10NL has been pretty break-even overall. I had a big initial upswing, where I got up to around $280ish, then dropped a whole bunch of it getting waaaay too loose for the limit. I'm sitting on around $167 right now. I'm closing in on enough FPPs for the $50 bonus from the VIP store, and I'm about halfway to the next VIP stellar reward. I think I'm going to extend the amount of my roll I'm going to save up until I move up to the next limit, as I can see myself spewing off a lot in terrible spots and blowing my whole roll at 25NL (which I've done before). I feel like I'm playing a much better game, although I'm definitely waaay too stationy as well.
I've played some hands on the deepstack tables, and it's a fucking goldmine. Everyone is extremely weak-tight, and if you're a decent handreader, it's really not difficult to pick a few good spots to bluff, and at the deepstack tables, people will fold TP/MP to 3 barrels. Just gotta pick your spots well.
Going to do some work, as well as some review. I'm going to go through some hands from the tourny I shipped and talk about them a bit. So there's something to look forward to :).
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Boo-yah
PokerStars Tournament #284580135, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $2.00/$0.20 USD
368 players
Total Prize Pool: $736.00 USD
Tournament started 2010/06/23 20:15:00 ET
Dear NimhOfJoy,
You finished the tournament in 1st place. A USD 117.76 award has been credited to your Real Money account.
Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.
Woot! Moving up to 10NL now. I have $180. Enough 5NL, now I'm getting somewhere!
Buy-In: $2.00/$0.20 USD
368 players
Total Prize Pool: $736.00 USD
Tournament started 2010/06/23 20:15:00 ET
Dear NimhOfJoy,
You finished the tournament in 1st place. A USD 117.76 award has been credited to your Real Money account.
Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.
Woot! Moving up to 10NL now. I have $180. Enough 5NL, now I'm getting somewhere!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Back Down to $70
I played a bunch of tournaments last night and bricked 'em all, so that cost me like $25 (I need to stick to the cheaper ones until I get to a point where that's not such a huge portion of my bankroll; I play the $8.80 6-max @ 9:40, as well as a few MTT SnGs). I then played cash and was playing break-evenish until I made a few spazzy bluffs and immediately shut it down. That's what I get for playing tired. Bad news bears.
I did play a little this morning, and won back a buy in+, so I know for certain I'm getting the hang of playing down here; I just need to not play tired (obviously) and stick to the limits of my roll for tournaments. Unfortunately, Stars doesn't have a lot in the way of 6-max tournaments, so I try and play in as many of those as possible, and some of them are really beyond my roll right now.
It's too bad this blog doesn't have more strategy; it's just that there's not a lot of strategy to be discussed down here. Bet you decent made hands until they give you a reason not to; I semi-bluff a bit, but mostly just stick to value spots. Players call 3 streets with middle pair, so just bet bet shove, and make manies :).
I did play a little this morning, and won back a buy in+, so I know for certain I'm getting the hang of playing down here; I just need to not play tired (obviously) and stick to the limits of my roll for tournaments. Unfortunately, Stars doesn't have a lot in the way of 6-max tournaments, so I try and play in as many of those as possible, and some of them are really beyond my roll right now.
It's too bad this blog doesn't have more strategy; it's just that there's not a lot of strategy to be discussed down here. Bet you decent made hands until they give you a reason not to; I semi-bluff a bit, but mostly just stick to value spots. Players call 3 streets with middle pair, so just bet bet shove, and make manies :).
Friday, June 18, 2010
Back Over $100!
Yup, title says it all. I tightened up my game, bumped up the number of tables, and I climbed over the hump. I'm back over $100 and feeling really good about myself. I just gotta stop getting mad that players don't fold TPTK and start exploiting them for it:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
Hero (Button) ($6.94)
SB ($7.13)
BB ($5.96)
UTG ($9.11)
MP ($0.43)
Preflop: Hero is Button with 8♠, 8♥
UTG bets $0.10, MP calls $0.10, Hero calls $0.10, 1 fold, BB calls $0.05
Flop: ($0.42) 9♥, A♦, 8♦ (4 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $0.15, MP calls $0.15, Hero raises to $0.55, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.40, MP calls $0.18 (All-In)
Turn: ($1.85) 7♠ (3 players, 1 all-in)
UTG bets $0.20, Hero raises to $1.35, UTG calls $1.15
River: ($4.55) 5♥ (3 players, 1 all-in)
UTG checks, Hero bets $4.94 (All-In), UTG calls $4.94
Total pot: $14.43 | Rake: $0.71
Results:
Hero had 8♠, 8♥ (three of a kind, eights).
