Ask me Anything - mbml

Procrastination and instant gratification leads to future suffering

So true. A concept I think we all recognise on some intrinsic level but I have never seen it described so accurately and succinctly which helps a great deal with understanding. Thanks.

In your opinion, what are the most important character traits one must cultivate if they aspire to be successful at poker?

Other than financial independence, what are the greatest gifts poker has given you? (if they differ from the above)

Thanks,
MD

Hello, about 3betting bb vs button, when you bluff, would you rather choose from worst suited hands that you dont call like 43s, 62s, J5s etc. (well, at least I dont call these against a minraise), or K6o, Q7o, A6o as a blocker you use them as well?

thanks

What is your favorite internet meme? ♠_biggrin:

Originally posted by MasochisticDesire

Procrastination and instant gratification leads to future suffering

So true. A concept I think we all recognise on some intrinsic level but I have never seen it described so accurately and succinctly which helps a great deal with understanding. Thanks.

In your opinion, what are the most important character traits one must cultivate if they aspire to be successful at poker?

Other than financial independence, what are the greatest gifts poker has given you? (if they differ from the above)

Thanks,
MD

-Masochistic? You must enjoy taking a beating when you lose money
-Discipline/Resilience/Persistence: Without these traits you'll probably give up way too early
-Balls: Balls are needed. People with no balls will not dare to take the plunge and play poker for a living
-Love for Strategy/Games: Without an innate interest it's hard to succeed in anything you do

Well the greatest gift is freedom in every aspect of the word
-Financial Freedom
-Freedom from a real job
-Free time
-I can go anywhere I want

Originally posted by sandraardnas
Hello, about 3betting bb vs button, when you bluff, would you rather choose from worst suited hands that you dont call like 43s, 62s, J5s etc. (well, at least I dont call these against a minraise), or K6o, Q7o, A6o as a blocker you use them as well?

thanks

i have both types of hands in my range. I'm definitely calling A6o and K6o and K7o vs a minraise. 43s is probably a call, J5s is a call, 62s seems a little weak so I'll probably 3bet it but some players would call that.

Originally posted by Rihard4a
What is your favorite internet meme? ♠_biggrin:

That has to be Yao Ming's Bitch Please

How much wood would a wood-chuck chuck, if a wood-chuck could chuck wood? ♦

Sorry if this is asked already, can't remember.

Who are your "hero's" in online poker? If you have any...

Originally posted by mbml

Originally posted by Rihard4a
What is your favorite internet meme? ♠_biggrin:

That has to be Yao Ming's Bitch Please

Originally posted by Glopslart
How much wood would a wood-chuck chuck, if a wood-chuck could chuck wood? ♦

i like metal

Originally posted by RasTweet
Sorry if this is asked already, can't remember.

Who are your "hero's" in online poker? If you have any...

hmm I guess I look up to nanonoko and sauce and isildur the most, mainly because they are NL specialists.

Hey, so what would be the weakest hand that you always call on BB against reg's minraise on button?

Hello, im actually playing nl5 at full tilt, mostly zoom 6max. What recommendations can you give me to beat nl5-10 ASAP, i mean, what would impact the most on my game. And after nl10-25, what topics do you recommend me that i ask coaching on?

And lastly, what books and for what stakes do you recommend to read?

Thanks!

Sir,

Awesome topic, srs.

Tough question, but i am interested in:
- What are your population reads on the weakest spots, biggest leaks in the specific limits from the first you have experience (NL25-50 or NL100) to the last (Nl1000, if you can make any nl1000 population reads).

I mean here like this: Nl25-NL50 face up ranges, no constructed ranges in any spots/streets (only value heavy ranges ---> less 3bet, less x/r, less raise in any spots ---> thiner ranges/value heavy ranges-> easier game)

Just for the sake of examples:
- Nl100: Too much folding from blinds, too much folding in each spots...
- Nl200: Too much hero calls

Best of luck all,
L.

Hello,

I'm watching a vid series and the coach who plays nl600-1k was talking about btn/blind play. He raises btns 2.3-2.5bb because, in his opinion, the btn minr is so easy to defend against it can't be the best line.

What's your opinion on that? Do you minr otb?

I've experimented opening 2.3x otb but in my games players reacted the same way as min opens so I went back to 2x... So I don't see the merits of it on nl25, but when he explained it he kind of made sense. Is it more viable in your games?

Originally posted by sandraardnas
Hey, so what would be the weakest hand that you always call on BB against reg's minraise on button?

