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Cash Game Beyond NL2

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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

Hi folks,

I had picked up poker again after an almost 15-year long break. I had probably forgotten most of the little poker knowledge that I had. However, I didn't expect that I would struggle so much even on the lowest possible limits.

Anyway, I got my shit together, worked through a lot of content, got a lot of support from the PokerStrategy community (❤️), and finally was able to beat NL2 debatably, starting out playing regular tables and then switching to Zoom tables. I now feel pretty confident playing NL2z, and here is my complete graph:

Spoiler

I moved up to NL5 which went really well at first, but then I hit a 13 BI downswing which was kind of tough for me. Tiny bit of tilt involved, but not too much. Also some blunders of course. See the graph:

Spoiler

My short term goal is to be able to compete on NL5, and improve my game. Midterm goal is to move up to NL10 (and beyond if possible). But I am not too concerned with mid to long term goals, it rather should be fun and I like to focus on the process rather than on the outcome.

I take occasional coachings from ValueHeavy coach Peter. And currently I am trying to really get down and implement some poker basics that I recently studied.

Besides my family and my job there is not that much time left for poker over all, but I try to consistently put in study and playing hours every week.

Thanks everyone for reading and following. I'll keep you updated!


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240 replies
AgapieGheorghe
Joined: 10.07.2011

:gl: :sfishg::sfishg::sfishg:


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SamoB25
Joined: 02.10.2009

Good luck 👍👍👍 if you did it so well on NL2 I have no doubts you'll adapt to NL5 and rock it as well 👍👍👍


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KoningAlbert
Joined: 09.06.2009

Looking forward to follow your progress, since we're on the same stakes :)


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

Originally posted by AgapieGheorghe
:gl: :sfishg::sfishg::sfishg:

Originally posted by SamoB25
Good luck 👍👍👍 if you did it so well on NL2 I have no doubts you'll adapt to NL5 and rock it as well 👍👍👍

Originally posted by KoningAlbert
Looking forward to follow your progress, since we're on the same stakes :)
Thank you all for the support, it means a lot to me. I know we are going to have fun together 😄


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

I just opted in for the Get Rich or Die Tryin' - The Bankroll Challenge.

Starting: 20 May 2021 (week 1: 17-23 May)
BR: $105.91
Goal: $1001

I am going to try a very aggressive BRM, and move up with 20 BIs and move down with 17 BIs. I don't know if this will work out. If it gets too tough, I'll fall back to 25/20.

I expect it to take quite some time to achieve that goal, probably several years. I did a rough calculation and even in the best case, assuming decent win rates, with the volume I expect to be able to put in, it is disenchanting.

But hey, the journey is the destination, as we say in Germany.


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Tomaloc
Joined: 17.01.2011

you can do it faster than you think :)


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Zaratras
Joined: 03.01.2009

Awwwww yeah man! lets goo!

Gonna have a lot of fun keeping track of your blog :f_drink:


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

Originally posted by Tomaloc
you can do it faster than you think :)
I hope you are right, thanks!

Originally posted by Zaratras
Awwwww yeah man! lets goo!

Gonna have a lot of fun keeping track of your blog :f_drink:
Thanks for the support.


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

BR Challenge Update

Week: 1 (20.5.21-23.5.21)
Hands played: 2020
Limits: NL2/NL5
Profit: -$2.40
BR: $103.51


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

Yesterday I made the first place on the PokerStars NL2 Leaderboard and won $50.
A great boost to my BR!


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

BR Challenge Update

Week: 2 (24.5.21-30.5.21)
Hands played: 6278
Limits: NL2/NL5
Profit: +$28.11
Bonuses/Rakeback: +$50
BR: $181.62


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Zaratras
Joined: 03.01.2009

Ohh yeah man you are on fire!!


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Super Moderator
VorpalF2F
Joined: 02.09.2010

That extra $50 in addition to what you won at poker is great.
Since they add cards together to get your score, you averaged 11 per card.
I know that they have different add-on amounts for suited connectors and pocket pairs, but still...

