Operation Pythonic: Turn $80 into $5K by end of 07

[Pythonic]

This whole thing started on 04/01/07:

My name is Nate (29yrs old) and have been playing NL Holdem for 4 yrs and always seem to blow through my role over and over again. I'd play real good poker and win a few of the $25 tournies on Pacific for $1500 each and then lose it all in the following weeks or so playing too loose or way out of my bankroll, (ie $850.00 sitngos). The goal of this post is too keep track of how I am doing while playing a tight agressive style within my bankroll and move up level by level when financially able to do so. I am tired of going broke ever so often because of stupid play and I don't want this to occur anymore.

My starting bankroll is $86 and I will start at the $5 NL 10 max ring tables. Your feedback is very welcome and appreciated.

Thanks

[Pythonic]

1st three days have went so so. I've been 4 tablin so far.

4/1 - (-3)
4/2 - +10
4/3 - (-6)

I think I'm gonna switch to (6max) instead and see how that goes.

[Pythonic]

Wow, I am loving these $5NL 6max tables instead of the full 10s. It seems like players are much looser on these and are primed for the taking.

4/4 - +29
4/5 - +4
4/6 - +51 - (Amazing how many fish play on friday nights)
4/7 - (-1) - played two $5.50 sitngos and finished 4th in both, should have finished up 10 bucks
4/8 - +6
4/9 - +14
4/10 - +18

Bankroll is at $208 and holding firm.

[Pythonic]

Took at a shot at the $10NL (6max) tables last night. I just didn't feel very comfortable on these. Its seemed like players were stealing blinds left and right and I was practically folding the whole time. People were raising with junk which I knew but I didnt want to be in a coinflip with them so I stayed as patient as possible. When I did get monster hands though I would raise 4xbb and get like 3 or 4 callers and they would suck out on me. It seems like the blinds eat away your stack to fast at these limits on (6max) so I think I will try the full 10s instead.

4/11 - (-2)

BR - $206

[IowaSkinsFan]

at first it may seem that 10nl and 5nl are different, but they're not. Just take some shots and eventually you'll get comfortable.

I NEVER though i'd get comfy at 200nl and here i am.

[Pythonic]

I am definitely noticing that there is more aggressiveness on these tables than the 5NL. I've played on 25NL and 50NL before and it seemed as though the aggressiveness was even more than those. It just seems like I'd rather play on the full ring tables vs the 6max because I can be more patient that way and not worry about my stack getting eaten away by the blinds.

[Vi-Zer0Skill]

Reading the beginning of your blog, i am surprised that you want to play cash tables. You seem to be a solid tournament player. Personally, if i could log multiple tourney wins of any size i would probably spend my efforts working on that

Also, if you can win tournaments, i think you can start a little higher than 5NL for cash games. Granted the stacks are deeper and therefore rely more on post flop play (which you may or may not already have down solidly), but you obviously already have the fundamentals down. IMO, if you really want to play cash games as opposed to tournaments, i would throw a larger deposit on an play 50NL. You can probably still pwn up there, and for more monies

GL on your operation!

[biondino]

Play 10NL.

People were raising with junk which I knew but I didnt want to be in a coinflip with them

If they're raising junk, it won't be a coinflip - you'll be favourite unless you're calling with any two hands!if you have a strong hand and position, and someone you know raises light bets before you, re-raise him!

I hope you have Poker Tracker or equivalent, and a HUD. If so, then look at the stats of these raisers - if they are raising 20% of flops, that means they're raising in all positions with hands as bad as KT or 67s (a good hand in LP, not so good UTG). So if you have a top 10% hand and position, you can safely play back at them, pre- or post-flop.

It may be that these players are too unaware/overaggressive to notice when you do play back at them, but if you're waiting for monsters, then you're certainly not getting full value.

I would raise 4xbb and get like 3 or 4 callers and they would suck out on me

The thing is, if you do get 3 or 4 callers suddenly your AK is far from being a lock on the hand - you're likely to still be favourite (or flipping with a pocket pair or two) but the more players, the lower your chance of making the best hand.

