We're off to 10nl!

2nl Graph YTD:



5nl Graph YTD:



Happy with my results so far and had my first session at 10nl this afternoon. As you can see it started off well then took a bit of a downer at the end:



Have some hands I wanted to post as well:

I'm not sure about my play here. I think with him calling my 3B and raising the flop I just didn't put him on a flush when he shoved the turn. Thoughts?

PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 455.6 BB
SB: 101.5 BB (VPIP: 35.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 21)
BB: 120.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
UTG: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
MP: 297.7 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
CO: 231.1 BB (VPIP: 26.67, PFR: 13.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 6 7

fold, fold, CO raises to 2.2 BB, Hero raises to 7.5 BB, fold, fold, CO calls 5.3 BB

Flop: (16.5 BB, 2 players) 5 3 8
CO checks, Hero bets 10.5 BB, CO raises to 30.7 BB, Hero calls 20.2 BB

Turn: (77.9 BB, 2 players) 9
CO checks, Hero bets 47.5 BB, CO raises to 192.9 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 145.4 BB

River: (463.7 BB, 2 players) T

CO shows A 2 (Flush, Ace High)
(Pre 53%, Flop 70%, Turn 100%)
Hero shows 6 7 (Straight, Ten High)
(Pre 47%, Flop 30%, Turn 0%)
CO wins 448.7 BB

Not sure how else this can be played but please critique away!

PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 163.6 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 26.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)
SB: 99 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: 100.00, Hands: 1)
BB: 93.5 BB (VPIP: 23.86, PFR: 19.32, 3Bet Preflop: 13.51, Hands: 91)
UTG: 125.4 BB (VPIP: 57.14, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
MP: 116.6 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 50.00, Hands: 7)
Hero (CO): 297.6 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, MP raises to 2.5 BB, Hero raises to 7.5 BB, BTN calls 7.5 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 5 BB

Flop: (24 BB, 3 players) 9 2 7
MP checks, Hero bets 16.5 BB, fold, MP calls 16.5 BB

Turn: (57 BB, 2 players) J
MP checks, Hero bets 39.5 BB, MP calls 39.5 BB

River: (136 BB, 2 players) 4
MP bets 53.1 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 53.1 BB

MP shows 2 A (Flush, Ace High)
(Pre 32%, Flop 24%, Turn 30%)
Hero shows Q Q (One Pair, Queens)
(Pre 68%, Flop 76%, Turn 70%)
MP wins 231.3 BB

Maybe take another line OTT?

PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 101.7 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
SB: 91.6 BB (VPIP: 28.57, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 8)
Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 108.7 BB (VPIP: 26.57, PFR: 18.36, 3Bet Preflop: 8.43, Hands: 214)
MP: 130 BB (VPIP: 25.86, PFR: 25.86, 3Bet Preflop: 19.23, Hands: 58)
CO: 19 BB (VPIP: 26.09, PFR: 13.04, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 23)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, MP raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 2.5 BB, Hero raises to 10.5 BB, MP calls 7.5 BB, fold

Flop: (24 BB, 2 players) 5 4 Q
Hero bets 16 BB, MP calls 16 BB

Turn: (56 BB, 2 players) K
Hero bets 33.5 BB, MP calls 33.5 BB

River: (123 BB, 2 players) 6
Hero bets 40 BB and is all-in, MP calls 40 BB

Hero shows A A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 81%, Flop 14%, Turn 5%)
MP shows Q Q (Three of a Kind, Queens)
(Pre 19%, Flop 86%, Turn 95%)
MP wins 193.9 BB

Thanks for all your help guys, helping me keep on moving up!

Solid results Jake, keep it up.

The hands look good. With the QQ I'd size down otf, and up on the turn but it's no biggie - as played it's ugly but you can't really fold with spr.

AA last hand is a definite turn bet. He has a bunch of flush drawsm Qx and Kxhh that we wanna charge. wp and ul

Haven't had the greatest start at 10nl but I think I'm beginning to make some adjustments, people aren't stacking off as light so I'm having to try and change my bet sizes a bit to force them into calling rivers. Hopefully on the beginning of an uptick now and get some traction here!



