5NL success story with graphs, charts, etc

First off, I want to thank everyone at FTR and on IRC for helping to guide me in the right direction (especially Stacks for suggesting I try 6max, although I doubt he remembers). This isn't a brag post; its supposed to be proof and encouragement for the other people in the BC that you definitely can beat the micro's. Im now properly rolled for 10nl and will be taking a shot at it very soon.

Preface: After struggling with 2nl FR, and spending only around 1k hands at 2nl 6max, I moved the other part of my roll to PS which gave me 30BI for 5nl 6max.

For some reason, PokerTracker is missing around 400 hands and 2 of the BI that I won, so my real total is around $85 for 7k hands. I also got a $25 bonus from PS for hitting 100 FPP's which isn't included either.

Overall, I had a win-rate of around 12ptBB/100 which I am ecstatic about. The funny thing is that I know I could have done better and made many mistakes along the way.

Here are my stats and graphs:







I can tend to get Laggy at times and will start abusing the CO/BTN, which comes back to haunt me. I would like to get my PFR closer to my VPIP, more like 19/17.

One thing that really clicked for me, was on IRC when swiggidy was saying that many times it going to be better to bet/fold rather than check/call when you are out of position or when an obvious draw comes in but you still think that you have the best hand. This had both saved me and made me a lot of BB's in profit, especially against the slowplaying guys at 5nl. So many times I've made a half-pot sized bet when the flush comes in and then just call and check the river, allowing me to check behind and get to showdown cheaply when in position. And if they raise me on the turn, I can pretty easily dump my hand.


Favorite hand of 5nl:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($3.54)
Hero (MP) ($7.34)
CO ($6.95)
Button ($12.66)
SB ($9.99)
BB ($22.04)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 8, 9
UTG raises to $0.10, Hero calls $0.10, CO calls $0.10, 1 fold, SB calls $0.08, BB calls $0.05

Flop: ($0.50) 6, 5, 4 (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks, CO checks

Turn: ($0.50) 7 (5 players)
SB bets $0.30, BB calls $0.30, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2, 1 fold, SB raises to $6, BB calls $5.70, Hero raises to $7.24 (All-In), SB calls $1.24, BB calls $1.24

River: ($22.22) 4 (3 players, 1 all-in)
SB bets $2.65 (All-In), BB calls $2.65

Total pot: $27.52 | Rake: $1.30

Results:
SB had 8, A (straight, eight high).
BB had 8, 3 (straight, eight high).
Hero had 8, 9 (straight, nine high).
Outcome: SB won $2.55, BB won $2.55, Hero won $21.12


Let me know what you guys think, and what you can see from my stats. I know the sample size is a little small, but any thoughts would be much appreciated!

In reference to the above hand, all I have to say is

Not once did these two idiots consider their 8-high straight was no good. Fucking micro stakes... gotta love it.

Nice stats by the way. Keep up the good work!

I love these hands when villians are thinking
"This guy's an idiot. We all have and 8 and it gonna be a split"

Congrats on moving up.

lol you're like super aggro since you make more money in non-showdown pots than showdown pots

honestly may not be the best strategy

Originally Posted by iopq

lol you're like super aggro since you make more money in non-showdown pots than showdown pots

honestly may not be the best strategy

I would agree, I probably need to tone it down. I've gotten coolered a lot recently though, which would explain some of the discrepancy. Its been so profitable to cbet against these players though, that its hard not to bet when they are going to fold most of the time.

I know I need to tighten up a bit. I've cut down on my stealing recently too, which has helped tone down my aggression.

I say keep taking what the table lets you and adjust when they won't.

Looks great. This is positionally power poker at its best. Maybe you can improve your BB game. Weak/tight BB image is not good in 6 max.

Congrats

Originally Posted by Sir Pawnalot

Maybe you can improve your BB game.

Yeah, I can't quite get used to playing in the BB. I get stuck in weird positions with big cards when there are a bunch of limpers. If I check, I basically have to flop really strong to get to showdown, but if I raise it up I either get all calls or all folds. I also try to avoid playing big pots OOP if I can.

I'm usually okay if its the BTN/CO limping and SB completing, i'll raise it an extra BB to discourage multiple calls, but my BB play is definitely something I need to investigate and work on.

Originally Posted by mieczkowusc

Originally Posted by iopq

lol you're like super aggro since you make more money in non-showdown pots than showdown pots

honestly may not be the best strategy

I would agree, I probably need to tone it down. I've gotten coolered a lot recently though, which would explain some of the discrepancy. Its been so profitable to cbet against these players though, that its hard not to bet when they are going to fold most of the time.

I know I need to tighten up a bit. I've cut down on my stealing recently too, which has helped tone down my aggression.

