Bjoerni89 is a high stakes heads up sit and go professional from Germany. His fast rise up the stakes, from the $5 to the $5,000 in about one year, is the stuff of legend. His battles with well known pros like Lotte Lenya and Ben86 are talked about by many. He's a team PokerStars pro and is known for his aggressive, fearless play. You can catch him on twitter @StarsBjoerni89 and you can read a good interview about him on the PS Blog.
Feel free to ask Bjoerni about anything you'd like as we welcome him to the boards.
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!Looking forward to your questions! Ask whatever you want, I'll answer them all :)Regards, Bjoern
Hi, what Do you think about Hyperturbos? Why do you prefer Turbos?
I am really not a huge fan of hyper turbos, mainly because they take away most of the action from turbos/non turbos. The reason I prefer Turbos over Hypers is the same why I switched from 6max SnGs to Heads Up. I love the ability of being able to have a wide range of options in the game. In 6max/fullring SnGs those are limited because of the ICM and in hypers the shallow stacks are the factor. (One could ask why I don't play cashgame then, it's because I just <3 SnGs and they are way more fun to me). Furthermore the variance is a factor aswell, until now I ran pretty bad in hypers, even though I definitely still have leaks there. However I just feel way more comfortable in turbos/non turbos and they are much more fun to me.
What would you say were the most important improvements you've made to improve your game, especially early on?How did you analyse your play? Did you use a database, or did you just think about it for a second just after you've made the play? Did you just play play play play with active thinking or did you actually schedule time to analyse previous plays?Have you read any books or watched any videos on (husng) poker that have really helped you?Are there any things, not directly related to poker, that (you think) have improved your play? Like eating well, exercising, whatever?
- Early on watching tons of videos was the most important thing I guess. You can learn all that on your own aswell, but watching (and understanding) videos of good players just saves up much time for one.- I gotta say I have always been pretty lazy regarding session analysis. I think a LOT about the game when I am playing or after I played a session. Oftentimes I just go outside after a session and think about all the spots and what I could have done better. However, I did some session reviews against Ben86, basically because I didn't know how to change the results, but that was pretty sobering because I couldn't find any new insights. On the other hand that encouraged me in keep thinking about the game and rewatching everything in your head, since it obviously helped my game. /edit And of course talking with other people about the game helps you a lot, maybe it's even the best training you can have (for obvious reasons).- I never read a book about Poker, but watched many videos (from all sides, but HUSNG.com is obviously one of the mainpages.- Hmm, doing sports is always a good thing you should do anyway, no matter what you do in your life. It keeps you and your brain balanced/relaxed and fit!
Rather than ask you a single question , I'll thank you for the inspiration you bring to the HU community. Passion for the game is the greatest thing you can give to us! RespecfullyDavid
Thank you, that fells great to hear :)
Hi Bjoerni89,We were suppossed to do an interview on skype but it never happened due to a few things happening. Hope all is well.So I might ask some of those questions that i was going to ask you here if you don't mind.Do you use a hud? If so what stats do you use/ find useful. What stats that people use do you think are useless/overated. Why do you think livb has been at the top of husng for a few years. what makes him so good?Have you seen Mers e-book?If so, what did you find interesting. What is the most important things to concentrate in that book for low stakes players?What is the most important things to concentrate in that book for hi stakes players?If you could start husng career over what would you do different?Hope that's not too many. I have plenty more also.Michael(222)
ZoomRush - Fast Fold Poker Videos, Strategy and Software
Hey Michael! Sorry again for the interview, hope you got my skype message early enough.- Yes I'm usually using a HUD. However, one should not focus too much on stats. Reads are way way more important then for example the 3bet stats. There are people who 3bet just ~10% of their hands, but those hands are mostly deceptive (76s, 98s, ...), while they are just calling monsters OOP. Stats are good to get a general idea of how your opponent is playing, but they can easily be missleading so you should always keep your eyes open.- I think Livb has a great understanding of ranges, combined with a superaggressive style. He always tries to get the initiatve and force you to play HIS game, not yours. That's what makes him so strong in my opinion.- I didn't read Mers' book, sorry ;D- Honestly, nothing. I moved up as fast as I could and always worked on my game. Knowing the results I wouldn't have played against Ben86 but that thought is just hypothetical since you never know how u run (or dont run!)
Hi.
1.How do you stay motivated to play after long breakeven/losing stretches?
2.Can you describe your life in one word?
