Comfort Zone

My second op thread. The first one went fine - turned my $200 into $1k and more. Bankroll is now $1,500.

I've realised that I don't have a firm grasp of TAGgy ABC poker.
I'm also not as comfortable with pot sizes as I need to be, can't start playing $50NL until I can truly think in terms of blinds.

6-max i want to be running somewhere between 16-10 and 20-14. Full-ring something similar.
I also want to get completely comfortable with playing for stacks and badbeats at $25NL, and start taking shots at $50NL.

That's what this op is about. That and opening a new account to clear some more bonuses - True, Cake and Full Tilt are the likely candidates at the moment.
And a financial goal. Well, Full Tilt's welcome bonus is $600. I want to run goot and move up. And be rolled to have a shot or two at $100NL. $3k it is then.
done.[/url]

GL! Oh, your banner is unreadable.

Haven't set up a new account yet. Nor played above $10NL. Been getting familiar with TAG. 3-betting is fun, so is raising 56s after limpers.

Since I adjusted my play I've had 4k hands of 6-max on friendly Prima. Some badbeats, but not too fussed normally - except the five minute span which saw KK all-in pre-flop get me stacked, and then on another table I flopped a set of kings and got all in on the turn with the nut full house, only to lose to rivered quads!!!

Anyway, stats are running like this:
21-15-3 and 3.9BB/100
My position stats are looking cleaner than they ever have too - not sure how UTG VPIP is 13.95 and UTG PFR is 13.29, but I figure there are valid reasons for the mystery 0.6%

I've still got some bonus clearing slowly away on Prima (no time limit), and rakeback, so no hurry to change rooms. Think I'll deposit elsewhere about two weeks from now, once I've bought a new monitor. Will move to $25NL once I've got 7.5k hands in. Then assess the move to $50NL 10k hands later (hell, I'm almost rolled for $100NL!!!).

With your bankroll I'd jump right into 25nl if not 50. There just isn't a big enough difference in skill until you hit at least 100nl (probably 200nl really) to make playing overrolled worthwhile. Just my 2 cents.

Haven't been playing much at all recently. And when I have it's been tilty ten minute sessions with other stuff going on. Lucky I was still playing super-low stakes, and got lucky a couple of times. I've opened a FT account and am having trouble depositing, running some traces etc and I'll figure it out shortly.

Originally Posted by zook

With your bankroll I'd jump right into 25nl if not 50. There just isn't a big enough difference in skill until you hit at least 100nl (probably 200nl really) to make playing overrolled worthwhile. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah, the bankroll vs stakes thing. You're right, I'm just super-conservative on that front, and it still pains me to lose $50 in one hand. I'll get over that headspace thing soon. I plan to play my first 1k hands on FT at 10NL (couple of hours?), then 25NL until I get my roll to about $1750, then $50 and maybe some 70bb buy-in 100NL. See how it feels.

oh, bankroll update. $1511. Blah. And I'm letting reload bonuses go untouched, need more time!!!

kick ass and take names, daven!

Started playing a little poker again. Finally deposited 600 on FullTilt and I'm paddling around in 25nl. Still going to play 6-max on prima when I feel the urge. Bankroll is meh, not moving a whole lot - buy-ins here and there. My first shot at 50nl was a short and sharp couple of buy-ins down, one when my queens got busted. I'll have another go soon enough. Feeling comfortable with pot sizes at 25nl now at least!

Prima I was wrong about how the bonus clears, only hands raked above 25c count. But they release it incrementally when i ask. About $40 sitting there now, will release a chunk when it reaches $100.

I like the FT interface. I like that bonus clearing is easily visible (seems about 1800 hands of 25nl for each $20 of bonus). I still haven't plugged in a second monitor. Given how easy 4-tabling loose is on my laptop screen, I expect 9-tabling to be fairly straightforward. Soon.

The FR play at fulltilt is strange. I think I like it?

