Hey, hows things?

Quick mid month update since moving to GG. The games feel incredibly soft compared to stars with people seemingly just splashing about but unfortunatley Im not bearing the fruit of that as Im running just short of 20 buy ins below EV for the month which is a pain.



I also don't know how best to describe it but something just feels off about how the games feel at GG and Im seeing a lot of things happen that were very rare on Stars, obviously could just be variance but Im seeing so many quads V full houses on double paired boards, just really bad coolers that seem to be happening a lot more than I saw on Stars. Now despite how my graph looks I feel like ive benefited from the above as much as I have lost so im not complaining about that more just a feel thing.

Tilt wise despite how I have run there has really only been one episode this month and probably all that happened was it leading to a couple of light calls so nothing major.

Im still struggling in 3bet pots and have not got to that part in the from the ground up series as I obviously need some work in that area but I do feel thats probably the area that I am running the worst and thats going to be costly.

This hand I played in a session earlier can be used to sum up my month:-

GG Poker - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 267 BB
SB: 101.8 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 137 BB
MP: 223.8 BB
Hero (CO): 101.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, MP raises to 2.6 BB, Hero raises to 10.2 BB, fold, fold, fold, MP calls 7.6 BB

Flop: (21.8 BB, 2 players) T 6 5
MP checks, Hero bets 11 BB, MP calls 11 BB

Turn: (43.8 BB, 2 players) 4
MP checks, Hero bets 22 BB, MP calls 22 BB

River: (87.8 BB, 2 players) 7
MP bets 87.8 BB, Hero calls 58.2 BB and is all-in



It was not even a surprise to see the villains hand when the cards were flipped and Im not sure I play it any different, happy with the turn bet size given the nut draw. From a different point of view I have to love his play as I guess the flop call can be justified but the tun call looks pretty bad and he lucks in to the nuts. On the plus side I feel he probably stacks off the river on a total brick.

Not too bad mate. I'm working my way back up through the limits again and enjoying working on my game.

You up for doing some sweats soon?

Good to see you back btw bro

Good stuff, I probably wouldn't have time for sweats as I never plan when Im going to play but thanks for the offer. Im mainly doing it to fill down time otherwise I end up going stir crazy but I must say on the whole I am enjoying it for the moment. Im still really not sure what Im doing as I never really played 6max before I quit those years back so its all pretty new to me, Ive just seen you have a thread so will keep checking in. Good to see that you have kept playing and look to be doing well but obviously sorry to hear about your struggles but really glad you seem to be making progress.

Also saw you had been coaching which I think is brill and ignoring the knobber who said you shouldn't be. I think helping other people is a great way of helping with your own personal struggles and Im sure you can add plenty of value to anyone looking to improve.

Is this sort of stuff standard at 6max? Im still getting battered in 3/4bet pots to the point Im feel like Im playing blind, the hands that people show up with seem so out of kilt with what I think they should be showing up with.

GG Poker - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 100 BB
SB: 138.6 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 233.2 BB
MP: 104.8 BB
CO: 191.8 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has K A

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2.6 BB, SB raises to 9.8 BB, fold, Hero raises to 29 BB, SB calls 19.2 BB

Flop: (59 BB, 2 players) Q K T
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (59 BB, 2 players) T
SB checks, Hero checks

River: (59 BB, 2 players) 3
SB bets 44.4 BB, Hero calls 44.4 BB



Whats my play on that flop? Im just so scared of betting to the point I just expect to be beat here so often. By the way it gets to the river though I convince myself villain has nuts or air and I can't see him having Tx in his range having not bet the turn.

Just watching the next video in the From The Ground Up series that I purchased which is called Pyramidal Defense. Even this one video makes me realise just how much I have to learn about playing poker. Im like 99% sure that most of my tilt issues are not actually down to me thinking Im unlucky but actually down to me been bad at poker or specifically been frustrated that I have made a bad play that in the cold light of day I know I shouldn't make.

On the plus side it does make me quite excited that I feel I have so much that I can improve on but am still able to win at a decent amount so I really need to take that as a positive as at the moment I almost feel like I am simply clicking buttons and playing a very basic strat which although is enough to win at the micros, its a long way of where I need to be if I want to move up with confidence.

Range bet 1/4 or 1/5. You need to fix your mental game…

Having confidence in your game will go a long way towards reducing any tilt issues. Even if it's false confidence.

What I mean by that is when you're playing, you should have the mindset that you are a great player and every decision you make is correct. Of course it's crucial that you post hands and review them after the fact in order to learn which decisions you actually got wrong.

Never thought of that.

I jest, in all honesty its probably not fixable. Ive worked with 2 of the most well know tilt coaches in the business and unfortunatley neither had much affect on me.

I think a lot of what you say there is right. Even just having some confidence in decisions can go a long way. For some reason Ive always struggled with calling down light even though results say I could fold and print money but I struggle to see the longterm nature and just see that one instance.

Anyway thought I had hit a bit of run good here turning a set on the turn. I am so and so with the bet on the flop but really theres not a lot in the villains range that can stand heat BTN V BB. Turn is lovely, river is even better, obviousy he is very unlikely to have AK/AQ and I think a shove here is higher EV than a reasonable sized bet trying to get a call off any weak aces in his range which I do.

