Baconesque

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TROPHY CASE


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Would you be interested in a PokerTracker/HEM style app for phone to use in live games? by therealdeannolanin poker

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

Good luck! I'm actually developing for Windows Phone native as I'm a .NET guy myself but appreciate the heads up on another cross platform framework as I really don't enjoy Android dev. UI is my main dilemma, needs to be slick enough so you can add a PFR, 3bet or whatever from Seat N with one click but somehow tie that back to a database of real players. Hey, maybe it will flop (no pun intended) but it'll be fun even as a personal project. :)

Would you be interested in a PokerTracker/HEM style app for phone to use in live games? by therealdeannolanin poker

[–]Baconesque 1 point2 points ago

I like this idea! There's a project for next weekend then, as it would be useful for me too (impromptu 5-card draw/badugi/2-7 triple draw in the pub for pennies, way easier than actually using money or lugging chips around)

Would you be interested in a PokerTracker/HEM style app for phone to use in live games? by therealdeannolanin poker

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

Yep. You can use your phone as long as you're not in a hand in the UK everywhere I've played. I've played in Canada and Ireland too and never have any problems as long as you're not, say, holding your phone up and videoing the table or something.

I've actually been doing a little work on developing something similar myself. Are you using something like PhoneGap or writing natively for each platform?

Live rake, is this game beatable? by _t0ddin poker

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

I was thinking the rake was high, and then I saw the $5/hr time charge too. To be honest, I'm shocked there's only one place you can play live cash in a city of that size. And there we had a thread about the card room being a loss leader for casinos the other day, too... not in this one it seems.

Let's talk about tells again. Specifically: what portion of hands do you look at an opponent? During the initial hand view, reaction to flop, thinking about a bet, and etc? by dossierin poker

[–]Baconesque 2 points3 points ago

Thanks for the downvote. Interesting how "Constructive, respectful discussion" on the sidebar doesn't seem to correlate with the attitude of some people on here. I would have continued the discussion but don't want to end up with a response like this so best of luck with your poker and thanks for your input!

Let's talk about tells again. Specifically: what portion of hands do you look at an opponent? During the initial hand view, reaction to flop, thinking about a bet, and etc? by dossierin poker

[–]Baconesque 2 points3 points ago

Probably the difference between you and the OP (and indeed me) - you're playing much bigger events. I'll be playing some UKIPT events and wouldn't dream of relying on tells in a major tournament, but for your weekly Friday/Saturday night low stakes tournament it's advantageous because like you say, you have experience with your opponents.

Modafinil & schizophrenia? by gwernin Nootropics

[–]Baconesque 2 points3 points ago

200mg has me feeling alert for more than half the day so 1200mg is pretty astonishing.

Stack analysis, and should I add Piracetam? by Baconesquein Nootropics

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

Thanks, that's a potential cause for concern. Did this kick in immediately or after the 2-4 weeks it's meant to take for the racetams to actually enter your system properly? Sleepiness is something I really do want to avoid and having to taper off a racetam while feeling awful doesn't sound like much fun to me!

Stack analysis, and should I add Piracetam? by Baconesquein Nootropics

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

Thanks, I'll do some research on Bluelight/Erowid just to make sure. I know you're not meant to take 5-HTP with SSRIs or MAOIs but I think methylphenidate is dopa only. I did check a list of SSRIs a little while back and didn't think it was on there, I was actually more concerned there might be interactions with the other things on the list (and Piracetam if I add it).

Changing country on pokerstars by danhondain poker

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

100%. Stars support is outstanding, had responses within 5 minutes to two of my questions in the past week.

Also, I believe there's a rule on Stars about only having one Chinese player at a ring game table at once because of a collusion scam a while back. Not sure if this is the case but worth investigating.

Let's talk about tells again. Specifically: what portion of hands do you look at an opponent? During the initial hand view, reaction to flop, thinking about a bet, and etc? by dossierin poker

[–]Baconesque 1 point2 points ago

It's not armchair psychologist. If you're playing poker with the same people in the same small card room every week, why wouldn't you take any advantage you can get? Sure you'll get more by the obvious betting pattern stats like VPIP, PFR etc but everything helps. If you're playing with a bunch of people you've never played with in a huge high-stakes event then sure, don't bother looking for the tells, but otherwise it's something worth being conscious of at least.

Let's talk about tells again. Specifically: what portion of hands do you look at an opponent? During the initial hand view, reaction to flop, thinking about a bet, and etc? by dossierin poker

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago*

I'm pretty much paraphrasing some of the things you've noticed actually, but here goes.

