Video: Ben playing 100nl

[bjsaust]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SO8IIBK5

Check it out. Dont think I'm up to making official FTR vids for ring games yet, but this works through some of how I'm thinking while I play.

I dont table select as much as intended, I think I get a bit distracted doing the actual recording, and theres probably a mistake or two, but go ahead and ask any questions.

[bigspenda73]

zomg you have an accent! You must be from "down under" amirite?

Thanks for making this, it's a good way to give back to FTR

-one critique from just skimming 4-5 pots, you have sick bad timing tells.

[bjsaust]

Yeah, I've realised this myself recently, I think after watching Jman talk about it in one of his vids. I try to think about it but keep forgetting .

zomg you have an accent! You must be from "down under" amirite?

Thanks for making this, it's a good way to give back to FTR

-one critique from just skimming 4-5 pots, you have sick bad timing tells.

honestly 100NL opponents don't pay attention THAT much
I think it's fine if you just reverse it sometimes

like sometimes I instashove a bluff to a 4b, instashove AA and sometimes I'll instashove JJ even though it might be marginal just for timing tell balance and hope to get snapped by tens (since my timing tell seems to polarize my range)

[BigPapi]

Always fun to watch, I'll have a look and let you know what I think

[bjsaust]

Oh yeah forgot to mention, I do a bit of 4-bet bluffing in there, I really dont think that needs to be part of your game at micro-stakes. Just trying to work a bit more of it into my own game in good spots (which I tended to guess wrong ).

[Sir Pawnalot]

I am such a dumbass when it comes to computer stuff and could not make it download. Guess you need membership.

Great that you have crafted this video for the appreciation of the whole community.

[Luco]

FTR is like xmas this week for me. Will watch this over the weekend when i have time to really listen, thanks bjs

[bjsaust]

I am such a dumbass when it comes to computer stuff and could not make it download. Guess you need membership.

No, no membership. The first page you go to, you need to check the top right and enter the code into the box then click the download file link. Then on the next page just wait the 40 seconds or so and it'll give you the free link to download.

[BigPapi]

Pretty solid play imo. I would have handled most spots about the same, some small differences aside. The only big thing I was wondering about was the KT-hand about 25mins into the vid.

Earlier in the vid you mention he'll only continue with a hand postflop and fold if he misses. He raises, you call on the button with KT and the flop is T-high. You call his cbet. pretty standard so far probably. Then he c/minraises the blank turn. What was your tought process for calling here? I understand you bet to get value from QT/JT etc. but when he min/raises, these hands are no longer in his range. Was it the size that made you call? I would think if he wanted a fold he'd raise bigger. Is it just cause he's a fish?Or did I miss anything?

[bjsaust]

Lol, I wondered if people would comment on that. Especially since afterwards I say something like "read him perfect too". First point is I'm guessing the bit about him continuing only if he hit was when I'd raised and he called PF? So thats a different situation than him c-betting.

As for that hand, you might have noticed I really hovered between betting and checking behind. I did think there was value from lower pairs and worse Ts. When he min c/r'd me it shook me. In the end though, it just didnt make sense, and I tend to call when things dont make sense. The fact it was a minraise made it easier. Theres so few hands he can get value out of me with when he does that, and theres no reason to think I'll bet if he checks on that board (I'd be more likely to fold if say I'd paired the K because with a K out there he might think I paired that and wont fold). The only thing it makes sense for is if he thinks I just floated and am now bluffing. I guess what it comes down to is it felt more like he wanted me to fold than to call.

Obviously I wont always be right there, sometimes bad players do stupid stuff for weird reasons and I tend to pay them off occassionally, but it was a good price. If he'd led river for any decent amount it would have gotten a lot more difficult thought.

[BigPapi]

Ah, yes could be that the read I remembered was when you raised his limps yes and mismatched that to this situation.

Betting > checking on turn and agreed it doesnt make a lot of sense. Very good explanation.

Btw. they should have time banks on Everest

[oskar]

The fold with 33 made to the mindonk made me scream in agony.

