[Bankroll Challenge] Return after Black Friday

Originally posted by yangmartins
Don't look here if you still have any respect on my game

Spoiler

PokerStars - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 3 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 101.5 BB
BTN: 31.5 BB
SB: 106.8 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, SB raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 10 BB, SB calls 7 BB
Standard. Very polarized ranges on both sides.

Flop: (20 BB, 2 players) 6♥ 8♠ J♣
SB checks, Hero bets 6.3 BB, SB raises to 16.7 BB, Hero calls 10.4 BB
1 broadway card in 3bet pot, relatively dry flop, I will CBet near 100% frequency and often on this size.
Do I really need to drop it if I have nothing? Really, do I? What hands can have any interest in raising this flop?
Js are quite safe
8s want to reach SD
6s are stupid to raise
Sets ?!?

Well, let's see. Villain polarized himself more than I polarized myself and I am playing IP.

Turn: (53.4 BB, 2 players) 6♦
SB checks, Hero checks
Villain range went from polarized to capped, imo. There's absolutely no nutty hand, nor draw that won't bet this turn.

River: (53.4 BB, 2 players) 7♠
SB bets 25.4 BB, Hero raises to 74.8 BB and is all-in, fold
So, let me try to understand
You had a FH on the turn that waited for the 7 to hit, so you can extract from str8
You raised flop with a GS, trying to bluff me off the hand and didn't fire a second barrel [1]
You didn't bet a pair that you were so confident on the flop and just suddenly you bet it when it loses value
You didn't bet a 6 after you've raised me and it dubbled and are now trying to take the value back[2]

[1] My T blocks some T9 combos
[2] My A actually is a good suit, as it blocks half A6s

Bet 1/3 here, I'll believe is for value and that you are leaving space to be raised and call.
Bet 1/2 with that very capped range that you should not bet, but bluff catch with instead, and I'll do my best to punish you.

You are free to insult me, say this was absolutely wrong, but for me it was very interesting.

Seriously? This is just a really nice insight in your thinking process and even better you are acting accordingly! I would say "if you respect the game def look here!"

Originally posted by yangmartins
Don't look here if you still have any respect on my game

Spoiler

PokerStars - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 3 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 101.5 BB
BTN: 31.5 BB
SB: 106.8 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, SB raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 10 BB, SB calls 7 BB
Standard. Very polarized ranges on both sides.

Flop: (20 BB, 2 players) 6♥ 8♠ J♣
SB checks, Hero bets 6.3 BB, SB raises to 16.7 BB, Hero calls 10.4 BB
1 broadway card in 3bet pot, relatively dry flop, I will CBet near 100% frequency and often on this size.
Do I really need to drop it if I have nothing? Really, do I? What hands can have any interest in raising this flop?
Js are quite safe
8s want to reach SD
6s are stupid to raise
Sets ?!?

Well, let's see. Villain polarized himself more than I polarized myself and I am playing IP.

Turn: (53.4 BB, 2 players) 6♦
SB checks, Hero checks
Villain range went from polarized to capped, imo. There's absolutely no nutty hand, nor draw that won't bet this turn.

River: (53.4 BB, 2 players) 7♠
SB bets 25.4 BB, Hero raises to 74.8 BB and is all-in, fold
So, let me try to understand
You had a FH on the turn that waited for the 7 to hit, so you can extract from str8
You raised flop with a GS, trying to bluff me off the hand and didn't fire a second barrel [1]
You didn't bet a pair that you were so confident on the flop and just suddenly you bet it when it loses value
You didn't bet a 6 after you've raised me and it dubbled and are now trying to take the value back[2]

[1] My T blocks some T9 combos
[2] My A actually is a good suit, as it blocks half A6s

Bet 1/3 here, I'll believe is for value and that you are leaving space to be raised and call.
Bet 1/2 with that very capped range that you should not bet, but bluff catch with instead, and I'll do my best to punish you.

You are free to insult me, say this was absolutely wrong, but for me it was very interesting.

Your thinking is what is to be respected. You didn't do this blindly, if you opponent had called and showed you a f/h or something at least you went through the thought process, some of us might think there is a slight chance we can get our opponent to fold, we lack the reasoning as to why V would fold and end up just clicking and hoping, "oh please lord make him fold or I am going to tilt ballz"

Originally posted by yangmartins
Ty

The river overbets are something I am starting to see often. To an extent, I have some in my range as well (villain and board dependent).

As for popularity, let me put things this way...I am in Portugal, so outside zoom, I have a pool restricted to Portuguese players...there in NO FR table available, even if I would like to play FR (same occurs for FL, I used to enjoy FL "back in the days").

"Back in the days" when I started around 12 years ago I also played full ring, now on most of the platforms I only see that 6-max format (pokerstars seems to still have some 9 handed tables). In my case is good that I made the transition to tournaments.

