Why I Hate New School Poker | Poker Vlog #5

[@PhoenixAssassin999]

"I'd rather breakeven for the rest of my life playing poker than have to ever study for one minute." Hahahaha! You are speaking my language dude! Great stuff!

[@NorCal_Poker]

Haha glad someone agrees 🫡

[@christianbackous2608]

at low stakes I think it is suboptimal to play in a pure GTO way. The trick is to find the sweet spot between doing what makes sense from a math perspective, and going with your gut on when to deviate and exploit. Good video this week!

[@NorCal_Poker]

Good point! I think the math is the major key to winning at these stakes. Appreciate your feedback each video!

[@unicornbro517]

@@NorCal_PokerI think the most important thing is fundamentals in low stakes not gto. Even just understanding pot odds and spr is probably enough to get you ahead everyone at your average low stakes table. Especially if you mix that with good enough pre flop play

[@NorCal_Poker]

@@unicornbro517 facts!

[@marksimpson2321]

It is suboptimal to play gto against anything other than gto.

[@jakethesnake1366]

Doyle would be proud. Good video, i liked the opening rant

[@NorCal_Poker]

Thank you, glad I’m not the only one with this opinion!

[@fialee8]

You are right that low stakes, GTO doesn't make sense since you have new players, crazy players, and drunk players. However, as you play higher stakes, and spend 40hr/wk+ playing... then GTO actually makes sense, as that's the "advantage" good players have over rec players. BTW... I was thinking you could wink at us vs blinking more. Just thinking you can mix it up more like your game play.... can't become too predictable. 😜

[@NorCal_Poker]

Haha touché! I’m not saying GTO/studying won’t net more money, I’m sure it will. I just personally refuse to do it 🤣

[@Womenandwine]

GTO is a good strategy to implement until you know how your opponent(s) play. Once you realize their strategy or lack of you create an exploitative one that will generate the most money from their mistakes. But until you know how your opponents play you should play as close to GTO as possible as you are capable of. I think k that’s the best approach

[@tarantulatv7419]

DUUUUUDE Finally someone say true about it and I really HATE these kind of guys also when they tell you after you won/lose your hand “You are so baaad poker player” Like WTF Who give you right to judge someone. I LOVE POKER ❤ But sometimes people are dumb. Love you man keep going with this kind of mindset and show them all about what is POKER. So I’m not only one 😂❤

[@NorCal_Poker]

Can’t stand those guys, just trying to be a voice for the majority! And appreciate all the support 🫡

[@elijahmoua6245]

I’ve always said this about GTO, “learn how to optimally play the spot, and then exploit at your leisure”

[@NorCal_Poker]

🫡

[@johannessmithenstein]

I feel like I just don't get GTO or something. Like, it's supposed to tell you how to optimally play the spot against players that play optimal. If two people are both playing optimal it's just gonna be a luck game that evens out over time. Poker is all about exploitation, that's why there have been pros way before computers even existed. It's a weird preoccupation imo. Maybe i just haven't used it enough.

[@tomniceguy2632]

Great Video! The opening monologue was the best and can't agree more! Good luck making lots of $$$

[@NorCal_Poker]

Thanks Tom! 🍻

[@nadapuesnada7716]

The first couple of minutes of this video is why I subscribed. Thanks!

[@NorCal_Poker]

Thanks for joining!

[@levoriocolin7802]

Your a solid player ive seen all your vlogs and was probably one of your first subscribers. Ive played at both Capitol and Stones and its only now that i recognize you and think we have played the same games. I don't think people understand how wild these games are out here and playing GTO and not deviating is itself is an exploit ive seen it alot and the entitlement tilt it causes. If you have a decent roll and can fade the swings youll do well in these games.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Appreciate it & amen to that. Sac Poker is WILD!!

[@jhonnatangomes1125]

Hey man, fellow poker player here. I think something that is often misunderstood about GTO is that no one should learn it to use it as is at the tables. GTO is the best possible strategy against an unexploitable oponent, but no one plays perfect and thats where GTO knowledge is even more useful. If you understand the theory well, you will know the best strategies to exploit your opponents that deviate too much from it. So GTO is the foundation of exploitative play too, and not something opposite as a lot of people claim. The channel Finding Equilibrium in KZbin explains this very well. Loved your vlog man, keep up the good work and hope you keep improving and going up in stakes :).

