tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098966303581560072024-02-07T14:08:01.357-08:00Pro Poker Plays - Making $5 into $10k ChallengeCheck out the Bottom for the Blog List. Some good reading to spike up your game. Basically, I play at 2 sites, with 2 different but similar user names. PokerStars has about $5 I need to build, and Full Tilt has about $53 (questionable?) Read Further. For the Stars Challenge, starting at 50XBuyin rule, so this will be a grind.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-42132302005983349502010-03-15T12:20:00.000-07:002010-03-15T18:41:31.737-07:00Reader Challenge 1 - Turbo Tourneys - Your Mission<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Now, it is time for the Challenge - GAME ON!!</span></div><br /><br />Fellow bloggers and casual visitors, come one and all, join me (as I would ask nothing of someone else that I wouldn't do myself). Your Mission - should you choose to accept it - is to play Turbo SNG MTT tourneys, perfecting your play, limiting your losses, accepting loss as part of the equation, and make a profit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj045aimCaPCD4Wd8i5M1dij0BGr1Ev-CC8kbfntRqHTb5ErqlbmmjtdhHz29DV5x30Qnsh3iOfgmeNa7BKe1819a4neHV3OXr-69EsWNdbJ6RRXQ0t7DZhHHGrqlvoM6U3XLOHRzyxo1A/s1600-h/missionimpossible.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 63px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj045aimCaPCD4Wd8i5M1dij0BGr1Ev-CC8kbfntRqHTb5ErqlbmmjtdhHz29DV5x30Qnsh3iOfgmeNa7BKe1819a4neHV3OXr-69EsWNdbJ6RRXQ0t7DZhHHGrqlvoM6U3XLOHRzyxo1A/s320/missionimpossible.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448943057170847106" /></a><br />Reread the following posts to refresh your brain (note, these pop up in separate window, tab):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/turbo-tournaments-discussion-vs-normal.html" target="_blank">Turbo Tournaments - A Discussion vs. Normal Speed and Play</a><br /><br /><a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/submitted-for-your-approval-turbo.html" target="_blank">Submitted for Your Approval, Turbo Tournament Strategy Development</a><br /><br /><a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/turbo-tourney-statistics-why-keep-track.html" target="_blank">Turbo Tourney Statistics, Why Keep Track, Note Improvement</a><br /><br /><a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/turbo-tourney-calculating-your-race-pre.html" target="_blank">Turbo Tourney - Calculating Your Race Pre Flop</a><br /><br /><a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/reviewing-hand-histories-as-part-of.html" target="_blank">Reviewing Hand Histories as Part of Your Strategy</a><br /><br /><a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/pre-flop-hole-cards-again-turbo.html" target="_blank">Pre-Flop Hole Cards Again, Turbo Tournaments, Personal Statistics</a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Challenge, Step by Step:</span><br /><br /><ol><li>With your own hand histories in mind, develop a strategy to play turbos, focusing on the pre flop focus of this game. Develop a strategy for what YOU believe are the different stages of the tournament. It doesn't have to be fancy, I have mine typed up in a Notepad text file.</li><br /><li>Play 12 Turbo Tourneys at or below 2% of your bankroll. I have $6. That means I'm limited to the 10 cent Turbos.<br />Play Turbos listed in the Sit N Go Multi Table Tab. A fixed number of players lessens the variance and time, as opposed to large fields of opponents in scheduled tournaments.<br />Play Turbos with 90 or more players (the practice of nearing the bubble can be more aptly applied here).<br />Practice your Strategy and Note Taking while playing.</li><br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">If you lose 3 tourneys in a row. STOP</span>. Take a break, analyze some play, observe the tourney you were just knocked out of (stalk the guy who knocked you out), lunch, laundry, whatever. Pay attention to your statistics. <span style="font-weight:bold;">If total hands called is above 25% (and you get knocked out), STOP</span>. Tweak your tournaments strategy, and try again.</li><br /><li>Out of 12 Turbo tourneys, finish 8 or more in the top 50% (180 for 360 man, 45 for 90 man, etc.) This enables patience, and shows any leaks in your tournament strategy.</li><br /><li>Out of the 12 turbo tourneys, finish 6 or more in the top 15% (54 or better in 360 man, 14 or better in 90 man). This gets you near the bubble, and if you get knocked out, or your short stack race explodes, you can tweak the tourney strategy some more.</li><br /><li>Out of the 12 turbo tourneys, finish in the money 4 or more times. You've played 8, you're not multi tabling beyond 2 or 3 at a time, you've followed the steps, you SHOULD be statistically in the Money 33% of the time. Running races of 60/40, it would be better at 40% in the money, however, losing streaks do happen. So lets look at cashing 33% of the time.</li><br /><li>Out of the 12 turbo tourneys, make the Final Table 2 or more times. This is where the money is at, this should be your goal. We're looking at 17% final. Even if you finish 9th twice, that is 1.80 at the 10 cent SNGs. If you cash and final at this rate, you will be making a profit.</li></ol><br /><br />There will be more challenges later, but this should do for now. Feel free to post your results. Have fun, and good luck on the Felt.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-22495181615472114162010-03-15T09:20:00.000-07:002010-03-15T18:42:37.198-07:00Pre-Flop Hole Cards Again, Turbo Tournaments, Personal StatisticsIn this <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/reviewing-hand-histories-as-part-of.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, I mentioned shoving from the small blind with 99, because KK decided to limp in UTG+1 (sometimes a good move, but turned out disastrous in the play). So using Holdem Manager and my last 23 tourneys, plus the Still Being Tweaked Turbo Tournament Strategy, I will discuss certain preferred Hole Cards, how often I have won with them, and how they are best played.<br /><br />Now that I've played more tourneys, my percentage of HM's top cards has increased. Raised from the initial 2.4% to 3.3% are AA, KK, QQ and AK. Let's take a look at the win/loss record here.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br /><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LE8PiiqK96K0ZpsUqaLFc1-BvO_KM6I7hXdaDETLliSN_o3B0zXHcmxx2vUEmbZybUtoPjo-CzFDpyuqT4vSlEp-Xmih6YjzQNhZms1UKZVBOvPJ_aZa98FFy68enIqi8Jhr3-7LOq0/s1600-h/AA.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 116px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LE8PiiqK96K0ZpsUqaLFc1-BvO_KM6I7hXdaDETLliSN_o3B0zXHcmxx2vUEmbZybUtoPjo-CzFDpyuqT4vSlEp-Xmih6YjzQNhZms1UKZVBOvPJ_aZa98FFy68enIqi8Jhr3-7LOq0/s400/AA.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448894934148495570" border="0" /></a>AA - 6 times. Lost with them only once, Loss was in CO position, 2+ limpers in front, and of course, I shoved. BB50. I also was second chip leader at 4450. However, big blind called all in with 55, made set on turn. Only lost 1220 chips. I tend to get AA most in Middle Position, and shoving doesn't always produce folds (as you can see). Win Rate: 5/6 hands - 83%.</li><br /><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wn4vXnsQeN5F9H-0HsjcW6kzU6N6ks0gkKG4hlfmSIAdg1ANgWZU65fsN85FhR3besOI_swM3yPmrj276YQKm58INBX_Ca8Ewx0DcWxWBzPoHSgVya8P6BE8xainZOAvtPrQAqEJPp8/s1600-h/KK.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wn4vXnsQeN5F9H-0HsjcW6kzU6N6ks0gkKG4hlfmSIAdg1ANgWZU65fsN85FhR3besOI_swM3yPmrj276YQKm58INBX_Ca8Ewx0DcWxWBzPoHSgVya8P6BE8xainZOAvtPrQAqEJPp8/s400/KK.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448895712818342690" border="0" /></a>KK - 5 hands, lost once. Still early stage 20bb, IN BB, shoved, got called by AQs and T9s (what?), and A flops. However, an 80% success rate falls within the 60/40 rule I'm looking for. I recommend shove regardless of position, just because IT IS a Turbo. But, if you feel better with a substantial raise in Early pos to see a flop, that can work also.</li><br /><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV60mi-B9GP9VOiX7-aZ1-FXMSNR_d3GSCHnYd5SNaaq423TjkUuh7fbHRpDaC7ZvvgPE0xRLrfeq8MFS69ms7qeC4DsCN-K41qDfLs_XJ9aRXKxC49XS1SYLW4AY0X3rTkQm_8qCx3GY/s1600-h/QQ.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV60mi-B9GP9VOiX7-aZ1-FXMSNR_d3GSCHnYd5SNaaq423TjkUuh7fbHRpDaC7ZvvgPE0xRLrfeq8MFS69ms7qeC4DsCN-K41qDfLs_XJ9aRXKxC49XS1SYLW4AY0X3rTkQm_8qCx3GY/s400/QQ.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448896267463901570" border="0" /></a>QQ - I have some better success with Ax. Win rate is 57.1%. Lost one with preflop all in from UTG, there was AA on board in late position, we all lost to the chip leader with QJ suited. BB 100, should have just raised. Best to fold QQ's when 2 re raises (AA did go all in, and I'm sure BB would have called). QQ is still best from mid to late position. The EV pre flop is 50%, so one needs to keep this in mind. Definitely worth the shove when have the stack. Lost again against KK. I did fold QQ when 20bb, during an all in frenzy (and A9 won. A2 off, the chip leader, received a side pot).</li><br /><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpP40LtOSFwi-T-M2xmmWd8pbdDpJItLhteZAENYV7FqLUzDZl1odT4TNkZSaWTCUA3J3xDscQDlaQE1anurGr4v4Y7Qi4_28nuUdMa3LROPSr5ufwCrbcBO1VHhvt51YyZc9gcJ9f9w/s1600-h/Aks.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 78px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpP40LtOSFwi-T-M2xmmWd8pbdDpJItLhteZAENYV7FqLUzDZl1odT4TNkZSaWTCUA3J3xDscQDlaQE1anurGr4v4Y7Qi4_28nuUdMa3LROPSr5ufwCrbcBO1VHhvt51YyZc9gcJ9f9w/s400/Ako.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448896870110917026" border="0" /></a>AKs - 75% win rate, dealt 3 times, lost once, won twice. All times were in Early position.<br /><br /><br /><br /></li><br /><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpP40LtOSFwi-T-M2xmmWd8pbdDpJItLhteZAENYV7FqLUzDZl1odT4TNkZSaWTCUA3J3xDscQDlaQE1anurGr4v4Y7Qi4_28nuUdMa3LROPSr5ufwCrbcBO1VHhvt51YyZc9gcJ9f9w/s1600-h/Ako.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 78px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpP40LtOSFwi-T-M2xmmWd8pbdDpJItLhteZAENYV7FqLUzDZl1odT4TNkZSaWTCUA3J3xDscQDlaQE1anurGr4v4Y7Qi4_28nuUdMa3LROPSr5ufwCrbcBO1VHhvt51YyZc9gcJ9f9w/s400/Ako.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448896870110917026" border="0" /></a>AKo - 9 hands dealt, 5 won, 4 lost (have a tendency to play all). I folded one hand, that I would have won with. Wanted to conserve chips, in BB. Lesson learned, other AK raised to 500, 2 other callers before the BB, not at level to race yet, probably should fold AKo in multi-raised pot. another rerun shows that at the Middle Stage, blinds 100 to 200, shoving with AK, and no K nor A on flop, is a mistake. However, once the antes hit, if on the button, defintely worth a big raise. Be careful if the BB has more chips than you, because you could end up with a race that you lose.</li></ul><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />I want to discuss some hands won that are out of the ordinary (they have a higher percentage rate).<br /><br /><ul><li>Dealt ATs once, blinds were 1000, chip stack 6000, middle position with one limper, made the shove (this is during the in the money phase). Flopped T2T to win the pot.</li><br /><li>Dealt KTs once, on Button, made raise, blinds 4k, won the pot with a continuation bet.</li><br /><li>100% win rate with AJs, dealt twice, once in BB, called raise, won pot, and once in early pos, 7 handed, blinds 1k, went all in for 3.5k+, uncalled.</li><li>J5s in BB, made a move, and made the flush.</li><br /><li>JJ and TT the same. Win rate of 75% out of 4 hands. All wins BB, CO, and BTN (one early pos win when blinds were big). Most wins were simply position raises, with appropriate bet when checked to me. 87s also has win rate of 75% out of 4 hands.</li></ul><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Now, on to Pockets:<br /><br /><ul><li>88 has win rate of 66.7%, while 99 has win rate of 60%. 88 plays best on button and SB. 99 plays best from middle to SB. Don't shove unless you are on the short stack.</li><br /><li>77 is dismal, apparently, I've played every one, regardless of position. Should only be played in the later stage, in the money stage, and part of final table. Only played 66 once, and ended up winning (folded all others).</li></ul><br /><br />There are many other hands I could go over, but you get the gist. You will also get a feel for how many times you get certain cards in a sample size of 23 tourneys. Feel free to analyze your own play.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-36154773384389954732010-03-14T12:50:00.000-07:002010-03-14T12:59:51.028-07:00Repeated Again - WHEN LOSING, STOP PLAYING<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MnVQpp9R6p4M8gWCtKgnIME1JMkaKvpB39ZzQ8bs-5vvyUyAnImFShvDmUc-CtSc7eKFOvJ9-AObRZxGMh-GUpCH-K-Df_dl1Fh38NyaqHZ3Au0qG6CFOVym2iNpi7jAhjYW-stf59A/s1600-h/dog2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 103px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MnVQpp9R6p4M8gWCtKgnIME1JMkaKvpB39ZzQ8bs-5vvyUyAnImFShvDmUc-CtSc7eKFOvJ9-AObRZxGMh-GUpCH-K-Df_dl1Fh38NyaqHZ3Au0qG6CFOVym2iNpi7jAhjYW-stf59A/s320/dog2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448577507032600354" /></a>This post is a more indepth analogy that was posted as a reply on <a href="http://donkeythrasher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Donkey Thrasher's blog</a>. As mentioned many moons ago, everyone and their dog wants to be pro. Poker is not <span style="font-weight:bold;">EASY MONEY</span>, and there is no software out there that protects against bad beats and losing streaks. Ergo, study and analysis, plus learning to read opponents <span style="font-weight:bold;">WITHOUT software</span>, is very important to your game.<br /><br />However, we all can't live and breath poker 24/7. Even if spending a great deal of time studying the game, you need time off. So yesterday, I did just that. No blogs, no forums. I did start out watching some Poker on TV (some old recordings of Poker After Dark), and then decided - NO - I need a break. So I just relaxed, and watched regular ole TV. The mind is much more fresh today then yesterday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUyTmF0f-umYrUqglhiJ_YZJ1p76sSclKAKIwFBNcjMHaKJ-8z2ofc8UYCS_kR0hzHQYQjoy0CJlPGdEfHMW8rG8dj6BGjVZCHIHBIlotWrlhZ149bVenkTsGLz0yuhgdBRmbETNE-gg/s1600-h/stopsign.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 141px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUyTmF0f-umYrUqglhiJ_YZJ1p76sSclKAKIwFBNcjMHaKJ-8z2ofc8UYCS_kR0hzHQYQjoy0CJlPGdEfHMW8rG8dj6BGjVZCHIHBIlotWrlhZ149bVenkTsGLz0yuhgdBRmbETNE-gg/s320/stopsign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448578043700297426" /></a>When you are on a <span style="font-weight:bold;">LOSING STREAK</span>, when you don't feel your optimal play, or A Game (because you've been on losing streak), <span style="font-weight:bold;">JUST STOP PLAYING</span>. When you feel like busting your computer, when you feel like the site is out to get you - <span style="font-weight:bold;">JUST STOP PLAYING</span>.<br /><br />I've read a few blogs, seen a few shows, and previewed a few videos (most notably from PimpinDonks on SharkScope), and they advocate a different form, typical of the younger (20ish) crowd of new multi-tabling players. From the 2 Months 2 Million show (gee, wonder why they didn't make it?), and others, if you have lost money or want to fight off tilt, put in a MASSIVE NUMBER OF HANDS. Supposedly, this will correct the issue of Losing Streaks.<br /><br />There are so many reasons why this Player Strategy is wrong, its hard to count (okay, let me try):<br /><br /><ol><li>It promotes a form of gambling. You have promoted your game from suffering through the ups and downs (hence, proper bankroll management), and elevated to a form of chasing money. Even if collecting Rakeback, wouldn't you rather build the bankroll up, than at the best being break even through rake back?</li><br /><li>Playing (or wanting to play) as a professional, or at least to supplement your income. No regular job expects you to go into LOCKDOWN MODE in order to catch up on work. 12+ hour stretches are not good for your health, your family, nor your bankroll. You need a life, and either believing you can shake off a Losing Streak through adding thousands of hands, or working through Tilt by continuing to play (which leads to more chasing), will deteriorate your life. Pros know this. The youngsters are still playing WOW, just another level.</li><br /><li>Your mental state: you need time off to break the streak. I learned this the hard way, when playing rush. Put in plenty of hands at different levels. Didn't leave when I had more than 4X my buy in, and lost it (on premium holdings by the way). Your goals should be to make money, not to put in X amount of hands. If you make your money in 2 hands, LEAVE the table (what you expect is dependent on what you want - but 2 to 4 times your buyin should be good). If you've lost 10% of your bankroll, definitely stop. Take a Mental Break. Analyze your play. Observe some tables. Whatever.</li><br /><li>What the old hands have to say about it - Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon, etc. I find this to be true in Live play also. If you are losing, find any excuse to get up from the table. For online play, this doesn't mean opening 20 more. It means shutting the client down. Ferguson built his bankroll by buying in with 5% of his roll, and leaving when it doubled (that's right, short stacking and ratholing). Both Phil's get up if they are losing. I lost 6 online tourneys in a row, I quit playing. <span style="font-weight:bold;">REAL PROS <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/you-gotta-know-when-to-hold-em-know.html" target=_blank>know when to hold, fold and walk away</a>.</span></li></ol>ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-69919582323968913632010-03-10T22:00:00.000-08:002010-03-10T22:17:14.473-08:00Need Guidance in Setting Up a Challenge/Goals?Ran across this thread while surfing.<br /><br />Very good, pick one from the list. Have several with different games (cash, SNG Single, MTT). Different bankrolls (from 2NL to 200NL and beyond). Good read. While visiting forums, why not register, and take a peak in the strategy section? Great info there also.<br /><br /><a href="http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/32/beginners-questions/build-br-4-graph-hard-vengeance-671515/" target=_blank><span style="font-weight:bold;" target=_blank>Build a BR 4: Graph Hard with a Vengeance</span></a> For this forum, Firefox users (and maybe some others), in order to register, may need to click on post, hit the reply button, and then the registration page shows up.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Regarding my previous post, forgot to mention:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />SHARKSCOPE HUD IS BANNED SOFTWARE</span>!! While I do subscribe to the service (hope they keep letting me do so after my posts in their forum, or non posts?), and strongly suggest others do too (Boku87 does), <span style="font-weight:bold;">PLEASE</span> do not subscribe simply to get their HUD. As noted in the <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/poker-education-free-online-coaching.html" target=_blank>previous post</a>, drastic things can happen if your software is caught. AND, there is a problem with them keeping up with updates that renders the HUD useless.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-25554374697864678042010-03-10T20:00:00.000-08:002010-03-10T21:04:07.081-08:00Poker Education, Free Online Coaching, Brought to You By - Web Surfing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4jPoGcsfSNj_aBjDYbRpcHQi3HCpGBY5V4gud7eUZn1xN2Jdslp32j6bLneuxP8EFIz00uDN474I4XgBvq0E6ArFyDl_vtUD8g3_7HJ5zBqr7lFdZymAdQPA0HgTgP9zG3oHhvwwV_4/s1600-h/websurfing.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4jPoGcsfSNj_aBjDYbRpcHQi3HCpGBY5V4gud7eUZn1xN2Jdslp32j6bLneuxP8EFIz00uDN474I4XgBvq0E6ArFyDl_vtUD8g3_7HJ5zBqr7lFdZymAdQPA0HgTgP9zG3oHhvwwV_4/s400/websurfing.