Blood, Sweat and Tears - A micro MTT thread
06-04-2017
, 03:31 PM
Hello, dear reader! I'm Stefan from Romania, 26 six years old and have a full time job. In this thread I'll write down my progress in playing micro-stakes MTTs and hopefully won't go busto.
I've played poker since 2010 (I think). Always played recreationally, mostly cash zoom micro cash games. There were times when I tried other formats like SNGs and MTSNGs but never really enjoyed them that much so I just sticked with zoom. However lately I'm enjoying MTTs much more than cash games and I actually want to get better at them hence this thread. I'll be posting some interesting hands, session reviews etc.
Since I can't play on working days, I'll be playing mosty on Sunday mornings because the fields are kinda small and it's easier to make deep runs. Also, I'm not a big multi-tabler so my volume won't be that sick instead I will try to concentrate more on players to get reads. Will be playing on Stars and 888 as there are no other rooms romanian players are allowed to play. Except Unibet but that software is tilting me very hard.
My name on Stars is the same I use here and on 888 it's "jngljcb". For some reason SC doesn't track 888 properly so I'll posting my 888 graphs from PT4.
Current 888 account:
Old 888 account (had to renew it because romanian regulations):
Stars roll: $2360
888 roll: $1370
I'll be playing between $1 and $11 on Stars. If I go under the 2K mark, will drop the $11 ones and play only up to $7.5. On 888 I feel like the I can take shots at $11 tourneys with this roll since the fields are small and the players are worse in general than on Stars, but will play mainly $2-$5 ones.
Now the most important part: I must improve my preflop all-in game a lot. I feel like I'm paying off nits and passive players too often with JJ-QQ, AQ, AK when they only have KK+. This happens mostly in KO tournament when I just can't fold when let's say a 30/6 dude jams on me who is passive pre. I guess this is due to my poor mental game that I need to work on as well. I bought ICMIZER rencently and started to work with it and I can already feel it's impact on my game. Will try to put 3-5 hours a week working with it.
Short term goals:
-don't pay off weak-passive players pre and postflop
-make a deep run in a $11 tourney
-work on ChipEV push/fold and calling ranges
-get a new PC
Long term goals:
-pump up my AvgBI to somewhere around $11
-try to keep my EV bb/100 above 10
-grind up a roll to visit the PC Prague next year or this year if I score a big one
-not go busto
This probably won't be that epic of a thread like t8ofDiamonds' or Patrick's but I will try to do my best. GL to all and see you at the tables!
I've played poker since 2010 (I think). Always played recreationally, mostly cash zoom micro cash games. There were times when I tried other formats like SNGs and MTSNGs but never really enjoyed them that much so I just sticked with zoom. However lately I'm enjoying MTTs much more than cash games and I actually want to get better at them hence this thread. I'll be posting some interesting hands, session reviews etc.
Since I can't play on working days, I'll be playing mosty on Sunday mornings because the fields are kinda small and it's easier to make deep runs. Also, I'm not a big multi-tabler so my volume won't be that sick instead I will try to concentrate more on players to get reads. Will be playing on Stars and 888 as there are no other rooms romanian players are allowed to play. Except Unibet but that software is tilting me very hard.
My name on Stars is the same I use here and on 888 it's "jngljcb". For some reason SC doesn't track 888 properly so I'll posting my 888 graphs from PT4.
Current 888 account:
Old 888 account (had to renew it because romanian regulations):
Stars roll: $2360
888 roll: $1370
I'll be playing between $1 and $11 on Stars. If I go under the 2K mark, will drop the $11 ones and play only up to $7.5. On 888 I feel like the I can take shots at $11 tourneys with this roll since the fields are small and the players are worse in general than on Stars, but will play mainly $2-$5 ones.
Now the most important part: I must improve my preflop all-in game a lot. I feel like I'm paying off nits and passive players too often with JJ-QQ, AQ, AK when they only have KK+. This happens mostly in KO tournament when I just can't fold when let's say a 30/6 dude jams on me who is passive pre. I guess this is due to my poor mental game that I need to work on as well. I bought ICMIZER rencently and started to work with it and I can already feel it's impact on my game. Will try to put 3-5 hours a week working with it.
Short term goals:
-don't pay off weak-passive players pre and postflop
-make a deep run in a $11 tourney
-work on ChipEV push/fold and calling ranges
-get a new PC
Long term goals:
-pump up my AvgBI to somewhere around $11
-try to keep my EV bb/100 above 10
-grind up a roll to visit the PC Prague next year or this year if I score a big one
-not go busto
This probably won't be that epic of a thread like t8ofDiamonds' or Patrick's but I will try to do my best. GL to all and see you at the tables!
