tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45860547680010456662024-02-20T19:13:24.013+00:00microstakes bankroll builderfrom micro stakes to small stakes poker and beyondmicrostakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-46903921701614106852013-10-03T21:22:00.001+01:002013-10-03T21:23:30.055+01:00Bout time I made a postYes, almost 2 years since I posted, I was living abroad for a bit, so didn't play, or I didn't have the urge / time, so didn't play much. In January I have started playing more again, this time more on Pokerstars than anywhere else, and mainly the deep stacked games, I just love the dynamic there.<br />
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Recently however I have started playing more 100bb tables and I will say that although it is a different game, the tables here are great, I just play a little tighter here.<br />
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Playing all 6max, and the graph below represents my progress, some of these hands are 2011, nothing in 2012, and the remainder, looks good although some of that is at lower stakes deep stacked as I learnt a game plan around playing with different stack sizes and short handed. Will likely be the last graph I post for another year, as I don't see the point, unless I can play 100k hands per month, which, at the moment, I can't.<br />
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My view on the games is they seem same as before, ie pre Black Friday, just with new countries replacing the usual fish and sharks!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvg7PyZPuaW3p_pNhTpRT_Vef7G2UxLbZ5oioz_HtTCPJzIHQ7FblObO4jmbuFi7efJNbyaHgeTTva9Hgje-RHilg6hvCBdMh_ahn4o47keCQujjipgS1CAYAuDsypnVPWhVy8QAtfdZ0/s1600/2013-10-02-ja-graph-bbs.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvg7PyZPuaW3p_pNhTpRT_Vef7G2UxLbZ5oioz_HtTCPJzIHQ7FblObO4jmbuFi7efJNbyaHgeTTva9Hgje-RHilg6hvCBdMh_ahn4o47keCQujjipgS1CAYAuDsypnVPWhVy8QAtfdZ0/s320/2013-10-02-ja-graph-bbs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-64247137009294313692011-10-01T11:44:00.005+01:002011-10-01T11:49:33.491+01:00Full Tilt purchase news, and Player Funds<div style="text-align: justify;">It seems finally FullTilt’s owners are beginning to understand that any deal is better than no deal, althoughI would imagine they have been “encouraged” to reach this conclusion, not by their caring for the outstanding player funds that they have refused to give back, but by their lawyers advising them that it may help their case. Hence it looks like there finally is a buyer, through the French investor Groupe Bernard Tapie.<br /><br />No matter what happens I believe a deal with someone will happen, sometime. The DoJ understands that a lot of its young citizens have money tied up there, and it doesn’t want to bite its nose to spite its face . So a compromise will be found for the $1 billion in restitution for alleged bank fraud. Sensible profit orientated investors will see beyond the current mire and will see the long term profitability of the assets. I believe everyone will see their money at some time.<br /><br />Post Black Friday it’s clear online poker is a still a fatted goat, and I for one would not rush to take my money of the site once it is reinstated and the site back online. And neither should you if you want to keep playing poker online and you’re not from the States.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />First I don’t see them ever making a similar disgusting error again as the eyes of the community will be on them (never mind the authorities), and second, the Rush Poker format which I would imagine the patent ownership will go as a condition of the sale, is, quite simply, worth hundreds of millions in revenues in its own right.<br /><br />Personally I hope Ferguson, Lederer and Ivy go to jail. Deal or no deal. I really do. Their silence on the issue over the past 6 months (notwithstanding Ivey’s nonsense, see my previous post), whether being advised by lawyers or not, makes me sick. They took the money for many years. They part-owned the company. They traded whilst being insolvent. They stole from us.</div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-34221781311555547712011-06-15T11:15:00.007+01:002011-06-15T15:52:15.475+01:00Thoughts on Fulltilt, Black Friday, Phil Ivey and Pure Greedy Rich Bastards<div style="text-align: justify;">I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn</span></span>’t have much to say about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DOJ</span></span> and poker’s “big three” after Black Friday (although I was worried by it, having $10k online at the time), but with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ivey</span></span> entering the picture, the whole thing changes perspective once more, and I do have thoughts on that.<br /><br />Taking the points in order, I think the complaints from the poker community fall into two areas<br /><br />1) <span style="font-style: italic;">“the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DOJ</span></span> is evil and stupid, how dare they, etc etc”</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">“the USA sucks, casino conspiracy" </span><span>etc etc</span><br />2) <span style="font-style: italic;">"I want my money back"</span> etc etc<br /><br />Regarding point 1, if we take the time to read the charges and the build up to them, I don't see much that the sites can say to defend themselves. Let's even ignore the long <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">DoJ</span> indictment, and talk about the context of Black Friday. They were <span style="font-style: italic;">repeatedly </span>warned about illegal activity, it wasn't just a bolt out of the blue, which makes it all the more stupid, or maybe just plain greedy, given the billions that were still to be had, even <span style="font-style: italic;">without </span>the fatted pig of the American market. And us, the humble grinders????.....C’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">mon</span></span>, we all knew what they were doing was breaking the law.<br /><br />Lets hear it from someone who knows, how about <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bwin</span></span> </span>joint CEO Norbert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Teufelberger</span></span>. Now <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bwin</span></span> </span>is <span style="font-style: italic;">only </span>the world's largest publicly traded online gambling firm (owning among others, Party Poker). In 2006, not only did <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Bwin</span></span> </span>pull out of the US due to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">UIGEA</span></span> legislation, but in August 2010 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Teufelberger</span></span> warned that FTP and Stars were illegally transacting using fake processing and that they would be prosecuted. Hell, his comments were even published in various mainstream industry magazines. It was no secret that an impending prosecution was on the cards.<br /><br />One could argue (somewhat coldly perhaps) that the only stupid people here were not the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">DOJ</span></span>, but instead any dumb American grinder who thought his money might be safe on an illegal (in his state, at least) gaming site.<br /><br />It's irrelevant whether one agrees with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">DOJ and the legislation behind it</span></span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">who does in fact??</span>, but it is the fucking law in the most powerful country in the world for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">chrissakes</span></span>, and you just can't go around whining about laws that you think are unfair, and thus justifying your breaking them. There's a lot of dumb Christians out there who think homosexuals should be put down, and they are in no doubt about their ideas being above any law. Should we just <span style="font-style: italic;">let </span>them wander around doing God's work and stoning all these sinners??<br /><br />Regarding point 2, this is where it gets interesting and gives my motivation for posting. Mr <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Ivey</span></span> comes in and sues. He’s got tonnes of money, so must have good people advising him, and he’s of course super intelligent (poker is a game of skill, and he’s the best after all…) And in doing so, sets back the resolution process catastrophically. Here's why.....<br /><br />So his main claim seems to centre around two areas, him being mislead by FTP and the misusing of players funds by FTP by diverting them to investments with the profits not needing to be channeled back to FTP <span style="font-style: italic;">allegedly.... </span>(in true <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/andreas-whittam-smith/how-robert-maxwell-picked-the-lock-on-the-company-safe-680025.html" target="new">Robert Maxwell</a> style) leaving them with liquidity problems (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">ie</span></span> not enough cash in bank) despite massive overall worth.<br /><br />And this is where the colossal moronic stupidity of his claims lies. Lets even leave out the nonsense about him somehow not realising that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">UIGEA</span></span> laws were passed making online cash transactions illegal in the US, lets accept that as he continued to take a slice of their illicitly fattened profits unquestionably, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Ivey</span></span> just kinda <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">uhhh</span></span>.....shrugged.... at the many many gaming sites who <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">didn</span></span></span>’t challenge the big three’s monopoly in the US, cos they just……er……liked them or something??? <span style="font-style: italic;">(nothing to do with their being worried about being prosecuted by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">DOJ</span></span>, Phil?)</span><br /><br />No, what really makes this arrogant git’s actions so utterly idiotic, is his Robin Hood claim to make a stand for “solidarity” as he puts it, for the <span style="font-style: italic;">ordinary </span>players (<span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">ie</span></span> </span>you and me) to help them get their money back. What he has actually done, being the biggest name in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">pokerworld</span></span>, is start a run on the bank.<br /><br />Because this is what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Fullltilt</span></span> primarily is, a virtual bank, and which, tragically, the <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">fuck-you-all</span></span> owners of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Fulltilt</span></span> have allowed to become vulnerable to insolvency due to aforementioned alleged greedy misuse of liquidity. A frenzied withdrawal activity, which had died down from the non-Americans after Black Friday, rears up in even bigger form as panic ensues for all players everywhere after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Ivey's</span> high profile $150m lawsuit is made public. In light of the above, I would suggest its got nothing to do with “solidarity” and everything to do with greed and self-protection. As the main face of FTP and a part owner, the sanctimonious prick should be up there in the dock with the rest of them. Being a part owner in four companies myself, the notion that I don't <span style="font-style: italic;">make </span>it my business to know what the fuck is going on each year in them (and thus absolve myself of any <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">responsibility)</span> is simply absurd.<br /><br />The losers in this are the players, not only in the USA, but the world over, as the filthy rich on both sides of this lawsuit attack each other's greed in public, and through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Fulltilt's</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">inevitable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">counterclaim</span> against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Ivey</span></span>, at the expense of this important poker site that definitely still had an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">essential</span> role to play in the future of online poker and its regulation, regardless of the outcome of these indictments. If the run on the bank continues, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">insolvency</span> is a very real possibility for FTP.<br /><br />Thanks Phil.<br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-62549186221854999352011-05-29T17:23:00.003+01:002011-05-29T17:29:59.720+01:00Ego and MeHell yeah, I have a problem with ego. It never used to bother me, in fact, I thought it was a positive thing. <span style="font-style: italic;">Helps with confidence, creativity and standing out in the crowd.</span><br /><br />I like the way in life, through experience, you get to change your view.<br /><br />Some of the best people I know have little ego, and it seems to help them making good decisions, and not be influenced by irrelevant factors. They also are almost always, universally liked by their peers.<br /><br />I'm trying to address ego in me.<br /><br />It's helping me in a number of ways, one of which is poker. A big ego can be the cause of many tilt issues, but one of the biggest is one's perception of <span style="font-style: italic;">entitlement</span>. Playing less hands at the moment to continue to work on this.microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-67453802188349184732011-04-14T11:47:00.006+01:002011-04-14T12:09:43.588+01:00Thoughts on Rush Poker and My Pokerstars Microstakes Bankroll Project<div style="text-align: justify;">I have been experimenting with various different games in the last few months, and one of these has been Full Tilt’s Rush Poker. One of the appeals to me is that you don’t need to bother with table selection, seat position, table breakups, and the main one, hands per hour is almost four times that of normal tables.<br /><br />I started with 6 max, and I have to say that over 20k hands I just couldn’t get comfortable with it. I don’t know what it was, but I seemed to be getting raised off every flop, and whenever I shoved, I was crushed. I ran 5bi below equity over the small sample, which didn’t help, but I still never felt I had the control in many pots. There was tons of 5bet shoving in levelling wars with garbage like 89s in the bb versus the sb, for example. It felt far more aggressive than normal 6max, and I struggled with the lack of time to make decisions. I fired up some normal speed tables at same stakes, and I realised that was the problem. 6max is all about hand reading and selective aggression, bluffing is a big part of the game. I’m happy to accept I cannot do that without more time/reads/history to consider.<br /><br />So I’m trying full ring. Here it’s a value-based game, where a more ABC style is fine, extracting the most from your strong hands and giving up more on your weaker ones, which means I don’t have to beat myself up about not being aggressive enough etc.<br /><br />Turning now to Pokerstars, I am having a great time at the micro micros, trying to build up a bankroll there from $20, see my previous post on this <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2011/01/having-some-fun-on-pokerstars.html" target="new">here</a>. I am just about to go up to $25nl as I am up to $700. I just stack 6 tables on my tiny laptop when I fancy a game.<br /><br />Observations? $5nl is so straightforward I don’t think there is much to say, I played a very loose style, double barrelling a lot and seemingly picking up a ton of folds. I only ever 3 bet for value.<br />$10nl starts to see a bit of knowledgeable players, scattered between recreational and maniac players, who are either <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/08/ubernit.html" target="new">ubernits </a>or <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/07/playing-aggro-donks-part-2.html" target="new">aggro donks</a> and its easy to adjust accordingly. Here a bit more selective agression, and try to avoid coin flips.<br /><br />So I will keep going with it till I get to $50nl and then decide what I want to do, as I will then have decent bank rolls at both tilt and stars, and be able to make a judgement on which is the better site to play small stakes games 50nl up to 100nl.<br /><br />Heres the graph so far, which is missing about the first 5k or so.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7-Ew4psPf6TyeP-5cJ2v7Wx6ThbyaDQsLEG04rhvSEE7APb9XNV0Y5jqupJM5F7JvkwllrlJBnT0OP1cwy_3FJSKFd9gSRyM5I6_tHlRm9ShPOi_kF5p8fm0n7oEwCzSpGktHp29jfA/s1600/11_04_06_graph_micros.