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Posted: Wed, 19 Mar 2008, 1:02pm Post subject: Low Buy In Poker - Learning to Win |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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Ok, so this is the official start of my operation... I have been playing now for about 4 months and feel I've made some progress, but am still in the Micro-stakes arena now. I like to play $2 SNG's primarily, with drops to $1 SNG's where I am a slave to the rake when I am playing bad. I play only on Full Tilt Poker, am running with no HUD or PT or any tools at this point...
I started in December with a $50 buy in, which I have repeated in early February. Current bankroll is around $80 with hoping to get back to even before the end of the month. Eventual goal is to play $11 SNG's 4 at a time... and be profitable.
So here goes... see my blog for updates as well as here... I hope to update every 2-3 days, with hands to get help on, if all goes well I hope to be owning the $2 soon and moving to $5. All help and comments appreciated... even the smart assed ones. |
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Posted: Thu, 20 Mar 2008, 4:57am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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Last night started with a little tilt, then got back on track. Two second place and one first place finish put me back up to $79 in the bankroll, so that was positive... the first one I'm posting under the bad beat forum... just so everyone can hear me whine...
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/forum/aarrgghh-t68756.html |
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Posted: Tue, 25 Mar 2008, 6:58am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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| The operation continues, have had some good days, some bad, found that my operation avatar was screwed because it won't take anything but whole dollar amounts, so started a new more accurate one. Hope to update daily as progress ensues... |
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Posted: Tue, 08 Apr 2008, 5:01am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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It is a difficult thing about competition, when you feel you are good enough, or when you hear of someone else accomplishing something, you want to compete at their level.
Often this leads to trying something you are not ready to do yet. When I played darts competitively, I thought I could hang with the big dogs and was quickly beaten down. Same thing with pool. With golf on the other hand, I’ve grown slowly to where I compete on a level I can do well at but still have to struggle to be the winner at. That though, is amateur competition.
Playing poker and making money is a professional competition. It isn’t about the cards, it isn’t about your cards, it isn’t about bet size… or stack size… it is totally about controlling YOU.
If you can keep yourself in check, be patient, be smart, know what your odds are and then play them correctly, you will win in the long run. The question is, is the long run for you or are you just here for the quick kill? |
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Posted: Wed, 09 Apr 2008, 4:41pm Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon, 14 Apr 2008, 5:13am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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Woo hoo! Am ITM for the last 7 games, two of which were at the 5.50 level and were 1sts... Got an actual SuperHot on Sharkscope!
Now if I can just keep it up! Too bad vacation is in two more days... hopefully I can hit the FTR500 though it is late the night before I leave for vacation! |
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Posted: Sat, 03 May 2008, 8:29am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Tue, 06 May 2008, 5:02am Post subject: The FTR500 |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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For the second month I competed last evening in the FTR500.
As a warm up I ran two $2 SNGs, finished 3rd in one on a bad shove and 2nd in the other. So then it was on to the FTR500.
I started out playing very conservative, TAGG with a lot of pretty good hands thrown in but not a lot of big pots. Then the break happened, I made some good headway after the break then just at about the second hour I finished up in 9th place. I think there were around 50 players, so i think I did pretty well.
Here is the tournament in three parts for me:
http://www.flopturnriver.com/Online-Poker-Tournament-3406.html
Well ok, the trimmer isn't working for the second half... so let me highlight some hands I'd appreciate comments on...
I'm not sure I should have folded this initially, this late in the game... thoughts?
Full Tilt (7 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)
Preflop: Hero is MP2 with  ,  . SB posts a blind of 120.
UTG raises, 5 folds, BB calls.
Flop:  ,  ,  (2 players)
BB checks, UTG bets, BB folds.
Final Pot:
This one is for those who thought I had AA in the hole...
Full Tilt (6 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)
Preflop: Hero is CO with  , . SB posts a blind of 120.
2 folds, Hero raises 2244 (All-In), 3 folds.
Final Pot:
Not sure I played this right though it worked out... thoughts?
Full Tilt (6 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)
Preflop: Hero is BB with  ,  . SB posts a blind of 120.
4 folds, SB (poster) completes, Hero checks.
Flop:  ,  ,  (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets 1719 (All-In), SB folds.
Final Pot:
Finally played a good hand here...
Full Tilt (6 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)
Preflop: Hero is MP with  ,  . SB posts a blind of 150.
1 fold, Hero raises 2129 (All-In), 1 fold, Button calls, 2 folds.
Flop: , ,  (2 players, 1 all-in)
Turn:  (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot:
And the hand that killed me...