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447220376488394946" /></a><br />Yesterday and Today was an Internet surfing forage. Started in the <a href="http://" target=_blank>Full Tilt Forums</a>. They are having deposit, withdrawal issues, and someone noted the Regulation Authority (which gets a little confusing on the <a href="http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/super-user-and-security-faq" target=_blank>bottom of the page</a>). So, I went to googling of the actual owners of FTP (whom are supposed to be in the US, hence the crackdown of the Feds more on FTP than the rest of the Poker sites).<br /><br />This led to - indeed, Filco is located in the US. And, they seem to have switched main regulation over to the UK from Kahnawake. Which led to a forum and topic later in this post. Which led to revisiting the FTP forums, which led to finding some REALLY great Videos on YouTube (from more googling).<br /><br />Now, there are many aspects to furthering your study of Poker. As one popular site said, Phil Ivey does more studying of the game (or at least he Used to), offline, than actually playing. As such, us low limit players can use ALL the edge we can get. Analyzing your own game is very good (one blogger is playing during the day, and analyzing at night). You can read this blog and other blogs (they are really helpful, and the blogs I study are listed at the bottom of the blog, under the Copyright notice), and frequent forums - such as <a href="http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/" target=_blank>2+2</a>. There is also the <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/" target=_blank>Full Tilt Academy</a>, which is free to those with A full Tilt Account, and as you earn Points, more Videos and Challenges are open to you.<br /><br />Others advocate books, DVDs, Online Videos, and personal Coaching (though the latter should really be reserved for those new to the scene). As to coaching and Online Videos such as those offered by Cardrunners, Stox, and Sharkscope - they are good, but self proclaimed pros are popping up all over the place (such as moi). I say, why pay for it when you can get it for free? I've also discovered, that surfing through the different sites I get my info from, I've come close to getting the same information as reading the Harrington Books (though those are still probably on my list).<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Our first catch, is a channel on YouTube from Tight Poker. I haven't visited the Web Site Yet, but its STRONGLY suggested you watch all the videos. There's a segment on Huds, but his use of Holdem Manger to review stats via the Hand Replayer is very informative. All those using Holdem Manager should watch all the Videos. Those looking for basic low limit (microstackes from 2NL to 100NL) should watch all the Hand Review Videos (or just watch them all). Now, as stated before, I don't really use the Huds, but this may get me started as I climb the limits. I am, however, with "<a href="http://microstakesbankrollbuilder.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>microstakes bankroll builder</a>" on not relying so much on Huds, as direct observation of your opponent (you will notice the difference when you watch the videos, as to what the Huds can tell you, and what you can see in 50 hands of play against your opponent - his blog is good for education too, but remember, as in my blog, its still an opinion - we differ on buy in strategies and bankroll managment).<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=tightpokerdotcom#g/u" target=_blank>tightpokerdotcom's Channel</a>, and start from the bottom of the list (PS, the Pokerstars video has to download fully before playing).<br /><br />My next find, I haven't watched many videos yet. After each video with Tight Poker, you get some related videos, and I clicked on this one to check out the channel. Looks to be good, and worth a study (I will file a later report if this is not the case).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=sitngogenius#g/u" target=_blank>sitngogenius's Channel</a> (ps, also contains videos on lotto, roulette, etc). I'll collect and post more channels as I continue the Web Search.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Two forum posts Submitted for your Approval, long reads, but interesting:<br /><br /><a href="http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/banned-ft-without-evidence-full-disclosure-372206/" target=_blank>Banned from FT without evidence - full disclosure</a>. While I haven't read the entire thing, I did skip to the end for a cliff notes version (which prompted me to re read the thread). Apparently, he proved to be cheating (for those wondering about programs such as PT3 and HEM, don't be scared, they are allowed on Full Tilt, PokerStars and UB. Cake Poker-and all sites on the network- disallow the use of Huds, and they won't work).<br /><br />Another Long Read (but the beginning of withdrawal issues), <a href="http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/full-tilt-poker-seized-25k-my-account-541946/" target=_blank>Full Tilt Poker Seized 25K from my account</a>. This guy also proved to be doing some cheating with a friend, though haven't read the full scoop. For more on banned software, and how to avoid these problems, read my posts under the label <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/search/label/Banned%20Software" target=_blank>Banned Software</a>.<br /><br />I have plenty of resources listed along the sidebar of this blog, and at the bottom. The serious Poker Player will do in depth research, as opposed to a newbie who complained about losing over 1k, and when asked what he did to help study/better his game, said he bought a HUD. Please judge accordingly, and read more of my blog on the matter.<br /><br />Now, off to watch some videos (PS, you can also get a lot of info from watching Poker After Dark, they don't water down the play when folks keep folding or go in the tank, shows the full play for both Cash Games and Single Table SNG play).ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-75935126860381423742010-03-09T06:10:00.000-08:002010-03-10T20:09:43.891-08:00Reviewing Hand Histories as Part of Your StrategyIn this post, we will discuss the value of analyzing your own hand Histories, for good play as it pertains to our Turbo Tournament Strategy, and whether you/I made the right call for our Race Rules. I will only be using HHs (that's Hand Histories for those yet learning the lingo), from Tournaments Post my Initial Strategy Development.<br /><br />In my previous posts, I have introduced several concepts that help with the format of Low Buy In Turbos. After creating the initial strategy, I came close to the money twice, played an all in on the first hand, and made the final table. Part of learning to improve your game, is going over the aspects of your prior games. Tools like <a href="http://www.sharkscope.com/#graphs" target=_blank>Sharkscope Graphs</a>, <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/search/label/Holdem%20Manager" target=_blank>Holdem Manager Tourney Results</a>, the <a href="http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-tools/odds-calculator/texas-holdem" target=_blank>Odds Calculator</a>, and review of your own play, will prove invaluable in game improvement, and increasing profits. As you advance, you'll learn more about the right plays at the right time.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />As mentioned in the <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/turbo-tournaments-discussion-vs-normal.html" target=_blank>Initial Article</a>, you must not be afraid to lose. That is part of making the plays that get you to the final, and eventually more wins. Proper Bankroll Management is key, since there are adjustments you need to make for your game along the way. If you have 50 buy ins, and you are losing, <span style="font-weight:bold;">AND - you keep making the same plays over and over expecting different results (relying more on the LUCK FACTOR</span>), then your 50 buy ins won't last long. <span style="font-weight:bold;">The key here is NOT to multi-table, or race with 20 games one right after another</span>. Take the time to analyze after your Good Results and Bad Results. Then, whether you won or lost, you go to the next game with a fresh brain and outlook.<br /><br />First, we'll look at Tournament #20 (finished 54th). You can review your own hand histories via an analysis program, or - since I've already done that, just go over the HHs in your folder saved from PokerStars or Full Tilt.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Reviewing the First Hand Played - I was dealt QQ. So, what was different about this tourney than the next one that I lost on the First Hand?<br /><br />Poker Stars $0.10+$0.00 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t10/t20 Blinds - 9 players<br />BTN: t1500 M = 50<br />SB: t1500 M = 50<br />BB: t1500 M = 50<br />UTG: t1500 M = 50<br /><strong>UTG+1: t1500 M = 50</strong><br />UTG+2: t1500 M = 50<br /><strong>Hero (MP1): t1500 M = 50</strong><br />MP2: t1500 M = 50<br /><strong>CO: t1500 M = 50</strong><br /><br /><strong>Pre Flop:</strong> (t30) Hero is MP1 with Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">1 fold</span>, <span style="color: red;">UTG+1 raises to t1500 all in</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">1 fold</span>, Hero calls t1500 all in, <span style="font-style: italic;">1 fold</span>, CO calls t1500 all in, <span style="font-style: italic;">3 folds</span><br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> (t4530) 6<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> K<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 2<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> <span style="color: blue;">(3 players - 3 are all in)</span><br /><strong>Turn:</strong> (t4530) 5<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> <span style="color: blue;">(3 players - 3 are all in)</span><br /><strong>River:</strong> (t4530) 4<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> <span style="color: blue;">(3 players - 3 are all in)</span><br /><strong>Final Pot:</strong> t4530<br />UTG+1 shows A<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> (high card Ace)<br />Hero shows Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> (a pair of Queens)<br />CO shows 8<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> J<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> (high card King)<br />Hero wins t4530<br /><br />UTG+1 is Shoving first hand with AQo, as per our previous post, <span style="font-weight:bold;">THIS IS NOT A GOOD shove</span>. QQ was played from Middle Position. Middle to Late is a good Position for QQ (though, not necessarily for all your chips the first hand).<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Now, lets look at the next tourney, where AQo on the first hand lost (my One Hand Blunder Game). As we are learning throughout this study, <span style="font-weight:bold;">AQo in early stages, and in early position, can be a REAL BIG CHIP LEAK</span>.<br /><br />Poker Stars $0.10+$0.00 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t10/t20 Blinds - 9 players<br /><br />BTN: t1500 M = 50<br />SB: t1500 M = 50<br /><strong>BB: t1500 M = 50</strong><br />UTG: t1500 M = 50<br />UTG+1: t1500 M = 50<br />UTG+2: t1500 M = 50<br />MP1: t1500 M = 50<br /><strong>Hero (MP2): t1500 M = 50</strong><br />CO: t1500 M = 50<br /><br /><strong>Pre Flop:</strong> (t30) Hero is MP2 with Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> A<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">3 folds</span>, MP1 calls t20, <span style="color: red;">Hero raises to t60</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">2 folds</span>, SB calls t50, <span style="color: red;">BB raises to t1500 all in</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">1 fold</span>, Hero calls t1440 all in, <span style="font-style: italic;">1 fold</span><br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> (t3080) 9<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> 5<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 7<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> <span style="color: blue;">(2 players - 2 are all in)</span><br /><strong>Turn:</strong> (t3080) T<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> <span style="color: blue;">(2 players - 2 are all in)</span><br /><strong>River:</strong> (t3080) 3<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> <span style="color: blue;">(2 players - 2 are all in)</span><br /><strong>Final Pot:</strong> t3080<br />BB shows A<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> 7<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> (a pair of Sevens)<br />Hero shows Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> A<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> (high card Ace)<br />BB wins t3080<br /><br />At first glance, that doesn't look like a bad call. AQ has +EV from mid to late position according to Holdem Manager (which is why I included that hand as playing part of regular poker in the Early Stages). And, our odds calculation shows AQo at that position 66.05% vs. 28.36% for A7s. However, folding would have been more optimal, because AQ for a shove plays well when the other stack is WAY shorter. And, folding would have left me still in the game. Remember, early stages are not about risking 1500 chips to win 140 chips. Knowing when to dump a hand is equally important as knowing when to shove.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Let's look at the hand that knocked me out in position 54:<br /><br />Poker Stars $0.10+$0.00 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - 300/600 Blinds + 50 antes - 8 players<br /><br /><strong>UTG+1: t25355 M = 19.50</strong><br />MP1: t17215 M = 13.24<br />MP2: t5068 M = 3.90<br />CO: t6505 M = 5.00<br />BTN: t5400 M = 4.15<br /><strong>Hero (SB): t6425 M = 4.94</strong><br />BB: t16040 M = 12.34<br /><strong>UTG: t10135 M = 7.80</strong><br /><br /><strong>Pre Flop:</strong> (t1300) Hero is SB with 9<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 9<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /><br />UTG calls t600, UTG+1 calls t600, <span style="font-style: italic;">4 folds</span>, <span style="color: red;">Hero raises to t6375 all in</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">1 fold</span>, UTG calls t5775, UTG+1 calls t5775<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> (t20125) 7<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 4<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 2<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> <span style="color: blue;">(3 players - 1 is all in)</span><br /><span style="color: red;">UTG bets t3710 all in</span>, UTG+1 calls t3710<br /><strong>Turn:</strong> (t27545) A<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> <span style="color: blue;">(3 players - 2 are all in)</span><br /><strong>River:</strong> (t27545) 5<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> <span style="color: blue;">(3 players - 2 are all in)</span><br /><strong>Final Pot:</strong> t27545<br />UTG+1 shows K<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> K<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> (a pair of Kings)<br />Hero shows 9<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 9<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> (a pair of Nines)<br />UTG shows A<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> J<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> (a flush, Ace high)<br />UTG wins t7420<br />UTG wins t20125<br /><br />The limp from UTG+1 with KK fooled me, however, when I shoved, he should have re shoved. But generally, With UTGs chip stack size (slightly more than mine), UTG was pretty much pot committed. I had enough orbits left, but shoving with 99 at under 10+BB is the play to make (however, might have been better in CO or BU, but KK would most definitely call). After the cards flipped over, it was definite I was the underdog. This race was mine to lose. Might it have been better to simply call the SB? To win these Turbos, you mustn't be afraid to lose. However, I don't win very many races with 99 (while others tend to be more lucky). I may make this play as a raise or shove. Did UTG make the right call? UTG should probably have shoved, but wanted a multi way pot. Maybe they didn't realize the few chips they had left would be minus EV. <br /><br />Per the Odds, in this mult-way pot, AJs stood at 27%, KK at 55%, and my 99 at a measly 18%. First lesson learned, when Nearing the Bubble, probably fold/limp 99, or raise to 3XBB (1800), when 2 or more in pot. Then, could see flop. If KK had played appropriate, they should have shoved all in. Its better to win a few chips, then lose a lot (having your AA and KK cracked). I ALWAYS shove AA, and call VERY LARGE RAISES (If I don't make it myself), with KK. UTG wasn't pot committed at the time, and I MIGHT have called. I was hoping to take down the pot, but have learned that maybe a limp is more suitable for 2 or more players in the pot (when nearing the bubble). If the KK were removed, then my race would have been more appropriate, with 53% vs AJs at 47%.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />The Donk play that knocked me out in 41st place:<br /><br />Poker Stars $0.10+$0.00 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - 400/800 Blinds + 75 antes - 7 players<br /><br />CO: t6315 M = 3.66<br /><strong>Hero (BTN): t18370 M = 10.65</strong><br />SB: t12463 M = 7.22<br /><strong>BB: t74697 M = 43.30</strong><br />UTG: t5752 M = 3.33<br />UTG+1: t15838 M = 9.18<br />MP: t12137 M = 7.04<br /><br /><strong>Pre Flop:</strong> (t1725) Hero is BTN with A<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 8<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /><br />UTG calls t800, <span style="font-style: italic;">3 folds</span>, <span style="color: red;">Hero raises to t2400</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">1 fold</span>, BB calls t1600, UTG calls t1600<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> (t8125) 9<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 6<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> 6<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> <span style="color: blue;">(3 players)</span><br /><span style="color: red;">BB bets t49600</span>, UTG folds, Hero calls t15895 all in<br /><strong>Turn:</strong> (t39915) 3<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> <span style="color: blue;">(2 players - 1 is all in)</span><br /><strong>River:</strong> (t39915) Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> <span style="color: blue;">(2 players - 1 is all in)</span><br /><strong>Final Pot:</strong> t39915<br />Hero shows A<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> 8<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> (a pair of Sixes)<br />BB shows T<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> 9<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> (two pair, Nines and Sixes)<br />BB wins t39915<br /><br />While I have made this play successfully before, here - I made many mistakes. First off, very near the Bubble (cash). Second, steals are best profitable when have 30+BB vs. shorter stacks. The BB was in the mood to call with any 2 cards. Third, I'm at the phase of either shove or fold, and A8o is <span style="font-weight:bold;">NOT</span> my most favorite shoving hand, so folding would have been more appropriate. Fourth, and most importantly, BB called, and then proceeded with a REALLY BIG SHOVE on the flop. I had plenty of chips left (though would have been more if I 3 bet instead of 4 bet) if I would have folded on the flop.<br /><br />This was a <span style="font-weight:bold;">VERY BAD CALL</span> on the flop. We covered the odds for this hand in an earlier post, pre flop I was 56% vs. 44%. BUT, to race, needed a pre-flop shove. The shove would have been more appropriate against shorter stacks. Lesson learned? Pay attention to stack size before even putting in a raise. Nearing the Bubble, DON'T try that aggressive play when you still have close to 30+BB left.