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7-Ew4psPf6TyeP-5cJ2v7Wx6ThbyaDQsLEG04rhvSEE7APb9XNV0Y5jqupJM5F7JvkwllrlJBnT0OP1cwy_3FJSKFd9gSRyM5I6_tHlRm9ShPOi_kF5p8fm0n7oEwCzSpGktHp29jfA/s320/11_04_06_graph_micros.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595390050076952450" border="0" /></a>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-77291188511234263022011-01-25T15:35:00.006+00:002011-01-25T16:09:23.636+00:00Folding KK Pre flop<div style="text-align: justify;">Our poker education is never ending, but I know there are many who think folding Kings pre is a complete joke.<br /><br />At 6max it's harder to ever fold 1oobb deep (200+bb deep it's a different story), although when a nit running at 14/12 UTG raises and you 3bet in the SB, and he shoves, there is only 3 hands he can have. KK, AK and AA. KK performs 39% to that range, factoring in card elimation. We are crushed. He is never bluffing.<br /><br />If we include a wider range of QQ, (where flatting is the norm) we are 54%. So calling a jam is so very very likely for us to be way behind. And we think we have an edge in the game???? So let the flip go.<br /><br />When we get to full ring the fold is even easier, and when we get deep stacked, it's a no brainer. The following example shows how easy it could be 250bb deep to stack even "competent" players, who will never ever ever fold KK pre.<br /><br />Poker Stars NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players<br /><br /><a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/">LeggoPoker.com</a> - <a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/converter">Hand History Converter</a><br /><br />UTG+2: 263.40 BB<br />MP1: 141.20 BB<br />MP2: 257 BB<br />CO: 48.80 BB<br />Hero (BTN): 250 BB<br />SB: 100.40 BB<br />BB: 107.60 BB<br />UTG: 51.80 BB<br />UTG+1: 258.40 BB<br /><br /><strong>Pre-Flop:</strong> K<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> K<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> dealt to Hero (BTN)<br /><span style="color:red;">UTG raises to 3BB</span>, 3 folds, <span style="color:red;">MP2 raises to 10BB</span>, CO folds, Hero calls 10BB,<br />(utg is an unknown, 52bb deep, 3bettor is running 19/13 over 75 hands with no 3bets and 257bb deep. Its an easy cold call of the 3 bet. I want to keep in UTG assuming he is behind, and I do not want to fold out 3bettors hands I am ahead of.)<br /><br />2 folds, <span style="color:red;">UTG raises to 51.8BB and is All-In</span>, <span style="color:red;">MP2 raises to 257BB and is All-In</span>, Hero folds<br />(I am certain at least one of these players, if not both, have AA.)<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> (115BB) 3<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> Q<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> 3<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> (2 Players - 1 is All-In)<br /><strong>Turn:</strong> (115BB) Q<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> (2 Players - 1 is All-In)<br /><strong>River:</strong> (115BB) 9<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> (2 Players - 1 is All-In)<br /><strong>Results:</strong> 115BB Pot (5.6BB Rake)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">MP2 mucked K<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> K<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> and LOST (-51.8BB NET)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">UTG showed A<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> A<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> and WON 109.4BB (+57.6BB NET)</span><br /><br />Had I had AA on the button, I was winning the entire stack of my deep stacked friend. I mean, how much more obvious does it need to be when UTG shoves after a 3bet and a cold call??? <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What about the LAGS, what about the retards</span>.....blah blah. I think you need a very good reason to call an all in in this spot, and that would include reads on 4betting and shoves over 300+ hands. In absence of that info......<br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-82550420898935463282011-01-15T19:36:00.009+00:002011-01-16T15:38:20.874+00:00Thoughts on bluffing and "history"<div style="text-align: justify;">You have to bluff.<br /><br />If you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span>, its likely you can only be a break even player at the tables, unless you are consistently lucky, which I am not. Bluffing works best when you play deep stacked. 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bb</span></span></span></span> deep or less, and they are usually <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">OK</span> about getting it in with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">TPGK</span></span></span></span>. Most of you reading this will no doubt be content getting it all in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pre</span></span></span></span> flop with AK on a coin flip. I have blogged about this previously in detail if you care to look. I find it bizarre that everyone is delighted to be getting it in with 47% equity <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">preflop</span></span></span>, but nevertheless, that's the way it seems to be. Why not just play roulette and stick it all on red?<br /><br />So making big bluffs at 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bb</span></span></span></span> deep is risky, you are usually getting called.<br /><br />Here I lose a big pot making a bluff 250<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bb</span></span></span></span> deep, but bluffing at deep stacked poker carries investment value that can pay us off later on.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">NL</span></span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hold'em</span></span></span></span> Cash Game, 5 Players<br /><br /><a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">LeggoPoker</span></span></span></span>.com</a> - <a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/converter">Hand History Converter</a><br /><br />BB: 100 BB<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">UTG</span></span></span></span>: 215.20 BB<br />Hero (CO): 263.20 BB<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">BTN</span></span></span></span>: 101 BB<br />SB: 255.40 BB<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Pre</span></span></span></span>-Flop:</strong> 6<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> 3<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> dealt to Hero (CO)<br /><span style="color:red;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">UTG</span></span></span></span> raises to 4BB</span>, Hero calls 4BB, 3 folds<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">UTG</span></span></span></span> is a tight nit 17/14 who only <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">cbets</span></span></span></span> when he has something.<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> (9.4BB) 2<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> 5<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> J<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span style="color:red;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">UTG</span></span></span></span> bets 6BB</span>, <span style="color:red;">Hero raises to 19BB</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">UTG</span></span></span></span> calls 13BB<br />With my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">gutshot</span></span></span></span>, and such a dry board, with is both deep, I make my mind up to bluff. I am aiming to get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">AJ</span></span></span></span>+ to fold by the river. I do have a tiny amount of implied odds should I hit my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">gutshot</span></span></span></span>, plus a decent amount of fold equity from AK/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">AQ</span></span></span></span>, and mid pocket pairs.<br /><br /><strong>Turn:</strong> (47.4BB) 6<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">UTG</span></span></span></span> checks, <span style="color:red;">Hero bets 32BB</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">UTG</span></span></span></span> calls 32BB<br />One could check here, as the 6 hits my hand for showdown value, but I am still sure I am beat, and think a big barrel can get a fold. It's clear he has a single pair hand, as a set is not check calling that turn usually.<br /><br /><strong>River:</strong> (111.4BB) 2<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">UTG</span></span></span></span> checks, <span style="color:red;">Hero bets 92BB</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">UTG</span></span></span></span> calls 92BB<br />In for a penny.......<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> 295.4BB Pot (14.4BB Rake)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">UTG</span></span></span></span> showed Q<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> Q<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> and WON 281BB (+134BB NET)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hero showed 6<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> 3<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> and LOST (-147BB NET)</span><br />I know, I know, he's a station, but man,<span style="font-style: italic;"> how can you call there with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">QQ</span></span></span></span>, I scream at the screen</span>. Deep down, though, I think I am just an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">idiot</span></span></span>.<br /><br />So that was the bluffing bit, now to the "history" bit........<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">NL</span></span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Hold'em</span></span></span></span> Cash Game, 5 Players<br /><a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">LeggoPoker</span></span></span></span>.com</a> - <a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/converter">Hand History Converter</a><br /><br />SB: 125 BB<br />BB: 62.50 BB<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">UTG</span></span></span></span>: 434.75 BB<br />Hero (CO): 319.50 BB<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">BTN</span></span></span></span>: 317 BB<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Pre</span></span></span></span>-Flop:</strong> 8<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> 6<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> dealt to Hero (CO)<br /><span style="color:red;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">UTG</span></span></span></span> raises to 5BB</span>, Hero calls 5BB, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">BTN</span></span></span></span> calls 5BB, 2 folds<br />So same scenario as before, I float off the aforementioned Mr Nit calling stations dumb <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">UTG</span></span></span></span> over-raise, with a hand just right for such an occasion, cracking his big pairs and getting paid off with his handsome stack.<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> (16.75BB) 7<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> A<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 9<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> (3 Players)<br /><span style="color:red;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">UTG</span></span></span></span> bets 11BB</span>, Hero calls 11BB, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">BTN</span></span></span></span> folds<br />I have 34% against his range here, plus the implied odds, which are huge, so an easy call.<br /><br /><strong>Turn:</strong> (38.75BB) 2<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span style="color:red;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">UTG</span></span></span></span> bets 25.75BB</span>, Hero calls 25.75BB<br />I pick up the flush draw, to give me 9 more outs, and I am up against at least AK, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">AQ</span></span></span></span>, AAA, 999, 777. I have 30% against this range, so it's an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">ok</span></span></span></span> call, but I am really only calling this bet, because of my image as a bluffer.<br /><br /><strong>River:</strong> (90.25BB) T<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span style="color:red;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">UTG</span></span></span></span> bets 60BB</span>, <span style="color:red;">Hero raises to 277.75BB and is All-In</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">UTG</span></span></span></span> calls 217.75BB<br />Oh beautiful Ten, the nut card. Station bets 2/3 pot, and my bluffing from our previous encounter now pays dividends, as I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">overshove</span></span></span> jam the pot in a pretty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">bluffy</span></span></span> way, very much expecting a call from his second best hands.<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> 645.75BB Pot (32BB Rake)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">UTG</span></span></span></span> showed K<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> A<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> and LOST (-319.5BB NET)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hero showed 8<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> 6<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> and WON 613.75BB (+294.25BB NET)</span><br />In the previous bluff, I lost 147<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">bb</span></span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">repping</span></span></span></span> a set which he was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">incable</span></span></span></span> of believing, here I rep a straight, and he is equally as non <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">believing</span></span>, and I make win a 645<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">bb</span></span></span></span> pot, and make a profit from my bluffing investment of 176<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">bb</span></span></span></span>. On a side note, really scary that someone would pay a bet like that off. Guy called me a moron in the chat.<br /><br />Guess I'm not an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">idiot</span></span> after all.<br /><br /><br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-37844133928709007842011-01-13T13:09:00.006+00:002011-01-13T13:34:49.785+00:00Pokerstars Microstakes<div style="text-align: justify;">I transferred all my money off Pokerstars 18 months ago after a failed attempt at full ring mass tabling. Out of sheer boredom one evening before going to bed I had a look at the site and checked out some of the Isilder1 stuff. Then I noticed I have 30k of FPPs just sitting there. So I go and buy a $20 bonus token and fire up 2 tables of 200bb 6max 5nl tables.<br /><br />I forgot just how great the software is there and had a blast playing these stakes for an hour. Crazy plays, 5 way pots, calling all-ins with bottom pairs v maniacs, all good.<br /><br />So I think I will have some fun with this on my tiny laptop in front of the telly or whatever, and see if I can grind it up. I haven’t really blogged about stakes below 50nl but I think I can actually learn a lot there, which I hope to share here. I intend to use it for experimenting with different formats, providing I don’t busto. 20bi and I move up, if I get as far as 25nl I need 50bi, and anymore is wishful thinking. To make it worthwhile, I will only be playing the deep tables, preferable with antes, for 250bb.<br /><br />Meanwhile I hope to get something organised where I can play my regular stakes at FTP within the next week or so. I really want to make a serious attempt at poker this year, and to do that, I need to get away from variance, and therefore I need to get closer to 50k months, and I am nowhere near that.<br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-90441553028719309812010-12-19T19:53:00.004+00:002010-12-19T23:44:46.757+00:00This year's poker, and is it getting harder?<div style="text-align: justify;">This is normally the time to be publishing my thoughts on my years poker, and putting up a nice graph. This is where I was last year, see <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2010/01/looking-forward2010-and-2009-graph.html" target="new">here</a>. I had really high ambitions this time last year for a successful year, and to move up stakes. I was playing between 30 to 40k hands minimum per month last year, but this year its been 3 or 4k!!! This has been due to becoming very busy in my own business, which in turn has stopped my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ability</span> to spend a couple of hours each day playing. So there really is no point in doing a review of my year because of that. It's been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">disappointing</span>, as I really would have liked to take a shot. Maybe 2011?