Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

[John A]

I think overall it went well. It was out first go at putting something like this together. We had about 15% of people show up for the live workshop that signed up, which was about what we expected. I wish we had a larger signup overall. The money I invested, and the presenters we had, I would have thought a lot more people would have been interested.

I liked Jared and Krantz/Josh's stuff the best personally. I got some good take aways from both of those. I also learned that when I start coaching again, I need to charge a lot more for my services based on what some people are charging. I think for the sample size and winrate's I've accomplished, I've vastly under sold myself.

 

[Phoenix14]

Hi John, so where do we find this workbook?

Also, tell me what you think about this sort of strategy please.

Very often, when I read someone to have high cards, I'll raise them with pockets, even low pockets. Of course on the flop, If there's an ace right there, I'll just fold. But if I get a read like a check or a hesitant bet, I'll go all in. Sometimes it's as hysterical as them going all in with AK and all low cards on the board, so I like this strategy.

Any opinions or critique? I really have to bow to your cash game prowess, that is quite a chart.

 

[A9ofHearts]

Yup, it works well. Should we tell more people, or keep it to ourselves?

Either one is ok

 

[A9ofHearts]

I think overall it went well. It was out first go at putting something like this together. We had about 15% of people show up for the live workshop that signed up, which was about what we expected. I wish we had a larger signup overall. The money I invested, and the presenters we had, I would have thought a lot more people would have been interested.

I liked Jared and Krantz/Josh's stuff the best personally. I got some good take aways from both of those. I also learned that when I start coaching again, I need to charge a lot more for my services based on what some people are charging. I think for the sample size and winrate's I've accomplished, I've vastly under sold myself.

I signed up, but wasn't able to make it. However, I will definitely watch the videos.
Thanks a lot for arranging this.

 

[John A]

Hi John, so where do we find this workbook?

Also, tell me what you think about this sort of strategy please.

Very often, when I read someone to have high cards, I'll raise them with pockets, even low pockets. Of course on the flop, If there's an ace right there, I'll just fold. But if I get a read like a check or a hesitant bet, I'll go all in. Sometimes it's as hysterical as them going all in with AK and all low cards on the board, so I like this strategy.

Any opinions or critique? I really have to bow to your cash game prowess, that is quite a chart.

The workbook is Vol II to Polished Poker, and it's not complete yet.

I'm not really clear on your question. I don't understand if you're saying you are raising limpers, 3-betting, and not really clear on your flop action. Maybe you can re-state or give a specific example.

 

[John A]

I signed up, but wasn't able to make it. However, I will definitely watch the videos.
Thanks a lot for arranging this.

If you signed up, you should have received an e-mail today with link info to view the workshop. Everyone seemed to like different parts. Overall I enjoyed it myself, and learned a couple of important things.

 

[A9ofHearts]

If you signed up, you should have received an e-mail today with link info to view the workshop. Everyone seemed to like different parts. Overall I enjoyed it myself, and learned a couple of important things.

Yep. I got the email and have been watching the video this afternoon.
I'm only about an hour in, but what I've seen/heard so far has been really good.
Thanks again.

 

[eBuddy]

I wish we had a larger signup overall. The money I invested, and the presenters we had, I would have thought a lot more people would have been interested.

There is so much noise online that it's hard to to hit your target audience. Even a motivated player like me has not found the time to learn how to properly apply the ebook concepts to the live games I play regularly. Maybe your next promotion can include coaching prizes to those who spread the word in social media and poker-related forums.

 

[eBuddy]

ebook works for Bovada/Bodog?

It seems that Bovada/bodog is the most popular site in this thread. Is it worth opening and transferring my bankroll to Bodog (from Party)? I'm making money in live tournaments but "winter is coming" to canada and I may be faced with a choice of continuing with dashing through the snow to my regular live games or grinding back online. A friend has warned me that I should keep the minimum balance I need for Bodog.

... You have to understand that on Bovada, a lot of people are on there to gamble. They aren't on there to play poker to win money. They are on there for the thrill of bluffing. The high they get from that feeling (which on most sports books sites, dominates the general non-regular player). So you have to adjust properly to this kind of state of mind. Just didn't seem like you were imho. Perhaps you do in other vids, I was just watching some of the latest on zone. Any ways, GL on there. Maybe we'll be playing the same stakes soon since I'm not planning on playing past 200nl on there until all these laws get worked out.

