[Bankroll Challenge] Return after Black Friday

Nice start for the month:

Not the desired volume, but managed to play some small profitable sessions. Trying to increase NL5 volume, but is hard to have pool.

NL5:
1763 hands
62.95bb/100 (EV: 39.01)
Profit: 55.49€

NL2:
1965 hands
30.33bb/100 (EV: 30.87)
Profit: 11.92€

Running over EV in NL5. I have identified some players that like to shove pre-flop with a large range and I sometimes call them with small edge, that's what's causing that deviation. 60% favorite means 40% is deducted from EV. Ofcourse it also happened that I hit my 2 outs against made sets, but overall the deviation is not scaring me.

The red line is associated with the possibility to steal simple pots in NL5, something thast doesn't happen in NL2.
Overall, I'm confortable playing NL5 and not rushing to move to NL10, as my #hands in NL5 is quite small.
I keep some NL2 sessions, mainly because of leaderbords and bonus unlock. The pool in NL2 is more stable, with around 50 players almost constantly and I have a lot of them identified and with notes on how to explore them, so it'd be a waste of previous work to leave them alone, while I can "farm them".
Now it is starting to make sense to watch more videos on different strategies and integrate some moves on my game, but gradually as results can misslead on the correct integration.

Looking forward to keep these results.

Current bankroll: 301.62€ (bonus included).

GL at the tables

Almost all day with no pool on NL5, so I extended my NL2 game.

NL5:
466 hands
20.39bb/100 (EV: 22.79)
Profit: 4.75€

NL2:
1131 hands
17.68bb/100 (EV: 3.36)
Profit: 4.00€

Wasn't easy to recover from -3BI NL5, but a couple of rockets holding made the trick. Following hand also helped (and boosts confidence).

PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB 18/14/2
SB: 94.6 BB
BB: 107.2 BB
UTG: 36.6 BB
Hero (MP): 100 BB
CO: 113.2 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 4♥ 4♣

UTG calls 1 BB, Hero calls 1 BB, CO calls 1 BB, BTN raises to 6.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 5.4 BB, fold

Flop: (16.2 BB, 2 players) 7♠ T♠ 2♥
Hero checks, BTN bets 7.8 BB, Hero calls 7.8 BB

Turn: (31.8 BB, 2 players) 3♦
Hero checks, BTN bets 15.2 BB, Hero calls 15.2 BB

River: (62.2 BB, 2 players) 9♥
Hero checks, BTN bets 44.2 BB, Hero calls 44.2 BB

Bankroll: 310.37€ (Bonus included)

GL at the tables.

Imagine this an entire session:

PokerStars - €0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 157 BB
Hero (BB): 161.5 BB
UTG: 154.5 BB
MP: 59.5 BB
CO: 195 BB
BTN: 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A♣ K♠

fold, fold, fold, fold, SB raises to 2 BB, Hero raises to 8 BB, SB calls 6 BB

Flop: (16 BB, 2 players) 5♦ 9♣ K♥
SB checks, Hero bets 8.5 BB, SB raises to 24.5 BB, Hero calls 16 BB

Turn: (65 BB, 2 players) 9♥
SB bets 31 BB, Hero calls 31 BB

River: (127 BB, 2 players) 3♥
SB bets 60.5 BB, Hero raises to 98 BB and is all-in, SB calls 33 BB and is all-in

__________________________________________________________________________________

PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 146.4 BB
BB: 141.2 BB
UTG: 233.8 BB
Hero (MP): 154.2 BB
CO: 107.4 BB
BTN: 141.8 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 3 BB, UTG calls 3 BB

Flop: (12.4 BB, 3 players) 8♠ 3♠ 9♥
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets 8.8 BB, BB calls 8.8 BB, UTG calls 8.8 BB

Turn: (38.8 BB, 3 players) T♦
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets 12.8 BB, BB raises to 25.6 BB, UTG calls 25.6 BB, Hero calls 12.8 BB

River: (115.6 BB, 3 players) 8♦
BB bets 102.8 BB and is all-in, fold, fold

__________________________________________________________________________________

PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 189.8 BB
SB: 197.6 BB
Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 94.6 BB
MP: 39 BB
CO: 277.8 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 7♦ 5♦

fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, BTN calls 1 BB, fold, Hero checks

