New here and need your advice

[Ryski]

Hello FTR. Although I've been lurking here for some time I am relatively new here and to online poker in general ( since mid-January ) but this seems like a good community and a great place for advice. Most of the threads and people here have been helpful so I'm hoping I'll get help with this. Long story short, I've re-grinded the 5.50's up to a bankroll of 331 ( 400+ profit since I cashed my original deposit out once ) with an ROI of 30% ( I'm Ryski525 on PokerStars ) and generally consider myself to be a pretty good player. Anyway yesterday I decided to move up to the $11 and got absolutely slaughtered going 3/13 ( 1st, 3rd, 3rd ) ITM. I bubbled twice but everything else was spread out between 6-9 for OTM.

I'm posting some tournament hands below ( 8 of them ) and my main question here is do you guys think I am just running badly and should keep at it or should I move back down to the $5? I had a $331 to $269 downswing yesterday and it makes me to just want to drop back down. Sadly I don't have enough games under my belt at this level to know yet. Also, if you disagree with something I did please explain why and any pokerstove or math based stuff I'd love to hear.

First two tournaments were standard:

T1: Lost my A5s to KJs late and lost my 55 to AQ next hand. Ahead both times.
T2: Lost my A9s to 66 late and then my KJo to A9o. Behind both times.

0/4 in flips, standard I suppose. Now for hands in the other tournaments.

T3: 5th hand in

Poker Stars, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Tournament, 10/20 Blinds, 7 Players

UTG+1: 2,850
MP: 840
CO: 2,100
BTN: 1,430
SB: 1,940
BB: 1,370
Hero (UTG): 1,500

Pre-Flop: (30) T T dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to 100, 5 folds, SB calls 90, BB raises to 220, Hero calls 120, SB calls 120

Flop: (660) 9 9 6 (3 Players)
SB bets 450, BB folds, Hero raises to 1,280 and is All-In, SB calls 830

Turn: (3,220) K (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: (3,220) 6 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 3,220 Pot
SB showed J J (two pair, Jacks and Nines) and WON 3,220 (+1,720 NET)
Hero showed T T (two pair, Tens and Nines) and LOST (-1,500 NET)

In hind site I guess raising UTG with TT at an almost full table is a little loose but as played a fold seems bad in this spot and a call seems weak to me so I might as well go all in. I'm not sure how I am laying that down.

T4: Next tournament first hand

Poker Stars, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Tournament, 10/20 Blinds, 9 Players

BTN: 1,500
SB: 1,500
BB: 1,500
UTG: 1,500
UTG+1: 1,500
UTG+2: 1,500
MP1: 1,500
Hero (MP2): 1,500
CO: 1,500

Pre-Flop: (30) J J dealt to Hero (MP2)
3 folds, MP1 calls 20, Hero raises to 100, 2 folds, SB calls 90, BB folds, MP1 calls 80

Flop: (320) 7 4 6 (3 Players)
SB checks, MP1 bets 100, Hero raises to 300, SB folds, MP1 calls 200

Turn: (920) 9 (2 Players)
MP1 bets 300, Hero raises to 1,100 and is All-In, MP1 calls 800 and is All-In

River: (3,120) 5 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 3,120 Pot
MP1 showed 5 5 (three of a kind, Fives) and WON 3,120 (+1,620 NET)
Hero showed J J (a pair of Jacks) and LOST (-1,500 NET)

T5: Bubble

Poker Stars, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Tournament, 100/200 Blinds, 4 Players

UTG: 1,735
BTN: 6,190
Hero (SB): 1,860
BB: 3,715

Pre-Flop: (400) J Q dealt to Hero (SB)
2 folds, Hero raises to 1,835 and is All-In, BB calls 1,635

Flop: (3,770) Q 6 K (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Turn: (3,770) 8 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: (3,770) J (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 3,770 Pot
Hero showed J Q (two pair, Queens and Jacks) and LOST (-1,860 NET)
BB showed A K (a flush, Ace high) and WON 3,770 (+1,910 NET)

Bad bubble push? Opponent is tight and pretty sure he's only calling with top 15%.

