Ian the Fish's poker progress journal

[Figaroo2]

Yep I sat sweated and watched and didn't offer much help as it wasn't needed and it all went into nosedive. Someone must have put a voodoo spell on me and cash games....

 

[Ian the Fish]

afternoon of May 21st

Got to play some games. The tables, as always at these stakes, were filled with fish, however, I made some mistakes. Have to analyze my river play.


Here's the graph:

And the mistakes I was talking about - both were played well, just folds on the river:
Hand #1:
Pacific, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 8 Players

SB: $3.38 (67.6 bb) - quite fishy (38 VPIP / 10 PFR / 1.4 3B)
BB: $5.03 (100.6 bb)
Hero (UTG+2): $5.66 (113.2 bb)
MP1: $2.50 (50 bb)
MP2: $3.33 (66.6 bb)
MP3: $7.64 (152.8 bb)
CO: $2.03 (40.6 bb)
BTN: $4.95 (99 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with Q

A

Hero raises to $0.17, 5 folds, SB calls $0.15, BB folds

Flop: ($0.39) 5

K

6

(2 players)
SB bets $0.39, Hero calls $0.39

Turn: ($1.17) T

(2 players)
SB bets $1.17, Hero calls $1.17

River: ($3.51) Q

(2 players)
SB bets $1.65 and is all-in, Hero calls $1.65

Results: $6.81 pot ($0.40 rake)
Final Board: 5

K

6

T

Q

SB showed 6

5

and won $6.41 ($3.03 net)
Hero showed Q

A

and lost (-$3.38 net)

I expecting to see a set, but this also works.

Hand #2:
Pacific, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

SB: $2.95 (59 bb)
BB: $5 (100 bb)
UTG+1: $4.84 (96.8 bb)
UTG+2: $8.49 (169.8 bb)
MP1: $5.59 (111.8 bb)
MP2: $6.07 (121.4 bb)
MP3: $4.88 (97.6 bb)
Hero (CO): $5.81 (116.2 bb)
BTN: $5.08 (101.6 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 3

3

2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.14, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.14, 3 folds

Flop: ($0.35) Q

A

3

(2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $0.23, MP1 calls $0.23

Turn: ($0.81) 4

(2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $0.40, MP1 calls $0.40

River: ($1.61) 9

(2 players)
MP1 bets $4.82 and is all-in, Hero calls $4.82

Results: $11.25 pot ($0.66 rake)
Final Board: Q

A

3

4

9

all the draws missed, so it's either a higher set or a bluff... and sure enough...

Spoiler

MP1 showed Q

Q

and won $10.59 ($5 net)
Hero showed 3

3

and lost (-$5.59 net)

Live and learn.

 

[Figaroo2]

I wouldn't ever fold a set on that board as they could be shoving a strong 2 pair as well when there are no flushes and only an improbable straight. If can have QQ he can have AQ

 

[Ian the Fish]

I wouldn't ever fold a set on that board as they could be shoving a strong 2 pair as well when there are no flushes and only an improbable straight. If can have QQ he can have AQ

Interesting that you say that, because AQ (or AK) were my initial guesses, but then I thought that no player with common sense would shove there with just 2 pair. Anyhow, you might be right - I am playing vs not so strong opponents anyhow.

The AQh hand was a fold on the river though.

 

[Ian the Fish]

Evening of May 21st

Just had a fantastic session. It's pretty much all I have to say. It's nowhere near my biggest profit or the craziest run-good, but it's just the way I feel I played.

Here's an interesting hand:

Pacific, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

SB: $5 (100 bb)
BB: $9.94 (198.8 bb)
UTG+1: $5.76 (115.2 bb)
UTG+2: $5 (100 bb)
MP1: $5 (100 bb) Has a reputation for being a relentless bluffer, yet quite tight. (VPIP 14; PFR 9)
Hero (MP2): $10.53 (210.6 bb)
MP3: $6.15 (123 bb)
CO: $5.74 (114.8 bb)
BTN: $5.12 (102.4 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 6

6

2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.17, Hero calls $0.17, 5 folds

Flop: ($0.41) 5

T

5

(2 players)
MP1 bets $0.30, Hero calls $0.30

Turn: ($1.01) 8

(2 players)
MP1 bets $0.60, Hero calls $0.60

River: ($2.21) J

(2 players)
MP1 bets $1.35, Hero calls $1.35

Results: $4.91 pot ($0.28 rake)
Final Board: 5

T

5

8

J

I expected EXACTLY this hand. Did you?

