Poker Room Redemption...finally

OK, just some rambling about my $25NL Poker Room adventures the past few weeks. So the first 5k hands I managed a very frustrating 4.5BB/100 win rate. If I had a PP, I never hit my set on the flop...and I am getting PP's at a "normal rate" per PT, but the problem is AA, KK, QQ and JJ have been WAY below average and 88, 77, 55, 44 have been WAY above average. And the few times I did hit my set, nobody wanted any action. Completely sucked. And when I did get AA, KK, or QQ, I either got no action or somebody called me with trash and they hit their flop and stacked me. I even folded a hand post flop that would have ended up being runner runner Royal Flush (it was the right move...just added to my frustration). I was starting to doubt my game and was thinking about quiting after I was done clearing my bonus. However, things have turned around and the donks are no longer hitting every draw conceivable on me. So the last 2.5k hands I am running 30BB/100 and am at 11BB/100 overall now. That was my normal win rate on PS so I am feeling much better about it now....lessons learned:

1. Keep playing your game and the donks WILL pay you off in the long run.
2. Don't play scared, it will cost you $$. I folded 55 to a 5xBB raise because I was so down on PP's and "I never hit my set on the flop". Well, flop was 5 8 A. The raiser took down a rather large pot with AQ...would have won $30 - $40 on that hand had I stayed in. Play your game and stick to it!
3. Read betting patterns and the board against donks--don't lock yourself into thinking they will call pf raises with a narrow range of hands (like "good players" do). In other words, there is no point trying to put them on a specific hands pf because it could be anything. For example, I just had KK at CO, raised pf 6x, got called by 2 players. Flop was Q 9 4 rainbow. Checked to me, Bet 2/3 pot, fold and call, 8h (now 2 hearts on board). Checked, Bet 2/3 pot, call 9c. Villian goes all-in. Uh oh, does he have TJ? Doubt it because they usually raise once they hit their draw. A 9 is a possibility...nah, I put him on a Q rag and called. Flips 23 of hearts. Wow, even better than I thought....wtf? Had I given villian credit for being "a solid player", I would have put him on TJ sooted, 9T sooted or a PP (boat) and folded.

OK, enough rambling for now...

I feel every bit of your frustration there.....

I have been burned so many times that I get gunshy about pulling the trigger.

BTW, I have moved a good part of my roll to Hold'em Poker to clear a bonus, so my handle there is cardsman1974 instead of cardsman1992. We have played together quite a few times recently. I am not seeing anything out of line from you. Keep it up and it will come around (as it has)...

Is there anything you are noticing in my play that might help me out?

Originally Posted by cardsman1992

I feel every bit of your frustration there.....

I have been burned so many times that I get gunshy about pulling the trigger.

BTW, I have moved a good part of my roll to Hold'em Poker to clear a bonus, so my handle there is cardsman1974 instead of cardsman1992. We have played together quite a few times recently. I am not seeing anything out of line from you. Keep it up and it will come around (as it has)...

Is there anything you are noticing in my play that might help me out?

Is your handle cardsman1974 on PR also? If so, sorry for ignoring you...I am also playing 3-4 tables at a time so I don't chat much and miss most messages because I am flipping between tables to watch the action (and get better reads) when I am not in a hand. Well, assuming cardsman1974 isyour handle...I just reviewed PT and the only input I would have is on two hands 420954922...I wouldn't call a bet that strong with 2 overs only. Just fold it and wait for a better opportunity. And the other is on hand 420851056...with that flop I wouldn't bet it that hard. I have found that a .50 bet works just as well to find out whether he's got the goods or not. If you bet that big, you commit yourself too much and then you could lose big (like you did). The .50 bet accomplishes many things: He will fold if he's got no draw or no flush...there is no point in making an overbet to rep the goods. He will raise if he's got the draw or flush. Call means slow play so check the next street. Would have saved yourself a buy-in if you had played it that way...same goes for any paired board. I have found that this works great on the levels we play...may not work in other levels though.

Nah, it's cardsman1992 on Pokerroom, cardsman1974 on Holdem Poker. They are skins and share the same tables.

Thanks for the input. I will look at those hands specifically.....

Originally Posted by cardsman1992

Current Bankroll: $774
Goal: $1200 by my birthday (May 9)

Heh, you didn't specify what year

Definitely missing it this year. Maybe I meant 2009.....

LOL

You play on PR too? If you don't, come over so we can heckle you...