I don't hate you for not following the hand where the same guy min-donked K high into 88A 3-way, c/c the turn with K high, and minbet the river when he made a K, and the guy to your right made a HORRIBLE flat call with AQ. - I would have made 2 player notes in that hand...
I know it's hard to follow the tables when you have to talk.

But when they donk the minimum they fold to a raise 90% of the time. It's an automatic raise for me unless I have a note that sais otherwise.

Sorry about that.
I'll keep watching.

The fold with 33 made to the mindonk made me scream in agony.

I don't hate you for not following the hand where the same guy min-donked K high into 88A 3-way, c/c the turn with K high, and minbet the river when he made a K, and the guy to your right made a HORRIBLE flat call with AQ. - I would have made 2 player notes in that hand...
I know it's hard to follow the tables when you have to talk.

But when they donk the minimum they fold to a raise 90% of the time. It's an automatic raise for me unless I have a note that sais otherwise.

Sorry about that.
I'll keep watching.

you probably have pot odds to call down to the river

[bjsaust]

Yeah, the hand you're talking about me missing doesnt ring a bell, definately the kind of thing I'd normally make a note on. He didnt donk min though v's me, he minraised pre and then cbet min.

[bjsaust]

Some general thoughts from my for newer players watching:

- I may not table select as much as I'd planned, but take note how I regularly evaluate my tables and the players. Most people might 'table select' when they start their session, but once going they just play the same tables all session. Its much better to continuously evaluate and switch out the bad ones.

- Take note of some of the hands I fold. QJo UTG, AQo facing UTG raise and call, stuff like that. They look pretty, but they really just dont play well in those situations.

- Overall I just shrug off the bad variance. When it did start to get to me, notice I took a deep breath and talked to myself about settling down and just playing good poker. Gotta keep a good headspace or you need to just quit.

- Identify tendencies. Not just stats (although in review I do use my stats a lot), but look for things they do which make up patterns we can identify. My call down with a weak 7 on the KK7 board is usually pretty bad, but against someone who even in that short span has bet pot every time postflop its worth doing.

- Notetaking. I took a fair few, and not just on the hands I played, on hands I witnessed as well. I would normally probably take even more notes than that. Notice as I started tables up the first thing I did was review any notes I had? How useful is it to have that info ready to go next time.


Other than that, maybe pay attention to my decision making thoughts postflop. If I have air I'm considering either how likely it is they'll fold, or if I have something like a PP or A high, how likely it is I'll get to showdown free. If I hit somehow, then I consider how likely they'll call with a worse hand (including draws), or if they'll only/mainly call with better hands.

[Sugar Nut]

zomg you have an accent! You must be from "down under" amirite?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNT7uZf7lew

[Da GOAT]

Ok where will i start:

My times in the first 10 minutes are reverse until i figured wot was wrong with my mediaplayer.

48.01 Lead QJs flop
47.18 calling AQs pre is good, 3betting is meh since theres a fish in the pot. fold to 4bet is std esp since theres a limper.
46.15 3bet AQo, wtf at fold?? note shorties protect you in this spot.
44.43 squeezing T7o is fine
44.20 wtf at autofolding 54o before even utg acts
42 bet 77 on river, u can get light calls bcoz tons of draws missed
40.40 AQs can cb less on dry flops
39.46 fold river 55, u didnt think much at all about anything when u called. u really gotta start using ranges in your thoughts. im not sure u did anything regarsd ranges the whole vid. oh he pwned you here and played it well.

