Back at 25NL, and an EPIC SESSION

I didn't listen to my own advice.  Shame on me.  Instead of moving down after tilting off those buyins, I took a break, and jumped right back into 25NL.  Turned out in my favor, though, as I now sit at $475ish.  I've had some sessions before, have been winning again, but I had an epic session today which really shows how much I've grown as a player.  Here are some of the big hands:

I'm leaving the player names mostly because some of the hands involve the same villain, so there is some history/metagame going on in some hands.  I know posting screen names is somewhat frowned upon, but oh well.

First big hand, villain is obviously just an idiot.  Easy money (I'm using PokerTracker for hand conversions now):

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

GREKARUS (CO): $19.82
NimhOfJoy (BTN): $25.00
durrrr418 (SB): $25.80
AAtobill (BB): $25.35
wedo54 (UTG): $36.71

durrrr418 posts SB $0.10, AAtobill posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Ah Ac

wedo54 calls $0.25, GREKARUS raises to $1.25, NimhOfJoy raises to $3.25, fold, fold, fold, GREKARUS calls $2.00

Flop: ($7.10, 2 players) 8s Jh 7h
GREKARUS bets $5.00, NimhOfJoy raises to $21.75 and is all-in, GREKARUS calls $11.57 and is all-in

Turn: ($40.24, 2 players) 3c

River: ($40.24, 2 players) As

GREKARUS shows 9h 9s (One Pair, Nines)
NimhOfJoy shows Ah Ac (Three of a Kind, Aces)
NimhOfJoy wins $38.25

Like, what is he doing?  One of the other players commented he was a total fish, and easy to read, which is unfortunate that he quit the table right after this.

Next decent hand, got 3 streets of value out of KK (not posting it because it's totally standard).

Standard double barrel with a big draw:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

2v2v (CO): $34.96
Austin3484 (BTN): $42.86
poketterie (SB): $19.51
NimhOfJoy (BB): $39.34
mellado38 (UTG): $14.67
fallus88 (MP): $25.00

poketterie posts SB $0.10, NimhOfJoy posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Kc 3c

fold, fold, fold, Austin3484 raises to $0.75, fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $2.50, Austin3484 calls $1.75

Flop: ($5.10, 2 players) 2c 5c 3s
NimhOfJoy bets $3.00, Austin3484 calls $3.00

Turn: ($11.10, 2 players) 7s
NimhOfJoy bets $7.00, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $10.56

I point out this hand because I started to open up my 3-betting range a lot, and it really causes a lot of the future hands to play out the way they do.  Manipulating my table image and what people think about me is a big part of why this session was so much fun and so successful.

Staying out of danger:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Ben221 (UTG): $27.46
goillini79 (MP): $25.00
NimhOfJoy (CO): $44.07
siatus (BTN): $28.61
AAtobill (SB): $30.63
edwolb (BB): $18.75

AAtobill posts SB $0.10, edwolb posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Ts 9s

Ben221 raises to $1.25, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $1.25, siatus raises to $4.25, fold, fold, Ben221 calls $3.00, NimhOfJoy calls $3.00

Flop: ($13.10, 3 players) 3h 4c Tc
Ben221 checks, NimhOfJoy checks, siatus bets $8.00, Ben221 raises to $23.21 and is all-in, fold, fold

Ben221 wins $27.68

I called the 3b here because T9s is a great implied odds hand I can semibluff if I hit a good flop, and it's an easy fold if I hit a one-pair type hand, like I did, as there is no way I'm ever good here.  There would have to be some serious history I'm not aware of for that to be good, and I didn't have that read.  I like Ben221's play here; his range is either a set (TT), a good overpair (JJ+, although I'd be surprised if he didn't 4b QQ/KK/AA pre, especially with a coldcaller - me - in between), or a big draw (AKs, AQs, AJs), and as a good portion of siatus's range is bluffs/junky squeezing hands, the shove here is good.

Float/bluff-raise:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Billy Jorge (BTN): $19.02
RRS Dolla (SB): $32.01
KuzRus (BB): $26.91
Love Panda (UTG): $25.00
NimhOfJoy (MP): $26.54
electro_mm (CO): $5.40

RRS Dolla posts SB $0.10, KuzRus posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Qs Ah

Love Panda raises to $0.75, NimhOfJoy calls $0.75, fold, fold, fold, fold

Flop: ($1.85, 2 players) Ts Kc 7c
Love Panda bets $1.25, NimhOfJoy calls $1.25

Turn: ($4.35, 2 players) Tc
Love Panda bets $2.50, NimhOfJoy raises to $8.00, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $8.90

These are the types of plays I love making, and they never worked at 10NL, because no one folds a K here at that limit.  I just have to remember to balance my range in these spots, and raise flushes/sets on this turn (although I would probably raise sets on the flop, as it's so wet, to charge draws, and actually check back this turn when I boat up; once I do, there are few hands/cards I'm afraid of, and my range is weighted to Ks checking back for pot control, and this allows the villain to bluff at me or call a river bet with a weaker hand).  Those are the leaks I'm going to have to look at besides my tilt control as I start to move up in stakes.

Fold river?