After being stupid and shoving into it...
Full Tilt (5 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)
Preflop: Hero is BB with  , . SB posts a blind of 150.
1 fold, MP raises, Button raises 21322 (All-In), SB (poster) calls 633 (All-In), Hero calls 1258 (All-In), MP folds.
Flop: ,  ,  (3 players, 3 all-in)
Turn:  (3 players, 3 all-in)
River: (3 players, 3 all-in)
Final Pot: |
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Posted: Tue, 06 May 2008, 8:38am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 547
WPP: 151
Location: Falmouth, ME
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Hi Monty. I used to play SnG's a lot, but have since moved on to cash. I hate to see a player in dire straights, so I'd like to help if I can! Just looking at the first tournament, here are my thoughts. Let me know if you would like me to look at the others in depth also...
Hand 1: 99. This is REALLY aggressive from the SB, I would play like this in a cash game (where I can reload), but never in a SnG. Why would you invest SO many chips this early in the tourny? At this level with people limp/calling all the time, set-mining from the SB is probably more profitable! Lucky turn...You better have been check/folding that if you had missed.
Hand 2: KQs. Obviously villian is an idiot, so TPGK is worth felting. I wouldn't get in this habit though!
Hand 3: JJ. I hate the fishhooks. PreFlop is read dependent... but you have the stack for it, so no prob. I would lean towards calling the 3-bet and getting it in on an all-under flop...
44 in MP1. tight fold after the JJ sting? Tight raiser?
Hand 4: 77. Why suddenly so passive? This is a Raise/fold situation for me. I would like to isolate and get it in against the shorty if possible, getting rid of the BB... Your bet on the turn is spew though, what is calling you on that board that you beat? Your hand has showdown value now, try to call a small river bluff...
Hand 5: 99. What's the big difference between 99 and 77 to you? This was a risky play against the big-stack, but I like the aggression...
Hand 10: A5s. Limping is just asking for trouble when the blinds are getting big. Raise or Fold PF.
Hand 11: A4o. Ewww, do NOT open limp this UTG. Raise or fold, those blinds are valuable.
TJs in the BB: Depends on how much the raise was, but you can defend with this.
QTo in the BU: Blinds are 60/120. Raise it up, you really need to start stealing some blinds.
Hand 13: A6o. Raise the limper. Don't let him see a cheap flop.
Hand 14: 87s. I don't like the limping. If you want to play, be aggressive and raise.
T7s on BU: Steal a little! Live a little!
Hand 16: AQo. duncapone is being Aggro it seems. I'd take a shot on the flop, or Raise his turn to see what's up... If you're going to call a raise PF, then try to take charge at some point...
Hand 18: KQo. Not a bad stand, but I'm not very happy with this push call here. Have you seen him do this before? This is a very easily dominated hand, we are only hoping that villian is pushing with a worse K, that is a small part of his range. We don't like any hand with an A in it, and all PP's have a small edge on us... Lucky.
Hand 20: A9o. Raise or Fold UTG.
Hand 24: TJs. Raise or Fold UTG. As played, I take the aggro duncapone to the felt with TPGK. That is a really weak fold here.
Hand 25: 85o. WTF? After you fold TP last hand, you go to town with a 1-card OESD here? Felt the made hands first! He overbets the flop again. Just FOLD!
K6o on the BU: Blind Steal...
K7o on the BU: Steal.
Q7s on the BU: Steal.
Hand 29: Q7s. If you are so willing to get it in with draws, then I push over this aggro on this flop! You have more outs than your OESD earlier, PLUS, you're probably good as you are!
Hand 30: KJo. No, and I didn't even look at results first. Reason - duncapone is being aggro POST flop mostly. Both times he's been aggro PF, he's had an Ace at the least. KJ is an all too often dominated hand, and you are no longer the aggressor. Fold to the PF PUSH!
Overall, you play too passively. When the blinds get to 50/100 and above you should have a good reason NOT to RAISE when it's folded to you in LP. Stealing blinds (what duncapone was doing mostly) is very necessary when the blinds are getting big. Limping is a BIG no-no except for the very early rounds. Say this 100 times: "Raise or Fold, Raise or Fold".
I hope this is helpful to you! Let me know if you have any questions!
Chris |
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Posted: Tue, 06 May 2008, 8:45am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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| ChrisBCritter wrote: | | Hi Monty. I used to play SnG's a lot, but have since moved on to cash. I hate to see a player in dire straights, so I'd like to help if I can! Just looking at the first tournament, here are my thoughts. Let me know if you would like me to look at the others in depth also |
Chris, feel free to take a look at anything I post, I love the comments.
