Hi,

I've been floating around micro stakes (2/5 NLz) on Stars for around a year or so, and finally making a conscious effort to improve and move up to midstakes. I have logged around 150k hands at 2nl/5nlz lifetime (lol) at a pretty good winrate, but always been afraid of moving up and taking shots. No more!

I'm 21 years old, currently studying a Computer Science degree and also have a job so I only have so much time to play. My goal is to play 5k hands a week while also doing a few hours of hand review/study. I'll be posting hands, thoughts and stats so would appreciate all input and feedback!

Started off well, up about 4 bi after around 1k hands after running extremely hot which is always nice.

Some hands:


PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 179.8 BB
SB: 99 BB (VPIP: 42.11, PFR: 5.26, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
BB: 121.4 BB (VPIP: 13.33, PFR: 6.67, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 16)
UTG: 135.4 BB (VPIP: 12.12, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 18.18, Hands: 33)
MP: 116.5 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
CO: 87.9 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K T

fold, fold, CO calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 3.5 BB, SB calls 3 BB, BB calls 2.5 BB, CO calls 2.5 BB

Flop: (14 BB, 4 players) 8 Q 4
SB checks, BB checks, CO checks, Hero checks

Turn: (14 BB, 4 players) 5
SB bets 6 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 6 BB

River: (26 BB, 2 players) 2
SB checks, Hero bets 16.5 BB, SB calls 16.5 BB

Hero shows K T (Flush, King High)
(Pre 49%, Flop 31%, Turn 32%)
SB mucks 6 6 (One Pair, Sixes)
(Pre 51%, Flop 69%, Turn 68%)
Hero wins 56.3 BB

Spew:
PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 179.5 BB
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
BB: 167 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
UTG: 115.9 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)
MP: 70.3 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
CO: 101.6 BB (VPIP: 20.83, PFR: 20.83, 3Bet Preflop: 30.00, Hands: 24)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q K

fold, MP raises to 2 BB, fold, Hero raises to 6.2 BB, SB calls 5.7 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (15.4 BB, 2 players) 8 6 2
SB bets 7.4 BB, Hero raises to 22 BB, SB calls 14.6 BB

Turn: (59.4 BB, 2 players) J
SB checks, Hero bets 151.3 BB and is all-in, SB calls 71.8 BB and is all-in

River: (203 BB, 2 players) 5

SB shows J J (Three of a Kind, Jacks)
(Pre 54%, Flop 49%, Turn 84%)
Hero shows Q K (Flush, King High)
(Pre 46%, Flop 51%, Turn 16%)
Hero wins 193.9 BB

Had a moment of madness in this hand, I don't like my flop raise and hate my turn shove even more. I think the turn shove could get villain to fold some kind of middling pair, but a normal size bet would also accomplish the same.

More spew:

PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 192.6 BB
SB: 103.2 BB
BB: 179.1 BB (VPIP: 13.64, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 28.57, Hands: 26)
UTG: 141.8 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 34)
MP: 143.8 BB (VPIP: 21.43, PFR: 21.43, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 28)
CO: 100 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K J

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

Flop: (9.5 BB, 3 players) J 8 2
BB checks, CO checks, Hero bets 6.1 BB, BB calls 6.1 BB, CO calls 6.1 BB

Turn: (27.8 BB, 3 players) 8
BB checks, CO checks, Hero checks

River: (27.8 BB, 3 players) K
BB checks, CO bets 20 BB, Hero calls 20 BB, fold

CO shows 2 2 (Full House, Twos full of Eights)
(Pre 48%, Flop 94%, Turn 91%)
Hero mucks K J (Two Pair, Kings and Jacks)
(Pre 52%, Flop 6%, Turn 9%)
CO wins 64.7 BB

H2 isn't spew. You just ran into the top of his range.

Life got in the way, so had to withdraw about $150 from my BR so moving down to 5nl until I get back on track.

Some hands:

H1

Not sure about this one, just feel like he's going to show up with a set or two pair 100% of the time.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 389.4 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)
SB: 116.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
BB: 100.6 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
UTG: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
Hero (MP): 100 BB
CO: 75.6 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, Hero raises to 2.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 1.4 BB

Flop: (5.2 BB, 2 players) 7 A 4
BB checks, Hero bets 3.4 BB, BB raises to 9.4 BB, Hero calls 6 BB

Turn: (24 BB, 2 players) 2
BB bets 23 BB, fold

BB wins 23 BB

H2
I like occasionally checking dry boards with overpairs in spots where villain's hand is face up, as nobody will expect me to check back aces and instead put me on AK.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 127.8 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
SB: 178.8 BB
BB: 118.8 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
Hero (UTG): 100 BB
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
CO: 120.6 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 2.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 2 BB, BB raises to 9.6 BB, Hero raises to 23 BB, fold, BB calls 13.4 BB

