Whenever I watch a Rick Mask stoxpoker training video, it becomes painfully clear to me how much I don’t know about the game of poker. What’s more troubling is that I’m not really sure if I ever will understand the game – and the way it should be optimally played – to be able to perform on a professional level.
I commented recently that maintaining even a 12/10 vpip/pfr ratio can be challenging for me at the $0.50/$1.00 full ring games on Stars. In contrast, the statistics at each of Rick’s 4-tables (in any given video) indicates he’s playing at a level that’s about 2.5x greater in terms of aggression. To be able to open up to that extent, and still maintain a winrate of something close to 6bb/100, is indicative of remarkable hand reading skill and ability to exploit opponents’ weaknesses.
At this point, I know I’m playing far too much of an ABC type of game, but understanding exactly HOW to open things up is where I’m getting stuck. For example… Rick, in a recent video, describes that in a full-ring game, he’ll open up KQo sometimes, from under the gun, provided the opponents in later positions (and the blinds) are weak “enough”. But what constitutes weak enough?
Similarly, Rick indicates he’ll start opening up with suited connectors in early position from 76+, so that you’ll have fewer overcards to deal with when you pair up, and that you’ll less frequently make the ignorant end of a straight. But how do you proceed with a hand like this out of position, against resistance? When you get 3-bet by a reasonable player, are you more likely to take a flop out of position with a hand like this because you’re less likely to be facing a dominant hand when you connect? Do you regularly take advantage of ragged flops be donking or check-raising as a bluff with this type of hand, and if so, how do you respond when your bluff gets raised? Do you more often than not give up on the hand at this point, or do continue with your play (thereby increasing your variance in the process)? And if you do regularly give up at this point, how do you prevent becoming exploited by observant opponents in this situation?
I’ve read enough and studied enough about the game to be able to come up with reasonable answers to all of these questions. They key seems to be in continually having the right answers in response to a virtually limitless number of scenarios, all at a moment’s notice. To be able to properly identify, digest and act in accordance with the appropriate stats – and to make the right observations regarding your regular opponents, and record them regularly while in the process of playing multiple games – is more than a daunting task.
I honestly have no idea how these kids have become so adept at doing so in such a short span of time…
Did not have my best game going last night. Was all-in before the river 5 times, lost once with no equity against a short stack who turned two pair; lost twice preflop as a favorite (a full stack w/KK vs. AKo and 32bb with QQ vs. AKo); won 51bb with 74.1% equity on the flop with aces vs. top pair; won 70bb with 90.9% equity on the turn with a set vs. 2 pair. My largest win was 95bb vs. an opponent who slowplayed KK in a blind battle, when my KTo connected with the T77TJ board. My other loss of a full stack occurred when my trip kings (while holding AKo) lost to nines full...
Bankroll: $13,813.64
Session: 1841 hands; down $250.95; EV -$116.65
Month To Date: up $1,127; 4.63 bb/100