[@NorCal_Poker]

I appreciate the insight. That’s a very good way to put it! Appreciate the support as well 🙌🏻

[@smokinjoe4709]

It doesn't take a solver to figure out that the guy playing every fucking hand doesn't have it every time.

[@middlemanning]

solver is fine with reraising im sure but choosing a bigger sizing and jamming rivers

[@BigJerm707]

Dude I left poker for a lot of years and came back after my mom passed last year and what the absolute fuck?! It’s not the game I remember and love

[@NorCal_Poker]

It’s evolved a ton over the years!

[@BigJerm707]

Bro… it’s insane

[@nicklazzaro5055]

I think someone may have said this but in that bomb pot, that guy is 3 betting all in, not 4 betting. Preflop theres blinds that count as the 1st bet. After the flop theres obviously no blinds so early bets (1st bet), you raise (2nd bet), guy goes all in (3rd bet), you shove side pot (4th bet)

[@NorCal_Poker]

Good knowledge, got it confused. Thanks for the heads up

[@nicklazzaro5055]

wasnt tryin to be a jerk. Enjoyed the video. Be more aggressive on turn cards. I grind the east coast for the past 20 years. Im not talking from my hind parts.@@NorCal_Poker

[@NorCal_Poker]

Noted

[@deansultani5433]

My dude, GTO ain’t really gonna fly with those gamblers at Capitol Casino, and you know this lol!

[@jasonsitu5287]

I would have folded the J9 because call and jam is strong value move with either 66 or big 9 especially everybody is in pre

[@408ChessMaster]

I've said it a million times: low stakes and GTO just don't mix. I wouldn't start with a solver until at least 5/10, maybe higher. Enjoying the vlog!

[@NorCal_Poker]

Thanks my man, hope you’ve been doin well!

[@matt5656]

You can say it as much as you want but that doesnt make you right lol.

[@paulsanders1]

Love your content. FWIW, I stopped gg 2 Cap Casino and Thunder Valley bc of all the LAG, crazy players. I want to b able to raise preflop and actually get opponents with mediocre holdings to fold so that they don't catch up on the flop in a deceptive manner and burn me later. It seems like no matter how you size your preflop raise, every1 freaking calls and it's no wonder some of these fools catch up. At Stones 1/2, I can usually get a few folders preflop which allows me to put the rest on hands. If you can't get folks to fold preflop, I wonder if that's a table you don't want (or in this instance Cap Casino in general). Not trying to be a know-it-all just trying to learn. Am I wrong in thinking this? Hope to see u someday at Stones's 1/2. Paul

[@NorCal_Poker]

It’s just a different play style. You just have to size up to get less callers. I do like the 1/2 game at stones too

[@eugeneahmad5459]

Yooooo... this is exactly how my session went yesterday!! I had pocket 9's, J's, Q's, K's..... and all boards Had an A on them .... lol keep playing, thx for videos

[@NorCal_Poker]

Hate to see that!

[@the_snekerz1903]

I agree a lot!

[@NorCal_Poker]

🙌🏻

[@currencyprofits]

14:40 Dammmm your opp didnt want to give up those pocket 5zzzz huh lmaooooo

[@NorCal_Poker]

‼️

[@jingrat03]

I've been watching few of your videos and man, I love the way you played every hand. A piece of advice, you've got to play a little aggressive when you have it man and dont be affraid of them not calling than having them catch up with you and taking a bite on your chips.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Appreciate the support & thanks for the tip 🤝

[@marksimpson2321]

I don't fully agree. Betting and folding out hands that will outdraw you occasionally but are way behind often isn't +ev poker. For example, he played A9c perfectly multiway and lost to a 3 outer (maybe) on the T river!

[@Wah00ligan]

When you have two pair on a paired board you block boats so that would’ve been a good one to barrel the river and rep the boat.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Good point!

[@seanwaltrip5235]

Having a general knowledge of GTO makes exploitive play optimal.

[@NorCal_Poker]

There’s some truth to this

[@politicscommentator]

I agree with Nathan from Blackrain79 that in low stakes, GTO will not be very helpful. It is better to focus in solid poker plays and exploitive plays against different types of opponents. BTW, would you consider playing at Thunder Valley instead of Capitol Casino? Thunder Valley doesn't do match the stack or bomb pots.