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Dogtoot2 (BTN): $4.93
goillini79 (SB): $31.25
NimhOfJoy (BB): $33.67
TheNoocH (UTG): $24.85
nhartle (MP): $28.67
mvp4kobe (CO): $23.65

goillini79 posts SB $0.10, NimhOfJoy posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Qs Ad

TheNoocH raises to $0.75, fold, fold, fold, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.60, 2 players) 9h Kh As
NimhOfJoy checks, TheNoocH bets $1.00, NimhOfJoy calls $1.00

Turn: ($3.60, 2 players) 4c
NimhOfJoy checks, TheNoocH bets $2.00, NimhOfJoy calls $2.00

River: ($7.60, 2 players) 7s
NimhOfJoy checks, TheNoocH bets $6.00, NimhOfJoy calls $6.00

TheNoocH shows 7c 7h (Three of a Kind, Sevens)
NimhOfJoy mucks Qs Ad (One Pair, Aces)
TheNoocH wins $18.64

I just posted this one at 2+2:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/25nl-tpgk-wet-board-facing-river-bet-836555/

I called the river here because I felt my hand was a) underrepped and b) looked a ton like a busted draw, and that villain could be betting a wide river range as bluffs, as well as overvaluing AJ/AT type hands.  Upon evaluation, the bet seems much bigger on the river than the turn (and I took a note on his bet sizing), and I think I could have folded.

That followed up with this spew:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Dogtoot2 (UTG): $4.43
goillini79 (MP): $31.50
NimhOfJoy (CO): $25.00
TheNoocH (BTN): $34.18
nhartle (SB): $28.42
mvp4kobe (BB): $23.65

nhartle posts SB $0.10, mvp4kobe posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has 9h 9s

fold, fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $0.75, TheNoocH raises to $2.50, fold, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $1.75

Flop: ($5.35, 2 players) Jd 7c Ks
NimhOfJoy checks, TheNoocH bets $3.00, NimhOfJoy raises to $7.50, TheNoocH calls $4.50

Turn: ($20.35, 2 players) As
NimhOfJoy bets $15.00 and is all-in, TheNoocH calls $15.00

River: ($50.35, 2 players) Tc

NimhOfJoy shows 9h 9s (One Pair, Nines)
TheNoocH shows Kh Kc (Three of a Kind, Kings)
TheNoocH wins $48.35

Yeah, terrible, I know.  The thing about it, though, is that in the past, this hand would have ruined my session.  I would have gone on monkey tilt, lost another 2-3 buyins, and went to bed very upset.  Instead, I said in the chat, "nh, that was pretty terrible" and moved on.  And managed to come back and have a winning session.  It was really positive for me to be able to see a marked improvement in my self-control here.

Not too much to see here, relatively standard, but important for metagame:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Jgold2790 (CO): $25.35
KuzRus (BTN): $26.24
Love Panda (SB): $25.00
NimhOfJoy (BB): $31.04
maori hard1 (UTG): $9.95

Love Panda posts SB $0.10, NimhOfJoy posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Jc Jh

fold, Jgold2790 raises to $0.75, fold, fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $2.50, Jgold2790 calls $1.75

Flop: ($5.10, 2 players) Kh 5d 9h
NimhOfJoy bets $3.00, Jgold2790 calls $3.00

Turn: ($11.10, 2 players) Ts
NimhOfJoy bets $6.00, Jgold2790 raises to $19.85 and is all-in, fold

Jgold2790 wins $21.98

There are two or 3 other big hands against this villain.  I end up totally soul-owning him later on :).

Mixing up my donking hands:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Austin3484 (CO): $39.95
goillini79 (BTN): $27.61
NimhOfJoy (SB): $25.87
TheNoocH (BB): $73.05
nhartle (UTG): $25.00
mvp4kobe (MP): $22.03

NimhOfJoy posts SB $0.10, TheNoocH posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has 4h 3h

fold, mvp4kobe raises to $0.85, Austin3484 calls $0.85, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $0.75, fold

Flop: ($2.80, 3 players) 6d Ts 5d
NimhOfJoy bets $2.00, fold, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $2.66

I planned on barrelling any 2, 7, diamond, A or (maybe) K.  In situations where you're setting up a semi-bluff, you have to remember when you're trying to represent and have a plan for future streets.  This is something that I'm much better at online than live, where the amount of times I have done things like call a turn c/r to fold to a blank river is pretty bad.

The value of 3betting relentlessly:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Jgold2790 (UTG): $26.46
lammarn (MP): $27.62
KuzRus (CO): $25.45
Love Panda (BTN): $25.35
NimhOfJoy (SB): $25.00
maori hard1 (BB): $29.83

NimhOfJoy posts SB $0.10, maori hard1 posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Kd Ks

Jgold2790 raises to $1.00, fold, fold, fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $3.25, fold, Jgold2790 raises to $7.00, NimhOfJoy raises to $25.00 and is all-in, Jgold2790 calls $18.00

Flop: ($50.25, 2 players) 2s Js 7s

Turn: ($50.25, 2 players) 4c

River: ($50.25, 2 players) Ad

NimhOfJoy shows Kd Ks (One Pair, Kings)
Jgold2790 shows Ac Kc (One Pair, Aces)
Jgold2790 wins $48.25

Yeah, I lost, but I got him to put his entire stack in way behind.  No one believes you have anything, ever, and you get PAID on your big hands like crazy.

