Hey guys recently came back to poker and noticed stars introduced the new zoom, so im going to try and build a bankroll from playing 2nl and hopefully move up to 5nl real soon. I'm going to be posting hands and spots etc that i feel i dont quite understand what to do in.

Starting BR: 21.12

Played my first session of zoom, only played for around 20 mins, won +$6.76.

BR: $27.88

Going to be playing another 1, maybe 2 hour session again soon.

Seems like you're off to a good start, good luck.

Some hands from my 2nd session was running quite bad, making bad decisions all over.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL ZOOM - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $11.41
Hero (SB): $6.60
BB: $2.50
UTG: $5.98
UTG+1: $4.45
MP: $5.80
MP+1: $5.00
LP: $10.78
CO: $5.37

Hero posts SB $0.02, BB posts BB $0.05

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero has K K

fold, UTG+1 calls $0.05, fold, MP+1 calls $0.05, LP raises to $0.30, fold, fold, Hero calls $0.28, fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, fold

Flop: ($1.00, 3 players) K 7 7
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, LP bets $0.64, Hero calls $0.64, fold

Turn: ($2.28, 2 players) K
Hero checks, LP checks

River: ($2.28, 2 players) Q
Hero bets $2.00, LP calls $2.00

Hero shows K K (Four of a Kind, Kings) (Pre 72%, Flop 100%, Turn 100%)
LP mucks A Q (Two Pair, Kings and Queens) (Pre 28%, Flop 0%, Turn 0%)
Hero wins $6.02

PokerStars - $0.02 NL ZOOM - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $6.16
SB: $3.54
Hero (BB): $2.87
UTG: $1.25
UTG+1: $3.01
MP: $2.07
MP+1: $1.16
LP: $2.64
CO: $5.73

SB posts SB $0.01, Hero posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has A A

fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, CO raises to $0.08, fold, SB calls $0.07, Hero raises to $0.36, fold, SB calls $0.28

Flop: ($0.80, 2 players) 6 8 3
SB checks, Hero bets $0.40, SB calls $0.40

Turn: ($1.60, 2 players) K
SB checks, Hero bets $1.20, SB calls $1.20

River: ($4.00, 2 players) 5
SB bets $1.58 and is all-in, Hero calls $0.91 and is all-in

SB shows 9 6 (One Pair, Sixes) (Pre 15%, Flop 21%, Turn 11%)
Hero shows A A (One Pair, Aces) (Pre 85%, Flop 79%, Turn 89%)
Hero wins $5.62

I may have played this wrong, but i think its just badluck tbh
PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $1.93
SB: $1.04
BB: $1.69
Hero (UTG): $1.55
MP: $1.79
CO: $2.65

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has K A

Hero raises to $0.08, MP calls $0.08, CO raises to $0.16, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls $0.08, MP calls $0.08

Flop: ($0.51, 3 players) T 9 6
Hero checks, MP checks, CO bets $0.14, Hero raises to $0.42, MP calls $0.42, fold

Turn: ($1.49, 2 players) 8
Hero bets $0.97 and is all-in, MP calls $0.97

River: ($3.43, 2 players) 3

Hero shows K A (Flush, King High) (Pre 74%, Flop 57%, Turn 1%)
MP shows J A (Flush, Ace High) (Pre 26%, Flop 43%, Turn 99%)
MP wins $3.31

Overall i ended up down 11c. Will be playing another session in a few hours.

BR: $27.77

Played a 30 min session, i was pretty confused about this spot

PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $0.83
SB: $1.17
BB: $8.61
Hero (UTG): $2.15
MP: $2.76
CO: $0.75

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has A Q

Hero raises to $0.08, MP calls $0.08, fold, fold, fold, fold

Flop: ($0.19, 2 players) T J 8
Hero bets $0.12, MP calls $0.12

Turn: ($0.43, 2 players) A
Hero bets $0.24, MP calls $0.24

River: ($0.91, 2 players) J
Hero bets $0.48, fold



Some other hands

PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

Hero (BTN): $2.62
SB: $1.07
BB: $1.00
UTG: $0.94
MP: $1.48
CO: $0.87

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has Q Q

fold, MP calls $0.02, CO calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.08, SB raises to $1.07 and is all-in, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls $0.99

