My games
6max ZOOM, I've beaten 2nlz-10nlz before.
I'm trying to dabble in some MTTs because of how soft they are, but they won't be the priority.
I might mix some reg 6max tables in as well.

About me:

22, graduated university last summer.
UK based.
I started playing at 16 for play money, in a game. So I played this game online which poker was a part of. I read up on strategy, and ran up $8 to $100 before I went to university.

At university, I didn't focus enough on poker (or university for that matter). I grinded up a roll to shot take 25nlz, but withdrew my roll for money before I found out if could beat it.

I tried to get back into it after university, but lost a fair amount trying to apply GTO incorrectly.

I now have a job, am living out of the parents' house in the city, trying to make my own way. So I have to find time to grind outside of the 9-5. I'm at a stage where I finally have my **** together, and I can take this poker thing seriously. No more on-and-off.


Why PGC?
For me it's a learning tool. There's also something therapeutic about having a diary. It's commitment.

I'm going to look to post some interesting hands, regular graphs, post about what I think my leaks are, and my fixes to them.

Goals
25 hours a week for poker - minimum. Whether it's studying or playing hands, etc.
$50 to $4k by the same time next year (I'm in it for the long haul!).
Then maybe $4k to $100k the year after! But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. One day at a time.

Hi ya,

Did a little bit of reading some of your previous posts before replying, as I wanted to pick up on something you said above.

One of your recent thread included a link to a 2014 Cardrunners article (so I guess it could have been written by Janda?????). Here is a quote from it:

However, this post should act as a warning if you are ever considering turning off your brain and blinding following GTO. Anyone who misapplies GTO theory to scenarios where it doesn't hold, or who is using it as a crutch rather than as a tool, is going to quickly be left behind.

I guess you can see where I'm going...

Without getting into a theory fight, it is disputable that you can ever "apply" GTO, but irrespective, 2-25nlz is not the place to do it. These stakes are full of fish that can easily be exploited for EV gain. A mixture of balanced play versus regs and unbalanced play versus fish is going to make you the most money.

I am a big fan of optimal balanced poker, but as an aid to learning, not as something that should be rigorously applied, so thanks for the link to the dude saying exactly that in 2014. Probably use that quote again (if i find out who the author is).

As for goals, I would track down some of online cash game pros who run PGC's here and follow them very closely. (I'm not one I'm purely a fun loving rec, who enjoys and works on game a little more than most fun loving recs)

Be aware of one thing tho, the guys who make about £100K per year out of online cash are, seriously good and pretty much have ZERO life away from the felt as they are playing when the rest of us are asleep or on the bevvie.

Also be aware that any government can switch off online gambling whenever it wants and although the UK government has always been relaxed about that, that all might change if the wrong lot get in on Thursday.

Good luck

Thanks for taking the time to give your insight and advice.

Scary stuff happening with online poker. First America, then Australia. I'm hoping to get in and out quick. Once I have a live roll I'm going to look to jump in the live circuit. But again, one day at a time.


A bit of background about my background in GTO
GTO mistakes I made

1. Not understanding GTO because I was too lazy to do the work.

I picked up Janda's book, read about bluffing frequency and MDF, without understanding how those models differed from real poker scenarios. I'd make losing calls and losing bluffs telling myself "If villain doesn't bluff/fold enough, then he'll lose money to my other range!!"

2. Mis-execution of GTO. As you said Fatboy, no one will be able to apply GTO truly, even if they actually knew it. I remember trying to construct a 3bet bluffing range MP vs UTG, and after the session was over I ended up 3betting 13% from MP.

I do think that GTO is useful even in low stakes. How can you maximally exploit your opponents if you're not trying to attack them from every angle? You'd never know where they're weak.

====================================
Graphs and hands!

Nothing like a 48bb/100 heater to start off! Bankroll is at $64.09





Villain had re-steal 2/4 times, and I went nuts. This is a leak of mine; I place too much emphasis on low sample size. I've never seen anyone resteal more than 20%, so I should be realistic and realise no one is restealing 50%.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 96 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 26.87, PFR: 23.88, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 67)
BB: 138.5 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 5)
UTG: 204 BB (VPIP: 14.81, PFR: 7.41, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 55)
MP: 93.5 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
Hero (CO): 113.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has J 9

fold, fold, Hero raises to 3.5 BB, BTN calls 3.5 BB, SB raises to 15 BB, fold, Hero raises to 113.5 BB and is all-in, fold, SB calls 85 BB and is all-in

Flop: (204.5 BB, 2 players) 6 3 4

Turn: (204.5 BB, 2 players) 5

River: (204.5 BB, 2 players) Q

SB shows K A (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 61%, Flop 78%, Turn 77%)
Hero shows J 9 (High Card, Queen)
(Pre 39%, Flop 22%, Turn 23%)
SB wins 197.5 BB


I rarely have a straight here. I think I should bet sometimes and check some, but lean towards check. With the FD especially betting is a mistake I think.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 63 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 3.45, Hands: 155)
SB: 183.5 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 18.52, 3Bet Preflop: 15.38, Hands: 28)
BB: 80.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
UTG: 252.5 BB (VPIP: 27.27, PFR: 27.27, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
MP: 72.5 BB
Hero (CO): 254 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 3 A

fold, fold, Hero raises to 3.5 BB, BTN calls 3.5 BB, SB calls 3 BB, fold

Flop: (11.5 BB, 3 players) 3 5 A
SB checks, Hero bets 5.5 BB, BTN calls 5.5 BB, SB calls 5.5 BB

Turn: (28 BB, 3 players) 4
SB checks, Hero bets 18.5 BB, fold, fold

Hero wins 27 BB


Villain should generally bet his Qx OTT with how wet the board is, so I think I can go two streets. IMO if villain folds too many Jx he's vulnerable to bluffs.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 273 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
SB: 146 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
Hero (BB): 159.5 BB
UTG: 147.5 BB (VPIP: 45.45, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
MP: 110.5 BB (VPIP: 17.07, PFR: 14.63, 3Bet Preflop: 9.68, Hands: 82)
CO: 100 BB (VPIP: 21.74, PFR: 21.74, 3Bet Preflop: 23.08, Hands: 24)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A A

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.5 BB, SB calls 2 BB, Hero raises to 11.5 BB, fold, SB calls 9 BB

Flop: (25.5 BB, 2 players) 5 J 4
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (25.5 BB, 2 players) Q
SB checks, Hero bets 13.5 BB, SB calls 13.5 BB

River: (52.5 BB, 2 players) Q
SB checks, Hero bets 31 BB, fold

Hero wins 50.5 BB

I'm in a similar position, with similar aspirations to yourself.