Picking off a bluff:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Jgold2790 (SB): $48.36
lammarn (BB): $16.87
KuzRus (UTG): $25.00
NimhOfJoy (CO): $28.63
maori hard1 (BTN): $37.61

Jgold2790 posts SB $0.10, lammarn posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Jd Qs

fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $0.75, maori hard1 calls $0.75, Jgold2790 raises to $3.75, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $3.00, fold

Flop: ($8.50, 2 players) 8c 9d 5d
Jgold2790 bets $4.75, NimhOfJoy raises to $24.88 and is all-in, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $17.13

As you can see, we've been playing back at each other a bit, and I managed to get the upper hand in this one.  Just felt like he was squeezing pre, and if he felt like hero calling Ahi/small pair I had some outs to back me up.  It's pretty marginal, but I was pretty sure he had junk there.

Betting him off a chop:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Austin3484 (MP): $39.22
goillini79 (CO): $25.16
NimhOfJoy (BTN): $29.65
jonnnz (SB): $25.00
nhartle (BB): $37.74
Davis0987 (UTG): $25.35

jonnnz posts SB $0.10, nhartle posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Js 8s

fold, fold, fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $0.75, fold, nhartle calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.60, 2 players) 9s 8c Jd
nhartle checks, NimhOfJoy bets $1.00, nhartle calls $1.00

Turn: ($3.60, 2 players) 7s
nhartle bets $2.00, NimhOfJoy calls $2.00

River: ($7.60, 2 players) Ts
nhartle checks, NimhOfJoy bets $25.90 and is all-in, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $7.23

Sometimes your barrels don't work:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Jgold2790 (UTG): $39.51
Jefftrez (CO): $25.85
jonnnz (BTN): $26.45
NimhOfJoy (SB): $37.93
maori hard1 (BB): $35.34

NimhOfJoy posts SB $0.10, maori hard1 posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Ac 7h

fold, fold, fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $0.75, maori hard1 calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.50, 2 players) 9d 9s Js
NimhOfJoy bets $1.00, maori hard1 calls $1.00

Turn: ($3.50, 2 players) 8s
NimhOfJoy bets $2.25, maori hard1 calls $2.25

River: ($8.00, 2 players) Kd
NimhOfJoy bets $4.50, maori hard1 raises to $10.00, fold

maori hard1 wins $16.17

I just felt the board ran out pretty sick, and there were a lot of hands that would fold, but I was also playing really aggressive, and it's entirely possible he flopped or turned a boat here and was trapping me.

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

LiLZhiMiNG (CO): $26.10
qazikm2000 (BTN): $26.45
poketterie (SB): $40.12
NimhOfJoy (BB): $51.91
mellado38 (UTG): $12.13
fallus88 (MP): $42.38

poketterie posts SB $0.10, NimhOfJoy posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Td Ts

fold, fallus88 raises to $0.75, fold, fold, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.60, 2 players) 4c 9d Qs
NimhOfJoy checks, fallus88 bets $1.00, NimhOfJoy calls $1.00

Turn: ($3.60, 2 players) Ac
NimhOfJoy checks, fallus88 checks

River: ($3.60, 2 players) 7s
NimhOfJoy bets $2.50, fallus88 calls $2.50

NimhOfJoy shows Td Ts (One Pair, Tens)
fallus88 shows Qd As (Two Pair, Aces and Queens)
fallus88 wins $8.18

I got to give my villain a lot of a credit for checking back the turn here.  It looks like a cbet and done type hand, an underpair, or a weak Q scared by the ace.  Gave me the chance to bluff at it, and it worked.  Kudos.

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Jgold2790 (CO): $37.61
inkm0n (BTN): $30.77
jonnnz (SB): $26.20
NimhOfJoy (BB): $39.77
woodyrulz (UTG): $25.00

jonnnz posts SB $0.10, NimhOfJoy posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Jh 5h

fold, Jgold2790 raises to $0.75, fold, fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $2.50, Jgold2790 calls $1.75

Flop: ($5.10, 2 players) 6h 8h Tc
NimhOfJoy bets $3.25, Jgold2790 calls $3.25

Turn: ($11.60, 2 players) 5d
NimhOfJoy bets $8.00, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $11.04

Same villain.  Remember the metagame: I got it in v him in a very similar spot holding KK.  He's got to be nervous with even JJ/QQ, and I really felt like he was floating me here, as I had been 3betting/cbetting a lot.  The turn improved my equity and gave me a lot of outs, and I bet big to look like a big pair trying to protect against a flush draw.

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Jgold2790 (BB): $29.86
ricooe1977 (UTG): $25.00
jonnnz (CO): $25.00
NimhOfJoy (BTN): $52.51
woodyrulz (SB): $25.10

woodyrulz posts SB $0.10, Jgold2790 posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Ad As

fold, jonnnz raises to $0.75, NimhOfJoy raises to $2.25, fold, fold, jonnnz raises to $7.00, NimhOfJoy raises to $52.51 and is all-in, jonnnz calls $18.00 and is all-in

Flop: ($50.35, 2 players) 8h 9h 6h

Turn: ($50.35, 2 players) Ah

River: ($50.35, 2 players) Ac

jonnnz shows Qs Qd (Two Pair, Aces and Queens)
NimhOfJoy shows Ad As (Four of a Kind, Aces)
NimhOfJoy wins $48.35

Pure metagame.  Villain here is total nit.  No way in heaven or hell is he 4betting QQ as a standard play.  But against a button that's be aggro as shit like me, 4b/c here is perfectly reasonable.  What he should know is that v him, because I know he's a nit, I'm not going to shove here with less that KK+/AK which I guess he has the equity to call off against, but he's always going to be in a tough spot OOP v me.