This is a spot where I think I should have squeezed bigger pre, I think people are still coming along.

PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 106.8 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
SB: 100 BB
Hero (BB): 152.9 BB
UTG: 97.5 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
MP: 168.6 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
CO: 185.4 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 5)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, CO calls 3 BB, fold, SB calls 2.5 BB, Hero raises to 12 BB, UTG calls 9 BB, CO calls 9 BB, SB calls 9 BB

Flop: (48 BB, 4 players) 2 T 3
SB checks, Hero bets 28.5 BB, fold, CO calls 28.5 BB, fold

Turn: (105 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, CO bets 50.2 BB, Hero raises to 112.4 BB and is all-in, CO calls 62.2 BB

River: (329.8 BB, 2 players) 3



I think I made someones day with this river shove....

PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 161.3 BB (VPIP: 44.44, PFR: 44.44, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 9)
Hero (SB): 125.7 BB
BB: 98.5 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 25.00, Hands: 10)
UTG: 104.7 BB (VPIP: 20.59, PFR: 17.65, 3Bet Preflop: 7.69, Hands: 34)
MP: 89 BB (VPIP: 29.17, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 24)
CO: 56.8 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 30.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7 7

UTG raises to 3 BB, MP calls 3 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 2.5 BB, fold

Flop: (10 BB, 3 players) 5 7 8
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP bets 6.2 BB, Hero calls 6.2 BB, fold

Turn: (22.4 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, MP bets 8.6 BB, Hero raises to 20.5 BB, MP calls 11.9 BB

River: (63.4 BB, 2 players) J
Hero bets 60 BB, MP calls 59.3 BB and is all-in



I can't even begin to understand the rivver call but I think some people have a low opinion of my play...

PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 210.8 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
SB: 136.4 BB (VPIP: 21.74, PFR: 21.74, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 23)
Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 110.7 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 11)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 12.50, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 8)
CO: 105.3 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, CO raises to 2.5 BB, BTN calls 2.5 BB, fold, Hero calls 1.5 BB

Flop: (8 BB, 3 players) K 9 5
Hero checks, CO bets 4.8 BB, BTN calls 4.8 BB, Hero calls 4.8 BB

Turn: (22.4 BB, 3 players) Q
Hero checks, CO checks, BTN bets 11 BB, Hero raises to 25.5 BB, fold, BTN calls 14.5 BB

River: (73.4 BB, 2 players) 7
Hero bets 67.2 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 67.2 BB



Contrary to what I wrote above, bombing the river does sometimes work when people are going to be put in the position of having to fold flushes.

PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 135.2 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 75.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
SB: 110.5 BB (VPIP: 44.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 26)
BB: 130.8 BB (VPIP: 13.04, PFR: 13.04, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 23)
Hero (UTG): 128.9 BB
MP: 112.7 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 29)
CO: 101.8 BB (VPIP: 28.57, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 3 3

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

Flop: (10.5 BB, 3 players) 3 J 5
Hero bets 7 BB, CO calls 7 BB, fold

Turn: (24.5 BB, 2 players) K
Hero checks, CO bets 11.7 BB, Hero calls 11.7 BB

River: (47.9 BB, 2 players) 3
Hero bets 107.2 BB and is all-in, CO calls 80.1 BB and is all-in



Outside of poker I've been working from home studying for my next set of exams and have a two day case study today and tomorrow that's going to be a ball ache.

I went to the Ritz Club for the first time on Tuesday night and had a great laugh although the hangover yesterday was relatively savage. Worth it though, good cigars and better whiskey. Definitely couldn't take any photos but if you get the chance to go it's worth seeing.

Other than that I've been trying to get into the gym as much as possible and improve my diet. I saw a fitness/health guy at my gym and my ideal weight is around 74-75kg and when I had the cconsultation I was 62kg (oops). Since then I've been on a bit of a mission to sort this out and am currently sitting at 67.2 kg. I'm happy with my progress so far, I'm moving up in what I can lift in the gym (quicker than I'm moving up in stakes thank god) and I feel better in general. A long way to go but I'm loving being back in the gym again.

