Operation: Take this hook out of my mouth

Well, I'm here in the hope someone takes me under their wing and makes a poker player out of me at 6-max NL. I don't think I'm a very good poker player but I do think my goal of being a profitable player at 25NL is possible.

I started playing 10NL 6-max about two weeks ago- and within 3.5k hands I was up over $120. In the week that followed I have just about donked off all my profit, typically losing a buy-in or two a night. I know this isn't variance- basically because I have no idea if my plays are good or not.

I use PT and PA HUD and usually play 3-4 tables at a time. I play about 500 hands a night and have over 7k in my database, so if you'd like to see any PT stats I'd be happy to provide.

I have the typical gripes about my current level that most players have- I don't get paid off with my big hands and I lose big with my marginal ones.

Not sure what else to say, but I'm an open book if anyone wants to pass along some advice. I'll just post some hands and see where that takes me. I'm sure I have a ton of leaks and make a lot of fundamental errors, so feel free to lecture me about issues beyond my hand histories.

HAND 1:

Here's my biggest loss on the night, and overall KQo is my least profitable starting hand (followed by QQ, but we'll get to that later). I guess my thinking here was something I saw Fnord post (that I clearly haven't grasped), but what I took away from it was pushing a turn scare card is a strong play. Villain is a super lag donk running 71/31/4. I don't understand my opening min-raise... I never do that... must have been a misclick, so clearly PF was a mess, but lets start the hand on the flop:

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05/$0.10
5 players
Converter

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is UTG with Q K
Hero raises to $0.2, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: J K 4 ($1, 5 players)
SB bets $1, BB folds, Hero raises to $3, CO calls all-in $2.45, Button folds, SB calls.

Turn: 6 ($9.45, 2 players + 1 all-in - Main pot: $8.35, Sidepot 1: $1.1)
SB checks, Hero is all-in $6.65, SB calls.

River: A ($22.75, 1 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $8.35, Sidepot 1: $14.4)


Results:
Final pot: $22.75

================================================== ==

HAND 2:

Same Villain. Didn't want to announce my hand with a 4-bet a figured I got own his JJ-KK on the flop. Then the flop comes and I figure I'm ahead of one holding.

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05/$0.10
5 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
Hero: $12.60
CO: $9.85
Button: $6.30
SB: $16.55
BB: $9.65

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is UTG with A A
Hero raises to $0.4, 2 folds, SB raises to $0.7, BB folds, Hero calls $0.3 (pot was $1.15).

Flop: T Q J ($1.5, 2 players)
SB bets $1.5, Hero raises to $4, SB raises all-in $15.85, Hero folds.
Uncalled bets: $11.85 returned to SB.

Results:
Final pot: $9.5

================================================== ==

HAND 3:

This is also typical of my play, not giving 50BBish stacks much credit. The majority of the players at this level don't do full buy in's and I've made it a habit of underestimating their strength given their stack size.

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05/$0.10
6 players
Converter

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is Button with K A
UTG raises to $0.2, UTG+1 calls, CO calls, Hero raises to $1.5, SB calls, 4 folds.

Flop: 9 T K ($3.7, 2 players)
SB bets $1.8, Hero raises to $8, SB calls all-in $5.95.
Uncalled bets: $0.25 returned to Hero.

Turn: 7 ($19.2, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.2)


River: 4 ($19.2, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.2)


Results:
Final pot: $19.2


================================================== ==


HAND 4:
Really hate flush draws, which everyone and their mother will chase. This river too weak?

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05/$0.10
6 players
Converter

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is BB with T T
2 folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls, Hero checks.

Flop: T 5 8 ($0.4, 4 players)
SB bets $0.4, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, SB calls.

Turn: 7 ($2.4, 2 players)
SB bets $0.1, Hero raises to $2, SB calls.

River: A ($6.4, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Results:
Final pot: $6.4

================================================== ==

HAND 5: Showing some self control... good fold?

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05/$0.10

6 players
Converter

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is BB with T Q
2 folds, CO raises to $0.2, Button folds, SB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: 9 J K ($0.6, 3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets $0.3, SB calls, Hero raises to $1.5, CO calls, SB folds.

Turn: T ($3.9, 2 players)
Hero bets $2, CO calls.

River: 7 ($7.9, 2 players)
Hero checks, CO is all-in $5.3, Hero folds.
Uncalled bets: $5.3 returned to CO.

