up I will seek the assistance of you experienced regulars on how to get maximum value out of my hands and maximize my gains. For now I will just post my progress and you guys will see. I'll be the guy bragging about how I turned 5 bucks into blah blah blah. At this level, passive plays.

Thanks

Just cashed in a $0.50 MTT. Finished 450 or so out of filed close to 3000. Was pretty much card dead the whole time. A few timely blinds steals to keep pace, but couldn't turn the corner. Oh well. Felt good to cash as it has been a while.

I don't feel like playing anymore so I will call it a night. I plan on adding single table SNGs to my routine on the weekends. For some reason I remember doing better in those things on weekends. Will play the $1 ones. I would like my roll to be at $30 by then.

Start of day bank roll was $23.65, end of day $27.06.

I agree with Stacks. Tight-passive is one thing, but folding double-nut draws and simply cold-calling when you have extremely powerful MADE hands makes no sense.

move up quickly, rake sucks.

Long nothing session. Alot of pretty cards had me involved in more hands than usual. A whole bunch of win a little, lose a little. Played a little longer than I felt like and tried to force progress by making a bad bluff that didn't work. Oh well. Gonna take a break and wait for $0.50 MTT.
During current Hold'em session you were dealt 181 hands and saw flop:
- 21 out of 28 times while in big blind (75%)
- 14 out of 27 times while in small blind (51%)
- 27 out of 126 times in other positions (21%)
- a total of 62 out of 181 (34%)
Pots won at showdown - 7 of 16 (43%)
Pots won without showdown - 12

Session starting roll $27.06, ending $25.88.

Hey nibbles i'm enjoying your blog, just a couple of things I thought I'd mention.

You speak about being committed here:

keep in mind, I had only put two big blinds ($0.04) into the pot. Far from committed.

I think you're confusing mtts with cash games, you're never pot committed in a cash game because you can reload, so you either raise, fold or call depending on your outs odds reads etc. I see where you're coming from with your tight passive play, and I also hear you about being underolled, but it's a really bad mindset to be in, you should always be making the most +ev play at the table, your thoughts should be just on the hand you're playing not the effect it might have on your bankroll - that's called being results orientated, and it's bad for your poker. It's not just a mental trick to assist your play when people say you shouldn't care about the results of any one particular hand it's really fundamental to your growth.

The reason why so many people are advocating TAG - is because you are giving your villians too many chances to outdraw you by not betting your hands, and when you have the best hand you are not maximising your value from that hand, that's what winning poker is about, maximising your value. One of the reasons why 2nl is profitable for those trying to advance up the poker ladder like us that actually know about outs/odds etc... is because you can force mistakes from your opponents, you can bet and give them impropper odds to call and they will and in the long run you profit that way.

Forgive me if I'm teaching you how to suck eggs I know you've been playing for a while but they are just my thoughts for what they're worth - I look forward to catching up with your next updates nibble - it's taken me a long time to get the basics under my belt, I'm sure you'll get them alot quicker than me - but I can't stress how important it is to get the right long term mindset in place etc... You couldn't be in a better community to learn, don't take any comments personally - and really think on what people here are telling you and your game will rocket, most of the guys that comment on your hands / blogs (myself obviously excluded!) have been playing for years and they know what they're talking about. Good luck!

I hear you Slevin. You're right in that I am extremely results oriented. Totally focused on winning money and not on better poker play (which in the long run will win money). I guess it's just tough getting away from what works. I am a winning player. I've cashed out way more than I've put in (initial $50 deposit is only deposit). I've accumulated enough PokerStars FPPs to order two Poker Books. But I will work on it. We all come to this site to learn and improve. No point in being hard headed. Like going to the doctor and not taking the medicine.

A bad limp caused my untimely exit from my 50 cent MTT tonight (failed to cash again). Not sure a raise would have gotten the BB to fold as he was chip leader and very loose, but I definitely didn't go out "the right way". That term still makes me chuckle. Anyway, tomorrow's a new day.

End of day roll is $24.54. Doesn't look like I'll make $30 by weekend. No SNGs for me.

Cool runnin's Slevin.

BC plz

Lawd have mercy! Geez us christ! Why you keep callin' me Jesus? I look Puerto Rican to you?