UTG had A♣, K♣ (one pair, Aces).
MP had Q♦, 9♣ (one pair, nines).
Outcome: Hero won $13.72
(Yes, I mis-sized my turn raise, I thought it was big enough at the time to get to the river with a pot-sized bet left, but I did the math wrong :(... still, it worked out for me.)
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
Hero (Button) ($6.94)
SB ($7.13)
BB ($5.96)
UTG ($9.11)
MP ($0.43)
Preflop: Hero is Button with 8♠, 8♥
UTG bets $0.10, MP calls $0.10, Hero calls $0.10, 1 fold, BB calls $0.05
Flop: ($0.42) 9♥, A♦, 8♦ (4 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $0.15, MP calls $0.15, Hero raises to $0.55, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.40, MP calls $0.18 (All-In)
Turn: ($1.85) 7♠ (3 players, 1 all-in)
UTG bets $0.20, Hero raises to $1.35, UTG calls $1.15
River: ($4.55) 5♥ (3 players, 1 all-in)
UTG checks, Hero bets $4.94 (All-In), UTG calls $4.94
Total pot: $14.43 | Rake: $0.71
Results:
Hero had 8♠, 8♥ (three of a kind, eights).
UTG had A♣, K♣ (one pair, Aces).
MP had Q♦, 9♣ (one pair, nines).
Outcome: Hero won $13.72
(Yes, I mis-sized my turn raise, I thought it was big enough at the time to get to the river with a pot-sized bet left, but I did the math wrong :(... still, it worked out for me.)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Breakever Over 8 SnGs
Yup. Broke even. I definitely feel I am much better at cash games than SnGs. I just think I need to learn SnGs, as the home game I'm playing at might be switching to that format. Maybe I'll play SnGs more, get some experience before this weekend.
New Layout
I hope you like the new layout. I'm playing 8 tables of $3.40 SnGs. After I'm done with that, I'm out to run some errands. Wish me luck!
Short, Nice Session
Made like $18 today, which is nice. Puts me just around $80. I'm taking a break today, as I have some work to do. Will be doing some session review throughout the day (to take a break from the work). I've posted some hands @ 2+2:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/5nl-ato-flops-trips-value-line-809116/
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/5nl-qq-good-fold-vs-unknown-808364/
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/5nl-set-vs-river-overshove-806795/
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/5nl-ato-flops-trips-value-line-809116/
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/5nl-qq-good-fold-vs-unknown-808364/
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/5nl-set-vs-river-overshove-806795/
Monday, June 14, 2010
Another Few Short Sessions - Still Breaking Even
Title says it all. I was playing a short session this morning, I was up a little bit towards the end of the session, and just as I was wrapping up, this hand happened:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
CO ($12.48)
Button ($7.02)
Hero (SB) ($5.76)
BB ($1.88)
UTG ($10.28)
Villain (MP) ($5.15)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Q♣, Q♦
UTG bets $0.20, Villain calls $0.20, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.85, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.65, Villain calls $0.65
Flop: ($2.60) 7♠, 2♠, J♥ (3 players)
Hero bets $1.75, 1 fold, Villain raises to $4.30 (All-In), Hero calls $2.55
Turn: ($11.20) A♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: ($11.20) 10♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: $11.20 | Rake: $0.55
Results:
Hero had Q♣, Q♦ (one pair, Queens).
Villain had J♦, A♣ (two pair, Aces and Jacks).
