NL2 Grind, taking micros seriously

[RoboGrinder]

Hi, im a new member. Ive been playing poker recreationally at various levels live and online since 2002. Ive recently made it my goal to beat online poker long term. Im a loser currently in the world of online poker. I would say i have the ability to play a solid game, but have lacked discipline, among other things. Also have played above my means while boozing in the past with negative effect. Im looking at the game as a long term business now, and focusing my efforts at the lowest possible stakes. Im playing on Americas Cardroom, under the name rObOgRiNda. Last month i played 4,291 hands at 9 max ring games, NL2. I have only been playing these stakes and will continue with that, is the plan. November's stats look good, 35.16 BB/100, $30.25 profit.

Welcome to my online adventure.

 

[RoboGrinder]

I am using the free trial of Poker tracker 4. I used poker tracker a long time ago... i like it. this 4 version is sweet. have a lot to learn before i know how to take take full advantage of it.

I assume most of you are using this as well.

 

[NoPlace4U]

Bankroll is the key to success

Indeed but he cant go lower than 2NL, he needs to spent time studying so he can be better prepared to go up.

 

[RoboGrinder]

Bankroll is the key to success

hey guii, Yeah, not over extending it this time around. I have had the tendency of putting all my money in a single table many many times in the past, knowing better, but not giving a ****.

Thanks for commenting.

re: bankroll,

i got a free bankroll from americas cardroom of 10$ in november. so i was playing NL2 with 5 buy-ins. Suffered some short term bad luck, played good Tight aggressive game, built it up to 46$ at the moment. about 4K hands. Going to continue these stakes for a good while longer, probably consider moving up no sooner than a Hundred dollar roll. open to suggestions, not in any kinda rush either.

 

[RoboGrinder]

Indeed but he cant go lower than 2NL, he needs to spent time studying so he can be better prepared to go up.

no place for u, thanks for commenting, welcome.

i feel that the major issue for me is managing my game, and discipline. I like to gamble i guess. I have read many of the poker books and know the math, and theory and strategy on at least an intermediate level. i just need to keep poker separate from my desire to gamble gamble, ha ha.

This time im sticking with the program, which is NL2 9 max tables only. I usually play 2 at a time. I lose focus on more than 2 tables, but i can crush two at a time. Ive played a little heads up NL2 as well as 6 max also i guess, full disclosure.

I would love to read more, ill be reading on this forum a bunch, im totally new here, and glad to have it. I wanna post my game up here, which should help keep me from doing anything too stupid, lol. Once i figure out how to import hands here ill do so...could just cut and paste i guess....

 

[RoboGrinder]

Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 94.5 BB (VPIP: 93.33, PFR: 66.67, 3Bet Preflop: 42.86, Hands: 23)
SB: 50.5 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 29.41, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 18)
Hero (BB): 86.5 BB
CO: 112 BB (VPIP: 70.59, PFR: 41.18, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 18)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has T:club: T:diamond:

fold, BTN raises to 49.5 BB, fold, Hero raises to 86.5 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 37 BB

Flop: (173.5 BB, 2 players) 8:diamond: 8:club: 3:club:

Turn: (173.5 BB, 2 players) 4:spade:

River: (173.5 BB, 2 players) 7:diamond:

BTN shows Q:diamond: 5:diamond: (One Pair, Eights)
(Pre 31%, Flop 16%, Turn 7%)
Hero shows T:club: T:diamond: (Two Pair, Tens and Eights)
(Pre 69%, Flop 84%, Turn 93%)
Hero wins 165 BB

2 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.

 

[RoboGrinder]

the villian above had a VP 92 (20+ hands) that and we were 4 handed anyhow. i couldnt get it in quick enough. Liking the fish and shitty regulars at these stakes.

 

[RoboGrinder]

Im up over $50 now, 5X what i started with. over 4K hands rite now, not sure exactly. shouldnt be too long before i get to the $100 mini milestone.

