Operation: 25NL to Whatever

Dex,
I rreally appreciate the detailed analysis.

Originally Posted by Dex

...

Are the interuptions you had during making the video an indication that you often play stuck for time? If so, do you think that has an impact on the quality of your game?

No. Usually I play later in the day where there are fewer interruptions. I want to get this finished before going out of town. I did get interrupted a few times during the video but I kept going.

Originally Posted by Dex

...
The immediate hand after this was the Table 1 resident donkey minraising K3o, calling a 4x 3bet and bluffing badly.

After watching the video again I saw this.

Originally Posted by Dex

...
Table 2, 6:21/40:34 - You are reviewing a hand that happened between two villains at your table, good! Checking previous hand histories is a good habit to have, even if you're just looking to see what some recent hands were and not any hand in particular. You note that villain raised 87o, but from what position? That is a solid piece of information you missed....

Take better notes. I need to include villians position in my notes more. Dropping to two tables should help.

Originally Posted by Dex

...
Table 1, 33, 9:18/40:34 - You fold 33, saying you won't open it UTG. I'll refer you to the awesome sauce 123 "Super-Simple Guide to Beating Games Post-UIGEA". If you haven't read this before, read it. If you have read it, read it again. Open any pocket pair UTG, ESPECIALLY on what is a pretty tight table now. Raising UTG you get to rep a much bigger hand, whilst also having a disguised set.

I was opening small pps and was told to stop opening pp < 66. Against the tight table I should have.

Originally Posted by Dex

...
I was going to note that you aren't paying enough attention to the tables if you missed back to back quads between the same two players, but you went back and reviewed hand histories so that's awesome. Keep doing that, the quieter things are, the more you should be looking. The more information we have on players, the better we can play against them.

I was distracted at this time trying to find the Camtasia bar showing record time. Dropping to 2 tables should help.

Originally Posted by Dex

...
Table 1, As2s, 16:00/40:34 - You referred to IncredibleBud as a limper but he actually posted in the CO which isn't a sign of a good player. Limping in isn't awful, but given IncredibleBud posted and then checked, we can assume his hand isn't great. We know zergmiky isn't a super loose fish, so even though we're in the SB this isn't a bad spot to isolate raise over Bud's post because we're gonna pick up the post and blinds a lot of the time. You said "this is why I limp in, I don't usually hit" but remember that we make a lot of our value from times we don't hit too. Don't think about how often we hit as it won't have a positive effect on your game.

Sounds like good advice.

Originally Posted by Dex

...
Table 1, 19:59/40:34 - You still haven't changed this table, and you haven't adjusted to how tight it is either. You note that the table is nitty again but say you'll stay "just because". Why? If the table isn't good enough, find another one.

video was almost over and I needed to quit anyway.


I believe I will only play 2 tables for a while or not play at all. Last night was more of the same and I got so frustrated I couldn't even sleep.

I believe I will do alot more studying and alot less playing. for a while.

Any links to help with range studying?

Hey man, no worries. I've been reading FTR for a good few years now but only recently started posting, I'm glad to finally be contributing and offering something back. I can only hope you find some of it useful.

I still have the last 20 minutes of your video to write up, if you're interested I can throw that up sometime this weekend.

Dropping to two tables definitely sounds like it's going to help you concentrate, which gives you a better platform to work from. Watching your video there were spots that intuitively I knew what to do where you didn't, and this reminds me of a Marshall28 video I saw on Grinderschool a couple days ago. There were a couple of spots where villains were calling and then putting out quick blocking bets, and seeing Marshall28 instinctively know how to deal with them irrespective of his hand to win the pot really put things into perspective for me. A lot of what you and I are going to pick up playing poker isn't taught, it's learnt. So if dropping to two tables makes it easier for you to analyse, awesome, because through analysis and experience things become instinct.

As for ranges, I found Putting Together Ranges by IowaSkinsFan to be really well written.

One thing you could do while you play two tables is between the hands you play, watch some of the bigger hands developing. As well as taking notes, while the hands play out consider what the players might have. Did one of them raise preflop? What would someone call with pre vs a raise? How did that flop hit their ranges, what draws are now out? Did any of those draws complete on the turn? If you follow these kinds of steps regularly, it's going to become second nature, and that's the kind of thing only experience can teach you. A guide is, well, just a guide!

