Love & Hate Poker

Hello guys,, so I decided to grind on monday. Shocking. I am an addict Had also very hard workout so spent lots of time just recovering in the shower. Anyway, it went surprisingly good (given the fact it is monday), so all good, people still bad...

Maybe time to share some hands, long time without hands for you guys:

1. average spew? Love his turn sizing with plan to bet/fold how...

2. So here... Attempted to make fold 1pair hands right away, good luck continuing with naked Ax. 2pair are unlikely so I just went for it. Especially in a family pot, that looks scary doesn't it?

3. Pfff... I really do not know here. Call and hope to beat TT or 99? Those should protection bet turn right? Or hope for bluff that did not bluff the turn? And also decided to get cheap bluff on this river? Also unlikely. I don't look like a hand that would fold to small. Good job by him making my life hell. He is also MP so not many offsuit broadways with missed one heart. So I fold, sad...

Originally posted by AlvisR
Impressive results. I am sure everyone noticed your blog just not commenting. Not that i am playing poker enymore but what i noticed Regarding GG rake is terrible there yes. (Once they will update your PVI index you will get close to 0 rakeback). There is that weird affiliate trick everyones taking (3rd party gives up to 30% RB + whatever RB is on GG site) but that is possible for new members or the ones who didnt play for long long time (18months inactive) and are eligible for retag. This is plain stupid imo. it just means affiliate will get like 2.5-3% out of your RB aswell.

But then.. if this is possible in GG, it is in every other site. Every reg should create their own affiliation and retag their accounts to themselves. give biggest rakebacks and + affiliate rakeback will flow into own pocket.

GL at the tables. I enjoy reading it.

Hello AlvisR and thank you for support!
Regarding rakeback, yes I know about it, I also play with an agent (have my agent for over a decade now...). <edit - cannot say how it works for me I believe>
In theory you are right that "everybody should retag to themselves", but that is not how ecosystem works. In order to get something extra from casino, you also have to provide something to the casino - those extra few % that agents can offer to players - they are being released by casino as a fee for a service. Agents need to deliver players and percentages for agents are being distributed based on how much value (in this case value = how many players are tunneled into the site, with certain amount of rake being generated...). Pokerstrategy is also an agent, but instead of paying players some rakeback, player receive study materials and coaching. Their production also costs money so...
At least that is how it works best to my knowledge. Again, might not be precise but you get the idea. You need to "deliver" more than just yourself, on major networks that number of players might be quite high actually.

For the challenge I do NOT count rakeback in, I take it as my "salary" or whatever you want to call it. In my challenge I count only table winnings, leaderboard placement and, if it happens, jackpots, as those have nothing to do with having undertable deals...
This way I am kind of shooting myself to the foot (considering what percentage of total winnings rakeback actually is... For some players - they even end up losing in the game but after rakeback they call themselves "pros", because it beats McDonalds money...).

Good luck at the tables

So yesterday I was crybaby about heavy workout... Today I was sleeping like 13 hours because of heavy workout That how it feels to not be 20 anymore, everything in my body hurts.
Grind was also slow. I honestly hate when one of fishes busts, then other fishes leave table. All they can do is wait for nuts and hope bigger idiot than them just gives them money. And after that dude is out, everybody just sits out, I mean wtf, its nl50...

Like, on one hand I get it, you want to position yourself into best spot to win and if game is not good then of course, leave, same as in real life, but I think there should be limit to this. Games here seems "good" despite not having superfish at the table.
At midstakes it makes sense, because other regs are better (should be) so there is no point in raking money and being breakeven against each other, but at baby stakes there are edges all over the place...

Some of todays gifts:
1. I kings I all-in... He got best case scenario and still was behind, of course thats how you play kings, cannot fold right?

2. It is very important to check when you are ahead, at least twice, so once you dead, THEN pump money into the pot... And that's what you deserve!

Going off today, too tired to play and also I want drinks. It is Tuesday so not many people party today => felt is all mine

GL at the tables

Another wednesday in the office, another W. Not much to say really, just smooth ride I had this spot towards end of my session, can't get it out of my head for some reason, I will post a hand after short summary:

So here is the hand, whoops Such a great spot also, just unlucky I believe...

