$5/10 and $10/25 NLHE Specialist: Ask me Anything About NLHE
I've been a professional poker player for six years, and I currently specialize in live $5/10 and $10/25 NLHE. I also run a training site and have coached over 200 students. Ask me anything. I will answer the best questions, and try to help as much as possible. If you think my knowledge may be useful to you in any way, ask away.
Thank you, appreciate the thoughtful response!
That is freaking nothing… when’s the last time u played online and how many hands have u played?
I played online exclusively for 1.5 years during the pandemic. Since then I've primarily played live poker. I'm not sure how many hands it was. I'm grateful that the worst downswing during that time was not that bad.
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Just wondering, as an everyday player at those stakes, would you say you generally play your "85%" game out of a 100? I feel like my A+ game, say, 97% is unstable due to other players energy's. Would you say to generally shoot for your 85% game to avoid this? Or, is this the wrong way of looking at it, where I feel like i may be taking the game to serious and it should be respected for what it is, which is, a game. So... Basically do you try to shoot for just play8ng your best and do you think your best changes as it could kind of get deep so maybe if you play 200 sessions in a year for 20 of those sessions you 0lay your 95 percent game? Basically, do you think successful pros are accepting of life in a way and are humble to just try their best to control themselves and not worry about other players emotions or thoughts at the table? So, this might lead to more solid play which gives you a good idea of your skill level? So this makes tour play(decisions) more stable which is key to improvement? Like, once you get a hood grasp of how you play certain situations than it's easier to improve?
Thanks
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Just wondering, as an everyday player at those stakes, would you say you generally play your "85%" game out of a 100? I feel like my A+ game, say, 97% is unstable due to other players energy's. Would you say to generally shoot for your 85% game to avoid this? Or, is this the wrong way of looking at it, where I feel like i may be taking the game to serious and it should be respected for what it is, which is, a game. So... Basically do you try to shoot for just play8ng your best
I can't speak for everyone, but I aim to play my A-game each time I sit down. That doesn't mean I'll never get distracted or feel negative emotions, but I know how to course-correct quickly and get back to making good decisions. If you shoot to play your very best and you fall a little short, you'll be better off than if you come in with a complacent mindset.
[QUOTE=CardPlayer47;58615029]Thank you very much... what do you attribute getting back on track in a session? Do you feel maybe it has to do with approaching the game from a "Love," standpoint which allows proper respect towards it?
I feel as if I've been around some people from being away from the game for awhile that look at it as just a game, but I'm committed to mak7ng it my "profession" in life and feel like I wasn't look8ng at it properly, in that, there ARE no "games," in l8fe... once you look at certain things life has in it as "games," than it could open up possibility for you to view other things as games, but, if you view it as life than it's easy to get back on track and give it respect which if you respect it, than it becomes evident to other players at the table.
And everybody wants respect, so 8f your respected than it allows you to make correct decisions and like you said, refocus quickly and play properly.
Ty.
U aren't playing much 10-25 on east coast. Those 2 chitty poker rooms have such bad rakes and never stakes that high
In the last 1.5 years, I've logged 700 hours of 10-20 and 10-25 at those 2 places. I wish it was more and yes, the rake and game availability leaves something to be desired.
[QUOTE=CardPlayer47;58615029]Thank you very much... what do you attribute getting back on track in a session? Do you feel maybe it has to do with approaching the game from a "Love," standpoint which allows proper respect towards it?
I feel as if I've been around some people from being away from the game for awhile that look at it as just a game, but I'm committed to mak7ng it my "profession" in life and feel like I wasn't look8ng at it properly, in that, there ARE no "games," in l8fe... once you
I cover a lot of helpful tools for getting back on track in my coaching. Having a meditation practice might be the top one, combined with using movement and the breath at the right moments to re-center.
Appreciate it.
I also put together an article and video answering many of the AMA questions. You can find it here: https://www.pto-poker.com/post/professio...
And here is the associated YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItmihlA9...
I have been playing poker for my sole source of income since the end of last August.
Where I play, 1/2 NLHE always available, 1/3 NLHE is often available. 5x straddles are allowed and often you can find a game with good straddle participation. 2/5 and 5/5 games have dried up somewhat over the last year. The private/semi private games at cardrooms are hit or miss, sometimes there is no seat, sometimes they become massive games like 50/100 or bigger which I don't have the bankroll for.