Sub'd glgl

Thanks, you have my sub as well! Hopefully we'll learn a thing or two from each other.


==============
Footnotes for study / grind;

- I've spent some time trying to refine my preflop open ranges (particularly since I choose to open 3.5bb), and am finally seeing success with my current style of play. I remember my CO w/r being lower than my MP w/r sometime in the past. I should analyse my hands to see if I could be adding more in, or be tightening up vs the 2nl zoom population.

- a lot of my river checks with value hands haven't been getting paid off, I should look constructing a range that is capped but balanced OTR, since I think I should exploitatively value bet OTR.

Notes for the sesh:

- I should try making bigger adjustments. I make deviations from balanced play when I see tells, but they're only slight. I think I should experiment with making ridiculous exploit moves and see how that works for me.

- I haven't been able to do any study on my previous footnotes either, but it's been a busy time and will continue to be at least until Friday. I had to stay up late to get this session in (I've chosen to make poker the priority), so I'll need to catch up on sleep tomorrow. And of course vote.

- I definitely noticed myself getting unbalanced and getting too excited with bluffs. I don't usually catch myself in sessions, so it's good that I'm improving on this.

Today (two ZOOM tables, 2nlz. This is my standard session):



=================

1. Villain was 27/21 over 45 hands. Think I have to bluffcatch here, we block KJ and QJ. Especially without spades in his hand.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 113 BB (VPIP: 27.08, PFR: 20.83, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 49)
SB: 51.5 BB (VPIP: 21.57, PFR: 22.00, 3Bet Preflop: 15.00, Hands: 52)
BB: 387 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
UTG: 219.5 BB (VPIP: 80.00, PFR: 40.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
Hero (CO): 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, Hero raises to 3.5 BB, BTN calls 3.5 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (8.5 BB, 2 players) T Q 9
Hero checks, BTN bets 5 BB, Hero calls 5 BB

Turn: (18.5 BB, 2 players) 4
Hero checks, BTN bets 10 BB, Hero calls 10 BB

River: (38.5 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, BTN bets 27 BB, Hero calls 27 BB





2. Villain is 24/16 over 38 hands. Lots of players will bet flush draws OTT IMO. I'm still not sure if they will lay down Kx though...

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 79.5 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 24.32, PFR: 16.22, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 38)
Hero (BB): 116 BB
UTG: 129 BB (VPIP: 21.65, PFR: 10.31, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 99)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 23.08, PFR: 15.38, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
CO: 134.5 BB (VPIP: 23.08, PFR: 7.69, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7 6

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

Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) 6 3 Q
SB bets 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB

Turn: (12 BB, 2 players) 2
SB checks, Hero checks

River: (12 BB, 2 players) K
SB bets 6 BB, Hero raises to 28.5 BB, SB calls 22.5 BB




3. Villain 14/10 over 122 hands. Sigh-tank-call river. Was seriously considering folding but it seems like such a huge adjustment for that sample size. I think it's a fold with 180 hands. Against the general population I think I have to pay river.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 193 BB (VPIP: 18.99, PFR: 15.19, 3Bet Preflop: 15.15, Hands: 82)
Hero (SB): 202 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 267 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 10.17, 3Bet Preflop: 2.17, Hands: 122)
MP: 198.5 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 8)
CO: 320 BB (VPIP: 71.43, PFR: 57.14, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 8)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7 6

UTG raises to 2 BB, fold, CO calls 2 BB, BTN calls 2 BB, Hero calls 1.5 BB, BB calls 1 BB

Flop: (10 BB, 5 players) 9 T 9
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks, CO checks, BTN checks

Turn: (10 BB, 5 players) 8
Hero bets 6 BB, fold, UTG calls 6 BB, fold, fold

River: (22 BB, 2 players) 4
Hero checks, UTG bets 16 BB, Hero calls 16 BB



4. Villain was 29/11 over 33 hands. Interesting...

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 22.97, PFR: 18.31, 3Bet Preflop: 6.14, Hands: 304)
Hero (SB): 116 BB
BB: 278.5 BB (VPIP: 28.95, PFR: 10.53, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 39)
UTG: 124.5 BB (VPIP: 15.38, PFR: 12.82, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 39)
MP: 201.5 BB (VPIP: 26.85, PFR: 24.07, 3Bet Preflop: 3.03, Hands: 114)
CO: 150.5 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, MP raises to 2.5 BB, CO calls 2.5 BB, fold, Hero calls 2 BB, BB calls 1.5 BB

Flop: (10 BB, 4 players) 5 3 J
Hero checks, BB checks, MP checks, CO bets 4 BB, Hero raises to 20 BB, BB calls 20 BB, fold, fold

Turn: (54 BB, 2 players) J
Hero checks, BB checks

River: (54 BB, 2 players) 9
Hero checks, BB checks



5. Think I should've bet river with my blocker. I don't know why I hesitated ...I think I don't have enough fold equity (not sure) especially when the T pairs but this is the nut hand to bluff.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 103 BB (VPIP: 24.39, PFR: 19.51, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 42)
SB: 234.5 BB (VPIP: 24.66, PFR: 23.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 74)
BB: 129 BB (VPIP: 20.97, PFR: 11.29, 3Bet Preflop: 4.55, Hands: 63)
Hero (UTG): 186.5 BB
MP: 54.5 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
CO: 100 BB (VPIP: 31.71, PFR: 21.95, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 42)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 3.5 BB, fold, fold, BTN calls 3.5 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (8.5 BB, 2 players) 2 2 T
Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: (8.5 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero bets 5.5 BB, BTN calls 5.5 BB

