I wish I was as good as my brothers (ISF and Massimo)

[STHollywood]

Hey guys. Some of you know me and some of you dont. Im Aaron, Danny and Max's brother. I used to write news articles around here but now I just post occasionally. I have been playing poker for a long time but as of around February I have been taking it more seriously, playing shorthanded nl online and getting coaching from Danny and Max. With that in mind, I think I may be in the top 1% in the catagory of luckiest aspiring poker players in the world.

Danny and Max have been great coaches and I have learned a lot. I started at 10nl on FullTilt and have slowly worked my way up to 50nl. Even with my brothers help and the skills I think I have aquired, I struggle at every limit and it is always a week of great cards that pushes me to the next level.

My goal is simple (not that any of you need to know this but my love is writing and I aspire to be a great writer, but I also love poker and want to be a good poker player). I want to be a winning player at 200 nl by the end of the calander year.

So, basically this is the introduction to a thread where I would like to post experiences, hand histories and thoughts and get some feedback.

Present State of Poker: Right now I have a roll of 1200. I'm presently 10-tabling 50 nl, but am about to start playing fewer tables because I think 10 is too many for me to make decisions at my most capable level. I would classify myself as a tagg, I play about 17/13.

Anyway, I know there really isnt much to respond to right now but I will start putting some hands up after my next session. I look forward to hearing from everyone who is gracious enough to help me on my quest!

Thanks Guys.

[bode]

gl man. i would definitely suggest dropping to 4-6 tables and opening up your game some.

[bode]

also much jealousy towards your coaching

[Numbr2intheWorld]

Aaron, i'm glad you're doing something like this, it will really help you focus on your game. This is what FTR calls an Operation thread and i'm going to move it to the proper forum called "FTR Blogs and Operations." A lot of players look at this forum and I'll make sure to keep tabs on it.

[Numbr2intheWorld]

I agree with bode about the 10 tabling thing. I think it was ok at 10 and 25NL just because you wanted to build a solid roll. Now that you feel like you're a little stuck and want to improve you should be playing less tables. Even trying something like playing only 2 tables can reap great benefits.

[STHollywood]

also much jealousy towards your coaching

I know it's totally unfair. Hopefully I'll make good use of it!

[STHollywood]

I agree with bode about the 10 tabling thing. I think it was ok at 10 and 25NL just because you wanted to build a solid roll. Now that you feel like you're a little stuck and want to improve you should be playing less tables. Even trying something like playing only 2 tables can reap great benefits.

yeah 10 tbaling makes no sense for me because although I feel I may be able to play at a +EV level it doesnt allow me to really analyze my play as it is happening and even make good notes on which hands I want to ask about later.

[kmind]

This should definitely be a fun read. Definitely keep us updated and good luck!

[STHollywood]

This should definitely be a fun read. Definitely keep us updated and good luck!

TY

[givememyleg]

awesome man, dont just be as good as be better than your younger brothersssssss!

[bjsaust]

Good luck with this Aaron. I def agree with the tables thing, I move between 2 and 6 and feel it really allows me to work on my game and think spots through better.

Even with my brothers help and the skills I think I have aquired, I struggle at every limit and it is always a week of great cards that pushes me to the next level.

Sounds familiar. To be fair, if we're expected to put up with runs of bad cards and negative variance, we're allowed to take advantage of good runs of cards and positive variance. Think about it, in reality something like 5BB/100 isnt that much. At 50nl that means on a table doing 100 hands an hour you avg $55 on each table after an hour. That barely feels like break even poker, and one bad beat or cooler can destroy even that. Those hot runs count and all players get them.

[STHollywood]

Hey guys. First off yeah bj that makes sense. Also as a side note, youre from Ballarat? I spent my first semester of my last year in uni at melbourne uni. I love australia.

Anyway, I played 1000 hands last night 6 tabling. I can easily 6-table and make my best decisions. There are few enough hands such that I can really focus. The session itself was a losing one of 3 buy-ins but I felt I played fairly well. There were some hands I had questions on and I came up with different things in reviewing them myself but ill post them here following this. One hand that isnt here is a $260 pot (keep in mind this is $50nl) where i had AA to a guy with 78s pre!!--yeah im serious. He hit a river flush, but what can you do thats poker.

