comeback 4/5. Lost the count. Hyperaggressive BRM cashgames on ggpoker

In the afternoon had another great 2NL session. So after hitting 40 I decided to give 5NL a go.

The session was a struggle from beginning to end. I felt a difference in aggro, but that could also be Sunday evening. So I couldn't just keep afloat by picking up medium-sized pots. And bigger hands couldn't hold/get value. I was bound for such a session. Damage was still only minimal. And my average bb/100 is still probably unrealistically high. The plan is to make a little extra deposit tomorrow. So I can play full stacks on 5NL(with full rebuy)

Current BR:37

Edit: I also realised that the Pokercraft stats are without rake. So the stats make sense. Still no strategy points. What is a reasonable time to wait?

Very bad day.

I tried a little bit one tabling on the train on the app. Went wrong in every possible way. One of them that I tried to force action(because of the one tabling). Some good lessons to be learned if I want to play live in the future. Spewed around 15$ that way. Deposited 25$ extra. I wanted to do that anyway, but preferably not because I spewed it away.

The evening session was better, but still not great. In the beginning, I ran great, but didn't get paid enough. Then I had a couple of big 2 pair hands I lost and my allin couldn't hold. So ended with other slight min(but a positive EV for second session)

New starting BR:45
New current Br:42

So I am down overall. Obviously not great, but 12$ under ev in all-ins is a big part of that. The second part is this afternoon's session. But better to get confronted with them now, than later on, on possibly higher stakes

Lesson of the day: I think I flat too often IP with AJo/AQo/AKo. Uncomfortable spot after squeeze, and post-lop playability isn't that great either. Better to isolate, and if 4bet most cases I can comfortably fold.

Today I downloaded PokerTracker 4. First time using it(used hem2 in past, but it doesn't seem to be able to import GGPoker hands). Still need to learn how to use it. First experience it feels more cluncky, but that could just lack of familiarity.

How bad the first couple of days on 5NL went. So good went today. In the afternoon session, I turned around not only my overall loss, but also went in green for 5NL. Confirmed that in the evening session, while the allin's still going horribly. Now running 28$ under ev. The winning also got cut massively by cooler(end post). I forgot how you post it more cleanly. I am not sure if I can somehow can get rit of the hand or at least do at pot control. I thought that at least there are too many AA/AK in their range. I had them noted as fish and it was part of my decision. But no extra notes. So, at least something like limping first/not waiting on BB. Their stats over 50hands are also surely on the more loose side. I think everything together I here can't do anything else. During session the hand was still running a bit in the back of mind(I know I shouldn't do that), thinking against good reg I maybe could do something else, but now looking at it again. I think the chips just always go in the middle

Lessons of the day
Tightening up ranges EP/MP. With antes, a lot of hands are probably playable, but at best borderline and in certain spots they just become very bad.
-taking the right spots with middle value hands where pot control>hand protection

Starting BR:45
Current BR:82

GG Poker - $0.05 Ante $0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4: http://www.pokertracker.com

Hero (MP+1): 478.8 BB
MP+2: 224.2 BB (VPIP: 15.38, PFR: 15.38, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 13)
CO: 200 BB (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 7.94, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 63)
BTN: 229.6 BB (VPIP: 28.81, PFR: 27.12, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 60)
SB: 372 BB (VPIP: 15.00, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 60)
BB: 114.8 BB (VPIP: 8.00, PFR: 4.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
UTG: 223.8 BB (VPIP: 11.63, PFR: 10.47, 3Bet Preflop: 5.41, Hands: 88)
UTG+1: 207 BB (VPIP: 18.75, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 25.00, Hands: 16)
MP: 348 BB (VPIP: 62.00, PFR: 16.00, 3Bet Preflop: 6.90, Hands: 50)

9 players post ante of 0.4 BB, SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 5 BB) Hero has Qc Qs
UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 3 BB, fold, fold, BTN raises to 16.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 13.4 BB

Flop : (40.8 BB, 2 players) Kh Qh 2c
Hero checks, BTN bets 18.6 BB, Hero raises to 54 BB, BTN raises to 125 BB, Hero raises to 462 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 87.8 BB and is all-in

Turn : (466.4 BB, 2 players) Jh

River : (466.4 BB, 2 players) Td

Players agreed to run it twice.

