Bad beats, Suckouts, Coolers & some training

Training 1

Training rule 1: Do the training before any playing session if it hasnt been done that day.

A) The Hand-Reading Game
-filter your HEM database for “Saw Showdown = True”
-reply the hand street by street, and verbally articulate (or write down, or enter into Pokerstove) your estimate of villain's hand range on each street. Was the hand he actually showed down within the final narrowed range you gave him?
-keep score, track results. If the hand villain showed down was in the final range you assigned him, you're 1 for 1. If it was outside the range, you're 0 for 1. Do 10 hands every day, and over the course of each week, track improvement in your average score out of 10
-you can add HEM filters to work on your hand-reading in a specific situation, for example when you're facing a flop check-raise, or when a loose-passive c/c's 3 streets, or in 3bet pots, etc.

HAND 1

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $100.00
Hero (SB): $52.14
BB: $50.00
UTG: $27.00
MP: $50.75
CO: $50.25

Hero posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has A♥ 9♥

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to $1.00, Hero calls $0.75, fold

Flop: ($2.50, 2 players) 3♦ 4♠ 6♥
Hero checks, BTN bets $1.50, Hero calls $1.50

Turn: ($5.50, 2 players) 8♣
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($5.50, 2 players) T♣
Hero checks, BTN checks

BTN 18/15 nitty stats
Opening BTN 43%

cbets 52%

So about half of that range

much of the suited clubs are missing

when he x the turn

River x/s through so same range

Result: 1 point

Observations: this guy probably doesn't bluff too much, especially after his cbet.

Hand 2

SB

BB

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $50.75
SB: $110.25
BB: $80.40
UTG: $59.60
MP: $50.06
Hero (CO): $50.00

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has 8♣ 8♥

fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.25, fold, SB calls $1.00, BB calls $0.75

Flop: ($3.75, 3 players) K♣ Q♥ 2♦
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($3.75, 3 players) T♥
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks

River: ($3.75, 3 players) 3♣
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks

Calling Preflop

SB

BB

Flop
I think his entire range x's

BB
I think his entire range continues

Turn

SB
We lose KTs, AJs, AJo, KJs, KJo
Leaving us with 77, 88, QJs, ATs

BB

River

SB
Same Range
BB
we lose 33

Results: SB 44 = 0, BB 66 = 1

Observations: If we don't have showdown value we probably have a profitable river bluff as both are x/f most of their range. Also if somoene from SB who is normally very tight maybe calls small PP's mroe than I think?

Hand 3

BB 16/8 32 hands

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): $55.64
SB: $381.59
BB: $88.83
UTG: $135.37
MP: $50.00
CO: $56.60

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has 5♦ 5♥

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.00, fold, BB calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.25, 2 players) 9♥ T♦ J♦
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($2.25, 2 players) A♠
BB checks, Hero checks

River: ($2.25, 2 players) 4♣
BB bets $0.50, Hero calls $0.50

Preflop

Flop

I think he can x behind with all of his range, might donk some sets and flush draws.

Turn

I think he will x behind most of his rnage, we can probably take out some sets 99 that he will most likely lead with. He may hope for a x/r with the A on the turn with straights. He may lead with a few combo draws too. His range crushes mine here 87% to 12% equitywise.

River

If he x's I'd assume he'll bet his straights, 44 and better Aces. Worse aces will x/c along with a lot of other mid pairs.

He min bets the river, so this is most likely a a strong value hand. 44, AJ, AT, made straights.

Results: T8o = 0

Observations: Maybe assume guys who I have no hands on are going to be showing up with some random shit. Especially against 2bb BTN opens. And min betting mid/weak holdings. Not value hands. Maybe there's bluff opportunities here on the river?

Hand 4

MP

BTN 44/28 18 hands fishy

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $45.36
SB: $50.00
BB: $84.19
Hero (UTG): $50.75
MP: $28.82
CO: $51.87

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has A♥ 2♥

Hero raises to $1.50, MP raises to $4.00, fold, BTN calls $4.00, fold, fold, Hero calls $2.50

Flop: ($12.75, 3 players) 9♥ 6♦ 4♥
Hero checks, MP bets $9.00, fold, Hero raises to $46.75 and is all-in, MP calls $15.82 and is all-in

Turn: ($62.39, 2 players) Q♠

River: ($62.39, 2 players) Q♦

Preflop

MP range: KK+, AKo, AKs, A2s-A5s, 78s, 89s, 9Ts

BTN

Flop
MP: KK+ AKo, AKs, A2dd-A5dd, 78s-9Ts

Results: 1
Observations: not much

Hand 5

67/32 42 hands

Preflop

Flop cna probably excpect him to donk with some stronger Kx and some 33, 44.

Turn:
This bet I have no idea, it could be for value with a weaker Kx, random 3 or 4, a PP up to JJ's. But how much extra random trash?

River:

weak Kx doesnt make sense? A3, A4? maybe some other better Ax he bet the turn thinking it was for value? Random bluffs?

