[Closed] From humble beginnings, how much pie will be eaten?

when you said your sticking to sss at around 98% of the time but stealing looser based on reads of tight blinds, this is actually still in corispondance of good short-stack play.

The stealing article here http://www.pokerstrategy.com/strategy/no-limit/207/
Is designed around using hud stats but your reads are often almost as good or better than the indications the hud give. Meaning if you can get your target to fold more than 80% of hands to a steal its profitable with any 2 cards.

Glad to see your finally getting a winrate out of sss and I hope it will continue.

Thanks Gerv & James, appreciate your thoughts. Read, understood & will try to incorporate these excellent suggestions.

I don't actually use any form of HU display or anything. Whilst I have elephant running to database my stats & keep track of everything, I found the HU to be a little distracting & not entirely reliable. I had begun to make decisions on the back of the stats & not necessarily on the 'whole picture'.
Never say never though, might use later on or in the odd sample session, for now, really trying to hone in my own radar lol.

Gerv, really appreaciate your thoughts. Think in my haste to not get too overconfident/cocky on current run, maybe gone too far into pesimistic mode. This in itself might tighten up my play and be detromental.

I'm currently in the middle of today's session (just taking a breather for refreshment etc). Will post results later at end of play, but current session went up to +$30 at one point but now back down to +$3. Will be interesting to see the outcome following your excellent advice.

Just gained my Elephant licence btw, so will probably spend quite a bit of time tomorrow self analysing my stats and will of course be posting the stats for everyone to (constructively) pull them to pieces. I want to iron out any/all leakages wherever possible and at least know reasons/pro's/con's for each.

Again, many thanks guys, really appreciate your input.

Positive thoughts,

Bart.

Today worked out good in the end. Terrific start once more, but then couldn't seem to win an all in for a while, thats the way it goes I guess. If you can end a session pretty much break even prior to rakeback then I guess your still circa 5% better than average :).

07/01/2009 = -$2.10 (1,169 hands, -0.72BB/100)

Todays Chart:

Keen to get stuck into my elephant data, will put in an hour or so before bed. Will also revisit some of the sss Strategy Guides to ensure I haven't missed anything.

tc,

Bart

Sessions update:

Full Filt (NL25sss[fr]):
01/01/2009 = +$37.15
02/01/2009 = +$13.58
03/01/2009 = +$6.15 (998 hands, +2.46 BB/100)
04/01/2009 = +$17.65 (839 hands, +8.41 BB/100)
05/01/2009 = +$33.85 (1,164 hands, +11.63 BB/100)
06/01/2009 = +$58.80 (856 hands, +27.48BB/100)
07/01/2009 = -$2.10 (1,169 hands, -0.72BB/100)
08/01/2009 = -$45.70 (1,210 hands, -15.11 BB/100)
09/01/2009 = +$23.35 (1,063 hands, +8.8 BB/100)

Titan (NL20sss[fr]):
07/01/2009 = +$27.23 (216 hands, +63.03 BB/100)

Just trying to withdraw BR from Tight-an but apparantly need to earn more points, once earnt I'm outta there!

Had a frightful session yesterday (-$45.70), this was due to 9 (yes nine!) consecutive failed all ins. I have reviewed these in depth using elephant and only one could be considered as marginal (AQo reraised by AKo). All the others I went in ahead, but got overtaken, sht happens I guess.

Complete (Oct 2008-present) Elephant Stats:

The following are my full elephant stats, would appreciate any comments/opinions on these, anywhere where I appear too tight or too loose?
NL10 was the starting point so might be a little erratic (early days whilst learning), but would be very interested in views of my current NL25 stats, cheers.

Bear with me - Text Coding not working properly!

