A couple things, one of actual strategy content.

1. I'm grinding through preliminary analysis of my huge datamined hand history collection. Even at 50NL, the regulars need "tourists" to keep the game profitable. The average winnings trends upwards or to break-even amounts until you get into players with less than 1k hands. My guess is that the rake is beating most people there down to the 1 or 2 sessions in the sample set. These are the real losers. This is a bit of a surprise to me. I expected to see more steady bleeders among the most active players.

Here is a list of the best SNs in the data set. Don't worry- the analysis will be anonymous.

2. I actually played a cash game last night and want to talk about a couple hands.

A passive flop line deep-stacked with aces.

I'd like a little bet sizing critique and some other thought processes here.
A presumably simple implied odds spot. I'm mostly thinking about the villain's turn raise. Is it as bad as it looks?

Call a river c/r that rep's nothing?

Hi,

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4684702

So villain here is 36/19 agg% 33%, river agg23% ( AF1.8) wtsd 35%, c/r river 17% (1 of 6).

So, i make a small cbet on a dry flop, I do that with most of my range here. Its unlikely he'll fold, but he'll call with lots of worse hands than mine here.

Turn changes nothing, so i check it back and am fine with getting to showdown cheap.

Stardard river value bet. I make it small, cause i don't expect him to have much of anything at this point, and am hoping for calls by weak jacks and 6's. maybe 77 or 55.

He min c/r's me???

No str8's, no flushes. So is he value raising an ace here? A four is the only thing he can have that would like to c/r. So i'm getting 5:1, do I do anything else but call?

I don't know how often he's bluffing here. Another stat is that he steals limped pots 70% of the time, so can he be reacting to my weak line??? Can he do this with AQ, or A9??

I don't see what he reps besides a poorly played 4.

Spewy call???

Thoughts??

Mark

Hi Guys,

This is my first post, so here goes. Villain is a 46/16 donky, agg% is 31%, wtsd 45%, donks 32%.

The hand is at pokerhand.org http://www.pokerhand.org/?4684697

So I bluff raise his flop donk, as I have a note that his 1/3 pot donks are bluffs/weak pairs. When he calls and donks the turn, i don't want to shut him out ( I think) as i pretty much put him on a 1 pair hand. Theres a ton of scary river cards, but I think he keeps bluffing, or I can v-bet the river.

So, the river doesn't really change much. I can't see any value in raising the river either, as my read is he is weak here.

Thoughts on all streets?

Mark

Reacting to Continuation Bet Defenses by Ben Frisch

http://www.twoplustwo.com/magazine/issue56/Frisch-Reacting-Continuation-Bet-Defenses.php

Lightness of Poker...

http://davidzeitlin.com/2009/03/26/the-unbearable-lightness-of-poker/

I made a video at 25 NL

http://www.filedropper.com/kirkthompson071109nlholdem2540minutes

Check it.

I'm trying to get back into a tight style as I start to put in hands.

EDIT: be warned that the file is v. large (300 MB), and I used CamStudio's lossless codec.

3bet pot 3 way vs aggro villain - Stoxpoker Forums

Weird spot on the flop.  Is there a "standard" read or way to react to this bet?

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=165149&posted=1#post165149

Enhancing the use of forums.

A "internet poker buddy" just inquired as to how one could enhance the utility of a poker forum. I should have told him to join the site :).

Here are my suggestions so far. Any others (as comments or as posts) would be great.

*Slightly incentivize forum use for members and coaches (my guess is that crafting and adapting a +EV incentive).
*Creating and maintaining results threads that coaches read.
*Putting every hand from a coaches video into the HH importer, putting a link to it in the videovideos.php entry. That way a specific hand can be posted in the video threads (or even the general section).
*Encouraging member videos or HH reviews. Encouraging coaches to sweat member videos and provide their own commentary. Two free weeks on the site if your video is used by a coach should be incentive enough.
*Issuing monthly challenges based on themes. Example- river play OOP for August 2009.
*Get QTip, Leatherass, and Cottonseed to post more hands.
*Generating a social network feature akin to facebook's front page, to encourage people to read their friends' posts. The more people read, the more they post.

Poker Discussion: 25PL AKo OOP vs Tight Tag - Special situation...