<br /><br />This year I have read a lot of posts on others' blogs about how the games are getting harder. Lots of moaning from established players who maybe made a lot through the "party" years as they call it, when the online boom started, who say its all drying up, and everyone knows what they are doing at the tables now . ...Seems a lot of sour grapes to me. Some of these dudes think they have some kind of <span style="font-style: italic;">right </span>to other peoples money. Maybe they are just average players after all.<br /><br />I don't think the games are getting <span style="font-style: italic;">harder </span>per say, but I do think they are getting stupidly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">aggressive</span>. Like super stupid. Many competent players at 6max in blind v blind, or 3betting v button will now be content to get into raising wars and all in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pre</span></span> with just baby pocket pairs, and other such their stupid obsession with fold equity giving them no option but to call a shove once they have built up a large pot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pre</span></span> and the odds they are offered. Post flop there is just a ton of non <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">believing</span> going on, which is shifting down from higher stakes I guess. All of these things combined make it harder to dip in and out of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">games</span>, as the aggressive dynamic takes some getting used to. The alternative is to move down stakes. My own strategy has been to reduce my bluffing and increase my value betting, as well as just 3betting for value, and just forget about 3bet bluffing.<br /><br />I just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">haven't</span></span> played enough to know how I am doing myself, but one thing I have noticed at 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">nl</span></span></span> is how the many of the regular players seem utterly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">incapable</span> of folding. There is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">definitely</span> a time for making bluffs at these limits, but aside from the "stab-and-give-up-pots", you need to be prepared to barrel your whole stack by the river to get a fold, and it's not my favourite situation.<br /><br />Here is a hand to sum up, which contains all of the points above, where I am playing a competent experienced player , and where so much value lies.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">LeggoPoker</span></span></span>.com</a> - <a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/converter">Hand History Converter</a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">UTG</span></span></span>: $252.10<br />Hero (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">BTN</span></span></span>): $282.95<br />SB: $100.50<br />BB: $77.25<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Pre</span></span></span>-Flop:</strong> 8<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 8<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> dealt to Hero (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BTN</span></span></span>)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">UTG</span></span></span> folds, <span style="color:red;">Hero raises to $2.50</span>, <span style="color:red;">SB raises to $9</span>, BB folds, Hero calls $6.50<br />Standard Reg stats with 11% 3bet , most of it in the blinds. I would actually fold sometimes in this spot, but not against an 11% range and the now fashionable double barrelling stats, with me in position. I can play quite close to optimally with my position. (Folding to any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">broadway</span>, bet folding all other flops, or check/calling/folding, depending on the usual stuff)<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> ($19) 8<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> 5<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 4<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span style="color:red;">SB bets $10</span>, Hero calls $10<br />I flop the set. All the decision making now is about how to extract his stack.<br /><br /><strong>Turn:</strong> ($39) 6<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span style="color:red;">SB bets $22</span>, Hero calls $22<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Villian</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">repping</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">overpair</span>.<br /><br /><strong>River:</strong> ($83) 3<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br />SB checks, <span style="color:red;">Hero bets $241.95 and is All-In</span>, SB calls $59.50 and is All-In<br />The only likely 7 he can have here is pocket 7s (I was going <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">busto</span> to 67s no matter what happened), so he either has a hand like AK which will check fold, or the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">overpair</span>, which <span style="font-style: italic;">might</span> call a shove, and will certainly call a smaller value bet. Having done the maths on how often you need to get a call on the river with an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">overbet</span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:georgia;" > to make it profitable, (the equation hinges on how often you think your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">opponent</span> with call you ...X%...) the x% calling range has become so high now at 6max, that its a no contest to jam the pot here.</span></strong><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $202 Pot ($2 Rake)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hero showed 8<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 8<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> and WON $200 (+$99.50 NET)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">SB mucked 9<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 9<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> and LOST (-$100 NET)</span></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-52886673919945447662010-09-30T17:56:00.012+01:002010-09-30T21:54:25.974+01:00Table bullies, maths and baby pairs<div style="text-align: justify;">I normally just up-sticks and find another table when I have a non-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">spewy</span> aggro <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">donk</span> (meaning, most likely one of the better 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nl</span> players at 6max) seated on my left, but when there's some bad players at same table sitting to left, you just got to hang around sometimes.<br /><br />That can lead to some interesting table dynamics, which in turn can lead to some high variance pots. As I have a pretty robust bankroll for these stakes, I don't have a problem with adjusting my play to their ranges and betting styles, and the history that develops between us through 100 or more hands, normally too small a sample to make anything clear <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pre</span> or post based on stats alone.<br /><br />Here I wake up with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">AQo</span> in the cut off, and even before I raise, I am almost sure the Mr aggro on the button will 3bet. He has a 15% 3bet, but more importantly, over 283 hands, almost all of that has been against me. I have 4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">betted</span> him once, where he folded, but the other six or seven times in this session, I have folded. It's what I do I guess.<br /><br />Here I 4bet to just under one sixth of my stack, as we are playing 140<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bb</span> effective stacks. I have decided a while back, once we became deep, that there will be no 4bet bluffs from me against him, it's just too likely that he can outplay me if he decides to call or whatever. In other words, unless I am <span style="font-style: italic;">certain</span> he has me crushed, I probably am going with the hand.<br /><br />Instead of folding, or flatting my 25bb, he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">insta</span> shoves, which really surprises me. I time bank and finally call all-in.<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Pre</span>-Flop:</strong> A<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> Q<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> dealt to Hero (CO)<br />2 folds, <span style="color:red;">Hero raises to $3</span>, <span style="color:red;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">BTN</span> raises to $10.50</span>, 2 folds, <span style="color:red;">Hero raises to $25</span>, <span style="color:red;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">BTN</span> raises to $199 and is All-In</span>, Hero calls $109.40 and is All-In<br /><br />The first thing to note here is that hands like AA-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">QQ</span> I don't believe would normally do that this deep, in position, from a good player. They would think about it first.....,and if including card reduction therefore I think its only around 15% of the time. I would have 24% in that scenario<br /><br />That leaves AK or a bluff/crazy play with baby pair. He has folded to only one 4bet previously, out of 3 in total. I used to play deep stacks at full ring, and it was rare to see a shove from a good player with AK at 200<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bb</span>. I would rarely do it. But AK is a possibility, say 15% likely. I would have 27% in that scenario.<br /><br />So here is where the history comes in. I have set up a "3bet in position" stat on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">hud</span>, which showes how often a player 3bets in position. I am amazed to see that over the 200 or so hands we have played at the table, he 3bets my raise from any position a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">staggering</span> 38%<span style="font-style: italic;">. </span>To assign a proper range to that is difficult, but I think it will be pretty wide, as good aggro players understand fold equity very well against a positional player like me, and I also 4bet-fold too. I think he might do any pair 22-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">TT</span>, suited connectors and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">gappers</span>, some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Axs</span> hands, and a few random bluffs like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">JTo</span>, 64o. This is a 13% range, wide because of our history as noted, and his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">aggodonkishness</span>. I have 58% to this range, and I think its 70% certain he is playing like that based on the above.<br /><br />our expected value might be something like this therefore:<br /><br />$EV=15%(24%x270) x 15%(27%x270) x 70% (58% x270) = $130.48<br /><br />I am getting actual pot odds of 40% to call all in (pot is 162<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">bb</span>, 110<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">bb</span> for me to call) , it costs me $11o and my $EV is $130.48. I think its profitable and a decent call, even though it's a situation I would normally try to avoid even arising.<br /><br />Full Tilt, $0.50/$1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">NL</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">LeggoPoker</span>.com</a> - <a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/converter">Hand History Converter</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hero (CO): $134.40</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">BTN</span>: $199</span><br />SB: $100<br />BB: $101.50<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">UTG</span>: $73<br />MP: $26.75<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> ($270.30) Q<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> T<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 7<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> (2 Players - 1 is All-In)<br /><strong>Turn:</strong> ($270.30) 6<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> (2 Players - 1 is All-In)<br /><strong>River:</strong> ($270.30) J<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> (2 Players - 1 is All-In)<br /><strong>Results:</strong> $270.30 Pot ($3 Rake)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hero showed A<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> Q<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> and WON $267.30 (+$132.90 NET)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">BTN</span> showed 9<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 9<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> and LOST (-$134.40 NET)</span><br /><br />Let me know if you think I spewed, or if you think my maths is out, which it could well be. Of course I didn't do these sums at the time, but I do away from the tables, and therefore decisions like this do become easier with a 30 seconds of thinking.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Finally, and most importantly, let me emphasise that calling an all in with 110bb behind with only 25bb invested is, normally a terrible play, and an auto fold. With 75bb behind, without history, I'm still considering a fold, although my 4bet would have been smaller. </span><br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-72510793358044205442010-08-08T20:01:00.009+01:002010-08-10T09:48:05.816+01:00Bet your strong hands or lose money<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the very first books I read when I started out in poker suggested that everyone plays quads optimally, and there wasn't much point in talking about it therefore. I don’t think I agree.<br /><br />Like all our flopped unbreakable nut hands <span style="font-style: italic;">(OK, there's still a str. flush there),</span> we want to extract the maximum, and that’s all we need to focus on, as we cannot lose the hand. Extracting the maximum involves reading the board, and relating it to your opponents possible range of cards.<br /><br />In this hand I raise 77 and flop the nuts against an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aggressive</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">and</span> tricky opponent playing 25/21 who never likes to fold to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cbets</span> (0 out of 5 times)</span>, and by the turn, I have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">him drawing</span> dead. The crucial thing of this post is that I opt not to slow play on the drawing stages of the board, which is the mistake I see so often at small stakes (the flop and turn).<br /><br />Full Tilt, $0.50/$1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NL</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hold'em</span></span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">LeggoPoker</span></span>.com</a> - <a href="http://www.leggopoker.com/converter">Hand History Converter</a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">UTG</span></span>: $121.70<br />MP: $98.50<br />CO: $110.90<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BTN</span></span>: $108.90<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hero (SB): $110.40</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BB: $167.20</span><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Pre</span></span>-Flop:</strong> 7<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> 7<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> dealt to Hero (SB)<br />4 folds, <span style="color:red;">Hero raises to $3</span>, BB calls $2<br />pretty standard<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> ($6) 7<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> 7<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 6<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/spadenormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span style="color:red;">Hero bets $4</span>, BB calls $4<br />Fantastic flop for me. Yes I have flopped the monster, but even better, against a good player with him in position on a super wet board. That means he will be aware that his <span style="font-style: italic;">perceived </span>range (his actual cards are irrelevant) in the small blind has hit this flop and will hopefully play accordingly. Perceived ranged (what he thinks I think he has) will consist of mid cards such as 45<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ss</span></span>, 78<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ss</span></span>, 78o, 89<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ss</span></span>, 89o, any 7, pocket 6s, gut shots with overs, any pocket pair, slow played <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">preflop</span> monsters v <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">sb</span>, a floated Ace high with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">overkicker</span> and any spade draw. The fact that the majority of his hands will in fact have missed is irrelevant. This guy likes to take pots down in position, and he will love to bluff when his perceived range hits. To slow play here would thus be a huge mistake. To check raise here would be an even bigger mistake. (You would fold out his air bluffs)<br />His <span style="font-style: italic;">perceived </span>range is a massive 25% that could float this flop<br />AA,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">JJ</span>-22,A2s+,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">KQs</span>,K7s,Q7s,J7s,T7s+,97s+,87s,73s+,64s+,A7o,K7o,Q7o,J7o,T7o+,97o+,87o,74o+<br />WE SIMPLY HAVE TO BET....