3 replies to this topic

[ffishh]

Alright guys... tear me a new one. I am having a hell of a time getting any hands to hold up, and I feel like im playing tight passive. Rip into me. let me have it. Help me fix my play.This was about 45 minute game where I lost about 25 bucks. Saw the flop about 30% of the time.Here's some hands I was in, and my thoughts on why I did what (please re-arrange my thinking) armchair: -- -- two putt: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- BadTT: -- -- bkbk1017: -- -- ffishh: Jh QdPre-flop: AJ Hoyle folds. corndog24 calls. BadTT folds. bkbk1017 checks. ffishh calls. armchair folds. two putt calls. Tom O calls. suddenly checks. Cards add up to 20 so I call in middle position Flop (board: 5h Qs 6d): Tom O checks. suddenly checks. corndog24 checks. bkbk1017 checks. ffishh bets $.50. two putt raises to $1. Tom O folds. suddenly folds. corndog24 calls. bkbk1017 folds. ffishh calls. bet out, get raised, go into check/call modeTurn (board: 5h Qs 6d 7d): corndog24 checks. ffishh checks. two putt bets $1. corndog24 calls. ffishh calls. River (board: 5h Qs 6d 7d Ah): corndog24 checks. ffishh checks. two putt checks. lost hand to KQ----------------------------------------------------------- two putt posts the small blind of $.25. Tom O posts the big blind of $.50. armchair: -- -- two putt: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- BadTT: -- -- ffishh: Qd QcPre-flop: suddenly folds. AJ Hoyle folds. corndog24 calls. BadTT folds. ffishh raises to $1. armchair folds. two putt calls. Tom O calls. corndog24 calls. Flop (board: Ah 3s 5d): two putt checks. Tom O checks. corndog24 checks. ffishh checks. would normally bet out here 100% of the time according to how I understand you should play poker, but I just 'know' that someone has an ace, so I am in check/call modeTurn (board: Ah 3s 5d Th): two putt bets $1. Tom O folds. corndog24 folds. ffishh calls. River (board: Ah 3s 5d Th 4c): two putt checks. ffishh checks. two putt had a,q----------------------------------------------------------- armchair: -- -- two putt: -- -- realrookie: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- BadTT: -- -- ffishh: 9s 9cPre-flop: realrookie folds. Tom O folds. suddenly folds. AJ Hoyle folds. corndog24 folds. BadTT folds. ffishh raises to $1. armchair folds. two putt folds. ffishh is returned $.50 (uncalled). included because I actually won the hand-------------------------------------------------------------- BadTT posts the small blind of $.25. MickeyMouse rejects big blind. ffishh posts the big blind of $.50. armchair: -- -- two putt: -- -- realrookie: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- BadTT: -- -- ffishh: Th AhPre-flop: armchair raises to $1. two putt folds. realrookie folds. Tom O folds. suddenly folds. AJ Hoyle folds. corndog24 folds. BadTT folds. ffishh calls. defended my blind with a,10 suitedFlop (board: 3h 9h 8c): ffishh bets $.50. armchair calls. Turn (board: 3h 9h 8c 2s): ffishh bets $1. armchair raises to $2. ffishh calls. River (board: 3h 9h 8c 2s 2c): ffishh checks. armchair bets $1. ffishh folds. armchair is returned $1 (uncalled). played this hand poorly and I know it, but the problem is that I would probably play it the same way usually... ------------------------------------------------ will_reilly: -- -- two putt: -- -- realrookie: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- BadTT: -- -- Johnny 53: -- -- ffishh: Ts KcPre-flop: BadTT folds. Johnny 53 folds. ffishh calls. will_reilly folds. two putt folds. realrookie folds. Tom O folds. suddenly raises to $1. AJ Hoyle folds. corndog24 calls. ffishh calls. top ten hand in early position, I callFlop (board: 4h 9c Ks): corndog24 checks. ffishh bets $.50. suddenly calls. corndog24 calls. and bet out with top pairTurn (board: 4h 9c Ks 2s): corndog24 checks. ffishh bets $1. suddenly calls. corndog24 calls. River (board: 4h 9c Ks 2s 3d): corndog24 checks. ffishh checks. suddenly bets $1. corndog24 folds. ffishh calls. Showdown: suddenly shows Kd Kh. suddenly has Kd Kh 4h 9c Ks: three kings. ffishh mucks cards. (ffishh has Ts Kc.) These are the hands that have my confidence crushed----------------------------------------------------------- armchair: -- -- two putt: -- -- realrookie: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- sunfire42: -- -- MickeyMouse: -- -- ffishh: Kc AdPre-flop: Tom O folds. suddenly folds. AJ Hoyle calls. corndog24 raises to $1. sunfire42 calls. MickeyMouse folds. ffishh re-raises to $1.50. armchair folds. two putt folds. realrookie folds. AJ Hoyle folds. corndog24 calls. sunfire42 calls. as smash would say: raise, reraise, cap, etc.Flop (board: Qd 4h 8d): corndog24 bets $.50. sunfire42 calls. ffishh calls. Turn (board: Qd 4h 8d 3h): corndog24 bets $1. sunfire42 calls. ffishh calls. River (board: Qd 4h 8d 3h 9c): corndog24 bets $1. sunfire42 folds. ffishh calls. Showdown: corndog24 shows Ks Qs. corndog24 has Ks Qs Qd 8d 9c: a pair of queens. ffishh mucks cards. (ffishh has Kc Ad.)prety much spewing chips the whole way I think, but at what point should I fold?----------------------------------------------------------- armchair: -- -- nitakk: -- -- realrookie: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- sunfire42: -- -- MickeyMouse: -- -- ffishh: 2d 9sPre-flop: nitakk folds. realrookie folds. Tom O folds. suddenly folds. AJ Hoyle calls. corndog24 folds. sunfire42 calls. MickeyMouse folds. ffishh calls. armchair checks. I generally complete from SB if it has not been raised.Flop (board: Ts Jh Qd): ffishh checks. armchair bets $.50. AJ Hoyle folds. sunfire42 calls. ffishh calls. Turn (board: Ts Jh Qd Tc): ffishh checks. armchair bets $1. sunfire42 raises to $2. ffishh folds. armchair calls. call .50 to see the turn, don't catch my straight and fold-------------------------------------------------------- nitakk: -- -- realrookie: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- sunfire42: -- -- MickeyMouse: -- -- ffishh: 2s KsPre-flop: nitakk calls. realrookie folds. Tom O calls. suddenly folds. AJ Hoyle folds. corndog24 folds. sunfire42 calls. MickeyMouse folds. ffishh checks. Flop (board: Kc 9c 7c): ffishh bets $.50. nitakk calls. Tom O calls. sunfire42 folds. catch top pair in an unraised pot and bet out. I dont think anyone has a flush yet because I am not raised, but go into check/call mode to be safeTurn (board: Kc 9c 7c Ad): ffishh checks. nitakk checks. Tom O bets $1. ffishh calls. nitakk folds. River (board: Kc 9c 7c Ad Js): ffishh checks. Tom O bets $1. ffishh calls. Showdown: Tom O shows Ac Qc. Tom O has Ac Qc Kc 9c 7c: flush, ace high. ffishh mucks cards. (ffishh has 2s Ks.)Guess I was wrong about the