8/16/08

ok so I realize I haven't updated in nearly a week. There was some discussion on CC about 6max vs. FR and some comments about how since 6max has more marginal spots, it's better for good players because they have a bigger edge. It's also more aggressive and has more action so the action-craving fish will flock there. So I figured why not give it a shot? So I've played the last 10-15k hands at 6max and have to say it's been a lot of fun. I'm not able to 16 or 18-table at 6max, but I've been 9-tabling, and playing about the same number of hands/hour as I was at 12 for FR. Maybe if I can add another table or two it can be comparable. Basically my goal is to try to be able to play 1k hands/hour. As has happened every time I tried to switch anything, I immediately over-adjusted. But since then I've tightened up considerably and am playing around a 21/17 style, which has been working pretty well for me.

Now I don't know if it's just I forget how 100nl FR was, but there are so many fish at 100nl 6max. I've seen several people to the tune of 76/5. The other good thing about 6max is the ability to isolate, especially these kinds of opponents. So I'm definitely starting to get a feel for 6max, and hopefully by the end of the month I can take a shot at 200nl 6max. I'm still not sure about whether I'll stay here permanently or do my grinding at FR. People have talked about how when they're heavy grinding they prefer FR to 6max, which they consider more entertaining, and I disagree. They both seem to be pretty similar to me. Obviously different ranges, and more hands at 6max. But when you decrease the number of tables the hands are irrelevant and the only difference is you have to adjust ranges and you have a bit more light 3 and 4-betting. I seriously feel the same way. I don't know how to describe it, but basically it's just pretty neutral and focused. I'm not jumping up and trying to impress anyone at 6max, I'm here to make money. So if 3-betting an opponent to death is the way to do it, I'll do it. But it's not for the enjoyment and I'd do and did the same thing at FR.

When you're grinding a ton of hands, as I fully intend to do next year, it's just about making a shitload of decisions. You make them again and again and again. Obviously sometimes you have to consider what the best decision is, but again, the thought process is similar, and I don't see a huge difference other than the wider preflop ranges at 6max. I think in the end it will end up being first off whichever I think is more profitable and secondly whichever one offers more vpps/hand, because ultimately I'll be playing a ton of hands to make sne, and quite frankly when we're talking about playing as many hands as ~2 million in one year, the less hands I can play and make that the better. I honestly think if I were to make sne in November I would take a break from grinding. I may continue to play as I am now, but sne being worth 6 figures is my major motivation for playing a ton of hands, and if I can decrease that I will definitely do it. So I'll just play it by ear, keep making a profit, and by the end of the year see what I think the most profitable game in terms of straight profit and VIP bonuses is and then just grind it heavy. I'm definitely thinking that I should at least take a shot at 400nl FR and/or 6max sometime this year to see if I'm good enough, because although I don't think there are a ton of 400nl FR games going all the time and I haven't looked at 6max, if I were to mix them in with 200nl it'd definitely help the vpps. And of course that's not the limit, if I find I can crush 400nl in another 2 months and have the BR I'll definitely take higher and higher shots. I just don't think those are entirely realistic and right now I'm going to shoot for goals I know I can achieve. I know I can beat 200nl FR and I'm pretty sure I will be able to beat 200nl 6max once I move up. I believe I could play enough to make sne at 200nl, so that's the goal for now, but as anyone who reads this blog knows, my goals change pretty rapidly, I just always want to make the best decision for the future.

Anyway, now that I'm passed all the boring stuff, how about some hands?



This one actually isn't as bad as it originally seemed, he's got an OESD and a flush draw, and I think he's actually ahead of AK here. I mean obviously calling preflop oop with J2s isn't exactly a winning proposition, but I don't think this call is terrible, although I think he should have shoved flop because calling has 0 fold equity obviously.



This one's just so bad it's hilarious. Flop TPTK and stack when turn and river are overs?



This one's interesting actually. I think I should have just shoved flop here, but I was thinking all that calls is sets and if the flush hits a set will probably still stack. I still don't know if this was the good or bad play, but after he checks behind turn with the flush draw out I pretty much rule out sets so just go for a bet/fold for value on the river. He calls and flips over the overpair.



This one's interesting, obviously without the Ah it's an easy fold there, but with the heart draw I considered shoving. I just figured that bet meant either set or made flush. I mean he bet into 4 opponents, all of whom called a flop bet.

I've also been playing the 5400 fpp satellites to the Sunday Million, and I can then sell the $215 T$. Unfortunately those haven't been going so good. I think I need to win less than 1/3 (there are 10 people where 4 get a ticket) for it to be better than the money bonuses, but I'm 1/6 so far. I've lost a coin flip on the bubble (AK vs. big stack's 99) and had another JJ vs. QQ on the bubble. It's a super turbo and basically a coin flip, but considering if I'm equal in skill I have a 40% chance of cashing and it's +ev, I think I have an edge on the field and should be slightly more than 40% to win, so I'm going to keep at these, at least until I hit supernova and can consider using them for concierge. It's just nice that I don't have to clear it at all either.

Going to be moving into my college dorm a week from today, leaving Thursday to go up to Cedar Point, an amusement park up there, gonna go to the park on Friday and then move in Saturday. Really looking forward to getting back to school. Also I've been slacking a bit with hands lately. With this week off (I may play a bit my first week of school, but I doubt I'll be sitting in my room grinding a ton of hands that week), I may have to make an effort to hit platinum this month. But it's not that bad, I think I need another 10k hands at 100nl 6max, so if I just play 2-3k/day the next few days hopefully I can hit it before I leave for school, and then I don't have to worry about poker and I an spend the first part getting settled in, hanging out with friends, buying books/attending class, etc. Then I can figure out which classes I really need to be at, what kind of baseball schedule we're going to have this fall, and how I can work in poker around school/baseball/life.