I mainly pay attention when I'm out of a hand, because I'm quite conscious of giving things away myself when in a hand. Swallowing after making a bet and little hand shakes as a player sizes up their chips seem to be things I notice a lot. Chip stacking/tricks are also something worth paying attention to, some people are constantly playing with their chips and will suddenly stop, which can be indicative of either strength or weakness on their part.

One thing you've missed is how the other player actually puts their chips into the pot. Verbal snap call, the assertive 'all in' where their entire stack is either nonchalantly pushed over the line or picked up and placed over the line with some force, whether they're visibly looking at the pot and sizing up their bet and stacking chips, that kind of thing.

When in a hand myself, and particularly when action is on me post-flop, I'm wary of giving anything away so I avoid direct eye contact and try to look consistently weak (or apathetic, I'd like to hope). For a raise I'll just announce it and throw a big chip in rather than sizing up the exact bet with individual chips - bit of a pain for the dealer, but I think they're aware of this kind of thing and will generally sort out the change from the pot and from players not in the hand.

The stare down bizarrely does seem to be a reasonably consistent give away towards not wanting a call though, although you do really want to learn your players before relying on this.

Do they re-check their cards? Good indication of whether the player has a drawing hand, although some players will use this the opposite way by doing the whole 'let me just check I have what I think I have' thing when they know they still have those pocket aces post-flop. I'm still surprised that so many live players re-check their cards so often - I don't see how difficult it can be to look at them first time and just remember "As Jd".. but then you still have the players who look at one card at a time as they're being dealt as well, so who knows.

I'm wary about relying too much on 'tells' because some of the better (and more aggressive players, both in terms of action and talking) seem very conscious of their body language and will use this to their advantage to get you to make the wrong decision. Like you say, not everybody gives a reaction but I find that those who are worth watching are the quiet guys sitting with headphones on not saying a word.

I managed to get away from a monster preflop the other day just because of a gulp/shake of the hands from a TAG player I know well UTG. He got pushed all in by the short stack, it got folded round to me and I ditched my Jacks. He promptly called and flipped over his aces. Without the read I'd have probably pushed myself and tried to isolate the short stack knowing his range, so it's definitely worth paying attention to this kind of thing, but only with certain players.

Interesting topic and would love to read more.

EDIT: One more thing, at lower stakes live it seems very easy to see when some people ahead of you are going to throw their cards away - some people are so blatant about it that they may as well be folding out of turn. It goes back to the whole re-checking of cards thing though I suppose... look once, put a chip or protector on your cards and let the hand play out.

Playing 1/1 NLH by trevorma91in poker

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

I quite enjoy live games with odd blind structures. 1/1 would seem interesting to me and I could see a couple of straddles once in a while. I've seen 5/5 dealer's choice as well which seemed pretty exciting.. I was too afraid to sit down at those stakes though. :)

Analysis of this shove... by feeblemilesin poker

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

Are you in the UK and was this on Saturday perchance? I think I know who you might be is all... and keeping on topic. I'd have shoved preflop for sure.

Day 2: Workaholic by Fugi09in 5to5000

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

7 readers now. Best of luck, I'll be checking in on your progress!

Poker Challenge: $5 to $5000 in one year by Fugi09in poker

[–]Baconesque 1 point2 points ago

Adding the subreddit, best of luck!

How bad was this shove? by pocket_kingsin poker

[–]Baconesque 0 points1 point ago

I wouldn't be raising in that position with a drawing hand and the even stack sizes, I'd be a bit confused about what you were representing to be honest, surprised the limpers didn't call. Also a shove with 100bbs just seems bizarre unless you're playing headhunter/scalps or something.

Live 1/2 NLHE Cash. AK, bad play? Tilt? by Baconesquein poker

[–]Baconesque[S] 0 points1 point ago

He probably does, and that's why I'm bad at live cash I suppose. I just find it impossible to loosen up to that extent. All a learning exercise I suppose, I'm wary of pushing preflop with a drawing hand like AK anyway. Odd, because I'd take the coinflip against a pocket pair in tournament a lot of the time if I'm below/near average stack. I suppose if I know the ranges of some players are that broad I should just take down a small-ish pot pre-flop and loosen up a bit more.

