Operation 400NL by 01/08

Busted out of the Sunday Million .

Won $50 or so playing cash games, so not a total loss. Plus, i had used a ticket to get into the tournament so it didn't really cost me money.

I seem to run bad at 200NL. I am a big winner in the 100NL games over the last 10k hands, but a solid loser at 200NL. I have definitely run worse at 200NL than i have at 100NL.

Enough complaining. I played 100NL after i dropped a buy in at 200NL, and i won 4 buy ins there over 500 hands. I got 1 AI KK v 66, and stacked some serious fish


My favorite hand of the day:

History: villain has been playing back at me lots. I had gotten 3bet off of a lot of hands preflop and on the flop, and i was "itchin for a showdown"

My thoughts on the flop were he has overcards here a lot, and calling is better than raising since if he shoves i am almost always beat and i am forced to call. I was planning on betting the turn if no Ace or King hit and i was checked to. When villain shoved i figured he could no longer have a big pair or a set since he would want to value bet those hands. I didn't think he would play 10-10/J-J this way, but i didn't have a ton of history with this player and it is possible. I just felt that this was a bluff a reasonably high percentage of the time, and figured i had outs even if i was wrong and villain had a strong hand.

Hero: is at seat 0 with $200.
Villain: is at seat 2 with $270.55.

Hero: 5c 4c

Pre-flop:

2 folds
Player 1: calls
Hero: raises to $9.
1 fold
Villain: re-raises to $30.
Player 1: folds.
Vi-Popsmak: calls.

Flop (board: 6d 9c 4h):

Villain: bets $35.
Hero: calls.

Turn (board: 6d 9c 4h 8s):

Villain: bets $135.
Hero: goes all-in for $135.


River (board: 6d 9c 4h 8s 7d):


Showdown:

Villain: shows Ad Kd.
Hero: shows 5c 4c.

Hero: wins $400 with straight, nine high.


btw i think the villain in this hand is an FTR member who usually plays higher stakes than this. Later this villain backdoored a flush on me for 200BB's, which sucked. So that's when i decided to stop playing 200NL until i get an 8k BR. So i need to grind many buy ins at 100NL. This will take me until at least mid September, but i don't want to get knocked down to 100NL like this again. A 40 buy in roll should be sufficient to handle all but the worst of swings...

reply to your last post: raise/call the turn

take shots when you have 25buyins and drop down when you hit 20. waiting for 35BI is way too much.

good luck. i feel bad for all US players. it's so much harder (from what i've heard) to win at FT and PS than at Party and other euro sites.

Thanks for dropping a reply, pokerroomace. I am up 25 buy ins at 100NL over the last 15k hands, and down 8 buy ins in the last 5k hands at 200NL. Although 200NL regulars are certainly tougher than 100NL ones, i don't feel that there are more than 2-3 regulars i have ran into that i don't mind playing big pots against. Various bad beats for stacks, and certainly a few spews (i learned from them ), but overall i feel i am downswinging at 200NL. I can't wait to start running well at 200NL so i can make $$$ to move to 400NL and finish my operation!

But in regards to my BR strategy i just want to be a bit overrolled when i return to 200NL so i can stay there for a bit longer and see how i am faring when the sample size is a bit larger.


@ Pokerroomace: i hope you post a detailed explanation of why you won't be playing poker in a year. Reaching 5kNL is a great undertaking and i am really curious to see what is coming up in your life that outweighs the great wealth and success (in that order? ) you would reap by reaching your goal...

1k hands tonight, which was great. I usually don't feel up to playing more than an hour or two after work, but i picked up some energy drinks on the way home and was focused for much longer than normal. However i was BE which wasn't awesome. I am still running/playing well at 100NL, and in 10-15k more hands i should have the 8k i want to move back to 200NL and try to stay in that game.

I feel like my small pot game is excellent for 100NL. I think it would still be good relative to 200NL regulards, but i need to get back up there to find out if i am right or not!!!

Another good thing is i have figured out what my "perfect" table is.

1). LAG/fish to my right. 100NL LAGG"s generally suck postflop so they are just dumping $$$ to me.
2). nit/50BB stack to my left. Nits don't 3bet enough to exploit my CO/BTN opening range, and the 50BB stacks don't 3bet much since they need a good hand to do it with since they are committing a large portion of their stack. Plus they also usually aren't good enough to 3bet light since they didn't buy in full.
3). A nit in the BB. He isn't defending enough against my LP open raises.


Basically the aggro players to my left and the weak/tight players to my right. And i am actually moving if after 2-3 orbits it appears i am not looking at favorable table conditions.


No hands to post really (except the one in the SH forum), i can't believe how much better i am at analyzing my opponents ranges and deciding when/who to make moves on the flop against. Most likely my turn/river play is still weak relative to where i need it to be to be a solid winner at 400NL. It would be really cool if a good midstakes/highstakes player would write something concerning bet sizing and good spots to make moves after the flop.

GOAL: 4 Table and play 1k hands of 100NL on Pokerstars!

General Review of PT:

1). A-6 - A-K are winners!

2). I have lost a lot of money running some ugly bluffs. FPS!

3). only CC A-x (x < Q) 10 times in 20k hands. This should probably be a subnote under the first point.

4). The two hands i limp/reraised PF weren't K-K+.

5). Only 4 river c/r's in 20k hands (no bluffs). I need to start finding spots to incorporate this play into my game. However most players at 100NL don't value bet thinly enough that i can actually use this.


I can't sleep.

I won 2 buy ins this weekend at 100NL over 1.2k hands. I ran really well for most of the weekend, though i got stacked 3 times in 10 minutes by the same multitabling fish. One was a cooler (flopped top two vs. flopped straight RR pot), another was a flip (NFD vs. my overpair), and another was a funky outdraw when villain called a 4bet with J-9s. I had to take a break after that.

Sauce's response to a post i wrote earlier this weekend really got me thinking about how often i should be c-betting in RR pots. I feel i 3bet a good range PF and am aware of who i am 3betting. But i don't necessarily check behind in a lot of RR pots where i was the PF aggressor so i generally wasn't too worried about what position i was 3betting in. I wasn't 3betting SC's from the SB vs. an unknown UTG open, but i would 3bet liberally from the SB vs CO/BTN opens and may have been losing a lot of value when good players floated/shoved over my c-bets. So my goal for this week is to play better on the flop in RR pots, and try to be in position when i don't have the goods unless i know villain opens a wide range PF and doesn't call enough.

So i watched videos here on FTR and cardunners most of the week, and worked on using Pokerstove to analyze some standard situations. I returned to actually playing on Thursday, and since then i am +5 buy ins. Definitely running well, but playing better and with a new focus on bet sizing.

Here are some hands from the past few days...

1). Villain is a 22/20 over 150 hands. His flop re-raise could mean he has a Queen, but given the fact that villain has been aggressive i would expect him to 3bet me with A-Q and probably K-Q. So if he has a Queen he probably doesn't have a good kicker. He could also be doing this with a smaller pocket pair (5-5 - 9-9). If he has 4-4/2-2 he isn't going anywhere, but those hands make up only a small part of his range. If he is raising with a draw, i am ahead. I decided to make a small flop 3bet since it looks the scariest to a weak made hand. In retrospect i should have made the 3bet even smaller to really encourage draws to stick around...

POKERSTARS GAME #11561985650: $1/$2)

Hero: ($256.30 in chips)
Villain: ($200.45 in chips)
4 other players

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero: [Ad Td]
2 folds
Hero: raises $6 to $8
Villain: calls $8
2 folds
*** FLOP *** [2d 4h Qd]
Hero: bets $14
Villain: raises $31 to $45
Hero: raises $77 to $122

I decided not to 4bet PF here, since i have position and this particular opponent seems to c-bet often into RR pots. Also, if he has 10-10 - Q-Q and the flop comes low/drawy, he may call a push.

