Been getting myself into a lot of bother recently, trying to steal blinds, get thin value out of second pair etc, which has resulted in me dropped 5 buyins. I'm back 'up' to just one buyin down now. Need to remember there's no need to try and get thin value when there's still players like this around:

888 Poker - $0.04 NL - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 107.75 BB (VPIP: 17.42, PFR: 10.93, 3Bet Preflop: 1.20, Hands: 1,092)
BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 7.35, PFR: 5.15, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 136)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 34.55, PFR: 10.68, 3Bet Preflop: 3.52, Hands: 1,698)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 48.89, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 13.33, Hands: 46)
UTG: 74 BB (VPIP: 16.28, PFR: 6.98, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 88)
Hero (UTG+1): 174 BB
MP: 100 BB
MP+1: 49.25 BB (VPIP: 61.97, PFR: 26.76, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 71)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB, MP posts DB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.5 BB) Hero has A A

fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, MP calls 3 BB, MP+1 raises to 7 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 26.5 BB, MP raises to 100 BB, MP+1 calls 42.25 BB, Hero calls 73.5 BB

Flop: (250.75 BB, 3 players) 7 J 7

Turn: (250.75 BB, 3 players) 8

River: (250.75 BB, 3 players) 5

Hero shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Sevens) (Pre 59%, Flop 54%, Turn 71%)
MP shows 3 5 (Two Pair, Sevens and Fives) (Pre 19%, Flop 32%, Turn 17%)
MP+1 shows 9 8 (Two Pair, Eights and Sevens) (Pre 22%, Flop 14%, Turn 12%)
Hero wins 140.5 BB
Hero wins 95.5 BB

To beat the micros you don't have to find ever cent of value. To crush the micros you do.

I admit over the last couple of days I've been playing pretty badly. Made too many river hero calls and the like. Now I have a post it note on the computer saying 'if villain shoves river for 3x pot, DO NOT CALL'.

Though some of it was trying to get thin value rather than just being donk play. Trying to implement blind defence has been costing me a (relative) fortune. And I just wonder is it really worth the aggro over 1 big blind every 4 or 5 orbits? Trying to defend or steal 1 big blind often ends up costing me 40. That's a lot of successful steals that need to be performed to make up the ground for just one mistake.

When there's three 40% VPIP fish across the table who are happy to play for stacks with top pair or a flush draw I think it's pretty clear where the real value is coming from at 4nl.

Honestly, can being a successful blind stealer really add more than about 0.5bb/100 to someones winrate? If in a 9 handed table you get 11 orbits in 100 hands, and in, say, 3 of those you have the opportunity to open raise from the BTN we're talking about 4.5bb up for grabs in total. But it's not anything like adding 4.5bb/100 to your winrate because nowhere near all your steals will be successful. If you succeed two times in three, you're making 1.5*2 = 3bb on your successful attempts, but the one time you open raise for 3bb then get 3bet or called and later have to fold you're giving a lot of that money back. And of course, out of those three times you can open raise, sometimes you won't, as you'll have a trash hand like 72o or T4o.

Defending blinds is a lot more hassle than it's worth too. If I'm holding Q9 in the big blind, get raised by the button, and the flop is K95, I've no way of knowing whether I'm good here or not when the button fires an inevitable cbet. Not to mention calling a raise out of position only to play fit or fold is a losing strategy since you'll be folding a lot more than 'fitting'. Then there's those times you assume button won't have a decent hand as his attempt to steal is 35% but then he rocks up with AA and has your middling pair crushed but not before he's got a couple of streets of value.

I just think that when there's so many real fish at the table, fighting other regs for 1 big blind isn't needed at all. I went back to basics in the last session, just focus on value betting, don't blind defend unless you actually have a decent hand, the same with blind stealing, and no more calling river shoves or 3 barrel bluffing and I found it worked a lot better.

Viva La Crayon, I prefer barrelling with Axcc on that flop even in a limped pot. There's plenty of value from UTG limpers range since he's a fish and will have worse draws, and I probably would have folded that TP hand to a turn bet.

My X was bad but I was a little worried about your leading range.

@PP66

You're doing it wrong. Do some research on blind play (start with COTW posts and go from there, there's plenty to find on Google and Youtube also).

Blind defence and stealing relies heavily on your opponent's tendencies, and your ability to outplay them postflop. From what you've written above, it doesn't appear you're taking this into account.

