Good luck!! Think I recognize ur name on stars 5-10NL but not sure. Anyways in same spot at u, family man who plays on and off (lately off since GOW came out and dswing due mainly to tilt).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey. I'm also tagging along. I too am in process of learning NL Hold'em and right now I'm still in the random-clicking-buttons phase as well

GL!

Nice one. Haha yeh i know what you mean about bet sizing. I take it 16nl is pretty new? Used to be 10 then 25 from what I remember. Pool also seems really small at 16 from what I notice. Is handy to have an intermediate though as it's a big jump from $10 buy in to $25

Thanks for dropping in! Yeh tilt is tough to deal with. Main thing is learning to recognise it when it happens. We all have a point where we tilt, that poiny is different for us all, but if we can spot it happens we can take evasive action!

Also, after a downswing, reset and carry on. Learn from it and keep going.

Hey Corey, thanks for stopping by! Random button clicking is fine, as long as we are thinking and learning we'll all make it! If you've not read it I can recommend the grinders manual as a great book to learn some solid fundamentals and to set you up with the right way to think about poker.

Study and play is the only way to get better. By keep playing and putting the volume in you start to realise the gap between theory and play. Eg I can look at a hand and feel I've got a good grasp on the correct play, but in real time that all goes out the window! So having an understanding but combining that with volume helps embed strategy in your mind.

All the best!

Yeah, reading The Grinder's Manual as everyone else is. I think in 2 years time we will all play the same style, just sending chips back and forth

Haha! I don't know about that, people have been saying stuff like this for ages!!

Decent day today:



Although I've still got lots to work on, I'm happy with the progress I've made since losing 11bi in 4k hands at 10nl. The experience got me to look at my whole game again and I've done a lot of work in various spots.

My results since moving back to 5nl following the downswing:



I'm marking so many hands for review at the moment, feel like I'm learning every day. It helps to explain my reasoning here as well, getting other opinions is a massive help and grows my understanding with each hand. So thanks for the contributions so far!

Some hands from today...

Hand 1

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

BTN: 109 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
SB: 146.8 BB (VPIP: 9.68, PFR: 9.68, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 31)
Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 118 BB (VPIP: 18.28, PFR: 16.13, 3Bet Preflop: 5.56, Hands: 95)
MP: 205.2 BB (VPIP: 26.67, PFR: 13.33, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 45)
CO: 220.6 BB (VPIP: 37.50, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 8)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (5.2 BB, 2 players) 5 9 4
Hero checks, BTN bets 3.6 BB, Hero raises to 8.4 BB, BTN calls 4.8 BB

Turn: (22 BB, 2 players) A
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: (22 BB, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, BTN checks



Preflop I should definitely be raising here for value against a button opening range. As played I'm not sure why I called as my standard play is to raise. On the flop I think I can raise for value, I think there are plenty of weaker hands in the buttons range that can still call the raise. On the turn and river I don't see any reason to bet, I have good SDV and will likely only get called by better hands.


Hand 2

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

BTN: 109 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
SB: 541.8 BB (VPIP: 20.75, PFR: 15.09, 3Bet Preflop: 4.55, Hands: 54)
BB: 88.2 BB (VPIP: 36.36, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
Hero (UTG): 123.6 BB
MP: 98.6 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 8)
CO: 124 BB (VPIP: 30.77, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 10.34, Hands: 92)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.4 BB, 2 players) Q J T
BB checks, Hero bets 6 BB, BB calls 6 BB

Turn: (18.4 BB, 2 players) J
BB checks, Hero bets 14 BB, BB calls 14 BB

River: (46.4 BB, 2 players) 9
BB bets 44.4 BB, Hero calls 44.4 BB



Flop very nicely! Bet big here for value, lots of hands villain can call with. Pot again on the turn for value, not as confident when the board pairs but I still think there are lots of hands that we still beat. When he leads on the river, I don't know. I think I have to call but I'm not loving life.