10NL is all about the question "does anyone bluff here?". It's the last limit, IMO, at which you bet/fold super wide for value Vs fish and just stab at weak ranges Vs regs (though there are still spots this applies further up).

Sent from my Moto G Play using Tapatalk

Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure to keep this in mind when playing!

True dat.

m/over, 10nl zoom if you don't have hard evidence to the contrary (which is frequently the case) it's pretty safe to assume the answer is "no one".

Shame you couldnt come out : (

H1 KK on T82ddx -

Pre sizing good, flop fine.

Turn not a great spot as he's going to have a ton of flushes here as the overcaller; if it were UTG I wouldnt be concerned.

When he flats the UTG raise and overcalls UTGs flat he's going to have tons of suited cards like KJdd 98dd etc.

H2 - 77 on 875t

This is a day and night raise OOP in a multiway pot IMO - why did you decide toflat?

H3 - 99 on K95

As above - if you can justify why youre flatting based on the pool then ok, but you should be raising an absolute ton of hands here in the BB if you think people fold too much.

H4 33 hand

wp

Fancy ritz living

H1 was curious so messed around with some ranges in PokerEquityCalculatorThing TM







The fold eq calc numbers bit arbitrary but essentially theres 1psb left OTT after you check.

Was pleasantly surprised to see that your equity is actually pretty good; I imagine its partly because the Td blocks a lot of the cold-callers flush draws OTF as you can see from the hand range I assigned.

If you take out the 50% AdKx AdQx hands your equity drops to about 33% so its still just about a call netting you about tree fiddy (cents).


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what mf app is that

Thanks for the analysis mate! I def should be raising H2 and H3 in hindsight. I know we've talked about this in the past as well.... Bad Jake.

Looks like PokerCruncher to me.

^

Time for an update!

First and foremost I'm going to come clean, I got murdered at 10nl.



I thought long and hard about why I'm losing so spectacularly and the reason is that I just autopilot post flop FAR too much. I think I have a reasonably solid preflop strategy but it's all for nothing as I'm just doing 0 thinking post flop.

I have since moved down and I'm grinding back up and the difference I'm seeing when I turn off all distractions and just really think about my opponents ranges is massive. I don't want to say I had a 'eureka' moment but yeah, it really felt like it.

I've reached out to a friend in poker regarding any recommendations for coaching. I think it's a good idea for me. I don't have the time that some people have to put into poker so I need to try and optimise my time and get the most out of it. I know I'm never going to be a high stakes crusher but I still want to get as good as I can.

I'm not playing much live at the moment but I did have a great 'home' game the other night. Forgive the drink, it was about 5-6 am and there wasn't much left.



Outside of poker I'm finally into a bit of a quieter period at work and that should last over the summer. I'm cramming for exams and keeping up studying Russian but keeping to a really solid routine that is helping me keep everything together.

I've been on a training course down in Greenwich the last couple of days, a part of London I've never been to. On one of the lunch breaks I walked up to the observatory and took a picture of my normal habitat.



I'm no photographer but it's a nice view.

Nothing much planned on the live MTT front. I was planning to go and play the UK Student Poker Open SHR but I think I'm going to give it a miss and stay in London. I think the Pokerstars Live Megastack event is going to be the next event in all probability.

Anyway, off back to the office...

love the stack photo haha, how much is that??

Yeah lovely pic that, green park lush as well london surprisingly has a lot of nice areas like that in the right places.

I probably wouldnt worry/think too much about those results at circa 15k hands. Your AI equity looks pretty good, although your WWSF (won when saw flop) is quite low at 42%. This generally suggests you should be fighting for pots more, try probing more turns with ATC OOP after the flop goes xx.

Again lol sample size. If you want WA me I'll send you a HUD template that you can analyse your stats with.

gl


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Argh, got battered again today.

I think I really need to have a look at whether poker is going to be part of my future as it has been in the past. My life has changed a lot in the last couple of years, new job, moving in with girlfriend etc.

I have never really beaten poker over a big sample for anything bigger than 10nl online, never had a 4 figure online score and never really known deep down if I'm a winning player.

