My god! CONGRATS!!!!!!!
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Life sounds pretty exciting for you at the moment - congrats.
Would be interested to know if Stars are offering you any reload bonuses or other promos at the moment during your hiatus? I'm going to struggle to play much again myself this month and trying to work out if it would be beneficial to withdraw my roll for a bit to attract some decent bonus offers and earn a tiny bit of interest on the balance in the meantime (ignoring any Gbp strengthening against usd).
bean - -I haven't gotten any offers or anything. Mind you it's only really been at most 1.5 or so months. Maybe those offers would come in after a longer hiatus?
Had a session today. First session in a long time.
Was a 6.5 hour session and up $550.
23 visits
$22,650
Total hours: 132 hours
Hourly: $171.60
Hands: 6600 hands (50 hands/hour)
Today's session was very swingy. Was up $400 and then down $900 and finished up $550.
Some interesting or bigger hands.
1. My main allins preflop or on earlier streets were AK<K3s for a $170 pot. Then versus the same villain after he doubled up on that, :tc::th: < :jd::td: on :ah::ts::8c::9s: all-in on the turn after he check bombed, for $310ish pot. Villain rivers :qs:
Also versus the same villain had AK<KK for $1k pot later in the session, he limps EP, I iso raise (had been doing this a ton), and one call, he back raises and I jam.
2. I don't like this hand that much. River I think I should c/f or open jam. He definitely induced me wiht his sizing, as I expected a higher straight to always jam himself.
Kinda laggy spazzy aggro opens EP to $25 ($900 stack). I flat in MP :js::jd: ($800ish). LP calls behind ($500).
Flop ($85), :4s::5d::6c:
EP bets $50, I call, LP calls.
turn ($235), :3h:
EP checks, I check, LP bets $50 (suuper small), EP folds, and I c/c
river ($335), :2d: - putting straight on board
I check, EP bets $100, and I c/bomb the $300ish or so remaining. He b/c with :qh::7h:
3. Two limps, btn ($800) iso's to $30, hero ($550) in SB makes it $105 with :ks::qs:. Btn, decentish player calls.
Flop $220, :ad::td::5c:
Hero bets $115, btn calls.
Turn $330 brick, ck ck.
River $330 brick, I check with the intentionally of potentially hero calling a bet vs bricked FD's and bricked KJ/QJ stuff.
Villain checks back :qd::jd: after tanking and I win with K high.
4. Same villain as hand 3, a bit later. He raises EP , I 3b KK to his left and he calls OOP. He c/c 9xxcc board and c/c my shove on turn T with QQ, and I win $1k pot.
5. I iso loose players limp ($750 effective) with :8s::9s: as I had been doing repeatedly.
Flop :qs::8c::9c: , villain c/c down on flop and turn bricks, and c/c hero's $500 shove into $500ish on brick river with TP :qc::th:
Went to woodbine today. I'm going to try to go at least 2 or 3 times in the next 4-5 weeks, cause my baby is due on Sept 29th and who knows how that's gonna kill my grind.
Ended up down around $160 today. Today was one of those sessions where everytime I raised a pocket I hit a set and everyone folded to my flop cbets. But then anytime I ran a bluff I got picked off.
24 visits
$22,490
Total hours: 138 hours
Hourly: $163
Hands: 6900 hands (50 hands/hour)
Biggest hands were:
1. My KT < A7hh on T75hh flop vs $120 stack for $260ish pot.
2. I raised :qs::ts: EP to $20, MP calls, LP calls and BB calls.
Pot on flop (~$85), :ac::qd::5h: checked to me, I ck, MP cks, LP cks.
Turn ($85), :3d: , blinds chks, I ck, MP bets $55, folds around to me and I call.
River ($195), :td:, I ck and MP bets $100, I c/c vs his backdoor :7d::8d:
Down $170ish
3. I limp $5 :ah::9h: utg (been trying out limping in or behind with Axs and lower pockets lately, as I've been thinking that the most likely hands to dominate others are sets vs two pairs or flush vs flushes, so I don't mind limping with these and going multi-way), older aggro whale lady limps behind, another limp and SB makes it $35 ($800 effective).
I make it $87 total, whale lady cold calls ($240ish effective). SB calls.
Flop ($255ish), :qc::7c::5d: , SB cks to me. I decide to shut down given whale lady only has $140ish behind. I pondered jamming or betting $110ish on most flops, but I think Qx just hits too much of her range (QJ,KQ,AQ type stuff). I'm not worried about SB though as if it was HU my plan was to barrel him off.
