3000th post: confessions of a bluffer

First off, thanks to kmind for noticing I was at my 2999th post!

Figured I should do something a little more substantial for my 3000th post, than the standard "wow call all day" type response.

I certainly won't claim to be the best poker player on FTR. Nor will I claim to be the most well known, or most well respected. But I've been around the block a few times, and feel like I've had my fair share of obstacles, swings and ups and downs to get me where I'm at right now. I definitely won't call my trek here smooth sailing. So I must have learned something along the way!

So I guess this is a well of sorts. If there are any questions, ask away, and I'll do my best to answer!

You have helped me a ton in the last few months, I just want to say thanks.


As for questions, what one thing did you figure out that made your game move to another level, and by that I mean, what brought you from being a decent $100NL/$200NL grinder to being someone that has moved to where you are now? What would you go back and tell yourself to do at a much earlier time?

How do you get your red line like yours?

Originally Posted by kmind

How do you get your red line like yours?

See title. You can change the word bluffer for: spewer, aggro-monkey as well. :P



Grif, you should answer the questions in your well, imo.

Originally Posted by jyms

You have helped me a ton in the last few months, I just want to say thanks.


As for questions, what one thing did you figure out that made your game move to another level, and by that I mean, what brought you from being a decent $100NL/$200NL grinder to being someone that has moved to where you are now? What would you go back and tell yourself to do at a much earlier time?

I'd go back and tell myself to fold. And keep folding.. and it's something I still need to tell myself.

I feel like too many people (myself included) see a spot where they can imagine themselves bluffing or bareling with air, and convince themselves to make a call because of it. What I keep learning, however, is that people somehow seem to always have it.

It's pretty cliche, but fold, for real.

I also have a post-it note on my monitor now that says "WAIT - 3 seconds". I feel like if I wait before EVERY decision (raising, 3betting, betting, folding), it forces me to think about what I'm doing and why. I can't count the number of times I've dragged my cursor over the 'all in' button, waited 3 seconds and convinced myself to fold. For sure saved myself thousands.

Originally Posted by kmind

How do you get your red line like yours?

I mean it's clearly easy to say "raise, whenever someone raises you" or nonsense like that, cause that'll definitely get your red line up!

I think more realistically and better even is to just find spots in position on the river where you can bet. There are probably tons of spots that I bet on the river and villain c/f's which contribute to my winnings being 'non showdown' instead of 'showdown' winnings. Sometimes people surprise you with the nonsense they call with too.

Compare the competition at the various sites you play (or have played recently).

Discuss your current thoughts about playing professionally vs. playing part-time.

Discuss ip 4betting ranges.

AIPF 100% of hands!

Originally Posted by zook

Compare the competition at the various sites you play (or have played recently).

This question is kind of tough to answer. For the most part I've played on interpoker (crypto) and now stars. However, crypto was mostly from 2007-2008 and stars has mostly been this year. I just feel like the games were so different two years ago, that it would be unfair to say interpoker was easier. Though I did find interpoker much more passive than pokerstars, that's for sure.

The 5/10 games on interpoker from 2007 were for sure easier than the stars 5/10 games of right now.

Originally Posted by zook

Discuss your current thoughts about playing professionally vs. playing part-time.

This is for sure my ongoing life dilemma. I've been working the last four months or so (since may) 'full time', doing research in the same lab I did my masters in. The last stretch of my masters (last 6 months or so, Jan-May) I was writing my thesis and primarily working from home, so having to go into work full time was a definite change.

My 'full time' work mostly involves me being at a computer in the days, and writing a paper and surfing FTR and 2+2 and other poker stuff. My experiments are more invididual, and involve me working late on my own etc etc. So it's pretty clear to me that if I was going to pick a full time job working on my own doing boring experiments, and surfing poker stuff or being at home on my own, grinding full time and surfing poker stuff, that I'd obviously choose the latter.

That being said, if I had a job I really liked and it was at a social company with cool people, the decision would probably be much closer.

Originally Posted by zook

Discuss ip 4betting ranges.

