Operation Pwn100nl soicanberoll'd for the 200nlaments

[frosst]

i finally decided to start an op. i'll use it to keep track of progress, post hands, and to involve myself more with FTR (besides being in the commune).

Poker History:
I learned to play NL hold 'em about two years ago. my best friend introduced it to me. we played playmoney on pokerstars. i was owning that, and decided to make a real money deposit. i played SnG and did well. then i would try to play cash games and get owned. i'm a perfectionist (and like to be great at everything i do) so i sought out a way to get better. i found FTR and joined, started reading up on strategy and tried to implement the basic concepts. probably around Feb this year, things started to click. i was rolled for 25nl and took a shot in april, destroyed it. rolled for 50nl in may, and failed epically lol. i went back to 25nl.

From what i saw from the regs on FTR, it seemed that a majority cut their chops in 6max. so i decided to ditch full ring in an effort to get better. so i moved to cake poker and 20nl 6max. when i was roll'd for 50nl, which was in july, i took another shot. and proceeded to lose almost 1k. i learned alot, but was disgusted with losing so much. so i didn't play much in aug. i got back on the grind in sept. and i'm rolled for 50nl again. so here goes my 3rd attempt. i've been playing a combination of 20nl/50nl but on thursday, i finally just went to straight 50nl. it was a good week. so what are my goals?

obv, get roll'd for 100nl (2.2k). but a long term goal i made back in april was to get to 200nl by jan of next year. (this goal comes from a post that asked FTR'ers how long did it take to go from 25nl to 200nl with the avg. answer being 9-12 months). at this point it doesn't look real great, with having to crush 2 levels in 3months. but i like to aim high.

so here goes results for last week......

current bankroll: 1203

[yourfather]

I am nearly in the exact same situation, i.e. crushed 25nl 6 max a while back and dropped almost a G in 50 nl somehow in a week after winning and gotta grind it back up.

Anyways GL.

[frosst]

I am nearly in the exact same situation, i.e. crushed 25nl 6 max a while back and dropped almost a G in 50nl heads up somehow in a week and gotta grind it back up.

Anyways GL.

thanks. yea about 400 of that was hu against a station. and of course i did the lets bluff the station on the river

[frosst]

1685 hands...... -336

my biggest losing hand is AT (-107) here's the losers. comments welcome

1. i wasn't really going on a read as i was playing the board.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop | saw showdown

UTG ($104.90)
MP ($22.25)
CO ($23.05)
frosst (Button) ($45.75)
SB ($78.75)
BB ($55.75)

Preflop: frosst is Button with A, 10
3 folds, frosst raises to $2, SB calls $1.75, BB calls $1.50

Flop: ($6) J, Q, 4 (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, frosst bets $4, SB calls $4, BB calls $4

Turn: ($18) 9 (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $4.50, frosst raises to $12, 1 fold, BB calls $7.50

River: ($42) A (2 players)
BB bets $37.75 (All-In), frosst calls $27.75 (All-In)

Total pot: $97.50 | Rake: $3

2. villian is 21/17/3 over 261 hands with a steal % of 31.48
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($6.95)
CO ($49.75)
Button ($65.65)
frosst (SB) ($125.20)
BB ($20.05)
UTG ($50.75)

Preflop: frosst is SB with 10, A
3 folds, Button raises to $1.75, frosst raises to $6, 1 fold, Button calls $4.25

Flop: ($12.50) 2, 9, 7 (2 players)
frosst bets $6, Button calls $6

Turn: ($24.50) J (2 players)
frosst bets $16, Button raises to $53.65 (All-In), frosst folds

Total pot: $56.50 | Rake: $2.80


3. villian's first hand
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($36.90)
CO ($40)
Button ($70.52)
Hero (SB) ($51.05)
BB ($50)
UTG ($37.19)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 10, A
2 folds, CO (poster) checks, Button calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.25, BB checks

