Introduction

Hi everyone

I play poker mainly as a hobby. But won't mind playing full time if I get good enough. I have been a winning player at microstakes(2NL, 5NL and 10NL on stars). I have also won a decent amount of money in live poker. But I am certainly not good enough yet to be a full time player.

Purpose of this thread

I think writing my poker thoughts will help me with my tilt problems. Also putting my poker thinking process into words will help me clarify my understanding of poker.

I am not a good writer so I am not expecting this thread to get popular or something. But the point is even if no one else reads it, writing my thoughts will still be beneficial to my game.

I do play a lot of crazy hands(sometimes because of tilt and sometimes because of good reads on my opponents). So I will be sharing any hands which I think might be interesting. I also plan on sharing my worst played hands so that may be the embarrassment will help me prevent from doing stupid things.

Past poker experience

I used to play on pokerstars before it got banned at my location.
I played on pokerstars at around year 2016-2017. After it got banned in my location I have been playing some live and some on untracked asian websites. Mostly winning but not too much volume.

My pokerstars all time graph graph (mostly 2NL,5NL,10NL and very little 25NL):



I started playing on 888 this year with initial deposit of $10 on 888 poker.
The reason why started playing with only $10 is because my aim from online poker currently is not to make money but to improve as a poker player. The money I make from poker comes from live poker. So in a sense its kind of a bankroll challenge. But I don't have a specific target in mind(may be I should set a target?). I just want to see how far can I go.

So far this is how its going on 2NL on 888:



I am planning to move up to 5NL when I have at least have $100.

My play volume

I am not a high volume player. I like to play regular tables and like to develope reads on opponents and play exploitative poker. Usually I play only 2 regular tables at a time.

Also I like to take breaks from poker when I get tilted which further reduces play volume. Sometimes I will get so tilted that I need 3-4 days to recover. So I might not post updates very regularly.

Please feel free to give advise and ask any questions. Thank you for reading

To start off I would like to share some monkey tilt hands to give an idea about what happens when I get tilted

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (SB): 100 BB
BB: 129.56 BB
UTG: 103.24 BB
MP: 102.76 BB
CO: 100 BB
BTN: 178.52 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has Q 3

fold, MP raises to 2.4 BB, CO calls 2.4 BB, fold, Hero raises to 100 BB and is all-in, BB calls 99 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (204.8 BB, 2 players) 8 5 K

Turn: (204.8 BB, 2 players) 8

River: (204.8 BB, 2 players) 2

Hero shows Q 3 (One Pair, Eights)
(Pre 11%, Flop 2%, Turn 0%)
BB shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Eights)
(Pre 89%, Flop 98%, Turn 100%)
BB wins 196.8 BB

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (MP): 195.8 BB
CO: 225.96 BB
BTN: 101.84 BB
SB: 99.36 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 177.52 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 4 4

UTG calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 195.8 BB and is all-in, CO raises to 225.96 BB and is all-in, fold, SB calls 98.96 BB and is all-in, fold, fold

Flop: (492.96 BB, 3 players) T 6 Q

Turn: (492.96 BB, 3 players) A

River: (492.96 BB, 3 players) 9

Hero shows 4 4 (One Pair, Fours)

Main Pot [300.08 BB]: (Pre 16%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)
Side Pot#1 [192.88 BB]: (Pre 19%, Flop 10%, Turn 5%)

CO shows K K (One Pair, Kings)

Main Pot [300.08 BB]: (Pre 65%, Flop 80%, Turn 90%)
Side Pot#1 [192.88 BB]: (Pre 81%, Flop 90%, Turn 95%)

SB shows J J (One Pair, Jacks)

Main Pot [300.08 BB]: (Pre 19%, Flop 11%, Turn 5%)

CO wins 484.96 BB

I have many hands like this in my database. On my worst tilts, I would start open shoving every hand preflop. Although this was a couple of years back. Now I have become much better at controlling tilt. The important thing is to take breaks whenever you start to feel tilt creeping in your mind. You have to pay attention to the signs. If I make a lose call preflop I immediately realize that its time to take a break now.

I have been running pretty bad in terms of allin EV on 888. The was the worst bad beat I got so far

Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB
Hero (SB): 300.5 BB
BB: 196.5 BB
UTG: 139.5 BB
CO: 100 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K K

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, BB raises to 10 BB, Hero raises to 40 BB, BB calls 30 BB

Flop: (80 BB, 2 players) 8 4 J
Hero bets 44 BB, BB raises to 156.5 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 112.5 BB

Turn: (393 BB, 2 players) 6

River: (393 BB, 2 players) 6

Hero shows K K (Two Pair, Kings and Sixes)
(Pre 83%, Flop 91%, Turn 91%)
BB shows 6 Q (Three of a Kind, Sixes)
(Pre 17%, Flop 9%, Turn 9%)
BB wins 368.5 BB

Had an insane session yesterday



Also got a free satelite ticket through which I qualified for a $5 buy in tournament and finished 11 out of 74 entries for $11.