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

electro_mm (UTG): $17.64
NimhOfJoy (CO): $43.28
jonnnz (BTN): $25.65
nhartle (SB): $25.00
Davis0987 (BB): $29.22

nhartle posts SB $0.10, Davis0987 posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has 7c 5c

fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $0.75, fold, nhartle raises to $2.00, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $1.25

Flop: ($4.25, 2 players) 4c 2d Th
nhartle checks, NimhOfJoy checks

Turn: ($4.25, 2 players) Ac
nhartle checks, NimhOfJoy bets $3.00, nhartle raises to $6.25, NimhOfJoy calls $3.25

River: ($16.75, 2 players) 6h
nhartle bets $8.50, fold

nhartle wins $15.93

This was definitely a mistake.  Turn check/raise is almost a minraise.  I had great equity with a FD + gutshot, and I don't believe the line represents anything, so he's folding a lot of times to a shove here.  I knew it the moment I called and bricked the river, too :(.

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

LiLZhiMiNG (UTG): $28.48
qazikm2000 (BTN): $25.00
NimhOfJoy (SB): $53.79
ricooe1977 (BB): $25.14

NimhOfJoy posts SB $0.10, ricooe1977 posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Jc Ac

fold, fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $0.75, ricooe1977 raises to $2.25, NimhOfJoy calls $1.50

Flop: ($4.50, 2 players) Td 7c 6c
NimhOfJoy checks, ricooe1977 bets $3.00, NimhOfJoy raises to $8.00, ricooe1977 calls $5.00

Turn: ($20.50, 2 players) Qs
NimhOfJoy bets $15.00, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $19.50

Standard semi-bluffing a big draw.  So many outs on the turn, and I really feel he had a weak pair here.

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

LiLZhiMiNG (SB): $51.01
qazikm2000 (BB): $25.70
goillini79 (UTG): $25.75
NimhOfJoy (MP): $60.72
joey93107 (CO): $34.49
ricooe1977 (BTN): $25.00

LiLZhiMiNG posts SB $0.10, qazikm2000 posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has 4s 6s

fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $0.75, fold, ricooe1977 calls $0.75, LiLZhiMiNG raises to $4.25, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $3.50, fold

Flop: ($9.50, 2 players) 4h Qd 8s
LiLZhiMiNG bets $6.25, NimhOfJoy calls $6.25

Turn: ($22.00, 2 players) 9h
LiLZhiMiNG checks, NimhOfJoy bets $13.00, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $20.93

I called pre a) because it looked like a squeeze and b) great implied odds hand against a villain I'm deep with.  Flop is basically a float, because I expect him to have a ton of junk in his range, and I just take it away on the turn.

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Il_Nistra (BB): $25.00
durrrr_cn (UTG): $25.92
NimhOfJoy (MP): $38.84
jonnnz (CO): $25.00
nhartle (BTN): $38.68
Davis0987 (SB): $25.00

Davis0987 posts SB $0.10, Il_Nistra posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has Qs Tc

fold, NimhOfJoy raises to $0.75, fold, nhartle calls $0.75, fold, fold

Flop: ($1.85, 2 players) Js 5d 9h
NimhOfJoy bets $1.00, nhartle raises to $3.00, NimhOfJoy calls $2.00

Turn: ($7.85, 2 players) 5h
NimhOfJoy checks, nhartle bets $4.00, NimhOfJoy raises to $11.00, nhartle calls $7.00

River: ($29.85, 2 players) 4c
NimhOfJoy bets $24.09 and is all-in, fold

NimhOfJoy wins $28.38

I didn't feel he was raising the flop with a set.  I felt he was raising my standard cbet with some top pair hands, maybe a straight draw, maybe some underpairs.  I didn't feel the flop raise was strong, given my image and the table dynamic (kind of a gameflow thing), as I would expect a set to call the flop and let me keep barelling.  I check/raised the turn because I felt I would get a lot of folds against what felt like a weak range.  When he called, I felt he probably had a J, maybe TT, maybe a stubborn 9, and even if I brick the river, I'm just so committed to the pot, I didn't think I could give up now, and I didn't think he was that strong.  The shove was almost potsized, and BIG, especially since we're both somewhat deep (which is part of the reason I check/raised the turn, as I felt those weaker one-pair hands are probably folding, expecting a pot-sized river shove).

