Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

John A

John A

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John
Have a look at my post at #1029 above it explains some of the stats and issues.
I have also been running into more than my fair share of monsters and suck outs. Especially at 6 max which is mainly where I take on most of the fish and maniacs on Ipoker.
All of the full ring is on pokerstars
I will also post a hand from this evening where I tried and failed to bluff (again), I feel like bluffing the river is one of my weaknesses.

So you have leak buster correct? What is leak buster saying are your top leaks, and let's match those up. I have a feeling I know what it will say, but let's work through each of them.
 
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rhombus

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** Dealing Flop ** [ 9s, 7d, 5d ]
Hero checks
Player9 bets [$1.00 USD]
Hero calls [$1.00 USD] I think this was the mistake in the hand actually rather than the bluff at the end. If i had raised him here with my gut shot and back door flush draw he would probably have folded his hand.
I would be assuming this board hits my calling range pretty hard

** Dealing Turn ** [ 2d ] pot is around $3.50
Hero bets [$2.58 USD] Ok im repping a flush
Player9 calls [$2.58 USD] ok now Im thinking he might have what i'm repping lol, I'm putting him on high cards probably with a big diamond maybe a pair like 88 1010 JJ
** Dealing River ** [ Ts ] this is a decent bluffing card is it not? Brings in some straights for him to worry about as well.
Pot is $8.76
Hero bets [$6.27 USD] trying to make this look like a solid value bet.
Player9 calls [$6.27 USD]
Hero shows [6s, As ]
Player9 shows [2c, 2s ] f u c a duck, honestly, typical of my running recently.
Player9 wins $20.34 USD from main pot

Don't think the River is a good bluffing card as you put him on 88, TT or JJ or even the flush

Also the straight of 68 could have already been out and only other straight was 8J with possibly one of them a diamond.

The only possibility of the bluff getting through was if they had something like KdJc
 
Figaroo2

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6 max leaks last six months

666016acebf797b085d4725eedd129ed1.jpg

This image was produced from Leak Buster
 
Figaroo2

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4 bet & trouble hands

as 4 betting was no 1 leak
and trouble hands
 

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Figaroo2

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6 max 4 bet
 

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rhombus

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is your Leakbuster from HEM2 figaroo as mine looks different

Also when i adjust the filters it didnt change and not sure why i got A based on 1903 hands, even when i got so many leaks, then when i ran it again got 30000 hands even when i changed filter from July 1st and even when just for this month I only played 3440 this month
 

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Figaroo2

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Yeah its the same i'm just digging down a bit further so john could see more than just what you have shown there is no detail.
I 4 bet folded QQ again tonight im losing the plot

(poker stars) $25.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Sunday, August 10, 05:24:24 ET 2014
Table Masaryk IV (real money)
Seat 7 is the button
Seat 1: Player1 ( $25.00 USD ) - VPIP: 23, PFR: 19, 3B: 10, AF: 0.0, Hands: 26
Seat 2: Player2 ( $25.35 USD ) - VPIP: 16, PFR: 9, 3B: 6, AF: 0.8, Hands: 173
Seat 3: Player3 ( $49.64 USD ) - VPIP: 32, PFR: 5, 3B: 0, AF: 7.5, Hands: 111 Fish who had gotton lucky
Seat 4: Player4 ( $27.67 USD ) - VPIP: 16, PFR: 14, 3B: 10, AF: 2.5, Hands: 341
Seat 5: Player5 ( $25.00 USD ) - VPIP: 11, PFR: 8, 3B: 5, AF: 0.0, Hands: 90
Seat 6: Player6 ( $28.83 USD ) - VPIP: 8, PFR: 7, 3B: 3, AF: 9.0, Hands: 167
Seat 7: Hero ( $34.24 USD ) - this session 17/10/3bet 8.1% ..33ag%
Seat 8: Player8 ( $26.51 USD ) - VPIP: 20, PFR: 15, 3B: 3, AF: 1.8, Hands: 123
Player8 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Player1 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Hero [ Qc Qs ]
Player2 folds
Player3 calls [$0.25 USD]
Player4 raises [$1.25 USD]
Player5 folds
Player6 calls [$1.25 USD]
Hero raises [$4.00 USD]
Player8 folds
Player1 folds
Player3 folds
Player4 raises [$26.42 USD] I'm showing real strength here and she still comes back over the top.
Player6 folds
Hero folds
Player4 wins $23.67 USD
Player4 wins $9.85 USD from main pot
 
