Day 1

Hands: 759
Result: -$25

Bankroll: $1775

Short session after work, wanted to get the thread off to a good start, so of course I run 2 buyins under EV, such is poker. No Really notable hands, just two standard river 2 outers, which cost me the session. Played well though and didn't tilt, good start in terms of pay but nor results, unfortunately.


Would be interested to hear your take on this hand, couldn't believe he called river - was it a decent bluff spot?

Pacific, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 5 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $55.80 (111.6 bb)
Hero (BB): $58.36 (116.7 bb)
MP: $49.75 (99.5 bb)
CO: $22.51 (45 bb)
BTN: $52.70 (105.4 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with QA
3 folds, SB raises to $1.50, Hero raises to $4.50, SB calls $3

Flop: ($9) 2104 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $5, SB calls $5

Turn: ($19) 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($19) 7 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $12, SB calls $12

Results: $43 pot ($2.15 rake)
Final Board: 210487
SB showed Q10 and won $40.85 ($19.35 net)
Hero showed QA and lost (-$21.50 net)


PS - what's the quickest way to insert hand histories to this forum, with symbols? I did copy/paste from HEM and just replaced the cards with symbols manually, took about 5 minutes. Cheers





.

Whoops - bankroll now at $1975. Strong maths there!

I don't think as you played it, it was a good spot to bluff. I am never folding Tx there. You don't really rep much. Most, if not all your overpairs would have barreled the turn. The 8 is a pretty safe card. Flop calls are 55-99, 33 JJ if they don't 4b it. Some 2x, like A2s and 4x like A4s and maybe 54s, couple of gutshots like A3s and A5s, then they have sets like TT, 44 and 22. There are no 2 pairs. You bet more than half pot so not sure how many backdoor overcard floats they have, but maybe a little. The 8 really only helps 88 and brings in some backdoors, assuming they actually called those, but you can get value from the backdoors with your overpairs, so I think most of your overpairs would barrel the turn. If you bluffed backdoor diamonds you would probably barrel those on the turn as well, so when the diamond comes in villain is probably not thinking you have very many flushes. You might have some that you check back turn with, but not enough for him to fold top pair. I think I just check back and occasionally you win against those gutshots like A3 or A5 that opted not to bluff or some other weird floats.

I think you could probably barrel turn and get all those weaker pairs to fold turn. If he calls turn you know you are pretty much dealing with TP+ and can decide if you want to bluff jam the river to fold some of that out. He is probably never folding sets and obviously not folding flushes.

Thanks Felix appreciate the input and agree

Day 2

Hands: 805

Result: +$241

Bankroll: $2216

Another short session after work, played decent again, was on the right side of a big cooler and coinflip, hence the difference in winning and EV (all in pre my AA vs his KK and my QQ vs his AK), so booked a win, which is good for the bankroll. Reviewed stats and turns out I was playing 19/15 for this session AKA super tight, probably because so many aggro fish at the tables. Check this guy out, 36/28 and 90/70/54 for barreliing on respective streets. Ft4b was 100% though so flatted his 3B as an exploit

Pacific, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $50 (100 bb)
BB: $49.77 (99.5 bb)
Hero (UTG): $51.66 (103.3 bb)
MP: $116.24 (232.5 bb)
CO: $52.32 (104.6 bb)
BTN: $73.91 (147.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with AA
Hero raises to $1.25, 3 folds, SB raises to $4.25, BB folds, Hero calls $3

Flop: ($9) JJ9 (2 players)
SB bets $4.50, Hero calls $4.50

Turn: ($18) 6 (2 players)
SB bets $15, Hero calls $15

River: ($48) A (2 players)
SB bets $26.25 and is all-in, Hero calls $26.25

Results: $100.50 pot ($4 rake)
Final Board: JJ96A
SB showed AK and lost (-$50 net)
Hero showed AA and won $96.50 ($46.50 net)

Hulme, that where you live? Always good to see local lads Do you play live in Manchester anywhere?

Hi mate, yea pretty close to Hulme - I used to play in 235 about ten years ago when everyone was terrible and did pretty well, played again the other day but people seemed to have improved somewhat. How about you?

