Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

Looking at his stats he looks pretty solid, i'm not sure i'd want to play oop to him with QQ and overs on the flop. Looking at the 6% three bet range you still crush most of it. I would 4 bet for value and look to get it in. If you run into Aces or kings so be it.
The 3 bet is a little bigger than you might expect if he had aces or kings, whiffs more of JJ TT looking to end it on the flop.
Its not dissimilar to my JJ example as the 3 bet range has a lot of aces and he checked. As its queens rather than jacks I would put in a blocker of 20% of the pot, fold to a big raise and call anything giving me 3-1 or better.

Fisi said:

How about this one guys?

IPoker, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $1.71 (34.2 bb)
BB: $5.80 (116 bb)
UTG: $4.93 (98.6 bb)
MP: $5.80 (116 bb)
Hero (CO): $5.30 (106 bb)
BTN: $17.53 (350.6 bb) (19/13, AF% 36; 3b 5,8; 986 hands)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q

Q

2 folds, Hero raises to $0.15, BTN raises to $0.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.35

I decided to flat here, becasue the villain is pretty tight passive and I think that with a 4b here I would isolate myself against his strongest range (AK, QQ+), while he would have folded all weaker hands. After the 3b, I put him on a range of 99+, AQ+ and maybe a few bluffs with Ax.

Flop: ($1.07) 5

6

8

(2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $1.07, Hero calls $1.07

A raise might have been good here? Probably doesn't fold 99-JJ.

Turn: ($3.21) A

(2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

After he checks, him having an ace here is a bit less likely. I remember ruling it out almost completely on the spot, but looking back, it wasn't the smartest move as he could have his Ax bluffs which he pot controlls with or AQ/AK, which he checks behind to get value on the river.

River: ($3.21) 5

(2 players)

Our options:
- bet small to get calls from 99-JJ
- bet bigger to maybe get calls from 99-JJ and maybe make him lay down KK
- check/fold?

What is your play?

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I really like reading how you guys think why you guys do certain things for instance call with QQ so villain doesn't narrow you down too far.

For this hand I bet 1/2 to 2/3 the pot. If you've got a read on him and feel he would have bet with an ace in his hand but may still have KK I wouldn't over bet because that would look to much like a bluff and he may call with KK. It's a pretty low chance that he would have KK and would hate to make a decision thinking that's exactly what he has unless you have a really strong read. With a bet of 1/2 to 2/3 I think that would entice a call vs full pot which IMO would cause passive to fold.

variance has its teeth into me this week

Last 6000 hands, have won $8 should have won $88. ouch. These hands happened this evening.
Hand 1 & 2 all in on flop and 3 on the turn

Figaroo2 said:

Looking at his stats he looks pretty solid, i'm not sure i'd want to play oop to him with QQ and overs on the flop. Looking at the 6% three bet range you still crush most of it. I would 4 bet for value and look to get it in. If you run into Aces or kings so be it.
The 3 bet is a little bigger than you might expect if he had aces or kings, whiffs more of JJ TT looking to end it on the flop.
Its not dissimilar to my JJ example as the 3 bet range has a lot of aces and he checked. As its queens rather than jacks I would put in a blocker of 20% of the pot, fold to a big raise and call anything giving me 3-1 or better.

Click to expand...

Yeah he's solid but also quite passive for such a tight player at AF% 36. I really have trouble seeing any value in 4 betting here, because the only hand I might get real value from is JJ here. And even that might be unlikely. If he 5 bets it sucks, because I'm way behind his range, if he folds it sucks, because I was way ahead of his hand. I think he plays pretty straight forward postflop, so playing this hand oop doesn't seem bad to me.

Yeah a 20-40% bet seems best. I often have a problem when I am thinking about the hand in the moment, because I get ideas like: I can probably make him fold KK here! And than dissregard the whole situation and just do it. Anyways, i bet about 70% of pot, he took some time and than called with KK.

Sneaky Feet said:

I really like reading how you guys think why you guys do certain things for instance call with QQ so villain doesn't narrow you down too far.

For this hand I bet 1/2 to 2/3 the pot. If you've got a read on him and feel he would have bet with an ace in his hand but may still have KK I wouldn't over bet because that would look to much like a bluff and he may call with KK. It's a pretty low chance that he would have KK and would hate to make a decision thinking that's exactly what he has unless you have a really strong read. With a bet of 1/2 to 2/3 I think that would entice a call vs full pot which IMO would cause passive to fold.

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I'm not calling with QQ here so that villain doesn't narrow my range too far. I'm calling with QQ here, because if I 4 bet here, the range that villain continues here with most probably narrows down to AK and QQ+. Which sucks for my hand .

On the river, if it would look too much like a bluff, he would probably call with TT and JJ as well

Otherwise, yeah, good thinking, I would probably stick with the lower side of the bet size, maybe 1/2 or less and fold to a raise.

