against my better judgement (progress report)

[Invigilator]

After what I went through in my previous poker run, I admit that I had become a proponent of proper BR management and was a convert against short stacking. However, I am currently in the process of eating some those words, out of some BR necessity.

(I could claim it was out of necessity last time too, but I did not know 25% of what I know of the game now back when I made a lot of my management mistakes)

Here is the story so far.

After a few thousand hands at 1 cent 2 cent, I lost 25 bucks of $100 deposit. (the graph moved down consistently - no notable or dramatic upward movement) As the sample size grew I poured over and over pokertracker: analyzing number and individual hands, looking for the major holes. What I found was that I was consistently seeing flops 3-5 ways when I raised preflop. (except when I just took down the blinds). The range of hand that were calling were enormous, and did not reflect the hands you would think would be involved).

Those who know me know that I am neither a genius nor an erratic player, but I am a winning player.

Then on the weekend, I was lamenting my situation to Oceanwaves, and she pointed out that everyone who is playing 1cent 2cent is treating each hand like a lottery ticket. It is like trying to predict the behaviour of bad homegame players.

I thought about this for a while, looked at my notes again decided to try short stacking 5 cent 10 cent. I sat down at 2 tables with 80% of the buy in, and had made back almost all my losses from 1c/2c in one session.

yes, I got hit in the face with cards
yes, variance had me on an upswing

BUT what I found was that I was that there was a predictability in the play that I could exploit. A predictability that simply did not exist at 1cent 2 cent.

So, I don't have the buy-ins that I'd like have to play this game, but I don't think I can beat 1 cent 2 cent.

When I did this last time, I used $70 to short stak 25NL . Now I am using slightly more to work 10NL.

We'll see if it works out, but I feel good.
-----------------------------

I don't know how many regulars and familiar names check these boards, but I would like to hear from winning players who have moved on to higher limits.

What were your experiences playing 1 cent 2 cent. Is is beatable?

[Kurn]

Last year, as I was saving for my step-daughter's wedding, I withdrew everything on 'Tilt but $50 and started playing 2NL 6 max, figuring this was the perfect opportunity to learn 6 max NL cash from the ground up, the right way, with good BRM.

There's a great thread on 2+2 micro NL forum, that stresses the concept of "fat value" at micros. Best one sentence description is - ask yourself this question before making a big commitment - "am I a huge favorite"

My impression of micro NL cash - it is insanely easy to beat. Do not do anything fancy, almost never bluff and bet for value. ABC works. After about 20k hands I had $150 and was playing 5 NL when Black Friday hit.

I then put $50 on Bodog and started at 5NL (not good BRM, but that's the lowest stakes there). After about 8k hands there my BR was $200. Unlike 'Tilt, game selection sucked with only 1 or 2 tables possible and I started getting bored and played some 10PLO 6 max. The bankroll experienced near JRB swings until Bodog re-branded to Bovada at the end of the year and I was sitting with $200 in the new "anonymous" environment. Not good for cash games, but OK for multis.

I'm up to $650 now playing MTTs, mostly one specific tourney. 6:30 EST $3 R&A PLO. Softest spot on earth (even softer than $10 'Stars Stud/8 multis were for me). Great structure. 2,000 start, unlimited rebuys at or below starting stack for 1 hour, the a 10,000 add-on, so you don't have to play like a rebuy manic to be deep after the add-on. I have 4 final tables (ITM is usually 3 tables) in 14 tourneys, 1 win, 1 2nd, 2 4th.

In reality, I'd rather being playing NL cash, but if your opponents are nameless and you can't take notes, use HEM, multis are the way to go.

[Invigilator]

Thanks Kurn.

I asked about beating 1c/2c on another forum and nothing even approached your answer.

A lot of people have advice, but don't necessarily have experience. Just hearing what you did is very useful.

[Kurn]

One other thing I thought of. The "Harrington on Cash Games" book has a really useful section on 6 max micros.

[spyder753]

Do you guys use datamined hand histories ever? like from sites like handhq.com or others?

Thanks for the help!

[Invigilator]

I don't