flush------------------------------------------------------------------------ bh1000: -- -- nitakk: -- -- realrookie: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- corndog24: -- -- sunfire42: -- -- MickeyMouse: -- -- ffishh: Kd KhPre-flop: sunfire42 calls. MickeyMouse folds. ffishh raises to $1. bh1000 folds. nitakk calls. realrookie folds. Tom O folds. suddenly folds. AJ Hoyle folds. corndog24 calls. sunfire42 calls. Flop (board: 5s 3s 5d): corndog24 checks. sunfire42 checks. ffishh bets $.50. nitakk folds. corndog24 calls. sunfire42 calls. Turn (board: 5s 3s 5d 4d): corndog24 checks. sunfire42 checks. ffishh bets $1. corndog24 calls. sunfire42 calls. River (board: 5s 3s 5d 4d Ah): corndog24 checks. sunfire42 checks. ffishh checks. Hands like this make me hate poker. As soon as that ace hit I knew I was dead. Even though I lost this hand, I'm pretty sure it's the only hand listed here that I played properly. Showdown: corndog24 shows Ad 7s. corndog24 has Ad 7s 5s 5d Ah: two pair, aces and fives. sunfire42 mucks cards. (sunfire42 has 6s 8d.) ffishh mucks cards. (ffishh has Kd Kh.)--------------------------------------------------------------- bh1000: -- -- nitakk: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- sunfire42: -- -- MickeyMouse: -- -- ffishh: Ah 9hPre-flop: AJ Hoyle folds. sunfire42 calls. MickeyMouse calls. ffishh calls. bh1000 calls. nitakk folds. Tom O calls. suddenly checks. Flop (board: 2h 5s 9s): Tom O checks. suddenly checks. sunfire42 bets $.50. MickeyMouse folds. ffishh raises to $1. bh1000 calls. Tom O calls. suddenly folds. sunfire42 calls. hit top pair and raise... should I just call here? Either way I am now in check/call modeTurn (board: 2h 5s 9s Tc): Tom O checks. sunfire42 checks. ffishh checks. bh1000 checks. River (board: 2h 5s 9s Tc 4c): Tom O checks. sunfire42 bets $1. ffishh calls. bh1000 folds. Tom O folds. Showdown: sunfire42 shows 5c Ts. sunfire42 has 5c Ts 5s 9s Tc: two pair, tens and fives. ffishh mucks cards. (ffishh has Ah 9h.)-------------------------------------------------------------- bh1000: -- -- nitakk: -- -- Tom O: -- -- suddenly: -- -- AJ Hoyle: -- -- sunfire42: -- -- MickeyMouse: -- -- ffishh: 8d 8sPre-flop: suddenly folds. AJ Hoyle folds. sunfire42 calls. MickeyMouse folds. ffishh raises to $1. bh1000 folds. nitakk calls. Tom O folds. sunfire42 calls. on tilt here. Generally I would just limp with this handFlop (board: 5d 4d Ad): nitakk checks. sunfire42 checks. ffishh bets $.50. nitakk calls. sunfire42 calls. Turn (board: 5d 4d Ad 7h): nitakk checks. sunfire42 checks. ffishh checks. River (board: 5d 4d Ad 7h Qc): nitakk checks. sunfire42 checks. ffishh checks. Showdown: nitakk shows 2h 2d. nitakk has 2h 2d Ad 7h Qc: a pair of deuces. sunfire42 mucks cards. (sunfire42 has Ks 6d.) ffishh shows 8d 8s. ffishh has 8d 8s Ad 7h Qc: a pair of eights.----------------------------------------------------- I constantly read the 2+2 strategy stuff, reading SS2, recpoker, here, etc. but I cant find a way to consistently win. I feel like I have a decent grasp of all the concepts, but I can not build a bank roll. I just hover there. up 10 bucks, down 10 bucks. I play break-even poker, but can't find a way to get over the hump.Anyhow... thats it. Be mean, I don't care. ANY help is greatly appreciated.ffishh (the guy spewing chips at a table near you)

