The well: MTblue
 

A stranger is being shown around a village that he has just become part of. He is shown a well and his guide says "On any day except tuesday, you can shout any question down that well and you'll be told the answer" . The man seems pretty impressed, and so he shouts down: Why not on tuesday? and the voice from in the well shouts back: Because on tuesday, its your day in the well.

Laid up with mono for a couple of days figured it'd be a good time to give something back after constantly surfing 2+2 for the last year. I've played and been a winner at every limit between 2/4 and 25/50 in the last year.

I played under the screenname TheBlackDeath on prefrist party poker and ranked in the top 10 of all-time money winners at 5/10NL.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

pokahhhh story?
y no avatar?
wat/who is mono?
do you still play poker?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

how much did you make at 5/10? how many hands?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

thanks for doing this!

- can we get a graph of all your lower limit play?

- a brief history of how you started playing poker and how you made your way up the limits?

- thoughts on this hand: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...e=0#Post9993686

- am I trying way too hard to justify a bad call?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]

wat/who is mono?


[/ QUOTE ]

mono = disease you get from kissing girls and it makes you sleepy ldo.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Some random questions to start this off.

Your poker story?

Do you consider yourself a poker pro?

If so, what are your plans? Are you planning on playing indefinitely? Are you looking for another career?

How would you describe your style of poker on the range of nit to LAG?

Favorite album?

Something I always wonder: why don't you have an avatar?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Will you coach me?

What adjustments do you make to your game when you're sitting with a table full of 20/15's who are all 3betting lightly and bluffraising and, well, just playing tough poker? Do you try to tighten up and slowplay a bit more, do you try to out aggro them, a mix, what?

I haver a higher winrate playing only 2 tables, but not so much higher than it makes playing 4 tables less profitable. Am I hurting my growth by going on autopilot and grinding through many tables, or should I not worry about this?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

wat/who is mono?


[/ QUOTE ]

I got mono last year and I felt like death for 2 months. You might know it as the kissing disease

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Tips for starting a session well? Tips for ending a session well?

(I tend to start by losing and have to work my way up. And I tend to set $ that I need to reach to quit and that can be very frustrating)

Re: The well: MTblue
 

your favorite live poker hand experience? (ie. against a famous WPT pro or something in a 50/100NL super deep cash game). or winning a super gigantic pot with a pure bluff.

some favorite 2p2 posts? (and links)

thanks for doing this!

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
pokahhhh story?
y no avatar?
wat/who is mono?
do you still play poker?

[/ QUOTE ]

Started playing texas hold'em when I was 7. My dad used to run a poker game/play professionally. We played it like Candyland at my house.

Started playing online 3 years ago. Deposited 80 bucks lost it. Deposited 30 dollars lost it. Deposited 200 dollars bonus whored my way up to $1500 haven't looked back. Dropped out of school for a year to play poker fulltime. Back in school now still playing poker fulltime.

No avatar b/c I'm not that flashy.

Yes I still play poker 160 to 200hrs a month.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
how much did you make at 5/10? how many hands?

[/ QUOTE ]

The published stat is 186K hands and $146,000 dollars.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Hi, in a PM we talked briefly about shifting styles. Can you post some HH's where you won a big pot from a good+ opponent due to the confusion you induced by shifting styles (describe your style prior to and during)? Thanks

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Do you ever open up Pokertracker, find a reg and study how he plays vs you and other players?

Ive just moved up stakes and 90% of the time the tables are filled with 5 tags and me...how can i crush them?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
thanks for doing this!

- can we get a graph of all your lower limit play?

- a brief history of how you started playing poker and how you made your way up the limits?

- thoughts on this hand: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...e=0#Post9993686

- am I trying way too hard to justify a bad call?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm computer illiterate what's a good graphing program?

I usually fold there against passive opponents.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
Yes I still play poker 160 to 200hrs a month.

[/ QUOTE ]

thats a ton of hours, specially if ur in school aswell. how do you find the motivation to play so much? and do you ever burn out/feel burnt out?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Any other players, 2p2er or threads even, that you attribute to your success?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
Some random questions to start this off.

Do you consider yourself a poker pro?

If so, what are your plans? Are you planning on playing indefinitely? Are you looking for another career?

How would you describe your style of poker on the range of nit to LAG?

Favorite album?



[/ QUOTE ]

By default I consider myself a poker pro (given its my only means of support).

I plan on playing until I can retire from my poker winnings and live off my investments hopefully within 7-10 years.

I've always been more of a nit than lag, though other people may disagree.

Favorite Album: The Early November's "The mother, The mechanic and the path."

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
how much did you make at 5/10? how many hands?

[/ QUOTE ]
The published stat is 186K hands and $146,000 dollars.

[/ QUOTE ]
7.8 BB/100!!! impressive
1) Where is this published and how do you know you're in the top 10?
2) Best ways you found to learn the game, and advice you would give to players trying to work their way up
3) How many tables would you play at a time?
4) winrates and/or graphs of smaller stakes
5) Best piece of non poker advice

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
Will you coach me?