06-11-2017
, 04:52 AM
Well, not much happened in the first session. Actaully two sessions since I played a short one on Friday night but I did not really felt great about playing huge fields tournaments so I'm just gonna stick to the Sunay morning schedule in the future.
Played 16 tournaments on Stars, down $28, 5 on 888, down $32.
Punted some stacks which is really not great for my EV bb/100.
888 Poker - 50/100 Ante 10 NL - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
Hero (UTG): 31.67 BB
UTG+1: 29.8 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
MP: 81.12 BB (VPIP: 85.71, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 50.00, Hands: 7)
MP+1: 39.35 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
CO: 78.45 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
BTN: 59.73 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)
SB: 56.42 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
BB: 50.12 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)
8 players post ante of 0.1 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 2.3 BB) Hero has 7
7
Hero raises to 31.57 BB and is all-in, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 31.07 BB, fold
Flop: (64.94 BB, 2 players) 9
2 3
Turn: (64.94 BB, 2 players) 4
River: (64.94 BB, 2 players) A
Hero shows 7 7 (Flush, Ace High)
(Pre 19%, Flop 8%, Turn 5%)
SB shows T T (Flush, Ace High)
(Pre 81%, Flop 92%, Turn 95%)
SB wins 64.94 BB
MP was playing really loose and I thought that he will call with trash which is a very optimistic assumption with only 7 hands on him. Also if he calls JTo I'm just a slight favorite vs. that and if I get called by someon else I'm in terrible shape.
PokerStars - 125/250 Ante 30 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
CO: 9.1 BB
Hero (BTN): 19.59 BB
SB: 17.28 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
BB: 55.33 BB (VPIP: 42.86, PFR: 20.24, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 84)
UTG: 66.06 BB (VPIP: 31.43, PFR: 17.14, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 35)
UTG+1: 126.65 BB (VPIP: 27.72, PFR: 12.00, 3Bet Preflop: 4.00, Hands: 101)
MP: 28.97 BB (VPIP: 12.87, PFR: 8.91, 3Bet Preflop: 5.88, Hands: 101)
MP+1: 20 BB
MP+2: 29.9 BB (VPIP: 22.00, PFR: 18.00, 3Bet Preflop: 2.27, Hands: 101)
9 players post ante of 0.12 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 2.58 BB) Hero has 4 4
fold, UTG+1 raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, MP+2 calls 2 BB, fold, Hero raises to 19.47 BB and is all-in, fold, fold, UTG+1 raises to 40 BB, fold
Flop: (43.52 BB, 2 players) 5
3 6
Turn: (43.52 BB, 2 players) 5
River: (43.52 BB, 2 players) J
UTG+1 shows Q Q (Two Pair, Queens and Fives)
(Pre 80%, Flop 64%, Turn 77%)
Hero shows 4 4 (Two Pair, Fives and Fours)
(Pre 20%, Flop 36%, Turn 23%)
UTG+1 wins 43.52 BB
UTG+1 was brazilian and was opening 30% EP. The one hand I saw show him down in that position was JJ. Now he had QQ so he was probably just running hot. Furthermore the coldcaller seems to be a reg. He can easily have a slowplay or a hand that will call my jam if UTG+1 folds. I need 75% FE which is a lot and probably don't even have close to that if UTG+1 actually has a reasonable opening range. Plus 44 really does terrible when called so I'd rather have AJs or something but that would be probably a call instad since BB seems like a rec and it plays good multiway. I guess I should have just flatted and try to flop a set. Anyway, big -EV shove, gotta look out for these spots in the future.
PokerStars - 350/700 Ante 90 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
MP: 10.76 BB (VPIP: 20.16, PFR: 5.43, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 130)
MP+1: 17.82 BB (VPIP: 14.88, PFR: 8.40, 3Bet Preflop: 2.63, Hands: 122)
MP+2: 12.66 BB (VPIP: 44.44, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
CO: 32.92 BB (VPIP: 9.52, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)
BTN: 9.74 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
SB: 18.19 BB (VPIP: 15.00, PFR: 5.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
Hero (BB): 44.25 BB
UTG: 65.97 BB (VPIP: 28.95, PFR: 21.62, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 39)
UTG+1: 1.48 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
9 players post ante of 0.13 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 2.66 BB) Hero has 9 T
UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 2 BB
Flop: (7.66 BB, 2 players) 5 9 K
Hero checks, UTG bets 3.83 BB, Hero calls 3.83 BB
Turn: (15.31 BB, 2 players) K
Hero checks, UTG bets 7.66 BB, Hero calls 7.66 BB
River: (30.63 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero checks, UTG bets 15.31 BB, fold
UTG wins 30.63 BB
UTG aggro brazilian aggro and snap 3 barreled. Flatting is standard with almost 3:1 but the 3x concerns me a bit. The turn should be a fold. I don't know enough about him to call and basically half of the deck is bad for me. Maybe he 3 barrels offsuit broadways and if rivers 2 pairs just plays perfectly vs. my hand and checks back. He's got a ton of Kx, probaly even KJo too which gives him a lot of value combos. But now that I called the turn I think I can't fold the river. I'm getting 3:1 and he definitely has enough bluffs. I'm only in really bad shape ig he does this with TT, JJ, QQ and AA as well. And if he barrels non heart missed guthots as well then it's definitely a call.
