Running Hawt! Moved up to NL5

Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

11.02.2014, 00:08 0

What's up guys,

I'm a young dude from the Netherlands, currently finishing my Medicine study. I'll be playing poker for fun, playing short handed cashgames, starting at NL2. I'm not very good at poker so hopefully with the help of Pokerstrategy I can improve. I'll try to use strict bankroll management: 25 BI to progress to the next level, move down when I hit 25 BI of the previous level.

Unfortionately my Bankroll is very small at the moment, 13$. If I go busto I'll allow myself to reload once to 50$.

I will use this blog to set goals not only for Poker but also for other things in life, and track my progress. I'll also post some of my troublesome or awesome hands;)!

Goals for 2014
Poker:
- Move from nl2 to nl50, with strict 25 BI BRM.
- >10k hands/week
- Watch 2 video's/week
- Try to post hands and discuss in hand discussion forums.

Sports/Health
- 2 x Strenght Training/week (Goals: Deadlift 1RM 160kg, Bench 105kg, Squat 130kg)
- 2 x Cycling/week (I'll be doing some casual cycling races and cycling holidays in April, May and June)
- Eat healthy

Study
- Study atleast 1 hour a day in addition to following classes/internships.
- Learn about Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, also 1 hour a day, since I have a special interest in this. Bought some nice big books to get through.

Poker Strategy
I'll try to play basic, straight forward ABC poker. If possible adjust to villain. Aiming to achieve preflop stats of around VPIP 18-23, PFR 15-19, 3B 5-9% with those I'll be happy for now. 3bet will probably be a little bit lower on NL2 since I'll defend less blinds, people call my light 3B very often.

HUD
Currently trying out PokerTracker 4.

All the usual stuff:
Name, # hands, BB/100.
VPIP, PFR, Attemt to steal, Fold blind to steal.
3Bet, fold to 3B, 4Bet, fold to 4B
Agression frequency, Cbet flop, fold to cbet flop, Cbet turn, fold to Cbet turn.
Raise continuationbet flop, Fold versus raise continuationbet flop, Went to showdown.

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

11.02.2014, 00:28 0

Day 1

Started day 1 with a nice upswing, BR is now 26.25$!
Weekly goal: 1940/10000 hands.

Some (typical?) NL2 hands:

Getting it in with a set:

Spoiler

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

BTN: 161.5 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
SB: 51.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
BB: 272.5 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
UTG: 101 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
Hero (MP): 157.5 BB
CO: 492 BB (VPIP: 18.97, PFR: 15.52, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 59)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7♠ 7♦

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

Flop: (6.5 BB, 2 players) Q♠ 7♣ 2♦
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (6.5 BB, 2 players) J♦
BB bets 6 BB, Hero raises to 15 BB, BB raises to 24 BB, Hero calls 9 BB

River: (54.5 BB, 2 players) A♣
BB bets 52 BB, Hero raises to 130.5 BB and is all-in, BB calls 78.5 BB

Spoiler

Hero shows 7♠ 7♦ (Three of a Kind, Sevens) (Pre 52%, Flop 98%, Turn 91%)
BB shows J♠ Q♥ (Two Pair, Queens and Jacks) (Pre 48%, Flop 2%, Turn 9%)
Hero wins 304.5 BB

Too spewey on the turn?

Spoiler

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

BTN: 123.5 BB (VPIP: 27.45, PFR: 21.57, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 53)
SB: 281 BB (VPIP: 13.03, PFR: 6.69, 3Bet Preflop: 1.89, Hands: 290)
BB: 204.5 BB (VPIP: 7.50, PFR: 2.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 42)
UTG: 57.5 BB
MP: 159 BB (VPIP: 21.74, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 23)
Hero (CO): 324.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A♦ K♦

fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, BTN raises to 8 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 20 BB, BTN calls 12 BB

Flop: (41.5 BB, 2 players) 2♠ A♠ 7♣
Hero bets 32 BB, BTN calls 32 BB

Turn: (105.5 BB, 2 players) 3♥
Hero bets 272.5 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 71.5 BB and is all-in

River: (248.5 BB, 2 players) T♠

Spoiler

Hero shows A♦ K♦ (One Pair, Aces) (Pre 71%, Flop 83%, Turn 93%)
BTN mucks J♣ A♣ (One Pair, Aces) (Pre 29%, Flop 17%, Turn 7%)
Hero wins 240 BB

