Beat NL2 Challenge AMA

Here is an example of a failed bluff.

I still think that the x/r OTF is not the worst. I have a weak vulnerable hand that is unlikely to improve. So I can turn it into a bluff as well.

OTR I tried to represent the completed flush draw. Didn't work. I thought it was the only way to win the hand.
I still think my line is strong so I probably just ran into a very strong hand here?

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

BTN: 30 BB
SB: 105.5 BB
Hero (BB): 106 BB
UTG: 336.5 BB
MP: 164 BB
CO: 36.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 3♦ 3♥

UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 2 BB

Flop: (6.5 BB, 2 players) J♦ 8♣ T♣
Hero checks, UTG bets 3.5 BB, Hero raises to 10.5 BB, UTG calls 7 BB

Turn: (27.5 BB, 2 players) 2♠
Hero checks, UTG checks

River: (27.5 BB, 2 players) 5♣
Hero bets 19 BB, UTG raises to 47.5 BB, fold,

Originally posted by kfcsekirata
I saw some of your comments in the hand discussion forums and i see how you learn here and I think it is not really optimal for nl. I have played 2 nl years ago, but the players are so bad that you don't need anything special and so deep thinking. To beat nl 2 you probably don't need bluffs. I think it's enough to bet more when you have good hands and fold more when they get aggressive and you wouldn't have problems.

Thanks for this advice. I really appreciate it.
I have tried to do exactly that in the beginning, but it didn't work out well either. I wasn't winning much, so I spent more time working on theory.
I thought a style that works on NL25 would definitely work on NL2 as well. And isn't it a perfect opportunity to be able to play on NL2 for very little money and improve on the game?
Also I am afraid that playing a very basic strategy, as you described, could ruin my habits. Don't you think it makes it harder when advancing to the next limit?
But I hear you and maybe I should reconsider. Stick to the basic strategy and be very consistent with it.
Thanks! 🙏

Originally posted by monteCarlol

Originally posted by kfcsekirata

I have tried to do exactly that in the beginning, but it didn't work out well either. I wasn't winning much, so I spent more time working on theory.
I thought a style that works on NL25 would definitely work on NL2 as well. And isn't it a perfect opportunity to be able to play on NL2 for very little money and improve on the game?

If you want to beat 25NL you must play 25NL.

I have played several million hands of 2NL with a good winrate. A crusher if you like.

Here's my tips on how to beat 2NL.

Firstly, colour code players according to their playing styles. I colour TAGs Red / Good LAGs Turquoise / Weak Tight Orange / Loose bad Yellow / Loose Passive Green / Maniac Purple.

The best playing style in my opinion to beat 2NL with a winrate of 10bb is to play weak tight.

That means you do not bluff multiway pots, or against 90% of the population. You may bluff tight players, particularly fellow weak tight players. You may c/bet bluff in HU pots on boards which hit your range but not against calling stations.

Generally you should value town top pair kicker hands and fold if you get re-raised. When a player 3/bets on the turn or river at 2NL they are not bluffing. They have two pair or better.

Don't chase draws with bad pot odds. But make players chasing draws pay through the nose.

You should play between 12-15% of your hands full ring. You are waiting for good hands only.

Don't call river shoves like you did with the second nutz with the four to a flush. They are never bluffing. They are value shoving.

Thanks arthurbentley!
I was paying similarly in the beginning then deviated from it. I will give it another shot.

Originally posted by monteCarlol

Originally posted by arthurbentley
First thing you must do is move your bankroll over to Pokerstars. The 6.5% rake at 888poker will decimate your winrate. The rake at Pokerstars 2nl is just 3.5%. It's a massive difference which will add at least 4bb/100 to your winrate by switching over to 'Stars.

🤔 I guess you are right. Thanks for the tip.
Any other sites you can recommend?
GG, Unibet, Party maybe?

GG is a good option for ruash&cash you get better rakeback and bonuses than you will on stars and rakeback is the same about 3%.You cant use a hud you only have the vpip stat but you can upload the hand histories to a tracker from poker craft for review.

NL2:
Play your ranges, bet for value.

overfold vs. agression (raises and shoves)

think about underbetting the river as a bluff OOP when turn is checked (really small, you get folds even if betting jus 2-3bb)

Originally posted by arthurbentley
If you want to beat 25NL you must play 25NL.

Here's my tips on how to beat 2NL.

Spot on arthurbentley!
I play pretty much like that up to NL 10, and when I played a lot of hold'em it worked.
You need to adjust more at NL 25 and up, and I never quite succeeded.

Cheers,
VS

Up to 23k hands I thought it was not too bad, I just need to learn and improve.
Now I only think I need to learn and improve. This is brutal. This is NL2 after all.
But I am going to make it 💪🏻

What the fuck does your redline make.....

here is the point you have got to work on ....

start making a bet in position every time you are HU and villain checked to you.... bet 1/2 pot.... just doi it

Originally posted by Talisker74
What the fuck does your redline make.....

here is the point you have got to work on ....

start making a bet in position every time you are HU and villain checked to you.... bet 1/2 pot.... just doi it

I actually like none of these lines... 😂

Originally posted by monteCarlol
I actually like none of these lines... 😂

Talisker74 is quite right.
The red line could indicate:
 Not defending your blinds enough.
 Lack of aggression -- in other words playing too passively
 Playing too many hands looking for a flop and being forced to fold
 Others?

Cheers,
VS

These are the stats of my last 4k hands.
Tell me if I am playing too many hands.
I have been explicitly trying to improve my blind defence lately. Not effectively enough, though.
My CBet F is quite high. Maybe that can contribute to the red line as well?

Originally posted by Talisker74
What the fuck does your redline make.....

here is the point you have got to work on ....

start making a bet in position every time you are HU and villain checked to you.... bet 1/2 pot.... just doi it

That would mean 3barrelling with trash hands way too often. I'm not going to do this.

no sample, i`m just starting at NL2, but redline is a bit better than yours....

On nl2 for sure your redline has to be break even or little above. Dude its a journy and you putting time and effort into it, thats a big plus!

Find more check raising spots/bluffs with flops that don't hit there range but it does for yours, thats one way to improve your redline.

Keep it going mate!

31 VPIP in the BTN seems low
Fold to steal is really high

Originally posted by monteCarlol

Originally posted by Talisker74
What the fuck does your redline make.....

here is the point you have got to work on ....

start making a bet in position every time you are HU and villain checked to you.... bet 1/2 pot.... just doi it

That would mean 3barrelling with trash hands way too often. I'm not going to do this.

You don't have to continue the bluff multiple streets just attack checks aggressively it's pretty much an auto profit spot.One thing you can do to start with is look for backdoor equity so you can barrel or continue on turns which you pick equity up on.But generally when villains check they are giving up the vast majority of the time so probe bet and attack those checks.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
31 VPIP in the BTN seems low
Fold to steal is really high

Btn's 56% raise first in for unopened pots so a little on the high side for me but 28% pfr and 32% vpip so about 4% cold calling is generally ok imo. Although ill add a disclaimer i'm not great with hud's or stats.

Originally posted by SittingOuts
On nl2 for sure your redline has to be break even or little above.

My red line at 2nl was like a ski slope it was awful and i was beating the stake for 20+bb/100. If your non showdown winnings are suffering it will show in your showdown winnings so i wouldn't worry about redline worry about the green one.

Thanks everyone for the advice and motivating words. I really appreciate it. ❤️
After all I am grateful for the opportunity to improve my game and mental game and to get through this.
In the long run this could potentially be more beneficial than starting out with a major upswing. And it is always about the journey, learning, getting better and not about the results.