ok heres when i fixed the minutes of the vid

12.10 dont 3bet KTs bcoz limper is short
15.26 wtf at not having a wide raising range in bb vs late limper
16.02 lead ATs flop, can 3bet preflop. think how this hand plays out using different lines.
13.05 c/r river w/ JTo, i prob c/r turn tho
19.10 dont cb that flop w/ K3s
22.24 pot flop or overbet to build it, bet more on turn, shove river. note opp stack sizes when betting
34.26 TT fine as played
38 wtf at taking ages to shove 75o vs THIS opp, were u looking at any of the previous hands at that table.
39.10 wtf at not rasiing Q9o preflop
39.39 why why why 4bet 200bb a small amoutn with 89s. just flat or fold, i flat this deep. if he does 3bet you lots u shud stop opening so much in general, doint that is more effective than putting 4bet bluffs in your range.
44.10 lead flop QT
45.11 hate the squeeze vs utg and whale
47.07 why did u call? fold or 4bet
48 how is calling riv w/AJo a cry call, every draw in the world missed
48.20 wtf c/r??

Ive kept it brief above, have a good look over spots i mentioned and we can flesh out this thread. provide HHs on hands u wanna talk about. theres alot of spots your not taking advantage of, they arent costing you any actual money bcoz doing nothing costs nothing but your losing money really if that makes sense.

i think you should look at one tabling HU small stakes to begin thinking about ranges.

[Da GOAT]

also wot the hell with this being a 50nl vid 100nl per title

[AFchung]

cool vid it was good to watch

what's up with the hand where you timed out on the AT5cc flop? you didnt even take that long and you got auto folded or something. is that just how everest works?

[bjsaust]

also wot the hell with this being a 50nl vid 100nl per title

Thanks for the awesome amount of comments, but going from this comment and the fact that I couldnt match any of the hands you commented on, it looks like you watched an old 50nl vid of mine instead of the one I posted .

[kfaess]

only had time to watch about half of it so far. always good to watch players who are better than me, I always end up learning a few things .

I think I'm gonna go back and watch the whole thing again but refer to da goats notes and think about what I would have done.

[bjsaust]

cool vid
what's up with the hand where you timed out on the AT5cc flop? you didnt even take that long and you got auto folded or something. is that just how everest works?

Cant remember the hand, but yeah no time bank on Everest, and some tables are speed and some arent. You can see the little timer line under my name when its my turn to act, but either due to the software, or maybe I lag a little from Australia, but sometimes even if it looks like I get to my action just in time it still thinks I timed out. Annoying when it happens, but just gotta be a bit faster I guess. Again, doing the commentary at the time I get a little more distracted so things slip a bit.

[bjsaust]

I'll go through some of the comments from DaGoat even though its a different vid. Its 2-3 months old and fortunately I agree with a lot of what he has to say now .

15.26 wtf at not having a wide raising range in bb vs late limper

I've just found that playing a wide (weak) range OOP even against limpers has been -EV. Now that was probably 6 months ago, so I could be convinced otherwise now. What kind of range do you suggest we should have here?

39.10 wtf at not rasiing Q9o preflop

I think I was still tilting after the 2 outer so didnt want to play it.

39.39 why why why 4bet 200bb a small amoutn with 89s. just flat or fold, i flat this deep. if he does 3bet you lots u shud stop opening so much in general, doint that is more effective than putting 4bet bluffs in your range.

Didnt really think about it to be honest, but I do notice that a 3x 3bet from the BB to a SB raise is almost always a bluff (its just hitting the bet pot button). I didnt really want to call with a SC OOP so 4bet seemed best.

45.11 hate the squeeze vs utg and whale

UTG did have a fairly high fold to 3-bet, but given the whale will call a lot I think you're right.

48.20 wtf c/r??

I pretty much never c/r turn as a bluff, so was looking for occasional spots.

[Da GOAT]

But why turn that hand into a bluff

[bjsaust]

This is the hand in question as played:

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($47.80)
BB ($49.80)
UTG ($56.27)
Hero (MP) ($50)
CO ($52.40)
Button ($105.56)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Q, J
1 fold, Hero bets $1.75, 1 fold, Button calls $1.75, 2 folds

Flop: ($4.25) K, Q, 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $3, Button calls $3

Turn: ($10.25) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $8.50, Hero raises $26


I guess I felt a fair amount of his range included a K and the c/r might get a fold from them where a bet wouldn't, but it was really a bit of a whim and some idea that I pretty much never c/r turn without the nuts so I should do it some other times.

