Taking a Microscope to Micro-Cash Games

Hi Everyone, this is my new operations post, since the old one was two pages and getting out of hand. I'm a low stakes player, looking to build my roll. After 6 months on FTP and not making much out of my $100 buy in (I'm leaving it there, $165 currently) playing SNG's mostly and getting a good grip on them but not making a smooth amount of headway, I've taken the advice and moved to PokerStars and have started with a $50.00 bankroll. (If I get comfortable will move the rest of the roll there).

So after a week or so I have turned that BR into about $43.00 while I get used to cash games. I'm going to try to catalog what I find that is right and wrong as I go here... post some hands, etc... please give me any advice you deem appropriate, coaching is encouraged. ChrisBCritter has been my most vocal coach recently and I hope his guidance will continue.

I'm doing some theory work today, here is what I have turned up so far... and I have a spreadsheet I'm working from if anyone wants a copy:

Total number of starting hole card combinations: 1328
Total number of hole cards with pocket pair: 78
Percentage chance of getting pocket pair: 5.87%
Total number of AA hole card combos: 6
Percentage chance of hitting pocket rockets: .45%
Hands with 88+ pocket pairs: 42
Percentage chance of having 88+ pocket pair: 3.16%
(that includes rockets)
Hole cards combinations that contain an Ace: 198
Percentage chance your hole cards contain ace: 14.9%

Now I don't know how good the math is, because I didn't take into account the fact that there are other players at the table and they suck out some of the cards, it will take a better statistician than me to factor in how that affects things. The figure I found most interesting was the percentage chance that your hole cards contain an ace. Actually that percentage should say any one # card... because it could be the same percentage that your hand contains a 2 for example.

Anyway, look forward to comments and such... and 10 points to whomever can identify my avatar.

avator is your ma

gl in op

OK, tonight I am posting while it is fresh in my mind...

VP$IP : 20.30
PFR: 10.15
AF: 2.81

Tonight played for 2 hours, played good cards, with aggression. Only think I donked in one hand, A-T off from middle position, then after getting flat called by button, bet 1/2 pot and he came over the top, clobbering me since the flop missed me.

Anyway, played fairly well, haven't reviewed the hands yet but tell me what those numbers look like...

Oh, and about the avatar... Well look at the hair, that might help a bit... but she isn't hugely famous.

You're playing 20-10. It's better to tighten up a little and/or raise more. Playing 20-10 means stacking off with AQ too often...

Dazed and confused... and hating this fucking game this entire weekend.

Let me post a few hands for you, you can see how crappy I am doing.

Well I will if I can find where Poker Stars or Poker Tracker are doing with them.

Well apparently, even though Poker Stars CLAIMS it is saving my hand histories, they are no where to be found, that folder is empty. I don't know if Poker Tracker is maybe moving them, but with my level of frustration this weekend with poker, I could probably care less.

EDIT: HAND CONVERTER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, SO HANDS ARE NOT COMING ACROSS CORRECTLY. WILL HAVE TO REWORK THIS POST LATER.

Ok, so now that I have calmed down a little and the thunderstorms are tearing across the neighborhood, so I can't paint the house any more...

Here are some of the hands from the last two days. Lets start with Saturday: (I wish I could import whole sessions so you see what I am folding also).

Now this hand I was looking for flush or straight draw on flop... played it correctly but at this point should I be playing these:

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

BB ($5.05)
UTG ($3.58)
UTG+1 ($0.96)
MP1 ($3.20)
MP2 ($5.05)
Hero ($2.57)
Button ($1.14)
SB ($1.26)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 8

, 9

.
2 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.02, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.02, Hero calls $0.02, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.10) 7

, 2

, K

(4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 bets $0.06, MP2 calls $0.06, Hero folds, SB folds, BB folds.
UTG+1 bets $0.1, MP2 calls $0.10.
UTG+1 bets $0.16, MP2 calls $0.16.

Final Pot: $0.74

Very next hand... too marginal to raise?
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($5.03)
BB ($3.58)
UTG ($0.62)
UTG+1 ($3.20)
MP1 ($5.45)
Hero ($2.55)
CO ($1.14)
Button ($1.24)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with T

, J

.
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.1, 4 folds.

