Dear 2p2-ers,

I'm creating this blog to keep track of my micros results and becoming a better reg.
I am a returning player who used beat the micros in 2010's. Nl25 was the highest stakes I consitently beat (post rakeback, ofc).

That was during college. Then I quit to focus on my career. Haven't regretted it, but now I feel that sth is missing.
The discipline my career demands from me is not even close to what was/is needed to be a winner in online poker, even at the micros. It all feels… lukewarm without poker.

So 2 months ago I made a deposit and started grinding Nl5. After grinding 100k hands at nl5 and nl10, I now have the BR required for Nl25. Already played 40k hands there and I am BE. The sample size isn’t big enough to judge my true winrate. But I have the disturbing feeling that I have reached my skill ceiling – see topic name. : )

I think my biggest leak is spewing most in 3bet pots, calling/jamming when I know I am beat. 2nd biggest leak, similar to the 1st, is not making enough „baluga folds” in SRP-s with top pairs/overpairs. Turn minraise/raise at these stakes are mostly nuts, and yet I don't fold enough in these spots.

I intend to fix those leaks and break though the "ceiling" by posting botched hands here. I will keep track of $$ I spewed, trying to condition myself to make the same mistakes less often in the future.

But before the hands, I'd like to share my stats:



I'm an ABC player on the nittier side. My f2steal in SB is obv. too high, but I won't widen my 3bet range yet because I of spewing too much in 3bet spots. Folding is always 0 EV.

I'm open to all criticism and advice.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my post!

Hey and welcome back to the tables!

Indeed, your stats look very tight and passive.

Your SB fold to Steal 87% doesn't look high if you 3bet the remaining 13%.

I would pay attention to:
- low Raise 1st on SB. 27% is very low, you need to open 40-45% (maybe even more if the opponent is not aggressive on BB).
- high BTN Fold to 3bet. 70% looks very exploitative.
- high BB Fold to Steal (75%). You should defend your BB better by calls and 3bets.
- Low aggression on the Turn and River.
- I also wonder why your donk is so high on the river

In any case, all these leaks are easy to fix with a systematic and reflective approach.
And according to your first post, you give the impression of exactly that kind of person.

Best of luck at the tables, and may your efforts lead to continued success and growth as a player!

well you're a meganit

try using GTO preflop ranges that you can access for free at gtowizard

Thank you very much for your contribution!

I was away from the tables for a while, but now put in a 3 day marathon of 20k hands. Tried to follow your advice.

-SB open 27 > 36. Still not wide enough, but getting there.
-BTN Fto3bet 70>66. Provided that my BTN open widened up from 44 to 48, I consider this is also progress.
-BB FtoSteal 75>70. Now I'm a bit confused when I should just flatcall and when 3bet.
-Fixed the 20% river donkbet. I hadn't even been aware I did that, lol. 20 to 3,4.

Not much change on postflop aggression. My cbet% decreased as I often check in SB v BB situation. Used GTOwiz and read some articles about SB and c/c often instead of betting was the recommendation due to being OOP.

The stats in full:



And the results:



I'm proud of that chart. I managed to turn around the losing streak. I managed to do that in part because I was nearly immune to tilt.
My first 6k hand I was down 8 Buy ins, breaking even for 10k more, then I started running good, really good, eventually managed to turn it around and went up to 7.
Poker really tests your psychological resolve.

During the first 6k I was running 8+ BI-s below EV and that didn't piss me off, instead calmed me - it will end, it will end. And it ended.
Then after 15k hands, it did end. Suddenly found myself on the good side of coolers, AND regs and fish alike going crazy 3barreling and c/r AI-ing into my two pairs+ .

So can handle coolers and bad beats - I am only prone to "mistake tilt", as a result of playing badly (calling in spots in which I sweared I wouldn't).

Thanks for reading! Questionable/botched and fun hands coming soon.

