Hi,

This is my first post (Slightly nervous please don't bite!) I am a bit of a donk/fish, but I'm hoping to improve. The game is just a hobby to me so any improvement would be great, but I'm not going to stress out about it if I completely fail.

In that regard my only "goals" are to get better, review my play more often and hopefully have some fun along the way.

BACKGROUND:

I used to play online a few years ago, and perhaps my biggest claim to fame was freerolling into a training weekend that ended with a live tournament in London and winning. The win was nice, but it was even better to meet Neil Channing, Padraig Parkinson, and Nick Wealthall. I'd never met anyone who'd been on TV before!

I tried to put some of what I had learned into practice online but failed, largely because I started to go back to old habits after a while and getting myself into terrible spots. It was at this point I took a break from poker, which ended up lasting about 8 years!

THE PLAN:

1. Practise better BR management.
2. Start tracking my stats. (Probably should have done that 8 years ago)
3. Move up until I can comfortably play 25NL
4. Share results and look for feedback. (That's what this post is)
5. Be realistic and honest with myself whilst still avoiding playing in a negative mindset.

So putting this plan into action I'm going to start with a bankroll of £80 at 2NL try and get it to £160 and then play 4NL until hopefully I'm comfortably playing 25NL without the fear of going busto.

So far I've played about 18K hands, and although I started well I hit a bad run of coolers and bad beats and I tilted. It was at this point that I decided it was time to invest in poker tracking software and try to focus on where I was going wrong. The welcome bonus and points/RB saved my BR from sinking like the titanic but obviously my game needs to change drastically if I wish to beat the micros.

Have a look at the graph and please don't laugh (too much) I know it looks terrible, but I think I can turn it around with your help!

Thanks for reading.

Richard.

Well I've been having connection issues (a miracle it didn't tilt me) but a few wins have now put my BR at £92

If I had a stable connection it would probably be more.

I've been reading some advice about defending my opens from 3bets and it's been an instant success.

I'd been calling with too many weak hands, and compounded the issue by also folding too many good hands in position where I should have been calling or even 4bet/4bet bluffing.

It's made a huge difference.

Once I get a stable connection hopefully I will have more to report.

I don't think there's much point in getting into specific hands just yet, suffice to say I'm MUCH tighter from EP, and MUCH more aggressive from LP, and it seems to be working and building my confidence.

For me personally I have pretty solid mobile internet so I have it as backup when playing, so main net is broadband, but I snap tether my mobile Internet (which is like always stable) if need to.

The advice might be good, but it could be also that you run good, situationally and that backs your feel that it's good. However if you played badly b4, could be the advice >> your old ways.

Keen to check out your 100k graph once you get there!

Hi! And thanks for the reply!

WRT Connection, I think I got it sorted now, seems to be an Issue with USB wifi dongles (tried 2 of them) I've got a wifi extender and I'm plugged into that via ethernet and so far so good. I really like the idea of using mobile as backup, although I only get 3G so I'm not sure if its fast enough for poker?
Anyway hopefully now I won't need it, but great idea!

I totally get what you are saying about running good just as I change style, and the human tendency to connect unrelated events when they seem positive or negative. And you're right only time and volume will tell me for sure.

However I found the advice in an article whilst searching for a specific situation I was facing a lot against specific opponents. (i.e being 3bet by the same 2 or 3 opponents on about 70 - 80% of my raises) I think they were looking at my button & CO & SB raises (att stealing too often) and realised I folded to 3bets too often, so ofc they abused the situation every time to take down pots (increasing their 3bet lights). What the article did for me was give me a solid defensive platform to build on, and more certainty on which ones to selectively fold dependant on position.

This is it here.

https://www.pokerstarsschool.com/art...Against-3-Bets

Like I said it seems to be working so far, but like you say its important to wait for consistent results over a greater volume, before I cry eureka!

Thank you for the feedback!

(EDIT TYPOS)

Np! However, that's like the very basics. How did you play b4 the article? :o

Well probably a little too loose on the button and CO. And probably being too tricky/trappy on the flop (i.e checking the flop betting the turn rather than just cbeting).

Also too much limping UTG with hands like AJ. (I think I was doing this subconsciously as some weird defensive strategy)

I think I probably valued all hands from all positions too similarly, undervaluing mid suited connectors from LP and over valuing Ace rag etc early/mid.

Maybe a little too greedy with steals, and calling cbets too often.

According to leak tracker my VPiP was too high and my PFR to VPiP ratio was too low

I'm trying to think of this as "getting back to basics" or like rebuilding a golf swing.

Also my bet sizing was probably too one dimensional, not adjusting for limpers etc.

I appreciate that as I progress I will need to add more tricks to my repertoire, but I also think that perhaps I was trying to run before I could walk?

I know I said I would't post specific hands but I couldn't resist this one, even though I am probably being rather indulgent!

I've never posted a HH to 2+2 before so my excuse is I'm testing!