Seems like I have to learn way more off the tables because these are big mistakes and you can't afford to make these in MTTs when the variance is huge to begin with.
See you next week!
Played 16 tournaments on Stars, down $28, 5 on 888, down $32.
Punted some stacks which is really not great for my EV bb/100.
888 Poker - 50/100 Ante 10 NL - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
Hero (UTG): 31.67 BB
UTG+1: 29.8 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
MP: 81.12 BB (VPIP: 85.71, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 50.00, Hands: 7)
MP+1: 39.35 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
CO: 78.45 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
BTN: 59.73 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)
SB: 56.42 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
BB: 50.12 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)
8 players post ante of 0.1 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 2.3 BB) Hero has 7
7 Hero raises to 31.57 BB and is all-in, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 31.07 BB, fold
Flop: (64.94 BB, 2 players) 9
2 3 Turn: (64.94 BB, 2 players) 4
River: (64.94 BB, 2 players) A
Hero shows 7
7 (Flush, Ace High)(Pre 19%, Flop 8%, Turn 5%)
SB shows T
T (Flush, Ace High)(Pre 81%, Flop 92%, Turn 95%)
SB wins 64.94 BB
MP was playing really loose and I thought that he will call with trash which is a very optimistic assumption with only 7 hands on him. Also if he calls JTo I'm just a slight favorite vs. that and if I get called by someon else I'm in terrible shape.
PokerStars - 125/250 Ante 30 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
CO: 9.1 BB
Hero (BTN): 19.59 BB
SB: 17.28 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
BB: 55.33 BB (VPIP: 42.86, PFR: 20.24, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 84)
UTG: 66.06 BB (VPIP: 31.43, PFR: 17.14, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 35)
UTG+1: 126.65 BB (VPIP: 27.72, PFR: 12.00, 3Bet Preflop: 4.00, Hands: 101)
MP: 28.97 BB (VPIP: 12.87, PFR: 8.91, 3Bet Preflop: 5.88, Hands: 101)
MP+1: 20 BB
MP+2: 29.9 BB (VPIP: 22.00, PFR: 18.00, 3Bet Preflop: 2.27, Hands: 101)
9 players post ante of 0.12 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 2.58 BB) Hero has 4
4 fold, UTG+1 raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, MP+2 calls 2 BB, fold, Hero raises to 19.47 BB and is all-in, fold, fold, UTG+1 raises to 40 BB, fold
Flop: (43.52 BB, 2 players) 5
3 6 Turn: (43.52 BB, 2 players) 5
River: (43.52 BB, 2 players) J
UTG+1 shows Q
Q (Two Pair, Queens and Fives)(Pre 80%, Flop 64%, Turn 77%)
Hero shows 4
4 (Two Pair, Fives and Fours)(Pre 20%, Flop 36%, Turn 23%)
UTG+1 wins 43.52 BB
UTG+1 was brazilian and was opening 30% EP. The one hand I saw show him down in that position was JJ. Now he had QQ so he was probably just running hot. Furthermore the coldcaller seems to be a reg. He can easily have a slowplay or a hand that will call my jam if UTG+1 folds. I need 75% FE which is a lot and probably don't even have close to that if UTG+1 actually has a reasonable opening range. Plus 44 really does terrible when called so I'd rather have AJs or something but that would be probably a call instad since BB seems like a rec and it plays good multiway. I guess I should have just flatted and try to flop a set. Anyway, big -EV shove, gotta look out for these spots in the future.