Flop: (3.4 BB, 3 players) 5♥ 7♣ K♦
Hero bets 1.8 BB, fold, BTN calls 1.8 BB

Turn: (7 BB, 2 players) A♠
Hero bets 3.6 BB, BTN raises to 12.6 BB, Hero calls 9 BB

River: (32.2 BB, 2 players) A♥
Hero checks, BTN bets 30.6 BB, fold

__________________________________________________________________________________

PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 150.6 BB
BTN: 215.2 BB
Hero (SB): 107 BB
BB: 86.4 BB
UTG: 51 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3.4 BB, BB calls 2.4 BB

Flop: (6.8 BB, 2 players) 7♣ 2♦ 2♠
Hero bets 3.6 BB, BB calls 3.6 BB

Turn: (14 BB, 2 players) T♥
Hero bets 7.2 BB, BB calls 7.2 BB

River: (28.4 BB, 2 players) A♣
Hero bets 9.4 BB, BB raises to 18.8 BB, Hero calls 9.4 BB

Well, that's why I have a very conservative bankroll. Let's hope tomorrow their stupid plays pay for me.

No mood for stats today.

Bankroll: 305.99€ (bonus included)

GL @ the tables

Just passed to post the hand and the graph for the milestone of 75BI grinded in NL2, 21.99 bb/100.

If you run for long enough, eventually your draw will hit. But eventually, your draw is just dead

PokerStars - €0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 94.5 BB
UTG: 107 BB
MP: 82 BB
CO: 440 BB
Hero (BTN): 100 BB
SB: 162 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q♠ 9♦

fold, MP calls 1 BB, CO calls 1 BB, Hero calls 1 BB, SB calls 0.5 BB, BB checks

Flop: (5 BB, 5 players) T♠ 9♥ Q♥
SB checks, BB checks, MP bets 1 BB, fold, Hero raises to 5 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 4 BB

Turn: (15 BB, 2 players) 9♠
MP checks, Hero bets 7.5 BB, MP calls 7.5 BB

River: (30 BB, 2 players) J♠
MP bets 28.5 BB, Hero raises to 86.5 BB and is all-in, MP calls 40 BB and is all-in

Originally posted by yangmartins

If you run for long enough, eventually your draw will hit. But eventually, your draw is just dead

Hero shows Q♠ 9♦ (Full House, Nines full of Queens)
(Pre 42%, Flop 78%, Turn 100%)
MP shows 6♥ K♦ (Straight, King High)
(Pre 58%, Flop 22%, Turn 0%)
Hero wins 158.5 BB

When I saw that you had the underfull, I was so worried that opponent would have pocket Queens!
Nice hand

Been through worst and survived. Didn't even allow me to fold PF. (This one is not so recent)

PokerStars - €0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 2 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 80 BB
Hero (BB): 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q♦ 5♣

SB calls 0.5 BB, Hero checks

Flop: (2 BB, 2 players) 5♥ 7♥ Q♥
Hero bets 2 BB, SB calls 2 BB

Turn: (6 BB, 2 players) J♣
Hero bets 4 BB, SB calls 4 BB

River: (14 BB, 2 players) Q♣
Hero bets 12.5 BB, SB raises to 40 BB, Hero raises to 67.5 BB, SB raises to 73 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 5.5 BB

Originally posted by yangmartins
Been through worst and survived. Didn't even allow me to fold PF. (This one is not so recent)
SB shows 7♠ Q♠ (Full House, Queens full of Sevens)
(Pre 65%, Flop 88%, Turn 92%)
Hero shows Q♦ 5♣ (Full House, Queens full of Fives)
(Pre 35%, Flop 12%, Turn 8%)
SB wins 152 BB

Yikes! What a setup!
It took me a minute to figure out why you weren't allowed to fold — now I understand.

Say I am not good hitting sets

PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 77 BB
CO: 138 BB
BTN: 123.6 BB
Hero (SB): 122.8 BB
BB: 80 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 8♠ 8♥

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, UTG calls 2 BB

Flop: (7 BB, 2 players) 7♥ 9♣ Q♥
Hero bets 2.4 BB, UTG calls 2.4 BB

Turn: (11.8 BB, 2 players) 8♦
Hero bets 6.2 BB, UTG calls 6.2 BB

River: (24.2 BB, 2 players) 6♥
Hero checks, UTG bets 23 BB, fold

Say it again!
Ok, this one may be good the board got shitty

PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 18.8 BB
SB: 159.4 BB
BB: 109.4 BB
Hero (UTG): 111.4 BB
MP: 39 BB
CO: 114 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 3.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 2.4 BB

Flop: (7.2 BB, 2 players) T♣ 9♣ Q♥
BB checks, Hero bets 5 BB, BB calls 5 BB

Turn: (17.2 BB, 2 players) J♦
BB checks, Hero checks

River: (17.2 BB, 2 players) K♠
BB checks, Hero checks

Some different hands, or usual hands but played differently.