Flop: ($2.20, 2 players) 4 8 7

Turn: ($2.20, 2 players) A

River: ($2.20, 2 players) 8



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $3.04
SB: $3.67
Hero (BB): $3.04
UTG: $6.67
MP: $2.07
CO: $0.96

SB posts SB $0.01, Hero posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has 3 2

fold, fold, CO raises to $0.06, fold, fold, Hero calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.13, 2 players) 9 2 2
Hero checks, CO bets $0.10, Hero calls $0.10

Turn: ($0.33, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, CO bets $0.28, Hero calls $0.28

River: ($0.89, 2 players) 7
Hero bets $0.52, CO calls $0.52 and is all-in



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $1.36
SB: $2.00
BB: $2.38
Hero (UTG): $3.24
MP: $1.53
CO: $1.79

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has 5 5

Hero calls $0.02, fold, fold, BTN calls $0.02, SB calls $0.01, BB checks

Flop: ($0.08, 4 players) A 5 6
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $0.08, BTN calls $0.08, fold, fold

Turn: ($0.24, 2 players) 6
Hero bets $0.14, BTN calls $0.14

River: ($0.52, 2 players) 8
Hero bets $0.40, BTN raises to $1.12 and is all-in, Hero calls $0.72



I'm really not sure if i played the first hand right, but either way i ended with +$4.14

BR: $31.91

If anyone has any tips or advice on things i could do better in the above hands that would be great! I have been limping PP <JJ from any position, is this the right play?

Yo, first of all good luck with your challenge and hope it all goes well!

Re: hands above.

KK hand, I prefer 3b isolating pre, especially considering you're OOP, and you'll find more times than not you're going to not have a clue where you're at (the times where you don't flop a K and then make quads on the turn). I do like the rest of the line you took. You make the nuts and as played your hand is way under-repped, I like the bet on the river.

AA hand is pretty standard I guess, depends on villain might c-bet kinda more on the flop (60/70%) only because it's a super wet board and if he's flatting pre with mid range suited connectors that board can often smash you pretty hard, and you want to get value from flush & straight draws. Pretty gay river but can never fold there getting over 5:1 so yeah.

AK hand, I do like the raise/call pre because there's no real point isolating, or trying to isolate someone OOP, and it kinda gets brutal if you get 5b, so I like the flat after opening. Don't like the flop play at all. I'd prefer check/calling and check/folding both over check/raise. Your hand has no equity any more, it's unlikely that a K high flush will be good if you hit the club, and if it is good you're never going to get that much value from hands like Qc or lower flushes, and you're going to get dominated by Ac. Plus you have no pair/no straight draws, so you're just bluff raising into 2 villains. For the 14 cent bet into 51 cents I probably call and hope to spike any ace/king on the turn since they're pretty much your only outs. Don't like shove on the turn because you're never gonna get called by worse I don't think. I'm not calling a 2/3 pot size jam on the turn with a Qc in villains spot, only ace high flush tbh. Because of the huge raise on the turn, makes stack sizes kinda awkward, while if you just flatted, I'd be throwing out a 40 cent bet on the turn, folding to shoves/raises. But as played I check and fold to pretty much any aggression.

AQ hand, pre flop fine, cbet on flop is fine, turn bet after hitting ace is fine, and betting the river J for value is fine (he never has a jack here IMO, raising the flop everytime). As he played it, I'd be shutting down any Q or 7 and being cautious of diamonds.

Anyway, that's as much time as I have to review hands haha. Hope it was some insight, and once again GL with your challenge

Thanks a ton for the analysis man, especially on the AK, made me realise alot of mistakes.

Not a problem. I haven't played cash for a long time, but I went through the hands what I'd do logically. Some regs might have an issue with some of my analysis but I'm sure you'll find out if they did here

Poker is always a game about learning more and more so don't be afraid to make/post mistakes, no way you can get any better glgl

Played a two and a half hour session, within 15 minutes i was down 3 BI, was really close to just stopping, but decided to keep playing, heres a few of the losing hands.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

Hero (BTN): $1.76
SB: $2.01
BB: $1.95
UTG: $0.82
MP: $1.12
CO: $1.72

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has A A

fold, MP raises to $0.08, fold, Hero raises to $0.24, fold, fold, MP raises to $1.12 and is all-in, Hero calls $0.88