River: (19.5 BB, 2 players) T
Hero checks, BTN checks

I'm cheating on my PGC
First thing, I want to say I've cheated already at this PGC. It will not be a $53.88 to semi pro, it'll be a $153.88 to semi pro. This isn't something I take lightly; breaking rules can be a slippery slope. I imagine there is a fine line between (let's put in $100 and climb up to 5nlz, and $1000 and 50nlz). Here's why I'm doing it anyway:

Through my time at poker, I've virtually never been a losing player at 2nlz (apart from that GTO learning curve), and since I've grinded beyond 10nlz before, it seems like a waste of a month to be grinding 2nlz. Plus I've never in my whole time in poker had a problem with bankroll discipline. I'm a bankroll nit if anything. So I'm fine with breaking this rule. As long as I don't deposit more than I can afford from the life roll, I'll be fine. I'm 95% I'll be grinding through 5nlz. That is, I won't be depositing a 10nlz come pay day. I feel like I've been out of touch with 5nlz for longer than 2nlz, so I'll cut my teeth on these stakes. I might re-deposit another $50 but if I still end up below $100, I think I have to accept that I'm out of touch and need to brush up my game.

Goals and my Mental Game

[13]/25 hours of study/play a week

One goal and I failed it. I had an unexpected work party on Thursday, but other than that I don't think I have a valid excuse. I do like to spend a bit of time with my girlfriend as well, but I think I can give up some of the down-time with her to contribute to poker. We do like to watch a lot of TV.

IMO I need to set a schedule and stick to it, treat it like work. I'm considering going cold turkey on **** like Reddit and Facebook as well. I think if I spend every "spare" moment on browsing pointless social media sites, it ends up mentally bleeding into other areas of my life. You pick your phone up and start scrolling without even realising it. You start feeling a pull to go on Reddit or something if you have a bad session. If you sever the mental connection by going on cold turkey, you can practice healthier habits.

Graphs / hands

8 hours of play, 5 of study.

2nlz graph since this PGC:


5nlz


+$10.87 / $4,000


Leaks
- I don't try to win every pot, but I do try and win more than my unfair share. I like a sick bluff / line as well, so both of those can lead to some ill advised bluffs from me. I do think I should have tricky things in my arsenal, but I need some heuristics to know when I'm going to turn on the gas, and when not to.

- Constructing river bluffing ranges. I'm finding it hard to find hands that are good to bluff OTR. I often find I'm bluffing my worst SDV hands OTF (which would make great river bluffs). I'll need to do some homework on this.

- Sensitivity to bet sizing. I mainly use a solver to improve my strategies, so a lot of the things i've memorised are specific to certain bet sizes. I started patching up this leak today.


Hands!

1. My FPS leak in action. Villain 19/16 over 325 hands.
Likely this is a calling hand vs a reg, but had reason to believe villain was value-heavy, so I was moving this up to the "bluff" category. In that sense it's nice to block AA too. Should never be bluffing him in this spot in hindsight, villain had 32% WTSD. And he snap-called river.

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

BTN: 110.6 BB (VPIP: 10.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 10)
SB: 40.6 BB (VPIP: 38.89, PFR: 5.56, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
Hero (BB): 115.8 BB
UTG: 45.6 BB (VPIP: 44.44, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
MP: 174.2 BB (VPIP: 18.61, PFR: 15.77, 3Bet Preflop: 7.69, Hands: 325)
CO: 163.4 BB (VPIP: 14.81, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 27)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.4 BB, 2 players) 4 T 6
Hero checks, MP bets 4.6 BB, Hero calls 4.6 BB

Turn: (15.6 BB, 2 players) 6
Hero checks, MP bets 11.2 BB, Hero calls 11.2 BB

River: (38 BB, 2 players) 9
Hero checks, MP bets 19.6 BB, Hero raises to 97 BB and is all-in, MP calls 77.4 BB



--------

2. Villain unknown.
Ugly turn spot; hard for villains at this stake to have bluffs here but we're quite high in our range. Half pot is hard to resist.
Won't always bet flop.

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

BTN: 205.2 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 13.54, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 99)
Hero (SB): 168.4 BB
BB: 103.8 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 41.67, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 12)
UTG: 307 BB (VPIP: 30.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
MP: 155.8 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)
CO: 85.4 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, MP calls 3 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 14 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 11 BB

Flop: (32 BB, 2 players) 3 K 2
Hero bets 16.8 BB, MP calls 16.8 BB

Turn: (65.6 BB, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, MP bets 31.4 BB, Hero calls 31.4 BB

River: (128.4 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, MP bets 93.6 BB and is all-in, fold

MP wins 123 BB

-----------

3. Gotta be careful not to get too out of line with my frequencies here

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

BTN: 115 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
Hero (SB): 135.8 BB
BB: 194.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)
UTG: 100 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
MP: 75.2 BB (VPIP: 20.30, PFR: 13.77, 3Bet Preflop: 4.07, Hands: 345)
CO: 105 BB (VPIP: 18.36, PFR: 15.23, 3Bet Preflop: 8.70, Hands: 264)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 7 8

fold, fold, CO raises to 3 BB, BTN calls 3 BB, Hero calls 2.6 BB, BB raises to 14 BB, CO calls 11 BB, BTN calls 11 BB, Hero calls 11 BB

Flop: (56 BB, 4 players) 9 4 T
Hero checks, BB checks, CO checks, BTN bets 18.8 BB, Hero raises to 121.8 BB and is all-in, fold, fold, fold

Hero wins 89.8 BB

Goal:

3.5/25 hours so far this week.

5nlz thoughts / impressions
My redline is harder to keep up but I don't know why.

It feels like I face more 3bets (might be related to the above point). Maybe people are 3betting wider for value, or bluffing more.

It feels like there are more nitty regs now (to be expected).

I've not looked at any stats I have so far, so this is all feel, nothing concrete. Might be a good idea to look at population tendencies soon. For the meantime, I've adjusted to a strat of betting smaller and opening wider.

Leaks
Tomorrow's plan is to look at BB defending ranges, and how to play flops OOP, IP. I find it hard to craft good calling ranges on Ax boards, 7 high boards, especially when ranges are very wide (e.g. 2bb open).

