Swimming with the fishes - LahtiPelican's SH journey

This post is the 100th reply in my blog, so it is the perfect time to write a short summary about

As I started to play poker again on the smallest stake, let's start the summary there.

NL2

Not a big volume, but I climbed up twice from NL2. Both time stepped up very soon to NL5 (Shame on me )

NL5

Bigger volume, smaller winrate. At the moment I am 11BIs above my EV line, so I ran quite good on NL5. I could grind myself up to the next limit twice.

NL10

First time I did 3 shots on NL10, without success. After my cash out, and climb back ffrom NL2, I only played a few hundred hands, thats the section after the red vertical line. So far, so good!

At the moment, my BR is at a new peak and I am doing my 4th shot on NL10. I am much more confident and now I don' see big differences between NL5 and NL10.

Without my cashout, my BR would be 10 times more than my original $50 deposit back in May. I am sure, others can build a their BR faster, but I can be satisfied with my last 7 months in poker, I think.

PartyPoker has a promotion this week: you can get scratchcards after you play, you get the first one after raking $0,4. On tuesday I won a $1 Spin ticket, where I won $2. This is what I won today:

Wish me luck!

Good luck!

Originally posted by LahtiPelican
... I can be satisfied with my last 7 months in poker, I think.

You should be satisfied, it looks like you're putting in the work and thinking about your game - this is the path to success.

Nice blog - I'll be following.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
Good luck!

Thank you! I thought the best time to use the ticket is Saturday afternoon. I recorded the game and uploaded it to YouTube.

I won't tell the result, everyone can check it

Originally posted by Ramble

You should be satisfied, it looks like you're putting in the work and thinking about your game - this is the path to success.

Nice blog - I'll be following.

Thank you, Ramble! Poker is a hobby for me, but I am trying my best to improve. I will check your blog as well

The Mental game of poker

I haven't finished the book yet. However I started to use a warmup routine and after session routine on 18th of December. Before that, I just started to play on 6 tables on my regular limit, and hoped for the best. I noticed that I do my biggest mistakes in the beggining of my sessions and in not time, I was down a buy in (or even more). I thought, why not lose that buy in on a smaller stake? So I started my sesson with two tables of NL2 FastForward, after 10 minutes I added a 3rd table and after 10 minutes I added a 4th table. After my 30 minutes warmup, I started my regular 90 minutes sesion. My after session routine (I don't know the perfect term in English, what is the opposite of warmup? ) was analyzing the pots, where I lost more than 20bb and my biggest winner pots.

Later I changed my warmup routine: I played NL2 on 6 regular tables for 15 minutes, than 15 minutes on 9 tables. You can easily spot the change on the graph around 16k hands:

Weekly report (2021.01.11-17.)

Let the numbers speak:

I am in the middle of an upswing. You can see that on my BR growth:

The other clue is I winning in every single position since I started to play NL10, INCLUDING small blind and big blind.

Promotions

I started to write, how much I win in promotions. This week's numbers:
Cardex un PokerStars: $2,3
Hand of the Day on 888: $1,5
$2 and the $20 Spin ticket (Result in spoiler below )

Originally posted by LahtiPelican
Thank you, Ramble! Poker is a hobby for me, but I am trying my best to improve. I will check your blog as well
The Mental game of poker

I haven't finished the book yet.

... My after session routine (I don't know the perfect term in English, what is the opposite of warmup? ) was analyzing the pots, where I lost more than 20bb and my biggest winner pots.

I started to write, how much I win in promotions. This week's numbers:
Cardex un PokerStars: $1,8
Hand of the Day on 888: $1,5
$2 and the $20 SPin ticket (Result in spoiler below )

Spoiler

No, you have to chech the video

In response to sections above...

• Poker is a hobby for me as well. It's a great hobby to exercise so many parts of your brain - analytical, creative, memory, mathematical, logical... I'm sure many others.
• Finish this book - it is fantastic and +EV for poker and life. I read it during a difficult time in my life and was able to apply so many of the concepts to challenges outside of poker.
• Opposite of "warm-up" is called a "cool-down".
• Best Spoiler ever.

Originally posted by Ramble

• Finish this book - it is fantastic and +EV for poker and life. I read it during a difficult time in my life and was able to apply so many of the concepts to challenges outside of poker.

The book is full of practical advices, which I can use in other areas of my life. That's why I don't want to read it as fast as I can. The other reason is that I am reading an other book to improve my game at the same time (It's called M.S.S. and no, it's not about mid stack strategy).

