Operation 1750: Lock and Load

Current Bankroll: $819 (Updated 8/29/09)
Starting Bankroll: $574 (8/3/08)

Grind 2NL & 5NL to $250...............

Phase I: Grind 10NL until ~$750...............

Phase II: Grind 25NL until $1750...............

Update 8/30/09: Phase I Complete

[Micro2Macro]

first

gl

Yuck. Down about 1.5 buyins after a short session of 300 or so hands. I'm kind of tired tonight so I'm not going to push it.

No reads whatsoever on this hand. Been on the table for about an orbit. I probably should have folded to the 4-bet or called the C/R and re-evaluate on the turn (folding on the flop just seems very weak and exploitable). I should have gotten away from this and I hate getting in a situation like this so early on.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($13.40)
Button ($10.65)
SB ($11.75)
BB ($42.05)
UTG ($9.90)
Hero (MP1) ($9.85)
MP2 ($23.05)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with A, A
1 fold, Hero bets $0.40, 4 folds, BB calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.85) 6, 9, 2 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.70, BB raises to $2, Hero raises to $4.30, BB raises to $41.65 (All-In), Hero calls $5.15 (All-In)

Turn: ($19.75) 7 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($19.75) 10 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $19.75 | Rake: $0.95


And here, villain is 16/12/5 over 100+ hands. He's been very aggressive on every street. I floated the flop bet putting him on two over cards (AJ+, KJ+) when checking to me on the turn. Chances are slim he has A5 or 65, suited or offsuit. He may very well have the flush, a set or overpair (or maybe two overcards as a bluff). So there's not much we beat. I don't like checking behind here because it looks like we're scared of the flush.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($10.10)
SB ($8.25)
BB ($6.45)
UTG ($10.80)
UTG+1 ($11)
MP1 ($14)
MP2 ($6.10)
Hero (CO) ($9.85)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9, 9
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.10, MP1 bets $0.40, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.40, 1 fold, SB calls $0.35, 2 folds

Flop: ($1.40) 2, 10, 4 (3 players)
SB checks, MP1 bets $0.90, Hero calls $0.90, 1 fold

Turn: ($3.20) 3 (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $1.60, MP1 raises to $11.70, Hero folds

Total pot: $6.40 | Rake: $0.30

Random thought: I suck at post-flop play. That is all.

Update: I've been running good and playing decent over the last few sessions. Bankroll up to $620 (+4.6BI). There's been a few times where I got a little lackluster and made some stupid calls but nothing too costly. Still, I need to play my A game, not my A- or B+ game.

These 3 hands are against the same villain... a total fish running around 90/35 over 70+ hands. I was getting to the point where I'd play almost ATC in a HU pot with him.

This hand was one of my first at the table so both villains are unknown at this point. I'm actually a bit confused the entire way so I just call down.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($1.85)
Hero (Button) ($9.85)
SB ($10.85)
BB ($5.80)
UTG ($10)
UTG+1 ($14.70)
MP1 ($4.25)
MP2 ($8.25)
MP3 ($27.10)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J, A
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.10, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.10, 2 folds, Hero bets $0.55, 2 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.45, MP2 calls $0.45

Flop: ($1.80) 9, J, 3 (3 players)
UTG+1 bets $1.20, MP2 calls $1.20, Hero calls $1.20

Turn: ($5.40) 3 (3 players)
UTG+1 bets $0.90, MP2 calls $0.90, Hero calls $0.90

River: ($8.10) 10 (3 players)
UTG+1 bets $2, MP2 calls $2, Hero calls $2

Total pot: $14.10 | Rake: $0.65


Again, same fishy villain. But by now I've labeled him as such. He gives me 11:1 pot odds to hit my set here on the turn and my gin card shows up. I knew I was going to get it in if he had any Ace.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP1 ($2.95)
Hero (MP2) ($20.40)
MP3 ($11.10)
CO ($10.20)
Button ($2.10)
SB ($9.65)
BB ($2)
UTG ($1.90)
UTG+1 ($17.55)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 6, 6
3 folds, Hero bets $0.30, 3 folds, SB raises to $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.20

Flop: ($1.10) Q, 5, A (2 players)
SB bets $0.10, Hero calls $0.10

Turn: ($1.30) 6 (2 players)
SB bets $0.30, Hero raises to $1.50, SB raises to $2.70, Hero raises to $19.80 (All-In), SB calls $6.35 (All-In)