<br /><br /><strong>Turn:</strong> ($14) 3<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br /><span style="color:red;">Hero bets $9</span>, BB calls $9<br />No change from the above, although by now it looks like he does actually have a draw or is slow playing an unlikely monster like 66. 45o and 45<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ss</span> got there too. We now also have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">gutshots with a pair</span> which were called with the 6 on the flop (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">eg</span> 64)<br /><br /><strong>River:</strong> ($32) K<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> (2 Players)<br />Here is where we have to change tack. River is a huge brick, none of the draws got there. We need to check to let all the busted draws bet, let any K bet, and any of his floated air bluffs bet.<br /><br />Hero checks, <span style="color:red;">BB bets $15</span>, <span style="color:red;">Hero raises to $32</span>, <span style="color:red;">BB raises to $151.20 and is All-In</span>, Hero calls $62.40 and is All-In<br />So we opt for a small CR to rep something like AK that is Raise/Folding with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">plenty</span> fold equity to open the door for his bluff shove <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">repping</span></span> the 7 and the 66, which he kindly does for us, as he out-levels himself.<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $220.80 Pot ($3 Rake)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hero showed 7<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/heartnormal.gif" /> 7<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/clubnormal.gif" /> and WON $217.80 (+$107.90 NET)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">BB showed 9<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> 8<img src="http://www.leggopoker.com/hh/images/diamondnormal.gif" /> and LOST (-$109.40 NET)</span><br /><br />Whilst there is a case for occasional slow play of these juicy monster flops, (super dry boards where its pretty clear he/you has missed might be one, playing against certain <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">maniacs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">OOP</span></span> is another) in general you need to be doing all you can to enable all the money to go in, which involves betting the correct amounts and thinking of ranges.<br /><br />The fact that they will be folding much of the time is no reason to slow play. I hope this example shows why.</div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-82665859424759195602010-06-15T00:08:00.002+01:002010-06-15T00:16:19.362+01:00The Poker Blueprint review<div style="text-align: justify;">Before I start, I should say, I don’t know anything much about the either of the authors of The Poker <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BluePrint</span>. Aaron Davies asked me to review the book through this blog. I have never studied the popular, but pricey e-books such as “Let There Be Range” and “Exploiting Regulars” which this book sort of relates to, in that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tri</span> Nguyen was involved in those .<br /><br />Initially, I struggled to figure out whether “The Poker Blueprint” was for an online beginner, an intermediate player still down at the 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nl</span> to25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">nl</span> stakes, or aiming at the 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nl</span> grinder trying to make a go of 200<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">nl</span> to 400<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nl</span> . I think it is aimed at the 100 to 200<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nl</span> area, but really, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">couldn</span>’t be sure. It’s important because we play differently at different stakes. For example, I would never 3 bet bluff below a certain level, and I would change my isolating raises too, depending on stakes.<br /><br />The authors introduce us to the concept of aspiration of the Learner as opposed to the Grinder. I would have liked to see some more explanation of this, (through card examples <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">eg</span> a “learners” approach to AK versus the auto all-in grinder), as it’s an important point for players, giving an experimentation aspect which is essential to progress, and which few are able/prepared to do.<br /><br />We then go on to moving up stakes. Aaron and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Tri</span> talk about taking shots at 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">buyins</span>, taking shots to learn from better players, moving down when losing 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">buyins</span> and Risk v Reward. Whilst I don’t think there is a science to taking shots, I do believe that luck plays a big part in how we end up a “reg” at a certain stake. However, what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">isn</span>’t discussed, and therefore which renders the argument a little hollow, is that of variance versus volume. It’s frankly the most important topic for shot taking, as it has a significant effect on both bankroll and psychology.<br /><br />We are then onto Maths and Hand Ranges – with a simplified introduction, probability and odds including the concept of implied odds, I don’t get the point of wasting words on this, given every poker book on the planet goes over it, Harrington style. More should have been spent on hand range analysis, as that is where micro players struggle.<br /><br />Fold Equity is a concept rarely discussed in books, and it’s a big shame this is not elaborated further, as its one of the most important things in 3 and 4 bet pots, but more importantly, in post flop 6max games in particular. Odds charts are shown, and again, I personally never quite get that in a book that is looking beyond a beginners audience, we all know it already.<br /><br />Expected value is discussed, and ranges become all important here. Revising ranges based on betting patterns on later streets is not discussed.<br /><br />A reasonable <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">preflop</span> 3 betting strategy is discussed along with a positional adjustment, and balancing our big hands, with our speculative ones. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">preflop</span> opening range is better, as the writer uses poker stove to illustrate ranges and percentages, which is a more advanced and original format for exampling <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">preflop</span> strategy, as we get some logic behind the suggested play.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Postflop</span> strategy is where I feel this text does show some excellent strategy for an aspiring player, where the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">cbet</span>, paired flops, and checking behind are all usefully illustrated.<br /><br />No tilt discussion, which again is critical for plays moving from 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">nl</span> recreation and upwards. It must be discussed, surely??? This, and the aforementioned variance, are the 2 most important factors in becoming successful at online play in my view, more important in fact than poker skills themselves, which can be learned and honed at one’s own pace. But not with tilt issues, or negative variance, which ultimately translate into the bad beat jackpot mentality which can destroy an otherwise promising player.<br /><br />Would I recommend it? Well the fact is, there simply <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">isn</span>’t anything much else out there at the moment in a consolidated volume for the aspiring <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">microstakes</span> online player. Ed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Millars</span> E-book is the obvious comparison, but it’s coming from a different perspective (primarily from a live low stakes player), and a slightly different era. It’s $37.00 as far as I know , easy to read and interesting.<br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-69780005599833659362010-04-27T20:52:00.005+01:002010-04-28T09:14:05.158+01:00Formula @6max = Being Humble!<div style="text-align: justify;">I am not sure if there is an easy formula for beating the low stakes online game, but it is true there is a lot to be made if you follow one path in particular. If we can avoid Fancy Play Syndrome, and stay disciplined, and most importantly......<span style="font-style: italic;">we avoid being bothered about being bluffed</span>. I would call this being humble, where you take the ego out of the situation (but <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>the player, as I think ego is important in poker). I don’t see how you can make at least modest money out of the game at these stakes following this mantra. And perhaps that is the formula.<br /><br />I played a pot the other day which I thought illustrated just how even supposedly knowledgeable players sometimes just cannot bring themselves to fold in big pots (in small pots, often they will give up, that’s why stabbing at the pot is so profitable if you know which ones to go for) . The thought of being bluffed, even semi bluffed, where they even probably <span style="font-style: italic;">know </span>deep down they are either crushed, or flipping a coin for the remainder of their stacks, is just too much for them. It's important to note these players, as these are the ones where the very over-rated concept of implied odds actually does come into play. And they exist in abundance at 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nl</span>.<br /><br />Here we have an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">UTG</span> raiser who I have a note as to being a bit of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">regfish</span>, who offers good implied odds when he has a hand such as Aces, and he runs at 17/14 with 73% cont bet.<br /><br />Mr Rock calls in mid position, running at 14/12 with a 5% 3bet. Probably set mining….<br /><br />My trash K4s suddenly starts to offer great odds, as we think about how easy it is to play post flop with this, and yet how well concealed it is against these two.<br /></div><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Stoxpoker</span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/89477/">Hand Details</a><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BTN</span>: $132.20 (132.2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bb</span>)</strong><br /><strong>Hero (SB): $122.85 (122.9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">bb</span>)</strong><br /><strong>BB: $101.25 (101.3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bb</span>)</strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">UTG</span>: $123.65 (123.7 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">bb</span>)</strong><br />MP: $100 (100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">bb</span>)<br /><strong>CO: $103.95 (104 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bb</span>)</strong><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is SB with 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">UTG</span> raises to $3</span>, MP folds, CO calls $3, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">BTN</span> calls $3, Hero calls $2.50, BB calls $2<br /><br /><strong>Flop</strong>: ($15) 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (5 players)</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Flop comes down giving me a pair and a flush draw. I am not in love with getting it in with these type of hands, but when Mr rock calls the continuation bet, I don’t think he has a set. Looks to me like some kind of draw, or maybe a weak Jack, say <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">JTs</span>. I think if I can rep a set here, I can get 2 folds much of the time, and if not at least heads up with Mr <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">UTG</span> holding at least a big pair where I have 47% EV.<br /></div><br />Hero checks, BB checks, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">UTG</span> bets $10</span>, CO calls $10, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">BTN</span> folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $55</span>, BB folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">UTG</span> raises to $120.65 and is all-in</span>, CO calls $90.95 and is all-in, Hero calls $64.85 and is all-in.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I make a small mistake, however.....my check raise is too big, thanks to Full Tilt's Pot button, as I nearly time out from playing other tables and press it quickly.<br /><br />Then...BANG..... first one, then the next shoves all in, and with 25% equity versus what I presume are their likely sets, or 1 set/overpair and 1 nut flush draw, with pot odds of 18%, I have no choice but to call off the remainder of my stack.<br /></div><strong><br />Turn</strong>: ($355.65) 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (3 players, 3 are all-in)</span><br /><strong>River</strong>: ($355.65) K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (3 players, 3 are all-in)</span><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $355.65 pot ($3.00 rake)<br />Final Board: 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><br />Hero showed 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> (a full house, Threes full of Kings) and won $352.65 ($229.80 net)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">UTG</span> showed K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> (two pairs, Kings and Jacks) and lost (-$122.85 net)<br />CO showed Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> (a straight, Nine to King) and lost (-$103.95 net)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And here is the point of my post. What we see when the cards turn over on the flop is my actually having a huge 44% equity against some retarded plays. The lack of discipline that sees players who clearly know the game, and yet continue to shove their money in with terrible equity on the tiny premise that they might be being bluffed (although I have to question sanity of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">QTs</span> rock <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">overcaller</span> who must realise he has at best only 6 outs with the diamond draw on the flop) makes these games entirely beatable…… provided you maintain discipline when you are put in the same spots.<br /></div><br />If you can mentally calculate your equity in these bigger pots, you just cannot go wrong.microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-50168127458394987452010-03-21T23:14:00.006+00:002010-03-22T00:19:50.329+00:00Forthcoming book review and…. Don’t Tilt because I’m coming after you if you do…<div style="text-align: justify;">First off, I am just finishing off the latest from Aaron Davis, "The Poker Blueprint" which is a rare book in that it includes thoughts about <span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">microstakes</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>online cash poker, and I will post shortly my review of it on this blog.