Hand 3

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

BTN: 189.2 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 9)
SB: 82.8 BB (VPIP: 41.67, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 12)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 25.32, PFR: 18.99, 3Bet Preflop: 3.33, Hands: 82)
UTG: 136.8 BB (VPIP: 19.62, PFR: 13.40, 3Bet Preflop: 11.90, Hands: 211)
Hero (MP): 136.2 BB
CO: 152 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 22)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (5.8 BB, 2 players) 7 2 T
SB checks, Hero bets 2.8 BB, SB calls 2.8 BB

Turn: (11.4 BB, 2 players) 3
SB checks, Hero checks

River: (11.4 BB, 2 players) 8
SB bets 6 BB, Hero calls 6 BB



I think pre flop and flop are fine. Bet on the flop is for value. When I'm called I decide to check back the turn, I have a strong hand and I think checking back keeps villains range wide and also can induce a bluff on the river. Interested in thoughts on this. This is the sort of hand where I'd end up bet-bet-betting, after my downswing this is one of the things I reevaluated, I'd end up narrowing villains range and losing. With these one pair type hands now I'm going for 2 streets of value, usually checking back either the flop or the turn. Checking the turn usually results in either being to pick off bluffs or getting called very lightly on the river. So I feel this play is ok but would be good to hear any other views out there.

Anyway, wrapping up for the night now, on 3.5k hands for the week so should end up over my 7k weekly target. Main thing is learning and playing and I feel I'll be in a much better position when I move back up to 10nl.

Goodnight and hope you're all running as well as I have been the last few days!

Crazy morning, lots of big pots. Came out ahead thankfully! Had nearly 800bb's on one table at one point



Managed to climb back out above zero (in bb) for the month (so far!):



Down in cash due to moving down at the bottom of the downswing. Bank is back up to $280 now though so will take another shot at 10nl when I'm over $300.

Going to review some hands now, today's session had an error rate of 8.54 according to Snowie which I'm pleased with, thought it would be a lot worse given all the swings!

Some of today's hands:

Hand 1

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

BTN: 200.6 BB (VPIP: 22.58, PFR: 9.68, 3Bet Preflop: 6.67, Hands: 34)
SB: 129.6 BB (VPIP: 18.24, PFR: 9.41, 3Bet Preflop: 4.76, Hands: 176)
BB: 110.8 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 7.69, Hands: 28)
UTG: 89.2 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
Hero (MP): 571 BB
CO: 259.8 BB (VPIP: 52.63, PFR: 21.05, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)

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, fold, BTN raises to 10.4 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 32.6 BB, BTN calls 22.2 BB

Flop: (66.6 BB, 2 players) 3 4 A
Hero bets 32 BB, BTN calls 32 BB

Turn: (130.6 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero bets 506.4 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 136 BB and is all-in

River: (402.6 BB, 2 players) 8



Very nice run out!


Hand 2

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

Hero (BTN): 100 BB
SB: 143.6 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 13)
UTG: 53.8 BB (VPIP: 30.00, PFR: 30.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
MP: 124.2 BB (VPIP: 23.68, PFR: 13.16, 3Bet Preflop: 7.69, Hands: 39)
CO: 127.2 BB (VPIP: 12.50, PFR: 0.00, 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 Q

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2.4 BB, SB calls 2 BB, BB calls 1.4 BB

Flop: (7.2 BB, 3 players) 4 Q J
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets 3.6 BB, SB raises to 10.8 BB, fold, Hero calls 7.2 BB

Turn: (28.8 BB, 2 players) 6
SB bets 20 BB, Hero calls 20 BB

River: (68.8 BB, 2 players) 8
SB bets 47 BB, Hero calls 47 BB



This might be a fold on the river. Not sure. I think villain has a lot of missed draws here after the checkraise on the river and so I think probably a call is fine on the river. Either seems close.


Hand 3

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

Hero (BTN): 168.8 BB
SB: 30 BB (VPIP: 40.91, PFR: 28.79, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 69)
BB: 184.8 BB (VPIP: 19.05, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)
UTG: 157.4 BB (VPIP: 21.43, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 42)
MP: 209.2 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
CO: 163 BB (VPIP: 42.42, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 38)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 10.4 BB, fold, fold, UTG calls 7.4 BB

Flop: (22.2 BB, 2 players) 9 4 2
UTG bets 8 BB, Hero calls 8 BB

Turn: (38.2 BB, 2 players) 8
UTG bets 139 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 139 BB

River: (316.2 BB, 2 players) 6



I think a call here is a big mistake. Should've folded.


