Does anyone play NLTH cash 9-10 max?

[hackers238]

I have perused the collection of videos as well as the HH archive, and I have found little to no information regarding 9-10 max cash games. Is 6-max just more profitable, or is it a preference thing? I realize that the games are significantly different, which is why I don't want to just apply everything I'm hearing about 6 max games to 10 max, but I prefer to play 10 max being a naturally less aggressive player.

Considering softness of games, this site's wealth of information, and the ability to switch into 6 max if I've only ever played 9-10 max, do you think I should make the switch?

[Wes]

I play some 9 handed stars cash games from 5/10-25/50 when the 6max games are literally filled with a table full of pros. Usually, the games are much better than 6max (at least for the higher stakes games. Game quality is probably similar for 100nl and below), but there are less decisions to be made since you have to play tighter and it is generally more boring since you have to wait for hands.

If you've never played 6max, I wouldn't advice playing it. Play some full ring cash games, figure it out and win at it, then switch to 6max. It's pretty similar, but you'll be able to play more hands against the bad players in 6max than you would in full ring.

And if you want to play the crack cocaine of hold 'em, try out some HU.

[Invigilator]

My focus is full ring CG and I do okay (although running bad at the moment). That being said, I get owned in 6 max. I would imagine as an entry level game it could be disasterous at worst and involve big swings at best.

Once I pull my dumb butt out thisx current slump I'll get around to making a full ring video. (mostly so I can get critiques from the forum)

[Talking Poker]

I haven't played a (cash) hand of full ring NLHE since.... never, I think. Not online anyway. I've played it live numerous times, and of course most toureny at 9/10 players.

That said, I think for someone learning the game, full ring is the way to go. Once you are comfortable (and consistently winning) there, I DEFINITELY recommend moving to 6 max though. It's faster, more fun, and IMO, more profitable - at least for my style of play (I get very bored at full ring and tend to play too loose). You'll need to open up your game a good bit for 6 max.

I know some people say to pretend 6 max is like playing full ring with the first 3 players having already folded, but I don't think that is 100% correct. I guess it's an ok starting point, but it's still different. 3 people folding bad hands slightly changes the chances of the remaining players having good hands. Forget that for now though - 6 max is a (much?) more aggressive game, all around.

[hackers238]

Yeah, I definitely feel more comfortable in the full CG, thanks for the input.

PS. Looking forward to your vid Invig! DO IT!!!

PPS.

Speaking of slumps, I have expired my PokerTracker 1000 trial hands in the past few days playing NL25. I am up $13 over 1200 hands, so pretty much breaking even. However looking at my hand frequency I have gotten AA 0 (!!!) times, and AKs twice. If my math ain't off, pocket aces are 1/221, and AKs is ~ 1/331 (2/13 * 1/51), so I should have 5 AA and 4 AKs. See, I really do get bad hands!

EDIT: I'm also 18.5% VPIP and 9% PFR, which looks good to me for a full ring CG. Thoughts? (And fixed the math above)

[Invigilator]

The best thing you can do for your game right now is to register PT. It is absolute gold for analysing the holes

[hackers238]

How should I best utilize PT to analyze holes in my game? I have the 1000 hands that are in the database right now, I just can't add any more. I have been using it as a tool for table selection (with MINIMAL data, obviously), and for seeing my over averages (VPIP, PFR, etc). What other numbers should I use/look at, or maybe I should just read a full PT tutorial.

And TP if you see this, how do you get PAHUD to show the amount won/lost in your current session? I thought I had the right stat, but I believe it's showing overall from when I first started my database. I noticed in one of your vids (#3 5/10 NL, I believe?) that you had this amount displayed as you played.

Thanks!

[Invigilator]

Preferences - filters - show stats from current session only

[Invigilator]

Obviously, the more hands you have, the better. I won back my registration money 10 times over in 2 weeks, and Ionly had about $70 when I started cash games. Seriously, you want this.

there is a description of a method of stats analysis in this thread.



gl

[hackers238]

AWESOME post Invig, thanks a lot for the link.