The cash game student’s blog [Free microstakes…

NightShadePMC · 2014-09-11T20:39:29Z

Hello again, PokerStrategy! This is my second blog on this site, you can find my first one here: The FR Zoom crusher's blog My first one was an overconfident,lazy me's blog, a me who didn't dedicate enough time to studying the game continually, so he didn't reach his true potential for a long time. This second one will be the opposite, it will be the blog of a permanent student of the game. This blog has the purpose of keeping track of my poker and life objectives and maybe share some of my own experience and tips with players looking to improve their game at the stakes I will be playing. I will mainly focus on hands that I played badly so that I can remind myself what mistakes not to repeat and point them out to other aspiring grinders so they won't have to make them. Because one of my main goals towards improving my poker skill and mental game is to not be results-oriented, this blog will rarely or never contain graphs so that I don't put pressure on myself. Some info about me: I'm 23 years old, I live in Romania and I dropped out of college when I was 21 to pursue a full-time poker career after winning a little more than $2000 in a month from playing $7 18-man SNGs on PokerStars in a country where the minimum wage is around $220 and around $450 to $600 for someone with 7 years of college. I never have and never will regret my decision. I have been studying poker since I was 19 years old. My only source of income is still poker, only now I'm playing cash games and I'm planning on sticking with them because they generally have a higher winning potential and less variance than SNGs, but they are also harder to master, but nothing great comes without hard work. Objective types: Short-term objectives should take no longer than a month and I remind myself of them daily so that I do my best to accomplish them. They also have the role to divide mid-term and long-term objectives into smaller, more manageable chunks. Mid-term objectives should take several months to complete and I review them weekly to see if it's the optimal time to complete them. Long-term objectives are likely to take more than a year to complete and are pretty self-explanatory - they are my aspirations and dreams for the future. Short-term objectives: :diamond: Only look at my results once a week on Sunday evening to improve my focus on the game itself and not the winnings/losses. :diamond: Do some basic physical exercise in the morning. :diamond: Read "The mental game of poker" By Jared Tendler :diamond: Stop drinking Coca-Cola or Pepsi - they're killing my liver. :diamond: Play at least 100K hands every month. Mid-term objectives: :diamond: When in big pots with a monster hand, always think about the exact optimal bet sizing required to shove your hand on the turn or river, if betting is the most +EV play, until it becomes an unconscious habit. :diamond: Read "Elements of poker" by Tommy Angelo. :diamond: Start going to the gym again (it's a matter of free time, I should be able to do it once I move to NL50 because my hourly rate will increase). :diamond: Dedicate more time to activities my girlfriend likes (such as going out, watching movies, playing video games together etc.) once I'm making $3k+/month. :diamond: Get a professional chair and adjustable table to avoid back problems. Long-term objectives: :diamond: Keep analyzing my game every 100K hands to search for leaks and potential improvements until I'm crushing €NL100 6-max speed. :diamond: Get to €NL100 6-max speed. [Currently - NL50 full ring Zoom] :diamond: Start making at least $10K/month constantly. :diamond: Gain 5 more KGs of muscle. Completed objectives: :spade: Decreased my Cbet flop % to 60% (was at 80%+, worked very well at NL25, but I wanted to get some balance into my game for when I get to NL50-NL200 so I don't get exploited) :spade: Got an awesome gaming computer from my poker winnings (although I don't play games too much these days, but the performance and desktop space don't hurt). :spade: Read "Building a bankroll - full ring edition" by Pawel Nazarewicz. :spade: Tightened my pre-flop ranges to eliminate the hands that are losing money from certain positions at NL25 FR.

NightShadePMC

Joined: 16.11.2010

Posts: 718

05.02.2015, 18:03 0

Must be one of those days...:rage:

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 16.50, PFR: 12.76, 3Bet Preflop: 4.87, Hands: 17,895)
SB: 155.86 BB (VPIP: 12.51, PFR: 9.15, 3Bet Preflop: 3.40, Hands: 81,692)
BB: 245.02 BB (VPIP: 25.88, PFR: 18.82, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 85)
UTG: 118.76 BB (VPIP: 11.58, PFR: 8.03, 3Bet Preflop: 3.76, Hands: 769)
UTG+1: 54.22 BB (VPIP: 14.47, PFR: 11.79, 3Bet Preflop: 6.30, Hands: 31,888)
MP: 101.92 BB (VPIP: 15.88, PFR: 12.52, 3Bet Preflop: 7.07, Hands: 1,743)
MP+1: 121.98 BB (VPIP: 24.41, PFR: 14.15, 3Bet Preflop: 2.22, Hands: 217)
Hero (MP+2): 105.88 BB
CO: 117.54 BB (VPIP: 15.51, PFR: 12.65, 3Bet Preflop: 5.39, Hands: 30,799)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 3♦ 3♥

fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, BB raises to 7 BB, Hero calls 4 BB

Flop: (14.5 BB, 2 players) 3♠ 6♣ 2♦
BB bets 6.92 BB, Hero raises to 17.5 BB, BB calls 10.58 BB