People go preflop all-in with AQ

Spoiler

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

BTN: 66.5 BB
SB: 41.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
BB: 149 BB
Hero (UTG): 119 BB
MP: 100.5 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)
CO: 87 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 66.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K♥ K♠

Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, BB raises to 149 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 116 BB and is all-in

Flop: (238.5 BB, 2 players) 4♦ 2♥ 8♠

Turn: (238.5 BB, 2 players) 6♠

River: (238.5 BB, 2 players) 5♦

Spoiler

BB shows A♠ Q♣ (High Card, Ace) (Pre 29%, Flop 14%, Turn 7%)
Hero shows K♥ K♠ (One Pair, Kings) (Pre 71%, Flop 86%, Turn 93%)
Hero wins 230 BB

Couldn't fold overpair versus nit - one of my Big Leaks.

Spoiler

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

BTN: 108.5 BB (VPIP: 83.33, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 6)
SB: 93 BB
BB: 98 BB (VPIP: 18.68, PFR: 12.09, 3Bet Preflop: 6.45, Hands: 93)
Hero (UTG): 107 BB
MP: 109 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 9.09, Hands: 33)
CO: 179.5 BB (VPIP: 14.69, PFR: 11.43, 3Bet Preflop: 4.48, Hands: 212)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A♠ A♦

Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, CO calls 3 BB, fold, fold, fold

Flop: (7.5 BB, 2 players) J♥ 6♦ 3♦
Hero bets 5 BB, CO raises to 17 BB, Hero calls 12 BB

Turn: (41.5 BB, 2 players) 7♥
Hero checks, CO bets 26 BB, Hero calls 26 BB

River: (93.5 BB, 2 players) 7♠
Hero checks, CO bets 66 BB, Hero calls 61 BB and is all-in

Spoiler

CO shows 3♥ 3♠ (Full House, Threes full of Sevens) (Pre 18%, Flop 87%, Turn 95%)
Hero shows A♠ A♦ (Two Pair, Aces and Sevens) (Pre 82%, Flop 13%, Turn 5%)
CO wins 208 BB

Should have folded this, almost no equity versus his range?

Spoiler

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

BTN: 207.5 BB (VPIP: 37.04, PFR: 25.93, 3Bet Preflop: 7.69, Hands: 28)
SB: 212.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 3)
BB: 347 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 37)
Hero (UTG): 191 BB
MP: 161 BB (VPIP: 38.46, PFR: 23.08, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
CO: 59.5 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 100.00, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A♣ T♥

Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, CO calls 3 BB, BTN calls 3 BB, fold, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (12.5 BB, 4 players) A♥ J♥ Q♣
BB checks, Hero bets 9 BB, fold, BTN calls 9 BB, fold

Turn: (30.5 BB, 2 players) 4♣
Hero bets 19 BB, BTN calls 19 BB

River: (68.5 BB, 2 players) J♣
Hero checks, BTN bets 60 BB, Hero calls 60 BB

Spoiler

BTN shows Q♥ J♠ (Full House, Jacks full of Queens) (Pre 42%, Flop 62%, Turn 73%)
Hero mucks A♣ T♥ (Two Pair, Aces and Jacks) (Pre 58%, Flop 38%, Turn 27%)
BTN wins 182 BB

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LendarTecho

Joined: 28.07.2013

Posts: 67

11.02.2014, 00:44 0

Hello Doctor. :f_grin:
Welcome to the Blogging par of the forum. I am glad to see that you had a nice upswing.
Interesting how you payed the second hand. Going all in on the turn. You could scare him off, if he had some weaker par and not get the maximum value. Just my two cents
Wish you good luck.

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Lazza61

Joined: 23.03.2011

Posts: 11,841

11.02.2014, 00:47 0

Hey Variola,

Welcome to the blogs.

Nice start to your blog. And yet another Dutch guy blogging in EN. . It must be so much more interesting here than in the Dutch forums. :tongue:

Nice session to double your BR and well on the way to being in a proper BRM position. I think you can use that $50 to go and treat yourself.

Have fun

Laz

Twitch

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

11.02.2014, 00:58 0

Hi LendarTecho & Lazza,

Thanks for the welcome!

I prefer posting on the English forums so I can practice my English skills, which I don't do often in normal life.

