Zoom Poker is a new direction of online poker cash game, "sharpened" especially for those people who do not like to wait. If you have finished playing your hand and do not want to wait for your opponents to finish playing the hand, then the button Fast Fold instantly transports you to a new one. In theory, in this way it is possible to increase the number of hands played per hour, by 400%.
© PokerStars.com
Hello friends and girlfriends!
Today Sandrix will tell (and show) you why you should pay close attention to the well-known Zoom poker, and maybe even completely switch to it from the disciplines you are used to today.
Disclaimer: the article will focus on low limits (up to NL25 inclusive) in the format 6-max, although most of it is also true for other limits and formats.
The essence of zoom poker is that a pool is automatically formed from several hundred players of the limit, the participants of which are subsequently randomly (or almost randomly) seated at the tables of the selected format (6-max or full ring) for exactly one hand. Upon completion of the distribution (or by pressing the quick fold button), the player is automatically moved to the newly created table with the next random opponents from his pool.
Here is another talkative missile defense system that explains it well in Shakespeare's language:
In short, innovation in all fields (once there was), revolution in the world of online poker and all that. Now let's move on to the main, more prosaic and practical part of this article. For the reasons why you should look towards this very zoom. So,
The first and foremost reason is "rakeback" - more hands are played per hour at Zoom Poker.
One zoom table allows you to play non-stop about 300 hands per hour (on "regular" tables this figure fluctuates around 75), so the loud statements by developers about a 400% increase in your distance per unit of time are not so far from the truth ... Simple arithmetic tells us that on 4 zoom tables in such a way it is possible to win back an average of 1000-1200 hands per hour, not really straining at the same time, in contrast to the mental stress in the "classic" mass multitabling, but we will talk about this later.
I said exactly on 4 tables, because at the time of this writing, only 4 entrances to one pool are allowed in the zoom by default. That is, only 4 tables of the same type of poker can be played at the same time in a single format(say 6-max NL25). At the same time, no one prohibits connecting additional limits or switching to the same full ring. However, practice shows that not every modern adherent of the cult of the name Nanonoko will master even 8 zoom tables at the same time.
Anyway, what does this reason tell us? The fact that even in draconian conditions with virtually no rakeback for every low-plus or even near-zero regular, there is still an opportunity to feel the depth of the phrase "living on rakeback" thanks to the zoom (especially in cheap China!). After all, every self-respecting Jew knows: more hands per hour = more rake (and "rakeback", respectively).
Thus, if you manage to maintain your usual win rate (which will be discussed later), then you will earn more money in the zoom thanks to all sorts of Starz "stellars" and other bonuses, because you will get much more FPPs in the same time, that ordinary tables would play. Oh how.
The second and unobvious reason, bankroll - you need fewer buy-ins to play at PokerStars Zoom.
Unlike multi-tabling in the usual mode, when a significant part of the bankroll is distributed between 9-16 tables, from the previous paragraph about 4 tables in the zoom follows the nuance that you actually need fewer buy-ins of the limit in order to comfortably ride this format, because for each of the tables you can take initially, a maximum of 100bb (or 4 full stacks).
Many of you have probably come across a situation when you are sitting at one of the tables and stupidly cannot buy more, because the entire bankroll in the room is "smeared" across the rest of the tables. And here you need to look for which table is better to close in order to buy more on the current one, time and focus are lost. One disorder and nerves in general.
In zoom, most adherents of aggressive bankroll management will appreciate the moment that you can keep in the room no more than 20 buy-ins of the working limit and at the same time feel like Sheinberg's in the bosom (with a positive winrate, of course). On average, whichever BRM you use, you can follow a simple rule: 1 buy-in of zoom = 3 buy-ins for "regular" poker. That is, if your usual BRM is 60bi, then for zoom you need exactly those 20 bi. And this is also, one might say, a relatively conservative BRM.
The third and important reason, time-saving: Zoom Poker makes it easier to organize your gaming session.
The mechanics of the zoom are such that, unlike ordinary tables, where you are in fact tied to a successful line-up / position / fish / etc (and therefore cannot flexibly manage your time), here you are absolutely not dependent on anything. Have some non-poker friends suddenly come to visit? I pressed the sit-out in the zoom and went to hang out with the corefans. Wife urgently asks to fix the outlet? I ticked the same box and reinforced it. Remembered an urgent matter during the session? Well, you get the idea.