Spoiler

MP1 showed A

K

and lost (-$2.42 net)
Hero showed 6

6

and won $4.63 ($2.21 net)

 

[Ian the Fish]

Afternoon of May 22nd

Was a solid session. 2 of my bluffs ran into the hands I was trying to represent. Yet, I managed to loss the minimum both times, which is always nice. Here's the graph:

 

[Ian the Fish]

and the night session of May 22nd

The only significant loss here was an all-in preflop w/ KK vs. AA. What I loved about this session was that I was able to, basically, take what was given to me. In other words, I adapted to the necessary style of play at the tables. As the tables were stacked with regs, most of the money was made by taking it down before showdown.

Graph:

 

[Limited_Al]

Hi! Personally I think you’re good at folding, but need to analyse your own hands a bit more. You’re calling with a pair, so you’re beat by a lot, even if you have the over pair.

I really like you’re setup of the bankroll graph. I may start doing something like this myself! I’m learning micro cash, so I’ve got a lot of learning to do also. Just started recording my sessions which certainly helps.


Best of luck!

 

[Ian the Fish]

On a rampage

Hi! Personally I think you’re good at folding, but need to analyse your own hands a bit more. You’re calling with a pair, so you’re beat by a lot, even if you have the over pair.

I really like you’re setup of the bankroll graph. I may start doing something like this myself! I’m learning micro cash, so I’ve got a lot of learning to do also. Just started recording my sessions which certainly helps.


Best of luck!

Thanks a lot! I am trying to do about 2h of play (split into 2 sessions of 1h each) and 1h of analysis (30min after each session) every day.

Thank you very much for the wishes!

Today I was simply on a rampage. Good calls, my preflop all-ins held (except for 1 haha), bluffs went through, plenty of stealing and keeping the image solid at the tables. The toughest part of the session was to keep hopping all those tables and looking for fish. It's quite insane to see that people are hunting the fish even at as low limits as 5 NL.

Here's the graph of the session:

 

[Aces2w1n]

Aq if you think hes weak you never flat call that turn... shove turnPersonally i just fold flop


33 i dont like the half pot seriously leaving money. Should be raising 3/4 at least and go for stacks.

 

[Figaroo2]

Ian Not the Fish ...Great graphs
post that hand where I saw you get stacked with AK

 

[Ian the Fish]

Overall

Ian Not the Fish ...Great graphs
post that hand where I saw you get stacked with AK

You got it!

So I played another session tonight, which was probably the toughest session I've had so far. Not only the deck was cold, I was getting coolered and, dear I say, outplayed in some spots. Here is the hand:

Pacific, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 8 Players

SB: $7.22 (144.4 bb)
BB: $5.40 (108 bb)
UTG+2: $5 (100 bb)
MP1: $2.42 (48.4 bb)
Hero (MP2): $9.37 (187.4 bb)
MP3: $5 (100 bb) (VPIP 14; PFR 3; 3B 0; hands 75)
CO: $5.07 (101.4 bb)
BTN: $10.76 (215.2 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A

K

2 folds, Hero raises to $0.17, MP3 calls $0.17, CO calls $0.17, 3 folds

Flop: ($0.58) 9

3

9

(3 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks, CO checks

Turn: ($0.58) A

(3 players)
Hero bets $0.38, MP3 raises to $1.05, CO folds, Hero calls $0.67

River: ($2.68) 4

(2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 bets $3.78 and is all-in, Hero calls $3.78

Results: $10.24 pot ($0.60 rake)
Final Board: 9

3

9

A

4

Spoiler

Hero showed A

K

and lost (-$5 net)
MP3 showed 9

J

and won $9.64 ($4.64 net)

Quite silly on my part to get stacked in this manner (just holding TPTK), but I was definitely not expecting that. Judging by his stats, this guy doesn't even play small pocket pairs, without even mentioning what he had. The turn raise by the villain did give away a lot, though.

Oh and, for those, who want to know - here are my stats & the total graph since I restarted playing again (since May 18th):

 

[Ian the Fish]

Evening session of May 24th

Played just 1h today, as I have to prepare for an exam tomorrow. The session went well. I didn't manage to get sucked into some tricky situations by making some solid folds. The graph is shown below:

Here's a nice hand vs. an ABC reg.