My ideal game is 10/25 with a 2.5k buyin. 2/5 can also be decent, especially if there are straddles /resraddles on to 20-25. This game is not always available.
There have been several attempts by myself and others to get regular 2/5 games going during the weekdays, but they have faced a lot of challenges. For example, becoming reg infested, rec players being too intimidated to play, key rec players no longer playing after getting cooked too much, and some rec players only wanting to play bigger games.
Do you have any advice for cultivating a good midstakes game where recreational players will be comfortable playing?
I have been playing poker for my sole source of income since the end of last August.
Where I play, 1/2 NLHE always available, 1/3 NLHE is often available. 5x straddles are allowed and often you can find a game with good straddle participation. 2/5 and 5/5 games have dried up somewhat over the last year. The private/semi private games at cardrooms are hit or miss, sometimes there is no seat, sometimes they become massive games like 50/100 or bigger which I don't have the bankroll for.
My ideal g
This is a great question and I'd be lying if I said I had this one all figured out. The rooms I am playing in experience the same issue you are describing at times.
It's been helpful to have a text group among the people that are interested in regularly playing the game. Also, for a bigger game like $10/25, it's better to only run the game at most twice per week for the long-term health of the game, unless it's an exceptionally deep player pool.
As for creating a regular $2/5 game: My best advice would be to talk to the players that would potentially be interested in playing regularly. Find out what conditions are important to them and what would create a fun environment. Then deliver on that feedback and make sure your poker room is receptive to running these games at your preferred times. Also, accept that these games have a shelf-life and nothing lasts forever. You'll probably have to go through this process multiple times.
What would be your general advice for preflop 3betting strategy for live 2/5 in a pretty soft loose-passive game? Just what is your general thought process and strategy, maybe giving a few hand ranges from a couple of positions (say MP vs EP and SB vs BTN/CO). Thanks.
This is a great question and I'd be lying if I said I had this one all figured out. The rooms I am playing in experience the same issue you are describing at times.
It's been helpful to have a text group among the people that are interested in regularly playing the game. Also, for a bigger game like $10/25, it's better to only run the game at most twice per week for the long-term health of the game, unless it's an exceptionally deep player pool.
As for creating a regular $2/5 game: My best advice
Thanks for the response. I guess I kind of assumed I knew what people want in games but maybe if I ask people more what they want I will find different answers. It also could be a good friendly way to engage players.
Hello, I'm online player and thinking to play live 1/3 or 5/5 which is played in my area
Question #1: What do you think is achievable winrate if you crush live games?
Question #2: Will my aggro style work in live games as much as it works online? i like overbetting and stuff like that which makes tight population of regs (Which is majority) to fold even top pairs etc
I think a 10 BB/hour win rate is possible in live games, and maybe even slightly higher if the game is very soft.
Yes, I think an aggressive approach can work effectively. Overbets will take many players out of their comfort zone live. Good luck!
What would be your general advice for preflop 3betting strategy for live 2/5 in a pretty soft loose-passive game? Just what is your general thought process and strategy, maybe giving a few hand ranges from a couple of positions (say MP vs EP and SB vs BTN/CO). Thanks.
The more loose-passive the game is, the more I expect to have my 3-bet called. This leads me to play a more linear strategy with a range that has good post-flop playability.
Range-building is something I work with clients all the time on in my coaching. DM me if you want to build some specific ones together.
Yes, you'll see it at some point in July. Thanks for holding me accountable!
As promised, here is the YouTube video on live poker tells. Hope you enjoy it!
One more question, what do you think is optimal preflop ranges or VPIP % for live full ring games? to not play too tight or too loose, without sacrificing winrate, for example Kx suited card worth opening from early positions?
One more question, what do you think is optimal preflop ranges or VPIP % for live full ring games? to not play too tight or too loose, without sacrificing winrate, for example Kx suited card worth opening from early positions?
This one is very game-dependent. Factors that will make you adjust from your baseline are:
- Is there a lot of 3-betting and squeezing?
- Are my opponents making huge errors post-flop that incentivize wider opens?
- How loosely are the big blind and button defending?
My guess is that somewhere around a 20-25% VPIP will work well on average in most live games.