Flop checks around.
Turn ($255ish), brick, SB leads small $55 and then river $65ish on brick. Lady folds, he shows :ks::js: for K high.
Down $90ish
4. Whale lady opens EP $25, MP calls, I sq :as::kd: in LP to $110. Whale calls, MP folds.
Flop ($230ish) - :qd::qh::js: , lady chks and I ck behind.
Turn ($230ish), :5c:, lady leads $150, I call.
River ($550ish), :ks:, lady shoves all-in for $240ish.
I tank a bit. Kind of figured to see a fair bit of AQ here, but she's calling so light pre and playing sufficiently aggro to have low pairs, Axs and other stuff.
I call and she has :kc::qc:
Down $500
5. One limp, Kind of tight-ish Btn iso's to $30 (effective - $280ish).
I make it $85 with :ah::th:. I obv don't expect fold equity with this sizing, but I expect a fold a fair bit on flops. He calls.
Flop ($175ish), :ks::kd::4c: , I bet $55, with the intention of shoving all turns and expecting him not to defend enough of his flop peeling range appropriately. He calls
Turn ($285ish), I shove $140ish. He needs to defend 66% of his turn range, but I'm expecting him to get to turn as played with tons of midish pairs (88-JJ stuff), as well as AJ/AQ type stuff, that he won't continue enough.
Villain calls with :ad::kc: and wins.
Down $280ish.
I can't even think of the hands I won. I know I ran a number of bluffs, raising flops and betting turns and people were folding. Taking a lot of pots down on flops with continuation bets etc. No big wins that I can think of though.
4- Think you can just fold turn vs whale-lady
5- Given his stack, your image has to be really good for tight guy to fold? In this specific situation I prefer just a call to keep the fish in. 3bet okay if you have position at least or he's full stacked.
4. I agree, I would mostly always fold. but she was an aggro whale, potting it whenever checked to her type. Even still, I think this board sucks and should be a fold
5. Yah meh, this one is bad. I think he folds often, but probably not great without some draw at least.
Went to woodbine today. Was my shortest session thus far, only playing about 4 hours. Was up $450. Was also a pretty uneventful session, and not sure if it was cause it was just short. The last few sessions have been mostly uneventful. No big stack offs and no big wins. Variance kicking in a bit I'd assume. Either that or cause there haven't been that many 'fish' by live standards lately.
25 visits
$22,940
Total hours: 142 hours
Hourly: $161.5
Hands: 7100 hands (50 hands/hour)
Not that many interesting hands. $2/$5 all game.
1. Everything was sitting out, on break or lunch or who knows what. Our table breaks for 5 minus and it's me and this mid 20's pink haired woman playing HU. This is probably the 6th hand or so. I folded to her first steal, 3b her second steal and now I have :as::kd: on her third steal, she opens $11, I make it $52 (same size as last time) she calls. $370ish effective.
Flop :jh::8h::8c:, pot ($104), I ck she bets $60, I c/c.
Turn :ts:, pot ($224), I ck, she shoves for $250-60ish or so.
Hero??
I was confused in this spot. I don't play much HU and def don't play much HU live. Is this a call or fold? I ended up folding. Someone else had come back to the table after I tank folded and was like "overpair?", and I go "are mad? I would have snapped an overpair", and the woman goes "really?... I thought I was turning Jx into a bluff". This statement made me think that she actually knew something about poker (concept of turning a hand into a bluff) and simultaneously knew nothing about poker (thinking I would fold an overpair there HU).
2. I had been very aggressive lately. I had been seen barreling several ppl. I barreled villain in question 5 minutes ago. I raise EP to $20 with :ad::8d:, UTG+2 and MP (villain) calls with $500 effective.
Flop ($60ish): :kh::3d::7h: I bet $37, utg+2 folds, MP raises small to 78ish. I 3b to 125ish, he jams and I fold.
3. EP limps. MP limps. I iso to $35 wtih :9h::th:. LP calls, limpers call.
Flop ($140ish) - :4h::6h::2s: - EP donks $60 and says "I have 46 I should bet", he has $280 behind. MP folds. LP has $500 stack and so do I.
I was torn on this one, on whether to believe the talk or not with regards to the 46. Shoving also looks very strong here, and I can get LP off of most hands. Obviously I'm not in great shape if called and EP does have two pair. I shove, LP folds, EP calls with 46s and I bink flushon river.