Don't cut down on stealing for the sake of 'toning down' aggression if you can get away with it. That red line could seriously change course over the next 5K hands and on. 6000ish hands isn't quite the largest sample to begin with in the first place.

my bb/100 is a little over 10 in a sample of 41,000 hands before i moved up to 0.05/0.10 but i have a very conservative bankroll system and also i play full ring games rather than 6max so our numbers might vary a bit... my stats are somewhere in the thread...

i will respond with my own favorite hand as well...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($9.20)
Hero (BB) ($23)
UTG ($2)
UTG+1 ($2.80)
MP1 ($5.45)
MP2 ($6.10)
CO ($10.85)
Button ($1.85)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J, Q
UTG calls $0.10, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.10, CO calls $0.10, 1 fold, SB calls $0.05, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.50) 10, 9, 8 (5 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.40, 1 fold, MP2 raises to $1, CO calls $1, 1 fold, Hero raises to $3, MP2 raises to $6 (All-In), CO calls $5, Hero raises to $22.90 (All-In), CO calls $4.75 (All-In)

Turn: ($28) 8 (3 players, 3 all-in)

River: ($28) J (3 players, 3 all-in)

Total pot: $28 | Rake: $1.40

Results:
Hero had J, Q (straight, Queen high).
MP2 had 6, 7 (straight, Jack high).
CO mucked J, 6 (two pair, Jacks and eights).
Outcome: Hero won $26.60

That's pretty cool man. Congrats.

I have yet to try 6max.. I feel like it's a different game and I'd be starting from the bottom again because in 6max the range of hands you can play increases dramatically, right?

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

Originally Posted by mieczkowusc

Originally Posted by iopq

lol you're like super aggro since you make more money in non-showdown pots than showdown pots

honestly may not be the best strategy

I would agree, I probably need to tone it down. I've gotten coolered a lot recently though, which would explain some of the discrepancy. Its been so profitable to cbet against these players though, that its hard not to bet when they are going to fold most of the time.

I know I need to tighten up a bit. I've cut down on my stealing recently too, which has helped tone down my aggression.

Don't cut down on stealing for the sake of 'toning down' aggression if you can get away with it. That red line could seriously change course over the next 5K hands and on. 6000ish hands isn't quite the largest sample to begin with in the first place.

This is true, but his showdown line is pretty low too so he's definitely just blasting every street getting worse to fold
he says he's getting coolered, but maybe he would benefit from pot controlling sometimes
it's easy to say you're getting coolered when you are outkicked and lose a big pot with top pair, but can you make adjustments to your game so that maybe you still lose, but now it's a smaller pot?

nh

Originally Posted by iopq

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

Originally Posted by mieczkowusc

Originally Posted by iopq

lol you're like super aggro since you make more money in non-showdown pots than showdown pots

honestly may not be the best strategy

I would agree, I probably need to tone it down. I've gotten coolered a lot recently though, which would explain some of the discrepancy. Its been so profitable to cbet against these players though, that its hard not to bet when they are going to fold most of the time.

I know I need to tighten up a bit. I've cut down on my stealing recently too, which has helped tone down my aggression.

Don't cut down on stealing for the sake of 'toning down' aggression if you can get away with it. That red line could seriously change course over the next 5K hands and on. 6000ish hands isn't quite the largest sample to begin with in the first place.

it's easy to say you're getting coolered when you are outkicked and lose a big pot with top pair, but can you make adjustments to your game so that maybe you still lose, but now it's a smaller pot?

I haven't been getting coolered in the sense of being outkicked, its been a few set over sets, KK<AA preflop, and 2nd nut straights (where we both have the guts).

I'm definitely not saying I am perfect in what I am doing; this is exactly why I posted in the first place. I'll try and find some of my more routine hands and post them up here for people to see.

I think the adjustments iopq was hinting at was being more selective with your aggression postlfop. You might not check behind as often as you should to keep the pot size down, and I think your won$atSD is a bit low so you're probably building pots for your villian to much. BTW what type of hands are you calling 3-bets with? That # seems high to me.

Originally Posted by Sir Pawnalot

Looks great. This is positionally power poker at its best. Maybe you can improve your BB game. Weak/tight BB image is not good in 6 max.

I think asking for positive value from both of the blinds is a little much. It shocked me a little bit to see that OP is a winner in the small blind overall. Given the sample set, I think it's just a big hand or two in the SB.

A lot of the talk in this thread about toning down aggression may be right about these limits. But if you're comfortable playing this agro here, then when you move up in stakes it will be a lot easier. .2/.5 isn't that different, 10nl is a little, 25nl seems to be a hump for everyone, and I think that's where you start to need the agro.

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

BTW what type of hands are you calling 3-bets with? That # seems high to me.

It depends on what I am opening, my position and the size of the 3bet. If the 3bet is small and I am in position, I'll call with the upper part of my suited opening range and try to flop a strong draw to attempt to get it in on the flop (which usually results in the other person folding the flop).

OOP, I'll usually only call with pp's when the correct implied odds are there.

I also think part of the reason that stat is so high, is because when people min 3bet me, I am inclined to call with a wide range simply because their range is often so polarized (either complete air, big pairs, AK, or AQs) that it becomes very easy to play against.

I think that one of my problems has to be with my bet sizing. I am probably not getting the most amount of value out of my hands by not checking through, or by betting slightly too large.

Also, I don't know if this would make a difference to any of the stats, but I don't use a HUD when I play.

Originally Posted by mieczkowusc

(especially Stacks for suggesting I try 6max, although I doubt he remembers).

I can haz thread win?

Congrat miecz.. Good luck.