#1 - AKo on blinds battle
PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 97.2 BB
BTN: 141 BB
SB: 159.2 BB - 463h, 26/21/3 AS: 40

Hero (BB): 106.2 BB
UTG: 83.2 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, fold, SB raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 8 BB, SB raises to 22 BB, Hero calls 14 BB
I am pretty sure AK is ahead even most range of 4bet.
I think if I shove here, he will fold all his bluffs and call me with 77+. I want to keep AJ, AQ and other hands involved.
Also, my call widens the range I represent. Not only AT+, but some SC and pockets.

Flop: (44 BB, 2 players) 2♠ 4♦ 6♣
SB checks, Hero bets 23 BB, SB raises to 91 BB, Hero calls 61.2 BB and is all-in
Given the flop is low, there is no reason for him not to CBet. He doesn't need to be afraid of my bottom range and my upper range also missed.
While his CBet may be for value, his check/raise is bluff, imo. Trying to take me off some pocket pairs.
I had decided with the PF action that unless a J or Q hit on flop, I would be play this for stack, so here we go!!!

Turn: (212.4 BB, 2 players) 2♥

River: (212.4 BB, 2 players) J♣

#2 AA multiway on messy board
PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (MP): 128.6 BB
CO: 100 BB
BTN: 127.8 BB
SB: 104.6 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 134.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has A♣ A♥

UTG calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 3.4 BB, fold, BTN calls 3.4 BB, fold, BB calls 2.4 BB, UTG calls 2.4 BB
Pretty standard until here. I know most would argue for a bigger open raise.

Flop: (14 BB, 4 players) 8♣ J♠ T♥
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets 10.6 BB, fold, fold, UTG calls 10.6 BB
I am far from loving this flop. Some JT with 2 pairs, T9, KT, KQ with OESD.
I need to protect this hand and try to know if I am still ahead. Thus, 80% Cbet. Less bad, it got me to HU, but against a villain I have no info on.

Turn: (35.2 BB, 2 players) J♥
UTG checks, Hero checks
I really am getting every card I want. Now, any TP on the flop beats me.
Is hard to place a bet that extract, protect and I am not already behind if called.
At this point, I decided I would check turn to call a light bet on river.

River: (35.2 BB, 2 players) K♠
UTG bets 16 BB, Hero calls 16 BB
I think the hand was decided on the turn.
I am not ahead often enough if I get check/called and more certainly not if check/raised on turn, but by checking, I can "conquer" some equity by inducing his bluffs.
The K even helps increasing the range villain would bet and I'd win (KQ, KT, ...).
As decided, call!

Some recent hands I am proud of:

#1
2 mins before I trashed a valuable hand to same villain in different table.
Noticed his CBet size there had been pot. Here, with 1/2 pot i decided to float.
OTT, if he really had something, he would go for max 20BBs, according to his bet OTF, so I placed him in the exact hand he shown.
PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 69.4 BB
SB: 202.4 BB
Hero (BB): 137.4 BB
UTG: 14.6 BB
MP: 58 BB
CO: 126.6 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG calls 1 BB, MP calls 1 BB, CO calls 1 BB, BTN raises to 3 BB, fold, Hero calls 2 BB, UTG calls 2 BB, MP calls 2 BB, CO calls 2 BB

Flop: (15.4 BB, 5 players) 2♦ 5♠ 2♠
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP checks, CO checks, BTN bets 9 BB, Hero calls 9 BB, fold, fold, fold

Turn: (33.4 BB, 2 players) 7♥
Hero checks, BTN bets 57.4 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 57.4 BB

