I have a question. How can one settle itself off from emotionality - get it more intelectually? Something else?
there is plenty of material here on this site (and other places) about mindset, mental game, tilt, etc...
Articles, videos, there are also books like the mental game of poker 1 & 2 and the occasional public coaching.
If you are really serious and consider becoming pro and tilting is an issue, private coaching is also an option
Poker Stars $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 2839770
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter
BTN: $8.92
Hero (SB): $3.42
BB: $0.85
UTG: $2.18
MP: $2.41
CO: $2.01
Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is SB with 5 
5 
2 folds, CO raises to $0.06, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.05, BB calls $0.04
Flop: ($0.18) 5 
8 J (3 players)
Hero bets $0.06, BB calls $0.06, CO calls $0.06
Turn: ($0.36) 3 (3 players)
Hero bets $0.17, BB calls $0.17, CO raises to $0.44, Hero raises to $3.30 all in, BB calls $0.56 all in, CO calls $1.45 all in
River: ($4.87) A (3 players - 3 are all in)
Poker Stars $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 2839771
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter
BTN: $2.58
SB: $1.96
Hero (BB): $6.59
UTG: $2.00
MP: $4.64
CO: $6.88
Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is BB with A 
A
UTG raises to $0.04, 1 fold, CO calls $0.04, BTN calls $0.04, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.28, 1 fold, CO calls $0.24, 1 fold
Flop: ($0.65) Q 7 T (2 players)
Hero bets $0.36, CO calls $0.36
Turn: ($1.37) A (2 players)
Hero bets $1.32, CO calls $1.32
River: ($4.01) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $3.87, CO raises to $4.92 all in, Hero calls $0.76 all in
So, first of all, if you want someone to even look at your hand you have to post this in this format. You said you used PokerOffice, and I think it should have export to forum option. If it doesn't, then google "hand history converter". Thats what I did.
First hand is definetly a cooler, can't do nothing about it, ignore it. But, we can see that you got some other leaks. First of all, you might want to let preflop aggressor to conti-bet. Although in this situation, flop is pretty drawy, and it's multiway pot, so I think I would bet my self. But, you need to work on your bet size. 2/3 pot size, should be your standard bet size. 6c into 18c is very bad in my opinion, and will cut your winrate by a lot, because you give people very good odds for their draws, and also you don't get enough value from your good hands. Bet bigger on turn aswell.
Second hand is a little bit more difficult. That ace gives you set, but also completes all of the draws on the board. I would probobly bet 2/3 on the turn, and maybe 1/2 on the river, and then fold against the raise. It depends on the opponent tho.
Please, for your own sake, go and read some begginer strategy articles. They are really good, and will help you to beat nl2.
Originally posted by thazar
I have a question. How can one settle itself off from emotionality - get it more intelectually? Something else?
there is plenty of material here on this site (and other places) about mindset, mental game, tilt, etc...
Articles, videos, there are also books like the mental game of poker 1 & 2 and the occasional public coaching.
If you are really serious and consider becoming pro and tilting is an issue, private coaching is also an option
Definitely true. You also may start a blog on PS and update every week your progress (hands, feelings, approaches, etc.). You will get lots of response. Take these feedback seriously. Read, learn, practice and do everything that is necessary (plan-do-check-act) as a whole for optimal quality of your game (and possibly life).
In the beginning you may be overwhelmed by everything that is to know in this field but you just have to except that part and grow with it. Eventually you will find your twist and be up to date.
Good luck at the tables!
Sorry about that. Will follow in with a hand replayer next time.
I'm not sure, people don't really c-bet on small rush tables. It's rather exception then rule. I'm kind of afraid not to bet, cause there's bigger opportunity weaker hands will call more.
Bet could be bigger, agree, guess there was fear of gaving up too much info that I got something big, but then you got 2 calling and you see how the flop develops with next hand. If it's good, you can earn more and if it's not too draw or opponents bet oviously too big, you can give up based on these factors.
