Just trying to get better at poker
03-17-2017
, 07:24 PM
Hi guys,
I'm quite new to this forum and poker, but having read a lot of the other PG&C's it inspired me to make my own, more-so as a journal and hopefully a place of discussion over some HH's I will post.
I've been playing a bit of poker on and off for the past year trying to grind out of micro cash games (2NL) but my mental game and discipline is extremely poor. My initial BRM plan would always fly out the window after suffering something tilting and I would end up chasing losses which we all know does not end well.
It has been a few months since then, and during that time I've reflected on my goals and attitudes towards poker, which has changed my perspective of the game and what I personally want out of it.
I've read Arty's 2NL ABC building blocks and trying to implement that strategy into my game. I will mainly play a small amount of tables (2-3) as the focus is not on earning a specific amount of $$$, but trying to get better at this game by thinking about every decision, questioning every move and remove myself from outcome dependency (big focus on learning, improving and better mental game).
I'm a uni student studying commerce in my last year, luckily with a job lined up upon graduation. I enjoy socialising, playing sports (although I'm not very good at it haha), running, DotA and poker.
Goals:
These goals are quite arbitrary with no concrete setting, but hopefully they can act as the hand-railing that will guide my journey up the stairs to poker enlightenment.
- Think about every decision I make in the game, try not to auto-pilot hands. (lower amount of tables played if this is happening).
- Try not to get tilted - immediately review tilting outcomes by going through my thought process.
- If I do get tilted, take a break, the tables will be there tomorrow.
- Try to study/learn more about poker & strategy by studying, watching videos, reading forums.
- QUALITY > QUANTITY.
Thanks for reading guys, I'll be trying to post updates and HH's for discussion as regularly as i can
I'm quite new to this forum and poker, but having read a lot of the other PG&C's it inspired me to make my own, more-so as a journal and hopefully a place of discussion over some HH's I will post.
I've been playing a bit of poker on and off for the past year trying to grind out of micro cash games (2NL) but my mental game and discipline is extremely poor. My initial BRM plan would always fly out the window after suffering something tilting and I would end up chasing losses which we all know does not end well.
It has been a few months since then, and during that time I've reflected on my goals and attitudes towards poker, which has changed my perspective of the game and what I personally want out of it.
I've read Arty's 2NL ABC building blocks and trying to implement that strategy into my game. I will mainly play a small amount of tables (2-3) as the focus is not on earning a specific amount of $$$, but trying to get better at this game by thinking about every decision, questioning every move and remove myself from outcome dependency (big focus on learning, improving and better mental game).
I'm a uni student studying commerce in my last year, luckily with a job lined up upon graduation. I enjoy socialising, playing sports (although I'm not very good at it haha), running, DotA and poker.
Goals:
These goals are quite arbitrary with no concrete setting, but hopefully they can act as the hand-railing that will guide my journey up the stairs to poker enlightenment.
- Think about every decision I make in the game, try not to auto-pilot hands. (lower amount of tables played if this is happening).
- Try not to get tilted - immediately review tilting outcomes by going through my thought process.
- If I do get tilted, take a break, the tables will be there tomorrow.
- Try to study/learn more about poker & strategy by studying, watching videos, reading forums.
- QUALITY > QUANTITY.
Thanks for reading guys, I'll be trying to post updates and HH's for discussion as regularly as i can
03-17-2017
, 07:52 PM
Thoughts on this hand?
My thought process:
Pre-flop:
Attempted steal (I do this every once in a while, sometimes show up with a big hand).
Flop:
Maybe the bet was too thin as I tried to give myself good pot-odds if he called.
As he checked flop on a wet board, I put him on Jx, 2x as I thought he would've bet with Kx to charge for draws. Two pairs/trips do not scare me as I have a flush draw.
I called his raise which did not give me appropriate pot odds, but I believe his quick and large re-raise sizing indicated he would continue aggression on later streets irrespective of further cards, thus giving me great implied odds to make the call.
Turn:
He makes a significant raise into the pot which I believe was large enough to commit him to it, so I decide to raise all-in. If he had KJ or a higher flush draw, then so be it.
Poker Stars $2.00 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter
MP2: $2.36 - VPIP: 20, PFR: 16, 3B: 7, AF: 2.0, Hands: 136
CO: $2.42 - VPIP: 17, PFR: 8, 3B: 0, AF: 1.3, Hands: 60
Hero (BTN): $2.38 - VPIP: 29, PFR: 12, 3B: 3, AF: 3.7, Hands: 15025
SB: $1.24 - VPIP: 28, PFR: 11, 3B: 0, AF: 1.5, Hands: 57
BB: $1.57 - VPIP: 56, PFR: 11, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 9
UTG: $1.41 - VPIP: 5, PFR: 4, 3B: 4, AF: 4.0, Hands: 249
UTG+1: $5.26 - VPIP: 23, PFR: 20, 3B: 1, AF: 2.0, Hands: 221
MP1: $2.02 - VPIP: 26, PFR: 15, 3B: 8, AF: 0.0, Hands: 27
Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is BTN with 7
3
5 folds, Hero raises to $0.06, SB calls $0.05, 1 fold
Flop: ($0.14) J K
2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.04, SB raises to $0.15, Hero calls $0.11
Turn: ($0.44) K (2 players)
SB bets $0.32, Hero raises to $1.20, SB calls $0.71 all in
River: ($2.50) Q (2 players - 1 is all in)
First session result:
http://imgur.com/a/Kqb1p
My thought process:
Pre-flop:
Attempted steal (I do this every once in a while, sometimes show up with a big hand).
Flop:
Maybe the bet was too thin as I tried to give myself good pot-odds if he called.
As he checked flop on a wet board, I put him on Jx, 2x as I thought he would've bet with Kx to charge for draws. Two pairs/trips do not scare me as I have a flush draw.
I called his raise which did not give me appropriate pot odds, but I believe his quick and large re-raise sizing indicated he would continue aggression on later streets irrespective of further cards, thus giving me great implied odds to make the call.
Turn:
He makes a significant raise into the pot which I believe was large enough to commit him to it, so I decide to raise all-in. If he had KJ or a higher flush draw, then so be it.
Poker Stars $2.00 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter
MP2: $2.36 - VPIP: 20, PFR: 16, 3B: 7, AF: 2.0, Hands: 136
CO: $2.42 - VPIP: 17, PFR: 8, 3B: 0, AF: 1.3, Hands: 60
Hero (BTN): $2.38 - VPIP: 29, PFR: 12, 3B: 3, AF: 3.7, Hands: 15025
SB: $1.24 - VPIP: 28, PFR: 11, 3B: 0, AF: 1.5, Hands: 57
BB: $1.57 - VPIP: 56, PFR: 11, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 9
UTG: $1.41 - VPIP: 5, PFR: 4, 3B: 4, AF: 4.0, Hands: 249
UTG+1: $5.26 - VPIP: 23, PFR: 20, 3B: 1, AF: 2.0, Hands: 221
MP1: $2.02 - VPIP: 26, PFR: 15, 3B: 8, AF: 0.0, Hands: 27
Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is BTN with 7
35 folds, Hero raises to $0.06, SB calls $0.05, 1 fold
Flop: ($0.14) J
K 2 (2 players)SB checks, Hero bets $0.04, SB raises to $0.15, Hero calls $0.11
Turn: ($0.44) K
(2 players)SB bets $0.32, Hero raises to $1.20, SB calls $0.71 all in
River: ($2.50) Q
(2 players - 1 is all in)Spoiler:
First session result:
http://imgur.com/a/Kqb1p