Software and Tools Poker Forums

Here's something that really helped me:

When I was losing a lot, I did some in depth analysis of my stats with HEM. My VPIP was around 26% at 6max. That's fine for someone with a LAG style, but I realized that I was ending up in a lot of awkward spots where I just didn't know what to do. And when that happens, you tend to play without a plan, ie fire a cbet just because you don't know what else to do, fire 2 and 3 barrels (in bad spots), bluff the wrong players, etc etc. I lacked the postflop experience to deal with these awkward spots and so I just played badly. And lost regularly.
out of interest what is your standard BTN range now?
3 things that really helped:
1. I tightened up my game to approx 20/16 (TAG-like)
2. I stopped calling 3bets oop (with some exceptions).
3. I forced myself to fold more.

This had a dramatic effect on my results. Perhaps I'm just not suited to a LAG style, or perhaps my postflop skills hadn't developed to the point where I could play that style profitably. Whatever the reason, when I switched to a TAG style my results were much much better. Folding the junk preflop is the best start. Forget calling a 3bet oop w 66-TT, AQ/AJ/KQ and SC. Just fold it (or 4bet). If you have a hand that is good enough to play, 4bet it rather than call oop. And when you're facing severe heat postflop, you're TP or overpair probably isn't good. Fold them. Obviously it depends on who you're playing. If a hyper aggressive player who is constantly raising draws/overcards/air is putting the pressure on, you might consider calling down. But in general, facing a raise (and without a good read) you should be looking to make good folds.

You didn't mention what kind of a style you play, but I suggest tightening up preflop. Don't call 3bets oop. This 2 things alone may help you greatly postflop. It will simplify your decisions so you're not constantly trying to figure out what to do in the heat of battle. You want your postflop decisions to be as clear cut as possible. Most opponents won't be raising you postflop without a decent hand like 2pair, sets, made straights/flushes, pair+NFD, most of which crush your TP. Make the fold unless you have seen that player make light raises with underpairs/bottom pairs/gutshots/air.

Hope that helps.

out of interest what is your standard BTN range now?

Just checked HEM and my button VPIP is 31%

Just checked HEM and my button VPIP is 31%

Tightening up can work well if you are struggling but this is probably a bit too tight from the button.

You didn't mention what kind of a style you play

@hurla: I aim at playing a TAGish style, but it's kinda hard at NL2 6-max because of the fishy waters

Last 20k hands I'm 30/23 and down to +23bb/100

And thanks for the good advices from your post !

Away from the tables I grok all of those, but I still lack the discipline to constantly apply it at the tables ...

BTN: 37/31

@hurla: I aim at playing a TAGish style, but it's kinda hard at NL2 6-max because of the fishy waters

Last 20k hands I'm 30/23 and down to +23bb/100

And thanks for the good advices from your post !

Away from the tables I grok all of those, but I still lack the discipline to constantly apply it at the tables ...

BTN: 37/31

30/23 isn't what I'd call Tight, but if your winrate is +23bb/100 I'm not sure what you're worried about. Anything over +10bb/100 is basically crushing.

OK, so I might be doing better than I was thinking, but I feel I could do even better and I still have significant leaks that I need to improve:

[X] lack of discipline ( quite often when getting into C-game mode - calling too many 3bets, or calling too many streets postflop, or making loosing river hero calls )
[X] FPS every now and then ( for instance trying silly bluffs that don't work )
[X] not absorbing enough of the knowledge from videos I watch
[X] not bringing enough of that knowledge to the table when playing

I'm going to try evernote every other note software is annoying to figure out and free only for a trial. I am just taking notes on notepad while watching videos and pasting them into word after. When I have full notes for more than one series I can try to integrate them, but it takes me ages to make full notes from the theory videos (say 2.5-30 hours for each hour video) so I don't have full notes yet.

I like the process here
http://www.deucescracked.com/blogs/tecmosuperbowl/87531-Lessons-Learned
to focus on learning some concepts one at a time specifically

I've finally got to the point where I plan each response to villain's action before he has made it, WHEN I'm on my A-game - so I don't drop into calling 3bets or being a station postflop, looking at pot odds on the river and going through what the villain could have and if he ever bluffs. When I open UTG I know which hands I will 4bet for value and bluff already if I need to, for example. It's a real problem for me switching to autopilot and not thinking if a player can be bluffed or if he only bets with the nuts. That is the point where I need to stop and at least have a short break.

I've also started watching a new series and it's really made me aware how it's important to get reads ASAP and not just look at any HUD stats like the 2p2 uNL guys do . So my play has changed a lot - I open up tables and instantly see how many tables each of the other players is playing, note their stack size or take notes. For example if I look at one guy playing 10+ tables, I already know he's going to be a NIT and have rigid standard lines. Another player playing one table with 65bb is likely not a reg.
Then see who calls with draws (nearly everyone at my stakes) and what else they call down with. Do they cbet and fold easily on a T98tt board, or call with overpairs.. etc.

I have found that (and just really accepted) at microstakes on stars at least by far the most important factor is table selection because the rake is so high and your opponents are for the most part either nits or loose fish. I don't see other players jumping around I do though, even if the table is full of nits/TAGs they'll just stay there when there are maniacs dumping stacks and fish at other tables.

As far as books Analytical NLHE (Bakker) is the best I've come across so far although it says it's aimed at midstakes, it has a section specifically aimed at playing against weak players and you can apply everything else to TAGfish or bad regs whatever, other players at all stakes. I've only skimmed it but when I've studied it well I'm sure I can move to reasonable stakes with the study of videos as well.

I also finally installed Evernote after having thought for a long time that using something like it would probably be a good idea (not just for Poker).
I've been taking many more notes while watching videos and I think this will lead me to absorbing the content much better.
It's always good to write a concept down in your own words. Usually, if you are able to do that, then you will have understood the concept.

Indeed, Evernote looks like a nice piece of software ...

The only thing that bugs me, now that I've starting using it extensively in the last days, not only for poker notes, is that you have only two branching levels available ( stack and notebook ), so sooner than later I will end up with several dozens of stacks which will be kinda messy ... Anyone has a nicer solution ?!

After reading the first person mention evernote in this thread i thought it was pretty pointless (i have been handwriting notes in a notepad for last 2 videos i have watched) i used to just mindlessly watch knowing i should actually study but never actually did.

Anyway randomly got evernote, its absolutely awesome! i just spent nearly 3 hours taking notes on a 45 minute video... i absolutely picked it apart in every possible way.

Didn't read all the replies so don't know if it was mentioned yet.
Keep a list of leaks you want to fix, stuff you want to pay attention to etc. and go over it every time before you start playing a session. Also taking a glance at the list while playing might be helpful aswell, depending on how busy you are / how many tables you play.
I recently started doing this religiously and it helps a bunch with opening your eyes. It helps to take playing for deliberate practice instead of grinding out hands.

Also for your long term memory: Test yourself a lot. There are a lot of studies suggesting that testing yourself after you have read any material helps tremendously with longterm memory. Reference: http://psych.wustl.edu/memory/Roddy%20article%20PDF's/Roediger%20&%20Karpicke%20(2006)%20Review.pdf
tldr, I know, but it's worth it, I promise. Check it out.
Also note that repeated reading often causes the illusion of knowing material very well. I think this has a huge implication on learning poker.

Edit: No idea why the last part of the link is seperated. Just copy paste it.

+1 for evernote

as far as other stuff - pick one book or video series and watch/read the entire thing before you jump to something else!

i would suggest you go one step further and pick one video producer(due your HW first) and watch every video they made for the game you are learning and don't watch anything else until you are done - there is great value in listen to a consistent thought process

while doing this take notes but before each session pick only a few things you want to put into practice and work on those things for as long as it takes to make them part of your playing habits before moving on

To organize your videos notes and make filters you can try http://poker.itminfo.com/pvo

For books and articles I don't know any related soft...

this looks pretty cool - i would have loved this 2ish years ago when i was member of 3 training sites and watching 1 video/day

Indeed, Evernote looks like a nice piece of software ...

The only thing that bugs me, now that I've starting using it extensively in the last days, not only for poker notes, is that you have only two branching levels available ( stack and notebook ), so sooner than later I will end up with several dozens of stacks which will be kinda messy ... Anyone has a nicer solution ?!

CallMeAl, you can also use tags to organize your notes. You can choose to show only notes that have a certain tag attached to them, even multiple tags. That's a pretty powerful feature in my opinion.

Thank you guys for the tips
- yes tags seem a good way to cross-link things. Updating to the latest version I've also discovered that you can now add link to notes, so one other way to regroup different things
- regarding watching a certain series/coach, I was thinking of watching all the episodes in one of the Micro NLHE 6-max playlists. Also watched a couple of episodes in Haj School and Mindset and Strategies series.

Would you guys think I should finish both those two before anything else, or can I mix them with one of the playlists ?

Also, how should I divide best my daily poker time (3-4 hrs) into playing/studying/reviewing ? Watching a video with detailed notes taking is indeed time consuming, I've spent I think 2hrs for the first 40min of a video... Should I just study for a couple days/weeks and play afterwards, should I study+play+review every day, or maybe there's already a video on the subject that I'm not aware of...