€0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players


BB: 133.5 BB (VPIP: 27.59, PFR: 10.34, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 29)
UTG: 223 BB (VPIP: 60.00, PFR: 12.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 51)
MP: 35 BB (VPIP: 24.32, PFR: 10.81, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 37)
CO: 182.5 BB (VPIP: 18.07, PFR: 10.48, 3Bet Preflop: 3.24, Hands: 858)
BTN: 98.5 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
Hero (SB): 140.5 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 8 8

UTG raises to 2 BB, fold, CO raises to 4 BB, fold, Hero calls 3.5 BB, fold, UTG calls 2 BB

Flop: (13 BB, 3 players) 7 6 8
Hero bets 13 BB, UTG calls 13 BB, fold

Turn: (39 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero bets 39 BB, UTG calls 39 BB

River: (117 BB, 2 players) T
Hero bets 84.5 BB, UTG calls 84.5 BB

UTG shows 9 K (Flush, King High)
(Pre 47%, Flop 39%, Turn 0%)
Hero shows 8 8 (Four of a Kind, Eights)
(Pre 53%, Flop 61%, Turn 100%)
Hero wins 267 BB

I'm a tad unlucky with sets so far...



But who needs sets when you can have quads?

Donk potting the flop and then potting turn and shoving river. Amazing.

GL GL OP.

Haha thanks.

I know it isn't exactly text book poker (hence why I said I was being a bit indulgent), but the fish at these limits really pay you off when you bet into them. The danger I've got to be aware of is that when/if I move up limits that I don't start falling into bad habits.

However, the mistake I was making at this level was trying to be too tricky against 2NL players. It's really as simple as bet when you have it and fold when you don't. As you can see he was chasing a flush draw. If the turn had come instead of 8 I would slow it down and seriously consider folding a set there. He could also have been chasing a straight there, so again without the nuts I'm slowing it down.

But with this particular villain @ VPIP: 60.00, PFR: 12.00 it's pretty nailed on he's calling with even bottom pair so I just max the value while I think I'm ahead. And of course I get very lucky on the turn.

I'm under no illusions though, I'm fully expecting the villains to get tougher and more tricky as I move up stakes. That's why I'm here for you're encouragement and advice.

So yesterday I was doing well at 2NL, but couldn't get a table (who's idea was it to remove queues?) so I decided that I would take a shot at 5NL speed/fastforward.

It didn't end well.

I've been thinking about what I could have done to avoid the situation and the only things I can come up with are:

1. I wouldn't have lost so much (2.5 buyins at 2NL) in one session if I'd stuck to my plan and only played at 2NL. And by taking shortcuts variance has punished my poor bankroll management strategy.

2. At least I stopped playing at that point (stop loss) and moved back down, an important lesson has been learned. 'Taking shots' at moving up early can undo a lot of hard work even if I do make the correct play in a hand.

It's a pretty sick beat because he turns up the exact hand I expected and wanted him to preflop (I'm delighted when he calls), and because if I'd won it would have put me within touching distance of my bankroll goal to move up.

Warning the following bad beat may cause nausea

€0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players


BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 30.82, PFR: 18.49, 3Bet Preflop: 5.26, Hands: 151)
CO: 39 BB (VPIP: 54.17, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 24)
Hero (BTN): 110.6 BB
SB: 131.6 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, SB raises to 9 BB, fold, Hero raises to 110.6 BB, SB calls 101.6 BB

Flop: (222.2 BB, 2 players) 8 7 5

Turn: (222.2 BB, 2 players) K

River: (222.2 BB, 2 players) 6

Hero mucks A A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 82%, Flop 86%, Turn 5%)
SB shows K K (Three of a Kind, Kings)
(Pre 18%, Flop 14%, Turn 95%)
SB wins 212.2 BB

I admire your enthusiasm but it's clear from posting a very standard hand that you shouldn't be anywhere near 5NL yet. Poker is a very complex game and for most takes years of experience before they start winning, especially in this day and age. Your best bet is to sign up to a training site or get a coach if you want to improve faster.

GL to you

Thanks for the advice!

Better.

nuxxx is dropping you some wisdom, but it's not as hard as he says it is. I started beating NL2z 2 months after I started playing. You can prob. beat NL5z consistently if you put a tad of work into it, not now, yes you need a bit of fundamentals down like variance and being happy about getting it in good and understanding that you got extremely lucky to have villain have KK vs you AA in 6max to produce preflop action

You're right of course.

And the statistics in my pokertracker database back these facts up. (table folds around to AA in the BB anyone?)

I was just getting it out of my system, I'd rather tilt on the forums than at the tables!

I think the main point I was trying to make is that it happened as I was trying to take a shot at 5NL to double up and get closer to my bankroll targets. It felt like some kind of reverse implied poetic justice being dished out by the poker gods just to keep me from moving up!

