The 2013 Diary of a Semi-LAG Tilt Monkey

Originally Posted by ImSavy

Have you tried playing for 60 minutes, then sitting out on the tables you are on and going to make a cup of tea or coffee. Just giving yourself a 5-10 minute break. Then getting back into it?

I'm tending to punctuate sessions with doing a few chores, which can take anywhere between 15-60 minutes. It would certainly be useful if a 5-10 minute break would do it though in terms of not having to fart about sitting down at new tables and it's something I'll test out. I'm also going to take up some of Jared Tendler's recent recommendations in the AMA, along with buying the new book.

Originally Posted by griffey24

A good way to ease the move up is to start with a few 50nl tables and the rest 25nl, if you think multi-staking at once won't mess you up.

Originally Posted by jyms

I've always disliked playing different stakes at the same time. I would just really reduce the tables for a day or two. Get a feel for the bet sizing. You'll already be making more VPP's as it is just playing half the tables.

I'm a bit of a control freak that likes structure and order, meaning multi-staking would mess me with me a little bit. I did drop the number of tables to four last night though and played a few hundred hands of scared, nitty money. I think this is the first stake where the money has felt meaningful and it's strange 3-betting light for an amount that would have represented a jam at 5nl a year or so ago. I'm sure I'll adjust quickly enough though.

Early indications at 50nl 6-max on Stars are that the regs are the next level of aggro (especially pre), but adjusting should be fairly straightforward (and I'll quickly get to know the regs that are to be avoided). I really wanted to jam in this spot in particular, as this was the second time in a row that villain had cold 4-bet the bb after I had 3-bet the nitty btn's open:

Hand 5

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - PokerStars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com

BB ($87.38)
UTG ($56.41)
MP ($17.11)
CO ($50)
Button ($21.75)
Hero (SB) ($58.42)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, 2
3 folds, Button bets $1.25, Hero raises to $4, BB raises to $11, 2 folds

Total pot: $9.25 | Rake: $0

Results below:

Spoiler: Show

BB didn't show

Hand 6

I was pleased with the way I played this hand and this was my first real adjustment to the aggression. I'd narrowed villain's range down to 77-88 and high cards by the river and felt he may well turn his hand into a bluff versus my weak-looking line (and versus my passive, nit image), without realising he reps nothing:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) - PokerStars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com

Button ($50)
SB ($31.99)
BB ($15.91)
Hero (UTG) ($68.11)
MP ($50)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, J
Hero bets $1.50, 2 folds, SB raises to $2.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $1

Flop: ($5.50) 3, 6, J (2 players)
SB bets $3.50, Hero calls $3.50

Turn: ($12.50) K (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($12.50) 5 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $3, SB raises to $25.99 (All-In), Hero calls $22.99

Total pot: $64.48 | Rake: $2.50

Results below:

Spoiler: Show

SB had 8, 8 (one pair, eights).
Hero had A, J (one pair, Jacks).
Outcome: Hero won $61.98

Hand 7

And finally, my first three-figure pot for posterity:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - PokerStars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com

Hero (SB) ($51)
BB ($52.08)
UTG ($50)
MP ($64)
CO ($24.10)
Button ($85.61)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, K
UTG bets $1.50, MP calls $1.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $6, 2 folds, MP calls $4.50

Flop: ($14) 5, 4, 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $7.50, MP raises to $21.68, Hero raises to $45 (All-In), MP calls $23.32

Turn: ($104) 2 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($104) 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $104 | Rake: $2.50

Results below:

Spoiler: Show

Hero had K, K (two pair, Kings and fours).
MP had A, Q (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: MP won $101.50