BR $1620 (+40)

daven, who did you use for RB at purple lounge?

raketherake for purple

tnx m8

I got spanked for a while on FullTilt. My $600 deposit went as low as $487, all starting from those $50NL misadventures! And moving back up wasn't aided by a nasty run of suckouts. Back on climbing buzz now though, fingers crossed it stays that way! and will start taking more shots at $50NL when my FullTilt roll hits $770. And hopefully the cleared bonus is profit from now on, rather than keeping me afloat...

Along the way I had an experiment with min-raising and min-bets - I learnt a load, but eventually I listened to people who probably know better (below), and remembered that one of my goals was to learn standard TAGgy play....

Looking forward to the next stanza

Originally Posted by NLHE lahooozaher

This is why it will never be accepted and in fact is retarded, stupid, and not as +ev as making a real raise!!!!!!!
AND
PS: I decided to come off as best a douchebag as I could so you can see why you're wrong and your play is in fact terrible and remember why it is terrible.

Originally Posted by meeloche

Your lines are good but your bet sizing needs work, you are really loosing a lot of value with this min raising experiment. It's not good and hopefully you get over it soon.

Originally Posted by wufwugy

If I bet small like that I'd be poor.
AND Stop minraising. It makes your hands harder to play, and wins you less.

Originally Posted by Jack Sawyer

tnx m8

so you playing purple yet? lemme know style and limit so I can come and hunt you down

Tilt. Interesting concept. I think I'm getting better at recognising when it's time to stop! The other day was when I got all-in QQ>JJ on the turn and the river was a jack for 150bb down.
This time it was this - three minutes ago and closed all tables immediately cos it bugged me! At least i wasn't deep...
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP3 ($25)
CO ($25)
Button ($78.90)
SB ($24.75)
BB ($18.60)
UTG ($25)
Hero ($27.55)
MP1 ($25)
MP2 ($26.55)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , .
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.1, 1 fold, MP2 calls $1.10, MP3 calls $1.10, 4 folds, UTG calls $0.85.

Flop: ($4.75) , , (4 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $4.75, MP2 calls $4.75, MP3 folds, UTG folds.

Turn: ($14.25) (2 players)
Hero bets $14.25, MP2 calls $14.25.

River: ($42.75) (2 players)
Hero bets $7.45 (All-In), MP2 calls $6.45 (All-In).

Final Pot: $55.65

Results in white below:
Hero has 9h 9s (three of a kind, nines).
MP2 has Kd Qd (flush, king high).
Outcome: MP2 wins $55.65. Hero wins $1.

Originally Posted by daven

Originally Posted by Jack Sawyer

tnx m8

so you playing purple yet? lemme know style and limit so I can come and hunt you down

I'm not there yet. But I guess you'll recognize me very quickly, since I'll probably be the only guy running 50/50


Anyway, I'm going through some very heavy shit in RL right now, and I've had to put poker down for the moment (and withdraw, like, 95%). I feel like Sisyphus.


I don't have an ETA on when I'll be back fulltime.


But, like Schwarzenegger said, "I'll be back"

Originally Posted by daven

Tilt. Interesting concept. I think I'm getting better at recognising when it's time to stop! The other day was when I got all-in QQ>JJ on the turn and the river was a jack for 150bb down.
This time it was this - three minutes ago and closed all tables immediately cos it bugged me! At least i wasn't deep...
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP3 ($25)
CO ($25)
Button ($78.90)
SB ($24.75)
BB ($18.60)
UTG ($25)
Hero ($27.55)
MP1 ($25)
MP2 ($26.55)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , .
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.1, 1 fold, MP2 calls $1.10, MP3 calls $1.10, 4 folds, UTG calls $0.85.

Flop: ($4.75) , , (4 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $4.75, MP2 calls $4.75, MP3 folds, UTG folds.

Turn: ($14.25) (2 players)
Hero bets $14.25, MP2 calls $14.25.

River: ($42.75) (2 players)
Hero bets $7.45 (All-In), MP2 calls $6.45 (All-In).