<br /><br />2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nd</span> , and I make no apologies for stating the complete and utter obvious, and because it’s such a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">huuuuuuuge</span> big thing, please please avoid tilting if you possibly can. I tend to avoid prescriptive advice in this blog, (happy to leave that to others) and keep any advice here more as descriptive.. Except for tilt.<br /><br />Because tilt, it’s the biggest killer of bankrolls, even more destructive than plain ole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">baaaad</span> play for all but the very worst players, so a) don’t do it, and b) so I’m gonna talk about it a bit more.<br /><br />Tilt is like an addiction….no matter how bad it is, no matter how bad you know you have it, no matter what people tell you, you can only fix it if you actually <span style="font-style: italic;">want </span>to do it yourself. Until you make that step, doom will ensue. Tilt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">isn</span>’t like not being able to fold AA on a 678 non rainbow 4 way flop facing a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">reraise</span>. After a certain amount of hands, a little bit of reading, and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">smidgeon</span> of common sense, only the aforementioned <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">uber</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">baaad</span> players continue to get it in with that.<br /><br />No...Tilt is a red mist that affects otherwise talented and knowledgeable players, and raises its head at you as you <span style="font-style: italic;">think </span>you begin to realise all the injustices of the universe, and how they point themselves toward <span style="font-style: italic;">your </span>sorry little poker world. Your boat was cracked by quads 1 time too many matey, and now its time to fucking whine. And since no one can hear this whining, its time to do it through the bad beat jackpot scenario of simply proving your own thesis by example (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">eg</span> 3 betting any two cards). The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">illogic</span> of it is irrelevant, because you are gorging on the drug of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">tiiiiiiilt</span>. And with one bad beat after another, the pure fix of it spurs you on to more and more horrendous plays, pronounced even more in the unforgiving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">NL</span> environment that we play.<br /><br />Now I have said before here, and I will repeat, no one can help you with this addiction, so forget about watching fancy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">vids</span>, finding some formulaic book or whining in the forums. Just like any self-abuse, therapy begins with your own secret soul, the place where no one else goes, and thus only you can fix. That first step, the hardest, the most intimate, the least understood, only your solitary naked self, without your mum, your friends, or doctor, can make it with you.<br /><br />Now the purpose of my post is not to help you manage your crappy tilt problems, because, as I said above, I CANT DO THAT, ONLY <span style="font-style: italic;">YOU </span>CAN.<br /><br />No, the purpose of this post, and the beauty of the mercenary, selfish, cruel world of poker, is to help you to take advantage of others’ tilt, and thus take their money.<br /><br />Example of tilt coming up. 1st hand I am just observing, having folded, but mister big time nit playing 12/9 over 200 hands gets had by a loose fish who calls his 3bet with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">AJ</span> and sucks out v <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">said ubernit's</span> AK….loose fish proceeds to leave the table to a torrent of abuse by stacked <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">ubernit</span>. We were only 3 handed and now we are heads up, me and the angry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">ubernit</span>. Seems like someone might want to do some chip donating....<br /></div><br /><strong></strong>$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 2 Players<br /><strong>Hero (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">BTN</span>): $134.15 (134.2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">bb</span>)</strong><br /><strong>BB: $94.55 (94.6 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">bb</span>)</strong><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">BTN</span> with 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><br />I am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">raising</span> any 2 against this guy.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $3</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BB raises to $10</span>, Hero calls $7<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Ubernit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">insta</span> 3bets. Its only the second time he's done it in 87 hands. It's got tilt written all over it and I know he wants to extract revenge on me, the git <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">that's</span> been stealing his small blind for 15 orbits. K6o would be thrown away quickly v an uberbit even with my button, and heads up. Normally I would let his likely AK have it and carry on stealing. But it looks like he is tilted, probably with a weaker holding, and frankly, my cards no longer matter, but my being in position after the flop is everything.<br /></div><strong>Flop</strong>: ($20) J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BB bets $15</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $124.15 and is all-in</span>, BB folds<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Great flop for me. No <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">broadway</span> cards.Tilted nit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">insta</span> bets, no pause, no thought, just click. But I think his range is in fact any 2 cards from his timing tell. And facing an all in bet, there are only 3 hands he can have in my view that he can continue with, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">AJ</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">QQ</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">KK</span> and AA. Even tilted nits don't make spite all-in calls with bottom or middle pair in 3 bet pots, and my shove is going to show a nice profit in the long run against an opponent cursing in the chat box about his terrible opponents.<br /></div><strong>Results:</strong> $50 pot ($0.50 rake)<br />Final Board: J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><br />Hero mucked 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> (high card King) and won $49.50 ($24.50 net)<br />Happy days..microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-42324047068128762542010-03-09T20:46:00.006+00:002010-03-09T23:42:54.321+00:00Reconstructing my game, and "calling to re-evaluate"<div style="text-align: justify;">These last few weeks I have not wanted to grind at poker. I have hardly played at all. One of my resolutions as I went into the new year was to try to re-structure some things (<span style="font-style: italic;">read leaks)</span> in my game in preparation of moving up a level. That has been my current motivation, and firing up 6 tables <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">everyday</span> just hasn't been there. When I have done it, things <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">haven't</span> gone well, and all my own fault, which is not cool.<br /><br />One of the things I <span style="font-style: italic;">have </span>been looking at is making a decision on a hand, based on reads and sticking with that. The dreaded “Calling to re-evaluate” to be avoided at all costs.<br /><br />So when facing a raise on the flop after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cbetting</span> with a strong hand, if you are going to call, and the inevitable scare card comes on the turn, you should already know what you are going to do in said scenario.<br /><br />Here I raise with 88 and a decent aggro reg (33/27/18%3bet) floats my raise on the button. Now its worth noting here that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mr</span> aggro reg 3bets a massive 28% from the button over 296 hands. And he calls a raise on the button with 20% of his hands. So thats 48%......half his hands ,he plays from the button. That is simply <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">spewtastic</span> and we can begin to think about his range there. Any ace, any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">broadway</span> with a king, and suited connectors and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">gappers</span> are a 3bet I think. Why did I choose that range, and not, say, pocket pairs? Maybe you can guess yourself.<br /></div><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Stoxpoker</span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/87125/">Hand Details</a><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">BTN</span>: $116.20 (116.2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">bb</span>)</strong><br />SB: $117.40 (117.4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bb</span>)<br />BB: $100 (100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">bb</span>)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">UTG</span>: $71.35 (71.4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">bb</span>)<br /><strong>Hero (MP): $106.25 (106.3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">bb</span>)</strong><br />CO: $100 (100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">bb</span>)<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is MP with 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">UTG</span> folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $3.50</span>, CO folds, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">BTN</span> calls $3.50, SB folds, BB folds<br /><br /><strong>Flop</strong>: ($8.50) 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $5</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">BTN</span> raises to $14</span>, Hero calls $9<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now I am raised on a drawy flop when I hit my set. I need to decide now whether I think he has the FD or a set, or some combo, or just a pure bluff. Do I shove with the current nuts, or call, or what???..............Well..........Ax of spades I think would 3bet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">preflop</span> 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">pc</span> of the time based on my read. So I need to decide if this guy would raise a naked draw here, there being straight and flush possibilities on board, and one which he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">wouldn</span>’t have 3bet on his button. And I can’t see it. I just can’t.<br /></div><strong>Turn</strong>: ($36.50) 5<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br />Hero checks, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">BTN</span> bets $20</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $88.75 and is all-in</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">BTN</span> folds<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So when the nasty 3rd spade comes, I have already decided what to do, because I still believe I have the near nuts to his range. So my check is for value - to induce his bet, and the check raise all in is to eliminate him sucking out with any silly flush on the river.<br /></div><strong>Results:</strong> $76.50 pot ($3 rake)<br />Final Board: 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 5<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><br />Hero mucked 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> (three of a kind, Eights) and won $73.50 ($36 net)<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And finally, sure my read could sometimes be wrong (actually you should be able to deduce from my thinking he actually has a very narrow range), but I still have 23% EV on the turn against any flush which got there, plus a decent amount of fold equity against a straight and a thinking player.<br /><br /><br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-22798574738968682372010-02-16T09:36:00.004+00:002010-02-16T10:08:02.380+00:00Full tilt changing player types<div style="text-align: justify;">I think one of the changes as a result of full tilts responding to the 20bb shortstacker, by increasing the buy in, has been the slight increase of 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bb</span> reg type players. This could be fixed limit players moving over to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NL</span>, and players from other sites coming to Full tilt. I have no stats to back this up, but am guessing that its likely.<br /><br />As a result of this, today I sat at a table with 4 aggro players, levelling each other and getting into some serious Fancy Play Syndrome. Generally I try to avoid these alpha male type battles, as they tend to be high variance and probable neutral EV in the long term.<br /><br />But I couldn't help myself, as virtually every pot was 3bet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">preflop</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">CR'd</span> post flop, and I wanted to see some action.<br /><br />Here I raise with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">AQs</span> and get called by a poor player with 9% 3bet over 150 hands.<br /></div><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Stoxpoker</span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/83662/">Hand Details</a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">UTG</span>: $100 (100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bb</span>)<br />MP: $160.25 (160.3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bb</span>)<br /><strong>Hero (CO): $101.50 (101.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">bb</span>)</strong><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">BTN</span>: $117.15 (117.2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bb</span>)<br /><strong>SB: $112.75 (112.8 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">bb</span>)</strong><br />BB: $388.80 (388.8 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">bb</span>)<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is CO with Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> A<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">UTG</span> folds, MP folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $3</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">BTN</span> folds, SB calls $2.50, BB folds<br /><br /><strong>Flop</strong>: ($7) K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br />SB checks, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $5</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">SB raises to $18</span>, Hero calls $13<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">When he check raises here to such a big amount, you just have to think what he has that he could be doing that with. The only hand I can think of logically is As3s, which has 42% equity v AK, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">KQ</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">KJ</span>, being holdings which I could easily have. I think this guy is 3betting his small and medium pocket pairs, but even a set is not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">CRing</span> to such a large amount I think. I think he is bluffing or semi bluffing more than half the time......as it just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">doesn't</span> add up.<br /></div><strong>Turn</strong>: ($43) 4<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">SB bets $24</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $80.50 and is all-in</span>, SB folds<br />The blank on the turn allows me to shove over his half pot bet, where even a hand like KT or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">KJ</span> will struggle to call. But I am pretty confident he had complete air on this board.<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $91 pot ($3 rake)<br />Final Board: K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 4<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><br /><br />Making these plays isn't that easy, as it involves confidence in your hand reading and putting your stack on the line, but you do have to adjust against aggro regs, and it can be very profitable.microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-14002468348291223732010-02-11T21:29:00.006+00:002010-02-11T22:32:01.571+00:00Don't play if you can't pull the trigger<div style="text-align: justify;">As you may have gathered I haven’t posted in a while. The reason for that is 2 fold. First because I haven’t had much of interest to say, but also because I haven’t had much time to play poker.