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />One final hand, one that plays excellent with the stack advantage, and can be used as a race raise, or limp in multi-way pot.<br /><br />Poker Stars $0.10+$0.00 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - 150/300 Blinds + t5 antes - 9 players<br /><br /><strong>SB: t9610 M = 14.24</strong><br />BB: t7760 M = 11.50<br />UTG: t3180 M = 4.71<br />UTG+1: t5695 M = 8.44<br />UTG+2: t5535 M = 8.20<br /><strong>Hero (MP1): t14655 M = 21.71</strong><br />MP2: t3085 M = 4.57<br />CO: t1090 M = 1.61<br />BTN: t3605 M = 5.34<br /><br />Note my large stack size, over 12,000, which is 40+BB. Here is where I can make some plays to increase stack size, or force races with shorter stacks using the 40 to 60 rule.<br /><br /><strong>Pre Flop:</strong> (t675) Hero is MP1 with 8<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> K<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">3 folds</span>, Hero calls t300, <span style="font-style: italic;">3 folds</span>, SB calls t150, BB checks<br /><br />Now, SB did make a mistake in NOT raising his hand, because I probably would have folded. However, from mid position, I have K8 suited. The smaller stacks behind me are probably going to fold (and yes, the did). Since this was mid position, I decided to limp (CO and BU call for a raise). Also, if anyone in the blinds is holding AK, I am not a 40% underdog, but for AJ I am.<br /><br /><strong>Flop:</strong> (t1125) T<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> 5<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> 3<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> <span style="color: blue;">(3 players)</span><br />SB checks, BB checks, <span style="color: red;">Hero bets t900</span>, SB calls t900, BB folds<br /><br />So I flop the Second Nut Flush, <span style="font-weight:bold;">SWEET</span>. However, one of them yahoo blinders JUST MIGHT be carrying the Ah, or worse, Axh. So, I make a 3 bet, around pot size, to see if I get callers, chasers. BB bowed out, SB came along.<br /><br /><strong>Turn:</strong> (t2925) Q<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/spade.png" alt=" of spades" /> <span style="color: blue;">(2 players)</span><br />SB checks, <span style="color: red;">Hero bets t3600</span>, SB calls t3600<br /><br />Now, not really putting him on a large pair, I decide to bet about half his remaining chip stack. Of course, he could have the nuts, but I am beginning to think not.<br /><br /><strong>River:</strong> (t10125) 7<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /> <span style="color: blue;">(2 players)</span><br />SB checks, <span style="color: red;">Hero bets t2700</span>, SB calls t2700<br /><br />So, the move (here, he made mistake by calling, should have either shoved or folded). I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the nuts, so I calculate my bet to leave him with about 2k in chips. He smooth calls again (no raise, no fold). So showdown proved rather profitable.<br /><br /><strong>Final Pot:</strong> t15525<br />SB mucks J<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/diamond.png" alt=" of diamonds" /> J<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/club.png" alt=" of clubs" /><br />Hero shows 8<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> K<img src="http://www.deucescracked.com/images/heart.png" alt=" of hearts" /> (a flush, King high)<br />Hero wins 15525<br /><br />This is where you want the race cards (suggestions out when publication out). This is regarded as a race-able situation, considering the range of hands. If opponent had raised all in, I probably would have folded for 9k chips, but if the small stack opponents following me had raised all in, probably would have called. Once again, since he was a 69% favorite before the flop, a BIG RAISE, or shove with that amount of chips, would be warranted (especially with JJ and above in the BB).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tis better to win a small pot with antes, then to lose a big pot with your big pairs.</span>ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-12237213836139304232010-03-08T12:26:00.000-08:002010-03-08T12:33:03.510-08:00ZOMG - Its Snowing OutsideWas plugging around the forum and blog land, decided to step outside for a smoke, and walla, those rain drops be WHITE.<br /><br />Nothing stickable (is that a word?), but just a reminder that its STILL FRIGGIN COLD in the Pacific Northwest.<br /><br />Another reminder, for a wayward computer traveler whose tired, that now is a good time to stay inside, watch some of those sci-fi and poker shows (excellent training btw), taking up space on the ole DVR.<br /><br />Will return to Poker and Blogging Tomorrow.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-54035127299131531642010-03-08T04:33:00.000-08:002010-03-08T09:59:22.848-08:00Turbo Tourney - Calculating Your Race Pre Flop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo-Ott_yyyFeXFp2pMQEg8YXhNwP9R43MpOdwoxVw0qNNcvXpRFlj2O0r-3e6qR93enX_mt_HbydZNNps1EHRYMdOjDGCNW02CmyYg7D7v3xQk8QQteVHrYfXL3Svu-nI6V0V0ggKCks/s1600-h/horserace.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo-Ott_yyyFeXFp2pMQEg8YXhNwP9R43MpOdwoxVw0qNNcvXpRFlj2O0r-3e6qR93enX_mt_HbydZNNps1EHRYMdOjDGCNW02CmyYg7D7v3xQk8QQteVHrYfXL3Svu-nI6V0V0ggKCks/s320/horserace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446232974502664578" border="0" /></a><br />The importance of keeping your stack in mind, the size of your opponents stacks, AND your pre flop odds for calling a race, should ALWAYS be the forefront in a Turbo Tourney. It is best to keep in Mind the 60/40 rule as listed in <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/turbo-tournaments-discussion-vs-normal.html" target="_blank">Turbo Tournaments - A Discussion vs. Normal Speed and Play</a>. If you are closer to the 40% mark, then you will want a stack at LEAST 30+BB, while your opponent has a stack of about 12BB (then you can call the all in). On the Short Stack (15BB or less)? Try to be around 50% on up for the shove. Remember, racing shouldn't be a consideration until the Later stage (blinds at 250 or more with antes).<br /><br />A tool to be used for both pre flop and post tourney analysis can be found at: <a href="http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-tools/odds-calculator/texas-holdem" target="_blank">Texas Hold'em Odds Calculator - CardPlayer.com</a>. As a pre-flop tool, you can plug in AK for your opponent if you are in early or middle position, or AJ for BB if in CO or BUTTON. Conversely, you can put other cards (such as possible pocket pairs), OR, if you have been keeping notes on your opponent, the possible range of cards he has been playing.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />For demonstration purposes, as a Post Flop and analysis tool, I will run some observed hands, with 2 thrown in from my own play. All races should be run in Late Stage (antes), and In the Money Phase (unless Short Stack of less than 10BB, and are Nearing the Money Phase or at Final Table).<br /><br /><ul><li>22 vs AKo<br />52% vs 48%, chip stacks equal, short stack, or 22 should have 30+ BB stack vs a 10+ BB Stack. For equal stack size, you should actually muck. If on the short stack, preferably 12BB or less.</li></ul><ul><li>33 vs ATo<br />Another 52% vs 48%, see above for profitability.</li></ul><ul><li>22 mid vs ATs late<br />49% vs. 51%, virtual tie. Really should only be played with 22 having 30+ BB stack vs a 10+ BB Stack.</li></ul><ul><li>QJoBB vs A9sUTG vs KK (button)<br />Three way pot here: A9s comes in at 30%, KK is at 58%, while QJo is a measly 12% (and should get the heck out of dodge in a reraised pot). Of course, KK wins. Without QJo in there, A9s is only a 32% favorite vs. KK at 68%. Advice, drop A9s from your arsenal UTG. If playing from late position, and have 30+ BB, only call the raise if the opponent has 10+ BB or less. Otherwise, consider folding - especially if in multiway pot</li></ul><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKlLaYsk8n3kxuG-CwHsFfly7q-3zXIcDjFePaeraM9OTIlOMXmbSSUHtRXCPvRAHU0QeoYHixqhrrJGjja5VjGIbINplnRcSGa8Wz10e9eTGTa9srKuoECLoJFzZCf4i8GMxX5_Hm-c/s1600-h/Multiwayrace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKlLaYsk8n3kxuG-CwHsFfly7q-3zXIcDjFePaeraM9OTIlOMXmbSSUHtRXCPvRAHU0QeoYHixqhrrJGjja5VjGIbINplnRcSGa8Wz10e9eTGTa9srKuoECLoJFzZCf4i8GMxX5_Hm-c/s320/Multiwayrace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446233722489259346" border="0" /></a><ul><li>JJ mid vs K6s late<br />68% vs. 32%. This race should not be run. In late position, CO or BU, play the K6s for a raise and call only if - a. no one has entered pot before you, and b. you have 30+BB, and the others behind you have less than 15+ BB.</li></ul><ul><li>KJo mid vs JJ sb<br />This hand knocked me out of a final table. Blinds were at 4k, my stack was around 32k, and Opponent was just above 100k.<br />32% vs. My 68%. Of course, he should not have called. I believed that since this took about a third of his stack, he would not call. But at these limits, expect the unexpected.</li></ul><ul><li>A8o button vs. T9o BB<br />56% vs. 44%. Should only make this play as steal. If in the Nearing the Money phase, put in a raise, and drop if don't hit the flop (and opponent makes some sort of move at the pot). Again, the profitable call is 30+BB vs. 12BB.</li></ul><ul><li>AJs sb, vs AQo, UTG<br />Here, AJs ended up winning. AJs was the short stack. Pre-flop, AJs is 28% vs. AQo 67% (not 72%, because UTG). However, opponent was well stacked, and made the right call. For the most part, AQo UTG should not be called in multiway pots, and only when you have 40+BB vs 15BB or lower.</li></ul><ul><li>99 mid vs AQs, sb<br />52% vs. 48%, See above for close race situations.</li></ul><ul><li>JTo vs J8s<br />Here, we had a shorter stack going all in with J8s. Odds for J8s are 27.5% vs. JTo 62.5%. Not a good race (considering your opponents possible range of hand). If you can make at least 6 hands, and are on the short stack, wait for some better cards to race. "But it was suited" doesn't work here.</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkpeyBuFqjhZneId5ZLMC5nW6FBzwxc2OtaFzEs6sH3RUT5ePwp38i0H5Fz2Y12UCE8l-gAV5yxdMFfM4iO81lPL5oYg7DnAA6wolrVhpp3jg2aLAEDl8jBH75cQnOugHTCRL-vkUZZE/s1600-h/JacksRace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkpeyBuFqjhZneId5ZLMC5nW6FBzwxc2OtaFzEs6sH3RUT5ePwp38i0H5Fz2Y12UCE8l-gAV5yxdMFfM4iO81lPL5oYg7DnAA6wolrVhpp3jg2aLAEDl8jBH75cQnOugHTCRL-vkUZZE/s320/JacksRace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446239257930049842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Click On Above Pics to Enlarge</span></div>ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-44592864748344939672010-03-07T18:15:00.000-08:002010-03-09T06:24:29.184-08:00Turbo Tourney Statistics, Why Keep Track, Note Improvement<span style="font-weight:bold;">Edit, Important: there was a mistake in my Memory Banks (heehee). I did NOT lose the One Hand Wonder Tourney due to QQ on first hand, but Actually AQo, so I will need to re-edit documents to reflect this hand. It wasn't till I pulled up the Hand History for <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/reviewing-hand-histories-as-part-of.html" target=_blnak>THIS POST</a>, that I realized the mistake).</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja367GHvoEy4pzHaKkWkCrCuPGY8epgy6L3osZRp1MPFZzfoJZNDqPa_QDyoi6sOpD3ANyfS55VfOI6Q9zLi8YIaOIpCJ000AYl_fph0rHoeMBgcw_1DRtPkKAlvwxNP8UtPYc6QFEqhc/s1600-h/scarystatistics.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja367GHvoEy4pzHaKkWkCrCuPGY8epgy6L3osZRp1MPFZzfoJZNDqPa_QDyoi6sOpD3ANyfS55VfOI6Q9zLi8YIaOIpCJ000AYl_fph0rHoeMBgcw_1DRtPkKAlvwxNP8UtPYc6QFEqhc/s320/scarystatistics.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446081018058218706" /></a><br />I have blogged statistics after most tourney games for the Stars challenge in many posts. There are various reasons for this. For personal blogging, lets me and others note that the number of hands played can tell whether you are on tilt or not. Also, there will be a tendency and need to play more hands (depending on chip stack and Turbo Tourney level), than in regular tourneys.<br /><br />However, the next reason is to see the <span style="font-weight: bold;">BIG</span> difference in finish positions pre and post application of the Turbo Tournament Strategy (<span style="font-style: italic;">mine, not another one that is published</span>). Before, for three tourneys, I thought I was starting to be card dead. During the next four tourneys played after I developed a strategy, the results were significantly improved.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The six tourneys played PRIOR to writing the strategy (following a normal speed low buy in strategy), INCLUDING personal notes (the first 3 tourneys were played on different day):</span><br /><br /><ol><li>First Game: First hand in BB, 98 suited resisted the urge to go all in, even though would have won. Flop came 10sQc2s, with 7s on the river. Oh well. Some dope on table running all time clocks off. 5th hand, went all in with AKs, 2 callers with 55 and 44, lost. 7th hand, in BB and 20 chips, won with Q8 off. 8th hand in SB, went all in with AJo, lost to 88.<br /><br />Finished in 244th place.<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 8 hands and saw flop:<br />- 2 out of 2 times while in big blind (100%)<br />- 1 out of 1 times while in small blind (100%)<br />- 1 out of 5 times in other positions (20%)<br />- a total of 4 out of 8 (50%)<br />Pots won at showdown - 1 of 3 (33%)</li><br /><br /><li>Second Game, started in BB again. First round won 1, but lost with open ender (some chips, not out yet). On 16th hand, went all in with QQ (blinds at 100, utg1), got called by BB with QJ suited, he won with straight on turn. Had player keep disconnecting, slowing game down (think they did it on purpose), but he went out when I did. He actually had AA in small blind. Gonna tighten up next gaame, but if I start in the BB again, there is something up with the app here.<br /><br />Finished in 162nd Place.<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 16 hands and saw flop:<br />- 2 out of 2 times while in big blind (100%)<br />- 0 out of 2 times while in small blind (0%)<br />- 4 out of 12 times in other positions (33%)<br />- a total of 6 out of 16 (37%)<br />Pots won at showdown - 2 of 4 (50%)<br />Pots won without showdown - 0</li><br /><br /><li>Third tourney, got lucky on split first hand, Went from first to bust. Tired. 77 got me again, though best on flop. Per my usual, will need to play a few more games until cash. Time to break for lunch, meds, etc.<br /><br />Finished in 52nd.<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 51 hands and saw flop:<br /> - 2 out of 6 times while in big blind (33%)<br /> - 2 out of 5 times while in small blind (40%)<br /> - 15 out of 40 times in other positions (37%)<br /> - a total of 19 out of 51 (37%)<br /> Pots won at showdown - 5 of 9 (55%)<br /> Pots won without showdown - 3</li><br /><br /><li>Fourth Game: Moved to other tables a lot. Caught a couple of good hands, built up to 8k, shouldn't have cbet the AK. Next time, simply 3 bet, not five bet, or simply fold in early position.<br /><br />Finished in 94th.<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 26 hands and saw flop:<br /> - 4 out of 5 times while in big blind (80%)<br /> - 0 out of 3 times while in small blind (0%)<br /> - 3 out of 18 times in other positions (16%)<br /> - a total of 7 out of 26 (26%)<br /> Pots won at showdown - 3 of 6 (50%)<br /> Pots won without showdown - 0</li><br /><br /><li>Fifth Game: Up to 4K, got a little lucky, then switched to table with higher stacks. Never got any higher, bad stats, levels at 250. Kick the limp with K3 suited. First game my AA lost to 55, with 5 on turn.<br /><br />Finished 88th.<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 40 hands and saw flop:<br /> - 3 out of 5 times while in big blind (60%)<br /> - 4 out of 5 times while in small blind (80%)<br /> - 9 out of 30 times in other positions (30%)<br /> - a total of 16 out of 40 (40%)<br /> Pots won at showdown - 4 of 7 (57%)<br /> Pots won without showdown - 1</li><br /><br /><li>Sixth game: Card dead. Must be on that list to lose. Finished in 146th place.<br /><br />Stats of Card Dead Player:<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 20 hands and saw flop:<br />- 1 out of 2 times while in big blind (50%)<br />- 1 out of 2 times while in small blind (50%)<br />- 2 out of 16 times in other positions (12%)<br />- a total of 4 out of 20 (20%)<br />Pots won at showdown - 0 of 3 (0%)<br />Pots won without showdown - 0</li></ol><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Improvement, the Statistics <span style="font-weight:bold;">AFTER</span> application of the Turbo Strategy (note, after each game, tweaked the strategy a little bit more):<br /><br /><ol><li>Tournament 20: Final hand (he had bigger stack than I, he made the appropriate call). Lost 99 against AJ suited. 99 is 52.7 against AJs, 46.83% (so this WAS a decent race hand). However, next hand, he flopped the nuts, and won again with 72 spades, made full house.<br /><br />Finished 54th (I was stacked to get to the cash, made this play to bust out).<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 61 hands and saw flop:<br />- 4 out of 7 times while in big blind (57%)<br />- 4 out of 8 times while in small blind (50%)<br />- 7 out of 46 times in other positions (15%)<br />- a total of 15 out of 61 (24%)<br />Pots won at showdown - 4 of 6 (66%)<br />Pots won without showdown - 4<br /><br /><li>21 tourney: Went all in with <span style="font-weight:bold;">AQo my First Hand</span> (my bad).<br /><br />Finished 343rd<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 1 hands and saw flop:<br />- 0 out of 0 times while in big blind (0%)<br />- 0 out of 0 times while in small blind (0%)<br />- 1 out of 1 times in other positions (100%)<br />- a total of 1 out of 1 (100%)<br />Pots won at showdown - 0 of 1 (0%)<br />Pots won without showdown - 0<br /><br /><li>22nd tourney, my own donk move (hand study next few posts). Again, I had plenty to cash:<br /><br />Finished 41st<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 67 hands and saw flop:<br />- 4 out of 9 times while in big blind (44%)<br />- 1 out of 8 times while in small blind (12%)<br />- 10 out of 50 times in other positions (20%)<br />- a total of 15 out of 67 (22%)<br />Pots won at showdown - 5 of 7 (71%)<br />Pots won without showdown - 0<br /><br /><li>23rd tourney (Note, made Final Table, ONLY dealt 95 hands):<br /><br />Finished 9th<br /><br />During current Hold'em session you were dealt 95 hands and saw flop:<br />- 9 out of 13 times while in big blind (69%)<br />- 3 out of 12 times while in small blind (25%)<br />- 11 out of 70 times in other positions (15%)<br />- a total of 23 out of 95 (24%)<br />Pots won at showdown - 8 of 12 (66%)<br />Pots won without showdown - 12</li></ol><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Now, for an examination of the statistics. The FIRST important statistic to note is how many hands you are dealt. To consistently win, you will need to make the best decisions with the cards you are dealt, in order to move up the Food Chain. In my pre-turbo strategy, tended to blame a lot of this on slow play. I later learned more patience, and to adjust to slow play as needed. In a normal speed tourney, your hand count will be about DOUBLE the 95 that made the final. In these tourneys, to cash, need to wait out about 70+ hands or so.