Turn #2: (466.4 BB, 2 players) Ts

River #2: (466.4 BB, 2 players) 4s

Players agreed to run it three times.

Turn #3: (466.4 BB, 2 players) Jd

River #3: (466.4 BB, 2 players) 8d

Hero shows Qc Qs (Three of a Kind, Queens)
(Pre 0%, Flop 0%, Turn 0%)

BTN shows Kd Kc (Three of a Kind, Kings)
(Pre 0%, Flop 0%, Turn 0%)

BTN wins 150.2 BB
BTN wins 150.2 BB
BTN wins 150.2 BB

Originally posted by 1d4BestByTest
Today I downloaded PokerTracker 4. First time using it(used hem2 in past, but it doesn't seem to be able to import GGPoker hands). Still need to learn how to use it. First experience it feels more cluncky, but that could just lack of familiarity.

You'll come to like PT4

If you have any specific questions, you could ask them in https://forums.pokerstrategy.com/forum/board.php?boardid=1647

All the best,
VS

First day where I played 5 hours over 3 sessions. The first 2 sessions didn't go well. The evening session went great, except for a massive 4bet pot 350bb deep, where I probably should have folded my AA on the river against a JT767 (non-suited) board. Also had my first above-ev running day in what seems forever. Managed to win 2 of 3 times KK vs AA:f_biggrin:

The theme of today was again not being able to make tough folds on the turn/river. That is for sure my biggest weakness at the moment. That is where there is the most lack of experience from sng/MTT. I still feel like a big part is just being on the bad side of coolers. But I am doing just horrible in the deep pot(total pot 200+bb). I even compared the big pots I won, the losing hands are way more all over the place, and very few coolers compared to the ones I lost. But it is still a big focus point. I have already posted 2 in the hand review section. Probably will do more.

BR:75

Edit: reviewing some hands. I remembered that I did 2herofolds on river today, AA(on dry board) and AK on K5654 board and 2 more straightforward AK TPTK, where the flopfushdraw hit and a TT overpair in a 3bet pot as preflop aggressor. So it seems I am making some progress. Assuming they were correct, but I feel quite convinced with all of them.

If these were all correct. I ran absolutely horribly in big hands holding today.

Back to 2sessions of 4 hours total. The day went totally differently then yesterday. Way fewer tricky spots. All very straightforward play. Except 2 semi tricky hands I posted in the forum. In the afternoon session still some decent action. Evening session stacked one time AA>QQ but otherwise just ran cold. Last hour didn't win a single pot more than 1$. Still ended the day green. So that is nice.

current BR:78

Only one session today. Tonight I am playing otb chess game. It was an uneventful session. I was just winning a decent amount of medium-sized pots. Then end session I lost stack+ with aces against a turned set in a 3bet pot and set<set(see hand forum) to end up with a small loss.

BR76

Won a nice, quick chess game last night. Today played again 2 sessions. The afternoon was slow, not much happening. Tafels seemed extra weak, but didn't get many hands. Ended just a little bit up.

In the evening, again, very weak tables. Evening, very double-sided session. Every pocket I seemed to hit the set, but sometimes got outdrawn, and sometimes missed out on some value. Also had an A-high flush(with AA)< straight flush. In the end, only winnings were holding set vs monster draw allin. Felt like, with how I was hitting hands, I should have won more.

