I'm so bad.. need advice.

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Poker_Student

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I started playing $2NL 6max about 4 days ago. I've been up 3 1/2 buy-ins but right now I'm down 4 1/2. I think when I was up it was because fish kept dumping chips on me my first day. I started with 50 buy-ins so not close to going broke and not even considering moving up in stakes until I can consistently beat the $2 games.

My VPIP/PFR is around 25-30/20 at the 6 max games with an agression factor of ~4, but my weakness is post-flop play. Most of the people I play with don't ever raise preflop. They mostly play 20-33% of their hands. I've just been doing 3xbb standard preflop raise +1bb per limper. How can I exploit players who never raise preflop? I am so bad at reading where I'm at compared to other players on the flop, turn, and river that I'm usually pretty clueless on how to play it after cbetting when everyone else doesn't fold. In multiway pots, unless I have the nuts, I feel like I may as well check/fold. I'm super weak in that area. I probably Cbet too much also. It's usually somewhere around 80% of the time.

Anyway, if anyone could give me some advice on how to proceed other than "OMG you can't beat $2 NL games, quit playing poker," I would very much appreciate it. I really want to be a successful player and I'm willing to take the necessary steps, but I need some direction. Thanks.
 
LD1977

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For starters try to play as many pots as possible in position, if they are passive they won't 3bet you too much from the blinds. Be very tight from first 2 seats if you are seeing multiway flops too much with medium holdings.

Also, if you can, as a beginner it is better to play full ring until you get better.
 
Cafeman

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Solid post Poker_Student, sounds exactly the same as me around 3 years ago. I agree that since you're a relative newbie to poker you need to sorta work out how to beat the easiest game before moving up... who cares what your BR is until you know you're a winning player right.

Now, the advice part. It's too tricky to simply lay down some bullet points and turn you into a winning player, so I'll just mention a few things that come to mind.

Stick to 6max.

Make sure you value bet the river when you have a strongish hand that can (and WILL) get called by worse.

Raise wider for value preflop, since they want to see flops.

Nothing wrong with playing an exploitable game, just don't bother cbetting into 2 others on a QJxss with 66, x/f is fine.

The most important thing to learn right now is value betting, and at 2NL you almost can't do it thin enough.

Pay attention to player types. Once you have a few hands on the regs, try to find ways to exploit them. Are they too tight? Do they fold too much post flop? When they bet turn do they have it ALWAYS? When they do not cbet, are they giving up? Etc. Etc.

I always find out how many tables they are playing at. If someone is playing 1 table and looks to be becoming a 40/5, you can be sure that you need to stay there to help him enjoy his time at the table :)

Get into the habit of making notes on the regs. I know it's only 2NL and all that, but it's never stopped me. You'll want to get good at taking notes, so start now.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head. Just to reiterate, value betting is key, but also don't be shy to float etc. vs weak regs who give up too much.
 
Cafeman

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Another thing, try to think about their ranges, and not worry about how your range looks to them, cos they aren't thinking about YOUR range... yet ;)
 
LD1977

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Agree 100% on note taking, that is the key.
 
nabmom

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Another piece of advice I'd offer is to post hand histories here. Be prepared to:

1) Get good advice. Think about it and see if it makes sense.
2) Possibly get some bad advice. Think about it and see why it doesn't make sense. ;)
3) Possibly get challenged as to why you made the play that you did. Remember that this is a learning exercise so don't get defensive. Think about what they are challenging you about. If it is valid, respond and learn. If it isn't valid (doesn't happen a lot on CC, but we're only human) then just let it go.

Hand History analysis can be very, very valuable. You will never run out of things to learn in poker.
 
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You have to consider their ranges!
 
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chechyeah(BB) $2.62 - VP:36 PFR:27 AF:Inf. W:7|100 STL:38|100 3B:0|0 CB:83|100 N:0.06 Hands:33

tomcat4(SB) $1.53 - VP:53 PFR:0 AF:1.2 W:15|100 STL:0|20 3B:0|100 CB:|50 N:0.84 Hands:32

Me(BTN) $2.24 - VP:29 PFR:29 AF:Inf. W:40|0 STL:40|100 3B:33| CB:100|0 N:-1.55 Hands:14



Pre Flop: Me(BTN) with [Qs,Ks]
Me(BTN) raises 0.10, tomcat4(SB) calls 0.09, chechyeah(BB) folds


Flop: (5d,2c,Tc) (2 players)
tomcat4(SB) checks, Me(BTN) bets 0.16, tomcat4(SB) calls 0.16


Turn: 3c (2 players)
tomcat4(SB) checks, Me(BTN) bets 0.36, tomcat4(SB) calls 0.36


River: 7h (2 players)
tomcat4(SB) checks, Me(BTN) bets 0.85, tomcat4(SB) calls 0.85


Final:
tomcat4(SB) shows [Kc,Ts]
Me(BTN) shows [Qs,Ks]
tomcat4(SB) wins 2.67


Here is one of the big pots I lost last night. I think I should have checked after he called the flop. How would you play this hand against a 53/0 passive fish? I know not to bluff them but at the time did not consider his personality and it cost me a lot.



