I can only break even - Think I need to relearn the basics

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Jreece18

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I am struggling to do anything but breakeven at the moment. I don't feel like it is from bad beats as I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere near as many at the moment. I recently watched some Black Rain videos and somehow since then I can't win (maybe misunderstood some concepts?).

I would like some advice on a new ABC strategy to start out again at 2NL and work back to actually winning again. I am aware that my 5NL sample is only over a small sample size and part of it is actually from running bad, but I still feel more comfortable continuing 2NL as I don't feel as though I've beaten it yet.
 

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BluffMeAllIn

BluffMeAllIn

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Are you playing zoom or reg tables? 6max or full ring? 100bb or 250bb buyins?

Any specified strategy suggestions would depend on what exactly you are playing, however in general you are in the right direction with reviewing blackrain material. His books are great for beginners, at least crushing the microstakes, while his newest book gets a little more advanced for the higher microstakes 25 and 50NL games.

I recently reviewed some videos he had on 2/5/10NL and found them to be great review and refresher for table selecting and not getting involved in spots that could get complicated or be marginal.

You want to be playing a TAG style as a beginner or to get back to ABC basics, so have a tight opening range and play aggresive, take the player types of your opp into account when continue if they put up a fight or start getting agressive themselves.

A big tip and something that always caused me issues in cash games when I attempted a grind on them, laying down hands when your beat (like the flush gets there on the river and the villian donk shoves his stack for the 5th time this session) will possibly have the best effect on a winrate. We always have the feeling they can't have it everytime but most of the time they do in this scenario, not always but most of the time.

The micros generally with exception of the decent tag players or the maniacs and spewy lags is very passive and they will let you know when they have made a hand, we just need to learn to listen to the information they are providing. Just like we don't need to be correct all of the time to make a certain play, this also works for the play of hitting the fold button as well .... and there is nothing more tilting then getting stacked by a fish when they basically say "I have the nuts" and you call anyhow because you don't believe them.

GL on the restart with 2nl, its where I'm currently grinding as well (although hopefully not for much longer) but mostly on the 250bb deep tables.
 
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joe777

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The most important thing is to observe the table dynamic.There were some lag like to raise 4-5 bb with ace rags and at the same time also a nit with similar raise with pockets Aces or Kings.Once you know how to observe and differentiate between these two type the game game should be easy for you.I recommend using a HUD.
 
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Koksi

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The most important think on these limits is to play only strong hands agressive and not bluff.They will call you and catch your bluff very often!
Try to play like raise every pair x3BB AK AQ AJ from UTG add KJ A10 J10 K10 QJ KQ from MP and 67s 78s 89s 910s from CO and BU.Push only strong hands!
Push pre flop with AA and KK only!If you see that oponent is very argressive may to move and with QQ.
 
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hffjd2000

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Continue playing 2NL and avoid 5NL at this time.

With regards to break even, thats already good achievement and hope you can maintain it.

The consolation would be accumulation of points/promos and stepping up of status.
 
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razzor94

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Stop getting involved with regs especially OOP if you think your hand is marginal and you will strugle to outplay them post flop. I watched some blackrain videos and the most important thing besides table selecting are those thin value bets against fish. What he means by that is to value bet those top kickers against opponents who cant fold top pair. There is nothinhg wrong with pot control once in a while but those thin value bets are the difference between people who are decent and the ones that crush the game.
 
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6bet me

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there is nothing more tilting than getting stacked by a fish when they basically say "I have the nuts" and you call anyhow because you don't believe them.

I know this feeling too well. I've been analysing my hand history and I definitely feel that my biggest weakness is calling river bets against passive fish when I'm clearly behind.

I think a lot of players fall for this when they transition from $1/$2 live cash to 2NL online at pokerstars. They feel that they must call in certain spots or else they will be too exploitable and too easy to bluff off hands... what they don't realise is that fish are fish and will probably never adjust their strategy to exploit you, so folding excessively against their value bets really does work.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong, there will be times when you fold the best hand, but more often than not, if a passive fish bets 3 streets into you, your TPTK is probably behind.
 
PapaC

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Jreece18 I'm going to have to drop down to 5nl myself at one site. I don't think it's the way I'm playing, but just on a bad run that has been going on for 3 weeks. All I can tell you is to protect your BR no matter what you have to do. It's a lot better playing with your own money than it is playing freerolls to try and build a BR. I been told to take a break from FF, so I'm going to put them on the back burner for a week. After today I may just take a week from it all. GL to you
 
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LizardDan

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Jreece18 I'm going to have to drop down to 5nl myself at one site. I don't think it's the way I'm playing, but just on a bad run that has been going on for 3 weeks. All I can tell you is to protect your BR no matter what you have to do. It's a lot better playing with your own money than it is playing freerolls to try and build a BR. I been told to take a break from FF, so I'm going to put them on the back burner for a week. After today I may just take a week from it all. GL to you

The way youre playing is almost certainly at least one factor. I have respect for any player that'll drop to lower NL ranks, it shows a ton of self reflection.

OP I think you're on the right track, but I doubt you need to relearn anything. Look out for leaks and don't risk all your chips on a coin flip :). Online play can be frustrating... Completely anonymous and you'll see some plays that would not happen live (because of how embarrassing it is to 4 bet a pair of 2s as the SB in front of peers). Rewatch the videos you mentioned and cut down on the number of tables you play at once :).
 
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