Raze you are my hero

u ballin.

bump to try and convince raze to write some more

+1

Also raze, is there any chance of writing something on how you have handled the mental side of poker. Things like handling downswings, balancing poker with life, friends, partners etc, being overconfident, drive to improve and study and anything else you can think of.

I've got an hour before meeting my financial advisor & then boxing, so rather than try and squeeze in a short session, I'll start the next article right now and should have it up today. By the way, sessions when I'm confined to less than an hour are DEATH for me. If I don't feel like I can quit naturally, I don't win.

As for the writing, sometimes all I need is a little kick in the ass

Absolutely. Keep the suggestions coming too

Here's some more encouragement:



Table selection, my friends.

One quick hand to warm up:

This guy is fairly new to $600NL. I played with him a while ago at 400, and he has been there quite a long time. I have no notes on him, which means he hasn't done anything extraordinary under my watch. His stats come up as 26/21/2.6.

Note his flop raise size, and thus the pot odds he's giving me on that kind of a flop. What do we make of his play here, and what lines do we counter with?

$3/$6 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
Hero (UTG) ($594.00)
UTG+1 ($1881.05)
CO ($1551.98)
BTN ($600.00)
SB ($1381.80)
BB ($543.80)

Pre-flop: ($9, 6 players) Hero is UTG 8 8
Hero raises to $21, 2 folds, BTN calls $21, 2 folds

Flop: 7 6 9 ($51, 2 players)
Hero bets $36, BTN raises to $98

calling station

There's a lot to like at that table.

$600NL - Heads Up!

2008 was shaping up to be a huge year. In the first four months, I topped 2007 in terms of total earnings. I was playing mostly 600, and dropping to 400 when the game selection wasn't so good. I did start dipping into $5/10NL, but the tables weren't up to standard (ie. I couldn't beat the regs badly enough to make up for lack of fish), so I focused on dominating $600NL.

I had touched on playing some HU NLHE, mostly at the 400 level on iPoker, so when I found my winrate starting to stabilize at 600, it was again time for a change: for the first time, I started sitting alone first at $400NL waiting for HU games, and then once I was back to the comfort level I had had at iPoker, I started playing 600 HU regularly. I kickstarted my research on HU cash games on 2+2, and, not finding much material, I turned to Cardrunners videos for instruction. I realized very quickly that CR is a gold mine. For $30 a month, I could get fully detailed instructions on HU poker from guys who were making 7-figures a year. This was definitely the best investment I've ever made, including Poker Tracker, HEM, and especially that RRSP I liquified (with penalties) when I went pro.

To paraphrase several CR pros: the biggest money, and the highest winrates in poker, are achieved playing heads-up. In a ten-handed game, your edge is limited by card distribution. You just cannot play more than 25-30% of your dealt hands and expect a profit. Furthermore, if you're playing 28% VPIP ten-handed, you probably aren't taking too many of these hands past the flop. In short, you have to wait for your cards to some degree. Now, in heads-up poker, you're going to have the best hand 50% of the time. Always keep that mathematical fact in mind. If your opponent has taken down 40 of the last 50 pots against you, he is outplaying you, and you must adjust... UNLESS, as an extreme example, he's open-shoved the last 20 hands with a deep stack, and you're simply waiting for a hand better than Queen-high to call him with. Conversely, if you're opponent is folding his big blind too often, crank up your stealing range and just chop him down until he does something about it! Steal with any two cards, but fold a hand once in a while, just not to piss him off, because NOBODY is going to let you take every single hand for too long.