Result: 1

Oberservations: Bad player bets, has hand.

Ok those 5 took longer than expected. Faster 5 now.

Hand 6

SB 67/0

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $56.00
SB: $44.29
BB: $25.00
Hero (UTG): $50.00
MP: $50.78
CO: $122.10

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has Q♥ T♥

Hero raises to $1.50, fold, fold, fold, SB calls $1.25, fold

Flop: ($3.50, 2 players) T♣ K♣ T♠
SB checks, Hero bets $1.75, SB calls $1.75

Turn: ($7.00, 2 players) K♥
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($7.00, 2 players) 5♦
SB bets $3.00, Hero calls $3.00

Preflop: Any pair, Any broadway, all suited aces, some better suited connectors and even better suited connectors

Flop: most of his range, Any K any T, any pair, any FD, any gutshot.

River: Kx Tx, 55+ some busted FD's.

Results: 0
Observations. Fishy player bet a weak hand for a weak amount without any regard for the board or his showdown value.

Hand 7

55/33 400h

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $46.84
SB: $42.54
BB: $48.25
UTG: $215.71
MP: $72.57
Hero (CO): $50.25

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has T♠ J♦

fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.25, BTN calls $1.25, fold, fold

Flop: ($3.25, 2 players) 7♣ 5♠ J♥
Hero checks, BTN bets $1.50, Hero calls $1.50

Turn: ($6.25, 2 players) 6♣
Hero checks, BTN bets $4.00, Hero calls $4.00

River: ($14.25, 2 players) T♣
Hero checks, BTN checks

Preflop

Flop: he can bluff most of his range
Turn: same, can definitbely be betting worse hands

Results: 1
Observations: Missed a valuebet that would have called a halfpot bet verse all his weak pairs, 2pairs.

Hand 8

30/10 10 hands

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): $56.46
SB: $20.76
BB: $167.80
UTG: $107.92
MP: $23.01
CO: $78.92

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has T♠ T♦

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.00, SB calls $0.75, fold

Flop: ($2.50, 2 players) 2♠ 4♦ 4♥
SB checks, Hero bets $1.75, SB calls $1.75

Turn: ($6.00, 2 players) J♠
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($6.00, 2 players) K♣
SB bets $3.00, Hero calls $3.00

Pre:
Any broadway, any pair, some of the better suited connectors.

Flop: Any pair, Better Ax, maybe some better Kx

Turn: Same as flop

River: AJ, Any mid pair, 22, 44, KQ
Results: 1
Observations: This river is marginal for the odds. Probably a fold as he probably isn't always betting his mid pairs.

Hand 9

21/16 reg, cbets 91%!!
14% 3b here

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $72.53
Hero (SB): $61.24
BB: $52.58
UTG: $52.27
MP: $99.01
CO: $50.00

Hero posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has Q♦ Q♠

fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.50, BB raises to $4.50, Hero calls $3.00

Flop: ($9.00, 2 players) 9♦ 2♣ 8♠
Hero checks, BB bets $5.00, Hero calls $5.00

Turn: ($19.00, 2 players) 6♦
Hero checks, BB bets $11.00, Hero calls $11.00

River: ($41.00, 2 players) 4♦
Hero checks, BB checks

Preflop

Flop: pretty much every single hand

Turn: I think a lot of the Arag is gone, suited aces with FD still there. overpairs still there. Suited gappers that hit, 86 or have equity still barreling. K9 there.

Results: 0
Observations: 3bing unsuited connectors instead of suited gappers is possible with wide polarized 3b ranges.

Hand 10

21/16 reg
cold calls a lot on button

PokerStars - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $163.97
SB: $83.69
BB: $25.17
UTG: $58.42
Hero (MP): $52.25
CO: $57.12

SB posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has A♣ K♥

fold, Hero raises to $1.50, fold, BTN calls $1.50, fold, fold

Flop: ($3.75, 2 players) Q♠ J♠ 2♣
Hero bets $2.75, BTN calls $2.75

Turn: ($9.25, 2 players) 3♦
Hero bets $6.50, BTN calls $6.50

River: ($22.25, 2 players) T♠
Hero bets $16.00, BTN raises to $53.50, Hero calls $25.50 and is all-in

Preflop:
22-QQ, 65s-AKs, Suited broadways, A2s-A5s
Flop: loses weaker PP's, JJ, 22, weeker suited cons. QJs, no equity sutied aces.
Turn loses gutshots, mid pp's, heavy with a lot of Qx, Jx.
River calls with a lot of 2p, riases with not many flush combos only has AsKs and maybe 8s9s. Bluffs that make sense Asjx?, AsQx?

Results 0
Observations: umm, so expect more people to play weaker oesd's passively IP and turn them into bluffs?