I still like my play here, people at nl50/nl100 will never get it... I just keep thinking if nl50 ain't too early. Feels like its not? Against CO/BTN would be better, I dunno, his hand also surprised me. I think it should still be good vs UTG...
Let me know what you guys think

Anyway, I am off today, good luck at the tables

Hmm SB 3b range is tightest vs UTG. I cant see 65s in my 3b range here. Once called he should have lots of suited broadways or 99-JJ maybe QQ lower pairs are just bad call from him. I like 1/3 cb sizing. Villains turn stab could be his hole range tbh Your x/shove do make sense ♦ well you give him bad odds to call with his flushdraws or nutflushdraws, broadways. And there are very few overpair combos he could have.
The rest of villains range have to fold.

Originally posted by AlvisR
Hmm SB 3b range is tightest vs UTG. I cant see 65s in my 3b range here

Well I do 3bet low connectors, because 1. people play poorly postflop, 2. just because solver doesn't do it, it doesn't mean it is bad... If opponent has no clue how to deal with it then u know...

Originally posted by AlvisR
Once called he should have lots of suited broadways or 99-JJ maybe QQ lower pairs are just bad call from him.

Stating the obvious

Originally posted by AlvisR
I like 1/3 cb sizing.

Why? This is important for the rest of the hand...

Originally posted by AlvisR
Villains turn stab could be his hole range tbh

So this is where I disagree. I mean he is betting half pot so, makes no sense to me as a rangebet, I have no idea what he wants to achieve. Smaller bet would make sense, because he would be targeting my unpaired hands (if he has something like TT).
I have either give up (like AQ, KJs...) or slowplay (aces obv.), so for him to go with half I thought that he doesn't have pocket anymore, so he needs to have either rly good hand or slowplay himself (and even then, assume he has AA, I think it is way better play for him to go smaller, giving me an option to hit TP and then lose it all...).
So in order to do this, he has (in my opinion) either rly good hand, or complete bullock like KJhh. My hand is doing good job blocking set, 33 unlikely given preflop and also unblocking all the unpaired garbage with no SD that might try to take it down with half.
I was more on a fence of just calling down, since I assumed he is bluffing, but then again, I do not know on which cards I get outdrawn and which might be clean (every A,K,Q,J,T,9 is really bad and if he is bluffing, he would rep all of them I believe). So for that reason I just shoved

After some thought I believe I butchered flop, I should've went with quarter here, third is too big for my purposes but well, nobody perfect

I was off the tables for two days and felt bit rusty today, still managed decent volume, focus and also some $$$...

On thursday I had my day off after long time, yesterday was little bit special. I got this DM from community member, it was fucking long (sorry Patrick xD), guy pretty much told me he is stuck at nl5 for couple months not doing well etc. etc., asked for help... I said yes and yesterday we had super long coaching session.
Reason why I agreed was, because I was in a same spot over a decade ago. I had no money, I was at the uni, had no idea how to improve, was super dedicated and it was really hard, because you cannot afford coach or whatever, back in days there were not even good materials to study, we had to figure everything out ourselves so... Also no coach wants to deal with micro not winning players, reasons are quite obvious but I am gonna give this kid a shot...
Anyway I agreed to help out fellow community member, I do like to coach a lot, will be taking together class once a week for starters, I believe after some time he will be good on his own. I respect everyones privacy but you don't have to be shy Patrick, can comment here as well ;).
So yep, after some time at nl5 I needed to adjust back to nl50 players, there is a difference after all...

GL at the tables!

Very nice coaching story! And yeah obv no need to be shy or whatever just put yourself out there it's the only way to get stuff done. It took me a year of posting and stuff till i foundation the right people!

What a weird sunday. Today I am folding a lot, like, A LOT! And I hate folding so I better quit early. I don't feel off or anything, just playing my C game for whatever reason, pretty disappointed to be honest so rather going off early...

Still managed to end up in profit but oh well... Let's look at some hands

1. Some players just need to have weird lines, because it makes a lot of sense

2. This one for the crowd... One of my favorite spots I take it almost every time, I think this one is really limit depended, if you are looking for winrate booster, apply the logic, thank me later lads:

GL at the tables, felt is all yours (for rest of the day ofc )

<edit - forgot to reply...>

Originally posted by Fredjen
Very nice coaching story! And yeah obv no need to be shy or whatever just put yourself out there it's the only way to get stuff done. It took me a year of posting and stuff till i foundation the right people!