Figaroo2 said:

Last 6000 hands, have won $8 should have won $88. ouch. These hands happened this evening.
Hand 1 & 2 all in on flop and 3 on the turn

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Well, shit happens and will happen

Alright.... sorry guys. I'll get caught up here on the thread. Just got back yesterday and trying to catch up on everything.

Jamaica was amazing though. Love the people, the beaches, food... awesome. I'm going to put up a little trip report with some pics on my blog as soon as I can. I'm heading to Vegas in a couple of days, so need to hustle.

Glad to hear you're back John and that you had a great time. What would you say the highlight and the lowlight was?

The only lowlight was my luggage was lost. But I got it the next day, and there's not really too much you need in Jamaica. Of course my wife laughed because she told me to throw some extra clothes in the carry on. She did and she was fine, so it was a shining, "I told you so" moment for her.

We went to the Luminous lagoon which was pretty awesome. Your body lights up everywhere you move. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0F--g3mbC4

Dunns river falls, going to Bob Marley's birthplace in nine mile (although the tour itself was pretty lame). Talking crazy philosophy with the locals. Lots of drinks and other things on the beach.

Lots of good times mon.

Ok, so is there anything that someone is struggling with specifically? I want to get re-focused here because our goal in this thread is to get everyone crushing where they are at and moving up. That's what we're going to be dedicated to.

On that note, I'm also going to pick someone at random to do a coaching sessions with this next week. I'm going to video the session and post it up here for everyone to learn from as well. I'm just going to pick someone that's been active in here and really wants to learn and move up.

John A said:

The only lowlight was my luggage was lost. But I got it the next day, and there's not really too much you need in Jamaica. Of course my wife laughed because she told me to throw some extra clothes in the carry on. She did and she was fine, so it was a shining, "I told you so" moment for her.

We went to the Luminous lagoon which was pretty awesome. Your body lights up everywhere you move. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0F--g3mbC4

Dunns river falls, going to Bob Marley's birthplace in nine mile (although the tour itself was pretty lame). Talking crazy philosophy with the locals. Lots of drinks and other things on the beach.

Lots of good times mon.

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Looks awesome!

Does the Bob Marley's birthplace still have the same guide?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOOT_3U4rZM

I'm not sure if it's the same guide, but they aren't very good and of course the accent is pretty thick. But it was still cool to see the area. We were told by several people it wasn't a very good tour, but my wife was determined.

Sorry to hear that. A friend went to Jamaica 3 years ago, and they had the same guide. Said it was really funny

Damn it! Wrong link, here's the right one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr5UCifz7xM

One problem I seem to be having is winning big pots. I win a lot of small ones, having my WWSF a little over 50, however at the end of the day I am often in the red having lost a few bigger pots, but won only 1 generally, sometimes 2 or so. I have considered playing my value hands less aggressively and being trappy against everyone but maniacs, fish and really passive guys.

Thougths?

Haha... no, they had two guides and I don't think either of them were that guy.

Thanks to John A

John I just wanted to feedback to you I've had a record month on the cash tables, just managing to clear over $500 mainly at 10nl. I managed to get in some decent volume (for me) which helps with 21,500 hands.
These results are mainly down to have been working with you and your material on this site and with Leakbuster. Thank You.
I also happily re-stumbled across bet365 poker on the Ipoker network which was and is full of fishy sports bettors having a go at poker with no clue what they are doing. Playing these types of players doesn't make your stats look great but when i'm winning at around 30bb/100 on that site I don't mind. Game selection and seeking out the fish has also helped massively, I just don't bother sitting at a table full of regs any more.
I have also been doing a fair bit on pokerstars including playing a lot more 25nl. Another month or two of this and i'll be taking a shot at higher levels

Impressive results figaroo,
Can i ask you please with what did u start bet365 adventure? Hows their promo? Any chance on rakeback?
I wanted to try it some time ago but instead i did go to WH and poker770 did get some deal for them but i rly want to try bet365,ps is killing me these days

I actually had a sports betting account with bet365 and saw a poker section. In 2011/2 i was winning money on the site but cashed out and forgot about it. The software is pretty basic but hey who cares if it is fish in a barrel.
Rake back via earning points and going into a daily draw for cash and prizes. Ive only been back there 6 weeks and i did log on one day last week to say id won €14
in the daily draw.
The 4nl tables are the softest ive ever seen and i have accounts across 7 poker sites. Just dont try to bluff them at this level.