I left FGators SN on purpose.

POKERSTARS GAME #11561427880: ($1/$2)

Hero: ($200 in chips)
FGators26: ($193 in chips)
3 other players

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero: [Ks Kh]
2 folds
Hero: raises $4 to $6
1 fold
FGators26: raises $16 to $22
Hero: calls $16
*** FLOP *** [9c 3c Ts]
FGators26: bets $28
Hero: raises $150 to $178 and is all-in


To understand why i decided a turn raise was good here, watch the videos that ISF/Massimo posted. Very good vids...


POKERSTARS GAME #11520417215: ($1/$2)

Villain: ($411 in chips)
Hero: ($200 in chips)
4 other players

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero: [Qh Kd]
1 fold
Hero: raises $4 to $6
3 folds
Villain: calls $4
*** FLOP *** [5d 8h 5s]
Villain: checks
Hero: bets $10
Villain: raises $10 to $20
Hero: calls $10
*** TURN *** [5d 8h 5s] [7c]
Villain: bets $22
Hero: raises $40 to $62


Basically i am thinking a lot more about situations i run into postflop, and have a much better understanding of how to play small pots. A great week in poker, financially and educationally.

I forgot to mention in my last post why i returned to 200NL earlier than i had planned. I actually cashed out my UB account and transferred those funds to Pokerstars. I want to become a Supernova next year for the various bonuses, and think i will need to play there exclusively when i am playing 20-25 hours a week to achieve this.


Played 1.2k hands today, up half a buy in. I got 3bet a ton today, and good chances to play back did not come up often. I did eventually tighten up from CO/BTN on the tables where i was getting 3bet, but i should have adjusted to the 3betting quicker.


I have made only two calls on the river in the last 3k hands that i think i shouldn't have made, but combined those cost me ~1/2 a buy in. That is actually a relatively significant portion of my winrate. (.833BB/100 over 3k hands).

My small pot game is definitely improving, but i am going to continue searching for leaks. Tonight instead of a third session i will probably do a Pokertracker review, but i may find time for both.

After drinking an energy drink after waking up and showering, i played great and paid close attention to my tables. I was able to use a few timing tells to win extra bets, and 1 time to win a stack!

Up around 3 buy ins in about 350 hands, and am most likely finished for the day. Tonight i am going to escort my buddies on a cruise (they are going to try mushrooms OMG), so maybe i will have something funny to report about that adventure...

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

Harry Potter LOL

Don't mess with Da Potster

Up 2-3 buy ins on the week. Today i sat with a big fish and won ~$300 off of him. I lost ~$500 when putting my money in as a 90% favorite, but it happens. I am pleased i am up on the week.

Lol my friends were so messed up on the shrooms. We drove for like 2 hours all around the city and hit some smaller towns. Glad they had some bud too, or i would have gotten bored with them a lot sooner.

My friend Nick:




My friend Loren:




This was me:

Up about 3-4 more buy ins since Thursday, over about 2k hands. Running well and playing well. I did get oversetted tonight, but on the day i finished BE. I was kind of relieved to get oversetted since it seemed like it had been a long time since that had happened. I heard to expect an overset to occur once every 5-7k hands (i think i read it here). Has anyone else heard this?

My friends are away at school now, which sucks. I will definitely be playing a ton more poker now, though.

Dude this is heart-warming stuff! If you ever want to chat to someone a level or two down and feeling a bit disillusioned/out of form, let me know

The last few days have gone well. I caught myself c-betting twice with junk in 3bet pots. I sometimes forget c-betting 9-9 on a rainbow 10-7-4 board in a 3bet pot is essentially a bluff. Far better for me (i made 1 pretty dumb call in a spot a lot like this ) to check the flop and evaluate from there.

I am up probably 4 buy ins over 2k hands, which is terrific without having to run super hot or play super great. I think the fact that i am actively seeking fish has been very beneficial to my winrate (and sometimes they just sit to my right ) . Moving tables 3-4 orbits in if you haven't noticed anyone playing especially poorly is a solid strategy at 200NL and lower, since we have such a large player pool.

Heres a beautiful hand from today. It's a good example of the power of table selection...

Hero: ($200 in chips)
FISH: ($357.80 in chips)
4 other players

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero: [2h 2s]
Hero: raises $6 to $8
3 folds
FISH: calls $7
1 fold
*** FLOP *** [4c 9d 2c]
FISH: checks
Hero: bets $14
FISH: calls $14
*** TURN *** [4c 9d 2c] [Ts]
FISH: checks
Hero: bets $38
FISH: calls $38
*** RIVER *** [4c 9d 2c Ts] [8d]
FISH: bets $124
Hero: raises $16 to $140 and is all-in
FISH: calls $16 (he almost timed out lolz)
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hero: shows [2h 2s] (three of a kind, Deuces)
FISH: mucks hand [7s 7c]
Hero collected $399 from pot

Ugh. I finally ran into some coolers and had some bad beats over these last 2k hands. Since Thursday i am down 1 buy in, but considering how things went i am pleasantly surprised with the results.

I find i can't help but think about poker when i try to fall asleep. If i played a session that day, i usually end up reviewing all of the biggest pots i played in my head. I feel i do a good job being objective when determining mine and my opponents ranges in the hand, and it helps me to decide if a different decision on an earlier street would have positively altered the outcome. I am sure i am not the only one who does this on a fairly regular basis, but most weeknights i end up awake until 12:30-1AM and have to be up at 6:30 for work so by Friday i end up being very tired (i can't seem to take naps unless i am sick).

I seriously considered sitting at some 400NL tables today, but i am going to wait until my BR on Pokerstars hits 7k before i start taking shots. So, i need to profit around 7 more buy ins at 200NL; probably no more than 8-10k hands or 2-3 weeks.

In regards to my operation as a whole, i will consider my operation successful once i have played 15k hands of 400NL. If things continue to go as they are, i feel it is very possible i will be able to achieve this before 01/08.

Originally Posted by Jack Sawyer

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

Harry Potter LOL

Don't mess with Da Potster

LOL cant even remember when i posted that LOL!!!!!

Wanna talk poker dude??

I spent a lot of time thinking about poker the last few days, and not so much time playing. I won back that buy in i lost from the last time i posted... lol. I have a much shorter work week next week as the physician i work for is taking half of the week off. I should get 3-4 half days next week, as i also worked overtime this week!

I actually spent a LOT of time writing (and revising ) a post i put in NL Strategies forum on 3betting that i would encourage people to check out. I hope i can get more critiques on which portions of my advice aren't good.

This update is completely off track of my cash game operation...

Firstly, OP in this thread is very amusing.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...oker-52709.htm


On the subject of my own poker play, i played the $5 Rebuy tournament on Pokerstars this afternoon, and actually got pretty far. It was my first attempt at an online tournament in quite a while, and had decided to play since i wasn't playing too well in my regular cash games (- 1 buy in ). I got 79th place out of about 2k entrants, but i possibly busted out when i didn't have to. I'll post the last hand for fun.

My thoughts on the hand: The table is 9 handed, but villain has opened from late position. My "M" (i have read HoH but only know a little about tournament poker) was around 5, and i have a medium Ace. I am dominated by A-J+ and 10-10+, but am racing/slightly ahead of anything else he might open. He could easily be stealing and i need to double up if i want to have a shot at making it further, so...

I just don't know how often villain is stealing here, seeing as we are in the later stages of the tournament and i have no information on him.

Good/bad?