Exactly this! And it paid off in the end right? You are crushing the games, good job!

I can't, my tilt level is beyond one thousand plus aliens... People so bad they don't even realize. And guess who pays morons out? Me all the time, unreal...

Look at this stupid f*ck for example, and he somehow made it to nl50... Playing 6 tables all day and he ain't broke! Beyond my brains comprehension really:

Or this one... Yes, call 3bet in MPvCO, BECAUSE IT IS BEST HAND TO CALL 3bet IN THESE POSSITIONS WITH!!! (sarcasm obv...)

Jeez and people say poker is dead. Not poker, I am Stupidity level I have to deal with in these games is incomprehensible to me. I don't mind when fishes show up playing like this, but "regs"? rly?
Oh, wait I forgot... It is Monday!!! Now it all makes sense!

GL at the tables

Plaed on Tuesday and happened to be breakeven, so yep, second day no winnings at the tables, but I happened to get 30$ in suckout rakeback from yesterday so that still counts can almost buy few beers with my winnings...

Going to party today, not much else going on really... Good luck at the tables

happy partying ♦

Had a coaching session with student today and it left me in philosophical mood a little, so I will go for little rant...

Why are most people stuck at micros and never break through
You see, just like in real life, where most people hate their jobs, most people have shitty jobs, most people are not making as much money as they would like, same is true in poker. Most people play garbage stakes, make no money, do not move up. They might hate theirs situations, yet they are too fucking lazy to do anything about it. They just stay in same old comfortable little space. Not liking it, but not doing anything about it.
Lack of knowledge is not the case tho! People know, that to "move up" in life, they should probably take care of themselves, exercise, eat healthy, have decent sleep, yet they do not do it. In poker, most of the knowledge is out there, people know what to do, yet they do not do it for whatever reason.

We went over hands that my student played last week and spot came up - hero was sitting in the BB with AJs, it was folded to the small blind who opened, hero 3-bet his hand, faced smallish 4-bet and hero decided to fold. Now I asked, why did you fold here? And Patrick replied "well, I know this hand should be a call, but I hate these spots. When I hit and money go in, I am always behind anyway and if I miss I am just sad, because I could've folded earlier and save money..." So there you have it.

People do not make decisions based on logic, people make decisions based on emotions, and then justify with logic
Patrick's explanation is completely reasonable and logical, yet still wrong. His thought process should be exactly the reverse. I hate those spots too! You see, I hate to work out. I fucking hate it, it hurts and I really do not enjoy it. I also fucking hate preparing my meals regularly (I am not the best cook either so stuff that I am eating sometimes just to hit my macros I wouldn't wish to anybody, seriously...). I also fucking hate restricting myself from cakes and parties, I do it here and there, but frequency with which I am in these spots is nowhere even close to where I would wish it to be

Yet I still wake up every day, I do put in volume every day, I do go to the gym every day and I do meal prep regularly. Because it is right thing to do and I know it. How I feel about it has nothing to do with me putting in work that has to be done. And same should be the case for you, call your AJs vs 4-bet and complain later, you know what has to be done. You can hate it how much you want, but you know what is the right play, so just do it. Results will follow in the long run. ALWAYS!

Originally posted by taavi1337
happy partying ♦

Hello brother, It was, that feeling when you are getting home the exact time people are leaving for jobs is priceless

Can't wait for Patrick to come in here
Yes you can!

also... what?

Might be the first time I encountered player from Vatican City... Probably got bored during prayers so came to the table click fold button all day long...

Originally posted by N3bojsa

Originally posted by taavi1337
happy partying ♦

Hello brother, It was, that feeling when you are getting home the exact time people are leaving for jobs is priceless

not quite ♦ there are some beautiful people at the parties though...

Decent grind today, happy with results. Finally secured so much needed W (after two breakeven days xD).
Other than that, my girlfriend called asking if I forgot about her or what and truth to be said is I actually did forget that I have girlfriend lol. Like I am aware of that fact, I just don't wanna be bothered and her around falls into category being bothered, so yep... I hate to lie but I told her I am just sick, that should buy me few more days... At least till end of the weekend then I want to sit out of the tables for few days anyway.