Total bankroll is at $89 now

Biggest won pot of the day.
Villain was playing way too aggro. I think best way to play against these type of players is to slowplay. Too many people go crazy when u don't cbet as the preflop raiser

Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 234 BB
UTG: 66 BB
MP: 161 BB
CO: 100 BB
BTN: 154 BB
SB: 116 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q A

fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, BTN calls 1 BB, SB calls 0.5 BB, Hero raises to 7 BB, MP calls 6 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (16 BB, 2 players) 9 2 Q
Hero checks, MP bets 8 BB, Hero calls 8 BB

Turn: (32 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, MP bets 32 BB, Hero calls 32 BB

River: (96 BB, 2 players) 6
Hero checks, MP bets 114 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 114 BB

Hero shows Q A (Three of a Kind, Queens)
(Pre 62%, Flop 88%, Turn 93%)
MP shows T 8 (One Pair, Queens)
(Pre 38%, Flop 12%, Turn 7%)
Hero wins 304 BB

Worst played pot of the day.
I think my river raise sizing is a mistake. I should have either just called or raise small planning to fold to a re-raise or even just shoving in the first place would be better.

May be its too thin to raise river. But I think based on his week sizings he and the fact that there are many missed draws in my range its ok to get greedy on the river here.

Raising flop is also be an option but idk its close.

I dont think raising turn is an option even though his size is really small

Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 115.5 BB
BTN: 44 BB
SB: 141.5 BB
BB: 75.5 BB
UTG: 236 BB
Hero (MP): 120 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q A

UTG raises to 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB, fold, BTN calls 3 BB, fold, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (12.5 BB, 4 players) 8 9 Q
BB bets 6 BB, fold, Hero calls 6 BB, fold

Turn: (24.5 BB, 2 players) 9
BB bets 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB

River: (30.5 BB, 2 players) 2
BB bets 10 BB, Hero raises to 35 BB, BB raises to 60 BB, Hero calls 25 BB

BB shows A 9 (Three of a Kind, Nines)
(Pre 27%, Flop 9%, Turn 95%)
Hero mucks Q A (Two Pair, Queens and Nines)
(Pre 73%, Flop 91%, Turn 5%)
BB wins 141.5 BB

Good luck! Nice graphs. I have tilt issues too, not jam Q3o tilt like above, but I get where you coming from.

Thank you. I hope this writing thing will help

Didn't play much yesterday.

Started playing 2NL on 888. There was a fish running like 80/20 who was also calling a lot postflop. So my gameplan was just to play very value heavy and not bluff. I was expecting the situation to be very profitable.

Played about 50 hands and missed like every single flop. Couldn't even cbet. Just ended up checking down or check folding. Bled about 20BB like this. Didn't feel like playing anymore. I knew I would be prone to start playing bad soon if this continues.

Played a freeroll tourney and made into money for about $0.30

After that played a playmoney tourney on stars and won it in a field of 171 players.
I play playmoney sometimes because I find it relaxing. Its my guilty pleasure. Its kind of fun crushing the week players.

Played a little on run it once poker just now(4NL). There were a couple of very aggro players on table. My plan was to nit it up and let them bluff. Was pretty much card dead for the whole session. Won 1 pot with AQ on an ace high flop. check called on flop and turn. River went check check. He was betting with 66 for whatever reason. Other than this hand no noticable hands happened and then table got break.

I deposited 100 euros on RIO poker at the end of last month got 50 euro bonus so started with total 150 euro. Currently at 130 euros. RIO 4NL is the a good place to practice as player level is good compared to stakes. Plus I also find the revealed hand histories is a very good way to assess your game as you can see exactly what villain had in each hand. I don't think I am a losing player in that pool just not off to a good start. I think the adjustment I need to make is to play a little bit nitty there.

Played a little on asian website at stakes equivalent to around 35NL. lost a preflop flip JJ vs KQs for about 50BB. Then lost a pot with trips vs full house for around 20BB. Decided to quite session after than. Its not good to play down money.

Studied quite a bit with GTO+ yesterday since I didn't feel like playing. I feel kind of bored again after that session on run it once so probably will study in GTO+ again.

Cool, did you had a read on him?

I was blocking queens

Have been studying a lot in past couple of days.
Been doing a lot of range analysis in equilab using GTO+ also.

I think I have made a lot of progress. Now I have much more clear idea of my range and opponents range on each street.

I have figured out my own way to simplify the solver recommended strategy. But it takes me a lot of time currently to count all the combos in my range at any given street and to figure out how many and which combos should be value bet or bluffed etc.

