Success Challenge at 10/20(SCATT): The road to 500BB - Week 1

Surfbullet · #1 07-04-2005, 06:54 PM

Success Challenge at 10/20: Week 1

The first step in this challenge is to cut down to 2 tables and do some serious work on my game. It's hard to break old habits from 5/10 - I'd fire up 4 tables, wait for playerview to refresh, swap out bad ones, then play autopilot, etc...

I start each session with 2 tables, and sit and watch the first orbit as I wait for my BB - it was startling to realize how few real reads I had been using. I also actively check hand histories as hands finish (I've got a 1900x1200 monitor so it's easy even with 3-4 tables). It's done great things for my game to consciously make each decision, factoring in my recent actions - did I fold to a turn raise last time? - and the players' tendencies.

However, learning to deal with the increased aggression is no excuse for me to go off playing bad poker. It's taken me awhile to realize that it means calling down more, not 3betting more. I LAG'd it up for my first couple shots at 10/20..here's an example, though from this week.

Playing bad, pushing too hard, and not giving opponents enough credit:

Button is a TAG, BB is a loose/passive.

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (6 max, 4 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
1 fold, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, BB calls, Button calls.

Flop: (9 SB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, Button raises, Hero calls, BB 3-bets, Button calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (9 BB) J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, BB calls, Button caps, Hero calls, BB calls.

River: (21 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, Button bets, Hero calls, BB calls.

Final Pot: 24 BB

I just honestly don't fold overpairs in shorthanded games - it is clear that once the LP has come to life and call-3bet the flop and lead the turn that he's got a big hand...with the TAG raising again on the turn it should be obvious that i'm up against at least 2pair, likely a set or a straight. I'm getting 4.5:1 to see a showdown on the turn, and that's if there's no more raising. I've got outs vs 2 pair, but I don't know which are good, and the K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] might not be any good vs 2 pair or a lower set because of the 2 opponents.

Anyway Button showed T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] and BB showed 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].

I've also made a conscious effort to get to showdown more...when actively watching the players at the table it becomes obvious who will take stabs at pots if you give them a chance... Focusing more on playing the player rather than just my hand...and taking into account what he wants me to do.

On getting to showdown, and having things work out:

The third player(SB) I felt was capable of folding better hands, so I opted to play my draw fast.

Villain is a 46/21/1.9 over 184 hands. I'd seen him bluff-bet the river when checked to a couple times. He's also very very aggressive when he hits a pair, so I think it's less likely when he calls along the flop.

He's capable of slowplaying, so his lack of a turn raise rules out monsters. I whiff the river, but instead of autofolding like I would if I was 6-tabling or not paying that much attention, I check to induce a bluff since he'll take a stab with most missed draws. He didn't raise pf so I'm certain MHIG if he hasn't paired, and he'll bet any Q and any missed draw, so I'm giving myself a shot at winning a good sized pot, and an extra bet.

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (6 max, 5 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
2 folds, Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (3 SB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, SB raises, Hero 3-bets, Button calls, SB folds.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (7.50 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.50 BB

Villain had T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] and MHIG.

I played every day the first part of the week, and posted frequently on 2+2. A fellow 2+2er spent some time sweating me at the tables and it was quite helpful to bounce ideas off of him - it helps my confidence as well.

I went on vacation to Fire Island with my girlfriend and her family thursday evening, and didn't get back 'till sunday. We had a great time, and got some awesome beach weather - and some chest-high waves on Friday!

I worked a bit on a datamining application while I was gone because it rained one day - hopefully I'll have that done soon too. Between the vacation and the reduced # of tables I didn't get that many hands in, but I'm running great, which is a fantastic feeling at the 10/20.

Total for week1:
2,119 hands, +$2,838.63

Goal Status:
Started at -400, objective: +500
Current: -258 bets

Surf