That's amazing


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
That extra $50 in addition to what you won at poker is great.
Since they add cards together to get your score, you averaged 11 per card.
I know that they have different add-on amounts for suited connectors and pocket pairs, but still...

That's amazing

Amazing, against all the odds, and no skill involved. 😄


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AgapieGheorghe
Joined: 10.07.2011

Congrats for your results and good luck this week :f_drink:


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

BR Challenge Update

Week:3 (31.5.21-6.6.21)
Hands played: 4382
Limits: NL2/NL5
Profit: -$12.47
BR: $169.15


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

BR Challenge Update

Week: 4 (7 June 2021 - 13 June 2021)
Hands played: 3304
Limits: NL2/NL5
Profit: -$9.27
BR: $159.88

Results are not good ATM. Besides one KK vs AQ all-in pre-flop (which is obviously not that interesting), I will post 2 of the biggest hands I lost.

Hand 1: Blunder?

I think, I should have folded OTF. There aren't any bluffs in Villain's range that would go for such a large raise size OTF. And I loose vs all of his value raising range.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 60.2 BB
SB: 113.6 BB
BB: 116.4 BB
UTG: 133 BB
Hero (MP): 105.6 BB
CO: 51.8 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has J:heart: A:heart:

UTG raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 8 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, UTG calls 5 BB

Flop: (17.4 BB, 2 players) A:club: J:diamond: T:spade:
UTG checks, Hero bets 7 BB, UTG raises to 37.6 BB, Hero calls 30.6 BB

Turn: (92.6 BB, 2 players) 2:heart:
UTG bets 87.4 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 60 BB and is all-in

River: (212.6 BB, 2 players) 2:diamond:

UTG cashed out 183.6 BB for a fee of 1.8 BB

Hand 2: Aces

I think I played this one ok. What do you think of the river jam?
Villain might call with KK, QQ. Sure, he can have JJ. 7x or 2x are very unlikely. Flush is as well unlikely because I block the nut flush, and he shouldn't have too many suited broadways in his pre-flop calling range.

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 224.2 BB
SB: 298.4 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 166 BB
MP: 75.4 BB
Hero (CO): 101.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has A:heart: A:club:

UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, Hero raises to 9 BB, fold, fold, fold, UTG calls 6 BB

Flop: (19.4 BB, 2 players) 7:spade: 2:heart: 2:spade:
UTG checks, Hero bets 6.4 BB, UTG calls 6.4 BB

Turn: (32.2 BB, 2 players) 7:heart:
UTG checks, Hero bets 17 BB, UTG calls 17 BB

River: (66.2 BB, 2 players) J:heart:
UTG checks, Hero bets 69 BB and is all-in, UTG calls 69 BB


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AgapieGheorghe
Joined: 10.07.2011

I play the same the AA hand :f_drink:


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monteCarlol
Joined: 24.08.2019

BR Challenge Update

Week: 5 (14 June 2021 - 20 June 2021)
Hands played: 1967
Limits: NL2/NL5
Profit: $5.34
BR: $165.22

Haven't played that much. Tried to get my old Windows notebook up and running with Stars and sync PT4, to be able to use some tools that are not available for macOS like StarsCaption e.g.
Not sure what the problem is, but PokerStars keeps crashing. So this was probably a waste of time. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I am still not really confident in my game. I ran ~300 BB above all-in EV.

Anyway, here is a funny/lucky hand:

PokerStars - $0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 100 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 167 BB
MP: 101 BB
CO: 112.4 BB
Hero (BTN): 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has A:diamond: A:heart:

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2.4 BB, fold, BB raises to 8 BB, Hero raises to 21 BB, BB raises to 100 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 79 BB and is all-in

Flop: (200.4 BB, 2 players) Q:club: 4:heart: 3:heart:

Turn: (200.4 BB, 2 players) 5:heart:

River: (200.4 BB, 2 players) Q:heart:

Spoiler

BB shows A:spade: A:club: (Two Pair, Aces and Queens)

Hero shows A:diamond: A:heart: (Flush, Ace High)

Hero wins 192 BB


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