[Bankroll-Challenge] Learning NL BSS for the first time

Update for 21.02.2022

Since I only played the FastTable today, I can only estimate the number of hands at around 2,500.

There were hardly any exciting hands, only interesting suckouts of hands that I would never expect.

In general, I still see a lot of room for improvement in my OOP game, because I don't have any balance between pot control, value bets and bluff bets in cases where I don't flop very strong hands. Whereby the board development (draw-heavy on the flop and even worse on the turn) was often not very exhilarating.

Old bankroll: $93.00 *without bonuses
Change: + $43.77
FD bonus: + $20.00
New bankroll: $153.77

Daily update 22.02.2023

Since I cannot record the hands from the Fast Tables in any other way, I have started to enter the hands played in an Excel spreadsheet before leaving the table. I also only play 1 table at the moment, as the time available is limited and I want to play each hand thoughtfully. With interesting preflop developments, I also look at the rest of the hand after the fold.

It is noticeable that I sometimes still find it difficult to decide on the river OOP whether I rather play bet/fold or check/call when flush or straight draws have occurred on the river. In addition, I had some hands where I unnecessarily bet a C-bet OoP where I don't consider my follow-through equity to be that big due to the positions at the table (e.g. vs. UTG or MP in the 3-bet pot).

Likewise, I watched FallOut86's recent Fast-Fold videos today.

Hands played: 1150
Win/Loss: +$26.11
New Bankroll: $179.88

Originally posted by Berliner1982
Daily update 22.02.2023

Since I cannot record the hands from the Fast Tables in any other way, I have started to enter the hands played in an Excel spreadsheet before leaving the table. I also only play 1 table at the moment, as the time available is limited and I want to play each hand thoughtfully. With interesting preflop developments, I also look at the rest of the hand after the fold.

Most trackers can record fast-fold tables. What happens why you try?

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
Most trackers can record fast-fold tables. What happens why you try?

I play on BetOnline. I have not found a way yet to get the hands out of the hand history database. Regular tables work with Hand 2 note.

Update until 24.02.2023

Yesterday evening there was a longer session with two fast fold tables, where I played 80% well from my point of view. I still probably miss out value bets too often on the river. I also sometimes struggle in 3-bet pots OoP, especially when it's more of a 3-bet/fold hand preflop.

I'm looking forward to it when I have the bankroll of at least 30 stacks, as I will then also add Regular tables and post interesting or for me tricky situations hands here.

Unfortunately, I ran into AA preflop twice with KK at the very end of the session and lost.

Played hands since last update: 7 502
Win/Loss: +$5,53
New Bankroll: $185.41

Update until 26.02.2023
I had a very interesting emotional session today. It started well and I built up my bankroll to almost $200 with decent play.
I also got a lot of really good hands, but mostly there was AA only in the big blind and everyone folded.

Then the fun really started:
3x vs 3 Outer on the turn I got all in and lost - 1x deep.
4x with KK in AA of which 1x deep (all from CO First or later)
1x QQ in AA (BU vs SB)

I lost one stack through my own fault.
I did not 3-bet JJ vs UTG minraise (had 180 BB):
Flop J♦: K♦: 7♠: 1/2pot from UTG, I raise, third folds and UTG calls.
Turn T♦: UTG checks, I bet 2/3 pot 4 value, UTG minraises. I clearly get the odds to call.
River is a blank and UTG shoves and I call.

Conclusion: too weak preflop and too stupid on the river.

All in all a session to forget.

Played hands since the last update: 6 077
Win/Loss: -$66.14
New bankroll: $119.27

Tonight I played a few NL 10 regular tables instead of fast tables. Here are some interesting hands up for discussion:

Hand 1
ere I wonder if I should rather just call on the river raise or if the all-in is ok since only one hand beats me but QQ and TT still call here.

Hero: A♠:A♥: (CO)

PREFLOP
fold, fold, CO raises to 2,5 bb, fold, fold, BB raises to 6 bb, CO raises to 17,5 bb, BB calls

FLOP (Pot = 33,60 bb) 9♣:Q♠:T♦:
BB checks, CO bets 10,40 bb, BB calls

TURN (Pot = 53,20 bb) 9♥:
BB checks, CO checks

RIVER (Pot = 53,20 bb) A♦:
BB checks, CO raises 16,50 bb, BB raises to 51,40 bb, CO raises to 81,80 bb (All-In), BB calls

Hand 2
Hero: T♠:T♦: in UTG

UTG bets 2,5 bb, MP called, CO fold, BU called, SB raises to 13,50 bb, BB fold, UTG raises to 42,50 bb, MP fold, BB fold, SB call

FLOP (Pot = 86 bb) 5♣:T♣:8♠:
SB check, UTG bets 26,70 bb, SB fold

Background: SB played with everything possible before. I have seen him 3-bet cold calls with 32o, minraise/4-bet/call all-in with T6o, which is why I see myself ahead here against SB 3-betting and raise. But do I play it more passively on the flop with a top set?