Hero is dealt : A-10o

Hero: 45k stack
Villain: 200k stack
3k/6k blinds

***PRE FLOP***
5 folds
Villain: raises 18k to 24k
2 folds
Hero(BB): goes AI
Villain: call AI

Villain turns over: A-Ks

I don't improve and villain wins. I would have loved to continue playing for the entertainment as much as for the money. MTT's are sooooo much fun!

I also played a $27 Double Shootout, hoping to win a seat in Event 14 of the WCCOP ($1050 NLH). I would have really been inspired to do some serious studying on tournament hold'em had i won!

I ended up heads up with a weak player, but after only a few hands he had beaten me. (A-Q < A-K, K-Q < A-Q). My opponents definitely sucked at SH play though, and for the most part i took advantage.

Today has definitely made me consider at least learning how to play MTT's. A lot of my experience in cash games definitely carries over, but i know there are finer points of tournament play i am not yet aware of.

The only problem you have there is that with your push being essentially a min-raise you have no FE and he has to call with a wide range of hands really.

If your 45k stack was after the BB and ante was taken the best option IMHO would have been to just take another orbit and see if you can be the one pushing. A 45k push into a 6k pot has a lot more FE with people to act behind still than a 45k push into a 24k raise hu.

Originally Posted by Knytestorme

The only problem you have there is that with your push being essentially a min-raise you have no FE and he has to call with a wide range of hands really.

If your 45k stack was after the BB and ante was taken the best option IMHO would have been to just take another orbit and see if you can be the one pushing. A 45k push into a 6k pot has a lot more FE with people to act behind still than a 45k push into a 24k raise hu.

Well reasoned - thanks for replying. It seems i forgot about the importance of "first in vigorish" with the smaller stacks and all

Took a shot at 400NL tonight. I figured since it was Friday night there would be more weak players sitting than usual. I ended up almost 2 buy ins! I played at least 1 big pot poorly, (posted in the SH Forum) but for the most part i played very well and didn't let the new limit intimidate me.

If things continue to go well i may be wrapping up this operation sooner than expected.

I am now down 1/2 a buy in at 400NL over ~1300 hands.

I lost my first $1000 pot today; at least i didn't misplay the hand. I hope you enjoy reading the hand history


Villain was a big donk. 50/40 over 150 hands, making a ton of bad bets and loose calldowns.

Once he check/raised the flop i figured he could have a set, a flush draw, or even 10-x. I decided i would fold if a spade or an Ace came on the turn, and get all in otherwise.

Villain: ($1722.05 in chips)
Hero: ($502 in chips)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero: [Jd Jh]
1 fold
Villain: raises $12 to $16
Hero: raises $32 to $48
3 folds
Villain: calls $32
*** FLOP *** [4c 3s Ts]
Villain: checks
Hero: bets $64
Villain: raises $76 to $140
Hero: calls $76
*** TURN *** [4c 3s Ts] [8h]
Villain: bets $292
Hero: raises $22 to $314 and is all-in
Villain: calls $22
*** RIVER *** [4c 3s Ts 8h] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Villain: shows [Js 8s] (a flush, Jack high)
Villain collected $1007 from pot


Honestly, i only felt bummed out for about 15 seconds. I knew i would probably play worse after the hand though so i left the table. A 500BB fish!

Unfortunately i think i will go back to playing 200NL until i can get some more $$$ for 400NL. Oh well.

Now i'm off to the donkaments!

I've just read the 3rd page of this and really enjoyed it. Listening to your reasoning and thought process for hands aswell as general theory has helped me re focus a little the last few days after a big downswing. i'm convinced you'll be killing NL$400 fairly soon.

I was wondering what you make of 200 and 400 so far, particularly since you mention table selection. I've just moved back down from NL$200 to rebuild for a while after a $1300 downswing (was up 800 purely at NL$200, then CRASH and i'm down over 500), i'm pretty confident i can beat the game, and know what mistakes i made, but i noticed a huge difference in the amount of fish in the 200 games and this has me worried, especially as i'm killing NL$100.

I play at Everest because i thought it was really fishy, but i might have to look around for better $200 games. what kind of tables do you generally end up with? are you managing to find your perfect table often? i've been struggling to find the fish (and if i do, i often have to make do with any seat rather than being to their left) and the regs are much tougher than the passives at $100. i see a lot of posts from NL200+ with big fish on their tables, is it usually 4 regs and a fish that you are settling for this high, or should i be looking around for fishier games?

Thanks for replying xyu; i would enjoy writing for my own entertainment but i'm glad someone else is benefitting as well

Table selection is a very big part of my recent success. It has helped me to become a winner at 200NL, and will probably help to prevent me from going bust at 400NL I have zook, an FTR member, to thank for first making me aware of the power of good table selection.

I generally look for tables where i have good position (1-2 seats to the left) on either:

1). a loose and aggressive regular
2). a fish

Both types of players are putting a lot of money into pots (the key difference being that the fish are often just calling their money in). By having position on these types of opponents we can isolate them first when we have a good hand, or are confident that we can get them to fold.

I often find 1-2 shortstacking fish at a typical table i will sit down at. The deepstacked fish aren't very common - it's tough for a donkey to win multiple all ins when he was likely taking the worst of it equity wise! But once one does "develop", i would say i end up competing against at least 3 regulars trying to stack him.

Those big pot hands versus big fish probably only occur once every 1000 hands, even when attempting to practice good table selection. The rest of the time you are usually playing in small pots against the regulars.

And i try to avoid playing against the best regulars at my limit. Even if i am sharing a table with them, i will make conservative laydowns if i am out of position and/or have a marginal hand when they get active in a pot.

If you are beating 100NL solidly, good table selection at 200NL may be the key to maintaining a similar win rate there.

Originally Posted by Vi-Zer0Skill

I am now down 1/2 a buy in at 400NL over ~1300 hands.

I lost my first $1000 pot today; at least i didn't misplay the hand. I hope you enjoy reading the hand history


Villain was a big donk. 50/40 over 150 hands, making a ton of bad bets and loose calldowns.

Once he check/raised the flop i figured he could have a set, a flush draw, or even 10-x. I decided i would fold if a spade or an Ace came on the turn, and get all in otherwise.

Villain: ($1722.05 in chips)
Hero: ($502 in chips)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero: [Jd Jh]
1 fold
Villain: raises $12 to $16
Hero: raises $32 to $48
3 folds
Villain: calls $32
*** FLOP *** [4c 3s Ts]
Villain: checks
Hero: bets $64
Villain: raises $76 to $140
Hero: calls $76
*** TURN *** [4c 3s Ts] [8h]
Villain: bets $292
Hero: raises $22 to $314 and is all-in
Villain: calls $22
*** RIVER *** [4c 3s Ts 8h] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Villain: shows [Js 8s] (a flush, Jack high)
Villain collected $1007 from pot


Honestly, i only felt bummed out for about 15 seconds. I knew i would probably play worse after the hand though so i left the table. A 500BB fish!

Unfortunately i think i will go back to playing 200NL until i can get some more $$$ for 400NL. Oh well.

Now i'm off to the donkaments!

Damn! A hand like that is all the difference between kick-starting at a new limit or foundering.

Bad luck mate.

thanks for the support, salsa. I hope this is the first of hundreds of $1000+ pots i lose, if you know what i mean

I think my blog is neat and all, but pages 1-2 of my blog are just so lame, lol. wtf i was thinking about when it came to poker idk...

One reason i am glad i was keeping track of my progress then was that i can look back and see my thought process evolving. After reviewing my old posts, it looks like the first part of May was probably the most influential time in my development as a poker player.


Two things happened around that time:

1). Miffed advised me to reduce the number of tables i was playing to focus more on what i was doing at the tables.

2). I joined Cardrunners.


It's been about 4 months since then. In that time i have spent hundreds of hours studying, and hundreds of hours playing.


What are the noticeable poker differences between the beginning of May and the end of September?