 

[RoboGrinder]

Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 39.5 BB (VPIP: 23.91, PFR: 10.87, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 46)
BTN: 40 BB (VPIP: 5.77, PFR: 3.85, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 52)
SB: 311 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 17.54, 3Bet Preflop: 5.56, Hands: 57)
Hero (BB): 111 BB
UTG: 81.5 BB (VPIP: 11.29, PFR: 2.42, 3Bet Preflop: 3.77, Hands: 126)
UTG+1: 104 BB (VPIP: 25.35, PFR: 10.43, 3Bet Preflop: 3.75, Hands: 217)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 20.97, PFR: 16.77, 3Bet Preflop: 2.83, Hands: 322)
MP+1: 104.5 BB (VPIP: 20.69, PFR: 10.34, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 30)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 3:diamond: 5:diamond:

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 0.5 BB, Hero checks

Flop: (3 BB, 3 players) 4:diamond: 5:spade: K:diamond:
SB checks, Hero bets 3 BB, UTG calls 3 BB, fold

Turn: (9 BB, 2 players) A:heart:
Hero bets 9 BB, UTG calls 9 BB

River: (27 BB, 2 players) 8:diamond:
Hero bets 11 BB, UTG raises to 22 BB, Hero calls 11 BB

Hero shows 3:diamond: 5:diamond: (Flush, King High)
(Pre 20%, Flop 51%, Turn 25%)
UTG shows A:spade: A:club: (Three of a Kind, Aces)
(Pre 80%, Flop 49%, Turn 75%)
Hero wins 67.5 BB

1 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.

this hand was sweet, the dude played his pretty shitty and i hit an out which i needed on the end. i definitely didnt make him for AAA there, thought maybe he had a flush too or more likely just a pair or two pair. i didnt get it in on end, and obv could have, did i miss some value there?

 

[playinggameswithu]

Learn the HU game first then move 6-max then 9-max.

 

[RoboGrinder]

hey there playinggameswithu,
im pretty good at HU, ive played alot of it. I think for grinding HU has way too much variance. Im focusing on 2 tables full ring games for the time being. I may some time play a bunch of HU NL2 and see how i fare. HU is a little more involved and intense and sometimes a full ring game is nicer due to less decisions to make. I dunno.

I do like to start new tables, which involves HU for (usually) a little bit.

HU NL2 may have the advantage of having many down and out players looking to lose their last pennies and go to bed, lol. I have done that in the past,lol.

 

[AlexTheOwl]

Learn the HU game first then move 6-max then 9-max.

Why?

I'm not saying you are wrong, just that I usually hear people giving the opposite advice. 9-max teaches you to be tight and play ABC fundamental poker.

The fewer players there are, the weaker the hands are that you need to play. This requires better post-flop skills like multi-street hand-reading, multi-street bluffing, and knowing when to make a thin value bet and when you will only get called by worse.

 

[RoboGrinder]

Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 2 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 295.5 BB (VPIP: 84.48, PFR: 18.97, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 68)
Hero (SB): 61 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q:club: Q:spade:

Hero raises to 2 BB, BB calls 1 BB

Flop: (4 BB, 2 players) Q:heart: A:spade: 3:spade:
BB checks, Hero bets 4 BB, BB raises to 13 BB, Hero raises to 43 BB, BB raises to 293.5 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 16 BB and is all-in

Turn: (122 BB, 2 players) 3:club:

River: (122 BB, 2 players) A:club:

BB shows T:club: A:heart: (Full House, Aces full of Threes)
(Pre 28%, Flop 3%, Turn 5%)
Hero shows Q:club: Q:spade: (Full House, Queens full of Aces)
(Pre 72%, Flop 97%, Turn 95%)
BB wins 116 BB

2 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.

heres a classic. lol, and im playing HU.

