Come take a look, they are from awhile ago I feel like a much better player now... but they definetely are solid. I'm going to make a HU 400nl video where I focus on ISF theorem so keep watch for that coming up, should be a good one!

Here's the answer to what I was trying to say last week.

Seat 1: Geert99 ($196 in chips)
Seat 2: AxelGWADA ($128.30 in chips)
Seat 3: farmos ($99.65 in chips)
Seat 5: axkaer ($23.40 in chips)
Seat 6: redgrape ($210.85 in chips)
AxelGWADA: posts small blind $1
farmos: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [8h 8s]
axkaer: folds
redgrape: raises $6 to $8
Geert99: calls $8
AxelGWADA: calls $7
farmos: folds
*** FLOP *** [3c 6h Jc]
AxelGWADA: checks
redgrape: bets $14
brudman joins the table at seat #4
Geert99: calls $14
AxelGWADA: folds
*** TURN *** [3c 6h Jc] [9s]
redgrape: checks
Geert99: bets $40
redgrape: raises $80 to $120
Geert99: folds

Why is this exploting? Well here's exactly what I'm exploiting.
Opponent is 12 tabling 19/12 nitty reg, and can't pay attention to exactly how I'm playing my big hands. Normally, many assume people will play there big hands the same as everyone else. Many play their overpairs like this.
It happens to be the case the I will never have a big hand here. I will almost always two barrel with my overpairs, which makes my range here almost purely air and draws.

However, it's safe to say, and you guys know this, that my opponent is folding almost all J's, including AJ (however, AJ is probably raising the flop, so we don't even have to worry about that, because this line looks so much like an overpair or set. In fact, the only hand I have to worry about here whatsoever is J9, which unless it's suited seems unlikely for this opponent. EVERYTHING ELSE IS FOLDING.

I mean seriously, I could do this line all day versus someone, and they'd fold a J almost every time, unless I did it 5 times in a row and MAYBE he'd notice.


So how do YOU figure out how to exploit your opponents??? It's really simple.

All you do is figure out when what your opponent likely thinks you have is better than what your opponent likely has, and then you bet/raise.

Well okay.... not that simple. Have you ever been in a spot where you feel like it's so obvious you have a better hand than your opponent that you choose to play it differently than how you'd normally play it in an attempt to extract more money?? I'm betting you have, but I'm telling you right now, a lot of the time it's flawed logic.

What you have to do is figure out those times where you "OBVIOUSLY" have a better hand than your opponent, and act like you have it.... with NOTHING!!! And you'll be amazed!!! People will fold everything to you, maybe even sets, because they are that nitty.

That's all i'm going to write but if you have any questions go to my comment thread.

All this post is this one hand. What I'd like people to do here is discuss in my ISF blog comment thread where the mistake is and why. Note this isn't the way I played the hand.

Geert is nitty reg (typical), with 19/12 stats, really plays everything completely standard, folds draws when not given odds, doesn't raise draws, and doesn't get tricky. My image is tagg, not bluffy at all.

Later I'll give comments myself.

PokerStars GAME #10798486859: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) - 2007/07/06 - 12:52:49 (ET)
Table 'Io III' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Geert99 ($196 in chips)
Seat 2: AxelGWADA ($128.30 in chips)
Seat 3: farmos ($99.65 in chips)
Seat 5: axkaer ($23.40 in chips)
Seat 6: redgrape ($210.85 in chips)
AxelGWADA: posts small blind $1
farmos: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [8h 8s]
axkaer: folds
redgrape: raises $6 to $8
Geert99: calls $8
AxelGWADA: calls $7
farmos: folds
*** FLOP *** [3c 6h Jc]
AxelGWADA: checks
redgrape: bets $14
brudman joins the table at seat #4
Geert99: calls $14
AxelGWADA: folds
*** TURN *** [3c 6h Jc] [9s]
redgrape: checks
Geert99: bets $40
redgrape: folds
Geert99 collected $52 from pot
Geert99: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $54 | Rake $2
Board [3c 6h Jc 7s]
Seat 1: Geert99 (button) collected ($52)
Seat 2: AxelGWADA (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: farmos (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: axkaer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: redgrape folded on the Turn

Today I played a hand pretty standard and this guy just wigged out. He played the hand pathetically, however I applaud him for experimenting with aggression, and claimed I played the hand horribly. PLEASE don't be this guy, you're not the best poker player ever so don't act like it like this guy did.

