The adventures of a donk Part II - Op: Beat Micro Stakes

Hi I'm Rich aka Skeenobeener, I've mulled over whether posting my own operation would be profitable and useful for myself, however after reading several other micro grinders ops and seen how they've progressed I kind of feel inspired to do my own one.

First off let me tell you a little about me, I'm a 28 year old guy from the UK, I've got two girls who are 4 and 5, and a lovely fiancee, live in a nice house, earn a nice wage working away from home on week shifts. Get the best of both worlds, a week at home with my family and then a week away from home working. Works well for all of us as my family are sick of me usually after a week, Football, Cricket and Poker can become tiresome for women, so I'm told. The thing with working away is I can't really play poker so I want to really concentrating on studying and reading whilst I'm unable to play.

Now for my past poker experience, I've been playing on and off for about three years, recreationally.
In that time I've learnt the basics as you would hope. I've also managed to withdraw winnings which have paid for our current car, the laptop I'm typing on and the holiday fund. Does this mean I'm any good? Hell no!
Is it a little micro donk brag? Yeh lol. Sharkscope and OPR distort everything though. I look at things like that and think I'm good, the reality is I suck, mind not as much as some of my fishy mates IRL! I've had some good results though and turned about $2.5k profit in three years with most of it in the last year playing SNGs and the odd MTT.
If your really interested in my past life playing poker then some of its documentated here http://skeenobeener.blogspot.com/
I guess it's good to revisit past misdemenours - playing blackjack to clear bonuses, playing $2/4 Limit severly under-rolled and generally tilting like a donkey or take a night back in April where I was absolutely sozzled and took down $7.70 180 man, at about 3am UK time god knows how.

However one shouldn't forget the good times neither, like taking 2nd in a big job MTT for $1,300, cashing healthily in the Party Million or even just getting to heads up in an $11 omaha MTT for $430 odd loose change.

So moving on, why the new operation?
Basically I've withdrawn pretty much everything I've won (expensive fiancee, lifestyle etc) and keep getting to the stage of having about $100 in my roll and then either winning a small bit here or having to deposit the odd $20 after I've played drunkenly one night at mental cash levels. So I need to focus on something and I need to focus on bankroll requirements, as I say I can redeposit but it's not something I want to do.
So I've decided to begin and grind no limit cash at the micro stakes (edit - I know 5nl isn't micro/micro but with $100 I feel comfortable starting there). I plan on playing as many hands as possible volume wise and beating each level on the way up, not moving up to 10NL until I've got $250, and likewise not till 25nl until I've got a minimum of 25 buyins, which seems quite odd since I was probably playing it a few weeks back with 4 buyins! Bankroll Management FTW.
The other side of the coin I fail to do is theory, since I've logged back onto FTR I've begun to read, absorbe, watch videos - this is essential. I've got to start taking the game seriously and equate my game time to learning/theory as much as playing.

So to sum up the main goals are to :-

* Keep within strict bankroll guidelines
* Don't play whilst tired, drinking - take my A Game to the table at all times
* Concentrate more on using PT and HUDs, whilst improving my note taking and reads of other players.
* Grind up the levels starting with 5NL and approximately 20 buyins, moving up when I've got 25 buyins for the next level and am beating the current level for a good win-rate.
* Read through the Beginners section on this site and several operations, some of them are absolute gold. Concentrate on theory as much as playing.
* Take my own notes from these posts and formulate my own game at ring instead of basically just jerking around

I do plan on solely playing 6 max 5NL on Stars, probably with two tables, I find with one I become eager to play hands I shouldn't do. I'd hope to in time move up to four but I feel better playing 2 tables than 1. I'd add I'm not going to knock SNGs and MTTs on the head totally but with kids and work, playing MTTs is a pretty unsocial way to play. Not dissing it by any means and I love MTTs but I need to improve my ring game play so that's where I plan on playing.

I'd also be keen to chat with fellow grinders via msn so by all means send me a mail. Best of luck to everyone at the tables

i smell potential ITT!!

gl mate, i'll be following this op. now gogogogogogogogo!!

I started this op on Thursday, so may aswell post some hands and my first 1,100 hands stats. Small sample but I feel things are going in the right direction. (edit - was going to post the stats/graph but can't figure out how to!)

Main things I've learnt already is that the players at this level are quite dreadful, they'll call everything, they'll bet 10c into a 90c pot with complete air, they'll slow the stone cold nuts and win a 25c pot, they'll open shove tilting after losing a big hand.

So main things to work on - not that this is exactly rocket science, position, value bet with good hands, bet strong with monsters, observe other players and respect their raises - most players fail to raise without something unless they're running 60/40. Take notes religiously, don't cold call unless obviously it's position and hand dependent and don't try anything to fancy. I'd add understanding why bet/fold is good aswell helps.


Hands - 1,110 (Incredibly small sample so I'm not reading much into it)
Profit - $21.68
BB/100 Hands 19.53
VPIP - 19.63%
PFR - 13.96%
Total AF - 3.93%

I'll post position stats and the whole lot if I can figure out how to

Some hands and some thoughts from me, did I play these real badly?



1. Villain is a nutcase 71/8/3.6 - should I have played it any different?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

Hero (MP) ($6.47)
Button ($5.28)
SB ($5.55)
BB ($1.84)
UTG ($10.39)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 9, A
1 fold, Hero bets $0.20, 1 fold, SB calls $0.18, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.45) 9, K, 2 (2 players)
SB bets $0.50, Hero raises to $1.80, SB calls $1.30

Turn: ($4.05) 3 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $3.55, 1 fold

Total pot: $4.05 | Rake: $0.20

2. I know this river is a fold, but anything else I can do, bet turn more I guess, mind he still calls I think. The one problem I do think I'll encounter is laying down these river bets, looking through all losers so far I've made borderline, curious, know I'm beat calls and yep no one's bluffing. Villain is 46/13/2.2 but really a calling station galore.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

Hero (SB) ($6.28)
BB ($18.79)
UTG ($72.29)
MP ($6.54)
CO ($6.03)
Button ($3.42)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, J
4 folds, Hero bets $0.20, BB calls $0.15

