Although I only played 2k hands since the start of my challenge, I feel it is time for a first update. I hope to increase volume soon, but the past couple of days have been filled with non-poker related appointments, so I did't find the time to work on my challenge with the required dedication.
2k hands in, and I am up 2BI+. Although I am running significantly under all-in equity, I did manage a winrate of 11.54BB/100, a rate that will be hard to maintain.
I am currently playing 17/12 at full ring 5NL ZOOM. As I was only using my HUD for tracking my results, and didn't monitor my stats during play, I am not displeased with a 17/12 in hindsight. One could argue that I'm calling to much pre, but I feel like the postflop edge is more than compensating for that.
One of the attention points I had set for myself was value betting way thinner than usual. I identified value betting way too tight as one of my main leaks. During the two sessions played, I significantly whidened my value betting range OTR. Thus far, it has netted me way more value, so I guess we can call it mission accomplished. I will continue to keep an eye on this and will keep working on this leak.
In the meantime, I am considering changing platform to Unibet, which should be a much softer field than Pokerstars. On the other hand, Pokerstars ZOOM enables me to play much more hands per hour. I will keep you up to date on this dilemma...
Although I only played 2k hands since the start of my challenge, I feel it is time for a first update. I hope to increase volume soon, but the past couple of days have been filled with non-poker related appointments, so I did't find the time to work on my challenge with the required dedication.
2k hands in, and I am up 2BI+. Although I am running significantly under all-in equity, I did manage a winrate of 11.54BB/100, a rate that will be hard to maintain.
I am currently playing 17/12 at full ring 5NL ZOOM. As I was only using my HUD for tracking my results, and didn't monitor my stats during play, I am not displeased with a 17/12 in hindsight. One could argue that I'm calling to much pre, but I feel like the postflop edge is more than compensating for that.
One of the attention points I had set for myself was value betting way thinner than usual. I identified value betting way too tight as one of my main leaks. During the two sessions played, I significantly whidened my value betting range OTR. Thus far, it has netted me way more value, so I guess we can call it mission accomplished. I will continue to keep an eye on this and will keep working on this leak.
In the meantime, I am considering changing platform to Unibet, which should be a much softer field than Pokerstars. On the other hand, Pokerstars ZOOM enables me to play much more hands per hour. I will keep you up to date on this dilemma...
I started this blog
in the light of a microstakes bankroll challenge I have set for myself for the
coming months.
Wait
A microstakes challenge, really? After all those years? Did I really spend all those
hours, grinding online, reading books, reading forums, training sites and still
be grinding microstakes? Actually, it is not that black and white.
When I used to play more online, I was a winning player at micro/mid stakes. By
no means was I a shark. I had a bunch of other commitments and hobbies,
seriously limiting the time I had available for grinding. For me, lack of
available time and still wanting to grind, results in horrible game selection.
I adore big field MTTs, but they require heaps of time, especially if you want
a relevant sample and beat variance. Two or three table SNGs provided a
compromise. But to be honest, they tend to get boring at microstakes. They
dont provide the adrenaline that comes with a big cash or deep run.
What about cash games? Believe me, I tried. I mistakenly thought that it was a
good solution when I had half an hour time to play. It has proven not to be a
good idea. You dont make big folds when you are only playing for fun
(because thats how it feels). You dont analyze numbers, villain stats,
betting patterns, In fact, all you do is rush things because you dont have
much time.
After losing part of the profit I had built up over the years, I decided to
withdraw 90% of my complete online bankroll because it was destined to go to
waste. Obviously, I lost the remaining 10%.
I was done with online poker
Apparently, I was not! Although I like live poker more, the ease that comes
with online poker makes it very hard for me to not fall for it. I took over $50
from a friend on Pokerstars. Only, this time, I needed a motivation.
Why not combine it with the love I have for live poker? In the beginning of
December, there is a 110 + 1R/1A live satellite in Casino de Namur to BPC
Namur main event (1100 buy-in). I already have a 110 voucher in my possession
(courtesy of a 5876 cash I made when I final tabled the 330 WASOP Super side
event). So this will be my goal:
Earn the equivalent of at least one rebuy/add-on (110/$142.48) by the time
above mentioned live satellite will be played, playing 5NL ZOOM on Pokerstars.
Only then will I play the satellite. Damn, I want to play this satellite! Hows
that for a motivation?
Why blog about it? Would you like to tell people you are a losing player at
micro stakes, or that you are not beating 5NL/10NL? Me neither, so having to
write about it will only contribute to my newly found motivation.