By the way, it is the zoom that gives the freedom that cashheviks love to sing about, extolling themselves over MTT-"slaves" who, by the nature of their activity, need to sit, without looking up, sometimes for several days in front of the monitor, without closing their eyes. So, a cash game at regular tables is essentially no different from hours of tournament vigils, because in the event of a forced break, you will most likely lose your place at the table (and miss out on profits). But what is most annoying of all - then you have to painfully search for a suitable table again ... In a zoom, such a problem cannot exist by definition.
The fourth and controversial reason, table-selectable: In PokerStars Zoom, no one can "hunt" you
From the previous paragraph on table search, we smoothly move on to one of the most vital aspects of online poker (and of all poker in general) - the choice of a game. As already mentioned, in the zoom there is no such possibility by design, however, in addition to the obvious disadvantage, which is the impossibility of deliberately sitting in a pose to the fish, there is also a not so obvious, but no less positive side of coinflip: more sophisticated and advanced ® sharks of your limit will not be able to sit next to you! That is, the absence of bumhunt in the zoom works in both directions (and you don't need to fool yourself with the thought that only the eggs of the regular nl100500k are cooler than you).
As for the rest of the tableselect criteria, you still have notes, zoom, and dynamics at your disposal. Yes, the dynamics. Don't be fooled by those recreational gamers who say it's missing from the zoom. It is there, just in a slightly different form. To feel it, you need to play a more or less sane distance there (at least 100k hands), so here, guys, don't blame me without examples.
Plus, save on specialized software like TableScanTurbo, which a player needs to zoom like a trout with an eighth fin.
Reason 5 and underestimated, winrate: At Zoom Poker, a lot of people play too straightforward.
Despite the fact that the zoom has already been a hundred years old at lunchtime (not to mention its older brother c), people at low stakes still have not adapted to a new format for themselves, playing exclusively on the card and not really thinking about the opponent's ranges. In general, a looser zoom game is our everything. Even in their VODs on the zoom poker strategy, that some of their ranges can only benefit from the zoom, especially at small limits, where the rake charged is higher and, accordingly, the money won by aggressive 3-bets and 4-bets is an additional increase to the win rate. Because pots are rake-free preflop. So that.
In addition, experience shows that such a fast poker format, which is zoom, today is an excellent option for idle pastime for your favorite office workers from the European region. In other words, it is much more fun for the average fish to fold and immediately start playing the next hand, drinking the whole thing with Friday beer, than to sit and wait for the remaining five avatars at the table to figure out which of them is more skillful postflop. And if we add to this the fact that you can play zoom today even from a mobile phone ...
In general, I hope that you get my idea and you will no longer be afraid of ominous stories from familiar nit, they say, there is no one to profit from in the zoom, the fish / reg ratio is worse than usual, and in general, they say, online poker is dead. Now I will prove to you the opposite by my own example.
The sixth and unexpected reason, Sandrix's: 6bb / 100 is the real win rate at NL25 at Zoom Poker 6-max for 100k hands
In preparation for this article, I as an experiment Zoomed over 100,000 hands over the past month at NL25 at 6-max on PokerStars. The limit was chosen from the position of bankroll management, as well as from the fact that with NL25, in my opinion, in today's reality, you can start earning more or less adequate money "for a living" (although jedem das seine, of course). I played 4 tables, about 2-5k hands per day (not on all days of the month, I missed it). The results, as they say, are "on the scoreboard" in front of you (clickable):
From about a third of the cut, he significantly changed the game, starting to experiment much more aggressively with constant 3bet / 4bet / 5bet wars preflop against most regs, finding himself in many ambiguous situations postflop with marginal hands. Closer to the end of the segment, I went deeper into this matter (the red one began to slowly rise from the bottom of the chart). However, as one of the locals accurately noted at Pokeroff, playing is the best training for playing. ©
Let's move on to statistics. Here is a set of my main indicators for the specified period:
Well, for positions also:
In general, ask your questions in the comments to this post if you have any. Finally, if all my attempts to convince you of the cumulative pluses of the zoom turned out to be in vain, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the opinions of those who are able to earn their bread with sprats on an ongoing basis, and not just as an experiment like all sorts of upstroke sandrixes.