1). I completely switched to 6Max.

2). My game overall is now solid, in the sense that i don't make numerous technical errors anymore (i.e. c-bet on "bad" boards, slowplay in dangerous spots, fail to take advantage of scare cards/situations to bluff, play marginal hands OOP, etc.)

3). I actually table select and take notes. Definitely need to develop a better note taking system though. Once i have come up with one i like (or "borrow" one from somebody else) i will post it in my blog. I think great note taking/table selection is the key difference between being a small winner and a big winner at MSNL.

4). I review my sessions and watch instructional videos. Cardunners is just so great that i would recommend it to anyone who plays poker for more than entertainment.

5). I got PokerAceHUD and PokerTracker. These tools are great because they help you to grasp how your opponents are playing quicker when you are running 3 or more tables, and they allow you to review any hand that was played at the tables you were sitting at or that you observed through datamining.

6). I have a bigger bankroll.


I intend on being a professional poker play for at least a couple months, starting in January of '08. When it gets closer to mid-November i will probably post some hard numbers on my net worth and hopefully get some general tips on budgetting.

I was looking through my database and found these 3 hands where i used a check/raise on the river. I am not really posting these hands for comments, but if you have a suggestion for any of them post away!

I noticed i have only check/raised the river 11 times in 24k hands, and only once did i lose the pot. Not once did i check/raise bluff the river.

(Hand 3 was on a read, so it might look bad but i was confident he would bet/call with worse on the river)



PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG ($49.35)
MP ($118)
CO ($108.40)
Button ($250.85)
SB ($227.05)
Hero ($235.05)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
3 folds, Button raises to $8, 1 fold, Hero raises to $24, Button calls $16.

Flop: ($49) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $30, Button calls $30.

Turn: ($109) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: ($109) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $56, Hero raises to $181.05, Button calls $125.05.

Final Pot: $471.10

Results in white below:
Hero has As Ah (full house, aces full of kings).
Button doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $471.10.



PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

BB ($650.90)
UTG ($244.50)
MP ($331.80)
Hero ($200)
Button ($200)
SB ($198)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
2 folds, Hero raises to $8, Button calls $8, 2 folds.

Flop: ($19) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $14, Button calls $14.

Turn: ($47) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $30, Hero calls $30.

River: ($107) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $50, Hero raises to $148, Button calls $98 (All-In).

Final Pot: $403

Results in white below:
Hero has Ah Ad (three of a kind, aces).
Button doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $403.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

CO ($98.15)
Button ($191.45)
SB ($297.10)
Hero ($201.15)
UTG ($178)
MP ($222.30)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
3 folds, Button raises to $8, 1 fold, Hero calls $6.

Flop: ($17) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $14, Hero calls $14.

Turn: ($45) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $22, Hero calls $22.

River: ($89) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $98, Hero raises to $157.15, Button said, "(folding) k diamonds" Button folds.

Final Pot: $285

Results in white below:
Hero has Qh Kd (flush, king high).
Outcome: Hero wins $285.

Wow. 3k hands today for 1.5 buy ins. I decided i would try to get to PlatinumStar today (i was 1500 VPP away at the start of the day). I was dead tired for the last couple hundred hands, as this was the longest session i have played in a while (it probably affected my play a little). Anyways, i succeeded!

I have done a lot better job of thinking about my hand as a range of hands lately. I have finally learned some good methods for balancing my ranges and playing some hands that fall into the middle of my ranges.

One thing i have been thinking about a ton lately when playing was something that i think Halvsame wrote in response to someone's thread who was asking for general advice on a stat checkup.

'When playing a hand, think "then what will i do" instead of "now what do i do".'

In response to the river c/r hands I think your turn play is more interesting than the river play.

FWIW, I *attempt* to c/r a lot of rivers myself against the right opponents. It's funny, a lot of regs now have very low AF on the turn and much higher aggression frequencies on the end, meaning c/r'ing more rivers is a necessary form of exploitation.

I just hate knocking the virtual nuts twice in hands 1 and 2.

Hand 3 to me looks spewy, I'm content to c/c here against the right opponent. I just don't see much value in a c/r here. In fact, without reads (I know you had them) I probably fold that river.

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

In response to the river c/r hands I think your turn play is more interesting than the river play.

I hope interesting in this case doesn't mean 'WTF?' lol

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

FWIW, I *attempt* to c/r a lot of rivers myself against the right opponents. It's funny, a lot of regs now have very low AF on the turn and much higher aggression frequencies on the end, meaning c/r'ing more rivers is a necessary form of exploitation.

Yeah finding good situations to check/raise the river as a bluff/value is something i have a tough time doing in the middle of a session. It can be tough to determine if its safe enough to slowplay, your opponents range says he will value bet/bluff if checked to on the river, and that your opponent will value bet thin enough/bluff often enough to make it more profitable than a straightforward value bet.

In hand 1, i figured villain had 10-10 - Q-Q, a flush draw, or K-x. He was an aggro TAG, so i knew he was capable of firing a bluff on the river if he missed a flush draw. I also knew he would fold a mid pair to a turn bet. I would be able to get K-x AI as long as a third heart didn't hit the river regardless of how i played the hand, and it was highly unlikely i was going to be outdrawn if i decided to slowplay.

In hand 2, i think betting the turn scares A-x away. My original plan was bet flop/check turn/bet river. But once villain bet into me i figured he was holding two pair or a set of twos. All of those hands would value bet the turn and river unless a scare card came (10, K) so i called the turn, and once the river blanked on the scare cards i went ahead and check/raised.

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

Hand 3 to me looks spewy, I'm content to c/c here against the right opponent. I just don't see much value in a c/r here. In fact, without reads (I know you had them) I probably fold that river.

Looking at it again, i agree with you that check/calling the river is best in hand 3, even though my read on this guy was that he was an aggro donk. The only reasonable hand he can call a check/raise with is Q-x (he definitely would) but other than that there are no other diamonds he calls me with that i beat. And, he could have a full house.

And yeah against an unknown i probably bet/fold the river.

did well at 200NL this week, lost it all at 400NL tonight. Played as well as i am capable of, though there were a few hands where i wasn't sure if i should have done something differently.

First, a brag hand: Villain is 40/15, but playing pretty well and on multiple tables.

When i first got raised here, i was unsure of whether to shove/call/fold. I realized shoving would put me in a bad spot versus his calling range (A-10, 3-x). Folding was pretty weak since he could be doing this with a hand like Q-J or 6-6. I decided to call and c/r a non paint turn. I got the blank i wanted, and villain's bet small (which i read for weakness for this player), so i was confident sticking my chips in the middle.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $4 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($76)
BB ($279.10)
UTG ($984.05)
MP ($465.65)
Hero ($439.40)
Button ($330.10)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K, T.
2 folds, Hero raises to $16, Button calls $16, 2 folds.

Flop: ($38) T, 3, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $24, Button raises to $72, Hero calls $48.

Turn: ($182) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $84, Hero raises to $351.4, Button folds.

Final Pot: $350


Here's a hand i didn't play so well. Villain is a weak LAG, 30/10 over a couple hundred hands.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $4 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

BB ($171.80)
UTG ($334.80)
MP ($656.25)
CO ($68)
Hero ($400)
SB ($481.90)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
UTG calls $4, MP calls $4, CO calls $4, Hero raises to $24, 2 folds, UTG calls $20, MP folds, CO folds.

Flop: ($62) , , (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($62) (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $48, UTG raises to $96, Hero raises to $376, UTG calls $214.80 (All-In).

River: ($683.60) (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $683.61

Villain shows 4-4.