<br /><br />Second Most important statistic: saw flop x out of xx times in other positions. While you can't help if its folded around to you in the blinds, or your small blind hand is good enough to call a raise, the hands you call with OUT OF THE BLINDS you can control. Pre-Turbo Strategy, average Out Of Blind Calls (from above), around 26% (counting a little over because of earlier tourneys with total around 43%). Post-Turbo strategy, average Out of Blind Calls, 17% (not counting the 100% for the first hand all in, not a typical result. There WILL be strong starting hands, such as AA, for the first hand, that you will shove, and lose - I've seen it. Now, Aqo is not the best shove first hand, and I definitely should have know better). So, post-turbo strategy, your average SHOULD be around 15% to 20% for calls not in the blinds (most pros play around the 20% level, unless they go on tilt - WHICH I have observed).<br /><br />Third Statistic to Examine: Total percentage of calls. Again, if you are looking at 40% or more, you are probably playing too many hands. My pre-turbo strategy, my total call percentage was 30%. Post-Turbo strategy (again discounting the one hand wonder), is about 23%. This is a statistic common across most of my Near the Bubble, In the Money, and Final Table finishes. What you <span style="font-weight:bold;">REALLY WANT</span> here, is between 22% and 24% (25% at the most), on a consistent basis. Good preflop selection in the early stages, with appropriate moves due to chip stack sizes in the middle stages, will keep this percentage at an average level.<br /><br />Last statistic we want to look at is Finish Position. We'll again do an average, but in the money is more important. Pre-turbo strategy, averaging around the 131st mark (which is still the top 50%, but top 50% isn't in the money). Post-turbo strategy, average finish is 35 (which IS in the money). Now, to consistently play tourneys, and each one finish that close, I don't feel is a coincidence. IF I had not made some donk moves (trying to get that chip stack so could win, INSTEAD of being satisfied with making the money, and THEN making the moves), I would have cashed in ALL the tourneys except for the One Hand Blunder game.<br /><br />After doing some more tweaking for Near the Bubble and In the Money plays, I believe I will have a more sound strategy to get in the money (or at least finish in less the 100 position) a larger percentage of the time. And this means time will be better spent playing the tournaments.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">All Comments welcome (including dissensions).</span>ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-90595335228121373412010-03-07T14:30:00.000-08:002010-03-07T14:37:57.127-08:00Submitted for Your Approval, Turbo Tournament Strategy DevelopmentThe work on the Turbo Tournament Strategy continues. I have four aspects I am looking at:<br /><br /><ol><li>Writing Up the Pre-flop Strategy</li><br /><li>Observation of Other Games (and excellent time to take notes on your opponents, snyder321, I've got you noted :-)</li><br /><li>Playing actual games and analyzing the results (also, time to keep notes on other players, including when you bust out, which is hard to do.)</li><br /><li>Tweaking the strategy to match the results</li></ol><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />A note on Observation, paying Attention to the Types of Players you are surrounded with:<br /><br /><ul><li>One that doesn't really know poker, much less tournament strategy. Likely to go all in first hand with J9 off (or such other ridiculous call).</li><li>One that doesn't really care about the tournament (low cost excuse, "its only 10 cents" will be on many players minds).</li><li>Of course, the general fish, and the opponent that seems to be out to prove how many pots he can steal with a bluff and big stack (watch for this player to go on tilt, got lucky early in the game with that J9 off, and will start going all in with any 2 cards).</li></ul><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Second Aspect, Observation. For this, I simply observe tourneys. Plenty of opportunities here, just pick one and watch. Or, look up a known player (such as the one noted in my <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/multi-tabling-more-profit-or-defeats.html" target=_blank>Multi-Table study</a>, or the infamous <a href="http://5ohtwochallenge.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>snyder321</a>). You can keep notes on the folks you watch, dependent on your setup for note taking. You will then start to find some previous noted players in your own tournament.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjw7A2BlSGwXRx5sLlA20aqe8dz-PVnr0qFmTLmFpTbLA7-orDxA_E_BLOcPwBIXfKIc0I9REa6dJ665pTkFbWJj9ro619sbd_NM59JU8rSOKaSB-47Uhx9I7APtSoGRQye4UP5vyBc8/s1600-h/StarsNoteLabel.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjw7A2BlSGwXRx5sLlA20aqe8dz-PVnr0qFmTLmFpTbLA7-orDxA_E_BLOcPwBIXfKIc0I9REa6dJ665pTkFbWJj9ro619sbd_NM59JU8rSOKaSB-47Uhx9I7APtSoGRQye4UP5vyBc8/s320/StarsNoteLabel.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446015855658314722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gF-i4eOqVoYRhCa7XyTxIrvgCtce0uawf7ClqfVacMKnTSXhKfGsIA4TUe3rmwk6Kn5z4JFqxLYh4-StnjAQlWR7EchGY5-Sbj2skIH9h30kVdCUUJG9gvNhVes__4jA1TAbz4gPdMQ/s1600-h/StarsNoteLabelLobby.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gF-i4eOqVoYRhCa7XyTxIrvgCtce0uawf7ClqfVacMKnTSXhKfGsIA4TUe3rmwk6Kn5z4JFqxLYh4-StnjAQlWR7EchGY5-Sbj2skIH9h30kVdCUUJG9gvNhVes__4jA1TAbz4gPdMQ/s320/StarsNoteLabelLobby.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446016757539103042" /></a>You can also pull up notes/labels while observing from tourney lobby when find noted players, or after searching for a player, and finding their table.<br /><br />The purpose of observation was to see how well my strategy would play, and to note other folks using the same sort of play. I have noticed at the lower level of buy in, a few start off with the good strategy approach, with later donking due either to the reliance on Luck Variable, or because of regular Tournament Strategy, not applicable to Turbos. So application of the strategy can prove invaluable in that edge against opponents without this knowledge.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Third Aspect, Actual application of the strategy:<br /><br />I have to keep reminding myself to keep notes on other players. It is <span style="font-weight:bold;">STRONGLY recommended</span> that while learning the strategy, <span style="font-weight:bold;">to play MANY games, and not MULTI-TABLE</span>. The reason being, you will want to learn the key elements prior to playing more than one table, so that when you open more than one table, you have the skills needed to play.<br /><br />My play has improved greatly with the strategy. Prior to the study, I had played 19 tourneys total, with varying results. After some application, the next 4 tourneys proved more closer to the money, with the exception of one. The next post will address those tourneys.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />First and Fourth Aspect: Writing the Strategy, and Tweaking with Study.<br /><br />I developed the strategy (soon to be published), based on some study of blind structure, position, pre-flop play, and recommended hole cards. Since Turbos are a Pre-Flop Game, the two starting cards are MOST important, followed by Chip Stack size relative to the Blinds, then your position on the table. After that, we have stages for the tournament, which I have broken into early, middle, late, nearing the bubble, in the money, and final table.<br /><br />After some work, I have the early, middle and later stages going pretty well. With the help of analysis though Holdem Manager, I have noted some additions and subtractions to basic Hole cards based on position (not only stack size). A lot of my prior study did not include In the Money Play, nor actual Final Table. Nearing the Bubble, I've had to incorporate a few different strategies here. I am tweaking the Nearing the Bubble, In the Money, and Final Table stage through actual application via observation, actual play, and tourney analysis.<br /><br />The next posts will address some of these aspects, where I fell off, and lastly, offer a <span style="font-weight:bold;">READER CHALLENGE</span> for your consideration (think Rod Serling here).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr1ZaOzWGQdhak3PMmpTPUo7iy2p9FRzlyOfjTqwGekQAg6MzmhUBXBKLxvLzl3s6dOc2hQpJpoWev0Vp9uDFBDmW5PaAZgjjKicWlLwRgZHQNnw8kLstA5LJ0lE7jnNg0Nn0DfPcZb4/s1600-h/rodserling.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 98px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr1ZaOzWGQdhak3PMmpTPUo7iy2p9FRzlyOfjTqwGekQAg6MzmhUBXBKLxvLzl3s6dOc2hQpJpoWev0Vp9uDFBDmW5PaAZgjjKicWlLwRgZHQNnw8kLstA5LJ0lE7jnNg0Nn0DfPcZb4/s320/rodserling.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446020106802311490" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Passing Personal Note: VERY IMPORTANT, Man, I need more coffee.</span>ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-61880599620030274262010-03-03T20:10:00.000-08:002010-03-03T20:18:17.199-08:00So, What the Heck Have I Been Up To? Study and Tweaking.Well, its been a few days since I've posted. Want to cover a few topics, and catch the readers up with What's Going On.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGMTXoSZhgFh3_7K2eJMLKr014M_JpVpQ6FQ1lJOj_L2uxvYEsetR6WE9_bjPeVnuAQPf8bHAjiRUzzvn6YxQLxCxgTuFnT5pjFDAK6LNMHUT4Dx6bCPiL_W9IPb5IDcJRIO4KN9-ono/s1600-h/typewriter.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 139px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGMTXoSZhgFh3_7K2eJMLKr014M_JpVpQ6FQ1lJOj_L2uxvYEsetR6WE9_bjPeVnuAQPf8bHAjiRUzzvn6YxQLxCxgTuFnT5pjFDAK6LNMHUT4Dx6bCPiL_W9IPb5IDcJRIO4KN9-ono/s400/typewriter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444626771383217026" /></a>I've been sick for a few days, throwing my daily life into a little bit of an off array. Didn't play any poker, because the medication made my mind a tad fuzzy. I recommend to everyone, <span style="font-weight:bold;">DO NOT PLAY POKER</span> if you find your mind is not up to the game. This isn't WOW, this is real money against real opponents with skill and huds vs. your abilities. Ergo, no points have accumulated on Full Tilt, so I won't be vying for the point a day Freeroll next month.<br /><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Another aspect of the game I would like to discuss is observation. Even though I have holdem manager, I do not record observed hands. For one thing, at the level I'm playing, it is HIGHLY unlikely that I will run into repeat opponents over and over again. So, I will have created a large database without real meaning. However, I have played online, and observed many different types of games at ALL stake levels over and over since 2003. This gives me a distinct advantage to recognizing patterns, even as PRNG's or TRNG's evolve for different Poker sites. Therefore, when I start to see a certain sequence of cards being dealt in a tourney, I can tell when a <span style="font-weight:bold;">LOSING STREAK</span> is about to happen. <span style="font-weight:bold;">It is simple Mathematics. and the ability to recognize patterns in a pseudo random environment</span>. While observing, I <span style="font-weight:bold;">WILL</span> keep notes on players, AND I highly recommend keeping notes on Players while at the table. HuDs will be useful at the higher levels, but your opponents are probably using them also. And, as I've seen repeatedly in other blogs, despite High VPIP readings, the Villain tends to win a big pot anyway. So HUDS can be off.<br /><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Are you folks doing the computer Maintenance as described in this <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/another-day-another-dollar.html" target=_blank>post</a>? Its very important to <span style="font-weight:bold;">SHUT the machine down</span>, at least weekly. Hibernation is not the same thing. Desktop users will want to unplug the Desktop for 1 to 2 minutes in order to clean out Memory, as opposed to Laptop users removing the battery. Windows builds up a lot of residual, the Service Host Process being the largest, and for Vista/Win 7 users, DWM, Desktop Windows Management, keeps using up larger and larger amounts of memory as you do more playing, and visit more websites, etc., without clearing the Memory. Rebooting does not clean all this residual out, only clearing the memory by disconnecting the Power Supply will work.<br /><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />As to the question of adding RSS feed to the Sidebar of your blog, I downloaded <a href="http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.6/releasenotes/" target=_blank>firefox</a> last year when I got my new puter, and transferred the settings and add ons from my old Computer. I also have the Sage Reader add on (others can do a quick look for different <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/" target=_blank>subscription readers</a>, as Sage may be outdated for the current version). For IE users, I do not know how you would accomplish the same thing. When I reach a site I want to add for feeds to other posts, I open up Sage, and click on the Search for Feeds, add RSS feed, and then right click the new link in sage, select properties. In separate window, tab, I select Edit Layout, Add Gadget, and the the RSS Feeder shown. It will ask for the URL, which I copy and Paste from the Properties box (or you can simply copy and paste to notepad), and upload the Gadget to Layout. Place the Gadget wherever you want it to show up, and then Save Layout. I then Delete the link from Sage (unless I want to keep the site in there), and I am done. <span style="font-weight:bold;">IE users, please comment as to your methods for doing this.</span> I have switched to Firefox since a potential Nasty tried to hit my old computer in 2008, and with Vista Use, very rarely use IE for anything. <span style="font-weight:bold;">So other browsers with blogs, feel free to help a commenter out with how to add RSS, Atom feeds through the Gadget for BlogSpot</span>.<br /><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_KBlcmvut4Nz2Oxy0WVrw9sPpLc1YGFWivG6fWQMUD6qBTtkhyphenhyphenoat7hcMWpYpqfCg4T0dLilYR7VMRa-4qGrSLQxsWjeObFU-qw1QP3og-8y7kf__hjhsMgfTwMV-RHdlGrI0NcTZTY/s1600-h/QQ.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 55px; height: 54px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_KBlcmvut4Nz2Oxy0WVrw9sPpLc1YGFWivG6fWQMUD6qBTtkhyphenhyphenoat7hcMWpYpqfCg4T0dLilYR7VMRa-4qGrSLQxsWjeObFU-qw1QP3og-8y7kf__hjhsMgfTwMV-RHdlGrI0NcTZTY/s400/QQ.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439371829080017362" /></a>Now, for the Current Status of my Poker Playing. I am tweaking a new Low Buy In Multi Table Tournament Strategy. As described in my <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/turbo-tournaments-discussion-vs-normal.html" target=_blank>Turbo Tournaments post</a>, Turbos are a pre-flop Game. My finished page will have strategies for all kinds of tournaments, but Turbos are the strategy I wish to start with. So, I have made a preliminary list of pre-flop hole cards to work with at different stages of the Game. Another Study is the <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/82/pre-flop-play" target=_blank>Pre-Flop Strategy by Chris Ferguson</a> (though the challenge is for ring games, its meant to translate into tournaments also). I will be observing some games, to see how these hole cards hold up at different stages. I will play approximately 10 Turbos, and then analyze the games and Pre Flops in Holdem Manager (maybe between 3 or 4 games at a time). As I tweak the findings, I plan on being more in the money (which is the goal here anyways). So research and study has been the duty of the day (which is a necessary part of Playing Online Poker).<br /><br />Boy, my posts just keep getting bigger than earlier days. Hope you find them useful. My current status is played 19 tourneys on Stars since start of challenge, 2/7/2010. My current bankroll is $6.04 (I think). Last played on 2/23/2010, because of the losing streak feeling I had coming on. So hopefully, new play at later date will have dropped the streak.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-57094600695677404312010-02-28T17:30:00.000-08:002010-03-16T10:27:02.439-07:00Turbo Tournaments - A Discussion vs. Normal Speed and Play<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgMutXXM6H7fOWvZHXX3jDRuDLjpazlivX0l8zJkZQ9cxZhDQI40OZLYKId11cixVQa1eOeWxan84uU4lcIunPOZ9oGmzRk0hR1F0uSf4Vtgxh8DAl6s0r5DcciVpQou9CI-Bn1tZZ5k/s1600-h/PokerStars2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 79px; height: 87px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgMutXXM6H7fOWvZHXX3jDRuDLjpazlivX0l8zJkZQ9cxZhDQI40OZLYKId11cixVQa1eOeWxan84uU4lcIunPOZ9oGmzRk0hR1F0uSf4Vtgxh8DAl6s0r5DcciVpQou9CI-Bn1tZZ5k/s400/PokerStars2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443465227136218194" /></a>Since my challenge on Stars incorporates building from .10 cent micro-limit Turbo Tournaments, a definite comparison between the types of play in Turbo vs. Non-Turbo is in Order. There are not a lot of strategy articles for Turbos. So, for our comparison study, we will be looking at NORMAL stack tourneys, which means both a normal speed and a Turbo speed will start with the same stacks (1500 in chips). While the blinds and minutes per entry level are different for Full Tilt than PokerStars, we will work with Stars as the focus for our study. There are many micro limit, multi table sngs running constantly on PokerStars. Some blind structures are a little different than others. However, the main difference between Normal Speed and Turbo, is the increase in levels (10 mins for a Normal speed, 5 mins for a Turbo speed). PokerStars also starts out the first blind lower than Full Tilt, at 20 vs. 30 for the latter.<br /><br />Turbos are designed to be fast, fast paced action, fast paced structure (kinda like Rush Poker, only a little slower). You need to be comfortable with Coin-flip hands (the kind you want to avoid in normal tournaments and Sit N Gos). This is kinda like gambling, but is comparative more to BlackJack than a slot machine (since there is SOME skill involved). At some point in time during the Turbo, you will be short stacked.<br /><br /><p align=center><span style="font-weight:bold;">You can click on the images below to enlarge.</span></p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C4mxneW0aXfnPsMLOHsn5y6HYAKJp0Io48StXOxw-Mmxvo056QM4g7drVaSpt0-CHu7D6FqzDv5Ha8-PLMJygDRHMfQHM3r3v8d72XxKsYB9QvTCa9wQmq4-t3dP5GbebEgEijCRxoU/s1600-h/StarsMultiTable.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C4mxneW0aXfnPsMLOHsn5y6HYAKJp0Io48StXOxw-Mmxvo056QM4g7drVaSpt0-CHu7D6FqzDv5Ha8-PLMJygDRHMfQHM3r3v8d72XxKsYB9QvTCa9wQmq4-t3dP5GbebEgEijCRxoU/s320/StarsMultiTable.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443468674843182642" /></a><br />When the blinds escalate to 1k and 2k, I've rarely seen anyone with 100 times the Big Blind - especially in MTT turbo SNGs, with a fixed number of players. To be successful in this environment, you need to set yourself up so that you win the race at showdown. Experience will tell you when you need to push for the coin-flip, the race. Some folks needlessly gamble (such as going all in the first hand with J9o and three other callers). Some folks don't shove when they should - waiting for the AA, KK, AKs hand. My stats say that I get those hands 2.7% of time out of 19 tournaments. And with multi-tablers, slow connections, and people running the clock down to get further ahead without playing a hand, you can easily get to 150 blinds and see only 16 hands. So the traditional wait for top cards, as in normal speed tourneys, won't get you very far in Turbos.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Turbos are excellent training tournaments. They are all about playing your first two cards, basically a pre-flop game. Therefore, you learn good starting hand values. If you have an analysis tool like Holdem Manager or Poker Tracker, you can get even more insight into how your starting hand and hole cards are working for you. For example, one strategy site recommends limping from amy position with Axs or Kxs. After having analyzed my play, I can see that won't work in Turbo Tourneys. They are DEFINITELY NOT shoving hands in the early rounds. The only value I can possibly see in these now - is from late position with a decent stack size, and only Axs.