 

[John A]

There is so much noise online that it's hard to to hit your target audience. Even a motivated player like me has not found the time to learn how to properly apply the ebook concepts to the live games I play regularly. Maybe your next promotion can include coaching prizes to those who spread the word in social media and poker-related forums.

Yeah, I hear you. I think the feedback has been super positive, but getting the word out, and having people get involved wasn't so easy for a workshop format. It went ok, but for the lineup, would have expected a bit more. Any ways, I enjoyed it.

 

[redwards92]

It seems that Bovada/Bodog is the most popular site in this thread. Is it worth opening and transferring my bankroll to Bodog (from Party)? I'm making money in live tournaments but "winter is coming" to Canada and I may be faced with a choice of continuing with dashing through the snow to my regular live games or grinding back online. A friend has warned me that I should keep the minimum balance I need for Bodog.

If you're in canada you should really be playing on stars(pokerstars)

 

[John A]

Yeah, if you had other options, I wouldn't play on Bovada. I play on there out of desperation. The players are bad, but the software and limit of only 4 tables outweighs the skill of the player pool. I'd play on stars or somewhere similar if I could.

 

[John A]

Well, just submitted my casting application for the show survivor. I've wanted to play for a long time, and I've been waiting until my kids were old enough. I got the go ahead from the wife, so we'll see what happens. I'll post an update when I hear something.

 

[sidgucci]

Well, just submitted my casting application for the show survivor. I've wanted to play for a long time, and I've been waiting until my kids were old enough. I got the go ahead from the wife, so we'll see what happens. I'll post an update when I hear something.

Awesome, John! I don't see how they could pass you up as a contestant. When you do you expect a decision from the Survivor production team?

 

[A9ofHearts]

Well, just submitted my casting application for the show survivor. I've wanted to play for a long time, and I've been waiting until my kids were old enough. I got the go ahead from the wife, so we'll see what happens. I'll post an update when I hear something.

That would be really awesome if you got accepted! Best of luck!

 

[John A]

Thanks guys. It's a long process, so I'm not holding my breath, but I'd love to be on. One of my best friends was just on the show wipeout last year, so I'm trying to one up him. lol

 

[John A]

So I want to move forward into blind play. Does anyone have any questions about the previous section on flat calling before we push on? Now is the time.

 

[John A]

Alright, so I'll move ahead to applied pressure 3-bet strategy (pg 76+).

This should mainly be applied against regulars in your games, and you should combine some quasi range and polarized 3-betting range to increase your 3-bets against them when you have position. To do this effectively, you'll be slightly adjusting your "normal" 3-bet sizing. The point being of course, that you want to frustrate your opponent into making a big mistakes. I'm sure you've had some aggressive 3-bettors that have had position on you, and it can start to piss you off/ tilt you after a while if you don't adjust properly. The main thing is that most people don't adjust properly, so we of course want to take advantage of that.

 

[Figaroo2]

John
This is really working for me, thanks again for all your free material without it I would still be plodding along winning small with big leaks.
In the last month my bb/100 rate is +30.7 the highest its ever been.

 

[John A]

John
This is really working for me, thanks again for all your free material without it I would still be plodding along winning small with big leaks.
In the last month my bb/100 rate is +30.7 the highest its ever been.

Good to hear! What do you think you've changed about your game that's paid off the most for you?

 

[Figaroo2]

Two things really, I now have a much better understanding of equity which makes my decision making much easier and I am being more aggressive in spots where I was previously checking or even folding. I am more content to float in position in better equity situations.
Secondly I didn't realise the extent of my cold calling leak, I,ve been burning away at least a 3rd of my profit.
To try and fix this I have simply been cold calling less, folding more marginal hands in combination with 3betting more particularly from the blinds over late position steals is really plugging that leak.
Some of your other suggestions also work well, donk raising on the flop or check calling the flop then leading out on the turn takes the money away from passive players and (when I have a hand) really infuriates the more aggressive players who often shove with garbage expecting you to go away.