River: (148.2 BB, 2 players) 3♥

#2
I don't usually float with low pocket pairs on boards with A, even less with A and other T+ cards. In this case, I thought the board to be quite messy for him to bet 1/3 for protection and decided to float and see what villain would do OTT.
Turn bricked and he check/called. I think at this point we can take AK, AQ, AJ, AT, KQ out of his range and leave him with some KJ, QJ, maybe some AX:club:combo draw he played more passively, but mostly 88, 99. Also, he looks like he can be also playing me.
River, another brick and his bet is like buying a cheap SD, because he doesn't have hand good enough to allow me to control SD price. SO, let's turn on the aggro in me and confirm if my reads were correct or not.
PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 98.6 BB
BB: 157.2 BB 862h, 30/12/3

Hero (UTG): 102 BB
MP: 71.2 BB
CO: 115.8 BB
BTN: 116.2 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero calls 1 BB, MP calls 1 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 0.6 BB, BB raises to 7 BB, Hero calls 6 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (16 BB, 2 players) A♠ J♣ T♣
BB bets 5 BB, Hero calls 5 BB

Turn: (26 BB, 2 players) 7♥
BB checks, Hero bets 13.6 BB, BB calls 13.6 BB

River: (53.2 BB, 2 players) 2♠
BB bets 5 BB, Hero raises to 26.2 BB, fold

These are hands I did not attempt in NL2. But I am starting to introduce in NL5. The field is much smaller and it works better for the following reasons:
1- I get more familiar with villain betting patterns
2- Less random range in villains in NL5 than in NL2
3- If anyone uses HUD, or pays attention to the table, I am perceived as tight (26/16/2). This kind of hands, even if my percetpions are wrong could make me have a slightly less tight image at the table.

Current NL5 progress

Short to 10k hands. 15bb/100. Going on track, I'd say.

Current bankroll 361.xx€ (bonus included)

GL at the tables

Just a little over 50k hands on this challenge.

It may be time to ask for help in looking at my stats.

Overall stats:

NL2 stats:

NL5 stats:

Things are going good, but I want to keep them that way, or better.

Thank you for your time and oppinions.

GL @ the tables

So, let's say you open raise BU.
I 3bet your 2BB raise to 6BB from the BB.

70% of the time you fold (100% minus call 3bet and do 4bet) = I risk additional 5 to win your 2,SB and my BB.
I think it is pretty profitable for me doing that!

Originally posted by SvenBe
So, let's say you open raise BU.
I 3bet your 2BB raise to 6BB from the BB.

70% of the time you fold (100% minus call 3bet and do 4bet) = I risk additional 5 to win your 2,SB and my BB.
I think it is pretty profitable for me doing that!

Ok, following...
That specific sequence represents 14% of my BTN play. Although I think that specific 3bet size from BB falls in my 3bet call and stats are not filtered to specific sequence (all others folded), I can see money going away with that.

When I get to the pc I will try to check that specific pattern stats and some example hands, but in the meantime, the 3 options I see are:
1-play more tight on btn
2-call BB/SB 3bet more often
3- 4bet BB/SB more often
Do the stats highlight the correct answer? At glance, my 4bet and 4bet+ ratio is on the low side, but since I open a little wider from BTN, most of the hands don't really have value. Would low suited A, K, SC, T+T+o, be good for a 4bet in such spots?

Ty a lot.

Uff, now I am in trouble. I asked a question but did not prepare an answer. In my eyes this is a situation where you need to take into account the other player - does he try to exploit or is he ABC. The answer then really depends.
Vs unknown I assume ABC, but if everyone assumes that.... I can just recommend MartaiMrko's vidoes: https://www.pokerstrategy.com/video/?query=MartaiMrko - they give some insights into this topic of autoprofit and how to exploit population tendencies.
Looking at your stats you seem to make a good job!

So, I applied this filter:

And the result is as follows:

I open a lot from BTN when first in (1). As can be seen, almost all the hands I open, I don't feel confortable 4betting (2), but 30% of them I call (2).

(1) Most of the micro-stakes players are either very loose, or very nit.
I open almost anything against the nits and a lot less against loosers. If calling stations, I can even limp first in @BTN and play fit/fold. If average LAGs, I open hands with some playability (high suiteds, SC, ...). Against players with my stats, I like SC, 56+ connectors, suited As and Ks with at least a midrange card, but mostly hands they won't call or raise me with same range, basically to not be playing a kicker guessing game, I play hands that either me or them hit, but hardly both.

(2) Playing @BTN means I will play post-flop IP, so I don't usually 4bet, even with top of my range, because I think they will make more mistakes on following streets, than if I "allow them" to fold PF. I may excessively trust my post flop game vs theirs (should access this).