Here is a hand I think I may have played very wrong:


Jbird1299(CO) $0.34 - VP:20 PFR:0 AF:0 W:0| STL: 3B:0| CB: N:-0.09 Hands:10
potluck_7(LP) $2.73 - VP:40 PFR:20 AF:1.0 W:25|100 STL:100| 3B:25| CB:|0 N:0.65 Hands:10
Nastiecat(MP) $0.68 - VP:30 PFR:0 AF: W:33|100 STL: 3B:0| CB: N:-0.04 Hands:10
holdnkk(MP) $0.80 - VP:29 PFR:0 AF: W:0| STL: 3B:0| CB:|100 N:-0.13 Hands:7
Infowars1(SB) $2.58 - VP:50 PFR:0 AF:0.5 W:67|100 STL:|100 3B:0| CB:|0 N:2.93 Hands:6
lukeh91(UTG) $2.11 - VP:44 PFR:0 AF:Inf. W:0| STL: 3B:0| CB:|100 N:0.09 Hands:9
Me(BTN) $2.13 - VP:45 PFR:43 AF:9.5 W:41|22 STL:68|50 3B:27| CB:100|0 N:-5.66 Hands:60
cashshy(BB) $1.98 - VP:0 PFR:0 AF: W:0| STL: 3B:0| CB: N:-0.04 Hands:6
steve1963(MP) $1.98 - VP:38 PFR:0 AF: W:33|100 STL: 3B:0| CB: N:-0.02 Hands:8
cdssorin(MP) $1.98 - VP:50 PFR:0 AF: W: STL: 3B:0| CB: N:-0.04 Hands:2


Pre Flop: Me(BTN) with [9d,Kd]
lukeh91(UTG) calls 0.02, steve1963(MP) folds, holdnkk(MP) folds, Nastiecat(MP) folds, cdssorin(MP) calls 0.02, potluck_7(LP) folds, Jbird1299(CO) folds, Me(BTN) raises 0.12, Infowars1(SB) calls 0.11, cashshy(BB) folds, lukeh91(UTG) folds, cdssorin(MP) folds


Flop: (2h,7d,8h) (2 players)
Infowars1(SB) checks, Me(BTN) bets 0.22, Infowars1(SB) calls 0.22


Turn: 8d (2 players)
Infowars1(SB) checks, Me(BTN) bets 0.50, Infowars1(SB) raises 2.24, Me(BTN) calls 1.29


River: (7c)



Final:
Returns 0.45 to Infowars1(SB)
Me(BTN) shows [9d,Kd]
Infowars1(SB) shows [Jh,Js]
Infowars1(SB) wins 3.89
 
Fuffufnick

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Wow man.. I'm no great player myself but gotta ask what you were calling him down with in that second hand? You had a draw to only the second nut flush on the turn but no where near the pot odds to call the raise with only one card to come. IMO that's an insta-fold right there.
 
John A

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So you have the typical micro stakes disease: Bet when passed to disease. You're just betting without really thinking about what someone's range is, or what hands you're looking to fold out, etc...

There's a cure though, so don't fret. But you need to starting completely thinking through ranges, and understanding what opponents and turn cards you should or shouldn't be barreling. You can check out my free ebook below to, as that will get you started.
 
Aces2w1n

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Hand 1: Consider what hands your going to cbet with. If you cbet too much people won't believe you and just keep calling you all day everyday.

Hand 2: You probably didn't need to raise preflop because if you do hit the flush you want weaker flushes underneath you to get value.

Make note on the people who don't raise you and just keep calling, I call them calling stations and if they do it enough you'll learn not to put any money in the pot unless you know your good.

Your being exploited by just raising all the time. People will know your floating and got nothing at least 60% time on the flop,

Remember 2nl you should not be bluffing as much as you've already noticed with the 2 hands above. People will call you down with ATC and they just have to hit anything to call.
 