So, below you will find professional opinions on the Zoom format.
shatkhi (low limit plus regular):
The advantages of zoom are obvious - no need to waste time on select, many hands per hour. But this is balanced by the main disadvantage - the compositions are very tight, the average level is higher than at ordinary tables of the corresponding limits ("however, from the fact that the fish are tighter, it does not follow that the winrate ceiling is low - you just need to play loose and steal small and medium pots" - note from jjjean).
Ivan Demidov (runner-up WSOP 2008):
Zoom is ideal for training. A high level of play, many hands per hour, plus it is very convenient that you can sit down at the table within a second and leave just as quickly if necessary.
PekarStas (trainer, regular):
Zoom poker is interesting to me only from the point of view of playing from the iPad. It so happened that I do not share the policy of stars in many matters, but I cannot deny myself the pleasure of playing with my iPad in my free time. It's great to kill time on the road or lying on the couch by playing for yourself 4 zoom tables or even a zoom tournament.
Here are a couple more reviews from foreign colleagues about zoom:
Pavel "Verneer" Nazarevich (famous trainer, regular, author of books):
Zoom tables: Much easier to start / end games and thus a superior option for people without a lot of time. Some fish might like it less since they don "t have time to develop reads and establish dynamics with their opponents. Regular tables: If you find a fish at one of your tables, you don" t get moved the next hand. On the other hand, if you are multi-tabling, starting / ending sessions takes significantly longer.
Time-tell software developer TimeMojo (regular NL200):
Zoom is a great platform for players who are looking to improve their games and move up in stakes. While playing fewer tables, the player can focus more on each hand without being distracted by others. The dynamic of being with different players in different positions in every hand is good for mental development as well. Timing tells tend to be more reliable in zoom games because your average user is playing fewer tables. Players tend to perform all of their 'standard' actions quickly, while non-standard actions like bluffs or strong hands are more likely to be deviated from their normal quick timing range.
So that is all. I hope that now I have managed to convince at least someone who mastered this wall of text, if not go, then at least try Zoom. And if so, then, as a postscript, I will put you the right music, to which you need to roll in the zoom. The composition, by the way, is called that, Zoom - My Soul:
In 2010, when Full Tilt was considered the best room, a new poker format appeared - Rush Poker. A discipline in which you could play at least twice as many hands in an hour as in regular poker. The game continued without stopping, several opponents constantly replaced each other. Then this Rush poker seemed like something revolutionary, but today fast poker can be found in any room. At PokerStars - Zoom, - fastforward, - SNAP, Titan Poker, (iPoker) - Speed, (MPN) - Blaze.
Fast poker has become a native discipline for many regulars. Perhaps the most famous among them in the Russian-speaking poker community is Anatoly "Dykalis" Zyrin.
The good thing about fast poker is that the hands never stop. That is why this discipline is so popular among rakeback grinders and those who want to quickly clean up the bonus. If you would also like to master this discipline, here are some tips for playing Zoom and its variants.
- You don't need to throw all your hands into a pass while waiting for the monster. It doesn't work that way. Yes, players will perceive your game a little differently, but in general, the fundamentals of the game remain the same.
- Don't get into the habit of constantly clicking the Fast Fold button. Sometimes players just “catch the rhythm” and start throwing premium hands. Move the cursor away from the Fast Fold button and first take a look at your hand before making any decision.
- Don't screw yourself up. If the hand really looks strong, play it just like you would in regular poker.
- Don't overplay your hands. If the player is showing a strong line, lean more towards the fact that he does it with a strong hand.
- Don't forget to open from the button! The button is still your most profitable position. The blinds are still in the dark, so keep stealing them
- Try writing notes. In fast poker, this is quite difficult to do. Therefore, the best way out is to mark the hands, review them in HM or PT and make notes. Neglecting this advice can cost you a lot of money over the long haul.
- Compare bonuses, promotions, rakeback. Please note that not every room supports third-party software.
