Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

[John A]

John, I'm very new to cardschat. I came here cause I want to get my game up and thriving, mainly live MTT's. My question is, Does the book your offering cover Live poker and help with tourney play? Thanks

It's mostly focused on cash game play, but the strategy and thought process applies to all games and types of games. So you're welcome to join along. Most people are posting cash game hands in here, but we talk tournaments as well because we all play them too. Both live and online.

 

[Timmy_C]

It's mostly focused on cash game play, but the strategy and thought process applies to all games and types of games. So you're welcome to join along. Most people are posting cash game hands in here, but we talk tournaments as well because we all play them too. Both live and online.

Thanks for reply John. I will download the book and look forward to seeing the discussion in this thread. Timmy_C

 

[John A]

Thanks for reply John. I will download the book and look forward to seeing the discussion in this thread. Timmy_C

Absolutely. Look forward to it.

I won't be on a sweat today guys. I have a doctors appointment. If anyone is on when I get back I'll try and go on, or we can do one later this week.

 

[John A]

I'll be available to sweat for a bit today if someone is on. Just ping me.

 

[John A]

Fig said on skype yesterday, a number of people are suffering from frustration right now. A totally understandable part about poker. Take a break, get your mind fresh. I think we should do a group database review, and just go over some common spots. But take a break right now if you're hitting a bad patch.

This is probably a bad time to say I ran super hot last night. Haven't run that hot in a while. 6.5 buy-ins in less than 3 hours = 2.6k. Boat over boat, Quad over boat, some really sick spots. Nice when it hits you all at one time. Not fun when it doesn't. Played this morning also doing some testing and had a couple of interesting spots. I'll see if I can post some up.

 

[Figaroo2]

Whats the best EV line here?

poker stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players

SB: $10.20 (102 bb) VPIP: 29, PFR: 20, 3B: 19, AF: 2.5, Hands: 41
BB: $10 (100 bb)
Hero (UTG): $10 (100 bb)
MP: $7.25 (72.5 bb)
CO: $10.28 (102.8 bb)
BTN: $12.88 (128.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q♠ Q♣
Hero raises to $0.30, 3 folds, SB raises to $1.10, BB folds, Hero raises to $2.60, SB calls $1.50

Flop: ($5.30) 5♦ T♥ J♥ (2 players)
SB checks,
Hero ?

I considered over shoving here but it is difficult to see what worse calls a shove on this decent (no overcards) but slightly awkward flop for QQ. So what is the best way to play this against an aggro villain like this?
We have $7.40 behind, so any meaningful bet prices us in.

 

[MattRyder]

pokerstars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed)

Hero (MP) ($2.16)
CO ($4.54)
Button ($2)
SB ($3.08)
BB ($4.15)
UTG ($3.87)

Preflop: Hero is MP with K

, K

UTG raises to $0.06, Hero raises to $0.18, 3 folds, BB calls $0.16, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.43) 4

, 7

, Q

(2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.22, BB raises to $3.97 (All-In), Hero calls $1.76 (All-In)

Turn: ($4.39) 6

(2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($4.39) 4

(2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $4.39 | Rake: $0.15

Results below:
BB had A

, 3

(flush, Ace high).
Hero had K

, K

(two pair, Kings and fours).
Outcome: BB won $4.24

Here's my first submission to this group. I have stats on villain for 106 hands that show him low in just about every stat area EXCEPT Flop & River Aggression (AFq) & 3-betting in SB to steal attempts, where he is on the far right/high side.

Flop AFq = 62.5%
River AFq = 66.67%
SB 3-Bet Steal Attempt = 12.5%

This hand made me realize how powerful a suited A(small)x hand really is in the hands of someone willing to go over the top on the flop. It’s basically a coin toss against an overpair such as KK. With His As3s he’s a slight dog on the flop at (47%/53%) If I give him the top 2.5% of hands he’s a small favorite on the flop (58%/42%). I’m way behind ‘IF’ he has a set. He didn’t 3-bet preflop so QQ and AKs seem unlikely. So 44, 77, AQ, KQ, suited spades Broadway, and suited spades Ax seem like a more probable range which would have made him a favorite at 71%/29%, EXCEPT he’s not likely to shove with the really good hands, is he?

With his propensity to overplay the flop (Flop AFq), did I make the right choice to call?

As played, on the flop my pot adds (once he shoves) are 40% with my card equity of 53%. Unless I’ve miscalculated, the numbers are in my favor, but it still doesn’t feel right.

