GiantBuddha: Climbing the Ladder 1 -- Released 11/24/2011

[JimmySupport]

In my first live play video of the year, I drop down to $.25/$.50 to take a look at grinding up from the micro-stakes. Each video in the series will examine a new level and discuss how the games change as you move up, and what adjustments you should make as a result.

[thew92]

2:40 I think I would prefer to go for the C/R on the flop there as a default or vs unknowns. The more passive the limper the more I like betting out.

[thew92]

29:33 Q6s would you ever conciser betting out there as a bluff on the flop?

[thew92]

32:45 96s I think I would just fold here. This might be profitable with a Pstars rake structure but not with merge limit rake structure.

[thew92]

40:25 88 Are you planing on calling the river after checking behind on the turn?

[GiantBuddha]

2:40 I think I would prefer to go for the C/R on the flop there as a default or vs unknowns. The more passive the limper the more I like betting out.

I would c/r as a default against an unknown at higher limits. At $.25/$.50 I feel like they're a less likely to fire the flop after limping. If your assumptions are that they'll often bet in that spot, though, then c/r is the play.

One other thing against a c/r is our relative position. The most likely bettor is the CO, and a c/r will face the BB with 2 cold in a tiny pot. While getting heads up is often a desirable result, it has less value in a tiny pot like this. Getting a bet out of the BB is worth more here than protecting our equity.

[GiantBuddha]

29:33 Q6s would you ever conciser betting out there as a bluff on the flop?

Leading this flop would be sort of a semi-bluff with several weak backdoor draws. Q-hi also has a little showdown value. I think a bet has merit, but this flop is too wet to get 3 folds very often. The danger would be leading yourself into a dark tunnel bluff where you have a hard time picturing your opponents' ranges and how they'll respond to further action. I don't hate it. You just need a good plan for turn and river play.

[GiantBuddha]

32:45 96s I think I would just fold here. This might be profitable with a Pstars rake structure but not with merge limit rake structure.

The brutal rake is definitely a good reason to play tighter, especially once someone has voluntarily entered the pot. The rake should affect your opening range a bit less, since you still have a chance of no flop/no drop.

I'm playing 96s here pretty much because I think I have a huge edge postflop on these guys, especially the CO, and I probably have like 45% equity against his range. If he were tighter/better, I'm 100% on board with a fold. It may be a fold anyway. The rake is really brutal.

[GiantBuddha]

40:25 88 Are you planing on calling the river after checking behind on the turn?

I think I'm actually giving up there. That would be a good spot to have the "River bet into missed turn c-bet" stat. Of course, that wouldn't have converged over 5 hands. The flop's pretty much a disaster for my hand. I'm surprised that he didn't value bet AQ (on KQ9xx). Knowing this, a call is in order in the future. As his value range shrinks, I need fewer bluffs from him to justify a call.

[Swissfile]

Hi GB. Enjoyed the vid. I was convinced I was hearing a stoned Buddha until I realized I was mistakenly playing it at .67% speed. Quite the amusing listen.

I understand you are focusing on "climbing the ladder"...out of the rake trap (coulda worked a cool intro with that one). I look forward to seeing how the dynamic changes with your opponents with each rung of the ladder. Perhaps you could have a follow up series with 5/10, 10/20, 15/30, 20/40 called "free at last."

I had an idea about future vids. Could you create a still-frame written breakdown of your current HUD? Then you could simply drag/incorporate it into each vid as a "5 second still" at say 00:30-00:35 (or whatever). This would eliminate the need to waste time going over it each video (or in the forums), and also would provide a consistent reference point for watchers to scan back to, if they forget or want to check on something.

Anyway, thanks for the vid. - Swiss

[GiantBuddha]

That's a great idea about the HUD. I'll try to use it in my next series, since this one's already all recorded. The rest of the videos will be the PT4 default HUD, which probably doesn't help much. .