Hand 4

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

BTN: 135.8 BB (VPIP: 19.35, PFR: 14.52, 3Bet Preflop: 12.00, Hands: 65)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 22.73, PFR: 13.64, 3Bet Preflop: 2.44, Hands: 113)
BB: 99.2 BB (VPIP: 23.65, PFR: 15.54, 3Bet Preflop: 4.48, Hands: 152)
Hero (UTG): 100 BB
MP: 249.6 BB (VPIP: 14.15, PFR: 11.32, 3Bet Preflop: 3.23, Hands: 113)
CO: 65.8 BB

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 raises to 5 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 2.6 BB

Flop: (11.4 BB, 2 players) 9 T A
Hero checks, CO bets 5.6 BB, Hero calls 5.6 BB

Turn: (22.6 BB, 2 players) J
Hero checks, CO checks

River: (22.6 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero bets 21 BB, CO raises to 55.2 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 34.2 BB



This one was hilarious. I couldn't understand what had happened when the chips didn't slide my way! Took my a good few seconds at staring at pokerstars history until I realised as well

Today we a real grind. Couldn't get anything going.



Wrapping up for the week now. Hit my hand target so I'm happy with that.



21k hands for the month now. My target this month was 20-25k as I had a lot of real life stuff on. So I'm happy with volume and will aim for another 7k hands min next week.

Month so far is a tale of two stakes

10nl:



5nl:



Some hands

A lot like this today:

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

BTN: 72 BB (VPIP: 30.23, PFR: 13.95, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 44)
SB: 108.4 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
Hero (BB): 111.6 BB
UTG: 98.8 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
MP: 178.4 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 13.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
CO: 285 BB (VPIP: 25.82, PFR: 23.63, 3Bet Preflop: 9.86, Hands: 186)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to 3.4 BB, fold, Hero raises to 11 BB, BTN calls 7.6 BB

Flop: (22.4 BB, 2 players) 2 7 K
Hero bets 8.6 BB, BTN calls 8.6 BB

Turn: (39.6 BB, 2 players) 3
Hero checks, BTN bets 19 BB, fold

BTN wins 38 BB

I think this is ok. I could bet again on the turn but don't see the point, anything calling flop is calling the 3 turn I would think. Check-fold feels a bit weak but I think probably the right play.


Hand 2

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

BTN: 104 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)
SB: 193.6 BB (VPIP: 31.07, PFR: 25.99, 3Bet Preflop: 8.57, Hands: 180)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 25.18, PFR: 20.86, 3Bet Preflop: 5.77, Hands: 143)
Hero (UTG): 100 BB
MP: 78.2 BB (VPIP: 30.77, PFR: 30.77, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 13)
CO: 82.8 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, CO raises to 10.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 7.4 BB

Flop: (22.2 BB, 2 players) 3 6 Q
Hero checks, CO bets 11 BB, Hero calls 11 BB

Turn: (44.2 BB, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, CO checks

River: (44.2 BB, 2 players) 9
Hero bets 21.2 BB, CO calls 21.2 BB



Not sure about the preflop call here. I think it's probably too loose. 3bet to an UTG open is a strong hand. AQo might be a fold here, I would probably call AQs though.

Just a quick session today. A bonus really as I wasn't planning on playing but got a bit of time.



Got my best Snowie rating yet as well! World class with a 7.36 error rate. There are definitely spots where it is right to not play exactly the same as Snowie at the micros, I use it more for marking hands and reviewing how Snowie would play it after the session. I do find it a useful tool for reviewing my game and the rating does give a good indicator of any major blunders.

Don't really have time tonight to review the session so will probably do that tomorrow. Felt pretty standard really but there are few hands I've marked to look at which I might share my thoughts on tomorrow.