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

qazikm2000 (BTN): $26.25
goillini79 (SB): $26.04
NimhOfJoy (BB): $70.35
joey93107 (UTG): $34.49
ricooe1977 (CO): $25.00

goillini79 posts SB $0.10, NimhOfJoy posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) NimhOfJoy has 5c 5d

joey93107 raises to $0.75, fold, qazikm2000 raises to $2.25, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $2.00, joey93107 calls $1.50

Flop: ($6.85, 3 players) 4s 3h 7c
NimhOfJoy checks, joey93107 checks, qazikm2000 checks

Turn: ($6.85, 3 players) Tc
NimhOfJoy bets $4.00, joey93107 calls $4.00, qazikm2000 calls $4.00

River: ($18.85, 3 players) 4h
NimhOfJoy checks, joey93107 bets $9.00, fold, NimhOfJoy calls $9.00

joey93107 shows Qc Ah (One Pair, Fours)
NimhOfJoy shows 5c 5d (Two Pair, Fives and Fours)
NimhOfJoy wins $35.06

Oh, this was such a sick call.  Honestly, I called pre because I thought I'd get good odds if I took the flop 3 way.  Turn is a stabby bet at a pot no one seems to care about, and when the villain bets the river here, I just feel like his line represents absolutely nothing.  Any pair/hand that beats us, we would have a heard from on the turn, honestly, as the board gets a little wet.  The only hand I feel he can represent is TT, and that is such a small part of his range, whereas the bulk of it was whiffed Ahi hands (I don't feel AT is a) calling a 3b OOP preflop or b) betting that river that big - what is he getting value from?).  Sick call, imo.

Alright, time to go to bed.  Also, I suck at tournaments; I really need to play less of them.  They just drain my bankroll.

The Tilt Monster Rears Its Ugly Head

So I'm down to $290.  Partially tilting, partially on two big suckouts worth like 3 buyins.  I got it in on a 3 flush w NFD + gutty against an OESD (he tried to bluff at the flush with some) and couldn't fade the 10? outs.  Another, got it in w bottom 2 against an over pair and the top card paired.  Lost another 3 buy ins playing a little heads up buzzed last night after coming home from the bar (heads up under-rolled is still my biggest leak, and playing buzzed is always a terrible idea).

I need to have the wherewithal to move down to 10NL before I spew off my whole roll.  I'm bumping down to 6 tables of it and concentrating.  I've got a $50 VIP Stellar bonus coming, and I've got close to 2,800 FPPs, so I'll be able to buy another $50 bonus from the store soon, so with that coming, and some work, I'll be jumping back into 25NL in no time.  This time, I'm going to wait until I have close to $650 before jumping in, just to give me that cushion when I get started.  I'm also not going to move up to 50NL until I have $1,500 in my roll.  I have a tendency to level myself into thinking people are bluffing more than they actually are (although I made a good read on the first suckout; he was a total fish and I had been watching his play), and I call way more than is appropriate.

I'm feeling a little tilted right now, so I quit play.  I may jump into 10NL for a bit on the train ride home.  We'll see.

So I Moved Up a Little Early... But It's OK!!

I'm up to $520. Right after posting the hand from my previous post, I cleared my head and moved up to 25NL. I'm only playing 3 tables at a time, as this feels more like "real poker!!" rather than at 10NL, where it's slightly more aggressive donks + slightly less calling stations than 5NL.

I've been playing pretty well at this limit. I actually went from $350 to about $450 at 25NL, then went from $450 to about $470ish at 10NL before deciding to move permanently up to 25NL. I lost a few buyins at Omaha as well (10PL).

God, I love Omaha. It's such a sick game. Will definitely be including some HHs from those sessions, including a slightly drunk one I played a little earlier (nothing too crazy).

In any case, leveled this one guy in NLHE right before I quit the session: (thread was locked, but have a look)

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/54/poker-beats-brags-variance/brag-leveled-guy-beat-25nl-itt-830974/

Fine times.

The One Where I Spew Deep

This is generally a huge problem for me, and it's why I won't go back to the deepstack tables until I have a bigger roll:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Villain (BB) ($21.06)
UTG ($14.38)
MP ($18.78)
CO ($11.03)
Hero (Button) ($29.30)
SB ($10)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J♣, 9♣
3 folds, Hero bets $0.30, 1 fold, Villain raises to $1.20, Hero calls $0.90

Flop: ($2.45) K♥, A♣, 7♣ (2 players)
Villain bets $1.60, Hero calls $1.60

Turn: ($5.65) 3♥ (2 players)
Villain bets $3.80, Hero raises to $26.50 (All-In), Villain calls $14.46 (All-In)

River: ($42.17) 3♠ (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $42.17 | Rake: $2

I don't mind the call preflop. This hand is very playable, especially deep and in position, against even a strong villain's 3b range. Now, he had a 3b% of 7, so I also thought, given a good flop fit, I could semi-bluff off a decent amount of the time.

The flop comes, and I have a flush draw. Goodie. But it's also where I make my first mistake.

In retrospect, I should have either: a) raise/folded the flop, check behind turn if I missed, and fold river unimproved (obviously, if I hit it's bet turn, bet river, or check turn, bet river) or b) call flop, fold turn.

I put waaay too much emphasis on his 7% 3b stat. We didn't have any light 3b dynamic going on, so there was really no reason to think he's doing it light besides the stat. He also doesn't 3b much from the SB, which I realized later, looking at his stats in PokerTracker.

If he's 3betting light, I felt there were some weak Ax hands that would fold the turn. Maybe even AJ/AQ, depending on the villain. However, on the turn, once he makes that big turn bet, he's very clearly committed to the hand, and I don't think I have the odds to call.

