The Path To Poker Enlightenment

[Shifubowa]

After 2+ years playing poker it is time to turn the volume up a bit. My game is definitely better than two years ago but my place in the overall poker food chain has fallen and I have only myself to blame. 2010 feels like a good place to start from scratch again and as Yoda would say "unlearn what I have learned". Operation title is lifted from Tommy Angelo's series on DeucesCracked which I can highly recommend to those with tilt issues. I am relistening to this as well as watching the entire Mathematics Of No Limit Hold'Em Series. I will complete watching these before viewing any other videos.

I am going to think about the rules for this operation (bankroll management, stakes, e.t.c.) over the next couple of days as well as some New Year poker resolutions. I will post these as soon as I have them finalised. Looking forward to being a more active poster next year and maybe getting to know some of you as I would like to organise some sweat sessions in the future. Wishing everyone on FTR a happy and prosperous 2010.

[XTR1000]

Werent you posting that killing-50nl-graf a while ago?

Also, Im always down for a sweat or some theory talking (which I really really need to do more), so if you wanna exchange AIMs or MSNs pm me.

Good luck on this and a happy 2010!

[kmind]

Good luck. Sorry I haven't been able to talk much poker with ya but I've just been swamped. I have a lot of faith in you. Go get 'em!

[badgers]

Best of luck shif! Hope 2010 treats you well

Good choice of title, that video series is awesome.

[Shifubowa]

Thanks guys. Wishing you the best in your operations too.

Going to start playing soon but first a few New Year poker resolutions.

1. Cut down number of tables played & improve hand reading/note taking. I will only increase number of tables if games are good and I can play nitty/robotically and catch the money that falls from the sky.

2. Less videos, play more and do some sweat sessions.

3. No donking/spewing around at micros. My record last year was a minus 20BI session at 10PLO lol!

Starting bankroll is ~$2.5k and I will be continuing to play at 50NL 6 Max for the time being. I will sometimes play 25 PLO 6 Max, and I will only move up to 50 PLO when I am confident I have the basics nailed. HU poker will also be on the agenda later in the year.

I will be withdrawing ~$1,500 at the end of every month. It is something I like to do to pay off some bills/mortgage e.t.c. and is good for my mental health. I also bought a new car last year when my bankroll far exceeded my stakes and skill level and I want to finish the final payments on that ASAP. If I am crushing this will not stop me moving up although it may slow me breaking out of 50NL to 100NL but that is probably a good thing while I improve.

I did not sign up to any new sites last year so with HEM now compatible with the Boss & Entraction networks I will be bonus whoring soon. To begin I will be putting some volume in on Stars this month for a change. I need to earn another 2,500 VPPs to finish clearing a $300 reload from last year and then another 3,000 VPPs for the $150 New Year bonus. If I can do that this month that will be $550 including the $100 worth of Stellar Rewards I can also claim for clearing 5,000 VPPs. Go, go, go!

[Shifubowa]

Not played as much as I would have liked so far this month. Was not feeling 100% so to get my poker fix I played more hands at 25NL than I did at 50NL.

3.5k hands at 50NL -$60
4.6k hands at 25NL +$290
+ 1,366 VPP's so 4,200 VPP's to go.

Occasionally I would pop down to the local casino to play in a donkament - usually for the £20 + £2 freezeout. Starts 100bb deep with 45min clock so was my favourite to play. I have been on to their website to see if the schedule has changed this year and the rake on tourneys and cash games has increased somewhat.

Poker Competition Registration Charges
Up to £5 - £2 per person
£6 - £15 - £4 per person
£16 - £50 - £6 per person
£51 - £99 - £8 per person
£100 + 10% per person

The standard of play is of course bad but paying £6 rake on a £20 tourney can't be very +EV. Also tourneys are now self dealt when they used to be dealer dealt. Do not know whether to bother going now but it is nice to play live sometimes. I will also be trying to qualify online to some of the monthly tournaments at the Dusk 'till Dawn club for a live fix.