Another decent day:



Ran well too. Mainly better hands that held up. Got lucky with this one though:

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

BTN: 55.4 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
SB: 32.4 BB (VPIP: 25.58, PFR: 11.63, 3Bet Preflop: 11.54, Hands: 44)
BB: 107 BB (VPIP: 14.96, PFR: 11.42, 3Bet Preflop: 1.98, Hands: 257)
UTG: 196.8 BB (VPIP: 31.11, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 4.76, Hands: 47)
MP: 125.2 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
Hero (CO): 218.2 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.2 BB, 2 players) Q 5 4
Hero checks, BTN bets 53 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 53 BB

Turn: (112.2 BB, 2 players) 5

River: (112.2 BB, 2 players) 5



Feel like I'm playing pretty well at the moment.

My 5nl graph for the month:



I think the move down from 10nl has been good for me. Definitely helped reset my game and I changed a lot of things. Lifetime 5nl graph looking a lot better now than it once did:



Was looking at Upswing poker yesterday, noticed it was on offer for the year sub. Was pretty close to buying it. Not sure if it's right for me though right now. I feel like I'm playing ok, no doubt it will add a lot of value, but I've found it's about learning things at the right time. I notice as I mark hands and review my focus changes as I get more comfortable in different spots. It's easy with these packages to just watch a load of content and forget about the incremental way that improvements in your game work. Plus it's a big chunk of money really. Perhaps when I get a bit higher in stakes and if I hit a patch where I feel like I'm stagnating, I'll take another look. On the other hand though I feel like I'm starting to get a decent grasp on the fundamentals, and so this could be a great time to take my game to the next level. I'm on the fence right now I guess. Any opinions on the poker lab out there feel free to share.

Good luck at the tables

Happy with volume today, played ok, just couldn't quite get any momentum going:



Some hands from today...

Hand 1

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

Hero (BTN): 100 BB
SB: 93.2 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
BB: 101 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 50.00, Hands: 4)
UTG: 241.4 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
MP: 148.6 BB (VPIP: 15.79, PFR: 5.26, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
CO: 125.4 BB (VPIP: 22.58, PFR: 19.35, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 32)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (12.4 BB, 4 players) 3 7 Q
BB checks, UTG checks, MP checks, Hero bets 9.4 BB, BB calls 9.4 BB, fold, fold

Turn: (31.2 BB, 2 players) J
BB checks, Hero bets 27 BB, BB raises to 88.6 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 60.6 BB and is all-in

River: (206.4 BB, 2 players) J

#

I think the call preflop is fine - multiway so good implied odds. Not sure what villain is doing on the turn


Hand 2

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

BTN: 102.2 BB (VPIP: 22.93, PFR: 15.61, 3Bet Preflop: 8.14, Hands: 207)
Hero (SB): 115.4 BB
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 21.88, PFR: 15.63, 3Bet Preflop: 3.33, Hands: 68)
UTG: 109 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 50.00, Hands: 9)
MP: 104.8 BB (VPIP: 31.03, PFR: 20.69, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 88)
CO: 117.2 BB (VPIP: 23.68, PFR: 15.79, 3Bet Preflop: 13.33, Hands: 39)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 3 3

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.4 BB, Hero raises to 8.2 BB, fold, BTN calls 5.8 BB

Flop: (17.4 BB, 2 players) A 5 5
Hero bets 8.4 BB, fold

Hero wins 16.6 BB

Interested to hear thoughts on this. I like to 3bet these low pairs as a bluff oop. I don't want to call as even if I hit my set, will be tricky to get full value not being in position. I think it's 3bet or fold with 3bet probably being slightly better (especially at these stakes where villains likely don't defend enough to 3bets and when they do play very fit or fold on the flop).


Hand 3

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

BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 9.52, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 15.38, Hands: 21)
SB: 100.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
Hero (BB): 205.6 BB
UTG: 143.6 BB (VPIP: 8.33, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 13)
MP: 155.6 BB (VPIP: 25.10, PFR: 18.53, 3Bet Preflop: 6.19, Hands: 266)
CO: 156 BB (VPIP: 20.11, PFR: 14.37, 3Bet Preflop: 7.58, Hands: 175)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.4 BB, 2 players) 4 5 3
Hero checks, BTN bets 4 BB, Hero raises to 9.6 BB, BTN calls 5.6 BB

Turn: (25.6 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero bets 9.8 BB, BTN calls 9.8 BB

River: (45.2 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero checks, BTN checks



Really not sure about this one. Preflop I think a call is fine. On the flop I raise the cbet, I have a strong hand now but one that who's SDV is vulnerable with 2 more streets to play. These are spots I'm unsure on. If I call here, any hand higher than a 9 villain can bluff me off the hand or put me in a tricky spot. When villain calls I'm not sure what to do on the turn. So I keep betting! Feel like I should be check calling here but I'm a bit lost.