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Poker_Student

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Wow man.. I'm no great player myself but gotta ask what you were calling him down with in that second hand? You had a draw to only the second nut flush on the turn but no where near the pot odds to call the raise with only one card to come. IMO that's an insta-fold right there.

I couldn't agree with you more after looking over the hand. It's obvious to me in hindsight that when he raises, he's got it almost every time. I'm not good at analyzing the situation in the moment, though. I should have taken more time, looked at his stats, and even just let it time out if I couldn't decide the right move.

So you have the typical micro stakes disease: Bet when passed to disease. You're just betting without really thinking about what someone's range is, or what hands you're looking to fold out, etc...

There's a cure though, so don't fret. But you need to starting completely thinking through ranges, and understanding what opponents and turn cards you should or shouldn't be barreling. You can check out my free ebook below to, as that will get you started.

How do you feel about limped pots when checked to? I have read that a major leak in 2NL is not enough players fight for limped pots, and so I normally open the betting in that case and then if I encounter any raises or calls and I have nothing, I check/fold

I have read some stuff about hand ranges and combinatorics and it made me feel like a 2 year old trying to learn calculus. I don't understand how to try and determine what cards he could have, especially vs. players with 40+ VP$IP. Any tips on how you guys first started to do this successfully? I get it that if a player has a huge range, that it is more likely for him to not have a very strong hand, but when taking the board into account, I am not sure whether he is more or less likely to have hit the flop, for example. I guess on wet boards it's more likely, but other than that I'm pretty much lost. I will definitely check out your book. Hopefully, it is easier for me to understand than some of the stuff about hand ranges that I have read. :dontknow:


thanks for your posts guys, and I am going to take what you said into consideration when playing from now on. About thin value betting, are you saying that I should bet with middle pair against guys who call all the time? I really don't know what to do in situations where I have less than top pair, and when I bet I never know the proper sizing. I usually just use small bets for weaker hands against calling stations, and bigger bets for stronger hands. I figure they won't pick up on it that my bet size is determining my hand strength but maybe I'm wrong. I also never know how to proceed with less than TPTK if someone calls. Do i continue and make smaller bets? Do I check? I'm so clueless, lol..
 
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houtlijm

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ask for your hand history and look at your play in the big pots you lost. helped me a lot ^^
 
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Should I have fired another barrel on the turn here? Maybe I should have considered 4 big blind raise size at this table as well. Should I have folded on the river? My opponent seemed to me to be a loose agressive type and from my bet on the flop, I thought he had an ace, but couldn't really tell on the river whether or not he would bluff there. Why or why not? > for the above questions


Dlamente(MP) $3.28 - VP:31 PFR:6 AF:2.5 W:34|64 STL:9|83 3B:0| CB:63|25 N:2.59 Hands:174
shanevince(SB) $2.09 - VP:33 PFR:25 AF:2.0 W:50|50 STL:0|0 3B:25|100 CB:100|0 N:0.39 Hands:12
Uts(BTN) $1.70 - VP:42 PFR:25 AF:Inf. W:0| STL:20| 3B:25|0 CB:100|100 N:-0.32 Hands:12
Me(UTG) $2.94 - VP:27 PFR:16 AF:3.2 W:33|27 STL:15|88 3B:0| CB:100|33 N:-0.78 Hands:147
dgrace(CO) $1.97 - VP:57 PFR:0 AF:0.7 W:35|46 STL:0|0 3B:0|100 CB:|44 N:0.11 Hands:101
phatphill(BB) $1.04 - VP:0 PFR:0 AF:Inf. W:0| STL:0| 3B:0| CB: N:0.02 Hands:4


Pre Flop: Me(UTG) with [Kh,Kd]
Me(UTG) raises 0.06, Dlamente(MP) folds, dgrace(CO) folds, Uts(BTN) folds, shanevince(SB) calls 0.05, phatphill(BB) folds


Flop: (Ad,Qc,2d) (2 players)
shanevince(SB) checks, Me(LP) bets 0.10, shanevince(SB) calls 0.10


Turn: 6s (2 players)
shanevince(SB) checks, Me(LP) checks


River: 7c (2 players)
shanevince(SB) bets 0.31, Me(LP) calls 0.31


Final:

Me(UTG) shows [Kh,Kd]
shanevince(SB) shows [5s,As]
shanevince(SB) wins 0.87
 
Cafeman

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You need to know why you're betting. You need to look into value betting.
 