 

[MattRyder]

BTW - I'm wondering what software you guys are using to post your hands? I've tried a bunch and keep running into the problem of posting html (PT4) or not showing colors at all. My posting above required a lot of manual adjusting.

https://www.cardschat.com/forum/sug...roperly-formatted-card-suit-colors-in-303375/

 

[John A]

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players

SB: $10.20 (102 bb) VPIP: 29, PFR: 20, 3B: 19, AF: 2.5, Hands: 41
BB: $10 (100 bb)
Hero (UTG): $10 (100 bb)
MP: $7.25 (72.5 bb)
CO: $10.28 (102.8 bb)
BTN: $12.88 (128.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q♠ Q♣
Hero raises to $0.30, 3 folds, SB raises to $1.10, BB folds, Hero raises to $2.60, SB calls $1.50

Flop: ($5.30) 5♦ T♥ J♥ (2 players)
SB checks,
Hero ?

I considered over shoving here but it is difficult to see what worse calls a shove on this decent (no overcards) but slightly awkward flop for QQ. So what is the best way to play this against an aggro villain like this?
We have $7.40 behind, so any meaningful bet prices us in.

Best line is call pre-flop, and raise, get it in on most flops vs his range.

As played, you have to try and check this down. You're a dog against any reasonable range at this point. Only hand you're ahead of is AK/AQ, which I doubt is just calling OOP pre often enough to even make a value shove profitable, or a bet small / call profitable.

 

[John A]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed)

Hero (MP) ($2.16)
CO ($4.54)
Button ($2)
SB ($3.08)
BB ($4.15)
UTG ($3.87)

Preflop: Hero is MP with K

, K

UTG raises to $0.06, Hero raises to $0.18, 3 folds, BB calls $0.16, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.43) 4

, 7

, Q

(2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.22, BB raises to $3.97 (All-In), Hero calls $1.76 (All-In)

Turn: ($4.39) 6

(2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($4.39) 4

(2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $4.39 | Rake: $0.15

Results below:
BB had A

, 3

(flush, Ace high).
Hero had K

, K

(two pair, Kings and fours).
Outcome: BB won $4.24

Here's my first submission to this group. I have stats on villain for 106 hands that show him low in just about every stat area EXCEPT Flop & River Aggression (AFq) & 3-betting in SB to steal attempts, where he is on the far right/high side.

Flop AFq = 62.5%
River AFq = 66.67%
SB 3-Bet Steal Attempt = 12.5%

This hand made me realize how powerful a suited A(small)x hand really is in the hands of someone willing to go over the top on the flop. It’s basically a coin toss against an overpair such as KK. With His As3s he’s a slight dog on the flop at (47%/53%) If I give him the top 2.5% of hands he’s a small favorite on the flop (58%/42%). I’m way behind ‘IF’ he has a set. He didn’t 3-bet preflop so QQ and AKs seem unlikely. So 44, 77, AQ, KQ, suited spades Broadway, and suited spades Ax seem like a more probable range which would have made him a favorite at 71%/29%, EXCEPT he’s not likely to shove with the really good hands, is he?

With his propensity to overplay the flop (Flop AFq), did I make the right choice to call?

As played, on the flop my pot adds (once he shoves) are 40% with my card equity of 53%. Unless I’ve miscalculated, the numbers are in my favor, but it still doesn’t feel right.

You're a slight dog vs. his shoving range, but you can't bet/fold here. And you're correct to bet/call. You're ahead of his calling range.

How many hands are you basing these aggression stats on though? It doesn't really matter in this case. You're calling it off for under 110bbs.

 

[John A]

BTW - I'm wondering what software you guys are using to post your hands? I've tried a bunch and keep running into the problem of posting html (PT4) or not showing colors at all. My posting above required a lot of manual adjusting.

https://www.cardschat.com/forum/sug...roperly-formatted-card-suit-colors-in-303375/

You should just be able to export from PT4 and post the hand. What steps are you taking to post exactly?

 

[Figaroo2]

Anyone calling this flop?

Flop raise seems too big to be anything other than a semibluff but do we continue with our TP decidedly weak kicker?

Pacific, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 8 Players

SB: $10.20 (102 bb) VPIP: 45, PFR: 15, 3B: 4, AF: 2.8, Hands: 71
Hero (BB): $11.11 (111.1 bb)
UTG+2: $10 (100 bb)
MP1: $28.60 (286 bb)
MP2: $12.02 (120.2 bb)
MP3: $10 (100 bb)
CO: $12.03 (120.3 bb) VPIP: 23, PFR: 18, 3B: 4, AF: 1.8, Hands: 137
BTN: $10.27 (102.7 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9♣ 8♣
4 folds, CO raises to $0.20, BTN folds, SB calls $0.15, Hero calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.60) 9♦ 7♦ 4♣ (3 players)
SB bets $0.60, Hero calls $0.60, CO raises to $2.20, SB folds,
Hero??
Loose-ish reg x2 opening from the CO is a little unusual, I read it as a hand that doesn't mind some action but could also be weak middling cards something like QJs KJs
I have useful back doors here, honestly I considered all 3 of raise call and fold here. A raise (too ambitious) and a fold (too tight) didn't seem right and when it feels like that I usually call.