PokerStars GAME #10798285951: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) - 2007/07/06 - 12:36:09 (ET)
Table 'Torrence' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Godspower999 ($363.30 in chips)
Seat 2: bustitoff ($264.15 in chips)
Seat 3: redgrape ($210.40 in chips)
Seat 4: MiddBretter ($216.45 in chips)
Seat 5: stormmin62 ($98.35 in chips)
Seat 6: BSmittyAU ($198 in chips)
Godspower999: posts small blind $1
bustitoff: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [Ks Kc]
redgrape: raises $6 to $8
MiddBretter: calls $8
stormmin62: folds
BSmittyAU: folds
Godspower999: calls $7
bustitoff: folds
*** FLOP *** [As 7s 4s]
Godspower999: checks
redgrape: checks
MiddBretter: bets $14
Godspower999: calls $14
redgrape: calls $14
*** TURN *** [As 7s 4s] [9c]
Godspower999: checks
redgrape: checks
MiddBretter: checks
*** RIVER *** [As 7s 4s 9c] [Th]
Godspower999: checks
redgrape: checks
MiddBretter: bets $40
Godspower999: folds
redgrape: calls $40
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MiddBretter: shows [3c 3h] (a pair of Threes)
redgrape: shows [Ks Kc] (a pair of Kings)
redgrape collected $145 from pot
MiddBretter said, "omg"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $148 | Rake $3
Board [As 7s 4s 9c Th]
Seat 1: Godspower999 (small blind) folded on the River
Seat 2: bustitoff (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: redgrape showed [Ks Kc] and won ($145) with a pair of Kings
Seat 4: MiddBretter showed [3c 3h] and lost with a pair of Threes
Seat 5: stormmin62 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: BSmittyAU (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

and the chat ensues

MiddBretter said, "that is sdisguting"
MiddBretter said, "i just threw up"
bustitoff said, "why"
MiddBretter said, "with KK there"
MiddBretter said, "lol"
redgrape said, "lol u made a horrible play"
MiddBretter said, "right"
MiddBretter said, "go back to .01/.02"
MiddBretter said, "yuck, you ****ing idiot"
MiddBretter said, "oh what i would do to have a hand hold"

I haven't written in awhile and people seem to really enjoy my posts so I decided to write some random thoughts.

When I was in school they emphasized learning the "source" of everything, and in turn, learning everything else. Once I graduated from my high school I realized how right on they are. Yeah you can be told that a supply and demand curve is straight, and you can memorize that it's straight, but if you understand "why" it's straight, you don't have to memorize a thing. Not only that but you can do more than just draw it.

Yeah that example kind of scuks but it you'll understand once I relate it to poker. In poker there are countless number of 100nl and 200nl regs who just can't get past their level. I don't KNOW why they can't but I have a good guess, it's because they don't UNDERSTAND poker. Yeah they may have been told what to do and how to play, but they themselves don't get it.

Do you see the problem here? If you don't understand the game yourself, you relying on not only other people to make you progress, but you're also relying on your results. You can only really learn by two ways.
1. Someone tells you the correct way to play a situation.
2. Something happens to you enough to make you realize that a move is good/bad.

However, those who actually try to understand the game become better on their own. They realize, maybe without playing one hand in a situation, the correct move in that situation. In fact, people who really understand the game understand that there is innovative play you can use at 200nl and 100nl that no one would ever tell you to do.

You wonder why gabe doesn't go to every thread and says the exact thing you should be thinking and doing? It's because of just this. He doesn't want to tell you, he wants you to figure it out on your own, to actually understand why you would want to do something rather than the other, and in turn he not only helped you with the hand you posted, but other hands that apply to the concept.

The point of this whole thing, which I took way too long to say, is that you have to start thinking about the game more deeply. Really figure out how to adjust to the ebb and flow of the game in it's entirety. Figure out how to exploit a 12/10, figure out how to exploit a laggtard maniac. Don't just do what everyone tells you to.

Hey guys,
long time no post. Was thinking about this today and thought I'd post about it.
When people think of bet sizing most of the time they will think of two factors.
1. What bet size will control the size of the pot? (i.e. i should bet less or check to keep the pot under control. I should bet more to commit myself, etc.)
2. What bet size will keep my opponent in/out? (I bet harder to get him to fold or bet less to keep my opponents weak hand in)

There is at least one other that you may confess you rarely ever think of.
3. What bet size will make my opponent the easiest to read?
I wanted to comment on this one as it is actually very important yet very few players actually pay attention to it. When we make a bet size we want to make it in a way that it will force or manipulate our opponents into being easy to read. This is what I call informational bet sizing. Let me explain with an example, and where it comes up with me the most.

Here my opponent is a Taggy reg.

PokerStars GAME #10039960640: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007/05/21 - 21:34:37 (ET)
Table 'Izar II' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: MastrOfPuptz ($101.50 in chips)
Seat 2: Used2beGOOD ($129.80 in chips)
Seat 3: gamblegoddes ($124.55 in chips)
Seat 4: redgrape ($98.90 in chips)
Seat 6: elcheapo23 ($173.50 in chips)
elcheapo23: posts small blind $0.50
MastrOfPuptz: posts big blind $1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [4c 5h]
Used2beGOOD: folds
gamblegoddes: raises $3 to $4
redgrape: calls $4 (I could float this guy very easy so this call is pretty standard for me)
elcheapo23: folds
MastrOfPuptz: folds
*** FLOP *** [6s 2c 8d]
gamblegoddes: bets $5
redgrape: raises ??????

