w34z3l's 6max walkthrough - (microstakes edition)

Originally posted by Alleen86

Originally posted by Balonger93

Originally posted by Alleen86
Hello! Time to homework #3!

I had configured my popups about a year ago, but was planning to reconfigure them and this video came as an encouragement to do that. I use the same HUD since started to play poker, so didn't want to change that. Soooo, after 4-5 hours messing with HM2, here's the results:

Hello, I know it's pretty shameless, but could you share your pop-ups? ♦ I have been tweaking mine for a long time, but they just look sooooooo ugly. I could use a sample as neat as yours.

Hi! No problem. Here is the link of HUD and popups. Not sure, but believe you can import the HUD into HM2 by clicking Home / HUD Settings / HUD Designer / Import (then you find where the Default 2.0 HUD.xml file is. For the popups, I believe it's enough to paste them into C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\HoldemManager\Config (you should enable the option of viewing hidden files and folders first, to see AppData folder). I believe that the popups should then appear in your HM2. Please let me know if this works.

All hail Alleen! If I go on ipoker I'll be on the lookout to fold to your 3bets

Originally posted by Balonger93

Originally posted by Alleen86

Originally posted by Balonger93

Originally posted by Alleen86
Hello! Time to homework #3!

I had configured my popups about a year ago, but was planning to reconfigure them and this video came as an encouragement to do that. I use the same HUD since started to play poker, so didn't want to change that. Soooo, after 4-5 hours messing with HM2, here's the results:

Hello, I know it's pretty shameless, but could you share your pop-ups? ♦ I have been tweaking mine for a long time, but they just look sooooooo ugly. I could use a sample as neat as yours.

Hi! No problem. Here is the link of HUD and popups. Not sure, but believe you can import the HUD into HM2 by clicking Home / HUD Settings / HUD Designer / Import (then you find where the Default 2.0 HUD.xml file is. For the popups, I believe it's enough to paste them into C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\HoldemManager\Config (you should enable the option of viewing hidden files and folders first, to see AppData folder). I believe that the popups should then appear in your HM2. Please let me know if this works.

All hail Alleen! If I go on ipoker I'll be on the lookout to fold to your 3bets

♠_thumbsup:

My homework for lesson 2:

With creating charts I only created one chart per position with iso-ranges. Otherwise it gets to messy with all my charts and there are to many variables in my opinion that can have influence on the decision whether to iso-raise, limp behind or to fold.

My standard ranges for iso-raising per position:

MP: 99+, ATs+, KQs, AJo+

CO: 99+, A9s+, KJs+, ATo+, KQo

BTN: 99+, A9s+, KTs+, QJs, ATo+, KJo+

SB: TT+, ATs+, KQs, AJo+

BB: TT+, ATs+, KQs, AJo+

NOTE: I'm aware these ranges are very tight, but this are the ranges I would use almost standard without considering many of the other variables.

Just compare it with only using 3-betting bluff ranges when you have a potential bluff target. Before that you only 3-bet for value. I approach iso-raising the same way.

The clues I look at for expanding my iso-raising range or the option to limp behind:

Considerations players behind me

Number of players behind me / Will I have position on the open-limper

I consider it a huge factor how many players are behind me who still have to act. In general: How more players are behind me, the tighter my iso-raising range will be.

Stack sizes of players behind me

When there are shortstacks behind me I will iso-raise also tighter. I don't want to get into trouble spots post-flop against shortstacks and at least have decent equity.

Pre-flop tendencies of players behind me

I also consider the pre-flop tendencies of the players behind me. Do they agressively 3-bet, do they overcall often (which can mean that I don't have position anymore). If they 3-bet or overcall, with which range will they do that?

Especially regs know what you are doing, so they tend to 3-bet, knowing the open-limper often has a weak range and you are trying to isolate them, often also with a relative weak range.

Post-flop tendencies of players behind me

Besides pre-flop tendencies it's also handy to think about their postflop tendencies. Do they play fit-or-fold? Are they using their position well? Are they playing agressive post-flop etc etc.

Considerations open-limper

Stack size open-limper

When the open-limper is a shortstack I will tighten up my iso-raising range and make sure I have equity against him.