I'd say a lot of his range includes a random float with AT/AJ so I'd call

[Da GOAT]

ok now for the real review

quickly, try think of ranges harder, have more confidence in your play. you seems to play a fairly passive game, always c/cing or checking to then make a decision.

3min cb JJ like 15, v weak thinking. bet flop, bet turn, call river. obv vb on river
11.30 66 bet more on turn. A9s barrel here to get value from PPs that call some streets and vb river
12.18 lead flop 87o, omg lead plz at some stage
13.45 AK cb too big
16.30 can just call AQo pre too
21.51 id raise turn QTo, raise him for value onriver
24.18 may 3bet KTs, bet turn for more
24.4 call riv with A high, fish can def float flop with tons of stuff
24.23 vb TT on flop, bet somewhere
30.40 shove AK turn. he didnt vb thin on river imo
36.36 open KTo. this is not close
41.0 make a raise on turn KQ

Ok so not much compared to the 50nl. In your vids mayeb talk MORE indepth. Im not sure exactly wot your thinking but seems too passive. Gotta think more about ranges.

[bjsaust]

I'll post HHs for interesting ones incase people havnt watched it. If I dont comment, I agree with DGs analysis.

3min cb JJ like 15, v weak thinking. bet flop, bet turn, call river. obv vb on river
No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (4 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($399.25)
Button ($303.15)
SB ($84.75)
Hero (BB) ($101)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J, J
1 fold, Button bets $3.50, SB calls $3, Hero raises $14, 1 fold, SB calls $11.50

Flop: ($33.50) K, 7, 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($33.50) 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $16, SB calls $16

River: ($65.50) 6 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $65.50

Villains a bad fish who I expect to call pre-flop very wide. My comment in the vid was that I didnt think he called a cbet very often without a K, on the turn theres now a few draws he could have, and on the river a lot of those draws either got there or maybe hit 2P.

Even for a fish, you really think we get value cbetting this flop?


11.30 66 bet more on turn. A9s barrel here to get value from PPs that call some streets and vb river

Agree on 66 so heres the A9s hand.

No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (5 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($15.70)
SB ($99)
BB ($137.90)
UTG ($162.30)
Hero (MP) ($100.90)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A, 9
1 fold, Hero bets $3.50, 2 folds, BB calls $2.50

Flop: ($7.50) K, 5, 5 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($7.50) J (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

River: ($7.50) 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $7.50


When you say value from PPs, you're talking about 2-3 barrelling? So if he calls turn you'd fire most/all rivers? River I agree with, I cant remember my exact thinking (and dont mention it in the vid) so presumably I felt enough of his range was weak Ks and FDs, but I think theres value albeit thin.


12.18 lead flop 87o, omg lead plz at some stage

I meant to lead the flop, I actually timed out before betting, looks like I got distracted by other tables. Turn I think this is one of those spots where like you say I got too passive, was unsure after he'd bet what that meant so just went into pot control basically.

No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($104.10)
CO ($31.70)
Button ($53.20)
SB ($99)
Hero (BB) ($105.50)
UTG ($46.10)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7, 8
3 folds, Button calls $1, 1 fold, Hero checks

Flop: ($2.50) 6, 8, 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $2.50, Hero calls $2.50

Turn: ($7.50) 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $5.50, Hero calls $5.50

River: ($18.50) K (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

Total pot: $18.50


13.45 AK cb too big

I wont post the hand, but $22 pot with $50 behind and I cbet $16 after flopping an A. I could def bet smaller, but it wasnt huge? Normally I go just over 1/2 pot, but v's bad players I tend to bet a little more as they're just as likely to call.


16.30 can just call AQo pre too

Agree and normally I would, but in this case the original raiser folds to 3bets a lot, and the SB is the fish who I expect to call really wide, so in this particular case I felt it was a good spot.