Playing heads-up, it is less about the cards and more about detecting exploitability in your opponent's patterns. A very loose/very tight opponent PF is just one example of strategic considerations... however, it's a big one. Find your opponent's biggest and most exploitable mistakes FIRST. If he is a big fish and playing every hand, for any raise size PF, for example, then your turn and river play become microscopic in terms of importance. Assuming full stacks, and he's been calling every single raise PF, start raising bigger. Make it 5x with big hands, and then if he calls, try 8-9x. Seriously. If he's the type that min-raises every button, 3bet him huge. Playing 5/10, if he makes it 20, make it 115 or more with a monster. If he's the type that constantly mini-3bets your opens... 4bet HUGE. You open to 30 with JJ, he makes it 50 for the 4th or 5th time in 30 minutes... make it 333. These types HATE to fold to a re-raise if they have already raised it themselves. Of course, these strategies only work against the worst of HU players, but if I can find them at MSNL, I know they're crawling all over the micro-stakes games. This is just a small part of HU strategy, but it's probably not a strategy you've read about in a book. My point, as always, is to maximize EV by creative thinking.

My routine in Spring 2008 became to scan the 6max and full-ring games for good tables, and then either play them, or open up some HU tables and sit alone. My personal policy for playing HU is: play anybody if I'm not playing any other tables (except someone who I know will crush me). If I'm playing other, more profitable tables, I admit I will often sit out of a HU game (always give up a HU table if you refuse action and they request the table) against TAGs and fish alike. I also never play more than two different opponents HU at once... these games require a lot more attention than any other, because as I said, they are based less on cards, and more about the way your opponent plays and the game flow, and to get a feel for these things, you need all your focus. So, when I have a good HU game and a couple of 6max tables going, I will not take on a second HU game against a TAG, where my EV is probably between -2 and +2BB/100. I wouldn't recommend anybody else play more than one or two HU games at a time either, unless you don't mind mediocre winrates... and by now you know that I do

More coming, and I'd like feedback on that hand I posted earlier.

I'm really not very good at these, but I'll take a stab.

First, the fact that he called pf from the btn indicates to me that he likely has a small to medium pp or sc's.

Without knowing you, it would appear like you made a pretty standard c'bet. Villian responds with a slightly smaller than 3x raise. By keeping the raise under three figures, it appears to be smaller so it seems like he wants a call, but that seems odd since the board is fairly wet. I'm kinda busy right now, but I'll get back to this and put some more thought into it.

He would probably 3bet pre with TT+ so overpairs are less likely.

I think he would likely raise more with a set or 2 pair, so I would put him on maybe a flush draw or 22-55. Also maybe a weak TP or 2nd pair. The small raise is hoping that you missed completely with AK and will fold.

EDIT: Those were my first thoughts, but I suppose he would need to do this with sets every so often to balance his range. (only just started thinking about balancing ranges after reading some of the better responses in posts)


PS: Your posts are inspiring, thread has been a great read.
If I push myself I might break through into MSNL before the year is done.

Assuming you have been playing semi standard I think villain will think you have a stronger than average hand pre flop. Therefore if he had AA-TT, AK/AQ he is 3betting you pre for value knowing you will call with your perceived range. I would then also say that his calling range would be PP/SC pre flop.

Your cbet likely looks strong to him as the board is wet and he will know that you know his range smacks this board in the face and you want to get value/protect your perceived range (stronger than average hands most likely big PP). Therefore I think his small raise is to induce you to bluff 3bet your missed Ax hands and/or come over the top with your overpair and he will snap you off with his 2pr/set/straight.

My play would be to call the raise and re-evaluate the turn. You have a ton of equity and so folding is not an option and I don't like 3betting as we tend to hit a monster if called/shoved on.

Thats my stab at it based on some generalisations about your image and the ability of the villain (being a 400 reg moving to 600.)

Bump again because I'm greedy like that

Early on (first post maybe) you mentioned that you used to play $2 hu games with friends... do any of those friends still play poker, or are you pretty much the only one that takes it serious?

Any success in donkaments?

Raze, haven't read all your posts and it seems you're strictly a cash player but I was wondering if this comment would apply to sng's too?....or do you not have an opinion on sng's?.

