From Live Cash Games to Online MTT Newbie: Studying Poker Hands Like a Pro (with a Little Help from AI)

Hey all you poker fans out there!

As I've been saying, I'm mainly a live cash poker player. But I decided to challenge myself and enter a new frontier: Online Tournament poker. One of the biggest perks of online poker is the ability to study hand history, take notes on your play, and plug those pesky leaks in your game.

When playing live, I usually keep a journal of my play. I jot down hands I'm not sure I played correctly and review them before my next session. But let's be real, my notes aren't always as accurate as I'd like them to be. Trying to remember the exact action, body language, and effective stacks of each player involved... that's a lot of data to keep track of, especially during long sessions.

So, after my last online session, I decided to enlist the help of ChatGPT to go over my hand history and analyze my leaks. Sure, there's specialized software out there designed for this process, but for now, I'm starting with AI. If and when I realize online poker is my jam, I'll invest in the fancy tools.

Let's Get This Show on the Road!

Here's what ChatGPT had to say after analyzing my $3 buy-in Hold'em tournament hand history:

Based on the hand history provided, here are five main areas of improvement that could help you enhance your tournament poker performance:

1. Overcommitting with Strong Hands Preflop (AK, QQ, etc.)
2. Evaluating Pot and Implied Odds More Effectively
3. Bluffing and Semi-Bluffing Decisions
4. Managing Short Stacks Effectively
5. Position Awareness

Now, let's dive deeper into some specific hands from my hand history that were identified as potential leaks. We'll go through each hand, break down the key decisions, and see how we can refine our thought process and decision-making in similar situations.

Hand #TM3696189968: Don't Fall in Love with AK Preflop

Scenario: You were dealt Ace-King (AK) preflop, a powerhouse hand that justifies aggression. However, after pushing preflop and getting called, the post-flop board didn't exactly roll out the red carpet for your hand. Despite this, you kept betting aggressively.

Recommendation:

• Control the Pot Size: AK is a premium hand preflop, but it's still a drawing hand. When the board doesn't connect (no ace or king), it's time to re-evaluate.
• Adapt Post-Flop: If you miss the flop, it's okay to take a more passive line, especially if you're out of position. A check-fold or check-call might be the smarter play than firing multiple barrels.

Remember: Don't let your love for AK blind you to the reality of the board.

Hand #TM3695920632: Bluffing Ain't Easy

Scenario: You attempted a bluff or continuation bet with a mediocre hand, hoping for some fold equity. But your opponent wasn't having it, and their kicker reigned supreme by the river.

Recommendation:

• Board Texture Awareness: Bluffing is most effective when the board supports a believable story. Semi-bluffs (betting with a draw) work best on dry boards or when you have strong draws. In this hand, the board probably didn't offer much credibility to your bluff.
• Opponents’ Tendencies: Consider if your opponent is a "calling station." Bluffing loose players is usually a recipe for disaster.
• Sizing: When bluffing, make sure your bet sizing is appropriate. If you bet too small, you're practically inviting calls from weak hands.

Remember: Bluffing is an art, not a science. Choose your spots wisely and size your bets strategically.

Hand #TM3696189955: Short Stack Shenanigans

Scenario: You were short-stacked and folded a middling hand (Td 6h) that might have been a good opportunity to make a stand.

Recommendation:

• Maximizing Fold Equity: With a short stack, fold equity becomes your best friend. When you're short, you need to be more aggressive, especially from late position or in blind vs. blind situations.
• Position and Stack Sizes: Consider the position and stack sizes of your opponents. If you're on the button or in the small blind with a short stack, shoving with a hand like Td 6h might be profitable if you expect your opponent to fold most hands.

Remember: When you're short-stacked, it's time to go big or go home. Don't let those blinds eat you alive!

Position Awareness: It's All About Location, Location, Location

Scenario: Across several hands, you played speculative or weak hands out of position, missing opportunities to control the pot when you had the advantage.

Recommendation:

• Play Tighter Out of Position: Hands like suited connectors or weaker broadway hands should be played more cautiously out of position.
• Aggressively Use Position: When you're in position, be aggressive in exploiting weaker or passive players.

Remember: Position is power in poker. Use it to your advantage!

General Improvements for Better Decision Making

1. Improving Post-Flop Play with Premium Hands: Don't blindly fire bets just because you have a strong hand preflop. Be selective and adapt to the board texture.
2. More Selective Bluffing: Bluff on boards where it makes sense, and your opponent is likely to have missed. Avoid bluffing calling stations and don't overuse bluffs on draw-heavy boards.
3. Adjusting to Stack Sizes: When short-stacked, aggression is key. Identify good shoving spots early before you're too short to have any fold equity.

That's a Wrap!

If you have any more insights after watching the video of my session (link above!), I'd love to hear from you. Let's keep learning and growing together on this poker journey!

See you at the tables!

Alon Marcus