Hand 4

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

BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 10.53, PFR: 5.26, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 39)
SB: 107.8 BB (VPIP: 25.71, PFR: 17.14, 3Bet Preflop: 21.43, Hands: 36)
BB: 98.6 BB (VPIP: 43.75, PFR: 18.75, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
UTG: 226.4 BB (VPIP: 22.70, PFR: 18.44, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 142)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 19.75, PFR: 13.87, 3Bet Preflop: 2.30, Hands: 246)
Hero (CO): 103.6 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3.4 BB, fold, Hero raises to 11.6 BB, fold, SB calls 11.2 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (27.6 BB, 2 players) 9 J 7
SB checks, Hero bets 13.2 BB, SB calls 13.2 BB

Turn: (54 BB, 2 players) Q
SB checks, Hero bets 26 BB, SB calls 26 BB

River: (106 BB, 2 players) Q
SB bets 57 BB and is all-in, fold

SB wins 101.6 BB

Another hand I'm not sure about. Preflop fine. On the flop I think I can bet and get called by worse - AJ, TT-QQ, maybe TJs, KQs. On the turn this is a good card for villain's range, tons of flush draws, straight draws come in, 2pair in QJ. I think the bet is a mistake and I should check back. As played I think I bet due to having the A Given this when he leads on the river I feel like I have to fold. I can't see what I'm beating here. Any thoughts on this hand much appreciated.

Well above all in ev for the week:



Pleased with volume though, should smash my weekly and monthly goal. With a bit of luck will be back playing 10nl in June.

Decent day in ev. Running very well all in as well:



Did some tinkering with my hud a bit today as well. Simplified it a lot. My previous set up had too much stuff which needed a lot of hands to get a decent read, and with the size of the pool at this level I never get that many hands on villain.

In other news, hit a nice bonus which increased the bank!



Looking forward to getting back to 10nl at the end of this month.

I think I mentioned in my opening post about doing some sports trading in the past. This is all football. I packed it in when I started this thread but didn't take me long to throw 100 quid on betfair and have a bash again. Did well at first but can't hit a winner now and back down to £75. I do enjoy football trading but I just can't seem to make money on it. I think I have a decent-ish sample at poker now and I can't help but feel that the money is in safer hands added to my poker bankroll. Would give me a very nice cushion with which to play 10nl and would get me nearer to my year long goal of playing 25nl.

I'll have a think. I'm starting to feel more confident in my game and feel more and more that I can win at the micros. So, with that evidence, I feel like I should move the football cash to pokerstars and give up my dream of being a sports trader!

Forgot to post some hands.

Hand 1

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

Hero (BTN): 255.2 BB
SB: 287.6 BB (VPIP: 16.10, PFR: 12.71, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 126)
BB: 139.2 BB (VPIP: 7.69, PFR: 3.85, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 27)
UTG: 59 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
MP: 98.6 BB (VPIP: 23.33, PFR: 18.64, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 63)
CO: 155 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 3 4

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2 BB, SB calls 1.6 BB, fold

Flop: (5 BB, 2 players) 9 6 A
SB checks, Hero bets 2.4 BB, SB calls 2.4 BB

Turn: (9.8 BB, 2 players) K
SB checks, Hero bets 4.8 BB, SB calls 4.8 BB

River: (19.4 BB, 2 players) K
SB checks, Hero bets 9.4 BB, fold

Hero wins 18.6 BB

A bit loose for me from the button. I am opening quite wide here though. I don't think villains defend enough from the blind so I think I'm just about +ev. On the flop I think I can cbet profitably, I have more Ax than villain. On the turn continue betting, similar reasons to the flop plus I have zero sdv.