<br /><br />As a consequence of the latter, I have not been in my usual mode of raising any 2 from the button. In order to play this style, at my limits anyhow, you need to be in the groove. And, I haven’t been in the groove, due to lack of volume.<br /><br />Ordinarily I would say, if I were you reading this, so what, you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">donk</span>! Stop wasting my fucking time.<br /><br />But I realised if you are indeed in that non-groove mode in poker, you need to batten up the hatches and seriously play solid straightforward poker. Anything else is just going to lose you money by putting you in difficult spots (i.e. a reluctance to play for stacks with 40% EV but counting on Fold Equity to get you toward 60% v villains range). If you’re still reading, thank you, I will try to finally get to the point of this horrendous post with an example.<br /><br />Villain is a 36/32 <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/08/playing-spewtards.html"target=new"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">spewtard</span> </a>with a 13% 3 bet over 100 hands. I have seen him get it all in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pre</span> with 99 full stacks (sucking out v AA), raising 72o and showing down v AK with a 2 on the flop, and all in with 88 v <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">KK</span> in 4 bet pot for 300<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bb</span> pot on low flop with him in the blinds. Looking him up, he always plays heads up and he is applying those strategies here in true <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">spewtard</span> fashion. It’s even worse than a 6max <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">donk</span> trying to run over a FR table.<br /><br />Anyway, I have already busted him for his full stack once, and I am ready to leave the tables, when I look down at 78s. I raise, and with him in the blinds, a little voice inside me tells me he will be 3-betting me from the BB.<br /></div><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Stoxpoker</span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/83497/">Hand Details</a><br /><br />SB: $116.55 (116.6 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bb</span>)<br /><strong>BB: $116.10 (116.1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">bb</span>)</strong><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">UTG</span>: $100 (100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bb</span>)<br /><strong>Hero (MP): $234.90 (234.9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">bb</span>)</strong><br />CO: $151.35 (151.4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">bb</span>)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">BTN</span>: $205.35 (205.4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">bb</span>)<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is MP with 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 8<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">UTG</span> folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $3</span>, CO folds, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">BTN</span> folds, SB folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BB raises to $11</span>, Hero calls $8<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Sure enough he 3bets. His range is wide enough that in position I think 78s in position can show a profit, given that he had shown a propensity to give up on the turn.<br /></div><br /><strong>Flop</strong>: ($22.50) 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 4<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BB bets $14</span>, Hero calls $14<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Big big <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">mistake</span> by me. If you call in position with a speculative holding, the whole point, the whole absolute point, against this particular player, is to shove all in with at least 44% EV v his range. It is such a horrible flop for him. He is folding so much of the time, but even if he does call, it just isn't that bad. My calling is simply horrendous, and shows such weakness (or absolute nut strength) that we could never win anything much further from the hand.<br /></div><br /><strong>Turn</strong>: ($50.50) T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br />BB checks, Hero checks<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">compounding</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">horrendous</span> play even more by checking.<br /><br /><strong>River</strong>: ($50.50) K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BB bets $36</span>, Hero folds<br />It's so bad I can't speak.<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $50.50 pot ($2.50 rake)<br />Final Board: 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 4<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><br />BB mucked and won $48 ($23 net)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Uggh</span>, I play <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">sooo</span> bad.<br /><br />Calling in position in 3bet pots is something you should do only if you are in the groove so to speak, being prepared to play for stacks on semi draws and even stone bluffs, even against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">superdonks</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">spewtards</span>. Otherwise let it go and play fit fold, which is profitable in itself and no shame.<br /><br />Sorry I have nothing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">interesting</span> to say about Rush poker though.......microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-91041349605603603322010-01-21T21:47:00.005+00:002010-01-21T22:58:57.391+00:00Playing AK, or is that Ace-King?<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is just how unsure people seem to be when playing AK. At 6max, players seem positively desperate to get all their money in with it. I don’t get it.<br /><br />In this post I will talk about having AK and facing a raise preflop.<br /><br />AK is 47% against a range of all pocket pairs, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">AQ</span> and the medium suited connectors up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">JTs</span>. You hear that…….47%!!!!!!<br /><br />Therefore the skill with AK is in either making everyone else fold (who wants a call with AK..), or make weaker aces call. <span style="font-style: italic;">That’s making weaker aces call!!!!</span><br /><br />Lets discuss making people fold, or fold equity first. Making people fold is a skill. Shoving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">isn</span>’t. Understanding fold equity is about reads and betting patterns. It’s complex and requires experience of player types and board textures. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pre</span>-flop, knowing whether your AK shove is going to show a profit is entirely down to player reads, and is therefore much more about guesswork due to the lack of information available. And guessing in poker means –EV generally. Especially as most who play the micros lack experience and should therefore avoid tough spots. In my experience, 99+ will call a 3bet almost always from almost all 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nl</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">regfish</span>. They just can’t bring themselves to fold. But after 3betting your AK, and then your automatic cont bet when called (and almost certainly behind) of usually around 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bb</span> puts you in a horrible spot. Yet you miss the flop 60% of the time. Now you don’t need me to do the maths here for you I hope to show how horrible this is for you.<br /><br />Lets look at it from the other point of view.<br /><br />How do you make weaker aces call? Lets think…..<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ummm</span>….<span style="font-style: italic;">by floating</span>. But what do almost all TAGS and LAGS do at the micros? They 3bet. Regardless of the position and history of the other guy, it’s an automatic 3bet. But thinking for oneself just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">doesn</span>’t seem to be the way it’s at just now in no limit, probably due to the massive amount of information out there that says auto 3bet AK. Very simple really. Everyone 3bets because……well…. just because. Do you think about it? Do you?<br /><br />Successful cash poker is about extracting value from weaker hands. Not throwing your pile in the middle with 47% equity, as noted above, because that’s the range that’s calling your shove in 4bet pots. Extracting value entails not blowing dominated hands like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">KQ</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">KJ</span> and any ace out of the water <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">preflop</span>.<br /><br />If you can’t understand this premise, you won’t progress.<br /><br />Finally lets illustrate this idea of extracting value by showing how to play AK in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">pos</span> against a 20/15 villain with a 100% fold to 3bet. Villain steals 25%.<br /></div><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Stoxpoker</span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/77332/">Hand Details</a><br /><br />MP: $193.05 (193.1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">bb</span>)<br /><strong>CO: $101.50 (101.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">bb</span>)</strong><br /><strong>Hero (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">BTN</span>): $174.25 (174.3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">bb</span>)</strong><br />SB: $107.50 (107.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">bb</span>)<br />BB: $60.60 (60.6 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">bb</span>)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">UTG</span>: $100 (100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">bb</span>)<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">BTN</span> with K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> A<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">UTG</span> folds, MP folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">CO raises to $3</span>, Hero calls $3, SB folds, BB calls $2<br />We avoid 3betting here in position, and conceal the strength of our hand.<br /><br /><strong>Flop</strong>: ($9.50) 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (3 players)</span><br />BB checks, CO checks, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $7</span>, BB folds, CO calls $7<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">KQ</span> and 33 beat us. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">JT</span> will bet, as will <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">AQ</span>, KT, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">JQ</span> etc etc. standard to call here to maximise value due to concealing hand.<br /><br /><strong>Turn</strong>: ($23.50) Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br />CO checks, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $13</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">CO raises to $26</span>, Hero calls $13<br />My feeling is a full house and trips against a standard player here continues betting. I am not in love with the check raise but it seems a bit fishy.<br /><br /><strong>River</strong>: ($75.50) 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br />CO checks, Hero checks<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $75.50 pot ($3 rake)<br />Final Board: 3<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><br />CO showed 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> (two pairs, Kings and Queens) and lost (-$36 net)<br />Hero showed K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> A<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> (two pairs, Kings and Queens) and won $72.50 ($36.50 net)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope you see that if I had 3 bet AK <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">preflop</span>, I would have won a paltry 4.5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">bb</span> as he was pushing the fold button quicker than light, whereas I ended up winning nearly 10 times that, by maximising value and being <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">prepared</span> to play a bit of poker.<br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-79111007952691993312010-01-14T13:06:00.002+00:002010-01-14T13:07:52.244+00:00Moving down when running bad? Not me….Bankroll management is the key to winning in the long run in poker. Strategy comes a close second. Edges are so slim nowadays that if you get your buy in level wrong, you can go broke and it can be very difficult to get back to where you were.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Part of that, and rarely disagreed with, is the link between physcology, a downswing, and the idea of moving down limits whilst you steady the ship.<br /><br />I strongly disagree with this notion.<br /><br />Let’s assume you are a small winner at a given limit, say 1ptbb/100 before rakeback, over say 150k hands.<br /><br />Then lets say you go on a 10buy in downswing over 5k hands and lets assume you continue to play solid poker, as you were when you were averaging 1ptbb. Common thinking is to move down a limit or 2. But I don’t get that. That means you have to double your win rate to get back to where you were. Or play twice as many hands at the same win rate but at the lower level. What I do agree with is that variance evens itself out over the long run. Which means that, provided you are adequately bankrolled and still playing your best game, it will even out, and therefore, without, changing anything, you will naturally “catch up”.<br /><br />All this may seem obvious, but it surprises me just how low the perceived bankroll limits are in the forums, and therefore isn’t obvious at all if you are actually in the middle of a downswing. Many talk about 20 buy ins before shot taking. I can, on a good month, win 20 buy ins within 15k hands. Does that mean I am ready to shot take at, say, 400nl. No. I would get owned. I have lost 14 buyins in one day before, in 2000 hands. Imagine if that was the day after I took a successful shot at 400nl.. Maybe at 10nl and below that’s fine, but in order to cope with the swings, you need to have 100 buy ins. Taking shots is fine, but if you want to avoid tilting when the bad variance kicks in, and I am talking a downswing of 10-15 buy ins over a few sessions, and it inevitably will, you need to have this factored in to your bank roll.<br /><br />So, after your downswing, when your EV line evens out , as the maths dictates, and having moved down to a lower limit, as you had to do because you were not adequately bankrolled with your paltry 20 to 30 buy ins, then you are effectively cutting your dollar win rate (as opposed to your BB win rate) by half.<br /><br />So when you have the inevitable doomswitch, don’t move down, grind through it. Just don’t be at a level that you cannot cope with 10-15 buy in down swing.</div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-44369075814046497992010-01-08T21:14:00.004+00:002010-01-10T10:47:54.196+00:00suckout? Me? I don't think so<div style="height:125px;width:100%;"><a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/blog_tournament/"><img src="http://www.pokerstars.com/images/wbcoop/125x125.gif" alt="Online Poker" align="left" style="margin-right:10px;" border="0"></a><p>I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online <a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/">Poker</a> tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on <a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/blog_tournament/">WBCOOP</a> to play.</p><p>Registration code: 904254 </p></div><br />An interesting hand came up where many may feel I sucked out and/or played it bad, including the other players at my table at the time, judging by the comments. But I don't think so. What do you think?