Total results 5.5/10

Training 2

B) Grinding PokerStove / Mentally Estimating Your Equity vs. a Range
-Get PokerStove out, or an iphone/ipad app like PokerSniper.
-From recent hand histories filtered in a specific area you want to improve upon, plug in your hand vs. villain's range at the critical decision point. BEFORE clicking “Evaluate”, mentally estimate what you think your hand's actual equity will be using a method like WiltonTilt's TUPAC method (see his Math of NL Holdem series on DC) or a similar method described in the book Poker Math that Matters.
-Compare your estimate with the actual equity found in Stove. Track your results every 10 hands. The average gap between your estimate and the actual equity should gradually go down with practice and improvement
-Soon you should be able to do this in real time at the tables. In the meantime, your intutitive sense of equity in various spots will get much better.

Ok I don't know what Wilton's TUPAC method is, so this training is to learn it and do 1 example.

Example

TUPAC is an acronym and not just a dead rapper apparently.

I'll use this hand facing BB's flop raise.

PokerStars - €0.50 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: €104.88
Hero (CO): €64.81
BTN: €50.00
SB: €20.25
BB: €53.76

SB posts SB €0.25, BB posts BB €0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: €0.75) Hero has 4♣ 4♥

UTG raises to €1.00, Hero calls €1.00, BTN calls €1.00, fold, BB calls €0.50

Flop: (€4.25, 4 players) J♥ 4♦ T♥
BB checks, UTG bets €1.00, Hero raises to €5.00, fold, BB raises to €17.00, fold, Hero raises to €63.81 and is all-in, BB calls €35.76 and is all-in

Turn: (€110.77, 2 players) K♥

River: (€110.77, 2 players) 3♦
Players agreed to run it twice.

Turn #2: (€110.77, 2 players) A♥

River #2: (€110.77, 2 players) 8♠

1. Tally Up the Hand combinations

I think BB raises JJ, TT preflop for value.

So I'm guessing JTs, JTo and some draws. I think he raises KQ preflop for value. So we're left with a q9s, A few nut flush draws, Lets say A2hh-A5hh and 89s. Lets say he doesnt raise the better OESD too.

JTo
JTs
Q9s
A2hh-A5hh

Break up hands into hands 3 categories

1 - Crush us - 0 combos
2 - Flip - none
3 - We Crush - JTo, JTs, q9s - 13 combos
- A2hh-A5hh - 3 combos

2. Pair combos to known equities.

here we cancel out paired hands and total their equity, but i don't have any...

0 hands

3. Analyze unpaired combos.

13 combos oesd we are 3:1 fav
3 combos flush draw we are 3:1 fav

4. Combine the analysis to estimate.

so Because it's 100% of range we are 3:1 favourite and have a bit less than 3:1 or about 75% equity v his range. Actual pokerstove EV is 77%.

Perhaps I should have picked a better example.... oh well.

Conclusion.

Not a bad method. Next time I do this training, I'll do many examples mentally and work on increasing speed and accuracy. I like the idea that practicing it will increase my intuitive sense of equity in various spots too.

I think this will be a good blog, just funny, so welcome!

And I totally agree, far too many happy bunny tree-huggers about, being all positive and stuff. I like a damned good vent to, I am not a cyborg.

Great start but I've never heard of that TUPAC method either before now.

Have fun with this, I will favourite it I think.

Mal.

Hey Gadget,

Yeah I'd never heard of that tupac method before either. I found at that the guy who wrote that 'Deliberate Training' article is actually a coach here, neverbluffing30. With a few recent videos. I'll have to check them out.

I had a nice cooler playing PLO today. I think it was anyways, not really sure what's going on with PLO.
I read the that NL has 1600 preflop combos and PLO has 270,000... And no starting hand charts...

Unfortunately no hand history as my pokertracker is not set up for it. I flopped a full house. Got it on the flop, and you guessed it, he flopped quads!

Back to NL. Just when you think everyone is solid you get a hand like this.

PokerStars - $1 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $116.96
SB: $133.81
Hero (BB): $100.00
UTG: $95.55
MP: $73.12
CO: $101.28

SB posts SB $0.50, Hero posts BB $1.00

Pre Flop: (pot: $1.50) Hero has 6♦ 9♠

UTG calls $1.00, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero checks

Flop: ($2.50, 2 players) 9♦ 9♥ A♦
Hero checks, UTG bets $2.00, Hero raises to $7.00, UTG raises to $13.00, Hero raises to $35.00, UTG raises to $57.00, Hero raises to $99.00 and is all-in, UTG calls $37.55 and is all-in

Turn: ($191.60, 2 players) K♦

River: ($191.60, 2 players) 5♣

This training is a little bit different. I'm working on my 3betting ranges by position and opponents reaction to them. Just something I'm going to attempt to battle through myself. I'm doing this because I think it's an area in my game that could see huge improvement by more aggressive 3betting.

I went over my standard 3bet percentages by positions and get the following. 3bb open raises everywhere, except BTN is 2bb. Assume 100bb.

Problems I want work out:

1.

How do I change my ranges, both in the size of the range and composition, based on my opponents fold to 3b, 4b and call 3b percentages?

2.

How do I change my ranges based on opponents opening range?

3.

