My NLHE learning experience

[Midnight Rose]

After the thrashing I took in my last few games in October and November of 2007, I laid off of real money games for awhile; most especially NLHE games.  I needed to catch my breath, regroup, and regain some confidence in my ability to play.  It was a good break for me; I sought out the advice of an awol HPT member (who was sorely missed) and though we never got a chance to chat much, the bits and pieces of advice that I read from him, sunk in.

His advice helped in my NYE game at Soaring Eagle, and it definitely helped on Monday's friendly 4 player home cash game, where I bought in for $10 and walked away with $15.  Not high stakes by any means, but the amount I won wasn't what was important; it was the fact that I was able to start with a general game plan - to change the way I play - and stick with it.

I started out playing HE the way many people do; I was clueless except for the bad habits I picked up from TV, and won way more from sheer dumb luck than any semblance of skill.  As I started to learn more about the game,  got exposed to sites like HPT and CT, and started playing with excellent players like the MTPL folks, my game suffered.  Let me rephrase that: my game improved, but my winnings suffered, because I became a strict ABC player, afraid to play "bad cards" because I didn't want to look like a donk.    There's more to it than that, of course, but I'm trying to keep this short(er than usual).

So, Monday, I made up in my mind that I was going to go completely against my extremely readable current table image.  Winning the first hand, certainly helped (though I started out with a good hand, and squashed the guy I most wanted to beat out of a first hand).  Because the table was so short, I was able to concentrate on players instead of cards; and even though I hadn't played against these friends in almost a year, I remembered their general game. 

To my left was my closest work friend, the guy who taught me most of my chip tricks; he knows the most about the way I play, so I knew I had to mix it up whenever we were in a hand together.  Across from me was the trickiest player; he's good at throwing off false tells, he plays a lot more live games than the other three of us combined, and he never met a hand he didn't like.  It's harder to put him on a hand when an uncoordinated flop comes out, because he might easily have double-paired with unexpected cards (as I found out in one somewhat frustrating hand); but when you hit a flop or turn nicely, he's sure to be the POW at the end.  And to my right was the tight player of our group; when he plays hard, he usually has it, so I was glad to be behind him.

Remembering all of this, I was able to counter each of their general tendencies (sometimes more successfully than other times).  And more importantly, I was able to play good hands well, but bad hands better than I have in a long, long time.  I took my time, evaluated situations rather than just cards, and actually impressed myself with the non-ABC version of my play.  I know I frustrated Tighty by sucking out on his pocket pair with my trip 5s on the river; but it was a calculated donk, not just something I backed my way into.  I didn't tilt my way into oblivion when I got equally sucked in (which made the difference between a potential $20 win and the $15 that I left with), and, even with some of the ugly hands I won with, I think I gained a newfound respect from the Monday crew. 

I just hope I can remember what I've learned when I play in DD's game on Sunday.

[Wedge Rock]

Donktastic play pays off, provided you *know* its dontastic...

If the pot is cheap to enter, its sometimes fun to showdown garbage and lose.  And it creates more action when you have the monsters of the world... 

[Detroitdad]

Rose,

I know you think I'm some kind of crazy plays every hand type of player, I'm not. I would definitely say I'm lean towards the aggressive side. Over the last few months I have really learned to tighten up my game (A tourney at AzCat's house in early DEC.) was the fewest hands I have ever played in my life (cashed in 4th place).

However, I love playing non traditional power hands. Their easy to get away from, and when they hit nobody usually see's it coming. Nothing wrong with playing the 6/8 suited for the right price/position 

Hell, I would rather play the 6/7, 8/9 suited hands than j/q any day.

I am really glad though that you are getting your confidence back. I have played a ton with AZ, Wedge, some with Ryder, but none with you in the last few months (Pink Sock the last one?).

Anyways, looking forward to seeing you on SUN. I just wish there were more players for you to steal their money from. Its at 13, with about 2-4 possibles. I'm going to try and recruit a few from Wedge's group on SAT. night.

B

Oh Yeah, Drive safe!!!

[Midnight Rose]

Rose,

I know you think I'm some kind of crazy plays every hand type of player, I'm not. I would definitely say I'm lean towards the aggressive side. Over the last few months I have really learned to tighten up my game (A tourney at AzCat's house in early DEC.) was the fewest hands I have ever played in my life (cashed in 4th place).

Not really sure where this came from, but I wasn't complaining about how you play.  I just mentioned your game because I want to do well in it on Sunday.  I haven't traveled to play since the pink sock tourney (which I'd like to eradicate from my memory banks).  It'll be a good test for me.

[Detroitdad]

Rose,

I know you think I'm some kind of crazy plays every hand type of player, I'm not. I would definitely say I'm lean towards the aggressive side. Over the last few months I have really learned to tighten up my game (A tourney at AzCat's house in early DEC.) was the fewest hands I have ever played in my life (cashed in 4th place).

Not really sure where this came from, but I wasn't complaining about how you play.  I just mentioned your game because I want to do well in it on Sunday.  I haven't traveled to play since the pink sock tourney (which I'd like to eradicate from my memory banks).  It'll be a good test for me.

I know you weren't babe, just insecure about my play I guess.

Actually if your going to try and play less "abc" poker I should take that as a compliment that your trying to mimick my game 

[hachkc]

I haven't traveled to play since the pink sock tourney (which I'd like to eradicate from my memory banks).

How soon they forget 

[Midnight Rose]

I haven't traveled to play since the pink sock tourney (which I'd like to eradicate from my memory banks).

How soon they forget 

Sorry, I must've emptied out my brane today.  I did marginally better in your game - even though I left $40 short, I didn't get all tilty and I still had fun - but it wouldn't have been as poetic if I had said "I haven't traveled to play, well, except for this one time..."

I'm all about the poetry.

[Midnight Rose]

Actually if your going to try and play less "abc" poker I should take that as a compliment that your trying to mimick my game 

More than you know.

[Detroitdad]

Actually if your going to try and play less "abc" poker I should take that as a compliment that your trying to mimick my game 

More than you know.

I don't know why, but that scares me a little

[Midnight Rose]

Actually if your going to try and play less "abc" poker I should take that as a compliment that your trying to mimick my game 

More than you know.

I don't know why, but that scares me a little

 

[jumperjeff]

Ok.  I can't get past this.  Please tell me the reason you named a tournament "Pink Sock".  The only thing that term brings to mind is

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pink+sock

And that's just gross.

[Wedge Rock]

Yeah, that's basically where it came from...  but in the tournament, if you wore pink socks, you earned bonus chips...  the higher the pink socks, the more bonus...  And if you wore additional pink garments, you earned more chips...

Except for Ryder, who earned chips by wearing *less* pink garments...

Not *that's* gross...

http://forums.homepokertourney.com/index.php/topic,12058.0.html  (images on page 3)

[luckystraights]

Congrats. I seldom mix things up online, but constantly do so live against people I know, and who "know" how I play. I've begun to think I do this too much though.

I've also come to enjoy some rather strange hands. 97s is quickly becoming a favorite of mine,  especially in weak NL cash games.