I really need your help (personal and kinda long /w stats)

[Shillx]

I've been playing poker full time for about 10 months now (about 16 months since I first playing on Party), and I love the game but I think that my playing days are almost over. So I jumped into the Party 3/6 games full time (because this is what we used to play live in Tucson/Phoenix) and I played just breakeven poker for about 4 months. I wasn't happy with it so I went out and bought SSH and shorty after I felt like my play was getting better (for the next 4 months). By the time I thought my play was "on the right track" I hit a 500 BB downswing and got wiped out. I was playing a TAG style (that most of you use, like 17/8/3) game and it just wasn't working for whatever reason.

After I reloaded, I signed up for 2p2 and turned into the "rock" that you guys know me as. I wanted a style that was low varience yet still exploited enough mid sized edges to pull the money in. It worked well for about 2 months and then it was back to breakeven poker again. On new years day I decided to tweak my game a bit again and here are the numbers for yoo to look at (this is from Party 5/10):

Hands: 5003
VPIP: 11.46% VPSB: 15.77%
PFR: 6.83%
Folded to steal: 89.6%/68%
Att. to steal: 16.04%
WTSD: 33.05%
W$@SD: 54.44%
Aggression: 2.1/2.4/2.32 Total: 2.24
Check/raise: 2.06%
Folded to River bet: 38.6%
Winrate: - 0.95 BB/100

AA: 3.19 BB/Hand
KK: .9
QQ: .14
JJ: 1.98
TT: .14
AKo/AKs: .58/(.44)
AQo/AQs: 1.13/.6

This doesn't look like I'm running bad. It just looks like I'm playing bad. But I dunno, I would like some opinions.

Okay, now to the important part. My winrate over the last 45000 hands is .34 BB/100, and that isn't going to pay the bills in the long run, so I have a couple questions for you fellow microers:

1) How helpful are my posts/advice?
2) Have you employed anything I have said into your play and if so, has it been helpful to your own game?

When I use my own advice (that I give on here), I don't seem to see any positive results. If my advise is worthless, I would like to know so I can rethink my strategy. If my advice is sound and it has really benefited you all, I think that it is time for me to hang um up as a poker player. Don't worry, I will still hang around and post (if you guys want me to), but I think I just wan't meant to be a full time player.

What say you? Thank you for any/all input here.

Brad

[DMBFan23]

I don't know 3/6 that well, but you seem really tight. FWIW, my aggression curve postflop goes the other way, starting at 3 on the flop, then going to like 2.2 on the turn, and then 2 on the river. I don't know why that is though.

I think your posts are solid, which ironically might not be what you wanted to hear. you, btspider, and entity are (IMO) three of the micro forum posters that have that ability to come into a thread and tell it like it is most of the time.

hope this turns around.

[flair1239]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know 3/6 that well, but you seem really tight. FWIW, my aggression curve postflop goes the other way, starting at 3 on the flop, then going to like 2.2 on the turn, and then 2 on the river. I don't know why that is though.


[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is a product of him being that tight. Having such high starting hand standards puts him in position to bet for value more on the river and to raise more.

[jskills]

Hey Brad,

I've only been posting here for a month or so. Only been playing limit for 3 months. I have had decent success so far, but only at .5/1 at Party.

I've found your replies to posts always to be well grounded and never plain "wrong". You sound like a student of the game to me. Now please realize, that quite often I have found my thinking to be off after seeing some posts by some of the others here, so please take my opinion for what it's worth with a grain of salt.

Looking at your stats, it seems you've gone into a shell somewhat? The VPIP is way too low no? What kind of hands are you throwing out? Drawing hands are the ones that don't hit often, but when they do you're knocking down big pots.

Also, why play 3/6 if you are struggling in the least bit? Wouldn't playing at a lower limit guarantee you more opponents who will make playing worth your while?

I know it's not just about making money, it's about raising your level of play and being able to compete at a high level that would give most poker enthusiasts here satisfaction, so long as winning money goes along with it of course. I'd rather make money from sub par opponents than break even (or worse lose) against worthy opponents. I'd like to hear what other people think about my last point.

[meep_42]

You know I think your posts are quite helpful, and i'll often try to probe you in replies for more broad theoretical analysis.

You look really, really tight (sample size disclaimer) since new year's -- and you haven't been running great by your big pair bb/hand.

My own personal and probably unfounded opinion is that you're playing your good/big hands well, but may not be pushing enough marginal edges to get to a more solid win rate. But, I don't follow your small stakes posts that much.

It seems to me that you are fantastic at reading hands here on the boards -- are you just as good when you're in the middle of playing?

-d

[meep_42]

Also, have you considered that you may be calling too many river bets/raises?

Perhaps post a couple you thought were close? (Your Fold to River bet seems below the 48-52 benchmark I think i've seen.)

-d

[wuarhg]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, have you considered that you may be calling too many river bets/raises?

Perhaps post a couple you thought were close? (Your Fold to River bet seems below the 48-52 benchmark I think i've seen.)

-d

[/ QUOTE ]

My folded to river bet is 40%. Does this mean I am calling too much on the river?

And Shillx (or Brad if I may [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]), what I have seen from your posts they are all very solid and I have a hard time believing you were not running bad, although I recommend you try the more TAGish style, like 14/8, 16/10 etc.

Also, when I play 5/10 full I usually find alot of bad players, or atleast 2-3 of them at a table, I try to grab a seat to the left of them and play. Are you guys just playing at the wrong time or am I just talking bullcrap?

[frank_iii]

[ QUOTE ]
And Shillx (or Brad if I may [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]), what I have seen from your posts they are all very solid and I have a hard time believing you were not running bad, although I recommend you try the more TAGish style, like 14/8, 16/10 etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, why not try a sLAGish style 20/11 ala some of the guys I read about (and live vicariously through) in the upper small stakes/mid limit forums? That could give a different perspective on the game and allow you to find a comfortable middle ground.

I hate to quote TV poker stars talking about no-limit in a micro limit forum but Gus Hansen in an interview made a good point about not relying on a book to tell him what and how to play. He wanted to figure out for himself what works and, if it took some losses through experimenting, he would end up a better player.

Anyway, just a suggestion...

[shadow29]

I don't have that much time, Brad, but here are few quick thoughts.

You are too tight. Really. Go back to the old 17/10/3 game.
5/10 full sucks. Bad.
5/10 short is incredible.
2/4 is incredible.
3/6 is aight.

Switch games, chief. Oh, and take a vacation.

[shadow29]

Oh, you need to get more aggressive postflop, too.

To be frank, (and please, I'm only trying to help) you're weak-tight. Post some hands in which you question your aggression. Send your last 1000 hands to a coach.