Could have been even better, except nice cooler, but to be really honest it was well deserved for the way I butchered this hand so yep... I played like tard on every street except preflop so not gonna complain this time

GL at the tables

Originally posted by taavi1337
not quite there are some beautiful people at the parties though...
At those morning hours... All people are beautiful

My girlfiend came to check on me, how sick I am, so friday grind was interrupted... Not super happy about it to be honest, I wanted to pump in more volume. But it is what it is, real life commits do exist. I also expect silent household since I am not as sick as I claimed to be so yep... Hard to bullshit myself out of this situation.

Weak pair of hands from today:

1. got a lovely fish today, just this run it twice... I donnow if I should use it, I mean it hurts twice as much in these situations Like losing and then losing again

2. How do you guys approach these spots? I mean wtf everyone calls turn?!! And then what the fuck does he have OTR? I think I should have just blocked the river and then folded, I opted for bigger to discourage bluffraises but possibly for no reason as people dont know how to bluff at all? I have no idea how to approach this, there is plenty of possible bluffs like missed heart draws or hand like T9 turned into bluff.
I snapfolded because for UTG to bluff with two more guys behind him still left to act feels like suicide spot, so I assume zero bluffs in UTGs range, at the same time playing strong hand the way he did feels dumb too (but then again it is nl50 so dumb is expected). I think playing good hand the dumb way is more expected than bluffing at baby stakes.
What if everyone folded to my river bet and button went for raise? I think I would have still folded but in such a case BTN might actually be able to find some bluffs from hands mentioned above, I think that might be decent spot... Or am I too lunatic to think that?

GL at the tables, may the felt be with you

Hand #2. Just fold pre. Its big leak for that high rake structure and 3bb open. You end up into many weird postflop scenarios like this multiway.
As played, I check on the river and decide since I got called by 3 opponents.
Also I would bet turn bigger - 2/3 pot.

Originally posted by Lat3ralus
Hand #2. Just fold pre. Its big leak for that high rake structure and 3bb open. You end up into many weird postflop scenarios like this multiway.
As played, I check on the river and decide since I got called by 3 opponents.
Also I would bet turn bigger - 2/3 pot.

Hi and thanks for feedback! On one hand I completely agree with fold preflop, on the other hand, if you look at table composition, there are at least 2 players just clicking buttons/fish, so from that perspective I assume huge edge postflop and hitting nuts results in me always getting paid. I think you are right about 3x open shifting it more towards a fold.
Betting bigger OTT makes sense, I was considering it, but I chose this sizing to keep in all gutshots and shit pairs (as a tradeoff for giving nice odds stronger draws, which I assume to be in minority compared to other weaker hands). I would have opted for bigger turn with stronger hands than weak 2pair.
Why would you go for x on the river as opposed to betting ourselves, especially on the blank? I think this way we get paid by 1pair hands that will never bet themselves, and checking has no benefit in my eyes? I mean if we check we play check/fold, since we cannot really check/call against anyone basically?

also, Lat3ralus, did you get lessons from Gordon "back in the days"? Maybe I know you but not sure haha

Originally posted by N3bojsa

Originally posted by Lat3ralus
Hand #2. Just fold pre. Its big leak for that high rake structure and 3bb open. You end up into many weird postflop scenarios like this multiway.
As played, I check on the river and decide since I got called by 3 opponents.
Also I would bet turn bigger - 2/3 pot.

also, Lat3ralus, did you get lessons from Gordon "back in the days"? Maybe I know you but not sure haha

Yes, that's me.

Regarding hand, yes I see that you have fishes on the table but thinking you can make this hand profitable 4way is delusional. First, you will flop nuts very low percentage of the time and second your nuts need to hold until the river. Also what about reverse implied pot odds? You only flop nuts on 456 but what about when you flop 9TJ and run into Q8 and KQ and you get stacked?
You forget that you will bleed money when you flop a draw or one pair, you will get coolered when you hit 2 pair etc.. You get the idea. You only have ~20 hands on your opponents and you dont really know what type of fish they are. If they are super passive then you will not even get paid when you hit your nuts.

Rake is very high at PLO50 GG, even if you are a lot better than these players, you will bleed money in the long run.
I would call here only if I am like 250bb+ deep and I KNOW for a fact that they are completely bad postflop.