Hi!

I play nl25 zoom at the moment and try to get better and play bigger.

I would like to crush souls and dominate, but other players are also trying to win so let's see what we can do.

I'd like to play 4 tables, but then I don't play well so I just have to stick to 2 tables, unless, I somehow get better/faster to analyze spots.

I have played nl100 in the old days and was winning and now playing again.

Now I have 3k hands in PT4 and down -2,7 BIs, so try to go from there. What I have played with the pool, I should be able to win.

Hey reg_kid,

currently, zoom tables require a fairly high level of play to be competitive.
Therefore, I recommend paying attention to regular tables where you can select the best tables for play.
This can significantly affect your win rate and speed up your progression through the limits.

Best of luck at the tables!

This was really wholesome for some reason. You seem to be a great person, hope you make it and best of luck!

Ty, very nice of you to comment and give advice. I actually like that players are better, although, I don't want to lose my poker BR! I'm ready to lose some, but I'll of course quit if I'm just not up for the task. So let's see..

Ty! Luck is also very much needed!


So at the start I have already extended my dowswing (It's only downswing if I'm winning, otherwise it's only downhill or something ) and I'm now at -5 BIs. I hope the zoom sharks like that I'm providing money to the pool.


Although, this has been my biggest winning pot today 125bb ( vs biggest lost pots today have been 2x200 bbs AK vs AA) and I kind of like how I played it (as i didn't fold):

On the river I was thinking if I should jam to fold better hands, but then I though villain is not betting Kx or the nuts for this size on the river (or turn), and can I also have plenty of solid Ax so maybe he'll check some of Ax/Kx himself, so betting indicates him not having the ace or king and called. I was also blocking 7x and K4 / 44 very unlikely with 1/2 pot betting. Maybe this was an easy spot especially with the sizings villain chose.

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

Hero (BTN): 113.64 BB
SB: 123.64 BB
BB: 101.4 BB
UTG: 260.52 BB
MP: 97.12 BB
CO: 80.24 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 7 5

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2.48 BB, fold, BB calls 1.48 BB

Flop: (5.36 BB, 2 players) 4 K 7
BB checks, Hero bets 2.56 BB, BB raises to 10.24 BB, Hero calls 7.68 BB

Turn: (25.84 BB, 2 players) A
BB bets 18.52 BB, Hero calls 18.52 BB

River: (62.88 BB, 2 players) 4
BB bets 33.2 BB, Hero calls 33.2 BB

BB shows J T (One Pair, Fours)
(Pre 67%, Flop 49%, Turn 36%)
Hero shows 7 5 (Two Pair, Sevens and Fours)
(Pre 33%, Flop 51%, Turn 64%)
Hero wins 123.48 BB


I had plenty of small/medium sized pots where I could have played better.

This was bad. I don't mean pre as I only called because fish on sb and pfr was tigh so I wanted to keep his range wide. Main concern was to fold to 4b vs tight opening range, and this spot maybe better to play postflop with fish included. Maybe 3bet / fold to 4b is better and fish can still call 3bet with KJo stuff.. At least I'd 3b if aggressive regs behind and sometimes fold AJo pre. Anyways BU usually calls small pairs behind pre (other stuff too) and can have a set on the flop, but he bets weakish (although he probs does it with nuts too..) and I had the AxJd for backdoor fd and overs to raise with. The turn was a bad diamond card for me to bluff as villain might improve, and anyways I bet turn and fold to raise. I think pre was ok, flop I could call and maybe xr when I have Ad, Kd and not every combo of d (e.g. Jd). As played, I should have only bet bigger diamond cards on turn. Also do this less as I have sometimes overcards with FD to do this too, maybe also then just call flop. But I think it might be better to raise overcards with single diamond and call overcards with FD and better equity, maybe.

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

BTN: 103.96 BB
SB: 50 BB
BB: 102.92 BB
UTG: 145.84 BB
MP: 121 BB
Hero (CO): 132.08 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, MP raises to 2.48 BB, Hero calls 2.48 BB, BTN calls 2.48 BB, fold, BB calls 1.48 BB

Flop: (10.32 BB, 4 players) 4 3 4
BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks, BTN bets 3.2 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 9 BB, BTN calls 5.8 BB

Turn: (28.32 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero bets 20.24 BB, BTN raises to 40.48 BB, fold

BTN wins 65.72 BB

This can create some comments to fold AA in this 3b spot, gto would not fold. Std until turn where 8s makes TJ straight, gives set / 2pair to villain and I block Axs for his possible nutfd bluff. My range has plenty of AK, Ax so I don't think he'd turn TT,77,66-33 and midrange in to a bluff as they have showdown value. I also have AA, KK, AQ which he must think I will not fold - and makes a 3/4 bet like wants fold equity for bluffs.. Or wants to get the max value to ship river ?! Anyways I'd never fold on 6s type turn and without Axs I would have been more inclined to call. He has some bluffs for sure, but I had "a feeling" not this time, maybe. So I had some % when I call and some when I fold so maybe ok.. There must be a more exact way to think these spots..