Open ranges from different positions in Zoom
UTG - VPIP 11.8%, open-raise size 4x
This range means we will never get into trouble. We have a strong opening range, and with a 4x size we get the most value out of our calling and 3-betting ranges. We are always in control of the pot, and it’s very easy to remember which hands we’re playing preflop.
Average Position (MP) - VPIP 15%, open-raise size 3.5x
Opening 3.5x on a solid range allows you to play pots with strong hands or hands that hit the flop well that will not be dominated. Again, it's very easy to remember which hands we call, fold, 3-bet.
Cutoff (CO) - VPIP 25.5%, open-raise size 3x
Open wider from the cutoff. A 3-bet from the opponent will stop us, of course, but you will steal a few pots. Some hands can be dominated by calling, but aggression in the form of continuation bets on the flop will help win the pot. Postflop play should be about making continuation bets on good boards. At the same time, you should not be afraid to check behind your opponent or fold cards when the board does not fit at all.
Button (BTN) - VPIP 42.15%, open-raise size 2.5x
2.5x is different from the usual 2x raise. The point is that regulars will call less often for this size (and higher). We also open hands that play well postflop, so it's hard for us to get into the tough hands again. We are still continuing to steal the blinds. And, again, don't be afraid to fold if the board didn't suit you at all, as, for example, with A2o on the 789ss board.
These tips will help you get started with quick poker. Remember that poker is a game that needs constant improvement. Work on your own game and watch others play.
Source pokervip.com, translated by Topflop
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A new type of poker is gaining momentum and is becoming more and more popular with many players around the world.
Modern poker is a sea of possibilities combined with an ocean of offers, novelties and promotions. One of the biggest breakthroughs in the gaming industry has been Zoom Poker. Despite the fact that Zoom poker is considered a relatively new development of the world famous company PokerStars, it has managed to win the hearts of many poker fans. It is worth noting that a similar product called "Rush Poker" was introduced by Full Tilt a few years earlier. However, the hard times that the poker room was going through, being under the auspices of the previous owner, prevented him from completing the implementation and promotion of this development. This allowed the poker giant PokerStars to outflank its competitor and market its product profitably.
Considering the fact that Zoom Poker is very popular among fans of micro-stakes, the famous professional cash player and coach of the DragTheBar website will share his advice on the rules of the game of poker. Nathan "BlackRain79" Williams. According to him, there are no fundamental differences between regular and zoom tables, but there are still differences in strategy. We will talk about them in today's article.
Information gap
To begin with, let us recall that a distinctive feature of this type of poker is the relatively low probability of meeting the same opponent at the same table again. The thing is that after the hand is folded, the player is dealt another at a completely new table with a random composition of participants. Using math, you can calculate the percentage of randomness. For example, if we talk about the pool of players at NL2, then its indicator does not fall below 500 people even during periods of low activity. Thus, we can assume that the chance of a repeated meeting with a certain opponent at 9-max tables is approximately equal to 1 in 55, and at 6-max tables, the probability of such a meeting decreases to 1 time in 83 hands,
Poker strategy against the unknown
In fact, the existence of the randomness factor in poker means that you will always play against a random set of opponents, and you will have to play a huge distance in order to form a reliable and up-to-date base of HUD stats for your opponents. Nevertheless, do not forget that your opponents are in a similar situation. So don't miss out on the opportunity to take advantage of the information gap for your own benefit. Aggressive playstyle early on will allow you to outflank your opponents before they gather the necessary information and begin to adjust to your playstyle.
As a rule, in the beginning, many show a tight game, playing exceptionally strong hands and watching the action. In turn, opponents expect that you, too, will use a similar poker strategy. Here's a tip: take advantage of their naivety and do an unexpected trick like 4-bet bluffing or raising the river on the very first hand. It's no secret that HUD stats are not very popular among micro-stakes players. However, if you do happen to be "lucky" to run into an ardent adherent of statistics, do your best to confuse your opponent and prevent him from realizing that your strategy for playing Zoom Poker is based on fine-tuning skills.
Festival of the Nits
The low win rate in zoom poker is due to the dominance of the tight style of play. A significant breakthrough in this innovative discipline is the fast fold button. Its main purpose is the ability to instantly fold hands, without waiting for the end of the current hand, and get new ones until the player has collected a relatively decent combination in his opinion. The very fact of the existence of this button has created the preconditions for the prosperity of a tight style in the game at zoom tables. For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that this innovation has not spared recreational players either. This gave them the opportunity to fold their weak hands, which helped to improve their level of play and increase their winrate. Of course, no one is talking about the fact that the fish will stop losing at a distance, although this innovation will still allow them to reduce their losses.
