Weekend Results

Still running hot as F.  Picked up 4.7 BIs over roughly 2,400 hands.  This big change in my game occured for a couple of key reasons that I think I need to point out.  First, I started playing better in 3-bet pots.  This will help anyone for sure.  But there are two other really key ideas that are super important to implement if you want to be good. 

• First, bet sizing is of the utmost importance.  I know for a fact, based on my personal results, that there are a fair amount of times when you can almost “control” what your opponents do based on your bet sizing.  That is so key.  Doing this well has added tremendous improvements my winrate.  I know I am running well right now, but regardless my game has made vast improvements and this is not just running well, I am just playing so much better.
• Second, it is imperative to not associate yourself with the results.  I am doing so much better with that right now.  I can’t make the positive expectation plays I need to make if I am worried about losing.  Losing will happen.  Stop thinking about it and just play the game.  That is why you practice good bankroll management, so you can absorb the losses and inevitable downswings that happen.  I really cannot stress that enough.  Use poker stove to find equity, know this information and use it at the tables.  You will be surprised at how much this will affect your winrate. 

 Here is a perfect example of that previous point.

$0.25/$0.5 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:

UTG		($19.90)
UTG+1		($19.50)
CO		($81.60)
Hero		($55.00)
SB		($30.25)
BB		($37.25)

Pre-flop: ($0.75, 6 players) Hero is BTN

1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.5, CO raises to $2, Hero raises to $7.25, 2 folds, UTG+1 folds, CO calls $5.25

I 3-bet a little light here, because I haven’t do it much at this table yet.  Villain is running 19/16, so I do expect a fold most of the time or to take it down with a cbet. 

Flop: ($15.75, 2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $11, CO raises to $27, Hero goes all-in $47.75, CO calls $20.75

Perfect flop for me to cbet bluff, as a good portion of his range (I thought JJ+, AK) can’t call here.  He raises, that puts a little over $50 into the pot as dead money.  If I shove here, figuring I am getting called by an ace, I have 12 outs most likely and have the required equity against his range to shove.

Turn: ($111.25, 2 players)

I hit and suckout.

River: ($111.25, 2 players)
CO says “lol“

Final Pot: $111.25
CO shows:
Hero shows:

Hero wins $108.25 ( won +$53.25 )
CO lost -$55.00
UTG+1 lost -$0.50

The point about this hand is that even though in this example I was way behind, about 33%, against his range, I am NOT that far behind.  I will lose my fair share of hands like this.  However, the play is +EV and this is why we play within our bankrolls.  Perfect example of point number 2.

Now, I will go over some other hands from this weekend. 

I 3-bet this guy pretty light, but again, I had not done it really, so I don’t want to wait until I get AA to do it.  He plays it to perfection, I must give him credit.  He can’t raise it again preflop, but when he essentially hits the nuts on the flop, he lets me catch and double him up.  I still agree with how this hand was played though.

Don’t think I am ever folding this hand in a BvB situation, especially against a villain who only has 60 BB.

Lose a flip, standard play.

I thoroughly reviewed these hands, they really are just coolers or flippaments.  I did a sweat for a bit with ladymuch on Sunday, which was really good.  Kinda break the ice a bit before we go into our group sweat tomorrow night and kinda discuss some interesting situations that came up, it went pretty well. 

My bankroll is currently at $2,188.90.  I am going to withdraw $50 or so of it for something I think is a good idea.  So that will bring me back down a little bit, but that is fine, I am making it back quickly and then some.  Here is my plan after talking with some players and forming my own idea, which was a merger of their ideas really.  When I get to $2,300, I am going to take a shot at $100NL.  I feel my game is good for it.  I watched a recent Brystmar submission for $100NL 6-max, and it seems like I can beat this level just fine.  So at $2,300 I will have 1 $100NL table.  At $2,500, I will have two tables.  At $2,700, I will have 3 tables, and when I hit the $3,000 plateau, I will go with all 4, having it be my normal game.  From what I have seen in the video (small sample size, I know) and from what I have seen at $50NL, it is only a little bit more aggressive.  I am not worried at all, in fact I am looking forward to stepping my game and welcoming the challenge (if it is indeed a challenge).  My goal, as I said, is to be dabbling in 400NL before I go to Vegas.  I think this is a reasonable goal if I don’t hit a setback in my transition from 50 to 100. 

As I already said, our first group sweat is tomorrow.  I will be playing 4-tabling $50NL on FTP for an hour and then we will use PT to review any interesting hands and discuss them.  No talking during the playing time, this should be pretty good.  Basically, if you read this and play 50NL at FTP, I suggest staying off the site from 8-9 pm EST.  Or you can just give me your stack, your choice.