I'm going aggressive. Said it yesterday. Under rolled and all. If I go busto I'll head to Western Union and send some dough to Pedro or whomever is accepting deposits this week in San Wherever. Alright? I'm reviewing BC digest. I even watched Spenda's video.

Been playing for about 30 minutes today and just about recovered my losses from yesterday. So I left the table and came here. Will resume when done with my post. Short samples don't mean much, but here it is anyway. My buy-in is still $1.50. Input appreciated. TIA

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($5.77)
BB ($2.03)
UTG ($3.11)
MP1 ($2.58)
Hero (MP2) ($1.47)
CO ($2.68)
Button ($3.57)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 10

, 10

UTG calls $0.02, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.08, CO raises to $0.40, 5 folds

Total pot: $0.21 | Rake: $0
Normally I would have limped there.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($5.32)
UTG ($3.24)
MP ($2.97)
Hero (CO) ($1.35)
Button ($2.78)
SB ($3.49)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 10

, K

UTG calls $0.02, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.02, Button calls $0.02, 1 fold, BB checks

Flop: ($0.09) 10

, J

, 10

(4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $0.08, 2 folds, UTG raises to $0.20, Hero raises to $0.60, UTG raises to $3.22 (All-In), Hero calls $0.73 (All-In)

Turn: ($2.75) 3

(2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($2.75) K

(2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $2.75 | Rake: $0.10
Opponent had 8 T.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($5.30)
BB ($1.89)
UTG ($2.97)
Hero (MP) ($2.65)
CO ($2.76)
Button ($3.48)

Preflop: Hero is MP with K

, A

1 fold, Hero raises to $0.06, 3 folds, BB calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.13) J

, 6

, 7

(2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.13) 6

(2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

River: ($0.13) 6

(2 players)
BB bets $0.06, Hero calls $0.06

Total pot: $0.25 | Rake: $0
Opponent had Q high. Didn't c-bet b/c I had seen him c/r a few times.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP1 ($1.18)
MP2 ($5.18)
MP3 ($5)
CO ($1.89)
Button ($3.63)
SB ($3.05)
Hero (BB) ($2.83)
UTG ($2.02)
UTG+1 ($2.64)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7

, A

2 folds, MP1 calls $0.02, 1 fold, MP3 (poster) checks, CO calls $0.02, 2 folds, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.09) 7

, A

, 6

(4 players)
Hero bets $0.08, MP1 raises to $0.16, 1 fold, CO calls $0.16, Hero raises to $0.40, MP1 calls $0.24, 1 fold

Turn: ($1.05) 2

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.88, MP1 calls $0.76 (All-In)

River: ($2.57) 6

(2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $2.57 | Rake: $0.10
Following you guys' advice with the aggression won this pot for me as I suspect the player in CO had a flush draw. MP1 had big slick with Ks. Had he raised pre-flop I wouldn't have called.

Roll sits at $27.07. I know partial sessions don't mean anything and I might drop it back with some more when I go back to the table, but it still feels good to recover. This shit's supposed to be a little bit fun, right?

Actually, my re-raise was supposed to be bigger. If CO was on flush draw he still had 3-1 calling odds on his draw. My mistake.

Hey nibbles way to be grindin that $5 up to almost $30. I'm pretty much doin the exact same thing except I started at $10 two days ago. Right now I'm sitting on $20 even. Trust me, ur tight-passive play had the right intent, but TAGG works SOO much better. Just look at me, I've doubled my BR in TWO DAYS by playing that way. Wuts ur screenname on PokerStars? Mine is dranger7070 hope to see u at the tables!!! Good luck to us both.

p.s. keep the posts coming theyre lot of fun to read.

Thanks Dranger! Your progress is impressive. I really hope we keep it up. Good luck to you too! We all need it.

Alright. Just finished today's ring game session. Taking a break before my nightly 50 cent MTT. Today was a good day. Starting bankroll was $24.54 and now it sits at $27.51 ($21.01 if I fail to cash again), so 2 buy-ins progress. Not bad at all. Here are my session stats and one additional significant hand.