Pre-flop tendencies open-limper

This one is very important in my opinion. Although my general opinion is that players who open-limp are generally weak players, there can be a huge differene between the ranges from open-limpers. So the first thing I look at are their VPIP and PFR. The bigger their VIP is, the wider their range is. When there is a huge gap between VPIP and PFR that also indicates a fishy player.

Besides estimate their open-limping range I also want to know how often this player is limp-calling or limp-folding.

Most of them do limp-call most of the time, but when a open-limper often folds after a raise you can iso-raise with a wider range since you also have pre-flop fold equity. When this type of player does call you know his range is tighter. When a player often limp-calls and has a high VPIP then you know his range is wider.

How is the equity and playability of my hand against villains open-limping range

This actually is correlated to the pre-flop tendencies of the open-limper since now I already have an estimation of his open-limping range and an estimation of with which hands he will continue after an iso-raise.

Now it's time to estimate the equity of my hand against his range, but also the playability of my hand.

Generally speaking against a wide open-limping range I also can iso-raise wider. Still I don't like to go crazy with this and still and want to make sure I have an equity edge or other significant edges like for example post-flop expectation or implied odds.

Implied odds is often the case when the playability of my hand is good. This is the case for example with suited connectors.

Post-flop tendencies open-limper

I want to estimate the post-flop tendencies of villain. Most importantly I want to know if villain gives up easily post-flop or not. So does he play fit-or-fold?

If the open-limper is a calling station I would tighten up my iso-raising range. The advantage is that post-flop I can valuebet the crap out of him when I do hit.

If the open-limper plays fit or fold I can wider my iso-raising range since I have a nice postflop expectation and often will win the pot post-flop.

Type of hands:

Besides the above mentioned variables I want to discuss some group of hands separately, since these groups can belong to my iso-raising range as well to my limp-behind range.

Medium & low pocket pairs

With these hands I don't like to iso-raise when my post-flop expectation is low. (the only exception may be when villain often open-limp and fold after a raise)

Unless I hit a set the playability of these hands are not that well.

If my postflop expectation is low I will rather limp behind these hands or fold (namely low pairs) when other variables aren't in my favour.

If my post-flop expectation is high I rather tend to raise these hands.

Medium and low suited connectors

The same counts for this group of hands. I also don't like to raise these hands with a low post-flop expectation.

The advantage of medium and low suited connectors are that the playability of these hands are fantastic, but their equity isn't. Actually just the opposite of medium and low pocket pairs.

Still when iso-raising with these hands with a low post-flop expectation I will not hit often enough with as result that I often have a weak hand post-flop with an opponent who can't find the fold button. In that case I rather limp behind unless folding is a better option because of other variables.

If my post-flop expectation is high I rather tend to raise these hands.

Raise size Iso-raising:

Standard raise size for iso-raising is 3x bb when IP and 3x bb + 1bb per limper when sitting OOP.

Reasons to raise bigger:

- For value when I have a big equity edge against the open-limper
- For value when my post-flop expectation is high (villain often fold post-flop)

Reasons to raise smaller:

- Mainly when my pre-flop fold equity and post-flop expectation are low
- Against a shortstack to avoid tough post-flop situations (SPR wise)

Playing post-flop after an iso-raise

Against a player who has a fit or fold playing style

Against these type of players I will almost always C-bet, whether I have hit or not. They fold often enough to make a C-bet profitable.

When they call I will only barrel again with my strongest hands, try to practice pot control with my medium hands and give up with my weak/junk hands.

Against a calling station

I will only C-bet against this type of opponent when I have hit a hand or when the board texture is really hitting my perceived range.

With made hands I will valuebet the crap out of him. With medium hands it depends a little on the hand and the board texture and weak/junk hands I will give up.

Against a unknown player

Against these type of players I will almost always C-bet, unless the board texture doesn't hit my perceived range.

In case I didn't hit I'd might consider a delayed C-bet when villain shows weakness on flop and turn.

When they call on the flop I will only barrel again with my strongest hands, try to practice pot control with my medium hands and give up with my weak/junk hands.

Hey Fishin4Fun,

Great job with detailed writeup Looking forward to your next homeworks.

Putting a promo up for coaching in honour of the series

w34z3l's Cash Game Coaching! PROMO OFFER LIMITED TIME

Also for those of you struggling with creating a HUD I'm giving away an older version of my HUD for free.