I don't know if you watch a lot of poker videos, but I found watching a good one before I play inspired me to play well, and hearing other people describe their thought processes and what was going on in a hand really helped me to do the same.

I give.

I need to quit for a while.

Hand 1

78/32/2 over 123

will not fold an A...ever

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (4 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (Button) ($10.34)
SB ($10.05)
BB ($21.26)
UTG ($14.42)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K, K
UTG bets $0.40, Hero raises to $1.20, 1 fold, BB calls $1.10, UTG calls $0.80

Flop: ($3.65) 6, 6, 7 (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $2.50, BB calls $2.50, 1 fold

Turn: ($8.65) 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $6.64 (All-In), BB calls $6.64

River: ($21.93) 8 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $21.93 | Rake: $1

Results below:
Hero had K, K (two pair, Kings and sixes).
BB had A, 5 (straight, nine high).
Outcome: BB won $20.93

Hand 2

same villian as above

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($9.90)
BB ($6.56)
UTG ($10.30)
MP ($31.69)
CO ($13.28)
Button ($5.29)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, K
UTG calls $0.10, MP bets $0.45, CO calls $0.45, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.40, BB calls $0.35, UTG calls $0.35

Flop: ($2.25) 2, Q, 9 (5 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks, MP bets $2.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $6, 2 folds, MP raises to $31.24 (All-In), Hero calls $3.45 (All-In)

Turn: ($21.15) A (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($21.15) 3 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $21.15 | Rake: $1.41

Results below:
Hero had Q, K (one pair, Queens).
MP had A, A (three of a kind, Aces).
Outcome: MP won $19.74

I stopped after these two for about 30 minutes

Hand 3

20/18/1.5

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (4 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($11.12)
Hero (Button) ($10)
SB ($19.79)
BB ($9.30)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 2, 2
UTG bets $0.35, Hero calls $0.35, 2 folds

Flop: ($0.85) 5, 2, 6 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.60, UTG raises to $1.80, Hero raises to $9.65 (All-In), UTG calls $7.85

Turn: ($20.15) 7 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($20.15) Q (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $20.15 | Rake: $1

Results below:
Hero had 2, 2 (three of a kind, twos).
UTG had K, A (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: UTG won $19.15

Other recent hands

Hand 4

64/31/5

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($6.25)
UTG ($6.79)
MP ($2.55)
CO ($12)
Button ($10)
Hero (SB) ($15)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, A
4 folds, Hero bets $0.30, BB calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.60) 10, 5, K (2 players)
Hero checks, BB checks

Turn: ($0.60) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.50, BB calls $0.50

River: ($1.60) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $2, BB raises to $5.45 (All-In), Hero calls $3.45

Total pot: $12.50 | Rake: $0.83

Results below:
Hero had A, A (one pair, Aces).
BB had 10, K (two pair, Kings and tens).
Outcome: BB won $11.67

Hand whatever

39/0/1.3

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (UTG) ($12.12)
MP ($2.42)
CO ($10.94)
Button ($11.68)
SB ($12.49)
BB ($10.15)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, Q
Hero bets $0.40, MP calls $0.40, 1 fold, Button calls $0.40, 2 folds

Flop: ($1.35) A, Q, J (3 players)
Hero bets $1, MP raises to $2.02 (All-In), 1 fold, Hero calls $1.02

Turn: ($5.39) J (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($5.39) 9 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $5.39 | Rake: $0.35

Results below:
Hero had A, Q (two pair, Aces and Queens).
MP had J, K (three of a kind, Jacks).
Outcome: MP won $5.04

Hand "tons of outs"

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (4 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($3.78)
BB ($10.48)
Hero (UTG) ($11.76)
Button ($10)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 10, J
Hero bets $0.30, 2 folds, BB calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.65) 7, 2, 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.40, BB calls $0.40

Turn: ($1.45) 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.70, BB calls $0.70

River: ($2.85) 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $2.85 | Rake: $0.19

Results below:
BB had A, 5 (one pair, sevens).
Hero had 10, J (one pair, sevens).
Outcome: BB won $2.66

KK<AA
KK<99
KK<QQ
AA<AT
etc
etc

Only 5k hands for January but the trend continues.