During current Hold'em session you were dealt 121 hands and saw flop:
- 8 out of 18 times while in big blind (44%)
- 3 out of 17 times while in small blind (17%)
- 16 out of 86 times in other positions (18%)
- a total of 27 out of 121 (22%)
Pots won at showdown - 6 of 6 (100%)
Pots won without showdown - 4

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($1.50)
UTG+1 ($2.52)
MP1 ($1.11)
MP2 ($0.59)
CO ($2.51)
Button ($3.52)
SB ($2.66)
Hero (BB) ($1.55)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A

, 7

2 folds, MP1 calls $0.02, 1 fold, CO calls $0.02, 1 fold, SB calls $0.01, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.08) A

, 6

, K

(4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP1 checks, CO checks

Turn: ($0.08) 7

(4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.08, MP1 raises to $0.16, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.34, MP1 calls $0.18

River: ($0.76) 10

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.36, MP1 calls $0.36

Total pot: $1.48 | Rake: $0.05

I remember hoping this guy didn't limp big slick and thinking odds are he didn't. He had 67. Was my river bet bad? Should I have put him all in? Oh well. Time to shift mindset to MTT.

I am sooooo pissed. I cashed, finishing in 230 something place out of field of 3000, but what got me mad is some friggin' luckbox in a hot seat killed me. I swear I can never get as lucky as those luckboxes. They play that push and catch poker and it works for them. Can't miss a flop. That's why they do that crap. People do what works. This one really hurt my heart, with envy. Damned luckboxes of the world!!! It really is better to be lucky than good. It really is. I don't play tight because I like folding winners. I don't hit the boards like these hot seat turds. I'm gonna go hit a bar and have some refreshing beverages. Screw it.

Roll is now $28.32.

Hey don't get down on urself. Would you rather have not cashed at all? Put it in these terms: Did you get your money in good PF? If yes, then don't sweat it; those are the guys that give you ur money on a regular basis. Fish gotta get lucky too, thats what keeps them coming back for more. And also ur up another 1/2 buy in .

In reality, I'm more upset with myself than anything else. I didn't get my money in good. It was more of a "What that hell are you doing here with THAT hand" type thing. He had one of those hands that shouldn't be played from UTG at that stage of the tourney. But, he probably recognized he was in a hot seat hitting flops and played accordingly. I'm just jealous my timing is never that good.

But you are right Dranger in that I should focus on the positive. I cashed and I am getting deeper in these tourneys. Now I just need the luck, b/c even the pros admit that you have to get lucky to WIN a MTT. Do you play any MTTs Dranger?

Just pissed away 1 and 1/3 buy-ins. I guess I'm still upset from yesterday. Only got 36 hands but I am not in the right mindset. The only times I'm hitting flops now is when I'm beat. The second to last hand I called pre-flop raise by accident b/c the cursor was over the call button. Then I hit top pair weak kicker and talked myself into believing pf raiser had AK instead of the AJ he actually had. So my roll is back down to $26.34.

I'm gonna go read one of the books I got from PokerStars. I have "The Book of Bluffs" by Matt Lessinger, and "The Complete Book of Hold 'Em Poker" by Gary Carson. I was a little dissappointed in Carson's book as it's all about limit hold em, so the "Complete" part is a little misleading. Those books cost me 2000 FPPs to order. Pretty impressive considering the highest stakes I play online are $0.05 BB and only had a $50 bankroll.

Yea ill occasionally poker my head into a .10 (50 added) tourney or one of the .25 centers nothing bigger tho (roll cant support it lol. I usually cash but never any big scores Sad

. O well yea if u keep playing those ull definitely start to see better results hopefully u can FT soon!!! Thatd be a real boost to the BR. But for an update on my BR status im at 26.50. Went on a MAJOR heater last night had QQ and KK back to back and hit a set BOTH TIMES!!! How sick is that? Plus got AA twice and a bunch of other PP that paid off, but im gonna try not to get too far ahead of myself. Thatll cause an even fast DROP in my BR.

Keep grindin' away,

Dustin

Another up and down day. I decided to play a SNG $1, came in 4th (top 3 cash). As usual I can't win races. That's why I usually stick to ring games and nut camp. Roll is back down to $25.62. I could have played the SNG tighter, but damnit you can't allow yourself to be pushed around all day. Eventually you'll have to race with some luckbox. If I have two overs to vllians pair, they hold up. If I have the pair against 2 overs (hell one over sometimes) I go down. Anyway, I'll do another ring session later. Not leaving the house tonight. I think I got the whiskey - beer order backwards last night.

