Off topic (poker) for a second:
Do you ever get that feeling that you've spent so much time doing a lot yet when you reflect back on the year. You can't remember anything worth while or worth mentioning?
That is how I feel now. I can only recall several memorable events. The rest of the time? I have no clue where it went or what I did. I'm sure I could go through PT3 or PS3 and check how many hours I spent playing poker or video games. But what good would that do?
This makes me think... What makes what you do worth while? I believe I need to break from my pre-programmed thinking that anything that doesn't increase my social standing is not worth spending time on. Sure, I'd gone out drinking with friends from time to time but I could have easily stayed at home and watched my favourite movie over again. The only difference is in one scenario, I lost £20-30 and in the other I gained and lost nothing.
What you ultimately choose to spend time on, is at the end of the day, your decision; and if at the end of the year, you think its pointless or not worthwhile then why do it in the first place? I personally think that anything you do which you can learn from or something which is thought provoking is worth spending time on.
Hmm interesting that we use the word spent/spend when it comes to time, as if its a currency. I suppose it is a metaphysical commodity, a very important one.
So rather than saying I think I wasted/spent my time wisely. I suppose I should just say:
'I spent my time and I should be happy'
Enough of that. In terms of poker (much like my life) my goals are constantly changing. I suppose I'm a jack of all trades but master of none and as such, I see that when I play certain games, my play too robotic/predictable. I think I should specialise in one particular type of game before I go and play everything.
The question is, what game? The obvious choice is PLO but with all of the material out there, its just become a huge rock garden now. I haven't played for months, Its just not fun anymore. My favourite game types I would say are 2-7FLTD, 2-7NLTD, FLO8, NLO8, 6 Card Omaha (6CO) and maybe Badugi since its so different.
The only problem is that the player pool in most of these games are small and probably mostly full of regulars who know what they're doing. The good thing is there aren't that many resources for study whether they're books or videos or forums. It'll also have to be a game which I can track, which excludes most of the games. Between FL and NL, there is an argument for different optimal strategies for each betting structure and the major difference is that bad play is punished much more severely in NL games.
I think it would have to No Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (NLO8), as frustrating the game can be, its also fun with so much more to consider. Its a game where you can be a favourite equity-wise on the TURN with no made hand, just draws against top set.
I guess thats it, Happy New Year Everybody.
I'll just leave a quote from one of my favourite poker players. Its something to consider.
"Keep blaming circumstances and other things you can't control for the losses in your life, and you will never win.. ever.." - Takezo1980
Sunday 29 December 2013
Wednesday 13 November 2013
No Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (NLO8) Variance
Pokerstars is currently holding a series of 'Missions' based around how many VPPs you wish to accumulate in a one week period. This ranges from the lowest (10VPPs) to the highest (500VPPs). If you manage to make your target number of VPPs for that week, then you're entitled to a free ticket to an All in tournament.
I accidentally signed up to the highest one where I had to accumulate 500 VPPs, which to be honest, seemed impossible for a micro stakes grinder. I thought about it though and decided that I could make that much playing 4 tables of Zoom No Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (NLO8) and just create large pots just for the rake. I swear, I'm better than 99.99% of the players in that zoom game, I just run like shit. Here is my graph for that 1 week period:
Do you see what I mean? $52 below the expected win rate, thats 26 buy ins at that level. It was amazing how many times I got it in ahead, only to either get counterfeited, suckout on, bricked or just flat out chopped when I should have scooped.
I'll post some hand examples in a bit. Hmm, looking at my PT3, most of the hands were with my AALX (L = Low card, i.e. A,2,3,4 or 5) all in preflop against some stupid preflop junk hand, where I was a 60~80% favourite and I somehow lost.
Hand 1: Overpair, Nut Flush Draw And Nut Low
In this hand, I didn't want to isolate the preflop shover because I felt that my hand played well in a multi-way pot. I flopped the nut flush draw with an overpair and the nut low draw. Since the player behind me was so deep, I decided that I wanted go to for a check-raise and get all of the money in on the flop. He checks behind and I made my nut low on the turn and bet pot. He shoves and I snap call because I knew I was good. 62% in a 3-way pot and lose 1/2 the pot because he hit his flush card.
Hand 2: Middle Set, Top set blocker but no low draw
Here is a prime example of the typical player I faced up against. He sees his hand and sees that he has a draw and has to see the river card no matter what. I flopped middle set with a blocker to top set, a backdoor flush draw and bet pot. I decided to shove on the high card turn since I was effectively freerolling any low-draw that didn't have any high potential such as 234K without a flush draw for example. He has an open-ended straight draw with a 48 low draw.. wow, 66% and lose the whole pot.
Hand 3: AALX All in Preflop
This is a standard hand, I think pretty much any (amateur or pro) NLO8 player would go broke in this spot. I pick up AA29ss raise preflop and fist pump when my opponent shoves into me. Awesome J5J flop! He is practically drawing dead, oh wait whats this? Ks turn, He now has a flush draw, top pair and a gut shot straight draw. A sigh of pain when he hits his straight on the river. It was only a 60%/40% flip and I lost but fuck you pokerstars RNG!!