Pacific, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players

SB: $5.26 (105.2 bb)
BB: $5.07 (101.4 bb)
UTG: $4.30 (86 bb)
MP: $5.45 (109 bb) (VPIP: 20 / PFR: 17 / CB: 62 / Hands 1.2k)
Hero (CO): $5 (100 bb)
BTN: $8.10 (162 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 5

5

UTG calls $0.05, MP raises to $0.27, Hero calls $0.27, 4 folds

Flop: ($0.66) 8

T

3

(2 players)
MP bets $0.44, Hero calls $0.44

Turn: ($1.54) 7

(2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $0.87, MP calls $0.87

River: ($3.28) 3

(2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $3.42 and is all-in, MP folds

Results: $3.28 pot ($0.16 rake)
Final Board: 8

T

3

7

3

MP mucked and lost (-$1.58 net)
Hero mucked 5

5

and won $3.12 ($1.54 net)

 

[Beanfacekilla]

Played just 1h today, as I have to prepare for an exam tomorrow. The session went well. I didn't manage to get sucked into some tricky situations by making some solid folds. The graph is shown below:

Here's a nice hand vs. an ABC reg.

Pacific, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players

SB: $5.26 (105.2 bb)
BB: $5.07 (101.4 bb)
UTG: $4.30 (86 bb)
MP: $5.45 (109 bb) (VPIP: 20 / PFR: 17 / CB: 62 / Hands 1.2k)
Hero (CO): $5 (100 bb)
BTN: $8.10 (162 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 5

5

UTG calls $0.05, MP raises to $0.27, Hero calls $0.27, 4 folds

Flop: ($0.66) 8

T

3

(2 players)
MP bets $0.44, Hero calls $0.44

Turn: ($1.54) 7

(2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $0.87, MP calls $0.87

River: ($3.28) 3

(2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $3.42 and is all-in, MP folds

Results: $3.28 pot ($0.16 rake)
Final Board: 8

T

3

7

3

MP mucked and lost (-$1.58 net)
Hero mucked 5

5

and won $3.12 ($1.54 net)

River bet seems thin if it's for value.... Can you tell us a little about your thoughts in the hand? Are we trying to get calls on the river from A high, or are we bluffing trying to fold out something like 9-9 or whatever?

 

[Ian the Fish]

River bet seems thin if it's for value.... Can you tell us a little about your thoughts in the hand? Are we trying to get calls on the river from A high, or are we bluffing trying to fold out something like 9-9 or whatever?

What I knew about the villain, since I had so many hands on the guy, was that he is what some describe as "one-and-done" guy. In other words, he cbets once on the flop, just to test out the opponent, and then gives up, after facing a call (in case he has overcards, e.g. AK here). Line by line:
*Preflop: standard.
*Flop: the expected cbet by the villain. I am calling, as this is much more within my range than it is within his (+ his reputation)
*Turn: he checks (as expected), I bet and then face a call, which made me to think that he could have some small pair (44, 66, 99), or he has a flush draw, and just checked to control the pot. In any way, I have to charge him for the latter, and if a blank comes on river, bet the river.
*River: a blank 3, which changes nothing. He checks, I shove to push out the mid pairs that are higher than my 55, and, of course, make him fold his busted FDs.

 

[Beanfacekilla]

Ok thanks for the thoughts.

I like the line then, and river bet seems well thought out, and you have reasons to do so.

 

[WabiSabi]

I really don't like the 55 hand i think it's an easy fold on the flop even with your reads.Id much rather take this line with a hand that has some more playability with a gutter or hands with backdoor potential and an over or something.This just seems really spewy to me and i just think it's a really poor choice of hand to use.

 

[Ian the Fish]

Night session of May 25th

The night sessions appear to be a bit tougher, as more regs are at the tables. Since the fish that I managed to stack were severely short-stacked, the pots were, on average, much smaller. Though, I am happy with my play tonight - nothing particularly interesting, in terms of hands, to share with. Here's the graph:

 

[Ahoy]

The night sessions appear to be a bit tougher, as more regs are at the tables. Since the fish that I managed to stack were severely short-stacked, the pots were, on average, much smaller. Though, I am happy with my play tonight - nothing particularly interesting, in terms of hands, to share with. Here's the graph:

Ian do you really find it more difficult in the evening?
Im experiencing the absolute opposite of what you are saying Im not sure about or timezones and when do we have evenings, but for me in the late evening and night I play definitely the best.