Hand 2

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

BTN: 216.4 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
SB: 106.8 BB (VPIP: 18.52, PFR: 18.52, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 27)
BB: 98 BB (VPIP: 23.86, PFR: 12.24, 3Bet Preflop: 8.43, Hands: 200)
UTG: 158.8 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
Hero (MP): 107.8 BB
CO: 147.2 BB (VPIP: 14.16, PFR: 11.16, 3Bet Preflop: 1.16, Hands: 237)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, CO raises to 9 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 6 BB

Flop: (19.4 BB, 2 players) 9 T 5
Hero checks, CO bets 8.4 BB, Hero calls 8.4 BB

Turn: (36.2 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, CO bets 24 BB, Hero calls 24 BB

River: (84.2 BB, 2 players) J
Hero checks, CO checks



Preflop I think is fine. I think I can call the flop with two overcards, gutshot straight draw and back door flush draw. Pick up more equity on the turn for an easy call.

Hand 3

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

BTN: 147 BB (VPIP: 53.85, PFR: 15.38, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
Hero (SB): 297.6 BB
BB: 45.4 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
UTG: 271.2 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
MP: 74 BB (VPIP: 7.14, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
CO: 94.6 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 2.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 8.2 BB, fold, UTG calls 5.8 BB

Flop: (17.4 BB, 2 players) 7 3 T
Hero bets 13.2 BB, UTG raises to 263 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 249.8 BB

Turn: (543.4 BB, 2 players) A

River: (543.4 BB, 2 players) 6



Ran good here. Standard play all round I think from me and villain also.

Moved back up to 10nl today. Had $320 in the bank and also decided to pack in sports betting and so moved that to my poker roll, bringing my total bank over $400. Would have been nice to book a winning day as I'm worried about developing some sort of complex over beating this level!

Today:



Error rate of 9.55 according to Snowie which I think is ok at these levels with 6 blunders. As always I don't take the rating overly seriously at these levels, but it generally seems a decent indication of how I've played. Going to look through a few hands now and see what it looks like. I wanted to play a few more hands today but wasn't feeling it. A bit fearful after my previous losing run at 10nl. I'm sure the play is not too much better at 5nl and that this is a mental thing. Hopefully my bank investment should inure me somewhat from the swings.

Some hands:

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

BTN: 118.5 BB (VPIP: 20.65, PFR: 17.75, 3Bet Preflop: 5.81, Hands: 282)
Hero (SB): 100.3 BB
BB: 100.6 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
UTG: 74.2 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
MP: 105.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
CO: 226.6 BB (VPIP: 16.03, PFR: 10.90, 3Bet Preflop: 4.29, Hands: 159)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (21 BB, 2 players) 7 J 4
Hero bets 10.1 BB, BTN calls 10.1 BB

Turn: (41.2 BB, 2 players) K
Hero bets 19.7 BB, BTN calls 19.7 BB

River: (80.6 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero bets 60.5 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 60.5 BB



My big losing hand from the day. I think preflop, flop and turn is ok. On the river Snowie prefers to check. I think villain can have lots of 2 pair, maybe T9, JJ, QQ. Should I be check-folding here though? Not sure about this river at all.


Hand 2

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

BTN: 113.2 BB (VPIP: 4.65, PFR: 2.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 44)
Hero (SB): 100 BB
BB: 217.2 BB (VPIP: 18.81, PFR: 16.59, 3Bet Preflop: 9.68, Hands: 230)
UTG: 100 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
MP: 105.5 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
CO: 421.8 BB (VPIP: 15.79, PFR: 11.18, 3Bet Preflop: 4.41, Hands: 155)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 2.5 BB, fold

Flop: (7 BB, 2 players) J 8 6
Hero checks, UTG bets 4.4 BB, Hero raises to 16.8 BB, UTG calls 12.4 BB

Turn: (40.6 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, UTG bets 25.6 BB, Hero calls 25.6 BB

River: (91.8 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, UTG bets 54.6 BB and is all-in, fold

UTG wins 87.7 BB

Preflop I think is ok. On the flop I could call here but decide to raise as I think there is a lot that villain can call with. On the turn I think check-call is best and on the river I have to fold.