[cdxx]

Admittedly, I didn't read the whole hand (btw, please use the bisonbison converter). When I tilt, I usually get real loose and/or real passive. This seems to be a case of the latter. this exercise helps me break out of it (that's my story and i am sticking to it) while most likely not immediately profitable: know that your opponents are statisticians, and they think you are too passive. so start throwing that image off.take your AhTh hand. (i'll disregard that you defended your blind against UTG raise. defending applies to late raises but feel free to argue). you flop a flush nut draw, so try a check-raise. first of all, it can get you free card on the turn. secondly, it hides your flush draw. finally, it makes you the aggressor (always a plus). let's say he flopped the nut set here and three-bets. you check-call the turn and fold the river. you are down a bet, but now he thinks you played top or two pair fast, and you may steal the next pot. use this image at the right moment and it may turn around your play.even if my last scenario does not work, you need to get yourself out of passiveness, so start being aggressive. check-raise is certainly more aggressive than check-call every draw on every street.

[akishore]

first hand (QJ):fine.second hand (QQ):bet on the flop. you don't "know" someone has an ace, a lot of times, with an ace on the board, you can get a lot of fold equity if you're the pre-flop raiser. bet out, and if you're raised, call then check-fold the turn and river. if you're only called, bet again on the turn if no scare card comes and it's checked to you again.third hand (99):great steal-raise with 99. whether you realize it or not, 99 is a strong and short-handed, but a drawing hand in multiway pots. so if it's a lot of folds to you in late position (or one caller), raise it up to either steal the blinds or to take the flop heads-up. by the way, you're not going to win many hands in limit. but the ones you do win, you win big pots. that's what it's about... winning money, not pots/hands.fourth hand (ATs):don't play this hand heads-up to an EP raise. you're not defending your blind from an EP raise, you're only calling with a weak hand. think about it like this... if an ace hits, you're only going to get action if you're beaten (i.e. your kicker is bad), and otherwise, you're probably beaten the rest of the way. don't play for the flush heads-up, you don't have the odds. fold this pre-flop. otherwise, a check-raise on the flop is a good idea heads-up with draws, even with position. this way, you can lead out on the turn and hope for a fold. if he three-bets, call and check-call the turn.fifth hand (KTo):not a top ten hand. fold this to a raise from the blinds usually, but the raise if from the cutoff, so it might be a steal raise, so it's a possibly justifiable call. checkraise the flop with TPGK, and if three-bet, check-fold the turn, otherwise lead out on the turn. not sure why you checked the river when no one was raising you and no scare card hit... it worked out in this case, but don't check that river in the future, value bet it. as far as your confidence, tighten up a LOT when the pot gets raised. KTo sucks against a raise for the same reason ATs does above.sixth hand (AKo):pre-flop is fine, flop is fine, but drop it on the turn. if you call the turn, you're tying yourself to call the river, and $2 into a ~$6 pot is terrible with two overcards. you can't think your ace-high is good in a three-way pot here, can you?seventh hand (92o):don't generally complete from the SB if it has not been raised. THAT's chip spewing. don't call with an ass-end straight draw. if a king comes, do you really think you have the best hand? board will be T-J-Q-K, any ace has you killed. at least you made a good fold on the turn since the board paired, but i hope that's because the board paired and not because you faced two cold (although the second reason is also good, the first reason is the important one--big reverse implied odds when you chase a straight/flush draw on a paired board).eighth hand (K2s):if you haven't read small stakes hold'em by sklansky, do so. this is a prime example of a check-fold hand because of huge reverse implied odds. this means that you'll only get action when you're beat, and when you're beat, you're going to pay the other guy off a lot holding on to your hand. you have top pair worst kicker imaginable, and even if you make the wrong assumption that it's the best hand right now, there are many many cards that can fall on the turn and river that give someone else the best hand, and you will pay them off by betting on the flop. check-fold this trash on the flop.ninth hand (KK):you played this perfectly. screw it if you lose, i know it sucks, but you HAVE to get out of the short-term mentality. you WANT people drawing to those three outs on the river against you... you're going to win 93% of the time in those situations. i know it sucks, but i can tell you that you've won a lot of other pots with KK that you don't remember, because they don't stick out in human memory as often as these suckouts do. they happen, you played this hand fine, keep playing like this and you'll make muchos $$$. by the way, especially great check on the river, not only because of the ace, but because any two, any five, any 6-2, and any 8-7 have you beat, and if you weren't beat before, you're likely beat now, and not only that, you run the risk of getting raised by any made hand now or any slowplayed hand before. played this hand perfectly, be proud.tenth hand (A9s):the raise was perfectly correct, TPTK is raisable. the turn check is interesting, not sure if checking is the right play or if betting out is. you have some fold equity because of your raise, but an overcard landed, so either way is justifiable. i would probably bet, but not sure if that's right. obviously the river call is correct. actually, i would bet on the turn because it's unlikely that someone hit the 10, and i'm giving the flush and straight draws infinite odds by not betting there, so i would bet the turn. you'd get check-raised by 10-5, but that happens. suckouts suck, but remember, you want second pair in with you in that situation.eleventh hand (88):this isn't a terrible pre-flop raise. you're in the CO with one limper, raising makes sense since you want to get heads-up with these hands if you're in late position and 0 or 1 people have entered. flop bet is perfect, check-check is perfect. i think you played it well even though you were on tilt.conclusion:drop every book you're reading. drop recpoker. buy Small Stakes Hold'em by Sklansky. that's my biggest advice. other than that, keep posting on this forum and 2+2. you'll get ripped apart if you have bad hands, but that's how you learn.good luck,aseem

[ffishh]

Cant thank you guys enough for your replies. My confidence in my game is low, and it really helps to have the specifics pointed out.Aseem: Small stakes poker is now on order.ffishh