I just don't have an answer.. does that mean muck?

http://www.deucescracked.com/forums/8-Beginner-SS-No-Limit-Hold-em/topics/23399-25PL-AKo-OOP-vs-Tight-Tag?page=1#posts-175783

Three hands from an 80 minute session. - Stoxpoker Forums

Here are some simple hands that I'd love a litttle feedback on. 

AA- perhaps I'm being a maytag repairman here, but I wonder about preflop 3bet sizing relativ to a 125 BB stack and hand ranges from a weak player.

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24782

AQo OOP on a threeflush turn - Against a laggier player, it's an easy CRAI.  Should I do the same , ket the guy barrel it in, or give up.  I go half way by checking and calling one street.  I hate it.

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24784

KQ - top two vs a nit.  Do I miss a value bet on the river?

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24783

Poker Discussion: 50NL - Two 3bet pots against LAG :: DeucesCra...

3bet pots vs lags w/no hand.  Blech.

http://www.deucescracked.com/forums/8-Beginner-SS-No-Limit-Hold-em/topics/23125-50NL-Two-3bet-pots-agains?page=1#post-body-174083

The Well: BobboFitos - Page 8 - Two Plus Two Poker Forum

Strategy talk- deeper that individual hands, but detailed enough to be relevant.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/39/small-stakes-pl-nl/well-bobbofitos-1064/index8.html

Forum RSS feeds.

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/external.php?type=RSS2

You can now add stoxpoker forum threads to an RSS reader.

http://www.deucescracked.com/posts.rss

Same with deuces cracked.

I'm going to try to do the same for some other stuff.

Playing Your 'A' Game: Part 1 - video #922 . . . . Release Date: 05/02/09 - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=155613#post155613

This video is a superb breakdown of how enhancing your focus enhances your play.

I think this month will be "mental strength month" for me.

Turn with FD, Gutshot and Pair - Stoxpoker Forums

Facing ricky turn raise with pair, FD and gutshot. I've posted on CR as well as stox to get more input.

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=162659#post162659

http://www.cardrunners.com/members/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=542699&page=1

Using Camstudio to Screen Record Video Tutorials

http://youtube.jimmyr.com/tutorials/Kiug3H3c4gk.php

Allegedly, these are good settings for poker videos.

200NL; Fold a set on the river to less than pot sized bet? - Two Plus Two Poker Forum

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/39/small-stakes-pl-nl/200nl-fold-set-river-less-than-pot-sized-bet-507322/
I just don't like anything about the last two streets.

The Surly Poker Gnome: Dealing with losses

http://surlypokergnome.blogspot.com/2009/06/dealing-with-losses.html

Post your hands for my next vid - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24463

flopped set vs turn flush card - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=161184#post161184

I looooove the villain's line here.  I want to shake his or her hand.

Question about pocket pairs in between 2 raisers - Stoxpoker Forums

JJ in CO - UTG Raised, CO flatted and Btn R to 25x which is size of UTG shortstack, what should CO do?

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=161047#post161047

CardRunners Forum: 1st Podcast - Interview with Townsend

Cardrunner's first podcast with an interview with Brian Townsend who discusses 4betting strategy:

http://www.cardrunners.com/members/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=528185&page=1

Expert Insight - Article: The Gordon Pair Principle

I realise this is probably better applied to tournaments but it's still an interesting concept.

http://www.expertinsight.com/Articles/92.html

PF Odds and NLHE - Stoxpoker Forums

Interesting discussion in thread about rating different strategies against an unknown when in the BB with J8s vs Btn raise.

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=160426#post160426

KK in BB with raise, call, 3b all in from short stack, then my turn! - Stoxpoker Forums

What's the best strategy with KK with lots of action before getting to us?

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=160525#post160525

How to Win a Bracelet | Pokerati | Texas Hold'em and Las Vegas Poker Blog

http://pokerati.com/2009/06/01/how-to-win-a-bracelet/

:D

NL50 - River trips facing reraise AI - Two Plus Two Poker Forum

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/39/small-stakes-pl-nl/nl50-river-trips-facing-reraise-ai-498570/#post10984135

Where do you slow it down?  150 deep, clearly three streets is a spew.