[@NorCal_Poker]

I would play at thunder valley if they allowed me to film. That’s where I originally started & it’s actually closer to me!

[@enemyfleet7139]

#truth

[@NorCal_Poker]

🙌🏻

[@matthewrosenthal4447]

Fun video. Looking forward to battling you on the felt sometime

[@NorCal_Poker]

🙌🏻

[@dl3049]

I notice that you continuously rebuy to get your short stack back to $500. Why not just rebuy another $500 or match the big stack so that you can get it all in to get your money back. I understand that most people don't want to risk their stacks against a big stack opponent. But my thoughts have also been that if I've been waiting all night for that nut-hand, I want to win it all and make the most of that hand and not let my opponent get away because I'm shorter stack. Thoughts?

[@NorCal_Poker]

If I recall, I mix it up in later vlogs. Really just depends on what strategy I want to play & who my opponents at the table are. If my table is weak, I usually match the stack but if it’s a somewhat tough table (which most of my mid day tables are) $500 is my comfort zone

[@middlemanning]

never play bomb pots without a very nutted hand

[@hateful_potatoe3095]

I know this is a month old vid but I don’t play gto really at all cause I’m not good at math and there is way too much to try and remember lol so I opt to work on the fundamentals and try getting the best read on my ops it has been working well for me. Also I’ve noticed a few ppl trying to play gto and if you can spot it most the time they make blunders you can exploit because their usually not good at balancing it all

[@NorCal_Poker]

I totally agree, especially at the low stakes!!

[@mkadlec99]

Love the honesty

[@NorCal_Poker]

Appreciate that 🫡

[@XxMenacexx]

Keep up the great vlogs!

[@NorCal_Poker]

Thank you, will do!

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

As a poker player of 51 years I agree.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Legit!

[@DenverBrad]

I like betting around $40-$50 on turn when you had A9c. That would probably fold out ten-6off. Wouldn’t assume the Q hit someone.

[@NorCal_Poker]

I agree. Looking back a small bet was definitely the play, then if I get raised I can always fold! Thanks for the feedback

[@dougtheplugfromtiktok]

@ 17:27 um, sir, there is no such thing as 2/30/2024. Help.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Subtract a day from each. Late night editing brain fart!

[@alexklupchak9012]

💣 pot you’re just raising a bet not 3betting the K9 guy is then 3betting you. Rough hand! Thanks for a good vlog the $1/$3 games at Capital Casino are the best

[@NorCal_Poker]

Capitol >>> Best 1/3 game ever

[@jbpokerwar8962]

I agree with you but I still study. I play low stakes so more about exploiting players weakness than making GTO plays. Low stakes, know PREFLOP ranges and learn how to Cbet and you should win more than you lose. But to be great at anything, you should study and see what leaks you have unless you are not trying to make a living playing poker.

[@NorCal_Poker]

I’m not against studying & your theory here makes a ton of sense. I’m just trying to be the exception to see if I can move up & win without studying. We shall see if it’s possible! But I am not relying on poker money to live & if I was, I might have a different opinion!

[@nicholi2789]

I think Dnegs has the best take. Study enough to understand what “correct theory is” so you can understand your opponents better, then lean heavily on an exploitative play style and know when to deviate from theory. Just saying “GtO iS dUmB” is kind of ignorant and really limits your thinking. Why you would not want more tools in your arsenal to beat more opponents and win more money? Anyways nice video this week

[@NorCal_Poker]

Fair point but I just want to be able to keep improving through trial/error & experience. I refuse to deep dive into the world of poker solvers & if that limits my poker climb through the ranks (which I don’t think it will) then so be it! Call it stubbornness I suppose

[@nicholi2789]

@@NorCal_Poker I think experience is a massive component in this game. Possibly one of the biggest. Understanding people’s behaviors and bet patterns requires experience. An important thing to consider is that all “study” isn’t necessarily GTO study. For example I subscribe to Crush live cash by Bart Hansen and it focuses mainly on exploitative low stakes strategies and has been MASSIVELY helpful for me. I’d highly recommend checking out some of his videos and podcasts. It’s great stuff and very entertaining. It certainly doesn’t feel like study. It’ll improve your game a ton. Idk about you but I want to to make more money, and making more money means moving up in stakes. In order to do that I need to get better and I’m happy grabbing every available tool to do that. Good luck out there man!