Final stats for a while.





Button?





When I hit a set it was mostly with AA

misclicked the flop in hand 4?

Sorry, man. Are you still on FullTilt?

Originally Posted by clvacva

misclicked the flop in hand 4?

No. villian had aggro of 5. I was c/r-ing

Originally Posted by Jason

Sorry, man. Are you still on FullTilt?

Yes. I actually like the interface better than PS now that I'm used to it. I've even been able to find soft tables but it takes a little more work.

Still looks like a lot of open limping is going on which negates a lot of your fold equity and therefore makes your bets less effective in the long run. I'm back at school and I'd be willing to do a team viewer session any time except Tuesdays. If you're still interested let me know. I have MSN, skype, and xfire in terms of IM/voicechat programs.

Originally Posted by Sasquach991

Originally Posted by Jason

Sorry, man. Are you still on FullTilt?

Yes. I actually like the interface better than PS now that I'm used to it. I've even been able to find soft tables but it takes a little more work.

I'm trying not to repeat myself and correct me if I'm wrong, but you went from a nice, slow, yet steady upswing of profits playing $10NL 6max on Stars and have in VERY short order come to the point where you can't win @ $25NL or $10NL 6max and are considering quitting. There are ONLY two variables that I can see in the difference between when you were winning and losing - you moved up stakes and changed sites. You may not think those make much of a difference, but I think they make a HUGE difference. I am currently a LOSER on my laptop. I use the same site, same software, and same EVERYTHING as my desktop that I can, but it has taken me a while to adjust because it's different. I can't see the same number of tables, I'm always in a different physical location in public when I play with varying degrees of distractions, I don't play the same number of tables, and the list goes on. I'm still in the red a bit, but on the upswing. I feel strongly I will be a winner on my laptop long-term and it's +EV, but it is taking time because all those variables add up and cause us to either tilt in various ways or simply not be at our best.

Moving up ALONE is a tough transition to make. There is no guarantee any of us will move up and win at the next stake. Moving sites alone is a MAJOR change to deal with no matter if you like the new site or not. Perhaps you wouldn't have won on PokerStars @ $25NL either, but if you are STILL not winning @ $10NL, why not go back to Stars? Is it because of the bonus? I'd hate to see you lose interest in playing or not succeed, but I have thought about all these issues in my own game, so I feel I can relate to the variables. Even though I am currently winning @ Full Tilt, it is only marginal compared to what I am able to do @ Stars. I find it surprising you don't see a difference and actually like it better than Stars - especially when contrasting it all against the backdrop of the recent results.

If you really like FullTilt, you can always go back, but I think you should focus on finding your bearings first. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Donachello

Still looks like a lot of open limping is going on which negates a lot of your fold equity and therefore makes your bets less effective in the long run. I'm back at school and I'd be willing to do a team viewer session any time except Tuesdays. If you're still interested let me know. I have MSN, skype, and xfire in terms of IM/voicechat programs.

Is calling an open from SB and BB considered open limping? If so then I do this alot with pp, sc<QJ.

I have Teamviewer and Skype. I don't have MSN but we could connect via IRC and go from there. That's what I did with m2m a while back.

Originally Posted by Jason

I'm trying not to repeat myself and correct me if I'm wrong, but you went from a nice, slow, yet steady upswing of profits playing $10NL 6max on Stars and have in VERY short order come to the point where you can't win @ $25NL or $10NL 6max and are considering quitting.

Maybe I phrased it wrong. I'm not quitting but I really need to take a break which is why I said "for a while".

Originally Posted by Jason

There are ONLY two variables that I can see in the difference between when you were winning and losing - you moved up stakes and changed sites. You may not think those make much of a difference, but I think they make a HUGE difference. I am currently a LOSER on my laptop. I use the same site, same software, and same EVERYTHING as my desktop that I can, but it has taken me a while to adjust because it's different. I can't see the same number of tables, I'm always in a different physical location in public when I play with varying degrees of distractions, I don't play the same number of tables, and the list goes on. I'm still in the red a bit, but on the upswing. I feel strongly I will be a winner on my laptop long-term and it's +EV, but it is taking time because all those variables add up and cause us to either tilt in various ways or simply not be at our best.