4. Another hand where I had a bad image. MP raises, kind of tightish reg. Capable of running some bluffs and capable of being a non-believer. LP calls and I call the $20 with 99 in blinds.
Flop ($65ish) - :2h::9h::9c:, MP bets $35, LP folds, I c/r to $75, villain calls.
Turn ($215ish) - :kc: , I bet $105, villain folds and says he folded JJ.
I could have maybe made it really small here, but not sure what is best.
Today was a pretty crazy swingy session at woodbine. Played around 6 hours, up $1450.
26 visits
$24,390
Total hours: 148 hours
Hourly: $164.8
Hands: 7400 hands (50 hands/hour)
Played a mix of 2/5 and 5/5 today.
2/5:
1. I had been raising a fair bit, and esp in LP. Guy on my left was clearly annoyed at my opening. He had already 3b me a few times. He's not the type I'd put on the level where because he had raised me a few times, now it's legit. He just thinks I'm light and if he 3b me I have to fold.
$550 effective.
1. Few limps, I open btn $25 with :ah::7h:. He 3b me in SB to $90. Given dynamic, I was pretty sure this was fos. I 4b him to $165. He 5b me to like $245. I can't explain the "feel" factor here, but despite the ridiculous odds he was giving himself, I was fairly sure he would fold or have some random worse hand and call. I ship and he folds.
2. UTG horrible player (he's the mark - the type that limps and cold calls any 3b etc), limps. MP isolates, he had been aggressive. He iso's to $15. I 3b :qs::td: in SB to $55. UTG and MP both call.
Flop ($170ish), I cbet half pot on :ad::7c::8s:, and UTG calls, MP folds.
Turn ($340ish), :9h:, I check (I should probably bet here in retrospect), he bets $150, I shove $420ish total. He calls A9o.
River - I bink the straight.
5/5
3. One hand, a few limps, EP, MP, I have 62o in SB and I ck my option, BB cks.
flop ($30) - :3s::2c::6s: , I bet $20 into field, EP calls ($800ish effective).
Turn ($70) - :jc: I check, villain bets $30, I c/r to $100. Villlain 3b to around $235. This was very strange imo. he's only repping 45 at this point I think. I call oop.
River ($540) - :tc:, I check, villain bets $500. I curse and call because he reps so narrow and his line makes no sense to me. I call, he shows :js::8s: (people play weird!) and I ship big pot.
4. Same villain as hand 3.
UTG straddles to $10. Folds around to me on button with :as::qd:, I steal large sizing to $35. Villain from hand 3, repops me to $100 ($800 effective). I make it $215ish. Villain calls oop.
Flop ($450ish): :jc::tc::6d:, villain checks, I shove all-in and he tank folds.
There were a bunch of other $400ish pot hands where I got allin on earlier streets as favorite and got sucked out on, but overall was a good session.
5. Forgot one more hand from yesterday. Wasn't happy with this, but could be results oriented. One limp UTG, villain limps utg+1 ($500ish effective), I isolate LP to $25 with :as::8s:, both limpers call.
Flop ($75ish), :qs::ts::7d: - utg cks, utg+1 donks $60. Villain had been donking a TON today. I believe he has been limp calling stuff like AJ, KQ, AQ etc and then donking. One hand he showed AK that he limp called, and triple donked KQxxA board, jamming river into PFR.
I decided to just jam flop. In retrospect, I think this looks too drawy and would prefer raising to $130 and shoving turn. This also let's him come over the top on flop with worse FD's and KJ etc. I jam and he calls the $420ish more with AKo and holds.
6. Few limps, I iso :ks::9s: on HJ to $25, BTN calls, SB calls, limpers call.
Flop ($150ish) - :qs::8c::7s:, ck to me I bet $130. BTN jams all-in for $600 and SB tanks a bit and jams $350ish total. Folds around to me.
I need about 30% equity vs both players to call here. I was tanking a while. I think I'm often up against 78s or 77/88 or the nut fd though. I ended up folding. My read was right I was up against 78o and A4ss.