Flop: ($0.40) 3, J, A (2 players)
Hero bets $0.32, BB calls $0.32

Turn: ($1.04) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.65, BB calls $0.65

River: ($2.34) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $0.50, Hero calls $0.50

Total pot: $3.34 | Rake: $0.15


3. Ok river to bet/fold, I'd planned on bet/folding turn. Button is a giant fish 53/0/0.6, MP1 is just as bad tight weak 21/3/0.3

Guess before I'd read FTR a little more, around I'd be checking the river all weak tight.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

BB ($5.43)
UTG ($7.31)
MP ($4.60)
Button ($5)
Hero (SB) ($15.44)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, 9
1 fold, MP calls $0.05, Button calls $0.05, Hero calls $0.03, BB checks

Flop: ($0.20) 9, 7, 4 (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP bets $0.15, Button calls $0.15, Hero calls $0.15, 1 fold

Turn: ($0.65) 7 (3 players)
Hero bets $0.50, MP calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50

River: ($2.15) K (3 players)
Hero bets $1.05, 2 folds

Total pot: $2.15 | Rake: $0.10

4. River shove too reckless? I was hoping weaker flushes call but I'm more likely to get a FH than flush show up here. So badly played?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

Button ($9.17)
SB ($7.52)
Hero (BB) ($9.48)
UTG ($2.34)
MP ($7.81)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, Q
UTG calls $0.05, 1 fold, Button calls $0.05, SB calls $0.03, Hero bets $0.30, UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, SB calls $0.25

Flop: ($0.95) 3, 3, 6 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.70, 1 fold, SB calls $0.70

Turn: ($2.35) 7 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($2.35) K (2 players)
SB bets $0.90, Hero raises to $8.48 (All-In), 1 fold

Total pot: $4.15 | Rake: $0.20


Anyways I'll try and figure out how to post graphs and the such for further down the line and cheers sil, lets hope it doesn't turn into a washout

1. fine
2. fold river, it's fine
3. you can actually check/fold the river because it's very difficult to get called by a worse 9 for three streets... the result would be the same I guess because they'd check their worse hands back
4. river shove is fine, but a smaller raise is better since he's more likely to call

good luck with this OP. In order to post graphs etc

1. click in the window that you want to post from
2. press <CTRL><ALT><PRINT SCREEN>
3.this will copy the window you have selected to the clipboard
4. open PAINT probably under ALL PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES
5. in PAINT , click on the Edit dropdown menu and select paste. Your selected window should now be displayed in PAINT.
6. if you only want to display part of the window you can click on the dotted rectangle outline directly under the edit menu , the click and drag an outline around the part you want to select, click on the Image menu and select crop
7. on the File menu, select"Save As" and name your file nd set the filetype to JPEG.
8create an account at imageshack.us and then upload the image

9. click on the image details and it will give you some forum code. Copy that code and paste it into your post here. this should then cause your image to appear when you preview your post and submit it.

Cheers iopk yeah hand three in those spots I'm trying to figure what the fug they are calling flop and turn with, cheers for the feedback though it really helps me think where to analyse hands .. cheers also Keith, I'll try that tomoz, mind it's just got worse!

Anyways tonight, I lit a bonfire been a nice day today so got my arse in the garden and then burned the stuff - problem was I had a beer, bigger problem was I got back indoors and the missus had Britain's got Talent on (English guys will know what I mean!) bag of shite! I should have just done something else, however like a donk played some cash.

Stats ..

191 hands
Profit -$5.54
BB/100 -(29.01)
VPIP - 19.90
PFR 16.75
Total AF - 9

See beer turns me into an agressive nutjob. To be honest I don't think I played that bad, had no hands and kept isolating fish, however perhaps I'm too aggressive, betting at everything. Some hands below (the biggest losers!)

I will say beer > poker don't mix. Even just 4 cans. I have broke a rule already.

This hand really annoyed me. Villain is an idiot and running 59/21/2.7 over approx 40 hands. Preflop obviously raising - he flats so I'm figuring he could pretty much have anything broadways, ace rage, pairs, sc's anything really. Decentish flop being as I raised pre - he flats again, no alarm bells, I'm thinking flush draw more than set .. 7 on the turn, a 7 is probably easily in his range and yet I fire again, he calls. River is horrible I guess, but I was praying he was drawing to the same flush. What was really annoying was he stacked off 200bb with 93c three hands later to the nut flush on a club community.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

UTG ($6.02)
MP ($6.11)
CO ($5.99)
Button ($10.05)
Hero (SB) ($5.74)
BB ($4.34)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, Q
UTG calls $0.05, 3 folds, Hero bets $0.25, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.55) A, 7, 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.45, UTG calls $0.45

Turn: ($1.45) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.20, UTG calls $1.20

River: ($3.85) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $2.50, UTG raises to $4.12 (All-In), Hero folds

Total pot: $8.85 | Rake: $0.40


This is pretty standard, I doubt he flats with a K mind .. he's running 35/20/2 over 20 hands. I think perhaps I shove he may fold seeing as I'm playing pretty aggro, still not sure.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

CO ($5.95)
Button ($6.12)
SB ($8.38)
BB ($11.83)
Hero (UTG) ($6.47)
MP ($19.87)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with J, J
Hero bets $0.20, 2 folds, Button calls $0.20, 2 folds

Flop: ($0.47) 5, 6, K (2 players)
Hero bets $0.40, Button calls $0.40

Turn: ($1.27) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.80, Button raises to $1.60, Hero folds

Total pot: $2.87 | Rake: $0.10


Give up with this one
I just don't know what to do in these situations vs a station running 27/0/0.4 over 35 hands. I guess I played it horribly. Mind I raised the river hoping he'd give me credit for an Ace, I guess calling stations don't .. (he had AK!)