Thanks. :)
1. It's weird but regarding these things I have a pretty positive mindset. I can go to bed and be like "FUCK this game, never gonna play again". Then I get up the next day and sit happily in the lobbies always feeling like I start from a new point. You mustn't think about they money you lost yesterday. You just got your BR NOW and you need to work with that.2. Yes!
welcome to the forum and congrats on your success. Great to have someone like you here.in your opinion, what's the most important things to concentrate on during a game? ( BTW If we could have a video of you playing, even without comments it would be absolutely great :) )
The most important things hmm... I'd say keep paying attention on your and your opponents game. It happens easily that you are playing 2-5 tables for some time and you slowly go into autopilot mode. Furthermore, keep making notes etc. Make sure not to tilt. Really anything is important.
Hello Bjoerni8, I´m 60 USD regular at Pokerstars Hypers, would do better if it werent for a certain type of tilt I gethow tilt resistance do you consider yourself?I have this thing that triggers a kind of decently intense tilt in my and would like to know you share/shared this at some point in your career: when I hit very little post flop for a big number of flops for many matches, like you either don´t hit a pair at all (forced to play ace high all the time I mean) or hit pairs difficult do play like K8 on 87T, and it feels like you´re getting totally owned post flop, it gives me this somewhat intense tilt, like it clouds my judgement and makes me play much worse. After the experience you have, do still have this kind of tilt?
Thou shalt not tilt.
Yes I am still tilting. Which sux, but if I wait like 5 hours in the lobbies for a game, then a total fish joins me, owns me 4-0 and declines afterwards I just go nuts everytime. I am very tilt resistent when I'm playing 4+ tables because I am focusing too much on the game. But one-tabling, it happens from time to time.
Hi Bjoerni, Can you clarify what happened when you had the big downswing and everyone was saying 'Bjoerni is busto, grinding $15s/60s/100s'?
Yea I don't know why so many ppl thought I'm busto. Of course it suffered from the downswing but I made some MTT cashes + cashgames winnings + rakeback and even though I won't tell you the exact numbers my bankroll I ensure you I always had enough (however, I stopped playing 5ks because I wasn't rolled for them anymore). The thing with the $15/$60/$100s was kinda funny. Before I went to the PCA2012 I cashed out a lot and had about ~25k on my Stars BR. Unfortionately I tons of tourneys on the Bahamas and when I got back I realized I only had $1,300 left on my account. So i decided to challenge myself a bit and grinded some lowstakes. Wasn't really a big thing but it was funny to see how the people reacted to it :D
Definitely, and many guys have done the same thing (sifosis to name one).
Hi,How did you move up from 5-5000 so fast? What was your plan? how many buy ins did you have at each level?Do you think there was any difference between the levels? Was 15-30$ much easier than 60$ or was 1000 $ easier than 200$???What is your opinion about that?How many games did you play at each level? And how many games did it take to climb from 5-5000$?Do you play your own style in a game or do you adjust to your apponents style of play?Have you received any coaching or did you learn it yourself?
- I cashed in some MTTs are moved up quite fast. I think when I played my first my 5k my BR was just about ~$110,000. I just wanted to give it a try. And it worked D;.- Actually I didn't play the $5 or $60 ever. I played 6max SnGs and moved to HU, playing the 100$s in the beginning. $100s are quite easy but on $200 you really have to play some regs before you can establish on the limit. $300s are pretty much the same as $200s, and on $500 there is the next jump. I played tons and tons of regs there and it didn't stop before I started playing 1ks/2ks. The $1ks I think are not too much of a challenge, you are often playing the same guys as on $500s. And if you can stay on that limit and regs won't join u anymore its a supernice limit because only fishies will join you! The $2ks are the real tough limit. It happens rarely that a fish or someone you dont know joins. I am playing 90% guys I already know (atm a lot against Isaac Haaxton for example) and this is a limit which won't become easier. The $5ks are pretty much the same, the only difference is that there a few other highstakes players who join you and total fishes join like one time in a month ;)- Sorry I rlly cant remember the exact numbers anymore.- Both. You should always keep playing your style if you are confident with it. But you ALWAYS have to adjust. That should be part of your style anyway.- Nope, no coachings.. (only videos etc as i mention)
Would it be possible for an example of a hand of yours that you analysed after playing a session?So that we can get a good idea of the thought process that you go through, when you are analysing one of your plays.thanks :D
- As I said I never did a real session review except vs ben86. However, I have a new system now and my database stars on January 2012 so I basically don't have the hands anymore. But you should just check Hold EM Manager if you want to analyse your sessions. There many great options and abilites you can and should use.
Hi.Cool that your doing this. Very apprichiated! This is what developing players need, inspiration and motivation."He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a teacher." What do you think is the three biggest differences between a winning player and a breakeven player? How important is lifebalance to the poker career? (workout/social life/hobbies) What advise do you have to a person that plays poker just for the money? (Poker doesnt match my life values but no job will match the money and freedom that poker offers. Because Ive read that you wanna go back to school and then get an "ordinary" job. How do you feel about that? Probably u wont be making as much money at your job as on poker).