For me, it's no question i raise here. His bet was weak, which on this board seems pretty weak (although i cant be sure). If i just call here i let him have a chance to hit his overs.
The problem is is this board is low, and a lot of players are going to shove over my raise with 8x or an overpair, even a set. So what should i raise to? Here are the factors i considered.
1. If i raise to 15, he could call here with a lot of hands and possibly fold to a turn bet, while with sets he could call here and raise all in on the turn. So on the turn ill have a tough decision whether to fire a second barrel.
2. I want to convince him not to shove the flop over me with any hand.
3. So I'll raise to 22. Most of the time if he calls here he's taking it all the way so i can safely check behind the turn and take a free card. He'll thin vbet the river and ill shove if i hit.




redgrape: raises $17 to $22
gamblegoddes: calls $17
*** TURN *** [6s 2c 8d] [4d]
gamblegoddes: checks
redgrape: checks
*** RIVER *** [6s 2c 8d 4d] [5d]
gamblegoddes: bets $21
redgrape: calls $21 (obviously i cant shove because the only thing he's calling me with is beating me).
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gamblegoddes: shows [Tc Ts] (a pair of Tens)
redgrape: shows [4c 5h] (two pair, Fives and Fours)
redgrape collected $93.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $95.50 | Rake $2
Board [6s 2c 8d 4d 5d]
Seat 1: MastrOfPuptz (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Used2beGOOD folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: gamblegoddes showed [Tc Ts] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 4: redgrape (button) showed [4c 5h] and won ($93.50) with two pair, Fives and Fours
Seat 6: elcheapo23 (small blind) folded before Flop

Another situation is the opposite, while i cant find the HH I'll explain it.
You have an overpair, you raised preflop UTG and got a tight caller in the BB. You know he only calls in the blinds with low pp. Your flop bet should be small. If you make a big bet it may convince your opponent to play his hands the same. in this situation he could call with both a made set and a low pocket pair, which would cause a bunch of confusion. You WANT your opponent to play as straight forward as possible, by making a big bet you made him a huge favor of balancing his range. You aren't worried about drawing out since he at most has two outs.

Big Note: You should rarely be bet sizing to manipulate on drawy boards. A lot of low stakes opponents are hard to manipulate so it's much better to make bets to chase out/keep in draws.

I was looking at an old lambchop post about naming his ratholing account. Which one is your fav of the ones I came up with?
Onlyhave15minutes

RATHOLCOPTER

ITakeUrChipsAndLeave

SeeYouLater

ILeaveABitRicher

I'DRATHERBERATHOLING

LongerInBedThanAtTable

Tehs00tedNUTSpRefFlOp

loloRATHOLINGformeth (this one is awesome)

ROFLaTyOuRnOrMaLsTaCk (this one is my fav)

GONEB4UREBUY

ImOnlyAllInWit74o

IAetPeiceAfSihtLkieYou

shows[AdAc]forallurchips (this one i like too)

IScored50OnTheIQTest

IWillKillTheManWhoStacksMe

$5ShortOfAGram (the drug ones are funniez)

Hey all,
In light of Massimo starting his blog, I decided to make my own one. Why you ask?
Well I was talking to Max about his blog and I pretty much go, "Well why don't you try talking about deeper concepts?" And he explains to me that's not his point. So I'm making so many theory and strategy rants now a days hey why not make a blog? I mostly make them in the SH forum and they don't get to everyone so it'll be cool if I can make one everyone can get to.
I'm just going to post random thoughts not assuming they are right but i will speak in confident language.

First post: Manipulation.

In Massimo's first blog post, he talked about how he thought that the reason gabe was so good is because he's good at understanding the psychology of other players. I mean, it's not like this is his only skill; clearly he's superior to most of us in all aspects of the game. But from when I've talked to him it's pretty clear that he is good at and knows the importance of "getting into people's heads" or manipulation, as i point out in this post.





The great thing about manipulation is, unlike deeper concepts you really have to play 600nl+ to even start experimenting with, manipulation is really important for low stakes.

I remember i spent probably 100k hands at 100nl just experimenting with my game. One huge blunder in my game was doing the same thing with good hands as i'd do with bluffs. This is a skill that I'm eventually going to have to use at higher stakes but the amount i have to "balance" my range is directly proportional to how well my opponents are thinking. And awesomely enough, 200nl- opponents barely think!