Exploiting nit style in zoom poker
As you may have guessed, even fishy opponents were able to master the nit style, but this is not a reason to leave zoom poker. Tight opponents are also exploitable. As a rule, the regulars of these limits are ordinary multi-tablers demonstrating ABC poker. Therefore, the most effective weapon against advanced fish will be a loose-aggressive line of play. How is it implemented in practice?
1. Steal the blinds more often ... A good solution is to expand your open-raising range in any position and simultaneously reduce it to the size of a min-raise, which will reduce the risk in spots when you open-raise with contentious hands.
2. 3-bet and 4-bet more often ... Most Zoom Poker players can easily part with their cards unless they pull the nuts, so a little patience and aggression will help you take a lot of pots.
3. Call preflop. Any sane poker player will not 3-bet with a weak hand; calling preflop in a wider range of hands is a good alternative and exploiting your opponent's weaknesses on the following streets. There are three ways to implement this move:
Float the flop with any equity and bet on the check of the turn
Raise the flop with two overcards, pairs and a draw
Bluffing on the river, provided there is a dangerous card covering flush draws, straight draws and broadways
conclusions
Zoom Poker, like any other discipline, has its pros and cons. Among the advantages is the speed with which the player folds his hand and gets into a new hand at a completely new table. Paradoxically, the other side of the coin has the same advantage - speed like a magnet attracts crowds of multi-tabling nit regulars and juicy fish. Therefore, even a skilled LAG can hardly boast of huge earnings in zoom poker. On the other hand, you don't have to waste your precious time looking for mouth-watering fish.
And finally, one more advice from a professional - do not limit yourself to reading literature and posts on your favorite forums, the information space is replete with an abundance of interesting and useful poker training videos that will certainly contribute to the formation of your gaming image.
Readers of my blog often ask me how to beat NL2 online today. As the person who made $ 20,000 in NL2 (probably the most at this limit?), I feel obligated to answer this question.
Most NL2 games in 2019 are full of newbies and people new to poker. Therefore, this limit is ideal for a beginner player who wants to learn how to play poker and wants to quickly achieve success at the poker tables.
1. Play tight
The first step to winning NL2 is very simple, but this is where most people go astray. You have to play tight!
- 6-handed - Play 20% of the best starting hands.
- Full Ring - Play 15% of the best starting hands.
This means that you should only play your pocket pairs, high aces, broadways, suited aces and suited connectors.
Here are some charts to help you visualize my recommendations:
6-max
Full ring
Now I have to mention that you can start playing a few more hands when you are in late position (BTN or CO) to try and soften the blinds. But for the most part, the key to winning at NL2 is simply playing tight.
There are a bunch of really weak players at this limit who like to see the flop with almost any two cards. It follows that the way to defeat them is simply to play with better hands than they are playing. This will give you the opportunity to form the best pair, the best flush, the best kicker, and so on. The # 1 reason novice players can't beat NL2 is because they play too many weak hands.
Play more better hands than your competitors and you will start winning NL2. This is absolutely true.
2. Raise preflop
The next thing you need to know to beat Nl2 is that aggression almost always wins in poker. This is why I advise you to raise almost always when you decide to play any of the above hands.
Even if someone limps in front of you, raise. My suggestion is to raise 3 big blinds plus 1 big blind for every limper ahead of you. For example, if you have A ♦ K ♠ on BTN and you are the first to trade preflop, you must raise to 6 cents. If you have one limper in front of you, then your raise sizing should be 8 cents.
Also, if someone has already raised to you, I recommend that you 3-bet your premium hands most of the time (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AK). If you are in position, 3-bet 3x your open raise; if out of position - 4x.
For example, if you have A ♦ K ♠ on BTN at NL2 and someone has 6 cents in front of you, you should 3-bet to 18 cents. If you are on the BB with the same hand and someone did not open in front of you with the SB, then your 3-bet size should be 24 cents.