[@NorCal_Poker]

I watch Bart’s KZbin clips & other vlogs. I consider that my “studying” but it has the great benefit of entertainment!

[@nicholi2789]

@@NorCal_Poker he’s got all kinds of really good content. His paid subscription is worth the every penny in terms of entertainment and study value. You don’t see me in the solver streets trying to find out what to do with K10 on J42 flop that’s for sure. I do however put forth effort to improve my game and it has yielded steady improvement in my game.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Sweet, best of luck along the way!

[@wolflarsen4744]

Nice rant. Remember me when you change your mind.

[@NorCal_Poker]

I’ll quit before I change my mind 🫡

[@michaelrosenthal1508]

Entertaining vlog! Question: How do we play online NL in California (I'm in Bay Area)? Didn't think we could.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Thank you & I don’t know all the ins & outs of the laws, but it’s legal for us to play online poker. It’s more so about controlling the companies from running business outside the 6 “legal states.” Here’s a good article explaining it www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/28363-online-poker-in-california-everything-you-need-to-know#:~:text=The%20Legal%20Status%20of%20Online,games%20on%20offshore%20poker%20sites.

[@michaelrosenthal1508]

Thank you!

[@danthoreson4062]

Awesome Capotol Casino commercial dude

[@Zthangs]

😂😂he thinks only people like him should get to play😂😂

[@NorCal_Poker]

Not at all my man. I think anyone & everyone should play however they choose. You just won’t find me doing all the new school stuff.. ever

[@Robrogamer]

Not a bad comeback after being down so much. Good still being up on the month Good luck this week man! How far of a drive is it to your casino? my closest one is 1 and a half hours and they only let us buy in for 300 at 1/3.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Appreciate the support! And my drive is about 45 minutes. Hour & a half is tough!!

[@Robrogamer]

@NorCal_Poker yeah I wish I was close like you. There is a smaller casino only 30 minutes, but they don't have a poker room.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Damn that sucks

[@alexklupchak9012]

@@NorCal_Pokerdamn are you closer to Stones or TV?

[@NorCal_Poker]

@@alexklupchak9012about the same depending on traffic. Capitol is the furthest

[@guillermoalvarez9400]

Unfortunately even at 1-3 there are more players that are somewhat competent and have studied in some way shape or form. It’s become necessary to at least casually study some poker theory to avoid becoming an easy target. On the weekends you may find some bad recs but you can’t expect to play complete droolers very often anymore.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Fair point, I’m just trying to be the exception! We’ll see if I can pull it off 😅

[@mtgoxsucks435]

So I am apparently around 20 years older than you. I miss the old days as well, but saying you hate GTO and “new school “is akin to someone saying I hate the Internet or electricity or the automobile. Please don’t think I am trolling, I get where you are coming from but I did want to say that using as a tool to improve my game has been very beneficial. I pretty much play 1/3 myself and even there it helps a lot. Like you, I have no interest whatsoever in studying every single stupid chart. It would take all of the fun out of the game very quickly. That said, a couple hours a week, looking at some charts, and reviewing some hands works very well for me. Regardless of what you or I think, GTO is here and is not going anywhere just like automobiles and the Internet. I do enjoy your Vlogs 👍 if a somewhat older poker players point of view is of any interest to you, I would say, integrating new school with your own game is a great way forward. I wish I lived in your area, that 1/3 game looks insane. With a game like that, you don’t even need to ever move up in stakes anyway! Maybe you find a balance and study for an hour or two a week just to have some more tools in your belt.

[@NorCal_Poker]

I appreciate the insight. I 100% believe implementing “new school” poker into my game would help. That being said, I’m too stubborn & don’t have enough free time to do so since poker is just a hobby & my main focus is the vlog! Just wanna see how far I can take it through natural ability

[@NathanZ66]

Blink counter 😂

[@NorCal_Poker]

😆

[@330miggs]

15" POKER HAAAAARRRRDDD

[@NorCal_Poker]

I like this 🤣

[@johnnyblaze8030]

You must play with Doug McCluskie alot at Capitol Casino.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Yup definitely!