			NL10	NL25
			(Oct08-Dec08)(Dec08-to date)
Hands			29,989	12,502
VPIP			13.10%	10.40%
Handrange Flop		13.30%	9.30%
PreFlop Raise		7.90%	7.60%
Open Raise-Late pos	20.10%	18.30%
Fold SB to Steal		81.40%	90.50%
Fold BB to Steal		73.70%	83.30%
Aggression Factor		1.7	2.3
Handrange Showdown		5.10%	3.30%
WtSDwsF			38.70%	35.00%
WS@SD			45.60%	48.50%
WSwsF			40.40%	44.40%
BB/100 (prior to rakeback)	-	4.8


(NL25 only)	VPIP	Raise	Open Raise
Average		10%	7%	10%
UTG		-	-	-
UTG1		6%	4%	4%
UTG2		6%	4%	4%
MP1		7%	5%	6%
MP2		8%	7%	8%
MP3		9%	8%	12%
CO		9%	8%	13%
BU		13%	11%	25%
SB		19%	10%	33%
BB		13%	7%	-

updated

A quick glance at your stats on NL25:

* Limp less! 1 full % between PFR and VPIP is the max (eg. 9/8 10/9 11/10 etc.)
* Well you defend your BB really aggressive
* Put your AggressionFactor up, in other words, c-bet more? shove more when you need to

just my 2 cents prior to my session now ♦

- Gerv

Originally posted by Gerv
A quick glance at your stats on NL25:

* Limp less! 1 full % between PFR and VPIP is the max (eg. 9/8 10/9 11/10 etc.)
* Well you defend your BB really aggressive
* Put your AggressionFactor up, in other words, c-bet more? shove more when you need to

just my 2 cents prior to my session now ♦

- Gerv

Thanks mate, your comments are really appreciated as always.

Yeah do limp from time to time, mainly SB with JTs or A8 etc, know its wrong and will try to tighten up a little.

Going to have to look into the AF though, almost always c-bet, perhaps need to push in when 2+ callers more.

Think probably defending a little too much, although only very selectively against a known opponent from CO/BU. Has worked well up to now, but again appreciate you flagging, one to monitor.

Just in the middle of a double length session today. Started well (as always) but then hit yet another run of 6x failed all in's. Analysed again and feel totally justified in pushing/feel a little hard done by.

KK lost to AKo
AA lost to T9
AQ lost to AT
AA lost to 45
JJ lost to 78
AK lost to A4

Yep know this is standard variance, but geez give me a break, most of these are something like 85%+ win according to equilator & to lose so many in a row.
Is there anywhere I can purchase "Phil Hellmuth" style Insurance against these (rofl just joking).

Just done the best thing possible and that is grind my back up with a clear mind after a short break, charts are looking really impressive except for the consec x9 & consec x6 all in runs, which are beyond my control, so happy enough.

Bart

Looked at your stats, as gerv said earlier your vpip is definatly too large compared to your overall pfr. The only times someone using sss should be limping is, in late position and in the small blind, when there are enough players already limped in to justify good odds.

I see that you've gone into a few pots utg and in mp's without raiseing can I ask why? If there is a bad player already in the pot that you think you can extract value from then use isolation raises to help ensure a better chance of having him to yourself on the flop.

Also your vpip on the bb is pretty high, in almost every case it is better to raise/re-raise your bb if you think you have a decent holding. This is even if you have been min-raised.

Other than that I cant see too much too worry about

^ Thanks James. Used to limp with AQ occasionally rather than folding, but cut that out a month or so ago following analysis of all my AQ results. Only time I now limp in those positions is a very occasional limp with AA when the table is as tight as a ducks backside to get some kind of value in pot. Appreciate it's dangerous but better than picking up just 35c/per hour.

