It’s my birthday today. I am now 18 years old.
My name is Igor and I come from Russia. I speak 7 languages and will be studying Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge next year.

What’s interesting you ask? I have never played poker in my life. I have watched however plenty of videos and I consider myself to have the sufficient knowledge to turn 20$ into 500$. I shall play zoom on PokerStars. I also have PT4.

I just finished a 2 months placement and will now work as a Personal trainer at my gym. This will require most of my time but I should still be able to play regularly.

This challenge has no time limit and I will work hard, harder than most of you in order to succeed.

This thread will allow me to track my progress. I don't expect people to care but feel free to comment if you think you can add to the experience.

Igor

DAY 1

Unlucky day, multiple coolers.


Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37396767

BTN: $2 (100 bb)
SB: $3.25 (162.5 bb)
BB: $2 (100 bb)
UTG: $3.88 (194 bb)
Hero (MP): $4.51 (225.5 bb)
CO: $0.76 (38 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 6 6
UTG raises to $0.05, Hero calls $0.05, 3 folds, BB calls $0.03

Flop: ($0.16) 6 J 9 (3 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $0.09, Hero raises to $0.30, BB folds, UTG calls $0.21

Turn: ($0.76) 9 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.46, UTG raises to $0.92, Hero calls $0.46

River: ($2.60) A (2 players)
UTG bets $0.55, Hero raises to $3.24 and is all-in, UTG calls $2.06 and is all-in



Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37396768

Hero (BTN): $2.43 (121.5 bb)
SB: $0.08 (4 bb)
BB: $2.03 (101.5 bb)
UTG: $3.17 (158.5 bb)
MP: $2.21 (110.5 bb)
CO: $4.83 (241.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with A A
UTG raises to $0.08, MP calls $0.08, CO folds, Hero raises to $0.32, 2 folds, UTG raises to $3.17 and is all-in, MP folds, Hero calls $2.11

Flop: ($4.97) 5 T K (2 players, 1 is all-in)
Turn: ($4.97) 8 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($4.97) 2 (2 players, 1 is all-in)



Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37396769

BTN: $2.67 (133.5 bb)
SB: $2 (100 bb)
Hero (BB): $4.30 (215 bb)
UTG: $2 (100 bb)
MP: $2 (100 bb)
CO: $1.97 (98.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5 5
UTG raises to $0.06, MP calls $0.06, 2 folds, SB calls $0.05, Hero calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.24) 5 Q 2 (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks, MP checks

Turn: ($0.24) 7 (4 players)
SB bets $0.16, Hero calls $0.16, 2 folds

River: ($0.56) 6 (2 players)
SB bets $0.39, Hero raises to $4.08 and is all-in, SB calls $1.39 and is all-in



Bankroll is now 36$.
Will start to think about what kind of BRM I want to employ.

Igor

Seven languages at 18 or any age for that matter is extremely impressive. Veterinary medicine at Cambridge as well, you must be very intelligent. I have no doubt that you can be successful in poker without having to look at your hand histories or future graphs.

If you can afford to reload, I would say alter your challenge and start at 5nl and make a different goal, maybe 100$ - 1k. In terms of BRM, I would say be more aggressive in the beginning and tighten up as you move up depending on your mental game.

Put in work, I will be following!

Languages run in the family and regarding Veterinary medicine, it is my passion and putting the hours in was no problem.
Appreciate the kind words still.

Challenge will remain the same but do not worry, I will create a second PGC as soon as this one's over.

END OF THE DAY



Pretty happy overall - Made a lot of mistakes but this is normal. I will now review the 32 hands I have marked.

Igor

Satisfied with the day once again. Multiple coolers but also some mistakes on my part. I've noticed that I keep levelling myself into calling some river spots when 'top of my range' while villain is clearly never bluffing. I need to disregard the GTO approach completely at these stakes and use the exploitative one.

Played with PT4 for a couple hours today and I seem to have identify some general population tendencies that I will be able to exploit.

• Population check/folding range are unbalanced, most likely weak. I can therefore get away by stabbing fairly wide.

• Turn raises are (always) the nuts. In general, I should respect the aggression at these stakes I believe. I can therefore get away by over folding.

• Population bet sizings are transparent, big bet = strength and vice versa. I can therefore attack opponents range when capped.

• Population (most of them) do not have a 4bet bluff range. Hence I should not develop a 5bet bluff range and I should not call 4bets oop with dominated hands.

• Population overfold to 3bets in general and as mentioned above, rarely 4bet. Therefore, I should 3bet widely from CO and BTN in order to 1) pick up the pot and 2) force the opponent to play a big pot oop.