River: ($19.40) J (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $19.40 | Rake: $0.95

Should have bet a bit more preflop and on the flop but these morons are coming along no matter how much I bet. The turn card completes a KT or T8 straight draw and I check behind. The weak river bet says "I have an Ace, but not much more" so I'm raising the river for value here.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($2.85)
Hero (Button) ($17.15)
SB ($13.45)
BB ($10.50)
UTG ($1.80)
UTG+1 ($9.80)
MP1 ($2)
MP2 ($2.05)
MP3 ($17.55)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J, A
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.10, 4 folds, Hero bets $0.30, SB calls $0.25, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.20

Flop: ($1) A, Q, 9 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $0.60, SB calls $0.60, UTG+1 calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.80) J (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero checks

River: ($2.80) 4 (3 players)
SB bets $0.50, UTG+1 calls $0.50, Hero raises to $1.50, SB calls $1, 1 fold

Total pot: $6.30 | Rake: $0.30

So I was playing absolutely awful at 10nl last night. I'm down 1.5 BI and decided to shut it down. 20 minutes later I've calmed myself down, logged back on and opened up 6 - 5nl tables. Why do you run like God when you move down a level? It's great to regain your losses (and then some) by moving DOWN. So many players make the mistake of sitting around waiting to get back at a certain villain or move UP stakes to recoup their losses. Not good.

It seems I still need to work on folding.

Just squeezed in an hour session of almost 500 hands. Bankroll up to $640ish. I've barely put in 4k hands at 10nl since the start of this operation but it's coming along. I'm at 11.42ptbb/100 right now so hopefully I can keep it there if not improve on it a bit over the next 10k+ hands.

Only 9 more BI to go till 25nl. I don't put in a huge volume but I hope to get there by the end of August and not look back. I may take a shot at $700. We'll see.

In other news, I need to lose weight. I'm 6-3 and up to 235 pounds. I'm on this antidepressant called Celexa and I guess one of the side effects is weight gain of 15-20 pounds within the first couple of months. This sounds about right, since I was around 220 when I started taking it. Of course, I do like to eat though too.

What's up bro! Good luck and kick some ass!

What's up bro! Good luck and kick some ass!

Holy shit where have you been. Check your email.

WTF am I doing here. I'm posting the hand so I never do this again.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($11)
BB ($13.30)
UTG ($4.90)
UTG+1 ($6.95)
MP1 ($16.20)
MP2 ($12.50)
MP3 ($12.30)
CO ($20)
Button ($10)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7, 6
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.10, 2 folds, MP3 calls $0.10, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.05, BB checks

Flop: ($0.40) 3, 8, 5 (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP3 bets $0.40, Hero calls $0.40, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.40

Turn: ($1.60) 2 (3 players)
Hero bets $1.20, UTG+1 calls $1.20, MP3 calls $1.20

River: ($5.20) 9 (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, MP3 checks

Total pot: $5.20 | Rake: $0.25

Standard?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($9.80)
UTG ($1.80)
MP1 ($11)
MP2 ($10.55)
Hero (CO) ($10)
Button ($2.10)
SB ($2.15)

Preflop: Hero is CO with J, A
3 folds, Hero bets $0.40, 1 fold, SB calls $0.35, BB calls $0.30

Flop: ($1.20) 3, A, K (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, SB calls $0.50

Turn: ($2.70) 8 (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $1.90, SB calls $1.25 (All-In), 1 fold

River: ($5.20) 5 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $5.20 | Rake: $0.25

[Sir Pawnalot]

Congratulations on nice graph!

Why do you check on river with flush?

From the picture you look like a big strong man, and losing weight will be no problem. This site was tremendous help for me when I was bodybuilding; http://www.tmuscle.com/index.jsp

Congratulations on nice graph!

Thanks! Hopefully August's graph will be even better.

Why do you check on river with flush?

Because I'm an idiot. I picked up more outs on the turn card, bet out, built a pot, then check the fucking river like a retard.

From the picture you look like a big strong man, and losing weight will be no problem. This site was tremendous help for me when I was bodybuilding; http://www.tmuscle.com/index.jsp

I'll take a look, thanks.