- There are no such things as the "three biggest differences between a winning and a breakeven player". The difference between these two are just that the winning player does less mistakes. Everyone has leaks, you have to try to avoid them. It can be table selection, it can be that you 3bet too much or not enough, it can be that you cbet too much and give up too fast, you call too much or fold too much. It's individual for every player.- Lifebalance is fairly important, not just to the poker career. As i said, doing sports is always good, obviously you should have social contacts and hobbies.- That is true, I obviously won't work only to make money. If that'd be the case Poker would be the better choice by far. But I often ask myself where I want to be in 10 or 20 years and I don't like the idea of see myself still playing poker for a living.
Hi Bjoerni!How much volume do you generally put in each week?And how many games have you generally played every week or month throughout your career?Also, do you play all games during one big session, or do you devide your working days into separate sessions?
Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooo!First of all I want to apologize for not answering for so long. I simply had no time (didn't even play poker since then). But I don't want to rush for the answers and cut them too short, so I rather take the time I need and then answer them as good as I can. - The volume I put in each week differs a lot. Unfortionately I really didn't have much time to play in 2012 so far. Had a lot of stuff going on in my real life : / So it can differ between 0 games and 600-1k games, easily.- Haha, definitely can't tell you how many games I've played throughout my career. Deleted databases so often, resetted SC etc. Definitely 20k+ I think.- Actually, since I am not playing hypers its more like I am sitting in the lobbies when I have time and I wait wait wait. If I would decide to play a session for 2 hours and register in the lobby, I would often not get a single game going (speaking for 1k+ only though).
HelloBjoerni, I play HUs for a 1/2year and I still don´t know how to play this type of hands preflop in different stack sizes and blinds.I will be really happy if you help me.:)So how to play Ax and low pocket pairs in this situations:Villain is regular opening 75%-80% hands.1. Blinds 10/20 Villain(1500): raises to 40 Hero(1500): ? a) A2-A9 b) 22-772. Blinds 20/40Villain(1100) raises to 80 Hero(1900): ? a)A2-A9 b)22-773. Blinds 20/40Villain(900) raises to 80 Hero(2100): ? a)A2-A94. Blinds 20/40Villain(2100) raises to 80 Hero(900): ? a)A2-A75. Blinds 20/40Villain(1900) raises to 80 Hero(1100): ? a)A2-A9 b)22-77Huh, Thank you for your answer. It will help me a lot :)
In general: First of all, I don't recommend playing a hand always the same. For example, if your opponent opens 80% but on the other hand flatcalls ur 3bets a lot (or can bluff4bet) you shouldnt get too excited about 3betting those weakish Ax type hands (i wouldn't 3bet A6-A9 ever in these situations - however you can throw in a 3bet with A2-A5 from time to time becuz it has a better playabilty. Furthermore it's important to know how your opponent plays postflop (in 3bet and singleraised pots) is he the type of "cbet100% and give up on turn" guy? then u can defend weakish Aces OOP. But that is all way too situational to give a "right" answer straight away.I do agree with you that these type of hands are difficult to play against certain opponents at certain stacksizes so I'll try to give a general line.1)a) flatcall, might 3bet from time to time (but rather A2-A5 then A6-A9)b) 22-55 I would recommend to call, 66-77 can be 3bettet ( 77/88 is close to go broke preflop)2)a) ugly. call, 3bet, fold, all viable, depending on how villain plays postflop.b) 22-55 reshove 66+ 3bet/call if oppo doesnt call much vs 3bet3)a) reshove or some deceptive calls (A2-A5, if ur planning on)b) SHOVE! 66/77 maybe 3bet/call if oppo doesnt call much vs 3bet4)a) reshove or deceptive call (mostly reshove though)5)a) same as 2) -> effective stacksizes are the same
ever thinking about coaching?? thanks
yes, definitely. But as I mentioned earlier I am having quite some issues in my RL atm, so I simply can't do it at the moment. I will be doing coaches though! sure!
How important do you think is it to play lots of regs at ones level? When a reg sits you, would you decline a rematch or challenge yourself with e.g. $100 regs with the mindset of "If I can't beat these players I won't beat the ones at the $200 level".?When moving up in stakes, what were your "shot taking rules" and what were the conditions of stepping down a level again? Did you ever have to step down before actually staying on a new level ?Without trying to disrepect the others, name your favorite video producer on husng.com.Can i add you in skype? :DWhile moving up in stakes and grinding, how did you go about multitabling? Do you alternate between 1-2 tables and e.g. 4, where 4 is grindmode in 1-2 is learning mode (or any similar system of handling that)?Your best tip to be able to play a long and throughout concentrated session?