[Shifubowa]

So far so good. Have now earnt the 2,500 VPP's I needed to finish clearing last years Stars reload bonus for $300. With earnings at the table included I am now at +$1,200 for the month so far. 3,000 VPP's for the $150 new year reload is next to clear. I will also be adding 350 VPP's to my target as the $50 bonus is being discounted on the 25th Jan' and I will clear both these before I depart to pastures new. I must say alot of the multi-tablers on Stars are awful and it is so easy playing people who grind between 8-24 tables of 6 Max. I will post some hands shortly.

[kmind]

Congrats man!

Not sure if you have enough experience on both sites but would you say Star is easier or harder than FT at your levels?

[Shifubowa]

Kmind - I have not played an awful lot at Full Tilt recently but when comparing 50NL at Stars to Euro sites I do not think my winrate would be much different between sites over a decent sample. Each site when comparing to another has elements that are better/worse. I think that one of the most important factors in finding better games is not where you play, but when you play - daytime vs evenings/weekends.

[Shifubowa]

Things are still going well and as a result I have not played as much as I should have or could have. 3,000 VPP's earned and $1,400 profit so far this month. Now for some hands.

1. A LOL hand to begin.

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (BB) ($50)
UTG ($50)
MP ($24.65)
Button ($25.70)
SB ($34.60)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, K
1 fold, MP bets $2, 2 folds, Hero raises to $8.00, MP calls $6

Flop: ($16.25) 10, 4, 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $7.50, MP calls $7.50

Turn: ($31.25) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $34.50 (All-In), MP calls $9.15 (All-In)

River: ($49.55) 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $49.55

Results:
Hero had K, K (one pair, Kings).
MP had J, 7 (straight, Jack high).
Outcome: MP won $47.55

2. Dropping the number of tables I play has been +EV for the hand reading and I take lines I never used to and it is fun. TAG villain here had lost a stack couple of hands ago with AA on another table. When he c/r flop I remembered that was the sort of shit I used to do when I was tilted.

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($10)
MP ($64.20)
Hero (Button) ($60.10)
SB ($53.05)
BB ($54.85)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8, 8
1 fold, MP bets $1.75, Hero calls $1.75, 2 folds

Flop: ($4.25) 2, Q, 4 (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $2.75, MP raises $7.40, Hero raises to $12.05, 1 fold

Total pot: $19.05

Results:
Hero had 8, 8.
Outcome: Hero won $22.80

3. A tip for everyone reading. Own HEM and table scanner? Then go into your HUD options and add multi-table stat to your HUD so you can see how many tables villain is playing. Are they playing lots?? If so 3 bet them, float them, raise them, barrel them, donk into them. Experiment and profit lots. One example hand of many - villain is 15 tabling 6 Max.

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (3 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($63.50)
Button ($53)
Hero (SB) ($54.95)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, J
Button bets $1.50, Hero calls $1.25, 1 fold

Flop: ($3.50) 9, 7, 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $2.50, 1 fold

Total pot: $3.50

Results:
Hero had K, J.
Outcome: Hero won $5.85

[Shifubowa]

Bah misclickaments.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($14.90)
UTG ($40.95)
MP ($31.50)
Hero (Button) ($72.20)
SB ($31.10)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8, 8
1 fold, MP bets $1.50, Hero calls $1.50, SB calls $1.25, 1 fold

Flop: ($5) 2, 8, 5 (3 players)
SB bets $1.50, MP calls $1.50, Hero calls $1.50

Turn: ($9.50) 10 (3 players)
SB bets $4, MP raises to $11, Hero folds, 1 fold

Total pot: $17.50 | Rake: $0.85

Results:
MP didn't show
Outcome: MP won $16.65

[Shifubowa]

Finished short of my VPP target for January however I was not feeling 100% at the beginning and end of the month - this is why I played more hands at 25NL than 50NL. Earnt 3,700 VPP's and $340 in bonuses to leave me at + $1,600 for the month.





Last year I played a robotic and predictable 17/15 and this was how 2010 started. But 2010 is about improving and as soon as I started paying attention to hands, putting opponents on ranges, considering stack sizes e.t.c. in every hand I got looser and more aggressive as the month progressed. It has made me realise how many spots I would have missed last year for bluffs and more importantly for value.