 

[Beanfacekilla]

Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 39.5 BB (VPIP: 23.91, PFR: 10.87, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 46)
BTN: 40 BB (VPIP: 5.77, PFR: 3.85, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 52)
SB: 311 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 17.54, 3Bet Preflop: 5.56, Hands: 57)
Hero (BB): 111 BB
UTG: 81.5 BB (VPIP: 11.29, PFR: 2.42, 3Bet Preflop: 3.77, Hands: 126)
UTG+1: 104 BB (VPIP: 25.35, PFR: 10.43, 3Bet Preflop: 3.75, Hands: 217)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 20.97, PFR: 16.77, 3Bet Preflop: 2.83, Hands: 322)
MP+1: 104.5 BB (VPIP: 20.69, PFR: 10.34, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 30)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 3<font color='red'>♦</font> 5<font color='red'>♦</font>

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 0.5 BB, Hero checks

Flop: (3 BB, 3 players) 4<font color='red'>♦</font> 5<font color='black'>♠</font> K<font color='red'>♦</font>
SB checks, Hero bets 3 BB, UTG calls 3 BB, fold

Turn: (9 BB, 2 players) A<font color='red'>♥</font>
Hero bets 9 BB, UTG calls 9 BB

River: (27 BB, 2 players) 8<font color='red'>♦</font>
Hero bets 11 BB, UTG raises to 22 BB, Hero calls 11 BB

Hero shows 3<font color='red'>♦</font> 5<font color='red'>♦</font> (Flush, King High)
(Pre 20%, Flop 51%, Turn 25%)
UTG shows A<font color='black'>♠</font> A<font color='black'>♣</font> (Three of a Kind, Aces)
(Pre 80%, Flop 49%, Turn 75%)
Hero wins 67.5 BB

1 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.

this hand was sweet, the dude played his pretty shitty and i hit an out which i needed on the end. i definitely didnt make him for AAA there, thought maybe he had a flush too or more likely just a pair or two pair. i didnt get it in on end, and obv could have, did i miss some value there?

After we lead flop, which I may/may not do.... Why are we betting the turn here? Are we bluffing? Value betting? What do we accomplish with the bet?

I mean I don't really mind it, but I hope you know you need a diamond, and you could be against a higher FD as well.

I just think we should be a little more passive with this one. Flop bet I can get behind, but turn is questionable IMO.

And what is the plan if we brick river? I hope you aren't going to triple, cause it's not getting through after turn bet/call.


By the way, in.

 

[playinggameswithu]

Why?

I'm not saying you are wrong, just that I usually hear people giving the opposite advice. 9-max teaches you to be tight and play ABC fundamental poker.

The fewer players there are, the weaker the hands are that you need to play. This requires better post-flop skills like multi-street hand-reading, multi-street bluffing, and knowing when to make a thin value bet and when you will only get called by worse.

This is a fallacy based on quantitative thinking not qualitative thinking.I have no problem losing several BB HU just to win one qualitative hand and win back 100x that much,I still play 23% HU pre-flop. HU really sharpens your reading and exploitation strategy skills. HU is easier than multi-way play pots which show up in 6-max and 9-max hands. This of course is cash game....MTT or SNG HU is totally different...I would never waste money on a SNG HU when cash game HU is much more advantageous.

 

[RoboGrinder]

im not sure beanfacekilla that i played that hand well, just sharing it. got the gist of how to do that now, have more to share. i did feel like villian had only a pair in that hand, turn gave me a straight draw too. He could fold or i could hit trips, 2pair, or the straight or the flush... maybe. i dunno. i like tight aggressive play and i get real aggro with them, lol, it seems like the way on NL2 stakes. but then real premo hands are sometimes few and far between and if table sees me a ultra tight i like to mix in strong play with suited connectors and the like. this hand was one of those kinda hands on my end. and the dude played his pocket AA very passive early, was probably thinking of getting trappy/creative with them, who knows. That is a crappy line to take with AA in these bottom stakes from what im seeing.

I did get spanked HU by a player last night in nl2, he beat me for 8 before i quit. same villian who cracked my QQQ in hand above. Check this hand out. For an idea of the situation, we are playing HU and He is playing more hands than me. I find several good spots to get it in, and do, and he comes from behind. Then the QQQ loses to him runner runner, i might quit but i decide to go at i one more time. I know im better than the dude and feel like beating him.