Turn: (49.5 BB, 2 players) 7♣
BB checks, Hero bets 27 BB, BB calls 27 BB

River: (103.5 BB, 2 players) Q♣
BB checks, Hero bets 54.38 BB and is all-in, BB calls 54.38 BB

Spoiler

Hero shows 3♦ 3♥ (Three of a Kind, Threes)
(Pre 18%, Flop 90%, Turn 95%)
BB shows Q♥ Q♦ (Three of a Kind, Queens)
(Pre 82%, Flop 10%, Turn 5%)
BB wins 207.26 BB

The cash game student's blog

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NightShadePMC

Joined: 16.11.2010

Posts: 718

06.02.2015, 17:33 0

Best.Run.Ever.:ayfkm:

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 193.52 BB (VPIP: 20.98, PFR: 8.73, 3Bet Preflop: 1.25, Hands: 6,565)
Hero (SB): 101.5 BB
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 12.07, PFR: 8.17, 3Bet Preflop: 4.06, Hands: 831)
UTG: 304.8 BB (VPIP: 11.76, PFR: 11.76, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
UTG+1: 150.8 BB (VPIP: 17.25, PFR: 13.49, 3Bet Preflop: 5.35, Hands: 2,886)
MP: 138.72 BB (VPIP: 14.13, PFR: 9.89, 3Bet Preflop: 2.98, Hands: 643)
MP+1: 84 BB (VPIP: 8.47, PFR: 5.93, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 119)
MP+2: 106.34 BB (VPIP: 16.97, PFR: 13.92, 3Bet Preflop: 3.64, Hands: 5,741)
CO: 218.58 BB (VPIP: 29.05, PFR: 17.88, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 179)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A♦ A♣

fold, UTG+1 raises to 3 BB, MP raises to 10.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 10 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (25 BB, 2 players) 5♦ Q♠ 3♣
Hero checks, MP bets 9.54 BB, Hero raises to 23 BB, MP calls 13.46 BB

Turn: (71 BB, 2 players) T♥
Hero bets 68 BB and is all-in, MP calls 68 BB

River: (207 BB, 2 players) 3♥

Spoiler

Hero shows A♦ A♣ (Two Pair, Aces and Threes)
(Pre 82%, Flop 10%, Turn 5%)
MP shows Q♣ Q♥ (Full House, Queens full of Threes)
(Pre 18%, Flop 90%, Turn 95%)
MP wins 202 BB

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 106.26 BB (VPIP: 17.37, PFR: 10.97, 3Bet Preflop: 4.18, Hands: 17,141)
SB: 213.48 BB (VPIP: 23.45, PFR: 17.70, 3Bet Preflop: 8.79, Hands: 227)
BB: 132.62 BB (VPIP: 8.84, PFR: 6.70, 3Bet Preflop: 1.40, Hands: 1,173)
UTG: 100 BB (VPIP: 17.90, PFR: 12.92, 3Bet Preflop: 3.98, Hands: 25,772)
UTG+1: 195 BB (VPIP: 16.66, PFR: 14.41, 3Bet Preflop: 6.07, Hands: 3,384)
MP: 50 BB (VPIP: 15.03, PFR: 12.12, 3Bet Preflop: 4.66, Hands: 25,867)
MP+1: 122.24 BB (VPIP: 17.13, PFR: 10.65, 3Bet Preflop: 6.52, Hands: 220)
Hero (MP+2): 113.48 BB
CO: 100.66 BB (VPIP: 12.52, PFR: 9.16, 3Bet Preflop: 3.39, Hands: 82,122)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K♥ K♦

fold, UTG+1 raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 10.5 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 10 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (25 BB, 2 players) 2♣ 8♣ T♦
SB checks, Hero bets 15.52 BB, SB calls 15.52 BB

Turn: (56.04 BB, 2 players) 9♦
SB checks, Hero bets 34.78 BB, SB calls 34.78 BB

River: (125.6 BB, 2 players) T♣
SB checks, Hero checks

Spoiler

SB shows A♣ T♠ (Three of a Kind, Tens)
(Pre 29%, Flop 24%, Turn 11%)
Hero mucks K♥ K♦ (Two Pair, Kings and Tens)
(Pre 71%, Flop 76%, Turn 89%)
SB wins 120.6 BB

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 90.94 BB (VPIP: 9.17, PFR: 6.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 121)
Hero (SB): 103.5 BB
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 17.82, PFR: 13.82, 3Bet Preflop: 5.32, Hands: 9,634)
UTG: 87.28 BB (VPIP: 20.58, PFR: 17.10, 3Bet Preflop: 11.28, Hands: 348)
UTG+1: 36.4 BB (VPIP: 21.78, PFR: 13.60, 3Bet Preflop: 1.24, Hands: 844)
MP: 181.64 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 30)
MP+1: 125.16 BB (VPIP: 12.90, PFR: 3.23, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 32)
MP+2: 29.06 BB (VPIP: 12.90, PFR: 6.45, 3Bet Preflop: 6.67, Hands: 31)
CO: 112.24 BB (VPIP: 15.57, PFR: 12.93, 3Bet Preflop: 6.27, Hands: 798)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A♣ J♣

fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, BB raises to 9 BB, Hero calls 6 BB