A8o vs. button steal - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24266

Stan*, Kyle, and pzhon dig out the logistics of preflop 3betting.  Nicely done lads.

*real name is eric.  We can only hope pzhon is named Ken.

Cbetting

An old post from bilbosan about cbetting...
still some very good concepts in there.

http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=7994180&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1&nt=3

Deuce_Plays_-_Episode_12_-_3-31-2009_-_Special_Guest_Matt_Flynn.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

http://podcasts.deucescracked.com/deuceplays/Deuce_Plays_-_Episode_12_-_3-31-2009_-_Special_Guest_Matt_Flynn.mp3

This guys is one of the other authors of Noted Poker Authority's new book.  His interviews and posts make me fairly confident always impress me.

Overpair multiway, cbet gets raised

http://www.leggopoker.com/forums/small-stakes/200nl-flop-cbet-gets-raised-6311.html

I think this is a pretty interesting spot. Will comment on the thread later myself :)

TheWorstPlayer memorial "I'm running bad" thread - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24250

What I've Learned (Pooh-Bah type post)

http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=7402567&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1&nt=4

LHE-centered, but still very useful.

30 minute videos of 10NL - 25NL wanted - Two Plus Two Poker Forum

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/69/micro-stakes-pl-nl/30-minute-videos-10nl-25nl-wanted-486701/

Post #10 gets at what I stay up at night thinking about-poker wise.  I think I have a ton more small leaks than large ones.

[NL100] Trips in Blindbattle vs. massive Action - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=158584&posted=1#post158584

I have a very different read about the flop action here.

Member Video: Dangerfish! - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23626

He's good.

Re: Importance of positive red line - Two Plus Two Poker Forum

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/39/small-stakes-pl-nl/importance-positive-red-line-486569/

Meditations on the "Red Line"

Lately, JF Jerome and I have been talking about the red line, especially Zaitsev's series about it on cardrunners. 

The red line- winnings without showdown in hands vs $ won graphs- is perhaps the most mysterious element I frequently look at in my poker results.

Opinions differ on what shapes it, and even whether we should bother looking at it at all.  I do know that my red line runs about even at lower stakes, where I barely bother to fire a second barrel, and runs positive at 50 NL at higher, where I frequently fire second barrels to move people off of hands.

What does everybody else think about the red line?

PS - #15 is the most interesting post of all in this forum.

Importance of positive red line - Two Plus Two Poker Forum

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/39/small-stakes-pl-nl/importance-positive-red-line-486569/

Meditations on the "Red Line"

Lately, JF Jerome and I have been talking about the red line, especially Zaitsev's series about it on cardrunners. 

The red line- winnings without showdown in hands vs $ won graphs- is perhaps the most mysterious element I frequently look at in my poker results.

Opinions differ on what shapes it, and even whether we should bother looking at it at all.  I do know that my red line runs about even at lower stakes, where I barely bother to fire a second barrel, and runs positive at 50 NL at higher, where I frequently fire second barrels to move people off of hands.

What does everybody else think about the red line?

PS - #15 is the most interesting post of all in this forum.

4 plus more: "healthy baby blog" check-up.

After a few weeks, I am quite pleased with the result here. I've noticed that people are taking multiple approaches to posting. I'm totally cool with that.

Here are a few thoughts on what works so far for me.

1. More is better than less; so far I have found the average posts and comments many, many times more valuable than typical forum activity. I just wouldn't worry about putting too much stuff up here.* Post hands you post in forums. Post forums where the discussion is revealing. Post articles. It's easy to look through it fast if it is well recommended.
   
2. If you want you can arrange to get emails when posts or comments are put up. If you'd like that, check under settings. If you can't find it, I'll set it up for you.
3. 45 man super turbos on FTP look soooo tasty. :)
   

*That said, I think I will be at the highets risk of being a nuisance. If I am a nuisance, let me know. I'm telling you how to use this, aren't I ;). I expect the same frankness in return.

Strategy post by yours truly.

http://thesleepylion.blogspot.com/2009/05/ask-me-why-i-havent-posted-lately.html

Zaitsev and a cardrunners member on 100 and 200 NL.

http://www.cardrunners.com/members/show_video.php?mode=vital&type=flash&id=1363

This video is awesome.

