Break Even Sessions

Ok, it's relatively common knowledge that the top cash game pros win on average at least 2/3 of their sessions. Now, will a break even session or slightly up count towards that 2/3? I've had a decent month (February), up double digit buy ins, I've won slightly more than 50% of my sessions but I've also broke even in about 25% of them (or close to it) and lost about 25% over about a 25k hand sample.

My question is, should I push to win more sessions by taking less risks so those break even sessions will be positive...even if they are marginally positive? Or should I continue to take risks and try to win more money per session and accept the break even sessions for what they are?

What I mean by risks is things like calling all ins pre (with about even stack sizes) with QQ if I put villain on AK, races, coin flips, etc.

You should be pushing your stack in with thin edges, if you think you've got an edge but only because it's +EV.

Worrying about how many sessions you're winning and adjusting your play to fix it sounds the same as someone worrying that their redline is low and adjusting despite having a great greenline. Don't worry about the stats if the results are already fine.

Good point. I have been taking those flips, every time if I think I have an edge...even if its a coin flip in my favor - pp vs overcards. Let's imagine a standard coin flip for even stack sizes of 100bb each. QQ vs AK.

QQ vs AK is about a 55 - 45. So you have a 10% edge. Now the rake will take away 5% of the pot. It's very possible that you could lose 70% of your coin flips over 50k, 100k hands....so it could take hundreds of thousands of hands for the odds to catch up to you. Is it really worth it for a 5% edge that could literally take a lifetime to be in your favor? Aren't you better off passing and picking other spots to get it in where your 60%, 70%, 80%+?

Also, beyond popular belief, AK is a 10% dog to a pp - not really a flip -...then add the 5% rake if it all goes in pre, how can pushing all in with AK be profitable if you think villain will call? Or worse yet calling an all in with AK?

I know I'm getting detailed here but I'm trying to find a way to improve my game anyway I can in order to be more profitable overall...and one of those ways would be to turn my break even sessions into winning sessions.

Well it depends how many hands the sessions are but I think most players actually win closer to 50-55% than 67%. But seriously don't worry about sessions, they're just arbitrary measures of time. Worry about winrate as that's the only thing that matters. If a move will increase your bb/100 take it if it will decrease it don't. It's that simple.

Playing for optimal proffits, pushing thin edges is never wrong. You can run a long way above/bellow EV over large numbers of hands on thin edges, but your results will eventually converge with your EV and in the meantime you've got to remember that it's not a question of whether you run on EV or bellow, it's a question of whether you run above EV, on EV or bellow EV.

Remember also that aside from very specific circumstances (involving players being anticipated to leave the table) there are no times when you should be waiting for a better spot in a cash game.
With that being said, I don't think anyone is disciplined enough to not make lower variance choices when they're running bad, but taking a lower variance line does lose EV.

There is almost always enough money already in the pot that it makes up for what you lose to the rake and being on the lesser end of coinflips. Keep in mind also that when shoving all in you always have fold equity.
Obviously if someone shoves, turns over 22 and you've got AK it's an easy fold without any action from anyone else or you already having put some money in the pot.

Woud you do this to profitably balance your range? (Push, not call)

An advantage of pushin your edges is you can utilise fold equity in some spots when your behind and it also helps you get maximum value out of your made hands when villian has seen you push here with air or draws. etc.

So over the long run against regs, you should get back what you loose when your behind, as they will pay you off better with less than marginal holding more often.

1. Before pressing for thin edges make sure you have exhausted all "fat edges"

2. Consider the rake, at micro-stakes the rake is higher than at higher stakes because of the cap. Therefore thinner edges exist at higher stakes than they do with the same two players with the same two cards at lower stakes.

3. Do not over estimate the edge you are pushing, do you have sufficient hands on your opponent to accurately understand his range and how he responds in the current situation? Does he play consistently enough for this edge to be accurate?

Thin edges would be one of the last things you would want to exploit as there are far easier exploits available to most players.

That's exactly what I was getting at. Thanks for clarifying it for me Stu.

Or you Can SS with me on Bodog and sit next to a couple of 58/16's and take their stacks... I'm pretty sure the other guys here on CC would be astounded to see the horrible play at $25NL last night lol...

Yeah, that was pretty bad. The same fish have been hitting their 2-4 outers all day on me...unbelievable. I'm getting plenty of action tho...they're calling 12x bb raises pre flop with 89o and flopping trips, lol. AA no good today, lol...one of those days I guess.

after havin a couple losing sessions...its def better to run breakeven lol

Few things.

-I disagree with the statment that top pros win 2/3 of their seasons, if usualy heard its just over 50%(same as W$SD), they just win more in winning seasons the they lose in losing seasons.

-Why do u care if u win or lose a single seasion? Poker is all longterm, i think it was in The Poker Mindset where they where saying u should obvs keep track of wins/loses but u should also look at the big picture, just consider you entier poker carrier as a single seasions since the result of that seasion is really all that matters.

-Changing your playing style to get more winning seasions is a horrible idea imo.
Adjusting your playing style to win more in the long run is all you should focus on.

JMO

Session. Sorry.....I had to point it out.

Why are you even thinking about that??

Just keep doing what you are doing, you're winning right? No need to change your entire approach to the game. Carry on learning and plugging the leaks. You shouldn't be worrying about being up down or beak even in a session, only about the next decision. In the ong run, a session means **** all. You need to make the right descisions and win monies.