Karozi615

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If your just starting out, I'm going to tell you the most honest, boring, way to understand this game. Don't expect to just jump in and be +Ev, because no matter how many strategy books you read, you will learn the most from sitting at the table. Once you see like 50k hands you start to recognize trends and how players act, why they do certain things, etc. You should be playing super NITTY abc poker, at that level you should still turn a profit, and as you get more comfortable open up a little bit. You'll also notice that as you change levels, your approach has to change slightly. Once you start to get really comfortable and begin to crush microstakes, you'll find your first bit of resistance at .10/.25. Once you build the BR to go for .10/.25, if you can beat that game at just 3bb/hr then you've improved massively.
 
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cammybull

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You're not lost!

You always have to take into mind that poker can be a very unpredictable game. I started off in $2 6 person knock outs. The best you can do is play tight and play your big hands, A K suited, A Q suited are really good hands soley for the reason you have high hands and possible flush chance! Don't ever get carried away with your high pockets as they can screw you over fairly easily, or atleast in my experience they do.

Another trick is that before any cards come onto the table and you're first bet just raise the blinds, this gives you an idea on if your opponent(s) have good hands and if they fold then great you get the blinds, something is better than nothing!

I hope this helps a little bit, I'm not a master poker player but i generally get by and keep my bankroll management tight. Best of luck!
 
ccocco

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I think that you would have to play at lower limits, and try different strategies, but remember that the game preflop and play posflop will depend on several factors such as you have to bet, as the strength of your hand, your position at the table, which tournament time these initial, middle or bubble, especially blinds have few at that time .. As you see there are many factors to take into account .. you need to read a lot about poker .. and look at videos that will help you understand the different stages of the game .. regards
 
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Cafeman, thanks for emphasizing the importance of value betting. I read some and watched some videos to try and get a better grasp of the concept. So basically when I bet, I ask myself if worse hands will call and if better hands will fold, but I still struggle with the proper bet sizing to accomplish those 2 things. I also try to think of which hands in their range will beat mine and which won't, but I'm still awful at doing this within the allotted time period. I have also started taking notes while playing 1 table of 6 max and looking for betting patterns and tendencies to exploit in other players. I notice myself being weak (weak, tight maybe?) and folding probably too often after the flop comes down and people call my c-bets (which i have dropped to around 70% frequency instead of 80+).

@LD1977-- yes, I have started to use position to my advantage, and I try to use pot control to my advantage (strong hands, big pot, weaker hands, smaller pot).. Also, against the loose passive players, I have begun to set my own price for my drawing hands since they usually just call whatever size I bet. My range by position, starting with UTG, is: 7/12/20/33(button) /22 (small blind)... I have no idea how to play from the big blind though (advice anyone?), so I usually keep it pretty tight, but I try to figure out when a weak player in the small blind open limps often and raise him with ATC which he usually folds to... but if he always calls the raise I cut it out

So, bankroll update... today I was down 7 1/2 buy-ins but then one of the regs at a table i sat down at told me, "Go to this table where this guy is pushing his stack in every hand!" After a short session of <100 hands at that table, I am now only down 3 3/4 buy-ins. Sorry if this should go in the brags and beats section. I don't think I made some amazing play or anything. In fact I sucked out on him on the turn on the second hand posted here. I did, however, get my money in with the best hand both times. I just wanted you guys to share in my victory today. Here's 2 hands that were back to back during this session:

In hindsight, on this one, I think I should have re-raised maybe to $1 or something instead of shoving, but it turned out ok since he called me anyway.

The8sss(BB) $8.30 - VP:25 PFR:1 AF:1.2 W:25|80 STL:14|75 3B:0|50 CB:|60 N:4.70 Hands:72
DrewMacDad(CO) $9.07 - VP:71 PFR:46 AF:1.8 W:47|29 STL:42|0 3B:42|0 CB:57|43 N:-23.77 Hands:70
Me(UTG) $4.68 - VP:38 PFR:25 AF:5.6 W:40|80 STL:38|100 3B:12|50 CB:62|67 N:5.62 Hands:72
foxtone9(SB) $3.03 - VP:25 PFR:8 AF:1.2 W:27|50 STL:14|83 3B:0|50 CB:100|75 N:-0.98 Hands:60
Harrast(BTN) $6.75 - VP:47 PFR:7 AF:1.6 W:54|57 STL:0|71 3B:4|0 CB:100|75 N:4.11 Hands:30
BaddPhish(MP) $0.48 - VP:67 PFR:67 AF: W:100|50 STL: 3B:67|0 CB: N:0.37 Hands:3