I've tried toning down my outright 4bet bluffing lately, just cause it has to work too often and ppl seem to be jamming on me everytime I 4bet anyhow. Though, I'd say one of my bigger weakness' is playing in 3bet pots, IP, without initiative. That being said, it makes sense that my fold to 3bet is very high, and my button 4bet is probably also pretty high. Adding in more pairs to your 4betting range, instead of 4bet bluffing more, is also a good way to up your 4betting vs ppl fighting back and jamming too much.

If I do choose to 4bet bluff I try to do it with blockers at least. There are definitely lots of players that 3bet like madness in the blinds, and fold waay too much to 4bets, so finding these ppl is pretty helpful.

So it's my first week back at home and playing full time, I quadrupled what would have been my regular paycheck in earnings this week, what should I do to celebrate?

In a more poker related test of knowledge, what would you suggest is best for advancing a player from these three stakes. $10NL, $100NL and $400NL and in what order. Pick a couple.

a) Peer study (MSN/AIM, ghosting discussion on skype/vent)
b) Coaching
c) self study (HM/PT3?Pokerstove)
d) SNHL forums (FTR, 2P2)
e) video training sites.
f) 100K hands (4 or less tables) not multitable grinding like a robot

Originally Posted by jyms

So it's my first week back at home and playing full time, I quadrupled what would have been my regular paycheck in earnings this week, what should I do to celebrate?

In a more poker related test of knowledge, what would you suggest is best for advancing a player from these three stakes. $10NL, $100NL and $400NL and in what order. Pick a couple.

a) Peer study (MSN/AIM, ghosting discussion on skype/vent)
b) Coaching
c) self study (HM/PT3?Pokerstove)
d) SNHL forums (FTR, 2P2)
e) video training sites.
f) 100K hands (4 or less tables) not multitable grinding like a robot

This is a funny question for me to answer, mostly because of how I moved up the ranks. I was playing regularly at 100nl before I ever posted my first hand on FTR, and I was playing 400nl before I ever subscribed to CR or any other training site.

I remember after I first joined CR I started watching vids and some of the stuff actually got into my head and I started playing differently (worse even), than I had been previously. The most noticeable thing I remember at the time was watching vids saying that you shouldn't 3bet XY hands from the blinds (AJ for example), because the range that continues to your 3bet will dominate you. So that resulted in me playing waaay passive out of the blinds, worried that any 3bet would result in me being dominated. Just as an example of how some broad statements might influence your game significantly.

In any case, I'd say for sure moving up beyond 400nl would be coaching foremost if your progress is stalled, and discussing poker a lot, and reviewing hh's a lot (but I'd imagine most at that level do the last two anyhow).

Moving up beyond lower stakes, 10nl and even 100nl I'd say that playing a lot, and practice, just makes you better in general. Getting to the point where reviewing hh's is second nature, and is weird NOT reviewing them.

Im taller than you, how does that make u feel.

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

Im taller than you, how does that make u feel.

Makes me saddd. If I had a couple more inches, feel like that would help in sports a tonnn.

I lucked out though. I'm around 5'9''-10''ish, but my mom is 4'11'' and my dad is 5'3''! Shippp the height run hot.

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

Im taller than you, how does that make u feel.

Makes me saddd. If I had a couple more inches, feel like that would help in sports a tonnn.

I lucked out though. I'm around 5'9''-10''ish, but my mom is 4'11'' and my dad is 5'3''! Shippp the height run hot.

My folks are taller than yours, how does that make you feel.

I'm 6'5"
look at the shorties ITT bwahaha

6'3". My 5 year old is 43+ inches

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

Im taller than you, how does that make u feel.

Makes me saddd. If I had a couple more inches, feel like that would help in sports a tonnn.

I lucked out though. I'm around 5'9''-10''ish, but my mom is 4'11'' and my dad is 5'3''! Shippp the height run hot.

lol, my parents are the same height, and I'm also around 5-9/5-10

Im 6''6 1/2'', who dares to beat me.

btw whatever happened to dwarfman lol

What's the coolest thing you ever bought with poker winnings?