GG Poker - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 126.6 BB
SB: 491.2 BB
BB: 89.4 BB
UTG: 105.2 BB
MP: 367 BB
CO: 354.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 2 2

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2.6 BB, fold, BB calls 1.6 BB

Flop: (5.6 BB, 2 players) K A Q
BB checks, Hero bets 4.2 BB, BB calls 4.2 BB

Turn: (14 BB, 2 players) 2
BB checks, Hero bets 10.6 BB, BB calls 10.6 BB

River: (35.2 BB, 2 players) A
BB checks, Hero bets 109.2 BB and is all-in, BB calls 72 BB and is all-in

This spot seems to be happening quite a bit, am I missplaying these spots?

GG Poker - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 116.8 BB
SB: 102.6 BB
Hero (BB): 102.8 BB
UTG: 100 BB
MP: 101 BB
CO: 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has J A

fold, fold, CO raises to 2.4 BB, BTN calls 2.4 BB, fold, Hero raises to 12 BB, fold, BTN calls 9.6 BB

Flop: (26.8 BB, 2 players) A 7 J
Hero bets 9 BB, BTN calls 9 BB

Turn: (44.8 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero bets 22.4 BB, BTN raises to 95.8 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 59.4 BB and is all-in

River: (208.4 BB, 2 players) 8



Pre I think either call/3bet are fine, villain was pretty loose so I lent towards 3betting. Caller I think his range at this point is usually PP's hence the small bet on the flop but once he calls the flop then raises the turn can I lay that down?

Thats a decision I really struggle with and in the cold light of day does the villain look at a hand like AQ or whatever and suddenly go all in on the turn? Probably not.

Or do I just chalk it up as a cooler that will even itself out in time? At the moment in 3bet pots I seem to either lose a big pot or win a small pot. Can anyone recommend any good filters I can run to check these spots?

Turn raises are generally strong, but I'm never folding top 2 there.

EV of folding AJo

Thanks for that, would you mind explaining how to read that as Im not fully sure I understand it.

Basically it's showing the EV of folding those hands.

Negative numbers just mean it's -EV to fold those hands. That's why AJ, JJ and 77 are all the most negative.

Now a hand like AQ is -26.99 which means folding it would -EV, however since it's not as negative EV, it probably wouldn't be as big of a mistake to deviate and actually fold it in practice.

Ah right got you. Thanks for showing that, so even A5s is still a pretty clear call in that spot. Im surprised at AK but I guess occasionally someone with AQ will think its the nuts.

Maybe Im just overthinking 3bet pots too much just because a couple of filters Ive run seem to suggest I am making money playing them but maybe Im just remembering the times I ran in to sets etc. I had another in my last session where I got raised on the flop in a 3bet pot and I have the nut flush draw and re-draws and at the time I thought my shove was a huge mistake.

GG Poker - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 115.4 BB
Hero (SB): 109.8 BB
BB: 101.4 BB
UTG: 133.6 BB
MP: 100 BB
CO: 100 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, CO raises to 2.6 BB, fold, Hero raises to 10.8 BB, fold, CO calls 8.2 BB

Flop: (22.6 BB, 2 players) 6 A 4
Hero bets 7.6 BB, CO raises to 24 BB, Hero raises to 99 BB and is all-in, CO calls 65.2 BB and is all-in

Turn: (201 BB, 2 players) 8

River: (201 BB, 2 players) 8



In my head I just said what an idiot I should be able to fold as his range is always 66/44 but I guess he could have AK/AQ or even KhQh type hands and even though its a bit far fetched possible 75 although its unlikely. Add those in and Im not sure I made a big mistake but not 100% sure.

Last months results:-



Not a clue what is going on with my redline, really didn't think I changed how I were playing that much. Either way was a yucky month.

This month not started well and a decent sized hole to dig out of to begin the month:-



Im just calling way too light, had JJ V QQ, QQ V KK type stuff multiple times but honestly when people 4 bet I probably should just fold as people are not that light. Again 3bet pots are a huge struggle for me as people do appear to be playing quite face up when betting although I am seeing people are more than happy to just call down with trash which does make some of the bluffs I have run seem quite pointless and i think I can tone that down considerably. Facing a raise I need to just fold unless its a part stacked player in which case I can probably go to SD and be good enough to make it profitable.

This is a pretty decent example of how my 3bet pots are going:-

GG Poker - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 114.4 BB
SB: 125.2 BB
Hero (BB): 119 BB
UTG: 82 BB
MP: 127 BB
CO: 101.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, CO raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 10 BB, CO calls 8 BB

Flop: (20.4 BB, 2 players) 5 2 7
Hero bets 11.2 BB, CO calls 11.2 BB

Turn: (42.8 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero bets 21.4 BB, CO calls 21.4 BB

River: (85.6 BB, 2 players) T
Hero checks, CO bets 58.8 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 58.8 BB



River a check/fold? Im basically hoping for JJ at this point but in theory with what the villain showed up with he could have a 1 pair busted Spade draw but he probably does not bet that.