I made it all back at 2NL after a slight wobble there too. (Total BR now £106)

So yeah I appreciate all of this is a bit basic for many of the 2+2 community, but I needed a space to put my thoughts out there, chart my ups and downs, log my frustrations, and get feedback etc.

I don't expect to be a world champ, but if I can play at meaningful and challenging levels (25NL would be great) and have it pay for itself and occasionally give me some extra beer money that would be great. (Eventually)

I think of poker like a game of snooker or chess, the money is incidental, I actually love to play and I enjoy the challenge of getting better.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice, I never turn down a freeroll for knowledge.

Rich

I'm running so bad at the moment I don't even know what to post.

My best hands are either coolered or outdrawn by absolute garbage by calling stations.

Everything I try fails.

£5 bonus cleared which has cushioned the fall, but the edges are so narrow and I wonder how anyone succeeds with these types of challenges.

All I can do is weather the storm, and hope I catch a few breaks again soon.

Total bankroll: £101.02

If you're ever looking for someone to sweat you or discuss hand histories let me know.

I really appreciate that.

I've got loads, it's just a case of sorting which ones are the important ones, I'm guessing I should be looking at big losses (i.e 50BB+ showdown loss or fold loss) and seeing if:

a) I'm not folding too much

b) I'm losing but still making the correct call anyway and it's just luck

or

c) If I can save a few buyin's with really good folds.

Let me know which hands and how to filter them out and I will post them here.

There's one or two where I lose some big pots inexplicably and I can write them off as tilt, I know what the correct play is, but my emotions have clouded my judgement. That's just me being human, and a bit of an idiot by not composing myself at the table properly. As crazy as it sounds I think I need some music or something, so I'm sort of in a "non-emotional" zone. That stuff I can probably work out on my own.

There are probably many more marginal situations where I need to review, missing the flop with AQ against an "any two cards" fish for example. Do we check/call him to the river or just let him keep flatting our PF raises from the blinds/OOP until we finally hit a flop? (And I've been literally missing every flop, to the point where my table image is wrecked and I can't cbet anymore because they just flat me with bottom pair)

So many things... to be honest I don't know where to start!

I'd take a look at your stats, VPIP, PFR, C-BET, WWSD, FCBET what are those at?. If everyone is calling your PFR's I'd size up and tighten your range. It's ok to C-BET a lot of flops but you have to remember it's 2nl and they love calling especially on early streets so raising with marginal hands and then C-betting when you miss might not be the most profitable play especially if you're just c/f if you don't hit on the turn.

I'll post stats in a bit, (dinner soon).

But in the meantime I was going through some hands, and I found this one which I thought I played really poorly yet somehow still managed to come out with the pot.

But I'm left wondering, what the hell is villain thinking?

How do you get a read on a player that stone cold calls like this?

Is he using position to try and bluff me off the river and then changes his mind?

Does he have me exactly on AK and is hoping to catch a card or raise into any weakness I show?

I think he must have some sort of game plan here, I didn't observe him as one of the worst players on the table...

€0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players


CO: 101 BB (VPIP: 20.73, PFR: 16.95, 3Bet Preflop: 7.07, Hands: 5,327)
BTN: 84.5 BB (VPIP: 36.16, PFR: 22.88, 3Bet Preflop: 7.32, Hands: 276)
SB: 220.5 BB (VPIP: 27.31, PFR: 20.74, 3Bet Preflop: 5.19, Hands: 499)
BB: 85.5 BB (VPIP: 43.47, PFR: 17.46, 3Bet Preflop: 3.33, Hands: 695)
Hero (UTG): 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (7.5 BB, 2 players) 3 5 4
Hero bets 3.5 BB, BTN calls 3.5 BB

Turn: (14.5 BB, 2 players) T
Hero checks, BTN bets 7 BB, Hero calls 7 BB

River: (28.5 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, BTN bets 15 BB, Hero calls 15 BB

Hero shows A K (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 62%, Flop 74%, Turn 68%)
BTN shows J 8 (High Card, Queen)
(Pre 38%, Flop 26%, Turn 32%)
Hero wins 55 BB

Lots of microstakes players will call almost any flop. If you're opening, c-betting flop, c/c and c/f all the time you're going to lose money. Value bet when you hit and if you're going to c-bet a drawy board you gotta be ready to fire another turn and possibly river barrel depending on the board runout.

VPIP 30.57 PFR 15.52 WSD 50.89 FCBET 43.66

You're calling too much ( possibly limping? ), your VPIP and PFR should be close together. 30% vpip is too high for 2NL, aim for something like 19/17 (vpip/prf) for 2NL

I must admit I started off really bad in that regard.

But sometimes I'm on the button or C/O and there are donks raising pre with any 2, I can 3Bet here sometimes but then I find I'm often missing the flop against opponents who will just shove with bottom pair..

It seems safer to call than 3bet, in these situations. But maybe that's where I'm going wrong.

This graph is making me sad.

I'm losing nearly every single showdown I play at the moment.