Pre Flop: Me(UTG) with [Qd,Qh]
Me(UTG) raises 0.08, BaddPhish(MP) calls 0.08, DrewMacDad(CO) raises 0.14, Harrast(BTN) folds, foxtone9(SB) folds, The8sss(BB) folds, Me(UTG) raises 0.16, BaddPhish(MP) raises 0.40, DrewMacDad(CO) calls 0.34, Me(UTG) raises 4.44, DrewMacDad(CO) calls 4.20


Flop: (8h,Td,9h)



Turn: (9d)



River: 6d (2 players)



Final:
BaddPhish(MP) shows [Jd,Kd]
Me(UTG) shows [Qd,Qh]
DrewMacDad(CO) shows [Ah,4h]
Me(UTG) wins 8.04
BaddPhish(MP) wins 1.33



Hand 2:

The8sss(SB) $8.28 - VP:25 PFR:1 AF:1.2 W:25|80 STL:14|75 3B:0|50 CB:|60 N:4.69 Hands:73
DrewMacDad(MP) $4.39 - VP:72 PFR:46 AF:1.8 W:48|27 STL:42|0 3B:42|0 CB:57|43 N:-28.16 Hands:71
Me(BB) $8.04 - VP:38 PFR:25 AF:5.6 W:42|82 STL:38|100 3B:12|50 CB:62|67 N:9.54 Hands:73
foxtone9(BTN) $3.02 - VP:25 PFR:8 AF:1.2 W:27|50 STL:14|83 3B:0|50 CB:100|75 N:-0.98 Hands:61
Harrast(CO) $6.75 - VP:45 PFR:6 AF:1.6 W:54|57 STL:0|71 3B:4|0 CB:100|75 N:4.11 Hands:31
BaddPhish(UTG) $1.33 - VP:75 PFR:50 AF: W:100|50 STL: 3B:50|0 CB: N:0.35 Hands:4


Pre Flop: Me(BB) with [Ah,Kh]
BaddPhish(UTG) calls 0.02, DrewMacDad(MP) raises 4.39, Harrast(CO) folds, foxtone9(BTN) folds, The8sss(SB) folds, Me(BB) calls 4.37, BaddPhish(UTG) folds


Flop: (Jh,4h,3s)



Turn: (7h)



River: Qh (2 players)



Final:
Me(BB) shows [Ah,Kh]
DrewMacDad(MP) shows [3d,Js]
Me(BB) wins 8.31

What a joker DrewMacDad is!
 
Last edited:
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Poker_Student

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A day full of maniacs today, and I have climbed up to only 1 3/4 buy-ins down. Here's one example of just such a maniac:

The only reason I shoved with AQ is because I watched the Villain push his stack in like 5 hands in a row. Lucky for me, I had him dominated plus i held a club to take away from his flush outs.

420Hockey(BTN) $2.90 - VP:29 PFR:12 AF:5.0 W:0| STL:100|100 3B:0|100 CB:100|100 N:-0.32 Hands:17
bigeasyb(UTG) $2.94 - VP:82 PFR:47 AF:3.0 W:18|100 STL:50| 3B:38|100 CB:100|100 N:0.96 Hands:17
Me(BB) $2.15 - VP:35 PFR:29 AF:2.0 W:25|100 STL:0| 3B:11|100 CB:100|0 N:1.59 Hands:17
arin68(SB) $1.22 - VP:40 PFR:0 AF:2.0 W:25|0 STL: 3B:0|50 CB:|50 N:-0.79 Hands:10
davidbb(CO) $1.94 - VP:83 PFR:50 AF:Inf. W:60|33 STL: 3B:25|0 CB:100|100 N:-1.99 Hands:6


Pre Flop: Me(BB) with [Ah,Qc]
bigeasyb(UTG) calls 0.02, davidbb(CO) raises 1.94, 420Hockey(BTN) folds, arin68(SB) folds, Me(BB) raises 2.13, bigeasyb(UTG) folds


Flop: (Kd,3s,8s)



Turn: (7h)



River: (Qh)



Final:
Returns 0.21 to Me(BB)
Me(BB) shows [Ah,Qc]
davidbb(CO) shows [Ac,Jc]
Me(BB) wins 3.52

Here's another hand where I ran into an aggressive maniac:

I don't think I've ever been put in a situation as fortunate as this one. This player had been bullying me all day. You can probably imagine my glee when he shoved after I checked here.