There's loads of information out there, make it your December goal to study and improve this subject and you'll get a lot out of it

If you save a BB every 3 orbits that's the difference between being a marginal 1bb winner and a 6bb crusher.

That seems like an extremely optimistic projection. I'm not even sure there's a blind vs button situation once every 3 orbits, normally someone has opened the betting by then. But even if there is one every 3 orbits, not all defences are going to be successful.

Literally one mistake, for instance, calling a turn bet when you should have folded, will wipe out the profit you made on the last 20 successful steals.

Regardless, even if you add 1bb/100 on to your winrate, that's ****ing huge.

Rly not true, and like even what your saying is dumb, just reread this 10x and see how dumb it sounds

Let's say BTN raises to 3BB, I call 2BB, BTN fires a cbet of 5BB which I call. Pot is now 16.5BB. Now let's say BTN fires again on the turn for 10BB, and I call when I should have folded. Pot is now 36.5BB and all this could have been avoided if I just folded to begin with. Alright, so the turn cbet 'cost' me 10 successful steals rather than 20, but regardless, we're still talking fine margins here. Unless you're playing 90% of pots perfectly and have amazing hand reading skills defending a blind with K9o is going to be a marginal play at best.

I've no doubt it's worth doing if you have the skills to do it properly. If you don't, as I've found out, it just leads to all kinds of spew. I think probably my time is better spent at this point learning about my equity with different hands against different villain ranges, and only blind defending when I actually have a hand I don't mind playing.

Was you at my tables last night? I saw someone say Hey Viva but i'd folded before i could see what the name was

It's not costing you 10bb to call the turn because hopefully you have some equity when you make the call and surely your going to win sometimes when villain checks the turn or river.

It's completely correct to play tight if you don't have the skills postflop to deal with tough situations, however it should be your first priority to improve these skills so you can open up your game.

Just noticed i've gone from playing 26/22 to like 17/14. 17/14 makes stuff so much easier and seems a ton more profitable at 10NL at least

Well I meant this in the context of 'making a mistake'. I.e. calling the turn when in fact we have very little equity and tbh most times people fire 2 barrels they do have 'something', even if it's just a low pair. What I mean is, one mistake like this can cancel out lots of good solid blind play, so you really need to be a significant level above your opponents to turn a profit doing this as they have both initiative and position.

Of course one bad hand played at any point can hit your winrate hard, but it's much easier to do in a blind vs button situation IMO. Because if a guy raises from UTG, I'm saying that premium hands and big broadway cards make up a huge portion of his range, whereas the button's range is much wider. So there's that feeling that if you hit middle pair you could well be good. At the same time, you can more easily know where you're at if dealing with an EP raiser. If a TAG raises from EP and the flop comes 489r I can be pretty sure the flop missed him. Not really the case vs the same TAG with 30% ATS on the button. So easy to get yourself valuetowned where you defend with A6 but villain had A8 and an ace hits on the flop, those kinda situations.

Even the COTW articles on blind defence say that folding more is often the best play, due to lack of initiative and position.

Fun little session just now. Only won 2bb but some nice hands.

1) lol'd when he folded with $4 behind.

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $26.43 (VPIP: 32.56, PFR: 18.60, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 46)
SB: $22.99 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
Hero (BB): $66.82
UTG: $31.51 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
MP: $17.97 (VPIP: 38.46, PFR: 7.69, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
CO: $53.68 (VPIP: 52.94, PFR: 29.41, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 17)

SB posts SB $0.25, Hero posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has 4 6

fold, fold, fold, fold, SB raises to $1.00, Hero calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.00, 2 players) 7 4 4
SB checks, Hero bets $1.50, SB calls $1.50

Turn: ($5.00, 2 players) 4
SB checks, Hero bets $3.75, SB calls $3.75

River: ($12.50, 2 players) K
SB bets $12.00, Hero raises to $24.00, fold

Hero wins $34.86



2) Calling to chop usually isn't very good but he reps so little and can definitely have pure bluffs here about as often as value hands (don't think your average villain is vbetting 6x here).

