The Well: Aba20

[aba20]

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How the heck did you go from SSNL just a year ago to playing what you are now? Can you give us the key factors in your success? Playing? Studying? Sweating? Reading?

What's the biggest adjustment going from LHE to NLHE?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well A year ago I was mainly playing limit. I didn't really dedicate myself to NL until last december. I have spent alot of time playing poker in the past year. I completely immersed myself in poker. I have read every poker book, spent countless hours browsing and reading forums, spent even more hours analysising my play and my opponents plays. And then beyond this I have played endless hours. I really enjoy playing and I think if you don't you will never reach your fullest potential. You really have to love to play the game.

I think diferent people excel at limit vs no limit holdem. I personally found NL much easier and more exciting because I could really think about every big decsions and in the end making good decisions in big pots is crucial in NL holdem, while in limit it is more of small jabs. I would experiment with both and see which fits your personalitly better.

[aba20]

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At small stakes, do you think it is better to play at a 6 max table with 4 regulars deepstacked or 4 fishes who don´t have even 50 BBs?

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I have a feeling that at small stakes you can find fish with deepstacks.

[mudbuddha]

why do u guys talk about me in this forum like i wont read it

[homeslice]

Thanks for doing this aba20.

Longest breakeven stretch?

Biggest downswing?

PTBB when you played at 50NL, 100NL?

Your at 6 max table, your in the SB w/ AKo, UTG is TAG raises it, weak tight CO calls, the LAG button calls, what do you do?

[aba20]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for doing this aba20.

Longest breakeven stretch?

Biggest downswing?

PTBB when you played at 50NL, 100NL?

Your at 6 max table, your in the SB w/ AKo, UTG is TAG raises it, weak tight CO calls, the LAG button calls, what do you do?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know my longest breakeven strench, but I would guess around 20K hands.

Biggest downswing was 9.5 BI just recently.

I dont' remeber but it wasn't that great, I would guess around 4 or 5.

80% reraise 20% call

[ChipStorm]

aba, thanks for taking the grilling. Having you in the well, right on the tails of El Diablo, is a helluva learning opportunity for us.

One thing El D said in the well (and Gigabet has said in posts) is that in every single hand, he tries to put his opponent on an exact holding. Do you do the same?

I suck at hand reading and I suspect so do many SSNLers. What are your thoughts on how improve one's hand reading skills -- anything more to it than just putting in the effort?

[aba20]

[ QUOTE ]
aba, thanks for taking the grilling. Having you in the well, right on the tails of El Diablo, is a helluva learning opportunity for us.

One thing El D said in the well (and Gigabet has said in posts) is that in every single hand, he tries to put his opponent on an exact holding. Do you do the same?

I suck at hand reading and I suspect so do many SSNLers. What are your thoughts on how improve one's hand reading skills -- anything more to it than just putting in the effort?

[/ QUOTE ]

When I am playing I will often say to myself what do you have and imagine diferent possiblies (small pairs, suited aces etc.) But often for anaysis I use a range. So I more put people on a range of hands and see the equity of my holdings vs that of there range. Unfortanatly there is no easy way to get better at hand reading and having a feel for the game. All I can reccommend is countless hours of play and slowly it comes to you and you improve.

[Grifter]

You've moved up really fast, and I assume your game had to evolve quickly as well. On your journey, what "ssnl conventional wisdom" did you have to shake at what point? And what conventional wisdom from SSNL do you think you still need?

What is your group's area of research at UCSB?

Could you elaborate on your hand-reading style. In the last well, El D said he likes to try and put people on exact hands, which I found surprising. How do you read hands and what is your thought process like during a hand?

[kitaristi0]

1. Coke or Pepsi
2. Monica, Rachel or Phoebe
3. How are you so awesome
4. How does it feel to win $171k in one day?
5. How does it feel to win $170k(?) in one pot?
6. GP or Mahatma
7. Coffee or Tea
8. How are you so awesome

There's a few to get the ball rolling.

[aba20]

[ QUOTE ]
1. Coke or Pepsi
2. Monica, Rachel or Phoebe
3. How are you so awesome
4. How does it feel to win $171k in one day?
5. How does it feel to win $170k(?) in one pot?
6. GP or Mahatma
7. Coffee or Tea
8. How are you so awesome

There's a few to get the ball rolling.

[/ QUOTE ]

1) I don't drink soda
2) Rachel then in a close second monica and in a distant third phoebe
3) I dont know
4) about like every other day
5) It was just another pot
6) I personally have more trouble with mahatma but I think green plastic is a better all round player since he hardly tilts.
7) green tea
8) Again I don't knwo