bigeasyb(BB) $2.55 - VP:79 PFR:42 AF:1.6 W:18|60 STL:60|0 3B:27|67 CB:86|67 N:-1.96 Hands:38
Me(SB) $3.04 - VP:34 PFR:26 AF:2.0 W:22|100 STL:44|67 3B:6|75 CB:80|0 N:2.95 Hands:38
The8sss(BTN) $2.45 - VP:26 PFR:0 AF:2.0 W:20|100 STL:0|60 3B:0| CB:|0 N:0.45 Hands:19

Flash5001(UTG) $0.47 - VP:25 PFR:0 AF:Inf. W:0| STL:|100 3B:0| CB: N:-0.03 Hands:4



Pre Flop: Me(SB) with [Ad,8d]
Flash5001(UTG) folds, The8sss(BTN) folds, Me(SB) raises 0.07, bigeasyb(BB) calls 0.06


Flop: (Td,9d,Kd) (2 players)
Me(SB) checks, bigeasyb(BB) bets 2.47, Me(SB) calls 2.47


Turn: (7s)



River: 8s (2 players)



Final:
Me(SB) shows [Ad,8d]
bigeasyb(BB) shows [8c,Kh]
Me(SB) wins 4.60

I have learned the value of slow playing against players like this. The worst part of my game is still hand reading and considering hand ranges. I wish i had either Poker Tracker or Holdem Manager, but all I could get for free was Holdem Indicator. I don't think this program will let me see a Villain's range based on position. I also find it extremely difficult to narrow a fish's range when he's playing 60% or more of his hands. Usually I just figure if he's betting, he's got it until I see proof to the contrary. I have been furiously taking notes on what types of hands other players are showing down and how they played them every chance I get. I have a good idea how to play the player and not the cards, but I still can't put my opponents on hands with any accuracy. I think I still fold too much and play with scared money, but this more cautious approach causes less variance, and until I can read hand ranges better, I think that minimizing my losses is important. So far, I've only played about 5k hands single tabling since November 7th. It seems to me that there are enough people willing to pay me off to just make set mining or waiting for a very strong hand profitable.
 
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DaleM

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A good way of learning to play post is to put in some hands playing Limit Holdem.
 
P

Poker_Student

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A good way of learning to play post is to put in some hands playing Limit Holdem.

While I see where you're going with this, playing the flop turn and river are completely different since we have the correct pot odds to check/call often in LHE, unlike NL. Considering that I play a tight range, most pots would be big enough pre-flop to make it very hard to fold out anyone post-flop. Since there's much less fold equity, bluffing becomes nearly impossible. This is especially true at the lowest of the low micro stakes (where I play) where people will pay just to see what you had.

Current goals:

1. become a consistent winner at 2NL
2. build bankroll from $100 to $200 using only 1/2 cent NLHE
3. move to 2/4 cent NLHE ($4 buy in)
4. become a consistent winner at this level
5. continue bankroll building to 50 buy-ins for each next level of stakes and then move up
6. play 100,000 hands of NLHE in 4-5 months
7. spend a little time every day analyzing hands from recent sessions
8. post hands on forums asking for advice and insight
9. read, re-read, and study at least 1 poker book per month

Biggest Leaks:

1. Calling big raises from fish with tptk or less. DUMB DUMB DUMB! I need to stop donating my money to noobs.

2. Susceptibility to tilt when getting sucked out on. I need to identify this when it happens and immediately take a break. I have been making the mistake of waiting for the big blind to reach the player on my right before stopping play. I think this has cost me more in the long run than it has saved me.

3. Big Blind play: I have a very high fold to steal % which I think other regs are exploiting. The best way to work on this is strengthening my post flop play so that I feel more confident 3 betting a late position opener and taking a flop with some of the more marginal hands.

If anyone has any ideas or advice to help in the areas listed above, please don't hesitate to comment.

Questionable plays on my part:

Hand 1

Should I have folded on the flop to a <1/2 pot donk bet? My reasoning for calling was that I had 2 overs and a gutshot. Should I have raised at that point? I know the fish behind me is calling with almost anything so I decided to just call. I hit the straight on the turn and got the money in good, but then he rivers a flush and I could not have bet him off of his hand on the turn. How would you play the following hand differently?