I've been 12 tabling $20 DoN's and have started to mix in some $50 (ie. 8x$20's and 4x50's) with a view to moving up completely soon. Thing is I'm doing great in the 50's and not so good in the 20's anymore and I know it's because I'm playing my arse off in the 50's and being a bit carefree in the 20's now. What do you think?. I'm sufficiently rolled for both but am conservative and protective with my winnings which is why I cautiously move up. Any thoughts?

I've had the same problem - for me it was a matter of not caring about the money. Best thing I can recommend is just focusing on winning/not losing, regardless of the stakes. If you can separate the two, it will help.

I believe I mentioned when I moved outta the parent's house, I hit a rough patch, and I realized hey, maybe I'm not as good as I thought I was... maybe I went pro too soon. What are my options? I definitely will never face the embarrassment of failing and having to move back home, so my only course of action is to step my s--t up and get good. I remember sitting in my bedroom about 3 years ago, staring at the string of losing sessions in my spreadsheet, and realizing, ****, I'm just not working hard enough! There are guys out there beating the hell out of $100/200, and struggling at $3/6, breaking even and paying rent with rakeback! If this and the bigger games can be crushed... ARE being crushed by better players... I'm smart, why can't I do the same? Early 2006 was definitely the end of extended downswings, and the beginning of a new work ethic towards poker.

Downswings are avoidable. If you've played steadily for half a year, you probably notice patterns in your results. Are you winning steadily for a couple weeks, and then everything seems to come crashing down and you can't make a dime for a whole month? I was there. You hit rock bottom, you start to realize your mentality is garbage and that you're EXPECTING to lose when you sit down to play. You realize you have to let go of these 'losses', and that poker is one long game; you aren't trying to get even, you're ALREADY even. You're always even, because you're playing for the long run, and everyone gets the same luck in the long run. Things pick up again. You gain your confidence back, you have a couple huge days, and now you remember how great it is to run good and win every big pot you play.


STOP.



Your confidence has peaked here. Remember this feeling. You're stealing with a lot of success. You've just won 3 or 4 flips in a row, and you got your AA in against QQ, and then against KK in the last hour, and won them both. You're playing very well, but you also know in the back of your mind, has a couple of those flips gone the other way, you might be looking at a break-even session. Are you amazing because you called 'tails' correctly 4 times in a row? No, you understand that a huge part of your big run was due to pure luck. Do you remember how bad you felt the last time you couldn't win a flip to save your life? You must understand how those bad feelings, generated from pure bad luck, negatively affected your game.

Can you, or anybody else, control good or bad luck? Of course not. Both sides of luck are 100% guaranteed to happen at the poker table. It's a game of limited information. There is a factor of randomization which is uncontrollable and inevitable. Got it? Good, now here's the key to never, ever tilting, or getting depressed or upset about your game or your results:

Don't allow yourself to get high on your wins, and you won't get down on your losses.

When you win a flip, be completely indifferent. Don't let dumb luck affect your emotions. Emotions and logic don't mix, and poker is a PURE logic game. Don't ever forget that. When you outplay someone and you know it, do not be smug, do not decide you're so good that you can let your guard down, and slack on your focus, because I guarantee you will get KILLED over your next thousand hands, and you'll be sitting there down a quarter of your bankroll, wondering how a great player like yourself could possibly run so bad. Have you been there, to some degree? I have dozens and dozens of times, and it sucks. Arrogance and lack of focus have cost me thousands of dollars.


Do your best to keep emotions, especially GOOD ones, completely out of your game.

Keep your guard up, even when you're running hotter than the sun.

Your hot streaks will eventually end, but so will your cold ones. Never ever think you can slack off your focus when you're winning, and as a result, you'll keep your head while running bad, and you'll pull out of those downers much quicker.


Use these tips to take your focus to the next level. In time, you'll see how much your negative mentality enabled your downswings in the past, and how little of it is actually based on the cards. I had bigger downswings 3 years ago, at 1/10th the stakes, than I do now, because I work hard to stay logical and level-headed, no matter the results. I'm not perfect, and I do get mad from time to time, but for the most part, results have no effect on my game, and that's the key.

