Early in poker careers, players usually make the decision as to whether they are going to be primarily be either cash game players or MTT players. The games are two completely different monsters, each with their own intricacies, and I think many find it difficult to master both. I believe I'm fortunate in that I've had decent success at both, at least at the levels I've played at.
I mentioned in my February Goals post that I wanted to stick solely to MTTs, particularly the $4.30 Bounty $3k Gtd tournament at 8:30, as well as avoid cash games. I haven't done either of which, but things couldn't be going any better for me. There are a few reasons, and I'll talk strategy in a bit.
I've played roughly 3000 hands of NL10 and about 1000 hands of NL25 since Monday. I've had a few fun and brief sessions of NL50 as well. Overall, I believe I'm up $160 in cash games. I'm uncertain because yesterday I realized that that PokerTracker wasn't correctly keeping track of my profits. Assuming yesterday was the first time it messed up, I am up about
$160 and feel that I'm playing pretty good.
As far as tournaments are concerned, I believe I'm up around
$110 overall. My one big cash game a few nights ago in the $1 Rebuy $1k Gtd that I took 2nd place in for $181.81. I just realized that there is no way I've lost $70 in tournament buy-ins, so my math must be off somewhere, either in tournaments or cash. Apologies, and damn you PokerTracker.
I've never had a problem gaining chips in poker. I think that a lot of people find it pretty easy. Get a hand, bet it, win pot. The problem and difficult part of poker is when you find yourself on the defensive. Knowing whether to call a bet or a raise is challenging because you not only have to look at what you have, you have to consider what your opponent has. So, while its easy to gain chips, its difficult for many to
keep them.
I have this problem still, but I used to have it much so much worse. I wouldn't know where my AK was after getting check-raised on a A67T board. Enter, the Baluga Theorem. Without going into too much detail, it essentially tells you that if you face heavy action (a raise or *gasp* check-raise) on the turn, you are usually beat. After all, put yourself in the shoes of the raiser: what would you raise with? Minimum two-pair. The Baluga Theorem has helped my cash game and tournament game immensely as I'm now holding on to my profits. I like playing small pot poker, meaning I make most of my money off of pre-flop raises and continuation bets. I usually take things down on the flop. Its on 4th and 5th street however where I start thinking about whether or not I'm behind. Before, I'd bet AK on an A-high board on the flop, turn, and river. Now, I'm probably just doing it on the flop and possibly turn/river, rarely both unless my hand improves.
The thing to remember is to keep the pots small with your weaker holdings (as common as one pair is, it is still second worst hand in poker) and bet when you have huge hands or even strong draws. Thinking about it, I think I play strong draws harder than I do one pair.
Another thing I've realized and tried to change about my game has to do with position. Everyone knows that position is everything and that you want to raise in late position. However, many find it challenging to call a raise from the blinds and play post-flop. You put yourself at a disadvantage from the start, why would you want that? Imagine the following scenario. You have KJdd in the SB and it folds aroud to a MP player, who makes it 3.5 times the big blind. It folds back to you and liking your hand you elect to see a flop, which comes down 8J5. Here, I usually lead out. I want to know where I stand in the hand and leading out does that. Does he fold, call, or reraise? Fold, he missed with AQ/AK or 99. Raise, he's sitting on a premium pocket pair. It gets tricky with a call, as it can be a stingy player who can't split with AK, or a premium pocket pair. If he has AK, he's drawing to 3 outs and thats fine. If you're beat, at least we found out cheaply. I check/call the turn (if he bets) and also check/call the river, unless he doesn't bet the turn, which would make me bet the river. I try to keep pots small when out of position, and I rarely play my big draws as aggressively. I'm a very passive player when OOP. You don't want to get too involved unless you have a good hand, at least two pair.
My next bit of strategy is in regards to big stacks. Big stacks are intimidating to some. However, I see them as an opportunity to win huge, whether it be in a cash game or tournament. With bigger stacks, you have better implied odds. This means when you hit your hand, you'll win big. Again, Google for more information. I often call raises from these big stack players with suited cards and small pocket pair, because if I win, I can take stack them or get doubled up. I always remember the Baluga Theorem however, and know when to fold. Really, I want to get my money in with
at least two pair, but definitely rarely one pair. Using the Baluga Theorem, I can take a stab at making a lot at a big stack without giving up too much. Its okay to call a x3 raise preflop, and lead out for 4 big blinds, and get reraised. You lost 7. In the future however, you could stack your opponent and take in a massive 70 BB from him. For me, its worth it. Having the Baluga Theorem just makes it that much better. And, for clarification, I call big stacks when I have a big stack myself. I don't really want to get my money in as an underdog (since I'd be playing tricky suited and connected cards) against a biggie. I want us to both be at least 50BBs deep.
I'm at work now until about 12PM. I plan on playing a ton, we'll see how that goes though. Living at home sucks because I never can play without being distracted. I also feel bad staying in my room from 12PM until midnight because, well, that is pretty standard for me.
Current UB Bankroll:
$320.