Originally Posted by Parasurama

What's the coolest thing you ever bought with poker winnings?

Oh man I'm super lame and I've hardly made any really big purchases. In general I'm saving up to get a condo in Toronto. Though pending purchases in the very near future will probably be a much better TV than I have now and hopefully a Safari Trip to Africa next aug/september which will prove to be pricey.

I feel like my poker winnings mostly just afford me the ability to not worry about money too much. Just do whatever I wanna do, eat wherever I want, travel wherever and just not have to worry too much. I highly doubt I'm gonna buy some baller car anytime soon, and will prob just stick with my trusty non-baller corolla.

whats this about your redline? do the red and the blue both go up?

Originally Posted by gabe

whats this about your redline? do the red and the blue both go up?

nope

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...98.html#920159

Originally Posted by gabe

whats this about your redline? do the red and the blue both go up?

That's the dream.. that's the dream.

They wereee both going up until 12k hands into this month! Pretty sure I need to run hot to have a good blue line.

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by Parasurama

What's the coolest thing you ever bought with poker winnings?

Oh man I'm super lame and I've hardly made any really big purchases. In general I'm saving up to get a condo in Toronto. Though pending purchases in the very near future will probably be a much better TV than I have now and hopefully a Safari Trip to Africa next aug/september which will prove to be pricey.

I feel like my poker winnings mostly just afford me the ability to not worry about money too much. Just do whatever I wanna do, eat wherever I want, travel wherever and just not have to worry too much. I highly doubt I'm gonna buy some baller car anytime soon, and will prob just stick with my trusty non-baller corolla.

No dude that's totally cool, exactly my feelings. I would love to reach the point where I just don't have to worry about money. I'm not into flashy purchases. Doing what I want, eating where I want, going wherever I want sounds perfect. Also I drive a corolla lmao (though I don't own it).

Lol, I remember Griffey passing the $100k mark and then wondering whether he should spend $400 on a decent monitor to play on.

Having sweated you a few times, I'm fairly sure you play differently when someones watching than when they're not. Do you feel like you play better when being watched? Do you feel you play more profitably?

wow i think Ben is spot on

never saw any crazy things or spew when i watched u play

Two questions:

1. Did your parents want you to be an engineer or a doctor?

2. Who is your favorite high stakes online player and why?

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Having sweated you a few times, I'm fairly sure you play differently when someones watching than when they're not. Do you feel like you play better when being watched? Do you feel you play more profitably?

Yaaah oh man I play sooooo much more solid. I should practically just pay someone to sweat me every session I play, I'm pretty sure it would be +EV. It forces me to talk things through and as a result forces me to really think about why I'm making a certain decision. Also gives me enough time to convince myself that my read isn't strong enough and not to do something stupid/spewy.

Do you play poker because you love it and enjoy it still, or do you play poker because it's a good way for you to make money? A little of both? Does one outweigh the other?

Originally Posted by courtiebee

Do you play poker because you love it and enjoy it still, or do you play poker because it's a good way for you to make money? A little of both? Does one outweigh the other?

I think a big driving force is the competition. It's knowing that I can beat this game, and sometimes feeling like I'm not beating it as good as I want to be/could be. So it's the drive to get better.

If somebody told me that I wouldn't be making money from it, then I certainly wouldn't be playing as much online. But I'd still play live with friends etc, cause that's more for the enjoyment!

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Having sweated you a few times, I'm fairly sure you play differently when someones watching than when they're not. Do you feel like you play better when being watched? Do you feel you play more profitably?

Yaaah oh man I play sooooo much more solid. I should practically just pay someone to sweat me every session I play, I'm pretty sure it would be +EV.

I think Danny considered actually doing this.

As for my question, how do you go from being such a maniac online to being such a nit in go-karts? if there were a way to graph our go-kart session, would both your red and blue line go down?

Originally Posted by andy-akb

I think Danny considered actually doing this.

As for my question, how do you go from being such a maniac online to being such a nit in go-karts? if there were a way to graph our go-kart session, would both your red and blue line go down?