 

[John A]

Well, those are all huge, so good for you. The system that I lay out works, and is going to put you into the most profitable situations possible. It sounds like you're applying a lot of the concept correctly. Leading, stop and go, tightening up your cold calling, 3-betting in better spots. Just make sure the majority of your 3-betting is coming from position.

I'm glad to hear though, and keep my updated on your progress. I'm about 27 pages+ into the workbook for the first volume, and that should really cement all the concepts in. It's going to have questions like this with explanations:

QUESTION 1 (Effective stacks of 100 BBs)
An average regular open raises to 3 BBs from MP in a 6-max cash game. Based on your HUD stats, it looks like he's opening 17% of hands from that position. The action folds to you on the button. The rest of your opponents are pretty tight in the blinds. Which of the following hands should you most likely fold based on your opponents opening range?

o 22 o QJs o KTo o A5s​

QUESTION 2 (Effective stacks of 40 BBs)
A short stack player that is fairly fishy open raises in a full ring game to 3 BBs from the cut-off. You don't have many hands on him, but so far it seems he's opening at least 25% of hands from that position, and has a total VPIP of 36% and a PFR of 12%. The action folds to you in the big blind. Which of these hands should you fold?

o A7o o J9s o QTo o 66​

 

[A9ofHearts]

Well, those are all huge, so good for you. The system that I lay out works, and is going to put you into the most profitable situations possible. It sounds like you're applying a lot of the concept correctly. Leading, stop and go, tightening up your cold calling, 3-betting in better spots. Just make sure the majority of your 3-betting is coming from position.

I'm glad to hear though, and keep my updated on your progress. I'm about 27 pages+ into the workbook for the first volume, and that should really cement all the concepts in. It's going to have questions like this with explanations:

QUESTION 1 (Effective stacks of 100 BBs)
An average regular open raises to 3 BBs from MP in a 6-max cash game. Based on your HUD stats, it looks like he's opening 17% of hands from that position. The action folds to you on the button. The rest of your opponents are pretty tight in the blinds. Which of the following hands should you most likely fold based on your opponents opening range?

o 22 o QJs o KTo o A5s​

QUESTION 2 (Effective stacks of 40 BBs)
A short stack player that is fairly fishy open raises in a full ring game to 3 BBs from the cut-off. You don't have many hands on him, but so far it seems he's opening at least 25% of hands from that position, and has a total VPIP of 36% and a PFR of 12%. The action folds to you in the big blind. Which of these hands should you fold?

o A7o o J9s o QTo o 66​

Is the answer K10 and J9s?

 

[United]

Well, those are all huge, so good for you. The system that I lay out works, and is going to put you into the most profitable situations possible. It sounds like you're applying a lot of the concept correctly. Leading, stop and go, tightening up your cold calling, 3-betting in better spots. Just make sure the majority of your 3-betting is coming from position.

I'm glad to hear though, and keep my updated on your progress. I'm about 27 pages+ into the workbook for the first volume, and that should really cement all the concepts in. It's going to have questions like this with explanations:

QUESTION 1 (Effective stacks of 100 BBs)
An average regular open raises to 3 BBs from MP in a 6-max cash game. Based on your HUD stats, it looks like he's opening 17% of hands from that position. The action folds to you on the button. The rest of your opponents are pretty tight in the blinds. Which of the following hands should you most likely fold based on your opponents opening range?

o 22 o QJs o KTo o A5s​

QUESTION 2 (Effective stacks of 40 BBs)
A short stack player that is fairly fishy open raises in a full ring game to 3 BBs from the cut-off. You don't have many hands on him, but so far it seems he's opening at least 25% of hands from that position, and has a total VPIP of 36% and a PFR of 12%. The action folds to you in the big blind. Which of these hands should you fold?

o A7o o J9s o QTo o 66​

I'd go with K 10 for 1 and Q10 for 2


Partially because i have an aversion to playing those kinds of hands.

 

[Aleksei]

1) KTo, not close. It flops very poorly against any reasonably tight range.

2) I'm going with J9s. With 40bb effective I don't have enough behind to speculate on drawing hands (sets are different -- you bink either otf or not at all so they're far easier to play OOP), and even against a CO range J9 doesn't make for a very strong top pair.