Outcome: Villain won $10.65
I know I shouldn't be using this blog as a place for me to complain. I just don't know how to get past 5NL with this shit happening. It's making it very difficult for me to keep a level head when suckouts of this nature are constant. The amount of times I've had something like this happen (i.e. recent hand where I had AA, villain l/c w T5o, calls 2 streets on TJxx rainbow, and rivers his 5) makes it difficult for me to feel comfortable going to value bets in spots where I probably should be. It's hard for me to say "I'm ahead of his range here" because their range is FUCKING ANYTHING.
Like this shove. Higher levels, villain is flatting flop, shipping turn when he improves (or folding turn if he doesn't). If the villain is shipping this spot at 25NL, it's more likely he's got a set and I should probably fold. Down here, though, TPTK is the nuts, nobody folds 2nd pair to 2 bets, it's crazy. And if that's the case, I don't know if I should value bet rivers sometimes w TPTK or TP2K, because people will hit all sorts of stuff. It's crazy, and I'm finding it difficult to adjust.
I've also been looking at my EV graph, and I'm running like $500 below EV over the past 3 months. Granted, it's at various limits (and I know A LOT of that was the short stint I did at FTP; god, the downswing I had when I moved over there was RIDICULOUS - never going back), but still, knowing that you're getting it in ahead a lot and getting screwed is both comforting and frustrating at the same time. Just have to remember that if you keep playing well, you'll get there.
In more positive news, I played a live game and walked off with all the chips yesterday. Made $79. At least I know my live game is improving tremendously. The guy who hosts the game suggested switching it to a SnG tourny structure instead, so that other people have a chance to make money, as I've won all the money 2 out of the 3 times we've played. I'm not as much of a SnG specialist, but if it keeps the game running, I'm down.
I've got commitments for today, but if I get a chance, I'm going to do some review.
To update, I am at $63ish right now. I've been swinging up and down between $60 and $80. If this upswing in the live game continues, I'm going to take some of that money and put it online. I want to play 10NL. (Really, I want to go back to 25NL, but I want to work my way up there on my own.)
That's all for now. I feel I'm remaining generally calmish, but I shut down the game after the above suckout, because it totally ruined my session. Oh well, what can you do? Just gotta stay positive.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
CO ($12.48)
Button ($7.02)
Hero (SB) ($5.76)
BB ($1.88)
UTG ($10.28)
Villain (MP) ($5.15)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Q♣, Q♦
UTG bets $0.20, Villain calls $0.20, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.85, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.65, Villain calls $0.65
Flop: ($2.60) 7♠, 2♠, J♥ (3 players)
Hero bets $1.75, 1 fold, Villain raises to $4.30 (All-In), Hero calls $2.55
Turn: ($11.20) A♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: ($11.20) 10♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: $11.20 | Rake: $0.55
Results:
Hero had Q♣, Q♦ (one pair, Queens).
Villain had J♦, A♣ (two pair, Aces and Jacks).
Outcome: Villain won $10.65
I know I shouldn't be using this blog as a place for me to complain. I just don't know how to get past 5NL with this shit happening. It's making it very difficult for me to keep a level head when suckouts of this nature are constant. The amount of times I've had something like this happen (i.e. recent hand where I had AA, villain l/c w T5o, calls 2 streets on TJxx rainbow, and rivers his 5) makes it difficult for me to feel comfortable going to value bets in spots where I probably should be. It's hard for me to say "I'm ahead of his range here" because their range is FUCKING ANYTHING.
Like this shove. Higher levels, villain is flatting flop, shipping turn when he improves (or folding turn if he doesn't). If the villain is shipping this spot at 25NL, it's more likely he's got a set and I should probably fold. Down here, though, TPTK is the nuts, nobody folds 2nd pair to 2 bets, it's crazy. And if that's the case, I don't know if I should value bet rivers sometimes w TPTK or TP2K, because people will hit all sorts of stuff. It's crazy, and I'm finding it difficult to adjust.
I've also been looking at my EV graph, and I'm running like $500 below EV over the past 3 months. Granted, it's at various limits (and I know A LOT of that was the short stint I did at FTP; god, the downswing I had when I moved over there was RIDICULOUS - never going back), but still, knowing that you're getting it in ahead a lot and getting screwed is both comforting and frustrating at the same time. Just have to remember that if you keep playing well, you'll get there.