Everything normal, until the river.
OTR, I honestly was thinking if I should or not raise, as BB has some passive tendencies.
If you are in some degree familiar to my game, you know how much I value blockers. So, not only I have the 2nd nuts, I block half, HALF the nut combos and there's an A. I have to raise it.
Aaaannnd the re-raise shove comes. Again, I block half the hands I can lose to. There's more set combos than str8 combos, not to consider 2 pair combos, when the A hits the river.
Believe if you want, I really almost folded by time-out (or was wishing time-out would auto-fold it).

Sick spot and I admit I may have played it wrongly, considering villain has passive tendencies, BUT...
If 55 folds here, I assume any 5 should and obviously anything less than str8 as well. With that in mind... should a villain (or us ) re-raise shove 66, because of the blockers?
I couldn't run these 2 nodes (55 vs re-raise shove and 66 bet vs raise) on GTOWizard, so if anyone has good GTO experience, I'd be very happy to discuss it further.

PokerStars - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 83 BB
SB: 185.2 BB
BB: 194.8 BB
UTG: 48.5 BB
Hero (MP): 100 BB
CO: 227.7 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG calls 1 BB, Hero calls 1 BB, fold, BTN calls 1 BB, SB calls 0.5 BB, BB checks

Flop: (5 BB, 5 players) 8♥ 2♦ 3♣
SB bets 1 BB, BB calls 1 BB, fold, Hero calls 1 BB, BTN calls 1 BB

Turn: (9 BB, 4 players) 4♠
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks, BTN checks

River: (9 BB, 4 players) A♥
SB checks, BB bets 5.7 BB, Hero raises to 16.7 BB, BTN calls 16.7 BB, fold, BB raises to 95 BB, Hero calls 78.3 BB, fold

Not my brightest session yesterday. Tiredness led me to some of mistakes and runouts didn't help also, but this particular hand kept "hunting" me.

Yeah sometimes you get coolered but if you look at it in hindsight you see a passive villain 3betting the river. Not saying I could've found the fold nor that you should ever fold this spot. But I think it's not a common spot and you should not focus on it tbh.

PokerStars - €0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 49.64 BB
BB: 154.52 BB
UTG: 100 BB
Hero (MP): 125.96 BB
CO: 31 BB
BTN: 133.64 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, Hero raises to 2.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, BB raises to 10 BB, Hero raises to 23 BB, BB raises to 154.52 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 102.96 BB and is all-in

Flop: (252.32 BB, 2 players) J♦ 8♦ Q♥

Turn: (252.32 BB, 2 players) 5♣

River: (252.32 BB, 2 players) 7♦

Not here to stay, yet. Was feeling some pressure and loss aversion, so I may be taking shots, but there's a lot of trimming I want to do in NL10.

PokerStars - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 83 BB
BB: 64.1 BB
UTG: 182.9 BB
MP: 194.8 BB
CO: 100 BB
Hero (BTN): 102.7 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q♦ 8♦

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

Flop: (6.5 BB, 3 players) 9♦ 8♠ T♦
BB checks, UTG bets 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB, BB calls 3 BB

Turn: (15.5 BB, 3 players) J♦
BB bets 4 BB, fold, Hero calls 4 BB

River: (23.5 BB, 2 players) 9♥
BB bets 5 BB, Hero raises to 22.8 BB, BB calls 17.8 BB

Hero shows Q♦ 8♦ (Straight Flush, Queen High)

I've run my nut flush str8 into this rubbish twice this week negative

Nice I guess that's a new biggest pot shipped

Really good stuff and nice insight in your thinking process. I wish I had something more to say, just keep it up and I think you will be crushing NL25 and escape the micro's in no time.

Originally posted by FriskyArt
Nice I guess that's a new biggest pot shipped

Really good stuff and nice insight in your thinking process. I wish I had something more to say, just keep it up and I think you will be crushing NL25 and escape the micro's in no time.

Onward and upward!

I don't usually play MTTs, so this was kind of nice, although not much of an impact on bankroll

E+2R+1A= 0.50+0.50*2+0.50=2€ to a 15€ profit

Last hand:

The month is not yet finished, but I may not have time for a decent update in the next couple of days and this has reaaaalllyy been an amazing month.

January was somewhat a mehhh month, as I've made some profit, but mainly from bonus (if you want to check my January status).
I entered February and my game was kind of stagnating, so I decided to buy access to the course From The Ground Up. Very worth, imo.
Already when I entered February, one of the main challenges was to complete all the challenges PokerStars allowed me and that was a great part of my profit. Playing NL10 I was/am able to unlock 20€ weekly from bonus. But this month was even more special, as I was granted twice the 2nd place in daily leaderboard, for an extra 2x40€:profit:

Gamewise, I kept playing mainly NL10, with some shots on NL25 and some donkaments on NL5 and NL10 zoom. Looks like zoom is all that I can't play profitably.