Flop: ($2) 9, A, 5 (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, CO bets $1, 1 fold, Hero calls $1, 1 fold

Turn: ($4) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $3, CO calls $3

River: ($10) K (2 players)
Hero bets $7, CO raises to $15, Hero calls $8

Total pot: $40 | Rake: $2

4.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($96.15)
UTG ($51.55)
Hero (MP) ($49.25)
Button ($71.20)
SB ($112.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A, 10
1 fold, Hero raises to $2, 1 fold, SB calls $1.75, 1 fold

Flop: ($4.50) 10, 7, 6 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $3.50, SB calls $3.50

Turn: ($11.50) K (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $8, SB calls $8

River: ($27.50) J (2 players)
SB bets $2.50, Hero calls $2.50

Total pot: $32.50 | Rake: $1.60

[frosst]

i was out of town last week so i didnt play any. but week 2 went bad. one thing i've realized is i'm not changing gears enough. i'll keep raising in lp, waiting for someone to play back at me. but they dont per say. i find myself getting smooth called and slow played. so i'm going to be more selective in my aggression postflop instead of just straight c--betting like a monkey. as for the 100nl game, there were two fish in it, though i wasnt able to get into any real pots against them will be back on the grind on tue

[frosst]

wtf, longest cooler ever? that's pretty much my poker since about june....as for the month, looks pretty much the same. i have the same stats, so i'm playing the same. but for some reason, i just cant get a solid win rate.

[frosst]

didnt feel like going to work (as i was already off b/c i was supposed to go to the michigan/michigan st game) and figured i'd spend the day playing poker. best day evar from a bi point of view - +11. man i wish i didn't work on the weekends. my poker life would be so much easier. i've had a few realizations since my last step back down to 20nl, with it being in a nutshell that i dont need to overthink my opponents and pwn myself. but to break it down a bit further.....

1. dont self pwn - most people at these stakes play their hands face up. so trust their bets unless they give you reason not to. i know this is a bad leak for me at 50nl because i'm not used to seeing so many taggs at a table. so i assumer they're all level2+ thinking regs, instead of just realizing they're pretty much still fish, just with a better starting hand selection.......SO QUIT BLUFFING LDO

2. range manipulation on opponents - i'm starting to get a better feel of how to play the same hand differently based on the opponents i'm up against. for example, i'll be more passive and check/call oop against an aggro player when i have a strong hand. so my hands are gaining value.

3. adjusting my preflop ranges - again this is from the step up to 50nl. you hear "if your opponent is tight, loosen up your range" and vice versa. yea well, at these stakes it really isn't necessary. all you're doing is weakening your range against his. what i'm focusing on now is a continuation of range manipulation. i'm keeping my positional ranges pretty much the same, but am changing how i play them based on my opponent. for example, in pos against a tight player's UTG+1 open, i'll just call his pre flop bet with ATs. if it's a loose player, i'll 3bet it. pretty easy stuff obv, but it's taken awhile for it to start to click. but anyways, i think my realizations kinda speak for themselves..........



proof that patience is a virtue.......basically a fish with chips and i've been waiting 2 hrs to stack, he had aces btw

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.20 BB (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($60.84)
Hero (Button) ($71.17)
SB ($22.20)
BB ($4.55)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 10, Q
UTG raises to $0.70, Hero calls $0.70, 1 fold, BB raises to $4.55 (All-In), UTG calls $3.85, Hero calls $3.85

Flop: ($13.75) 2, Q, 10 (3 players, 1 all-in)
UTG bets $56.29 (All-In), Hero calls $56.29

Turn: ($126.33) 9 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($126.33) 7 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $126.33 | Rake: $2

Results below:
Hero had 10, Q (two pair, Queens and tens).
BB didn't show
UTG didn't show
Outcome: Hero won $124.33