Anyway Hand 1: Villian is a 25/25 who 3 bets 20% and cbets100%. It's only over 30 or so hands but I saw him 3 bet kjo oop and bet it all 3 streets in hitting a k on the flop.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (4 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($52.75)
SB ($54.70)
BB ($94)
Hero (UTG) ($57.75)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q, A
Hero raises to $2, Button raises to $6.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $4.50

Flop: ($13.75) 10, 7, 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $7
Hero??? Can I raise this?

Hand 2:
Villian is 17/17 over about 80 hands, thts about all I know

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($43.70)
BB ($49.25)
UTG ($50)
Hero (MP) ($65.65)
CO ($138)
Button ($46.95)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 4, 4
1 fold, Hero raises to $2, 1 fold, Button calls $2, 2 folds

Flop: ($4.75) 10, Q, 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $3.20, Button calls $3.20

Turn: ($11.15) J (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $6.50

Hero? Can I rep something strong here and even so could he have a K?

Hand 3: I had just joined the table and after 8 hands the villian was a 25/25 with 50% 3bet.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($50)
BB ($20)
Hero (UTG) ($51.50)
MP ($100.35)
CO ($100.65)
Button ($23)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9, 9
Hero raises to $2, MP raises to $6.50, 4 folds, Hero calls $4.50

Flop: ($13.75) J, Q, 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $8.50, Hero raises to $26, MP raises to $91.75

Hero?

Hand 4 and 5 (same villian on two hands in a row on the table): Villian is a 62/35/5.3

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($88.20)
Hero (MP) ($61.60)
Button ($51.20)
SB ($46.20)
BB ($50.30)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Q, Q
UTG raises to $1, Hero raises to $4, 3 folds, UTG calls $3

Flop: ($8.75) 10, K, K (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($8.75) J (2 players)
UTG bets $0.50
Hero?


Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($83.70)
Hero (UTG) ($66.40)
MP ($51.20)
Button ($45.95)
SB ($49.80)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K, J
Hero raises to $1.75, 3 folds, BB calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.75) 10, 7, K (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3, BB calls $3

Turn: ($9.75) 4 (2 players)
BB bets $9.75, Hero calls $9.75

River: ($29.25) 10 (2 players)
BB bets $10

Hero??

Hand 6: Villian is a 12/5 so no 3 bet pre cause im not really +EV on his range

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($52.70)
SB ($90.05)
BB ($65.75)
UTG ($53.35)
MP ($50)
Hero (CO) ($79.75)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K, A
1 fold, MP raises to $1.50, Hero calls $1.50, 3 folds

Flop: ($3.75) A, Q, 9 (2 players)
MP bets $2.50, Hero raises to $8, MP raises to $22

Hero??

Dont feel like all of these need to be commented on. Just wanted to give all the examples I could get. Thanks a lot guys.

[Numbr2intheWorld]

hand 1: i wouldn't raise unless his bet size tells you anything\

hand 2: maybe just c/f the flop but as played i don't see why he can't have a K a good amount so fold

hand 3: you should really fold this pre. Obviously don't fold now you gots the nuts and are wayyy too commited

hand 4: I really like betting the flop here there's too much value. if you checked cause he's raising the flop a lot just call him down cause he's probably bluffing too much

hand 5: well played now call, what other river choice is tjere?

hand 6: his preflop range is so tight it's better just calling him down. I find that players like this can play really weird postflop.

[STHollywood]

So I'm currently in the middle of the worst downswing ive had in my short poker career, 26 buy-ins at 50nl. This has left me with around 500 dollars, so obviously im moving down to 25 nl. Just gonna keep grinding

[swiggidy]

Gl at 25NL. Stop thinking so much about repping hands and wait for value betting situations.

Your brothers advice will be great for long term, but be careful thinking on too high of a level. There are some players you can rep hands against, some will only be playing their own two cards.

[AnTman_69]

Your brothers advice will be great for long term, but be careful thinking on too high of a level. There are some players you can rep hands against, some will only be playing their own two cards.

This is good advice. As soon as i realised how bad the players were at 50nl and lower....i toned down my aggression towards retards, and stopped thinking, "Is he trying to Rebluff Me HEre??" Just value bet relentlessly with ur good hands.... and fold the bad ones, i know it sounds pretty simple....but its not always easy to do for most people.

P.s. GoodLuck with everything. See you at 200nl at the end of the year.

[bjsaust]

26 buyins is pretty brutal for 50nl, and to be honest probably has to be more than variance. Dont just grind, put some time into working out where all that money is going and stop doing whatever it is.

