From under the plaid cap
A young poker player's musings
It's official, we're chasing SNE! Week 1 in review.
So I've officially decided to go after SNE status in 2011. I realized that focusing on NL200, and with a dash of NL400, it's possible even given my late start. At the beginning of last week, I had 43,759 VPPs. I needed to reach 66, 701 by Sunday to be on pace to reach it. Here's my log from this past week...
3/23/11
Just watched one of Phil Galfond's videos on Scare Cards. I'm a huge fan of his, and this video was excellent. Wondering how much of his deep-thinking HU mid-high stakes game I can incorporate in small-mid FR games...
3/24/11
Day 3: 6,001 hands, -$1,450.60 = -$24/hand. 2,457.57 VPP (Target: 48,611.74 VPP // Actual: 50, 662.83)
So much for applying intelligent concepts. After taking “threaten your opponents stacks” to heart, I ran into nut hand after nut hand on big bluffs. Nut straights, quads, you name it. My timing was excellent! I ran -$600 all-in EV, which doesn’t account for running KK into AA twice (still haven’t gotten the reverse, nor gotten lucky with KK!), and AK into KK twice. I definitely played poorly at times, not to mention tilt calling off a 6-bet shove for $320 with TT – because he HAS to have AK there right…After that I quit. I feel like I’m running like trash, and every time I string together a nice score, within no time it’s back to the pits. My confidence gets rattled and I begin to question how much skill/luck has to do with my results. On top of all this, I was so excited to play today that I couldn’t sleep last night! After trying various things, I finally just lied in bed and waited…and waited…and waited. I think I got about 3 hours. Probably shouldn’t have even tried to play today without more sleep, but again, I was so excited! And I couldn’t have anticipated running as poorly as I did.
On a more positive note, there was definitely something to be gained from applying more pressure to my opponents. @ $.50/$1, I think it’s more difficult as guys generally seem to give up early or go all the way. Big bluffs on the turn and river are less likely to work. I also need to sharpen my hand-reading ability and better assess my opponents ability to fold in order to pull off these moves. And whilst I say aggressive play may not be as effective at NL100 as value betting & bluff catching, I was introduced to Eaglesfaan1 today, and my God is that guy a LAGomaniac! According to pokertablerrankings.com, he’s looser than 28% of players (way above average for a winning reg), more aggressive than 95%!, and only goes to showdown 9% Holy Moses Batman! And his win rate is off the chart! So there’s DEF something to be learned about applying pressure at NL100 and not merely waiting for the hands and trapping fish. I just haven’t figured it out yet. The difference between me and most regs (I’d like to think) is that I’ll be trying to. Many seem content with small BB/100 #s, massive volume, and VPP accumulation. And that’s great! But why not try to improve the BB/100? Hopefully I will in time, and while I get there, I’m going to have to take my lumps.
I’m damn stubborn, but I was able to close down Pokerstars. A few hours too late, but I did it. I’ve heard it many times (most recently in Daniel Negearnu’s blog recapping his action v. Victor Bloom) that Phil Ivey is the best at quitting when he’s losing. Not chasing and playing poorly like so many. Yet another Ivey quality that I can add to the List Of Things To Work On.
I’m not discounting going back later tonight, but I think now it’s time to shower, eat, and watch TV. My brain needs a mental break. If I do go back later, I’m going to play fewer tables and focus more on hand reading/ranges.
“It’s a long, long road. With many a winding turn.”
Day 3 Part II: 6,027 hands, +1,152.65 = +.19/hand. 2,657.91 VPP (Target: 48,611.74 VPP // Actual: 53,320.74)
Made a great comeback. Was even set to make a profit for the day when my trip nines were counterfeited by a two outer for a $600 pot (against the aforementioned Eaglesfaan1 too! Son of a!!). Gahh!! I’m so overdue to get lucky / be on the positive end of coolers! I finally ran my AA into KK, which makes 1 time for the 8 I’ve run my KK into AA this month (and lost all 8 btw).