Results:
Final pot: $7.9

================================================== ==

HAND 6:
Villain showed me this, and from his table talk I could tell he was slumming at the micro tables. I had stacked him earlier with a set and I wasn't sure about my river play. He was running a 34/24/2.4

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05/$0.10
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $7.10
UTG+1: $4.90
CO: $12.10
Button: $12.20
SB: $12.35
Hero: $16.15

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is BB with K J
UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, CO calls, Button calls, Hero checks.

Flop: 8 J 5 ($0.55, 6 players)
Button checks, Hero bets $0.5, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, CO calls.

Turn: 3 ($2.55, 5 players)
Hero bets $1.5, 2 folds, CO calls.

River: 6 ($5.55, 3 players)
Hero bets $2, CO raises to $6.5, Hero folds.
Uncalled bets: $4.5 returned to CO.

Results:
Final pot: $9.55

I spent all day reading forums at work and felt like I absorbed some much needed basic principals of uNL.

Last night I withdrew all but $40 from my FT account in anticipation for a move to UB (RB and a little whoring while I learn the game). With only 4 buy-ins I decided to play calm and attentive and it really seemed to pay off. I typically only had 2 tables going instead of my usual 4-5, and decided to cap myself at 3 tables max. I felt like I was thinking more about what I was doing and no misclicks/rushed decisions- think, breath click. It probably helped that I all my hands held up, I met little resistance, flopped hands, even sucked out on a super shorty when my two pair rivered a fullhouse over his flopped straight.

Overall ran 60BB/100 over 294 hands for $35 profit, nearly doubling my meager roll for the night :P

I just want to post 1 hand, which has easily become my favorite line. So glad I learned to raise PP's anywhere on the table for deception. Thanks to Fnord for posting the link to the "Stack a Donk".

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05/$0.10
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $2.90
UTG+1: $7
Hero: $10
Button: $9.40
SB: $12.45
BB: $16.50

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is CO with 7 7
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.4, Button calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: K 7 9 ($1.3, 3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.8, Button raises to $2.8, SB folds, Hero calls $2 (pot was $4.9).

Turn: 3 ($6.9, 2 players)
Hero checks, Button is all-in $6.2, Hero calls $6.2 (pot was $13.1).

River: K ($19.3, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.3)


Results:
Final pot: $19.3
Hero showed 7h 7d
Button showed Kd Jh

Why don't you try NL ring at Party? Its very soft there, and also the traffic is much better [at all times] than UB.

Edit: Ah, crap, you're US based. Sorry for bringing this up m8.

Originally Posted by Jack Sawyer

Why don't you try NL ring at Party? Its very soft there, and also the traffic is much better [at all times] than UB.

Edit: Ah, crap, you're US based. Sorry for bringing this up m8.

Yeah, no worries, thanks for bringing that avatar in :P

Switched over to UB Friday... I'm really not a fan of their interface, especially how every window requiring attention pops to the front canceling your current action- despite unchecking the option that controls this feature.

I've got a huge (by my standards) bonus to work off and thanks to Rakeback I think I'll be here for the long haul. Even though I hate the interface I feel the site is significantly more fishy than Full Tilt. Even the regs who I have hundreds of observed hands on seem fairly exploitable. Perhaps the biggest surprise has been the amount of people who buy in with full stacks and the amount of people with larger than 100BB stacks. With less table selection it seems like the players are less likely to buy in short and donk off their stacks. I seem to be getting a lot more value playing more than 1 street as people will see a showdown, calling my bets all the way, with so many weak holdings.

I was 19/15/4.5 today and it felt like I ran over anyone who'd let me- those numbers seem more more aggressive than I've been at FT (usually 20/12/3), but then again, maybe not. I also downloaded a video capturing program, and I intend to make a video once I feel like I feel comfortable articulating my though process.

I close with this single HH- I really felt bad taking this guy's money. He was perhaps the biggest calling station I've ever seen and I wouldn't be surprised if he had a gambling problem. Guy had a V$PIP of 90+. Raising all PP's still seems like the best advice for 6-max I've heard.


Ultimate Bet - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $0.05/$0.10 Blinds - 5 Players - (LegoPoker Hand History Converter)

SB: $4.09
BB: $12.33
Hero (UTG): $17.62
CO: $10.00
BTN: $6.57

Preflop: Hero is dealt 7 7 (5 Players)
Hero raises to $0.40, CO calls $0.40, 3 folds

Flop: ($0.95) K 7 4 (2 Players)
Hero bets $0.65, CO calls $0.65

Turn: ($2.25) T (2 Players)
Hero bets $2.25, CO calls $2.25

River: ($6.75) Q (2 Players)
Hero bets all-in for $14.32, CO calls all-in for $6.70
Uncalled bet of $7.62 returned to Hero

Pot Size: $20.15 ($1 Rake)

CO had 7 J (a pair of sevens) and LOST (-$10.00)
Hero had 7 7 (three sevens) and WON (+$9.00)

First weeknight on UB- I can tell I'm gonna see a lot of the same regs. Overall though, nobody really intimidating. Most of them seem to play way too LAGG (40+ VPIP) or don't raise enough PF so I can't easily pick out their strongest hands. Feeling very confident from the button, entering pots with a wide range and I'm actually starting to play back at button blind stealers (especially when they telegraph their steals with min-raises).