That's it so far.

TODAY


Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37397256

BTN: $3.41 (170.5 bb)
SB: $2.70 (135 bb)
BB: $1.99 (99.5 bb)
UTG: $4.72 (236 bb)
MP: $8.20 (410 bb)
Hero (CO): $2.28 (114 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A T
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.06, BTN folds, SB calls $0.05, BB folds

Flop: ($0.14) 8 9 A (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.08, SB calls $0.08

Turn: ($0.30) T (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.42, SB calls $0.42

River: ($1.14) T (2 players)
SB bets $1.10, Hero raises to $1.72, SB calls $0.62



Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37397257

Hero (BTN): $2.55 (127.5 bb)
SB: $2 (100 bb)
BB: $2.32 (116 bb)
UTG: $1.12 (56 bb)
MP: $1.70 (85 bb)
CO: $2.26 (113 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with A A
UTG calls $0.02, MP raises to $0.06, CO folds, Hero raises to $0.20, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.18, MP calls $0.14

Flop: ($0.63) 2 9 Q (3 players)
UTG checks, MP bets $0.18, Hero calls $0.18, UTG folds

Turn: ($0.99) K (2 players)
MP bets $0.32, Hero raises to $1.55, MP calls $1 and is all-in

River: ($3.63) 8 (2 players, 1 is all-in)



Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37397258

BTN: $2 (100 bb)
SB: $2.83 (141.5 bb)
Hero (BB): $2.87 (143.5 bb)
UTG: $1.68 (84 bb)
MP: $3.42 (171 bb)
CO: $1.85 (92.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A J
4 folds, SB raises to $0.04, Hero raises to $0.14, SB calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.28) K A 5 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.16, SB calls $0.16

Turn: ($0.60) J (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.42, SB calls $0.42

River: ($1.44) 7 (2 players)
SB bets $2.11 and is all-in, Hero calls $2.11



Bankroll is now 44$. Will take a shot at NL5 once I reach 50$.

Igor

Nice challenge dude!

Recently started myself with a challenge playing NL2, if u want to talk poker on skype I am up for it. Just send me ur nick in a PM

Good luck on the tables OP!

Thank you very much. I tend to work alone but will contact you if needed.

Igor

Woke up very early this morning to do some more off table work. Focused on preflop ranges. Realized I was making minor mistakes such as opening QJo in early position and 3betting hands ip which are strong enough to flat.

Question: I thought a lot about bb play and decided to 3bet a polarised range. I do not want to defend too wide because of the rake so I choose to 3Bet hands that aren't strong enough to flat? (Q2s for example)
Is this the correct approach? I always read that we should have a merged 3Betting range from the blinds. I am willing to listen to some experienced players.

Off to the gym for the rest of the day. Will try to play tonight.

Igor

The reason i would choose for an merged 3betting range is because you play oop.

Polarized
If you choose to 3bet polarized your low end of your range plays very bad post flop. which lead to a lot of check/fold situation and you become very exploitable.

Merged
if you choose to go for an merged range you take the strong and mid strong hands to 3bet. Those hands flop a lot better and are better playable oop.


PS: vs a villain with a very high fold to 3bet i would chose a polarized range to and flat your medium strenght hands.

Standard is definitely to 3Bet a merged range OOP. However I think we would get away by 3Betting a polarised range simply because the average population do not defend 3bets enough. So far, I have plenty of weak regs with a F3B > 85% after 500 hands+.

Sb play is also completely different than bb imo. I tend to not develop a flatting range from sb, as opposed to the bb. I 3Bet merged from SB without even thinking about it. In bb, however, I do not like defending (correctly?) because of the rake and I hate folding too much as well. What I'm trying to understand is should I play very tight and weak in bb by overfolding huge or respond by 3betting polarised? (Allowing me to protect my blinds correctly but as you mentioned resulting in some complex spots postflop).

I honestly feel like it's the case on NL 2 so far.

Anyways, thank you for your input.

Igor

In for positive red line, quality username and sick results so far! You seem like a very smart guy (very humble as well hum hum) and don't see why you wouldn't succeed in your challenge!

Good luck mate!

Being a micro stakes player myself, I find these points extremely relevant! I kinda knew them already but it's nice to read them again

I am in for the ride, best of luck!

Just wondering why you only started to play poker so late considering you seem to have a pretty wide knowledge of the game!

You are VERY smart for your age, I will follow this.

Good Luck!