Ummm.. I completely blame the go-karting results on running bad. I had bad variance in terms of starting go-kart (your top speed was clearly 5mph faster than the fields!), starting poll-position and also being in between maniacs who like crashing into your kart and spinning you out!

ran sooo bad, it was rigged practically.

let's get real, anything meeloche is winning in is likely rigged.

I didnt think you were running so bad Griffey, I just seen your name on stars 2nl tables.

Wtf you doing playing there??????????

Do you feel obligated to buy your gf expensive shit?

Originally Posted by andy-akb

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Having sweated you a few times, I'm fairly sure you play differently when someones watching than when they're not. Do you feel like you play better when being watched? Do you feel you play more profitably?

Yaaah oh man I play sooooo much more solid. I should practically just pay someone to sweat me every session I play, I'm pretty sure it would be +EV.

I think Danny considered actually doing this.

As for my question, how do you go from being such a maniac online to being such a nit in go-karts? if there were a way to graph our go-kart session, would both your red and blue line go down?

Lol I actually did do this but then I offered people to pay to sweat me during my sessions. No one took.

Lifetime poker profit? Best day? Worst day?

Lifetime graph!

Originally Posted by kmind

Do you feel obligated to buy your gf expensive shit?

I don't feel obligated, though she does know how much I've made. Lucky for me (or unlucky.. however you wanna look at it).. I had a huge downswing since I started dating her.. and so haven't netted up that much while we've been together.

short answer: I don't feel obligated, but I still get her stuff!

Originally Posted by zook

Lifetime poker profit? Best day? Worst day?

Total profit peak was around 137k, currently I'm at around 122k.

Worst day is -12k which I think I've done like 3 times (I'm such a dumbass... ship the no stop-loss). Best day is up 10k which I've done once.

This would all be much better if I read elements of poker another 2-3 times.

Originally Posted by griffey24

ran sooo bad, it was rigged practically.

let's get real, anything meeloche is winning in is likely rigged.

lol at this

I'm not gonna say much more though cause I don't want to tap the glass.

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by kmind

Do you feel obligated to buy your gf expensive shit?

I don't feel obligated, though she does know how much I've made. Lucky for me (or unlucky.. however you wanna look at it).. I had a huge downswing since I started dating her.. and so haven't netted up that much while we've been together.

short answer: I don't feel obligated, but I still get her stuff!

why wud u buy her stuff?

I dont buy my gf anything, mostly share costs. Until recently I didnt know many guys did this. My gf mentioned who one of her girlfriends whose bf recently went off on a year long trip was always buying her stuff. She is missing a new stuff while he is gone and moans of how she cant buy stuff blah blah blah. Anyway this is a rant bcoz i dont like her friend lol.

I really dont see the need to buy her anything at all bar on occasions. Are you trying to impress her or have self confidence issue :P.

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

why wud u buy her stuff?

I dont buy my gf anything, mostly share costs. Until recently I didnt know many guys did this. My gf mentioned who one of her girlfriends whose bf recently went off on a year long trip was always buying her stuff. She is missing a new stuff while he is gone and moans of how she cant buy stuff blah blah blah. Anyway this is a rant bcoz i dont like her friend lol.

I really dont see the need to buy her anything at all bar on occasions. Are you trying to impress her or have self confidence issue :P.

hahah.. well "buy her stuff" definitely meant on occasions. But other than occasions, I'd say I definitely pay for most meals etc. Though I don't really consider that buying her stuff.

Do guys not pay for dates over in Ireland?

if u ask her out, sure then hero pays. after that she better be paying half or good luck, have a nice life. Irish girls are generally very independent oriented so when a girl expects me to pay for everything then she is up her own arse and can go fuck a duck

Anything in particular for NL 50-100 ers trying to get better and move up to study. Like books, particular posts, vids? And barf at -12k days. Thats like all the money for one of my dogs surgery and chemo.