Nice work on those PF stats, keep plugging away bit by bit

Questionable hand #1

Against reg

Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players

a663d5e5 (UTG): $25.00 (100 bb)
257fe46c (MP): $4.91 (20 bb)
a0cc7bcb (CO): $36.64 (147 bb)
329f255a (BU): $9.54 (38 bb)
Hero (SB): $28.03 (112 bb)
127ecce5 (BB): $25.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero (Hero) is SB with Q Q
1 fold, 257fe46c (MP) raises to $0.50, a0cc7bcb (CO) calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero (SB) 3-bets to $3, 2 players fold, a0cc7bcb (CO) calls $2.50

Flop: ($6.75) 4 T 9 (2 players)
Hero (SB) bets $2.50, a0cc7bcb (CO) calls $2.50

Turn: ($11.75) J (2 players)
Hero (SB) checks, a0cc7bcb (CO) bets $3.88, Hero (SB) calls $3.88

River: ($19.51) 4 (2 players)
Hero (SB) checks, a0cc7bcb (CO) bets $27.26 (all-in), Hero (SB) calls $18.65 (all-in)

Total pot: $56.81 (Rake: $2.25)



Analysis:
probably should have bet/folded turn instead of c/c. Calling river AI... questionable. The 4 is good, puts me ahead of JT and T9, but those would check back. Even though there are busted flushdraws, TT,99 and JJ are likely.

Questionable hand #2

Against another reg.
I lean towards botched instead of questionable here.

Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players

Hero (UTG): $30.91 (124 bb)
43dd24cd (MP): $24.90 (100 bb)
6a351dbf (CO): $25.00 (100 bb)
58037f3d (BU): $27.79 (111 bb)
5dc6eca4 (SB): $39.57 (158 bb)
9de44263 (BB): $25.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero (Hero) is UTG with J J
Hero (UTG) raises to $0.63, 1 fold, 6a351dbf (CO) 3-bets to $2, 3 players fold, Hero (UTG) calls $1.37

Flop: ($4.35) 8 3 2 (2 players)
Hero (UTG) checks, 6a351dbf (CO) bets $1.40, Hero (UTG) calls $1.40

Turn: ($7.15) T (2 players)
Hero (UTG) checks, 6a351dbf (CO) bets $6, Hero (UTG) calls $6

River: ($19.15) 7 (2 players)
Hero (UTG) checks, 6a351dbf (CO) bets $15.60 (all-in), Hero (UTG) calls $15.60

Total pot: $50.35 (Rake: $2.25)


Should have check/folded on river. They won't 3barrel with AK often. QQ+ beats us, even TT got there...
$17 thrown out the window.

Fun hand #1
Against fish.
Name: u want a flip? You'll get one!

Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players

Hero (UTG): $32.12 (128 bb)
1f33d55c (MP): $28.76 (115 bb)
b4688aa1 (CO): $19.42 (78 bb)
ba7bdb19 (BU): $25.00 (100 bb)
8eeb4641 (SB): $19.61 (78 bb)
17eb460f (BB): $23.35 (93 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero (Hero) is UTG with A Q
Hero (UTG) raises to $0.63, 4 players fold, 17eb460f (BB) calls $0.38

Flop: ($1.36) 4 6 9 (2 players)
17eb460f (BB) bets $1.36, Hero (UTG) raises to $31.49 (all-in), 17eb460f (BB) calls $21.36 (all-in)

Turn: ($46.80) 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($46.80) 5 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $46.80 (Rake: $2.25)



Note taken

Fun hand #2

Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players

8f6aeb5c (UTG): $32.26 (129 bb)[FISH]
b5168742 (MP): $25.00 (100 bb)
b0c25dfc (CO): $25.00 (100 bb)[REG]
Hero (BU): $25.00 (100 bb)
a2e816b1 (SB): $17.00 (68 bb)
51d5ded5 (BB): $39.22 (157 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero (Hero) is BTN with A A
8f6aeb5c (UTG) raises to $1, 1 fold, b0c25dfc (CO) calls $1, Hero (BU) 3-bets to $3.50, 2 players fold, 8f6aeb5c (UTG) calls $2.50, b0c25dfc (CO) calls $2.50

Flop: ($10.85) T 8 3 (3 players)
8f6aeb5c (UTG) checks, b0c25dfc (CO) checks, Hero (BU) bets $5, 8f6aeb5c (UTG) raises to $15.43, b0c25dfc (CO) raises to $21.50 (all-in), Hero (BU) calls $16.50 (all-in), 8f6aeb5c (UTG) calls $6.07

Turn: ($55.65) A (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($55.65) J (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $55.65 (Rake: $2.25)



Almost felt sorry for the reg here ( while laughed my ass off too), but neither of them should have been in this spot in the first place I think with those hands.