After stoving it, it's not even as close as I thought it might be.
equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 19.337% 19.32% 00.02% 101022 81.00 { Ks9s }
Hand 1: 37.989% 35.78% 02.21% 187066 11556.00 { 88-77, AQs, AsJs, AsTs, As8s, As6s, As5s, As4s, As3s, As2s, Tc9c, Ts9s, Ts8s, 9s8s, 87s, 6s5s, 5s4s, 87o }
Hand 2: 42.673% 40.48% 02.19% 211637 11475.00 { 88-77, AQs, AsJs, AsTs, As8s, As6s, As5s, As4s, As3s, As2s, Ts9s, Ts8s, 9s8s, 87s, 87o }
Very nice Griffey! https://imagicon.info/cat/10-3/icon_smile.gif
Haven't posted in a while. Mostly cause my wife and I had our first baby in October, I haven't played much! If by much, I mean not at all.
Went to woodbine today for a quick session, four hours and up $1200, to close out the year.
Overall 2014 live stats end up at:
18 visits
10,600
102 hours
hourly: $103.90
I think this hourly is a lot more reasonable/accurate compared to the pace I was running at in 2013. I haven't been running too hot in 2014. That being said, I also haven't ran too bad. No set over sets and no big pairs running into big pairs. I've done a good job avoiding stacking in marginal spots as well.
Hands from today at $5/5:
1. Most aggressive player at the table is UTG. He had mentioned at some other point earlier that he was limping UTG to limp/raise. UTG limps, one MP limp, btn iso raises to $25. I had 3b btn earlier, and he folded JJ and showed (so he's able to fold). I 3b to $85 with :ac::js: and UTG back raises to $235. BTN folds, and I'm VERY confident given dynamic/his style that he's fos here. I jam for $1k and he folds.
2. Tightish short stacker opens CO with $255 stack to $25. I 3b $85 in SB with :9s::9c: and CO calls. Flop ($180) - :ks::kc::2c: I bet $60 (to induce) and villain jams remaining $175ish. I call and hold vs his :ah::qd:
3. MP limps, huge station player iso's $35 on btn. I have :as::kd: in SB, and don't feel like bloating pot vs his particular villain given stacks ($2100 deep). I flat and MP flats. Flop is :ks::8d::9h: and MP donks $75, btn folds and I call. Brick turn ck/ck, and I lead $130 on river brick and he calls and mucks.
That's the last of it for 2014. Goal for 2015 is to go to woodbine once a month at least. Ideally around 15 times in the year. Online playing is not looking overly likely, but we'll see how things play out.
Happy holidays and happy new year everyone!
Had my first visit to woodbine of 2015. My goal is to go 15 times this year. The first didn't go particularly well, down $1350. First losing session in a long while!
Didn't play that well, but didn't play too poorly either. Made some high variance decisions.
28 visits
$23,240
Total hours: 157 hours
Hourly: $148/hr
Hands: 7850
2/5
1. Villain in this hand, very little reads. All I know is that last orbit he straddled and I saw him donk into someone. That alone is enough to make me think he's at least somewhat splashy. Villain saw me raise LP last orbit as well. EP Limps, Villain limps behind MP, I iso to $32 on btn :8s::8d:, BB calls, EP folds, Villain back raises to $105. $500 effective. My read was that he didn't believe me (raising two times LP) and that he wouldn't be too strong limping behind a limp. I jam, he calls :js::jc: and holds.
Math in my head at the time. Amount of dead money in the pot is around $175ish. My shoving would be for around $470 and when called I'll probably have 25% equity (so 25 vs 75 - on avg lose 50%). So when called i'm losing around $235. So I need him to fold around 58% here which I thought I had.
Down $500.
2. $500 effective. EP limps, same villain as above limps behind. Short stack jams $50, I have :ad::kd: and I think a bit and decide to just flat the $50. EP calls the $50, and villain from above back raises to $200. This is a pretty much spot since he's committed, but with dead money I'm too strong not to jam. I jam, villain calls :jd::js:, and shorty has :9c::9s: and JJ holds.
Down $500
3. $500 effective. Two limpers EP, MP iso raises to $20 (which is a pretty small size). Two callers, I call :ah::jh: on btn, two limpers call. Flop 6-way. :js::2h::6d: , cks to guy on my right who bets $50, I call, two folds, PFR c/r small to $118. Guy on my right calls (short stack, only $65 left after), and I call. Turn :8s: PFR jams all-in, which is like $360ish to me or something. Shorty calls and I fold. PFR shows set of 2's, shorty shows TT and PFR wins.
down $130sih.