Do I want to increase my default 3b frequencies to a near maximum GTO frequency?

My attempts to answer:

1.

Example: BB 3b v 2bb BTN open.

lets divide our range up.

3b value range:
TT+,AQs+,AQo+ 4.7%, 35%

3b bluff range:
J5s-J4s,T5s-T4s,95s-94s,84s,74s,63s,53s,43s,K6o,Q6o,T7o,97o,87o,76o 8.7%, 65%

When BTN calls:
3b calling range (TT-77,AQs-ATs,A5s-A2s,KTs+,QTs+,J9s+,T8s+,97s+,87s,76s,AQo-AJo,KQo,JTo)

Equity of my bluffing range against his calling range is 35%.
Equity of my value range against his calling range is 68%.

But how often will I get to realize that equity? I think probably a lot more with my value range than bluffing range.
So I'm going to put out a blind guess that I can get 25% on my bluffs and 60% of my value range.

So equity = .37

When BTN folds:

equity = 1

When BTN 4b:
4b range (JJ+,AKs,AKo,ATo,KJo-KTo,QJo)

60% equity for value range, 0% for bluffs
Equity = .21

He folds his bluffs and fails to realize some equity, but I'm going to ignore that for now. I don't think it's too significant.

Total

Action Equity

BTN Folds 1
BTN Calls 0.37
BTN 4b 0.21

Now I plugged this into a spreadsheet and went over 3 different player types.

1. A guy is folding a lot
2. A guy is fairly balanced.
3. A guy is calling a fuckload and beating the crap out of me postflop.

As you can see down the bottom, If the 'Profitable?' colum (which is risk/sum * equity sum) is > 1 3b is a good idea. If not, it's a bad idea.

Observations:

Easily the biggest factor of a profitable 3b is how often the guy folds (well duh jules97 ). His 4b range doesnt matter a hell of a lot as long as I'm not spewing off massive amounts when I get 4b. His call % is the next most signficant after his fold %.

Limitations: This doesn't factor in how my equity changes verses a different opening/4b/3bcalling ranges. I don't think this is super significant against similar ranges. But it would definitely be a good exercise to do with other equities for other positions (i.e. tighter spots like UTG v BUT) and also other common player types (i.e. nits, maniacs).

Next step

Work through more examples of different player types.
Work through more examples with different equities for different players/positions.

Then I have a system I think is ok for finding more profibable and more frequent 3b opportunities (the close my 'profitable?' number gets to 1). I will work to get that number to closer to just above 1 for different player types/postions.
So if it's higher, I'll want to find an ideal amount by increasing my 3b range which will weaken my equity. The loss in equity will be more than made up by the increased opportunities to 3b.

Easy, huh? Well shit. There's still a lot to go here...

Pleno's coaching cancelled but replaced with a nl200 video. So todays training will be be the actively watching a video.
I also got JB and Co's book and can hopefully knock that off in the next couple of days

On a somewhat different note. I have a housemate and running buddy called Diesel. He is a malamute. This is me trying to weigh him. 46kg, 14 months old. Hopefully his fast growing is out the way.

Now, if anyone knows what these are by name and looks. Congratulations, but like Jon Snow, you know nothing. They are not a dog, they are a force of nature. In this picture he is looking placid. It's an elaborate ruse, he has more energy than the sun. Unless of course it's sunny. Then he gets hot.
Digging holes, destroying anything he can. You name it.

Despite having an innate instinct to catch and obliterate small animals, I don't think he classifies the cat as prey. But you never know, one day... He's also super friendly and despite perhaps looking scary to some because of his size, he's a teddy bear around people, kids & other dogs.

But enough backstory. The point of this rambling is, 2 weeks ago, he split his paw open on a sharp rock or nail or something.
Now this has meant he hasn't been allowed outside much and has had no exercise. He usually is running around digging holes and generally destroying the backyard and also also gets about an 8k run per day.
Since the injury he has had his foot bandaged multiple times. He makes an effort to tear it off daily.

So it's now week 2 post injury. 14 days in and he has had no exercise. Probably not for another 4 or 5 days before he can go for a bit of walk too. This has made him fucking mental. Think of the insanity wolf meme and you'll be getting close.

This culminated with a few days ago, when we turned our back for 5 seconds and he bolts out the front door and dives headfirst into a bush after a chicken. He got it. No more eggs from that one.
Trying to remove a half dead chicken from his locked jaw is a little like trying to play 72o profitably. Not easy.

This is the second chicken he's got. I like the story of the first one better.
He bolted outside and chased the chicken across the creek over to the neighbor's yard, where the young family was having a bit off an outdoor lunch. He proceeded to tear the chicken apart. Because well that's just what you do when you catch them. The horror on the 4, 5 and 7 year old children and parents was something to be seen. Nothing like an early lesson on the circle of life I say. ♠_biggrin:

Training 4

D) ACTIVELY watch a training video
-It should take you more than 40 minutes to watch a 40 minute training video.
-During each interesting hand in the video, don't wait for the coach to tell you what action he will take and why he thinks it is best. Pause the video, and ask: What would I do in this situation? Why?
Then resume the video and see what the coach says. If you agree with the coach, now you have some positive reinforcement for what was likely a good decision all-around. If you disagree, pause again, get Stove out, refine villain's range, do an EV calc, and figure out whether you or the video instructor was (more) right. Don't just take the lines they advocate as gospel. You're a thinking player; you have a mind of your own.