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rhombus

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Yeah its the same i'm just digging down a bit further so john could see more than just what you have shown there is no detail.
I 4 bet folded QQ again tonight im losing the plot

(Poker Stars) $25.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Sunday, August 10, 05:24:24 ET 2014
Table Masaryk IV (Real Money)
Seat 7 is the button
Seat 1: Player1 ( $25.00 USD ) - VPIP: 23, PFR: 19, 3B: 10, AF: 0.0, Hands: 26
Seat 2: Player2 ( $25.35 USD ) - VPIP: 16, PFR: 9, 3B: 6, AF: 0.8, Hands: 173
Seat 3: Player3 ( $49.64 USD ) - VPIP: 32, PFR: 5, 3B: 0, AF: 7.5, Hands: 111 Fish who had gotton lucky
Seat 4: Player4 ( $27.67 USD ) - VPIP: 16, PFR: 14, 3B: 10, AF: 2.5, Hands: 341
Seat 5: Player5 ( $25.00 USD ) - VPIP: 11, PFR: 8, 3B: 5, AF: 0.0, Hands: 90
Seat 6: Player6 ( $28.83 USD ) - VPIP: 8, PFR: 7, 3B: 3, AF: 9.0, Hands: 167
Seat 7: Hero ( $34.24 USD ) - this session 17/10/3bet 8.1% ..33ag%
Seat 8: Player8 ( $26.51 USD ) - VPIP: 20, PFR: 15, 3B: 3, AF: 1.8, Hands: 123
Player8 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Player1 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Hero [ Qc Qs ]
Player2 folds
Player3 calls [$0.25 USD]
Player4 raises [$1.25 USD]
Player5 folds
Player6 calls [$1.25 USD]
Hero raises [$4.00 USD]
Player8 folds
Player1 folds
Player3 folds
Player4 raises [$26.42 USD] I'm showing real strength here and she still comes back over the top.
Player6 folds
Hero folds
Player4 wins $23.67 USD
Player4 wins $9.85 USD from main pot

Thanks was just wondering how you got the image below

As for the Hand not the worse fold in the world
VPIP: 16, PFR: 14, 3B: 10, AF: 2.5, Hands: 341
JJ at bottom of his range so highly likely at least AK QQ+

Hand equity Wins Ties QQ 47.37% 164,644,764 11,350,536 JJ,QQ,KK,AA,AK 52.63% 183,588,540 11,350,536
Take out JJ and QQ
Hand Equity Wins Ties QQ 39.86% 114,030,168 1,252,788 KK,AA,AK 60.14% 172,384,116 1,252,788
 

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rhombus

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OOPS hands didnt post as I wanted
 

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Figaroo2

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Crazy, variance still smashing me. and then this hand

(Poker Stars) $25.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em 2014
Table Masaryk IV (Real Money)
Seat 7 is the button
Seat 1: Player1 ( $26.45 USD ) - VPIP: 22, PFR: 22, 3B: 14, AF: 2.0, Hands: 41
Seat 3: Player3 ( $70.41 USD ) - VPIP: 32, PFR: 7, 3B: 2, AF: 3.9, Hands: 238
Seat 4: Player4 ( $35.42 USD ) - VPIP: 18, PFR: 11, 3B: 2, AF: 1.0, Hands: 167
Seat 5: Player5 ( $23.19 USD ) - VPIP: 23, PFR: 14, 3B: 10, AF: 1.4, Hands: 78
Seat 7: Hero ( $40.16 USD ) - VPIP: 20, PFR: 12, 3B: 4, AF: 2.1, Hands: 120760
Seat 8: Player8 ( $32.53 USD ) - VPIP: 18, PFR: 15, 3B: 3, AF: 1.9, Hands: 202
Seat 9: Player9 ( $12.26 USD ) - VPIP: 19, PFR: 17, 3B: 5, AF: 6.0, Hands: 381
Player8 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Player9 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Hero [ Kd Kh ]
Player1 raises [$0.75 USD]
Player3 calls [$0.75 USD]
Player4 folds
Player5 folds
Hero raises [$2.00 USD] Ok against this villain and his stats this could be bigger right? (hitman hud can be seen below in the table image)
Player8 folds
Player9 folds
Player1 calls [$1.25 USD]
Player3 folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ 3s, 4s, 8h ]
Player1 checks
Hero bets [$3.65 USD]
Player1 raises [$8.50 USD] What to do here? look at his stats this guy is aggressive refuses to fold to a three bet and then check-raises here. I'm like ok its got to be 88 but then he could be doing this with any overpair or spade draw combo could he not? Chances of him calling a 3-bet oop with 88 44 or 33 here?