ALWAYS? Assuming 50% opening range for average player that'll be J6o or T2s. I mix it up for J2o-J5o and 9Xs

Originally posted by Ferueda
Hello, im actually playing nl5 at full tilt, mostly zoom 6max. What recommendations can you give me to beat nl5-10 ASAP, i mean, what would impact the most on my game. And after nl10-25, what topics do you recommend me that i ask coaching on?

And lastly, what books and for what stakes do you recommend to read?

Thanks!

Try to understand what you are trying to do with each line. Why bet? Value? Bluff? Protection? Because it's the best line out of all alternatives? Why check? Because you have no reason to bet?

Learn how to lay down seemingly big hands. Top pair top kicker isn't good at micro stakes when faced with a raise on the Turn or River - People rarely bluff here.

Hand strength is always relative. Compare your actual hand with your opponent's range and see how it interacts with the board.

I would actually suggest working on your basic gameplans
1. Preflop strategy: When to call, 3bet, 4bet by default, and how to adjust to different opponents with different opening ranges etc - This process should be completely automated so that you can play more tables
2. Flop strategy: How to mix up your lines between betting and checking with both air hands and real hands

Books: You can buy my books A NL5 player could benefit from it. or you can visit my blog at galvinbay.net - I have a recommended reading list

Originally posted by LorD231984
Sir,

Awesome topic, srs.

Tough question, but i am interested in:
- What are your population reads on the weakest spots, biggest leaks in the specific limits from the first you have experience (NL25-50 or NL100) to the last (Nl1000, if you can make any nl1000 population reads).

I mean here like this: Nl25-NL50 face up ranges, no constructed ranges in any spots/streets (only value heavy ranges ---> less 3bet, less x/r, less raise in any spots ---> thiner ranges/value heavy ranges-> easier game)

Just for the sake of examples:
- Nl100: Too much folding from blinds, too much folding in each spots...
- Nl200: Too much hero calls

Best of luck all,
L.

I have no real population read on NL500+, players are mostly solid and have individual leaks.

NL100 - I believe it's the limit where you could get the highest non-SD winnings. Just take lines that put people in uncomfortable spots like overbetting or Turn checkraising
NL200 - People start to have more balls now and will hero-call you if you get too out of line but still mostly, not defending enough in basic preflop spots, and also folding too much on the Flop.

Originally posted by holmeboy
Hello,

I'm watching a vid series and the coach who plays nl600-1k was talking about btn/blind play. He raises btns 2.3-2.5bb because, in his opinion, the btn minr is so easy to defend against it can't be the best line.

What's your opinion on that? Do you minr otb?

I've experimented opening 2.3x otb but in my games players reacted the same way as min opens so I went back to 2x... So I don't see the merits of it on nl25, but when he explained it he kind of made sense. Is it more viable in your games?

I just minraise because it's easy. In my opinion only lesser players get fooled by slight variations in sizings. A good player would make the appropriate adjustment (by defending more as compared to a 3X raise, and defending less compared to a 2X raise)

Hi mbml,

I have watched your video on "constructing preflop ranges" and have a question regarding the creation of a defendingrange BB vs BU.

Therefore I merged some similar opponents to an Alias in HM2 to get some stats.
This Alias: - openraises the BU with 39,2%
- folds vs a BB-Resteal 62,7%

So I started to make my gameplan for BB vs BU according to your instructions in the mentioned video. I took the factor 0,3 to multiply it with the openingrange. Does this factor include equityrealisation? I have some trouble to figure out, what it symbolizes.

3betting-Range: 39% * 0,3 = 11,7%

Bluffpart: 11,7% * 62,7% = 7,34%
Valuepart: 11,7% * (1 - 62,7%) = 4,36%

Valuehands
TT+,AQs+,AKo, 8 Komb. AQo
(58 Hands; 4,37%)

Bluffhands
A5s-A2s,K9s-K6s,Q9s-Q7s,J9s-J8s,T8s+,98s,87s,76s,A9o-A8o
(96 Hands; 7,24%)

Callingrange
99-88, AJs-ATs, KTs+, QTs+, JTs, AJo-ATo, KJo+
(92 Hands; 6,94%)

==> Defendingrange: 4,37% + 7,24% + 6,94% = 22,92%

Is this too tight? What would you change?
I think I would give my opponent an autoprofit-spot with this Range since I'm folding 77% when I am in BB vs BU-opening. Should I loose up my Range, especially in the calling-part?

Kind regards from Germany