I should have bet the flop. He most likely would have check/min raised there as well, but then there is really only A-4/4-4 i need to be worried about. And against A-4, i have like 6 outs (J, 6) and other ways to split. But even as played there were two flush draws on the turn he could have been doing this with so it probably wasn't terrible. I'm not sure if this guy will play this way with draws though, so hopefully i will get a ton more hands in with this guy and get a better idea of his style of play.


Still not intimidated, but admittedly a little discouraged. Hopefully i can bust through (even if it means needing to run lava hot for a month!)

1. I hate the turn c/r. You turned your hand into a bluff, and I really doubt he's folding AT/JJ here. I think mid pp's and worse T's are more likely holdings. I c/c turn and c/c river.

2. Yeah, usually c-bet. I don't hate checking behind once in a blue moon though. Again you turn your hand into a bluff by pushing. I guess he might call with a diamond draw if he's terrible, but it's going to be tough for him to fold an ace, given that you didn't cbet. I probably just call the turn c/r (since your hand is underrepped) and fold to a sizeable river bet.

Originally Posted by zook

1. I hate the turn c/r. You turned your hand into a bluff, and I really doubt he's folding AT/JJ here. I think mid pp's and worse T's are more likely holdings. I c/c turn and c/c river.

2. Yeah, usually c-bet. I don't hate checking behind once in a blue moon though. Again you turn your hand into a bluff by pushing. I guess he might call with a diamond draw if he's terrible, but it's going to be tough for him to fold an ace, given that you didn't cbet. I probably just call the turn c/r (since your hand is underrepped) and fold to a sizeable river bet.

Thanks for looking at the hands zook.


1). My intention was to protect what was already in the pot (half of my stack was committed if i call the turn bet). There are a lot of cards i don't want to see on the river (club, Jack, Queen, Ace). If i call his turn bet and he is holding a hand like 9-9/J-10 i would expect him to know his hand is second best and bet big on an overcard/club.

2). Felting in this spot is a fundamental error i need to stop making. I know my logic has been 'i've gotta charge him to see the river if he has a draw'. But yeah only if he sucks is he going to call his money in on the turn with a flush draw getting poor odds.

Would you get it in on a non diamond turn if villain had check/min raised me there or fold to a turn bet? If you would fold to a turn bet why don't we just bet/fold the flop? Is he really going to check a flush draw to me on the turn if i call his raise (serious question)?


Add: well overall i am down 4 buy ins at 200NL, 1 buy in at 400NL, and 1 buy in at 100NL HU over the past 3 days. UGH. Anyways my roll dipped below 6k so i decided i would move down to 100NL and grind like crazy for tonight, and probably for the next few days as well until i feel i am running a little better.

I played really well, but as it has been for the last 2k hands i am not winning my share of big pots and am getting suckout out on a lot. It's my first series of losing sessions where i have simply not been running well for a while, so i am not feeling frustrated/picked on. But 2k hands of 100NL tonight and i finished down 1 buy in... It was nice to play against some weaker competition though; if i had the same luck even at 200NL i suspect the financial hit would have been much more significant.

My new avatar is making me feel better about the last few days of poker.

Originally Posted by Vi-Zer0Skill

Would you get it in on a non diamond turn if villain had check/min raised me there or fold to a turn bet? If you would fold to a turn bet why don't we just bet/fold the flop? Is he really going to check a flush draw to me on the turn if i call his raise (serious question)?

These questions don't make sense to me... didn't villain check/min raise a non diamond turn in hand 2? I said I wouldn't fold to the turn c/mr and I said I would usually cbet the flop. (And yes I'd fold to a flop raise.)

Originally Posted by zook

Originally Posted by Vi-Zer0Skill

Would you get it in on a non diamond turn if villain had check/min raised me on the flop or fold to a turn bet on any card? If you would fold to a turn bet (on any card) why don't we just bet/fold the flop? Is he really going to check a flush draw to me on the turn if i call his raise (serious question)?

These questions don't make sense to me... didn't villain check/min raise a non diamond turn in hand 2? I said I wouldn't fold to the turn c/mr and I said I would usually cbet the flop. (And yes I'd fold to a flop raise.)

FMP

I usually fold to a flop c/mr here.

Things i am hoping to remedy this week in my poker game...


1). Squeezing vs. overcalling OOP (out of position)

Brian Townsend mentioned in his 10/05/07 video that even when overcalling with a hand like J-10s, it is still not profitable to do so when OOP. To help reduce difficult situations where i don't have initiative/position in the hand, i am going to stop doing this. It is also tougher to extract value with my good hands from your opponents when i am OOP.

So that means that if i am going to play a hand like A-xs/SC's, i really should be 3betting with it. I think since A-xs generally has better equity against 3bet calling ranges, i will usually be folding SC's and 3betting with A-xs hands when i am not folding them because i have been active recently at the table.


2). Squeezing vs. overcalling IP (in position)

This is something that Brian Townsend also discussed in his most recent video. He was holding 10-9s, and opted to overcall instead of squeeze. He did say that if he were holding a hand like 10-4s that he would opt to squeeze instead of overcall (i assume also fold a fair % of the time!).

The reasoning behind it is that he would be giving up equity that the 10-9s hand had in a raised pot by 3betting. But if he were to 3bet with 10-4s, he really isn't losing that much equity that he might have in a raised pot.
The difference in equity between 10-9s/10-4s in a 3bet pot is probably pretty insignicant too.


3). K-10s+, K-Jo+, Q-Js in the blinds vs. CO/BTN open

First off, i don't like to 3bet in a spot like this. These hands don't play well in 3bet pots, as i am often dominated by a hand like A-Q/A-K.

But i also think that calling with them is worse than i thought, since i don't have initiative/position. Lately i have been getting into tough spots in hands because i wasn't the aggressor nor in position. I just don't need to put myself in these spots versus my opponents, so my resolution is to just pitch these hands for now.

Bleh.

I made two mistakes tonight, which cost me ~1 buy in. One of these mistakes ($150 spew) was probably tilt induced, which is disappointing since i have felt like tilt was a relative non issue for me.

Up 2.5 buy ins on the week. I ran quite well, so i can't honestly say i am happy with the results.

One of my friends came into town unexpectedly today, so i may end up playing poker less than i would like for a while.


Adjustments 1 + 2 (from earlier post) were great to have made to my game. Adjustment 3, which i also posted in the Strategies forum, has been mostly irritating to continue enforcing on myself. So i am officially dumping it. Time to learn to play some medium strength hands passively and OOP.


After watching some HU vids at Cardrunners, I have been playing a little HU at 100NL. Down ~.25 buy in over a couple hundred hands. It has been pretty fun, but i struggle trying to run more than 1 table of HU at once. However, since i prefer to run only 1 table, i have been taking very detailed notes on my opponents.


Getting comments is fun, whether they are encouragement or actual feedback. Thanks again to everyone who has posted so far. This experience has made me want to continue posting about my personal poker progess, and i think in January i will start another operation.

Up 2 buy ins tonight. I ran well, and i feel i played well in most of my hands.

I still find myself making 3-4 spewy bets/calls every 1k hands or so. At least i can identify them. One more semi-tilty call-spew too, that cost me 3/4 of a buy in.

1). Villain is a 20/18 regular, who probably percieves me as standard. One of my best hands tonight.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (3 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($222.20)
Hero ($307.50)
Button ($206.70)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J, Q.
Button raises to $8, 1 fold, Hero calls $6.

Flop: ($17) K, J, 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $12, Hero calls $12.

Turn: ($41) 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $34, Hero calls $34.

River: ($109) A (2 players)
Hero bets $24, Button raises to $90, Hero raises to $196, Button calls $62.70 (All-In).

Final Pot: $414.40

Results in white below:
Hero has Jc Qc (flush, ace high).
Button has Ah As (three of a kind, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins $457.70.


2). Villain is 40/20. I haven't seen him before, and he is only playing at two tables. He seems okay, but definitely not a very strong player.