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

CO ($6.10)
Button ($5.98)
SB ($5.18)
BB ($9.90)
Hero (UTG) ($5.66)
MP ($3.48)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with J, J
Hero bets $0.20, 3 folds, SB calls $0.18, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.45) K, 7, Q (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.45) 6 (2 players)
SB bets $0.25, Hero calls $0.25

River: ($0.95) A (2 players)
SB bets $0.25, Hero raises to $1, SB calls $0.75

Total pot: $2.95 | Rake: $0.10


Last one, I can't post gloom all the time, even though I booked a bad session, how's my line here? I'm thinking A2 is a little loose but I don't mind showing a few loosey goosey raises.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

Hero (MP) ($7.65)
Button ($11.21)
SB ($13.43)
BB ($21.03)
UTG ($7.90)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A, 2
1 fold, Hero bets $0.20, 1 fold, SB calls $0.18, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.45) 2, 4, 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.45) Q (2 players)
SB bets $0.20, Hero raises to $0.60, SB calls $0.40

River: ($1.65) 5 (2 players)
SB bets $0.30, Hero raises to $1.40, SB calls $1.10

Total pot: $4.45 | Rake: $0.20


A lesson has to be learnt! One I knew really. Beer and poker don't mix. If I'm going to be serious I need to do one or the other. End of story!

So last night was a little bit of a downfall, however in the past I'd have probably gone and donked off my roll playing higher, so at least I didn't go and play outside my level. Played a little this morning some 200 hands or so for 10bb/100 with no cards which was better, also just watched one of Spenda's 6 max 5nl videos. Very useful


Also figured out how to post these, cheers Keith



Edit - why the frig is it so small!

Played another 246 hands - tried 4 tabling, felt like I wasn't getting enough reads and it seemed like all my big hands came at once so I tended to muck them up slightly, had KK and AA both as walks

Still ran 15/13/2.2 and made 13BB/100 hands so made back my loss last night.

Few hands below which I'm really lost with, prob post em in the beginners section get more views.

Villain is an idiot 59/8/0.2 over 37 hands. I've seen him limp/fold a lot pre so expected to pick up the pot pre-flop, however OOP how do I best go about the post flop. I expect his range to be pretty wide, so don't mind the cont bet, I think on reflection I should b/f turn and if he calls that then hope to hit a Ten.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($6.68)
MP ($2.68)
Button ($8.92)
Hero (SB) ($6.03)
BB ($7.78)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, A
2 folds, Button calls $0.05, Hero bets $0.30, 1 fold, Button calls $0.25

Flop: ($0.65) 2, J, K (2 players)
Hero bets $0.50, Button calls $0.50

Turn: ($1.65) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

River: ($1.65) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $1, Hero folds

Total pot: $1.65 | Rake: $0.05


This one got no reads, villain sat down with $2 about 3 hands ago.

If I'm giving him a pretty tight range - all rag aces, perhaps with a few jacks thrown in.

Board: Jh 8h As
Dead:

equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 22.470% 22.37% 00.10% 38527 179.00 { QcQs }
Hand 1: 77.530% 77.43% 00.10% 133375 179.00 { KK+, JJ, A2s+, KJs, QJs, JTs, A2o+, KJo, QJo, JTo }

If we include the Hearts into his range - not sure if I'm working stove right something I've got to work on. It would look something like the below

equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 54.897% 54.67% 00.23% 210541 872.00 { QcQs }
Hand 1: 45.103% 44.88% 00.23% 172825 872.00 { JJ+, A2s+, K2s+, Q2s+, J2s+, T2s+, 92s+, 82s+, 72s+, 62s+, 52s+, 42s+, 32s, A2o+, KJo, QJo, JTo }

Mind I doubt even the donk is calling with 32s so just tightening his pre flop range, to more SCs and Double Gappers - this range looks more likely.


equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 35.771% 35.47% 00.30% 80767 683.00 { QcQs }
Hand 1: 64.229% 63.93% 00.30% 145567 683.00 { JJ+, A2s+, K9s+, QTs+, J9s+, T7s+, 97s+, 86s+, 75s+, 65s, 54s, A2o+, KJo, QJo, JTo }

So I guess is it a call?
$1.76 to win $4.69 - still not sure


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($6.83)
SB ($2.63)
BB ($10.39)
Hero (UTG) ($4.53)
MP ($2.31)
CO ($7.71)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q, Q
Hero bets $0.20, MP calls $0.20, 4 folds

Flop: ($0.47) J, 8, A (2 players)
Hero bets $0.35, MP raises to $2.11 (All-In), Hero folds

Total pot: $1.17 | Rake: $0.05

I'm a fucking gimp that is all

I guess I should elaborate! Well fedup this morning, last night was a disaster the only saving grace was that a disaster was made at 5nl when in the past it would have been at 25nl, 1/2 limit etc.

Managed to get in about 800 hands yesterday and for the first 650 or so things were going on ok, nothing great mind, catching no cards, not being able to pick good spots to value bet, I raise the limper he calls, I cont bet dry flop he calls, turn improves my hand so I fire again, he calls. Then I'm thinking wtf, check river as he does and he shows AK.

Anyways first 643 hands are pretty uneventful -
Amount Won - 4.99
BB/100 - 7.87
Running 17/13/3

Biggest pot I lose is a beat and dreadful play from a donk - not sure if I ended up tilting due to it, if I did then I really need to read some threads on tilt, think I will anyways.



PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop | saw showdown

Button ($3.93)
SB ($1.86)
BB ($3.66)
Hero (UTG) ($5.99)
MP ($2.91)
CO ($5.26)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q, Q
Hero bets $0.25, 3 folds, SB raises to $0.45, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1.90, SB calls $1.41 (All-In)

Flop: ($3.77) A, 4, 7 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($3.77) 10 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($3.77) 10 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $3.77 | Rake: $0.15

Results:
SB had 6, A (two pair, Aces and tens).
Hero mucked Q, Q (two pair, Queens and tens).
Outcome: SB won $3.62


So although it was extremely uneventful I can live with sessions like that, however I also managed to play some Sunday evening and really mucked up every little bit of progress I'd made.

134 hands -
Amounts Lost - $17.11
BB/100 Hands - (-127.69)
Running way to aggro 23/17.9/ Total AF - 23

So frigging diabolical, not sure what I was doing I think I'd begun to get angry with the limp, callers and then the donk bet of 5c into a 60c pot. Thinking that this clown just needs to be raised. Some of the worst hands are below, I don't feel proud posting this all I know is if I do hopefully down the line I'll realise where I've gone wrong - I'm obviously too agressive in spots and need to become more passive.