This is the video
http://www.pokerstrategy.com/video/30692/
Pleno1 Live 4-tabling 200NL Zoom

22 hand

This ties in with my previous post on 3b ranges and what I want to work on. My normal 3b range here is about 15%.

It looks like this guy is folding too much, 60%. where 3betting a super wide range he catches on would be very profitable. So we want to widen our 3b bluff range. But do we want to be taking them from our flat calling range? Or just add some more Trash with blockers? I think we probably need to do both to get the right enough combos. Probably need to add in K2o-K5o, Q2q5oo and 22-55, 74s to 96s would bring our range to 25%. We could probably even widen it further to include suited low jacks, J2-J7. And even wider...

Adding low PP's to bluff range from calling range are probably the best hands to remove from calling range. Because his range is wide, so implied odds when hitting a set aren't great and postflop they play terrible.

TJo SB v BB

River X/c verse X/R

What worse hands call X/R? I would have thought 9x would find a fold. I think most better T's would have bet the turn. Maybe he bluff catches with a 9 because we don't rep bugger all. If that is the case, I think it's ok. But looks very thin.

And he calls with A9o... fucking pro... damn...

TT BB v CUT

Not sure why no 3b for value? I think if we don't have TT in our 3b range here either the frequency is not very high and not aggressive enough. Or our range is very trash heavy. Maybe because he folds a lot to 3b?

And here ends my shot at nl100 for now. Fuck it. Time to punch something.

BB fish
SB reg

PokerStars - $1 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $157.66
SB: $240.96
BB: $67.72
UTG: $70.67
MP: $62.65
Hero (CO): $108.28

SB posts SB $0.50, BB posts BB $1.00

Pre Flop: (pot: $1.50) Hero has A♣ A♥

fold, fold, Hero raises to $2.50, fold, SB raises to $9.00, BB calls $8.00, Hero raises to $23.00, SB raises to $240.96 and is all-in, fold, Hero calls $85.28 and is all-in

Flop: ($225.56, 2 players) 5♦ K♠ 6♠

Turn: ($225.56, 2 players) T♠

River: ($225.56, 2 players) 7♦

I'm not so sure about SB's play. Am I ever bluffing here because of the fish? For his shove to be profitable, I'd have to be 4 betting a pretty wide range and folding an arse load to his 5b.

Where is the justice?

Yeah, there is no justice in poker, I mean you should't think in justice termes with this game hehe

About the hand, no perticular love or h8 towards regs play. If he has some stats/read/history on you it could be somewhat standard. He could also just get away from it yeah.

Keep it up, will follow.

Cheers Greg, gl to you 2.

Played 4k hands @ nl25. Of course when I move down I crush like a boss. Just running good, running around beating everyone up. Nice to be on the other side of the coin for a change.
I also noticed my sparring partner Dawarsaw was playing nl25, maybe he got the surprise buttsex at nl100 also. I think he may now have a note on me that says "-4bet this guy with any 2", which is a shame.

There are so many fishy guys running around nl25 zoom.

For example. Check this out.

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

Hero (BTN): $47.34
SB: $24.75
BB: $2.58
UTG: $47.60
MP: $41.26
CO: $25.87

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has 7♦ 7♥

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.50, SB raises to $1.25, fold, Hero calls $0.75

Flop: ($2.75, 2 players) 9♣ 7♠ 5♥
SB bets $1.75, Hero raises to $4.50, SB raises to $8.00,

So it's right at this point. I'm talking to myself. 'Ok, put him on a range, put him on a range. That's what you're supposed to be working on'.

"Hmm, he can definitely have 99 and 55.
Not a full stack and doing stupid shit from the SB so he's probably not the best player. So he can definitely have A9s or even K9s. He could also definitely have quite a few overpairs here. TT+ The old minraise preflop and stack off the overpair.
Oh god he could totally have 86. But he probably, PROBABLY only has the suited versions. He could have 75cc. Maybe he's also just getting aggressive with an OESD? He could also just be spaz bluffing and fold to a shove?

Either way, it looks like he probably likes his hand and it's a pretty easy place to stack of for me. YEah, lets do it! [fist pump]"

So.... I shove.

Hero raises to $46.09 and is all-in,

he calls.

SB calls $15.50 and is all-in

Turn: ($49.75, 2 players) K♣

River: ($49.75, 2 players) 4♦

He shows.

About half way through JB's book. My favourite bit so far was the part where EC talked about how he reviewed other regs hand histories at his zoom limit. I think that's a really good idea. And is now added to the "Trainings to do" list. It also gave me an idea, if I can get someone really good, for example Pleno1's hand histories at say nl200 zoom and review them, I think that would be disgustingly helpful.