(3) Pretty much as said in (2). I think if I reduce my 45% Steal range to 15% (the 30% of those I keep playing with) it'd be leaving $ on the table.

If I get 3betted often, I try to adjust and get tighter, but overall, in micro, it doesn't happen much.

Nonetheless, I will study this dynamic, as I think some bluffs can be added to my 4bet range. Thing is, if I add 4bet bluffs, I have to balance with 4bet value and I am not dealt that kind of hands often enough to balance.

Ty a lot for making me take a look at this dynamic. Looking forward to more ideas.

I love it when they play "my game" against me.

I confess, I find some comfort Flop CBeting 1/3pot and usually 1/2 Turn. This works for me, but everyone else has to find his game.

BUT in some boards, a 1/3 Flop Cbet is weaker than a check. If flop is drawy and you cbet 1/3, I am coming after you. You either bet 3/4, or check (that's how you beat me, but I doubt someone reading this plays in my tables).

This hands were very satisfying:

PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 43.8 BB
UTG: 100 BB
CO: 34.6 BB
BTN: 64 BB: 158h, 33/12/3, 50% fold to 3bet
Hero (SB): 100 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 8♠ 8♥

fold, fold, BTN raises to 3 BB, Hero calls 2.6 BB, fold
I don't love playing 88 OOP, but also don't love it to 3bet BTN steal as I often will only be playing same hand, in same position, with higher pot. This is the reality on NL5. People know blinds are supposed to start deffending a little wider and start to also call a little lighter.
I like to take my low and medium pocket pairs to "play the opponent".

Flop: (7 BB, 2 players) 9♠ 6♦ 7♥
Hero checks, BTN bets 2 BB, Hero raises to 10 BB, BTN calls 8 BB
A good flop for me, with OESD. Less good is that it also falls into a lot of BTN steal range.
Notice the betsize. In such a board, if you have anything that beats me (9X, overpair...) you need to protect it and that's not by betting 2/7.
I have good enough of a hand, at least compared to what he could bet 2/7 to raise him and my check/raise looks way more protective than if I donk betted.

Turn: (27 BB, 2 players) 4♦
Hero bets 12 BB, BTN calls 12 BB
This changes things way less than it looks, as I am blocking 8s for the 5s (ok, I am not ranging villain in 53). This can even get me calls from A5/K5.
As this doesn't interact as much with the board as it seems, I think I don't need to go again for 3/4 and go with little below 1/2, as saying "this went from protection to value". If I had str8 or set, that's what I'd bet for value.

River: (51 BB, 2 players) J♣
Hero bets 17 BB, fold
I don't love the river and here comes the decision, bet it, or give the pot away "easily".
What's the best hand there? T8! The exact hand I have been repping from the start (T8/98) and I know it is very unlikely villain has it AND is very unlikely villain excludes T8s from my range, as well as 98, since I know one thing he doesn't "where 2 of the 8s are".
From the beggining I've been playing as if I hold an 8 (easy when we hold 2), so I think I have some extra FE. Probably more FE than equity and decided to turn my hand into a bluff.

Now check the flop play similarities with this one:
PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 38.6 BB
MP: 111.6 BB
CO: 93.8 BB
BTN: 119.4 BB: 400h, 21/17/2
SB: 91.4 BB
Hero (BB): 133.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 4♥ 4♣

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.4 BB, fold, Hero calls 1.4 BB

Flop: (5.2 BB, 2 players) Q♦ A♠ K♦
Hero checks, BTN bets 1.6 BB, Hero raises to 6.2 BB, BTN calls 4.6 BB
"High Flop, drawy and you're trying to convince me you are protecting it with 1/3?"
K or Q wouldnt bet with an A on the board.
A wouldn't protect with 1/3 betsize.
All his comfort range is excluded by his bet. If he is out of comfort zone, let's put pressure.

Turn: (17.6 BB, 2 players) 8♥
Hero bets 9.2 BB, BTN calls 9.2 BB

River: (36 BB, 2 players) 7♠
Hero bets 15 BB, fold

What do you think about these flop analysis and further play?

Originally posted by yangmartins

PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 43.8 BB
UTG: 100 BB
CO: 34.6 BB
BTN: 64 BB: 158h, 33/12/3, 50% fold to 3bet
Hero (SB): 100 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 8♠ 8♥
fold, fold, BTN raises to 3 BB, Hero calls 2.6 BB, fold
you should really 3bet or fold the SB. when you flat, you open up a big opportunity for the BB to come along or to squeeze and make you fold a lot.