Originally Posted by Dragon Slayer

Anything in particular for NL 50-100 ers trying to get better and move up to study. Like books, particular posts, vids? And barf at -12k days. Thats like all the money for one of my dogs surgery and chemo.

This is so tough to answer, cause 50/100nl now are so different (harder) than when I used to play it.

I feel as though a lot of people around those stakes seem to think 'small stakes no limit holdem' is pretty good. I've read a bit of it and it seems decent.

I still think nothing can really compare to practice though and not being afraid to try different things. Try doing things that aren't standard, or at least aren't standard for your game. c/c in spots you might bet a lot, or bet in spots you might c/c. Betting small or big in spots you might do the opposite. There's no way to really figure out what works best without trying it.

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by Dragon Slayer

Anything in particular for NL 50-100 ers trying to get better and move up to study. Like books, particular posts, vids? And barf at -12k days. Thats like all the money for one of my dogs surgery and chemo.

This is so tough to answer, cause 50/100nl now are so different (harder) than when I used to play it.

I feel as though a lot of people around those stakes seem to think 'small stakes no limit holdem' is pretty good. I've read a bit of it and it seems decent.

I still think nothing can really compare to practice though and not being afraid to try different things. Try doing things that aren't standard, or at least aren't standard for your game. c/c in spots you might bet a lot, or bet in spots you might c/c. Betting small or big in spots you might do the opposite. There's no way to really figure out what works best without trying it.

Cool thanks. This is kinda how i feel. I have a pretty decent micro coach that has got me thinking outside the standard TAG thinking. 3 bet these hands, open this hand from this position etc. I have dropped down from 4 tables to 2 to really work on my game and make it more player/read based.

Post a few of your favorite hands? Hero calls? I mean, even a blind squirrel...

How did you get your start? Level you started at etc. Was it one of those "well I deposited $50 and the rest is history" stories or did you make a larger deposit and start at midstakes?

Time frame from when you started to the level you're currently at?

Originally Posted by zook

Post a few of your favorite hands? Hero calls? I mean, even a blind squirrel...

I'll try to find some.. wish HEM had a "favorite hands" filter.

I can't even think of any hands that stand out in my head as favorites really.

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by zook

Post a few of your favorite hands? Hero calls? I mean, even a blind squirrel...

I'll try to find some.. wish HEM had a "favorite hands" filter.

I can't even think of any hands that stand out in my head as favorites really.

The little box on the left of the HH drop down on your hud works well for this (selected hands)

Originally Posted by Squishy_Fish

How did you get your start? Level you started at etc. Was it one of those "well I deposited $50 and the rest is history" stories or did you make a larger deposit and start at midstakes?

Time frame from when you started to the level you're currently at?

Before I started playing I was always pretty hesitant about depositing money, since I never wanted to get into a trend where I deposited, lost it and kept depositing.

Friend of mine told me interpoker had some pretty big deposit bonus at the time (something like $100 and get $300) and so I deposited $100, had a $400 roll. Played 25nl and got it up to $550ish and withdrew the $100 I deposited so I was always playing with winnings. Then kind of went on a roll from there.

Timelines are hard to remember completely. Think I went from 25nl -> 400nl in like a year, with the rockiest transition at the time being 100nl. Then played 5/10 and 5/10 pounds on inter for like a year or so with meh slower than desired progress. Withdrew most of my roll from interpoker and started a new grind on pokerstars.

Mostly playing on stars now, swinging like mad. 2/4 is very comfortable and I feel best multitabling a lot of 2/4 compared to other levels. I haven't decided if my goals for now are to just do well at 2/4 and make money or if I still have any big desire to play in bigger games. Will have to figure that out.

Not playing as much as I would have liked in the past year or so, as I've been multi-tasking the completion of my masters and now working. We'll see if I ever get back into a full time mode.

Nice, inspiring stuff

Completely out of couriosity, what degree are you studying for?

Originally Posted by Squishy_Fish

Nice, inspiring stuff

Completely out of couriosity, what degree are you studying for?

Did my undergrad in Systems Design Engineer at the University of Waterloo here in Canada.

