$2NL is getting pretty old now

I am starting this blog to hopefully document my progress from $2NL 9Max to $5NL 9Max! For various reasons, I have been "grinding" for a couple of years without ever moving up. (1 reason is I suck). So I am going to grind my way up to $5NL (cant be that hard right?)

I deposited $20 on pokerstars a few days ago, am super skint and cant afford put ANY more money on stars so am just going to grind with this. Am currently sat at about $35 after a heater and the first day, however I noticed how shit I was playing on the days after. So took it back old school today and playing 1 table for about an hour and concentrated on my note taking and decision making. It helped quite a lot though I dont think I have the patience to 1 table $2NL 9Max for long.

I am going to posting hands here and in the BC, going to hopefully try to become more active in the BC as there are a lot of better players in there than me, and will help my game massively

Lets do this

Both Villains in the hand were fish,
UTG - Limped KK in SB, and bet called a raise on three streets without shipping. Aswell as limping with shit other hands.
UTG1 - Limped Ac6s in SB, called three streets 4cQh8c5cQd.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) - PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($5.75)
BB ($1)
UTG ($0.88)
UTG+1 ($0.84)
MP1 ($1.96)
MP2 ($2.21)
MP3 ($2.33)
Hero (CO) ($2.15)
Button ($0.77)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A, Q
UTG calls $0.02, UTG+1 calls $0.02, MP1 calls $0.02, 2 folds, Hero bets $0.14, 3 folds, UTG calls $0.12, UTG+1 calls $0.12, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.47) Q, J, K (3 players)
UTG bets $0.18, UTG+1 calls $0.18, Hero calls $0.18

Turn: ($1.01) 6 (3 players)
UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero checks

River: ($1.01) 2 (3 players)
UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $1.01 | Rake: $0.04

Wasn't sure if I played the hand too cautious, if even if the flop call was correct.

BR UPDATE - $45.71

I'm going to move up to $5NL 9Max at $75 and move back down if I need to at $50. Lets get grinding.

Good luck moving to 5nl! Be ready to loosen up your game slightly as you move up through the stakes though.

Originally Posted by Weissr

Good luck moving to 5nl! Be ready to loosen up your game slightly as you move up through the stakes though.

Would like more info behind your reasoning? I would think a player would tend to tighten up a little when they move up a level. Safer to tighten up, but would be better to make sure you play your same game.

In general, as you move up, predictable play and lines work less and less. Villains are more sophisticated at reading hands/ranges and more creative with their betting lines. As a response, the standard nut-farming that crushes micro-stakes becomes more and more exploited.

That said, the differences between 2NL and 10NL are pretty subtle. The standard villain doesn't change much until 25NL. The switch up to 25NL is the first "tough" jump, as it's the lowest stakes that a competent player can earn a living wage, albeit meager.

With this in mind, I wouldn't change much in moving from 2NL to 5NL, as the villains are still mostly recreational fish. There will be more people like you who are trying to crush the game, so identify them and identify the fish and play each villain accordingly.

You'll still see "OMG WTF limp-call pre-flop on a 3-bet pot 3-handed from UTG then min-donk/fold on J65r flop" all too often.

Originally Posted by jaxpaboo

Would like more info behind your reasoning? I would think a player would tend to tighten up a little when they move up a level. Safer to tighten up, but would be better to make sure you play your same game.

What he said ^^^^^
Also, some higher stakes tables introduce antes which increase your pot odds to play more hands, or if tables are say deep stacked it gives you better implied odds to open up a bit. Also, players are more likely to be more table aware as you move up the stakes and will notice if you are being super tight; so you won't be able to get any action when you get a big hand. Hence the need to mix up your play a bit.

Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey

...the differences between 2NL and 10NL are pretty subtle....

hmmmm...all due respec' to 3M, but that's not my experience

2NL is like nothing else. moving to 5NL was quite the eye-opener.

5NL to 10NL not so much mebbe, but i wouldn't wanna move up thinking the only diff will be the $$$ amounts

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