Stop complaining about bad beats/coolers. You lose just as often as you are supposed to. There isn't a lucky seat, and those "luckboxes" (if that's even the case), aren't going to be winning players. If you continue to attribute all your losing sessions to bad luck, and all your winning sessions to playing well you have a rough future ahead of you.

Can't drink and drive, can't beat your kids, can't complain about losing money. What's the world coming to?

Didn't play anymore texas hold 'em last night. Decided to mess around on the fixed limit omaha $0.02/$0.04 game. Ended with a doulble up then watched SNL on tv. Bankroll is at $26.40.

Gotta work on staying focused and remember that losing is part of the game (ur right Stacks). I've got to learn to appreciate the luckbox. If it weren't for them, the game wouldn't be profitable. I read somewhere on the site a comparison between chess and poker. In chess when player A is better than player B, player B eventually gets tired of always losing and stops playing. Beauty of poker is the luck factor is so large. It allows player B to maintain interest in playing in spite of the fact he is a long term loser. Whoevere wrote that, it was a good analogy. It is written. Love thy table's luckbox.

Back to the tables. Hopefully today is a good day.

Quick question on best play for this situation. Hand from today's session. Only 15 hands in at this table.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP1 ($3.30)
MP2 ($2.43)
MP3 ($4.16)
Hero (CO) ($1.44)
Button ($2.83)
SB ($5.24)
BB ($1.43)
UTG ($0.98)
UTG+1 ($5.79)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K

, K

UTG calls $0.02, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.02, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.10, 2 folds, BB calls $0.08, UTG calls $0.08, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.33) 5

, J

, 5

(3 players)
BB bets $0.06, UTG calls $0.06, Hero raises to $0.18, BB raises to $0.62, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1.34 (All-In), BB calls $0.71 (All-In)

Turn: ($3.05) 9

(2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($3.05) 6

(2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $3.05 | Rake: $0.15

As there was no real draw (runner runner is always possible) should I have called BB down to the river? I might not have had to put my whole stack in. If my flop raise was correct, could I KNOW that BB's re-raise meant trips and not tptk (happens alot at $2nl), and fold? What's the best long term play for this situation?

The big pocket pairs are a big problem for me. I get away from them easily when overcards hits, or even if the board had 2 jacks or queens I could get away. But when its those unlikely played cards, I have trouble. That's the frustrating thing about $2nl. Could I have gotten away from it?

sexy from start to finish.

honestly if he calls ur PF raise with a 5x hand then e deserves to be at 2nl lol. but no i think you played the hand fine. if he has the 5 he has the 5, nothing you can do about it. the majority of the time hes gonna have Jx and think hes golden lol.

he could have JJ!

Cool Dranger. That's what I thought. These are the types of plays that I lose money on. I call these types luckboxes. I don't chase my chips away, or bluff them away. So many of my opponents luckbox a big pot off me and then donk them away to other players. But anyway...

Big Ape, You said "sexy from start to finish" which I assumed meant I played it properly. Good to know. Thanks.

Hopefully my luck will change for the better today. Roll is sitting at $24.27. Damn Dranger, you passed me in roll. I'm jealous. I saw u play those 6 max tables. I perform terribly there. Not aggressive enough I guess.

Umph!!! Helluva day today. I've been beaten down. Roll is at $21.02. Absolutely nothing has gone right. I'm just gonna play the $0.25 MTT and call it a night. Hoping for a better tomorrow.

I swear PokerStars is luckbox friendly. I cashed in 300+ place outta 3000 pkayers. Playing my standard TAGG style for MTTs and this is how I go out. Gotta luv the luckbox.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25+$0.00 Tournament, 400/800 Blinds 75 Ante (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 (t6240)
MP3 (t9982)
CO (t33803)
Button (t5564)
SB (t17011)
BB (t6305)
UTG (t12287)
UTG+1 (t4140)
Hero (MP1) (t14745)

Hero's M: 7.86

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with Q

, Q

UTG calls t800, 1 fold, Hero raises to t3200, 4 folds, SB calls t2800, 2 folds

Flop: (t8675) 3

, 5

(2 players)
SB bets t3200, Hero raises to t6400, SB calls t3200

Turn: (t21475) 8

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets t5070 (All-In), SB calls t5070

River: (t31615) 10

(2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t31615

What did this luckbox have? A2 of hearts. What a great pre-flop call. What a way to chase the gutshot and runner runner flush draw. But these are the types of things that happen when the stakes are low. I will just keep grinding, keep pressing on. Keep turning my lowly 5 bucks into something nice. Sticking to my op. Till tomorrow. Roll at $21.44. It really is better to be lucky. No stress.