[frosst]

well i'm going to probably finish down for the month (graph will be in sh forum oct graphs thread), unless i have an epic day tomorrow. but thats doubtful since i'm taking my kids trick or treating and am supposed to go to a halloween party. it's going to be the first one i've ever been to. i'm dressing up as a spartan lol. but after rakeback for the month, i'll be back at 50nl and dammit i'm gonna crush it.

im feeling pretty confident in my game, but the ace up my sleeve is that cake poker introduced HU tables at the 20 and 50 nl. previously they were only available starting at 100nl. so thats going to grow my bankroll quickly. i love to play heads up. it's one thing to go against 6-9 other players, but i love the one on one competition. you against your opponent. before i'd have to settle for sitting at an empty table and wait for someone to join to get heads up action. but now it's on like donkey kong. i think changing the game type will help keep it interesting. i played 4 different levels this month of either HU, 6max, and full ring. and i have to say, it's been fun.

[frosst]

zomg i'm back!!!! yea well i dropped almost 40 bi's in a couple of days and it took til now to get rerolled for my next shot at 50nl......which will start tomorrow.


one thing i want to mention is the importance of your mental state when playing. tilt is not the only cause of a bad mental state. make sure you aren't trying to play when there are other things occupying your mind. to give an example, i was having some women issues while the big downswong occurred and i don't think that was a coincidence. my play was definitely affected. k thx bye

[Robb]

zomg i'm back!!!! yea well i dropped almost 40 bi's in a couple of days and it took til now to get rerolled for my next shot at 50nl......which will start tomorrow.

Good luck, frost. Be strong.

[frosst]

thanks for the support robb. so far so good. i'm even getting my hopes up for my first 4 figure month. fingers crossed.


on a side note (unrelated to poker, but might become a reoccurring theme) i rewatched the 40 yr old virgin because my friends kept talking about it being funny. and i didnt remember it being that great. but i rescind that opinion. i was rolling watching it again. it made me watch another classic, american pie. butttt, that wasnt as funny. but shannon elizabeth was still hawt.
i also watched death race this week. meh it wasnt that great. ALSO, IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY, WATCH KUNG FU PANDA. its awesomeness will blind you.

[frosst]

+146 from importing hh error
+250 in rakeback

sah-weet!! my best month evar!! new year, new level. time to pwn 100nl. see you in 09

[frosst]

so i was hoping to have alot of AH-HA revelations during the course of mastering 50nl and 100nl and then posting them on here to shorten the learning curve for others, but that hasn't been the case. i don't feel i've really made exponential advancements in my poker knowledge. instead, it's been pretty much like how others have said, you just start understanding the meaning of concepts in a way that allows you to play better. with that said, i think the best advice i can give is to play alot if you want to get better. and i don't mean 10 table for an hour. i just mean spend more time playing poker. and try to understand what is going on. i don't think this can be done very efficiently playing alot of tables. in my opinon, if you playing to learn, you shouldn't play more than 4 tables. if you're playing to earn, then by all means play as many tables as you feel comfortable with. well since some of you reading this are probably thinking "wft that's all you've got for me?" i figured i might make a guideline of sorts, on what concepts you should be focusing on at a certain level. i have no basis for this other than i was at these levels when i started working on them........(note: there are some concepts i haven't mentioned like table selection, opponent's hand ranges, etc. anything i don't mention should be worked on from day 1 imo. k thx)

10nl and lower
- i believe your primary focus at these levels should be working on hand selection. i don't think positional play is too relevant at these stakes. that's not saying there aren't people that do alot of stealing, or have a wider range in later position, just that you don't have to have it to be successful. in fact, i think it can hinder your play sometimes. you'll find yourself trying to outplay an opponent, one who doesn't even take your hand into consideration when deciding his actions, and end up owning yourself.
so back to the point, work on your hand selection by having a relatively strong range. hands that when they hit, you can be fairly confident you have the best hand. which brings me to my next point.