<br /><br />Turbos also offer the opportunity for profit with short time investment. The 360 man .10 cent Turbo on Stars takes about 2 hours or so. The same Daily Dollar on Full Tilt will take several hours. Some deep stack big buy in events can last 8 or more hours (well, they want you to get your money's worth). Played correctly, the .10 cent turbo tourney will work well as the launching pad for higher buy in tourneys later on, as the Bankroll Building Challenge continues.<br /><br />Now a quick comparison between the Turbo and Normal Tourney on Stars, even though the stacks start at 1500 in both, due to 5 minute blind levels, you will become short stacked much more quickly. After 30 minutes in a Turbo Tourney, the blinds are 150, and 10% of your starting stack. In a Normal Speed $1.20 sit n go, after 30 minutes, the blinds are at 50, which means your starting stack was 30 times the blind.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Now, my experience has shown that at the lower buy in level, folks are ready to gamble the pre-flop game right away (that is, toss all you chips into play with what YOU think will win the pot - or playing your coin flip, race hands). Patience is very important. In the early levels, while you have from 20 to 40 times the big blind in your stack, just play solid poker. And try to stay out of the mash which is folks shoving with any two cards. When folks are making mistakes, in order to try and build a stack, you can capitalize on the mistakes, and build your own (here is where direct observation, vs HUDS, comes in handy). But good solid poker is needed for this situation. Your stack of 1500 chips will go further if you don't try to steal the blinds and small bets worth 100 total, and will probably get called anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62jt-ipiOhvq1VJwvag5EQoqjY0gv-lG1dL9Ey_ExGQKZpgREjfmORvCyW7H_qppcDSayMD2JBmbA1LoVc8F2Qg9FPlhCFpwY7ChD4omkasx8jkKUGrB4ykjh4PtiQWsK878WpploBY/s1600-h/earlyallin.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62jt-ipiOhvq1VJwvag5EQoqjY0gv-lG1dL9Ey_ExGQKZpgREjfmORvCyW7H_qppcDSayMD2JBmbA1LoVc8F2Qg9FPlhCFpwY7ChD4omkasx8jkKUGrB4ykjh4PtiQWsK878WpploBY/s320/earlyallin.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443470064224709794" /></a><br />An excellent example: you have AKs under the gun. You raise, and get called in later position. The flop shows no A nor K. You make a standard Cbet, and the late position player raises. Most folks think, its early in the tournament, need to shove NOW. However, your opponent has QQ, and down you go. In fact, going all in with this hand, would probably have yielded the same results, again busting you out. Now, the preferred solution? Less bluffing and stealing in the early phase. No K or A on flop, then probably better to check than use a continuation bet. Save those chips. Blinds at 50 and below, is not the time to try and steal. If you miss the flop, you miss it. In a normal speed tournament, go ahead and make the Continuation bet, because you have a LOT LONGER to raise and play big hands again. Turbos don't offer that type of time luxury. <span style="font-weight:bold;">The time to shove with AK UTG+, is after you are short stacked, not before</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Difference for early stages of Turbos, less action on the button, less raising to steal</span>. If you do attempt the steal, you will more than likely need to make a continuation bet, and anyone with a decent draw is going to give you action. Turn down the steal and bluff machines, now is not the time. Don't defend with your weak hands. If you didn't make the flop, or you are not getting EXTREMELY good pot odds to call (you will need to let go of the implied odds here) your draw, it is best to fold. Your A high will probably not hold up.<br /><br />An example for play in the early stages, say blinds are 50, someone 3 bets UTG, then from late position can call with smaller pockets. The reason being, if you hit your set, then you'll probably be paid off. Maybe UTG has AA, and you made a set of 99s on the flop. UTG continues with bet, and is probably pot committed. You raise, and more than likely, since this is a turbo tourney, even pocket 10s will call your raise, and pay you off.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Play changes when the blinds are 100 to 200, no antes yet. You are short stacked, 1200 chips (haven't played a pot), and the blinds are 150, Stealing just to steal is not profitable at this stage, whether short stacked or Medium Stacked. The short guys are going to go all in. If you are short stacked, and manage to steal the blinds, you are only picking up 225 chips, making your 1200 into 1425. You are still short stacked. Mid stacked, even if the blinds are short stacked, either pick up 225 more, or end up in race for 1300 more chips. If lose, then have risked almost 1/3 of chip stack JUST to steal 225 chips. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Not a good play</span>. There will be a lot of races during the turbo. Unless you have a really good hand on the button, this race is not profitable.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />When the antes kick in, play changes again. For the .10 cent turbo, the antes kick in at 125/250 blinds, 25 antes. The pot is now 600 or thereabouts in the middle. You bet 500 or more, in hopes of picking up 600. If you have fairly decent cards in late position, then go for the steal. If the short stack big blind goes all in, then call. You want to have cards that race 60 to 40 (you being the underdog or better). <span style="font-weight:bold;">Its okay for the race, if You have the chip stack (7500 or better looks good here)</span>. If calling the all in is only 700 more chips, this is the place to race. Marginally good starting hands will qualify. If you lose, still in good position. However, the short stack has waited around for a good starting hand, finally got one, and 40% of the time will lose.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Now, this strategy significantly differs from the typical Normal Speed Tourney. (Play tight in the early stages, play regular poker in the middle stages)</span>. Making these same decisions over a large number of turbo tournaments, you will come out ahead. You will win races, even as the 40% underdog, and you will be able to steal blinds. You will accumulate a lot of chips, and get in position to win. Over the long haul, you will be successful. That's why Bankroll Management is so important. You need to not be afraid to lose, but over the long haul, you will end up winning with the right mathematical decisions.<br /><br />As to the quality of Marginal Hands? I took some leeway here at the lower end of the <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/p/hutchison-point-system-starting-hand.html" target=_blank>Hutchinson Point System</a>. Lower pocket pairs down to 77, even 66. Axs and Kxs. Qxs down to Q6. Suited connectors with gaps down to 10-8, and non-suited connectors down to 98o. That's just a guesstimate, can tweak later.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Nearing the Bubble, you will find a LOT of slow play, since the blinds are probably over 1k. You can choose to continue the aggressive approach, or, if you have between 35 and 50 times the big blind, you can switch back to tight play, and wait until folks start to go a little crazy with the chip stacks after the bubble bursts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkcMGX902V_5LUEf4Mg36AJTujntybKCYdJ5uB-To9_F3gk5FAwtRWvap253E8XzJAuNwR0xUM4YrakUAUiHaWBsAOUnp4DyxFF0uZzf3ozrurkANoyS6p696K1nKiCp13xJWK8oyVE4/s1600-h/StarsFinal.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkcMGX902V_5LUEf4Mg36AJTujntybKCYdJ5uB-To9_F3gk5FAwtRWvap253E8XzJAuNwR0xUM4YrakUAUiHaWBsAOUnp4DyxFF0uZzf3ozrurkANoyS6p696K1nKiCp13xJWK8oyVE4/s320/StarsFinal.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443471499354596162" /></a><br />The final table of turbo different than regular tournament. As mentioned before, many short stacks here, and more often than not, no one has a clearly defined chip lead. And, once reach the final table, the dynamics of play change again. Obviously, the short stacks are gonna fold, waiting for someone to bust someone else out, moving them up in the money. I've also seen short stacks actually rebuild, as the races change in their favor. If you are well stacked, and have been playing aggressively, then you will need to tighten up, since everyone has seen you play, or they've watched from another table. Only go with the Good Hands as in the start of the tournament, opponents expect you to try and take advantage, and they will try to take advantage of you. If you are short stacked, and can make a few rounds (maybe 6 hands or a few more), be patient and wait to get a good hand. If someone bust out prior to your good hand, you move up. No matter what you shove with, you are probably going to get called.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-4806262520960577392010-02-27T17:25:00.000-08:002010-02-27T21:30:54.392-08:00A Note on Loss Limitation - The 30 Big Bet Rule (Big Bet = Big Blind)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim23gEAOPZC8LTfB3Rc0OtzZI1s7WMmr-QgqGZWzfiiju6F9-BlVb57bLvHYwKM-OJ4B_uBTAuOfLljqhZaAzRUPr-x-ZfRol3B5NJfQzLay2h-DhRiaEh_0Suy_JdEZT5oACZfe2UuEc/s1600-h/cashandchips.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim23gEAOPZC8LTfB3Rc0OtzZI1s7WMmr-QgqGZWzfiiju6F9-BlVb57bLvHYwKM-OJ4B_uBTAuOfLljqhZaAzRUPr-x-ZfRol3B5NJfQzLay2h-DhRiaEh_0Suy_JdEZT5oACZfe2UuEc/s320/cashandchips.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443094894088516370" border="0" /></a><br />As part of Bankroll Management, we will discuss the role of limiting your losses in a particular game. I have found this very helpful throughout my online poker playing years (ergo, you won't find me losing thousands of dollars online). There are a few rules for Bankrolls and Buyins. For limit games, a Bankroll of 250 to 300 times the Big Bet is advisable. So if you are playing a .10 fixed limit (without antes) game of Omaha or Holdem, you need about $25 to $30. For a $1 game, you need about $250 to $300.<br /><br />Now, this buffer works against that dreaded word, VARIANCE. While Poker is a game of skill in the long run, we all have losing streaks in the Short Run (see my adage on the sidebar that states if you are losing, find any excuse to get up from the table, or Just close the Client down). Your losing streaks can be long, and many players should come to grips with this.<br /><br />In fixed limit games, there is less variance than in No-Limit/Pot-Limit games. You get more value for your pot odds and implied odds, because you don't have to throw your whole stack in the middle. Hence, you can play fixed limit games with a lower bankroll than the higher variance games. However, we do run across those folks with the GREED factor, or they just watched Phil Ivey in a cash game, and they are ready to rock and roll with repeated deposits of $30, OR they insist the only way to play is with the maximum buy in.<br /><br />There are several rules of thumb for Bankroll guidelines to No Limit/Pot Limit games. Here, many advocate 25 times the Big Buy In for ring games (you may want a bigger buffer for 6 man ring games). Because Implied odds may sometimes outweigh the Pot Odds in these games, you need a larger roll to rock with. So for a NORMAL (not deep stack) ring game of No Limit Holdem, or Pot Limit Omaha, 10NL (meaning big bet is .10, big buyin is $10), you will want a roll of $250 to $300. $500 for Deep Stack and ante games.<br /><br />However, I have played (and successfully mind you), 10NL with a lower bankroll. And in Chris Ferguson's Bankroll Management Guidelines, he advocates up to 5% of your roll (20 Big Bet buy ins) for ring games and single table Sit N Gos (however, you need to get up from the table when you double that buy in, at 10% of your roll). What about variance, and what about buying in with the max to our 10NL game, which would be $10?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9ze8U9We1kRuusmflG4wAi6V3h7C-UVHei_X8tee_9Q3xGK-qrTF8Aiadlqe5SGV6grKTAqyP96WqB7iaPvud30i2FuZQ7qQmxxaKNOtRyFIXwaCopkWnJ7HVN2_Ok1i3zb0aqQ0L6E/s1600-h/rushpoker.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9ze8U9We1kRuusmflG4wAi6V3h7C-UVHei_X8tee_9Q3xGK-qrTF8Aiadlqe5SGV6grKTAqyP96WqB7iaPvud30i2FuZQ7qQmxxaKNOtRyFIXwaCopkWnJ7HVN2_Ok1i3zb0aqQ0L6E/s200/rushpoker.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443099447269867490" /></a>Well, here is where we work on the Loss Limitation. Recently, Full Tilt Poker has changed their min buy in for regular ring game NL/PL to 35 times the big blind, and Rush Poker is at 40 times the big blind. We can work with these rules. I started with the premise (not on purpose, and not having read Annie Duke's article), of typically buying in with 30 times the big blind. This is where our 30 Bet Rule comes into play. When you sit down to play, DO NOT LOSE MORE THAN 30 BIG BETS. This is fairly easy to handle in fixed limit games (since my current roll of $6 on Stars allows .30 cent buy in to a fixed limit game if I wished). But with Ring Games, you will see the majority of self proclaimed professionals stating that short stacking and rat holing makes you:<br /><ul><li>a: a losing player (haha, guess again), </li><li>b. you don't know how to play with big stacks (well guys, what about tourney experience?) or </li><li>c. You're just not right for the game because you take their chips and run (gee, I wonder where that comes from).</li></ul><br />Using our 30 bet rule, we can step outside the box a little on Bankroll Management (providing you have extra on hand). My online Roll for Full Tilt is $53+, but my total allocated is $200+ at the moment. However, supposing I decide to play a ring game of 10NL (or 5NL), I can still do so with the 30 Bet Rule (or Short Stacking as its called). For a regular ring game, I would now buy in for $3.50 (when I had the whole roll on Tilt, it would be $4 or $5). Then, I would play my game. If I lost the buy in, I would either find a new table, or quit (depending on if I was doing a challenge or not). You can even <span style="font-weight: bold;">Break it down literally</span>, that if you have lost $3 of your $3.50, then get up from the table. For Rush Poker, with my small roll, I played 10NL with $4 buy in three times (once as a test regarding a strange email I received from Support). All times had been profitable. However, the same rule applies here. Don't buy in for bigger than $4 at rush 10NL. While some say the only way is with the Big Stacks, I would rather shove my $4 into the middle with AA, than $10 with KK (and who is going to fold KK pre flop?) KK does lose to bad beats, and someone calling with AQ suited, and either hitting an A on flop, or worse - KJT appears with no paired board. AA has lost for me in Rush against KK when a K hit the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLehfYCkN0bEuI-W_4wgANe595U8GFZV4oQCdnaHpOOz11Ewg1US6T9TIPqYYjV0xmRP48C67CA3TLkZWGjtrpiwuerYtfWNtaar_huhC0qHIoHHQsW-4jNgeMeDAhC6Sq3GSBbA_w_K4/s1600-h/rushpoker2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLehfYCkN0bEuI-W_4wgANe595U8GFZV4oQCdnaHpOOz11Ewg1US6T9TIPqYYjV0xmRP48C67CA3TLkZWGjtrpiwuerYtfWNtaar_huhC0qHIoHHQsW-4jNgeMeDAhC6Sq3GSBbA_w_K4/s200/rushpoker2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443099924438463730" /></a>So, Variance wise, learning wise, and Bankroll Management wise - it is MUCH better to risk your 30 to 40 bet stack vs. a 100BB+ stack (I lost $45+ on that AA vs. KK hand). While you WILL win with AA a lot more than lose, losing streaks DO happen, and buying in for 100BB (Big Bets), when your roll is between 25 and 50 times the Big Buy Ins, only allows for so many games. And when you start losing? Then, to continue the Big Stack Buy in, you need to move down in limits, or go bust. The originator of this design was Annie Duke posting on the Advice of her big bro Howard Lederer. Even professional players work with the Loss Limiting (despite forum talk). Continually rebuying at the same table you have lost at:<br /><ul><li>a. continues the losing streak, if one is in process </li><li>b. loses our focus on how well we are playing, because we are focused on shoving to make up for our losses.</li></ul><br />When you are losing, your table image erodes (if you are playing Rush, you will have a tendency to go on tilt a LOT easier). Those looking up stats can see this. Opponents will come hard at you, making it more difficult for you to bluff, which REALLY eats at your profits. You are not on your A game. Once again, even with a $250 roll, a $4 loss is much easier to take, than a $10 loss. If you lose, get up from the table (don't rebuy). If you double or better your stack, get UP. There is nothing wrong with keeping your money. Folks that want to play with Big Stacks, well - we have Deep Stack tables, do feel free to take advantage of them.<br /><br />And how can we incorporate this into Tourney and SNG buy ins? I like to think of three games or so at a time. For your typical single table Sit N Go, you really need to cash one out of three times. For multi-table tourneys, you can go longer, because the payouts are bigger, BUT - after three games, even if multi-tabling for that time (say 3 windows for 3 buy ins at a time leading to 9 games), if you haven't won anything, take a break. Variance here is big, and if starting a long losing streak, why prolong it with a long session of 20 to 40 games? (I learned this the hard way). So think of tourneys in increments of 3 to 9 buyins at a time. This still falls within the 30 Big Bet rule.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-15845396613050514812010-02-27T00:30:00.000-08:002010-02-27T00:38:34.774-08:00Using Holdem Manager to Perfect the Game<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-jhsIjrCJaBQdc0vC68i9zYA1LyFIQ6ZCzSXR3639t8rLIWgJu1uW3sj_bHSowkhl402SN6OfISnemkiDs0E69MRMBZ-vIGF0Dem718xBxpFtpyp-Ye-ri-c7Z9k6WqBcZuh0d9GaoQ/s1600-h/HMbox.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 231px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-jhsIjrCJaBQdc0vC68i9zYA1LyFIQ6ZCzSXR3639t8rLIWgJu1uW3sj_bHSowkhl402SN6OfISnemkiDs0E69MRMBZ-vIGF0Dem718xBxpFtpyp-Ye-ri-c7Z9k6WqBcZuh0d9GaoQ/s320/HMbox.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442838708132812146" /></a>I'm not quite sure WHY they show a box, does anyone order this other than via download? Didn't check whether shipping software was an option, since I downloaded trial, and then obtained license.<br /><br />This is a more in depth study using some tools and reports in Holdem Manager, to fix the leaks in your game. I will be focusing on the last 19 tourneys (not counting the Freeroll), played on PokerStars. If you haven't read it yet, be sure to check out: <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/analyzing-your-own-play-big-part-of.html" target=_blank>Analyzing Your Own Play, BIG Part of Studying the Game</a>.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Now, we are looking at stats from the Plugging Leaks 02 – The Basics. It shows statistics for full ring and 6 max games. Since we are dealing with with 360 player .10 cent SNG's, when the 6 max game shows up, that indicates a short table approaching the money, and getting to the final (a very tough ride while in a turbo tourney).<br /><br />First to check is Sufficient Pre-Flop Aggression: shows as PFR/VPIP. Should be higher than 50. Now, when moving up the money ladder, you will have to weigh your tournament strategy against your Pre-Flop Aggressive tendencies. My full table is 33.5%, while my short table (the 6 max), is 60. So look to change at raising more often, and calling less often. The more profitable player will have 70 to 89%.