Goals + plan

7.25/25 hours this week.
+$41.27/$4000

I'm soon going to have enough bankrool to have 20BI for 10nlz. I don't want to take shots straight away, but I do want to mix stakes, adjusting for the size of my bankroll. I'll keep 95% 5nlz at $200, 50% at $300, etc, that sort of thing. In doing this I need to make sure I take rigorous notes about population tendencies so I don't get them mixed up.

It also stops me from being a bankroll nit. The old me would've waited til $300 to shot take, and if I downswung (downswinged?) 3 BI I would move down and grind to $350. Then when I had 10BI to shot take I would fail to adjust my play, telling myself "sample size too small" and I'm back to $300.

Leaks
- I don't know ...I should take a look at where I'm leaving money on the table tomorrow. Today was a grind heavy day.

Graphs

It's pointless to be posting graphs every time I post, since 2k hands are meaningless. I do think I made some good adjustments in my strat, and found some leaks vs the NL5z population.

I'll try to post a graph at the end of every week, or after testing out a different strat. With that said, since I've made some changes to my game since I first moved up, I'm going to post the run-good:



Cool hands


1. Villain unknown. Just poking around for holes...


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

BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 15.38, PFR: 7.69, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
Hero (SB): 178 BB
BB: 107.4 BB (VPIP: 8.33, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
UTG: 126 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 11.36, 3Bet Preflop: 10.53, Hands: 46)
MP: 102.4 BB (VPIP: 19.48, PFR: 15.58, 3Bet Preflop: 7.69, Hands: 80)
CO: 69.4 BB (VPIP: 42.86, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, CO raises to 2 BB, fold, Hero raises to 8 BB, fold, CO calls 6 BB

Flop: (17 BB, 2 players) 2 T 4
Hero checks, CO bets 8 BB, Hero raises to 170 BB and is all-in, CO calls 53.4 BB and is all-in

Turn: (139.8 BB, 2 players) A

River: (139.8 BB, 2 players) 7

Hero shows J A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 50%, Flop 6%, Turn 0%)
CO shows 2 2 (Three of a Kind, Twos)
(Pre 50%, Flop 94%, Turn 100%)
CO wins 134 BB

2. The worst feeling

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

BTN: 166.6 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)
SB: 38.6 BB (VPIP: 27.27, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 597.4 BB (VPIP: 29.63, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 27)
Hero (MP): 100.4 BB
CO: 113.8 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 9.2 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, UTG calls 6.2 BB

Flop: (19.8 BB, 2 players) K 6 5
UTG checks, Hero bets 12 BB, UTG calls 12 BB

Turn: (43.8 BB, 2 players) T
UTG checks, Hero bets 26 BB, UTG calls 26 BB

River: (95.8 BB, 2 players) 8
UTG checks, Hero checks




3. Don't flat this hand pre where this guy did

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

BTN: 105.8 BB (VPIP: 32.00, PFR: 25.60, 3Bet Preflop: 10.87, Hands: 128)
SB: 34 BB (VPIP: 25.93, PFR: 18.52, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 28)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 23.61, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 5.88, Hands: 74)
UTG: 119.4 BB (VPIP: 10.53, PFR: 5.26, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
MP: 101.6 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 7.69, 3Bet Preflop: 2.78, Hands: 79)
Hero (CO): 172.8 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.2 BB, 2 players) 5 4 6
Hero bets 4 BB, BTN calls 4 BB

Turn: (14.2 BB, 2 players) A
Hero checks, BTN bets 4.4 BB, Hero calls 4.4 BB

River: (23 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, BTN bets 17.6 BB, Hero raises to 162 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 77.4 BB and is all-in



4. Help me on this one?? Turn play?

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

BTN: 155.6 BB (VPIP: 36.36, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
SB: 278.8 BB (VPIP: 12.86, PFR: 8.57, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 72)
Hero (BB): 146 BB
UTG: 369 BB (VPIP: 23.08, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 66)
MP: 83.8 BB (VPIP: 23.81, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 21)
CO: 235.2 BB (VPIP: 35.56, PFR: 26.67, 3Bet Preflop: 4.55, Hands: 45)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.4 BB, 2 players) 7 4 6
Hero checks, BTN bets 3.2 BB, Hero calls 3.2 BB

Turn: (12.8 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, BTN bets 7 BB, fold

BTN wins 12.2 BB

In!

About the hands,
H1 is spewy IMO.
H2 I go smaller otf and barrel turn very aggressive, guess this size is fine too, river give up is fine
H3 where BTN has 44 is a standard flat BTN vs CO no?
H4 is wp.

Gl with your goals!

In for this one, gl!

H1 I'd just cbet like 1/3 pot cus of stacksizes, don't like this x/jam at all.

Strongly disagree flatting BTN w 44, unless SB and BB are passive fish, but with two regs we're going to get squeezed a decent bit, maaaybe not at NL5 but definitely higher.

@Hand 1 AJ spew- I didnt even think about 1/3 pot size. I've done very little work in spots where I can bet >80% range and still be balance. So that's one leak I'll need to crack down on.

@Hand 2 AQ MP vs UTG - At first glance I think T is better for villain than us. its trivial IMO, hard to make mistakes with sizing here.

@Hand 3 BTN flats 44 pre - the likelihood of getting set over set really cuts down on value of 44.


Hands!

1. 10nlz shot for 150 hands. Turn check back is not scared money, I'm conscious our range has less nuts than villain on this board. It's just about picking a spot to check.

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

Hero (BTN): 131.3 BB
SB: 21.2 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
BB: 211 BB (VPIP: 13.33, PFR: 13.33, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 30)
UTG: 100 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
MP: 140 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 66.67, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)
CO: 105.2 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, MP raises to 3 BB, fold, Hero raises to 10 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 7 BB

Flop: (21.5 BB, 2 players) Q 9 2
MP checks, Hero bets 13.5 BB, MP calls 13.5 BB

Turn: (48.5 BB, 2 players) 5
MP checks, Hero checks

River: (48.5 BB, 2 players) 3
MP bets 30 BB, Hero calls 30 BB





2. 10nlz 150 hand shot continued! Missed value OTR?