Hand 3
Hero (BU): K♣:K♥:

Preflop (CO posted BB)
fold, MP raises to 3,50 bb, CO calls, BB raises to 14 bb, fold, fold, MP calls, CO folds

FLOP (Pot = 31,70 bb)
A♣:3♠:J♥:
MP checks, BB bets 9,80 bb, MP calls

TURN (Pot = 50,20 bb) T♦:
MP checks, BU checks

RIVER (Pot = 50,20 BB) J♠:
MP bets 33,50 bb, BU folds

I don't think I'll beat anything on the river, which he calls preflop against my 3-bet and bets so big on the river. On the turn I don't bet again because I see only better hands calling. KQ, Ax, JTs, TT have already beaten me and barely bet OoP on the river.

Update until 01.03.2023

Sometimes poker is just no fun. After it went down to $101 since my last update and I was able to play my way up to $139 through good play, it hailed again today with nice set-ups (within 500 hands). Preflop lost my QQ in BB vs KK in BU. Me with JTs in BU vs SB with A6o with the flopped flush K63 at 98% equity still lost to runner-runner As. And as well as lost with N-FD + TP vs 2 pair flop all-in.

I think I'll gladly accept donations.

New Bankroll: $86,63

Originally posted by Berliner1982
Tonight I played a few NL 10 regular tables instead of fast tables. Here are some interesting hands up for discussion:

Hand 1
ere I wonder if I should rather just call on the river raise or if the all-in is ok since only one hand beats me but QQ and TT still call here.

Hero: A♠:A♥: (CO)

PREFLOP
fold, fold, CO raises to 2,5 bb, fold, fold, BB raises to 6 bb, CO raises to 17,5 bb, BB calls

FLOP (Pot = 33,60 bb) 9♣:Q♠:T♦:
BB checks, CO bets 10,40 bb, BB calls

TURN (Pot = 53,20 bb) 9♥:
BB checks, CO checks

RIVER (Pot = 53,20 bb) A♦:
BB checks, CO raises 16,50 bb, BB raises to 51,40 bb, CO raises to 81,80 bb (All-In), BB calls

Spoiler

CO wins with 9♠:9♦:

That hand is... pretty sad. But not because you lost it.
You lost it two days too early.
Yesterday the jackpot rules changed to AAA22 as qualifying hand - you would have hit the Jackpot and cashed ~1k :-(

If you have s**t on you feet, you have *s**t on your feet. It is, what it is. I will keep going.

Short Update

Current Bankroll: $111,24

Short update
As I have other things to do at work and in my private life, I was only able to play very little. Through solid play it went up to $140, through a few set-ups and then also due to 1x very bad call (big bets = very strong hands on NL10 and BetOnline) my bankroll has fallen back to the current level.

Even though I can't invest that much time in poker at the moment, I will move away from the zoom tables for the time being and only play 2 tables the normal NL10 tables in the future, so that I can then go more into hand analysis.

Especially mentally I notice that I don't like the small number of stacks, which is why I'm still annoyed that I didn't switch to the regular tables after 2x $190. Well, you learn from such situations.

Current bankroll: $90.69

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Originally posted by Berliner1982
Short update
As I have other things to do at work and in my private life, I was only able to play very little.

I hate it when real life encroaches on my recreation.

Keep going Berliner. You got this!

After a long time of abstinence (I was not playing since my last post), I played a few couple hundred hands again and was able to increase my bankroll to $102.
I still enjoy the game and since the nights are getting longer and the weather coulder, I will play more again and hope, thats not only my Bankroll will grow again, but also my poker skills.

About 2k hands later, my bankroll reached $120.12 with simply beginners strategy.

About another 1k hands later we reached $124.65

Nice steady increase of you're bankroll the last couple of days and nice that you are back of you're poker break.

Thank you. I hope the directions will keep on going this way. Since my high was at around $190, twice. ♦