Training 5

G) Drilla in Flopzilla
-give villain a preflop range, enter in a board like Axxr or J98ss, and estimate how often his range has hit TP or better vs. how often he has air. Compare with the actual results flopzilla gives you. Also estimate how often he has an OESD or FD, and then realize how wildly off mark some of you paranoid f***s are to repeatedly make protecting your tpnk against a draw the centerpiece of your decision-making process

13% UTG bad nit, QJo+, JTs +

5c4d6s EST top pop pair or better: 20%, actual 32%. OESD 1%, actual 3%,
Jh5c3h EST TP or better 35%, actual 40%, OESD never, FD 8%, actual 3.9%
KhTh5d EST TP or better 30%, actual 38%, can have mid pair 8% also, weak pair 21%, air 10%

20% UTG opening LAG

This 9c5h4h is interesting. The mid card 9 gives him a lot more mid pairrs than lower cards and reduces his air. Also the flush draw is higher because he doesnt have the low flush cards in his range, so there is no removal effect

58% BTN opening range

QcTd8s Have to remember all the two pair combos add up
9h9c9s May have slightly overestimated the air. Ace high is 26% of his range.
Ac6h2d. This is interesting. He pretty much either has an ace or nothing. I think people are probably cbetting these flops too much.

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

Hero (BTN): $26.14
SB: $13.08
BB: $49.69
UTG: $34.78
MP: $23.86
CO: $21.66

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has 6♠ 8♠

fold, fold, CO calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.00, SB calls $0.90, fold, CO calls $0.75

Flop: ($3.25, 3 players) 5♣ 7♦ 9♣
SB checks, CO checks, Hero bets $2.20, fold, CO calls $2.20

Turn: ($7.65, 2 players) K♦
CO checks, Hero bets $22.94 and is all-in, CO calls $18.46 and is all-in

River: ($44.57, 2 players) J♦

CO shows 3♦ T♦ (Flush, King High) (Pre 55%, Flop 6%, Turn 20%)
Hero shows 6♠ 8♠ (Straight, Nine High) (Pre 45%, Flop 94%, Turn 80%)
CO wins $42.57

It seems a heap of kids get into poker because they want to live a 'baller' lifestyle. Like that preview clip of the new movie with JT and Ben Affleck, Runner Runner.

Bitches, drinking & good times apparently.

In reality, this is spending too much money, questionable decisions and feeling like shit the next day.

I'm currently in the last part of that equation. Right now, I'm thinking it's not too great for my health either.

So like the typical blog goal, I think I'll make it an aim to kind of, sort of, probably not drink at all over the next 5 or so months. Now, I can hear yours, and anyone with half a brain, thoughts.

"Jules, you are idiot. You are hungover. These are hangover thoughts. You will be drinking again next weekend. Maximum."

Yes. I get it, fair point. But I think I'll probably do it anyway. I know of a few social events coming up in the near future. The bucks show will be a test for sure.

In my current addled state, I'm looking forward to todays training. Playing blind the day after being blind.
I feel being hangover and having a brain of similar consistency and intelligence of mushed peas is appropriate. The theme of the training appears to be handicap yourself. And myself being the ever dedicated sole am simply doing whats necessary. Taking it to the next level & playing under duress.

In fact, over indulgence last night was actually part of my plan. To make a more effective training session. This, folks, is the kind of attitude, commitment and dedication one needs to crush the world of online poker. And thus lead the baller lifestyle of bitches, drinking & good times.

I should be charging for this.

E) Playing Blind
-drop down one or two levels, open up 2 or 3 tables, and cover up the hole cards on your screen with scraps of paper or anything you can think of
-Handread, handread, handread. Develop the habit of going through the same step-by-step decision process on every hand:

1) What is his range? Articulate it clearly in your head or even say it aloud.

2) What is his perception of my range? Not what is my actual range, but what does he or she think I could have.

3) Where does my actual hand fit into that?

4) What will he do? (If I call? If I raise?) Not what he should do, or what you would do. What will he do?

5) What is the most +EV action? (consider ALL options and ALL sizes)

-Obviously in this drill you cut out step 3 because you have XX air. You're simply looking for +EV bluffing opportunities given his range and your perceived range. But most importantly, you're forcing yourself to actively drill your handreading ability; and you're forcing yourself to develop the habit and discipline of going through a proper logical decision-making process on every hand, rather than randomly thinking about different things in different hands.

For those confused, this activity is not playing blind drunk. Blind vision is what we mean, no sight. Last time I played poker after only 2 beers I lost 10 buyins. Now this was probably the brutal combination of extreme run bad, coolers and variance. But it has shied me away from wanting to repeat that experience.

So the plan is I'm going to play 1 table nl10 zoom. Now heres the deal. I figure I can't just play every hand so I'm going to get a random number generator and roll the dice to see if it fits into my range. i.e. I roll less than 15, I open
UTG. I think I'll use flopzilla and use the number generator in some other postflop spots too.