I am still in an upswing. I won 7 BIs on NL10 in 3k hands which is unbelievably nice start on the new limit.

Goals for the week:
Play 5k hands on NL10 - My volume is smaller than usual, because I play on 4 tables instead of 6.
Don't fool myself, and keep on studying. - I won't crush NL10 with 23,66 evbb/100 long term.

Now I can write, I won $40 with my $20 Spin ticket. I won't count it as a part of my bankroll, I will buy some poker stuff instead. I am not sure which course, book, membership or coaching should I buy, my list is long and costs way more than $40

Let's start with my weekly goals:
5k hands on NL10 - FAIL I played only 621
Don't fool myself, and keep on studying Done

Actually as I study more and more, I realize that there are a lots of things I don't know. The book I am reading at the moment categorized me as a TAGfish. I literally get a bit scared and stepped back to NL5. That's the first reason I did not complete my goal.

The other reason is that i went on tilt during warm-ups, so I stopped my session on NL2. I had incredible ammount of coolers. Not KK vs. AA type of coolers, but AKo vs. 42s pre AI for 100bb. (I was surprised, when I found out that 42s has nearly 40 percent of equity here, when I don't have a blocker for his flush.)

       Equity     Win     Tie
MP2    38.97%  38.71%   0.26% { 4♥:2♥: }
MP3    61.03%  60.76%   0.26% { A♠:K♣: }

Tilt

Tilt is a strange topic for me. I have never experienced it on NL10 (of course I haven't, as you saw before, I ran incredibly good), but on NL2 and NL5 I tilted a lot. I worked more this week, than I used to and I was more tired when I played. Quality should be the number one priority, instead of quantity, so I will focus on this more.

EV line

After I was categorized as a TAGfish, I checked my previous results and I realized that my EV line is break even on NL5 in the last 70k hand and I am 16BIs above it. Should it be even on a bigger sample? Or this is because I got lucky a lot when I was on tilt? For example, everyone ran into AA with kings sometimes in long term, so the EV line and net won should be really close. However if I am on tilt and I got it in pre with K4s against AK, and I hit runner runner flush (yeah, it happened, shame on me...) I will be above EV, but I won't do it a lot, so in theory it won't even out in long term. What's your opinion on this? Am I right in theory?

I post it, just to remember myself not to do stupid things next time. (Do NOT try this at home!)
PartyGaming - $0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 252.6 BB
UTG: 97.2 BB
CO: 135.2 BB
BTN: 113.2 BB
Hero (SB): 101.4 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has K♠ 4♠

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, BB raises to 9 BB, Hero raises to 24 BB, BB raises to 252.6 BB, Hero calls 77.4 BB

Flop: (202.8 BB, 2 players) Q♣ 8♣ 3♠

Turn: (202.8 BB, 2 players) 6♠

River: (202.8 BB, 2 players) 5♠

Since October, I only played NL2 on PartyPoker, but this week I played on NL5 as well. For those who don't play there, HUD is not allowed. I faced a lot of 3bets, but I felt like I am walking in a room blondfolded, they always pushing me side to side, but I can't fight back, because I can't see anything. I am not sure I should work on my game without HUD or just avoid rooms where HUDs are forbidden.

Results

Interesting to see your thinking - I'm sure if you keep thinking and putting effort in, results will come!
It's all about the long term!

Good luck and will follow this one!

Originally posted by LahtiPelican
EV line

After I was categorized as a TAGfish, I checked my previous results and I realized that my EV line is break even on NL5 in the last 70k hand and I am 16BIs above it. Should it be even on a bigger sample? Or this is because I got lucky a lot when I was on tilt? For example, everyone ran into AA with kings sometimes in long term, so the EV line and net won should be really close. However if I am on tilt and I got it in pre with K4s against AK, and I hit runner runner flush (yeah, it happened, shame on me...) I will be above EV, but I won't do it a lot, so in theory it won't even out in long term. What's your opinion on this? Am I right in theory?

EV line is tricky.
If you don't go all-in much, it will track very close to showdown winnings.
But if you win AA vs AK for example -- it will show that you won more than EV by a small margin, since your Equity is 91% and you win 100%
So being above EV could mean that you are getting it in good.
If, on the other hand, you win a flip when you get it in with two overcards, you will also show your EV line above your showdown line.

So it is hard to analyze just from the line.

Cheers,
VS

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
EV line is tricky.
If you don't go all-in much, it will track very close to showdown winnings.
But if you win AA vs AK for example -- it will show that you won more than EV by a small margin, since your Equity is 91% and you win 100%
So being above EV could mean that you are getting it in good.
If, on the other hand, you win a flip when you get it in with two overcards, you will also show your EV line above your showdown line.