Just wanted to make a quick note here. I'm going over my stats in PT and I'm a winner at every position (FR) after 5k hands of 10nl. What's funny is that when I clear the filters and run it through all levels, I've made almost as much in the SB as I have on the BU. And I'm generally pretty tight from the SB, folding to a steal around 87%. I know it will probably even out a bit as I go, but what the hell... I felt it was noteworthy.

Played 1k hands today and ran just barely over break-even. Lost 3 BI when my Kings ran into Aces, I paid off a set, and then I got sucked out when villain luckboxed 2-pair on the river chasing a flush. But I managed to grind back just as much as I lost so it's all good - win rate is down a bit but the bankroll is not.

Overall I still need to work on folding - both bet/folding and check/folding - and isolating limpers just a tad more. One thing I think I'm improving on however is getting value on marginal hands. I'm fairly confident I will be ready for a shot at $25nl by the end of August.

[Sir Pawnalot]

What is your training regiment like? And how do you plan to procede with your goals?

[Gobbatino]

Your avatar is seriously disturbing. Even iopq's ladyboys are better than malnourished crack adicts.

Your avatar is seriously disturbing. Even iopq's ladyboys are better than malnourished crack adicts.

MF is one hot piece of ace trollboy, but thanks for stopping and doing nothing but wasting space in my thread.

What is your training regiment like? And how do you plan to procede with your goals?

Slowly work myself back into the gym, really. I don't have time to do any hardcore training like I did when I was playing football (I'm 29, retired 2 years ago). I need to stop drinking soda and go back to drinking water and natural juices. And basically just eat less and eat healthier. Not sure what workout routine I'm going to follow yet. I'm going to get with a personal trainer (my brother in-law) and gradually work into a consistent schedule.

[Gobbatino]

[quote="Nutty McMutt"]

Your avatar is seriously disturbing. Even iopq's ladyboys are better than malnourished crack adicts.

MF is one hot piece of ace trollboy, but thanks for stopping and doing nothing but wasting space in my thread.

Lol, sorry, didn't mean it in an assholeish way, there's just something about that picture in particular that makes me... squeamish.

I actually do have one poker related question - What made you choose FR over 6max to start with? Have you played one or the other before?

Most people seem to think 6max will hone your skills post flop and can have a better return in the long run, albeit at higher variance. Actually that's just my reason for starting at 6max.

Ok. Apology accepted. I haven't played much 6max and when I have it was with mixed results. It's not that I'm a FR nit or anything (14/10) or that I'm not aggressive enough (2.8 AF) for 6max, I just haven't felt the itch to make the switch. I might mix in some SHNL some time down the road but for now I'm content with FR.

[Sir Pawnalot]

Good thing you are working yourself slowly back in shape, and its very smart to talk with your brother in law before training to vigourously.

Igot seriously ill and was out of training for over a year. When I came back my motivation was too high and I could not hold back while running. It ended with me snapping my achilles and I could not walk for a several months.

The idea of eating less to lose weight is kind of fawlty. When we eat less our metabolism drops and a hormone called leptin makes the body store more fat and burn less.

If we eat healthy, and drop sodas and candy, our body will get all the nutrition it needs without ever needing to go really hungry. Plenty of fats especially omega 3) in our diet also help the hormonal systems, in addition to sunshine and heavy workouts- whether lifting, running or throwing.

I didn't mean just eat less but more so limit my portions and don't over-eat... and yes, of course kick out the sugary foods and drinks. If I can do that I'll drop a few pounds overnight. Probably just do some light jogging and biking with some light-weight/high reps upper body workouts. Getting started is easy though, sticking to it is the hard part. I should find someone around here to do a prop bet. :P

As it turns out, I'm really starting to get into this poker thing. I'm reviewing my sessions closely, taking notes on regs in PT, running PokerStove, constantly surfing FTR & 2p2, lurking around in IRC, etc.

I think I'm going to re-read TOP and then make it a point to read at least one poker book each month, whether I've read it already or not. And not just read it, but really comprehend and understand it. I've digested SSH, S/S 1/2, ATR, PG's LGB, Power Holdem, and others. After TOP, I'll probably move on to the HOH series. But just as important, I need to make sure I'm putting in the same amount of volume, if not more than I have been to keep things on track. I don't want to be stuck at 25nl for a year.