This is horror hand No.1 - I know I should fold this pre and even my reads on the players know they will call the raise - as for the continuation bet I'm okay with that, but alarms should go off and they don't .. Villian is 78/7/0.3 over small sample and obviously a calling station. Why on earth don't I look at these things!

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

Hero (SB) ($6.82)
BB ($10.06)
UTG ($4.64)
MP ($6)
Button ($9.09)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 5, 10
UTG bets $0.10, 1 fold, Button calls $0.10, Hero raises to $0.55, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.45, Button calls $0.45

Flop: ($1.70) K, 2, Q (3 players)
Hero bets $1.35, UTG calls $1.35, 1 fold

Turn: ($4.40) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $4.92 (All-In), UTG calls $2.74 (All-In)

River: ($9.88) 2 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $9.88 | Rake: $0.45

Horror hand no.2 is a lesson in how not to play hooks. It's awful. I don't once put the villain on a range, I don't think what he's raising with pre and I dunno perhaps I should flat it pre - flop bet is bad, this isn't a good board to fire at. Turn is dreadful spew .. just horrible. Have no history on villain he's just moved to the table.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

UTG ($6.13)
Button ($4.93)
Hero (SB) ($5.11)
BB ($9.39)

Preflop: Hero is SB with J, J
1 fold, Button bets $0.20, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, Button calls $0.55

Flop: ($1.55) A, Q, 10 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.20, Button calls $1.20

Turn: ($3.95) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $3.16 (All-In), Button calls $2.98 (All-In)

River: ($9.91) 9 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $9.91 | Rake: $0.45


Horror hand no.3
Looking back I don't feel so bad about this one, it's read dependent and against a donkey, After he calls the flop bet I should really give it up and the turn bet I planned on b/f - the river I should work out what hands I'm actually beating after he calls flop and turn, it ain't many 33, 55, 66, 77, 35, 97, J9, Q9 - so my aggression costs me some more.
Villain is 49/9/1 over 103 hands


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

UTG ($8.46)
Button ($3.47)
Hero (SB) ($6.56)
BB ($7.01)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, 9
2 folds, Hero bets $0.20, BB calls $0.15

Flop: ($0.40) 2, 9, 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.32, BB calls $0.32

Turn: ($1.04) 10 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.70, BB calls $0.70

River: ($2.44) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.50, BB calls $1.50

Total pot: $5.44 | Rake: $0.25


Horror hand number 4 is also spew, I should either bet the flop on reflection, but should definately fold to his turn bet. I think this hand tilted me somewhat as he claimed to have 69o
Villain is 41/16/2 over 65 hands - I've not seen him 4 bet anything.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

BB ($5.07)
UTG ($6.24)
Hero (Button) ($5.73)
SB ($5.62)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J, K
UTG calls $0.05, Hero bets $0.25, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.57) 7, 4, 7 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.57) 2 (2 players)
UTG bets $0.35, Hero raises to $1.30, UTG raises to $2.50, Hero folds

Total pot: $3.17 | Rake: $0.15


So overall pretty disastrous, I won some small pots but it really was a tilt lesson and something I've got to get right in my head.

I can't bluff these players
I can't fire at every pot
Respect their raises
Be wary of every call ... evaluate their range
Concentrate
Basically don't think I can bully them around, to an extent you can but it needs to be controlled aggression.

Last night was definately not controlled aggression, it was suicide in certain spots.

Onwards and upwards!

Here's a pro tip... Know why you are betting. In fact, know why you are making every decision you are making. And make sure the reason you are going it has legitimate assumptions that back them up. There are quite a few hands here, where if you were not tilting, you just didn't know why you were taking an action. Mind you, you also played some of these hands rather well.

Know what you intend to accomplish when you are betting. Know if you are wanting to get calls from worse hands, aka getting value, and if that's the case, if it's correct to assume that not only is that hand in his range, but that he will call with it. If you are bluffing, make assumptions about the player based on reads/stats/tells to make sure that not only is the hand in his range, but that he is capable of folding it.

In regards to microstakes, you really need to keep one large factor in your mind at all times:

Your villains LOVE TO CALL!!!

Most of the villains you run into will be passive, and huge calling stations. This obviously isn't always true, but in most cases. And what this means is simple. The looser people are, and the more likely they are to call, means you should expand your value betting range, and shrink your bluffing range. That is, they will call with a lot of worse hands, and rarely fold. So learn to valuebet your ass off, and learn that you don't have to bluff all that often in the micros (barring cbets, but even then you can cbet with a low frequency when you miss and still turn a hefty profit)

Thanks for that Stacks, it's definately an area I need to work on, Why I am betting. I think as far as the bluffing goes it's something I need to eradicate at this level, people just don't fold. People don't believe you when you have a hand so why play into there hands when you don't.

My continuation bet over 2000 hands (small sample) is like 67% should I be checking more flops I'm missing?

If an Ace flops and I've raised preflop with a hand like KQ or the JJ above, I'll tend to fire but if limpers call with Ace Rag to the river this is surely a recipe for disaster. Thing I'm finding is I'll raise a hand like A10/A9 from the button/CO either with an early limp station donk - flop an Ace - so I'm thinking great time to take him to value town and lo and behold he turns up with AK
It's spotting the donk who plays AA/AK as passively as he plays 57s

I've begun to journal some of the most useful quotes from FTR and others blogs and the advice you've just given me so now it's a case of applying it during the sessions! Sticking it on the laptop whatever - last night for sure wasn't my A Game.

You're being results oriented with hand 3, looks perfect to me, as long as both flop and turn are b/f plans.

The others are pretty bad.

Originally Posted by bjsaust

The others are pretty bad.

Good to get these issues dealt with at this level :P

Wanted to apply some things that I've read and reviewed today, plus some of the advice from above and a few other threads - just played under 100 hands so nothing heavy and I also played just the one table to totally concentrate on reads.

