OP: Learn to beat the little game first

Originally Posted by redmanstl

++ I STILL have no clue most of the time what to do with low pocket pairs, particularly OOP, and AJ (suited or not) is a hand that I fold preflop out of confusion probably more times than is necessary. I'm going to go try to find some HH's from low PP hands, and also search here for advice on how to play them.

your best bet is to post some hands. Find a hand where you have a PP and have no idea what you're doing and post it here or in the Beginners Circle.

Well, that was fun......... -3 BI's over about 1K hands, and although most of it was due to AA < QQ & QQ < AA, it was still a good reminder that I'm not god and this level is still not sufficiently beaten - - I am making some very elementary errors still, and I need to get them cleaned up (while still clearing the FT bonus) before I even THINK about a jump to 5NL.

I will say that PT3 is nice, although the on-screen display is a little much for me, the graphs and session reviews are nice, and they are great for helping me to see a leak (and there are MANY) quickly.

Anyhow, still ahead $20.22 through 8,800 hands, and overall BR currently sits at $203.23

Originally Posted by redmanstl

Well, that was fun......... -3 BI's over about 1K hands, and although most of it was due to AA < QQ & QQ < AA, it was still a good reminder that I'm not god and this level is still not sufficiently beaten - - I am making some very elementary errors still, and I need to get them cleaned up (while still clearing the FT bonus) before I even THINK about a jump to 5NL.

I will say that PT3 is nice, although the on-screen display is a little much for me, the graphs and session reviews are nice, and they are great for helping me to see a leak (and there are MANY) quickly.

Anyhow, still ahead $20.22 through 8,800 hands, and overall BR currently sits at $203.23

Reflected on this session while getting cleaned up to go to IRL work, and it occurred to me that

A) I took risks or tried cute things when I was down that I wouldn't have tried while ahead in a session,

B) I spent way too much time looking at the cashier and thinking about my PT3 graph going down,

C) I started assuming "these donkeys are horrible and just b/c I'm down doesn't mean I can't push them around!!". I was wrong.

D) I didn't feel like playing for the last 300-ish hands but did so anyways to get 1K hands played/posted.

Anyone who's been through this cycle have ideas for the next few sessions??

Originally Posted by redmanstl

Reflected on this session while getting cleaned up to go to IRL work, and it occurred to me that

A) I took risks or tried cute things when I was down that I wouldn't have tried while ahead in a session,

B) I spent way too much time looking at the cashier and thinking about my PT3 graph going down,

C) I started assuming "these donkeys are horrible and just b/c I'm down doesn't mean I can't push them around!!". I was wrong.

D) I didn't feel like playing for the last 300-ish hands but did so anyways to get 1K hands played/posted.

Anyone who's been through this cycle have ideas for the next few sessions??

I'd say the main thing is you've identified the problems so that is a great start.

A.) I took risks or tried cute things when I was down that I wouldn't have tried while ahead in a session,

I think this tends to be a common mistake we make. Just keep reminding yourself of what has worked and don't get away from that. Make sure you are pausing and thinking through everything before each move. When you do this add the question "is this part of what has made me successful upto this point?" If the answer is no then ask yourself why am I doing something different here? If you don't have a sufficient answer such as "this is a leak I am trying to fix" or "this villains tendencys make this +ev" otherwise don't do it.


B) I spent way too much time looking at the cashier and thinking about my PT3 graph going down,

This is the kiss of death for sure. While playing you want to concentrate on make each play correctly one at a time. If you do this the results will follow. I know it's hard when you have a new toy such as pt3 and you like all those charts and graphs etc but they are tools to help you succeed and other than the hud portion are to be used for reviewing hands, sessions etc.


C) I started assuming "these donkeys are horrible and just b/c I'm down doesn't mean I can't push them around!!". I was wrong.

Remember we are those donkeys at this point. Don't assume they are always playing back at you or bluffing because the usually aren't. Also even a blind squirl finds a nut so don't just bang away at the raise button because you've seen dumbshit do dumbshit. If you don't have a good hand then get the hell out of the hand no matter how reckless the donks are.


D) I didn't feel like playing for the last 300-ish hands but did so anyways to get 1K hands played/posted.

Practice good discipline and stop playing when you aren't @ 100%. And NEVER chase your losses ever. This will only compound the problem and cause your tilt to go through the roof. As far as wanting to hit the 1k mark it don't much matter if that mark is a loosing mark now does it. You'd much rather be at the 760 mark with a positive winrate than 1k with -ev.

Thanks, Harley.........great thoughts and input, to be sure.

The next 1K hands went better, so at least I'm not permanently retarded or unable to play FR!!

OK so I thought it was time for a mini-update, been a few updates to this OP that were worth recording:

+++ Played 28K hands of 2NL, had one significant downswing in the middle, but still managed to finish ahead $66 and some change.

+++ Felt like despite profiting, I was learning and practicing some lazy habits at 2NL.

+++ Started getting a little bit tired of FR, so switched it up and mixed in a few SNGs / MTTs.

+++ Decided that 50 buy-ins was plenty to take a look at 5NL. Realized the players at 5NL are functionally the same as 2NL, in fact a little easier at times - - idk, it seems like the $$ matters just enough more to them that they'll make laydowns in a slightly more predicable fashion.

+++ Got a nice BR Boost from finishing 4th out of 356 in a MTT.

+++ Now playing 5NL with a more than ample BR, and letting PT3 analyze my results AFTER I play, as opposed to digesting them while I'm playing.

+++ BR currently sits at $329 and change.