Well, I DO know how to play. I knew about 2/3 bet before you did. Preflop is learned by tables, basicly same as BSS for tournament as you always have 100 BBs at least, well, a bit of raises here and there preflop, postflop you gotta feel when you are behind with a very good hand. That's basicly the whole strategy. This, latest, is the most important, everything other is just a minority. I made one tilting mistakes (lost additional 2 USD (started with 10 in total) beside of this 2 flops and lost one all in with KK vs. AA. That's all. Other 3,100 hands very perfect - maybe if I'd player them better I would win 0.30 USD more, but that's all..
Overall it is very easy to make people run away. If the flop is Q75 some will even call with 5J and stuff with 1/2 of pot or even less being offered. What are the odds they hit vs. the odds you run them away. If they hit, it will be obvious in the betting pattern, but if they don't you make a lot. If they just call and something you raise again. I mean, I have in mind WHY I bet something before I bet and imagine also when will I back off. If he just calls, I'll go again with a bit bigger bet if I assume probably he didn't hit anything. If it really looks supsicous, like one added pair(paired flop) or IDK, something, then I even stop betting. It just works this way because of people.
The real eye opener however was seeing this hands in analysis. Will remember for next time. It's a bit of (second case) anger towards him because I knew he called with some suited crap or something (worst hand pre) and won, that's really the psychological thing. Otherwise I do play it psychologicly and really thoughtful of how to extract value but this kind of things happen. I would need to eliminated just these..
Set over set is not common especially if you play correct and the villa plays incorrect I tried my set 99 9 on a 643 board raise re raise all in call beaten by QQ Q on turn
Can't complain because I put someone on set QQ q and beat them with A 9 suited 9 making a straight
Well, I DO know how to play. I knew about 2/3 bet before you did. Preflop is learned by tables, basicly same as BSS for tournament as you always have 100 BBs at least, well, a bit of raises here and there preflop, postflop you gotta feel when you are behind with a very good hand. That's basicly the whole strategy.
I think the biggest mistake is that maybe you think you are better than you really are?
How does your MP and SB opening range differ?
If you are MP, what hands do you 3bet vs UTG?
When you say "you gotta feel when you are behind", it means to me you are playing by feel and you really have no clue what is the correct move in the long run.
One thing I know for sure. Players who know how to play do not ask why does bankroll management matter or post cooler hands. I just lost 8 buy-ins in 2 days and I'm pissed and I feel a bit sad but it is poker, it is normal, it has happened before and it will happen again.
Wow that thread is so fail, I LOVE IT! 
Calling 55 from the SB is a borderline mistake. You are out of position, so its really hard to get value when you flop a set, you will rarely flop any equity except when you hit a set and when you do, it will almost always be the lowest. Also by calling you invite the BB. You may see it as more pot odds, but really its even more reverse implied odds.
People that say the first hand is a cooler just lie to themselves. Sure set over set is a cooler, but it could be avoided by being more selective. I wont discuss the postflop play with the fives.. 
Honestly, IMO the second hand is more of a cooler. I would have bet bigger /close to potsize/ OTF and stackoff by the river. Definetly wouldnt bet half pot OTR and then fold when I get like 8:1 as suggested 
I guess people are taking that baluga and other crap "rules" a little too much by heart and not think for themselves. Like, 2/3 pot... Really? And on which date exactly did you learn the 2/3 pot bet? How much money did you spend on coaching to get this secret of 2/3 pot betting? ♦
It was called No Limit Holdem last time I checked, by the way, not Two-Thirds pot Holdem
The BSS says small pairs are call if you have x20 money.
"it will almost always be the lowest."
So its onyl good to call x20 to go for the sets greater then 55 - to count on the possibility you might loose vs. great set it you hit set? I doubt it, as this is the rare outcome.