Figaroo2 said:

John I just wanted to feedback to you I've had a record month on the cash tables, just managing to clear over $500 mainly at 10nl. I managed to get in some decent volume (for me) which helps with 21,500 hands.
These results are mainly down to have been working with you and your material on this site and with Leakbuster. Thank You.
I also happily re-stumbled across bet365 poker on the Ipoker network which was and is full of fishy sports bettors having a go at poker with no clue what they are doing. Playing these types of players doesn't make your stats look great but when i'm winning at around 30bb/100 on that site I don't mind. Game selection and seeking out the fish has also helped massively, I just don't bother sitting at a table full of regs any more.
I have also been doing a fair bit on Pokerstars including playing a lot more 25nl. Another month or two of this and i'll be taking a shot at higher levels

Click to expand...

Impressive! Congrats

Fisi said:

One problem I seem to be having is winning big pots. I win a lot of small ones, having my WWSF a little over 50, however at the end of the day I am often in the red having lost a few bigger pots, but won only 1 generally, sometimes 2 or so. I have considered playing my value hands less aggressively and being trappy against everyone but maniacs, fish and really passive guys.

Thougths?

Click to expand...

I think a good WWSF at smaller stakes is between 43 - 48% really. I think if you start getting over that point, then you'll be putting too much money in with weak hands, and essentially trapping yourself against opponents who can't understand hand ranges or fold very well.

You can experiment with checking top and middle pair hands OOP against your regulars and aggressive opponents. Example, you open AT in the CO, button calls, and the flop is: 4 A 9 rainbow. Instead of always betting, sometimes checking. As you move up stakes you won't need to do this, but it's something worth experimenting with against the correct opponents.

Also, post some hands where you're losing big pots and we can look for some patterns for you.

Hey guys, I just got into Vegas today. If anyone is out here that wants to meet up, just hit me up on here and we'll try to make it happen.

We wish....what games are you going to play? . You know of course what winning a bracelet would do for you're coaching credentials and uptake on your software like Leakbuster. Im certain you are good enough.
Recently I stumbled across bracelethunter and Nick Weathalls break through poker coaching, plenty of people trying to cash in on coaching. Good luck whatever you do.

John A said:

I think a good WWSF at smaller stakes is between 43 - 48% really. I think if you start getting over that point, then you'll be putting too much money in with weak hands, and essentially trapping yourself against opponents who can't understand hand ranges or fold very well.

Click to expand...

Yeah, this is probably happening. I think I will experiment more with a kind of one-and-done style of play.

John A said:

You can experiment with checking top and middle pair hands OOP against your regulars and aggressive opponents. Example, you open AT in the CO, button calls, and the flop is: 4 A 9 rainbow. Instead of always betting, sometimes checking. As you move up stakes you won't need to do this, but it's something worth experimenting with against the correct opponents.

Also, post some hands where you're losing big pots and we can look for some patterns for you.

Click to expand...

Yeah, will definitely try that

Looking over my hands, there have been a few stupid plays from me, disregarding the passivness of my opponents and calling their raises and check-raising turns with air and representing nothing.

I also think that hands like these are coolers. Correct me if I'm wrong though

IPoker, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $2.22 (44.4 bb)
BB: $5.19 (103.8 bb) (18/14; 5,0 3b; 29 AF%; 292 hands)
UTG: $8.92 (178.4 bb)
MP: $9.18 (183.6 bb)
CO: $5.16 (103.2 bb)
Hero (BTN): $7.64 (152.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with Q Q
2 folds, CO raises to $0.17, Hero raises to $0.40, SB folds, BB raises to $1.20, CO folds, Hero calls $0.80

Flop: ($2.59) 4 9 9 (2 players)
BB bets $1.30, Hero raises to $6.44, BB calls $2.69

Turn: ($10.57) J (2 players)
River: ($10.57) 3 (2 players)

Results: $10.57 pot ($0.70 rake)
Final Board: 4 9 9 J 3
BB showed A A and won $9.87 ($4.68 net)
Hero mucked Q Q and lost (-$5.19 net)
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IPoker, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $1.60 (32 bb)
Hero (BB): $5.41 (108.2 bb)
UTG: $7.60 (152 bb)
MP: $1.87 (37.4 bb)
CO: $5.47 (109.4 bb)
BTN: $5.12 (102.4 bb) (29/23; 7,3 3b; 38 AF%, 971 hands)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J J
3 folds, BTN raises to $0.12, SB folds, Hero raises to $0.40, BTN raises to $0.90, Hero raises to $5.41 and is all-in, BTN calls $4.22 and is all-in

Flop: ($10.26) A 9 3 (2 players, 2 are all-in)
Turn: ($10.26) T (2 players, 2 are all-in)
River: ($10.26) 3 (2 players, 2 are all-in)