Here's another random thought. I need to learn how to fold. Holy shit do I need to learn how to fold. My post flop play is atrocious at times and it's not because I'm stuck in a tough spot. I make spewy bets with over-pairs and top pair without even attempting to put villain on a range. And I realize that downswings at uNL are not the result of variance but rather horrible post-flop decisions that turn into tilting.

Yeah, so I'm down a few buy-ins. Not the end of the world by any means and I should still be able to hit 25nl at the end of August. But holy shit, note to self: "Fold to Aggression Without the Best Hand You Stupid Fuck!"

[killnine]

Here's another random thought. I need to learn how to fold. Holy shit do I need to learn how to fold. My post flop play is atrocious at times and it's not because I'm stuck in a tough spot. I make spewy bets with over-pairs and top pair without even attempting to put villain on a range. And I realize that downswings at uNL are not the result of variance but rather horrible post-flop decisions that turn into tilting.

Yeah, so I'm down a few buy-ins. Not the end of the world by any means and I should still be able to hit 25nl at the end of August. But holy shit, note to self: "Fold to Aggression Without the Best Hand You Stupid Fuck!"

This is exactly how I dropped 8 buyins this week, also at 5NL.
I excluded myself from Stars for a few days once I realized what was going on - I was badly tilted and it crept up on me so slowly I didn't notice.

One other point worthy of note from my experience is that 3bets at 5NL seem to be KK+ 90% of the time, and if you hold KK and get 3bet, you're up against rockets 99% of the time.
Quite a difference from 2NL. Anyone else notice this?

edit: sorry, I mistakenly thought you were at 5NL - I'll keep the post as is, though

Phew, I climbed out my rut and grinded back my losses from the past few days. Got the roll up to $672. Played ~100 hands at $25nl for 3.5bb/100 just to get my feet wet. Grinded some 10nl the past 2 days and everything is back to normal.

I've been folding more instead of calling in stupid spots and actually putting villains on ranges that are half-way accurate. Holy shit, what a fuggin concept!! Also, I've been really going over my HHs and it's helping a ton. It's awesome not to always post trouble hands in the BC. Instead I can figure them out on my own. Of course, it's always good to have a second and third opinion but then again, I'm my own toughest critic. The perfectionist in me definitely has worked itself into my poker game.

I actually sucked out on a set of aces where I also flopped a set of 7s - ended up getting it all in on the flop and turned my quad 7. Whatever though. I'm not folding trip 7s on a A72 flop like ever. Plus I've been sucked out on enough times this week to even it up.

Here's another quads hand from today (yep quad 7s). Villain played this horribly. Up until the river, I wasn't sure he had much of anything so I just bet as much as I think he'd call and not push him off his hand.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($1.90)
Button ($9)
SB ($8.85)
BB ($1.75)
UTG ($9.85)
UTG+1 ($8.20)
MP1 ($9.90)
MP2 ($10.30)
Hero (MP3) ($10.95)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 7, 7
UTG bets $0.40, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.40, 4 folds

Flop: ($0.95) 7, 3, 10 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.50, UTG calls $0.50

Turn: ($1.95) 7 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.60, UTG calls $0.60

River: ($3.15) J (2 players)
UTG bets $1.50, Hero raises to $4.70, UTG raises to $8.35 (All-In), Hero calls $3.65

Total pot: $19.85 | Rake: $0.95

Results:
UTG had 10, 10 (full house, tens over sevens).
Hero had 7, 7 (four of a kind, sevens).
Outcome: Hero won $18.90

I also wanted to post this, as it was my favorite hand played today. Why on earth I decided to play this hand this early is beyond me. I was willing to give it up quick without 2 pair+. I was really hoping the BU (loose fish) would call instead of the scum shortie, but oh well.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($10)
MP3 ($9.90)
CO ($2.60)
Button ($11.40)
SB ($4.85)
BB ($2)
UTG ($10)
UTG+1 ($10)
Hero (MP1) ($14.55)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 7, 6
2 folds, Hero bets $0.30, 2 folds, CO calls $0.30, 3 folds

Flop: ($0.75) 3, 4, 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.60, CO calls $0.60

Turn: ($1.95) A (2 players)
Hero bets $0.90, CO raises to $1.70 (All-In), Hero calls $0.80

River: ($5.35) J (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $5.35 | Rake: $0.25

Results:
Hero had 7, 6 (straight, seven high).
CO mucked A, K (one pair, Aces).
Outcome: Hero won $5.10

A any rate, I'm still on schedule to hit 25nl at the end of the month. Then the grind to 50nl will begin... hoping I hit that mark by the ened of the year. But that would mark the end of this operation... so I'm not rushing things!