I know i should have check/folded the river. This player most likely thought i was pretty crazy (saw me shove PF 2x in ~75 hands), and i don't think he would have tried to bluff me on the river. No value from worse hands by betting either probably.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($194)
UTG ($279.25)
MP ($207.10)
Hero ($373.50)
Button ($198.40)
SB ($188)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K, A.
2 folds, Hero raises to $8, Button calls $8, 2 folds.

Flop: ($19) 3, K, 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $14, Button calls $14.

Turn: ($47) T (2 players)
Hero bets $32, Button calls $32.

River: ($111) A (2 players)
Hero bets $44, Button raises to $144.4, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $199


3). This was also one of my best played hands tonight. This player can really only have a mid pair/flush draw. My line looks very scary to a hand like 8-8, and my overcards are most likely bigger than his flush draw cards.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP ($247)
CO ($209.15)
Button ($197)
Hero ($371)
BB ($180.65)
UTG ($201)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
2 folds, CO raises to $8, Button calls $8, Hero raises to $28, 1 fold, CO calls $20, Button calls $20.

Flop: ($86) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, CO checks, Button bets $50, Hero raises to $136, CO folds, Button raises to $169, Hero calls $33.

Turn: ($424) (2 players)

River: ($424) (2 players)

Final Pot: $424

Results in white below:
Hero has Qd Ah (two pair, jacks and nines).
Button has 3c Ac (two pair, jacks and nines).
Outcome: Button wins $212. Hero wins $212.

1). MP is a TAG regular.

I could easily have the nut flush, while my opponent really can't.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($307.60)
MP ($237)
Hero ($228.70)
Button ($398)
SB ($201)
BB ($200.05)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A, K.
UTG raises to $8, MP calls $8, Hero raises to $28, 3 folds, UTG folds, MP calls $20.

Flop: ($67) Q, 7, 9 (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $42, MP calls $42.

Turn: ($151) 4 (2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks.

River: ($151) 2 (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $158.7 (All-In), MP folds.

Final Pot: $468.40


2). My opponent is a nitty regular.

I think i played this hand well too. If i had bet the turn, i would lose value from TP + overpairs that would most likely call a river bet if the flush didn't complete. As the flush did complete, there was little value in betting. Once my opponent did bet, i was pretty sure my hand was well behind his range, and folded.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($156.05)
SB ($204.90)
Hero ($256.40)
UTG ($200)
MP ($313.20)
CO ($200)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, A.
1 fold, MP raises to $7, 3 folds, Hero calls $5.

Flop: ($15) 6, 8, 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $11, Hero raises to $34, MP calls $23.

Turn: ($83) A (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

River: ($83) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $77, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $83

3). My opponent is a straightforward TAG regular.

I have started to look for more spots to triple barrel bluff, and i thought this was a good board texture to fire three streets on. Is it good?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP ($393.90)
Hero ($254)
SB ($204)
BB ($248)
UTG ($408)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8, T.
2 folds, Hero raises to $6, 1 fold, BB calls $4.

Flop: ($13) K, 6, 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $8, BB calls $8.

Turn: ($29) A (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $22, BB calls $22.

River: ($73) 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $52



4). Both villains are TAG regulars.

I was probably percieved as being pretty quiet at the time i made this squeeze. The original raiser would definitely have 4bet K-K+, so i wasn't really worried that he was slowplaying.

I was planning on check/raising the flop, but i didn't get the opportunity to do so. I figured i could fire the turn and represent a big overpair. If i had been called i would have bet on almost any river card.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($406.90)
Hero ($200)
UTG ($283.35)
MP ($229.70)
Button ($200)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 4, 9.
1 fold, MP raises to $8, Button calls $8, 1 fold, Hero raises to $28, MP calls $20, Button calls $20.

Flop: ($85) 7, 6, 6 (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($85) 3 (3 players)
Hero bets $50, MP folds, Button folds.

Final Pot: $85


5). I feel this hand is a great example of ISF theorem, and was a great spot to fire three streets of "value".

It also made me realize that against smart aggressive players, i am better off making a small flop raise with a medium strength hand like A-9s on a flop like this.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($200)
Button ($205.20)
Hero ($204)
BB ($136.70)
UTG ($339.05)
MP ($148.80)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, J.
4 folds, Hero raises to $8, BB calls $6.

Flop: ($16) A, 3, K (2 players)
Hero bets $12, BB calls $12.

Turn: ($40) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $32, BB calls $32.

River: ($104) 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $86, BB folds.

Final Pot: $104

Tonight, i did something during my session that was really useful to helping me play better. I probably played twice as well as i would have otherwise.


[Rhetorical Question]


Yea, talking out loud during my session seemed to have a very beneficial impact. I pretended like i was making a video (lol), originally because i was alone and didn't want to listen to music. But for some reason i didn't stop talking out loud for the entire session. I think it was mostly beneficial because it forced me to stop and think a little more before i made each decision (i did this 4tabling btw). So i would recommend at least trying it out sometime (if you are easily embarrassed maybe wait until you can be alone )


I ran very well tonight too.

Ha! I actually do this all the time (when the roommate is out)

Unfortunately, my latest shot at 400NL has gotten off to a bad start. I am down 1 buy in, and have allotted myself 3 buy ins total for this attempt to move up. I made two pretty bad calls versus donks (-$350 total), and i have once again been running well. So the losing at 400NL has been my fault, which sucks way worse than running bad.

On a more positive note, i got to play a few orbits at a table with Lukie from FTR today (he didn't end up with all my money). There was another guy at that table who i think has also regularly played 1kNL+ as well, so i felt like a true balla while i was sitting there! If you are wondering why i was at that table, there was a good fish who i had decent position on. And once he was busto, i quickly left.

p.s. i think FTR needs a "ballin" emoticon lol

Originally Posted by Vi-Zer0Skill

2). My opponent is a nitty regular.

I think i played this hand well too. If i had bet the turn, i would lose value from TP + overpairs that would most likely call a river bet if the flush didn't complete. As the flush did complete, there was little value in betting. Once my opponent did bet, i was pretty sure my hand was well behind his range, and folded.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($156.05)
SB ($204.90)
Hero ($256.40)
UTG ($200)
MP ($313.20)
CO ($200)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, A.
1 fold, MP raises to $7, 3 folds, Hero calls $5.

Flop: ($15) 6, 8, 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $11, Hero raises to $34, MP calls $23.

hmm Ive been thinking of balancing my play more via doing this stuff with air, given my way too tight image i should gain alot from doing this. Given its a low board then a set is easily in your range if not dominating your own range OR you are repping a Q or J high flush draw type holding. Opp either holds a weakish overpair or a draw himself which he plays passively vs resistence.

Turn: ($83) A (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

hmm interesting turn, now you havent bet so you must NOT have a set otherwise its an easy bet if you had a set. Even so i wouldnt rep a set here unless i had it, opp could have Axs now and he aint ever folding turn. His check can rep pot control and him not wanting to be c/r'ed. Im sure he hasnt a set now. If he had of bet would you of called and what range do you think he would have if he bets here?? Im thinking since he is a tight reg then, when he bets we could be behind already bcoz any other hand should be looking for a showdown, no?


River: ($83) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $77, Hero folds.

Not a great card for us at all and i reckon it hits his range hard. hmm i think theres a very small chance he is bluffing bcoz he didnt bet the turn. He is repping a made flush here which it looks like he hit. His bet size is ok given he beleives he has a better made flush than you or hopes you call with Ax thinking he made a large bluff type bet.

Final Pot: $83

3). My opponent is a straightforward TAG regular.