Proud of comeback despite these things. Make a killing in the VVP department accruing over 5,000 today. Make SNE is possible after all…hmmm…
Day 4: 4,504 hands, -$315.60 = -$.07/hand. 2,033.74 VPP
Nothing spectacular from this session. However, I did have a fun night at the live 1/3 I’ve been playing. In the very first hand, the game’s biggest…contributor…raises $15, I make it $45 with KK, he makes it $100, I call. He shoves $200 on a raggedy flop and I call. He has AA. So my KK v AA epidemic has infiltrated the live scene as well. But I did end the night up $80, which I was very proud of. In fact, I made up a lot of that money by value betting thin in one three-way pot a few hours later. As I mentioned in a previous post, knowing how to value bet thin is an essential skill. In this pot, I had position with KK. Two limpers, I bump it to $15, they both call. Flop 468cc. Checks around. Why do I check? Pot control. I hate being check raised on this flop, and both of my opponents are capable of that play. I take it away from them if I check here, call/raise a turn donk bet, and evaluate the river. Turn T. Check, check I bet $25. Call, call. River 4. Check check. Now a lot of people would check here. But I bet for three reasons. #1 The only draw that got there (on the Turn) was 79, but the action eliminated that hand from my consideration-why wouldn’t a straight check/raise turn and/or bet river for value? #2 My hand is greatly under represented, and therefore I’m more likely to get paid off by one of my thinking opponents. #3 My opponents physicality suggested they’d be happy with a cheap showdown. So I bet $50 and got both to call! Turns out the second guy had QQ, but had put me on a big hand, so he too was under rep’d. Don’t know what the first guy had. But again, goes to show, if you can get value, get it!
Day 5: 8,030 hands, +$1,881.50 = +$.23/hand. 3,591.62 VPP
Strong sessions today. 3 sessions split throughout the day. I played a very level headed session. I did three barrel a few times when the board texture/opponent suggested I could. I don’t think I was picked off in any of them. And forgive me for this, but not only did I run KK into AA again, but I also ran AA into KK & AK. Hurrah! But wait, what’s that I see on the flop…K. Needless to say, I’m not winning the money with big pairs this week.
Day 6: 6,386 hands, +$374.65 = +.06/hand. 3,016 VPP.
This session started with a bang! Up about $1,200 in no time. And then I hit a wall and lost it all back, plus a little more. I regrouped and made a little run to end the session up $374.65, which is still above my $.03/hand goal. No complaints.
Day 7: 11,152 hands, +$2,105.85 = +$.18/hand. 5,146.19 VPP
Long, productive day! Got unlucky in a few big pots AIPF (all in pre flop), but overall, I ran good and played good. I recovered from missteps well, and paced myself throughout the day.
Week 1 (Days 3-7 recap): 42,104 hands, +$3,746.95 =$.09/hand.
VPP Goal: 66,701.40 ; Actual: 67,108.39
Week 1, big success! Learning a lot about how to manage these long days and swingy sessions. I’m adjusting well (I think) to the other regs, and maximizing profits in pots against weaker opponents. I’ve played primarily NL200 ($1/$2..for “Aunt Ida”), and have begun mixing in some NL400. I started hot as could be in NL400, but then lost an $850 pot with AA v. QQ on a KQ4hh board. Oh well. I’m running 6BB/100 thru my tiny 1,600 hand sample size. I’m definitely feeling the difference between big bet bluffs in NL200 v NL400, but feeling more and more comfortable as I go.
Looking back over my post earlier this week, it reads as though I’m really suffering! And frankly, I was! I was bumming hardcore. Lot’s of poker players have a very cool, calm, composed disposition. I’m developing that, but it’s certainly not my go-to! I’m more of an emotional, expressive, and sensitive lad (thanks acting school!). Good qualities for live, bad for poker. Poker constantly reminds winning players what aspects of their game/approach need work. This is one of my areas. I did a great job of it as the week progressed, and my results showed.
Final bit from this week. I was to post a brief breakdown of a hand I played from the BB against a thinking, but overly aggressive (and currently losing) player on the button. NL 200.
BTN ( $268 ) opens to $4.50
BB ( $323.10 ) raises to $15.50
BTN reraises to $32
Now when he makes it $32, we could certainly shove for $268 effective. Any 5th bet commits us to the pot mathematically. However, if I’m on a pure bluff, I could potential make a 5th bet with intention to fold. I thought my overly aggressive opponents may consider that I’m taking this line. Also, notice above that I mentioned he’s recently losing. When an aggressive player is on a downswing, he is more likely to push marginal spots or convince himself that he has equity in a spot that he doesn’t (I refer to my 5 bet call it off with TT above). So I opted to give my friend the chance to hang himself, and that’s exactly what happened.
BB 5 bets to $100
BTN shoves to $268 and is all-in
BB calls.
BTN shows KQo
BB shows AKo
Board runs clean, and BB wins $537 pot.
If you’re opponent is willing to hang himself, let him!
This week’s goal is to reach 90,117.59 VPP by the end of Sunday! We are on pace to become SNE in 2011 baby! Going to be a great week of poker.
Also, this Friday, the website I’ve teamed up with launches! And after a great conversation this morning with Mike Owens, the man behind it all, I’m more excited than ever. I’ll be one of the site’s chief bloggers and content contributors. I look forward to having a creative home in poker! As soon at it launches, I’ll be sending out the link. Get pumped!
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