Hands - 81
Amount Won - $11.77
BB/100 - 145.31
Playing 22/18/1.5 (Toned my aggression down post flop)

I did run pretty sweetly aswell and got some nice cards

Couple of interesting hands, also had an AK all in pre versus a shortie he had AQ, and also played 88 passively pre, flopped a set villain went nuts with AA - won his stack, i'd usually raise the 88 but again I don't think mixing things up is a bad thing.

These two though - first hand no reads. I think firing at this flop is something last night I'd have done and still don't think it's a bad plan but seperately how's my line, horrible versus these donks, still not too sure how best to play it ..

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

BB ($9.85)
UTG ($1.05)
Hero (MP) ($6)
CO ($4.79)
Button ($5)
SB ($5.52)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Q, Q
1 fold, Hero (poster) bets $0.30, CO calls $0.30, 1 fold, SB calls $0.28, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.95) A, 10, 5 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets $0.20, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.20

Turn: ($1.35) A (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $0.50, Hero calls $0.50

River: ($2.35) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

Total pot: $2.35 | Rake: $0.10



This one villain is 45/15/2 over a small sample - my range for him preflop is 99+ AJ+. I did debate 4 betting but then OOP I didn't want him flatting a 4 bet and then me missing. On the flop I think he flats KK/AA. This ok?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop

Button ($1.93)
SB ($5.94)
BB ($9.86)
UTG ($5.05)
Hero (MP) ($6.32)
CO ($7.26)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A, K
1 fold, Hero bets $0.20, CO raises to $0.40, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.87) 9, K, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.75, CO raises to $1.50, Hero raises to $5.92 (All-In), 1 fold

Total pot: $3.87 | Rake: $0.15


So to sum up go reviewing, reading and toning down the aggression slightly. It makes you realise that theory and thinking about things before and after you play is just as crucial as sitting logging hands!

Hey mate. Firstly I wish you all the best. I am doing the same thing so far about $42>$250 in 12 days.

Heres my advice. Never EVER raise with ten five. Play a simple game against these bad players. Raise good hands fold bad ones.

No need whatsoever to make fancy plays.

And suited isnt an excuse.

All the best

Ditto ace two

Ditto queen nine

Originally Posted by Stuventus

Heres my advice. Never EVER raise with ten five.

wrong

Originally Posted by Stuventus

Ditto ace two

wrong

Originally Posted by Stuventus

Ditto queen nine

wrong

Stuventus's advice is pretty bad for anyone who is reading.

I am $200 up and never play junk.

How is Op doing?

The advice is not bad. If you are low stakes grinding.

1. You are probably not good enough to KNOW how to play junk hands

2. There is not need. You can be very profitable without them

XxStacksxX`s advice is pretty bad whoever is reading.

Originally Posted by Skeeno

I've had some good results though and turned about $2.5k profit in three years

OP doing slightly better than $200 up .

On this challenge.


Not before

Just stfu... It's absurd to say never raise Q9, A2, etc. You are just saying that because your too incompetent to play them profitable, and understand the game enough to do so.. Doesn't mean everyone else is the same.

Also congrats on being up $200... I made 6x that yesterday.. STFU once again.

Originally Posted by XxStacksxX

Just stfu... It's absurd to say never raise Q9, A2, etc. You are just saying that because your too incompetent to play them profitable, and understand the game enough to do so.. Doesn't mean everyone else is the same.

Also congrats on being up $200... I made 6x that yesterday.. STFU once again.

haha, owned.

Some posts wahoo

I get what your saying Stuventus, however it's playing them situationally. I wouldn't always raise these/play these hands obviously, positionally though we don't always get monsters and vs these fish sometimes you've got to widen your range or I think you do anyways. I don't deny that a tight is right way wins but I'm running 19/15 at 6 max so I'm hardly playing all sorts of junk. What sort of hands do you recommend raising from the CO/BU if it's folded around to you? Are you playing full ring or 6 max?

The 10 5 hand has nothing to do with the cards really, I just raised it because I sensed they were weak pre-flop I was wrong, one donk had AK but played it so passively, but when I've flopped a flush draw I'm going to play it aggressively - yes it didn't work out to well but it happens. I was probably tilting a bit aswell so as I say it's not a great hand.

I'm not sure what's wrong with the Q9 and A2 hands, the Q9 I'm in the SB not saying I'd always call from the SB (over 2,500 hands small sample my stats from the SB are 28/15) with such hands but again if I flop big to it for 3c it's got decent implied odds, post flop it's fine I think. The A2 is just me being aggressive - and again I wouldn't always raise this. As I say I don't want get into a bone about it not on this thread anyways perhaps in the beginners section we can have more discussion

The A2 hand actually got me thinking about something that I was mulling over yesterday, mainly after playing too aggressively the day before.

If we've got a huge station/fish in the BB when we're on the button, we need to tighten up our range a lot more. However we do want to exploit position so versus the giant fish we also want to play hands which are ahead of his calling range (50% usually - so I'd play all pairs, broadways and cards that can flop well versus these clowns)

Not sure how correct that is, mind even at these stakes I want to buy a ticket in the stack the fish stakes!

Pretty uneventful session last night, however I grinded for some 250 hands with a BB/100 rate of 16 so all gravy. Managed to flop a set with AA and a station stacked of with K6!

Additionally the same station in my BB and one in the SB were listed as the same location, now if it was a big place I'd not be concerned but looking on Google Maps the place was a tiny German town (perhaps even a village) - so I observed their play and noticed in approx 25 hands they failed to play one pot against each other which BvB seemed a little weird, so Pokerstars got a little email. Now maybe I'm being pedantic but I don't want donks getting an edge by colluding, I would however rather let Stars investigate them.

Stacks how up your own arse can you be.

I gave reasons for not playing loose starting hands and you just said ignore my advise. And telling me to shut up - thats mature - without even giving reasons.

Your a bit of an arrogant pleb so I will ignore you.

OP. I was just offering advice and whats worked well for me.

I must ask though - you must really need to be on the ball to play a hand like T5. Im just wondering what you would do if the flop came down like TT9 you bet out and got 3 callers - like you can at microstakes.

Because you want to give poor odds to somebody with QJ but equally you might just be increasing the pot for somebody who has KT.