Had the day off due to some electric problems at the office so I put in a healthy session of 1706 hands at 10nl for 8.29bb/100. Bankroll updated on first post.

Here's a hand from last night at 25nl.

No reads as this is only my second orbit at the table. So, I tend to give him credit here by the turn because AK just got there and AA/KK are obviously in his range too. Plus, if he does have AK, AA, KK, there's a decent chance he has a heart. He could be spazzing with TT or JJ but we have no history. Raise flop or fine as played?

$0.1/$0.25 No Limit Holdem
7 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG Hero ($24.65)
UTG+1 DiscoS7u ($25.00)
MP AramSeeR ($84.75)
CO fabioctb ($12.80)
BTN GaBlieu ($4.65)
SB sergiosso ($16.80)
BB Ares2k7 ($31.40)

Pre-flop: ($0.35, 7 players) Hero is UTG
Hero raises to $1, 5 folds, Ares2k7 raises to $3.50, Hero calls $2.50

Flop: ($7.10, 2 players)
Ares2k7 bets $4, Hero calls $4

Turn: ($15.10, 2 players)
Ares2k7 bets $8, Hero folds

Final Pot: $15.10

Ares2k7 wins $22.40 ( won +$6.90 )
Hero lost -$7.50

[mcatdog]

Here's another random thought. I need to learn how to fold. Holy shit do I need to learn how to fold. My post flop play is atrocious at times and it's not because I'm stuck in a tough spot. I make spewy bets with over-pairs and top pair without even attempting to put villain on a range.

Looking at these hands, I'd say your biggest leak is not value betting enough, not calling down with the worst hand. The AJ hand where you checked back two pair on the turn, the other one where you didn't raise a 1/6 pot bet on the turn with TPTK, and where you checked a flush on the river are all examples of missing value. Also this doesn't make any sense: "Should have bet a bit more preflop and on the flop but these morons are coming along no matter how much I bet."

Exactly, that's why you bet more when you have the best hand because they'll call a bigger bet with worse hands!

Yeah, I realized that and I have been working on squeezing more value out of my hands, like betting the river more. It really helps when I can narrow down what villain has and what he'll call with, obv. I'm slowly getting better at it.

Thanks for reading and pointing it out though. Can never have enough good advice!

Bankroll is up to $819. Won $90 in an MTT last night. LOL donkaments.

August stats posted here in the BC
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...14.html#930478

Ok, time to leave August and 10nl in the dust. Hopefully I won't be back. Setting a stop loss at 5 BI @ 25nl just in case I hit a run of bad cards or I happen to play like dog shit.

Phase I complete!

[Carroters]

Congrats man, It'll feel good to start raking in $50 pots. 25NL will probably be the biggest jump so far, but there's loads of fish and the regs mostly suck when you get some info on them.

gl gl gl!

Thanks Carroters! I haven't had time to really play much the past few days. Only ~700 hands in @ 25nl for 4bb/100. I renewed my subscription at Grinder School (for the full membership this time) and Spenda's vids are f'n great.

I'm trying not to psych myself out and think that these players are any better than those at $10nl. It's really not that much difference except there's one less fish and more 20bb short-stacks at each table. The fish still show down the same shitty hands.

Still though, I think I'll stick to just 2-4 tables for the next couple weeks then bump it up to the usual 6-9 towards the end of the month. My goal is to be fully rolled for 50nl by the end of the year and gasp! out of the micro-stakes never to return uh-gain. (unless I'm bored and feel like donking off $10 at PLO). Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Sl4y3r]

Hey Nutty, had a quick look over your op and looks like its all going along very nicely. Grinderschool is the nuts for micro/low vids, helped me out of the micros in no time at all. I find 2-4 tables perfect when moving up limits for around 5-10k hands. GL crush them 25nels sir!!