Final Pot: $55.65

Results in white below:
Hero has 9h 9s (three of a kind, nines).
MP2 has Kd Qd (flush, king high).
Outcome: MP2 wins $55.65. Hero wins $1.

He's never ever gonna fold that turn.

Therefore, you should push turn. PF and flop were nice.

so there I was sauntering home after comfortably knocking 20 seconds off my PB over 5km (ok, my PB is still slow, and there's another minute of flex in there before next Feb. hopefully), and there it was...

so I went skip diving and now I have a dual monitor display - for free!

Liking life.

Now I just need to get better at poker, and somehow find more time. Maybe I'll arrange to be unemployed May next year, that's the plan at the moment anyway

I just looked at what I stated as the goals of this op.

*Take my first shots at 50nl - tick, and I'll hopefully have another go soon..

*Get comfortable with pot sizes etc - 25nl is feeling fine now, I'm sure I'll have the same period before desensitisation when I move up again

*Bankroll to $3000 - well, not yet. But at least I'm in the black BR is $1700 at the moment

*Play a more TAGgy style of game - getting there. Overall I've run at 20-14-5, but the last 5k hands it has been 17-12-4 in FR, and 18-13-4 in 6-max. Recently I've got tighter pre-flop though, I think that's a good thing

I'm adding another goal as well,
START TO CONSIDER POSITION - beyond simply abusing the button...

Full Tilt up to $800 now. Almost time for another shot at 50nl, think when that balance hits 1k. Rakeback to come. All good.
op is going well.

FullTilt balance up above $1k. Time for a serious shot at 50nl.
Starting New Years Day perhaps. No more poker this year.

50nl going ok... 3 hands into a 6-tabling session and the hand below could have got me tilted, but instead I managed to shrug, mutter something about 10% suckouts and carry on playing through to end up square for the session (and really up a bit, as I'm clearing bonus at the same time!) Funny hand, I was playing my cards face up and villain wasn't even watching...

Proud of that. And feeling as though I'm finally starting to arrive as a poker player. Already comfortable with pot sizes - and enjoying the play. Up a couple of buy-ins from play, and another from cleared bonus.

Running about 14-11-4.5 and feeling solid.

Bankroll is spread all over the place. Plan is to clear the FT bonus, then clear the Pacific requirements for withdrawal, then the rest of the purple bonus. Then get bankroll all into Neteller and figure out where to hit next.
Sites and balances:
FT $1160 (+$50 in rakeback to come)
Purple $380
Pacific $550
Party $5
Empire $30

Bankroll $2175. Getting there slowly...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (8 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

saw flop|saw showdown

SB ($102.10)
BB ($26.75)
UTG ($61)
UTG+1 ($43.70)
MP1 ($13.25)
MP2 ($52.55)
Hero ($49)
Button ($44.85)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2.75, 1 fold, SB raises to $9.5, 1 fold, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $18.5, SB calls $6.50.

Flop: ($35.50) , , (2 players)
SB bets $23.5, Hero raises to $33.25 (All-In), SB calls $9.75.

Turn: ($0) (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($0) (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $102

Results below:
SB has Ks Kd (three of a kind, kings).
Hero has Ad As (one pair, aces).
Outcome: SB wins $102.

nasty run....
back down to $2175 - just like the last post, until the coolers and beats hit I was debating shots at 100nl at br of $3000...

So, two flopped sets into flopped straights in raised pots (these two hands had a combined pot value of $250!)
One flopped set over set (I had top set) to lose on a runner runner flush
One AA<KK all-in preflop and a king on the turn
etc.
Oh well, shit happens.

Hmm, and a couple of bad plays adding to the mix. Funny thing is that PT showws that I'm still somehow ahead during this shot at 50nl!
Will only drop down if br goes below $2050

struggling to play consistently well. Just had a session full of horrible leaky play and lucky to come away down only $3, almost cleared another $20 of bonus too, so actually up a little. I think this limit at FT will be very beatable if i get good...