- learn how to play your hands. that means more than figuring out what wins and what doesn't. that means learning how to play your TPTK on different boards, when and how much to bet, etc. learn to recognize when your hand is beat.

- take notes. this is how you learn to make reads. by noting how your opponents play their hands, their style of play, etc. anything that you think will help you have an edge against your opponent when you play them again.

- learn to classify your opponents. if you have tracking software and haven't already, download some autorules. if you don't use software, manually take notes. use common terms, like station, tight aggressive, extra loose, whatever. the point of doing this, of course, is so you know how to exploit them.

when you are able to do these things, you should be able to beat these limits. which brings us to the key concepts of......

20/25nl

- work on keeping a stronger range than your opponent's. this is done by watching hands your opponents are involved in, not just the ones you are in. if you see an opponent who is playing any ace, you should be focusing on having an ace with med-high kickers.

- start working on positional play, which to me encompasses the following strategies:
1. expanding your hand selection in later positions/ learning how to play implied odds hands
2. stealing blinds
the purpose of stealing blinds is to increase your winnings. the key concept as to why this works is position. you are forcing opponents to play out of position in a raised pot with a marginal hand. most opponents will not do this because they believe it will lose them more money than they will win. once you identify opponents who think like this, you start opening more marginal hands against them. the main reason this is done in the later positions is to keep opponents, acting after you, from taking advantage of your weaker range.
by practicing blind stealing, you are learning how to play more marginal hands. but, these marginal hands have the potential to have big payoffs for you, which is why they're called implied odds hands. if you want more info on implied odds hands, check out these threads.....
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...20odds%20hands
the last post in this one....
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...20odds%20hands
and you can search for more on here

so then comes 50nl
- aggression. you will start seeing alot of aggressive opponents from here on out. but just because they're aggressive doesn't mean they're good players. so you have to learn how to deal with aggression, and how to dish it out. 3 and 4 betting becomes a little more rampant.

- spew. you will start finding out that things you were able to do before you can't do now. and if you don't learn how to identify leaks and plug them, you're going to get murdered. if you have poker tracking software, here's a link that will help you out.....
http://www.jimmakos.com/en/online-po...r-tracker.html

- bluffing is something that is something you'll see more of at this level. the key is to learn to when it's likely an opponent is bluffing.
the keys are reads, the board, and the player's betting. also, don't over think bluffing. it's a great tool but don't overuse it. that'll just get you owned.



well i think that about sums it up for now. if i think of some more things i'll add them

[Robb]

Nice post, Frosst

I'll just mention one thing that occurs to me when i read your post. Stealing. I used to think a blind steal was a "failure" when I got called or raised. Not true. If we choose the right type of hands, we can raise a ton from LP/BTN and get into situations we can still exploit postflop, using position. I got a lot more profitable in stealing situations when I looked both for villains in the blinds who were likely to fold AND ones who were going to be easy to outplay post flop. Of course, that presumes you can actually outplay them. You need bigger stacks and a straightforward opponent. There's no point in trying to outplay a 20bb short stack postflop. There is no postflop against a stack that short. And trying to outplay a tricky opponent with a mediocre hand is dicey, too. Pick on people you whose reactions (based on Frosst's reads/notes) you are sure you can get the best of. You've gotta look at opponents and stacks and THEN your cards, to see if there's a good opportunity to open-raise from the CO. It's an art, not a science, but it can be practiced, like Frosst says.

[frosst]

brag: woot! i'm done with 100nl.

beat: wrote a long ass post giving my opinion on how to beat 100nl but firefox crashed, erasing it. sorry guys. doubt i'll rewrite it. to sum it up, learn to beat regs. regs aren't really good players at this stake.

variance: i'm considering this operation completed as i feel everything you need to be successful is pretty much already been written on this forum. it's just a matter of you learning to implement the concepts into your game. k thx bye

[bjsaust]

Grats!

[Robb]

vnh, sir