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $93.79 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
SB: $51.74 (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)
Hero (BB): $52.25
UTG: $50.00 (VPIP: 19.44, PFR: 16.32, 3Bet Preflop: 5.89, Hands: 1,320)
MP: $52.25 (VPIP: 22.90, PFR: 18.29, 3Bet Preflop: 7.54, Hands: 915)
CO: $58.68 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB $0.25, Hero posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has K A

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to $1.50, fold, Hero raises to $5.00, BTN calls $3.50

Flop: ($10.25, 2 players) 6 7 5
Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($10.25, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, BTN bets $5.50, Hero calls $5.50

River: ($21.25, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, BTN bets $14.50, Hero calls $14.50

BTN shows Q A (Two Pair, Sevens and Fives) (Pre 25%, Flop 16%, Turn 14%)
Hero shows K A (Two Pair, Sevens and Fives) (Pre 75%, Flop 84%, Turn 86%)
BTN wins $23.99
Hero wins $24.00



3) Wasn't sure about this one.

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $58.39 (VPIP: 22.87, PFR: 18.27, 3Bet Preflop: 7.54, Hands: 916)
SB: $18.42 (VPIP: 60.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
BB: $23.10 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
UTG: $50.75 (VPIP: 24.77, PFR: 19.08, 3Bet Preflop: 5.53, Hands: 667)
Hero (MP): $84.69
CO: $133.19 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has A Q

UTG raises to $1.50, Hero calls $1.50, fold, BTN calls $1.50, fold, BB raises to $23.10 and is all-in, fold, Hero raises to $84.69 and is all-in, fold

Flop: ($49.45, 2 players) 4 A J

Turn: ($49.45, 2 players) 2

River: ($49.45, 2 players) 9




4) Small iso because SB was 3betting very wide. Not sure if I beat anything OTR.

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): $50.75
SB: $51.00 (VPIP: 23.03, PFR: 19.39, 3Bet Preflop: 11.59, Hands: 168)
BB: $37.83 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 100.00, Hands: 3)
UTG: $21.23 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
MP: $61.09 (VPIP: 20.34, PFR: 17.37, 3Bet Preflop: 8.51, Hands: 245)
CO: $51.04

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has 9 Q

UTG calls $0.50, fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.50, fold, BB calls $1.00, UTG calls $1.00

Flop: ($4.75, 3 players) 9 5 6
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $3.08, fold, UTG calls $3.08

Turn: ($10.91, 2 players) 2
UTG bets $5.00, Hero calls $5.00

River: ($20.91, 2 players) A
UTG bets $11.65 and is all-in, fold


5) Is this a good spot to bluffjam?

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $52.38 (VPIP: 10.96, PFR: 9.59, 3Bet Preflop: 3.45, Hands: 74)
SB: $100.60 (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 17)
BB: $50.00 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
Hero (UTG): $53.88
MP: $12.88 (VPIP: 28.57, PFR: 21.43, 3Bet Preflop: 11.76, Hands: 43)
CO: $50.00 (VPIP: 16.25, PFR: 15.00, 3Bet Preflop: 6.06, Hands: 80)

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has XX

Hero raises to $1.75, fold, fold, BTN calls $1.75, fold, fold

Flop: ($4.25, 2 players) A J 5
Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($4.25, 2 players) 9
Hero bets $2.76, BTN calls $2.76

River: ($9.77, 2 players) K
Hero bets $4.10, BTN raises to $17.50



6) Not sure about the turn (if he ever gets scared with a set there then it's probably a clear call), river seems like the only reasonable line with most of my range?

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $79.97 (VPIP: 20.83, PFR: 20.83, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 25)
SB: $35.88 (VPIP: 26.67, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
BB: $110.72 (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)
UTG: $27.55 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
Hero (MP): $51.28
CO: $114.08 (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 4.17, Hands: 48)

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has A A

fold, Hero raises to $1.50, fold, BTN calls $1.50, fold, fold

Flop: ($3.75, 2 players) 4 6 3
Hero bets $2.43, BTN raises to $6.50, Hero calls $4.07

Turn: ($16.75, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, BTN bets $11.00, Hero calls $11.00

River: ($38.75, 2 players) 7
Hero bets $32.28 and is all-in, BTN calls $32.28



7) River line?