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

BTN: 135 BB
Hero (SB): 100 BB
BB: 340.28 BB
UTG: 108.16 BB
MP: 97.68 BB
CO: 100 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (25 BB, 2 players) Q 9 2
Hero bets 9.52 BB, BTN calls 9.52 BB

Turn: (44.04 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, BTN bets 31.52 BB, fold

BTN wins 42.04 BB

My sizings here should have been 1/2 flop and bet big turn. GTO says no need for overbetting on this board. As played, I would have shipped xs (not Ks) river with my nutblocker, I kinda gave up too fast as pairing 4s I beat 2pairs with AA which is in my range and have nuts too. I could also have straight and expect villain to sometimes raise turn with straights so I could have it more often as he calls turn. So as played, maybe I should have shipped this river when 4s pair and otherwise if xs hits. Although gtowizard says 1/2 flop, big turn, I would get more folds as played if I had shipped river vs gto-ish 1/2 flop, big turn, big river. This give up cannot be 100 % bad, so maybe sometimes give up ok and sometimes shove in similar spot. Let's make it 50/50 with a handshake and as I went through this spot I hope I'll be better equipped next time in similar spot.

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

BTN: 408.64 BB
SB: 103.44 BB
BB: 99.64 BB
UTG: 101 BB
Hero (MP): 100 BB
CO: 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, Hero raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 1 BB

Flop: (4.4 BB, 2 players) K 9 Q
BB checks, Hero bets 3.12 BB, BB calls 3.12 BB

Turn: (10.64 BB, 2 players) 4
BB checks, Hero bets 18 BB, BB calls 18 BB

River: (46.64 BB, 2 players) 4
BB checks, Hero checks

BB shows K 9 (Two Pair, Kings and Nines)
(Pre 36%, Flop 82%, Turn 91%)
Hero mucks A J (One Pair, Fours)
(Pre 64%, Flop 18%, Turn 9%)
BB wins 44.56 BB

So I haven't won big pots and lost a few BIs with AK. So nothing to worry about yet and let's see how it goes in the future. nl25 players are quite solid and some are very tight, so have to be really careful how to proceed in different spots. I think my issue is that I need to plan more for future streets to come before I make plays. E.g like this:

Again smelling the weakness, let's pump it up, villain calls. My continue bluff outs were clubs (villain cbets some fd on flop) and I had the gutterball. Turn bricks and I give up. I shouldn't do this with these holdings as I can do it with proper FDs and maybe like T9, and I kind of rep a set of 5's which kind of narrow There's Q9, K5, KQ too, but anyways, maybe it's too much to have T7hh combos in there... So let's be more solid in these spots and plan ahead more.. And I just noticed I had hearts FD on turn Oh man, if I had noticed in game, I would have called and bet big clubs and hearts.. I don't think check-raise shove turn is necessarily best as played (?) - check-call and old school donk big/shove turn! It does sound like fish play, but as played I think that should have been my plan. Comments are welcome I didnt' even think backdoor hearts are also welcome, let's keep that in mind in the future streets..

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

BTN: 112.76 BB
SB: 128 BB
Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 290.16 BB
MP: 110.08 BB
CO: 115.08 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has T 7

fold, MP raises to 2 BB, CO calls 2 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 1 BB

Flop: (6.4 BB, 3 players) Q 9 K
Hero checks, MP checks, CO checks

Turn: (6.4 BB, 3 players) 5
Hero checks, MP bets 2 BB, fold, Hero raises to 16 BB, MP calls 14 BB

River: (38.4 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero checks, MP bets 18.36 BB, fold

MP wins 36.68 BB

Btw, I don't know what I was writing on Th 7h hand earlies. As played, when I get also hearts and want to use clubs as bluff, I should continue betting.

Yesterday I went from -5 BI to -3 BI total. After today in NL25 zoom I have total 4,5k hands, -5 BI. I play 21/17/7 (rounded up so looks a nicer ). Just have to get more volume and see where it goes.

