Croatian BlogBuster - Full-Time Teacher Playing Poker

And the biggest NL50 pot so far:
Poker Stars, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $104.35 (208.7 bb)
BB: $102.79 (205.6 bb)
UTG: $50.37 (100.7 bb)
MP: $50.25 (100.5 bb)
CO: $52.50 (105 bb)
Hero (BTN): $50.75 (101.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with 7♣: 8♣:
UTG raises to $1.40, MP calls $1.40, CO folds, Hero calls $1.40, SB folds, BB calls $0.90

Flop: ($5.85) T♥: 9♦: 4♠: (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP bets $3, Hero calls $3, 2 folds

Turn: ($11.85) J♥: (2 players)
MP bets $7, Hero raises to $17.75, MP calls $10.75

River: ($47.35) A♠: (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $28.60 and is all-in, MP calls $28.10 and is all-in

Results: $103.55 pot ($2.00 rake)
Final Board: T♥: 9♦: 4♠: J♥: A♠:
MP showed J♦: J♣: and lost (-$50.25 net)
Hero showed 7♣: 8♣: and won $101.55 ($51.30 net)

Originally posted by Alleen86
And the biggest NL50 pot so far:
Poker Stars, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $104.35 (208.7 bb)
BB: $102.79 (205.6 bb)
UTG: $50.37 (100.7 bb)
MP: $50.25 (100.5 bb)
CO: $52.50 (105 bb)
Hero (BTN): $50.75 (101.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with 7♣: 8♣:
UTG raises to $1.40, MP calls $1.40, CO folds, Hero calls $1.40, SB folds, BB calls $0.90

Flop: ($5.85) T♥: 9♦: 4♠: (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP bets $3, Hero calls $3, 2 folds

Turn: ($11.85) J♥: (2 players)
MP bets $7, Hero raises to $17.75, MP calls $10.75

River: ($47.35) A♠: (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $28.60 and is all-in, MP calls $28.10 and is all-in

Results: $103.55 pot ($2.00 rake)
Final Board: T♥: 9♦: 4♠: J♥: A♠:
MP showed J♦: J♣: and lost (-$50.25 net)
Hero showed 7♣: 8♣: and won $101.55 ($51.30 net)

sweat congratz on taking shot there

It all looks really nice and positive here Hopefully you can keep this up. I also see that when you are enthusiastic you play better. Keep the enthusiasm and you will do just fine

Cheers,

Hesticus:f_drink:

Originally posted by SPeedFANat1c
sweat congratz on taking shot there

Thanks!

Originally posted by Hesticus
It all looks really nice and positive here Hopefully you can keep this up. I also see that when you are enthusiastic you play better. Keep the enthusiasm and you will do just fine

Cheers,

Hesticus:f_drink:

I'm usually enthusiastic when results are good. I have to learn keep at least close to this enthusiasm during bad times. Thanks!

I had a very interesting hand in yesterday's 2nd NL50 session ($59 down, unfortunately). Here is the hand:
Poker Stars, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $71.30 (142.6 bb)
BB: $50 (100 bb)
UTG: $50 (100 bb)
MP: $65.10 (130.2 bb)
Hero (CO): $102.99 (206 bb)
BTN: $89.24 (178.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with T♣: T♥:
2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, BTN raises to $4.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $3.25

Flop: ($9.75) 8♣: 9♦: 9♥: (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $3.06, Hero calls $3.06

Turn: ($15.87) 3♠: (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $11.76, Hero calls $11.76

River: ($39.39) 3♦: (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $69.92, Hero???

My thinking proccess:

Preflop: BTN looks like a reg, playing 24/18 in 76 hands, 3betting 9,7% (11,1% vs Hero). Standard open and standard defend with TT.

Flop: Standard check/call, I think. He would probably cbet 100% of his range on this board, most likelly with the same sizing.

Turn: I'm not capped here because I have some nuts in my range, but I could be capped in his eyes. He probably puts me on JJ-TT, AK-AQ, 77-44. I think he cbets a big part of his range. I also think that his size looks more like A2s-A7s, AK-AJ than JJ+ A9, T9 or 98 (I think he doesn't have 88 in his range). Overall, I think I should call at least once again.

River: Huge overbet doesn't make sense to me with any value hand, tbh. What worse does he expect to be called with? It smells alot like a bluff. On the other hand, I don't have any read that he is capable of bluffing in this situation. What would you do?