QQ- are not betting the turn. Kx probably isn't. So what is? AK, KK, AA, maybe some weak Ax hands, and of those, maaaaaybe some weak Ax hands are folding. Unless he was an aggro villain, and would bet the turn without a strong made hand, shoving the turn wouldn't be bad. But I didn't have that read.

Obviously, the river bricked, and he did have KK, but I shut down the session right after this hand, as I'm very tempted to go into spew mode after something like that. I ruined a perfectly good session with that play, too. Dammit.

I'm down to $345ish right now. I had some downswings, I came in 8th in a 6max turbo tourney for $85ish, then built up and spewed down again to where I am now. I feel OK, but I definitely am still calling way too much, which is my biggest leak. Trying to bluff-catch when no one bluffs.

Running HOT!!!

So I spewed off a few buy-ins semi-bluffing in the deepstack games, but I've rebuilt, and since then, I've been running super hot at 10NL. I'm actually up to $380ish. After breaking-even for a while, winning some, losing some, I've finally got my act together and have been playing really well. I've posted a few hands over at 2+2:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/10nl-one-where-i-want-fold-set-824490/

Yes, I did actually fold here, although in retrospect, I feel this was more of a brain-fart than a sick read. At the time, it just seemed that any one-pair hand that would 3b there would have bet that flop, and when he bets the turn, I felt (at the time) that his range became more weighted to sets/AJ. However, in looking it over, I think most sets are betting that flop as well, and the turn is more like AQ, AJ, JJ, AT, and maybe some pure bluffs (like weak Ax hands he squeezed with). Honestly, I'm not really sure. But I did fold, so I guess I'll never know.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/10nl-flopped-trips-3way-limped-pot-825778/

As the first (and only) poster says, yes, I really did butcher the shit out of this one. I don't mind the flop flat initially, but when it get minraised and called, I should have 3bet. This is a tragedy of too many tables, honestly, and I'm starting to use PokerTracker, so I was trying to configure it and not playing as well as I could have. Play it fast, get called by fish, that's what I should have done.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/10nl-qq-bad-river-card-825774

I explain exactly what my thought process was in the thread:

Villain is 20/17, 50% fold to 3b over 250ish hands. He willing to semi-bluff his draws, and I've seen him bluff at scary boards (bluffraised an Ahi flop, c/r as a semi-bluff w a FD on another Ahi flop; in both of those hands, his villains were stationy), but neither of those are in 3b/4b pots, so I'm not sure how he plays in those, if he plays any different.

I also have a hand vs him where he c/r me when a flush came in after I flat the flop.

I just felt that I was way behind his 4b for value range, and that the best way to get value out of his bluffing range was to let him bluff. It's also not a CO v BTN situation, it's MP v CO, so I don't expect him to view my 3b range from the CO v MP as particularly bluffy, but I called preflop because the 4b looked weak (raising $1 to $2). When he checked the flop and then bet the turn, I felt even more like he was bluffing, and as I said, I would call any river shove. Unfortunately, the K popped, and I was now behind AK as well as some other weak Kx hands he may have 4b as a bluff, so I folded.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/10nl-river-bluffraise-spew-826130/

I actually love this play. It did work, but I was wondering if I'm being too proud of myself or if it was actually a good play. Again my thoughts are in the thread:

His range seems heavily weighted to weak one-pair hands, and my range looks like I was drawing or slow-playing a big hand which I popped on the river.

Life is good. Still need to do a review of the next round of the quintuple shootout I won. Other than that, just chugging along. Hoping to get to 25NL soon. That would be sweet...

Review of the Quintuple Shootout - Round 1

I know it's been a few days since I posted. 10NL has still been pretty swingy, still around where I started. I play very well when I'm focused, winning 4-5 buyins in a couple hours, but when I'm not focused, I drop that same amount in a much shorter period of time, so it's been pretty difficult to build up my bankroll. I'm going to review the Quintuple Shootout victory. It wasn't exactly a Quintuple Shootout, as I got a bye the first round.

First hand of the "second" round, I get AA, raise in the CO (since it's 4-max, it's CO, BTN, SB, BB), get two callers, bet a KJK flop, and take it down. Not too shabby.

Second hand, we get to see how fishy some of these players are:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 10/20 Blinds (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB (t1480)
Hero (BB) (t1640)
UTG (t1440)
Button (t1440)

Hero's M: 54.67

Preflop: Hero is BB with 4♣, 10♣
1 fold, Button bets t40, SB raises to t100, 1 fold, Button calls t60

Flop: (t220) 2♥, 10♥, 3♦ (2 players)
SB bets t120, Button raises to t240, SB calls t120

Turn: (t700) 4♠ (2 players)
SB checks, Button bets t260, SB calls t260

River: (t1220) 4♥ (2 players)
SB checks, Button checks

Total pot: t1220

Results:
Button had A♣, 10♦ (two pair, tens and fours).
SB had 9♦, 9♣ (two pair, nines and fours).
Outcome: Button won t1220

3rd hand in, big stackoff on a huge cooler:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 10/20 Blinds (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button (t880)
Hero (SB) (t1620)
BB (t1440)
UTG (t2060)