BR84

Edit: Also this hand happened. Would have been a juicy pot if one of the remaining 5 hearts had hit

BB: 240.4 BB (VPIP: 36.36, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
UTG: 233 BB (VPIP: 70.83, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
UTG+1: 53.4 BB (VPIP: 26.14, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 2.70, Hands: 89)
MP: 204.6 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
MP+1: 200 BB
Hero (MP+2): 219.2 BB
CO: 220.8 BB (VPIP: 18.92, PFR: 10.81, 3Bet Preflop: 3.39, Hands: 111)
BTN: 37.8 BB (VPIP: 36.36, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 11)
SB: 248.8 BB (VPIP: 19.05, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)

9 players post ante of 0.4 BB, SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB, MP+1 posts penalty blind 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 6 BB) Hero has A:heart: 7:heart:

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, fold, MP+1 checks, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, BTN calls 4 BB, fold, BB calls 3 BB, UTG calls 3 BB, fold

Flop: (21 BB, 4 players) 2:spade: 3:heart: 5:heart:
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets 12 BB, BTN raises to 33.4 BB and is all-in, BB calls 33.4 BB, UTG calls 33.4 BB, Hero calls 21.4 BB

Turn: (154.6 BB, 4 players) 9:club:
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks

River: (154.6 BB, 4 players) A:club:
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks

BB shows K:heart: T:heart: (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 30%, Flop 16%, Turn 15%)
UTG shows Q:heart: 4:heart: (Straight, Five High)
(Pre 16%, Flop 19%, Turn 15%)
Hero shows A:heart: 7:heart: (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 30%, Flop 35%, Turn 25%)
BTN shows 4:diamond: 5:diamond: (Straight, Five High)
(Pre 24%, Flop 30%, Turn 45%)
UTG wins 73.2 BB
BTN wins 73 BB

Yesterday I played in the chess interclub competition(2nd division). I faced tough competition FM that had played in the closed Belgian championship this summer. So a loss was the expected result, but the way was a bit tough. For the first 20-25 moves the game was going between balanced, me having some advantage. When my opponent made a mistake, giving me the chance to sacrifice a piece. From afar, this was my plan, but I had a defensive resource which I only saw last minute. With only the last minutes on my clock, I panicked and completely collapsed next couple of moves. Stung a lot since doing the sacrifice was always the practical option, and after the game, when we did quick analysis, I directly saw the correct continuation. So a good chance I would see it in an actual game too. The game was from over if I went for it. Anything could still happen, but I would have great chances for an upset(and in case of a win would be my highest ever).

So no poker yesterday. Today I did in afternoon my fastest run since the summer. After that had no time for a full session. So I just went through some of my c-betting hands where I have missed. The conclusion is that in those spots, I play too much with the idea that villains understand anything about poker. So when doing the 2nd/3rd barrel, I need to focus more on the absolute hand strength range of villains than on relative hand strength. So my range is way less important.

So less barelling when my range is super strong and more when scare cards come(again, less relevant if they hit my range)

Over the last week, I have also been fine-tuning my bet sizes. So couple of the adaptations.
1Doing 4bb from EP
2 3BB from sb(I did 2sb, which some react horribly to folding way too much. But 3BB makes everything just easier against an average villain. And most villains still fold way too much.
3 4betting bigger(for sure when +200bb deep). Up to 4x
4 Since today, I started to try splitting my c-bet in only 2sizes(maybe a rare exception). 33% or 66%.

Then in the evening, I didn't have that much time, but decided I wanted to at least get a quick session. To try out the adaptations a bit. So I played 1 hour. Most straightforward of all my sessions. Won some mid-sized pots with my big hands and not a single tough spot.

BR: 90

Played 3 sessions today.

First session went just ok. I was up to 96 and hit +1000evbb. So I decided to give 10NL a go. Probably I should have waited a bit longer. Just for mental.

Second session, first on 10NL, was a session from hell. Every monster I get boards from hell where villains represent nuts. I do all the responsible folds(see handforum). Ended the session down 40:f_o: Of course, you start to second-guess yourself. So posted them all on the forum and got confirmation that without any tells were correct folds. Since my bankroll was always just the amount of money I needed to play the stakes. (I didn't want to deposit x amount of money for 2NL, and then after 2 week,s the desire for the comeback was gone and having trouble cashing out.) I decide to deposit 50$ extra

And did a new session 10NL(maybe I should have taken a break and had a good night of rest first). But never got into any positive momentum again. Never being able to get paid. Also did a big 3-barrel bluff at good cards against what seemed a capable opponent. He went in the tank and called with the top of his range:f_cry:

Ending third session, 35 extra down

So now new starting BR:95
current Br:70

Of course not nice to be down overall. That happens with a very aggressive BRM. I was at the same spot initially when I moved up to 5NL. Not the end of the world. But this time, a lot more extreme, and back then, at least all in ev was better. So not sure what to do next. These 2 sessions, of course, will never be representable, but it doesn't feel great to need to do an extra deposit. But moving down is also not great. How great can the difference be between the 2?