Haven't posted much for a couple of days as not been feeling too good. Almost didn't play my session yesterday, but kinda glad I did as I've had worse sessions

Sessions update:

Full Filt (NL25sss[fr]):
01/01/2009 = +$37.15
02/01/2009 = +$13.58
03/01/2009 = +$6.15 (998 hands, +2.46 BB/100)
04/01/2009 = +$17.65 (839 hands, +8.41 BB/100)
05/01/2009 = +$33.85 (1,164 hands, +11.63 BB/100)
06/01/2009 = +$58.80 (856 hands, +27.48BB/100)
07/01/2009 = -$2.10 (1,169 hands, -0.72BB/100)
08/01/2009 = -$45.70 (1,210 hands, -15.11 BB/100)
09/01/2009 = +$23.35 (1,063 hands, +8.8 BB/100)
10/01/2009 = -$18.90 (1,214 hands, -6.23 BB/100)
11/01/2009 = -$5.20 (1,161 hands, -1.79 BB/100)
12/01/2009 = +$95.75 (940 hands, +40.74 BB/100)

Titan (NL20sss[fr]):
07/01/2009 = +$27.23 (216 hands, +63.03 BB/100)
09/01/2009 = +$0.91 (243 hands, +1.87 BB/100)
10/01/2009 = +$12.85 (309 hands, +20.79 BB/100)
11/01/2009 = -$3.01 (137 hands, -10.99 BB/100)

Year To Date chart

Also cleared the $75 IronMan end of year promo which all helps.

Overall:

Overall cost to me = $0

> Cash Tables NL10/NL25 SSS = +$208.91 (prior to rakeback)
> STT/Matrix SNG's = +$44.95
> MTT Tournaments = +$211.79
Net "playing profit" = +$465.65

> Free Bankrolls = +$150.00
> Additional Bonus cleared = +$140.00
> Rakeback = +$97.00
Total "freebies" = +$387.00
Overall Fighting Fund therefore stands at $852.65

Going to have to think up some more stretched goals to aim for.

tc,

Bart

Currently on a semi-break from the grind/poker in general. Mainly resulting from hassle received from Titan (my secondary site), which totally threw me mentally for a few days and contributed to (but not solely to blame for) quite heavy losses on Full Tilt.

Whilst nothing to do with Full Tilt where it's usually an absolute pleasure to play, if your head isn't totally focused or your just not enjoying your poker, it's time to step back & take a break.

Regrouping ready for the final January Ironman push (just need 5 more days for Gold status) & going to combine it with the Take Two promo for maximum effect.

Bart

Originally posted by EagleStar88
Sessions update:

Full Filt (NL25sss[fr]):
12/01/2009 = +$95.75 (940 hands, +40.74 BB/100)

Wow. SSS & 40bb/100.

- Flabbergasted Gerv

Took a break from cash table grind and decided to cash in some old VC player points.

Used them to freeroll into the satellite for $2.5m Guaranteed and soooo close to making it

2nd / 53 (winner only got a seat worth $1,500).

Would have been my biggest win to date (and ofc would have converted to cash given half the chance to further BR) and played really well including a mammoth Heads Up battle against a player already qualified for Salzburg, but after almost an hour heads up, my trip Q's fell to a rivered flush.

Had a great time though, delighted. ♦

Back to the grind.

Bart.

hi Bart, hows the SSS grind going? i missed poker and decided to put a little on Titan so i'm giving SSS a try for a bit now. Unlucky in the $2.5mil sat, nice one getting the 40BB/100 by the way, wow lol

Hi gaz mate, missing your banter around this place so glad to see you back.

Yeah, not had much time recently to blog, but will try to pick up now & again.

Basically went up to NL25 from NL10 in December and had been having a very good run. Found NL25 to be much more predictable than NL10 so easier to know when to push/fold/steal etc.

Moved up to NL50 a couple of days ago (playing solely on Full Tilt now) but must admit struggling quite a bit. Luckily I've already built up a fair wedge of BR to see me through for a while.

I know the routine now, i know what to expect & have belief in the system & my own ability, but somehow NL50 players seem to know exactly how to play against sss players more than on previous levels (damn those strategy websites ♦ rofl). I'm thinking it's maybe time to look into BSS (starting on lower levels of course).