What adjustments do you make to your game when you're sitting with a table full of 20/15's who are all 3betting lightly and bluffraising and, well, just playing tough poker? Do you try to tighten up and slowplay a bit more, do you try to out aggro them, a mix, what?

I haver a higher winrate playing only 2 tables, but not so much higher than it makes playing 4 tables less profitable. Am I hurting my growth by going on autopilot and grinding through many tables, or should I not worry about this?

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunately I don't coach. At a table of tough players, I try to play each player individually. Each player has his own exploitable quirks and I use all the weapons+ some more as described.

You can 4 table and still play good unrobotic poker. My game degrades after I get more than 6 tables running.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
Tips for starting a session well? Tips for ending a session well?

(I tend to start by losing and have to work my way up. And I tend to set $ that I need to reach to quit and that can be very frustrating)

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't really believe that you can control whether or not a session starts or ends well from a $ perspective. I try to get money in good against my opponents hand ranges and don't worry very much about the result.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Tips for starting a session well? Tips for ending a session well?

(I tend to start by losing and have to work my way up. And I tend to set $ that I need to reach to quit and that can be very frustrating)

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't really believe that you can control whether or not a session starts or ends well from a $ perspective. I try to get money in good against my opponents hand ranges and don't worry very much about the result.

[/ QUOTE ]

so when you sit down you jump immediately into your style or do you play tight at first and gradually loosen up? if you're faced with a tough call on the first or second orbit are you more inclined to fold or make the call?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

whats your opinion on bankroll requirements when moving up stakes?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
your favorite live poker hand experience? (ie. against a famous WPT pro or something in a 50/100NL super deep cash game). or winning a super gigantic pot with a pure bluff.

some favorite 2p2 posts? (and links)

thanks for doing this!

[/ QUOTE ]

My favorite live game hand was in a shorthanded 50/100NL game. Folds to me in the SB, I raise A7s to 400 and Kido Pham 3bets me to 1200. I 4-bet to 3200. He calls pretty quick.

Flop is Kc Qd 9d (6400)
I check He checks

Turn is a 7h

I bet 4000 He tanks and starts asking me a bunch of questions. Remember Caro's book of tells, I start yammering a bunch of nonsense. He tanks some more, then Kido folds AA face up.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
your favorite live poker hand experience? (ie. against a famous WPT pro or something in a 50/100NL super deep cash game). or winning a super gigantic pot with a pure bluff.

some favorite 2p2 posts? (and links)

thanks for doing this!

[/ QUOTE ]

My favorite live game hand was in a shorthanded 50/100NL game. Folds to me in the SB, I raise A7s to 400 and Kido Pham 3bets me to 1200. I 4-bet to 3200. He calls pretty quick.

Flop is Kc Qd 9d (6400)
I check He checks

Turn is a 7h

I bet 4000 He tanks and starts asking me a bunch of questions. Remember Caro's book of tells, I start yammering a bunch of nonsense. He tanks some more, then folds AA face up.

[/ QUOTE ]

so did u show?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

1) Where is this published and how do you know you're in the top 10?
2) Best ways you found to learn the game, and advice you would give to players trying to work their way up
3) How many tables would you play at a time?
4) winrates and/or graphs of smaller stakes
5) Best piece of non poker advice

[/ QUOTE ]

1) Its been repeatedly posted in the MSNL forum.

2) Play and play some more and understand the math behind the game not just basics like pot odds.

3) 6 is optimal for me but anywhere between 2-12 depending on the limits and the number of players at the table. I'll play 6 full 6 max tables at 5/10 and 10/20 and less tables if the games get short. I'll play between 9-12 tables at 2/4NL

4. At 116,000 hands at 2/4NL this year I've ran at 4.34 PTBB/100.

5. Do what you enjoy doing.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]

so when you sit down you jump immediately into your style or do you play tight at first and gradually loosen up? if you're faced with a tough call on the first or second orbit are you more inclined to fold or make the call?

[/ QUOTE ]

If I don't recogonize any of the players, I'll play slightly tighter postflop. If I have to make a tough call, I'll go with my first impression of the player. If he's played tight solid for the first couple of orbits I'm inclined to give him credit. If he's looked loose and donkish, I'm more likely to make the tough call .

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Your best piece of non poker advice is enjoy what you do

Do you enjoy playing poker?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]

thats a ton of hours, specially if ur in school aswell. how do you find the motivation to play so much? and do you ever burn out/feel burnt out?

[/ QUOTE ]

I really enjoy doing it. I have burnt out before, but I see it as my ticket to financial stability so I've tried to maximize it while its at its best.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
2) Play and play some more and understand the math behind the game not just basics like pot odds.

[/ QUOTE ]
you mean hand ranges, fold equity...

[ QUOTE ]
3)...I'll play 6 full 6 max tables at 5/10 and 10/20 and less tables if the games get short

[/ QUOTE ]
Why do you feel 6max is better than full ring?

[ QUOTE ]
4. At 116,000 hands at 2/4NL this year I've ran at 4.34 PTBB/100.