5nl graph for the year:



10nl graph for the year



Hopefully I can correct the trajectory at 10nl and start to move forward in my goal to be profitable in 2018!

Anyone else do much sports trading? It's a weird one for me, I really enjoy trading football, but I just have to admit that I'm not good enough at it. I'd say I've cost myself over a grand at football trading over the last couple of years.

I used to be a matched better, made about £4k. Once the offers started to dry up I moved on to football. Joined a site which cost a decent amount per year, and pretty much lost money ever since. Every time I give it up I end up coming back. I'd love to be profitable at it but I think I need to admit to myself that I'm just not. Poker seems to be doing ok, so I'd rather spend that cash on increasing my BR or spending it on Upswing or something where it might actually be an investment rather than just money draining away.

Feel like the matched betting to sports trading journey is pretty common so would love to hear how others have managed it. I'm partly relieved at giving it up and investing in poker, but also sad to finally give up on the dream. Which sounds really sad!!!

A winning day at 10nl - at last!



Didn't start off great but I'm pleased with the way I kept calm. I recognised a little bit of frustration building but managed to let it go and continue to play my game.

Pleased with the week overall. I feel like my game has improved since I had to first move down from 10nl. Happy with volume too. Already beat my hand target for the month and still have some days left.

This week:

Hey

I've been lurking the forums lately wondering whether to reinstall PokerStars on my new laptop.

Haven't played in about 18 months. I'm in a similar situation to you. Same age, married, 2 kids.

Always enjoyed poker. Bounced around between LHE and NLHE cash and NLHE turbo and regular HUSNGs.

Good to see someone similar working there way up the micro stakes.

Just wonder if i could get that sort of volume in myself.

Good luck OP!

Hey

I'd say if you enjoy poker then go for it. This is probably the most consistent I've been playing poker in terms of volume and study and I'm really enjoying it. What helps is setting myself a goal and sticking to it. When I used to play husng's I was not very disciplined and would go through boom and bust cycles where I'd play lots, get burnt out, get sick of poker and throw my bankroll away at higher stakes just to get rid of it.

I now work poker around my life rather than getting too dragged into it which I recognise as a danger for me. If I have a lot on in a particular week I just reduce my volume goal. I think consistency is important, and even if you can't play much, it all adds up over time.

Good luck anyway in whatever you decide. If you do jump back in let us know!

Rough start to the week:



It would be tough to have to move down again so I'm hoping my 10nl jinx goes away soon!

10nl continues to get the better of me:



The week so far (yesterday and today)



Spent a lot of time today on my preflop ranges. Realised that I've been playing terrible out of the blinds and so that was my main focus. Pleased with how I played overall, despite the terrible results!

Going to spend the rest of the week working on preflop, once I'm fully confident with my ranges out of the blinds I'm going to look at calling and 3bet ranges from the BTN and CO.

Run good everyone!

Managed to pull a bit back today. Week so far:



Hit my volume goal already for the week. Which is not a good thing really as I have to admit the reason is cos I'm losing! To be fair though I have also done a lot of work on my game this week and I have been keen to put it into practice at the table. I'm pretty happy with my blind play now (done some more work this afternoon on this as I went from being too tight to too loose, I think they're a lot more balanced now than they were).

Done a lot of work last couple of days reviewing my hands, and I realise I need to hit the brakes a bit more when I hit resistance. I have lost a couple of stacks with either an overpair or top pair hand that I could have got away from.

Going to take the rest of the day off and play some tennis to clear my head. Will come back tomorrow refreshed and ready to put my new learning in to practice!

Just about breakeven for the day in ev:



Wrapping up the month now and it's been a struggle, first losing month:



Started the month at 10nl, hit a downswing so moved down, won some back at 5nl, moved back up and carried on losing at 10nl.

5nl:



10nl:



I have learned a lot though this month. I have worked hard on my game and feel a lot more solid all round. I have tightened up my preflop ranges, fixing a leak from my button, sb and bb play. I have also realised that I can overvalue hands at times, in particular keeping betting when I've come up against resistance. I need to give villains more credit, and fold more when played back at.