After the last post, I played one more session at 5NL, but I immediately felt that I wasn't mentally recovered. Then I lost a stack in AA<set situation and decided to stop the session and take a break before it got ugly. I have been struggling mentally for the last couple of years. So I always knew it could be a risk to come back to poker. Doing very aggressive BRM, while it's a good strategy (when being okay with depositing extra/having a potential extra bankroll), can overlook the mental side. But of course, that is a very big part.

So took some days off. Then Daniel Naroditsky died(an only 29-year-old chess streamer/commentator), which hit very hard. So took a couple extra days off.

Decided that I will take it a bit more cautiously with moving up. Also going to watch some videos during my sessions, . I did that in the past, too(some good chess video suggestions welcome). I am thinking also moving to 6-max and maybe 100bb deep. First master some basics with clear ranges and then see from there.

Today, first session back 2 tabling 5NL. It was a calm session. Very few big pots. Didn't have a single time AA or KK and needed to fold the time I got QQ. So ending around break even is then good.

BR:59

I am going to start playing again somer poker sessions, but also will be more actively playing chess again and some streaming too on https://www.twitch.tv/thechessrunner. Last I Today I went under 5/km on my 'easy' run. So running is going in the right direction back

Originally posted by 1d4BestByTest
After the last post, I played one more session at 5NL, but I immediately felt that I wasn't mentally recovered. Then I lost a stack in AA<set situation and decided to stop the session and take a break before it got ugly. I have been struggling mentally for the last couple of years.

Wise move.

I can heartily recommend "The Mental Game of Poker" by Jared Tendler and Barry Carter.
You can read about my journey through the book in my blog "Mind Games"

Best of luck :gl:,
VS

Yesterday evening had a nice chess stream. This evening will probably stream again

Today played a first session 5NL 6max 100bb deep. Basically went great except ran horribly in allin's(17$ under ev). It looked like there were a couple more players that maybe could be some soft-nitty regs compared to the 9-max tables. But still always at least 1 clear fish on the table.

Not sure how much stock I need to take by official hit the never luck category on Pokercraft:f_smile:

BR49

Originally posted by 1d4BestByTest
Yesterday evening had a nice chess stream. This evening will probably stream again

Be sure to post in this thread: https://forums.pokerstrategy.com/forum/thread.php?postid=3035095#post3035095 so others can find your stream,
I wouldn't mind watching a chess stream. I used to play a lot — but only with physical sets.
I tried online once or twice but the interfaces were horrid. I presume that they've improved a lot.

This link supposes that you stream on Twitch. If you stream on another platform, post it anyway.

Cheers,
VS

So streamed Friday. Yesterday I played some chess, not on stream. Today again found some time for a poker session 5NL 6max.

My ev line keeps going up. My winnings don't want follow for now:f_biggrin: , now over 50$ under ev, but prefer to have it right now than on higher limits.

Analysed some hands of the session. Turned out quite a lot of hands were I maybe should get more value

It has been a bit quiet on the poker front. The early enthusiasm has died a bit down. Running is going great. Ran this week 20mins at 4min 18(around 14km/h) at heart 165. So serious effort, but not max effort.

Also been back more into chess lately. Yesterday uploaded my first stream on YouTube. I will be uploading more of those that I have saved in the future

Hopefully in the next update I have again more poker related to share

Originally posted by 1d4BestByTest
Hopefully in the next update I have again more poker related to share

So, what is it around christmas time - more Poker or more Chess?
Hope you are running well no matter the choice!

Hi, how's the BR challenge going?

Remember to update it here: The Bankroll Challenge 2026 - Reporting thread

Regards!