Makes sense. What could go wrong. I don't see anything.

Hmmm, come to think of it, I do see one problem. At nl10 there value bettnig is going to be profitable. Bluffing isn't.
I am going to be bluffing 100% of my range...
Perhaps I should just go and burn some money instead... Come to think of it, literally burning money could be a better alternative than the way I'm living this weekend. Healthier, less embarrassing. Time efficient.

Played blind for an hour, 227 hands at nl2 zoom. Crushed at 22 bb/100. ez game

I canned the random number idea. Completely unnecessary. Maybe I was still drunk. Sounded good in theory.

Just decided to open every hand and call/3b all btn/cut/blinds to get in more spots.

Here are some of the more interesting ones. I think the exercise was useful to become vigilant in looking for signs of weakness to exploit that can be easily overlooked. Quite helpful.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): $5.41
SB: $1.72
BB: $2.00
UTG: $2.19
MP: $1.86
CO: $1.17

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has A♠ T♥

fold, MP raises to $0.06, fold, Hero calls $0.06, SB calls $0.05, BB calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.24, 4 players) 2♠ 7♠ K♥
SB checks, BB bets $0.02, MP calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.21, fold, fold, MP calls $0.19

Turn: ($0.68, 2 players) 4♦
MP checks, Hero checks

River: ($0.68, 2 players) 6♥
MP bets $0.24, Hero raises to $5.14 and is all-in, fold

I figure he cant have much on the river. Unless he's spiked 66 or 44. Can't have a K, cant have 77 or 22. Cant have busted FD's, can have 76.

I don't really rep anything after x the turn. But lets not worry about that...

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $2.22
SB: $5.83
Hero (BB): $5.27
UTG: $2.86
MP: $2.26
CO: $2.63

SB posts SB $0.01, Hero posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has 7♦ 2♠

fold, fold, fold, fold, SB raises to $0.04, Hero calls $0.02

Flop: ($0.08, 2 players) 5♦ 9♦ 6♥
SB bets $0.04, Hero raises to $0.16, SB calls $0.12

Turn: ($0.40, 2 players) T♣
SB checks, Hero bets $0.79, fold

Super capped after x/c this wet flop. He can't have a set 78, 55, 99, 66, TT. Can't have overpairs. Can have flushdraws. one pairs. Might have 2 combos of 9Ts. Unlikely to have 56s.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): $4.52
SB: $2.22
BB: $1.23
UTG: $0.42
MP: $5.12
CO: $2.00

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has K♦ 5♥

fold, MP raises to $0.06, fold, Hero calls $0.06, SB calls $0.05, BB calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.24, 4 players) 3♥ A♦ 6♦
SB checks, BB checks, MP bets $0.18, Hero calls $0.18, fold, fold

Turn: ($0.60, 2 players) 7♣
MP checks, Hero bets $0.38, MP calls $0.38

River: ($1.36, 2 players) 8♠
MP checks, Hero bets $1.21, fold

I think after x/c the turn here he has quite a few pairs worse than Aces, mabye a weak Ace at best, has some busted flushdraws.
I think on river he's folding just about everything. Might hero call with a weak ace.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $4.13
SB: $1.10
BB: $2.00
UTG: $2.13
MP: $3.43
Hero (CO): $5.16

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has 7♣ 3♠

fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.05, BTN calls $0.05, fold, fold

Flop: ($0.13, 2 players) J♣ J♥ 4♥
Hero bets $0.07, BTN calls $0.07

Turn: ($0.27, 2 players) K♥
Hero bets $0.24, BTN calls $0.24

River: ($0.75, 2 players) 7♥
Hero bets $0.24, BTN calls $0.24

Double barell turn to fold out all PP's. Bet river small to fold out any hand worse than xheart.x

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $2.52
SB: $0.94
Hero (BB): $5.06
UTG: $0.76
MP: $0.73
CO: $2.06

SB posts SB $0.01, Hero posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has K♦ 5♣

fold, fold, CO raises to $0.04, fold, fold, Hero calls $0.02

Flop: ($0.09, 2 players) Q♦ A♥ T♦
Hero bets $0.06, CO calls $0.06

Turn: ($0.21, 2 players) 4♣
Hero checks, CO checks

River: ($0.21, 2 players) K♣
Hero bets $0.13, fold

Here I lead the flop because this jsut hits my range like a boss. On the river I think I can fold out anything worse than Ax, which he doesn't have because it would bet the turn.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $2.07
SB: $3.47
BB: $5.09
Hero (UTG): $4.72
MP: $1.05
CO: $2.03

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has A♦ A♣

Hero raises to $0.06, fold, fold, BTN calls $0.06, fold, fold

Flop: ($0.15, 2 players) 2♥ J♣ 7♦
Hero bets $0.09, BTN calls $0.09

Turn: ($0.33, 2 players) 3♣
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($0.33, 2 players) T♦
Hero bets $0.67, fold

After he x turn he has some thing worse than Jx, which is foldign to an overbet, unless of course he has TT, then I'm fucked.