The next step which I will work on is to be able to do these calculations in my head(without using equilab) and also fast enough so that I can implement it during an actual hand. It will require me to be very quick in counting combos of all types of hands in my range.

Currently feeling exhausted from all the work I have done in past 2 days. I will take today off from poker to refresh my mind.

I might make a post in future about why I think simplifying the solver strategy is usefull and what are the ways that I am doing it.

I'll never understand the shove 100x pre Paisting style tilt stuff; usually when I go apeshit I throw a fist at something, swear and than rage quit, but why would you consciously make the couple of clicks necessary to shove, it doesn't look like something you would instinctively do, indeed more of a conscious choice.
Gl anyway.

Haha there is no logical explanation for why people do it.
I noticed the Paisting's thread after you mentioned him. Crazy stuff. I hav actually also played some hands with him since I am also playing some 2NL on 888.

A couple of paisting special hands:

Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 90.5 BB
MP: 124.5 BB
CO: 83 BB
Hero (BTN): 111.5 BB
SB(Paisting): 164 BB
BB: 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A A

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, SB raises to 14 BB, BB calls 13 BB, fold, Hero raises to 29 BB, SB calls 15 BB, BB calls 15 BB

Flop: (88 BB, 3 players) 8 K Q
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets 29 BB, SB raises to 135 BB and is all-in, fold, Hero calls 53.5 BB and is all-in

Turn: (253 BB, 2 players) 9

River: (253 BB, 2 players) 2

Hero shows A A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 81%, Flop 82%, Turn 89%)
SB(Paisting) shows 7 8 (One Pair, Eights)
(Pre 19%, Flop 18%, Turn 11%)
Hero wins 237.5 BB


Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 100 BB
MP: 131.5 BB
CO: 135 BB
Hero (BTN): 156 BB
SB: 46 BB
BB(Paisting): 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 9 9

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2.5 BB, fold, BB raises to 14 BB, Hero raises to 25.5 BB, BB calls 11.5 BB

Flop: (51.5 BB, 2 players) A A J
BB bets 74.5 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 74.5 BB

Turn: (200.5 BB, 2 players) 7

River: (200.5 BB, 2 players) T

Hero shows 9 9 (Two Pair, Aces and Nines)
(Pre 71%, Flop 70%, Turn 86%)
BB(Paisting) shows 5 K (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 29%, Flop 30%, Turn 14%)
Hero wins 188 BB

Today's target:

Play 5000 hands vs poker alphi (aggresive setting fastest speed) and maintain a positive winrate. I'll post the results at the end of the day.

This is so true. I only started doing this myself about 2 years ago. Before that, I was like you: I'd stay on the table and go on monkey tilt. I sometimes wouldn't even recognise when the tilt was setting in.

But now, as you say, it's as simple as recognising an undisciplined preflop decision and I immediately know that it's time to take a break.

nice to see someone else also relate to the feeling

Updates:

Played 1620 hands vs poker alphi currently losing at 7Bb/100. I dont know how good/bad is it considered. If anyone else has also played vs it pls let me know your experience.

Played about 1000 hands on 2NL on 888 and did well
Bankroll is now at $99.45 which means I will be taking shots at 5NL soon

worst played hand of the day

Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 79.5 BB
BB: 41.5 BB
Hero (UTG): 100 BB
CO: 133.5 BB
BTN: 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 9 K

Hero raises to 3 BB, CO calls 3 BB, fold, fold, fold

Flop: (7.5 BB, 2 players) 9 T 9
Hero checks, CO bets 3.5 BB, Hero raises to 10.5 BB, CO calls 7 BB

Turn: (28.5 BB, 2 players) J
Hero bets 21 BB, CO calls 21 BB

River: (70.5 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero bets 23 BB, CO raises to 99 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 42.5 BB and is all-in

Hero shows 9 K (Straight, King High)
(Pre 31%, Flop 88%, Turn 2%)
CO shows J J (Full House, Jacks full of Nines)
(Pre 69%, Flop 12%, Turn 98%)
CO wins 189 BB

Bluff of the day

Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 19 BB
CO: 140 BB
BTN: 25.5 BB
SB: 99 BB
Hero (BB): 103.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 4 2

fold, fold, fold, SB raises to 2.5 BB, Hero raises to 7.5 BB, SB calls 5 BB

Flop: (15 BB, 2 players) 9 3 7
SB bets 7.5 BB, Hero calls 7.5 BB

Turn: (30 BB, 2 players) 6
SB bets 9.5 BB, Hero raises to 23.5 BB, SB calls 14 BB

River: (77 BB, 2 players) K
SB checks, Hero bets 65 BB and is all-in, fold

Hero wins 72.5 BB

Here is the graph for last couple of days