For me the second hand is total mistake by me having hateful background as I remember, better said enitled to win because I had better hand pre, that's all, or overgeneralizing I would win now because I hit set though I felt based on raising and the messed flop I actualy was worse but I didn't see it. Or see it and basicly turned that anger (IDK from stress, previous hands, whatever) against my self - against my profit
Regards.
How does your MP and SB opening range differ?
SB I raise with J9s or Q9s or stuff, bot sometimes I fold it too to make it mix. It's actually better to raise opponents who have more chips as they obviously tend to fold more. Mostly.
MP I raise with pairs like 55,66, KQs and better cards.
If you are MP, what hands do you 3bet vs UTG?
I would 3bet AA, KK, QQ, AK, perhaps JJ against if there would be small raise, if he calls I would be careful to not be trapped with bigger hands. This is rushy, sadly you have no history, it's more "mechanic play" or how would I say. Perahps I would 3bet someone who raised minbet also with weaker hands like AQs and JJ or maaaybe TT, though he should have also small stack size which usually implies he doesn't rebuy etc. Like 0.56 or something in 2 USD max buyin.
When you say "you gotta feel when you are behind", it means to me you are playing by feel and you really have no clue what is the correct move in the long run."
Feel has words too, they're just not (recognized) yet. By feel I mean a lot of things, maybe the things is I'm not literal when saying words, but let's explain. By feel I mean the whole hand - when someone raised, how he acted to 3bet, what is the board, I mean, everything, it's just that I maybe thing I don't need to explain cause you understand. Sorry then
One thing I know for sure. Players who know how to play do not ask why does bankroll management matter
It's a "philosophical" question. Suppose you have 25 tables opened and you play till eternaty, there is a possibility on every table to reach a cooler and you're off. But that's why there is "pull your wins" though it suggest when one has a feeling they play worse. Though I did feel I'm more tired then. Not sure how plan breaks. Maybe need to eat more (in-between).
And yes, it was written trough being depserate. Psychogical rigidity is the problem. Thinking that if I play by the "rules" he must to or how to say, that he somehow cheated me when calling a bet with 67s or something. Like he had so play correctly, like I do. Whatever, you know. Stress and eating not enough can be the reasons.
The BSS says small pairs are call if you have x20 money.
You mean if you have to call 3bb you must have 60bb money? What if villain has only 45bb? If you open from early position it is more likely you face set vs set situation, so maybe it would be good idea to open 55+ in early and in late positions you can open all?
It's actually better to raise opponents who have more chips as they obviously tend to fold more.
This is absolutely nonsense and not true. What comes to your opening ranges it seems you are opening way too tight, especially from SB. You can easily open any pocket pair and many off-suit hands too. If you open only pretty high suited hands from SB you are not stealing enough.
]I would 3bet AA, KK, QQ, AK, perhaps JJ
I would not 3bet AK,QQ or JJ vs UTG opener... And as I expected you do not have bluff 3bet range. It is possible that you 3bet too little and have only value range. This makes your winrate lower and you are easy to exploit. Also you said that you would 3bet weaker hands vs villain that has 25bb stack. Are you willing to call villains shove with these hands because that is what will happen pretty often?
There is plenty of study material here at pokerstrategy. I would suggest that you read the strategy articles and watch videos and post your hands to forums. Poker is not easy and it will take a lot of time to learn to play good.
Originally posted by staktas
Poker Stars $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 2839770
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History ConverterBTN: $8.92
Hero (SB): $3.42
BB: $0.85
UTG: $2.18
MP: $2.41
CO: $2.01Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is SB with 5
2 folds, CO raises to $0.06, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.05, BB calls $0.04Flop: ($0.18) 5
Hero bets $0.06, BB calls $0.06, CO calls $0.06Turn: ($0.36) 3
Hero bets $0.17, BB calls $0.17, CO raises to $0.44, Hero raises to $3.30 all in, BB calls $0.56 all in, CO calls $1.45 all inRiver: ($4.87) A
I think you could avoid this type of cooler by adopting a simple tactic for 2NL zoom on stars. At this level, low sets should be played as like top pair with a good kicker. I think bet-bet-bet and folding to any big raise is a good trick to try in your game.