This was the last hand, after which i gave up the idea of beating this guy, this night, lol.

Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 2 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 351.5 BB (VPIP: 85.48, PFR: 19.35, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 72)
Hero (SB): 97.5 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 6:heart: 3:heart:

Hero raises to 2 BB, BB raises to 6 BB, Hero calls 4 BB

Flop: (12 BB, 2 players) Q:heart: K:heart: T:heart:
BB checks, Hero bets 11.5 BB, BB calls 11.5 BB

Turn: (35 BB, 2 players) 7:club:
BB checks, Hero bets 80 BB and is all-in, BB calls 80 BB

River: (195 BB, 2 players) 5:club:

BB shows A:heart: J:heart: (Royal Flush)
(Pre 67%, Flop 100%, Turn 100%)
Hero shows 6:heart: 3:heart: (Flush, King High)
(Pre 33%, Flop 0%, Turn 0%)
BB wins 185.5 BB

2 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.

ended up @ $46 at the end of the night last night, did well at full NL2 ring games. pretty late. played way too long.

 

[NoPlace4U]

RoboGrinder how many hands are you playing a day? Because 5k hands in a little over a month is low.

 

[RoboGrinder]

I only play one or 2, usually 2 tables at a time. maybe 2-500 hands in a day? i can look it up.....

 

[wuffeli]

With 35.16 BB/100, you are not crushing the level but eating their children also. I think you definitely should move up in stakes, for the sake of learning progress alone.

 

[RoboGrinder]

thank you wuffeli,
I thought those were some beast stats, lol, but for a month only. I cant afford to deposit, and dont want to either, so im grinding NL2 lol

i am gonna try playing 4 tables instead of 2, i had a 3hr window to play right now. just stacked a huge fish right outta the gate. NICE!!

 

[RoboGrinder]

ill share some stats from poker tracker and hopefully you guys can help me tune up my game based off them ill do FULL ring game first, then short handed, then Heads up.

 

[RoboGrinder]

full ring game stats from 3879 hands

vpip 26.87

pfr 17.76

pfr/vpip 65.9

3bet % 5.88

cbet flop 56.27

flop af 2.68

flop afq 51.94

fold to flop c bet 40.24

fold to flop bet 50.94


cbet turn 54.55

turn AF 1.88

turn AFq 47.54

fold to turn bet 46.92

river AF 1.57

river AFq 43.84

fold to river bet 47.58

Attempt to steal lp 38.78

fold blind to steal 63.25


sm blind 3bet steal attempt 6.06

BB 3bet steal attempt 12.58

total AF 2.21

total AFq 49.19

wsd 57.37

WTSD 34.38

WWSF 47.52

WSD after river call 46.67

i will have to narrow my starting range i think. i gonna work on not playing from the sb and ep w/o real premium hands. what else??

 

[RoboGrinder]

stats from shorthanded games, 2287 hands

vpip 42.12

pfr 31.12

pfr/vpip 73.75

3bet % 8.14

cbet flop 56.87

flop af 2.80

flop afq 52.81

fold to flop c bet 47.15

fold to flop bet 51.18


cbet turn 36.73

turn AF 1.92

turn AFq 50.37

fold to turn bet 41.01

river AF 2.02

river AFq 43.26

fold to river bet 61.86

Attempt to steal lp 39.60

fold blind to steal 57.04


sm blind 3bet steal attempt 2.74

BB 3bet steal attempt 12.29

total AF 2.35

total AFq 50.19

wsd 52.87

WTSD 30.06

WWSF 46.12

WSD after river call 45.65

 

[RoboGrinder]

My HU game has only 576 games so far. **** it, we can wait for more hands to do that one. does look like im extremely aggro HU, probably too much...

 

[RoboGrinder]

poker tracker is a sick tool...