<br /><br />Next check is Positional Awareness: Playing positionally strong poker is one of the fundamental concepts separating winners from losers. The more you play in position (being last to act on each street postflop) the more you will win playing No Limit poker. Look at how often you are raising an unopened pot from early position and compare that to how often you are raising an unopened pot from the button. This is where the Preflop Positional Awareness stat comes in and it is essentially a ratio of your PFR on the button vs PFR from early position when unopened. My Pre-Flop positional awareness for full table is 5.3. For 6 max (short handed), is na. Optimal is between 2 and 2.5. Simply tighten range in early position, and open many more hands on the button (keeping good tournament strategy in mind here).<br /><br />Third is Steals, here we want a number greater than 33%. However, you will want a chip stack to match here. My total steal % is 21.7 full ring, and 14.3 short handed. Along with Aggression, I need to work on that steal material (helps to have potentially steal worthy hands). <br /><br />Next, am I Check Raising enough? The optimal is 8% to 10%. Mine is 2% on full ring, na short handed. Should increase to 4% - 5%, but more important, depends on your opponent. Here is where reliance on HUDs is not opportune, but watching your opponent for his actions of the moment is the way to go.<br /><br />Now, for the more statistical indepth study, requires changing your Overall Report Drop Down box, applying various filters, and paying attention to your bb/100 number.<br /><br />My current Steal Success Rate is 50% (however, the filter only shows six hands). Of the 6 hands, 4 won, 2 lost (the bad beat). The win rate is 67%. My Blind Defend Stats show no negative numbers, win rate of 40%. Using the Heads Up Filter on the flop, showing win rate of 52.6% (out of a total win rate of 11.3%). 38 hands showing, 4 folded to small blind call, 14 lost, and 20 won. My Heads up on Flop, no Pre Flop Raise is pretty dismal, will need to take a look at these hands, win rate 35.3%, bb/100 first time negative. My multiway pots bb/100 is positive. Win rate is 32.4% general, and 27.7% if I did not make the pre-flop raise.<br /><br />Pocket Pairs Study: VPIP should be 85% to 90% especially for 88 to AA. My VPIP is 100% down to 66. My PFR is 100% down to 99, 0 for 88 and below. Won Hand % is 66.7% on up for 88 and higher (except for QQ which is 25%).<br /><br />Suited Connectors Study: Look for minus bb/100. These cards play best in multi-way and steal, late position 3 bets. Overall win rate, 27.3%. All suiteds have negative bb/100 except 87s and 76s, QJs, win rate 20%, only won one hand, calling raise in cutoff. JTs, won one, lost one, both in cut off. 10-9s, 50% win rate. 98s is 0% wins. 87s 75%, and 76s is 50%. The others shouldn't even be in there.<br /><br />Unsuited Connectors Study: the only positive bb/100 were 10-9o and 98o. Tend to win a lot with 98o, usually played from late position or blinds. 10-9o only played from Cutoff, twice, and won one hand. Only other hand called with is QJo, and that didn't work out. The <span style="font-weight:bold;">did cold call filter</span> produced only one hand, the 98o, called on the button, flopped 2 pair against JJ and 86o.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGjNQq47jLv0jZxZTOk5chjR49I-KlMW6ugdPP9sh4wm0IheglwdX8fsrp_FwB2VWohjB7IY0SRBIwox20l2ApHQYVOl8PdHKOs6Son7NVicEzzcX4SNsSyjFHZ9FwelpCOr7UurnPpA/s1600-h/HMTourney.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGjNQq47jLv0jZxZTOk5chjR49I-KlMW6ugdPP9sh4wm0IheglwdX8fsrp_FwB2VWohjB7IY0SRBIwox20l2ApHQYVOl8PdHKOs6Son7NVicEzzcX4SNsSyjFHZ9FwelpCOr7UurnPpA/s200/HMTourney.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442839405233501762" /></a><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />This is what I purchased the program for, and it is proving useful. My strategy will need to change, not only to improve the numbers (which should be fairly easy counting only 19 tourneys), but to strengthen my play and win rate. The Tournament Strategy article coming up will definitely take these statistics into account.<br /><br />Good Luck on the Felt.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-15074587973778165082010-02-26T23:35:00.000-08:002010-02-26T23:41:23.148-08:00Analyzing Your Own Play, BIG Part of Studying the Game<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjrSaT-Mu6mZb8UG4R6wd_39hRqBYgPn8MjBz7XUlxsFcR-7GQWFcjNkLsn4UwFnXhEvBAk0pGDU_A0HHNT1rAuNmF_zDDL7s4CG1mF9soxbcnSOuzbFDmW69AUJsfDTweKcTsgKsVEA/s1600-h/pro-poker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjrSaT-Mu6mZb8UG4R6wd_39hRqBYgPn8MjBz7XUlxsFcR-7GQWFcjNkLsn4UwFnXhEvBAk0pGDU_A0HHNT1rAuNmF_zDDL7s4CG1mF9soxbcnSOuzbFDmW69AUJsfDTweKcTsgKsVEA/s200/pro-poker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440161827890715874" /></a>I woke up rather late today, was going to play some live poker, but may save that for later next week or next weekend. Was THEN going to hop on and play some more tourneys, but read <a href="http://50to5k.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>DeathByLight's 50 to 5k Journey</a> latest post. I have been working on my offline Poker Study, however, decided to delve into Holdem Manager, and see what I could find. This took about 6 hours of study, but well worth the effort (since I have so much I need to learn about the Program).<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />I started by using the Hand Replayer, to look at my own stats. While I have my filter set to Tourneys starting 2/7/2010, my hand count is 5.8k, enough for a decent sample size to produce an accurate display. For more explanation of the stats, please visit <a href="http://faq.holdemmanager.com/questions/95/Stat+Definitions" target=_blank>Stat Definitions for Holdem Manager</a>.<br /><br />The Displayed Stats in my pseudo HUD are:<br /><br /><blockquote>VPIP / Preflop Raise / Steal / 3-Bet<br />Agg Factor / Flop CB / Fold to Flop CB / Hands</blockquote><br /><br />My Current Stats Displayed (up to Date for PokerStars):<br /><br /><blockquote>Showing win percent of 18%<br /><br />23 / 12 / 32 / 5.8<br />2.2 / 82 / 46 / 5,8k</blockquote><br /><br />So my first analysis revolved around understanding the stats, and how they affect my game.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">VPIP or VP$IP</span> Voluntarily put money into the pot. Folding Big Blind doesn't count. This is a BIG one that many using HUDS rely on.<br /><br />My current VPIP is 23. According to the chart, this is a good VPIP, with positive 3.72 win rate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PFR Pre Flop Raise</span><br /><br />My current PreFlop raise shows 12. Overall, not generally profitable. Ways to increase, 3 betting limpers, 3 betting raisers from late position when they are trying to steal the blinds. I need to raise PFR to about 15.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />I am now switching to leak buster stats (filtered for the last 19 tourneys, which are the beginning of this challenge). The Drop Down Menu in Holdem Manager Reports is Leak Buster - Overall.<br /><br />VPIP is 24.3 (still good, see above).<br /><br />PFR is 8.3, raise to 15% (as described above).<br /><br />AGG (Aggression PostFlop) 1.52, Ideally, should be around 3.0. My first changes should be considering whether to raise or fold. Last thought should be whether to call. Also, a low factor in this level indicates calling to much. This is <span style="font-weight:bold;">WHY</span> I post my stats from the tourneys. A professional should play between 19% and 24% of hands seen (Blinds don't count). That is 19 to 24 hands out of 100. Anything above, and you need to search for some leaky behavior.<br /><br />AGG% (Aggression% Postflop) 17.6 Ideally should be around 33%. Lower factor here not same as lower factor for AGG. Easiest ways to increase Post Flop AGG% are make more river value bets, fire more double and triple barrels, reraise other players when they habitually CBet the flop etc.<br /><br />WTSD% (Went to Showdown): wo, this is bad. 51.4. Anything over 28 indicates either don’t play aggressive enough or call too often or both. This will generally also reflect in a low W$SD score. Best is between 24 and 26.<br /><br />W$SD%: the more you win at showdown the higher your winrate. Mine is 48.9, which is just above the min of 48. Ideally, should be 52 on up.<br /><br />WWSF%: The won when saw flop stat is more of a product of good solid, select, aggressive preflop and postflop play. It is a good stat to look at to see if your game needs some work. Too low and you are likely playing too many hands preflop and playing too passively postflop. Mine is 36, ideally should be 43 to 45.<br /><br />3Bet %: A relatively high 3Bet% preflop is obviously a key stat for winning players. Mine is 3.2. Ideally, should be 5.2 to 6.2. Ways to improve - 3betting a late position raiser with basically any 2 reasonable cards when you first join a table. Then, tighten up a little bit but still raise with some speculative hands. By the time you pick up a big hand you ideally would have 3bet your opponents a few times and at that point you are more likely to get it all-in preflop. (Basically, more raising or folding, not just limping).<br /><br />4Bet Range: If you do this too infrequently it is too easy to put you on a very tight range and fold just about all hands you are ahead of. You definitely want this to be above 1.25% and probably higher. Mine is 1.4, which is actually good. Actually, I prefer to 4 bet with really good hands (JJ and up). Especially when the blinds are bigger, I'm indicating a pot committed attack, and it definitely causes some folds).<br /><br />Call 3Bet%: Of course, this is affected by positional play. However, I stand at <span style="font-weight:bold;">83.3</span>, which is <span style="font-weight:bold;">WAY over the limit</span>. 23 to 29 is the optimal range, this shows how big of a mistake it is to call too frequently to 3bets – obviously these results would be even worse when calling out of position. Lower this number be 4betting or folding a lot more often than I currently do.<br /><br />Fold to Flop Raise: Mine is 20. Optimal is above 35%. Don't be afraid to fold on flop to draw heavy raises, or that big Check Raise (I really need to work on that one).<br /><br />Flop CBet%: Mine is 70% (a bit high on the Steal Meter). However, this is the optimal range to be in. (Generally, a positional play).<br /><br />Turn CBet%: the study of being too aggressive. Not necessary to constantly double barrel your play. Mine indicates na, so not sure what to make of that.<br /><br />Fold to Flop CBet%: On general be very aware of the opponents flop tendencies when he is PFR. How often does he CBet? How often does he fold to a bet or raise? How often does he fire a second bet on the Turn? Mine is 29.4%, which is a fairly decent range. And the study of your opponents is very key to this game.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihagamw8q2FW1fBgwSmvNo67PopQ3YQzB9kvBhUKcw1eIdEAWpUkb00Uej_LyrVfu1CEDLi8CAvSJE276eqdQg1e-uVDbU2FxE0pBjQ_27j3BwUssCWyJSE0cM7vB2WtKFeZ9w3a6kwyI/s1600-h/HoldemPic.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 88px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihagamw8q2FW1fBgwSmvNo67PopQ3YQzB9kvBhUKcw1eIdEAWpUkb00Uej_LyrVfu1CEDLi8CAvSJE276eqdQg1e-uVDbU2FxE0pBjQ_27j3BwUssCWyJSE0cM7vB2WtKFeZ9w3a6kwyI/s320/HoldemPic.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442824694406388754" /></a>So, the moral being to tighten up my play a tad (which I already knew), and think more along the lines of raise or fold, not just call. Now, I do work off of a specific strategy, and some of the MTT strategy taught at the FTP Academy is incongruous with these goals. Though I haven't typed up my Low Buyin Multi Table Tournament Strategy yet, I see I will need to tweak it from the analysis I have done thus far.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-30853138213399363462010-02-24T21:30:00.000-08:002010-02-24T21:33:37.044-08:00The Full Tilt Poker Bankroll Challenge Explained<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44EnHtmVkqItNoT3WmhkUFY3qy3qan0MGej1zRpm-TJXMbd13kotEWmyxPnZC3ER03qM9cfwIpeBChE1MOqTlyzHnGmh1CsdxEw4d11iXoZFiRnabxgaOSPZ-UFWCk1Mz_zFbKxDXAAc/s1600-h/fulltilt.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 204px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44EnHtmVkqItNoT3WmhkUFY3qy3qan0MGej1zRpm-TJXMbd13kotEWmyxPnZC3ER03qM9cfwIpeBChE1MOqTlyzHnGmh1CsdxEw4d11iXoZFiRnabxgaOSPZ-UFWCk1Mz_zFbKxDXAAc/s320/fulltilt.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442048186196557938" /></a>Now, this site is being run differently than the PokerStars Challenge. I initially invested a sum, and found it tough going no matter what game I played. I then discovered the <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/" target="_blank">Full Tilt Academy</a>, and have vastly improved (<span style="font-style:italic;">the players DO tend to be tougher on Tilt than Stars</span>).<br /><br />I had built up a nice nest egg running challenges, and playing within the Bankroll limits. Then came along Rush Poker (and with it, a little greed). Instead of sticking with my usual Bankroll Management rules, I went in with larger stacks (since folks were decrying this was the way to go), or found luck at higher limits than I should be playing (since folks were making fun of the limit I was playing). Twas my own fault. And - a few times I didn't cash when it would have meant over $200 in Bankroll, only to find I lost my whole stack to KK vs AA, or AA vs KK, and a K falls on the river.<br /><br />Disgusted, I promptly cashed out my roll (while building a roll is good, I <span style="font-weight:bold;">DO</span> use my winnings as a supplemental income). When discussing this with support on the phone, they suggested a simple self-exclusion. I stated that <span style="font-weight:bold;">cashing a roll was REALLY GOOD self exclusion</span>. I later re deposited with Echeck, and all problems have been <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/search/label/Payment%20Processor%20Problems" target=_blank>solved</a>.<br /><br />Now, my account on Full Tilt is a little different. I was raking in the Bonus Dollars (since Rush came, it was fairly easy). I am also set up for Rakeback. I had started the <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/52/" target="_blank">Bankroll Building Challenge</a> by Chris Ferguson, but with deposits coming in and out of account, the Bankroll was continually reset. So, I put it on hold to run the <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/courses" target="_blank">courses</a>.<br /><br />I am considering the cash out to be part of my overall Bankroll (for live games and Full Tilt). Ergo, when I did a trial deposit for $40, and with better discipline in mind, sat at a few sessions of rush, to succeed in doubling or tripling my buy in. The dollars on Full Tilt are actually to work the challenges, and are considered investment in my Poker Education. Between the cash and the $$ on site, my roll would be considered over $200. So I do give myself a little leeway when it comes to Rush Poker and Bankroll Management.<br /><br />With the introduction of Rush Poker, I became interested in the <a href="http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/promotions/ironman" target="_blank">Iron Man Challenge</a> (noting the points REALLY rack up, especially during Happy Hour). You can find out all the promotions and points under My Promotions in the Full Tilt Client. Right now, between the 2 sites, I don't see having enough time to spread the required points over 15 to 25 days. However, there is a point a day qualifier for a freeroll, and that will be my first attempt starting March 1st.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />First part of challenge, use the $53+ in account to complete the MTT Challenge I'm currently in. I have found that after a couple of tournaments, a quick run through on Rush 10NL (remember my lax rules here), catch me back up rather quickly. This Challenge is a little perplexing, because the first one has cost me some tournies (in fact, since starting the challenge, haven't made one final table).<br /><br /><blockquote>With a stack of at least 50x the big blind in a real money, 45+ player, NLH MTT or MT S&G, call a raise and see a flop with small to medium suited no-gap or one-gap connectors (10-9 or lower) or with a small suited ace (A-8 or lower). Repeat twice.</blockquote><br /><br />Since this portion is completed (and you have to play so many number of tournaments <span style="font-weight:bold;">JUST</span> to get these cards at the right moment, <span style="font-weight:bold;">AND</span> hope someone raises), I can see some smoother sailing ahead. Check out the <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/9/the-tournament-checklist" target="_blank">Tournament Checklist</a> Challenge for yourself.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9_qS5au7kQSwvo4rYp-1eYAoW_xxHOr2_5OO_QLU_1dd1iXUInfHFjtHEU6vansm5pjxSzrQ9S8JarK1XIc-E7mhiWdPzgEog7WRdTt9p6LupYrHvu7GcVtZJ6cJR4nFww8rU9qX2G8/s1600-h/FTAcademyPros.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9_qS5au7kQSwvo4rYp-1eYAoW_xxHOr2_5OO_QLU_1dd1iXUInfHFjtHEU6vansm5pjxSzrQ9S8JarK1XIc-E7mhiWdPzgEog7WRdTt9p6LupYrHvu7GcVtZJ6cJR4nFww8rU9qX2G8/s320/FTAcademyPros.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442047409876761698" /></a><br />Challenges/Lessons I have completed (and, in this order):<br /><ol><li><a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/123/guide-to-sit--gos" target="_blank">The Academy's Guide to Sit-n-Gos</a>, Phil Gordon</li><br /><li><a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/17/betting-basics" target="_blank">Betting Basics</a>, Howard Lederer (this one is really good)</li><br /><li><a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/14/the-power-of-position" target="_blank">Understanding Position</a>, Bill Edler</li><br /><li><a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/51/sit--gos-by-the-numbers" target="_blank">Sit & Gos by the Numbers</a>, Aaron Bartely</li><br /><li><a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/47/mastering-the-bubble" target="_blank">Mastering the Bubble</a>, Howard Lederer</li><br /><li><a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/50/5-common-hold-em-leaks" target="_blank">5 Common Leaks</a>, Phil Gordon</li><br /><li><a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/39/math-made-easy" target="_blank">The Mathematics of Poker</a>, Andy Bloch</li><br /><li><a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/82/pre-flop-play" target="_blank">Pre-Flop Strategy</a>, Chris Ferguson (another really good one)</li><br /><li>I've also completed <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/211/" target="_blank">5 steps for the Serious Beginner</a>, Phil Gordon (though I wasn't a beginner at the time, points out some new topics not covered in the other lessons)</li></ol><br /><br />Challenges Working On, Yet to Complete:<br /><ol><li>The Tournament Checklist, Andy Bloch</li><br /><li>Bankroll Management, Chris Ferguson</li></ol><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Now, before moving on to the more advanced courses, and before continuing the Bankroll Management Challenge, I might repeat some Lessons, starting with the <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/181/playing-micro-stakes" target="_blank">Micro Stakes</a> (since they introduced a <span style="font-weight:bold;">5NL Rush</span> game). I want to redo, and refresh, strategies as I climb the limits here, <span style="font-weight:bold;">WHILE</span> building the roll up back to where it <span style="font-weight:bold;">SHOULD</span> be. There are also some mid level lessons to add on, that are not listed as part of the Course List.<br /><br />So this is a different kind of Challenge, and one that can be complimented with other forms of Poker Education. However, to know only one style of player is not helpful, so challenges on TWO sites is warranted, in my Opinion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY62ms-1OjY-2pk-042yjqFe6zdGLG33_mc4FYkW6RVcbqHr_F5eb8NhVFD3QBrkep9wjUyX6UysYXVlV4C-e6KyjPOTruf58S0oG3Pfar78vnKT9pPd49NTyVnLv_412V26_1aimoOiI/s1600-h/ChrisFerguson.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY62ms-1OjY-2pk-042yjqFe6zdGLG33_mc4FYkW6RVcbqHr_F5eb8NhVFD3QBrkep9wjUyX6UysYXVlV4C-e6KyjPOTruf58S0oG3Pfar78vnKT9pPd49NTyVnLv_412V26_1aimoOiI/s320/ChrisFerguson.