[IowaSkinsFan]

Hand 1: Raising is fine but think of it this way: It's a small sample size no way he threebets 20% of the time. Also just assume that no one is threebetting light until you see it over a large sample. Playing OOP in threebet pots is really tough and you may just want to fold just about everything besides AK/JJ and fourbet those hands. As tight as you play preflop its not exploitable at all.

Hand 2: I'd just threebarrel it. think of how many kings are in this guys range, like KQ only. As played I'd just fold, though c/r small and shoving the river isn't bad.

Hand 3: Since we're deep calling pre is fine, and of course you stack off here. KK/AA/AQ with card removal is much more likely than QQ/JJ, except that QQ/JJ is very likely range wise.

Hand 4: Raise it. I'd bet the flop to.

Hand 5: Can't fold no way.

Hand 6: Your not playing for stacks so don't raise the flop. Call down.

I think I agreed with Max on pretty much every single one!

[STHollywood]

thanks for the replies guys, greatly appreciated. I agree with all of you. 26 buy-ins could possibly be variance but obviously there are some other issues going on. I dont think I tilt hard but I have moments of single hand tilt where ill just make a bad decision and know it. At these stakes I agree that I just need slow down a bit and play more straight-forward, just un striaght-forward enough to be better than who I am playing.

So last night I played a short session at 25nl. I didnt stack anyone but was up 3 and 1/2 buy-ins in 500 hands! Things just feel different for me at 25nl. One thing is 25 dollars just feels like nothing to me and 50 feels like something (dont laugh). Secondly, I just feel like I own the people at 25nl, even though they play pretty much the same. I dont know its weird. I think a big issue I have is 50nl Im money oriented and at 25nl since the money seems like nothing to me Im play oriented. This is somthing Im just realizing and could be the key for me. Im so confident going into 25nl and when I sit down at 50nl I start thinking "will i win or lose. I want to move up. I suck. Wow I just lost a 260 dollar pot, i could have used that for a table" you know?--stupid things that are obviously more condusive to depression than good poker.

As I am fleshing this out as I am typing this may not make a huge amount of sense, but I am trying. I'm sure things will become more clear for me as time goes on.

Thanks for the support and I'll put some more hands up soon!

*Ps: Is this stupid?--On hand 5 I was actually wondering if I should raise?

[Numbr2intheWorld]

I think there's merit in raising rivers like this when you 100% know your ahead but unless you're seeing something i'm not i kinda doubt you are.

[STHollywood]

So I have been playing 25nl the last two days and I feel like superman when I play it. Its a nice confidence booster from losing so much at 50nl.

I have tried to change my mental state such that I can sit down at my computer with an attitude more conducive to playing my A game.

This is a hand from my session today that was imo the most interesting and confusing to me. Looking back on it, of course with supreme bias, I feel it is pretty obvious but at the time I was stumped. (Danny[ISF] this is the hand I was trying to explain to you over the phone and clearly I got it wrong)

This villian seems to be a tagg "reg" at 25nl. I have never seen him before and havent seen anything too out of line. he seemed like he was out of a book which is why I was surprised I failed to see something pretty obvious which I will explain after you comment.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($66.65)
Hero (SB) ($44.40)
BB ($25.35)
UTG ($26.25)
MP ($50.45)
CO ($25.80)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, A
3 folds, Button raises to $0.85, Hero calls $0.75, 1 fold

Flop: ($1.95) 3, A, 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.30, Button raises to $3.75, Hero calls $2.45

Turn: ($9.45) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $5, Button calls $5

River: ($19.45) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $5

Hero?

[swiggidy]

Call, but WTF are you doing in the hand? It's about the weirdest line possible.

[STHollywood]

Call, but WTF are you doing in the hand? It's about the weirdest line possible.

Can you please explain in more detail. I mean I get in theory that my line makes no sense but im clearly not good enough to understand exactly what you mean (obviously, or I wouldnt have done it!!).

My thought process was as follows: Bet flop for value, when raised I put him on any set, AK, AQ, AJ, 88-KK, and a club draw. Since this range is so wide I just called his raise. Then on the turn, I thought he would call some worse hands and raise with better ones so I lead, but I now see some fault in this logic. Anyway, as played, on the river I'm just scared that he took a passive line with a nut hand so instead of betting i was planning on c/c because I felt he would sense I may be weak and use a smallish bet try to "bluff" me with a missed draw or a weaker pair. If he had a nut hand then so be it.