There are copies for both PT4 and HM2

Check out thread here Free - w34z3ls cash game HUD

Here is my homework for episode 4:

Hand #1

$0.08/$0.16 No-Limit Hold'em (5 handed)

Known players:
[tg]BB$16.35:///////;MP3 (Hero)$16.10:///////;CO$15.85:///////;BU$15.52:///////;SB$17.34:///////;[/tg]

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A:s, 3:s.
Hero raises to $0.48, CO calls $0.48, 3 folds, 2 folds, BB folds.

Flop: ($1.2) 8:d, Q:h, 5:s (2 players)
Hero bets $0.64, CO calls $0.64.

Turn: ($2.48) 5:d (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks.

River: ($2.48) 6:d (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks.

Final Pot: $2.48.

In this first hand I opened a A3s from MP, which generally is in my opening range from this position, but in this case there were also a couple of weak players behind me. I got a call from one of them who was a loose guy with a passive postflop, but not crazy loose (vpip around 32).

On the flop I got an overcard and backdoor flush and straight draws, which I suppose is usually a nice hand to make a cbet given that we can barrel some turns. Also against this guy this can count as a thin valuebet because he will call me with a lot of Khigh broadways and T9s, JTs gutshots, which are definitely in his preflop calling range.

So my plan is to barrel some good turns to try to make him fold some better Ax and he can still call me with all of his gutshots. I doubt that he will fold a pocket pair to my second barrel. Then I would make a sizeable valuebet on the river if I hit or check it down if not.

Turn comes a 5d and it is a pure blank. Nothing has changed and I think that on this card he will call me pretty much with his whole calling range on the flop. So now I’m just playing check/fold trying to get to the showdown. I can still win against some Kx and gutshots.

As for other hands in my range, vs this guy I would valuebet 3 streets with my strong hands (QJs+, KQo+, 88, 55, QQ+) and with my medium strength hands (89s, 99-JJ) I would pretty much always bet 2 barrels for value, since he will call me very wide. I guess there wouldn’t be pure garbage hands in my MP opening range on this flop that don’t have showdown value against this guy. But I would check with gutshots and low pocket pairs.

Hand #2

$0.08/$0.16 No-Limit Hold'em (6 handed)

Known players:
[tg]SB$16.00:///////;BB$26.27:///////;MP2$34.10:///////;MP3$19.96:///////;CO$16.85:///////;BU (Hero)$16.00:///////;[/tg]

Preflop: Hero is BU with Q:s, A:h.
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.40, SB folds, BB calls $0.24.

Flop: ($0.88) K:h, 4:s, 3:c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.48, BB calls $0.48.

Turn: ($1.84) 2:h (2 players)
BB bets $1.32, Hero folds, BB gets uncalled bet back.

Final Pot: $1.84.

Here I make a standard open from the BTN with AQo and get a call from loose-aggressive regular on the BB. His fold BB to BTN steal is pretty low – around 40%, and his fold to cbet is 56% (I guess it is much lower in BTN vs BB spots). We can see that this guy likes to defend a lot and fights for the pots.

So when the flop comes K43 rainbow I think I made a mistake. AQ has a very good showdown value in this spot, I should have treated it as a medium strength hand and a better play would be to check behind and try to get to the showdown. I would call some of his barrels on the later streets, since he is an aggressive player and likes to fight for the pots.

I think that against this player I should cbet mostly with my value hands and let him bet with his floats etc.

Hand #3

Hand converted with online PokerStrategy.com hand converter:

Посмотреть в видеоформате

$0.08/$0.16 No-Limit Hold'em (6 handed)

Known players:
[tg]BU$45.10:///////;SB$17.37:///////;BB$17.60:///////;MP2$17.04:///////;MP3$17.03:///////;CO (Hero)$18.39:///////;[/tg]

Preflop: Hero is CO with K:h, A:c.
MP2 folds, MP3 raises to $0.56, Hero raises to $1.44, 3 folds, MP3 calls $0.88.

Flop: ($3.12) 8:h, K:d, 8:s (2 players)
MP3 checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($3.12) 7:c (2 players)
MP3 bets $1.98, Hero calls $1.98.

River: ($7.08) 5:c (2 players)
MP3 bets $4.50, Hero calls $4.50.

Final Pot: $16.08.