Final Pot: $0.05

Next 3 hands I played, raised with 66, AQ and AT (Button) and won all three uncontested.

On this hand, lets call it Hand C, am I pushing it too much or is this standard?
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP1 ($1)
MP2 ($2.68)
CO ($1)
Button ($0.88)
SB ($2.74)
Hero ($2.83)
UTG ($1.26)
UTG+1 ($1.98)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A

, 2

. MP1 posts a blind of $0.02.
2 folds, MP1 (poster) raises to $0.04, 3 folds, SB calls $0.03, Hero calls $0.02.

Flop: ($0.12) 8

, J

, A

(3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.08, MP1 calls $0.08, SB calls $0.08.

Turn: ($0.36) 2

(3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.36, MP1 folds, SB folds.

Final Pot: $0.36

Hand D was an easy hand to play:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($0.86)
UTG ($2.68)
UTG+1 ($0.98)
MP1 ($0.80)
MP2 ($2.62)
Hero ($3.05)
Button ($1.42)
SB ($1.96)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A

, K

.
3 folds, MP2 calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.12, 3 folds, MP2 calls $0.10.

Flop: ($0.27) 2

, K

, J

(2 players)
MP2 bets $0.1, Hero calls $0.10.

Turn: ($0.47) Q

(2 players)
MP2 bets $0.1, Hero raises to $0.4, MP2 calls $0.30.

River: ($1.27) 4

(2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: $1.27

Won some other small pots, and that is the end of that table (this was actually friday night late). Other table at that time:

Hand E was second hand after sitting at this table:

Serious work for serious failures... anyway... took a detailled look and notes at today's afternoon session. It was only about an hour... but here are the results:

Two tables... first table:

Played 9 minutes, 13 hands, lost $0.14

Second Table: Played 36 minutes, won $2.80

I took notes on both tables, here is a breakdown of what I did, you tell me where I made major mistakes, if I'm too tight, etc...

First table:
EP - K3o, check (buy in .02) then flop top pair, won with bet after flop.
TT - raised to .10, one caller, JQK on flop, big raise by caller, folded
folded the following hands: 45o, 78o, 4cjd, Jh2c (fold to SB raise), Js7d (fold to BU raise), Jc2S, Th9s, Td5h (UTG now, players leaving)
4s5h, check BB, fold to big flop and bets by others
Ts7d in SB, fold
2d9d in Button, fold to 4 limpers ahead, leave table

Second Table:
(This one I am going to post some hands)

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

saw flop|saw showdown

Button ($4.97)
SB ($1.48)
BB ($2.99)
UTG ($4.97)
UTG+1 ($3.39)
MP1 ($0.25)
MP2 ($0.71)
MP3 ($3)
Hero ($3)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 7

, 9

. MP3 posts a blind of $0.02. Hero posts a blind of $0.02.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.02, MP2 calls $0.02, MP3 (poster) checks, Hero (poster) checks, 2 folds, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.11) K

, 5

, T

(5 players)
BB checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, MP3 checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($0.11) 4

(5 players)
BB checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, MP3 checks, Hero checks.

River: ($0.11) Q

(5 players)
BB checks, MP1 checks, MP2 bets $0.06, MP3 folds, Hero calls $0.06, BB folds, MP1 folds.

Final Pot: $0.23

Results in white below:
MP2 has 9d Qh (one pair, queens).
Hero has 7s 9s (flush, queen high).
Outcome: Hero wins $0.23.

Fold the following: Ts5c, 9c7d, 6s4d, Ad6s, Ac4s
Big Blind: 7sJh - fold to raise by MP
Fold these: 3c5d, 6d7h, Ks6c, 4h6d, Ah2d, Qd7h

This hand next: big hand, glad I folded pre-flop:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

saw flop|saw showdown

UTG+1 ($5.08)
MP1 ($1.44)
MP2 ($2.25)
MP3 ($5.14)
CO ($3.32)
Button ($3.45)
SB ($0.58)
BB ($1)
Hero ($3.13)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 8

, 8

.
Hero raises to $0.1, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $0.18, MP3 raises to $5.14, 1 fold, Button calls $3.45 (All-In), 2 folds, Hero folds, MP2 calls $2.07 (All-In).