<br /><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hold'em</span></span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Stoxpoker</span></span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/76460/">Hand Details</a><br /><br /><strong>Hero (BB): $138.10 (138.1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bb</span></span>)</strong><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">UTG</span></span>: $127.60 (127.6 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bb</span></span>)<br />MP: $103.65 (103.7 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bb</span></span>)<br /><strong>CO: $151.30 (151.3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bb</span></span>)</strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">BTN</span></span>: $140.25 (140.3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bb</span></span>)</strong><br />SB: $95 (95 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bb</span></span>)<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Pre</span></span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is BB with T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><br />2 folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">CO raises to $3.50</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">BTN</span></span> calls $3.50, SB folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $15.50</span>, CO calls $12, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">BTN</span></span> calls $12<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I squeeze <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">TT</span></span>, sometimes I just flat, it just depends. But, after my 3bet, when I get a caller and an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">overcaller</span></span>, then their ranges (both standard regs who are capable of folding, and of making semi-bluffs) become quite polarised to 99-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">QQ</span></span> type pocket pairs to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">original</span> raiser and speculative hands like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">JTs</span></span> and baby pairs to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">overcaller</span></span>.<br /></div><br /><strong>Flop</strong>: ($47) 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 5<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (3 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $41</span>,<br />I have to represent AA here and I need to do this with a very big bet, which will fold out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">JJ</span></span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">QQ</span></span>.<br /><br />CO folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">BTN</span></span> raises to $124.75 and is all-in</span>, Hero calls $81.60 and is all-in<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Original</span></span> raiser folds, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">overcaller</span></span> shoves his full stack, which is a further 120<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">bb</span></span>. So he has a set....<br /><br />But does he?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Would you just shove a set against a guy who clearly has a lot behind and likely </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">overpair</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">? My guess is a thinking player wouldn't.</span><br /><br />Believe me I tanked this for a while, but finally decided to call. I will give the full analysis of why after the result below.<br /></div><strong>Turn</strong>: ($292.20) Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players, 2 are all-in)</span><br /><strong>River</strong>: ($292.20) 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players, 2 are all-in)</span><br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $292.20 pot ($3 rake)<br />Final Board: 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 5<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><br /><br />Hero showed T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> (two pairs, Tens and Twos) and won $289.20 ($151.10 net)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">BTN</span></span> showed 5<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> (two pairs, Sixes and Fives) and lost (-$138.10 net)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Why did I decide to call? Well the pot was laying me 28% due to the large amount of money that had gone in. Even ignoring an unlikely but possible (say 10%) total bluff, given his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">overcalling</span></span> range with the possiblity of so many semi-bluff type combo draws, I reckon my equity is actually around 52%. I also have a club to take away one of those possible combo outs. And even if you just go by what he actually had, (2pair) I still had 30% equity so was about the right price (just..) for a call.<br /><br />Gritting your teeth and calling is not great, but as long as you use your precious timebank seconds to think through what he could be doing that with, rather than blind hope, logic can really help you.<br /><br />In this case therefore, I don't think i sucked out, in fact I actually made a good call. And most importantly, before you criticise the size of my bet on the flop, note that in the chat box after, as my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">TT</span></span> was shown down, the original raiser who timed down, but finally folded to my pot cbet, on the flop, did indeed have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">JJ</span></span>, and I achieved what I was setting out to do, by repping AA.<br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-82065799826141386472010-01-06T20:33:00.005+00:002010-01-06T21:32:52.923+00:00Charitable Poker<div style="text-align: justify;">It never fails to surprise me when I see some of the card combos people are prepared to play online, especially when you realise it's all for real money. I just wonder how some of these <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">droolers</span> actually manage to dress themselves in the morning, never mind them being able to figure out the process of how to deposit money on a poker site. Some seem <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">positively</span> determined to just <span style="font-style: italic;">give </span>their money to you, and it makes me wonder if they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wouldn't</span> get a little more satisfaction by donating this cash to some kind of charity or worthwhile cause, even going up to a random person in the street and handing them $100 would get a startled and happy reaction from them, which is surely superior to donating within the faceless environment of an online poker room.<br /><br />As an example I illustrate with this hand. The worrying thing is, this type of thing isn't <span style="font-style: italic;">that </span>unusual.<br /></div><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 5 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Stoxpoker</span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/76378/">Hand Details</a><br />CO: $160.50 (160.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bb</span>)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">BTN</span>: $30.20 (30.2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">bb</span>)<br />SB: $204 (204 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bb</span>)<br /><strong>Hero (BB): $100 (100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bb</span>)</strong><br /><strong>MP: $80.10 (80.1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">bb</span>)</strong><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is BB with A<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> A<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /><br />MP calls $1, CO folds, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">BTN</span> folds, SB folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $7</span>, MP calls $6<br /><br /><strong>Flop</strong>: ($14.50) Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $10</span>, MP calls $10<br /><br /><strong>Turn</strong>: ($34.50) Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $16</span>, MP calls $16<br /><br /><strong>River</strong>: ($66.50) 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $54</span>, MP calls $47.10 and is all-in<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $160.70 pot ($3 rake)<br />Final Board: Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> T<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><br />Hero showed A<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> A<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> (two pairs, Aces and Queens) and won $157.70 ($77.60 net)<br />MP mucked 5<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> A<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> (a pair of Queens) and lost (-$80.10 net)<br /><br />He called the flop, turn and all-in on river with no pair and no draw, giving his stack to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">BankofMBB</span>, which I can assure you, is not a charity.microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-82250861175699321242010-01-02T13:11:00.006+00:002010-01-02T15:35:42.234+00:00Looking forward...2010 and 2009 graphOne of my first posts <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/01/poker-goals-for-this-year.html" target="new">here </a>shows what my aims for 2009 were. I think I managed to just about get there.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I looked into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pokerstars</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">VPP</span> thing, but in order to take advantage of it fully, you need to have a lot of volume. After a bit of experimenting with multi-tabling and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">AHK</span>, I realised I still had so much to learn in just playing the game, so went back to playing 4-6 tables on a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">rakeback</span> site where volume and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rakeback</span> are not related.<br /><br />The big question we all ask ourselves is whether we are good enough to make a living from the game. As you can see from the graph below, there is no doubt I can beat the game just now, up to 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">nl</span>, as the majority of that sample is 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nl</span>, both full ring and 6 max. I currently play around 15 hours a week at poker, seeing 20k hands per month. Some could actually live on just what I have earned through poker this year. For it to be more than just a decent side income however, with that volume, of course I have to be beating 200<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nl</span> by this time next year, with an eye on shots at 400<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nl</span> and 1000<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">nl</span>. I need to ask myself whether I want to put that kind of pressure on me, given I work for myself, and don’t always want the distraction of poker, especially when things are going bad. I would also have to think about whether I need coaching or should I carry on with my own brand of betting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9gMEs4OmMe-HHB8wzOfJcdadfrJB0kPZtFIUGcXgUvH-N76Io4OWDQlB4CCml-xAZIBFTbKepqVTNcVogPw5srQuqncmCrYJMokD8o-4_DglC4YXfj8ncDAnRjU9VbxoWmA4jZqnhcs/s1600-h/09_12_31a_graph.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9gMEs4OmMe-HHB8wzOfJcdadfrJB0kPZtFIUGcXgUvH-N76Io4OWDQlB4CCml-xAZIBFTbKepqVTNcVogPw5srQuqncmCrYJMokD8o-4_DglC4YXfj8ncDAnRjU9VbxoWmA4jZqnhcs/s320/09_12_31a_graph.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422138113242366690" border="0" /></a><br />The alternative approach is one of an immediate start of 200<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">nl</span> tomorrow and balling it to 400<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">nl</span> by March to be a reg there by May or June. I am certainly bank-rolled for it. And certainly I could have a heater at the right time, which is probably all you need to cement yourself at the limit. But I have also heard the transition form 200 to 400<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">nl</span> is the hardest, and losing 10 buy-ins trying <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">doesn</span>’t appeal to me, which could happen even if I played perfect poker, as we all know.<br /><br />The fact of the matter is, I have only been playing online cash poker for a year, and feel I still have a lot to learn. I think, like all businesses, (and I think of poker as a business) we need to think in 5 year plans, and therefore there is more than enough time for me to reach mid stakes without having to risk much too quickly.<br /><br />Away from Hold’em, I have recently added PLO 6max to my game, which will add discussion and extra dimension to my blog, once I have something to say.<br /><br />Finally, through my email above I have had a few tentative requests for coaching, which I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">haven't</span> so far taken up, as I wanted at least 250k hands under my belt. If further requests came in, I would think about it for limits up to 50<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">nl</span> probably, if anyone was still interested.<br /><br />Well that’s it, enjoy 2010.<br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-30824887147924490372009-12-29T21:47:00.011+00:002010-01-02T14:19:13.993+00:00A guide to beating Micro and small stakes? Maybe.....<div style="text-align: justify;">Looking back over the past year, here are a few things I have learned about micro cash games. Don’t apply this to your <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/10/why-play-donkaments.html" target="new">average donkament poker</a> unless you play really deep (and why play them anyway?) as much is different in that type of poker, having been through the sitngo and MTT route myself prior to cash.<br /><br />1. Don’t play cash under-rolled.<br />It will tilt you when you lose. Your life will become fucked up.<br /><br />2. Don’t tilt<br />This I can’t help you with, and I have realised it’s the most important thing, after bankroll management. Many otherwise good players simply cannot deal with running into bad variance, and end up losing far more than they need to. If your all time graph, over at least 100k hands is not smoothish, but instead very jaggedy and up and down, then I suspect you have this problem. Deal with it. Don’t watch videos by Jared, don’t read books, they can’t ultimately help you. Only you yourself can. So no advice. It would be wasted.<br /><br />3. Don’t be a scaredy cat.<br />If you’re not prepared to put your stack on the line sometimes, play darts or snooker instead. You’re pissing it away. Its No-Limit for Christ sakes, which is positively made for bluffing, and where the boring maths geeks and nits play second fiddle to the real players, those who are prepared to gamble based on look and feel of boards and histories. But most importantly, stop always checking the river without the nuts. <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/10/key-to-success-at-micros.html" target="new">Learn to value bet</a>.<br /><br />4. Don’t be obsessed with winning.<br />Unfortunately most ignore or are simply unable to comprehend this very fundamental advice, which is very specific to poker.<br /><br />5. Learn to hate your opponents without being in the slightest bit emotional.<br />And NEVER be emotional when a player who annoys you proceeds to bust you. Learn how to deal with this. But respect players while hating them, and switch off the hating after playing.<br /><br />6. Don’t be a lazy student of the game.<br />Everyone watches training vids, reads books and the WSOP on the telly. That’s the easy part. The hard part is the analysis. I started to post <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/search/label/hand%20reading" target="new">examples </a>on this blog, but that just scratches the surface. Its subjective and complicated, but you will learn. Work hard, or stop moaning when you lose.<br /><br />7. Don’t cry about coolers and bad luck<br />Aside from the fact it’s boring, it fucks you up and tilts you.<br /><br />8. Don’t be scared of making mistakes. <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/04/shortstacking-post-pt2-graph-trying-new.html" target="new">Experiment</a>. Think of it as an investment rather than a cost.<br /><br />9. Don’t let yourself be run over<br />Although all good players <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/search/label/the%203bet" target="new">3bet</a>, many play terribly post flop in these inflated pots. If you follow this blog you may know that much of my bankroll has been provided by the <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/07/playing-aggro-donks.html" target="new">aggrodonks </a>and the <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/08/playing-spewtards.html" target="new">spewtards</a>. They infest the low limits.. Although each has subtle differences, both will bully the hell out of you if you let them. And many do. Sometimes you just have to make a stand.