Haha played in a couple of the bigger comps when it's at 235 but I just don't like that casino. Mainly play at Didsbury and then BNR and occasionally Bolton

Hands: 2834

Result: +$63

Bankroll: $2279

Bit of an epic session today with dinner in the middle, the theme of the day was getting called down by calling station type players with third pair type hands, ie running decent bluffs and fish button clicking and taking down the pot - titling when it happens a lot but still booked a win, although today reminded me why it's called 'grinding' - had long card dead periods, chunks of time without winning a decent pot etc. Don't even have any hands of note, the whole thing seemed pretty standard, just didn't see that many hands. Can't remember seeing aces in the entire session, had to fold KK/QQ/JJ/1010 numerous times due to ace hi flops, same story with AK/AQ, just seemed to miss most flops....ah well, such is poker.

The EV difference is when I 3 bet shoved a K 6 9 rainbow flop in a 4 bet pot against a huge fish with QQ. Been watching the guy for an hour and he was pretty much a maniac and would call down with JJ/1010/ any 9 and probably 87. Turns out he had K7 but I binked a Q on the turn. Ah well...

Hands: 454

Result: +$6

Pretty short, uneventful session until the end although still playing too tight - not sure what the adjustment is against 35/28 type players, do I loosen up myself?

Anyway a win is a win - on we go.

Decided to play Snap for the forst time - 200 or so hands, +$25. Seems fishy

Anyway bankroll at $2309...NL100 shot coming soon with a bit of luck!

Hands: 869

Result: -$4

Bankroll: $2305


Played a cheeky couple of hours, slightly tipsy, after a gig I went to. Played decent but lost a big coinflip - managed to grind to near enough breakeven though, which I was pleased with. Seemed to run into the biggest calling station ever. Yes he's ahead until I bink river but he's just crushed vs my range here. I don't get it but nice to know there are guys out there at NL50 who will pay you off with 3rd pair for 3 streets!

Pacific, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $210.58 (421.2 bb)
BB: $40.54 (81.1 bb)
UTG: $38.37 (76.7 bb)
Hero (MP): $58 (116 bb)
CO: $50 (100 bb)
BTN: $50.50 (101 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A5
UTG raises to $1.43, Hero raises to $4.50, 4 folds, UTG calls $3.07

Flop: ($9.75) Q310 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $5, UTG calls $5

Turn: ($19.75) 3 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $10, UTG calls $10

River: ($39.75) 4 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $19, UTG calls $18.87

Results: $77.49 pot ($3.87 rake)
Final Board: Q31034
UTG showed 99 and lost (-$38.37 net)
Hero showed A5 and won $73.62 ($35.25 net)

Hands:3356

Result +$0.60 (lol)

Bankroll: $2306

A session split over 2 days but I combined them as not had much time to post. Such a tilting session. Should have been way up but got the most horrfic outdraw ever.You can see it around hand 400. Put me on tilt for a while but was pleased I was able to grind it back. Annoying though because that's $120 that should be on the bankroll but isn't. I don't mad a legit bad beat by a semi reasonable hand but 94o? Come on

Pacific, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $27.74 (55.5 bb)
BB: $32.40 (64.8 bb)
UTG: $98.95 (197.9 bb)
MP: $50 (100 bb)
CO: $65.32 (130.6 bb)
Hero (BTN): $65.26 (130.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with Ah As
MP posts BB OOP, UTG folds, MP raises to $1.75, CO folds, Hero raises to $5, 2 folds, MP raises to $15.75, Hero raises to $65.26, MP calls $34.25 and is all-in

Flop: ($100.75) 3d Js 6d (2 players, 1 is all-in)
Turn: ($100.75) Td (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($100.75) 7d (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results: $100.75 pot ($4.00 rake)
Final Board: 3d Js 6d Td 7d
MP showed 9d 4c and won $96.75 ($46.75 net)
Hero showed Ah As and won $0.00 (-$50.00 net)



Also this hand happened and it felt like spew afterwards but how on earth do I put him on a 4 when he calls the flop in a 3b pot? Turn X/R just likes like a spewy bluff to me.

I'm convinced no-one is reading this so prob won't get a response but any thoughts appreciated:

Pacific, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $53.82 (107.6 bb)
BB: $49.50 (99 bb)
UTG: $61.43 (122.9 bb)
MP: $69.64 (139.3 bb)
CO: $15.63 (31.3 bb)
Hero (BTN): $55.57 (111.1 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with Qd Qh
UTG folds, MP raises to $1.12, CO folds, Hero raises to $3.80, 2 folds, MP calls $2.68

Flop: ($8.35) 7d 6c 3s (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $5, MP calls $5

Turn: ($18.35) 5s (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $10, MP raises to $27.17, Hero raises to $46.77, MP calls $19.60

River: ($111.89) 7h (2 players)

Results: $111.89 pot ($4.00 rake)
Final Board: 7d 6c 3s 5s 7h
MP showed 4h 4s and won $107.89 ($52.32 net)
Hero showed Qd Qh and lost (-$55.57 net)

Yo welcome and good luck!