Link to the Hand Evaluations Forum:
https://forums.pokerstrategy.com/forum/thread.php?postid=2628391#post2628391

Today I continued my BB play analysis at NL25 so here are conclusions:
When I cold call my winrate is positive, both when IP and when OOP, which means I should cold call alot more and be profitable
Even though my winrate is positive, I can improve alot postflop. I fold too much and raise way too less vs flop and turn cbets
Even with this style I can expand my cold calling ranges and improve my winrate; if I fix my postflop play, I think I can cold call even close to 30%
As a 3bettor, I cbet flops a bit too less, both IP and OOP
I cbet turns a bit too less, too
When I cbet flop/turn, I fold too much to raises (it's not that important, though, because it's a rare situation)
When I miss to cbet flop/turn, I fold too much to bets OOP and probe bets IP

So, it should be clear why my WTSD% is 20,5 (I fold postflop too much both as a caller and a 3bettor), W$SD% is 54,4 (I go to showdowns only with the strongest range) and W$WSF is 43,9 (I fold too much flops, turns and rivers).

Solutions:
Learn preflop ranges alot better and stick to them (Currently working on it at NL50)
Do scenario analyses for postflop play

Here is the report for Get Rich or Die Tryin' - The Bankroll Challenge:

Starting bankroll: 1.061,04 USD
Targeting bankroll: 5.305,20 USD
Last week bankroll: 2.554,72 USD
-------------------------------------------------------------
Week 117
Hands: 8.406
Profit: 338,53 USD
Rakeback: 56,00 USD
Week 117 profit: 394,53 USD
Week 117 progress: 15,44%
Current bankroll: 2.949,25 USD
-------------------------------------------------------------
Overall profit: 1.888,21 USD
Overall progress: 44,49%

Very satisfied with everything this week; the way I've played, the volume and the results. NL25 went perfect and NL50 shot is going better than expected. I'm also probably running good, which is always nice. Now I have 9 buy-ins for NL50 shot left which is pretty comfortable. I feel pretty good at the tables, but still a bit scared because the money looks huge to me at NL50. So I'm trying to relax as much as possible and avoid my instinct to fold everything but nuts and make moves which I think are optimal. I'm also trying to make it easy by following two simple ruls: 1) Always stick to your preflop ranges except you have a stone reason not to, 2) Postflop think about opponents' ranges. My mental game approach at this stage is being aware of this: I know I don't play perfect and I'm making alot of mistakes, but I always have to make moves I consider optimal because that is enough to beat the limit in the long run. Ofcourse, I'm not 100% sure that I can beat the limit, but I have alot of evidence that 1) I beat NL25 and 2) NL50 player pool is not alot different (if any) than NL25.

My offtable work consists mainly of memorizing (or better to say - getting a feeling of) preflop ranges in all positions and all situations. The goal is to not having to think hard about them while playing and to avoid clicking to my excel charts. I'm very satisfied with the ranges I have atm, btw and I'm pretty positive they are a big reason of very good results I have latelly. I developed them on the basis of 1OuterHits ranges, w34z3l's ranges and my HM2 database and I'm pretty sure they are worth alot of money at this stage, especially with upgraded interactive Excel charts I've created for them. So those charts alone are potentially a great value and after investing so much time (and money) into them, I definitelly won't give those for free. After I finished them 100%, maybe I will even offer them for selling as coaches do. The other thing I'm doing is reviewing the hands I've played and thinking of ranges. The next step is to start doing proper range-vs-range scenario analyses, but I just can't do everything at once. I also found 30 minutes more every day for learing. It's a time during my breakfast early in the morning. Before I was watching TV and now I'm watching poker videos (playing sessions). Nut sure how didn't I think of it before. ♦

HI Alleen86, whats your bankroll management strategy?

Originally posted by mcarrillo89
HI Alleen86, whats your bankroll management strategy?

Hi!

I play a limit with at least 50 buy-ins for it, taking a shot on a higher limit when have 54 buy-ins for it. For example, now I started NL50 shot because increased the bankroll to $2.700 (54 buy-ins for NL50, but will have to go back to NL25 if bankroll drops under $2.500.

Really tight approach, but intresting.

Keep going, the sky is the limit, congratulations for your progress.

Originally posted by mcarrillo89
Really tight approach, but intresting.

Keep going, the sky is the limit, congratulations for your progress.

It is tight, but I feel comfortable with it. Thanks!

Congrats to nl50, hope you won´t have to go back to nl25. But mate, better try harder and crush nl100 in a month or I will surpass u soon!

Originally posted by Mozzek
Congrats to nl50, hope you won´t have to go back to nl25. But mate, better try harder and crush nl100 in a month or I will surpass u soon!

Thanks! I hope I won't have to go back, but there is a chance I will at some point because am in the middle of a min downswing atm so have 3 buy-ins left for the shot. Glad for you! How many NL50 hands have you played so far?

