My poker story:
I started playing some freeroll got the bankroll to 60$ and cashed out.
After that there were couple of attempts to play cash games but always ended up cashing out after a "bad run" of cards.
Dabbled into SNGs, Spins, occasionaly punting stacks in zoom pools even tried MTTs only.
This time I am trying to play 99% cash games with the occasional MTT.
I tend to play low volume due to fear: when I am a BI up or down, I just am scared that I will lose it/am scared that will not get it back and more will follow


TLDR: average 2nl reg but cashed out when +60$ and took breaks from poker

Ground rules:

No cash out
No zoom
No casino, sports bets (this is a big one, I spent 200$ on blackjack in one night and ended up BE, thankfully)
Move Up after 20+2BI for higher stake (2 BI shot)

1 Session = 45 minutes! After 45 mins are up, than do a quick check if i need a small break or if i need to quit altogther
Volume = 20k+ per month but I will count only the sessions as mentioned above

This year graph:
BR: 185$

Hello! From the sounds of it, you need to be putting in low volume for the sake of improving your game and quality of your play (not in a bad way, I'm just presuming you haven't played cash games too much?) You can maximise your win rate by just focusing on one or two tables so that's good.

Try and remove some of the fear. It's completely normal to lose a few buy ins here and there. I was actually nearly 20 buy ins down for 2NL, then I improved my game and now I'm rolled for NL5. But even people who crush the stakes will go on short 5/10 buy in downswings sometimes. It's just poker.

For beating 2NL, the best thing to do would be to read 'crushing the microstakes' by blackrain79. I couldn't recommend it enough.

Cheers and good luck!

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Also just to add... you are over rolled for NL2. $50-$80 is usually enough. Use this to your advantage to remove some of that emotional attachment. I'd still recommend putting in a bit of volume at NL2 though whilst you focus on learning how to extract the maximum from fish, and sticking to a good pre-flop range. Also folding to turn and river raises against passive players when you have TPTK or an overpair can take a bit of time to learn cheers

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Hi cremteck89,
Thanks for the good lucks.

I did read blackrain's book and I am trying to follow the advice there as much as possible. Ordered also the Mental game of poker.
I mostly play 2-3 tables of NL5 at the moment.

One personal adjustment I made (which might cost me in the long run) is that I buy-in 80bb instead of 100bb. I found that when I go all in with KK and lose it it doesn't "hurt" as much to my mental state.


In other news, 1st session done = +$3.27

iNside404

Yeah it's perfect for NL2 and NL5. Well... if losing 100BB in a pot like that is gonna tilt you and losing 80BB isn't, I'd say it was a good choice. I see some regs buying in for less.

But yeah.. I'd definitely try and work on getting more comfortable with losing some buy ins here and there. It will happen sooner or later and you can't really avoid it. Doesn't mean you aren't a winning player though. You may run bad for 10k hands/20k hands at a time. Just work on overcoming that emotional barrier.

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Manged to play 2 more sessions

BR: $194

Had a couple of setups (lower set < higher set) but overall happy with my play.

Some spots:

HAND 1:
I think my fold OTR is correct. Villain was 16/10 with 0 3bet over 50 hands

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.02/$0.05 - 5 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

UTG: $10.29 (206 bb)
CO (Hero): $4.00 (80 bb)
BU: $4.00 (80 bb)
SB: $5.00 (100 bb)
BB: $5.45 (109 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.07) Hero is CO with Q♠ Q♦
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.12, 1 fold, SB 3-bets to $0.45, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.33

Flop: ($0.95) 2♠ J♣ 8♠ (2 players)
SB bets $0.61, Hero calls $0.61

Turn: ($2.17) 4♥ (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($2.17) 5♥ (2 players)
SB bets $1.04, CO (Hero) folds


HAND 2:
Here I am not sure about the line post flop

Villain was reggish looking 29/21 over 40 hands

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.02/$0.05 - 6 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

UTG: $5.00 (100 bb)
MP: $5.00 (100 bb)
CO: $4.42 (88 bb)
BU: $6.46 (129 bb)
SB: $13.84 (277 bb)
BB (Hero): $4.14 (83 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.07) Hero is BB with A♣ A♠
3 players fold, BTN raises to $0.14, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets to $0.50, BTN calls $0.36

Flop: ($1.02) 9♥ J♠ 4♦ (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $0.74, Hero calls $0.74

Turn: ($2.50) 8♦ (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $5.22 (all-in), Hero calls $2.90 (all-in)


iNside404

I think hand 1 was correct to fold. Very nitty stats for 6 max so I think villain is quite nutted there.

Hand 2 is difficult. The board hits their range well. I would choose to cbet the flop for value and not check. Maybe villain calls, hero checks turn and villain bets which kind of puts you in the same conundrum as you were here. I'm not sure. But my default here is to cbet. Anyway as played.... do you know what villains fold to 3bet stat is? It would give a better indication of their range.