About the second hand, the preflop range for a 27/22 villain calling a 4BET is probably: KK-JJ, AQs+, AQo+. I would indeed be ahead against that range (85% equity) and would indeed have gotten more value out of KK-JJ & AQ with a smaller bet. Fortunately for me, villain was a fish, and NL2 fish often play for stacks with top pair, crap kicker!

So in retrospect a bet/call Turn, bet/call River would have been better. I'll try to remember this for the next time ;)!

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

11.02.2014, 23:32 0

Day 2

Spoiler

Played over 3k hands which is nice. Very swingy.

Got it in twice preflop with AK. I lost both hands against a pair (AA and KK). What is the best approach to play AK preflop against 3bet? When is a call 3bet justified and when a 4bet (all-in?)

Current BR 27$, +1$.

Some Hands

Spoiler

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

CO: 288.5 BB (VPIP: 87.10, PFR: 29.03, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 34)
BTN: 325 BB (VPIP: 38.89, PFR: 5.56, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 20.59, PFR: 8.82, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 34)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
UTG: 250 BB (VPIP: 13.79, PFR: 13.79, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 29)
Hero (MP): 101.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, CO calls 3 BB, BTN calls 3 BB, SB calls 2.5 BB, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (15 BB, 5 players) 2♥ 9♦ Q♣
SB checks, BB bets 9 BB, Hero calls 9 BB, fold, BTN calls 9 BB, fold

Turn: (42 BB, 3 players) J♠
BB checks, Hero bets 33 BB, BTN calls 33 BB, fold

River: (108 BB, 2 players) J♦
Hero bets 56.5 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 56.5 BB

Spoiler

Hero shows Q♥ Q♦ (Full House, Queens full of Jacks) (Pre 85%, Flop 85%, Turn 23%)
BTN shows T♦ 8♥ (Straight, Queen High) (Pre 15%, Flop 15%, Turn 77%)
Hero wins 213.5 BB

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

Spoiler

Hero (BTN): 110 BB
SB: 161.5 BB (VPIP: 5.26, PFR: 2.63, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 42)
BB: 119.5 BB (VPIP: 13.64, PFR: 13.64, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 23)
UTG: 57.5 BB
MP: 94.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
CO: 142.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 9♦ 9♣

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, BB raises to 10 BB, Hero calls 7 BB

Flop: (20.5 BB, 2 players) 6♣ 8♠ J♥
BB bets 15 BB, Hero calls 15 BB

Turn: (50.5 BB, 2 players) 9♠
BB bets 35 BB, Hero raises to 85 BB and is all-in, BB calls 50 BB

River: (220.5 BB, 2 players) 4♥

Spoiler

BB shows 7♣ 8♣ (One Pair, Eights) (Pre 18%, Flop 23%, Turn 18%)
Hero shows 9♦ 9♣ (Three of a Kind, Nines) (Pre 82%, Flop 77%, Turn 82%)
Hero wins 213 BB

Didn't play the next hand good, think a reraise/call would have been better instead of reraise/reraise against unknown villain? (He donks though so it's likely he is not a good player)

Spoiler

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

BTN: 77 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
SB: 104 BB (VPIP: 24.87, PFR: 19.27, 3Bet Preflop: 3.33, Hands: 197)
BB: 11 BB (VPIP: 5.88, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
UTG: 131 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 23.08, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 29)
MP: 109 BB
Hero (CO): 160.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, MP raises to 2 BB, Hero raises to 7 BB, fold, fold, fold, MP calls 5 BB

Flop: (15.5 BB, 2 players) J♦ A♣ 7♠
MP bets 1 BB, Hero raises to 12 BB, MP raises to 23 BB, Hero raises to 153.5 BB and is all-in, MP calls 79 BB and is all-in

Turn: (219.5 BB, 2 players) T♥

River: (219.5 BB, 2 players) 3♦

Spoiler

MP shows 3♥ J♣ (Two Pair, Jacks and Threes) (Pre 32%, Flop 18%, Turn 11%)
Hero shows A♦ K♥ (One Pair, Aces) (Pre 68%, Flop 82%, Turn 89%)
MP wins 212 BB

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

13.02.2014, 19:45 0

Day 3&4

I have been very busy with my study and social obligations, so I was unable to play many hands.

Over the last 2 days: 1766 hands, 3.66$ up. Made some really bad moves during the first session yesterday, folded more hands postflop today when people check-raised or reraised my bets:)! This probably results in losing less money...

Current BR: 30.79$
Hands played this week: 6942/10K.