I only play big suited cards so I am usually confident of having the best flush. I suppose if you are good at playing random hands you will win more but have more variance along the way.

What are your thoughts.

Originally Posted by Stuventus

I must ask though - you must really need to be on the ball to play a hand like T5. Im just wondering what you would do if the flop came down like TT9 you bet out and got 3 callers - like you can at microstakes.

Because you want to give poor odds to somebody with QJ but equally you might just be increasing the pot for somebody who has KT.

I only play big suited cards so I am usually confident of having the best flush. I suppose if you are good at playing random hands you will win more but have more variance along the way.

What are your thoughts.

In the situation in question. I'd probably end up going broke if someone has a better kicker or 99 say, mind at these levels someone's just as likely to look you up with A9/K9/JJ etc. Mind I'd never cold call/limp 10 5, playing it in a limped BB pot would be one of the only times I'd see a flop like this and you've got to be pretty wary most of the times you hit a good flop out of the BB.

This one hand out of 2,500 I've gone back through my button/CO raising range and am pretty confident it's not something I make a habit of doing. I'm aware the hand in question I misplayed, or at the very least misread my opponents tendencies, if for instance I'm villain in the hand in question I'd have trouble calling with much less than AA/KK/AK/KQ/set . . with his mini raise/call there's a lot more hands he calls me with. Suck that he had AK but as I say that's poker and all I need to do is make a note the guy mini raises AK UTG and flats a flop raise.

I see. Thanks for explaining.

I know I have a leak whereby any good player will be able to get a rough idea of my hand if I raise. But I try to remove this aspect by always raising 5 or 6x the bb - be the hand suited cons or cowboys.

I love the very tight players at 5c10c who obs have aces/kings when they bet $1.50 pre flop. If I have suited cons / any pp I will flat call and play if I hit a flop - only is they have a big enough stack though.

Retarded session again .. I keep ignoring what I've been saying. Keep winning small pots and losing big ones, my continuation bets are constantly being called and when I've got a hand they miracoulously fold. Not going to post hands I'm ashamed of them.

Now won $5 in 2500 hands magnificent, still if it takes 250,000 hands it takes 250,000 hands!

Stuventus, you are in no position to be giving advice. That's the problem.

Either way the fact of the matter is this. From your posts it is apparent you have leaks in your game. That's fine, I have leaks too. But, I've won at 200nl with my leaks, you haven't. I've given some good advice over my year here at FTR, you haven't. I'm not trying to be a pompous ass, or sound like I"m trying to be high on my horse, or whatever. But, does it sound reasonable to you that someone, who hasn't proved himself to be a solid player in any way, should come into someone else's operation thread and tell him "NEVER" to raise T5, Q9, A2, which as my first post stated I disagree with, and is incorrect?

I'm sorry, but it just doesn't sound correct, or even reasonable to me. Maybe at this point in your poker "career" it is best if YOU don't raise marginal hands because YOU can't play them well enough. However, from the posts, and some of the hands, it sure seems that Skeeno has a bit of a grasp on the game (at least for his stakes), and is at least somewhat aware of why he is playing those hands, and can probably play them profitably (especially hands like A2s, Q9s on the Button).

I mean come on... How can you not raise A2s when it's folded to you and you have the button?

Simple.

I want to get it in with the strong hands not the marginals. There is so many bizarre playings down here at 5c10c that its far easier to play good hands hard and fast. Most people down here dont understand when you are putting a move on them or representing etc.

Perhaps you might want to consider that my advice IS appropriate becaause I actually play at the games in question. 10nl and 25nl are totally different from 100nl and 200nl.

Perhaps you should come down here sometime and see where your plays get you.

I must add that if what you say is true and you do beat 200nl that thats fab - better than me of course.. But thats isnt really the issue here. Im sure you are better than me, I am just trying to help the op crush 5c10c with minimum fuss and get back to where he belongs with an appropriate bankroll.

Obviously my approach has limitations.

I undestand I am predictable and would get crushed at 25c50 to decent players. But this is not 25c50c and I can use simple mechanisms to get myself to crush 5c10c on a daily basis (which I am curently doing)

If my table at 5c10c has more than one other good player at it I will leave (doesnt happen very often I can assure you). I can play hyper tight sometimes when I get no starting hands. Then I get a hand and have action like anybody else - most players down here arent playing attention or giving much consideration to cards other than their own.

I realise it takes something more to beat 50nl+ on a constant basis. But I am just offering op the easiest route to get there - minimum variance and maximum profit.

So Stacks I think I do have a valid opinion thank ye very much.

Everybody (else) replying to Skeeno has beaten 5nl up on their journey. Stacks is playing 200nl and 400nl now, but he beat the micros first. We all did. Noone here woke up one morning and decided to deposit a couple grand and immediately beat 100nl+.

A2 as a LP raise is profitable at any level in 6max.
5Ts is a stupid hand to squeeze with, but if you have reads to believe that ATC is profitable there, then it doesn't matter what your cards are.

Originally Posted by Stuventus

Perhaps you should come down here sometime and see where your plays get you.

People have heard this argument over and over again. If I can beat 200NL, I can certainly beat 10nl/25nl. It's stupid to think otherwise. Just because the number of fish I play against at 200nl is less than at 10nl/25nl doesn't mean that I don't know how to play against terribad fish. And this is the same for any winning 100nl/200nl player.

Obviously it's going to be profitable to play a tighter range on average than your opponent. But if a hand/situation is profitable, and you overlook it, you aren't going to be as profitable in the long run as you could have been had you taken EVERY +EV spot, instead of just some. It's like saying we know playing QQ+, AK preflo is profitable, but we also know that playing 77-JJ, AQ, etc are profitable hands also (plus more obv). So if all of those hands are profitable, yet we neglect to play them, then we are costing ourselves money in the long run.

Now I obviously know that you aren't saying to fold 77-JJ, AQ, etc type hands. So don't try that argument. You are instead speaking of even more marginal hands like A2s, Q9s, etc. Well, those hands are going to be profitable if played in the correct situations also. Raising A2s on the BU when it's folded to you with 2 tight blinds, is obviously going to be a +EV move. The same goes for Q9s. Actually, if the blinds are tight, then the same goes for Any Two Cards (ATC), as they are going to be folding often enough that we will profit from the fold equity we have.