Then did my masters in Medical Biophysics here at the University of Toronto. (Medical Biophysics = fancy sounding name for cancer research, more specifically x-ray imaging research).

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by zook

Post a few of your favorite hands? Hero calls? I mean, even a blind squirrel...

I'll try to find some.. wish HEM had a "favorite hands" filter.

I can't even think of any hands that stand out in my head as favorites really.

Of course you have a favorite hand.. Remember that hand on 2/5 interpoker where we were like 300bb deep and i stacked you? I'll try to find it for you hahhaah

I never remember hands so it must be pretty sick..

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by zook

Post a few of your favorite hands? Hero calls? I mean, even a blind squirrel...

I'll try to find some.. wish HEM had a "favorite hands" filter.

I can't even think of any hands that stand out in my head as favorites really.

Just filter for river call = true, pot>100bb, sort by pot size and look for sick hero calls. Or just look at your biggest lifetime pots until you find a good one.

Compare your game now with your game two years ago.

What parts have you specifically spent time focusing on changing, why?

What parts do you think have stayed constant over the course of time, why?

Hey Griffey, I found your favorite hand played. Isn't that sick but I remember you tilting pretty hard after


$2/$5 No Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG And050978 ($484.65)
CO Hero ($1145.55)
BTN stakks ($516.20)
SB Griffey24 ($1822.45)
BB Tiger_0 ($644.30)

Pre-flop: ($7, 5 players) Hero is CO
1 fold, Hero raises to $15 ($1,130.55), 1 fold, Griffey24 raises to $55 ($1,765.45), 1 fold, Hero calls $40 ($1,090.55)

Flop: ($115, 2 players)
Griffey24 bets $70 ($1,697.45), Hero calls $70 ($1,020.55)

Turn: ($255, 2 players)
Griffey24 bets $205 ($1,492.45), Hero calls $205 ($815.55)

River: ($665, 2 players)
Griffey24 bets $1,492.45 ($0), Hero calls $815.55 ($0)

Final Pot: $2,973
Hero shows:
Griffey24 shows:

Hero wins $2,293.10 ( won +$1,147.55 )
Griffey24 wins $676.90 ( lost -$1,145.55 )

{name changed in case he cares-jyms}

Originally Posted by Marshall28

Compare your game now with your game two years ago.

What parts have you specifically spent time focusing on changing, why?

What parts do you think have stayed constant over the course of time, why?

My preflop game has changed a ton over the last year or two. I've been known for having modes of being very passive pre (rarely 3betting) and other modes of 3betting like a mad man. For some reason I could never find a happy medium. I think I've finally found one that I'm happy with.

One part that has stayed constant over time is my complete sucking in calling 3bet pots from the button vs ppl who I perceive are light. I was just telling Alex yesterday that I'm pretty sure I lose on avg 50bbs everytime I call a 3bet (obv an exaggeration but it feels like it!). The reason for this is that I call sooo few 3bets. So I suck, for one, because clearly I'm not practicing it enough and don't have a great grasp on ranges. And two: because i call so few 3bets, I feel like I have some "right" to win the pot the one or two times I finally do call a 3bet each session, which undoubtedly results in some form of spew/jam/shoving.

Originally Posted by zook

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by zook

Post a few of your favorite hands? Hero calls? I mean, even a blind squirrel...

I'll try to find some.. wish HEM had a "favorite hands" filter.

I can't even think of any hands that stand out in my head as favorites really.

Just filter for river call = true, pot>100bb, sort by pot size and look for sick hero calls. Or just look at your biggest lifetime pots until you find a good one.

I'm searching right now, and I think my results of this search are very telling and this has been beneficial. I clearly either a) suck at winning hero calls b) rarely make hero calls. I know that b) isn't true, so I'm gonna go with a). I practically have no big pots won where I've called the river light, which means that I should probably stop making all my river hero calls!

I have found a few from yesterday though, maybe I'll just make a thread.