[@thomasrichardson-ev1wp]

Good honest video.

[@NorCal_Poker]

Thank you sir 🫡

[@bramstrijker4777]

are those your nails at 5:52, slay queen

[@NorCal_Poker]

🤣

[@laurinestate7032]

Great video. We agreed I’d tell you what I had vs your QQ but We didn’t meet up after my session. I told you I didn’t want K’s or A’ to show up. I lead you to believe I had Q’s too. I want to be true to my word so here is what I had …. JJ

[@NorCal_Poker]

Nice hand!

[@davidneil3811]

Totally agree

[@NorCal_Poker]

Glad I’m not the only one!

[@LacklusterBangarang]

$1/3 gang here. Take 5 minutes to figure out on your solver why i did what i did. Chances are i dont even know why i did it.

[@NorCal_Poker]

😮

[@LacklusterBangarang]

@@NorCal_Poker i didnt mean you btw lol. thats just the randomness of my thinking sometimes. im there to have a good time

[@chrisw.6060]

The problem is, most of these players are not playing poker. They are playing bingo. GTO goes out the window. I only play tournaments now because of this.

[@NorCal_Poker]

It does feel like bingo at times!

[@georgeargyris543]

Just curious. How did you learn poker? And do you study at all?

[@NorCal_Poker]

Playing with friends for $5 tournament home games. Kept losing, tried different things & eventually figured out to have a winning hourly rate at each stake through trial & error. Just started $1/3 a few months ago, so in the middle of a work in progress!

[@georgeargyris543]

@@NorCal_Poker Very cool! I love hearing unorthodox stories of how players got better! Enjoy the channel, keep it up!

[@NorCal_Poker]

@@georgeargyris543 me too, I love hearing every story as well. Super interesting! And thank you

[@goodtimesandadventures6690]

Yo I just lost 800 at 1-3 this weekend. Fuck I’m never playing poker again

[@NorCal_Poker]

I just said that the other day.. we always come back 😬

[@Averylikethepaper]

I'm not fucking leaving 😂😂😂😂

[@NorCal_Poker]

💯

[@rystalquinn]

I mean.. okay I guess. Have fun with that.

[@liampalmer8729]

A genius play against a drunk is not a winning strategy … chose your opponent well

[@NorCal_Poker]

‼️

[@kwynnrichards5743]

So you're just saying you're unwilling to improve at poker, youre allowed to feel that way but its unreasonable to be annoyed that others want to be good at their hobby or occupation

[@NorCal_Poker]

I’m not unwilling to improve. I will always improve through trial & error. I’m not mad at others that use these tools, I just personally never will

[@Hikingguy359]

The games at Capitol appear to be very soft. No wonder why you and Doug M. crush there.

[@NorCal_Poker]

They are fun ones for sure!

[@rontokunaga7850]

Kicker matters lol jk!!

[@NorCal_Poker]

😅

[@danielhenry6777]

if you are not going to study to at least pick up some of sklanskys books, or super system and study some of that old shit. plus in the hand where you talked shit about not doing the gto thing, gto would never be facing a 20$ bet in a multiway pot lol

[@NorCal_Poker]

I’m going with the trial & error method til the day I die. If you wanna comment how you would play the hand, then that helps with my solution 🫡

[@danielhenry6777]

ok cool hope you crush it, i mean you can't really play gto live unless you are playing against people using proper ranges really anyway. you can take concepts and apply them to the game but live poker is just a different beast anyway @@NorCal_Poker

[@juancantu9835]

just stumbled across ur video good lord u need to down grade to 1/2 no disrespect but studying a little more would really help

[@NorCal_Poker]

I’ll admit I’m nothing special but my win rate is at $26/hour not studying 🤷🏻‍♂️ I think I’m fine where I’m at

[@bogdans1343]

You can’t be consistent winner on 1/3 …time will show you…unfortunately

[@NorCal_Poker]

Set the line, I’ll take a nice bet!

[@paulmaier6305]

me too. that statement is SOOOOOOO wrong. actually, if you can't beat 1/2 or 1/3 games, you need to examine ALL your leaks. they are all very beatable.