In more positive news, I played a live game and walked off with all the chips yesterday. Made $79. At least I know my live game is improving tremendously. The guy who hosts the game suggested switching it to a SnG tourny structure instead, so that other people have a chance to make money, as I've won all the money 2 out of the 3 times we've played. I'm not as much of a SnG specialist, but if it keeps the game running, I'm down.
I've got commitments for today, but if I get a chance, I'm going to do some review.
To update, I am at $63ish right now. I've been swinging up and down between $60 and $80. If this upswing in the live game continues, I'm going to take some of that money and put it online. I want to play 10NL. (Really, I want to go back to 25NL, but I want to work my way up there on my own.)
That's all for now. I feel I'm remaining generally calmish, but I shut down the game after the above suckout, because it totally ruined my session. Oh well, what can you do? Just gotta stay positive.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Epic Breakeven Stretch
Between the last few sessions I've played I'm up like $2 over some like 3k-4k hands. I've bumped up the number of tables and tightened up significantly. I probably need to fold more, to be honest. That is my biggest problem in general. Too much bluffing, not enough folding.
I have tightened up preflop, though. No more opening weak aces on the button, no more opening suited connectors UTG. No more 3betting T7s to balance my range. Just pure value hands. I also need to start folding 1 pair hands to aggression at this level. People don't bet that much without 2pr+. So yeah, I'm getting there. Just gotta stop getting frustrated.
I have tightened up preflop, though. No more opening weak aces on the button, no more opening suited connectors UTG. No more 3betting T7s to balance my range. Just pure value hands. I also need to start folding 1 pair hands to aggression at this level. People don't bet that much without 2pr+. So yeah, I'm getting there. Just gotta stop getting frustrated.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wow... just... wow
I'm down $40ish since I last posted, putting me around $64. I played two sessions that both went badly. One down around $25, one down $15ish. I'm starting to do some review of some of my hands, but I need to do a solid review of everything before I get back into it.
I know I keep saying that, and I'm so far behind the number of sessions I need to review to get caught it. It's just that it takes so long to review everything, that I'd spend more time reviewing than I would playing if I got caught up on everything.
For starters, I need to tighten up my game. I play waaaay to loose, and since no one folds at this level, I'm a) bluffing too much and failing or b) getting sucked out on a lot by people who can't fold second pair or BDFDs. There have been a few coolers as well (running my FD into NFDs, set over set, set running into made/drawing-to-made flushes, etc.). So yeah, I'm going to bump back up to 8 tables and go back to what I was doing @ 2NL, which was waiting for decent hands and betting them when they hit. I really have not being just playing solid poker properly and I've been losing as a result.
I know I'm below my 5NL threshold, but I can't go back to 2NL. I just can't. If I drop below like $40 (which I REALLY hope doesn't happen), then I'm dropping down. But right now, I'm going to tough it out. I'm going to tighten up significantly, doing some reviewing, and see where we go from there.
I know I keep saying that, and I'm so far behind the number of sessions I need to review to get caught it. It's just that it takes so long to review everything, that I'd spend more time reviewing than I would playing if I got caught up on everything.
For starters, I need to tighten up my game. I play waaaay to loose, and since no one folds at this level, I'm a) bluffing too much and failing or b) getting sucked out on a lot by people who can't fold second pair or BDFDs. There have been a few coolers as well (running my FD into NFDs, set over set, set running into made/drawing-to-made flushes, etc.). So yeah, I'm going to bump back up to 8 tables and go back to what I was doing @ 2NL, which was waiting for decent hands and betting them when they hit. I really have not being just playing solid poker properly and I've been losing as a result.
I know I'm below my 5NL threshold, but I can't go back to 2NL. I just can't. If I drop below like $40 (which I REALLY hope doesn't happen), then I'm dropping down. But right now, I'm going to tough it out. I'm going to tighten up significantly, doing some reviewing, and see where we go from there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)