I've always contended that I have less luck than the fish because I am better than them and get my money in good....so therefore suck out less than I get sucked out on.

I guess that's the price you pay for being better than the fish.

This is the wrong mentality. Everyone has the same amount of luck. The difference is winning players use theirs to NOT get suckouts.

Remember, when you get it in less than 100% to win, you're running above expectation when you take it down.

Interesting post Raze. Ego and fear can be huge roadblocks, not only in poker but in life. Fear of failure as well as fear of success, and sometimes we screw ourselves up with labels, comparisons, and definitions.

Wow you've got it down to a T where I am and how I feel right now. Spent the first 3 weeks of the month posting consistent wins and after a bad run last week I tilted, played poorly and lost it all in a matter of a few sessions.

Still a beginning player so when I run bad I question whether I even know how to play anymore and wonder if my winning sessions are just luck.

But like you were in 2006 I'm at that point where I know I can win if I work at it hard enough. So here's to becoming a better poker player.

this is exactly what i needed to read after comming off a couple nice sessions. it always seems like as soon as i have a good session i inevitably have a horrible session the next day. of course your running good will cool down eventually but the pattern is too consistent.

I let me mental guard down. I lose that mental drive i had before when i was really thinking.

from now on, no more msn, no web, no phone, no trevor and corey banging on my door looking for dope ... just focus focus focus

I am going to try this month to focus on every hand i play. really think it through...


Also, i have found that i rarely get upset on standard stuff. losing a 70/30 sucks, but i quickly forget it. where as when i make a really bad dumb move i know i shouldn't have its in my head for much longer. you know the type, when you unload that third barrel on someone you don't have enough history with and you know he has a marginal hand he wants showdown with. Or that snap call you made where if you just took that extra 10 seconds to really think it through you would process a bit more information that makes you realize its not the right play. For june i am going to try to final answer every decision i make.

.

I owe some answers and the conclusion to that HH I posted earlier

My friends with whom I played the $2 and $5 games back in the day... none of them have really played in the past year, at least. None of them play for real money online, either, despite watching me build my roll and seeing my success through the stakes. Whenever someone asks how I'm doing... what I'm up to... I tell them about poker or whatever else is going on in my life. When the topic of poker comes up, I always get the 'wow, you're lucky' or 'I wish I could do that'. You wish you could do it??? Last I checked, you have your 4th grade math and an internet connection. As far as helping people with their game, I try and make myself just as useful in person as I do on these forums, so there's no lack of guidance, but still, it amazes me how many of my friends don't actually go through with learning the game and making some cash. I do have some close friends who are very successful in small to mid-stakes online poker, but as far as the group of people I learned poker with... only one of them is taking a real shot at it now. With focus, he's got the same potential as I did, and if he puts in the work, he's going to be making some good money very shortly.

As far as donkaments, up until a year ago, my biggest score was winning a $1,000 freeroll years ago for $250, when my bankroll $1,000. I dabbled in some of the majors, but I haven't had any finishes. I do regularly play a $10K guaranteed on one of my older sites, which I've won a handful of times (softest field ever). Last year I won a 300-man $25K gtd., which is by far my biggest tourney success. In 2009, I've played the Pacific 100K maybe 6 times, and the $10K ($33 rebuy) every other week, and that's about it for my tournament experience. To be honest, I get tilted about half the time when I play tourneys, and I end up busting myself out of boredom or anger. Cash games are definitely my strong point.

Good stuff. I asked the question about your friends for a bit of a reason. I have this idea that people (in anything really, but we'll go with poker in this case) have a hard time being much more successful than those around them. Three of my good friends all play poker, but deep down I feel none of them really want to go any higher than the micro-stakes. Until I did some soul searching, I think I was in the same boat because I talk to people that have the micro-stakes only mentality all the time. So I was trying to find out if my idea had some possible truth to it, and through your answer it seems like it kind of does, since you said you have poker friends that play small to midstakes. Or maybe my thought is crazy.. i dunno.