Session Review, unlucky? donkey? unlucky donkey?

bhanson · #1 12-31-2006, 10:40 AM

So I just had another limit cash session, and again came out a loser. I'm starting to question whether or not I am playing a winning style. I feel like I am getting unlucky, but I know suckouts are part of the game and I have no problem accepting this. What I am trying to figure out though is if I am getting an un-proportional number of suckouts to what I should be.

I was hoping someone could review my stats, some of my hands, and help me try to figure out what's going on. I'm not trying anything too fancy, and am playing pretty close to what I've learned in SSHE.

I'm not sure what the best way to do this is, so if I need to provide some more information then please let me know.

Here are some of the losing hands from my session, I figured that would be a good place to start.

Table: Rigel

It looked like a steal, these players at this level often cap with less than premium hands, anywhere but a button/blinds battle and I get away from this cheaper.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
6 folds, Button raises, SB calls, Hero 3-bets, Button caps, SB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (12 SB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, SB folds.

Turn: (7 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, Button caps, Hero calls.

River: (15 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 17 BB
Main Pot: 17 BB, between Button and Hero.

This is just unlucky (I think), he did cap it so I had AA in mind, but tried to punish AK while getting away as cheap as possible. Of note: Villain was VERY loose, too.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
3 folds, MP1 raises, MP2 calls, Hero 3-bets, 4 folds, MP1 caps, MP2 calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (13.50 SB) J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
MP1 bets, MP2 calls, Hero raises, MP1 calls, MP2 calls.

Turn: (9.75 BB) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
MP1 bets, MP2 folds, Hero raises, MP1 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (15.75 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP1 bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 17.75 BB
Main Pot: 17.75 BB, between MP1 and Hero.

I've been trying to work on my blind defense a little more too. I seem to lose these giagantic pots where I am a huge favorite.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG calls, 4 folds, MP3 raises, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls, Hero calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (12 SB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (6 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks, MP3 bets, CO calls $0.75 (All-In), Button calls, SB calls, Hero raises, UTG calls, MP3 calls, Button calls, SB calls.

Turn: (11.37 BB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (6 players, 1 all-in)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG folds, MP3 calls, Button calls, SB folds.

River: (14.37 BB) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players, 1 all-in)
Hero bets, MP3 raises, Button calls, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 20.37 BB
Main Pot: 8.25 BB, between MP3, CO, Button and Hero.
Pot 2: 12.12 BB, between MP3, Button and Hero.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
2 folds, Hero raises, 3 folds, CO calls, 1 fold, SB calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (7 SB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, CO calls, SB calls.

Turn: (5 BB) T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, CO calls, SB folds.

River: (7 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9 BB
Main Pot: 9 BB, between CO and Hero.

So what I'm trying to figure out is this just normal variance? Should my results be better than what I'm currently achieving?

Today's results was one of my better sample of hands too, it's been really nasty. Here's a graph to show:

Hands like the previous come up dozens a time an hour while I'm playing (multi-tabling). I lose sets and boats almost as easy as top pair. Is this level of frequency normal? If so, is that saying my win rate for other, straight forward hands should be higher to overcome it? Or am I just running bad? Or am I playing bad?

Thanks in advance.

-Brad

lasa · #2 12-31-2006, 11:29 AM

None of those hands look bad, but you're too way too tight PF, play more hands in late position.

HoneyBadger · #3 12-31-2006, 12:00 PM

That first graph, yes, in 1300 anything can happen.

That second graph, no. 250 BB can be variance, but it is unlikely. Seeing you only have a vpip% of 10% it is much more likely to be caused by your playing style. Are you weak-tight-passive? what are your stats for those 10k hands? (also, 10k is not that many hands to really say anything. But as a general indication it is probably enough for vpip/pfr/af)

TripleH68 · #4 12-31-2006, 12:31 PM

If your VP$IP is around 10% through this sample - you are making it way too easy for your opponents. If you are just starting out you may need more experience playing. If this is the case and the $$ are important to you drop down a level or two and work on loosening up/identifying situations where you should be playing. Above all read and respond to posts on these boards. Visit the micro-limit forum and you will find lots of great help and nice people. Good luck.

BostonMetro · #5 12-31-2006, 12:49 PM

None of the pots you are showing are the reason you are losing money. These hands play themselves. Because you don't realize why you are losing, you aren't going to know what types of situations are causing you to lose. Get a good starting hand chart, modify it based on your opponents PT/HUD numbers, and read/post in SS and Micro and your game will improve a lot. My guess is that you are playing the first 5-6 seats fine and then not really thinking about stealing/defending considerations... but I don't know.

I used to play at 10% VPIP... you can win playing like that. You just won't win much ... and you will suffer in tougher games where players are more aggressive.

bhanson · #6 01-01-2007, 12:36 AM

Thanks for the responses.

Okay, so it looks like I am playing too tight; I'll try getting involved in more pots. I guess I'm folding a lot because SSHE emphasized not to cold call raises, which most of the pots are.

$1/$2 is pretty comfortable for me. It's not playing too high where I play scared and it's not too low where the money doesn't matter.

Here's the stats for the 10,000 hands:

BostonMetro · #7 01-01-2007, 05:27 AM

Thank you very much... waaaaay too tight in the steal seats and blinded positions. Good luck improving your game!

HoneyBadger · #8 01-01-2007, 09:15 AM

Steal more, defend more, raise more preflop, play more preflop, and be more aggressive. You're 13/5.5/1, you really should be something closer to 20/10/2.5

Bob T. · #9 01-01-2007, 01:21 PM

Learn to play poker before you go crazy multitabling.

Playing poker, includes playing at least 50% more hands.