For February I am going to try to get more hands in (30k+). I need to earn another 2,200 VPP's on Stars which will see me clear another $260 in bonuses which I should do in about 11,000 hands at 50NL. After that I dunno!

[Shifubowa]

It is no surprise alot of Stars 50NL regulars are losers over massive samples after seeing alot of them in action. They are either incredibly nitty or spewy. Any decent TAG/LAG not playing too many tables and playing their A game will be able to beat these games for a decent winrate. Alot of credit goes to "The Thin Red Line" series on DeucesCracked by Grindcore for changing my game and also making poker more enjoyable as a result! I can heartily recommend it to any struggling TAGfish that want to improve - especially the first video in the series.

[Shifubowa]

8,500 hands so far this month, +$225 and +$60 in bonuses. Still more hands played at 25NL than 50NL so not quite as close as I should be to clearing my bonuses yet. Hopefully not long before HEM has multi-currency up and running and I can go on a world tour.

Hand vs a fish. He donk bets air and I have also previously seen him value bet after some thought flop/turn/river ~1/2 pot with bottom two pair vs a nit. Here he just insta donks all 3 streets. Looks like a line that wants me to fold.

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

Hero (Button) ($74.94)
SB ($77.83)
BB ($26.15)
UTG ($71.89)
MP ($65.51)
CO ($53.06)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q, A
2 folds, CO calls $0.50, Hero bets $2.25, 2 folds, CO calls $1.75

Flop: ($5.25) 2, 3, 3 (2 players)
CO bets $2.50, Hero calls $2.50

Turn: ($10.25) 4 (2 players)
CO bets $10, Hero calls $10

River: ($30.25) 7 (2 players)
CO bets $38.31 (All-In), Hero calls $38.31

Total pot: $106.87

[Shifubowa]

Going to start a mini operation within an operation. I have $25 in my Betfair account after they gave me a $5 free bet (I ran good at Arcade Monopoly) so I am going to start playing Heads Up on this account as I learn the ropes and grind a HU roll. Will start at 10NL and move up to 20NL at $100. Just played 135 hands to get underway, +2BI. Obviously the standard of play was terrible - lots of calling or min 3 betting out of position and limping buttons.

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (2 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($4.60)
Hero (BB) ($10.25)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 10, 10
SB calls $0.05, Hero bets $0.20, SB calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.60) 2, 6, 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.60, SB raises $1.20, Hero raises $9.35 (All-In), SB calls $3.10 (All-In)

Turn: ($9.20) A (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($9.20) 10 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $9.20

Results:
SB had A, 4 (two pair, Aces and twos).
Hero had 10, 10 (full house, tens over twos).
Outcome: Hero won $14.39

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (2 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($9.81)
Hero (SB) ($8.92)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7, 8
Hero bets $0.25, BB raises $0.40, Hero calls $0.20

Flop: ($1) 8, 9, 3 (2 players)
BB bets $0.90, Hero calls $0.90

Turn: ($2.80) 4 (2 players)
BB bets $0.90, Hero calls $0.90

River: ($4.60) 9 (2 players)
BB bets $4, Hero calls $4

Total pot: $12.60

Results:
Hero had 7, 8 (two pair, nines and eights).
BB had Q, A (one pair, nines).
Outcome: Hero won $11.97

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (2 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($6.27)
Hero (SB) ($16.01)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8, 6
Hero bets $0.25, BB raises $0.40, Hero calls $0.20

Flop: ($1) 10, 6, 3 (2 players)
BB bets $1, Hero calls $1

Turn: ($3) K (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

River: ($3) K (2 players)
BB bets $3, Hero calls $3

Total pot: $9

Results:
Hero had 8, 6 (two pair, Kings and sixes).
BB had A, 8 (one pair, Kings).
Outcome: Hero won $8.55

[Shifubowa]

I am really starting to feel like a much better player this year. As alot of players here have been saying - "put your opponent on a goddamn range". Makes playing poker so much easier now I am consistently doing this. The monsters I always used to see under the bed when playing hands have disappeared.

