Player review and suggestions? (long)

Hi all

I've been lurking ftr for a while, and have gratuitously taken in all the information on the site I could, as well as the no-limit section of super system and a couple other poker books. I figure that since i've been trying to play good poker from what i've read, i should eventually post some stats etc. and ask opinions.

I just set up a new OS and forgot to turn HH on, but for now I would appreciate any comments on my general play based on PTR's stats.

You can find me here --> www. pokertableratings .c*m/fulltilt-player-search/daemix <-- (replace * with 'o', remove spaces)

I will try to describe how I think I am playing, and hopefully that will match what is seen above.

Generally will open only big hands (KQ+ JJ+) with a raise early, but will call most any pocket pair if the table isn't too aggressive pre. Will call most suited connectors (65s+) mid position, as well as opening a bit looser (maybe AT+ 99+) with a raise, still calling low pockets. Will call a small raise with most pockets 55+ (only if raiser has a decent stack), will reraise with big hands between 2x or 3x other raise. Will open much more loosely late, (usually better than Q8+ 55+ unless blinds are loose), will call small raise TJ+, will reraise big hands. On the flop usually if I think I have the best hand I put a bet of 2/3 the pot or so, but will vary depending on number of opps.

On the flop, I almost always bet if I was the raiser pre, unless AQ etc. misses completely and there are lots of people to act behind. I almost always throw away low/med. pockets unless a set comes. Likewise, suited connectors are folded without a good straight and/or flush draw, but I will semi-bluff a strong draw.

Turn and river play varies, but follows the same trend of putting a big bet/raise if I think i currently have the best hand.

Since 'Take 2' is happening on full tilt I have started playing a lot of $2NL cash games (all my bankroll supports, lost a lot to the $3 sng's). I will try and follow up with a session's worth of hand histories.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and I would be sure to give most suggestions a try. As it is I am only just a break-even or slightly negative over the last 10 sessions, which is somewhat what inspired me to make this post. Hopefully something good will come of it and I'm not drawing dead here =P.

Thanks

3k hands is not a big sample
also what were you doing at 10NL without having played 5nl

I think the fact that you're actually able to generalise your game to such an extent and describe it inc3 paragraphs pretty much proves you're bad.

Like seriously:

On the flop, I almost always bet if I was the raiser pre, unless AQ etc. misses completely and there are lots of people to act behind. I almost always throw away low/med. pockets unless a set comes

The fact you c bet every single board unless you are multiway with air is pretty awful. I mean you may be able to still beat 10NL this way, but it's a pretty rigid and exploitable leak as you move up.

Also say you're on the button and call a CO open with 88 the flop comes, T 5 2 dry: It's also pretty awful you fold to a bet here almost always without a set given you're usually way ahead of his range.

Read the digest (if you haven't already) and read it again if you have.

Start putting your opponent on a range instead of going: "ohhh I always bet fwops wiv anything as pre flop raiser so I willz bet here imo"

Your sample size of the last ten sessions is pretty irrelevant although I'd expect you're struggling and will continue to until you start to get reads on your opponent and think in terms of ranges and sepcific situations where your auto "strategy play" will not be the most +EV.

If you have the spare cash, join a video training site as you'll see how winning players actually think and that they take every spot into it's own deserved scrutiny.

Goal 1: Realise you suck

Gl to you sir.

Reading this makes me realize how far I've come in the past year because I used to do some of the exploitable, stupid, -EV plays you seem to be doing. But you've come to the right place. I climbed out of 10nl in a single month once I started posting here. You can too. It just takes hard work and discipline.

And don't get me wrong here, but S/S isn't really the greatest NLHE literature out there IMO. It was at one time, but things have changed since Doyle was traveling back and forth from Texas to Nevada in the 1970s. It was and still is perfect for attacking loose-passive fish who can actually fold but I've found this book gets beginners into trouble. Expand your reading to TOP, SSH, HOCG and stickies here on FTR, 2p2, etc.

Like Carroters said, goal one is realizing that you suck. It's the hardest part. Don't worry though, we all suck here. It's just different levels of suckage.

carroters nailed this. The fact that you mentioned what you do based on your pocket holdings and not the game, table or board dynamics, nor made any mention of your opponents tendencies, means your still playing at level 0. You asked the right question but will you take the advice or take offense.

Thanks for the replies. So far what you guys have said is exactly what i wanted (save iopq =P, 10nl was before i knew anything about bankroll management, which is why i only played 30 hands and then realized i should stop).

I reread my post and noticed that I didn't do a very good job of describing my play besides my own cards. I am always watching what is happening on the tables and adjusting my play according to hands i've seen opponents show down in the past. Usually I have a friend come play w/ me in my room and we watch eachother's tables and talk about what kind ranges opponents are playing. More often then not one or both of us are correct as to knowing if we're beat or if we have the best hand. This is what i meant when i said 'if i think i have the best hand', as in I am playing my opponent's cards and observed style (tight or loose, aggressive or passive, will he call me to the river? etc.) as well as my own.

I'm not sure if i can post a whole session or part of a session in a more readable/condensed form, but if I can I wouldn't mind doing that.

What is the digest and where can i find it? I will consider finding a copy of hocg and ssh (i might have them already, haven't read either though), and I have read almost all the ftr stickies. I don't really have any extra money to put towards videos or personal instructor, as much as I feel that would benefit me. So far poker is just a hobby but if it comes such that I end up making a bit of profit I wouldn't hesitate to put that towards more formal instruction.

As for the 88, I would play them in that situation. I was trying to be quite general in my orig. post because i wanted to go to sleep, but there are of course exceptions.

So, how can i condense hand histories to make them suitable for posting?

Thanks

Sounds like you play rather haphazard. Sometimes you have to go with the flow. If you are a on a run and hitting, then dont fold right away. Dont be afaid to check raise or trap.