My problems are with passive play, I'll admit, but I'm getting slammed with it when I play some of these hands. Maybe I'm not using the aggression correctly or missing some cues that are killing me.
I am trying to learn when to be aggressive and when not to be. Lately it seems that my aggression has been poorly timed and I keep getting sucked out on. I know that isn't my fault but it has made me tentative.
I guess what I am asking is, once I get to that 50/100 level, what kind of requirements am I looking at to get in the hand from LP... I tend to loosen up but I think I'm missing out. I don't raise suited connectors below 8/9, I tend to not get in unless there is a pair or Ace or King in my hand... maybe I'm just too wimpy with my aggression...
Suggestions gladly welcomed, here or in private... always looking for guidance and potential coaching/assistance. |
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Posted: Tue, 06 May 2008, 9:01am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 547
WPP: 151
Location: Falmouth, ME
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I'll take a look at another Tourny tomorrow, that took a little while as you can imagine!
Ponder this though: You need a much higher quality hand to CALL an All In than you need to GO All In...
Depending on the people in the blinds, you should be willing to steal with A2C (Any 2 Cards). Suckouts happen, don't let them affect how you play. If you keep putting your chips in with the best of it, it'll come around.
It's not that you are "wimpy" with your aggression, you are "wimpy" with your passiveness (i.e. limping) See the difference?
Talk to ya tomorrow! |
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Posted: Tue, 06 May 2008, 7:46pm Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Wed, 07 May 2008, 9:22am Post subject: |
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Flush
Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 547
WPP: 151
Location: Falmouth, ME
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Ok, Since you have these fresher in your mind, I'll look at one of these then!
QKo in the CO. That idiot has raised the first 4 hands in a row. Pop him back here, if his raise isn't a push... and Huh, by your hand one 2 people are gone, but everyone has even stacks? Something is wrong with the converter maybe? Ok, I see BIG77DOG is in the history, but we don't see his stack? I guess he took out the idiot at the beginning...
Hand 2: A3o. Fold. With an UTG limper in there, it's just not worth it, you won't hit 2pr or better often enough, which is what you would need to continue with this hand!
Hand 3: QQ. Easy! The monotone flop had to scare you a little though...
Hand 4: QJo. Don't like the raise here, just check and hit something. If it's just a blind war then fine, but being OOP with a mediocre hand like this is not a good spot to be in. Flop C-Bet is too weak, I'm surprised he folded. Needs to be closer to the pot size if you are going to do it...
Hand 5: K7o. Don't tell me "Pot odds made me do it". Just fold this crap, save your chips for a good hand.
22 in the SB. How big was the raise? I'm guessing you were probably getting REALLY good set-odds there...
Hand 6: ATs. 6-handed UTG, I probably dump this PF, unless the table seems pretty tight. Your Raise is also slightly big though, at 30/60, your standard raise should be 180.
Hand 8: A6s. 6-handed UTG, I really dump this PF. 240 would be a standard raise size here.
Hand 9: 66. PF is good, nice raise. C-Bet is not large enough, bet the pot here. Check/fold turn, you are not representing AK by betting so weakly...Wait to be in position to continue like this...
Hand 10: K4o. YES! Very good! Time to start stealing! A raise to 300 is usually just as effective though...
Hand 12: ATo. Scary. 4-handed, this is a good raise UTG, but also why I would've rather raised to 300. 350 bloated this pot a bit bigger with 2 callers. Turn bet is horrible though, your stack is about the same size as the pot, and you CANNOT FOLD if you choose to bet, so get as much Fold Equity as you can, PUSH. If you are going to commit yourself, then DO IT!
J9s on the BU. Steal Att. here please!
Hand 14: 32o. Lead the flop for 200. docholm is limping a lot from what I can see, he's got crap here a lot. Obv fold if he pushes back at you though...
Hand 16: A8o and Hand 17: AJo. 360 is plenty!
Hand 18: T5s. Why? Be aggressive if you are going to defend your blind. Perfect flop to lead into him. Fold PF next time...
Hand 19: TT. Standard raise please. This is unneccesary at this point. You still have plenty of chips to play poker with...
Hand 20: 66. Same deal, you aren't at push/fold poker yet, standard raise...
Hand 21: KJo. WTF mate? Now, I haven't seen TraderBob tangled up yet, so maybe you've seen him doing something that prompted this? Maybe a Call PreFlop, then check/fold the flop. Stop seeing two pretty cards and spewing everywhere!
