I turned 40 this year and it seems the right time to see if I can improve my poker skills. This thread is to keep me focused, help me learn and provide motivation. I’ve been playing Zoom on and off for a couple of years and I’m pretty much a breakeven player. This has been an up and down path at limits up to NL50. I read a lot about poker and about a month ago I read to the mental game of poker. Like many poker books before it I read it and pushed it aside.
Generally I load up a session and play. Sometimes I make money, but other times it seems to go horribly wrong. I’m hoping I have some of the fundamentals right, but I really lack disciple. Off the back of a bad downswing I remembered something from the mental game of poker on coping with tilt and studying. I went back and read it and there it was a disciplined approach to studying poker. I’m really curious if it works, so this is about applying the principles on improving my mental game to beat zoom.
So the plan is to study poker. In a lot of different places they recommend equal times studying to playing poker. There is also a circular approach to it involving studying and analysing between sessions. The approach including work straight after, away from the tables and before the a session.
I’m going to start with NL5 Zoom full ring as this is where I have been playing the most recently. I want to beat this before changing to 6 max and then move up. I find it really nitty and there are more players at 6 max, but I just have this overwhelming desire to beat the game. I actually think I am more motivated by beating it than the money side of it or building a bank roll.
I’m going to try and post 2 to 3 hands at a time and would appreciate any feedback on them. I’ll also be trying to follow other threads and looking for study groups on skype if anyone is interested.
I live near and work in London, where I have just started playing live games. Live the losses can be a lot bigger and going out and dropping 5 buy-ins is just not an option for me. So I’m curious if improving my online game and discipline can be translated to the live arena, but this is probably more a 2017 goal!
Goals for the rest of 2016:
[ ] Play regular sessions
[ ] Review play after each session
[ ] Dedicated Study session away from the table
[ ] Post hands I am having difficulty with
[ ] Review notes before sessions
[ ] Comment on other hands
[ ] Beat the games and move up

Last night I kept to the plan. Other than just launching some tables and playing I reviewed difficult hands and my notes before playing. After a few breathing exercises I set a timer and launched one table of zoom before adding a second after about 10 mins. I took regular breaks every hour and tried to focus on my leaks. Pre flop I think I am OK mostly, but sometimes call too loosly when I could 3 bet. Post flop I float too many flops and tend to be a bit passive when I don't have the betting lead. Not having a plan for the hand. Session was good, not the longest session, but up two buyins.

This is a hand that has been bothering me for a few days. I'm curious as to what people think of it. I think my shove would be better if the stacks were deeper and the villains pot size raise on the turn puts me in a really tough position. With the cards as they are I don't have the odds to call, but looking at his range could the villain have a draw. I only had 5 hands on the villain at the time, but he was 80/20 for those. Not a great sample, but it does imply that they are playing a lot of hands. Thoughts?


PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 46.6 BB (VPIP: 19.72, PFR: 7.04, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 71)
Hero (SB): 188 BB
BB: 96 BB (VPIP: 75.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
UTG: 332 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)
UTG+1: 118.2 BB (VPIP: 18.59, PFR: 14.97, 3Bet Preflop: 4.83, Hands: 358)
MP: 112.2 BB (VPIP: 15.38, PFR: 13.68, 3Bet Preflop: 4.35, Hands: 119)
MP+1: 166.8 BB (VPIP: 9.64, PFR: 7.86, 3Bet Preflop: 4.58, Hands: 968)
MP+2: 228 BB (VPIP: 31.43, PFR: 18.57, 3Bet Preflop: 5.77, Hands: 142)
CO: 170 BB (VPIP: 26.36, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 2.27, Hands: 112)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, UTG+1 raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, CO calls 3 BB, fold, Hero calls 2.6 BB, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (12 BB, 4 players) 2 6 K
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 bets 6 BB, CO calls 6 BB, Hero calls 6 BB, BB calls 6 BB

Turn: (36 BB, 4 players) Q
Hero checks, BB bets 34.6 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 179 BB and is all-in, BB calls 52.4 BB and is all-in

River: (210 BB, 2 players) 3

Hero shows A Q (One Pair, Queens)
(Pre 76%, Flop 47%, Turn 27%)
BB shows K Q (Two Pair, Kings and Queens)
(Pre 24%, Flop 53%, Turn 73%)
BB wins 201.2 BB

I've been looking at my full ring stats for Zoom over the last 3 months. I'm playing 19/14, which is a bit loose. Of the players I have hands on most are playing a lot tighter and the 4 point gap between the two stats is a bit high. Need to call less! My agression is 1.8 so also a bit low and my 3 bet is 4.5, which although higher than average for players I have hands on is still lower than I would like. I've read Nathan Williams (Blackrain79) two books and tend to take guidance from them on these things.