I essentially have FT set up exactly like I did at PS. That's what I did while waiting for PS to send me the money.

Originally Posted by Jason

Moving up ALONE is a tough transition to make. There is no guarantee any of us will move up and win at the next stake. Moving sites alone is a MAJOR change to deal with no matter if you like the new site or not. Perhaps you wouldn't have won on PokerStars @ $25NL either, but if you are STILL not winning @ $10NL, why not go back to Stars? Is it because of the bonus? I'd hate to see you lose interest in playing or not succeed, but I have thought about all these issues in my own game, so I feel I can relate to the variables. Even though I am currently winning @ Full Tilt, it is only marginal compared to what I am able to do @ Stars. I find it surprising you don't see a difference and actually like it better than Stars - especially when contrasting it all against the backdrop of the recent results.
If you really like FullTilt, you can always go back, but I think you should focus on finding your bearings first. Good luck.

How do I focus on finding my bearings and not lose my ass in the meantime? Moving back to PS? I feel confortable playing at FTP now except for losing almost every session.

I'm really staying at FTP for the bonus. If I could just play break even poker for a few months at FTP then it would be very profitable between RB and bonus. I planned on moving back to PS after I clear the bonus. If it were RB alone I wouldn't stay. The rake at PS is much lower than FTP and not really worth the RB you get. Rake at PS is $0.05 per dollar up to 50NL but at FTP it's $0.15 per dollar for 10NL and $0.20 per dollar for 25NL. So yes it's the bonus. Am I wrong to stay?

Before every session I open hands from the previous session and practice ranges for an hour and use pokerstove. If I run out of hands I go back to previous sessions.

I agree with Jason that moving sites can own your soul. I changed sites and started using a different laptop with HEM instead of mac and Poker Copilot and I broke even at 10nl FR for 40k hands. It's a tough transition, but I'm starting to get my game back.

You're caught between a rock and a hard place. Unfortunately, the clock is ticking on the bonus, so I guess wherever it's best to play is best to play regardless. If the bonus and rakeback make it better, so be it. From my perspective though, PokerStars had your profits graph moving Northeast and FullTilt has it moving Southeast and I don't know if there's enough rakeback and bonus to offset that plus don't forget you're getting bonuses and now stellar rewards on PokerStars.

I'm glad you feel good about your FullTilt set-up, but WINNING is a very key component, so don't underestimate it Personally I am NOT comfortable yet. I'd really like to know how players get used to taking notes on FullTilt versus PokerStars - not being able to double click the player in the hand replayer to take notes is infuriating. Not being able to select a player's name and copy it to a fish list or to bring up that player's notes when they leave the table. Or maybe there are ways to do all that and I just don't know. I could go on and on about the software differences, but I digress ...

One more thought: the tables play faster on FullTilt. If you're used playing 6 tables on Stars, you should probably only play 5 Tilt to get a similar experience.

On the other hand, if you really like FullTilt better and you're having fun there, that probably trumps win-rate or anything else. Since you're already taking a little break, I'd just advise you to do a little soul searching and figure out where you think you'll be a winner short term and long term and also where you think you'll have the most fun. You can play at one site or split time as needed. Good luck turning it around.

Maybe I should move back to PS but I don't know. I may make a deposit on PS and play there some.

I did notice the tables play faster. Even tables that have the same hands per hour as PS seem to play faster at FT. I usually play 3 tables and I am on the waiting list for several more and drop tables as the vpip drops which seems to happen fairly quickly.

I played in the FTR500 on FT last night and ended up 23rd out of about 100 players. Of course it paid 18 places but I enjoyed it.

I believe I've decided to move back to PS.

I never deposited the last $100 as planned so my BR was $700 instead of $800 at FT.

My BR is now at $320.

If I take away RB and Bonus my BR is $90.

I believe my confidence at FT and poker in general is gone.

So I will cashout completely at FT and deposit at PS and take a break in the meantime.