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

BTN: 143.9 BB (VPIP: 32.56, PFR: 25.58, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 43)
SB: 638.3 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
BB: 363.9 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: 100.00, Hands: 2)
Hero (UTG): 136.2 BB
MP: 154.3 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 48)
CO: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 2.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 1.5 BB

Flop: (5.5 BB, 2 players) 9 3 Q
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (5.5 BB, 2 players) K
BB checks, Hero bets 3 BB, BB raises to 9 BB, Hero calls 6 BB

River: (23.5 BB, 2 players) 8
BB checks, Hero checks





3. Villain is Kevin Martin, PStars Pro. Tagged as LAGfish after this hand.

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

BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 27.05, PFR: 16.91, 3Bet Preflop: 6.98, Hands: 212)
SB: 123.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
BB: 104.4 BB
Hero (UTG): 105.8 BB
MP: 164 BB (VPIP: 6.45, PFR: 3.23, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 31)
CO: 139.6 BB (VPIP: 7.94, PFR: 6.35, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 64)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (5.2 BB, 2 players) 7 Q 3
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (5.2 BB, 2 players) 8
BB bets 4 BB, Hero calls 4 BB

River: (13.2 BB, 2 players) 5
BB bets 8 BB, Hero calls 8 BB




4. TPWK vs 3 streets?????

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

BTN: 74.6 BB (VPIP: 28.57, PFR: 23.81, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 21)
SB: 47.8 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
Hero (BB): 111.6 BB
UTG: 30.6 BB
MP: 158.4 BB
CO: 89.6 BB (VPIP: 30.95, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 2.70, Hands: 84)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.4 BB, 2 players) A 2 9
Hero checks, BTN bets 4 BB, Hero calls 4 BB

Turn: (14.4 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero checks, BTN bets 10.4 BB, Hero calls 10.4 BB

River: (35.2 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, BTN bets 22 BB, Hero calls 22 BB



5. Ambitious OTF???

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

BTN: 88.6 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 50.00, Hands: 2)
Hero (SB): 170.8 BB
BB: 129.4 BB (VPIP: 9.76, PFR: 7.32, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 42)
UTG: 120 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
MP: 558.8 BB (VPIP: 16.22, PFR: 12.16, 3Bet Preflop: 3.57, Hands: 77)
CO: 170 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 5 4

fold, fold, CO raises to 2.4 BB, BTN calls 2.4 BB, Hero calls 2 BB, fold

Flop: (8.2 BB, 3 players) 8 A 6
Hero checks, CO bets 3 BB, BTN calls 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB

Turn: (17.2 BB, 3 players) T
Hero checks, CO checks, BTN checks

River: (17.2 BB, 3 players) 4
Hero checks, CO checks, BTN bets 12 BB, fold, CO calls 12 BB



Goals
11.25/25 hours this week.

No bankroll update til the end of the week (as said in a previous post).

Announcement - study group?

As per the title, I'm looking for a study group in 6max cash games (ideally in tougher lineups like ZOOM). A different way of seeing the games would be great, and I'm sure sharing my knowledge will help my understanding of poker better. I don't think facing poker on your own is very healthy either. It's not the most social of habits.

I live in the UK and have a 9 to 5 so I can only do hours outside of those. A decent grasp of GTO concepts and principles is a must. Having beaten 5nlz is also a minimum.

In terms of what I have to offer, well it's all in this thread folks! PM if you have one and like what you see.


Hands

1. Villain 16/15 with 14% resteal. 57 WWSF. 315 hands
Didn't see the flush draw OTT because of autopilot so I sized river smaller as an exploit. Should've just jammed turn especially not blocking the flush draw. But I did not see it sigh...

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

Hero (BTN): 215.6 BB
SB: 261.6 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 25.00, Hands: 13)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 16.44, PFR: 15.15, 3Bet Preflop: 4.67, Hands: 311)
UTG: 100.4 BB (VPIP: 19.70, PFR: 13.64, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 67)
MP: 104.2 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
CO: 265.6 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (5.2 BB, 2 players) 7 2 4
BB checks, Hero bets 2 BB, BB calls 2 BB

Turn: (9.2 BB, 2 players) 7
BB checks, Hero bets 6.8 BB, BB raises to 19.2 BB, Hero calls 12.4 BB

River: (47.6 BB, 2 players) T
BB checks, Hero bets 26.4 BB, BB calls 26.4 BB




2. 10nlz 300 hand shot! Villain unknown.
Missed value bet? I'm very conscious of the fact that I'm much more capped than villain...

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

BTN: 106 BB (VPIP: 24.32, PFR: 17.12, 3Bet Preflop: 6.67, Hands: 114)
SB: 383.1 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
Hero (BB): 154.2 BB
UTG: 77.1 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
MP: 99 BB (VPIP: 29.53, PFR: 19.69, 3Bet Preflop: 3.29, Hands: 798)
CO: 127.5 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) 8 4 6
SB bets 4.2 BB, Hero calls 4.2 BB

Turn: (14.4 BB, 2 players) J
SB bets 10.3 BB, Hero calls 10.3 BB

River: (35 BB, 2 players) 3
SB checks, Hero checks



3. 10nlz 300 hand shot continued! Vill also unknown.
Can't fold for that price OTT (would prob call bigger anyway)

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

BTN: 108.6 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
Hero (SB): 108.9 BB
BB: 101 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 5.56, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 19)
UTG: 105.4 BB (VPIP: 27.06, PFR: 21.18, 3Bet Preflop: 2.94, Hands: 89)
MP: 77.5 BB (VPIP: 22.45, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 5.56, Hands: 50)
CO: 346.9 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) 7 3 3
Hero bets 3.7 BB, BB calls 3.7 BB

Turn: (13.4 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, BB bets 7 BB, Hero calls 7 BB

River: (27.4 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, BB checks



4. Back to 5nlz Villains unknown
Best line? ????

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

BTN: 100.4 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 23.21, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 57)
SB: 109 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 2.50, Hands: 107)
BB: 154 BB
Hero (UTG): 102.2 BB
MP: 87.6 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
CO: 187 BB (VPIP: 21.33, PFR: 17.29, 3Bet Preflop: 5.95, Hands: 714)

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, MP calls 2.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 1.4 BB

Flop: (7.6 BB, 3 players) J 7 9
BB bets 2 BB, Hero calls 2 BB, MP raises to 8 BB, BB calls 6 BB, Hero calls 6 BB

Turn: (31.6 BB, 3 players) 2
BB checks, Hero checks, MP bets 10 BB, BB calls 10 BB, Hero raises to 91.8 BB and is all-in, MP calls 67.2 BB and is all-in, fold

River: (196 BB, 2 players) 3



Goals
15/25 hours this week! Ahead of schedule, can probably relax tomorrow and on one day of the weekend and still make the 25 hours. Not going to though, I'd rather get extra hours in the bank now so that on future weekends I'm too busy to grind, I'm covered.