Flop: (18 BB, 2 players) 2♣ J♠ 7♠
Hero checks, BB bets 10.32 BB, Hero calls 10.32 BB

Turn: (38.64 BB, 2 players) 6♦
Hero checks, BB checks

River: (38.64 BB, 2 players) 5♠
Hero checks, BB bets 25.84 BB, Hero calls 25.84 BB

Spoiler

BB shows 5♣ J♥ (Two Pair, Jacks and Fives)
(Pre 24%, Flop 12%, Turn 7%)
Hero mucks A♣ J♣ (One Pair, Jacks)
(Pre 76%, Flop 88%, Turn 93%)
BB wins 86.26 BB

And so on...:rage:

The cash game student's blog

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NightShadePMC

Joined: 16.11.2010

Posts: 718

09.02.2015, 01:07 0

So I'm moving to 6-max and I am starting with NL25. Feels like a vacation compared to NL50 full ring. The players are...like this:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 145.16 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
Hero (SB): 120.12 BB
BB: 78.32 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
UTG: 94.72 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: _, Hands: 1)
MP: 566.96 BB (VPIP: 21.88, PFR: 6.25, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 32)
CO: 85.52 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 8♥ 8♣

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, fold, BTN calls 1 BB, Hero calls 0.6 BB, BB checks

Flop: (4 BB, 4 players) 5♦ 6♣ 7♠
Hero bets 2.48 BB, BB calls 2.48 BB, UTG calls 2.48 BB, fold

Turn: (11.44 BB, 3 players) K♠
Hero bets 7.08 BB, BB calls 7.08 BB, UTG calls 7.08 BB

River: (32.68 BB, 3 players) 4♥
Hero bets 22.4 BB, fold, UTG raises to 44.8 BB, Hero raises to 109.56 BB and is all-in, UTG calls 39.36 BB and is all-in

Spoiler

Hero shows 8♥ 8♣ (Straight, Eight High)
(Pre 82%, Flop 92%, Turn 95%)
UTG mucks 3♠ 3♥ (Straight, Seven High)
(Pre 18%, Flop 8%, Turn 5%)
Hero wins 193 BB

PokerStars - $0.25 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 430 BB (VPIP: 15.60, PFR: 12.84, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 112)
SB: 223.64 BB (VPIP: 22.73, PFR: 19.09, 3Bet Preflop: 5.56, Hands: 111)
BB: 122.04 BB (VPIP: 34.15, PFR: 17.07, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 42)
UTG: 108.56 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
MP: 67.2 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 18)
Hero (CO): 108.24 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has K♠ A♦

fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, SB raises to 10 BB, BB calls 9 BB, Hero raises to 25 BB, fold, BB calls 15 BB

Flop: (60 BB, 2 players) K♦ 5♠ K♣
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (60 BB, 2 players) 9♣
BB checks, Hero bets 28.64 BB, BB raises to 97.04 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 54.6 BB and is all-in

River: (226.48 BB, 2 players) 2♠

Spoiler

BB shows 5♣ 3♣ (Two Pair, Kings and Fives)
(Pre 41%, Flop 4%, Turn 18%)
Hero shows K♠ A♦ (Three of a Kind, Kings)
(Pre 59%, Flop 96%, Turn 82%)
Hero wins 218.48 BB

PokerStars - $0.25 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 100 BB
SB: 192.84 BB (VPIP: 20.27, PFR: 14.86, 3Bet Preflop: 5.88, Hands: 77)
BB: 187.72 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
UTG: 91.52 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: _, Hands: 3)
MP: 96.68 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
CO: 132.84 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 11)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has Q♥ Q♠

UTG raises to 12 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 100 BB and is all-in, fold, fold, UTG calls 79.52 BB and is all-in

Flop: (184.44 BB, 2 players) 4♥ T♥ A♠

Turn: (184.44 BB, 2 players) 6♣

River: (184.44 BB, 2 players) 8♠

Spoiler

UTG shows A♣ 6♥ (Two Pair, Aces and Sixes)
(Pre 28%, Flop 86%, Turn 95%)
Hero mucks Q♥ Q♠ (One Pair, Queens)
(Pre 72%, Flop 14%, Turn 5%)
UTG wins 176.44 BB

:spit::yaoming:

And these are just a few examples. Now I see why all the grinders moved here :profit:

The cash game student's blog

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Mauslord

Joined: 06.09.2011

Posts: 2,981

29.04.2015, 23:15 0

update?

FIZZY GOOD MAKE FEEL NICE

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NightShadePMC

Joined: 16.11.2010

Posts: 718

29.04.2015, 23:28 0

I'm doing fine, grinding NL50 now. I just don't feel motivated to post anymore. If you want something similar, check out this thread. We're full ring buddies. ♠_drink:

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