I've also recognised that I have been too focused on volume and not enough on quality play. So I have dropped a table for the last two days and this has given me the breathing space to really think about hands as I play them. I will keep this up for next month.

My goals for next month are:

- study blind v blind play and have a solid default strategy in place
- same as above for cbetting
- don't play more than 3 tables
- focus on quality, give every hand full focus and think about my own range and relative strength vs the board and villains range
- With the above, and a lot of irl stuff I have on this week, I'll reduce my volume goal to 20k hands

Pleased with my play today. Concentrated through every hand and thought through my decisions. I noticed at one point hurrying my play, fast-folding etc, so took a break and came back when I felt ready to give it my full focus. It payed off as I made a few folds that I would have called previously. I may have been overly nitty at times, but I think in the main it was the right play.



Taking my time with each decision, including the ones I would normally consider standard, gave me space to review the table, look at hud stats that I would normally miss.

Question if anyone is reading this - on PT4 how do you remove a tag on yourself? Somehow I'm tagged with one of my labels, normally I would right click but that doesn't work when you click on yourself.

Some hands:

Hand 1

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

BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 21.92, PFR: 19.18, 3Bet Preflop: 10.34, Hands: 75)
SB: 105.7 BB (VPIP: 27.45, PFR: 21.57, 3Bet Preflop: 5.00, Hands: 54)
BB: 80 BB (VPIP: 31.25, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 28.57, Hands: 17)
Hero (UTG): 125.8 BB
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 23.81, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)
CO: 47.9 BB (VPIP: 9.09, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 3 BB, MP raises to 9 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 29 BB, MP calls 20 BB

Flop: (59.5 BB, 2 players) 5 K 2
Hero checks, MP checks

Turn: (59.5 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, MP bets 28 BB, Hero calls 28 BB

River: (115.5 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, MP bets 43 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 43 BB



Biggest winning hand of the day. On the flop I think a check-call is best. When villain checks back I think a lead out for value may be a better play on the turn.


Hand 2

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

BTN: 98.5 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
SB: 214.6 BB (VPIP: 26.09, PFR: 17.39, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 23)
Hero (BB): 104.5 BB
UTG: 185.9 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
MP: 104.7 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
CO: 294.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (6.5 BB, 2 players) 8 J 3
Hero checks, BTN bets 5 BB, Hero calls 5 BB

Turn: (16.5 BB, 2 players) 9
Hero checks, BTN bets 12 BB, Hero raises to 27.9 BB, BTN calls 15.9 BB

River: (72.3 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero bets 68.6 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 62.6 BB and is all-in



We hit our card on the turn. Wasn't sure as I played it whether a call would be best to let villain keep betting, but decided I needed to get money in the pot.


Hand 3
PokerStars - $0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 154.6 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
SB: 113.6 BB (VPIP: 38.89, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 6.36, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 112)
UTG: 122.2 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
MP: 68.1 BB (VPIP: 18.30, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 3.03, Hands: 311)
Hero (CO): 205.6 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, Hero raises to 4.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, UTG calls 3.5 BB

Flop: (10.5 BB, 2 players) 7 9 2
UTG checks, Hero bets 6 BB, UTG calls 6 BB

Turn: (22.5 BB, 2 players) T
UTG checks, Hero checks

River: (22.5 BB, 2 players) 4
UTG bets 21.5 BB, Hero calls 21.5 BB



This is a hand where I probably would have lost my stack a few days ago. One of the main things I am working on is pot control in these sorts of positions. Preflop I would say that villain calls with 99-QQ, and suited broadway hands like QJs, KTs. When he calls flop this narrows his range down to a set of 9's, TT, JJ, QQ, plus flush draws AQ, AJ, QJ. On the turn I think the T is better for villain's range than mine, when I 3bet UTG my value range is mainly AQ+, QQ+, and some suited Ax and broadway's as bluffs and the T doesn't do much to any of this. When villain leads on the river I did think about folding but decided that I need to be good here at least 33% of the time for a profitable call and I think there are enough flush draws in villains range to get to this. I did lose the hand in the end but not as much as I could have done.

I am working on doing more range analysis like the above as it's something I haven't really done any of. Feel free to correct any of my thought process, I'm hoping the more analysis I do the better I get at it!