The essence of this advice is to be aggressive as often as possible, and not just limp like everyone else. By the way, it is because of passive play that limpers lose at a distance. Always try to seize the initiative in the hand and control the action, because these are the things that will make your game profitable.
As I always say, you may not even believe my words, but simply take and check this statement yourself. All you have to do to do this is open Poker Tracker or Holdem Manager and compare your win rates when you raised preflop and limped preflop. I guarantee you that your win rate when you raise will be significantly higher than when you limp.
3. Play in position
It doesn't matter if you play Zoom, 6-handed or full ring, the key to winning in these formats is to take advantage of the position to your advantage. As I often say in my books, the two pillars of success in winning at low limits boil down to initiative and position.
The advantages of playing with initiative we just discussed above: you should raise or re-raise most of the time when you decide what to do preflop.
But you should also use position power as often as possible, trying to play as many hands from late position as possible (especially with BTN and CO).
If you are in early position or in the blinds, you should play very tight. Play only the strongest hands from the charts above.
However, if you are in late position (BTN or CO), then you should play all the hands from the charts above and beyond.
Again, you don't have to take my word for it. Just run your stats collector and filter your winrate by position. You will surely find that your BTN or CO win rate will be much higher than any other position. This is why it makes sense to play wider ranges from late positions.
4. Patience and multi-tabling
To play tight, you need to learn to be patient or master the art of multi-tabling.
The point is that the reason many NL2 players play too many hands is because they just get bored. If you get bored at the poker table, then you are simply not serious about winning. Playing with a lot of bad hands out of boredom is the lot of undisciplined amateurs who just want to have fun.
It's perfectly okay if you play poker just for fun and don't care about winning. But I suspect this is not the case if you are reading this article.
Professional poker players or people who play poker for additional income understand that discipline is an important part of a profitable strategy.
If your goal is to win, but you still can't deal with boredom while playing, then my advice is to simply start playing more tables. Why? Everything is very simple - playing at a large number of tables, you simply will not have time to draw any garbage!
When you learn to play at 2, 4, 10 or 20 tables, trust me, you won't have time for boredom! I understand that some might think that playing at so many tables is crazy, but it's not as difficult as you might think at first glance.
Absolutely anyone can master the art of multi-tabling. Personally, I have played millions of hands online at low limits, and most of them were played during my 20 or 30 table game.
5. Always value bet
Many NL2 players are still telephones these days. Even a lot of regulars at this limit don't know how to fold when the situation calls for it! I recently played a total of 6 hours at Zoom, 6-max and full ring at NL2, and there was a big fish at every table.
So how do you defeat such weak players? Very simple - you should value bet their wide range of continuation and almost never bluff. What do I mean by “value bet”? What I mean is that whenever you have a high probability of the best hand, you bet. Even if you have middle pair, it will still often be the best hand as the phones call with every ridiculous draw they make.
The gist of this tip is that the key to winning NL2 is to always get value from your weaker opponents. In other words, you should not miss out on profitable situations for value betting, even if the bet is only a couple of cents, because in the distance all this additional value will separate you from low-plus or near-zero players.
You will often wonder what kind of hands your opponents will call you with! I've often received river calls from hands like Q-high when playing NL2.
6. Learn to read hands
Hand reading sounds like a tricky term, but it's actually very simple. If you know what type of player is in front of you, then you already know his range.
For example, a tight player who raises preflop and then bets the flop and turn will have a very narrow range, mostly made up of strong hands (top pair or better).
On the other hand, a loose maniac might choose the same lane, but there will be a lot more bluffs and junk in his range.
How to determine the type of your opponent? The easiest way is to use HUD stats. When I play 20 or 30 tables in NL2, I can't tell which playstyle my opponent is using if my HUD is off.
Even if you are not using a HUD (or playing live), it is still quite easy to determine what type of player you are facing. This can be done by observing your opponent. Has your opponent only played 2 hands in the last hour and won a small pot with a very strong hand? Well, this is the classic tight-passive style of play. Has your opponent played 20 hands in the last hour and made a few calls on the river with trash? Here is a fish or a whale!
7. Enjoy the madness
The last piece of advice I can give you so that you can start beating NL2 is to come to terms with all the madness that will happen to you during the game in advance.