Fun hand #3
Name: so you trappin'? Get punished, noob!

Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 4 players

Hero (UTG): $34.09 (136 bb)
fa7f89a3 (BU): $25.00 (100 bb)
de7c4111 (SB): $11.66 (47 bb)[fish]
2e4689f3 (BB): $26.63 (107 bb)[reg]

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero (Hero) is UTG with A A
Hero (UTG) raises to $0.63, 1 fold, de7c4111 (SB) 3-bets to $1.01, 2e4689f3 (BB) 4-bets to $3.75, Hero (UTG) calls $3.12, de7c4111 (SB) 5-bets to $11.66 (all-in), 2e4689f3 (BB) 6-bets to $26.63 (all-in), Hero (UTG) calls $22.88

Flop: ($64.92) 5 9 9 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($64.92) 2 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($64.92) 5 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $64.92 (Rake: $1.74)



I was proud of just calling the 3bet to show weakness while fish behind me. Successfully induced further action from both. Outcome is LOL. At least now I have a note on the reg.

Questionable hand #3

Against fairly unkown fish.
I tend to go overbet AI with overpair+ on superwet boards like this [doule flushdraw, straight draws]. It's a simple solution, albeit not necessarily the highest EV, thus the hand is in questionable category.

Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players


acb181c0 (UTG): $26.49 (106 bb)
ca4642a8 (MP): $52.24 (209 bb)
d9b25399 (CO): $24.28 (97 bb)
d596b102 (BU): $27.01 (108 bb)
f15988a2 (SB): $25.91 (104 bb)
Hero (BB): $37.79 (151 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero (Hero) is BB with Q Q
4 players fold, f15988a2 (SB) calls $0.15, Hero (BB) raises to $0.90, f15988a2 (SB) calls $0.65

Flop: ($1.80) J 5 9 (2 players)
f15988a2 (SB) bets $0.90, Hero (BB) raises to $2.75, f15988a2 (SB) calls $1.85

Turn: ($7.30) 4 (2 players)
f15988a2 (SB) checks, Hero (BB) bets $34.14 (all-in), f15988a2 (SB) calls $22.26 (all-in)

River: ($51.82) 2 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $51.82 (Rake: $2.25)



Cons:
-They fold lots of marginal hands.
-Get called by sets, two pairs.

Pros:
-They don't fold and I'm ahead of: combo draws, pair+draw, maybe simple top pair.
-No awkard river play, or thinking what the hell to do against a turn c/r.

Hand #1 - the call looks okay on the river.

Hand #2 - yes, it's a fold.

I would definitely raise more from co and button at micros. The players are more passive and tend to play pretty poorly post flop. I am not sure what I raised but probably around 55% from button and around 30% from co. Now if you have an aggressive player on your left of course you can't raise that wide if they are 3b a lot and squeezing from the blinds. But if you can get away with it I think you maximize your ev playing more hands if you don't make to many post flop mistakes. It would depend how good your post flop skills are. The players at micros are pretty awful. I would recommend opening your ranges a little wider.

You seem to play fine. I think the JJ you raised utg I would fold pre flop to 3b vs the co unless he does this all the time. He just has QQ+ and AK most of the time if its a typical nitty multi tabling micro stakes player. You really are calling the 3b for set value which is fine if you want to gamble. He need to around 140bb deep to set mine though. If I did call here unless I flop a set when he bet I am folding here at micros. They tend to be more straight forward in these particular spots. And if he had TT he just turned a set of tens. These are spots you have think what is my opponents range. Not I have an over pair and refuse to fold. He basically has to be running a 3 barrel bluff vs someone utg who just called 3b. He knows you have a strong hand. I like how you play in general though. You play pretty well for micro stakes player. Now at low to midstakes they are a little more creative I am definitely calling the 3b cause they tend to 3b more with suited Ax blockers and stuff like that. And I would def call the flop but still fold the turn. We can find much better spots to hero call down or make a move. They are in the co 3b our utg range they tend to be really strong in these spots. Way better spots to continue with hands or make a move in 3b pot.