Ansky Article on getting better

It's a good read and may be somewhat of a wake up call for some :)

http://www.pokersavvy.com/plus/articles/how-to-be-a-winner-at-high-stakes

Flopped Set, River Puke - Two Plus Two Poker Forum

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/39/small-stakes-pl-nl/flopped-set-river-puke-484608/#post10636868

Everyone's got a solution and none of them identify the real problem: the hero got to the river with about the worst stack size you could imagine.  I like my reply.

NL100 TPTK on 3b pot, weird flop - Two Plus Two Poker Forum

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/39/small-stakes-pl-nl/nl100-tptk-3b-pot-weird-flop-485035/

Hero flats a 3bet with AQs-clubs from a TAG blind with a 9% 3bet over a reliable sample.  Flop comes QJT twotone and the general sense is shove or fold, with a high likelihood of getting it in bad.

My questions for y'all (and the forum).

If villain is going to have us in a bad spot on a broadway board but three bets that much, shouldn't we be 4bet bluffing with AQ?

[50nl: TPTK in 3bet pot] - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=156903&posted=1#post156903

The board is three to a flush on the flop, and the hero has TPTK is a 3-bet, multiway pot.

IMnuts brings up a good point here:

how often are you really good in these spots vs. loose aggressive opponents who want to put it in?

I'm curious what everybody else thinks.

DeucePlays Poker Podcast with Bart Hanson :: DeucesCracked

http://www.deucescracked.com/podcasts/deuceplays

The episode with Tommy Angelo is great (although a plug for their site).

The episodes with Baluga Whale are great.

Back to basics: Two Plus Two's concepts of the week.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/78/micro-stakes-full-ring/concept-week-schedule-table-contents-397190/

Starting with Stox Poker coach splitsuit's video on using the software programs Pokerstove and Stox Poker Combo, this page is a table of contents for all sorts of useful information for a starting poker player.

[50nl: TPTK in 3bet pot] - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23863

This is another example of a spot where solid play runs into trouble a ton of the time (name of the game in NLH, right?).

I like weak-lead calling on the flop here still, but the results are bound to be super variable. I expect the big blind to show up way ahead or way behind most of the time.

NL50 AJo in 3-bet pot with nut flushdraw - Stoxpoker Forums

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=156771

I know shoving will always work, but why not just flat-call?

Schadenfreude - Stoxpoker Forums

Kyle Hendon uses German and poker insight to explain the shortcomings of playing predictably.

http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23526

Set yourself up to use four plus more.

Hopefully utilizing this will be as easy as it sounds. I hope to keep this a small, collegial community of posters, though a solid poker mind is a terrible thing to waste. If you are interested in playing along, contact me!

1. In your email, explain your case for why you'd like to be involved. What do play? What do you hope to gain by joining? What can you contribute?
2. After you are invited to post, set yourself up as an author on the blog.
3. Acquire an email address to which you can send material to post.
4. Set up gmail this*, email this, or another forwarding bookmarklet.
5. When you come across or post an interesting poker strategy page, use your bookmarklet to post the URL to four plus more along with a brief description.
6. Read and comment along with your collaborators.
7. To keep yourself updated, check up daily, subscribe via an RSS feed like Google Reader, or set up your account to receive emails when new posts appear.
   

*Advanced: once you set up your bookmarklet, you can easily modify it so that "to", "from", "subject" and so on are entered automatically. So if you want to generate a "send to" automatically, insert your email in at:

"javascript...open('https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=YOURBLOGVIAEMAILADDRESS@blogger.com&su='%20+%20escape(document.title)......"

Four Plus More: what are we doing?

What's the difference between a puppy and a busted gambler?

Eventually a puppy stops whining.

A typical thread in an internet poker forum is motivated as much by the urge to vent as any desire to improve. Furthermore, the advice is often unbalanced, not reasoned out, or just plain wrong.

I am creating this blog to enable a collaborative environment for myself and several other poker players. I hope we can:

1. Post links to all hands we post for which we want each other's feedback.
2. Post links to hands and discussions of value.
3. Have a "back end" location for commenting on hot-button topics.
4. Have ready access to the posts via RSS feeds or automated email updates.
   

These all lead towards the goal of getting more experience thinking about trouble spots in no limit hold 'em.