I have started to look for more spots to triple barrel bluff, and i thought this was a good board texture to fire three streets on. Is it good?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP ($393.90)
Hero ($254)
SB ($204)
BB ($248)
UTG ($408)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8, T.
2 folds, Hero raises to $6, 1 fold, BB calls $4.

Flop: ($13) K, 6, 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $8, BB calls $8.

Id always bet more on flop, i can make my flop bet small on dry boards vs weak tight players as it saves me some money in keeping the pot small when im c/b'inh with nothing or if im trying to keep there range in.

Turn: ($29) A (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $22, BB calls $22.

Hmm not a huge fan here since this really isnt a great scare card. Vs a TAGs range you can fold out small PPs given you bet so small on flop. if i had of bet more on flop then i wouldnt double barrel this card. im checking here to try hit my card.

River: ($73) 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $52

Now the TAG has c/c turn and checked river to you, now Id be confident he hasnt got a set or AK so he is primarily weak. I feel its a decent spot to bluff given that you are repping strength thus far (plus your bet sizing with the range your repping is solid).


4). Both villains are TAG regulars.

I was probably percieved as being pretty quiet at the time i made this squeeze. The original raiser would definitely have 4bet K-K+, so i wasn't really worried that he was slowplaying.

I was planning on check/raising the flop, but i didn't get the opportunity to do so. I figured i could fire the turn and represent a big overpair. If i had been called i would have bet on almost any river card.

I like the thought of a c/r bcoz it reps a huge hand which can get folds from JJ,QQ,TT and getting floated if you bet sucks.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($406.90)
Hero ($200)
UTG ($283.35)
MP ($229.70)
Button ($200)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 4, 9.
1 fold, MP raises to $8, Button calls $8, 1 fold, Hero raises to $28, MP calls $20, Button calls $20.

$28 is way too small IMO.

Flop: ($85) 7, 6, 6 (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, Button checks.

Unless someone hit a FH, you can bluff turn bcoz 6x aint in their ranges.

Turn: ($85) 3 (3 players)
Hero bets $50, MP folds, Button folds.

Sometimes you will be floated here tho

Final Pot: $85


5). I feel this hand is a great example of ISF theorem, and was a great spot to fire three streets of "value".

I gonna have to reread ISF theorem bcoz i forget it.

It also made me realize that against smart aggressive players, i am better off making a small flop raise with a medium strength hand like A-9s on a flop like this.

Meaning? i dont get you.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($200)
Button ($205.20)
Hero ($204)
BB ($136.70)
UTG ($339.05)
MP ($148.80)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, J.
4 folds, Hero raises to $8, BB calls $6.

Flop: ($16) A, 3, K (2 players)
Hero bets $12, BB calls $12.

Turn: ($40) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $32, BB calls $32.

Im not a huge fan of this BvB, there are no scare cards to bluff given flop and i think the flop has hit his range somewhat. BvB opp's wont give you too much respect for premium hands.

River: ($104) 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $86, BB folds.

LOL ah sure go nutz, your repping such a narrow range here tho id say opp isnt super strong either. Plz discuss your thinking here and ISF theorem while i go look it up

Final Pot: $104

Yay still mention of ISF theorem! Glad I've taught some.

Thanks for looking at the hands DG

"'It also made me realize that against smart aggressive players, i am better off making a small flop raise with a medium strength hand like A-9s on a flop like this. '

Meaning? i dont get you. "


My meaning was that a hand like A-9s on the flop can't stand a lot of pressure. So i would be better off raising the flop to define my opponents' hand rather than calling and facing big bets on later streets and not knowing whether or not he has the hand he is representing. Of course, if my opponent were a three barrelling monkey then calling down would most likely be better!

And i agree with your point that b/c it's BvB this bluff has an even lower expectation. pocketfours also said something about 3 barrel bluffs being generally unprofitable, so i'm not sure i am exactly in love with the hand myself.


I have two poker articles bookmarked, and one of them is ISF theorem. I didn't really understand the idea of ranges at all before i read that.

BTW what BR you playing with these days

I have noticed that you sometimes weakly bet the river i.e. $44 into a $111 pot. What is your reasoning behind it? Have you had success in getting folds or do you perceive them as thin value bets?

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

BTW what BR you playing with these days

fluctuating between 18-20 buy ins for 400NL. I haven't been able to make any progress in building my roll for almost a month now (and i think i have been running well )!

Originally Posted by silu73

I have noticed that you sometimes weakly bet the river i.e. $44 into a $111 pot. What is your reasoning behind it? Have you had success in getting folds or do you perceive them as thin value bets?

that sounds like me going for thin value


if you see a hand where it doesn't look like i was value betting or the bet sizing is bad, point it out and i'll take a look

Originally Posted by Vi-Zer0Skill

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

BTW what BR you playing with these days

fluctuating between 18-20 buy ins for 400NL. I haven't been able to make any progress in building my roll for almost a month now (and i think i have been running well )!

I'm on a 30x buy-in rule and only have just settled playing $200NL. Do you notice a big difference in skill level between 200 and 400?

Originally Posted by silu73

Originally Posted by Vi-Zer0Skill

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

BTW what BR you playing with these days

fluctuating between 18-20 buy ins for 400NL. I haven't been able to make any progress in building my roll for almost a month now (and i think i have been running well )!

I'm on a 30x buy-in rule and only have just settled playing $200NL. Do you notice a big difference in skill level between 200 and 400?

i don't consider myself established at 400NL because of my relatively small roll. I feel like i am just taking a shot right now, and hopefully i can pick up a few buy ins and get settled in. If i don't "stick", i still have a reasonably sized roll for 200NL to fall back on. I am sticking to a 3 buy in shot rule.

400NL regulars play noticeably more aggressive than the ones at 200NL - lots more 3betting, c/r ing flops, floating IP, double barreling and people actually check/raise the river sometimes! There are still robot TAGs who play 8-12 tables though so i wouldn't say it's totally different. Good table/seat selection is even more important.

10k more hands and my operation will be completed!

i am breakeven over my first 5k hands at 400NL, but i have played pretty crazily so i am not disappointed by any means with the results.

However, anyone who reads the SH Forum probably has noticed that i am making a lot of mistakes. I am going to cut down to 2 tables for at least 2k hands and really focus on my play.

i am astonished that i am nearly a 7ptBB/100 winner at 200NL over 35k hands. what does that mean about my opponents?

Add: down 2 buy ins at 400NL in a short session tonight. i am off from work tomorrow and will hopefully get a couple hours in 2 tabling.

my computer got broked

i probably won't be playing much for the next couple weeks while i wait for my computer to come back from wherever they sent it to fix it

DG i will be ready to screen share when i do get my computer back

whenever i can get on a friends' computer i'll watch CR vids and post here too

I start working part time on Monday, and will keep my job part time until at least the end of March 2008. I'm kind of nervous as i have only 13k to my name at the moment, and can only expect to make about 1/3rd of my cost of living expenses from my job. I figure i can have 3-4 breakeven months before i would need to go back to full time work.

Starting Monday, my goal is to play 3k hands/week two tabling -- until Thanksgiving (provided i can get access to a computer for that long!). Hopefully by then i will have my own computer back, and can return to 4 tabling as hopefully a much improved player. While two tabling, i'd say i've make much fewer mistakes and have focused much more on my opponents image as well as my own. It's allowed me to adjust to table conditions/my opponents much more effectively. Considering i can table select very well when i have fewer tables to sit at, i'm sure i am a solid winner when two tabling 400NL.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about bet sizing lately. How to size my preflop 3bet/c-bet in 3bet pots, how to size my flop check/raise based on my opponents' c-bet to avoid awkward stack to pot size situations on later streets. This is something i'd highly recommend taking the time to do.

Im back playing to Vi, took some time off to relax and im feeling real good. Only playing 50nl right now on 2-3 tbls bcoz im a bitch, once i get on a little run of buyins ill jump back up.