Live 1/2 NLHE Cash. AK, bad play? Tilt? by Baconesquein poker

[–]Baconesque[S] 0 points1 point ago

Certainly not, depends how long you spend at a table with them really. I mean, somebody can sit tight for a few rounds waiting for premium and then shove with something like K10 with 9 BBs left in a tourney or something. I suppose the context here is that it's a smallish card room and I know the players. And actually, by typing that, I realise that a push pre-flop or a fold post-flop would have probably been the best move. You live and learn, I suppose! Thanks once more. :)

Live 1/2 NLHE Cash. AK, bad play? Tilt? by Baconesquein poker

[–]Baconesque[S] 0 points1 point ago

Totally right. I was getting greedy as I was playing so few hands. Obviously no chance he would have called a shove pre-flop and I'd be a lot better off bankroll wise now, but you live and learn. Played my AK like I'd play AJ or AQ really. Once more, thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

Live 1/2 NLHE Cash. AK, bad play? Tilt? by Baconesquein poker

[–]Baconesque[S] 1 point2 points ago

Very, very loose table. It's difficult to convey but it's a small-ish card room (8 tables) where everybody knows each other to some extent. I would actually flat call a reraise from this guy every time with a premium hand just in an attempt to extract value, but in retrospect I should have shoved and taken it down there.

Live 1/2 NLHE Cash. AK, bad play? Tilt? by Baconesquein poker

[–]Baconesque[S] 1 point2 points ago

Sometimes I think it's worth making a bad laydown just to prove you can. Something everyone should do at least twice, IMO.

There was a subconscious attempt there to improve my table image I think. Certainly (see below) I run into the same people a lot live so maybe in the long run it will work out for me.

What's REM?!

Figure out the range of a player, calculate equity and value bet appropriately. Putting a silly acronym on something most competent players do anyway I guess, but hey. :-)

I suspect you're way ahead of that kind of simplistic play strategy but it works well for me at least, probably more because I run into the same people all the time.

Thanks for the discussion on what was ultimately a pretty redundant post. As said, I appreciate any feedback, negative or otherwise, so thanks for responding.

Live 1/2 NLHE Cash. AK, bad play? Tilt? by Baconesquein poker

[–]Baconesque[S] 1 point2 points ago

Dammit I've just gone and inspired myself again. That's really not what I needed right now :(

Bad beat or something recently? You seem quite level headed from your post, and looking at your comment history you seem to be a decent player. I suspect you're way better than me, but completely detaching myself from the money involved was the best thing I ever did for my game, particularly in cash. It made me more aware of who was playing with scared money live (students generally, admittedly the better players at least locally) and who was just coming for a gamble.

Appreciate the comment on self-awareness. I'm very conscious these days of evaluating my play objectively after a game (particularly in tournaments and push/fold situations). I can walk away happy after losing a +EV shove on the bubble for example these days, rather than ranting about bad beats.

I busted out of a live tourney earlier. Folded KK heads up to SB mid-stack push with no ace on the flop and an untextured board - happy with the fold actually, as he snap pushed after my pot raise (and pre-flop raise which he flat called). It was probably an awful fold but I never would have had the discipline to lay down KK or AA a couple of years ago, but now I can, so I'm pleased at that. Admittedly it was probably the winning hand, but I no longer automatically risk my tournament life on top 5-10 hands as standard against medium stacks, and it's worked well for me overall.

Very interesting comment on the Durrr challenge. It really is bizarre how much depth there is to NLHE (I always preferred stud games), but I just wasn't aware of it in the past. REM is a simple enough concept, but it's improved my play significantly.

Also, I'm still conscious that I'm an awful poker player, but getting better. Apologies for the long-winded (and inevitably downvoted, good job /r/poker) post, but once more I appreciate the advice. :)

Live 1/2 NLHE Cash. AK, bad play? Tilt? by Baconesquein poker

[–]Baconesque[S] 1 point2 points ago

No, that's fair enough, I appreciate any advice, even based on the title. You've probably hit the proverbial nail on the head with the tilt comment, sucking out to the same guy previously with another bad hand against my premium actually made me reload to the table max and then I promptly lost it to another bizarre hand. I think I should have been happy to push preflop and take down a smaller pot rather than thinking I could extract value when it was impossible to put half the people on the table on a range. But AK is a hand I have trouble with anyway.

I've been playing NLHE about 6 years and it's only now I feel I can actually become profitable at this game (been pretty much riding the same bankroll for all that time). I really do appreciate any feedback/criticism.

Live 1/2 NLHE Cash. AK, bad play? Tilt? by Baconesquein poker

[–]Baconesque[S] 0 points1 point ago

Tell me about it... seen 4-bets preflop checked down all the way to the showdown with the players then being cagey asking if anybody can beat J high or some rubbish and taking down a huge pot with everybody else mucking. Suppose those are the people you want to play against though. :)

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