4. $500 eff. 1 limper EP, I limp behind :qs::ts:, two more limpers behind, BB cks. Flop is :th::8s::2s: ck, I ck, cks around. :td: turn, EP leads $20 into $25, I call, player behind calls, other folds. River :jc:, ck, I bet $50 and player IP raises to $200. This is a meh spot. I really figured he would bet any gutter/OESD on the flop, so he doesn't have a straight imo. He could have slow played Tx here. I tnak and call, he shows 222 for two's full.
-$230sih
5. $500 eff. CO raises to $25, I call :kc::tc: in BB. :td::8s::6d: I c/c $40, turn :5s; ck/ck, river :2h: I lead $65 into like $135ish. he raises me to $200. This is a weird spot and makes no sense. I highly doubt he cks back strong on such a drawy turn. Only 222 makes sense here an dhe might not even bet flop. I call and he shows :7c::6c: into a bluff here, which is also kinda weird. I think he can just call.
up $250ish
6. $800 effective. I have :kc::qc: in BB. Several limps around, SB (kinda tightish) raises to $30. This is small for him. If he had a monster he's for sure pumping this more given the number of limps and being OOP. That being said his range is still pretty tight I think, TT+, KJ+, AJ+ kinda stuff. I should probably fold or 3b here. I call. Several calls behind.
Flop is :kh::9s::3h: , he bets $105 into the field, I call, rest fold. Turn brick :5d: he bets $240ish, leaving around $360 behind on river. I was trying to figure out if this was a jam or fold spot, or if I could call.
I decide to call. My logic being:
1. If he has a FD he's going to b/c a turn jam, but will possibly bluff a river brick.
2. If he has an overpair/AK he might check a river flush.
3. If he has AJ/AQ type stuff, he might bluff shove a river flush.
So mostly it's whether or not he bluffs more wtih AJ/AQ stuff on a flush, than him not bluffing a river brick if I just call.
I call, river is :8h: and he jams the remaining $360ish into an $850ish or so pot. I call and he shows :ah::jh:
Down $750
I've kind of made a mental sticky to respect people who backraise, especially if you are perceived as active.
Went to woodbine today, and played meh ok. Was up $230ish but should have been up at least $800-900. Made one pretty bad stack off.
Last few sessions I'm noticing that when I'm being very active, I'm having a hard time getting away from hands to aggression in spots that I normally can find a fold if I'm being tighter.
29 visits
$23,470
Total hours: 164
Hourly: $143
Hands: 8200
Played all 2/5 today, here are some of the bigger hands.
1. very early in session. UTG straddles ($350 effective), very active. Seen him 3b low pockets before, and call 3b wide. Type that defends all his blinds etc. I open $35 HJ with :ts::tc:, he repops on straddle to $60. Stacks make this a weird spot, I decide to jam expecting him to be wide, and can likely fold over cards. He calls :as::ad:
Down $350
2. Two limps, I isolate to $30 CO with :kc::8c:, both limpers call. Flop comes :as::ad::qh:, ck, ck, I cbet $35 into $90, first limper calls, other folds. Turn :4s: and I decide it's a decent spot to run a triple, as his flop peeling to my small bet is gutters, Qx and some weak Ax that might even fold to triple. Turn I bet $90 into $160 he calls. River :8h: I jam $350ish and he folds.
Up $200
Hands 3 and 4 are two spots I should get away from, but was probably playing like 30/26 full ring. Opening a ton, and in EP as well (cause I was getting some hands EP).
3. Open :qs::qd: to $25 UTG+2, UTG+3 calls, all folds. Flop is :3s::4c::8s: I bet $40 he calls. Turn :jc: I bet $105 and he raises to $250ish ($200 behind). With how I had been playing I figured he could have some Jxss here, or some other FD. I jam and he calls :4s::4d:. This spot is close, I should maybe get away from it but hard to say.
down $500ish
4. This hand was the worst, and purely came down to me playing SUPER aggro (had raised on button lik elast 4 orbits), and me not believing the narrow range villain was repping (AA only). Straddle on, another limp, I iso :ah::9d: on btn to $37. SB ($800 effective) 3b me to $105. I 4b to $190 and he makes it $390 reasonably quick.
His timing messed me up. I really didn't think he would 5b AA that quickly, and given I had an ace I just wasn't believing. I tank a bit and jam and run into AA.
In retrospect, I need to start believing ppl, regardless of how crazy I'm playing and find some folds.
Down $800.