Reviewing some sessions from badgers and bigpapi this afternoon if i have time, i figure this will force me to think about poker a little more than recently and could teach me a bunch.

taking a step back and considering that I was playing 5nl only a few months ago, I'm actually quite happy about my progress. And I'm down less than one buyin from the tables over this shot at 50nl, while I've probably cleared $150+in bonus and some rakeback too. Don't imagine I'll be dropping down anytime soon, just waiting for that heater!!! hoped I'd be close to finishing this op by now, but no. And seems I'll be playing a lot less for a while...

at least I'm comfortable, comfort zone is running successfully!

A few short sessions of not quite optimal play, some rakeback, some bad players and op is going slowly but well.
Bankroll is 2480 + $60 rakeback to come. Getting there.

yoyo times
down five buy-ins feels gross. Set over setted twice, a TPTK that I should have known better, 8Ts in a pot I had raised lost to another straight (villain had QT or JK?), one badbeat and yep...
Finished clearing the FullTilt bonus, and was well in the black at the same time, now less so.
BR $2420 (was $2650)
Wondering whether to go and chase another first deposit bonus, or to keep grinding away on Full Tilt...

the drop was a little more, then I stopped and didn't play for a week. Sub-operation time, I'm going to run good for a while! or at least play well. Started out losing a stack in a strange KK<AA blind steal situation. Some hands were a little complicated, not sure about whether i'm value betting or losing value sometimes... other times i'm not that good at distinguishing bluffs from monsters... other times I'm not sure how to slowplay

Three interesting hands:
Hand 1) Once villain started betting I wanted to rep a steal attempt with a week ace. Thoughts?
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP1 ($50)
MP2 ($15.95)
MP3 ($49.25)
Hero ($49.25)
Button ($58.75)
SB ($48.50)
BB ($54.30)
UTG ($96.40)
UTG+1 ($19.75)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K, A.
5 folds, Hero raises to $1.75, Button calls $1.75, 1 fold, BB calls $1.25.

Flop: ($5.50) 5, A, K (3 players)
BB bets $5, Hero calls $5, Button folds.

Turn: ($15.50) 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $10.5, BB calls $10.50.

River: ($36.50) Q (2 players)
BB bets $37.05 (All-In), Hero calls $32 (All-In).

Final Pot: $100.50

Hand 2) I was pretty sure villain was drawing to the flush, and wanted to induce a river shove. Thoughts? i think that 160bb deep i should have bet more on the flop and turn...
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG ($52.55)
UTG+1 ($50)
MP1 ($51.15)
Hero ($104.95)
MP3 ($117.55)
CO ($88.60)
Button ($7.90)
SB ($53.50)
BB ($81.60)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , .
2 folds, Hero raises to $1.75, 1 fold, CO calls $1.75, 1 fold, SB calls $1.50, 1 fold.

Flop: ($5.75) , , (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $4, CO calls $4, SB folds.

Turn: ($13.75) (3 players)
Hero bets $9.5, CO calls $9.50.

River: ($32.75) (3 players)
Hero bets $16.5,

Hand 3) Is this good value betting, or bad play? I think that villain wanted an excuse to fold and would have bailed if I'd been betting pot...
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

Hero ($68.90)
MP3 ($10.50)
CO ($57.75)
Button ($41.15)
SB ($10.25)
BB ($24.75)
UTG ($22.50)
UTG+1 ($50)
MP1 ($50)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , .
1 fold, MP1 raises to $1.75, Hero calls $1.75, 1 fold, CO calls $1.75, 3 folds.

Flop: ($6) , , (4 players)
MP1 bets $3, Hero calls $3, CO calls $3.

Turn: ($15) (4 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $9, CO folds, MP1 calls $9.

River: ($33) (3 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $19, MP1 calls $19.

Final Pot: $71

bankroll almost down to $2k. Yuck. Discipline is my only excuse.

Dave, I've had the same at FT and once my bonus is cleared I doubt it's really best to stick around at FT. There are softer sites with more rakeback and a first deposit bonus.