What is truly important at low stakes is manipulating your opponent; it's a skill that almost no one thinks about, and it's a skill that people should think about a hell of a lot more.
One way, and the easiest way, to manipulate your opponent is bet sizing. Mostly, it's easier to manipulate aggressive opponents because they are going to make moves more. Also, most of the time this is going to be with weaker bets.
Here's a really deep thinking example of manipulation.

I repop J6s because i have played one hand in the 50 at the table, I recognize three of these guys as regs, one of which is villan, who is 21/18/5, 23% WTSD% aggro, and calls way too much when threebet it seems.
The small size of the flop bet is manipulation.
PokerStars Game #9224353205: Hold'em No Limit ($1/$2) - 2007/04/02 - 23:14:31 (ET)
Table 'Lyalya' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: MrNgai ($198 in chips)
Seat 2: lifes3ps ($211.60 in chips)
Seat 4: perschonrs38 ($220.65 in chips)
Seat 5: dNoUnTkSe ($223.25 in chips)
Seat 6: redgrape ($236.35 in chips)
MrNgai: posts small blind $1
lifes3ps: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [Jd 6d]
perschonrs38: folds
dNoUnTkSe: raises $6 to $8
redgrape: raises $16 to $24
MrNgai: folds
lifes3ps: folds
dNoUnTkSe: calls $16
*** FLOP *** [5h 3c 4s]
dNoUnTkSe: checks
redgrape: bets $20


I gave my reasoning for threebet pre, and note there are times when you can three bet complete crap.
Here what is my reasoning for betting such a weak bet? Well there are a few reasons.
When he calls my raise pre his range is probably 22-QQ, with AA/KK less of the time. AK and AQ. Versus QQ-AA im completely fucked, but i cant fold ever because i have 33% equity at least most of the time and there are a lot of hands he's flat folding.
So if i bet right here about pot to commit myself what is he going to do? Well he will probably call with almost nothing, concievably he can shove with 22-66, QQ-AA because of my image.
I don't really know exactly how i come to the point i got to, i know i didnt think "well what if i did this?" But i probably thought "well the only thing i have to think about is how do i get to 77-JJ fold."
If i can manipulate this guy to reraise me on the flop with 77-jj, im almost positive i can get him to fold to a push. But the question is is this guy going to commit himself too much? If i bet $20, standard for most guys is to raise 3x that, which would be around $65 if bet $20, which would allow me to shove over him for $135 into about that much pot. Clearly that's a good amount of money to get him to fold, and also it adds around $65 to the pot for me to win, so even if this works slightly less FE and than a pot bet, it's still a better move. Also, betting this weak could make my opponent raise AQ or AK as a semi bluff.
And he falls for my trap.





dNoUnTkSe: raises $54 to $74
redgrape: raises $138.35 to $212.35 and is all-in
dNoUnTkSe: folds

That's an example of small bet sizing manipulation.
Then there is strong bet sizing manipulation.

Sometimes people are more bluffy to strong bets. You just have to know your opponent. Get in their head, manipulate them.
I know this guy is spewy its just a matter of what size bet he's spewy too. Here i make sure to let this guy have just enough left in the pot to bluff, because K high and A high are nice flops to bluff in threebet pots. i thought it would mess with the guys head.
PokerStars GAME #9259110539: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) - 2007/04/05 - 01:27:18 (ET)
Table 'Leukothea V' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Moneysuckle ($210 in chips)
Seat 2: redgrape ($200 in chips)
Seat 3: Gfresh404 ($300.45 in chips)
Seat 4: rinoo ($371.50 in chips)
Seat 5: tapatapa ($814.50 in chips)
Seat 6: FGators26 ($223.75 in chips)
rinoo: posts small blind $1
tapatapa: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [As Ac]
FGators26: raises $6 to $8
Moneysuckle: calls $8
redgrape: raises $24 to $32
Gfresh404: folds
rinoo: folds
tapatapa: folds
FGators26: folds
Moneysuckle: calls $24
*** FLOP *** [Qc 7d 2s]
Moneysuckle: checks
redgrape: bets $50
Moneysuckle: raises $128 to $178 and is all-in
redgrape: calls $118 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [Qc 7d 2s] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [Qc 7d 2s 9d] [6c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Moneysuckle: shows [8h 8d] (a pair of Eights)
redgrape: shows [As Ac] (a pair of Aces)
redgrape collected $408 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $411 | Rake $3
Board [Qc 7d 2s 9d 6c]
Seat 1: Moneysuckle showed [8h 8d] and lost with a pair of Eights
Seat 2: redgrape showed [As Ac] and won ($40 with a pair of Aces
Seat 3: Gfresh404 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: rinoo (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: tapatapa (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: FGators26 folded before Flop

Playing passive to manipulate ill address in my next post.

-Danny