(PF) I would rather call from SB than raise. If you know how to 3-bet from SB with 55, then you don't belong to this level.
(FLOP) Betting 1/2 would be better. Donk bet 1/3 from OOP looks really suspicious. Hero should try pretending to have a Jx hand.
(TURN) Hero could keep playing the tune "I have a Jx". So bet 2/3, or even pot. As played, CO is raising 3x, and you know that 1) the turn card did not helped him, 2) his hand is better than Jack pair. He is rarely bluffing here. In this level, just fold when you bet on turn and raised enough when they could not represent any made hand. Yes, it is a weak play and -EV in one hand.
What I'm suggesting is bypassing EV calculation or balancing at this level. It was 3-handed (if heads up and board contains a queen or higher, I would push sometimes) and hero double-barrel, and one of the opponents raised. If your default play is fold everytime in this spot, you would not get into a cooler that often. Hero put only 28 cents (14bb, disregarding the small blind 1 cent) so far and facing a 44 cents raise. Just fold. Next time, when you have low sets, they would call all your bets to the river and pay you off 30-40bb. So the vaccum EV is bad to fold, but long-term EV is better.
I think you could avoid this type of cooler by adopting a simple tactic for 2NL zoom on stars. At this level, low sets should be played as like top pair with a good kicker. I think bet-bet-bet and folding to any big raise is a good trick to try in your game.
So safe? OK
(PF) I would rather call from SB than raise. If you know how to 3-bet from SB with 55, then you don't belong to this level.
I did call.
(FLOP) Betting 1/2 would be better. Donk bet 1/3 from OOP looks really suspicious. Hero should try pretending to have a Jx hand.
I don't agree. Nothing looks suspicious to them. (0.01/0.02). Maybe cause of the odds? But hard for them to hit anything better. Though as you said, it can be played like a top pair with a kicker. OK, in this case I would bet more for them not to get, though if I have like 92% odds I don't really mind betting small with intenting to bet a bit more latter and he's drawn into it a bit more at the end.
(TURN) Hero could keep playing the tune "I have a Jx". So bet 2/3, or even pot. As played, CO is raising 3x, and you know that 1) the turn card did not helped him, 2) his hand is better than Jack pair. He is rarely bluffing here. In this level, just fold when you bet on turn and raised enough when they could not represent any made hand.
This is so hard to fold. Even if I just 3bet it's hard to imagine I would fold. Even he doesn't have only J, he can have any too pairs or stuff or anything. What is this clue? How is it you are able to read he might be better?
What I'm suggesting is bypassing EV calculation or balancing at this level. It was 3-handed (if heads up and board contains a queen or higher, I would push sometimes) and hero double-barrel, and one of the opponents raised. If your default play is fold everytime in this spot, you would not get into a cooler that often. Hero put only 28 cents (14bb, disregarding the small blind 1 cent) so far and facing a 44 cents raise. Just fold. Next time, when you have low sets, they would call all your bets to the river and pay you off 30-40bb. So the vaccum EV is bad to fold, but long-term EV is better.
AAA, how can I fold ♦ what's that difference - vaccum EV and long-term EV? I feel it might have something to do with "while on the other hand I always have the chance to fold any find better opportunities". Though folding 55 it's so hard to let go
So basicly is better not risk the whole stack with smaller set if someones shows a lot of agression? Betting first? Or how is this profitable on this levels?
You mean if you have to call 3bb you must have 60bb money?
Exactly. That's to get the max value in the long turn to get money if you hit a set. Though this is from the Big Stack Stragety, though because it is so safe I think it's a good idea to be applied on small zoom cash tables (like up to 0.05/0.10 or maybe even 0.25), where the play is basicly static - 99% of players don't play vs. your range, not even have software etc
A lot of other stuff you write about is really iluminating, though you must not forgot it's micro zoom tables.. it's more about HOW to play hands and not about bluffing pre etc. Not calling 2 crazy calls where I felt entitled to win would leave me in profit, raising 20 more hands when pre SB would add like 0.4 USD or less. So value lies in smart/safe postflop play more.
