A few months ago, I started to play Limit Holdem, instead of Stud, at low limits (because, there just arent enough stud opponents anymore)
Soon realized I was no good at Holdem though and needed some learning material. Was getting crushed by any decent players who came by.
So I stopped playing, read some books and read some 2+2 posts and formed an action plan.
Step 1 was get PokerTracker so I can monitor my own progress. Loading old hand histories revealed:
VP$IP = 26, PFR = 3, AF = 0.8.
I needed to play fewer hands, and raise/fold more, that was obvious
Step 2 was to start playing differently. I started a new PT database, loaded Autorate rules and set it to "rate based on last 250 hands".
So my idea was, in general I should be seeing that little green bag icon with the $ in it, right?
If it changes colour its a sign I'm slipping into bad habits.
Here I am 4000 hands later and it certainly made a difference, VP$IP = 15, PFR = 9, AF = 3.2
Results are better, (though variance seems higher), but not sure if I am maybe overdoing the aggression thing.
Time for Step 3 then ... Get someone else to critique. Here goes:
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HAND #1
In this hand, I had just sat down. All players are strangers to me.
Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed)
FTR converter on zerodivide.cx
Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. UTG posts a blind of $1.
Hero calls, <font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 raises</font>, <font color="#666666">
3 folds</font>, Button calls, <font color="#666666">
2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 caps</font>, Button calls, Hero calls.
Flop: (13.50 SB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP1 checks, <font color="#CC3333">Button bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 3-bets</font>, Button calls, Hero calls.
Turn: (11.25 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 bets</font>, Button calls, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, MP1 calls, Button calls.
River: (17.25 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, MP1 calls, Button calls.
Final Pot: 20.25 BB
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HAND #2
In this hand, SB has just lost a big hand might be on tilt (I thought)
Button seems calling station type (but session is only 30 hands in)
Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed)
FTR converter on zerodivide.cx
Preflop: Hero is BB with 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG calls, <font color="#666666">
2 folds</font>, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, <font color="#666666">
2 folds</font>, Button calls, <font color="#CC3333">SB raises</font>, Hero calls, UTG calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, Button calls.
Flop: (12 SB) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(6 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">SB bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, UTG folds, MP1 calls, MP2 folds, Button calls, <font color="#CC3333">SB 3-bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero caps</font>, MP1 folds, Button calls, SB calls.
Turn: (13 BB) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
SB calls $1 (All-In), Hero calls, Button calls.
River: (13.75 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players, 1 all-in)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, Button folds.
Final Pot: 14.75 BB
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HAND #3
In this one MP2 is L-A based on 50 hands only, 35% VP$IP and he could have had anything.
My raise on the turn was based on twisted logic. Then the bet on the river, pure desperation. Well, he might have folded!
Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (8 handed)
FTR converter on zerodivide.cx
Preflop: Hero is Button with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">
3 folds</font>, MP2 calls, <font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#666666">
2 folds</font>, MP2 calls.
Flop: (5.50 SB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">MP2 bets</font>, Hero calls.
Turn: (3.75 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">MP2 bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, MP2 calls.
River: (7.75 BB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
MP2 checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, MP2 calls.
Final Pot: 9.75 BB
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