Hand 4: AALX Postflop
This hand is similar to the last one except that this one actually went into postflop play. I picked up AA29ds and raised preflop. I flopped the nut low draw, an overpair and a backdoor nut flush draw. I was slightly concerned about a player holding A25x with hearts since they would've been a huge favourite against my hand but since stacks were so short, I needn't concern myself with that. One guy had top pair and a flush draw and the other guy had bottom set. Neither of them had a low draw so my chances of winning half of the pot was good. 42% in a 3-way pot and obviously I get counterfeited on the turn and brick the river.
Hand 5: Nut Flush Draw, Nut low draw, Top Pair Good kicker
I flopped the world with my A34Qss hand with Top pair queen kicker, nut flush draw and nut low draw. With a bet and a raise in front of me, I knew I was going to get called by at least one spot. I didn't want to slow play this one. Fuck it, shove all in and get called by Top 2 pairs and 37 low draw. Okay, I'll take it. 63% and brickx2. Seriously Pokerstars, why do you hate me so much?
So the lesson learned here is that, even though you have a monster hand, its usually only a 60%~ favourite over your opponent's. This is what makes NLO8 such a sick game. Given the chance, I would play each of these hands exactly the same way taking that small edge each time. Its a very cruel game but I still love it.
Oh and for those you wondering, I played in the Advanced All in shootout MTT on Pokerstars. 1st place paid out $25K! and even though I had a good feeling about it, I still busted out in the first round when my KJo lost to A9s and 77. Out of all of the random hands to be up against...ughhhh.. This week, I think, I'll be aiming for 150VPPs since 500VPPs takes way too long to get. Wish me luck readers!
I accidentally signed up to the highest one where I had to accumulate 500 VPPs, which to be honest, seemed impossible for a micro stakes grinder. I thought about it though and decided that I could make that much playing 4 tables of Zoom No Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (NLO8) and just create large pots just for the rake. I swear, I'm better than 99.99% of the players in that zoom game, I just run like shit. Here is my graph for that 1 week period:
Do you see what I mean? $52 below the expected win rate, thats 26 buy ins at that level. It was amazing how many times I got it in ahead, only to either get counterfeited, suckout on, bricked or just flat out chopped when I should have scooped.
I'll post some hand examples in a bit. Hmm, looking at my PT3, most of the hands were with my AALX (L = Low card, i.e. A,2,3,4 or 5) all in preflop against some stupid preflop junk hand, where I was a 60~80% favourite and I somehow lost.
Hand 1: Overpair, Nut Flush Draw And Nut Low
In this hand, I didn't want to isolate the preflop shover because I felt that my hand played well in a multi-way pot. I flopped the nut flush draw with an overpair and the nut low draw. Since the player behind me was so deep, I decided that I wanted go to for a check-raise and get all of the money in on the flop. He checks behind and I made my nut low on the turn and bet pot. He shoves and I snap call because I knew I was good. 62% in a 3-way pot and lose 1/2 the pot because he hit his flush card.
Hand 2: Middle Set, Top set blocker but no low draw
Here is a prime example of the typical player I faced up against. He sees his hand and sees that he has a draw and has to see the river card no matter what. I flopped middle set with a blocker to top set, a backdoor flush draw and bet pot. I decided to shove on the high card turn since I was effectively freerolling any low-draw that didn't have any high potential such as 234K without a flush draw for example. He has an open-ended straight draw with a 48 low draw.. wow, 66% and lose the whole pot.
Hand 3: AALX All in Preflop
This is a standard hand, I think pretty much any (amateur or pro) NLO8 player would go broke in this spot. I pick up AA29ss raise preflop and fist pump when my opponent shoves into me. Awesome J5J flop! He is practically drawing dead, oh wait whats this? Ks turn, He now has a flush draw, top pair and a gut shot straight draw. A sigh of pain when he hits his straight on the river. It was only a 60%/40% flip and I lost but fuck you pokerstars RNG!!
Hand 4: AALX Postflop
This hand is similar to the last one except that this one actually went into postflop play. I picked up AA29ds and raised preflop. I flopped the nut low draw, an overpair and a backdoor nut flush draw. I was slightly concerned about a player holding A25x with hearts since they would've been a huge favourite against my hand but since stacks were so short, I needn't concern myself with that. One guy had top pair and a flush draw and the other guy had bottom set. Neither of them had a low draw so my chances of winning half of the pot was good. 42% in a 3-way pot and obviously I get counterfeited on the turn and brick the river.
Hand 5: Nut Flush Draw, Nut low draw, Top Pair Good kicker
I flopped the world with my A34Qss hand with Top pair queen kicker, nut flush draw and nut low draw. With a bet and a raise in front of me, I knew I was going to get called by at least one spot. I didn't want to slow play this one. Fuck it, shove all in and get called by Top 2 pairs and 37 low draw. Okay, I'll take it. 63% and brickx2. Seriously Pokerstars, why do you hate me so much?
So the lesson learned here is that, even though you have a monster hand, its usually only a 60%~ favourite over your opponent's. This is what makes NLO8 such a sick game. Given the chance, I would play each of these hands exactly the same way taking that small edge each time. Its a very cruel game but I still love it.
Oh and for those you wondering, I played in the Advanced All in shootout MTT on Pokerstars. 1st place paid out $25K! and even though I had a good feeling about it, I still busted out in the first round when my KJo lost to A9s and 77. Out of all of the random hands to be up against...ughhhh.. This week, I think, I'll be aiming for 150VPPs since 500VPPs takes way too long to get. Wish me luck readers!
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