I may start a new OP once I get back to PS. Thanks for all the help.

Originally Posted by Sasquach991

Is calling an open from SB and BB considered open limping? If so then I do this alot with pp, sc<QJ.
.

You should rarely be doing this at all. Your implied odds go ridiculously down OOP. I barely ever call OOP.

First of all I think you have a horrible poker attitude. You need help with that big time. I suffer from it too but have gotten a lot better. Fuck results, just try to play better. Here's the truth:

You aren't playing poker still. You're just nitting it up and playing set ranges. You are not adjusting to the table conditions. I know this because I used to do this. I mean right now I'm playing 20/17 and I feel like I am playing way too nitty and still folding some +EV situations.

Originally Posted by Sasquach991

Only 5k hands for January but the trend continues.

Final stats for a while.





Button?

I cbet more than you and am playing a lot looser. You should definitely be cbetting more if your range is so tight in the first place. That's simple theory.

A quick example of my positional stats:
UTG - 8.1/8.1
UTG+1 - 16.0/15.4
CO - 27.3/16.1
BU - 30.4/25.3


Your 3bet% should get up to around 6% as well. You seem to not 3bet light at all when I know for a fact there are tons of players at 25NL that will fold to them. You're missing out on a lot of +EV spots. I just don't think you are thinking about the game correctly yet. This is good though because you know you have leaks to fix.

On the bright side, PokerStars has a reload bonus plus their new Stellar rewards and modified VIP system which may or may not benefit your individual game relative to last year.

Continuing to work on your game will serve you well. And don't forget that you've been a consistent winner @ PS $10NL, so you should just be coming back to the office where you normally work and pay the poker bills so to speak. And, some wishful thinking, but it's not outside the realm of possibility that you could get things going on PokerStars again and possibly put a small amount back on Tilt and clear some more of the bonus because you have like 4 months. But, that would be a best case scenario - just take it one step at a time until you're on solid footing again. Good luck.

Originally Posted by kmind

First of all I think you have a horrible poker attitude. You need help with that big time. I suffer from it too but have gotten a lot better.

I agree. I'm pretty much sick of it... for now.

Originally Posted by kmind

Fuck results, just try to play better.

Suggesstions? I've been studying more than I ever have. I'm watching lots of videos, reading FTR articles, playing with Poker Stove, etc. but the results are staying the same. For the 4 months prior to coming to FT I never ever studied. I would review hand histories for 20 minutes and then play 1k hands. Sometimes I wouldn't even review hand histories. More importantly I was having fun.

Originally Posted by kmind

Here's the truth:
You aren't playing poker still. You're just nitting it up and playing set ranges. You are not adjusting to the table conditions. I know this because I used to do this. I mean right now I'm playing 20/17 and I feel like I am playing way too nitty and still folding some +EV situations.

Again, what do I do? I'm going to be broke if this continues. In 5 months I went from $60 to $800. In 3 weeks I went from $800 to $90 and I have no idea what I'm doing different other than switching sites and studying.
Please help me!!!

Originally Posted by kmind

I cbet more than you and am playing a lot looser. You should definitely be cbetting more if your range is so tight in the first place. That's simple theory.

A quick example of my positional stats:
UTG - 8.1/8.1
UTG+1 - 16.0/15.4
CO - 27.3/16.1
BU - 30.4/25.3


Your 3bet% should get up to around 6% as well. You seem to not 3bet light at all when I know for a fact there are tons of players at 25NL that will fold to them. You're missing out on a lot of +EV spots. I just don't think you are thinking about the game correctly yet. This is good though because you know you have leaks to fix.

I agree with everything you said except I'm not at 25NL.
When you are losing, what do YOU do?

I'm trying my best to find leaks. I have nitted up alot but what's the alternative? Play looser? That's what everyone is saying.

Do you think I should move back to PS or stay at FT?
I'm not going to play for a few days. What I am going to do is make another video. But this time I'm going to be reviewing hand histories for the last few days and use Pokerstove. I will try to do this today.