Flop: (7 BB, 2 players) 9♠ 6♦ 7♥
Hero checks, BTN bets 2 BB, Hero raises to 10 BB, BTN calls 8 BB
i agree w your analysis, but i still would flat here, due to the showdown value of your hand. you beat all bluffs and have a lot of equity versus better hands. so play a smaller pot w your holding until you improve. that said, i like a raise w a K8s type of hand.

Turn: (27 BB, 2 players) 4♦
Hero bets 12 BB, BTN calls 12 BB

bigger.

River: (51 BB, 2 players) J♣
Hero bets 17 BB, fold

jam.

Now check the flop play similarities with this one:
PokerStars - €0.05 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 38.6 BB
MP: 111.6 BB
CO: 93.8 BB
BTN: 119.4 BB: 400h, 21/17/2
SB: 91.4 BB
Hero (BB): 133.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 4♥ 4♣

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.4 BB, fold, Hero calls 1.4 BB

Flop: (5.2 BB, 2 players) Q♦ A♠ K♦
Hero checks, BTN bets 1.6 BB, Hero raises to 6.2 BB, BTN calls 4.6 BB

good thought process, but bad execution. think about your range, if you raise here w 44, you raise here w all your range. that is fancy play. you can higher the frequency though. you do that naturally, by using blockers. so raise your J♠ 8♠ here. or even your T♥ 4♥, if you feel adventurous.

Turn: (17.6 BB, 2 players) 8♥
Hero bets 9.2 BB, BTN calls 9.2 BB

River: (36 BB, 2 players) 7♠
Hero bets 15 BB, fold

and when you do that, just empty the clip. bet bigger on each street.

I don't really like making it bigger. Main reason is that I often bet for value, so if I suddenly bet bigger withe these hands, I may give away that I am not value batting. (Check the 1st hand here Shove gave his hand away)

This hands are a way to "recycle" my medium to low pocket pairs. In NL5 I don't see much a need to play high suiteds (K4, J6, ...) so I hardly will be in situations to make those moves with such hands, but agree with you.

Now, more specific...
88 hand, I don't 3bet, also because BB is a little loose. He calls very wide, regardless of raised or 3betted pot. I decided to play flop also because of him. Gladly, he folded pre and left me in a less complicated situation.
44 hand, If I was there with any sort of J9, J8 kind of hand, I'd do the same, yes.

In both hands, I forgot what I was holding (except for the 88, I considered I was holding 2 blockers) and played the opponent and the range he capped by betting 1/3 in such boards. That's why I "am proud" of these hands, as the standard play would be to trash them, if played PF as I did. In the end I think this opens a playability for mid/low pocket pairs, outside set-mining and the value "conquered" by this moves "will pay" for the next set-mining, putting this kind of hands in a sustainable loop when I don't hit.

It is not definitive, but I am donking @ NL10. Mainly to try complete a €20 rakeback vault.

When I say I am donking, I really am donking, I'm actually running over EV.

Looks like I can only play after I am 2 BI down. Not worried, so far, as I am getting intel on villains and starting to tag them.

Month results soon...

GL @ the tables

November is not finished, but as I finished the 2nd rakeback vault challenge I think I will take the next days off from the tables (maybe I take it to study a little more, watch some videos, write a couple of things here that I'm procrastinating... we'll see).
After a good return in October, I was looking forward to see how I'd do in November.

I continued playing some NL2 tables.

But jumping in NL5 whenever there was sufficient pool for 4 tables. Is not easy to have 4 tables in NL5 currently in PS.pt

Reaching the end of the month, I decided I would try to unlock 250points for the 2nd €20 vault, but that was not going to happen by playing NL2 and NL5 and since I had bankroll (I was over €400), I decided to introduce some NL10 sessions.

I really am enjoying NL10. Not only it has a more stable pool to play 4 tables, the players start to play some poker, instead of just cards.
I've made some (a lot) of mistakes in my first couple sessions, by trying to abruptly adjust my game to this new stake. That's something that has to come "naturally", I can't force it otherwise I end up lost in marginal spots. Good thing I recognized this fault.

The overall for the month:

The overall since the start (October 7th):

Bankroll: €518 (~€110 from bonus included)
Things are going good.

GL @ the tables