T6:

Poker Stars, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Tournament, 50/100 Blinds, 6 Players

Hero (UTG): 1,590
MP: 2,180
CO: 3,690
BTN: 1,350
SB: 3,260
BB: 1,430

Pre-Flop: (150) K K dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to 300, 3 folds, SB calls 250, BB folds

Flop: (700) 7 9 8 (2 Players)
SB bets 2,600, Hero calls 1,290 and is All-In

Turn: (3,280) J (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: (3,280) 4 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 3,280 Pot
Hero showed K K (a pair of Kings) and LOST (-1,590 NET)
SB showed T T (a straight, Seven to Jack) and WON 3,280 (+1,690 NET)

T7:

Poker Stars, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Tournament, 25/50 Blinds, 8 Players

Hero (CO): 1,215
BTN: 1,485
SB: 1,510
BB: 1,450
UTG: 2,150
UTG+1: 1,230
MP1: 1,955
MP2: 2,505

Pre-Flop: (75) 9 A dealt to Hero (CO)
2 folds, MP1 calls 50, MP2 folds, Hero raises to 200, 2 folds, BB calls 150, MP1 calls 150

Flop: (625) 8 T 5 (3 Players)
BB checks, MP1 bets 50, Hero calls 50, BB calls 50

Turn: (775) J (3 Players)
BB checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets 965 and is All-In, BB folds, MP1 calls 965

River: (2,705) K (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 2,705 Pot
Hero showed 9 A (high card Ace) and LOST (-1,215 NET)
MP1 showed K K (three of a kind, Kings) and WON 2,705 (+1,490 NET)

Bad push? Got two checks on turn after a weak betting round on the flop and I really do not know how he ends up with KK here.

T8:

Poker Stars, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Tournament, 15/30 Blinds, 7 Players

SB: 2,915
BB: 2,505
UTG: 1,420
Hero (UTG+1): 1,200
MP: 1,050
CO: 1,500
BTN: 1,485

Pre-Flop: (45) J A dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG folds, Hero raises to 120, 2 folds, BTN calls 120, 2 folds, BB calls 90

Flop: (375) A 6 7 (3 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets 250, BTN folds, BB calls 250

Turn: (875) 2 (2 Players)
BB bets 210, Hero raises to 830 and is All-In, BB calls 620

River: (2,535) 4 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 2,535 Pot
BB showed 6 7 (two pair, Sevens and Sixes) and WON 2,535 (+1,335 NET)
Hero showed J A (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-1,200 NET)

So yeah...that was my day yesterday.

Other 3 tournaments I placed ITM and of the other 2 OTM I did misplay one hand that knocked me out and I pushed into AA on the bubble in another that knocked me out which is okay I guess since I'm still getting used to this level.

So should I shrug this off and keep at it or drop down for a bit just to rebuild bankroll a little more? Not sure if the above is being cold decked or misplaying, or a combination of both? I was thinking of maybe playing till bankroll hit back down to $200 and then dropping to $5 if that happens ( hopefully it won't ). Any help/advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[Monty3038]

I can't truly comment on the $11 level, but at the $5.50 level on FTP, your T3 5th hand in (the TT hole cards)... you went 5xBB and he re-raised you... at FTP almost no one bluffs at this level, you've got to believe they have a good hand... the JJ surprised me with his betting, I suspected KK or AA but I think it is a hard one to fold, looks like you are ahead but his betting pattern really did indicate a lot of strength. I almost put him on a set at the flop... I probably would have played it the same though.

T4 first hand... he was straight chasing, and got lucky, don't think you played it wrong.

T5: I'm guilty of this too, but feel it is a risky bubble push. I know you had pretty good cards, and it is the bubble, but he was acting behind you and you shoved with no info on him... I probably still push this 70% of the time on the bubble but think you might have had another option, though I don't know what it is...

T6 I'm good with. Anyone?