I lost $1000 calling rivers holy shit leak alert
you would think that since I have a lot of value hands I would just call on the river + getting good pot odds a lot that I would be +EV at calling rivers

my biggest pots are lost calling rivers in 3b pots with top pair hands
Hand 1: lol @ this hand vs. a maniac:
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (5 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($67.65)
Hero (SB) ($140.90)
BB ($91.65)
UTG ($109.20)
MP ($135)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, 7
3 folds, Button calls $0.50, Hero bets $3, Button calls $2

Flop: ($6) 6, 2, A (2 players)
Button bets $6, Hero calls $6

Turn: ($18) 2 (2 players)
Button bets $18, Hero calls $18

River: ($54) 5 (2 players)
Button bets $40.65 (All-In), Hero calls $40.65

Total pot: $135.30 | Rake: $3

Results:
Button had A, 8 (two pair, Aces and twos).
Hero had A, 7 (two pair, Aces and twos).
Outcome: Button won $132.30

hand 2: also wtf @ this call by me so fucking retarded when a fish fucking pots river fold and run away

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (5 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($303.25)
Hero (MP) ($100)
Button ($188.75)
SB ($78)
BB ($116.70)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 7, 7
UTG calls $1, Hero bets $6, 3 folds, UTG calls $5

Flop: ($13.50) 9, 4, 5 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($13.50) 4 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $8, UTG raises to $16, Hero calls $8

River: ($45.50) 6 (2 players)
UTG bets $45.50, Hero calls $45.50

Total pot: $136.50 | Rake: $3

Results:
UTG had 3, 7 (straight, seven high).
Hero had 7, 7 (two pair, sevens and fours).
Outcome: UTG won $133.50

Hand 3: Does this count as a good hero call or is it totally standard? He was repping that flush!

32/12 aggro donk

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($175.10)
MP ($100)
Hero (CO) ($158.65)
Button ($20)
SB ($100)
BB ($100)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K, K
UTG bets $4, 1 fold, Hero raises to $12, 3 folds, UTG calls $8

Flop: ($25.50) J, 3, 7 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $17, UTG calls $17

Turn: ($59.50) 8 (2 players)
UTG bets $25, Hero calls $25

River: ($109.50) 4 (2 players)
UTG bets $121.10 (All-In), Hero calls $104.65 (All-In)

Total pot: $318.80 | Rake: $3

Results:
UTG had 6, 4 (one pair, fours).
Hero had K, K (one pair, Kings).
Outcome: Hero won $315.80


Hand 4: I have NO IDEA wtf is going on in this hand, villain is a reg
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($100)
CO ($247.45)
Hero (Button) ($102)
SB ($101.50)
BB ($93.10)
UTG ($124.50)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 2, 2
2 folds, CO bets $4, Hero raises to $12, 2 folds, CO calls $8

Flop: ($25.50) 7, 9, 7 (2 players)
CO checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($25.50) 6 (2 players)
CO bets $15, Hero calls $15

River: ($55.50) 4 (2 players)
CO bets $25, Hero calls $25

Total pot: $105.50 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had 2, 2 (two pair, sevens and twos).
CO had A, J (one pair, sevens).
Outcome: Hero won $102.50

Your hero calls might look like a mistake but I think you lose more bb/100 than you think by folding on the river.

Instead look at the pots (>100bb if you like) where you called the river & go to the hands at showdown report as long as you win the hand in question (E.g. 1 Pair hands) more than 33% of the time making the hero/light call, then calling was definitely correct (& because most people bet less than pot somewhere round 28% may mean calling was better than folding.)

Note though this just means your river call was correct but folding much earlier in the hand i.e. the flop may be even more optimal.

that's true I win 42% on the river, so of course I am negative overall, but my river calls were good in the sense that I only need to be good 33% of the time, but some of those hands were like "make a bad call on the flop, catch top pair on the turn and never fold"

iopq - some of those hands definitely aren't hero calls. Your A7 call vs what you perceive is a maniac was probably warranted. Your KK hand I'm probably never folding, I think thats def a call in a 3bet pot. Your 77 hand is a hero call, but I don't think its good on that particular river. Your 22 is a hero call but I think his value betting range is too wide to call there (vbets 9x, 7x, T8,88,TT+,66,44).

noble - yah I agree I have to be winning 33%, good points. I'll check my percentages when I get home.

griffey, the HH says "Hero calls" so they must be hero calls!