Me(LP) $5.68 - VP:15 PFR:12 AF:2.5 W:38|67 STL:67|100 3B:5|50 CB:71|0 N:0.28 Hands:98
420Hockey(MP) $5.68 - VP:43 PFR:13 AF:2.8 W:27|44 STL:0|25 3B:5|0 CB:71|67 N:2.81 Hands:80
Bob Angler(MP) $0.52 - VP:32 PFR:2 AF:1.3 W:5|100 STL:0|50 3B:4| CB:|86 N:0.12 Hands:59
URwright(SB) $1.41 - VP:63 PFR:9 AF:0.8 W:15|80 STL:40|100 3B:0|100 CB:75|56 N:1.89 Hands:54
DankBank(MP) $2.28 - VP:24 PFR:0 AF:3.5 W:22|50 STL:0|0 3B:0| CB: N:-0.07 Hands:33

buzzd2(CO) $1.59 - VP:25 PFR:0 AF:Inf. W:100|100 STL: 3B:0| CB: N:0.18 Hands:4
Mrheehaw(UTG) $0.66 - VP:22 PFR:0 AF: W:0| STL: 3B:0| CB:|100 N:-0.09 Hands:9
bigTEE420(BTN) $0.21 - VP:50 PFR:0 AF: W:40|50 STL: 3B:0| CB: N:-0.09 Hands:6
darkteco(BB) $2 - VP:0 PFR:0 AF: W: STL: 3B:0| CB: N:-0.02 Hands:1


Pre Flop: Me(LP) with [Qh,As]
Mrheehaw(UTG) folds, Bob Angler(MP) folds, DankBank(MP) calls 0.02, darkteco(BB) checks, Me(LP) raises 0.10, buzzd2(CO) folds, bigTEE420(BTN) folds, URwright(SB) calls 0.09, 420Hockey(MP) folds, DankBank(MP) calls 0.08, darkteco(BB) folds


Flop: (4d,Jh,Td) (3 players)
URwright(SB) checks, DankBank(MP) bets 0.25, Me(LP) calls 0.25, URwright(SB) calls 0.25


Turn: Kh (3 players)
URwright(SB) checks, DankBank(MP) checks, Me(LP) bets 0.99, URwright(SB) calls 0.99, DankBank(MP) folds


River: 3d (2 players)
URwright(SB) bets 0.07, Me(LP) calls 0.07


Final:
Me(LP) shows [Qh,As]
URwright(SB) shows [Ad,Kd]
URwright(SB) wins 2.89

Hand 2

How about this one? Should I not have 4 bet shoved pre? The villains in question were taking flops almost no matter the cost with wide ranges, so I thought since I was almost always ahead here, that I might as well get the money in good and possibly cause 1 of them to fold. What would you do differently here?


Me(MP) $4.30 - VP:14 PFR:12 AF:2.5 W:39|71 STL:67|100 3B:6|33 CB:71|0 N:-1.20 Hands:119
URwright(LP) $1.76 - VP:64 PFR:12 AF:1.0 W:17|63 STL:40|100 3B:3|100 CB:57|60 N:3.81 Hands:75
DankBank(BB) $1.87 - VP:22 PFR:0 AF:2.7 W:15|50 STL:0|0 3B:0| CB:|100 N:-0.15 Hands:54
buzzd2(MP) $1.73 - VP:20 PFR:0 AF:4.0 W:17|100 STL: 3B:0| CB:|0 N:0.32 Hands:25
bigTEE420(MP) $0.47 - VP:48 PFR:7 AF:Inf. W:20|67 STL: 3B:0| CB:50|0 N:0.17 Hands:27
darkteco(UTG) $2.41 - VP:9 PFR:5 AF:0.5 W:50|100 STL: 3B:0| CB:100| N:0.41 Hands:22
aivanova(MP) $2.58 - VP:37 PFR:11 AF:2.3 W:38|100 STL: 3B:0| CB:100|0 N:1.28 Hands:19
royloml(CO) $2 - VP:25 PFR:13 AF: W:100|0 STL:100| 3B:0|0 CB: N:-1.97 Hands:8
CA2PER(BTN) $1.08 - VP:56 PFR:11 AF:0.4 W:83|40 STL: 3B:0| CB:100|0 N:0.21 Hands:9



Pre Flop: Me(MP) with [Ks,Kh]
darkteco(UTG) folds, Me(MP) raises 0.08, buzzd2(MP) folds, aivanova(MP) folds, bigTEE420(MP) folds, URwright(LP) raises 0.14, royloml(CO) calls 0.12, CA2PER(BTN) folds, DankBank(BB) folds, Me(MP) raises 4.22, URwright(LP) calls 1.62, royloml(CO) calls 1.85