Look, since I have a huge profit on NL2, you can't even imagine how many bad beats I suffered before making this profit. NL2 is pure madness. The bad beats at this limit are endless and sometimes fantastic, which is why I often call NL2 “Circus”.
Therefore, you need to learn how to just leave the game when everything is piling up against you. For example, at times like this I enjoy getting on my motorcycle and riding on the beach.
If during the session you are faced with a lot of bad beats, then just close the poker client and do what makes you happy, discarding all thoughts of poker. The next day you will be able to return to the tables again, but already in a sober mind.
But with all that, you shouldn't forget that it's actually great that there are so many bad players on NL2 who will call you with absolutely crazy hands and then run over. It is thanks to these players that you can achieve a win rate of 10 or 20 big blinds per 100 hands when playing NL2 (at any other limit you cannot achieve such a win rate over the long run).
But that also means that you have to be prepared to accept countless bad beats if you want to have a high win rate at NL2. You shouldn't take any move as a personal insult, it's just part of the game. In poker, it is very rare for one hand to have 100% equity against the other, so it is not uncommon for weak players to cover their ghostly draws or catch second pair on the river.
No matter how bad a player your opponent is, he will almost always have some equity in the hand. This means that with a loose-passive style of play, they will sometimes realize this equity, pulling you.
The fact that bad players sometimes get lucky is also why they come back to the tables again and again to make another deposit and try their luck.
If you are not ready for all this, then there is no way you can beat NL2.
Quite frankly, a lot of players can't handle it. They lose all their profits on tilt attacks when the fish run over them. Then they go to forums and talk about how "twisted" online poker is.
But the reality is that they simply cannot come to terms with the madness that is inherent in NL2. Don't be like them! Learn to laugh at what is happening, remembering that in the end the math of the game will reward you.
The poker room Poker Stars has presented a new kind of poker, which has definitely won the hearts of some of the players. In other words, this is a new kind of poker from Poker Stars. In fact, this is a completely different game. Studying at the Academy of Poker includes teaching fast poker.
Instead of placing the blinds in a circle, in Zoom Poker we are moved randomly around the tables (one table in this game is actually a tandem of several hundred tables). Thanks to this, non-stop play is achieved. Now you do not need to wait, as before, for the opponents to think, you can simply press the Quick Fold button, and we will immediately be transferred to a new table.
WITH Cu and BU we open with the widest range of hands, since now we have one of the main weapons in poker - POSITION. We play with hands like 22+ , A2s +, A8o +, JT +, suited connectors 45s +.
In the case of a 3bet, you have the option of calling a 3bet, since you have position and you can see what your opponent has done in front of yours. Fold most of the time, as you will have medium strength hands for a significant portion of your late-position opening range. Strong pocket pairs JJ + and a good suited broadway AQs + I would recommend not folding to 3bets and calling in order to play postflop, where these hands are quite tolerable in position.
Before that, we considered the options for opening with a raise in case you make the first move, or there were limpers in front of you. Regarding limps (entering the game first, not by raising, but by calling) - I do not advise, if you enter the game first, then either raise or not. You can cold call only on a set with pocket pairs, if before you there was a raise, a call raise, then it is quite possible to connect in addition to pocket pairs and suited connectors, in multi-pots they are perfectly played in position.
And the last thing 4bet... Do not bluff them on trash, it’s painfully unprofitable (and unnecessary) pleasure in Zoom poker, especially at small limits. Make them only for value bet (against all: KK, AA, against loose opponents: QQ +, AK). Believe me, everyone will pay you in full, so there is no point in using a 4-bet bluff. It only appears at mid-stakes: at least 100 NL.
Yes, and one more piece of advice. About pocket kings... Do you always play them on the stack? In most cases, naturally, yes. However, there are also exceptions. For example, you have accumulated decent poker statistics on opponents (from 500 hands for each), and you, having received KK, you see the following picture: a VERY tight opponent from UTG raises (let his statistics be 6/3), followed by 3 bets from the same tight opponent with 3 bets, 2-3%.
In this case, you can fold quietly their kings and not think about them, since in most cases one of the opponents will have exactly aces. In general, if you run into 4-bet from a very tight opponent, you can seriously think about the pocket kings pass.