[/ QUOTE ]
Any players than ran better than this over 80K+ hands at this level or is that a good number to shoot for?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
whats your opinion on bankroll requirements when moving up stakes?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not much of shottaker but I think a person can move up with 10-15 buyins as long as they are willing to move down if they lose some buyins.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
your favorite live poker hand experience? (ie. against a famous WPT pro or something in a 50/100NL super deep cash game). or winning a super gigantic pot with a pure bluff.

some favorite 2p2 posts? (and links)

thanks for doing this!

[/ QUOTE ]

My favorite live game hand was in a shorthanded 50/100NL game. Folds to me in the SB, I raise A7s to 400 and Kido Pham 3bets me to 1200. I 4-bet to 3200. He calls pretty quick.

Flop is Kc Qd 9d (6400)
I check He checks

Turn is a 7h

I bet 4000 He tanks and starts asking me a bunch of questions. Remember Caro's book of tells, I start yammering a bunch of nonsense. He tanks some more, then folds AA face up.

[/ QUOTE ]

so did u show?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, I'm not showing one of the best no limit players in the world my cards ever.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

"you mean hand ranges, fold equity..."

Handranges and gbucks are the most important part imo.


"Why do you feel 6max is better than full ring?"

The shorter the game the better. If you are better than your opponents you want to give them the opportunity to make the most mistakes.


[ QUOTE ]
4. At 116,000 hands at 2/4NL this year I've ran at 4.34 PTBB/100.
Any players than ran better than this over 80K+ hands at this level or is that a good number to shoot for?

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably, I think any positive number is good. Winrates aren't that great of a measurement of absolute ability due to variance, game selection, etc.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Any advice on how to control tilt - how to prevent brain farts?

It seems like almost every session I play I piss away one buyin doing something something dumb when I really do know better and I'm not sure how to stop.

Some thoughts I've had:

Never play for more than say 2 hours at a time.
Play less tables. I nov play up to 8 at mostly 100NL.
Force myself to wait at least 3-4 seconds before acting on big bets instead of say snap calling.

How do these sound? Any other ideas?

Thanks for doing this, I really appreciate it when good players do well's.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

So you were TheBlackDeath on Party? Interesting ..

Biggest downswing? Longest breakeven stretch?

Was there a limit that you just couldn't beat for a while at any time in your poker career?

How aggressive are you with your roll in terms of moving up?

I'll ask some more later, thanks for doing this.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
Handranges and gbucks are the most important part imo.

[/ QUOTE ]
gbucks?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
Any advice on how to control tilt - how to prevent brain farts?

It seems like almost every session I play I piss away one buyin doing something something dumb when I really do know better and I'm not sure how to stop.

Some thoughts I've had:

Never play for more than say 2 hours at a time.
Play less tables. I nov play up to 8 at mostly 100NL.
Force myself to wait at least 3-4 seconds before acting on big bets instead of say snap calling.

How do these sound? Any other ideas?

Thanks for doing this, I really appreciate it when good players do well's.

[/ QUOTE ]

I take lots of short breaks. It helps with tilt control. The other thing to realize is that all those good folds add up to real money at the end of the day. Usually when i have a losing session, its b/c I didn't fold some hands I should have.

Playing less tables and thinking your decisions through also really help.

If I've played 8+hrs for a couple of days straight, I also notice that I start to get angrier go on tilt easier.

Re: The well: MTblue
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Handranges and gbucks are the most important part imo.

[/ QUOTE ]
gbucks?

[/ QUOTE ]

Search on bluffmagazine.com
Its an article written by Jman about looking at your implied results using your hand vs. an opponents possible range.


http://www.bluffmagazine.com/onlinefeature/gbucks.asp

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Assume you have a choice of two tables to play at. One is a full 6max table, with yourself, another good 2p2er, a 40bb shortstack, and two fishy looking 40/10/2 randoms who open limp. The other is three handed with a fairly good but too tight 18/14/3 regular and a fullstacked 30/10.

Which do you play assuming you are already 7 tabling and want to play one more. (basically my example is based on you 8 tabling 6max, and one table breaking down to 3 handed - is it more profitable to find a new full table, or do you play 3 handed).

If you feel one is significantly more profitable than the other, by how much would you guess and why?

Oh and another similar question - you are 8 tabling 6max and one breaks to HU and the opponent is pretty bad. Keep playing him HU or leave and find a new 6max table with more fish?

Re: The well: MTblue
 

Theory question:

All poker begins as a struggle for the antes. If there where no antes, there would be no reason to play.
The size of the antes in relation to future bets determines how loose you should play.

Theory of Poker


This makes perfectly sense in a 7 card stud game, where you are likely to get one bet on every street and the ante is whatever, you quickly can estimate how much money you on average get in return on each hand, you have immediate pot odds and it dertermines your starting hands range.


But can this be translated into NL hold'em.

I mean, you are sitting with 100bbs, which seems huge compared to future betsizes, but !!!

There are dynamics to be considered. One is average potsize .... if it is a nitty rockish table

then average pot is small and you can loosen up

but when at a lagtard table, you should tighnen up, but be willing to push you pf edges very hard ???


A few words on these dynamics ????