Flop: (48.4 BB, 2 players) T 6 4
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (48.4 BB, 2 players) 4
BB bets 23.2 BB, Hero calls 23.2 BB

River: (94.8 BB, 2 players) J
BB bets 45.4 BB, Hero calls 45.4 BB

BB shows Q Q (Two Pair, Queens and Fours)
(Pre 18%, Flop 8%, Turn 5%)
Hero shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Fours)
(Pre 82%, Flop 92%, Turn 95%)
Hero wins 177.8 BB

H3
Might be a bit thin, but had a feeling my hand was good based on how quickly he was calling and not contemplating a raise. Plenty of worse aces/random pairs he shows up with.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 274.8 BB (VPIP: 30.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 10)
Hero (SB): 151.6 BB
BB: 361.4 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 40.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 5)
UTG: 57 BB (VPIP: 15.38, PFR: 15.38, 3Bet Preflop: 50.00, Hands: 13)
MP: 256.4 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
CO: 99.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, MP raises to 3 BB, fold, BTN calls 3 BB, Hero raises to 12.8 BB, fold, MP calls 9.8 BB, BTN calls 9.8 BB

Flop: (39.4 BB, 3 players) 6 A 5
Hero bets 23.4 BB, MP calls 23.4 BB, fold

Turn: (86.2 BB, 2 players) T
Hero bets 41.4 BB, MP calls 41.4 BB

River: (169 BB, 2 players) 6
Hero bets 74 BB and is all-in, fold

Hero wins 162 BB

H4
Check flop because I'd puke if I got check raised, but when it checks to me on turn I'm confident I have the best hand. River might be a bit thin, but there's a good chance he gets glued to his pocket 8's or whatever.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 194.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
Hero (BB): 114.8 BB
UTG: 191.8 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
MP: 139.8 BB (VPIP: 30.77, PFR: 15.38, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
CO: 65 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 2.6 BB, Hero raises to 13 BB, UTG calls 10 BB, SB calls 10 BB

Flop: (39 BB, 3 players) 4 2 3
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks

Turn: (39 BB, 3 players) 7
SB checks, Hero bets 23.4 BB, fold, SB calls 23.4 BB

River: (85.8 BB, 2 players) 2
SB checks, Hero bets 78.4 BB and is all-in, fold

Hero wins 82.2 BB

H5
Don't know if there's too much to say about this, I doubt he bets turn with jacks

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
SB: 135.2 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
BB: 107.4 BB
Hero (UTG): 186.2 BB
MP: 119.2 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
CO: 215.8 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 2.4 BB, fold, CO raises to 8 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 19.4 BB, CO calls 11.4 BB

Flop: (40.2 BB, 2 players) 8 A 8
Hero bets 21.8 BB, CO calls 21.8 BB

Turn: (83.8 BB, 2 players) 9
Hero checks, CO bets 36.2 BB, fold

CO wins 80.4 BB

H6
I'm not sure about my raise here, I think I can get a lot of worse hands to fold and I still have decent equity when called if villain doesn't have a club. Gonna have to plug this one into equilab

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 50 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
BB: 791.4 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
UTG: 136.2 BB (VPIP: 9.09, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
Hero (MP): 106.2 BB
CO: 132 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold

Flop: (7.4 BB, 2 players) 8 K 6
UTG bets 4 BB, Hero calls 4 BB

Turn: (15.4 BB, 2 players) J
UTG bets 8.4 BB, Hero raises to 25 BB, UTG calls 16.6 BB

River: (65.4 BB, 2 players) 3
UTG checks, Hero checks

UTG shows Q A (Flush, King High)
(Pre 45%, Flop 50%, Turn 36%)
Hero mucks 7 7 (Flush, King High)
(Pre 55%, Flop 50%, Turn 64%)
UTG wins 62.6 BB

H7
Was about to fold here, 5 betting a cold 4 bet is just super strong and I'm not even sure he does this without at minimum AKs.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 135.6 BB (VPIP: 27.59, PFR: 20.69, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 29)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
Hero (BB): 106 BB
UTG: 150.2 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)
MP: 151.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
CO: 226.4 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, BTN raises to 10 BB, fold, Hero raises to 23 BB, fold, BTN raises to 59 BB, Hero raises to 106 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 47 BB

Flop: (215.4 BB, 2 players) A 9 3

Turn: (215.4 BB, 2 players) 9

River: (215.4 BB, 2 players) J

Hero shows Q Q (Two Pair, Queens and Nines)
(Pre 18%, Flop 0.1%, Turn 0%)
BTN shows A A (Full House, Aces full of Nines)
(Pre 82%, Flop 99.9%, Turn 100%)
BTN wins 206.4 BB

currently up about $56 in 2k hands of 5nl/10nl cause I'm running so good, but still spewing a lot in certain spots. one thing I have significantly improved on is bluff catching (i.e, i'm doing it far less) because I'm realising that 99% of the time the guy has the exact hand he's representing.