Also, with the terrible play that goes on at the stakes in question (10nl/25nl), I would ecstatic to play what would be consider marginal hands like T7s, 75s, etc in position against the majority of players. Hell I'm fine playing most of those hands in position at 200nl.

Stuventus, when you get better at poker you will realize that it isn't all about your cards. Yes, when your range is stronger than your villains range you profit. However, even when your hand isn't the best hand preflop, you will have plenty of profitable opportunities both preflop and postflop. When you open a hand, you can steal the blinds (which is obviously +EV), you can cbet postflop and win the pot (again +EV), or you can find profitable 2-3 barrel spots (again +EV). Not to mention, you can have the best hand some % of the time. I don't know about you, but this all sounds pretty good to me.

You say it's easier to play only the strong hands, and that might be true. But it's more profitable to play all +EV hands, and that's what we strive for. We don't strive to make the easiest play. We strive to make the play that will produce the greatest value in the long run.

Personally I just make the easier plays.

Surely sometimes when you do what you are saying you get caught out by somebody who had limped with a monster?

I have played against some players who protect every bb they have. And taken down $15-$25 pots from then when they really should have just given up their blind.

Do you have any links to articles though - I am interested to learn a bit more - perhaps one day I will play 50c/$1. Although I am not looking to play mid stakes like lots of you aspire to, I will be fine just getting to the point where I take £100 a week from 10c/25c.

Well it's often incorrect to just make the easier play. Poker is a game about making money. Every decision you make will have either a positive expected value (makes you money), a negative expected value (loses you money), or an expected value of 0 (you breakeven). Your job is to fine the play everytime you are faced with a decision that will yeild not only a +EV, but the highest +EV. That is to say, it's definitely correct to open shove allin with AA. That play is +EV. However, the EV of open shoving AA is going to be less than raising AA to a standard amount and playing postflop.

So if simply making the easier play is what you truly do, then please refrain from giving advice as if it's a golden rule. Give an opinion that can be corrected. Don't say "never raise Q9s", as this is obviously incorrect, as in many situations it's a +EV raise. Instead, say, "I wouldn't have raised Q9s there, and rarely do as it's a tough hand for me to play". Even though this might be incorrect still as you could still be missing out on +EV plays, it comes across more like it's just a helpful opinion and should be interpreted as such, instead of it's advice from the poker God HIMSELF making an all-knowing post about how you should NEVER raise Q9s.

I had Stacks "come down here" when I was still at 5nl. His plays seemed to work just fine...

Get over yourself.

I will give advice as I see fit. It has worked for me so I want to mention that it is an option for other people.

Thats what this site is about.

And I dont give a mouse sized sh1t what stakes you play at.

And Stacks.

FYI poker is a game about making the right decisions.

Originally Posted by Stuventus

And Stacks.

FYI poker is a game about making the right decisions.

lol, do you actually have any idea how much of a prick you look? this post ^^^^ essentially proves stacks right and therefore you wrong.

a +EV decision is only the "right" decision if it is the most +EV decision available. if you make a decision that is less +EV than another, how can it be right?

;dsiugaesuvah'euive';aiufhbv;auidvhau'ovh.

fwiw you'll get nowhere if you cant take advice from much better players. ie stacks.

gg sir.

Originally Posted by Stuventus

And Stacks.

FYI poker is a game about making the right decisions.

Yeah but based on his read, squeezing with T5s was the right decision. How come you don't understand that?

Originally Posted by Stuventus

Get over yourself.

I will give advice as I see fit. It has worked for me so I want to mention that it is an option for other people.

Thats what this site is about.

And I dont give a mouse sized sh1t what stakes you play at.

Seriously, this post goes out to everyone, except Stuventus. If anyone ever senses that I may be getting ready to spend a reasonable amount of time typing out a response trying to help someone as incompetent as Stuventus is acting right now to improve, please do not hesitate to tell me to "stfu... Save your time".

Stuventus: Of Fucking Course Poker is about making the right decisions. And the only truly right decision is the one that yields the greast EV over the long run (most +EV decision). Taking a 0EV decision, or -EV decision, when there is clearly a +EV decision to be made is going to cost you money. That's what you are doing when you say to "NEVER RAISE A2/Q9/T5".

So stfu your wrong. Also as I tried to point out in with my more subtle "congrats on $200 post", is you can't say it has worked for you. You haven't won enough to say you are even a decent player. Also, even if you had, saying I'm going to tell you what works for me, even when it is clearly incorrect, is just plain fucking stupid.

I have gone from $42 to $375 playing 5c10c in 18 days. Most importantly with negligable variance.

My strategy works you could say. And the problem with your advice is you encourage people reading this kind of thread (ie low stakes players) to play A2 Q9 when they should start by playing v strong hands and develpoing from there.

I am not saying it works at other stakes. and quite frankly I have not desire to beat a harder game when I can just fleece the lower games.

And your a lame admin because you still have not tidied up my post as you said you would upon request.

Yeah but based on his read, squeezing with T5s was the right decision. How come you don't understand that?

You dont seem to understand that I DO understand it. But that as the play is so variable at low stakes you cannot always be certain where you are. I would rather just throw it away than end up getting beaten by somebody who will not lay down a hand or decides its the spot to slowplay a big pair.

So its a lot easier to just play straight forward poker. And you dont even need to mix it up. Players would still call an all in bet if its your first play in 300 hands. If they felt like taking a shot with any pair. any ace etc.

Your wrong Stuventus.. You really just need to accept it. You don't know shit about poker, and you can't turn to your 18 day winnings to prove otherwise. Hopefully you will learn something about poker one day and realize you're a dumbass for saying "never ...".

And about the admin thing. I'm not an admin. I'm a moderator. And about cleaning up your thread, I did delete a few posts. Then I decided to stop once you started being an asshole in this thread, as it's not a courtesy we have to offer individuals, especially not ones being an asshole to the mod who offered it.