So it is hard to analyze just from the line.

Cheers,
VS

I am considering remove all-in adjusted statistics from my report. It can't tell how will I run later. It's just another thing negative players can complain about if they ran bad.

On my Monday my BR reached a new peak and broke the $400 milestone as well. However since than I did not run well, my sessions are rollercoasters. Just to see what I am talking about, here are the graphs of my last two sessions today:

On the other hand, it is always nice to see hands like this: (Villain is a 40/2/0 fish)

Pacific Poker - $0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 100 BB
CO: 86.2 BB
BTN: 107.8 BB
SB: 39 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 5♣ 5♦

fold, fold, SB calls 0.6 BB, Hero raises to 100 BB and is all-in, SB calls 38 BB and is all-in

Flop: (78 BB, 2 players) 2♦ 3♦ Q♣

Turn: (78 BB, 2 players) T♠

River: (78 BB, 2 players) J♣

The pre shove is maybe an overkill, but I saw him doing some crazy calls before.

Aaand the very next hand against the same opponent:

Pacific Poker - $0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (SB): 135.2 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 86.2 BB
CO: 107.8 BB
BTN: 40 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has Q♠ K♣

fold, fold, BTN calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 5 BB, fold, BTN calls 4 BB

Flop: (11 BB, 2 players) K♠ 9♠ J♠
Hero bets 7.6 BB, BTN calls 7.6 BB

Turn: (26.2 BB, 2 players) 7♣
Hero bets 28 BB, BTN calls 27.4 BB and is all-in

River: (81 BB, 2 players) 3♣

He must be in love with 97

Another 37/24/0 fish from the same session:

Note: he has a big stack because he stacked me a few minutes before, so I wanted to play my hand like I am steaming and I expected him to call me down lighter.

Pacific Poker - $0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (SB): 129.4 BB
BB: 158.8 BB
CO: 126.6 BB
BTN: 66 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has K♥ K♠

fold, BTN calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 6 BB, BB calls 5 BB, fold

Flop: (13 BB, 2 players) 3♠ 2♠ 9♦
Hero bets 9.6 BB, BB calls 9.6 BB

Turn: (32.2 BB, 2 players) 6♠
Hero bets 24 BB, BB calls 24 BB

River: (80.2 BB, 2 players) 9♠
Hero bets 89.8 BB and is all-in, BB calls 89.8 BB

Not sure if it is the right line, but it worked this time.

All in all I only lost $0,08 today

Originally posted by LahtiPelican

On the other hand, it is always nice to see hands like this: (Villain is a 40/2/0 fish)

Pacific Poker - $0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 100 BB
CO: 86.2 BB
BTN: 107.8 BB
SB: 39 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 5♣ 5♦

fold, fold, SB calls 0.6 BB, Hero raises to 100 BB and is all-in, SB calls 38 BB and is all-in

Flop: (78 BB, 2 players) 2♦ 3♦ Q♣

Turn: (78 BB, 2 players) T♠

River: (78 BB, 2 players) J♣

Spoiler

Hero shows 5♣ 5♦ (One Pair, Fives)
(Pre 52%, Flop 73%, Turn 86%)
SB shows 9♣ 7♦ (High Card, Queen)
(Pre 48%, Flop 27%, Turn 14%)
Hero wins 74.2 BB

The pre shove is maybe an overkill, but I saw him doing some crazy calls before.

Just reviewed my hand with Equilab. Difficult to put him on a range, but if I put the top 40% into equilab and remove the top 10%, it looks somtehing like this:

       Equity     Win     Tie
MP3    47.14%  46.63%   0.51% { TT-44, ATs-A2s, KTs-K2s, QTs-Q4s, J7s+, T7s+, 97s+, 87s, ATo-A3o, KTo-K7o, QTo-Q8o, J8o+, T8o+ }
CO     52.86%  52.35%   0.51% { 55 }

It is coinflip after all, so I should've only isoraise in position and cbet most of the flops.

I worked on my ranges today morning. I started to develop my flatting and 3betting ranges from scratch.

Try the ranges on NL2 they said, it will be fun they said...

In the last 13k hands my average winrate dropped from 11 to 1,4 on NL2.

I am confused, not sure what I want on NL5 and NL10 If Ican't even beat NL2...

If you want post your ranges here to dicuss them...