Thanks

[swiggidy]

I'm not that great either (obv)

If he doesn't have an A he's likely folding to your flop bet, so "typical" would be c/r because you'll get called by most any Ax and you might pick off a bluff from some weaker hands.

Turn, is a little faulty. If you think he's got a lot of weaker Ax, you could just c/c down and let him value town himself. But betting might get some of them to fold (fearing a set or something). This doesn't have the value you think it did at the time.

River I'm calling because it doesn't make sense either. If it's value from AA or something, good for him. This is something weird often enough that you're getting great odds.

Not a great explanation by any means, I wasn't sure if you had some sick plan with a read to foil him.

[STHollywood]

lol at the sick plan. no im just trying to learn!

I like your point about the flop. If I did that though it would be a completely different hand so Im gonna comment on it as played.

When you say I should c/c the turn then do I c/c call the river? Because by checking I gain less info than I would by betting?--wait is that true? Also if he is on a draw I would be giving him a free card.

As I'm fleshing this out it seems the issue is certainly the flop play because by playing as I did hand reading is more difficult imo.

[swiggidy]

The answer to c/c river is "it depends", a TAG shouldn't be firing 3 barrels with AJ, but I've seen some weird shit at microstakes.

This "betting for information" idea is highly flawed, you should purge this. Fnord made a good post somewhere once. There are lots of places to get information, betting yourself is just one. It's really more about ranges and on the flop he's got a lot of Ax, by raising you're eliminating ones that beat you as well as bluff hands. So, you're narrowing his range such that you're no longer ahead of it. Not saying you should call every street, because the more he bets the more his range narrows too.

As for the draw, what draw is he on? straight draw is highly unlikely given that he's TAG and needs small cards. If you check and he bets the turn he's unlikely to have the flush draw, because it looks like you have an A so he'd take his free card.

/rambling

[will641]

Hey guys. Some of you know me and some of you dont. Im Aaron, Danny and Max's brother. I used to write news articles around here but now I just post occasionally. I have been playing poker for a long time but as of around February I have been taking it more seriously, playing shorthanded nl online and getting coaching from Danny and Max. With that in mind, I think I may be in the top 1% in the catagory of luckiest aspiring poker players in the world.

Danny and Max have been great coaches and I have learned a lot. I started at 10nl on FullTilt and have slowly worked my way up to 50nl. Even with my brothers help and the skills I think I have aquired, I struggle at every limit and it is always a week of great cards that pushes me to the next level.

My goal is simple (not that any of you need to know this but my love is writing and I aspire to be a great writer, but I also love poker and want to be a good poker player). I want to be a winning player at 200 nl by the end of the calander year.

So, basically this is the introduction to a thread where I would like to post experiences, hand histories and thoughts and get some feedback.

Present State of Poker: Right now I have a roll of 1200. I'm presently 10-tabling 50 nl, but am about to start playing fewer tables because I think 10 is too many for me to make decisions at my most capable level. I would classify myself as a tagg, I play about 17/13.

Anyway, I know there really isnt much to respond to right now but I will start putting some hands up after my next session. I look forward to hearing from everyone who is gracious enough to help me on my quest!

Thanks Guys.

now was that 13 putts for 1 hole or for 9?

[Numbr2intheWorld]

it's understandable swiggidy is saying you played the hand weird Aaron, and i think one of the reasons for it is your deepstacked and not sure how to handle it. Here are some flaws in your reasoning:

- In general a TAG reg from 25NL is going to c-bet this flop every time. Unless you have information that he won't the standard play is to check.

- You say his raising range is AJ+, some pairs, and FD's. I think this is probably wrong (unless you specifically saw him call AT in this situation, and raise AJ, but also raise 88 tbut i doubt you did). People react totally different to flop leads and if your going to assess a general range, i would make it a lot wider. I think something to emphasize is this: When playing with someone you don't know much about, try to get into situations THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH when playing with him. For example, the other day i was playing HU with some guy and i was having trouble with him about 100 hands in. I noticed though that he really gave away his hands with river bet sizing. So instead of trying to figure him out otherwise i just made sure i got to the river a lot! by c-betting and then checking behind the turn whenever i was in position for the most part. Then i always knew what to do on the river\ (a lot of times it was raise). With this guy, if you know that he c-bets a lot thats information you can work with to help you. If you know he raises leads a lot you can use that information to help you. MY PROBLEM with your hand is that you clearly decided to use no info you already had.