Here are two hands tonight that destroyed my positive session. 2-hours of play washed away in 2 minutes.

I know this has to happen to everyone- too bad it had to happen to me on my first PF all-in.

Ultimate Bet
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05./$0.10.
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $17.43
UTG+1: $8.24
CO: $2.99
Button: $16.37
Hero: $9.80
BB: $72

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is SB with K K
3 folds, Button raises to $0.35, Hero raises to $1.55, BB raises to $2.75, Button folds, Hero raises all-in $9.8, BB calls.

Flop: 9 Q 5 ($19.95, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.95)


Turn: T ($19.95, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.95)


River: 7 ($19.95, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.95)


Results:
Final pot: $19.95
Hero shows Kc Kh
BB shows Ad Ac

This is just absolutely terrible. Next time fold PF or at least don't donk bet.

Ultimate Bet
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05./$0.10.
5 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $8.50
CO: $7.77
Button: $9.15
Hero: $12.36
BB: $8.30

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is SB with A K
UTG raises to $0.35, CO folds, Button raises to $0.6, Hero calls, BB folds, UTG calls.

Flop: 3 3 K ($1.9, 3 players)
Hero bets $1.25, UTG folds, Button raises to $5.65, Hero raises all-in $11.76, Button calls all-in $8.55.
Uncalled bets: $8.55 returned to Button.

Turn: 5 ($19.31, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $25.42)


River: 2 ($19.31, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $25.42)


Results:
Final pot: $19.31
Hero shows Ah Ks
Button shows As Ac

Originally Posted by rubixstreub

First weeknight on UB- I can tell I'm gonna see a lot of the same regs. Overall though, nobody really intimidating. Most of them seem to play way too LAGG (40+ VPIP) or don't raise enough PF so I can't easily pick out their strongest hands. Feeling very confident from the button, entering pots with a wide range and I'm actually starting to play back at button blind stealers (especially when they telegraph their steals with min-raises).

Here are two hands tonight that destroyed my positive session. 2-hours of play washed away in 2 minutes.

I know this has to happen to everyone- too bad it had to happen to me on my first PF all-in.

Ultimate Bet
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05./$0.10.
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $17.43
UTG+1: $8.24
CO: $2.99
Button: $16.37
Hero: $9.80
BB: $72

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is SB with K K
3 folds, Button raises to $0.35, Hero raises to $1.55, BB raises to $2.75, Button folds, Hero raises all-in $9.8, BB calls.

Flop: 9 Q 5 ($19.95, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.95)


Turn: T ($19.95, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.95)


River: 7 ($19.95, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $19.95)


Results:
Final pot: $19.95
Hero shows Kc Kh
BB shows Ad Ac

This is just absolutely terrible. Next time fold PF or at least don't donk bet.

Ultimate Bet
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.05./$0.10.
5 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $8.50
CO: $7.77
Button: $9.15
Hero: $12.36
BB: $8.30

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is SB with A K
UTG raises to $0.35, CO folds, Button raises to $0.6, Hero calls, BB folds, UTG calls.

Flop: 3 3 K ($1.9, 3 players)
Hero bets $1.25, UTG folds, Button raises to $5.65, Hero raises all-in $11.76, Button calls all-in $8.55.
Uncalled bets: $8.55 returned to Button.

Turn: 5 ($19.31, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $25.42)


River: 2 ($19.31, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $25.42)


Results:
Final pot: $19.31
Hero shows Ah Ks
Button shows As Ac

Hand 1: Yes i think you're right we've all been there

Hand 2: i wouldn't worry about this hand at all, particularly at micro stakes. There is no way i would fold this hand.

Keep posting hands. Just looking at your operation so far i would say things look o.k. One thing i noticed was that you may not be getting aggressive enough with your strongest hands (sets, A-A), and that you may be making some unnecessary raises and bets.


Overall though it looks like you are playing much better than necessary to be a winner at your limit. I hope once you reach your goal you choose to continue moving up in limits!