Spoiler

calls $1.60
Turn: ($5.60) 8♥ (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks
River: ($5.60) 8♦ (2 players)
Well if he was semi bluffing the flop he just got there so I overbet shove here.
Hero bets $8.71, CO calls $8.71
Results: $23.02 pot ($1.15 rake)
Final Board: 9♦ 7♦ 4♣ 8♥ 8♦
Hero showed 9♣ 8♣ and won $21.87 ($10.76 net)
CO showed Q♦ A♦ and lost (-$11.11 net)

 

[vinylspiros]

flat call at least flop IMO. FD's and overpairs playing this way. You could hit 2pair/ trips on turn. Or a diamond could pop out that you can easily rep. Or if you dont want to rep,it might slow down the action a bit.

It's either fold or flat. Raising is the worst option IMO as it doesnt do much good.

 

[John A]

I don't think flop raise sizing is too big. I'd fold to the raise. You're going to be OOP in a hand that is super vulnerable against a range that is head of yours or at best break even. It's not going to be profitable long term to call and play this OOP. That's the power of position in NLH.

As played, I like the river shove. But look what happened in the hand. He had a big flush draw, about a flip vs your equity and he was able to check the turn and realize his full equity. Unfortunately for him, you boated up, but what if you didn't hit the last 8 and had 2 pair? You c/fing the river on a diamond or straight card?

 

[Ian the Fish]

Hey, John! I wanted to send you a PM, but it appears that your inbox is full (no surprise there, haha). I was wondering, why am I unable to download your poker book? When I click the "Download" button, it just sends me to the top of the page, however, if I enter my name and e-mail in the fields below (supposedly for a sent PDF to the given e-mail), it says that "The resource cannot be found".

Can anyone else, perhaps, help me? I am really interested in reading that book... :/

 

[Figaroo2]

I don't think flop raise sizing is too big. I'd fold to the raise. You're going to be OOP in a hand that is super vulnerable against a range that is head of yours or at best break even. It's not going to be profitable long term to call and play this OOP. That's the power of position in NLH.
As played, I like the river shove. But look what happened in the hand. He had a big flush draw, about a flip vs your equity and he was able to check the turn and realize his full equity. Unfortunately for him, you boated up, but what if you didn't hit the last 8 and had 2 pair? You c/fing the river on a diamond or straight card?

Thanks John, I posted the hand because I thought the call was borderline/sketchy and wanted opinions
Having put him on the flush draw and his turn check virtually confirming it, I hope I would have been able to fold when it drops in on the end.

 

[MattRyder]

You should just be able to export from PT4 and post the hand. What steps are you taking to post exactly?

I use the "copy to forum format" button as shown in the image (the other two don't give me colors at all).

I then paste the output into the CardsChat post editor window. Initially it inserts the PHPBB code correctly as follows:

But, after I add my comments it changes the code to HTML as follows:

And I end up with:

PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): $2.03
UTG: $2.26 (VPIP: 9.30, PFR: 4.65, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 44)
MP: $2.25 (VPIP: 31.03, PFR: 17.24, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 30)
CO: $2.00 (VPIP: 30.77, PFR: 26.92, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 27)
BTN: $2.33 (VPIP: 20.69, PFR: 13.79, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 30)
SB: $3.15 (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 23.33, 3Bet Preflop: 7.69, Hands: 30)

SB posts SB $0.01, Hero posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has K<font color='red'>♦</font> J<font color='black'>♠</font>

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to $0.06, fold, Hero raises to $0.18, BTN calls $0.12

Flop: ($0.37, 2 players) T<font color='red'>♥</font> 6<font color='red'>♦</font> 8<font color='black'>♠</font>
Hero bets $0.18, BTN calls $0.18

Turn: ($0.73, 2 players) J<font color='red'>♥</font>
Hero bets $0.35, BTN raises to $1.97 and is all-in, Hero calls $1.32 and is all-in

River: ($4.07, 2 players) J<font color='black'>♣</font>

[spoil]Hero shows K<font color='red'>♦</font> J<font color='black'>♠</font> (Three of a Kind, Jacks)
(Pre 25%, Flop 14%, Turn 59%)
BTN shows Q<font color='red'>♥</font> K<font color='red'>♥</font> (One Pair, Jacks)
(Pre 75%, Flop 86%, Turn 41%)
Hero wins $3.93
[/spoil]

 

[Figaroo2]