Flop: ($9.28) 5

, 5

, 7

(3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($9.28) 9

(3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($9.28) 6

(3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $9.28

Results in white below:
MP2 has Qd Qs (two pair, queens and fives).
MP3 has Ts Td (two pair, tens and fives).
Button has Jh Jc (two pair, jacks and fives).
Outcome: MP2 wins $6.88. Button wins $2.40.

Next folded 9s8d.

This hand was next and I had a question, I'm not sure my play was correct here, think correct would have been to call.

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

saw flop|saw showdown

BB ($5.08)
UTG ($1.44)
UTG+1 ($6.42)
MP1 ($5)
MP2 ($3.32)
MP3 ($2.25)
CO ($0.57)
Button ($0.97)
Hero ($3.01)

Preflop: Hero is SB with J

, A

.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.02, MP1 raises to $0.04, MP2 calls $0.04, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.03, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.02.

Flop: ($0.18) K

, 2

, Q

(4 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 bets $0.16, MP2 folds, Hero folds, UTG+1 folds.

Final Pot: $0.18

Results in white below:
No showdown. MP1 wins $0.18.

Next folded a few more hands, then this big hand came up:

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

saw flop|saw showdown

CO ($5.05)
Button ($1.46)
SB ($5)
BB ($3.28)
UTG ($3.20)
UTG+1 ($1.61)
MP1 ($0.97)
Hero ($2.97)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K

, A

.
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.14, CO calls $0.14, 1 fold, SB calls $0.13, 1 fold.

Flop: ($0.44) A

, J

, A

(3 players)
SB bets $0.34, Hero raises to $0.98, CO folds, SB raises to $4.86, Hero calls $1.85 (All-In).

Turn: ($6.10) 7

(2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($6.10) 7

(2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $6.10

Results in white below:
SB has Jd Ts (two pair, aces and jacks).
Hero has Ks Ad (full house, aces full of sevens).
Outcome: Hero wins $6.10.

Had $5.80 at that point (rake) and then folded down rest of hands until I left... one that I was wondering about was Ad9d from MP, with no limpers in front, should I be getting in with that on an average table? I mean, likely I would limp it looking for flush or A pairing...

BR: 35.65

Attitude: Sucky to indifferent, lost a lot of green this weekend being stupid.

Raise the 79s hand for value on the river.
88 standard
AJo fold pre
AK standard

Hi there Monty. Sorry you're having a frustrating start with cash. As daven said, your Pre-flop needs a little work. Either play less hands, or raise more of the ones you do play, or BOTH! Call very infrequently, and have a reason for doing so.

PT3 moves the hand-histories when it processes them, so they are under the PokerTracker folder under an "Imported" or "Processed" folder, or something like that.

So what's killing you here? From the hands that you've posted, I'm not seeing any real leaks. Have you had an inordinate share of bad-beats?? These hands cannot be the whole story...

Hand 1: 89s This is fine/standard, you're limping after a few limpers in position, saw a cheap flop that you totally missed and got out of the way. There's nothing wrong with this.
Hand 2: JTs A little loose. It's not out of line though. If you decided to play this hand from MP, then a raise is the way to go!
Hand 3: A2o Fold this Pre Flop. Yes, even to the min-raise. This is a crap hand. Flop and Turn are fine though. Lucky turn!
Hand 4: AKo Good, but not great! I'm very tempted to bet the river a LOT also. TPTK is a relatively strong hand in the micros. Any type of read on villian would've determined whether or not I bet that river. (About $0.70 for Value!)
Hand 5: (hand E) Missing...
Hand 6: 79s As Muzz said, raise the river. You have a very strong hand. Try to get paid.
Hand 7: 88 Tempted more to limp this UTG at these stakes, but a raise is defi

Poker Forum

Join Our Poker Community!

Poker Forum Index

FTR Blogs and Operations

Taking a Microscope to Micro-Cash Games