I need to clear 150$ more, but I'm probably checking out a new site called T6 poker which offer 30% rakeback + 200% bonus up till 1k! just need to have a look deeper in their rules to see if it needs to be cleared in a certain timeframe.

ps. did you manage to take a look at that session. If not, no worries. it's not that important

Originally Posted by BigPapi

I'm probably checking out a new site called T6 poker which offer 30% rakeback + 200% bonus up till 1k!
ps. did you manage to take a look at that session. If not, no worries. it's not that important

yo, forgot to look at that session. I reviewed stuff from badgers and biondino and somehow left out yours, will remedy that shortly.
as for T6, I've read bad things so far - google for background about dodgy owners

some hand review:

#2 If he´s drawing flop and turn are fine, river depends on villians aggression. I doubt anyone will bluff shove and if he likes his hand enough to raise, our betsize won´t change his decision all that much. If his hand can´t raise but call I believe 25 is better than 16

#3 Depends on what range we assign to MP1, to me it looks like KX or a weak AA. Since KQ caught top two and weakly played AA cant fold I´d bet 24

floating around $2300 again, i'm getting there slowly. not getting enough hands in. Look forward to being able to say that 50nl at Full Tilt is so full of weak players that it's a money feast - right now i fear that i'm one of the weak...

Full Tilt gave a $200 bonus to apologise for disconnect problems - now I just have to clear it.

This month's goal is >20k hands of full ring $50nl, running >3.5ptBB/100. The number of hands isn't ambitious, but the winrate is. Slowly starting to make headway in 50nl, now I need to accelerate it.

BR $2700, funny, I've been here before. All going to plan I'll be able to close this op during March. Won't be taking a shot at 100nl until I've got at least $4k.
The player skill difference between 25nl and 50nl has been noticeable (and general consensus is that these players are still BAD! wow, I got work to do), I don't think I'm ready for another jump.

Rainy weekend and played loads, good start to the goal for the month.
If you don't feel like clicking the link it's 5k hands at 3.32BB/100, running 16-12 and stealing more blinds (something it was suggested I work on!). Dunno if I can sustain this rate, hope so!
I aim to find some more leaks to plug soon as well - the big/simple ones first...
I'm trying to think about position more deeply now too = there's so much more to understand than how it affects starting hand selection - it's going to pay dividends.

$%@%#%#@
poker slapped me... three times top sets deep on monotone flops all-in. Three times opp had a flush. Three times the flush held up. Bye to 4.5buy-ins. Then K7s from BB in limped pot and my flopped flush lost to A6s. And my 66 set on an ace high flop - who knew that someone had limped AA...
Add some badly played hands to that (i can fold overpairs, usually) and my roll is smashed.
back to $2400 or something, I'll figure it out later. Doubt I'll be making a month of +3.5/100....
oh well, at least i'm still rolled for $50nl
i feel my pain!
good news is that i bought a new laptop, and a mouse. 8-tabling is now easy, and once I get a decent second monitor I'll try and grow that to 10/12/15/???

New computer is great. 8-tabling is a dream, no lag issues, software is humming and I'm running good to boot. Maybe I can drag those buyins back....
last session was just over 1k hands, and nice. See below.

I've been playing some hands since i got my new laptop, not playing optimally, but running ok... finally back in shape after that big hit i took!

I installed PT on my new machine and haven't bothered to bring over the whole hands - start of a new era or something. I'll save the .mdb file in case i ever get nostalgic. The new era to date:

took some hits with sets just as i was about to close the op.
see here for discussion of 3 of them, the other was a simple set over set for 130bb...
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ts-t68548.html
Ground it back up.
BR = $3000.
Feel like I'm solid at 50nl now.
10k hands at 4.7BB/100 on my new laptop.
What next, I wonder....
[/url]

4 and a bit thousand...

Keep it up.

bought a new monitor, played some cards. Wrote some history. still not at $5k - guess that's what withdrawals do to you...
dunno if i'll keep writing here, or here