This thread seriously needs to shutup and let Skeeno get back to posting about Skeeno.

Originally Posted by Stuventus

Yeah but based on his read, squeezing with T5s was the right decision. How come you don't understand that?

You dont seem to understand that I DO understand it. .

ok

Originally Posted by Stuventus

And Stacks.
FYI poker is a game about making the right decisions.

wait what? contradict much?

I'm confused. Also GG for BR management early on in your 10nl Career, 4 BI's?

Originally Posted by bjsaust

This thread seriously needs to shutup and let Skeeno get back to posting about Skeeno.

Yeah.. I agree.. I'm sorry Skeeno for derailing your thread. I say we end the flame war now, and let skeeno get back to his operation blogging.

Two ways to skin a cat Stacks. If you dont realise that you cant be a very good player either.

Ps thanks for cleaning my thread. Loots a loot tider now.

happy days.

I cleaned up the thread 2 or so days ago. I haven't been back since then, so you must have overlooked what I did the first time.

And yes there are two ways to skin a cat. The right way, and the wrong way. But if the cat is poker, and the methods to skin are our decisions, then there are numerous techniques to be used.

However, it still breaks down to a simple scale. You have the best way to skin the cat. Then you have a way that will work, but that won't be as effective as the previous way. Then you have multiple ways that won't work, with some being worse than the other.

This all equivocates back to poker. You have the best decision, or the most +EV decision. Followed by a less +EV decision, then a breakeven decision, then comes your -EV decisions. Why go with a breakeven decision, when you can chose a +EV decision? And to go a bit further, why go with a +EV decision, when you can go with the MOST +EV decision? It just doesn't make sense.

Profiting in poker can be broken down to a very simple statement. You must make less mistakes on average than your opponents. That is, you need to make more +EV decisions, and less -EV decisions than your opponents. If raising A2s on the BU is a +EV decision, then by making that play is going to elevate your winrate, and make you a larger profit at poker.

As our last few posts were not flame oriented, I'm fine with discussion of poker concepts, etc continuing here, unless Skeeno does not. However, anything that begins to resemble flaming each other will be deleted, and it will either need to stop or move to a more relevant place (your OP maybe?).

I'm cool with it all, good discussion we've made the second page!
I don't feel I have much to add as I'm not good enough to comment, I will say I think if I'm raising hands like A2/Q9 I need to have good reads on the opponents - need to be sure they'll fold to 3 bets and that they don't see me a as a complete aggro maniac. If they are stations, not much point raising 105o. I'd add though I'm not going to stop raising a wide range on the button playing 6 max when it's folded around to me.

Quick update on the poker - haven't played for last two days, half term so been chilling with the kids and I've also moved my roll to a new site. My thinking behind this is simply I don't like playing the current level with certain players sitting down with 200BB (buying in for $10 at 5nl) I can play well then get dealt a cold deck and lose a 200BB pot - happened yesterday with QQ v AK v 99. Yes I can win more but I'd rather not play such deep poker. I want to feel more in my own comfort zone if you will. The new site has a $5 maximum buyin and also has a casino and sports betting site linked in so more chance of some recreational fish playing.

So the roll has been moved to my other account on a non US site (don't want to move to a totally new site - rakeback/bonuses etc).

The other thing I started doing after watching one of Spenda's videos was actually pretend I was talking to people, explaining my actions. This really helped me think why I was doing certain things.

We are understanding eachother now.

For me and a hell of a lot of other 10nl and 25nl players. Doing the things you suggest would actually be -EV as we do not know how to do it very well.

For that reason I advise to newbies to play hands straight up without fancy plays.

Can I say how much better this forum is than cardschat where I also post. They are so anal about posts its unreal. No more than seven a day. No more than two threads. Certaint things that get your thread to dissapear off the face of the earth.

I might hang about here.

I agree that it's certainly profitable to play a tight range at the micros, and even the low stakes games. But, it doesn't mean solely playing a relatively right range is correct or the most profitable. And it doesn't mean that there aren't spots where playing a wider range is +EV. So if the spot is +EV, then it's best to take that play. However, if an individual does not have the ability to recognize those spots, or tends to play bad in those spots and make -EV choices later on, then it's better to take the 0EV play and fold.

But, like I said before, Skeeno seems tohave a decent enough understanding about position, ranges, etc that raising hands like A2s on the Bu will be profitable.

Skeeno is definately one of the more skilled micro players out there. I'm sure he'd be at 100nl+ by now if he didnt keep withdrawing and focused 1 or 2 game types.

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Skeeno is definately one of the more skilled micro players out there. I'm sure he'd be at 100nl+ by now if he didnt keep withdrawing and focused 1 or 2 game types.

I agree.. I haven't read through all of his hand histories, only a few. And i don't think he has all of the logic correct, and reasoning for why he is doing something. But in most of the hand histories I saw, and most of his logic, was played well and checks out, except for the few "tilt moments" where he has no logical explanation for doing something.

Keep up the good work Skeeno. And quit withdrawing until you get into the real money man.

Blushes!

Cheers guys, mind I 've got a helluva lot to learn, the past week playing 5nl has probably taught me more about my game than the previous three years dicking around at various stakes.

Not played much lately as I've been working away since Thursday and will be for another four days, alas I was hoping to use this time to read through the forum and cast my eyes over pearls of wisdom, alas the IT department have classified FTR as a gambling website and barred me from accessing it. Swines!!! I've now got to email myself all the content and read it through it that way. Mind printing content off and reading it that way certainly ensures it sinks in, and you can highlight things revisit them. Getting yourself a nice little FTR Folder is a good book to read again and again.

Did play some 500 hands on Friday though and things seem to be going well, I felt like I was actually playing quite tight (no access to PT/HUD whilst I'm working away - so just got to work solely on reads) but was still getting paid quite handsomely. Also had a couple of beats but because I felt I was in control I didn't spew and didn't start jerking about with 48o and the like, so ended up about 2 buyins.

Party definately seems to have at least 3 fish per 6 max table, where as Stars even at 5nl seems to have tighter tables with more multi tablers.

Still alive ... back posting soon, had some work issues to deal with!