I'm glad to have a week off. Getting tilted.
 

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John A

John A

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666016acebf797b085d4725eedd129ed1.jpg

This image was produced from Leak Buster


Sorry, I guess I should be more clear. Send me a screenshot of your step 1 so we can see what your biggest leaks are. Clearly off of this, aggression is an issue. What is your flop cbet in position and out of position? This is the first simple way to increase aggression if we're low there. The second is understanding profitable double spots. Again, we talk about this a lot in here and about using position to fire when you are doubling with air or pick up good equity.
 
Figaroo2

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leaks

I am on vacation and computer free for a week . phone only . top leak was 4 betting this isn't surprising as I had a month earlier in the year experimenting and virtually raising every 3 bet to see what i could get away with. im not so worried there.
2nd leak was calling with a pair not top pair flop and turn and giving up turn or river. this will be my main leak its been highlighted before. I guess im not finding or recognising those profitable bluffing spots. I've always tended towards passive play rather than aggression.
Leakbuster does pick up on lack of turn aggression but also tells me off for double barrel too much.
I guess it just takes time to see the full benefits of aggression and learning how to bluff. I did talk recently of now seeing the spots but just not being able to pull the trigger because im simply not used to doing it. This makes sense as I feel like I've really improved a lot in the last 6 months. I just need to go with my reads and make sure I pull that trigger.
 
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rhombus

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I am on vacation and computer free for a week . phone only . top leak was 4 betting this isn't surprising as I had a month earlier in the year experimenting and virtually raising every 3 bet to see what i could get away with. im not so worried there.
2nd leak was calling with a pair not top pair flop and turn and giving up turn or river. this will be my main leak its been highlighted before. I guess im not finding or recognising those profitable bluffing spots. I've always tended towards passive play rather than aggression.
Leakbuster does pick up on lack of turn aggression but also tells me off for double barrel too much.
I guess it just takes time to see the full benefits of aggression and learning how to bluff. I did talk recently of now seeing the spots but just not being able to pull the trigger because im simply not used to doing it. This makes sense as I feel like I've really improved a lot in the last 6 months. I just need to go with my reads and make sure I pull that trigger.

Just make sure when you pull the trigger it doesnt always contain blanks especially OOP and against massive FISH;)
 
John A

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I am on vacation and computer free for a week . phone only . top leak was 4 betting this isn't surprising as I had a month earlier in the year experimenting and virtually raising every 3 bet to see what i could get away with. im not so worried there.
2nd leak was calling with a pair not top pair flop and turn and giving up turn or river. this will be my main leak its been highlighted before. I guess im not finding or recognising those profitable bluffing spots. I've always tended towards passive play rather than aggression.
Leakbuster does pick up on lack of turn aggression but also tells me off for double barrel too much.
I guess it just takes time to see the full benefits of aggression and learning how to bluff. I did talk recently of now seeing the spots but just not being able to pull the trigger because im simply not used to doing it. This makes sense as I feel like I've really improved a lot in the last 6 months. I just need to go with my reads and make sure I pull that trigger.

Yeah, you just need to start thinking about fold equity away from the table. Aggression works because it gives you multiple ways to win. Your opponent folds, or you improve to a better hand. You also control the hand and the sizing when you're betting as opposed to check/calling.

Balanced and smart aggression is key.
 
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rhombus

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John is my Leakbuster working OK, not sure what im doing wrong

1) I ran analysis and on the filter I clicked for this month and NL but it shows 30000 hands when ive only played 4000 this month.

2) Also it says i have so many leaks 36 and 34 potential but I get B- the other day it was A-

3) One final thing in the Range column is the number on leakbuster the ideal range, i.e. too passive if below and too aggressive if higher

PS you've turned me into a 3 betting maniac lol
 

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John A

John A

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No, I think there's a change in how HM is creating these columns in the database and I have to have the developer look at it. Just run it as last X hands for now.
 
John A

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Wanted to share some quick thoughts on downswings since I've been playing online now for almost 10 years and hit the longest I've ever had recently.