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442046861999760962" /></a>P.S. My Favorite Pro is Chris Ferguson.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-8247696047303411182010-02-24T15:40:00.000-08:002010-02-24T19:45:51.196-08:00The PokerStars $5 to $10k Challenge Explained<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5W42A7RGeBTUdk92V45HCu1Wyug1Q9CcvCCqSgK_IbzrahrOe9vrZ7ZSADoEA5EUNmdhzKNkYG24G_ffGizQllUpWtw6HdVqqkx3P0tAuKBZSMt1xeInBZcpWulBFZ2-wcJOX5JTdKU/s1600-h/PokerStars.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 49px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5W42A7RGeBTUdk92V45HCu1Wyug1Q9CcvCCqSgK_IbzrahrOe9vrZ7ZSADoEA5EUNmdhzKNkYG24G_ffGizQllUpWtw6HdVqqkx3P0tAuKBZSMt1xeInBZcpWulBFZ2-wcJOX5JTdKU/s200/PokerStars.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441977854255583090" /></a>I did clock some Poker time on Stars yesterday, more on that later. Per request of a previous commenter, I've decided to post a more detailed explanation of how I will work this challenge.<br /><br />Note: I have 2 different challenges, one on PokerStars, and one on Full Tilt. Whether I decide to do a BlackJack challenge on UB is debatable at this point.<br /><br />The inspiration started with a redeposit of $10 on PokerStars (I think it was to qualify for some freerolls, that never worked out). I then started some .10 cent SNG MTTS, more explanation of how I got down to $5+ can be found in <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/challenge-begins.html" target="_blank">The Challenge Begins</a>.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />There are 2 aspects to this challenge:<br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/promotions/boku87/" target="_blank">The $5 to $100k Challenge by boku87</a>, which was inspired by the <a href="http://10kpropbet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">$100 into $10k Challenge</a></li><br /><li>Bankroll Management, using the Concepts taught in the <a href="http://academy.fulltiltpoker.com/lessons/video/52/" target="_blank">Bankroll Building Challenge by Chris Ferguson</a></li><br /></ul><br /><br />We'll cover the second aspect first, since it is very important. Chris Ferguson stuck to these rules quite adamantly throughout his entire challenge to build $0 into $10k (except, somewhere there was a loophole posted on his progress that allowed for events of $2.25 regardless of bankroll size, but that I am ignoring). I built an excel spreadsheet to help with the calculations for each Poker Site I was on, and also to calculate ROI and $$ earned (manual entry, no macros, just linking cells, not ready to be sold on the market heehee).<br /><br />Basically, only 2 calculations to consider: 5% of Bankroll (.05 X your site $$$), for ring games and single table SNG's. 2% of Bankroll (.02 X your site $$$$), for multi-table tournaments and SNG MTT's. This includes the buyin. If you are playing ring games with your 5%, you need to get up from the table (mo matter how juicy the game), when the stack reaches 10% of your bankroll (essentially, double what you sat down with, also known in circles as RATHOLING, but when you are building, do you really care what others think?) There are other, more stringent guidelines - like 300 to 500 times the Big Blind for Fixed limit, and 50 times table max buyins for no limit/pot limit. I decided to Stick with Chris's rules here, simply for SNG MTTs.<br /><br />Boku87 started the premise of his $5 with .10 cent SNG MTTs only. Since he massively multitables (was 50 at a time), quickly scored up to over $100. His other Bankroll builder was the option of .01/.02 cent fixed limit Holdem, with a buyin of .20 cents. He works off the starting rule of the 50 buyin rule (until reaches a certain level, then wants to keep 70 to 80 buyins for the SNGs).<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Having studied Boku for awhile, I have decided on the challenge of SNG MTTs only, for the PokerStars site. I incorporated the downgrade and mix of buyins depending on downswings and upswings. So, Here are the Guidelines and Marks to Reach:<br /><br /><ul><li>At $5, this allows 50 buyins for .10 cents SNG MTTs</li><br /><li>At $12, I can add .25 cents SNGs, MTTs. If start to run bad, add back in 50% .10 cent SNGs.</li><br /><li>At $50, will add $1.10 SNGs MTT. If running bad, can play 70% $.25 cents, and 30% $1. If running good, can play 70% $1 to 30% .25.</li><br /><li>If drop back to $20, will return to .25 cents games.</li><br /><li>Once hit over $100, pretty stable in the Bankroll.</li><br /><li>Over $100, can add some 1.75 18 player SNGs, I've played $2.20 profitably at $120. If at any time drop, will lower stakes.</li><br /><li>At $180, play $1, $2, and $3 SNG (working on a 70, 80 buy in rule). If running bad, can play 70% $1, and 30% other. If running good, can play 70% other to 30% $1.</li><br /><li>So for $5, need about $350, etc. In this case, will still keep the split in mind for running bad and good. A mix will keep the Bankroll Steady, and minimize losses due to Variance.</li></ul><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />I have not added the pressure of time lines, because I can see where falling off the track increases your play when you are running bad (trying to play catch up). If you are running bad no matter what level you are playing, it is time to stop. As I observed <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/multitabling-and-boku87-pokerstars-f40.html" target="_blank">Boku's Bad Streak</a>, and have noticed that when running cold myself, the bad cards keep following me to new tables - its best just to lay down the Poker (that's why its handy to have accounts on 2 sites).<br /><br />I am currently at $6, and have played 19 tourneys plus one freeroll since the challenge started. So I currently have 60 buyins left. Noticed on my third game yesterday the bad beat, cold card streak, and stopped playing money games. When you play enough, you will recognize this path too. However, switching over to No Limit ring games is not an option on this Bankroll, so patience is the key (and while hopping onto $1 single table SNGs are tempting, this is outside of Bankroll Management, and I am trying <span style="font-weight: bold;">AT ALL COSTS</span> not to redeposit).ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-80517502227982578542010-02-22T12:04:00.000-08:002010-02-22T13:23:26.362-08:00Life of Poker and Blogging, Where is the Time?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcvMLjwcGZYrBNKQ0I7DuBWHyJ1Uyn-G5g2tSJ7xMjGZlo4YNJVp_6D7594O9EgfdfBcl4txSuWLElkomNhJHdw1aWUa5NuihZo9Ts_0rLh3xGJUvdPEQd0T2RUoAhHwWniAYGceaGgE/s1600-h/cat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 109px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcvMLjwcGZYrBNKQ0I7DuBWHyJ1Uyn-G5g2tSJ7xMjGZlo4YNJVp_6D7594O9EgfdfBcl4txSuWLElkomNhJHdw1aWUa5NuihZo9Ts_0rLh3xGJUvdPEQd0T2RUoAhHwWniAYGceaGgE/s320/cat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441168906588381234" /></a><br />Well, haven't played nor blogged this weekend. Yesterday, took off time to wait for Sis and a visit to Reber Ranch for cheap Premium Cat Supplies (a conundrum there - I feed Wellness Canned and Eagle Pack dry, if you have cats, Google is your friend). As part of scheduling my life, I couldn't get into blogging nor tournament play during the time Sis might show up, only to find out that she wouldn't show up till today (note, she is <span style="font-weight:bold;">NOT</span> into Poker).<br /><br />Spent time in the <a href="http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/" target=_blank>Full Tilt Forums</a>, to find out some with check depositing issues, which I followed up on. Looks like I am safe (whew). Got lost in other forums too, <a href="http://pokerforums.fulltiltpoker.com/" target=_blank>Two plus Two</a> had some interesting reads over 300 pages long (so bookmarked, but probably won't be able to finish). Did some posting in all my fave Forums (links on sidebar), watch out in the <a href="http://forums.holdemmanager.com/">Holdem Manager Forum</a>, folks willing to Pay for <span style="font-weight:bold;" target=_blank>Datamining!!</span> Once again, if you are needing this data so bad, or are using others like <span style="font-weight:bold;">Poker Edge or Sharkscope HU</span>D, you <span style="font-weight:bold;">ARE NOT PLAYING POKER, YOU ARE PLAYING A VIDEO GAME!!</span> A True Professional should be able to play on <span style="font-weight:bold;">ANY SITE</span> and in <span style="font-weight:bold;">ANY Card Room</span>, and many of the players relying on HUDs WON'T play on the Cake Network, because the Huds aren't allowed (and some other sites are producing issues, so folks won't play till they get that HUD working?) Nuff said.<br /><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Speaking of Poker Tracking Software, I layed down the $54.99 to activate my trial version of Holdem Manager. I love the stats in this software, and can only see my game improve. I also spent some time changing the format of the blog from 2 column to 3 column, not sure if I like it yet (so please don't get bug eyed if I change it back). My blog list needed to be redone, thank god for automation. If you are interested in <a href="http://www.blogcrowds.com/" target=_blank>3 column templates</a>, look under the Copyright test at the bottom of this blog (that's also where you will find the other Blogs of note).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb30kLl2ENwk1y2r66oaXpZWUP1_8K_-c2Mvz3LK51o6_O8LkxBH0gSNhhwVA6EZgUCepdz6K-gEItnxaIuuA4w5aqgJc6fHvY5ptiU6LSFDYCLvYvEyVHcyamKReAyS1-Wf5upIbTrtE/s1600-h/blog.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 89px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb30kLl2ENwk1y2r66oaXpZWUP1_8K_-c2Mvz3LK51o6_O8LkxBH0gSNhhwVA6EZgUCepdz6K-gEItnxaIuuA4w5aqgJc6fHvY5ptiU6LSFDYCLvYvEyVHcyamKReAyS1-Wf5upIbTrtE/s320/blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441169640557846402" /></a>As to Blogs of note, I do try to read and keep up with my faves. Part of my study includes following the live blogging at the Venetian for the beginning of the North American Poker Tour (plenty of big names in there). Refresh this page, and check out the Sidebar for links to the latest RSS feeds. For the Rigged theorists out there (or those just woeing that they can't win at MTT tourney's, please read this blog for Bad Beats - such as QQ against AQ and KJT flop, KK against 77 for a 7 on the Turn, etc). My favorite Blogger Covering this is found at <a href="http://hardboiledpoker.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>Hard Boiled Poker</a>, check him out.<br /><br />Other blogs of note, there are similar challenges to mine - one for <a href="http://5ohtwochallenge.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>snyder321</a>, and this new one I found for <a href="http://pokernomad.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>Nomad</a>. Do stop by and give them a shout. I have several down below, all good reads.<br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />Today's schedule: write up and article for Low Buyin MTT strategy, a little around the house stuff (including the Trip to Reber), and I swear, I will try to get in some Poker (though I must catch up on some reading for the NAPT).<br /><br />PS, there will be a <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/evening-post-read-all-about-it-again.html" target=_blank>contest</a> later when I reach between $12 and $50 in Bankroll. Be ready, I already know what the prize will be (and the rules).<br /><br /><br /><hr heigth="5" width="80%"><br />So I changed the Template back, still working on the settings, I lost some functionality I was unaware of.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-47236548075250622772010-02-19T18:57:00.000-08:002010-02-19T19:40:39.972-08:00You Gotta - Know When to Hold em, Know When to Fold em, Know When to Walk Away, Know When to Run<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjrSaT-Mu6mZb8UG4R6wd_39hRqBYgPn8MjBz7XUlxsFcR-7GQWFcjNkLsn4UwFnXhEvBAk0pGDU_A0HHNT1rAuNmF_zDDL7s4CG1mF9soxbcnSOuzbFDmW69AUJsfDTweKcTsgKsVEA/s1600-h/pro-poker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjrSaT-Mu6mZb8UG4R6wd_39hRqBYgPn8MjBz7XUlxsFcR-7GQWFcjNkLsn4UwFnXhEvBAk0pGDU_A0HHNT1rAuNmF_zDDL7s4CG1mF9soxbcnSOuzbFDmW69AUJsfDTweKcTsgKsVEA/s200/pro-poker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440161827890715874" /></a><br />Just a moment note here: You are probably wondering, is there any Poker Playing on this Poker Blog? Yes. But there is more to Online Poker than the Bankroll and the Charts. More than the NAPT Venetian coming up, more than High Stakes Poker.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARvqgShMBzmLVfPxo7kQ1X3-DE2xtZgforqtgP9l8HYEy7RmoBuyc32h7LtGwuqLTbq9RCHXjTmFq6bY5YVJpCL9vgw3iIbsm2JtDXX30GrDjDFW7kU3ZB2IyDEVvsxFFSwcVWV-kuHA/s1600-h/napt.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARvqgShMBzmLVfPxo7kQ1X3-DE2xtZgforqtgP9l8HYEy7RmoBuyc32h7LtGwuqLTbq9RCHXjTmFq6bY5YVJpCL9vgw3iIbsm2JtDXX30GrDjDFW7kU3ZB2IyDEVvsxFFSwcVWV-kuHA/s320/napt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440162126605148626" /></a><br />So this post covers the More Than Challenge, more important than Bankroll Management, the Most Important Strategy You will need to play Online Right. Besides my previous article on the non-automated importance of playing online, the knowledge of self and discipline will save your bankroll in the long run, and build the profit you are looking for.<br /><br />Obviously, Tilt and Bankroll Management go a long way. There are days you are angry. There are times when you are tired. There are things you need to do, schedules to keep, routines to set in place, and outside life that needs addressing. If you are not attending to these things, or paying attention to your current stress level, then you are NOT playing your A game. And A games get the results. (P.S. - this is REALLY important for you multi-tablers).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIqYhOlRpjAN3qT49EB4IvBIPOYwOQ0ceUrT7vdaxrnyCuvldOJhie8luTiJ24HDTHI4JoeIxyfW6hdo5F3P1q0BKQpsJ5hrPmcrgSsv0LissU9dhUKKA5wni27X2KGALxhy2QYnkkcA/s1600-h/dog.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIqYhOlRpjAN3qT49EB4IvBIPOYwOQ0ceUrT7vdaxrnyCuvldOJhie8luTiJ24HDTHI4JoeIxyfW6hdo5F3P1q0BKQpsJ5hrPmcrgSsv0LissU9dhUKKA5wni27X2KGALxhy2QYnkkcA/s400/dog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440164167545222418" /></a>Everyone and their dog would probably want to quit the day job and become a full time pro. The true test of a pro is to build something (hence my challenge to build $5 into a considerable income - much less than the recommended deposit minimum $50). Not only does this teach me the nuances of the game, multiple settings and personalities, different MTT scenarios, etc., but it also teaches discipline. Chris Ferguson took 9 months to build $0 to $100, and 9 more months to take it to $10k (and he probably played a LOT MORE than I do). So my goals are data based points of $$$, not time.<br /><br />No matter what level of player, we can all use improvement. Studying chip leaks, weaknesses in play, etc can be a real help (this is what I really want Holdem Manager for). Learning better positional play, strong and implied odds starting hands, watching my stats for too loose play, studying scenarios for pot and implied odds, studying opponents (so recognize a blind steal when see one), etc. are good learns for the novice and the 2 year online player. Not to mention how this helps your live game play.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZHHFQvauMz0DHtukykWVftTrGAVoFQkD8lHCeu7ohRCqi4RaeDINJh5ISJnE8kXwVeMTq8TlzJGWLS8siT5Av9y0S9p8L2kxFAloc7gpl3c-7F_c9K6G8cpZnOe1durTvLPAzWiY1ls/s1600-h/bathrobeandcomputer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 123px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZHHFQvauMz0DHtukykWVftTrGAVoFQkD8lHCeu7ohRCqi4RaeDINJh5ISJnE8kXwVeMTq8TlzJGWLS8siT5Av9y0S9p8L2kxFAloc7gpl3c-7F_c9K6G8cpZnOe1durTvLPAzWiY1ls/s400/bathrobeandcomputer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440165116363930338" /></a>There are times not to play, and times to go into overdrive. Recognizing these are very important. Don't play to make up that all in stack loss from the bad beat in Rush Poker. If you are tired, or sick, don't play online (and don't play to escape, especially if drinking). If you feel your edge dropping, going in with hands you KNEW you shouldn't, take a break. <span style="font-weight:bold;">A break can be 20 minutes, half a day, a couple days, or a week</span>. The poker will still be there waiting for you. If poker dominates your life (are you still playing in your PJs, no shower for a week, etc?), then its time to step back and set some basic routines for yourself <span style="font-weight:bold;">OFFLINE</span>.<br /><br />Those playing well above my bankroll, feel free to comment.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-82963559437438736482010-02-19T16:06:00.000-08:002010-02-22T12:41:57.960-08:00Multi Tabling - More Profit? or Defeats the Purpose?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDG9bRXZXAy7elYW67VNZ6yBrV4cdugdDAJKZZ6pUBKgoKG91JVXzazrP1cZledgxVG-F1D1qnT95HW9ZesdAbX22e3k5MRSBCnT4rp8_ECK9f5yNR0r25_yjyQDQP5k3jTSrglUnIRg/s1600-h/MultiTable.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDG9bRXZXAy7elYW67VNZ6yBrV4cdugdDAJKZZ6pUBKgoKG91JVXzazrP1cZledgxVG-F1D1qnT95HW9ZesdAbX22e3k5MRSBCnT4rp8_ECK9f5yNR0r25_yjyQDQP5k3jTSrglUnIRg/s320/MultiTable.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440116729795353986" /></a><br />My <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/progress-on-hold-at-pokerstars-due-to.html" target=_blank>low limit MTT multi table player</a>, is down $7. Out of the last 200 tourneys, has made final table 8 times. At .10 cents a tourney, that is $20. Not sure if this player wants to move up, but spending more than you make is disastrous on the bankroll. This player has not changed stakes, but $20 minus $7 (not counting the tourneys he played after making money) equivocates to at least $13 profit (he actually made $18). At this stage, one should move up to where variance is a little less (.25 cent tourneys with fewer players).<br /><br />Multi tabling is not always the answer to more cash flow. Phil Gordon recommends beginners stick to one table, and frowns on folks going for 16 tables. Now, many of these players are relying on HUDs to help, but HUDs are unreliable (as in, someone had a tilt streak and is over it, someone has just gone on tilt, someone always continues with a min bet on flop, whether monster or nothing, etc., renders the HUDs useless). Basic strategy taught at the Full Tilt Academy not only covers starting hands, but also position plays and opponent reads. C-betting is an art not learned from ABC poker, but by knowing your opponent.<br /><br />Its because of these lessons, and I never had used HUDs, that I am fairly successful at Rush Poker (its only the Bad Beat that gets me in there, and HUDs don't protect against bad beats). One player running a blog doesn't know what to do without running Poker Edge, a centralized database that is verboten on many sites. They need to know pot odds, etc, without actually gaining the experience from playing.<br /><br />Its that experience that distinguishes Professional Playing from Wannabe. In an earlier post, I was labeled a <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/back-to-basics-my-5-on-pokerstars.html" target=_blank>Calling Station (LAG)</a>. These stats are definitely OFF (except for the part that stated I can't be bluffed, HaHa). While I might start with 2 tables, possibly work up to three, I don't see the need to mass Multi Table, watched the results from <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/multitabling-and-boku87-pokerstars-f40.html" target=_blank>Boku87</a>, and it definitely wasn't pretty.