PokerStars - $0.02 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $2.15
SB: $1.57
Hero (BB): $2.17
UTG: $1.00
MP: $3.33
CO: $2.26

SB posts SB $0.01, Hero posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has 7♠ 3♦

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to $0.06, fold, Hero calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.13, 2 players) T♠ K♠ Q♣
Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($0.13, 2 players) 5♣
Hero bets $0.21, fold

After x behind flop, super capped. Best hand is a Kx and hits my range super strong. Folding everythign to 2x overbet.

Finished Education of a Modern Poker Player. Had a lot of parts I enjoyed and got value out of. I liked the hand reviews the best. There was one I didn't agree with.
When I say that, it's not because I think it's wrong, just I didn't understand their reasoning behind it and I woud have played it differently. Which is a worry. It was just kind of 'yeah thats well played, good hand, next'.

I'm going to find it.

I think this is the one. 83% into the book.

JB is BUT with 5 :club:6

MP opens, JB calls, SB calls, BB calls

BB fish, others regs

Flop T :club:J :club:Q

Flop gets checked through. Now my thinking is why the fuck are you not betting here? Even if it is 4 way. Hand is vulnerable, can get value. I don't get it.

What am I missing? Is it a typo? Am I retarded?

OK so BB is a not so great reg. And I thought SB probably was a reg too, although only had 7 hands on him.

And after the exercise playing blind and trying to be aggressive into weakness. I decided to go after this... even though it was multiway...

10 points if you can guess what he shows up with.

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

Hero (BTN): $33.22
SB: $44.29
BB: $23.70
UTG: $30.36
MP: $26.91
CO: $25.25

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has 6♣ K♥

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.50, SB calls $0.40, BB calls $0.25

Flop: ($1.50, 3 players) 8♦ 9♦ 6♥
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $0.90, SB calls $0.90, BB calls $0.90

Turn: ($4.20, 3 players) 2♥
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $7.70, SB calls $7.70, fold

River: ($19.60, 2 players) J♣
SB checks, Hero checks

I've been reading about risk. Most recently, security.

A security risk company deals with 2 parts security.

1. Actual security risk. eg chance your plane gets hijacked by terrorists
2. Feelings of safety. eg how safe you feel flying in a plane.

Often these 2 are negatively correlated and people choose to feel safe at the expense of their true safety.

For example, people planning on flying in a plane to go on a holiday see a terrorist attack in a foreign country. The don't feel safe and drive instead of flying. Or perhaps, even stay at home on the couch instead. When in truth their 'feelings of safety' alternatives are more risky than if they got on the plane.

So how can we apply to this to poker?

I think the most obvious place someone would be vulnerable to attempting to feel safe is not being as aggressive as they should be.

The worse the player, the more spots they are likely to be passive when they should be aggressive. This means we should be extra weary when they do show aggression.

And here's a typical hand this month. Only 10 buyins below EV so far. And I'm going to complain of 20 buyins below EV in coolers...

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

BTN: $18.74
SB: $12.50
BB: $37.02
UTG: $32.80
MP: $32.48
Hero (CO): $25.00

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has A♦ K♣

UTG raises to $1.00, MP calls $1.00, Hero raises to $4.00, fold, fold, fold, UTG calls $3.00, MP calls $3.00

Flop: ($12.35, 3 players) J♠ 4♣ K♥
UTG checks, MP checks, Hero bets $6.00, UTG calls $6.00, MP calls $6.00

Turn: ($30.35, 3 players) 7♦
UTG checks, MP checks, Hero bets $15.00 and is all-in, UTG calls $15.00, fold

River: ($60.35, 2 players) 9♣

Another session, another couple of buyins below ev.

I'm scared of flopping the nuts or getting AA and KK preflop. Think I'll just fast fold those hands from now on.

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

BTN: $26.70
SB: $59.24
BB: $21.40
UTG: $41.87
MP: $33.48
Hero (CO): $101.52

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has Q♠ K♦

fold, MP raises to $0.75, Hero raises to $2.00, fold, fold, fold, MP calls $1.25

Flop: ($4.35, 2 players) T♣ J♠ 9♠
MP checks, Hero bets $3.70, MP raises to $12.00, Hero raises to $99.52 and is all-in, MP calls $19.48 and is all-in

Turn: ($67.31, 2 players) 8♠

River: ($67.31, 2 players) 9♦
Players agreed to run it twice.

Turn #2: ($67.31, 2 players) 7♠

River #2: ($67.31, 2 players) A♥

MP shows 6♠ A♠ (Flush, Ace High)Board #1 (Pre 59%, Flop 33%, Turn 98%)Board #2 (Pre 59%, Flop 33%, Turn 100%)
Hero shows Q♠ K♦ (Straight, King High)Board #1 (Pre 41%, Flop 67%, Turn 2%)Board #2 (Pre 41%, Flop 67%, Turn 0%)
MP wins $32.66
MP wins $32.65