We should fast play our monster draws when we have one (or combination) of the following conditions:
#1 Majority equity
#2 Fold equity vs our villains
#3 Mathematically correct given the pot odds (and in some cases implied odds)

The way players overplay draws is failing to recognize situations in which it is more optimal to just draw, i.e. you have monster implied odds vs a calling station. Another is when players draw when they aren't getting the correct odds. Another is when players are chasing inferior draws: chasing a straight draw on a FD or paired board, chasing a baby flush on a multi-way pot, chasing the nut FD on a monotone board (if you hit you aren't getting paid off), etc.

The reason 2/5nl is so beatable is because villains are just pretty terrible. Yes, there are more "solid" ABC players vs 1/2nl however there are so many terrible villains that make so many horrid mistakes that for the most part, you can beat 2/5nl by just playing a basic ABC game and just bumhunting.

This isn't the case at 5/10nl. There aren't that many terrible villains and you can't bumhunt your way to profit.

The way you beat 5/10nl is by being able to beat competent ABC players that aren't going to roll over just because you raised preflop and c-bet flop. Yyou have to have a solid TAG game AND you have to be able to employ some advanced poker concepts and recognize when they are being applied against you.

If you are merely ABC competent and "solid" that is not enough to beat 5/10nl. You have to be a level above ABC competent and that is TAG.

The term and label "TAG" gets thrown around alot on here just like the term "nit" does. But I find that most players who think of themselves as TAG really aren't TAG. They are just ABC players who raise preflop and c-bet post flop. Being a real TAG is more than just that.

in any event, the above is the difference in beating 2/5nl vs 5/10nl in a nutshell.

2/5nl, 50% of your villains are still terrible. I would say 35% of the players are Level 1, 57% are level 2 and 8% are capable of Level 3+

at 5/10nl, less than 10% of your villains villains are terrible. I would say that 5% of players are Level 1, 75% are Level 2, and 20% are capable of Level 3+

So basically, you just have to be good. Sorry I can't be more specific without writing a book.

Okay, finalizing my plans tonight:

I plan to watch Hangover 3 at 9:30pm or 10:30pm showing.



Then I plan to go stuff a few bills down some G-strings at Sapphires or Rhino.



If you are in Vegas and need to take a break from the grind, send me a PM.

Ok thanks for the info. You've definitely got to commit yourself to the hand on the flop, possibly the turn in some cases.

Re: TAGs, in your opinion, what makes a good TAG and what are some weaknesses of TAGs, especially bad TAGs? Personally I believe a few weaknesses of TAGs are a) they cbet too much b) they tend to overplay big pairs like AA, KK, QQ (a bit like nits) and c) they don't bluff enough on the river (in fact with some TAGs, you know they always have a big hand when they make a large river bet). Just interested to know your thoughts. Sorry for all the questions!

how many hours do you have logged at 5/10+?

Awesome thread! Subb'd

gogogo

Awesome awesome thread man. Everything you post is very informative. Good luck in vegas. Just focus on making +EV decisions. Gl

noob question : how do you sub a thread? must sub this one!

great thread dgi lookin forward to more, GL with all your goals and hope you crush vegas

To answer this would require a book, but a quick answer on what makes a good TAG is that a good TAG uses the information he observes to create accurate ranges on his villains and then uses that information along with player profiles he has generated to make the best +EV play.

A bad TAG is a player that misapplies higher order poker concepts and fails to use the information he observes to create accurate ranges on his villains and doesn't generate accurate player profiles. They will tend to just play "the same" vs all their villains then complain about how X villain is just so terrible and they always have an excuse to justify their -EV plays... A great example of this would be a TAG trying to rep AA/KK and triple barreling vs a Level 1 calling station. After he loses, he spends the next 5 minutes berating said player for being a donk . . There are infinite examples of badness...

I have around 200 hrs logged in at 5/10nl

thx
thx and I wil try.

Top left of this thread there is a tab that says "Thread tools" click on that...

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So, I arrived in Vegas and got a super cheap room at Circus Circus, something like $30/day, $80/day on Fri/Sat so can't really beat that. Granted, I'm a little ways away from the action but meh, all I need is a bed. But I'm surprised that the room is actually not too bad.

I took a big break today and relaxed and watched Hangover 3. It was an okay movie, no where near as good as the first two but I just wanted some mindless funny. I saw the previews for Fast and Furious and wish I had seen that instead. I may see that tomorrow.

Oh, and an interesting development, I had promised Pure Aggression a while ago that if we were ever in Vegas at the same time I'd stake him in a tourney, so I'm staking him in the Daily Deep stack tomorrow. Speaking of, I decided to play that tourney as a tune up for Event #6 to get calibrated for tournament play.

I'll plan to buy my ticket for Event #6 tomorrow. I'll also post the tournament action tomorrow along with some pics of the RIO.

So, am about to go to bed and get a great nights sleep so I can crush tomorrow

I'll let you know how it goes.

Pics at Rhino or it didn't happen!

About the 33 hand flopping a set. One thing it took me a while to recognize is not being afraid of monsters under the bed.

Circus Circus?!

Nit

The Rhino didn't happen. After the movie, was too tired for tah-tahs...

So, I went to bed instead.

yeah, i know. Hard to be a ballah when you are staying at Circus Circus

I'm in vegas, msg new your number and we can meet up!

Recommend stratosphere over circus circus... Same price, better rooms and casino

Stuff like that is what tilts me, never tilt from losing a hand, only if i know i have made a mistake do i get super angry at myself.

agree. also, they don't allow pics to be taken at strip clubs. they see you do it they'll confiscate your phone and delete the pics themselves.

Well , daily deep stack just started. I took a hit, down to 12k chips, second round blinds at 50/100 30min rounds.





Just won 8k in chips Wahoo, still second round. Also, one of the biggest scumbags in poker just sat down at my table, Mike Carroll, google " mike caroll owes me money"

LOL. Sat next to him for a couple of hours my last time out there. Not a bad guy IMO, but then, he doesn't owe me money.

GL and thanks for this thread. So much left to learn (for me).

Never lend a gambler money...

Well, first break just ended. I'm at 23k and blinds are 200/400 w 50 ante

I'm 3rd in chips at the table, just 5k behind chip leader. table is fairly ABC

Over 1,000 entries, first place should be around $35k - $40k

Do you plan on needling Carrol?

I was, but you can tell he is really down on his luck. No need to kick a man when he is down

Plz do.

You are a better person than he is lol

dude the man is broke...i played with him a number of times at the 1/2NL game at the Venetian...heard hes got like 100k stuck on tilt still...