The stat that is bothering me most is WTSD which is 32%, most of the players I have a lot of hands on have a much lower WTSD and I think the recomended is about 23 from what I've read. From looking at my stats I think this is from play when I am not the agressor. My fold to Cbet is 39% flop, 28% turn and 32% river. I've got notes to try and avoid calling down cbets, but I do worry I've been a calling station.

For this afternoon I'm planning on picking 2 to 3 players I have a lot of hands on and reviwing their stats in pokertracker. I'm going to go through their big and showdown hands and write some notes. If anyone has any suggestions on the best way to review play and openents in pokertracker or any resources on this then please let me know.

Studying is going well. I've only played 1,500 hand since Friday which is low for me and a lot of work away from the table. I'm up 2 buyins, but this is low volume. Work away from the table is going well. I played a bit of snap on 888 last night as I wanted to do it in front of the TV. Not going to count 888 toward the goal in this as the lack of a hud means it is a different beast and I tend to play higher stakes there.

This is a really annoying hand the villan I have no hands on, but the other villan I had a lot and he had a fold to 3 bet of 0%. I think I need to bet the turn to avoid his draws, but there is no way I can see to do this without getting stacks in. I wonder if I should of bet smaller on the flop, but again the danger is the draws. The hand was bugging me through a session and I kept going back to it in my head. Probably just a cooler.



PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $10.26 (VPIP: 13.08, PFR: 0.93, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 108)
SB: $5.14 (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)
Hero (BB): $8.11
UTG: $5.20 (VPIP: 14.21, PFR: 4.58, 3Bet Preflop: 0.81, Hands: 2,106)
UTG+1: $2.55 (VPIP: 13.10, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 5.88, Hands: 87)
MP: $5.42 (VPIP: 17.44, PFR: 13.88, 3Bet Preflop: 8.77, Hands: 287)
MP+1: $20.04 (VPIP: 13.22, PFR: 8.07, 3Bet Preflop: 2.03, Hands: 1,947)
MP+2: $8.30 (VPIP: 7.76, PFR: 5.17, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 116)
CO: $6.37 (VPIP: 13.15, PFR: 10.11, 3Bet Preflop: 6.44, Hands: 1,158)

SB posts SB $0.02, Hero posts BB $0.05

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.07) Hero has A A

fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, CO raises to $0.15, fold, SB calls $0.13, Hero raises to $0.70, CO calls $0.55, SB calls $0.55

Flop: ($2.10, 3 players) 5 6 Q
SB checks, Hero bets $1.33, fold, SB calls $1.33

Turn: ($4.76, 2 players) T
SB checks, Hero bets $4.56, SB calls $3.11 and is all-in

River: ($10.98, 2 players) J

Gl man!

I would agree that the last hand is a cooler, SB is pretty optimistic calling twice preflop with QTo in that position too, I would expect him to be showing up with AQ/KQ/QJs far more often.

Third bullet example. The flop is a bit of an optimistic positional float hoping to pick it up on the turn. When I am bet to on the turn I bet big to try and get a fold. Turn is no help, but a draw comes in. I'm putting the villan on either a weak ace or underpair to the ace. I thought about it a bit and overbet the pot. I know if I check I win nothing. Just wondering what peoplee think of this spot and my play.


PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $9.16 (VPIP: 15.30, PFR: 8.79, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 185)
SB: $5.10 (VPIP: 13.36, PFR: 10.41, 3Bet Preflop: 3.63, Hands: 955)
BB: $14.82 (VPIP: 11.16, PFR: 6.90, 3Bet Preflop: 2.52, Hands: 430)
UTG: $5.00 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)
UTG+1: $5.16 (VPIP: 18.03, PFR: 14.75, 3Bet Preflop: 5.00, Hands: 123)
MP: $5.97 (VPIP: 16.04, PFR: 11.60, 3Bet Preflop: 3.00, Hands: 592)
MP+1: $7.08
MP+2: $7.86 (VPIP: 42.86, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 25.00, Hands: 7)
Hero (CO): $5.07

SB posts SB $0.02, BB posts BB $0.05

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.07) Hero has T Q

fold, fold, fold, MP+1 raises to $0.15, fold, Hero calls $0.15, fold, fold, BB calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.47, 3 players) A 3 2
BB checks, MP+1 bets $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, BB calls $0.25

Turn: ($1.22, 3 players) 6
BB checks, MP+1 checks, Hero bets $1.00, fold, MP+1 calls $1.00

River: ($3.22, 2 players) 7
MP+1 checks, Hero bets $3.67 and is all-in, fold

AcQc - turn x-jam is pretty spewy - You have to ask yourself why and I raising here? Are you getting better hands to fold? Worse to call?