PokerStars - 350/700 Ante 90 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
MP: 10.76 BB (VPIP: 20.16, PFR: 5.43, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 130)
MP+1: 17.82 BB (VPIP: 14.88, PFR: 8.40, 3Bet Preflop: 2.63, Hands: 122)
MP+2: 12.66 BB (VPIP: 44.44, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
CO: 32.92 BB (VPIP: 9.52, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)
BTN: 9.74 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
SB: 18.19 BB (VPIP: 15.00, PFR: 5.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
Hero (BB): 44.25 BB
UTG: 65.97 BB (VPIP: 28.95, PFR: 21.62, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 39)
UTG+1: 1.48 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
9 players post ante of 0.13 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 2.66 BB) Hero has 9
T UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 2 BB
Flop: (7.66 BB, 2 players) 5
9 K Hero checks, UTG bets 3.83 BB, Hero calls 3.83 BB
Turn: (15.31 BB, 2 players) K
Hero checks, UTG bets 7.66 BB, Hero calls 7.66 BB
River: (30.63 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero checks, UTG bets 15.31 BB, fold
UTG wins 30.63 BB
UTG aggro brazilian aggro and snap 3 barreled. Flatting is standard with almost 3:1 but the 3x concerns me a bit. The turn should be a fold. I don't know enough about him to call and basically half of the deck is bad for me. Maybe he 3 barrels offsuit broadways and if rivers 2 pairs just plays perfectly vs. my hand and checks back. He's got a ton of Kx, probaly even KJo too which gives him a lot of value combos. But now that I called the turn I think I can't fold the river. I'm getting 3:1 and he definitely has enough bluffs. I'm only in really bad shape ig he does this with TT, JJ, QQ and AA as well. And if he barrels non heart missed guthots as well then it's definitely a call.
Seems like I have to learn way more off the tables because these are big mistakes and you can't afford to make these in MTTs when the variance is huge to begin with.
See you next week!
06-11-2017
, 12:17 PM
I decided to fire up an afternoon session because I drank too much coffee in the morning and just had to get in there.
Got absolutely rekt on Stars. Missed the boards, lost the flips and lost 2 preflop AIs with AA against QTs and KK both around 30 blinds deep. However got 5th in a $12 tounrey on 888. Really unlucky bustout though. Jammed the SB with 18 blinds with AK and got called by A9o. He flopped a 9 and rivered another one. It was a day saver though — finished the day in even which is better than being stuck.
Got absolutely rekt on Stars. Missed the boards, lost the flips and lost 2 preflop AIs with AA against QTs and KK both around 30 blinds deep. However got 5th in a $12 tounrey on 888. Really unlucky bustout though. Jammed the SB with 18 blinds with AK and got called by A9o. He flopped a 9 and rivered another one. It was a day saver though — finished the day in even which is better than being stuck.
06-25-2017
, 12:32 PM
Thanks!
Thanks for the advice.
This won't be a long post even though I played 4 sessions since the last update. Also not gonna post hands because I'm tilted and just want to get away a bit from poker as much as possible.
I always knew that my mental game is terrible but this can't go on anymore. It cost me probably hundreds of dollars in EV in those 4 sessions which is a lot for micros. Even now I feel anger, frustration, disappointment etc. I made profit both on PS and 888 but I know I'm terrible and I was just running good. The other thing is I don't study nearly enough. My study-play ratio is around 1:3 which I have to pump up to 1:2 or even to 1:1.
If you know something that can help my mental game at an affordable price, please write here or send me a message. I know Jared Tendler has 2 books on it, I just don't know how good those are.
Will not play for at least one week; I really need to refresh my mind. Will leave my YTD Stars BB/100 graph though (as mentioned above I'm running good). See ya next time!
https://gyazo.com/9d40a51b0a5d6b0c396c50511d24f6dc
I have no idea why can't post pictures. Could someone help me?
This won't be a long post even though I played 4 sessions since the last update. Also not gonna post hands because I'm tilted and just want to get away a bit from poker as much as possible.
I always knew that my mental game is terrible but this can't go on anymore. It cost me probably hundreds of dollars in EV in those 4 sessions which is a lot for micros. Even now I feel anger, frustration, disappointment etc. I made profit both on PS and 888 but I know I'm terrible and I was just running good. The other thing is I don't study nearly enough. My study-play ratio is around 1:3 which I have to pump up to 1:2 or even to 1:1.
If you know something that can help my mental game at an affordable price, please write here or send me a message. I know Jared Tendler has 2 books on it, I just don't know how good those are.
Will not play for at least one week; I really need to refresh my mind. Will leave my YTD Stars BB/100 graph though (as mentioned above I'm running good). See ya next time!
https://gyazo.com/9d40a51b0a5d6b0c396c50511d24f6dc
I have no idea why can't post pictures. Could someone help me?