21.51 id raise turn QTo, raise him for value onriver

Yeah, this is a good one and I agree this is definately...not just a spot, but a mindset where I miss out on value. I'll try to work on it:

No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($132)
UTG ($30.20)
MP ($156.10)
CO ($98.16)
Hero (Button) ($99.50)
SB ($16.19)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 10, Q
1 fold, MP calls $1, CO bets $4.50, Hero raises $12, SB raises $15.69 (All-In), 1 fold, MP calls $15.19, 1 fold, Hero calls $4.19

Flop: ($54.07) 4, 7, 4 (3 players, 1 all-in)
MP checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($54.07) 10 (3 players, 1 all-in)
MP bets $5.50, Hero calls $5.50

River: ($65.07) 9 (3 players, 1 all-in)
MP bets $1, Hero calls $1

Total pot: $67.07


I have a bad habit of thinking "if he's bluffing then he just folds to a raise, and if he has a nut hand I lose the least" rather than really thinking his full range through. Probably the most important hand of the vid to improve on (so far anyway).

24.23 vb TT on flop, bet somewhere

This was an A high flop where I raised PF and checked behind flop. I'd normally do that and then v'bet turn if checked to. The turn paired the board but I dont see any reason not to bet it, so agree I should bet somewhere. Advantages to betting flop instead of checking behind?


30.40 shove AK turn. he didnt vb thin on river imo

Hmm, 56Jtt flop I cbet AK from SB and get called, and turn is a J with villain having $22 behind and a pot of $13. You think draws are enough of his range to shove here? Even though we're probably ahead of his draws, or because we're ahead of them?

36.36 open KTo. this is not close Wink

Yes, agree here. As I say in the vid, I get worried when taggy players limp, which actually doesnt make sense. A 21/16 isnt overlimping a monster to a CS utg limp. They're overlimping small PPs and small SC type cards. Easy raise, irrational fear.

41.0 make a raise on turn KQ Sad

Again I agree the J pairing made me unhappy, but the minbet donk is so silly. I can easy enough raise/fold here as he's not aggressive enough to come over with a bluff but will call with worse.



Ok so not much compared to the 50nl. In your vids mayeb talk MORE indepth. Im not sure exactly wot your thinking but seems too passive. Gotta think more about ranges.

Well I guess its a good thing that theres less problems 2 months later . In the future I'll just record play without audio, then dub audio in later trying to keep true to what I was thinking at the time. I get too distracted talking and dont really get enough detail as you say.

[Sir Pawnalot]

Watched the video some time ago with great joy and enthusiasm.

Didnt know you were such an LAGGY player preflop. Goat mentioned that you were somewhat passive- but "SELECTED PASSIVITY" can be gold versus many REGS at 100NL.

One thing though- You give away lots of information on timing tells.

I would crush you with that information. I have started to use the excact same time on every decision I make- even the incredibly obvious ones like 72 off utg. I wait until the time is almost out. It accomplished several things for me:

1. I NEVER give away any information with my timing.
2. I get lots of freecards/bluffing opportunities on turn with bad cards.
3. My Fold Equity has increased markedly.
4. People are very afraid of bluffing, because they know I will think hard about their Equity/fold Equity.
5. It will frustrate people
6. My decisions is much better because I can think it through without being afraid of giving away a timing tell.
7. I can use that "wasted time" to take notes and follow the action closely on other tables.
8. It greatly reduces the stress of making hard decisions quickly. Calmness is essential for winning.

Downside:

1. Less hands per hour.
2. Not able to reverse timing tells.

(I am working with a modified version with snap folds preflop, but I must meditate some more upon the implications.)

Thank you again

[bjsaust]

Hmm, I ran 23/20 that session which is a bit looser than normal. I cant remember any specific reason for it, so I guess the cards came a bit.

Couple people now pointed out my timing tells, I'll have to really work on that by the looks of it.

Thanks for comments .

[Da GOAT]

nah Ben aint laggy YET

[bjsaust]

Yeah, I run around 22/17 normally and play much the same as in that vid.