Originally Posted by Alexos

Hey Griffey, I found your favorite hand played. Isn't that sick but I remember you tilting pretty hard after


$2/$5 No Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG And050978 ($484.65)
CO Hero ($1145.55)
BTN stakks ($516.20)
SB Griffey24 ($1822.45)
BB Tiger_0 ($644.30)

Pre-flop: ($7, 5 players) Hero is CO
1 fold, Hero raises to $15 ($1,130.55), 1 fold, Griffey24 raises to $55 ($1,765.45), 1 fold, Hero calls $40 ($1,090.55)

Flop: ($115, 2 players)
Griffey24 bets $70 ($1,697.45), Hero calls $70 ($1,020.55)

Turn: ($255, 2 players)
Griffey24 bets $205 ($1,492.45), Hero calls $205 ($815.55)

River: ($665, 2 players)
Griffey24 bets $1,492.45 ($0), Hero calls $815.55 ($0)

Final Pot: $2,973
Hero shows:
Griffey24 shows:

Hero wins $2,293.10 ( won +$1,147.55 )
Griffey24 wins $676.90 ( lost -$1,145.55 )

{name changed in case he cares-jyms}

haha oh man I was such a spewtard back then, worse than now!

I'm pretty sure you've made much crazier calls vs me though before.

I miss you on Inter - I need some more griffback (enhanced rakeback program imo)

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by Marshall28

Compare your game now with your game two years ago.

What parts have you specifically spent time focusing on changing, why?

What parts do you think have stayed constant over the course of time, why?

My preflop game has changed a ton over the last year or two. I've been known for having modes of being very passive pre (rarely 3betting) and other modes of 3betting like a mad man. For some reason I could never find a happy medium. I think I've finally found one that I'm happy with.

One part that has stayed constant over time is my complete sucking in calling 3bet pots from the button vs ppl who I perceive are light. I was just telling Alex yesterday that I'm pretty sure I lose on avg 50bbs everytime I call a 3bet (obv an exaggeration but it feels like it!). The reason for this is that I call sooo few 3bets. So I suck, for one, because clearly I'm not practicing it enough and don't have a great grasp on ranges. And two: because i call so few 3bets, I feel like I have some "right" to win the pot the one or two times I finally do call a 3bet each session, which undoubtedly results in some form of spew/jam/shoving.

I thought this was a well, are we leak finding you instead now? : p

It's a "what not to do" well imo!

Rav - come into pokerstars, I miss your luckboxing ways.

Just dropping by to say hi!

What made you jump out of Inter into PokerStars? Also, how's your setup to play poker? How many tables can you comfortably do?

Originally Posted by Jack Sawyer

Just dropping by to say hi!

What made you jump out of Inter into PokerStars? Also, how's your setup to play poker? How many tables can you comfortably do?

Interpoker and crypto got bought out by Boss network. Boss is the most tilting software in the world to use, and wasn't compatible with HEM at the time of the switch. I didn't really feel like learning how to use PT3 and a new boss software at once so I moved to stars.

In general I can 8 table pretty well, but anything over 8 and I seem to self destruct.

Originally Posted by griffey24

It's a "what not to do" well imo!

Rav - come into pokerstars, I miss your luckboxing ways.

r u serious??? Isn't there some horrible movie that says "be careful what you wish for?"



I'm coming for you...

Originally Posted by griffey24

I had a huge downswing since I started dating her..

Have you not considered this connection?

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Originally Posted by griffey24

I had a huge downswing since I started dating her..

Have you not considered this connection?

haha they could be related. Though she's actually pretty good about me playing, and she just hands out in the room and watches tv and stuff. Though sometimes her talking to me does get distracting, or just endsup she's talking to herself.

In other news, went to the U2 concert here in T.O last night, and it was pretty awesome!