<br /><br />Depending on Computer Programs to pick out Fish Tables, Player Stats, Forbidden Bots, etc, really won't help you be the winning Poker Player you want to be. Suppose you make it to the WSOP, what is going to help you there? You need to play the player as much as you need to play the game, and direct observation, at <span style="font-weight:bold;">THAT POINT IN TIME (not everyone plays consistently the same way)</span>, will give you the winning edge. Also, experience pumps the edge, and a HUD doesn't give you experience, it gives you STATS of past performance.<br /><br />A word on Mult Tabling tournaments: you miss out on <span style="font-weight:bold;">PRIME OPPORTUNITIES to play that winning Edge</span>. You are not observing your opponents (our hero from the first paragraph went all in first hand with J9 off, definite improvement needed there). You are pretty much stuck with ABC poker, and can't sniff with those big stacks and a call with 87 suited. Positional play, complex betting, bluffing, all become a lost art when you have 12 tables open, and are either relying on statistical info, or simply trying to minimize your variance. Many of the Pros on Full Tilt, UB, and Stars, only play a few tables at the most (these are the seasoned veterans, that also play live games).<br /><br />Don't fall into a trap on relying on software for your game, because this does not a winning player make. Try not to lose your total bankroll multi tabling, easily done even if you are playing in your bankroll range. Learn the game, learn the reads, lose the HUDs. My take on conquering my challenge.<br /><br />P.S., my stats for PokerStars, with about 110 games played (all low level), profit is over $80, but I cashed that out for this challenge. And that's just the tourneys :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUFp3wdGUV0sfC_Az3R8IWfusxr2VNY4QveHknh_YO7abm_yM1tpImvMEYn7Bng3ADXP0Wm4Bwz3KboR9CYKYMNKvAikihBQ1KacSWKue3j8U2Oq4qZbGX6__Gs5FGijGeyn1VXLbGWU/s1600-h/GraphAllgamesPS.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUFp3wdGUV0sfC_Az3R8IWfusxr2VNY4QveHknh_YO7abm_yM1tpImvMEYn7Bng3ADXP0Wm4Bwz3KboR9CYKYMNKvAikihBQ1KacSWKue3j8U2Oq4qZbGX6__Gs5FGijGeyn1VXLbGWU/s320/GraphAllgamesPS.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440119367820452754" /></a><br /><br />Note: The last 25 or so tourney's were not part of the profits, because they were experiments prior to the challenge, but after the cash out.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-71745950704254290672010-02-19T11:53:00.000-08:002010-02-28T18:00:51.664-08:00Holdem Manager Again- Destruction, Tweaks, and Improved Performance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLQRxRuSKD6qWngvaO_Uzhdvf5YVIEzRnIaaoUI2DJ6OXi5sVKe0_C7HtIvXMpmDUIDwyZtyxO_ZriwvcvxZdxG7ZCsLaRhz93H-Tunb-Qzns68Y_oc9vySLu6odwBR_idZrJpHBjdM0/s1600-h/banginghead.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLQRxRuSKD6qWngvaO_Uzhdvf5YVIEzRnIaaoUI2DJ6OXi5sVKe0_C7HtIvXMpmDUIDwyZtyxO_ZriwvcvxZdxG7ZCsLaRhz93H-Tunb-Qzns68Y_oc9vySLu6odwBR_idZrJpHBjdM0/s320/banginghead.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440067818972647650" /></a><br /><br />Well, yesterday didn't go as planned (but so is life). I performed a tweak on my computer to get rid of an error message in Event Viewer (turns out I was right, more on this later in post). Besides having to research and solve my problem (still on the trial version), I needed to bus some Paperwork to a State Agency. By the time I was done, blogging and Poker were the furthest things from my mind. I hopped on UB, and played some free money casino games (I like the challenge of Pontoon). I also observe and chat with the Blackjack Players. Recently, one was able to turn $20 into 1k (he's done it a few times), and another turned $80 into $2k (but I think he lost a bit). Personally, I would like to try that as a side challenge, but don't have time right now, and kinda feel like chicken (a lot of folks were losing last night).<br /><br />But, enough with the rambling. I kept getting an error message in Event Viewer (its gone now, since there were so many, I cleared the log), but research had narrowed it down to a user sign off issue. The only new users on my machine was Postgres from Holdem Manager. So to test my theory, I blindly deleted postgres from net user. Walla, the error was gone. AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH, there's no way without indepth study to add the user back, and Postgres SQL, along with Holdem Manager, will no longer work.<br /><br />I Found the error:<br />Message: The COM+ Event System could not remove the EventSystem.EventSubscription object {CEB8B221-89C5-41A8-98CE-79B413BF150B}-{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}-{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJY6FHGXLTfG1MFGZ9O8ZtBo78KcyrVhPKzys2yd34VKfmgeNLmT36qJHRWxRulnMjHLtWh_OB8bOXj1hoe9pGd0LI6uyfmrB53tcrAE3Z9GLCj9MUE-dRGH7C0UqGefziTAFAm6Lu4U/s1600-h/ErrorCode.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 44px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJY6FHGXLTfG1MFGZ9O8ZtBo78KcyrVhPKzys2yd34VKfmgeNLmT36qJHRWxRulnMjHLtWh_OB8bOXj1hoe9pGd0LI6uyfmrB53tcrAE3Z9GLCj9MUE-dRGH7C0UqGefziTAFAm6Lu4U/s400/ErrorCode.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443478598488356194" /></a><br /><br />Now its true, this is a fairly new installation, and reimporting hands, plus getting the tourney info from Stars for the last 13 tourneys (or even manually entering the data), would not be overwhelming. But by God, I was intent on fixing this WITHOUT disassembling my database. I had limited time for research (even though the deadline for getting my paperwork in was today, part of my new Poker Life includes keeping up with schedules and other outside issues). So a quick search of the Holdem Manager Forums, and some googling, brought me some answers. The redo of Postgres lead to a whole new improvement in performance, and easier reinstalls on this machine and others. The latest configuration has also rid the machine of the error regarding Users signing in and out.<br /><br />First off, the newest Combo Installer for Holdem Manager has 8.4x Postgres SQL with a blank password downloaded and automatically configured on your machine. So, to reinstall Postgres SQL without losing my database, I needed the 8.4x version, do an installation WITH a password - its required, but the version offered on the HEM site is 8.3x. Now, a few folks have reported in the forums that they downloaded 8.3x and installed, then installed 8.4x, and everything was okey dokey. But I didn't have that kind of time. I downloaded 8.4x directly from the Postgres SQL site (the download for windows x86 machines, the non-64 bit version of Vista).<br /><br />I then put a copy of the data folder under HEMdata off the main branch of my file structure (that is, directly off of the C; direcotry). This proved useful later, since from my earlier Win2k Network Certification days, I knew NTFS systems work better with file structures directly off the main branch, as opposed to deep filing under Program files, pseudo My Documents for users, etc. In fact, on my other Computer running Win2k pro, I had moved all the folders to the Main Tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyhnnh-tF65AvmvKpOTCOk-vYOZIc9FDjbL8XODwR9wZaai_bJcfEFhMMcL39MEy4MOjo_ykz37dAOIZboTJ0M5cb3zSffC6FM75xkxnLLl94nzJsug4mU7jpBujiMqtoMtR-XGWkNMU/s1600-h/directory.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyhnnh-tF65AvmvKpOTCOk-vYOZIc9FDjbL8XODwR9wZaai_bJcfEFhMMcL39MEy4MOjo_ykz37dAOIZboTJ0M5cb3zSffC6FM75xkxnLLl94nzJsug4mU7jpBujiMqtoMtR-XGWkNMU/s400/directory.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443479363539087506" /></a><br />I also left a copy of the Data for HEM under the current Program Files Postgres folder. I then uninstalled the Postgres that came with Holdem Manager, and installed the Full Version 8.4x using the Program Files directory as the data folder. This did not work. So I uninstalled, and resinstalled using the HEMData folder. This folder also contained my previous tweaks, and they were maintained as part of the reinstallation. With the new version, you need to set a password. <span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WAS A KEY TO SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, AND THE ERROR MESSAGES IN EVENT VIEWER.</span> I use the XP Menu style in Vista, so pull up Postgres SQL, Start Server, right click Run As Administrator, and walla, we are up and running. Now, with my Data directory located where it is, the speed and Memory performance of Postgres and HEM are greatly improved. I thought I was missing hands, so did a test reimport from files for last three tourneys. Got Error messages saying that the HH's already existed (totally fun to learn about this kind of stuff, but that's just me).<br /><br />Lessons learned: when download the Combo Installer, uninstall the version of Postgres that came with HEM, and reinstall from Postgres site with Password. To keep the Database, simply move to a file folder under the main directory tree. If need to move or place on a new machine, simply copy this database from the separate file folder over to new machine (may need to make new copy, if password info stored in old directory). No need to <span style="font-weight: bold;">EVER RE IMPORT HANDS</span>!! No more error messages in Vista when logging on and off Computer, or when starting, stopping Postgres (I have the service set to manual, not AUTOMATIC, so I can run when I want to, no need to use System Resources when not using Holdem Manager).<br /><br />Hope you found the Above Post Useful. PPS, I have McAfee firewall set to Standard, no ports open, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">SHOW SMART RECOMMENDATIONS</span>. Therefore, when a program attempts to go in or out of computer, I can allow access. I have never had to manually configure McAfee as the HEM site instructs (just allow access when the Pop Up window appears), and have never had to disable UAC (User Account Control).ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-52467518735479921532010-02-17T19:00:00.000-08:002010-02-17T19:08:01.194-08:00Evening Post - Read All About It AgainI played some today, knocked my own self out. More on this tomorrow. Had some errands to run, and more articles coming up. But I am tired, and its time to rest.<br /><br />Tomorrow's plans, bus an errand, a little housework, some more tourneys, and some more blogging.<br /><br />Got a tad bit of surprise for you:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FUcKJ-t6BVJ59k76u8U14-cbBBK0_SKECg13TAVhdJELX48LmoDr5XwmyBDGsa_MJ9M5gY_tkDjrEFDE6sh3UwqJXzP3frFtc-gy-FIDq_SLha-hCFnRxKfTYTkRVHI9ZzNzHE-vMj4/s1600-h/PokerStarImage.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 114px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FUcKJ-t6BVJ59k76u8U14-cbBBK0_SKECg13TAVhdJELX48LmoDr5XwmyBDGsa_MJ9M5gY_tkDjrEFDE6sh3UwqJXzP3frFtc-gy-FIDq_SLha-hCFnRxKfTYTkRVHI9ZzNzHE-vMj4/s400/PokerStarImage.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439413882204278114" /></a><br />If you find this Avatar on Stars, You find me.<br /><br />PS, the winner will get something as soon as I have it, lol. (Since I don't want to deposit, spoils the nature of the challenge).<br /><br />Off to evening chores, spike up the TV and my non-poker game play, and everyone have a good night.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-74454794991933586792010-02-17T16:01:00.000-08:002010-02-17T19:09:44.337-08:00Holdem Manager and Pre Flop Card Discussion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe154Hh4ShGYmXWU4DoRS87yqhEvb3PjMMdXTgSEJ9avtdpOXm6ToHkPO5HtbwlWEvVjkwZ5bwUSvqq8x8maa259wXHC2Oa-YvPgqb0t0MXdLX1ImumtUM5thvmMg0-bRp-3GeZfIYmjo/s1600-h/HoldemTourney.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe154Hh4ShGYmXWU4DoRS87yqhEvb3PjMMdXTgSEJ9avtdpOXm6ToHkPO5HtbwlWEvVjkwZ5bwUSvqq8x8maa259wXHC2Oa-YvPgqb0t0MXdLX1ImumtUM5thvmMg0-bRp-3GeZfIYmjo/s200/HoldemTourney.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439369818162317378" /></a>I've learned a little trick today, to help with stat info for Holdem Manager. Pokerstars doesn't save summaries in the Hand History files for Tourneys. Consequently, I have been keeping a separate spreadsheet based on my own recorded data, and the Sharkscope database. I've now learned how to request tournament history data for the tourneys I'm interested in tracking (the last 3 for example), and pasting that into a Notepad Test File. I then Open up Holdem Manager, Auto Import the new Tourney Hand Histories, and then manually IMPORT FILE, navigating to where I saved the Tourney History text file. Walla, the only manual change to be made is type of tourney (regular, turbo, etc.).<br /><br />Now, there are a lot of Stats to go over in improving your game with this program (77 preflop comes to mind). And, I will be writing up an article for Basic Low Buy In Tournament Strategy soon, which is a combination of tips I've learned through education, research, and my own play.<br /><br />However, this post reflects on the PreFlop cards. Holdem Manager likes to quickly summarize the details for the Premium Hands, listed in order of QQ, KK, AA, and AK (I'm presuming this is suited and non suited, since suited only adds 3% +EV to a hand). In the <a href="http://propokerplayschallenge.blogspot.com/p/hutchison-point-system-starting-hand.html" target=_blank>Hutchinson Point System</a>, AA has a value of 42, KK a value of 38, QQ a value of 36, AKs a value of 37 (note, this is above JJ), and AKo a value of 33 (though everyone appears to want to always go all in with it, can be handy nearing the bubble time).<br /><br />In my stats for 16 games, I have received these cards 2.4% (this appears to stay fairly steady). I was dealt AA three times, and won all three hands (but not necessarily the tourneys). I was dealt KK 3 times, and only won once. I was dealt QQ 3 times, and only won once, when no one called. Lost twice, the guy next to me (a limper) had KK. Dealt AKs twice, won one and lost one. Dealt AKo three times, won twice and lost once to AJ off.<br /><br />So my take on these premium starting hands, KK is great with preflop equity of 50+% from early position to 80.9% from later positions, but at the lower buy ins, someone with bigger stack may just call with AQ suited, and get there. AA provides the best PreFlop Equity, great hand to double up on (I'm sure it gets cracked, but since I've only had it three times, I've been luckier than the draw). QQ, while everyone likes to shove with these cards from any position, has the best equity from mid to later positions, <span style="font-weight:bold;">BUT ONLY 18% OR LESS.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_KBlcmvut4Nz2Oxy0WVrw9sPpLc1YGFWivG6fWQMUD6qBTtkhyphenhyphenoat7hcMWpYpqfCg4T0dLilYR7VMRa-4qGrSLQxsWjeObFU-qw1QP3og-8y7kf__hjhsMgfTwMV-RHdlGrI0NcTZTY/s1600-h/QQ.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 55px; height: 54px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_KBlcmvut4Nz2Oxy0WVrw9sPpLc1YGFWivG6fWQMUD6qBTtkhyphenhyphenoat7hcMWpYpqfCg4T0dLilYR7VMRa-4qGrSLQxsWjeObFU-qw1QP3og-8y7kf__hjhsMgfTwMV-RHdlGrI0NcTZTY/s400/QQ.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439371829080017362" /></a>What does this tell me? That I maybe shouldn't go all in with QQ unless really short stacked, and simply call raises from mid to late position with these cards. Early position, all in, you are at a bit of a disadvantage. I know they are hard to fold, but I need to discipline myself in order to increase ROI and Hourly rate.<br /><br />As to AKs and AKo, there doesn't appear to be much of a win difference between the two types. AKo is obviously better in later positions, and shoving is what I like to do with this hands when the blinds are over 200 or 300 (since everyone and their dog with a small pocket pair will call an all in with the early stages, as I discovered with my AKs shove). Many advocate, especially when nearing the bubble, that if there are reraises, and you hold AKo, should probably fold. Depends on your chip stack. If the amount will put you all in, maybe think it over some. And there are those times when preflop you are the favorite, but the AJo hits his Jack, and that's all she wrote.<br /><br />Now, as to other Pocket Cards, been dealt JJ twice, and won both (who knew), even on a board with AQx flop. Look for JJ preflop on the Button or Cut Off for making moves, when the preflop equity is 67.1%, and the only other opponents are limpers.<br /><br />Everyone's favorite shove (so far that I've noticed) is AQs and AQo (of course, if someone folded it, I don't know). I was dealt AQs twice, from middle position and the Big Blind. From Mid Position, won by simply calling the raises (took my 16k down to 14k, not all in), and when raised from the Big Blind, the limper folded. These are not shoving cards, but if you have the chips, they make calling a raise in position profitable. AQo, the same (simply calling raises that aren't too large for my stack size). I was dealt AQo 7 times, won three times, lost twice, and folded twice (the big raiser would have took half my chip stack, and I would have won, Q on flop, but I do tend to play a little tighter).<br /><br />Well, there are many more hands to discuss, I hope you liked this starting hand discussion. Query, would you fold the above hands or shove? How do you analyze your play?ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-76962855266937233122010-02-16T09:58:00.000-08:002010-02-16T10:02:47.734-08:00Yeah - A Successful Deposit, The Money is Mine!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEARuEdKYzB7NPFEJcYD4yyYaYy8XJzz1bCSTqXypf92_VLg-63kAlWAnaILK-MJyvHXclTNH8RZ-1MhHJIDfcdjqiku-CjsIoymSxhHWFi-rCCsGor97fnyggEqQUw_bxbkNwTIz7g4/s1600-h/InstantEchek.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 163px; height: 67px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEARuEdKYzB7NPFEJcYD4yyYaYy8XJzz1bCSTqXypf92_VLg-63kAlWAnaILK-MJyvHXclTNH8RZ-1MhHJIDfcdjqiku-CjsIoymSxhHWFi-rCCsGor97fnyggEqQUw_bxbkNwTIz7g4/s320/InstantEchek.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438902557211386738" /></a><br />Finally, I checked Pending ACH for my Bank, and they are withdrawing the money. One obstacle down for Full Tilt. Whew (this was a lot easier on Stars).<br /><br />Working on Laundry and Shopping, Visiting and Commenting on some Blogs, might hop on some forums, but plan to get a few tourneys in on Stars today.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509896630358156007.post-29637482124507339002010-02-15T17:55:00.000-08:002010-02-15T18:13:34.958-08:00Evening Post - Read All About It<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnQM6S8saMqp0OPB_JcPMI3lnAGZQS-3FwHWzO9G9TR0h8hECZXcNm0_GNAqAPF-smJ9NAzOLHDsWFSaIRNhbSS6AIRDkTiH2V91Q-YBIG2dh0QqjQ4q57aOxjPlzdTJ7zs87qvERvzc/s1600-h/EveningPost.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnQM6S8saMqp0OPB_JcPMI3lnAGZQS-3FwHWzO9G9TR0h8hECZXcNm0_GNAqAPF-smJ9NAzOLHDsWFSaIRNhbSS6AIRDkTiH2V91Q-YBIG2dh0QqjQ4q57aOxjPlzdTJ7zs87qvERvzc/s320/EveningPost.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438656510933673186" /></a><br />Well, I started to feel a bit tired when it came to playing some MTTs on Stars. Been working on the site, and reading up on some blogs I've been following.<br /><br />Noted: someone mentioned his play and bankroll went down when playing tired. So, I decided just to observe a few games (at that level, I don't bother to record hands observed). I started working on backgrounds, and I can tweak this one some more later.<br /><br />A word on the tools I use to track my games, and improve results.<br /><br />I use Holdem Manager, though have to manually enter tourney stats. Better for cash games. I have the bare subscription to Sharkscope, so can get tourney results and graphs better than Holdem Manager. Downloaded a spreadsheet, that automatically calculates bankroll, and keeps tabs on tourneys (and other games if you wish). Manual entry, graphs aren't that great. Obviously, you need your Poker Client to save Hand Histories.<br /><br />Tomorrow, life may crack into my Poker play. Errands to run, and phone calls to make. Might try in the evening, but again, if feeling like sleeping, won't play. (Never hurts to watch and take notes though).<br /><br />Good Night to All, its a back to work week.ImperfectFuturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05824843960158622427noreply@blogger.com0