Originally posted by Talisker74
If you want post your ranges here to dicuss them...

That's a good idea, so prepare for some hardcore Paint skills!

My ranges are based on a book about Modern Small Stakes and my previous experiences.

Note: If I want to tighten my ranges because there is an agressive reg on my left, I skip red lined hands.

Notes:
Blue is flat, except BTNvsCO, SBvsCO/BTN and BBvsSB, where I play 3bet or fold against regulars.
Yellow means I flat against UTG open and 3B against MP open
Green line means I flat against weaker players

Against weaker players I defend my BB according to confidant91's Top Guns of No-limit course:

These ranges are based on w34z4l's walkthrough series, so maybe they are a bit outdated.

Notes:
Light blue: call
Dark blue: 75% call/25% fold, except UTG OP, where it is 50-50
Red line: 4B for value
Green line: option for a light 4B

I say option, because I 4B light only against villains with 10+ 3B stat, so most of the time I 4B for value. First modification should be mix in some calling vs 3Bs with my monsters IP, I think.

Originally posted by LahtiPelican

Originally posted by LahtiPelican

On the other hand, it is always nice to see hands like this: (Villain is a 40/2/0 fish)

The pre shove is maybe an overkill, but I saw him doing some crazy calls before.

(reply to https://forums.pokerstrategy.com/forum/thread.php?postid=3213928#post3213928)
Just reviewed my hand with Equilab. Difficult to put him on a range, but if I put the top 40% into equilab and remove the top 10%, it looks somtehing like this:
It is coinflip after all, so I should've only isoraise in position and cbet most of the flops.

vs a 40 BB stack, I can do this also.
There's no point in playing post flop, since you have no fold equity left once he calls a raise.
I don't do this usually with such small pairs -- 88+ for me.
Even higher if I think that the short stack is a professional short-stacker (pretty rare these days!)

All the best,
VS

Do you remember I complained about my morning session?

That was my best session today! (Around the red arrow) 20% of my roll gone in one day, but stay positive! Let's see the records I broke today:
Worst session in $ lost
Worst session in bbs (yes, it counts, because it was an other one...)
Worst day in $ lost
Worst Worst day in bbs lost
Biggest amount of coolers I could take without tilting (okay, I gave away on stack) They stacked me 20 times today, but I could double up only 3 times...

I think I'll take a few days out...

Originally posted by LahtiPelican

Let's start with RFI ranges

Note: If I want to tighten my ranges because there is an agressive reg on my left, I skip red lined hands.

[Disclaimer: I'm a novice with less than 4000 hands in NL 6-max played, so take it for what it's worth]
I think your RFI ranges are good with a couple notes:
:club:UTG and MP, I'd drop a few of the lowest pairs.
:club:CO and BTN red line hands would be very situational.

I'm not competent enough to offer advice on your other ranges.

Originally posted by LahtiPelican
I think I'll take a few days out...

Good luck - hope the break allows you to reset.

Before you play again, try to look at it as an opportunity to go back and review your sessions with fresh eyes. You'll either find it was truly bad beats and gain confidence in your game, or (more likely) you'll find little areas where you can improve your game.

Almost every time I had a big downswing (and I've had a few), I took this approach and came back a better player than I was before.

The last one puzzles me:
BB Open IP
BB never opens -- just raises or calls a raise -- or does this mean BB raise over limpers?

Originally posted by Ramble

[Disclaimer: I'm a novice with less than 4000 hands in NL 6-max played, so take it for what it's worth]
I think your RFI ranges are good with a couple notes:
:club:UTG and MP, I'd drop a few of the lowest pairs.

You're right, you can drop 44-22 especially on NL2 and NL5 where the rake is higher. Let's see how i ran with them in the last 541.496 hand (NL2-NL16):

From EP:

From MP:

Originally posted by Ramble
Before you play again, try to look at it as an opportunity to go back and review your sessions with fresh eyes. You'll either find it was truly bad beats and gain confidence in your game, or (more likely) you'll find little areas where you can improve your game.

Almost every time I had a big downswing (and I've had a few), I took this approach and came back a better player than I was before.

Thank you for the advice! I will do it after work. At the moment I have an offer from a private cash game study group, I am considering to join them.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
The last one puzzles me:
BB Open IP
BB never opens -- just raises or calls a raise -- or does this mean BB raise over limpers?

Exactly, BB raise over limpers is the perfect term, but it is too long I have a weaker player on my right almost on every table (I want to discuss table selection in another post later) and they often open limps SB. That's why I have BB open IP and OOP ranges as well.