- I don't want to even comment on the rest of your hand cause i think i've made my point. Here's a type of player i'd use the line you used against: someone who just is totally spewtastic to weak leads and won't give up as the preflop raiser. Then i would use your exact line.

So lets say check and let him c-bet, let me tell you whats going on then:

- Now once you check and he bets, what do you do? Well i think even deep the standard play here is to c/r. You have a great A on a board that doesn't hit either of you much, he'll probably call you down with worse a good amount. And let me EMPHASIZE that if your worried about getting raised off your hand or something later, don't be. No one except extremely creative or spewtastic players will try to do this and since you have this guy labeled as none of those just play your hand.

- Now, once you c/r, if he calls you're in an interesting spot. You could really do any of the following: c/c turn (if he checks bet river assuming it's safe enough), and c/c river. bet turn, bet river. bet turn, check river. You should do whatever you feel he's going to make the BIGGEST MISTAKE on. In general though, if the flush card comes i'm betting the turn and c/revaluating the river.

K cool?

[STHollywood]

wow what you said makes a ton of sense! I have never thought of manipulating people in such a subtle yet powerful way.

[swiggidy]

wow what you said makes a ton of sense! I have never thought of manipulating people in such a subtle yet powerful way.

Not much experience with girls, eh?

[IowaSkinsFan]

I think the optimal line here is c/c flop, lead/fold to raise on this specific turn, and then b/f river.

[Schiplt]

yo, miech here belligerently reporting after a 12 hours of drinking, to say that i had a 20 buyin downswing at 50 nl in april or may. It sucked. balls. Im pretty sure it was all my mindset, thinking i was really good, when infact i sucked. prbly still do. and i was doing what you were doing and 10 tabling. which destroys your game. made me a worse player. i four table now, sometimes six, almost never 9 table. its super feasible to reach your goal of 200nl by the end of the calendar year, esp with the twins coaching, but it would prbly take 4 tabling to apply that coaching in a way that makes you a better player quickly.

[STHollywood]

wow what you said makes a ton of sense! I have never thought of manipulating people in such a subtle yet powerful way.

Not much experience with girls, eh?

Hah, uh, not sure how to answer that, there have been plenty of girls. Maybe the key here is applying my girl techniques to poker? lol

[Numbr2intheWorld]

I think online poker players are living proof that poker skills don't really translate to girl skills...

My brother is really good at one of the listed above.

[Reidak]

I think online poker players are living proof that poker skills don't really translate to girl skills...

My brother is really good at one of the listed above.

Generally, social skills are gained by doing social activities, online poker is a very unsocial activity.

[swiggidy]

1) That was a joke
2) Do I really need to explain it?

[Numbr2intheWorld]

haha i'm really bad with "tone" on forums... Anyways i was responding to Aarons thing about putting girl skills into poker when they don't seem to connect much. But i was still in the joking mood.

[swiggidy]

haha i'm really bad with "tone" on forums... Anyways i was responding to Aarons thing about putting girl skills into poker when they don't seem to connect much. But i was still in the joking mood.

yeah, I do that all the time. I was worried about the Steinberg sense of humor for a minute

[STHollywood]

guys i appreciate the banter...anyway, i just had shoulder surgery last night to repair some torn ligaments and am typing with one hand. the reason i say this is because it'll be difficult for me to play for a while but ill be posting more soon.

[STHollywood]

Not that anyone really cares but Ive been recovering well from surgery and my shoulder isn't hurting too much anymore. This has allowed me to play some poker recently.

I dropped down from 10 to 6 tables and definitely had a better sense of what is going on but I was still struggling and ended up breaking even after the huge downswing.

So last night I spoke with Max (Massimo) and presented some insane theorem that I still maintain might be a genius poker seminar some day...just kidding. But Max suggested that I move down to 2 tables.

So last night I bit the bullet and played 2 tables of 25nl and made $64 which sadly is my best day in a long time. But i feel like 2 tabling I am much more capable of playing well and paying attention to each specific player and play.

So hopefully this will be the beginning of an upswing. I'll post some hands soon

[STHollywood]

Oh crap I just realized that I made $164 last night! that is my best day in a couple months

[swiggidy]

GL/welcome back/2 tables is a GREAT idea

[lolzzz_321]

So last night I spoke with Max (Massimo) and presented some insane theorem that I still maintain might be a genius poker seminar some day...just kidding. But Max suggested that I move down to 2 tables.

[lolzzz_321]

haha