Today I had a session and got stacked with KK in funny spot:

MP 3bet has also bluffs (8 % 3b total), weak player cold calls and BB shoves - BB must have JJ/QQ+, AK, even AQs if frisky. I would fold QQ, AKo ? I feel like I always see the nutties from villains.

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

BTN: 140.48 BB
SB: 100 BB
BB: 130.28 BB
Hero (UTG): 102.64 BB
MP: 105.08 BB
CO: 132.72 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 2 BB, MP raises to 6.28 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 5.88 BB, BB raises to 130.28 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 100.64 BB and is all-in, fold, fold

Flop: (217.84 BB, 2 players) 6 T J

Turn: (217.84 BB, 2 players) 5

River: (217.84 BB, 2 players) 5

Players agreed to run it twice.

Flop #2: (217.84 BB, 2 players) 4 7 2

Turn #2: (217.84 BB, 2 players) 3

River #2: (217.84 BB, 2 players) 4

BB shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Fives)
Board #1 (Pre 83%, Flop 90%, Turn 95%)
(Two Pair, Aces and Fours)
Board #2 (Pre 81%, Flop 91%, Turn 95%)

Hero shows K K (Two Pair, Kings and Fives)
Board #1 (Pre 17%, Flop 10%, Turn 5%)
(Two Pair, Kings and Fours)
Board #2 (Pre 19%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)

BB wins 104.92 BB
BB wins 104.92 BB


Then one bluffing spot, I think its Ok as I would do it with 99+ and need to have a few bluffs in the mix. Should I just skip these spots as I know what villain has and they are always inclined to call unless weaker player. Maybe try not to make villain fold full house as a bluff, or maybe I'm just lacking heart - and should put max pressure by shoving river. I wasn't even thinking about shoving so I could do just that more as bluff, then raise smaller as value because I will get called more. I don't think balance is necessary unless a villain you play against a lot. I haven't been running that well and maybe don't want to lose in these spots too much and then not willing to put the pressure.. Let's see how it goes in the future.

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

BTN: 195.12 BB
SB: 101.8 BB
BB: 133.4 BB
Hero (UTG): 101.4 BB
MP: 100 BB
CO: 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 9 J

Hero raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, BTN calls 2 BB, fold, BB calls 1 BB

Flop: (6.4 BB, 3 players) 8 6 T
BB checks, Hero bets 3.04 BB, fold, BB calls 3.04 BB

Turn: (12.48 BB, 2 players) T
BB checks, Hero checks

River: (12.48 BB, 2 players) T
BB bets 3.56 BB, Hero raises to 21 BB, BB calls 17.44 BB

Hero shows 9 J (Three of a Kind, Tens)
(Pre 67%, Flop 43%, Turn 30%)
BB shows J 8 (Full House, Tens full of Eights)
(Pre 33%, Flop 57%, Turn 70%)
BB wins 52.04 BB


Yesterday I was dealt AA x 10 and managed to get a profit of 30 bbs I'd like to see I could run a bit better, and just pick my spots better. Maybe I just need to learn how to play them aces and kings more profitably As we can see I haven't been crushing souls or dominated, but I try to improve.

Gl at the tables! Best of wishes to zoom sharks, I hope to see more speculative plays from you and less top of the range.

Are these guys for real - I need to start over folding against these guys. That style of play seems very boring It's of course ok to play whatever style and especially take my money, I was just observing that this kind of plays seem to happen in the pool, so I need to be more cautious. I think it's ok to sometimes take the passive line, but I was just wondering if this is some kind of a trend for some players to wait for the best hand in other spots too until any action.

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

BTN: 138.28 BB
SB: 49.92 BB
Hero (BB): 101.4 BB
UTG: 109.04 BB
MP: 300.8 BB
CO: 61.92 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.4 BB, 2 players) 7 9 4
Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: (6.4 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: (6.4 BB, 2 players) A
Hero checks, BTN bets 4 BB, Hero calls 4 BB

BTN shows K 8 (Flush, King High)
(Pre 39%, Flop 55%, Turn 100%)
Hero mucks T A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 61%, Flop 45%, Turn 0%)
BTN wins 13.76 BB

What site are u on? stars I guess? Also playing zoom/rush and cash NL25 and NL50 atm

In, gl

Over time you will get reads on the pool and we can open up from 21/17

What I will say is always play your opponent. It gets very easy to find out who just isn't bluffing

I play on Stars. GG rake should be crazy. I have the impression that the Rush pool is softer though. I don't think I want to play zoom/rush without proper hud, although, Rush has some kind of native hud (don't know if it's any good). I have played without a hud, but because players change all the time I just need to have some idea what are their tendencies. Normally I only look at the basic stats mostly preflop and a few postflop, so not a super hud user.