Played in APAT's new league which started last Sunday for a change from the grind. Representing Southampton in the Southern division came respectable 25th / 132, just outside ITM at 20th (despite being totally card dead for the most part). But Southampton came out on top overall, so good start to the 'season'.

Made Gold Ironman in January & nearing Gold PokerStrategy status. Other than that, not much happening.

Hope you, Kay & the girls are well & not too snowed in

Bart

wow, seems like a lot has happened since i left, that league sounds good, nice to see also that you made it upto NL50 just a shame that you wasn't as successful there. Kay and the girls are fine, the snow has been a nightmare, in the middle of moving house and have only a week to do it so moving with all this ice and snow is a nightmare.

Since i started back i tried out SSS but it isn't for me so i moved back to BSS, my break from poker brought back a bug in my game, stupidity, so i've banned myself for the night now, let me know how you get on and if you do decide to switch to BSS.

Me and kay both missed poker so we had a look at our finances n thought well we'll be ok so we'll go back on it, just a pitty i brought stupidity and tilt back with me lol but i'll sort it soon hopefully

The APAT league is an $10 ($11 with fee) buy in every 2x weeks, so might be something you'll consider for next year maybe. I'm going to see how it goes, if I can cash just 2 it will pay the whole 20x game season & there's the added value of GUKPT seats up for grabs too.
Whilst a tad over my normal stated MTT buyin too, my original mission statement was to pay for my MTT 'career' through Cash Table earnings and with a BR of circa $800 from a $100 start & a lot of hard grind behind me, think I deserve a welcome distraction now and again

You obviously brought me good luck, had my first +ve NL50 session, only $16 & still 8BB down on NL50 so far, but a step in the right direction. Onwards & upwards.

Bart

Sorry for the gaps between updates folks, been side tracked by other things & been grinding my little cotton socks off, as my dear departed granny would have said.
Thought I'd better do a quick update so BOTD players know a little bit more about me (be sure to say hi in the IRC thingy )

Ok so quick update, basically, story so far is that I've played in excess of 70,000 hands since joining in Oct 2008. Managed somehow to grow the $100 starting money up to just over $800 and then managed (rather more easily) to negatively grow it back down to $620 again, ho hum, sht happens Currently somewhere just short of $700, need to do another tally up soon for exact figure.

I started on NL10 & managed to move up to NL25 (second attempt, first time I got scared & dropped back down early ), now been grinding NL50 for a couple of weeks. NL50 is going quite well. Generally gaining/losing circa +/- 2xBI's a day (800 hands/3 hours) which seems pretty stable (more so than NL10 & 25). Get rakeback on top of this too of course. Was up $33 in yesterdays session (before RB), but today has been one of those dreaded "losing several all-ins in a row" patterns that occasionally occur, which to be fair you can't really do much about, except go back over the elephant HH to ensure you made the right moves.

The following hand kind of sums up the day, down $95 in total, so taking a break, updating this blog & going for a walk :P.

Had only recently doubled the $10 buy in up to $19 and was blinding out like I normally do (I tend to tighten to KK+ when blinding out a double stack and have encountered a similar scenario before).

Known players:
[tg]Position_Stack:hands/vp$ip/RaisePreflop/AF/WTS/ORL/BBvsSteal/W$SD;UTG1$9.50:29/76 /17 /2.4/40 /50 /-/38 ;MP2$73.20:204/12 /8 /1.7/28 /16 /-/71 ;Hero$19.00:///////;[/tg]
0.25/0.5 No-Limit Hold'em (9 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.67 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A♣, A♥
UTG1 calls $0.50, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $2.25, Hero raises to $6.00, 4 folds, UTG1 calls $5.50, MP2 raises to $73.20 (All-In), Hero calls $13.00 (All-In), UTG1 calls $3.50 (All-In), MP2 gets uncalled bet back.