Hero's M: 54.00

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8♣, K♠
1 fold, Button calls t20, 1 fold, BB checks

Flop: (t50) 5♥, 6♦, 10♠ (2 players)
BB checks, Button bets t40, BB calls t40

Turn: (t130) 6♣ (2 players)
BB checks, Button bets t80, BB calls t80

River: (t290) 10♣ (2 players)
BB bets t310, Button raises to t620, BB raises to t1300 (All-In), Button calls t120 (All-In)

Total pot: t1770

Results:
Button had 6♠, 6♥ (four of a kind, sixes).
BB had 7♦, 10♥ (full house, tens over sixes).
Outcome: Button won t1770

I 3-barrel here to push someone off a busted FD or middle-pair type hand:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 10/20 Blinds (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB (t1750)
Hero (BB) (t1700)
UTG (t520)
Button (t2030)

Hero's M: 56.67

Preflop: Hero is BB with J♦, K♥
1 fold, Button calls t20, 1 fold, Hero bets t60, Button calls t40

Flop: (t130) 9♦, 10♠, 5♦ (2 players)
Hero bets t80, Button calls t80

Turn: (t290) A♣ (2 players)
Hero bets t180, Button calls t180

River: (t650) 3♠ (2 players)
Hero bets t400, 1 fold

Total pot: t650

Results:
Hero didn't show J♦, K♥ (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won t650

I play a pretty aggressive game, and I saw this guy minraise in position with top pair just a few minutes ago, so I didn't really think he had anything decent by the time I got to the river, so the third barrel felt like the right play. Betting the turn scarecard is standard. Can't win by checking, right?

After getting coolered, the shortstack had been struggling to find some spots to chip up. He picked this one (a bad one) and lost:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 15/30 Blinds (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG (t1365)
Hero (Button) (t2495)
SB (t490)
BB (t1650)

Hero's M: 55.44

Preflop: Hero is Button with J♦, 3♣
2 folds, SB bets t90, BB raises to t150, SB raises to t490 (All-In), BB calls t340

Flop: (t980) 2♥, 5♦, 9♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t980) 4♥ (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t980) 6♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t980

Results:
SB had A♣, 7♣ (high card, Ace).
BB had 10♣, 10♦ (one pair, tens).
Outcome: BB won t980

Down to 3 handed. Nothing special happened until this hand:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 15/30 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button (t1545)
Hero (SB) (t2390)
BB (t2065)

Hero's M: 53.11

Preflop: Hero is SB with J♠, 9♠
Button bets t90, Hero calls t75, BB calls t60

Flop: (t270) 9♣, 5♠, J♥ (3 players)
Hero bets t150, BB calls t150, Button calls t150

Turn: (t720) 4♦ (3 players)
Hero bets t540, 1 fold, Button calls t540

River: (t1800) 7♦ (2 players)
Hero bets t765, 1 fold

Total pot: t1800

Results:
Hero didn't show J♠, 9♠ (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won t1800

Flopped a big hand, bet right out, and expected to bust the villain on the river and be shown AJ. Give the fold, he probably had another middle-pair type hand or a busted draw like QT or even KQ (T8 got there, which would have sucked).

I now have a decent chip lead, with more than half of the chips on the table. This one's just funny because of the board (I wish someone had a Ac):

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 25/50 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button (t765)
Hero (SB) (t3310)
BB (t1925)

Hero's M: 44.13

Preflop: Hero is SB with 6♦, J♣
Button bets t150, 1 fold, BB raises to t300, Button raises to t765 (All-In), BB calls t465

Flop: (t1555) 9♠, J♠, 10♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t1555) Q♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t1555) K♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t1555

Results:
Button had 10♦, A♦ (straight flush, King high).
BB had A♥, K♣ (straight flush, King high).
Outcome: Button won t777, BB won t778

Middle stack loses some chips, shorty and I pick up some chips from him, then this big flip happens:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 50/100 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB (t1002)
Hero (Button) (t3735)
SB (t1263)

Hero's M: 24.90

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q♠, A♠
Hero bets t300, SB calls t250, BB raises to t1002 (All-In), Hero raises to t3735 (All-In), 1 fold

Flop: (t2304) 7♠, 2♠, 10♦ (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: (t2304) 7♣ (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: (t2304) 6♣ (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: t2304

Results:
Hero had Q♠, A♠ (one pair, sevens).
BB had 9♥, 9♣ (two pair, nines and sevens).
Outcome: BB won t2304

Such a good flop, but no dice! I'm now about even with the once short-stack. The new short stack is doing a terrible job of picking up chips, until he doubles up through me:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 50/100 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button (t2404)
Hero (SB) (t2833)
BB (t763)

Hero's M: 18.89

Preflop: Hero is SB with 5♥, A♥
1 fold, Hero bets t300, BB raises to t763 (All-In), Hero calls t463

Flop: (t1526) 10♦, J♦, 4♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t1526) 3♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t1526) 5♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t1526

Results:
Hero had 5♥, A♥ (one pair, fives).
BB had 6♦, 6♣ (one pair, sixes).
Outcome: BB won t1526

We're a bit closer to even, the antes start to kick in, and I make my second big bluff:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 50/100 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button (t2254)
Hero (SB) (t1970)
BB (t1776)