Here is a spot where I decided not to make a cbet although it seems a very standard and straightforward play. I didn’t have a huge sample on my opponent, but from what I had he was a loose player with a high AF (26/19 AF:6). I didn’t have a big sample on him in 3bet pots, but in single-raised pots he was folding to cbets quite often, more that 70%.

So given his loose opening range I made a standard value 3bet with my AK, expecting to get calls from some worse hands. And when the flop comes 8K8r, I looked at his postflop tendencies and decided that it would be better to let him bluff, since my 3betting range pretty much nailed this board and he will often fold all his trash to my cbet.

I think that I would cbet in this situation with hands like AQs, which I could 3bet against him for value to try to fold out some low pocket pairs and suited connectors. And with my medium and strong hands I would play as I did here, of course value-raising the river with the strongest part of my range.

Hello, w34z3l I was looking over your open raising ranges and they seem to be very loose.

Can I play these loose ranges also on 2NL / 4NL?
On my limit there are a lot of calling stations with a VPIP of 40+.
So im not sure if it is good to open with a hand like 65s from UTG. :-/

For myself I would prefer a tight range like this:
66+, ATs+, KQs, AJo+, KQo
But im not sure if this range is a little bit to tight ...

Originally posted by Klabautermann
Hello, w34z3l I was looking over your open raising ranges and they seem to be very loose.

Can I play these loose ranges also on 2NL / 4NL?
On my limit there are a lot of calling stations with a VPIP of 40+.
So im not sure if it is good to open with a hand like 65s from UTG. :-/

For myself I would prefer a tight range like this:
66+, ATs+, KQs, AJo+, KQo
But im not sure if this range is a little bit to tight ...

Hey, the ranges aren't set in stone, if you find playing a little bit tighter UTG works better for you, there is nothing wrong with that.

We are all beginners(ish) here, so playing as few pots OOP as possible is no bad thing. As you become more experienced and comfortable playing OOP, you can open up your range slightly

For equilab users:

Here are the ranges with:

# Light blue - Call 2bet
# Dark blue - 3bet

Here the raw text to copy and paste into the PreflopUserdefined file.

The file location is in the Equilab folder (just search it).

My computer has it under: Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Equilab\PreflopUserdefined

Some people might have Local Settings instead of Local.

Hope that works now

Have fun

Not working mate =/

It works !

Still not working for me, I don't see any PreflopUserdefined.ini file in my equilab folder, I've tried creating one and posting your raw data into it but still NADA. Help please =$

It works. I'm a noob haha, THANKS ! <3

Any News when part V will be released ?

I think it's a shame how Pokerstrategy treats one of if not the best Pokerseries for microstakes players in the past years .

This series started with a lot of passion on both sites .

After 4 parts in nearly 3 month the passion for me is nearly gone away .

Don't get me wrong : I don't want ot blame Weazel in any way because through these 4 parts i get from a BE NL5 grinder on Zoom to a 7 bb Winning Player on NL10 Zoom .

But i think this series has deserved way more Respect than it gets here.

I strongly think about making my way up to NL25(hopefully) and pay for some private Coaching from Weazel to get the content of the last Videos .

I think i will reach NL25 earlier than Pokerstrategy is able to release his videos.

In the beginning it was announced as a 10 part series with one part every 2 weeks . Now WE have4 parts in 3 month . Once the Series is finished in early 2015 the Charts and principles may be a little bit outdated

Fasteddie

@FastEddie70

Hey man, I'm sorry you feel that way. I don't really know when any of the vids will be released, it's entirely down to pokerstrategy.com.

So yeah, just be patient I guess. If you decide you'd like some private coaching I'll be here waiting for you gl

Hey Fasteddie70,

Glad you like the series!

Part 5 is out: http://www.pokerstrategy.com/video/33505/

We now have almost all parts in stock so we will pick up the pace.

Best,
Kamen

hope the series wont go up beyond gold status, remember that we are playing micro stakes over here

Nice job w34z3l

Originally posted by Megacorpse
hope the series wont go up beyond gold status, remember that we are playing micro stakes over here

Nice job w34z3l

Why gold status on this

hey I know gold is too much here but w/e ps just wants to get more money from us. I just dont want to get this series beyond gold status.l

Gold status for Micro Content
iPokerStartegy ftw^^