5. These two hands were both vs same villain. I raised UTG QQ to $30 (effective $1500), villain in MP 3b me to $80, I call. I c/c flop :td::9d::4s: 3/4 pot and fold :kd: turn to 3/4 pot.
An hour or so later, straddle on. I raise UTG :as::ac: to $35. UTG+1 calls, same villain above sq to $105 ($710 effective). I decide he's making a play again and I flat OOP. UTG+1 folds. Flop :th::6s::4d: I c/c $150. Turn :8h: I ck, he jams $450ish and I snap call. He tables :ah::qd: and I win.
Up $750ish.
I don't how I played, but I think I could have found a way to win around $600-700 more easily with a bit better play.
30 visits
22,970
Total hours: 170.5 hours
Hourly: $134.7
Hands: 8525
Estimated winrate (assuming avg BB of $6): 44.9bb/100
Went to woodbine today and once again didn't play my best. I've been making a few more mistakes the last few sessions. Either that or it's all variance catching up to me, which is also possible.
Was down about $500 in 6.5 hours. Definitely variance has been settling in with regards to hitting sets last few sessions. Also it was one of those sessions where ALL of my big pairs were OOP, which isn't ideal.
Here are some of the bigger hands, all 2/5.
1. $500 eff. Villain is playing SUPER aggro. Online player for sure, opening for raises at least 25% of time. cbetting around 80% from whath I can tell, if not more.
One limp. vill opens CO $35. I 3b :as::jc: in BB to $135, fold, villain jams pretty quickly $500, $365 for me to call. Based on his timing it just felt like 99-QQ,AQ,AK but not really AA/KK.
I need around 37% to call. After stoving it I only have around 32.5%. I was close, but I ended up folding. He had TT.
2. VALUE TOWN!
EP limps, MP limps, BTN limps, SB fold, I'm in BB with :qs::3d: and check. $800 effective.
:8c::2c::4s: pot :22, checks around.
:3s: turn I check, EP makes it $17, fold, Btn calls, I c/r hard to $65.
EP tanks a while, and eventually calls. BTN tanks a while as well and also eventually calls.
Assumption: Given two FD's are out I really expected someone to re-pop here if they were very strong. Plan is to bet hard on a brick river.
:qd: river. This is an interestin river, cause now I have two pair. I bet $165 into around $220ish. EP tanks and calls, and BTN tanks and is like "god.. you have 56... but I have to call".. and calls A5 for straight. EP had set... severely value towned myself!
3. $500 eff. This was my worst hand for sure. Raise :ad::qd: UTG+1, $35 iso over one limp and dead money from a post. LP tightish kinda player calls on BTN.
Flop :as::kd::3s: - I bet $45 and he calls.
Turn :9s: - I check and he bets $135. This sizing through me off. I really didnt' think he had many flushes in his range (JTss, QJss - might raise flop. Kxss might raise flop some % of time. I also didn't think he'd ram a flush quite this hard. I call.
River: :9d: - I check and he jams $330ish. Weird runout cause I chop wtih Ax now. Given he's tight I didn't think he'd show up with a lot of low flushes so I was discounting flulshes a lot. I was somewhat worried about AK. Thought he could have JT/QJ stuff. Ended up calling.
Villain shows :kh::kc: for a boat, owned.
In retrospect, tight players just can't pull the trigger in this spot. on the turn yes, but not the river. Should be an easy fold.
4. Triple barrel bluff:
$500 eff. I raised :kc::tc: EP, LP calls. I triple barreled :as::9c::4c::5d::8h: board, and my river jam got SNAPPPED by :ac::jh:. If he's snapping here, then my read that he could find a fold o nriver with Ax was way off. Also I hate his snap, cause it gives off WAY too much information.
I had a recent session where I kept value-towning myself on the premise that better hands had to bet or raise...I was wrong a lot.
Live Play: GTO vs Exploitable
After my last few sessions I've been thinking I need to tweak my decision making in live games. This is mostly because my live games are 'computerized tables', and thus I have a minute to make a decision.
Now - You'd think decisions would be easier live. I'm playing one table instead of like 10 at once, and I've had tons of practice making quick decisions online.
GTO - Online:
The difficulty I'm finding is that online, I generally lean towards playing somewhat close to GTO. The players are better, and thus also playing closer to GTO themselves. The games are getting tougher, player frequencies are getting better and I think playing closer to GTO serves me best online.