AA seems fine expect you should use bigger 3B sizing, and 1/2 pot flop imo

QTs is fold on CO unless opener is fish and/or there are big fish in blinds, 3-way flop float might be a bit ambitious but I liked that you follow up with river bet.

GL on the felt

Thanks for the comments some good advice there. I can be quite spewey at times and this is the way I've gone in the past when chasing losses. Working on that a lot and trying hard to make sure my calls and jams are all justified. Mental game of poker book was fantastic for helping on this, made me think about what was happening to cause me to tilt at loosing a couple of buyins.

I've been thinking about a video subscription for a while. My research to date seems to point to either Run it Once or Cardrunners. I decided to check out youtube and came across a micros video series on PokerSchool TV. I think they are cardrunner videos from a while ago. I've been going through the series. They seem a bit dated, but I am finding them very useful. If anyone has any video recomendations, especially free video resources then please pass them on!!!

I've had a couple of nights out so not been playing online so much. Played a live tournament at the vic last night. I was card dead. 2 hours of play and the best hand I had was AQs. No poket pairs, no broadways, no good aces. I had 2 other playable hands the entire time. It was a fast structure and I ended getting it all in with Q7 as I was blinding out fast. Rant over back to Zoom.

Good starting week, although volume was not great about 5,000 hands. I was up 9 buyins over this, which will be great if it lasts. I'm still playing a bit loose at 20/15 with an agression factor of 1.7. WTSD is 34 and Fold to flop Cbet is 27. I also have a fold to 3bet of 75%, but I'm not too woried about this as I think there are better spots at this limit and I don't need to worry about being exploited. Most people have 3bests of 2%, so I am folding a lot of my range there. If anyone can tell me how to work on getting my WTSD down I would appreciate it? Really not sure what spots i should be looking for on this one.

Some hands:

Curious what people think of my fold here. I didn't have many hands on the villan, but they were 20/1 with no 3 bet over 100 hands. Tough spot with pocket 9's from the SB. Small 3bets and 4best pre flop so I have odd's then a tiny bet on the flop. When it comes back to me I don't know if he is trying to induce a raise so I elect to call, then the turn there is a big bet. I didn't know where I was in this hand and just wondering what other lines people would take. I find these multi-way pots come up a lot at these stakes.


PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $6.43 (VPIP: 13.27, PFR: 11.12, 3Bet Preflop: 4.10, Hands: 1,079)
Hero (SB): $5.00
BB: $11.39 (VPIP: 21.29, PFR: 13.88, 3Bet Preflop: 4.42, Hands: 645)
UTG: $4.03
UTG+1: $3.03 (VPIP: 18.29, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 84)
MP: $5.44 (VPIP: 40.18, PFR: 11.71, 3Bet Preflop: 2.22, Hands: 112)
MP+1: $4.73 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
MP+2: $5.66 (VPIP: 14.79, PFR: 12.68, 3Bet Preflop: 4.92, Hands: 143)
CO: $5.14 (VPIP: 75.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)

Hero posts SB $0.02, BB posts BB $0.05

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.07) Hero has 9 9

fold, UTG+1 calls $0.05, MP raises to $0.10, fold, fold, CO calls $0.10, BTN raises to $0.35, Hero calls $0.33, fold, UTG+1 raises to $0.60, fold, fold, BTN calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25

Flop: ($2.05, 3 players) 2 K 7
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $0.30, fold, Hero calls $0.30

Turn: ($2.65, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $2.13 and is all-in,


This was another tough spot and I'm curious what people think of the river. For me it was almost a fold, but there were only one combination of 7's and six combinations of 9's he could have. There were many more overpairs that might take a similar line. Thinking 10's and J's. I didn't shove over the top and we were deep, as I had a feeling something was up. Villain was starndard 16/12/2.8AF oveer 300+hands. WTSD was 25% and 3B of 3%.


PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $6.98 (VPIP: 12.88, PFR: 9.07, 3Bet Preflop: 4.23, Hands: 1,039)
Hero (SB): $9.51
BB: $24.62 (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 10.71, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 28)
UTG: $10.10 (VPIP: 47.83, PFR: 26.09, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 24)
UTG+1: $5.27 (VPIP: 17.39, PFR: 17.39, 3Bet Preflop: 18.75, Hands: 46)
MP: $5.00 (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
MP+1: $8.54 (VPIP: 16.07, PFR: 12.19, 3Bet Preflop: 4.69, Hands: 363)
MP+2: $12.21 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
CO: $19.80 (VPIP: 16.07, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 4.76, Hands: 58)

Hero posts SB $0.02, BB posts BB $0.05

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.07) Hero has 3 3

UTG raises to $0.17, fold, fold, MP+1 calls $0.17, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls $0.15, fold

Flop: ($0.56, 3 players) 3 9 7
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP+1 bets $0.05, Hero raises to $0.35, fold, MP+1 raises to $0.65, Hero calls $0.30

Turn: ($1.86, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, MP+1 bets $0.90, Hero calls $0.90

River: ($3.66, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, MP+1 bets $3.51, Hero calls $3.51

Going through some of my biggest winning and losing hands. Two hands here, both big multi way pots.

This hand I am happy with the pre-flop play. Hitting middle set is great and the two players that also call on the flop really shouldn't have queens. I call to keep building the pot and by the turn calling also looks a good way to get it all in by the river. If one of them had jacks it was pretty unlucky for me and the blank on the river is perfect. No hands on either player. This was a session saving hand.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $5.34 (VPIP: 18.33, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 61)
SB: $4.53 (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
BB: $5.00 (VPIP: 6.35, PFR: 4.76, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 63)
UTG: $5.00 (VPIP: 14.51, PFR: 10.75, 3Bet Preflop: 2.07, Hands: 597)
UTG+1: $5.48 (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)
MP: $3.96 (VPIP: 21.43, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 70)
MP+1: $4.93 (VPIP: 23.08, PFR: 23.08, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
MP+2: $10.58 (VPIP: 9.88, PFR: 6.23, 3Bet Preflop: 2.10, Hands: 1,137)
Hero (CO): $5.00

SB posts SB $0.02, BB posts BB $0.05

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.07) Hero has 7 7

UTG raises to $0.15, fold, fold, MP+1 calls $0.15, fold, Hero calls $0.15, BTN calls $0.15, fold, fold

Flop: ($0.67, 4 players) Q 7 5
UTG checks, MP+1 bets $0.42, Hero calls $0.42, BTN calls $0.42, fold

Turn: ($1.93, 3 players) J
MP+1 bets $1.23, Hero calls $1.23, BTN calls $1.23

River: ($5.62, 3 players) 2
MP+1 bets $3.13 and is all-in, Hero calls $3.13, BTN calls $3.13



I hate this hand and really there were so many places where I could of been more agressive or folded. The main villan I had about 164 hands on and he was nitty. I did tank call the river and talked myself into him having 98 and me now beating a two pair, but on reflection afterwards he perhaps only had mid pairs that caught sets in his range. Really interested in any feedback on this hand


PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $3.67 (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
SB: $7.92
BB: $5.71 (VPIP: 12.41, PFR: 10.43, 3Bet Preflop: 1.90, Hands: 557)
UTG: $6.07 (VPIP: 15.71, PFR: 12.13, 3Bet Preflop: 7.18, Hands: 509)
UTG+1: $4.95 (VPIP: 11.59, PFR: 7.25, 3Bet Preflop: 3.45, Hands: 213)
Hero (MP): $11.63
MP+1: $7.32 (VPIP: 10.69, PFR: 6.12, 3Bet Preflop: 2.01, Hands: 534)
MP+2: $3.97 (VPIP: 28.57, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
CO: $19.64 (VPIP: 21.38, PFR: 12.25, 3Bet Preflop: 4.13, Hands: 813)

SB posts SB $0.02, BB posts BB $0.05

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.07) Hero has A A

UTG raises to $0.15, UTG+1 calls $0.15, Hero calls $0.15, fold, fold, CO calls $0.15, fold, SB calls $0.13, fold

Flop: ($0.80, 5 players) 9 8 3
SB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 bets $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, CO calls $0.25, SB calls $0.25, fold

Turn: ($1.80, 4 players) 2
SB checks, UTG+1 bets $1.21, Hero calls $1.21, fold, SB calls $1.21

River: ($5.43, 3 players) 2
SB checks, UTG+1 bets $3.34 and is all-in, Hero calls $3.34, SB calls $3.34

Not 3Bing AA is almost always a significant mistake. This HH is no exception.