Leaks
- slightly less autopilot is nice. I think I need to stop listening to music on the grind, I've noticed it takes away my attention.

Week summary

23/25 hours. I was locked out of my gf's house so my planned grind didn't go to plan. Whatever. I'm happy, I got to see the guys from back home, and binged a few TV episodes with the gf. Balance in poker, balance in life will be +EV.

Graph for the week below. Mix of 5nlz, and 10nlz.





Total BR:
+$129.06

I tried writing out differences between stakes by writing betting lines like "b-x-b" and writing my comments on when I thought that line was most effective. This is such a long process though and will be hard to reference though so I'm not sure if this is the best way. I've stuck to writing general comments about the differences between 5nlz and 10nlz. It's not very organised but better than nothing (keeping this to myself for obvious reasons).

I definitely do know which ranges I need to work on constructing, so my next week's studying will focus on those ranges.

Leaks
- Constructing new ranges in spots I've rarely played before (but that I'm pressured to because of 10nlz differences). There are also spots where I should defend x range, but since villains don't bet the range they should, I need to find a reasonable adjustment vs this.
- Using a wide variety of bet sizes to find leaks in all areas of opponents' games.
- Since I now have 28 BI for 10nlz, it's very tempting to stay up. I want to stick to mixing stakes until I have at least 40BI for 10nlz, because a downswing could still wipe me out quickly. Even if I have to play 300 hands at 5nlz, and 1200 at 10nlz.


Next week
Won't be able to do 25 hours, got some birthdays this weekend and got to spend some time with the GF's parents. Probably looking at more like 12 hours. GL everyone!!

3.5 / 25 hours


Leaks
Yesterday was a spewy day. I need to develop a concrete thought process that doesnt change under any circumstances. Yesterday was full of "**** it" bluffs caused by overconfidence, and attempts to be "balanced."

Preflop though process:

1. Open default ranges, unless...
2. Nits / stations / maniacs behind, then adjust.
3. Are there any tough regs that might be adjusting to my play? This will determine how exploitative any adjustments you make will be.
4. If I face a raise, I recall what my defending range *should* be based on off-the-table work. Then I adjust based on pop reads / individual villain reads.
5. If I am inclined to bluff with a hand, what are similar hands I'm inclined to bluff with? If I bluffed with all of them, would I be bluffing too much? What are my best bluffs?

Postflop, :

1. I'm at the stage where my postflop strategies are internalised. So I'll try to recall how both ranges should play.
2. Are there exploitative adjustments I can make? Population adjustments?
3. Remember if there are tough regs I need to stay balanced.
4. If I am inclined to bluff with a hand, what are similar hands I'm inclined to bluff with? If I bluffed with all of them, would I be bluffing too much? What are my best bluffs? The less confident I am in my bluff, the more I should stick to my best bluffs.
5. If thinking of a new line, I ask if I have ever played a value bet in this manner before. If not, I do not make the bluff, and make a note that I should try and play a value hand that way.


EDIT;

- I will always try to remember how I play with my whole range. This will help with consistency and execution

June summary

Includes some hands I played at the beginning of the month solely at 2nlz.


Summary and future goals

- Been studying spots sporadically, outlining which combos I want to take what lines with. I'm not sure if I'm learning well enough by doing this, or if I should break the game down into "modules" of flops where I want to learn how to play that specific flop in depth, and extrapolate what I've learned.
- I sometimes get gun-shy. Not in making big bluffs, but in making big folds. I found a spot where I had so few combos, and quite capped, that I needed to fold the top of my range at a mixed frequency (Hand 1 below)
- The next month will be a lot of mental game work for me. Not tilt wise, but in terms of learning how many top pair combos I have in x spot, etc. It should just be a memory exercise, just like learning pot odds. I'm very good at knowing combos in standard spots, like calling a steal as the BB vs BTN and facing a three barrel. But especially in position, where I want to bet some of my range and check others, it's hard for me to know just how I'm playing my whole range
- I've started to toy with the idea of simplifying my strategy, taking slight lines that are slightly -EV (compared to GTO) based on CREV. So instead of cbetting 80% at a certain spot, it might be better to c-bet a smaller size and just bet range, instead of trying to balance a 20% checking range.
- I have failed with trying to come up with new strats for smaller bet sizes. This has been on the back burner because I don't even have solid strats for "regular" bet sizes of 50%- 100% pot.
- I've improved on my sensitivity to bet sizes, I used to be a little inelastic with calling ranges, but I've fixed that.

Should call turn here and fold AK at some frequency OTR. It just sucks super hard if he ever does this with AQ thinking we're capped. Should have little to no underpairs when I call OTT.
PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 302.8 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
SB: 104.4 BB (VPIP: 21.74, PFR: 17.39, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 23)
BB: 75.6 BB
Hero (UTG): 234.4 BB
MP: 26 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 4)
CO: 147.6 BB (VPIP: 37.50, PFR: 37.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 8)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 2.4 BB, fold, CO calls 2.4 BB, fold, fold, BB raises to 3.8 BB, Hero raises to 14.2 BB, CO calls 11.8 BB, BB calls 10.4 BB

Flop: (43 BB, 3 players) 5 8 A
BB checks, Hero checks, CO bets 15.2 BB, BB calls 15.2 BB, Hero calls 15.2 BB

Turn: (88.6 BB, 3 players) 2
BB checks, Hero checks, CO bets 42.6 BB, fold, Hero raises to 205 BB and is all-in, CO calls 75.6 BB and is all-in

River: (325 BB, 2 players) K

To whoever is reading this, sorry for the lack of updates! I'm going to strive for at least one update every three sessions.