Flop: ($2.27, 2 players) 7 K K

Turn: ($2.27, 2 players) 8

River: ($2.27, 2 players) 9



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

Hero (BTN): $1.91
SB: $7.97
BB: $2.16
UTG: $2.77
MP: $0.97
CO: $2.61

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has 9 9

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.08, SB raises to $0.16, fold, Hero calls $0.08

Flop: ($0.34, 2 players) 3 K J
SB checks, Hero bets $0.18, SB calls $0.18

Turn: ($0.70, 2 players) 6
SB checks, Hero bets $0.34, SB calls $0.34

River: ($1.38, 2 players) 7
SB checks, Hero bets $1.23 and is all-in, SB calls $1.23



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $1.39
SB: $1.90
BB: $7.45
UTG: $0.73
Hero (MP): $1.93
CO: $3.36

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has 8 8

fold, Hero raises to $0.08, fold, BTN raises to $1.39 and is all-in, fold, fold, Hero calls $1.31

Flop: ($2.81, 2 players) 3 A 5

Turn: ($2.81, 2 players) Q

River: ($2.81, 2 players) 6



And some winning hands.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $4.02
SB: $0.61
Hero (BB): $4.13
UTG: $2.05
MP: $3.43
CO: $6.88

SB posts SB $0.01, Hero posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has A J

UTG calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02, fold, BTN calls $0.02, fold, Hero raises to $0.08, UTG calls $0.06, MP calls $0.06, BTN calls $0.06

Flop: ($0.33, 4 players) J K 6
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($0.33, 4 players) J
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP checks, BTN checks

River: ($0.33, 4 players) A
Hero bets $0.30, UTG calls $0.30, MP raises to $1.60, fold, Hero raises to $4.05 and is all-in, fold, MP calls $1.75 and is all-in



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $1.55
SB: $2.32
BB: $3.92
UTG: $2.30
Hero (MP): $3.20
CO: $1.11

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has A Q

fold, Hero raises to $0.08, CO calls $0.08, fold, fold, BB calls $0.06

Flop: ($0.25, 3 players) Q 6 7
BB checks, Hero bets $0.12, CO raises to $0.24, fold, Hero calls $0.12

Turn: ($0.73, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, CO bets $0.44, Hero raises to $0.88, CO calls $0.35 and is all-in

River: ($2.31, 2 players) 4



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $2.05
Hero (SB): $2.18
BB: $2.48
UTG: $3.68
MP: $4.86
CO: $1.47

Hero posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has K K

fold, MP raises to $0.04, CO raises to $0.10, fold, Hero calls $0.09, BB calls $0.08, fold

Flop: ($0.34, 3 players) 9 4 2
Hero bets $0.18, BB calls $0.18, CO calls $0.18

Turn: ($0.88, 3 players) 7
Hero bets $0.42, BB raises to $0.84, fold, Hero raises to $1.90 and is all-in, BB calls $1.06

River: ($4.68, 2 players) 3



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

Hero (BTN): $8.19
SB: $2.35
BB: $2.03
UTG: $3.06
MP: $2.24
CO: $2.16

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has K K

fold, fold, CO raises to $0.06, Hero raises to $0.18, fold, fold, CO raises to $0.60, Hero raises to $8.19 and is all-in, CO calls $1.56 and is all-in

Flop: ($4.35, 2 players) T K 6

Turn: ($4.35, 2 players) 7

River: ($4.35, 2 players) 7



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

Hero (BTN): $2.41
SB: $1.97
BB: $0.66
UTG: $4.89
MP: $8.42
CO: $1.96

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has K K

fold, fold, CO raises to $0.08, Hero raises to $0.24, fold, fold, CO raises to $0.73, Hero raises to $2.41 and is all-in, CO calls $1.23 and is all-in

Flop: ($3.95, 2 players) 4 K 6

Turn: ($3.95, 2 players) 8

River: ($3.95, 2 players) Q



PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $3.06
SB: $2.00
BB: $1.70
UTG: $4.41
MP: $1.84
Hero (CO): $4.40

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has J 9

fold, MP raises to $0.06, Hero calls $0.06, fold, SB calls $0.05, BB calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.24, 4 players) 7 T 5
SB bets $0.11, BB calls $0.11, fold, Hero calls $0.11

Turn: ($0.57, 3 players) 6
SB checks, BB bets $0.12, Hero raises to $4.23 and is all-in, fold, BB calls $1.41 and is all-in

River: ($3.63, 2 players) 2



KK is definately the hand i have won the most money from, surpisingly. As always if anyone has some hand analysis i would love to hear it, im keen to get better fast, and hopefully move upto NL5 mid of next month.