Well yes, you have the correct understanding
If Villain is folding to much to 3bets your polarized range is ok to me. if i see villain folding to much i start polarizing to.
o
SB
i almost haven't a flatting range to. for me this is 3bet or fold. except when a big fish in sitting in BB and i have a playable hand.

BB
About defending BB is complete dependable about the opener. is the opener a nitty then polarized 3betting and flat middle strenght hands.

Against laggy's i wouldn't defend to wide

Try to recognise and mark the fit or fold players. (especially in 3bet pots)
There are a lot of players in your pool who call 3bets and play fit or fold. these players i would 3bet very wide.


You have already a very decent understanding for your limits.
GL

Thank you very much guys. The kind words are always appreciated. I really did not expect to see this many people follow the thread. The more the merrier I guess right.


What a rollercoaster of a day. Overall, I am very disappointed with the way I played. I stationed dow fish too many times and picked the wrong spot to bluff at multiple occasions. Still a positive day, which is always nice. I realised today that I play a very aggressive style, I pick every spots that is given to me. I like to believe that this approach will be very successful at the higher stakes. This 'approach' might nevertheless not be optimal at NL 2 where I think its fair to say our fold equity is pretty limited. Most people cannot hand read as well. It seems to be going OK so far, we will see how it goes in the future although I do not plan to stay at NL 2 for long as the bankroll is now 47,7$



Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37399633

BTN: $2.02 (101 bb)
SB: $1.98 (99 bb)
BB: $2 (100 bb)
UTG: $1.27 (63.5 bb)
Hero (MP): $2.07 (103.5 bb)
CO: $3.16 (158 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with J J
UTG raises to $0.06, Hero raises to $0.18, 2 folds, SB calls $0.17, BB folds, UTG calls $0.12

Flop: ($0.56) J 3 3 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.56) Q (3 players)
SB bets $0.27, UTG calls $0.27, Hero calls $0.27

River: ($1.37) 5 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $1.62, SB calls $1.53 and is all-in, UTG calls $0.82 and is all-in



Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37399634

BTN: $2 (100 bb)
SB: $2.03 (101.5 bb)
BB: $2.06 (103 bb)
UTG: $2.16 (108 bb)
Hero (MP): $2.43 (121.5 bb)
CO: $2.32 (116 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with K K
UTG folds, Hero raises to $0.06, CO raises to $0.18, BTN folds, SB calls $0.17, BB folds, Hero raises to $0.46, CO calls $0.28, SB calls $0.28

Flop: ($1.40) 3 6 Q (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.22, CO raises to $1.58, SB folds, Hero raises to $1.97 and is all-in, CO calls $0.28

Turn: ($5.12) 7 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($5.12) 7 (2 players, 1 is all-in)



Poker Stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #37399635

Hero (BTN): $2.73 (136.5 bb)
SB: $2.38 (119 bb)
BB: $1.43 (71.5 bb)
UTG: $0.85 (42.5 bb)
MP: $3.20 (160 bb)
CO: $2.47 (123.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with Q Q
UTG folds, MP raises to $0.06, CO folds, Hero raises to $0.20, 2 folds, MP calls $0.14

Flop: ($0.43) 8 7 7 (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $0.26, MP raises to $0.91, Hero calls $0.65

Turn: ($2.25) 5 (2 players)
MP bets $2.09 and is all-in, Hero calls $1.62

River: ($5.49) 2 (2 players, 1 is all-in)



Igor

Once again, woke up very early today to do some off table work. Reviewed couple hands from yesterday. I noticed that there were sometimes where I bluffed without repping a single value combo. That's not great obviously but probably OK considering most of the pop. cannot hand read. Got flopzilla as well today, great invention I must say. It greatly helped me as it allows you to visualize ranges and determine what the best ev play is.

I discovered RIO yesterday and I am going to get a subscription tonight. It seems to relate more to the higher stakes players but I am confident I can get a lot out of it. Very excited about it!
Anyone has any previous experience with it? What videos must I watch?

Hopefully will have time to play some hands tonight or if not, will practice with flopzilla:

• Pick 10-20 scenarios and try to accurately estimate the equity of my range vs. the opponents.
  Seems like a good exercise that will surely be useful in game.

Igor

Gl with your challenge

As for RIO, I highly recommend watching Cameron Couch, guy is a beast and he explains his thought process very well.

Yes RIO is the place to be, lot of great strats

Brilliant, thanks guys. Can't wait to get started!

Igor

Yup I agree with Cameron Couch. Steve Paul is pretty good as well.

glgl