Flop: ($48.25) Q♥, 5♠, 6♠
Turn: ($48.25) 3♦
River: ($48.25) K♠ (2 players)

Final Pot: $48.25

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows a pair of aces (Ac Ah)
UTG1 shows a flush, king high (Ts Js)
MP2 shows three of a kind, kings (Kc Kd)

UTG1 wins with a flush, king high (Ts Js)

Well hello Mr Variance, good of you to pop your head around the door again.
Sigh, everybody got a bit except me

But do I care, nah not much coz this was just 1 hand from 70,000 and on Sunday it's BOTD baby and the team I'm in rocks ♦
Also got APAT league 2 hours into BOTD, so I'm hoping I'll be multi-tabling the MTT's lol should be fun.

Bart

BTW, Equilator below in case you are interested.

http://www.PokerStrategy.com
Operation canceled... 65,304,800 games processed in 31 seconds. Equity Win Tie Loss Hand
Player 1: 19.656 % 19.566 % 0.272 % 80.163 % JsTs
Player 2: 16.016 % 15.926 % 0.272 % 83.803 % KdKc
Player 3: 64.327 % 64.237 % 0.272 % 35.491 % AhAc

Just a quick BOTD update before returning to the grind today.

Had a pretty decent performance last night, picked a couple of hands early on and managed to bluff my way out of a missed straight draw, when the board paired.
Everyone in Team Donkey Patrol was playing well and we all made it the 1st break and beyond.

I was the first to fall to the following hand. Don't think i could have played much different to be honest, a really good player might suspect trips (but im not there yet! ), but the chances of doubling up like this don't come very often in a tournament with 7,000 players & 990 cashing. Top 2 pair usually good enough I think.

Anway it allowed me to rail the other teams members who all impressed with two making the money. Great stuff.

PokerStars Game #24974300244: Tournament #139358905, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2009/02/15 14:25:41 ET
Table '139358905 602' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: JohnyBotton (6855 in chips)
Seat 2: 2gd2btru-uk (2215 in chips)
Seat 3: leancell (9340 in chips)
Seat 4: HyarAA (7002 in chips)
Seat 5: sifsiftomlar (8760 in chips)
Seat 6: patzo (6395 in chips)
Seat 7: asensio34 (6997 in chips)
Seat 8: bob5656 (5251 in chips)
Seat 9: EnglandBart (3830 in chips)
bob5656: posts small blind 100
EnglandBart: posts big blind 200
HOLE CARDS
Dealt to EnglandBart [Kh Qh]
JohnyBotton: folds
2gd2btru-uk: calls 200
leancell: folds
HyarAA: calls 200
sifsiftomlar: folds
patzo: folds
asensio34: folds
bob5656: calls 100
EnglandBart: checks
FLOP [Qd 8d Kc]
bob5656: checks
EnglandBart: bets 800
2gd2btru-uk: folds
HyarAA: folds
bob5656: raises 2200 to 3000
EnglandBart: raises 630 to 3630 and is all-in
bob5656: calls 630
TURN [Qd 8d Kc] [Ac]
RIVER [Qd 8d Kc Ac] [7c]
SHOW DOWN
bob5656: shows [8h 8s] (three of a kind, Eights)
EnglandBart: shows [Kh Qh] (two pair, Kings and Queens)
bob5656 collected 8060 from pot
@hp3@ is connected
SUMMARY
Total pot 8060 | Rake 0
Board [Qd 8d Kc Ac 7c]
Seat 1: JohnyBotton folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: 2gd2btru-uk folded on the Flop
Seat 3: leancell folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: HyarAA folded on the Flop
Seat 5: sifsiftomlar folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: patzo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: asensio34 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: bob5656 (small blind) showed [8h 8s] and won (8060) with three of a kind, Eights
Seat 9: EnglandBart (big blind) showed [Kh Qh] and lost with two pair, Kings and Queens

Also had a good run in the APAT National league, finishing 27th / 128. This follows the 25th last week making me one of the most consistent from Team Southampton
Going for the big FT finish next time (2 weeks time).

Bart