Online Poker Challenge: Getting Out of the Micros

[gogodr]

I love staying up to date on this thread. Its really one of the more exciting threads on this forum.
But only $150. I was hoping to see you over $240 by now.

[SyGambler]

just noticed your thread and I really love poker challenges , I mainly play SNGs in Betcoin
you should try to play SNGs especially STT , at these games it's easy to build a bankroll and to move up quickly and since you are playing in Stars games should fill up quick
good luck anyways

[tokeweed]

I love staying up to date on this thread. Its really one of the more exciting threads on this forum.
But only $150. I was hoping to see you over $240 by now.

I hate to say it, but I'm not that good of a player. But I like the challenge and I love playing poker.  

Also thanks for the support.  I really appreciate it.

[tokeweed]

just noticed your thread and I really love poker challenges , I mainly play SNGs in Betcoin
you should try to play SNGs especially STT , at these games it's easy to build a bankroll and to move up quickly and since you are playing in Stars games should fill up quick
good luck anyways

I'll keep that in mind.  But for this challenge, it will be cash games only.  I'm thinking about doing another challenge playing exclusively SNGs though.  Maybe after this challenge, I'll start doing that.  The way we're going...  Maybe in 1 year?  Haha.  

[tokeweed]

Hello.  I need a little help figuring out the best move for this hand.

$5.00 No Limit Hold'em

Deimos2006 (SB): $4.81
Hero (BB): $6.30
xHasckerx (UTG): $8.66
dustyboots88 (MP): $6.06
kubowow (CO): $5.37
KenjiGye (BTN): $5.00

Let me first point out that Deimos2006 is a really really tight player.  He's a rock and doesn't go out of line much.  When he bets strong, he usually has the nuts or close to it.  But then again, he could use his tight image to his advantage.

Our image is somewhat loose and aggressive preflop as he have been reraising with weak hands in certain spots preflop and check raising with air when we think someone is trying to steal the pot.

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is BB with 7 6
4 folds, Deimos2006 raises to $0.20, Hero calls $0.15

Standard call preflop from the big blind vs a small blind raise.  

Flop: ($0.40) T K Q (2 players)
Deimos2006 bets $0.30, Hero calls $0.30

On the flop we have a small flush draw, he bet we call.  If he has a straight or KK, QQ, TT then we could get stacks in.

Turn: ($1.00) 5 (2 players)
Deimos2006 bets $0.72, Hero calls $0.72

On the turn we hit the flush and yet our tight opponent still bets strong.  I am having second thoughts raising here as he could now have a bigger flush in his range.  But he still has straights and sets to go along with it.  With our loose image he could still be thinking he's betting his hand for value.  So I opted to just call.

River: ($2.44) 2 (2 players)
Deimos2006 bets $1.75, Hero

The river, he bets strong again.  Now I'm thinking there's a chance we're beat as this means he has a higher flush.  But he could also be value owning himself and could be thinking that his straight or sets (KK, QQ or TT) could be still good since we just called the turn representing only a pair and a draw.  And if he is indeed thinking that, then we can raise here for value.  Or we could play it safe and just call.

I think it's close.  What do you guys think?  Do we fold, call, or raise all in?

[Indamuck]

The river, he bets strong again.  Now I'm thinking there's a chance we're beat as this means he has a higher flush.  But he could also be value owning himself and could be thinking that his straight or sets (KK, QQ or TT) could be still good since we just called the turn representing only a pair and a draw.  And if is indeed thinking that, then we can raise here for value.  Or we could play it safe and just call.

I think it's close.  What do you guys think?  Do we fold, call, or raise all in?

It is not even close for me.

He has broadway cards: most likely a big pair, AK, AQ, KQ ... maybe JJ but less likely

As such, the odds of him also having 2 clubs are extremely low. My guess is AA or AK with the Ace of clubs.

I try to get as much in as I can on the river, knowing he might fold Aces to a shove. Thus depending on stacks & pot, I might reraise rather than shove. Regardless, I definitely want a call. I don't want to see a re-raise, but I have to call if it comes. He'll beat me with a bigger flush sometimes ... but I try to play the long game and not worry too much about it.