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Thanks for the feedback

My default is to cbet versus weaker players on this board.
This time I did not cbet thinking that this board does not favor my range that much. Yes, I have all the overpairs but at the same time he connects to the flop quite well, as you said.
In hindsight, I think that folding T after he bets again might be the better play exploiting the fact that he will not try to get me to fold when we has draws.

Regarding the fold to 3bet stat, honestly, I don't look at 3bet stats if I don't have a decent sample on him.

Almost always bet the flop. If you don't, then x/r the flop and jam the turn, or x/jam the flop. No other way to play it really.

Dropped 2 Buyins so BR is back at $185. Could not find any good spots so it's just one of those days. Guess 10NL shot will have to wait...

Total hands this month 17k
Winrate 8.69 bb/100

I guess I play like a nit. My stats are 17/13 3b 3,9

Below are my raise first stats over this sample




Good luck reader in the next month

Yes, your open raises are too low.

Do you have any preflop charts?

I do have the ranges from Splitsuit but now sure how current they are.
I will try to add more hands but I am not comfortable post flop at the moment.


Began today again with NL2 even though I am rolled for NL5. Trying to rebuild the confidence to leave this stake once and for all.

Not comfortable postflop is not a reason to leak preflop.

Spots, where we are the aggressor (Single Raise pots and 3Bet pots), are the main source of profit.

Open raises and 3bets charts are created to make your opponents feel not comfortable. Not you

Calling 4bet out of position. Is this a thing or am I overplaying the spot?


PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.02/$0.05 - 6 players

UTG: $2.00 (40 bb)
MP: $4.95 (99 bb)
CO: $3.12 (62 bb)
BU: $6.23 (125 bb)
SB (Hero): $4.23 (85 bb)
BB: $7.95 (159 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.07) Hero is SB with K♦ J♦
3 players fold, BTN raises to $0.15, Hero 3-bets to $0.50, 1 fold, BTN 4-bets to $1, Hero calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.05) X♠ X♦ X♥ (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $0.50

Overplaying that hand. It's FPS. You will lose money calling 4bets OOP with a range like that

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first 2 days in the green, so BR back at $195.

Tried to open more hands but only managed 19/16. 3bet stat was higher but I seem to attack more from out of position rather than button.
EV Line is showing i should be already at $200 but who cares.

Took a beating today and tilted off some stacks

BR -$9,39

Should have quit early...

Been playing on the laptop hudless and low volume .
8k hands mix of stakes from NL2 to NL10. I still can't find myself with stats better than 17/13.

I think I will try to record some session to see just how weak tight I play.

BR is at $240 (instead of cashing out, I managed to add $40 due to some promotion)

Volume is abysmal 10k hands this month.
I still have a week to get the total hands at 20k which is the minimal target for the month.

BR is at $242




Couple of encounters with sets to get things going today
PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.01/$0.02 - 4 players

UTG: $2.03 (102 bb)
BU: $2.05 (103 bb)
SB: $2.04 (102 bb)
BB (Hero): $2.01 (101 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.03) Hero is BB with A♦ K♥
1 fold, BTN raises to $0.05, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.03

Flop: ($0.11) 3♥ A♥ 4♦ (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $0.10, Hero raises to $0.38, BTN raises to $0.90, Hero raises to $1.96 (all-in), BTN calls $1.06

Looking back having the K of hearts is bad on the flop to make this raise, I think

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.01/$0.02 - 6 players

UTG: $2.22 (111 bb)
MP: $1.93 (97 bb)
CO: $2.67 (134 bb)
BU: $1.09 (55 bb)
SB: $2.28 (114 bb)
BB (Hero): $2.02 (101 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.03) Hero is BB with Q♣ Q♥
2 players fold, CO raises to $0.05, 2 players fold, Hero 3-bets to $0.24, CO calls $0.19

Flop: ($0.49) 4♥ 3♥ 8♠ (2 players)
Hero bets $0.24, CO raises to $0.48, Hero raises to $1.78 (all-in), CO calls $1.30

hi man i think you should put in 90% of your time studying then you will be able to move up limits alot more quicker

maybe should of 3bet ak pre

@johnnybravo1 Yeah, I get that studying is important. Do you have any resources for study that you recommend?

Agreed with the 3bet pre. For some reason I thought that the open raiser was early position. Versus early I rarely 3bet AK

80bb vs 100bb isnt gonna make huge difference mate, actually 80bb quite useful as it takes away there ability to light 4bet bluff.
80bb fine dude.

Switched to playing full stack at NL5

Been noticing a lot more 3betting but stuck to my ranges and did not make any loose calls.

My major problem is that I get to sticky with overpairs. Unless I play my A game, I don't really let them go even when I know I am beat.

Volume is at 12k. I am afraid to reaching 20k by end of month will be hard. If I miss the target the remaining hands will be rolled over to the next month.

BR $257

Do not chase volume, focus on the quality of the game.

It's better to play 15k with a positive win rate than 100k near zero.