<br /><br />Here a 22/16/11%3bet aggrodonk bets my button steal for the 3rd time in around 5 attempts by me. I want to let him know he cant get away with that. So I call with a trash K4o with the aim of either taking it away from him on the turn, or losing my stack to him but letting him know that I will be calling him from now on every time, as he sees the trash I floated with.<br /><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash Game, 5 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/">Stoxpoker</a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/75660/">Hand Details</a><br /><br /><strong>BB: $213.55 (213.6 bb)</strong><br />MP: $59.05 (59.1 bb)<br />CO: $157.90 (157.9 bb)<br /><strong>Hero (BTN): $111.55 (111.6 bb)</strong><br />SB: $165.10 (165.1 bb)<br /><br /><strong>Pre-Flop</strong>: Hero is BTN with K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 4<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /><br />MP folds, CO folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $3</span>, SB folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BB raises to $9</span>, Hero calls $6<br /><strong><br />Flop</strong>: ($18.50) 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BB bets $12</span>, Hero calls $12<br /><br /><strong>Turn</strong>: ($42.50) 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br />BB checks, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $28</span>, BB folds<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $42.50 pot ($2.10 rake)<br />Final Board: 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 7<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> 2<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><br />Hero mucked K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> 4<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> (a pair of Twos) and won $40.40 ($19.40 net)<br /><br />Needless to say he never 3bet me again for that session.<br /><br /><br />Hope that is of interest. Thanks for reading.<br /></div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-42843971071673995752009-12-15T23:24:00.009+00:002009-12-16T09:32:53.941+00:00A Year Blogging - looking back<div style="text-align: justify;">I started this blog 1 year ago, and so I thought I would look back at both the content of my posts and how they evolved, whether I think I have actually improved and similar stuff.<br /><br />Using money I had won through a freeroll and grinded up playing up to 10nl, I deposited $510 onto Fulltilt in November 2008. I have managed to grind that up to a tidy 5 figure bankroll, without ever having added to the initial deposit. So as far as the <a href="http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/chris-ferguson-challenge" target="new">Chris Ferguson $10K Challenge</a> goes, I proved it’s perfectly possible. Hurrah for that.<br /><br />With regards the stakes I played, I went from 10nl to 25nl, back to 10nl then from 25nl to 50nl and up to 100nl. In February I invested in a HUD and tracking software, which didn’t really make a huge difference to either my play or my results, in hindsight. Throughout this time I played full ring and I experimented with playing up to 18 tables. I found this somewhat boring.<br /><br />In order to combat this boredom, I decided to muck about in late spring with a bet fold experiment. As Pokerstars was doing a promotion players at the time, I hopped over to that site, where I used a separate bankroll that I had grinded up, from an initial $100 deposit, to around $1000 playing solely sitngoes, almost all at $5.50 buyin level. I played 100nl full ring. Although I ran badly, I realised that when you start doing daft things like repping a set on any low board without either the relevant experience, but more importantly, while playing 16 tables, it’s a losing mentality. I tried this for a month without any real progress.<br /><br />During that time I noticed how dreadful the problem has become, especially on Stars, of 20bb mass tabling <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/09/serial-shortstacker.html" target="new">push bots</a>, which makes poker for non 20bb'ers (be they regs, fish, tags, nits, lags, fullstakers, half stacker and so on) far more difficult, to just have a game of No Limit Holdem. I think its worth noting that here, it being a micro and small stakes problem. I posted an entry about my feelings <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/04/shortstackers-at-100nl.html" target="new">here</a>, and a particular vocal response was effected by the "shortstack heroes", Lorin and Travis <a href="http://smallstakeshero.blogspot.com/2009/04/open-response-to-microstakes-bankroll.html" target="new">here</a>. Although the discussion was constructive (you need to read the comments with my response as well as their post), my opinion of the mindset of someone that wishes to mass table at 20bb is still somewhat low, to say the least, and in fact it depresses the hell out of me that a) so many people seem to want to do it, and b) the sites continue to allow 20bb mass tabling. What is as depressing is that these guys genuinely aspire to this kind of activity and therefore they are defo here to stay. Durrrrr recently gave an interesting interview on his thoughts on it, and where the real skill lies, which I found highly encouraging. Not to put the boot in to just shortstackers however, I do feel a similar disregard to the 24tabling full ring 100bb autohotkey Reg Stars/Fulltilt bots, although they are far, far easier to exploit than good shortstackers, and have kindly provided me with a healthy amount of my current bankroll.<br /><br />At this time, therefore, I was becoming frustrated with poker, but thankfully, through some very formative sweats from a 6max player and fellow blogger whom I now consider a friend, I realised that this 6max format was the game for me, despite my good winrate when nitting it up at full ring playing 9-10 tables. I therefore left a profitable situation to pursue something I thought I would enjoy more.<br /><br />Enjoy = happy<br />Happy>Poorer (maybe)<br />but …….long run?<br />Happy = rich person<br />Rich person>rich<br /><br />I moved back down to 50nl and played 6max for the first time and ran well for my first month, cementing my loving relationship with semi-deep-stacked short handed no limit poker. (200bb is really where its at if you’re a skilled player in my view)<br /><br />From July onwards I have played 6 max exclusively, with the odd fun stab at Heads Up, at 50nl and now up to 100nl, and over a large hand sample, 4 to 5 tabling, I run at just under 4ptbb/100. I am absolutely delighted with it. Especially since I think I still can improve much more.<br /><br />Looking back through my posts, its funny to see some of my early ramblings and how I would probably do a lot of things differently with my limited experience over the year. But that’s the joy of the journey of blogging, and I am glad I have got this stuff down as a record. I also posted my thoughts on <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/search/label/player%20types" target="new">player types</a>, which I may extend into a 2plus2 post shortly, as I have never posted anything of note on that forum, and yet which is read by so many microstakes bloggers.<br /><br />As the year went on, I posted more on interesting spots and <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/search/label/hand%20reading" target="new">hand reading</a>, and less on associated stuff such as software, poker sites and books. I hope to build on hand reading discussion in this blog next year too. I have deliberately avoided posting about non poker stuff such as sport or politics, and I have also tried to stick to micro stakes in terms of poker talk. Next year I hope to bring some discussion into small stakes up to 400nl.<br /><br />I had one brutal day, in October, spread over 2 sessions, where I lost 14 buyins at 100nl. It took me 10k hands to get it back. It was devastating at the time, but I came out of it better, as I know I can now go through these swings and recover from these beats without too much hassle. The first time is always the worst in poker. (nevertheless I hope I never go through it again soon…)<br /><br />In terms of people commenting on what I have posted, almost all of it has been constructive and informative which encourages my opinion that the vast majority of poker players at these stakes, and especially those who blog, are thoughtful, modest, generous and intelligent. You know who you are as you read this, and I hope you go far, there is still plenty of reacreational money to go around for all. Re the scummy haters and slaggers that do pop up in the online poker community, keep on doing it if you like, its water of a duck’s back to me, I assure you, and you’re the real losers.<br /><br />I will post about where I hope to be this time next year under a separate post in the next few days, as I think this has gone on long enough, no? Hell, I might even post the graph for the past year…….</div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586054768001045666.post-51968276009539724282009-12-08T20:10:00.008+00:002009-12-15T23:53:09.051+00:00Making Laydowns?<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the things I don't think I have been that good at over my time playing poker, and where I still need some help, is knowing when to fold. I had a couple of hands recently where a little voice was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">screamin</span>g at me to fold, whilst my gamble side was saying call call call. Still not sure if I made good decisions so would be good to get some input.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HAND 1</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">villian</span> is 19/18/4%3bet over 128 hands<br /><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Stoxpoker</span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/71984/">Hand Details</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">UTG</span>: $107.90 (107.9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bb</span>)</span><br />MP: $101.50 (101.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bb</span>)<br />CO: $112.15 (112.2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">bb</span>)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BTN</span>: $98.50 (98.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bb</span>)<br />SB: $110.55 (110.6 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">bb</span>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hero (BB): $207.95 (208 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">bb</span>)</span><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is BB with Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> Q<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">UTG</span> raises to $3.50</span>, MP folds, CO folds, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">BTN</span> calls $3.50, SB folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero raises to $14.50</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">UTG</span> raises to $38</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">BTN</span> folds, Hero folds<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $33 pot<br />Final Board:<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">UTG</span> mucked and won $33 ($18.50 net)<br />Here I squeeze, due to the loose passive who had called from the button, to avoid a 3way pot with Queens, and for value as I think I have the best hand. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">UTG</span> thinks for a while, presses time, and then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">re-pops</span>. My experience here is almost always a monster, yet I have seen many of the coaches say that, at 6max, always get it in with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">qq</span>, as you are up against AK so many times. My thinking here, against a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">tightish</span>, non <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">spewy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">utg</span> player, is more likely to be AA-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">KK</span>, and a shove from AK but would be happy for comment. For example, if you factor in JJ it is correct to shove here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HAND 2</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">villain</span> is 32/25/8%3bet and one of the worst, most <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">spewy</span> <a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/2009/07/playing-aggro-donks.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">aggrodonks</span> </a>at this limit, and who is a big loser over a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">decent</span> hand sample.<br /><strong></strong><br />$0.50/$1 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Hold'em</span> Cash Game, 6 Players<br /><a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/">Poker Tools</a> by <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Stoxpoker</span></a> - <a href="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/hand/71985/">Hand Details</a><br />CO: $207.90 (207.9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">bb</span>)<br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">BTN</span>: $129.65 (129.7 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">bb</span>)</strong><br />SB: $110.30 (110.3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">bb</span>)<br /><strong>Hero (BB): $100 (100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">bb</span>)</strong><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">UTG</span>: $446.15 (446.2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">bb</span>)<br />MP: $138.45 (138.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">bb</span>)<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Pre</span>-Flop</strong>: Hero is BB with 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/spade.gif" alt=" of spades" /> 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">UTG</span> folds, MP folds, CO folds, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">BTN</span> raises to $3</span>, SB folds, Hero calls $2<br /><br /><strong>Flop</strong>: ($6.50) 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br />Hero checks, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">BTN</span> checks<br /><br /><strong>Turn</strong>: ($6.50) 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $5</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">BTN</span> calls $5<br />So now I am a bit suspicious. This guy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">cbets</span> 90% of the time, yet he checked the K high flop.<br /><br /><strong>River</strong>: ($16.50) 5<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> (2 players)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hero bets $12.50</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">BTN</span> raises to $121.65 and is all-in</span>, Hero folds<br />I can't see anything here beyond QT, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">KK</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">JJ</span>. It's a common thing amongst losing players to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">slowplay</span> monsters, especially ones like this guy, who just plays the notion of being able to bet <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">people</span> of hands, without considering what they may have. It's also a common thing for same losing players to shove all-in-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">overbet</span> at some point, but usually the river, because they think it looks like a bluff and they will get called, when they have the mortal nuts.<br /><br />It turns into a pretty easy fold for me, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">because</span> I do not think he is nearly good enough to know how to elicit a call from me, and the action just reeks of a monster. But, please tell me otherwise, grateful for any comment.<br /><br /><strong>Results:</strong> $41.50 pot ($2.05 rake)<br />Final Board: 6<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/heart.gif" alt=" of hearts" /> K<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /> J<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 9<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/diamond.gif" alt=" of diamonds" /> 5<img src="http://www.stoxpoker.com/pokertools/images/emoticons/club.gif" alt=" of clubs" /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">BTN</span> mucked and won $39.45 ($18.95 net)</div>microstakes bankroll builderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314432034122781030noreply@blogger.com11