I still think one of the best things you can do is to do a sweat session and bounce rational off the person you are watching. Sometimes just talking out your thought process will help you realize where the mistakes in your own logic are. Like I said, I'm willing to do this now that I am back at school and I generally sit in the IRC while I play so look me up sometime.

u keep saying that you analyze hands and use pokerstove.
But you are not posting hands so how do you know your analysis is correct.
Maybe that is why you keep repeating the same mistakes

Originally Posted by Sasquach991

Only 5k hands for January but the trend continues.

Final stats for a while.

I'm not good enough to give great advice, but I've looked at a lot of stats, so.......

I would suggest folding to 3-bets more. I think 80% is recommended for the micros. You don't want to play big pots without premium hands, so fold all pairs under QQ to 3-bet, maybe QQ too, depending on reads. Fold anything worse than AKo.

I agree that you should up the 3-betting a little.

I think c-bet% looks fine.

Maybe you're too willing to play big pots because you're on a downswing. It's not just PF stats to consider, you should continue to play TAGG post-flop as well. Don't play big pots with avg. hands. It really doesn't take much profit to have a good winrate. Try to avoid good players and isolate the fishes, while keeping in mind that fish get monster hands too at times.

You might want to drop the small pocket pairs all together and quit set-hunting as much?


Button? Doesn't look so bad to me. It's definitely your loosest position by quite a bit, which is good right.

Originally Posted by Sasquach991

When you watch videos, do you learn anything or does it just seem standard?

Suggestions:
Fuck the studying for now. You're not understanding the concepts. You need to start actually experimenting. You need to play looser man. Start doing it but also try to understand WHY. Start cbetting a ton more and realize the best times. Fold to 3bets 3/4 of the time. Why? Because it's not exploitable really. Why? Do the maths.I don't really understand switching sites but if there's a bonus or something then boom by all means do it. When I am losing I leave my computer for awhile and talk to people. Then I realize wow wtf this is game is so profitable it was just shitty play from me or my opponent.

Here's a good way to open up more. Steal 100% on the BU when sb/bb is a nit. Isolate limps in position with any broadways+Axs+77+. Figure out how often these limpers fold to cbets and either cbet a shitload when they are tight or cbet only for value when they call a lot. 3bet CO opens more when you are on the BU. Also, 3bet bluff more vs. EP openers that are regs but open up around 18%+ that either fold a lot to 3bets or call a lot and fold to cbets in 3bet pots. Stop calling preflop if you can. Only call with 22-66 IP and if you have implied odds. Only call IP with SC if stacks are deepish and the opener is aggro postflop and A. he opens a bunch and we can make moves postflop or B. he's tight and we have implied odds. The only time we call OOP is if you have 77-QQ vs. EP opens. 3bet for value in the SB to BU opens. You can call more in BB vs. BU opens but do so with good hands like broadways and shit. But make sure it's vs. regulars.

God don't really read too much into the last couple of sentences because everything really depends but these are just examples. Seriously get your PFR closer to your VPIP.

Cashed out at FT and deposited $300 at PS and should get $75 in bonus after 1500 fpps.

Opened up PS to make sure HEM was working and played a few hands. I was amazed at how slow 4 tables were on PS compared to FT.

Played about 100 hands before I quit to watch Alabama vs. Texas.

I will take all of the advice above and play a bit looser given the right circumstances.

Expect a new OP at PS as this one has definitely gone to shit.

Playing 16/12 at 6-max seems crazy to me.

I play FR and my stats are around 15/13. If you like to nit it up, why don't you just play FR?

Originally Posted by kmind

3bet CO opens more when you are on the BU.

I only do this with QQ+ and AK. Sometimes I just call with AK on BTN so I don't fold out small pps, sc, etc soI can get value when I hit .

Originally Posted by kmind

Also, 3bet bluff more vs. EP openers that are regs but open up around 18%+ that either fold a lot to 3bets or call a lot and fold to cbets in 3bet pots.

I never do this. Define 3bet bluff. I do 3bet some hands like broadways sometimes against high fold to 3bet regs but I probably don't do it enough.

Originally Posted by kmind

Stop calling preflop if you can. Only call with 22-66 IP and if you have implied odds.

Will do. Previously when I called with pp OOP I always had implied odds.