The solution is pretty straightforward - find a level where your raise gets isolation. At 10NL I will routinely bet 6xBB pre-flop with any hand I raise, +1BB per limper (I vary it a bit of course, depending on position, opponents and game theory), because if you isolate a poor player then you'll find the best play/hand wins far more often.

[bigspenda73]

Play $10NL 6max if your roll is greater than $150. 6max is all about exploitation. Find your opponents weaknesses and make them work in your favor.

Good luck, keep working at it and you'll be at $25nl in no time.

[Pythonic]

Reading the beginning of your blog, i am surprised that you want to play cash tables. You seem to be a solid tournament player. Personally, if i could log multiple tourney wins of any size i would probably spend my efforts working on that
GL on your operation!

I do like tournies but you must have a decent bankroll to be able to play them consistently. Right now I am working on building a firm BR and also building my skills as well. Thanks for your input.

[Pythonic]

Thanks for your response biondino. I understand what you are saying but I think my postflop play is a little weak and sometimes don't know what to do when i don't pair up.
Also, i have no problem playing against opponents in 10NL, i just want to make sure I usually have the best hand headsup against preflop raisers and it seems like the blinds eat you away pretty fast on 6max, hence is why i said i will do full ring instead. It seems like you should be able to bring in $20 instead of only $10 because the blinds are double 5NL.

[Pythonic]

Played some more 5NL 6max last night and ended up $13. BR is at $218.

[Pythonic]

Did pretty well over the weekend. BR is up to $272

[IowaSkinsFan]

Move up dude.

[Pythonic]

Yep I did, moved up to .05/.10 last night

[Pythonic]

I'm starting to get a better feel for $10 NL. Made a quick $25 last night in an hour of play. These limits seem fishier than $5NL which is a great thing. Funny how many people will go all in with TPLK.

Bankroll - $297
April Stats - +$211

[Da GOAT]

gl man.

[Pythonic]

gl man

Thanks

[Pythonic]

04/1 - 04/18 stats:

1-Apr $86.00
2-Apr $83.00
3-Apr $93.00
4-Apr $87.00
5-Apr $116.00
6-Apr $120.00
7-Apr $171.00
8-Apr $181.00
9-Apr $187.00
10-Apr $201.00
11-Apr $219.00
12-Apr $216.50
13-Apr $229.50
14-Apr $229.50
15-Apr $241.50
16-Apr $265.50
17-Apr $283.00
18-Apr $303.00
19-Apr $321.00

[Pythonic]

Been awhile since my last post. BR is up to $550 now. Up $470 for the month of April. I am running a cool 18.72bb/100 at .05/.10.
Will be making my move to 25NL May 1st.

[Pythonic]

Wow, been a long while since my last update to my blog. BR is currently at $735. Haven't had a chance to play much poker in the last few months. Currently at 25NL. Looks like I'm gonna have to go on a super rush to hit my 5K goal by end of 07.

[bigspenda73]

not really, get the roll to $1k by the end of this month then keep moving up

[PapalRage]

Keep up the good work, u can definitely hit 5k by the end of the year if u keep improving and start beating higher levels.

[Pythonic]

Last night was probably the worst I've played since I started this blog. Dropped $40. Only getting 4 hours of sleep the night before probably had a lot to do with it.

[Pythonic]

Bankroll up to $900. Currently six tabling 25NL. Steady as she goes!

[Pythonic]

Up 4 buyins last night. BR up to 1K.

[Chopper]

how aggressive are going to be in WHEN you move up? are you waiting for a full 20+ BIs or will you gamble a bit (in confidence you can beat the next level) and move up at say 15?

i guess i answered it myself with your roll being at $1000 (20 BIs for 50NL).

[Pythonic]

Roll has been going back in forth at 25NL. Not sure if it's varience or what. Running like a 16/8. Am running into lots of sets against my high pocket pairs on the flop and am getting stacking on almost every one of them. Roll is still around $900, definitely gonna stay here and master 25NL before moving up. Probably want at least 30 buyins for 50NL and wouldn't mind having 40.

[Pythonic]

Roll is currently at $1200. Starting to get a better feel for 25NL.

[Pythonic]

Roll is at 1233. Slowly but surely.