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Poker Video: MTT/SNG by vandweller (Micro/Small Stakes)

Time Link to 01:06:15

Most important point in low buyin sngs. One can easily get lost in the any2 push spot mindsets when in fact you're hurting yourself because the opponent is calling way too light for the situation.

After watching it till the end I have to add that I have the utmost respect for velo because he actually took vandwellers advice by heart and turned into a winning player in such a short period of time. Good showing and you will do fine in the future.

I will post again once I get a chance to rewatch this and talk about what I was thinking of in the vid.

Thanks Jaf for being a fan of the series. Since episode 1 I started winning. Vand's advice on how to clean up my game was simple and neat from the start and after seeing the change in my winrate, it can only be correct. I see now after the last episode of how much better I can do with this new information and how much study there actually is in the SNG.

Congratulations Velo, This series was worth an annual subscription on it's own and it's great to see your results reflect the quality of the series.

Don't let fame go to your head LoL
I think from reading your encouragng advice on the forums that it certainly hasn't.

Maybe you'll do your very own series soon!

Well done Vandweller and Veloblank. Really good series. The one thing that I have an issue with is from episode 1. I know Vandweller said that it was a controvertial point - but the whole thing about playing when you don't feel like playing is something for me does not work. When I play during the times when I don't feel like playing I lose a lot.

But anyway, whatever, thanks for the series. It taught me a lot, tilt doesn't really happen so much these days and am now a winning player at sit and gos and think that this series has played a part.

Thought Veloblank's gratitude at the end was great. I was hoping that he would do a Gwyneth Paltrow at the Oscars and start sobbing, but sadly not. ;-)

I am thoroughly looking forward to Van's next series.

Wow. This video really made me rethink a lot of the way I think about sit and gos. If your book is full of information like this, where can I preorder?? An entire series like this would be so amazing, plzplzplzplzplz.

I am going to have to rewatch and take notes at least one more time, if not twice.

Ok, so I had a question about principle #2, but then realized that it didn't really make sense in the context in which you explained it in the video.

In the video, you talk about it as a way of assessing your hand when calling a shove. Is it possible to use the same logic when assessing your hand when making a shove?

PS: I really enjoyed the series. Good luck velo in your progression as a player and I really hope to see a lot more of vandweller in the future on Deuces Cracked.

Well done Vandweller and Veloblank. Really good series. The one thing that I have an issue with is from episode 1. I know Vandweller said that it was a controvertial point - but the whole thing about playing when you don't feel like playing is something for me does not work. When I play during the times when I don't feel like playing I lose a lot.

Its late and i havent had a chance to watch this vid yet because im lazy and also only just got my new computer today...but i just want to reply to this quote as i remember the point he made and I myself have gone through these situations.

I dont think you should play when you feel HORRIBLE or something bad happened, like a break-up, not doing as well as you hoped in RL, getting fired or something like that. But there is a difference between taht and not feeling like playing. There are alot of times when id rather just laze on the couch or do something else, but i force myself to put in the 100 FTP volume necessary to qualify for gold ironman. I play slightly less well tehn i would if i really wanted to play, but not very noticably so...im not on tilt, i just force myself to work as if its a job. I mean you cant just wake up and be like...fuck i dont feel like going to work today, you go and make teh best of it...

Its late and i havent had a chance to watch this vid yet because im lazy and also only just got my new computer today...but i just want to reply to this quote as i remember the point he made and I myself have gone through these situations.

I dont think you should play when you feel HORRIBLE or something bad happened, like a break-up, not doing as well as you hoped in RL, getting fired or something like that. But there is a difference between taht and not feeling like playing. There are alot of times when id rather just laze on the couch or do something else, but i force myself to put in the 100 FTP volume necessary to qualify for gold ironman. I play slightly less well tehn i would if i really wanted to play, but not very noticably so...im not on tilt, i just force myself to work as if its a job. I mean you cant just wake up and be like...fuck i dont feel like going to work today, you go and make teh best of it...

The comparison with a job is somewhat tenuous. A better comparison would be self employment. If you had your own business and you knew that when you worked and were not in the right frame of mind you lost money, but when you were in the right frame of mind you made money, the solution would be obvious. Don't work when you are not in the right frame of mind - right?

I know that when I play poker and can't be bothered, I get bored, I lose focus and more times than not I lose money. When I'm on it, focussed and in the right mood, I make money. Therefore, the solution to me is obvious - don't play when I'm not in the right frame of mind.

I'm not being deliberately obtuse, just making the point that from the series, I am not convinced over this issue. Of course Vandweller did say this issue was somewhat controversial.

Think it's controversial to the point that sometimes you just need to put the time into starting games and folding/calling your way to some profit, which is more than $0. Once you start the games you can play at least some volume with half a brain. After grinding for a long time some of the games can become automatic and you can log into some more games to meet a volume goal before shutting down for the day.

SNGs aren't rocket science, they just require some thought processes at certain junctures. Volume is a grinder's best friend. Every time you fire up another SNG you are giving yourself a chance to add to your ROI%. While I agree there are times that you probably should not play poker, relationship break-ups, emotional ups and downs, etc., it's not the same for everybody, so volume is how you deal with the variance. And you can only put in volume when you put in the time.

Well done Vandweller and Veloblank. Really good series. The one thing that I have an issue with is from episode 1. I know Vandweller said that it was a controvertial point - but the whole thing about playing when you don't feel like playing is something for me does not work. When I play during the times when I don't feel like playing I lose a lot.

But anyway, whatever, thanks for the series. It taught me a lot, tilt doesn't really happen so much these days and am now a winning player at sit and gos and think that this series has played a part.

Thought Veloblank's gratitude at the end was great. I was hoping that he would do a Gwyneth Paltrow at the Oscars and start sobbing, but sadly not. ;-)

I am thoroughly looking forward to Van's next series.

Thanks Saxby. Much appreciated when I hear about the series helping fellow SNG grinders. Vandweller has a lot of good things coming in the future. His content (book, vids, coaching site) could put SNGs back on the map. I'll be a DC Tournamentor until the day they pry my fingers from this mouse. Fwiw, I call dibs on a series called "Tournamentor" with guest appearances by Vandweller

This is a question for Vandweller.. Can you do a favor for a subscriber who came back from vegas a week ago with his tail between his leggs? lol
In this last video you mentioned getting your GF's current account setup with rack back.. I think I have AP setup throught this site but I would like to get my current FT account to have rackback through DC as well. What was the wording and and process for doing so? please?? I can give you my email if its better served there. Thanks either way as this video series rocked BTW.
mastertex
hfisher101@yahoo.com

This episode was really helpful, thank you both!

Sorry to drag this one back up but i am only half way through the series, and my game has changed.
Vandweller, you have a certain hypnotic tone to your voice and i for one dont care if you go on for hours lol.
Easy listening, sound advice, and put in a way my dog could understand.
Infact he is multi tabling as we speak:-)
Again well done, my first week as a member and this series is just the nutzz........

Time Link to 00:27:35

so the underdog fairs better in this hand due to ICM? because his ROI% in a cash game would be -18% now with ICM it only -9.83%.

I think the theory covered in this video is simply great for SNG players. Fundamental stuff that isn't really covered in most vids. Excellent.

I think the theory covered in this video is simply great for SNG players. Fundamental stuff that isn't really covered in most vids. Excellent.

You are just now realizing this?

No but just going over the vids again & still leave me dumbfounded at how clear you make everything.

This series is really good. I'm French and I don't always understand the videos but yours are very well made (with lots of written text) and I understand quite well when you speak (good phrase). Since I started playing seriously, with videos of my first account and now with my new subscription, I finally wins in 2.25$ SNG (ROI 25.9, +144$). I started playing 4 tables and it's good. Thank you for all your help !

Thanks for your kind words and welcome to DC. Hope to see you around the forums.

nice

omfg. rewatched this start to finish for probably the first time since it was filmed. THIS IS GOLD!!!!!

I've just watched the whole series and found it very beneficial. However, at the start of this episode, we see Veloblank's graph on a nice steady rise. I just checked on Sharkscope to see how he progressed after the series, and it became a bit of a rollercoaster. According to SS he's now played 5000 games and his profit is less than it was after the 900 odd games at the start.

This isn't meant to sound mean or critical (honestly!) but I'm just wondering if Veloblank (Or Vandweller) had any thoughts on what went wrong? Everything seemed to be going nicely, but obviously something didn't quite work...any thoughts?

I've blogged (bitched) consistently about this, to the point where I no longer wanted to focus on the negative parts of my game, but to just start working on the parts giving me trouble.

I'll be the first to admit I had trouble with turboes, all the way up to maybe a few months ago. Then I really started having great study sessions, note-taking on certain opponents, and just generally cleaning up my game.

It was more of a psychological thing at Stars where I felt trapped in the $3.40 10-mans and every time I tried $6.50's I just ran badly/played badly at the worst times. I've done that a few times now, then would go off elsewhere to keep playing/working on my game.

If anything, I've learned the importance of just continuing to plug away. 5k games of breakeven poker is more than psychologically draining, it's soul-sapping; made me question many times about continuing to stick with 9 man STTs. That said, I've uncovered many exciting things about the game, as it applies to me and how I can get back into the grind and not get chewed up again. But I know if it happens again, I can fight my way out.

And I never will reset my graph. There's a story behind that mess.

And if you want graph pr0n, I've got graph pr0n...

Stars Turbo 10 Mans http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/echecboy/2010-08-01_112252.jpg

Stars 9 Man Regular Speed http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/echecboy/2010-08-01_112229.jpg

Stars $6.50's http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/echecboy/2010-08-01_112314.jpg

Elsewhere, and currently http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/echecboy/2010-08-01_114520.jpg

@velo

First of all, the videos were great, I was pretty much you at the start of vid two when I started watching this, and ICM has really opened me up to a new way of thinking, good job mate.

That aside, have you noticed any specific time of the week/day where the games were more or less softer or harder?

HEM has a great filter that allows you to see your ROI, both raw and EV adjusted over the times of day and the day of the week.

The games are generally better on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, when I could swear I literally hear others paycheck money being deposited and transferred directly to my account.

As far as times, 1600-0000 in EST is probably my primary grind time, although 1300-0000 is not bad either because you catch a lot of the European crowd after their work. During the day it can be a little dried up, grinders and students play a lot during those hours, so it's best to avoid games with a lot of regulars you see.

Not all regulars are great players so you might be ok vs. some, especially micro stakes, but winning regulars can generally be expected to win some equity on average in every tournament you play, so it will effect your ROI.

Really great series! Congrats veloblank. Its crazy to see how much more you know and understand by the final episode.

This final episode is amazing! Every SNG player should watch this many times. I think about these principles alot while playing but ive never really been able to put it into words. Amazing way to explain all this in words!

Im really looking forward to your book vandweller. When is that coming out?

This is indeed very good to watch and I've learned quite a bit. Thank you both for making this. However, I am not sure I quite understand the math at the beginning of Episode Eight. To be honest, I think it's wrong. When you have 25% equity with 4 left in 9player SNG, if you win a headsup, you get his 25% share which makes your equity 50%. So I don't understand where this 12% comes from. I think you probably weighted this twice therefore it's biased. If you are losing 25%, and you are not weighting it, then when calculating winning, it should also be 25% instead of a weighted 12% (I dont care what SNG wizard says, the chips are on the table and we are not talking about how payout structure affects it). I love the straight-shooter talking style of this series, so I am speaking my mind and hopefully not being considered disrespectful. One example, by the same token (or calculation), you should not go all in with AA against KK on the first hand of 9 SNG: -0.11 + 0.11*0.8 is negative EV. This is flat wrong. Or am I missing something obvious?

Oops! I was wrong LOL It did take into account of payout which implied 50% cap for 1st place finish. My bad. Thanks again for the great series.

Time Link to 01:03:49

Wouldn't this level of equity thinking put a halt to playing most hands? It seems like you'd always need to be 80/20+ if you were a chip leader or else be blinded back down to a spot where you are more in a position to gain equity.

Really enjoy this series of videos, Hope to see more like this in the future.

very good series, got a little confused at arts in ep 8 but im sure watching it back not half aslee will hel with that , im new to DC so now gotta find some new vids to watch as this series was occupying al my time on DC

Time Link to 01:10:15

Did this later series happen, if so which series is it? I can't find it under Vandweller's list of episodes by clicking his tag under this video??

I know it's 3 years later but IMO this series is timeless. The advice and reasoning dished out here is second to none.