It might be like that because I am more focused, which, for sure I am, but on the other hand, I see people shoving J4 preflop at night more than during the day. Guess thats just a small sample though :icon_flow

 

[Ian the Fish]

taking shots at 10NL

As I have built up my roll to start taking shots at 10NL, I did. Well, the unluckiness was clearly present, as I battled through an hour of 3-6 tabling at 10NL. As I was intending to finish my session with profit of around $0, I decided to play 1 more round, and - voila, magic happened, haha. Here's the graph:

Hand #1: When "playing around" with a 88/4 whale does not go your way... EVEN after doing everything right. Haha.
Pacific, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
SB: $4.89 (48.9 bb)
Hero (BB): $15.04 (150.4 bb)
UTG: $10.61 (106.1 bb)
MP: $4.04 (40.4 bb)
CO: $19.55 (195.5 bb)
BTN: $10.19 (101.9 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A♦ A♥
4 folds, SB completes, Hero raises to $0.30, SB raises to $0.50, Hero raises to $1.16, SB raises to $1.82, Hero raises to $3.94, SB raises to $4.89 and is all-in, Hero calls $0.95

Flop: ($9.78) 7♥ 8♣ 9♦ (2 players, 1 is all-in)
Turn: ($9.78) 6♥ (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($9.78) 5♠ (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results: $9.78 pot ($0.48 rake)
Final Board: 7♥ 8♣ 9♦ 6♥ 5♠
SB showed T♣ 9♣ and won $9.30 ($4.41 net)
Hero showed A♦ A♥ and lost (-$4.89 net)


Hand #2: today's saviour:
Pacific, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 5 Players
SB: $13.66 (136.6 bb)
BB: $10 (100 bb)
Hero (MP): $10.30 (103 bb)
CO: $10.59 (105.9 bb)
BTN: $14.35 (143.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with J♣ J♦
Hero raises to $0.35, CO folds, BTN calls $0.35, SB raises to $1.40, BB folds, Hero calls $1.05, BTN calls $1.05

Flop: ($4.30) 6♦ J♠ 7♣ (3 players)
SB bets $2.05, Hero calls $2.05, BTN calls $2.05

Turn: ($10.45) 4♠ (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets $10.90 and is all-in, SB calls $10.21 and is all-in, Hero calls $6.85

River: ($37.72) 5♥ (3 players, 2 are all-in)

Results: $37.72 pot ($1.88 rake)
Final Board: 6♦ J♠ 7♣ 4♠ 5♥
SB showed K♦ K♥ and lost (-$13.66 net)
Hero showed J♣ J♦ and won $29.45 ($19.15 net)
BTN showed 7♠ J♥ and won $6.39 (-$7.27 net)

 

[Ian the Fish]

no showdown? no problem.

Went for a short night session. Here's the result:

 

[Ian the Fish]

what an incredible week it has been...

I have been playing my absolute best. The sample size is just 10k hands, however, it has been quite incredible to feel the game, as I have been feeling it for the past week, which is when I got back into poker after a long break.

 

[WabiSabi]

Fantastic work,I'm a little jealous of the red line :top: it's something ive never tried to improve.

 

[Figaroo2]

Yeah Ricky that is a super graph and the stats are really good as well, congrats and lovely to see you back playing again.

 

[Ian the Fish]

Today I just 2 tabled, as I was studying and writing a program in the meantime. However, the session went very well.

What do you think of the way I played this hand?

Pacific, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 4 Players
SB: $9.14 (182.8 bb)
BB: $5.78 (115.6 bb)
Hero (CO): $6.93 (138.6 bb)
BTN: $5.10 (102 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A♠ K♦
Hero raises to $0.17, 2 folds, BB calls $0.12

Flop: ($0.36) 4♠ A♦ 4♣ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.18, BB calls $0.18

Turn: ($0.72) 5♣ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.36, BB calls $0.36

River: ($1.44) 6♠ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Results: $1.44 pot ($0.07 rake)
Final Board: 4♠ A♦ 4♣ 5♣ 6♠
BB showed T♥ A♥ and lost (-$0.71 net)
Hero showed A♠ K♦ and won $1.37 ($0.66 net)