[tokeweed]

The river, he bets strong again.  Now I'm thinking there's a chance we're beat as this means he has a higher flush.  But he could also be value owning himself and could be thinking that his straight or sets (KK, QQ or TT) could be still good since we just called the turn representing only a pair and a draw.  And if is indeed thinking that, then we can raise here for value.  Or we could play it safe and just call.

I think it's close.  What do you guys think?  Do we fold, call, or raise all in?

It is not even close for me.

He has broadway cards: most likely a big pair, AK, AQ, KQ ... maybe JJ but less likely

True, but coming from a really tight player, this looks really strong.  Especially by the turn.  Looking at it now, yeah it's not close.  In the heat of the moment, it felt really close and I was second guessing myself.

As such, the odds of him also having 2 clubs are extremely low. My guess is AA or AK with the Ace of clubs.

I try to get as much in as I can on the river, knowing he might fold Aces to a shove. Thus depending on stacks & pot, I might reraise rather than shove. Regardless, I definitely want a call. I don't want to see a re-raise, but I have to call if it comes. He'll beat me with a bigger flush sometimes ... but I try to play the long game and not worry to much about it.

I agree.  This should be an easy decision for 100bb.  If stacks were deeper, it would be a different situation.

[tokeweed]

Not a good start for the week.    I'm down 4 buy ins playing 5nl just today.  I have been playing fairly ok I guess, but I just couldn't book a win for the past couple of days.  Oh well.  I think I'm not going play for a day or two. 

Current bankroll is:  $141.17

[gogodr]

Not a good start for the week.    I'm down 4 buy ins playing 5nl just today.  I have been playing fairly ok I guess, but I just couldn't book a win for the past couple of days.  Oh well.  I think I'm not going play for a day or two. 

Current bankroll is:  $141.17

Dont give up dude and in that other hand I would have pushed him all in. Either he has the ace or he's folding.

[tokeweed]

Thanks for the support.  But I'm really in a rut.  I must really suck in this game as I can't beat the micros consistently.  LOL

Anyway I'm not playing for a week or so and give poker a break.  Sometimes it gets really frustrating even in the micros because you want to get out of there as fast as possible.

[Daffadile]

I tried poker once..... I got cleaned out completely, no wonder people were so friendly with me lol they loved winning my money. 
Hope you the best of luck.   

[tokeweed]

Hey guys just a little update...  I haven't been playing for a week.  I've been enjoying my time away from work, following the Euros and sporting events that interest me overall.  As for poker, I am going to pivot to heads up sit and goes.  I actually tried it today and played 4 matches which I have won all of them (luckbox lol).  So this encourages me to play more of these as I am getting bored with 6 max cash games.  

Haha, I know the variance is greater in hu sng's so be prepared for a lot of whining from me.  

Our bankroll as of now is $153.49.  Let's hope we run good!

[gogodr]

Hey guys just a little update...  I haven't been playing for a week.  I've been enjoying my time away from work, following the Euros and sporting events that interest me overall.  As for poker, I am going to pivot to heads up sit and goes.  I actually tried it today and played 4 matches which I have won all of them (luckbox lol).  So this encourages me to play more of these as I am getting bored with 6 max cash games.  

Haha, I know the variance is greater in hu sng's so be prepared for a lot of whining from me.  

Our bankroll as of now is $153.49.  Let's hope we run good!

Good luck. I'm still watching and got your back.

[tokeweed]

Awww, thanks man!  But sadly, I haven't been playing at all after that last session.  But I will be playing all HU SNG's when I do the challenge again starting from the $3.50 buyins.

Thanks again for the support! 

[ethereumhunter]

Hello!

I want to start a self-challenge playing online poker to give me more motivation to play more hands and climb the stakes.  This challenge will start on June 13, 2016 and will end when I have reached 50nl with 30 buy ins (1500 USD).

Mission:  To climb the stakes from the micros (2nl) to low stakes online (50nl).

Games:  The games I'm planning to play are NLHE and PLO.  I'm more adept at NLHE, but my PLO game is fundamentally ok.