I know that I'll always be a recreational player and I'm absolutely fine with that, it's what I want, but the enjoyment just isn't there that often for me anymore. I'm wondering if it's time to stop losing mine and my backers money and to hang up the cards? I do believe that deep down I can be/am a winning player, I've been able to succeed at pretty much everything else I've ever tried, but I also know that it's thoughts like that that feed the players at the top and keep the game alive.

Maybe it's time for just Life in London?

:'(

Since that totally sums me up (cept I've had two four-figure scores ) notwithstanding the massive difference in our ages, meaning you probably have an ocean more usable IQ than I do, let me give you a very simple piece of advice (well two bits actually)

You cannot have a life (well, one that involves other people) and be a successful online crusher (meaningful stakes). Check out the blogs of some of the online end bosses and see when they are playing (8pm - 2am, and weekends).

And live...yeah the edges are massively bigger, but variance always hovering over you like the angel of death and always gonna bite sometime.

Be a rec mate...you can still be a poker boss, and enjoy it as freaking awesome hobby.

PS your Zoom sample sizes are too small to make meaningful conclusions.

PPS Someone will be along swiftly to disagree coz its 2+2 innit, but you know what I'm getting at.

I'm a keen follower of your blog among others and first of all I would like to thank you and congratulate you on being so honest and open. A lot of blogs like these would have you believe that being a winning player is just a matter of course, when we all know that is far from the case.

I will also say that I have exactly the same thoughts and doubts about my own game. What was quite harrowing for me was that I gave up all gambling for Lent, partly because I wanted to save money for a stag do in June, and at the end of the six weeks I had saved more than I have in a while as I wasn't punting off at the Vic! So I know where you are coming from in regards to thinking about jacking it in.

London I think is unique to a lot of the other poker communities that most of the 2p2 community inhabit because we still have comparatively so little poker offerings compared to anyone living in the US. Where 1/2 is often the lowest of the low across the pond, with pros able to move up to 2/5 and beyond and consistently get games with weak opponents at higher stakes, for us 1/2 is usually it, save for the odd 2/5 that runs in the Vic or LSQ at busy times.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I can't sit down at 1/2 with £400 and dust it off like it's nothing - £400 is a lot of money. Downswings can hit hard and last a long time, so I don't think there is any shame in playing the odd Mega Stack / 25/25 every few months or so to keep poker as an enjoyable hobby which doesn't drain financially but could provide a welcome boost of a few grand should we get lucky.

I hope the tone of this hasn't come across as patronising or condescending as my intention could not be further from it - I'm actually refreshed and encouraged that I'm not the only one who thinks like that and fair play to you for sharing your honesty with us!

If we're going out, lets go out swinging. UKSPC SHR package:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/18.../#post52098337

looking at that grind station you are a serious hobbyist, nice room too. I can tell you really love poker from this thread.Not many people that live in west London in a pad like that grind 5nl for fun haha. Nice pink chinos, I have a bright blue pair that i bring out for a day at the races, put with a blazer and tie and hat. One of my friends said i looked like a minor Royal but i think they were mocking me gently.

Hey man, great thread.

Gonna give the Baby 5-0 at the Vic a spin this weekend, I see from your posts you've played it before. Do you or anyone ITT have any info on the levels? Not much info on The Vic website.

Any other tips you have would be great as well, never played a live tournament in my life. Looking forward to this one though!

Keep up the good work, good luck at the tables

There's a guy called Elmerixx (or welly_xx) who I believe got a degree, a wife and a kid and if I remember correctly: He's pretty good at playing cards..

People have harder jobs and schedules than poker player, so it's definitely possible to have a normal life, and grind online poker, regardless the stakes. It all comes down what you really want to do, and how can you make time for it. If you want to have a family AND play poker, then you'll need to work harder to get everything to fit together.

Played it a couple of times for lols. Turns into a turbo pretty quickly. Be super aggro when the blinds start to matter, plenty of nits in this tourney who don't have a clue how to play short stacked.

Cheers Mike, figured it'd be fairly turbo alright but good to know! Hopefully I can make a good run. Thanks again


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Been off the tables for a long time due to exams but they're over for now!

Will be playing the Megastack at the Hippo this weekend, time to ship one.

Might post a proper update of the last few months if anyone's still about...

Jake