Yea i had passed u BR but i hit a BIG downswing the other night. I lost with AA to K10, KK to AA, QQ to KK and JJ to QQ lol all in ONE NIGHT at ONE TABLE in 2 hours. What a day lol. My roll dipped down to $14!!!! Talk about a downer lol. But its ok now i brought it back last night. Im sitting on $21.84 again. So i ALMOST made up for my misfortune. Sometimes runs like that happen tho. I was obviously pretty pissed about it, but now its in the past. Just gotta learn to let those bad beats go you know? You know ur playing solid poker, thats all that matters. Just keep fighting the good fight and ull be moving up the pay ladder soon enough =)

BTW im starting my own blog come read it if you wanna know how its going for me and ill still be checking in to see how ur doing of course.

Good luck out there on the tables!

It's good you're starting your own blog Dranger. Nobody in your real life gives a rat's nostril about your penny poker woes (at least not in mine). It is good to express yourself with feedback. Getting cheered or jeered. It helps. I'll definitely check it out.

Luck, the good kind.

$2nl was driving me crazy. I had to make the step up to $5nl. The gameplay is sooooo much better. Fewer multiway pots, and players respect bets. Of course I had to increase my buy-in, it is now $3.50. Has a decent session. Played alot of small pot poker and made a little over 2 bucks. Gonna take a break and do another session later tonight. Here are my stats and key hands.

During current Hold'em session you were dealt 174 hands and saw flop:
- 11 out of 21 times while in big blind (52%)
- 2 out of 21 times while in small blind (9%)
- 14 out of 132 times in other positions (10%)
- a total of 27 out of 174 (15%)
Pots won at showdown - 3 of 6 (50%)
Pots won without showdown - 16

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($2.84)
CO ($3.46)
Button ($4.60)
SB ($5.81)
Hero (BB) ($2.11)
UTG ($4.04)
MP1 ($6.48)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7

, 7

2 folds, MP2 calls $0.05, CO (poster) raises to $0.15, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.10, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.37) 3

, 4

, 9

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.20, CO calls $0.20

Turn: ($0.77) 9

(2 players)
Hero bets $0.40, 1 fold

Total pot: $0.77 | Rake: $0

This next hand I limped b/c either the cutoff or button always raised. It appears they didn't have anything this time.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($2.26)
Button ($4.85)
SB ($2.90)
BB ($4.81)
Hero (UTG) ($2.66)
MP1 ($9.83)
MP2 ($6.43)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q

, Q

Hero calls $0.05, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.05, 2 folds, SB calls $0.03, BB checks

Flop: ($0.20) 3

, 6

, 2

(4 players)
SB bets $0.20, BB calls $0.20, Hero raises to $0.50, 3 folds

Total pot: $0.80 | Rake: $0

I am actually enjoying the play here more, and not just b/c I turned a small profit. I turned a huge profit percentage-wise at $2nl, but it just didn't feel like poker. Even thoug I'm grinding, I should enjoy the game as well.

I also do alot of table hoping. It's not like I hit and run, where one wins a pot and takes off. If the table dynamic changes, I take off, like too many LAGGs take seats. Of course if I'm doing well I don't go anywhere. I changed tables 4 or 5 times this session. Does anyone else do that? Or do you just fight thru? I guess dealing with different playing styles is part of poker growth. I'll work on that when my bankroll gets bigger.

Pleased to see your bankroll is still on the up nibbles

77 you're turning your hand into a bluff on the flop. Turn is a good card to double barrel on at micro stakes, but just shut down if he calls you twice. Your bet sizing is too small.

QQ just raise pre. Your flop raise is too small. You would have gotten more value if you raised to 0.4, they both called and then c/f the flop. Plus the flop would be bigger so it's easier to play for stacks and you don't have to worry about 23/36/62/45 or set BB specials.

You sound the same as Slevin's problem (from skimming). You're not learning how to "play" poker right now, and at micro stakes. You should be worried about developing solid fundamentals.

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