Bankroll Management Plan:  I'm going to play a certain stake if I have at least 30 buyins for it.  I know due to the difficulty of the games today that I might need more.  But for this challenge I need only 30 so that I could move up as fast as possible.

My Poker Background:  I started playing seriously back in April, 2006 starting with a 100 USD bankroll.  I climbed the stakes and ran that up to over 50,000 USD just over a year later.  I started playing 5nl then I became a 200nl and 400nl reg around July, 2007.  I would like to note that the games were really soft back then.  Playing robotic, ABC poker was like printing money.  Ah...  I miss those days...

I quit playing poker seriously on 2010 due to the difficult games and I wasn't winning anymore.  I also started throwing things when I lost.  So yeah...  I still play from time to time though.  But for fun.

Current Poker Climate:  Not good.  In fact, it's the worst it has ever been.  People are better at playing poker all the way down to the micros due to all the poker strategy info available online.  There are still some newbies at the micros though.  So that's good.

Starting Bankroll:  130 USD.

Others:  I will be playing an average of 25,000 hands a month, playing 6 tables for around 2 - 3 hours a day.  I will update my bankroll amount every week, but I will be posting here from time to time to share my thoughts and discuss some of the hands I played.

That said, if we finish the challenge then we might go on and keep climbing the stakes until we reach midstakes.

Wish me luck!  

good luck for you bro. btw, is this update thread with your journey? i hope you can win some and be in the top fighter 

i am not playing poker, just know the game.

[iwasneverhere]

Some luck is in your favor on those hands. I think you need to raise more preflop to get better vantage points on other players. Mix it up so you know your strengths.

[gogodr]

Awww, thanks man!  But sadly, I haven't been playing at all after that last session.  But I will be playing all HU SNG's when I do the challenge again starting from the $3.50 buyins.

Thanks again for the support! 

When you planin on starting again.

[tokeweed]

Hello!  I had a little motivation to start playing again but this time in a different format.  I tried playing NLHE 6 max cash tables and I'm really bored with it, it seems.  So yeah, it's all HU SNG's for me for the time being.

Anyway I have a question for you guys.  In general what do you think of my bluff?  Yes or no and why?

Poker Stars No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t/t Blinds - 2 players

siham50 (BTN/SB): t1605       1 BBs
Hero (BB): t1395       1 BBs

Pre Flop: (t0) Hero is BB with 9 A
siham50 calls t0, Hero raises to t60, siham50 calls t60

Flop: (t120) 4 4 5 (2 players)
Hero bets t90, siham50 calls t90

Turn: (t300) 6 (2 players)
Hero bets t180, siham50 calls t180

River: (t660) K (2 players)
Hero bets t1035

[Deuceisgood]

Hello!  I had a little motivation to start playing again

Lol ... a guy named 'tokeweed' found a little motivation. Hmmm ... good luck with this. Hope to find you at a table.

[ONM]

If you want to move up in poker, you have to find a format that interests you, and then grind the shit out of it while studying a ton so that you can grow your skill while you grow your bankroll.

You also have to grind smart, not necessarily hard.  Right now, you're choosing to play in the toughest player pool in the world.  Why?  There's no need, especially in the micros where the goal is just to grind out hands and bank money.

Here's my graph from playing a little on Betcoin last week:



Obv in mB, not $.  Plus another ~300mB in rakeback.  Just for having a table or two up waiting for players while I'm grinding MTTs on other sites.  If you actually commit some real time to it, you can just steady print.

For your hands, they were both played sub-optimally.  The rivered flush is an easy call.  He has so many hands in his range that you crush.  Raising is as bad as folding, though, as he's easily folding every hand that doesn't beat you.  The A9 bluff is bad also, you just aren't representing anything.  4x c/r at some point, 5x and 6x utilize some pot control on the turn or river and don't continue to barrel.  Overbetting is bad because you aren't getting anything to fold that would have called smaller bets.  So if you think bluffing is the best option (it isn't), a 400 chips bet is going to accomplish the same thing as a 1k chip bet.

If you are serious about HU sngs, you should sub to husng.com, it's a very strong resource for that format.