Lesson #1
Overview
1.) Introduction to No Limit Hold'em
2.) Introduction to PokerStrategy.com
3.) Proper Poker Mindset - Part 1
4.) 9 Tips on how to become a successful NL Player
1.) Introduction
I will post a short version of my notes after each lesson.
They are not meant to replace the coaching - they're just a structured list of cues meant to function as a reminder of the topics we discussed during the coaching.
Since during the coaching questions come, the structure of the notes might different than the one in the coaching.
Also I purposely keep them short (see tip #1 ;)), but if you have any questions I'm here to answer ofc!
2. PokerStrategy.com - an overview
1. Starting out - the strategy section
2. The first tool - Pokerstrategy.com Equilab
3. Watching the pros - the video section
4. Boosting your skills - the strategy forums
3.) An introduction to a proper Poker mindset
a) See Poker as work!
- define your goals
b) Good Mindset <=> Professional Mindset
c) BRM
- define your personal BRM
d) Set a schedule! (See below)
- poker : study balance
- volume is important
e) Study!
f) If you really don't feel like playing - don't!
g) RB and bonuses are important
h) EV vs fame
- don't be afraid to make mistakes and don't care what people say!
i) "How much can I win?"
4.) 9 Tips on how to become a successful NL Player
#1 Think for yourself!
- critical thinking
- don't copy
- apply knowledge
- have an opinion
#2 Never stop working on your game!
#3 Post hands!
- provide details
- discuss
#4 Talk to people!
- study groups
- poker friends
#5 Experiment!
- reasoning is important
#6 Make mistakes!
- only once
- analyse them
#7 Only play under good conditions!
- quitting is key
#8 Good plays aren't always good!
- understand all the factors
#9 You're not as good as you think!
Example Schedule
Monday 3h
19-20 Check posted hands, watch a video
20:15-21:30 play
21:45-22:30 play
Wednesday 2h
19:00-20:00 Attend Bierbaer's Coaching
20:15-21:15 Play
Thursday 3h
19:30-21:00 Attend beginners course
21:15-22:45 Play
Friday 1.5h
18:30-20:00 play
Sunday 6h
09:30-10:15 do beginners course homework
10:30-11:30 play
14:00-15:30 play
15:45-16:30 watch a video
20:00-22:00 play
Total:
5h study time
10h playing time
You can of course make it more specific, for example planning
10 minute blocks for posting hands, or you can set up general rules like
using the first 10 minutes of a playing session for looking at posted hands,
and using the last 10 minutes for posting hands from the session.
Lesson #2
Overview:
i) Preflop basics
ii) General tips and knowledge for playing online poker
iii) Introduction to the mathematics of poker - Part 1 (maths basics, odds and outs)
i) Preflop basics
See article.
ii) 10 tips for playing Online-Poker
1) The SHC is just a rough guide!
2) Play within your capabilities!
3) Only play when you can play winning Poker!
4) Stats aren't always right!
5) Sweatsessions are great!
6) Taking breaks is important!
7) There will always be fish!
8) Learn to quit!
9) Good players aren't always right!
10) Tight is right!
iii) Basic math
See article.
Math Examples
Odds = (Total cards - outs) : outs
What does that mean?
For example: Hero has Td9d
Board Kd 6d 4c
9 diamonds in the deck
47 unknown cards in the deck
Odds = (47 - 9) : 9 <=> odds = 38 : 9
<=> odds = 38/9 : 9/9
<=> odds = 4.2 : 1
Scenario:
The pot is $10
The opponent bets $6
For example: Hero has Td9d
Board Kd 6d 4c
Should we call?
Pot odds = pot : (Amount to call)
Here:
Pot odds = $10+$6 : $6 <=> pot odds = 16 : 6 = 2.6 : 1
-----
Needed equity:
Equity = (amount to call) / (total pot AFTER we call)
Actual_equity > Equity_needed
Here:
$6 / ($10 + $6 + $6) = 6 / 22 = 0.273 = 27.3%
Rule of 4 and 2:
Flop: Outs * 4 + 2 = Equity
Turn: Outs * 2 + 2 = Equity
-----
Conversion Odds -> Equity
38 + 9 = all possible outcomes
We have 3:1 odds. That means 1 time we win, 3 times we lose
=> there's a total of 4 times
If we want the percentage of how often we win - it's 1:4 = 25%
1 : (1 + odds)
Here: 1 : (1+4.2) = 1:5.2 = 19.2%
9 : 38 means: 9+38 = 47 cases. We win 9, we lose 38.
Percentage: (Favorable cases) : (total cases)
<=> (favorable cases) : (favorable cases + unfavorable cases)
-----
Equity -> Odds
General: equity : (100% - equity)
We have 20% Equity.
=> We win 20 out of 100 times
=> 20 favorable cases, (100 - 20) = 80 unfavorable cases
=> Odds = 80 : 20 = 4 : 1
-----
Odds: Relation (good outcomes) : (BAD outcomes)
Equity: Relation (good outcomes) : (ALL outcomes)
Lesson #3
Overview:
1. Postflop play
2. Hand analysis and the Pokerstrategy.com Equilab
3. Poker math (implied pot odds)
1. An introduction to postflop play - general guidelines
1) Keep in mind the reasons for betting!