Results



I generally played a C game here, there were definitely spots where the top of my range ran into a better hand, but I've had some spewy moments.

I notice that I get tilted when I make a bluff on the river (with no/bad blockers) and see opponent call down with the stupidest hands (Hand in spoilers below). I remember after this hand going on a 1 minute rant saying "How the **** does he call that when I have AJ but I don't remember the last time I got paid with a lush here?? I look at the hand now and see that I probably have 2 or less combos of flushes OTR so if I am balancing I need to have 0.6 combos of bluffs or something.




There's more, but I feel like that one hand sends the message.


What I've been working on
I've been trying to count combos in real time. I'm memorising how many combos I open with, how many I defend vs 3bets with. This way when I make adjustments, I can do it based on concrete measurements instead of "I feel like ATo is no good vs his 3bet range". Now I can say, "I want to defend 50 combso as standard - I will defend 70 v this player - does ATo fit into this range?"

I've started to measure the amount of top pairs and flush draws etc I have which has made stationing down vs bets so much easier. I can know with good certainty if I'm over-folding or over-calling and be comfortable knowing that.

Leaks
- It's quite hard for me to guesstimate how my calling range changes when I want to raise in the same spot. For example, I called a SB open in the BB with xx, and the board is 987 monotone. I obviously want to raise here, so how will that affect my calling range if I don't have the nuts? etc.

- As obvious from the graph and hand above, I also fail to estimate how much value I have. I've started employing a thought process of, "What's my bluffing quota?"
So I will count my value hands I will be betting and add a number of bluffs based on GTO approximations. I ask myself what hands I need to bluff to fulfill that quota. This is a leak - I should first be asking whether I want to meet that quota in full.

- I have a good approximate (ish) of how GTO should play, but a leak of mine is incorrectly applying those strats to my adjusted ranges. To put it clearly: I should play x strategy as my GTO approximation, but since I made adjustments based on reads, I should play y strat instead, the "adjusted GTO". So e.g. I'm calling AQ that I should call if I played my default strat, but since I've made a decision to overfold on the previous street, AQo is lower down in my range and I can fold it. I hope that makes sense?


My next leak to fix will be mental game in terms of learning to execute bluffs with thin value ranges. Stay tuned!

RESULTS

My graph for this month so far. Volume is lacking, but I've definitely been putting the hours in trying to plug leaks. Almost all 5nlz apart from 700 hands, where I got my ass handed to me at 10nlz.





On positional winrates:

Obviously it's a small sample size but looking through these should help me find leaks in my strats / reads. BB and SB performance are obviously horrendous.

SB
I had a quick look in results and SB seems to be fine, I lost 200bb in 5nlz on one hand where I was clicking buttons. If you take that away, my SB winrate is -18/100 which is more normal. I will fix the mental game leak, but strategy/game play wise I'm don't have any glaring, high-priority leaks in SB.

200bb gift below:



BB
BB is where I made a major modification as a result of my work on CREV -
I've started learning how to defend wider, e.g selective A-hi and K-hi floats OOP.
It seems to have had the opposite effect on my winrate. There doesn't seem to be any big hand or hands that could explain this, so I'll have to play around and see how my strats fall short. I have a suspicion that players fire turn cbets too much (so my light floats are getting rekt). I'll play around to see if I can attack these with raises, or if I'll have to just overfold.


Hands, random


Hand 1.
PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 133 BB
SB: 93.4 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 12.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 66.2 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 100.00, Hands: 2)
CO: 101.4 BB (VPIP: 18.03, PFR: 13.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 61)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 2 BB, fold, CO calls 2 BB, Hero calls 2 BB, SB raises to 6 BB, BB calls 5 BB, UTG calls 4 BB, CO calls 4 BB, Hero calls 4 BB

Flop: (30 BB, 5 players) 4 6 5
SB checks, BB bets 29 BB, fold, CO calls 29 BB, Hero raises to 127 BB and is all-in, fold, BB calls 65 BB and is all-in, CO calls 66.4 BB and is all-in

Turn: (314.8 BB, 3 players) J

River: (314.8 BB, 3 players) Q






2. Unsure how I should've played this OTT. Even flop could be a raise.
PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 241.8 BB (VPIP: 13.85, PFR: 9.23, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 66)
SB: 100.4 BB (VPIP: 17.71, PFR: 14.64, 3Bet Preflop: 7.01, Hands: 836)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 16.13, PFR: 6.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 31)
UTG: 93.8 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 24.44, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 46)
MP: 51.2 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 4)
Hero (CO): 149 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, Hero raises to 2.4 BB, fold, fold, BB raises to 8 BB, Hero calls 5.6 BB

Flop: (16.4 BB, 2 players) 3 T 2
BB bets 10.6 BB, Hero calls 10.6 BB

Turn: (37.6 BB, 2 players) 8
BB bets 24 BB, Hero calls 24 BB

River: (85.6 BB, 2 players) T
BB checks, Hero bets 106.4 BB and is all-in, fold

Hero wins 82 BB



Hand 3.
PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 165.2 BB (VPIP: 19.01, PFR: 14.05, 3Bet Preflop: 6.45, Hands: 123)
Hero (SB): 101.2 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 34.2 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 7.14, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 26.09, PFR: 17.39, 3Bet Preflop: 9.43, Hands: 143)
CO: 110.8 BB (VPIP: 23.81, PFR: 19.05, 3Bet Preflop: 5.26, Hands: 110)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 4 6

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

Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) A 2 T
Hero bets 4 BB, BB calls 4 BB

Turn: (14 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero bets 10 BB, BB calls 10 BB

River: (34 BB, 2 players) K
Hero bets 39.6 BB, fold

Hero wins 32.6 BB


Hand 4. Am I a calling station?
PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 83.4 BB (VPIP: 43.75, PFR: 18.75, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
SB: 109.2 BB
BB: 106.2 BB (VPIP: 12.00, PFR: 8.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
Hero (UTG): 100 BB
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 23.15, PFR: 18.52, 3Bet Preflop: 5.26, Hands: 113)
CO: 184.4 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 2.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 2 BB, fold