So, basically, the shortes month is looking like this:

To a Bankroll:

Lots of leaks yet to correct in my game, so a definitive jump to NL25 is not going to happen soon. Also, there's a very reduced pool for NL25.
If I get the time, I'll ellaborate on some changes I've done to my game lately.

GL @ the tables

PokerStars - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB
Hero (SB): 176.7 BB
BB: 145.6 BB
UTG: 107.7 BB
CO: 140.6 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has pay attention to details

fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.5 BB, Hero raises to 8 BB, BB calls 7 BB, BTN calls 5.5 BB
BTN opens 42% on that position and has 57% fold to 3bet, so there's a lot going for almost any hand I can hold.
Not really expecting BB to come along, though he already shown some loose tendencies.

Flop: (24 BB, 3 players) 9♠ 7♠ 4♥
Hero bets 13.5 BB, BB calls 13.5 BB, fold
TP after my 3bet is something I need to deffend. And because of it's vulnerability, I go for 1/2 pot, against the two.
BTN folds and BB comes along.
What is BB range here? Any set needs to raise, because of the draw. Same for any overpair.
Basically, his call is FD, JT, 98, 87, 65

Turn: (51 BB, 2 players) Q♣
Hero bets 15 BB, BB calls 15 BB
I don't see much broadways calling flop, at least without spades, so the Q mainly changes for AQ:spade:. There really isn't a calling range in this board: Any combo-draw should already have shoved, simple FD should've folded and pairs shoul've protected already in the flop.
Only option, that I see is that BB is a fish, holding a FD.

River: (81 BB, 2 players) 4♦
Hero checks, BB bets 109.1 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 109.1 BB
I was between block and check. But from villain tendencies, I thought he'd bet if I check to him. Didn't expect a push, though.
Altough I was a little worried with the A4:spade:, I couldn't help but to follow "my instinct".

Nice! It is good when they hold.
Turn is indeed worrisome though, and I hope you took notes that BB can jam 100BB on a busted flush.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
Turn is indeed worrisome though, and I hope you took notes that BB can jam 100BB on a busted flush.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
Nice! It is good when they hold.

If he instead shoved the turn, or even raise it, I think I'd have folded.

What a great blog and very nice hand analysis. I have so much to learn. When I read that I am wondering, what is the best way to study to be able to analyse like you.

BTW: I have the strict policy not to invest own money into poker. Theirfore I will not be able to book any courses right now (My Bankroll is a bit over $100 right now). But I am open for tips.

Originally posted by Berliner1982
What a great blog and very nice hand analysis. I have so much to learn. When I read that I am wondering, what is the best way to study to be able to analyse like you.

Ty!

Originally posted by Berliner1982
BTW: I have the strict policy not to invest own money into poker. Theirfore I will not be able to book any courses right now (My Bankroll is a bit over $100 right now). But I am open for tips.

With that bankroll is wise to not invest in any course. Until you made a comfortable exit from NL2/NL5, keep the game as simple as possible, just try to play a poker that you enjoy - I mean with this that you can either go slightly looser or slightly tighter than standard to start defining you game.
The most valuable resource for NL2 and NL5 (specially NL2) is the hand discussion forum, imo. Adding more complex concepts in initial stages can harm you more than it helps. Only when you have developed your unconscious competence of the basics (a lot of people here are familiar with this) you should start looking for different concepts.

Allow me to share with you 2 hands that greatly depict how things are going.

If I can't lose, I surely won't win
PokerStars - €0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB
SB: 100 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 51.8 BB
Hero (MP): 102 BB
CO: 177.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 8 BB, fold, fold, SB raises to 28 BB, BB calls 27 BB, UTG calls 25 BB, Hero raises to 102 BB and is all-in, SB calls 72 BB and is all-in, BB calls 72 BB and is all-in, UTG calls 23.8 BB and is all-in

Flop: (351.8 BB, 4 players) 5♠ 3♦ 4♥

Turn: (351.8 BB, 4 players) 2♣

River: (351.8 BB, 4 players) A♣

As long as you don't fold, you'll win. Doesn't matter if you are dominated. And you'll hit in the way I lose more.
PokerStars - €0.10 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 104.8 BB
SB: 84.2 BB
BB: 104.5 BB
UTG: 72.1 BB
MP: 243.4 BB
Hero (CO): 136.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

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

Flop: (5.3 BB, 2 players) A♣ J♦ 9♣
BB checks, Hero bets 1.7 BB, BB raises to 10.1 BB, Hero calls 8.4 BB

Turn: (25.5 BB, 2 players) 9♦
BB bets 18.2 BB, Hero calls 18.2 BB

River: (61.9 BB, 2 players) 9♠
BB bets 73.8 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 73.8 BB

This one is like he just goes out of his house towards the bank, to make a deposit in my account

I laughed ♦

Nice blog. Been reading all pages and all hands this morning. I like the progress that you have made from 2NL to 10/25NL. You're hand reading came better and better over the past months. It encourages me to take studying the game more serious. Gonna look into some blockers courses this month. Keep grinding those tables!!