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $207.19 (VPIP: 41.38, PFR: 27.59, 3Bet Preflop: 21.43, Hands: 30)
SB: $50.00 (VPIP: 28.95, PFR: 20.18, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 116)
Hero (BB): $67.95
UTG: $57.28 (VPIP: 18.95, PFR: 14.21, 3Bet Preflop: 2.56, Hands: 196)
MP: $50.00 (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
CO: $50.00 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB $0.25, Hero posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has Q J

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to $1.50, fold, Hero calls $1.00

Flop: ($3.25, 2 players) K 3 T
Hero checks, BTN bets $2.00, Hero calls $2.00

Turn: ($7.25, 2 players) 3
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($7.25, 2 players) A
Hero checks, BTN bets $4.50, Hero raises to $11.50, fold




8) X-posted in uNL

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $105.99 (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 8.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
Hero (SB): $81.24
BB: $108.11 (VPIP: 22.58, PFR: 19.78, 3Bet Preflop: 13.87, Hands: 474)
UTG: $46.96 (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
MP: $50.00 (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 18.75, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
CO: $28.63 (VPIP: 27.59, PFR: 6.90, 3Bet Preflop: 11.76, Hands: 30)

Hero posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has Q Q

UTG raises to $1.50, fold, fold, BTN raises to $3.50, Hero calls $3.25, fold, UTG calls $2.00

Flop: ($11.00, 3 players) 9 8 2
Hero checks, UTG checks, BTN bets $7.50, Hero calls $7.50, fold

Turn: ($26.00, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, BTN bets $9.50, Hero calls $9.50

River: ($45.00, 2 players) T
Hero checks, BTN bets $9.00, fold

@ TDA
H2: I agree he doesn't rep much but you can see people check back 7x 88 or 99 here sometime so i'm not much of a fan of the turn call. Pretty much one of the worst flops for our range so no harm in giving up.

H3: probably fold. gonna see AK a lot here and AJ or less not so often.

H4: Wp

H5: not really. No QT in our range and he has QTs here sometimes. He can have some AK that he didn't 3bet that he is probably not gonna fold since your line looks FOS.

H6: Fold turn but agree you should be donking if you get to the river.

H7: looks good

H8: only like the flat if AA/KK is in your range but I assume you have thought about that since your in the know about capped ranges Might jam river. Have club blocker and he never uses this sizing with the flush I think. Only problem is i'm not sure if he fold jx here. he might level himself. Not entirely sure though. prob fold as a standard.

cashed in the sunday milly satty and now I'm in the sunday million. homg this is really nerve wrecking. my pt4 doesn't even work because its micro stakes. should I upgrade? also, is anyone available on skype to calm me down

unregister...

can't, it auto regged me into the tourney because it finished after the start of the tourney. guess I have no choice :/

sattied in too! See you at the FT :P

Is this okay early stage?
PokerStars - $200+$15|40/80 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 10,650 (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 7.14, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 28)
Hero (SB): 14,690
BB: 15,674 (VPIP: 35.71, PFR: 21.43, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 28)
UTG: 8,610 (VPIP: 36.36, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
UTG+1: 9,421 (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 7.14, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 28)
UTG+2: 7,590 (VPIP: 44.44, PFR: 25.93, 3Bet Preflop: 27.27, Hands: 28)
MP: 10,590 (VPIP: 3.57, PFR: 3.57, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 28)
MP+1: 5,815 (VPIP: 17.86, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 28)
CO: 9,010 (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 10.71, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 28)

Hero posts SB 40, BB posts BB 80

Pre Flop: (pot: 120) Hero has J J

fold, UTG+1 raises to 160, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 390, BB raises to 1,330, UTG+1 calls 1,170, fold

Flop: (3,050, 2 players) T 4 Q
BB checks, UTG+1 checks

Turn: (3,050, 2 players) 3
BB bets 880, fold

gl everyone in the sunday mil

@ pronk i'd flat pre. He's pretty nitty looking (small sample I know) and its FR

gamma you're playing it too?

I wouldn't upgrade tbh. Others might have different opinions about it though.

If I were you I would be super happy and excited. You're in the milly! Just enjoy the adrenaline rush and try to play your best poker. If you cash then that's great, nice boost to your BR. If you don't cash then at least you had an awesome experience (well it depends a bit on how you go out but you get what I'm saying).

GL to everybody in the million!

thanks mate

Good luck guys

Have played it a couple times. Just play your normal game, don't get too fancy coz you think they're all pros outplaying you. They're not, and you'll see as much bad play as you will in a $2 BI tourney.