Flop: (5.8 BB, 2 players) T 8 2
SB checks, Hero bets 2.2 BB, SB raises to 4.4 BB, Hero calls 2.2 BB

Turn: (14.6 BB, 2 players) J
SB checks, Hero checks

River: (14.6 BB, 2 players) J
SB bets 5.8 BB, Hero calls 5.8 BB





Leaks
---------
- I auto bluff any time I have a hand in the bottom of my range, regardless of how many combos I have. This works out fine on flops and most turns, but on the river - especially when I play my value hands in so many different ways and I'm repping thing - this turns into me way overbluffing sometimes. Because of how effective this is on earlie streets this is a bad habit that I've picked up. On the bright side, I've fixed a previous leak of bluffing rivers without taking blockers into account.

- It's very hard to maintain focus and keep counting combos. I definitely don't want to play 1 ZOOM table as standard, I want to learn to play two tables while knowing combos on the fly. I might want to take up meditation. I'm definitely in an in-between stage of conscious competence and unconscious competence.

- How to cbet turn as an overbet? I want to play around with this and see how it affects my ranges when I'm not overbetting.

- How to construct river value range after flop/turn check-check. I make bets that I'm not sure how thin they are.

- opponents who lead way too small are a common theme in small stakes poker. Its frequency leads me to think I sholuld investigate this

- I have default preflop opening and defending ranges based on principles of GTO and good sources online, but I feel like I'm way under-defending the BB. As of the moment, I defend a tighter range than the PFR's RFI (vs a 3x open). This doesn't click right with me and after playing around with PokerSnowie's free preflop ranges, I think I will work on implementing wider BB defenses into my game.
I'm a bit unsure about this because of my losses in the BB, most players definitely don't open as wide as Snowie does in 5nlz. It will be good for me to learn but I don't know if I'll implement this.

- I win less money in MP than UTG, no huge spot appearsr to explain this. Plus looking at my graph I see my redline is downsloping in MP compared to every other non-blind position. Small sample size, but something to keep an eye on. I wrote down this leak before I posted the graph above, before someone gifted 100bb into my quads with 8 high. Before this hand my winrate was sitting at 7bb/100 in MP

- Just because a board has 4 to a straight or flush doesn't mean you have to lock up. I can value bet and bluff way wider than i do. This is a spot that should make lots of money since so many players just freeze up.

- Defending in 3bet pots. I was playing around with CREV and found some sports where I should over-folding and over-calling way more than I should.

Not dead yet!

Since I started this PGC, here are my graphs from this computer:

5nlz


10nlz


60,000 hands to achieve break-even.

I was super tilted by how i was beating 5nlz comfortably but getting crushed at 10nlz so i tilted off a ton of BI at 10nlz. I lost most/all of it in the last 9k hands.

Poor volume per month, poor results to show for it.

The goal to $4000 is gonna take some work, but I'm ready to put it in.

I got a new computer - runs CREV sims about 3-4x faster, and stuck my head down. I figured out that the reason i was geting crushed at 10nlz was because of adjustments I'd made at 5nlz that were -EV at 10nlz. I made myself more familiar with playing solid theoretical poker, and have turned the situation around. I fixed a lot of the leaks i wrote down in my last post.

I'm a better player in the BB. I know how to play around with overbets. I play less scared in 4 straight, 4 flush boards. I know how to play vs flop donks, and how to deviate vs pop reads. I play 3bet pots better and construct my ranges better too.

I now have $181.41/$4,000.00, will follow with graphs from my new computer.

5nlz graph on the new computer


10nlz (on the new computer)


Back from retirement.

Not entirely sure where the extra $50 came from (since I am only $130 up in graphs if anyone's done the math) - i definitely didn't redeposit but I won't complain about it.

Forgot to include some interesting hands.




Snap folded.






Jammed thinking we were 100bb deep effective stacks, cost me 1 BI.



****ed my bet sizing OTR.





Most 10nlz don't have bluffs OTR so i could even exploit fold this.

Subbed, gl.

What's your sn? I'm in 10z pool.

BR is $304.83 / $4153.88 (my goal of $4k + what i deposited).

Played a long session yesterday with the day off work, ran 5BI under EV, mental game stayed strong though.

I didn't finish with a +EV yellow line, some failed bluffs in new lines.



Leaks to look into
1. Multiway pots as MP PFR - if i don't include this stat then i have a similar winrate in this position compared to UTG/CO. I had a look and it seems like i just haven't flopped as hard / got paid in other positions. But i'll have a look just in case.

2. River play in 3! pots.
2.5 In fact i think 3bet pots as PFR is something good to look at. will experiment with more 3! sizings in future.

3. Theoretically solid defense vs x/r when i cbet 1/3 pot.

Yo you at 10NLz? I play there also can discuss hands if you like

@Herb sent you a PM.


Bankroll update: $345.95 / $4153.88

Graph from Monday morning to today. Decent volume considering I normally work 40 hour weeks, not so decent volume considering I had Thursday off. Work life balance is important though, if every waking moment is a grind it'll be -EV. This time hasn't been without studying though so when you count the total hours it is decent. Study : play ratio is around 20:80.


Last post leaks:
1. Multiway pots as MP PFR - if i don't include this stat then i have a similar winrate in this position compared to UTG/CO. I had a look and it seems like i just haven't flopped as hard / got paid in other positions. But i'll have a look just in case.
Fail, need to take a look at this next time. I've started having a look today in CREV but as a band-aid fix I'm opening a tighter range for the meantime since I'm doing fine UTG.

2. River play in 3! pots.
2.5 In fact i think 3bet pots as PFR is something good to look at. will experiment with more 3! sizings in future.
I went completely off-track here and looked at river play in non-3bet pots. So this isn't a complete loss.

3. Theoretically solid defense vs x/r when i cbet 1/3 pot.
Have done zero work on this, I was going to and then got distracted by refining my turn and river ranges.