Flop: (2d,5h,Td)



Turn: (Qd)



River: (3c)



Final:
Returns 2.31 to Me(MP)
Me(MP) shows [Ks,Kh]
royloml(CO) shows [Ac,Kc]
URwright(LP) shows [Kd,Jd]
Me(MP) wins 0.46
URwright(LP) wins 4.81
 
S

swingro

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Should I have fired another barrel on the turn here? Maybe I should have considered 4 big blind raise size at this table as well. Should I have folded on the river? My opponent seemed to me to be a loose agressive type and from my bet on the flop, I thought he had an ace, but couldn't really tell on the river whether or not he would bluff there. Why or why not? > for the above questions


Dlamente(MP) $3.28 - VP:31 PFR:6 AF:2.5 W:34|64 STL:9|83 3B:0| CB:63|25 N:2.59 Hands:174
shanevince(SB) $2.09 - VP:33 PFR:25 AF:2.0 W:50|50 STL:0|0 3B:25|100 CB:100|0 N:0.39 Hands:12
Uts(BTN) $1.70 - VP:42 PFR:25 AF:Inf. W:0| STL:20| 3B:25|0 CB:100|100 N:-0.32 Hands:12
Me(UTG) $2.94 - VP:27 PFR:16 AF:3.2 W:33|27 STL:15|88 3B:0| CB:100|33 N:-0.78 Hands:147
dgrace(CO) $1.97 - VP:57 PFR:0 AF:0.7 W:35|46 STL:0|0 3B:0|100 CB:|44 N:0.11 Hands:101
phatphill(BB) $1.04 - VP:0 PFR:0 AF:Inf. W:0| STL:0| 3B:0| CB: N:0.02 Hands:4


Pre Flop: Me(UTG) with [Kh,Kd]
Me(UTG) raises 0.06, Dlamente(MP) folds, dgrace(CO) folds, Uts(BTN) folds, shanevince(SB) calls 0.05, phatphill(BB) folds


Flop: (Ad,Qc,2d) (2 players)
shanevince(SB) checks, Me(LP) bets 0.10, shanevince(SB) calls 0.10


Turn: 6s (2 players)
shanevince(SB) checks, Me(LP) checks


River: 7c (2 players)
shanevince(SB) bets 0.31, Me(LP) calls 0.31


Final:

Me(UTG) shows [Kh,Kd]
shanevince(SB) shows [5s,As]
shanevince(SB) wins 0.87
A very important piece of advice here. Raise harder preflop. 4BB even 5 BB if there are more than 1 fish at the table. The reason is simple. First you need to make some players fold the total garbage. Second is that if they call you get as much value as you can from the bad players.
In our case. If you raise to 8 cents, the pot will be 18. You bet 12cents as a continuation bet. You do not need to make it bigger. He will not think he will only see his 2 cards without thinking what you have, If he calls he has and ace. He is a bad player but not a complete fish. A fish would had called with a lot more hands. So turn check for pot control is good. On the river when he bets pot means just one thing He has top pair or 2 pairs. He is not that aggressive and he will not bet pot without top pair at least Even though it is hard to fold KK you need to do so. Players are like an open book at 2NL. You need to pay attention at his stats and at what they mean.

Ps. Download Jhon's book Polish Poker, and buy Blackrain79's book "Crushing the micros". Read them both a few times because they will answer a million questions about the basic ABC poker that you need to be a winner at micros.
 
AlfieAA

AlfieAA

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you need to put players on ranges so that you can decide whether you are betting for value or as a bluff....download pokerstove if you already haven't and play about with it.....also bet sizing depends on quite a few things...player type/tendencies, action pre flop, flop texture and if you are betting for value or as a bluff.......usually the wetter the board...i.e...ThJh9d v a tag reg who raised pre from utg and a vpip/pfr of 20/18, you would put him on a range of hands v the flop texture and his actions before.......so on pokerstove you can put in 18% and it will show you the hands he is most likely to raise with.....if say you have 88 and you called his raise then you can see that this board hit his range pretty hard....so if he checks to you then you need to be betting at this stage as a bluff...so you would size your bet to give him the wrong odds to chase a flush draw if he has QKh AQh AKh or if he's on an open ender straight draw....could be very well on the two draws so i would prob bet full pot....and if he calls then he's getting the wrong odds but he hits a scare card on the turn you can re-evaluate it and gtfo.....wouldnt reccomend betting in this example though, would be better to check and hope to get a free turn card that hits your set....obv not the 8 of hearts :)..
 
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