Though I COULD have software and play it differently, but IDK, this maybe in higher stakes.
The basic idea of mine is to play pretty straight forward (fast, doing like 9k hands daily so to long run to show - perhaps every day (I mean, majority.. 9k really is a lot, 90% of the days should be profit without making silly mistakes. If I eliminate one stupid call when I lost 3 USD and this AA where I lost 6 USD which are both obvious folds, I'm around 3 USD in profit) ....torunament BSS at micros preflop, which IMO IS profitable, and later trying to avoid stuff like that with "tilting" with AAA on flush and straight board and maaaybe folding that 555?
Not everything is readable. I read a lot of stuff but a lot is learned on expiriences/common sense, however this might sounds.
Exactly. That's to get the max value in the long turn to get money if you hit a set. Though this is from the Big Stack Stragety, though because it is so safe I think it's a good idea to be applied on small zoom cash tables (like up to 0.05/0.10 or maybe even 0.25), where the play is basicly static - 99% of players don't play vs. your range, not even have software etc
You skipped the most important question I asked you. What if villain has 45bb. I was just testing you.
If villain has 45bb your effective stack size is 45bb, meaning you can not call profitably even if you have 100bb stack.
This Call20 rule is a mathematical guideline. Low pocket pairs are not very good and very bad to play postflop. Your only goal with low pocket pairs is to hit set and when you hit you should try to get all-in (usually). You don't hit set very often so why should you call pre? This rule tells you that if effective stack sizes are 20x the bet and you usually win villains whole stack, your effective stack size has to be 20 times the bet for it to be profitable. It has nothing to do with being safe and it has nothing to do with the limits you play, you can apply it at NL100 as well. It just tells you when your pre flop call is profitable in the long run.
If you believe 99% of players at micros don't use software, you are probably wrong..
What comes to your 55 hand, I think you actually played it fine. Villain could raise you on the flop easily with pair + draw or overpairs. You want to shove because there is 2 flush draws and you get value from overpairs. Nothing too special in this hand imo. If you lost it is just a normal cooler that happens.
I think you could avoid this type of cooler by adopting a simple tactic for 2NL zoom on stars. At this level, low sets should be played as like top pair with a good kicker. I think bet-bet-bet and folding to any big raise is a good trick to try in your game.
Horrible advice in my opinion.. Do not do this. You can play sets straight forward. Bet bet bet is a fine line, if there is completed draws you can fold to raises or bet only 2 streets. Ps. Who bets 3 streets with TPGK? What comes to the bet sizes, I think you can go for much bigger bet on the flop also. Nothing wrong with standard 1/2 or 2/3 bet.
I have played almost 100k NL2 zoom hands on stars in past few months and I know it is not easy. You can try to play regular tables where you can exploit bad players more. In zoom your volume is so high that every little mistake you make will become a huge leak.
Remember that studying is a big part of playing poker and even high stakes pros have to learn more stuff all the time. If you have any questions or difficult hands, we are here to help. Good luck to the tables.
Remember that other players wont fold sets vs you as well. so all u need is just play solid poker and wait for ur opportunitys. BRM is for not loosing br when u hit downswing.
It might be true that most players on NL2 Zoom is recreational players. They sit and play for half an hour, maybe on the phone when they are waiting for a train or sitting on the loo.
But the more reg-style-players sit for 10-15 hours a day and play 4 tables so you are bound to meet these people more often. And they use software and have good knowledge. I have 600 hands on one of the fellas who took your money and on those hands he has a VPIP of 21,5, PFR of 17, a 3Bet of 4,7 and a fold to 3bet of 72 . Such a player you can expect to use tracker software and have good knowledge of ranges.
You skipped the most important question I asked you. What if villain has 45bb. I was just testing you.
