Quote Originally Posted by ApocalypseCow
First of all, I don't have anything "new" to contribute but I think this thread is great, Chopper and I really am learning a lot about my play, even if it's by proxy. Your posts are always informative, but this thread is a really good idea. Thanks!
thanks. i was a bit worried how this may go, but it looks like its filling a hole nicely. no questions to dumb. fire away when you think of one.


andrew,

- a cbet is designed to do that (test the waters), but MORE often it is designed to take the pot when it likely missed your opponent, too. cbet bet sizing is extremely important, imo. you need to know the percentages of profitability. for example, a full pot bet needs to get a fold around 50% of the time to show a profit. but, a smaller bet needs to work less than 50%. you risk less with smaller cbets, but increase your chances of getting them called/raised. there in lies the balance, and why sizing them is so critical.

i may bump a relatively recent thread tomorrow, if i dont forget, about cbet sizing and the math to figure profitability.

- PT purchase. there is another thread running right now about why to buy it. i think its "PT-definitive answer" or something like that. read that, too.

when to buy it is a personal thing. i pulled the trigger as fast as my bankroll allowed without forcing me down a level. that way it was basically free. i think i did that at 25NL, though, because i was rather aggressive early on in moving up. i only used 10 BIs back in the day. kind of stupid today, imo. most use 20+. but, as you saw, i use 30.

that said, i would spring for it sooner, if i were you. i sat on a 5NL table last night and got 3 of the 6 to admit they had it. i made 4 (they didnt know that)...so, i estimate that HALF of lower stakes players, or more, have it now. that CAN be a large disadvantage, imo. others will disagree, and i encourage you to read their comments, too. they are sprinkled all over FTR.

- HUD stats are a different story. i "focus" rather heavily on them, myself, but they are in NO WAY a replacement for an actual read. i just cant see the villains "lick their oreos" like live play...Rounders reference. however, i can get a GENERIC idea of how someone's range compares to mine. and that helps me start making a read. aggression lets me know what to possibly expect as a hand goes on. do i bet the flop? do i cbet? do i steal his blinds? are they doing that to me?

but, thats about it for HUDs, imo. they only get you started, and CANNOT replace a true read that you see and take note of. plenty of players here dont even use one anymore, but most that multi-table are still using it. they just may not use it as much as they did when they first got it.

- AK/AQ. man, thats tough. they give me trouble, too. some will say to 3bet with them. others only call raises. others shove them. i do a little of all three, but at lower stakes...and i make a mistake here...i generally call a raise. i want to see a flop. AK and AQ are pretty much crap, for me, when they miss and i face aggression. i had serious troubles with AK early on in my "career." i really overplayed it post flop. and, since i call and wait to hit, it has come back around. but, i can tell you that is a mistake. i just havent figured out HOW to fix it. its just that its profitable for me, and it didnt used to be. so, i leave well enough alone.

- winrates. anything positive is a good thing. seriously. its better than you think because the rake, at these levels, is tearing you apart already for about 4-6 bbs/100. but, you can beat these stakes rather easily with fundamental pre flop play. play ok post flop and you should be hitting double digits. at least thats my standard through 10NL. but, as i have mentioned, variance is a bitch. and, it can occur for looooong stretches. hence, my graphs above. if you can sustain a 5 bb/100, you can say safely you are beating any microstake game. your measurement needs to be over 15k hands...minimum. but, i like 20-25K there, personally. by then you will see your bankroll telling you its time to move up in most cases.

- i'll tell you anything you want to know. and, i'll tell you if i am not the guy, too. so, keep firing...i only charge $500/hr. just kidding.