BR: +$6.85
BR: $38.74

Havnt updated for a few days since i updated to windows 7, but i did play 2 sessions and i am down $12, which is leading me to question myself if i should keep playing zoom or not, since i feel like if i keep going the way i am i will blow my whole roll.

Since i last updated i was telling myself i was done with zoom, and i was playing every other game on stars, mainly HUSNG's, ran good for awhile then dropped down to $15, decided to 1 table 10nl zoom, played for around 3 hours, ran my $5 upto around $30 4 or 5 times, then lost a coin flip and lost it all. So i decided im going to stop being a moron and keep grinding 2nl so i can not go busto, played for 1 and a half hours,



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BR: $22.30

Hey man, just keep with it! If you stick with it you'll easily beat NL2 as you seem a solid enough player - I used to be in basically exactly the same situation as you; I kept busting rolls through disregarding BRM and suffering from monkey tilt. Eventually I managed to keep my cool, get to NL5 and now I'm at NL10 - your game seems good enough from the small sample I've seen for you to easily beat NL2. Just keep concentrating and have a strong mindset and you'll be out of there in no time.

I have skype if you ever want to talk about poker, how to stop tilt or anything like that.

So long story short got my roll upto around $120, played NL5 was going good then lost a ton of buyings, then as usual started playing tournys/sngs etc and was down to $15. Started playing NL2 zoom again with probly the best mindset towards poker i have had so far, after 3 hours of 4tabling ended up $20, at exactly $35.

Biggest hand ive played at NL2 i think

PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $2.14
Hero (SB): $8.03
BB: $9.42
UTG: $11.59
MP: $1.98
CO: $5.38

Hero posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has A A

fold, fold, CO raises to $0.08, fold, Hero raises to $8.03 and is all-in, fold, CO calls $5.30 and is all-in

Flop: ($10.78, 2 players) 6 9 6

Turn: ($10.78, 2 players) 2

River: ($10.78, 2 players) 3

Hero shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Sixes) (Pre 82%, Flop 92%, Turn 95%)
CO shows J J (Two Pair, Jacks and Sixes) (Pre 18%, Flop 8%, Turn 5%)
Hero wins $10.48

PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $4.43
SB: $1.13
Hero (BB): $2.03
UTG: $2.28
MP: $1.76
CO: $0.93

SB posts SB $0.01, Hero posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has A 8

fold, MP calls $0.02, fold, BTN raises to $0.04, fold, Hero calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02

Flop: ($0.13, 3 players) A T 2
Hero bets $0.06, MP calls $0.06, BTN calls $0.06

Turn: ($0.31, 3 players) 4
Hero bets $0.15, MP calls $0.15, BTN calls $0.15

River: ($0.76, 3 players) 8
Hero bets $0.73, fold, BTN raises to $1.46, Hero calls $0.73

BTN shows J Q (Flush, Queen High) (Pre 44%, Flop 22%, Turn 27%)
Hero mucks A 8 (Two Pair, Aces and Eights) (Pre 56%, Flop 78%, Turn 73%)
BTN wins $3.55

PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) ZOOM - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: $1.47
SB: $3.63
BB: $2.39
UTG: $6.84
MP: $3.92
Hero (CO): $4.13

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has J J

fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.08, BTN calls $0.08, SB calls $0.07, fold

Flop: ($0.26, 3 players) J K 8
SB checks, Hero bets $0.12, fold, SB calls $0.12

Turn: ($0.50, 2 players) Q
SB bets $0.48, Hero raises to $0.96, SB raises to $1.44, Hero raises to $1.92, SB raises to $2.40, Hero raises to $2.88, SB raises to $3.36, Hero raises to $3.84, SB calls $0.07 and is all-in

River: ($7.36, 2 players) 3

SB shows T A (Straight, Ace High) (Pre 28%, Flop 18%, Turn 77%)
Hero shows J J (Three of a Kind, Jacks) (Pre 72%, Flop 82%, Turn 23%)
SB wins $7.10

gunna be playing some more real soon, when i get to $60 i will start taking shots at NL5 again i think.