Yeh, maybe I just need some more stats of my villains. I try to rfi gto ranges, but other than that I guess I sometime defer to play tighter depending on the action and this might also show as lower vpip/pfr. I know there are plenty of things to improve in defense frequencies / aggression and how to adjust to opponents. It's good that I'm not at 11/11 and maybe 23+/22+ is too loose already (?) unless you play really well

I managed to log in solid 1,7k hands today 4 tabling. Still no victory. I got stacked 2 x KK vs AA. One major error in 3b pot for 100bb, when I just started a session and blundered. Biggest pots won were 127 bb and 88 bb so nothing major for some reason. Let's keep on grinding.

Nl25 Zoom results: 6k hands / -5 BI

Today:

Gl man , if you really wanna play only zoom tables try to keep it 2 tables for first couple months.Its better like this u will play A game way more often + you will improve faster just by playing and paying attention to everything.

Ty! That's a solid advice and I think I should do just that. I'd like to have that crazy volume, but I bet playing A game with a good concentration is better than making more mistakes / possible bad autopilot plays when 4 tabling. It seems I normally play very intuitively and really need to concentrate to analyze boards, ranges etc., so when 4 tabling I'm lacking these things Maybe I should change the title of the blog to "playing zoom 2 tabling".

So, now I have 7,7k hands total and I'm at -0,5 BI.



Yesterday I played 3-4 tabling 1k hands and was up +1. Today 600 hands first 3 tabling and then 2 tabling with +3. (After this only 2 tabling, pls..)

I have tried to pick my spots better, meaning better combos and a bit more planning (still needs a lot more improving).

In the last 1,6k hands I didn't have any crazy bluffs, just quite solid, without major errors that I noticed. I also had the big pots on my side and ran quite well.

I try to find spots for solid aggressive plays (bluffs), but somehow they don't come up as often as in regular tables where it's easier to adjust for different players because you have more information on their playing styles. I make more moves in regular tables, but I don't know if that's a good thing, as in zoom I try to give more thought and planning to my actions where in regular tables I've played more intuitively.

As an example I think this was a nice bluff I was going for although it didn't work out:
- Villain's play looked like 2pair with Ax and my line reps better + I would have shoved pretty much all hearts and 7's, and had 2s and 3s for nut outs. I don't see villain would check - call small bet on the flop with set and then lead turn. Anyhow villain loved his hand and shipped something precious. Now I can also think of a hand Ah4h that villain could ship in excitement (AA donk? but why?), if Ah4h called, my bluff outs would have been slim. My in-game thinking was not at this level (need more levels pls), as I didn't even notice that I could have 63s and the 7 would help my value range. I just went for the straight blocker + I could rep better and the hearts (which villain shouldn't have, this I knew). So maybe I'll stick to 2 tabling and really try to focus on what the board texture and the basic things in poker have to offer!


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

BTN: 104.96 BB
SB: 104.88 BB
Hero (BB): 103.32 BB
UTG: 136.2 BB
MP: 100 BB
CO: 104.72 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, fold, fold, SB raises to 3 BB, Hero calls 2 BB

Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) 9 4 5
SB checks, Hero bets 1.88 BB, SB calls 1.88 BB

Turn: (9.76 BB, 2 players) A
SB bets 6.68 BB, Hero raises to 25 BB, SB raises to 100 BB and is all-in, fold

SB wins 57.08 BB






So let's see what the next sessions bring, maybe I'll find a solid 3 barrels - win or lose, as long as it makes sense GL at the tables!

Note: mostly value against these kind of villains:

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

BTN: 272.56 BB
SB: 100 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 158.76 BB
Hero (MP): 139.4 BB
CO: 120.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, Hero raises to 2 BB, CO raises to 8.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 21 BB, CO calls 12.6 BB

Flop: (43.4 BB, 2 players) 7 9 8
Hero bets 20.68 BB, CO calls 20.68 BB

Turn: (84.76 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero bets 97.72 BB and is all-in, CO calls 78.72 BB and is all-in

River: (242.2 BB, 2 players) 7

Hero shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Sevens)
(Pre 92%, Flop 83%, Turn 91%)
CO shows J A (One Pair, Sevens)
(Pre 8%, Flop 17%, Turn 9%)
Hero wins 234.2 BB