Hand 22: 53o. Again, with docholm limping so much, I lead this flop for 320 and fold to aggression with bottom pair.
Hand 23: TQo. 480 is fine!
Hand 24: A8o. 480 PFR makes your 640 C-Bet scarier...
AKs in the BB. Darn...
Hand 26: AKo. Tough as played. I like a 3-bet PF to 1600 better than your call/bet line though, it looks less like a bluff which is what your flop bet is OOP. Aggression is good, but I think it really needs to be PF instead...It'd be less easy to fold, but I wouldn't mind getting AI with AKo 4-handed in this situation.
Hand 27: K7o. Nice Steal Att. PF. but Raise his Min-bet on the flop to 700. Or you should Fold, calling and then trying to check down is bad and very weak.
93o in the SB. You are desperate now. Use what FE you have and try to steal the blind here. With your M<5 you should be looking for any opportunity, and this is the best chance against only 1 random hand.
Hand 28: A4s. Yes, after hand 27 you are deep into Push/fold territory. GJ.
KQo in the BB. VERY Good fold! You want to have FE with this hand, and you have none. I'm actually quite surprised that you folded this. (look at Hand 21...)
29: TJo, 30: Q9o. Very good.
Hand 31: 83s. You see! This is why I keep telling you to lead into docholm. He was stupid to lead here, and showed you why...This particular hand would've been bad to lead with BIG77DOG already All In, but the previous ones...
Q6s on the BU. Push. Really, you waited for the bubble to burst, and it has, now is the time to go for the gold!
Hand 32: J7s. I don't understand. You fold your "made" 1-pair hands to him earlier, and now go hog-wild with a gutshot draw and an overcard? Fold the flop here just like you've been doing...
Overall, this looks much better than the last history I looked at, but It also looks like your playing to "make the money" and not for the win. Your aggression is unfocused. When the blinds get high, you need to pick a spot and commit. The AKo hand is a good example, it is a god hand 4-handed (really 3-handed since BIG77DOG is just folding everything), and you really need to establish your aggression at the beginning. Hope this helps!
Chris |
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Posted: Thu, 08 May 2008, 4:42am Post subject: Unfocused Aggression |
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Flush
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 309
WPP: 124
Location: Ohio
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So as Chris suggested, I'm trying to learn to focus my aggression in poker and make good moves.
Last night I worked on this in three games, the first I started from the CO or button positions to blind steal even in the first few rounds with any two cards, but got little chance to do that. Often there was a raiser in front of me, and even though I put them on a wide range, I often had nothing worth calling with.
Later in that game I kept up my tight image but found the blind steals didn't seem to work... then a good hand (or so I thought) caught and I shoved over only to get plowed under by a straight.
The second game was going ok, played a few good hands then drew Jacks... now everyone hates the fish hooks. But I raised to 3xBB and got called. No big deal, looking for a low board... well lookie there... Jack on the flop. So I have a set of Jacks. Other player was the BB and he acts first, there is an A on the board, so I figure he paired up... he bets 1/2 pot... I don't want to scare him off... so I call. Board also held a 5 and 3 I think. The next card is a 7 of clubs, so no scare there, he checks and I bet pot thinking I have him... he calls and shows down a 4/6. Straight.
What kills me is the donk bets that have been beating me lately. I can't tell you how many straights have been drawn out on me, how many people have min raised K's or A's. I have thought I had the best hand so many times lately that I've lost total faith in my reads and have just been playing the cards, which leads to total losses. I'm down from $190 a little over a week ago to $110.
That leaves me with $10 profit for 4 months of hard work.
Or another way to look at it, leaves me with 10 buy ins if I move to the $10 games, 20 at the $5 level or around 40 at the $2 level (higher rake).
Or should I move to cash games?
My options are dwindling... so is my patience. I may forgo playing for a day or two and re-read Harrington. Or I might start over at the beginning of the SNG forum and read every stinking post.
Something has to help. |
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Posted: Thu, 08 May 2008, 5:16am Post subject: |
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Straight
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 149
WPP: 117
Location: SW London
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fisrt things first, chin up! you started with $50 and are still in profit - lots of donks at these stakes are depositing constantly, having the odd win then losing it all again.
If I was you, I would withdraw and get over to PokerStars and play cash.
You'll be rolled for $5nl, but you should prob start on $2nl.
Play nothing but solid hands and position to start and you'll have a healthy bankroll in no time. And you'll learn how to play poker as you go.
I was piddling around making money, then losing my bankroll playing bad poker or drunken poker....
But I started again on microstakes | | | |