Hero's M: 13.13

Preflop: Hero is SB with J♣, K♠
Button calls t100, Hero bets t300, BB calls t200, Button calls t200

Flop: (t900) 2♠, Q♥, Q♠ (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, Button checks

Turn: (t900) 7♥ (3 players)
Hero bets t500, 1 fold, Button calls t500

River: (t1900) 7♠ (2 players)
Hero bets t1170 (All-In), 1 fold

Total pot: t1900

Results:
Hero didn't show J♣, K♠ (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won t1900

After the flop gets checked through, I didn't think anyone had the Q. Leading OOP looks super strong, and once I hit the river, I feel like the villain has a low pocket pair he's going to be willing to fold, given the action. Ultimately, I'm not REALLY sure, but I just didn't think he had the queen, and would fold to a shove there.

That puts be back on top with around 3k in chips. I call the flop here pretty light :):

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 75/150 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB (t1754)
Hero (BB) (t3070)
Button (t1176)

Hero's M: 13.64

Preflop: Hero is BB with 3♣, K♣
Button calls t150, 1 fold, Hero checks

Flop: (t375) 3♦, 4♥, J♦ (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets t150, Hero calls t150

Turn: (t675) Q♠ (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

River: (t675) J♥ (2 players)
Hero bets t300, 1 fold

Total pot: t675

Results:
Hero didn't show 3♣, K♣ (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won t675

Villain had been making these "stabby" looking bets in limped pots a few times, and I didn't necessarily think he had anything. When I got to the river, I figured I was marginally ahead (of like an A hi hand or busted FD) or marginally behind (of a pair of 4s or maybe a small pair), so betting the river was to take it down right there, instead of being annoyed to find I'm behind something he would have folded.

Another shorty double-up:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 75/150 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button (t1679)
Hero (SB) (t3445)
BB (t876)

Hero's M: 15.31

Preflop: Hero is SB with 6♥, 4♦
Button bets t450, 1 fold, BB raises to t876 (All-In), Button calls t426

Flop: (t1827) 9♥, 7♣, 6♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t1827) 4♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t1827) 10♥ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t1827

Results:
Button had Q♠, J♣ (high card, Queen).
BB had A♣, Q♥ (high card, Ace).
Outcome: BB won t1827

Here, I'm not even sure if I'm value betting or bluffing (are there worse 2 pair that will call?):

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 75/150 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB (t653)
Hero (BB) (t3070)
Button (t2277)

Hero's M: 13.64

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8♣, 9♠
Button calls t150, 1 fold, Hero checks

Flop: (t375) 7♦, 3♣, 8♥ (2 players)
Hero bets t300, Button calls t300

Turn: (t975) 10♥ (2 players)
Hero bets t450, Button calls t450

River: (t1875) 9♣ (2 players)
Hero bets t1350, 1 fold

Total pot: t1875

Results:
Hero didn't show 8♣, 9♠ (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won t1875

Shortstack sucks at picking up chips, and finally gets it in here (ahead, but loses):

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 75/150 Blinds (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button (t631)
Hero (SB) (t3992)
BB (t1377)

Hero's M: 17.74

Preflop: Hero is SB with J♥, 10♥
Button bets t631 (All-In), Hero calls t556, 1 fold

Flop: (t1412) 2♥, 6♣, K♥ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t1412) Q♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t1412) 5♥ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t1412

Results:
Button had 10♣, K♣ (one pair, Kings).
Hero had J♥, 10♥ (flush, King high).
Outcome: Hero won t1412

And we are down to HU with a 3:1 chiplead.

As as soon as it starts, it's over:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 2.2 Tournament, 100/200 Blinds (2 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (BB) (t3648)
SB (t2352)

Hero's M: 12.16

Preflop: Hero is BB with A♣, A♦
SB bets t400, Hero raises to t600, SB raises to t2352 (All-In), Hero calls t1752

Flop: (t4704) A♥, J♦, 9♥ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t4704) J♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t4704) 10♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t4704

Results:
SB had 8♦, 8♣ (two pair, Jacks and eights).
Hero had A♣, A♦ (full house, Aces over Jacks).
Outcome: Hero won t4704

The min3b was intended to get him to spazz shove or just call, as I felt it was more likely that he would shove himself than call off a shove (like if he minraised QJo or something, he may spazz-shove or just call and take a flop). Given what he showed up with, it probably mattered very little what I did, as long as I raised.

So goes round 1. I'll do an overview of round 2 later. Right now, my internet is giving me issues, so I need to go take a look at that and run a few errands. I'll keep you posted as to how the cash games are going.

I haven't played at all today. I'm trying to find a good workflow for doing review. I spent an hour or so going through some of the villains I have a ton of hands on, looking at the hands that went to showdown, and drawing reads from them. I'm playing around with PokerTracker, now that they have a Mac version, as I want the positional stats (raising, 3betting, limping and coldcalling by position vs. positional opening) for preflop, and right now, PokerCopilot doesn't have it. I've emailed the developer a few times about it, and he's mentioned it as an upcoming possibility, but I'm going to play around with the trial of PT and see if I like it. It's a pretty complicated program, but it may work better. I've imported all the hands into the database, and right now, the program is updating the cache. Hopefully, it won't take TOO long and I'll be able to play today.