Results: $10.26 pot ($0.68 rake)
Final Board: A 9 3 T 3
Hero mucked J J and lost (-$5.12 net)
BTN showed Q Q and won $9.58 ($4.46 net)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IPoker, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $5.34 (106.8 bb)
BB: $3.12 (62.4 bb)
Hero (UTG): $5.84 (116.8 bb)
MP: $5.01 (100.2 bb) (40/30; 14,3 3b; 64 AF%; 20 hands)
CO: $2.83 (56.6 bb) (33/17, 0 3b; 0 AF%; 6 hands)
BTN: $1.39 (27.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K K
Hero raises to $0.15, MP calls $0.15, CO calls $0.15, 3 folds

Flop: ($0.52) 6 J 9 (3 players)
Hero bets $0.35, MP raises to $0.95, CO calls $0.95, Hero raises to $5.69 and is all-in, MP calls $3.91 and is all-in, CO calls $1.73 and is all-in

Turn: ($12.92) 8 (3 players, 3 are all-in)
River: ($12.92) 9 (3 players, 3 are all-in)

Results: $12.92 pot ($0.86 rake)
Final Board: 6 J 9 8 9
Hero mucked K K and won $0.00 (-$5.01 net)
MP showed 9 9 and won $12.06 ($7.05 net)
CO showed T 8 and lost (-$2.83 net)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IPoker, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $2.48 (49.6 bb)
BB: $3.16 (63.2 bb)
UTG: $5 (100 bb)
Hero (MP): $10.16 (203.2 bb)
CO: $5 (100 bb) (29/22; 8,3 3b; 31 AF%; 627 hands)
BTN: $5.42 (108.4 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A A
UTG folds, Hero raises to $0.15, CO raises to $0.45, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.97) 3 8 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.50, CO raises to $1.72, Hero raises to $9.71 and is all-in, CO calls $2.83 and is all-in

Turn: ($10.07) 2 (2 players, 2 are all-in)
River: ($10.07) 5 (2 players, 2 are all-in)

Results: $10.07 pot ($0.67 rake)
Final Board: 3 8 3 2 5
Hero mucked A A and lost (-$5 net)
CO showed 5 3 and won $9.40 ($4.40 net)

Really sorry for the spam, but here are three more spots that I find myself in quite often and I'm not sure if I play them well.


IPoker, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $5.44 (108.8 bb) (30/17, 6,3 3b; 33 AF%; 105 hands)
BB: $2.09 (41.8 bb)
UTG: $8.25 (165 bb)
MP: $13.69 (273.8 bb)
CO: $5.96 (119.2 bb)
Hero (BTN): $5.18 (103.6 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with K A
UTG calls $0.05, MP calls $0.05, CO calls $0.05, Hero raises to $0.40, SB calls $0.38, 3 folds, CO calls $0.35

Flop: ($1.35) 9 A 7 (3 players)
SB checks, CO checks, Hero bets $0.75, SB calls $0.75, CO folds

Turn: ($2.85) J (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.42, SB raises to $3.50, Hero folds

Results: $5.69 pot ($0.37 rake)
Final Board: 9 A 7 J
SB mucked and won $5.32 ($2.75 net)
Hero mucked K A and lost (-$2.57 net)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IPoker, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $3.04 (60.8 bb)
BB: $1.89 (37.8 bb)
UTG: $2.26 (45.2 bb)
MP: $1.86 (37.2 bb)
CO: $5.15 (103 bb) (23/15; 3,4 3b; 39 AF%; 206 hands)
Hero (BTN): $5.37 (107.4 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with A Q
2 folds, CO raises to $0.15, Hero calls $0.15, SB folds, BB calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.47) 3 J 2 (3 players)
BB checks, CO checks, Hero bets $0.25, BB folds, CO calls $0.25

Turn: ($0.97) K (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $0.65, CO calls $0.65

River: ($2.27) 4 (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $1.40, CO raises to $3.23, Hero folds

Results: $5.07 pot ($0.33 rake)
Final Board: 3 J 2 K 4
CO mucked and won $4.74 ($2.29 net)
Hero mucked A Q and lost (-$2.45 net)
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IPoker, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $2 (40 bb)
BB: $5.64 (112.8 bb)
UTG: $5.07 (101.4 bb) (28/25; 12,5 3b; 25 AF%; 33 hands)
MP: $2 (40 bb)
Hero (CO): $5.69 (113.8 bb)
BTN: $1.89 (37.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A K
UTG raises to $0.15, MP folds, Hero raises to $0.45, 3 folds, UTG calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.97) 8 K 4 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.50, UTG calls $0.50

Turn: ($1.97) 7 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $1.10, UTG calls $1.10

River: ($4.17) T (2 players)
UTG bets $3.02 and is all-in, Hero calls $3.02

Results: $10.21 pot ($0.68 rake)
Final Board: 8 K 4 7 T
UTG showed 8 8 and won $9.53 ($4.46 net)
Hero mucked A K and lost (-$5.07 net)