Exploitable - Live:
Now live is a different story. Players have HORRIBLE frequencies. Some ppl are bluffing WAY too much in certain spots (or "value" jamming for protection a wider range than would otherwise call bets), and some ppl are bluffing WAY not enough. Given these poor frequencies, I think playing GTO in live games is leaving a lot of money on the table.
Assuming GTO is not best for live games, the workflow for coming to a decision takes a bit longer than just knowing what % I need to defend and reacting accordingly. This is tougher with 60 second constraint.
Potential Decision making process for live:
Note: This is for spots that are out of the ordinary or what I perceive to be close decisions / difficult spots.
1. Is villain tilting / getting frustrated / consistently losing hands?
If YES -> 1a)
If NO -> 1b)
1a) If villain is tilting. Is villain on average CAPABLE of making a move / big bluff?
If YES -> CALL
If NO -> Close decision. Lean towards GTO.
If Unknown -> Lean towards Not capable, and lean towards GTO.
1b) If villain NOT tilting. Is villain on average CAPABLE of making a move / big bluff?
IF YES -> Close decision. Lean towards GTO.
If NO -> FOLD, even if repping narrow range.
If unknown -> Lean towards Not capable, and lean towards GTO.
The most prominent path above I would say is a player NOT capable of making a big move, and who is not tilting, takes a line that reps a verrry narrow range. In this spot, I believe on average we should just give them credit (until proven otherwise) and fold. Many ppl just can't pull the trigger in big pots, and live players show up with unexpected hands (strong - unexpected hands with weird lines you don't expect).
Fine/std.
Results notwithstanding, I don't hate your line or the reasoning behind it. My issue with the turn is more GTO-based. I think this hand is just strong enough to lead out for thin value/protection. Our range has SO much spades/5x/62/etc type stuff that I think c/r'ing 3PMK is a mistake. Also, as you learned, we are often drawing dead.
As played, river is fine/std.
"Tightish kinda player" can mean all sorts of things, but turn is a money burn against pretty much every "tightish kinda" live player type I can think of. Then again, I know 2/5 plays a lot more aggressively than my games, so maybe like floats and "thin" value bets actually happen in these games among tight players.
I mean, obviously if your read was that he can fold Ax on the river, then obviously firing the third barrel is fine, but I rarely do it here. His range is super thin, he doesn't really have much incentive to fold, and he has plenty reason to think we missed. We might very well have different images, but given Hand 2, I'm sure you have your doubters among you :P
Unfortunately, given the runout and card removal, there are very few combos of hands that we beat when this goes chk/chk, but such is life.
Thanks for the comments surviva!
haven't posted in this blog in a while, mostly cause i haven't played live in a while!
No problem, glad to see your kicking ass and taking names.
Just to clarify on Hand 2, even if vbetting 3PMK on the turn is too thin, I still think c/f is best. There are just too many better combos of hands to run a play with here (since Q3 has such shitty outs against continuing ranges), and I find that being OOP with a range of {the bottom 90% of all hands possible} is a bad spot to earn a reputation because it is *very* difficult to capitalize on.
I would be doing my own game a lot of good if I were more selective about which combos to run plays with when I'm in the blinds in family pots.
Just to clarify, I'm definitely not value c/r Q3 on that turn!
I mean I suppose it's kind of merged. I do expect to get called by worse and better sometimes. Mostly it's a bluff though and I think I can react appropriately on different river cards to continue my bluff profitably or bluff catch if needed.
Oh, I knew you were c/r'ing as a bluff, haha. I meant that you can arguably lead for value and save our bluffs for hands with less SDV and more outs against continuing ranges. But even if you feel that LEADING for value (haha) is too thin, then c/f is probably still the best of our checking options (even though I like your play in a vacuum).
And note that I've upgraded your play from "I don't hate it" to "I like it" once I put more thought into the results. BTN is just the MUBSiest motherfucker on the planet, so the fact that he called instead of shoved had nothing to do with the fact that he feels comfortable flatting nutty hands; his idea of nutty hands is literally just "the nuts." As for EP, the fact that he flatted doesn't much change my mind about the assumption that most people do NOT flat nutty hands here for fear of giving the button a good price and/or seeing an ugly river. Sure, this hand proves that sometimes they do, but we can weight against it heavily.
This was just the absolute worst case scenario in terms of opponents' holdings, how they chose to play their cards, and the runout.
Only reason I'm against the play is because of how it affects your range as a whole.