You play on FTP dont you too? I go for 100nl when ive datamined a ton too. Datamine FTW

I would suggest u have between 25-30 buy ins atleast at 400NL.400NL can be really swingy cause ur edge is smaller.In one of the CR videos gaucho2121 said something about having 100 buy ins...

GL Viz...

i hope you succeed, i enjoy reading about your progression!

Well actually i was sort of evicted from FullTilt after they found out i created a second account to get rakeback lol. They didn't actually close my initial account (btw since i did get all of my money back i have no hard feelings against the site ), but as i am not getting rakeback i figured Pokerstars VIP club/thing would be better. At some point i am going to redeposit there though.


I think 18-20 buy ins is definitely on the edge, considering im not a 1-2kNL regular who is starting an account on another site or something like that. After Q-Q < A-A, K-K < A-A, and a poorly run bluff against a regular, i was down 1k and decided to play more at 200NL.


thanks for the support seoul_child, hopefully things do keep moving forward.

down almost another 1k and i have only played about 1k hands, but i know i am getting my money in good so i'm just glad i moved down before the weekend!

The bankroll is around 6200.


GH3 Update:

Here are some score i got this weekend. I love this game

Cult of Personality: 233k
Cherub Rock: 486k




Here's a youtube link to Dragonforce playing Through the Fire and Flames. I'm still working on the intro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3H4liC2sWg

tell me is GH actually teaching you to play a guitar??

Yea its a noob qs

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

tell me is GH actually teaching you to play a guitar??

Yea its a noob qs

with the video game guitar only having 5 notes, it would probably be offensive to good real guitar players to say the two were comparable lol.


Add: down like 700 more .

Heading back to 100NL for a while until i seem to get a better handle on why i am losing right now. It's slightly irritating that as i cut back my hours i drop like 1/3rd of my bankroll...

5 notes huh!!! game must be REALLLLLLLL EZ

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

5 notes huh!!! game must be REALLLLLLLL EZ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw2P_gim1Gc

NOT EASY LOL

Daily updates make seem to make sense for some reason when i am losing lol.

1k hands of 100NL tonight (in 1 hour too!) and finished down one buy in. I can't seem to felt my good hands, so i am looking harder for places to bluff. Here i ran two bluffs:

1). Villain recently sat down.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP ($115.75)
Hero ($129.65)
Button ($147.50)
SB ($130.70)
BB ($65.50)
UTG ($223.90)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9, 8.
1 fold, MP raises to $6, Hero calls $6, 3 folds.

Flop: ($13.50) 2, 8, 5 (2 players)
MP bets $10, Hero calls $10.

Turn: ($33.50) 6 (2 players)
MP bets $15, Hero raises to $45, MP calls $30.

River: ($123.50) K (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $55


2). Villain has been playing straightforward, 30/15.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($205.95)
MP ($93.35)
Hero ($110.40)
Button ($121.90)
SB ($99)
BB ($112.45)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 7, 7.
1 fold, MP raises to $3, Hero calls $3, 3 folds.

Flop: ($7.50) 2, 6, A (2 players)
MP bets $3, Hero raises to $13, MP calls $10.

Turn: ($33.50) 4 (2 players)
MP bets $6, Hero raises to $31, MP calls $25.

River: ($95.50) 5 (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $48


Good/bad? More substantial thoughts?

So I watched CTS’ heads up video tonight at cardrunners, and at the end he did an EV calculation and I figured I would do them for these two all in bluffs I posted. Here are my results.

Bluff 1:

Villain folds = 123.50

Villain calls:

100% *x (-55)
0% *x (0)
= 0


Villain folds 100x% of the time, then
EV(push) = (123.50) * x + (-55)(1-x)
178.50x – 55 = 0
178.50x = 55
X = 0.31


This bluff needs to succeed 31% of the time to be profitable

What is his range?

9-9 – Q-Q
K-K/A-A
Flushes


Bluff 2:

Villain folds: 95.50

Villain calls:
100% * (-48)
0% * (0)
= -48

Villain folds 100%x of the time, then
EV(push) = (95.50) *x + (-48)(1-x)
143.5x – 48 = 0
143.5x = 48
X = 0.33


This bluff needs to succeed 33% of the time to be profitable

What is his range?

Flushes
Ace-x



I think both bluffs are pretty marginal, but I wouldn’t say either bluff was significantly worse than checking.


I don't really mind my turn plays in either hand, so i'd say these hands were just marginal spots.

I don't really like either of them to be honest...

The thing that sticks out that i don't like is how the river bet sizes up. In both hands, your river shove is less the 1/2 a psb, and I would think the villains would be commited by that point. Especially in hand 2 it especially looks like he has a flush...

BTW, i didn't look at your EV analysis, so take it for what its worth

I dont like the bluffs either. what are you trying to rep? lines seem abit fishy tbh.

Played a session at 200NL tonight. I think whatever i was doing wrong i stopped doing when i started 8-9 tabling with a 16/14 VPIP/PFR. My WSF is 47% of the last 3k hands, which i am really proud of. However, i wonder if my tighter VPIP/PFR is largely responsible, and not so much my good play.

Anyways i finished up a buy in, and feel i made only two mistakes (one bad 3bet and one missed double barrel). Possibly three, depending on what FTR thinks of the hand i posted in the SH Forum.

I made quite a few changes to my 3bet guide, so i'd appreciate peoples' comments on that.

hand 2 is pretty bad.

Hand 1 stack sizes make it difficult, you could try raising less on the turn.

didn't really run any wild bluffs this weekend. bad bluffs probably cost me the most in terms of mistakes i am making, and the only "treatment" i can think of for it is to just consider ranges faster and more accurately while i am playing. To help me do this, i'd probably have to play less than 4 tables. Since making money is more of a priority right now, i'll just try to stop making big bluffs unless i am certain it's a good play.

Here's one bluff from this weekend. This guy is a decent 200/400NL regular. I'd expect this opponent to check/call a straight. Also, it looked like he purposefully didn't commit himself to the pot. A flush is definitely in my range.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (5 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($116.90)
BB ($304.95)
UTG ($398.30)
MP ($203)
Hero ($390)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 5, K.
1 fold, MP raises to $8, Hero raises to $22, 2 folds, MP calls $14.

Flop: ($47) T, J, K (2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($47) 5 (2 players)
MP bets $34, Hero calls $34.

River: ($115) A (2 players)
MP bets $64, Hero raises to $188


finished up about 4 buy ins on the weekend, though only +$1 on my first session today. Today was also the first time ive ever screen shared while playing poker, and it was a cool experience to talk about hands with someone in relative real time (ty DG). Having someone watching me play seemed to discourage me from running any dumb bluffs.


Mini Brag: since Friday

5 notes huh!!! game must be REALLLLLLLL EZ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw2P_gim1Gc

NOT EASY LOL

One of my buddies played this song on expert for like 70% completion its pretty impressive to watch. It's a lot harder than it looks.

Here's a cool hand from today...


Villain seems competent and aggressive, 22/18 stats over 50 or so hands. I'd guess his 3bet range is tight. I have been playing straightforward at the table. I think this is an ideal board texture to be semibluffing on in a reraised pot - even more so when i am holding A-K.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (5 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($456.15)
Hero ($200)
Button ($77.55)
SB ($276.30)
BB ($229.20)

Preflop: Hero is MP with K, A.
1 fold, Hero raises to $8, 2 folds, BB raises to $31, Hero calls $23.

Flop: ($63) Q, 3, 7 (2 players)
BB bets $53, Hero raises to $169



(forgot how i got it to look like i did in my last post)

Incredibly, my WSF is nearly 50%! I feel like i am playing really well for the most part, and i hope this is close to sustainable!