Originally Posted by kmind

Only call IP with SC if stacks are deepish and the opener is aggro postflop and A. he opens a bunch and we can make moves postflop or B. he's tight and we have implied odds.

I have been playing more with sc. I'm going to look at my stats later to see the results of this.

Originally Posted by AdamThePirate

Playing 16/12 at 6-max seems crazy to me.

I play FR and my stats are around 15/13 - 14/11. If you like to nit it up, why don't you just play FR?

I've been told this before. I tried FR during my last OP but I hated it. I guess I'm so used to 6max that FR seemed entirely too boring even though I was playing 6 tables.

Maybe I'll mix it up some.

What I need to do more than anything else is lighten up in both real life and in poker. I used to use poker to relax but lately poker seems to make real life even worse.

What I really wish is that I had more time to devote to poker, both studying and playing. My wife has told me I need to just quit playing as it tilts me every time I play but she just doesn't understand. Poker is not a matter of life and death. It's more important than that.

Maybe the weather will start warming up soon so I can start playing more golf. I was playing better poker when I was playing golf at the same time. But then again maybe I was using poker as a release for golf tilt.

"I only do this with QQ+ and AK. Sometimes I just call with AK on BTN so I don't fold out small pps, sc, etc soI can get value when I hit ."

You aren't thinking about ranges then. When should you add more, when should you add less? I could go on and on about this but your failing at the bare basics; ranges.


"I never do this. Define 3bet bluff. I do 3bet some hands like broadways sometimes against high fold to 3bet regs but I probably don't do it enough."

I wrote an article that I hope you find helpful. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Anyways, here it is: http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...41.html#970241


"Will do. Previously when I called with pp OOP I always had implied odds. "

How do YOU determine implied odds? I want to know to see if you have any flawed logic.


"I have been playing more with sc. I'm going to look at my stats later to see the results of this."

Just be careful. Look at what I posted. You don't want to have any static ranges.

Originally Posted by kmind

"I only do this with QQ+ and AK. Sometimes I just call with AK on BTN so I don't fold out small pps, sc, etc soI can get value when I hit ."

You aren't thinking about ranges then. When should you add more, when should you add less? I could go on and on about this but your failing at the bare basics; ranges.

Depends on villian in CO. If villian is a nit or has high fold to 3bet then I do it more. If villian does not fold to 3bet much then do it less. If villian is loose then see what he goes to sd with and make notes.

Originally Posted by kmind

"I never do this. Define 3bet bluff. I do 3bet some hands like broadways sometimes against high fold to 3bet regs but I probably don't do it enough."

I wrote an article that I hope you find helpful. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Anyways, here it is: http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...41.html#970241

Do I really need to worry about balancing my ranges just yet?

Originally Posted by kmind

"Will do. Previously when I called with pp OOP I always had implied odds. "

How do YOU determine implied odds? I want to know to see if you have any flawed logic.

Use the 15x rule for set mining. Otherwise odds to hit vs odds of what I would win if I hit with villian stacking off.

100bb stacks
pot is 8bb
villian bets 7 bbs and I have OESD and I put villian on big pp
pot odds are about 2:1 and I need 3:1 to call
but villian has 89bb left which gives me about 13:1 implied odds to call if I hit and I think he will stack off with big PP.

Originally Posted by kmind

"I have been playing more with sc. I'm going to look at my stats later to see the results of this."

Just be careful. Look at what I posted. You don't want to have any static ranges.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

First of all I am sorry I suck at quoting so my posts look horrible. My bad. Anyways:

"Depends on villian in CO. If villian is a nit or has high fold to 3bet then I do it more. If villian does not fold to 3bet much then do it less. If villian is loose then see what he goes to sd with and make notes."
Good job with the first part about those who fold a lot. Just make sure you do it a lot more with bluffs. Sometimes you can even gain more EV by calling with your monsters. Vs. the ones that call more then yes do it less but not way less...just throw in more value hands.


"Do I really need to worry about balancing my ranges just yet? "
That's just it. Don't worry about balancing. You are only worried about exploiting. When you exploit, sometimes it COULD mean balancing, but this isn't what I am talking about. Sometimes, for example, you should 3bet only as bluffs, or 3bet only for value another time, sometimes cbet only as bluffs, etc. Your ranges will be extremely UNbalanced which is great because our opponents won't exploit us back.