2) Tight-Aggressive > all
3) Aggression wins!
4) Tightness is hard to exploit.
5) Fold to aggression!
6) "I want to bet!"
3. An introduction to implied pot odds
Link to the article.
General factors:
- opponent's range
- opponent's looseness
- stacksizes
- hero's relative position
- current street
- hero's range vs hero's hand
Example:
We have a FD on the flop and bet 5BB into a pot of 7BB, the opponent raises to 15BB => we have to call 10BB.
(amount to call) / (total pot after the call) = equity
<=> 10/ 37
(amount to call) : (amount in the pot) = pot odds
10 : 7+5+15
<=> 10 : 27
<=> 1 : 2.7
9 cards out of 47 cards help us, or in other words
9 help us => 47-9 are not helping
=> 38:9 odds
<=> 4.2 : 1
Therefore we need 4.2 : 1 pot odds but we only get 2.7 : 1
If we called, the pot would be: 7bb + 5bb + 15bb + 10bb = 37bb
If we hit we'll bet 20bb. Assuming the opponent calls always
=> on the flop we have 10 : 20 implied odds
<=> 2:1 implied odds
Pot odds + implied odds = 2.7 + 2
=> including implied odds we have 4.7 :1 odds
Lesson #4
Overview:
1. Introduction to hand evaluation - Part 2
2. Playing with initiative
3. Multi-tabling
4. Elephant, HUDs - Part 1
5. Tilt and tilt prevention
1. Introduction to hand evaluation - Part 2
Download the Equilab.
Article about the Equilab.
Link to the pokerhand-converter.
How to post hands.
Link to the NL Strategy forums.
Link to the NL BSS Basic HE forum.
2. Playing with initiative
Standard-lines:
IP
- bet/bet/bet
- bet/bet/check > bet/check/bet
- check/x/x > bet/???/???
OOP
- bet/bet/bet
- bet/checkraise/shove
- bet[fold]/bet[fold]/x
- check[fold]/x/x
3. Multi-tabling
General tips:
- use a simple layout
- use 4-coloured card decks
- disable animations
- preferred seating
- auto-rebuy
- disable chat
Dangers of multi-tabling:
- autopiloting
- losing the edge
- playing too much ABC
4. An introduction to HUDs
The most important stats:
VPIP
PFR
Steal%
WTSD
Cbet%
The most dangerous stat:
AF
5. Dealing with tilt
- Tilt = any non A-game performance
- be honest to yourself
- set a stop-loss
- "Am I still playing A-game?"
- "Should I quit?"
Lesson #5
Overview:
1. Playing without initiative
2. Elephant, HUDs - Part 2
3. Playing with stats
1. Playing without initiative
1.1. We called a raise IP
Strong hands / Max-value:
- raise flop
- call flop, raise turn
- call flop, call turn, call or raise river
Medium hands:
- usually call flop, reevaluate turn
Weak hands / Bluffs:
- fold!
- bluffraise
- float and fold or raise turn
1.2. We called a raise in the BB
Strong hands / Max-value:
- checkraise > all
Medium hands:
- made hands: check/call or check/fold
- draws: check/raise or check/fold
Weak hands / bluffs:
- check/fold > all
1.3. We called a 3bet IP:
- Very situational-dependant with strong and medium hands
- weak hands and air: fold to aggression
2. Elephant, HUDs - Part 2
Advanced stats:
- Limp%
- 3bet%
- foldto3b%
- foldSBtosteal & foldBBtosteal
- foldtocbet
- W$WSF
- donkbet
- bet vs missed cbet (IP and OOP)
- positional stats
3. Playing with stats
General tips:
- reads&history > stats
- stats are misleading
- decisions for stacks based on stats are usually non-optimal
- making close decisions based on stats is non-optimal
- start with few stats
- know what the stats tell you
Lesson #6
Overview:
1. Playing when nobody has the initiative
2. Multi-way pots, freeplays
3. Slowplay
4. Advanced example hands
Playing when nobody has the initiative
Hero completes the SB
Types of opponents:
- Openlimper
- Overlimper
- BB
2. Multiway pots and freeplays
Multiway pots
- ranges are stronger
- fold to aggression
- bluff less
Freeplays
- be aggressive in HU pots, exception: Ahigh boards & drawy boards
- be careful in multiway pots
3. Slowplay
- General rule: Valueplay > slowplay
- consider your range
- consider your image
4. Advanced example hands
1. Stats
2. Personal impression
3. Your thoughts
4. Think thoroughly
5. No results
6. One hand per thread
Lesson #7
Overview:
1. Introduction to short-handed BSS
2. Self-management skills
1. Introduction to short-handed BSS
a) ORC vs dynamic ranges
b) 3betting
- value vs bluff
- tight image vs loose image
- does the opponent fold a lot vs 3bets?
- polarized vs depolarized range
- IP vs OOP
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