Graph of last 2 days:

Spoiler

Might post hands later, going to the bar with a couple of friends now :f_cool:.

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

14.02.2014, 18:28 0

Yay, gold status! :f_love:

Have red the first few NL gold articles. I think I'm able to understand the concepts although applying them to my game will be a lot more difficult.

Also passed the 'NL Advanced Learning Path I - Graduation Quiz' with 80% ( http://www.pokerstrategy.com/quiz/weekly/2234/ ).

Will play some hands tonight ;).

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Lazza61

Joined: 23.03.2011

Posts: 11,841

14.02.2014, 23:35 0

Hey Variola,

Nice one. :f_biggrin: Enjoy that new content.

Cheers

Laz

Twitch

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

17.02.2014, 00:20 0

Day 5&6

I've red a ton of gold PS articles about NLholdem. Let's hope this current winrate continues!

Current BR: 36.84$
Hands played this week: 8897/10K, the 10k Goal is really easy to achieve, perhaps I should go for 15k next week!
BB/100: 13.34

Graph overview of day 1-6:

Spoiler

Perhaps I should consider moving up to NL5 with less then 25BI? Grinding it out @ NL2 is pretty boring.
What do you guys think about this?

Tommorow I'll cycle long and hard, around 80km, to national park the Veluwe. It contains a lot of asphalted roads so it's really nice for cycling. Also some big climbs (big for Dutch standards, small for most other countries ;)).

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

17.02.2014, 23:39 0

Day 7

Quick update.
4.08$ up today in 1370 hands.
BR: 40.91$, trippled my BR in 1 week.
Total of 10.265 hands in 1 week! (Goal achieved ;)!)

Cycling was great. 71km in 2 hours 50min!

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

20.02.2014, 22:15 0

Day 8-10

Still playing nl2. Can't wait for nl5, don't have the BR yet though!
2699 hands, running very hot, 38.25 bb/100, 20.65$ up! (15.99$ all-in adjusted though ;))!

Graph NL2 since start of Blog:

Spoiler

Not sure how I've played this hand. (Funny outcome though ;))

Spoiler

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

BTN: 100.5 BB
SB: 97.5 BB (VPIP: 13.75, PFR: 7.92, 3Bet Preflop: 2.97, Hands: 248)
Hero (BB): 121 BB
UTG: 277.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
MP: 107.5 BB (VPIP: 10.77, PFR: 6.15, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 70)
CO: 77.5 BB (VPIP: 19.42, PFR: 18.71, 3Bet Preflop: 6.67, Hands: 143)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has T♥ T♠

fold, MP raises to 3 BB, fold, BTN calls 3 BB, fold, Hero calls 2 BB

Flop: (9.5 BB, 3 players) 4♠ 4♦ T♣
Hero checks, MP checks, BTN bets 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB, MP calls 3 BB

Turn: (18.5 BB, 3 players) 8♦
Hero checks, ...ver: (39.5 BB, 3 players) 4♥
Hero checks, MP checks, BTN bets 18 BB, Hero calls 18 BB, MP raises to 94.5 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 69.5 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 76.5 BB

Spoiler

MP shows A♣ A♠ (Full House, Fours full of Aces)
Main Pot [302 BB]: (Pre 39%, Flop 0%, Turn 0%)
Side Pot#1 [14 BB]: (Pre 81%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)

Hero shows T♥ T♠ (Full House, Tens full of Fours)
Main Pot [302 BB]: (Pre 22%, Flop 100%, Turn 100%)
Side Pot#1 [14 BB]: (Pre 19%, Flop 91%, Turn 95%)

BTN shows A♥ A♦ (Full House, Fours full of Aces)
Main Pot [302 BB]: (Pre 39%, Flop 0%, Turn 0%)

Hero wins 305 BB

Also did a nice weight lifting session and a rowing session!

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Variola

Joined: 24.12.2008

Posts: 40

23.02.2014, 17:43 0

Day 11-13
3841 hands played. 42.10$ profit + some rakeback :).

Total hands since start of Blog: 16805.
Current BR: triple digits, >25 BI for nl5.

Moved up to NL5 at about 75$, ahead of my original bankroll management plan. Grinding it out to 125$ on NL2 was simply too boring.

Graph of last 3 days:

Spoiler

Plan for next weeks:
Play >10k hands/week & beat NL5.
At 50 BI NL5 --> NL10!

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