You're good with PPs it looks like but OOP I'd do like a 20x rule. Really depends on how often they stack off with overpairs, TP.

My last comment meant that you don't want to have a set range. So don't say "I'm on the BU and a reg. opened UTG. Easy call with 98s here". That's bad. Instead think deeper. "I'm on the BU and a guy opening 20% of hands UTG opened with no callers in front of me. He has a big stack and will fold to aggression a good amount postflop. I'm going to call here with the plan of bluffing a lot of flops that help my range more than his (boards that scare him). If I hit big, I'll play it slow on X board because he'll be way behind a lot. If I hit big, I'll play it fast on Y board because it's draw heavy and hits his range a lot. He'll put in a ton of money while being behind".

Been playing on PS for about a week now.

Differences between PS and FT:
Much Faster games on FT
Many, many more soft games on PS
Alot more 3betting pf on FT

I'm up in 6 out of 9 sessions at PS. I should have moved back sooner as Jason suggested

I'll start another OP eventually.

Originally Posted by Sasquach991

Getting frustrated. Up 3 BIs at one time and ended up down 0.5 BI.
It would be nice to have ONE winning session. Should I just quit for the day when I get up a couple of BIs?

You should always quit while you are still playing well. I've even seen strategy posts and articles on quitting well. Once you start playing badly one bad decision can undo hundreds of good ones. And the bad decisions that are not expensive doesn't tend to get you to quit - you just keep hanging around for the really big bad decision to come around.

This doesn't mean that you should quit while ahead a certain number of buyins - necessarily. If you find that you get sloppy when you sit on a huge stack it's not a bad idea to leave a table once you are at 2BIs on that table. But that's not to bank the win, that's to prevent you from playing bad because you play bad with a big stack (if that's the case).

What you should try doing (some make it a rule, for others it's just a fun experiment) is to set a session time. Say you plan to play 1 hour and then stop posting blinds after 1 hour and sit out next time the BB reaches you. These quitting times can be completely arbitrary. Let's say you have 3 hours to play today. You could practice quitting today. Say start a session and stop it after exactly 30 minutes. Do something meaningfully different (update calendar / facebook / call family or friend) for hopefully not too much more than 5-10 minutes and start another session and quit at a pre-determined 30 minutes. Ignoring results. Concentrate on good decisions. At the end of the day (or a couple of those so you figure out how this beast plays out) try to assess what effect scheduled quitting has on you while you are playing. Is it helpful or harmful to your game? For some it helps focus - because they limit their session to a specific time they want to make more of it and therefore achieve higher level of focus and make better decisions. Other people end up tilting - they get results oriented and gamble more and more the closer they come to their quitting time in the hopes of getting a quick score and a positive result to their mini-session.

Judging by posts on here a lot of poker players find any single session above 2 hours too long. As in after 2 hours you are pretty much guaranteed not to be as mentally alert as when you start playing - and since you want to be playing your A game for as much of the time you are sitting at the table as possible, this means that as time progresses you should recognise that your game quality decays and stop for a break. And then you need to find ways to meaningfully take a break - so you can recharge your attention and get ready for the next session. Just changing to new tables so you need to start forming new reads and understanding the dynamics of a new table is sometimes enough to refocus you.

Interesting. I think you're on to something here.

When I was playing at FT I would start playing about 8:30. Wait 10-15 minutes on waiting list until I got 1-4 tables. When I finally found some soft tables I would never leave regardless of what was happening at the table as it would take forever to find another one. Sit out and take one break about 9:45 for about 5 minutes and play until 10:30, sitout of tables and take another break and then play until 12:30 or so. Many times I stayed at the same table for the entire session.

On PS there are so many soft tables you can find plenty at any time. Now I start at 9:00 and find 1-2 tables almost immediately with no waiting, then have 4 within 3-5 minutes. Take a break at 10:30 for about 10 minutes AND close all of the tables out so I'm starting over at new tables after my break. Then I play til about 12:00 at all new tables.

This is probably the biggest difference between PS at FT and I would never have considered it relevant until now.