I´ve played 1000 at nl16 so far so you are ahead for now... ♦

Originally posted by Mozzek
I´ve played 1000 at nl16 so far so you are ahead for now... ♦

Oh, ok!

When you are in a downswing, you should always expect some more.

Poker Stars, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $34.68 (69.4 bb)
Hero (BB): $50 (100 bb)
UTG: $56.08 (112.2 bb)
MP: $68.87 (137.7 bb)
CO: $96.37 (192.7 bb)
BTN: $37.80 (75.6 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9♠: 9♣:
UTG raises to $1.75, MP calls $1.75, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.25

Flop: ($5.50) 2♣: 9♥: 7♣: (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $5.22, MP calls $5.22, Hero raises to $14.50, UTG folds, MP calls $9.28

Turn: ($39.72) 2♠: (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $52.62 and is all-in, Hero calls $33.75 and is all-in

River: ($107.22) A♦: (2 players, 2 are all-in)

Results: $107.22 pot ($2 rake)
Final Board: 2♣: 9♥: 7♣: 2♠: A♦:
Hero showed 9♠: 9♣: and lost (-$50 net)
MP showed A♣: A♠: and won $105.22 ($55.22 net)

haha, what a stupid overbet on the turn. You are folding 100% of the hands that he beats, you call the rest...

Here is the report for Get Rich or Die Tryin' - The Bankroll Challenge:

Starting bankroll: 1.061,04 USD
Targeting bankroll: 5.305,20 USD
Last week bankroll: 2.949,25 USD
-------------------------------------------------------------
Week 118
Hands: 6.520
Profit: -367,19 USD
Rakeback: 34,00 USD
Week 118 profit: -333,19 USD
Week 118 progress: -11,30%
Current bankroll: 2.616,06 USD
-------------------------------------------------------------
Overall profit: 1.555,02 USD
Overall progress: 36,64%

One crappy week behind. I jumped into an NL50 downswing and lost about 6 stacks in a very short period of time. Then I started to be furious and scared because only 1 buy-in left for the shot + mad because it was 3th time this year I came to $3k bankroll and then lost ~$500 very quickly. So even though I didn't lose all the stacks for the shot, I decided to play NL25 tables until I reach $2.700 again for the new 4 buy-ins shot at NL50. I wasn't able to think clearly anymore so it was a good decision imo. I feel I'm very close to beat NL50, but I need to focus and need to be patient, which all is not easy at the moment. Maybe it's time to take a short 1-2 day break, but will see what happens. Here are NL50 stats so far:

I'm not happy with how it went, actually am quite mad. On the other hand, I lost just 3,5 stacks (2 with the rakeback) + was running very bad in all in spots, but also I think there is no way my real SB winrate is that bad because it is -10 at NL25 in a big sample. Also no way my real CO winrate is negative and BTN winrate is that small. So there is a big chance that the variance had a significant impact on that small sample of hands. I need to refocus in next days.

Here is the report for Get Rich or Die Tryin' - The Bankroll Challenge:

Starting bankroll: 1.061,04 USD
Targeting bankroll: 5.305,20 USD
Last week bankroll: 2.616,06 USD
-------------------------------------------------------------
Week 119
Hands: 3.137
Profit: -134,01 USD
Rakeback: 15,00 USD
Week 119 profit: -119,01 USD
Week 119 progress: -4,55%
Current bankroll: 2.497,05 USD
-------------------------------------------------------------
Overall profit: 1.436,01 USD
Overall progress: 33,83%

I hit $2.700 this week once again and started a new NL50 shot, but (once again) had a couple of extremly unlucky spots and lost 2 stacks very soon so decided to go back to NL25 (once again). ♦ At NL25 the variance wasn't any more generous to me so I'm at $2.500. Once again.

Anyway, I feel I'm very close to becoming NL50 reg, but just need one good run when I start a new shot. I don't need hands like this anymore:
Poker Stars, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $44.34 (88.7 bb)
BB: $50.50 (101 bb)
UTG: $50 (100 bb)
MP: $137.19 (274.4 bb)
Hero (CO): $51.14 (102.3 bb)
BTN: $50 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A♣: A♥:
UTG raises to $1.25, MP calls $1.25, Hero raises to $5.75, BTN folds, SB calls $5.50, 2 folds, MP calls $4.50

Flop: ($19) 8♥: 4♠: A♠: (3 players)
SB checks, MP checks, Hero bets $9.03, SB calls $9.03, MP folds

Turn: ($37.06) 7♣: (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $29.75, SB calls $29.56

River: ($96.18) 3♥: (2 players)

Results: