Darrenrose32

Clearly we didn’t see all the hands played, but you picked up some very nice ones! Ryan, I feel like you are a bit too critical of some of Mona’s instinctual play (in the moment, obviously there is a sense of what feels right); with that said, you did offer some strong points, which should be considered during play. I think there were a few mistakes along the way with the KQdiamonds and the ATos. I would prefer to defend the KQ not to get blown off my equity, and 3bet the AT pre. I don’t think you address the idea of defending the KQ well; there are other layers that we are adding to our game if we mix in hands like this in our calling range. Overall, it seemed that your major difference with Mona was her bet sizing. In my opinion, it is a little too transparent to be betting in such a linear fashion-attempting to garnish calls or folds based on your hand strength correlated to your bet sizing. Instituting bet sizes that are more range reflective would be suggested. In that, I enjoyed you two working together , and the insight you both provided. What was the payout structure? You left that out. I’m interested in how weighted 1st place was and of collecting bounties truly incentives more so then ICM or vis versa? Thanks

Is that scarcastic? I’m a member not a tutor; just offered feedback, as I thought you would. If you are indifferent to my commentary, then I will not pursue explanation. If you feel like there’s merit to my questions/ suggestions , I welcome a thoughtful response. Ty

Hi Phil, Definitely like that you decided to mix in the higher stakes live games. Watching you play online is great, but I don’t feel like it is indicative of your actual game. Of course there are always some fundamental differences that occur based on the nature of the stakes and game (online vs live). With that said, I know you do your best to attempt to stay balanced in your play. In this particular game, there are a few players that have several layers of complicity to their games. At the 44 min mark , you mentioned something about Asby’s lead with Top set AAA without a gut-shot - as in general terms (if you don’t have a gut shot with the top set); I’m sure you realize he did have a gut shot to compliment his hand. Are you suggesting another line other then betting if he’s minus a gut shot or set + draw. Essentially, would you check otherwise and attempt to trap (ck raise) or slow play by calling down if bet into? Remember, a straight is possible. Thanks for the work. As a side note: I do prefer the games that you are playing in. I think it adds to the level of thought process because we can see your in game actions, and then later asses what we can derive from the hands played. As you can give your clear perspective of what you were thinking in game; we don’t have that same luxury of the other players - that is to know what they were thinking. So for this reason, from a theoretical standpoint, I believe it enriches the learning process. Lastly, when you do play online, are you able to show any higher stakes games or some more headup play? In my opinion, I believe you play your best in these games, which in turn offers the best teaching! Thank you!

This is a difficult thought to express; I will do my best to explain my interruption. Firstly, I believe your thought processs and analytical approach of the game is rich and profound. I certainly see that you feel comfortable playing the game (that is, without hesitation or indifference toward various holdings and boards). I found it useful to listen to your explanations. On the other side of the coin, I do think that your game kinda reflected your holdings. Which is no slight, but a theoretical principle that carries tremendous thought. Essentially, we are alll trying to avoid being exploited and in that gain success at poker. Where I feel like your explanations are profound, I also see some flaws. Best stated: I was conflicted about your play (betting sizes + opponent’s betting); and equilibrium. Now this could be a vast , hardy discussion... which I’m basically touching upon what I though needs further explanation. I wonder if you realize the way you played these hands with consideration of ranges/frequencies or if your sort of on auto pilot because of your experience? I think it’s worth mentioning that boards you ck raised (I believe once, was a paired board that is overly bluffed by so many when they see flops containing that texture- Even S Chidwhick went for that play and basically busted out of this year’s poker Masters , event 7 vs Dan Smith. What I’m suggesting is that these commonalities are somewhat obvious and divate from intuitive thinking - knowing this spot is over bluffed. Then there was some question when you finally decided to draw a line in the sand with your Ace high call on the river when your opponent value bet a Queen. I agreed with you completely, at that point in the match it certainly felt like he was getting away with way too many probing/ takedown bets. Yet, that hand I wouldn’t of called based on the board and ranges. Can you reflect and give some thought about your play? Also, are you trying to play GTO? Thoughts. Ty

As I said, I seldom do , baby. I just wanted to give constructive criticism. Not out to whine , baby. I just want to get the most out of the teaching. That’s all. If you felt like this was a useful video then kudos. Hope we all can just book big time wins, baby’

Too many screens baby...I got a migraine trying to follow your hands. Plus, you speak inchoately. With so many pauses, I wanted to throw my phone and never play poker again. Come on baby, this is not a way to teach. Refine your practice and take some time preparing your work, baby. I have to give you a D- , and that’s not good. Normally, I’m very generous with my critics , but this gives cause for my lamenting.

Another well put together video! I really enjoy your work. You seemed to have a talant for teaching (especially a complicated game like PLO). I’ve really gained a lot from your work. Interestingly, all the hands you opened contained a pair. I know you were showing hands that drive equity with blocker effects and other elements/ whether to bet or realize our equity and ck... If you can, briefly tell me if you like to play splited pairs such as 66105ds (the reason I’m asking: I know the lower the pair, the worse we become, but you seem to have success with these type of hands). So is there any value in playing a hand like this multiway or I’m just asking for trouble with something so marginal (at best)? Thanks for the work!

Clearly you did an extraordinary amount of research and data collection for this video. I love theory work. I wish you could of simplified your conclusion. I do understand your results, but I must admit it is difficult to keep track of all your sims-especially without you highlighting what we are examining. With that said, I find that you do the most solver work for PLO. So it is definitely helpful to look at your results. Is there a way you can summarize your video without overly complicating things? Essentially, What are the key take aways that can be used in game?

Hello Philip.. You look and sound tiered, take it easy a bit. Anyways, about poker: you see how you were developing reads about your amount by their bet sizes, the same holds true for you when you aren’t eager to stick to the gp of potting it more. If we change our bets based on hand strength or board texture it starts to become transparent! So my question is are you still committed to executing that strategy? Also, at the 45:00 min mark when you make a wheel, but still feel beat, what was it that made you feel like he wasn’t betting worse (your words)? I think you were spot on the entire video , including the hand where you got ck raised when the flush hit- you wanted to pull the trigger but you didn’t have enough equity if he heros. I believe you were right , and he was pushing a naked blocker (sometimes even a King of hearts). In summation, do you think with higher sprs you would of made the move anyways (irrespective of our equity)? Thanks, Darren

On the hand where you made a straight flush with pocket 66s, why do you say the only combination of 66s you can have is the ones you hold? Can’t you have just one 6 like A6, 76, k6 etc...

I liked the pio work. I think the live play
Was a bit too fast to gather a great deal of information. Clearly, you can play at that speed but in order to give good analysis, I think some more time is need to breakdown the play. I don’t know if you make plo videos, but that would also be useful to watch. Ty for the tips.

Sick run. Some nice hand reading in the middle , you were really in a good groove.
One interesting spot for topic: how you played the 99 hand differently on stars then on party poker with similar board texture. What would be your explanation looking back?

Can you explain what you mean by “indifference strategy?” I can glean a bit from your video a premise, but I’m not exactly sure what your defining. Regardless of position, is someone playing a specific strategy or are you mainly speaking in terms of exploiting blinds? The example I’m referring to is on the 10107 board , where your holding 52. Are you suggesting raising as the blind or the button? And you spoke of thresholds- I assuming your speaking of a range that would be calling. Can you give an example of a range on this texture? Thanks!

That’s correct ! Nester, great breakdowns! A lot to remember, but extremely thorough data!

Good work. I do enjoy watching your play and analysis. Looking forward to the next part...

Hi Philip. It was nice to see you change up your game. You were more aggressive and went to pick off some spots. I think you could have done even more of this - especially the 3 bet pot when it come down A9x - You probably would get a lot of folds. Anyway, Just feedback. I like the live play and the format!

Really good video. I liked the spots where you used the solver. There were a few questionable spots, I thought that could have been analyzed as well, But all and all , I felt like it was very comprehensive.

I think you played the 76h poorly. When you get there on the river , you should lead! What was the sense of ck? You don’t need to induce a bluff because you thought he was as strong a 444 even! He would absolutely call off with two pair. And obviously your hand looks like a draw when you just flat the turn re-raise. The range that you gave him didn’t include the obvious OJ of any suit ; which he would of played like that possibly if he picked up a fd to go with it. I think you made a costly mistake (and even getting it all in on the turn could of been an option) your hand you played pretty face up. Just my opinion
I’m going to watch further to see if I have any questions or comments.

I liked the video. I think pio’s software was a bit better visually. So I wouldn’t do too much going back and forth. I feel like I got a decent idea of hands we can lead with into the pfr, but not the complete spectrum. Perhaps, if you broke it down into some categories like you did with the other 3 betting hands from the BB, it would be a little more useful. I also wanted to mention the opposite- hands that should be strictly ck calls or ck folds to a raise and a re-pot. For example let’s assume we held AA2kdd on the 952 diamond board. We ck and get The aforementioned action, stacks are all deep, what would you do? Ty

Very helpful. Good insight on hands and reads on players. Of course this isn’t possible to play live and have all the numbers but still useful information to look at. Looking forward to more videos..:

It’s funny , but the last hand you showed I instantly put the button on that holding or QT or KT, but my first thought was AT. The reason is pretty clear- board texture , opening /calling ranges and our holding. Even though we won the pot, I agree with Ryan - I prefer to be folding the J8 os. It is just so difficult to beat J9, JT, JQ, KQ, AJ and of course we worry about Qx, Kx, Ax hitting turn/ slash river. Be that as it may, I loved the format with you two talking about the hands and the analysis. My question is whether or not we should be opening up wider given our chip position. I know you didn’t show all the hands , but the hands you opened where all in a class 1, 2 range. If we only open these hands and not some others, we become pretty readable. I’m certain the hand with A7 in the big blind was a squeeze (especially following a min raise) ; any thoughts on this?

Very thoughtful answer! I do also have another question: when you got 4 bet by AA and he shoves the flop , your holding was 77; I know the flop looked favorable for your hand, but he did pour in a lot of money- and you just had one pair. Did you run this hand in pio to see if calling that big bet is plus ev or should you be letting it go , even if you think he could have AKS? I’m really curious to see what hands pio would continue with! Ty!

You made some really nice plays (especially raising the flop with the 54d against two callers)! The last hand why didn’t you raise on the flop - for protection and possibly info?

Ok thanks! Will do.

Mobey lead out of the big blind into 3 people, you found it odd given the board- that’s why you tagged him- then you stacked him rather “politely” as you are. Good format, I like these a lot; I wouldn’t mined if you could do a few videos adding a little bit of in-depth theory based analysis. GTO and other PLO theoretical principles. And I have a specific question: yesterday I played a hand AJ82 ds and flopped a boat AA2 on the button. There was a pfr and the raiser lead into me, I raised about 2/3. He had 7k back , I just sat down with 2k (5-5 Plo). He re-raised me , which was my plan and we got it all-in. I faded his outs and won. This worked perfectly , but my question to you is what happens when you have a boat like AA2 where potential every card minus an A or 2 on the turn and river can be scary cards or actual outs- how can I proceed with a boat when these other cards come ? In other words, would you have taken a different line ip and just tried to keep the person betting into you , reduce possible variance? Idk , I just wanted to get it all in when I was good. Ty

Enjoy your video. I would like to get a range from you what hands should be defended from the small blind after a raise? Are hands like QT and JT out? Also, iwhat exploitive strategy are you implementing? Is your goal just to bloat the pot with your big hands by betting larger, or is there more to what your doing by the lines your taking in these hands? Lastly, do you think that you could gain some value from playing some of your hands a bit more straightforward, for example, add some leading into your betting frequencies? Ty

Hi Phil, Firstly, got to tell you I love your name on this site lol! I do like this format a lot, your live play. Yes, it would be nice to have bigger stakes because that’s what I can relate to- I play live cash games- So I don’t know how similar the trends run. With that said, I would like to know how you feel about leading vs ck nuts oop (GTO wise); I feel like I’m betting pot a lot and getting too many folds. Idk, if this is because of me showing too much strength or just some very weak opponents in my last few sessions. Of course, there can be many other factors. But please give me an idea on how I can bet vs ck on certain boards textures for example, i,e, turn the nut flush: bet or ck? Thanks for the videos “Hey Guys”

Good work. I really enjoyed the format. I think there was some strong analysis. I’d like to hear more about the hands that you think are raise folds vs push; and some other related things such as 3bet or calls.

Yes! Very clear answer. My question was a bit difficult to understand upon second glance; but you answered what I wanted to know. The impact or importance of ICM is being aware of its’ framework, and how it effects play. Ty