Making it as a pro is tough in 2017 but if you use all resources correctly it is possible!

Would avoid 888 like the plague tbh due to

- slow cashouts
- terrible exchange rates
- next to no rewards.

Would try somewhere like

Betfair

Betsafe

SKY

You are going to get rewards, more games, better service and fast cashouts plus on Sky the softest games in the world.

Hope that helps and gl

Thanks mate, will look into it. Betfair is Ipoker though right? seems to be incredibly bot and reg infested probably cos of the great RB deals. And can you use a HUD with Microgaming and sky? I thought they both didn't allow it?

Also any comment on any hands etc? Seems like a ghost town in this forum.

Also played another 750 hands after posting. Up $61 so BR up to $2342 as I played some untracked Snap on my laptop.

Hands: 1210

Result: +$76

Bankroll: $2415

Standard session, no real huge hands or outdraws etc. Except this guy who rivered me - how should I have played the hand? 4 bet pre? AP X/R flop, AP donk turn? AP fold river? Felt OK but not a great line - any help appreciated.

Pacific, $0.15/$0.30 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $37.62 (125.4 bb)
BB: $30 (100 bb)
UTG: $29.07 (96.9 bb)
Hero (MP): $45.06 (150.2 bb)
CO: $62.80 (209.3 bb)
BTN: $30 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Jd Jc
UTG folds, Hero raises to $0.86, CO raises to $3.03, 3 folds, Hero calls $2.17

Flop: ($6.51) 7h 5s 3s (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $3.25, Hero calls $3.25

Turn: ($13.01) 2d (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

River: ($13.01) Qs (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $6.50, Hero calls $6.50

Results: $26.01 pot ($1.53 rake)
Final Board: 7h 5s 3s 2d Qs
Hero showed Jd Jc and lost (-$12.78 net)
CO showed Qc Ac and won $24.48 ($11.70 net)

IMO, i think hand is played fine. I guess you could make a case for folding the river. Haven't done a calldown in spots like this, so not sure if it makes you too exploitable, like you need to be calling some of these. I would imagine you have to be calling some of your PPs here.

I don't think I would 4b, especially 150bb deep OOP. Value of your hand goes down when OOP and deep and not a hand you would want to stack off 150bb with on most runouts. 100bb deep I don't 4b this, but I guess if villain was somewhat of a 3b monkey you could make a case for it.

i think same for flop. I think cuz its deep, not sure I want to raise here. I think this board, you could make a case for raising for some thin value/protection. Obviously we are in bad shape vs QQ+, but villain can have AK, maybe some AQ, AJo, KQo, A5s, among other things and you can certainly gain some protection and maybe even a little bit of value from some of that, but just not sure I want to stack 150bb off on the turn with this hand. So thats the challenge. I haven't quite done enough theory work in these spots where you raise for thin value to know what on following streets. So what would you do here? Raise river and overbet jam turn. Probably never getting called by worse. So do you bet turn normal then somehow X/F this river So do you check and if he bets, you fold as he more than likely has an OP. If it goes X/X you are pretty much in the same spot on the river as you are here with a bigger pot and facing a much bigger bet. So just not a spot I am very familiar with

More I think about it I might just make the explo fold on the river. He can certainly have some As blocker bluffs on the river and he certainly could play some of AsXs like this. However, I think if he had the flush he would bet bigger and, likewise, if he had the As blocker I think he would bluff with that same sizing. So his sizing just kind of looks like a hand where he is trying to get some thin value from JJ-88, 7x. Looks like a sizing where he would just bet/fold if you raised. So looks like he binked the Q or decided to X his OP on the turn


Maybe a spot where you call with your spades blockers and fold non spades, but not sure how relevant the blockers are here for calling your JJ-88

Tip for getting the hands reviewed: I know its a pain because you have already posted the hand here, but post them in the line check thread. Just not sure how many of the people who like to and do respond to line checks, actually read the blogs. They may not follow or read very many of them, so if you have hands you really want reviewed I would put them in that section. I know there are a few guys who respond fairly regularly

Hey man thanks very much for that, great analysis. Yea i will start posting in the hand section thanks, this is more just like diary for myself so thanks for reading!

Ah - bad session of snap/ -$65. Bankroll $2350