River suggestions please. 4 to a straight board and backdoor flush runout

Pacific, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

SB: $50 (100 bb)
BB: $18.20 (36.4 bb)
Hero (UTG+1): $57.68 (115.4 bb)
UTG+2: $54.96 (109.9 bb)
MP1: $55.47 (110.9 bb)
MP2: $43.41 (86.8 bb)
MP3: $50 (100 bb)
CO: $21.25 (42.5 bb)
BTN: $50 (100 bb) VPIP: 31, PFR: 19, 3B: 13, AF: 2.8, Hands: 42

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 7♣ 7♥
Hero raises to $1.43, 5 folds, BTN calls $1.43, 2 folds

Flop: ($3.61) 6♥ A♣ 7♦ (2 players)
Hero bets $2.70, BTN calls $2.70

Turn: ($9.01) 5♥ (2 players)
Hero bets $6.75, BTN calls $6.75

River: ($22.51) 8♥ (2 players)

Hero ?

Spoiler

Looks like he has an ace but will he call much? and if we bet too small it opens his bluff range so should we consider check calling on this board?
Hero bets $12.25 intending to fold to a raise

Spoiler

BTN folds
Results: $22.51 pot ($1.12 rake)
Final Board: 6♥ A♣ 7♦ 5♥ 8♥
Hero mucked 7♣ 7♥ and won $21.39 ($10.51 net)
BTN mucked and lost (-$10.88 net)

 

[Aces2w1n]

kjo from blinds against unknown is a fold.

 

[Aces2w1n]

Pacific, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

SB: $50 (100 bb)
BB: $18.20 (36.4 bb)
Hero (UTG+1): $57.68 (115.4 bb)
UTG+2: $54.96 (109.9 bb)
MP1: $55.47 (110.9 bb)
MP2: $43.41 (86.8 bb)
MP3: $50 (100 bb)
CO: $21.25 (42.5 bb)
BTN: $50 (100 bb) VPIP: 31, PFR: 19, 3B: 13, AF: 2.8, Hands: 42

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 7♣ 7♥
Hero raises to $1.43, 5 folds, BTN calls $1.43, 2 folds

Flop: ($3.61) 6♥ A♣ 7♦ (2 players)
Hero bets $2.70, BTN calls $2.70

Turn: ($9.01) 5♥ (2 players)
Hero bets $6.75, BTN calls $6.75

River: ($22.51) 8♥ (2 players)

Hero ?

Spoiler

Looks like he has an ace but will he call much? and if we bet too small it opens his bluff range so should we consider check calling on this board?
Hero bets $12.25 intending to fold to a raise

Spoiler

BTN folds
Results: $22.51 pot ($1.12 rake)
Final Board: 6♥ A♣ 7♦ 5♥ 8♥
Hero mucked 7♣ 7♥ and won $21.39 ($10.51 net)
BTN mucked and lost (-$10.88 net)

bigger bet will get a call from a thinking player ... smaller bet looks desp for a caller

 

[Ian the Fish]

I'd say it's AT / AJ. Perhaps weird to call off on a wet board with that, but if you think your opponent is bluffing... Weird things can happen. Haha. I'd put my money on AT / AJ

It could also be possible that you outflopped him (set over set), which would make his hand 66. Hard to believe, but also hard to fold on turn and / or river.

 

[vinylspiros]

I like your line in the 77 hand fig. Also your thought process makes a ton of sense. More Ax hands/lower sets than straights in his range imo.

 

[rhombus]

I'd bet big, as he ws on the button ghe could also have a few 2 pair combos 87, 76 ,65 and weak suited aces A5, A6 A7. Think he has alot more of these type of hands than AT/AJ - AQ AK probably 3 bet pre

 

[John A]

I use the "copy to forum format" button as shown in the image (the other two don't give me colors at all).

Ahh, you're on a crap, I mean a Mac. That's all you had to say. It must be some bug then. Maybe send an email to PT support? It shouldn't format like that.

 

[John A]

Pacific, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

SB: $50 (100 bb)
BB: $18.20 (36.4 bb)
Hero (UTG+1): $57.68 (115.4 bb)
UTG+2: $54.96 (109.9 bb)
MP1: $55.47 (110.9 bb)
MP2: $43.41 (86.8 bb)
MP3: $50 (100 bb)
CO: $21.25 (42.5 bb)
BTN: $50 (100 bb) VPIP: 31, PFR: 19, 3B: 13, AF: 2.8, Hands: 42

I wouldn't worry about his bluffing range honestly. If you bet and he shoves, you're beat. I'd just bet ~$8 making it impossible for him to fold. It's difficult to get more value than that and I don't think you have any evidence to suggest a bigger bet will create a meta game call.