T7, well, I'm guilty of playing A-rag too, and this is an A-rag situation... when you got called you were already beat though it is hard to tell... some people play A-rag at 5.50 but it is less than those who do at lower levels... so here I'm not shoving.

T8 I'm ok with, I see no problem there.


Take this with a grain of salt, I just moved to $5.50 and am not doing as well as hoped, breaking even over the long haul but that is only 20 tourneys so far, no win streak at 5.50 that is of any substance.

[Stacks]

Welcome to FTR!!! You are right, this is a great community and you will find alot of help here and loads of useful information to help you along the way.

Regarding your move up to $11 and contemplation of moving back down to $5.50s, that really depends on what you are most comfortable with imo. I believe the general concensus for low level SNGs is 30 Buy-ins for the level you wish to play, which after your losing streak yesterday, you currently do not have for the $11. It might serve you best to bump back down to the 5.50s to gain a bit more confidence at a game you have beat before and can fully expect to beat again.

With that said, let's look at a few of the hands. I'm still learning as well, so some hands throw me for a loop also, and if that's the case I'll give my two cents, but be prepared to take a regs advice over mine anyday.

T1 & T2: You say these were standard, but without the hand histories I can't be real sure. Yes, flips are quite common and sometimes standard, but given the stack sizes generally a clear play is defined in the later stages of the SNG. If you were short and had to push, yeah pretty standard. If you were rather deep and got stacked here, not so much.

[Note] Yeah gonna be times when you run bad in flips in a row. Just hang in there for the times you run good and catch 3+ needed ones close together.

T3: Let's let one of the better players figure this one out. Kinda iffy to me.

T4: Well dang, I'll leave this one open as well. Mainly because on the turn I'm not sure what hands MP1 plays this way that you beat. His call preflop generally suggests small-mid pp, imo (maybe a weak ace if he is loose). Then his tiny donk bet on the flop, followed by the call, looks generally like a set to me (at least at the low limits). We can discredit a PP higher than yours (QQ+) because he is generally raises preflop. So looking at the turn bet, i'm not sure he shows up with 88, TT, or a lower non set pp enough to warrant moving in here. We obviously can't give him credit for the made straight (58) because of the call preflop, so it seems he could be betting a straight draw (as he is). I believe there are too many hands here that beat you, and not enough that you beat that would take this line for you to get it all in here.

^^^Regs, correct me if I'm totally out of line there.

T5: Nothing to it imo. You have 9bb, and modest hand and BB calling range shouldn't be too loose give you have about half his stack. You got unlucky he woke up with a monster and you couldn't outdraw him. Nice shove. gg.

T6: I'm playing it the same way. Standard raise preflop, and you can't really fold to the flop overshove given your stack size, even though it is quite drawy. You caught unlucky here.

T7: Imo, I fold this preflop at this stage in the SNG. As played, I definately don't think you should have shoved turn. You of course only have a draw with one card to come. OESD + Possible ace outs = 23%? Obvious the KK guy is a total dumbass playing it like that. But yeah, fold preflop imo.

T8: Maybe I'm too nitty, but this is also a fold from me in EP at the early stages of a SNG. As played, not much you can do there. Solid flop bet, and I like the shove over on the turn. He luckboxed two pair, nh him, gg you.

Hope that helps, and if not at least sparks some discussion. I post reviews to these type things as a learning tool as well. I like to get what i'm thinking out there, so when I see a winning higher level reg post I can see if I was somewhat on the same page. If yes, then that's great. If not, then I adjust.

Good Luck..

XxStacksxX

[TLR]

Welcome to FTR, it is a great community, I am sure you will like it

Regarding your question about bankroll management - my rule of thumb is to have at least 40 buy ins to the level I am going to drop back to, so in your case when I have $231 I will take a shot at the $11, and drop back to the $5.5 if I hit 220.