1) Make sure to give yourself lots of breaks and take time away from the table.
2) If you have a long history of winning, don't start doubting yourself. It's easy to do. Just review what you have been doing and look for poor adjustments.
3) Shut down tilt right away because it will happen quicker and easier if you're on a downswing.
4) Post hands, and answer lots of other hand posts about poker. Keep your mind involved in hands where you can be more objective.
5) Don't play when you're tired.
6) Buy lots of expensive things for yourself. :)

It's hard to keep your chin up when the poker gods are beating you down, but don't get discourages. It's what separates then boys from the men. :)
 
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rhombus

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OK to stop your downswing post some hands and I'll sort you out LOL :D
 
John A

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OK to stop your downswing post some hands and I'll sort you out LOL :D

Thanks... hehe. It's bound to happen. I haven't had any really "bad" prolonged downswings in my career. 12 buy-ins was my previous worse, and for my style I don't think that's too bad.

The biggest thing for me is I noticed that mentally I was "pushing too much". Trying to make too many things happen. And after review I noticed I was playing some hands that I know I normally wouldn't and it was getting me into spots that I normally wouldn't get myself into. On top of just running super bad. I mean, just constantly flopping the 2nd nuts against the nuts, flush over flush, set over set, AA vs KK. I actually got it in pre-flop with AK vs AA 6 times, and AA vs KK (me) 7 times in that span and only once the other way around and I lost that one time. So you put all that together and you have a downswing.

Any ways, just thought I'd share.
 
John A

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Standard hands during a downswing...

Hand Converted by Ace Poker Drills Poker Training Software

NL Holdem $1(BB)
SB ($68.13)
HERO ($116.5)
UTG ($103.54)
HJ ($54.84)
CO ($98)
BTN ($131.67)

Dealt to Hero A:club: A:spade:

UTG Raises To $3 , HJ Calls $3 , CO Folds , BTN Folds , SB Folds , HERO Raises To $12.5 , UTG Raises To $30 , HJ Folds , HERO Raises To $116.5 (all-in), UTG Calls $73.54 (all-in)

Flop ($238.54) T:club: 5:diamond: A:heart:

Turn ($238.54) T:club: 5:diamond: A:heart: Q:heart:

River ($238.54) T:club: 5:diamond: A:heart: Q:heart: J:club:

UTG shows K:heart: K:spade:

UTG wins $207.58
 
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rhombus

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The biggest thing for me is I noticed that mentally I was "pushing too much". Trying to make too many things happen.

This part you can definitely do something about, its also one of my biggest weaknesses trying to chase by being more aggressive when in reality the best way is play every hand as a new one(unless you are playing metagame against an opponent).

Cards dont have memories, feelings or compassion neither does a roulette wheel but people still chase by trying to double up

PS I know you know the above jst for other peeps who may be reading the thread!!

And after review I noticed I was playing some hands that I know I normally wouldn't and it was getting me into spots that I normally wouldn't get myself into. On top of just running super bad. I mean, just constantly flopping the 2nd nuts against the nuts, flush over flush, set over set, AA vs KK.
Unless you can dodge bullets nothing you can do about those

I actually got it in pre-flop with AK vs AA 6 times, and AA vs KK (me) 7 times in that span and only once the other way around and I lost that one time. So you put all that together and you have a downswing.

GROSS!!!!, enough to make a grown man cry!!
 
John A

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With "pushing too much" for me, means I'm making too many bluffs. Making too many fancy plays, etc... It's a mentality for me because I'm playing below my stake level and I think I can outplay everyone. And really I just need to play more straight forward at those stakes. It's not easy, and I can't wait until online poker gets properly regulated.
 
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With "pushing too much" for me, means I'm making too many bluffs. Making too many fancy plays, etc... It's a mentality for me because I'm playing below my stake level and I think I can outplay everyone. And really I just need to play more straight forward at those stakes. It's not easy, and I can't wait until online poker gets properly regulated.


Hope your only bluffing in position;)

But with your aggresion your pushing the boundaries which can sometimes work against the right opponent and as you are a good reader of the game you would be in a better position than me to exploit.

i.e. certain people treat poker as a game of ego and dont like to be pushed around, thats one of the skills I currently dont have picking up smal changes in dynamics.

I do get ya with regards to the stake you are playing but obviously on a different scale. I used to play $25 NLHE but when I came back to the game to relearn I started at $10.

I didnt want to start at $2 or $5 because playing at a level when the money doesnt mean much you dont play at your best even $10 Im not bothered at losing a few buyins but didnt want to jump back into $25 till I felt comfortable.

As for the regulations its an absolute joke that as adults you cant make certain choices but best leave politics alone for now!!
 
John A

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:)

Booking a couple of winning sessions finally helps a bit. The games are just getting tougher no matter where you play, so the possibility of variance just increases. We need to get the US back online so we can get a larger player pool going again. It's going to be key to the long term success of online poker.
 
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