I know this. Both most have x20 of the raise. First raiser and me as a caller.
This Call20 rule is a mathematical guideline. Low pocket pairs are not very good and very bad to play postflop. Your only goal with low pocket pairs is to hit set and when you hit you should try to get all-in (usually). You don't hit set very often so why should you call pre? This rule tells you that if effective stack sizes are 20x the bet and you usually win villains whole stack, your effective stack size has to be 20 times the bet for it to be profitable. It has nothing to do with being safe and it has nothing to do with the limits you play, you can apply it at NL100 as well. It just tells you when your pre flop call is profitable in the long run.
It's not about being safe. It's still the right move. If it's right for the torunament BSS..
And yeah, it's about hitting the set and taking all the money, that's all it is.
I wasn't talking about this 55 and it's playability otherwise (when not hitting the set.. well, sometimes you can take it still in the HU, and and even in 3-way, whatever), why I talked about this strategy is that is safe overall - for applying this preflop range vs loose range of opponents at this tables, that's all
If you believe 99% of players at micros don't use software, you are probably wrong..
I am. But because I said 99%, not because it would be higher then like 90%. I'm 100% sure 90% of players at 0.01/0.02 zoom rush don't use any software.
But as someone said, it can be important too, because you meet those 1 in 10 guys that DO and not everyone plays loose postflop, this is what I should be careful about post.
You want to shove because there is 2 flush draws and you get value from overpairs. Nothing too special in this hand imo. If you lost it is just a normal cooler that happens.
I didn't shove with reasons actually. It was mindless play - first shove "drove me in" and I just went with the flow or how should I say..
Horrible advice in my opinion.. Do not do this. You can play sets straight forward. Bet bet bet is a fine line, if there is completed draws you can fold to raises or bet only 2 streets. Ps. Who bets 3 streets with TPGK? What comes to the bet sizes, I think you can go for much bigger bet on the flop also. Nothing wrong with standard 1/2 or 2/3 bet.
I guess were're on the same bout here. I still find it hard to make sense of folding set, specially here, I mean, IDK, probably not even againt Phil Evey.
I have played almost 100k NL2 zoom hands on stars in past few months and I know it is not easy. You can try to play regular tables where you can exploit bad players more. In zoom your volume is so high that every little mistake you make will become a huge leak.
Jp. That's been great. Always I played those normal tables, I won a ton. It's the impulsivity I got to get out - maybe the idea of mechanic work - earning - doing it for the living - etc is on the way. Playing slowly on normal tables such a more fun and not so intensive as I here myself at zoom such a big pressure in comparison. But it's hard to imagine anything happens when playing slowly normal tables - so few hands etc. ♠
Remember that studying is a big part of playing poker and even high stakes pros have to learn more stuff all the time. If you have any questions or difficult hands, we are here to help. Good luck to the tables.
I know. I'm confused of what to read, etc. I read a lot of PS articles and seen videos, too, read books like Mental game of Poker (or the other one), Zen of poker, even Sklansky on the beggining, etc., when I started playing it. I do get the concept and a lot of it is already abosrbed in me though I like this kind of abstract questions more. Though one thing was very "aha" to me. Seeing in history how I can make a mistake.
Originally posted by Svinhugg
It might be true that most players on NL2 Zoom is recreational players. They sit and play for half an hour, maybe on the phone when they are waiting for a train or sitting on the loo.But the more reg-style-players sit for 10-15 hours a day and play 4 tables so you are bound to meet these people more often. And they use software and have good knowledge. I have 600 hands on one of the fellas who took your money and on those hands he has a VPIP of 21,5, PFR of 17, a 3Bet of 4,7 and a fold to 3bet of 72 . Such a player you can expect to use tracker software and have good knowledge of ranges.
I know we're talking about software, but still, would that help? Would I, or anyone else, fold set then? Or would I fold 55 pre then? (maybe 3bet pre, that was my first clue, though fold to 3bet pre should be a needed stat then)