$0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players

MP: $34.45
CO: $25.85
BTN: $29.30
Hero (SB): $34.40
BB: $27.40
UTG: $30.80

Pre-Flop: A K dealt to Hero (SB)
2 folds, CO raises to $0.50, BTN folds, Hero raises to $1.80, BB folds, CO calls $1.30

Flop: ($3.85) 2 9 9 (2 Players)
Hero checks, CO bets $2, Hero calls $2

Turn: ($7.85) 5 (2 Players)
Hero checks, CO bets $5, Hero calls $5

River: ($17.85) 7 (2 Players)
Hero checks, CO bets $17.05 and is All-In, Hero calls $17.05

Results: $51.95 Pot ($2.55 Rake)
CO showed J 6 and LOST (-$25.85 NET)
Hero showed A K and WON $49.40 (+$23.65 NET)

Playing looser and more aggressive has got me in a few spots which has improved me. Also this has led to me getting paid more in other spots where I never used to. This player was a nitty tag who I had been 3 betting alot in late position. He decided to call me down when I 3bet his UTG open.

$0.25/$0.50 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players

SB: $20.25
BB: $82.60
UTG: $50
Hero (MP): $91.90
CO: $48.35
BTN: $37

Pre-Flop: A A dealt to Hero (MP)
UTG raises to $1.50, Hero raises to $4.75, 4 folds, UTG calls $3.25

Flop: ($10.25) 3 5 4 (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $7.50, UTG calls $7.50

Turn: ($25.25) 4 (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $14, UTG calls $14

River: ($53.25) T (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $65.65 and is All-In, UTG calls $23.75 and is All-In

Results: $100.75 Pot
UTG showed 8 8 and LOST (-$50 NET)
Hero showed A A and WON $139.65 (+$89.65 NET)

Probably spew but when I opened this I had already decided to 4bet bluff if sb squeezed although I really have no idea what good 4b sizes look like in general. Btn was a 70/3 fish and the TAG sb was very squeeze happy. When sb flatted I was confused but lucky for me I flopped a pair. I do not think I would be squeezing his hand here as I would prefer to go to a flop with it vs the fish.

$0.25/$0.50 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 5 Players

Hero (CO): $50
BTN: $101.90
SB: $55
BB: $21.75
UTG: $60.05

Pre-Flop: 9 T dealt to Hero (CO)
UTG folds, Hero raises to $1.75, BTN calls $1.75, SB raises to $8, BB folds, Hero raises to $17, BTN folds, SB calls $9

Flop: ($36.25) 9 5 6 (2 Players)
SB bets $38 and is All-In, Hero calls $33 and is All-In

Turn: ($102.25) Q (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($102.25) T (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $102.25 Pot
Hero showed 9 T and WON $100.25 (+$50.25 NET)
SB showed A 2 and WON $5 (-$44.75 NET)

[Shifubowa]

Finally finished clearing all the bonuses I had on Stars. Had a pretty bad last session. Played bad, did not run too good. Really disappointed that I ended up tilting like I used to. Thought I was over that - apparently not.
Have cashed out nearly my entire Stars roll which is 80% of my bankroll. Gonna bank the majority and decide where to make my next deposits and HEM multi-currency should be live by then. In the meantime I will carry on at micro HUNL at Betfair and 25/50NL 6Max at Full Tilt where the last of my dollars are.

$0.25/$0.50 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players

UTG: $50.75
MP: $26.80
CO: $50.35
BTN: $51.60
Hero (SB): $59.05
BB: $116.35

Pre-Flop: K K dealt to Hero (SB)
UTG folds, MP calls $0.50, CO folds, BTN raises to $2.50, Hero raises to $8.50, 2 folds, BTN raises to $51.60 and is All-In, Hero calls $43.10

Flop: ($104.20) T 4 J (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Turn: ($104.20) Q (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($104.20) K (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $104.20 Pot ($3 Rake)
BTN showed A Q and WON $101.20 (+$49.60 NET)
Hero showed K K and LOST (-$51.35 NET)