Regarding the specific hands, in the future unless there is a recurring theme to them it is better to post them in different threads, otherwise the discussion is kind of wierd as each post refer to a different set of hands

T3: It is very hard to comment on this specific hand without any read on villian, you raised and he reraised you preflop, high PP is definitly in his range, since you have position I dont think the preflop call is bad, but I can see a case of folding on the flop

T4: I think you played it OK, I would reraise a bit more on the flop

T5,6: Well played

T7: I would check-fold on turn, the board strucutre has a very good chance of hitting someones hand

T8:OK

All and all I think you had a bit of bad variance, it happens, keep your head up

[BrianMac]

T3: you got reraised PF and your hand didnt improve on the flop, when he bets 2/3 pot im leaving

T4: you were definitely ahead, he was chasing like monty said, or he thinks you floated, im not sure i stack off here on the first hand, the results kinda skewed my perspective

T5: your M is 6, i shove here too, sucks that he has big slick

T6: your M is 10 i shove this Pre, unfortunately i think he calls

T7: i fold this Pre

T8: i usually call from EP and this early in the tourney with AJo, or raise to just 3x, unfortunately i dont think that woudl make it any easier after the flop (since we know what hes holding) but we do have less invested in the pot
this r a tough one

[Ryski]

Well, here is some more information and answers to what people posted above.

T1 and T2 I said were standard because I lost all those flips short stacked or relatively short stacked and I pushed all of them. I didn't put stack sizes in there because I didn't want a novel of a post. I already think it is long enough.

T3 - I think you guys misread this. I raised, SB called, and the BB re-raised. I called, SB called. Flop comes and the SB bets out, the re-raiser folds. There is no way the SB has AA or KK or QQafter flat calling a raise and having someone raise behind him, having me call, and then flat call again? He'd pop it for sure at that point. He has at best imo JJ which is what he had and why I had a hard time laying down TT. If the preflop re-raiser had bet into that pot I think I would consider folding given the preflop re-raise but the bet came from the SB.

Also do the rest of you agree with the shove of KK with an M of 10 and > 10 bb? I think I want some action right? I'm usually in P/F mode around < 10 bb but try not to before then.

Thanks for the help so far. I think I'll play $11 until I hit 220 then move down. 40b seems about right to drop down but does that also mean that perhaps I should go to 40b for the higher level before attempting it? Or is 30b enough?

[BrianMac]

you're right i read the first one wrong ;P, i still say fold, being that the SB called a 3bet pf and then bets out 2/3 pot on the flop would throw up a red flag, he either:
A: has a 9
B: has 6's
C: has 10's or better, obv you have two of them so this is unlikely

it comes down to at this early in a tourney i dont think hes putting this much in with nothing

the best way to post these is to take the results out of the hand history, a lot of times when theyre in the post the responses seem obvious and biased as mine probably does, but there are a lot of talented people here who do some great hand analyses

[Ryski]

You're right. In the future I'll either take the results out or just "white text" it. I just left them in there because my original intent of this post was just to ask if I ran bad and should stick at it or drop back down to $5.50. Although I'm sure I could have played some hands better, I personally feel overall that I got cold decked extremely hard. However, I definitely feel that my large edge that I had in the $5.50 games is quite a bit smaller and perhaps completely non-existent given my current run at the $11 SnG field. I think only time will tell until I adjust and I'll just let Bankroll dictate what I should or should not be playing. Thanks for the advice.

[Deuce Blue]

Not here to comment on the hands so much but more just to say I'm with ya brother. I have grinded the $5.50's and took my shot at the $11's and was slapped around about the same as you were. I went from $370 to $330 or so after getting a second or something the last one I played. I really felt a little lost and had no problems with jumping back down to the $5.50's. That was at the beginning of this month and I went on a month long heater at the $5.50's and took the BR up to $697 before a little downswing Sunday night brought me back down to $650 or so. Not sure if you are multi-tabling or not but if you aren't get a couple tables running and just kick ass man. As was suggested to me, if you win a $5.50 then do a $11 as its like a freeroll. Don't get discouraged and there isn't anything wrong with staying at a level even though the BR says you can move up.

I'm still staying in the $5.50's for the most part but mixing in the $11's from time to time. But, I'm a BR nit.