Hey guys, just a quick shoutout: I'm currently pretty busy (can't even play the SCOOP events I want T_T ) But I'll answer all your questions asap!
nice work men, you can be happy it ;) i love to travel around the world so i need around 30-50usd a daymy life ll feel complete if i could beat the 10usd over and over againits going ll until now, but still not the way i wanted...any suggestion i should give a try ? maybe HUSNG videos ll bring me some more skill?something i really need to know?Anyway keep your work up men, you a hero for many of us ;)
You mentioned playing cash games too. What kinds of cash games make the best use of your skills in HUSNGs? HU cash seems like a natural answer but Skates and Lotte Lenya focused on totally different games. Although the reason might be that HU cash action is hard to come by at higher stakes.You probably don't have time but I posted about my thoughts on cash games a long time ago. That thread puts everything into perspective.Finally, what do you anticipate will be the most popular/profitable form of poker 5 years from now?
Coaching page + Blog
- I personally played tons of regs. The most important reason is if you keep declining regs (and you are new on that limit) they simply won't stop playing you until you beat them or give up OR you can make an agreement with them. So at some point you have to make a point, so the lobbies will be yours. If there is a reg who is simply better then you, then you should accept that and let him have the lobby. However, that shouldn't happen on 100s if you are planning to move up. Most of the 100-500 regs are fairly good poker players but they still have their leaks (thats why they play 100s and not 1ks+).- when I FIRST made a shot on 2k/5k my rule was simply "If I lose the first game, I'll stop for now". It happened the first time when I played a 5k, so I took a shot several days later and from then on it worked. You shouldnt sit a regular though, I'd rather open sit if the lobby is free and hope for a random player to join (chances won't be high, but why not give it a try :) ). Yes, I had a freaking downswing on the 200s, so I stepped down there, played some 100s and 6max sngs and severall weeks later tried it again and did manage to stay there. - I haven't seen movies in quite some time but I always loved PrimoAAs and Croiwdags vids. Can't tell you my fav at the moment though.- Not in 1000 years! :D Don't wanna be rude, but the last 5 persons I told my skype account are spamming me every day since then so I eventually had to ignore them. As I said, it's nothing personal but I can't accept certain people and decline others for no reason. If you have questions, thats what this thread is for ;)- When you start to get bored, add a table. It's a simple but good rule in my opinion. When I am 1-2 tabling I often browse through the internet which might even affect my play in a negative way. I think im best at playing 3-4 tables. I have no system though, as I said several times, if you are playing 1k+ you just have to take the action you get.- Don't forget to drink and avoid robotic-ABC-grind game. Dunno, maybe its just a personal thing but I am simply not having a problem playing 2h+ straight on several tables.
Any toughts on the newest tool isodis is selling and the influence on the game?
Hi.
- no ^^. Don't know the tool :(
I'm starting to think that Bjoerni has forgotten about this thread :'(
I'll shoot him a message, but I'm pretty sure he's just been real busy for awhile.
- LIAR! again, sorry, I simply had no time. But I assure you (and everyone) that I WILL answer ALL the questions. Sometimes with delay, but I'll take my time for each answer and try to answer them as good as i can!
are you a player who plays by instincts or math?and what aspect of poker do you value the most, when moving up in stakes?WHat tips can you give on handreading improvements
- hmm, of course as a highstakes reg you have to be good in both things, but I think my stronger part is instincts.- The most important part is to keep in mind that your opponents become better. That enables you to make different moves (for example, turn made hands into bluffs because good villains are capable of folding hands which most bad players would just "WTF-I-CALL"). You just have to keep in mind that fishes and good players have completely different ranges and game patterns.- Think carefully about each hand, take your time. Always remember your "relative handstrength" (don't know if this is the correct english translation). Toppair can be an easy fold against certain lines, while bottompairs can be an easy call.
Do you do alot of work aside the table: working on theory, watching vids, etc.? if so how much time to you spent on what, aproximately?How do you spend time waiting between games? just browsing the net, watching vids, etc. or working on poker-theory?Have you played cashgames? Do you think Headsup-Cash and Headsup-SNGs require a similar skillset? if yes/no what's the difference and what is the same? (except endgame, lower Stackssizes, more preflop-wars, that's obvious :D), i am primarily asking because i see a lot of e HU-SNG-Pros playing basicaly all sorts of poker-cashgames too.....Does it only seem like that to me or is it true that most top HU-SNG-pros know each other? With whom of the top-pros are you friends and chat about hands regularly?How do you/ did you come to an agreement with other 2k+-players, or any regs on any level, about who gets the lobby (if you don't have an edge, or a very small one obviously)? How does it work?How many games do you play against a reg until you find out that either you or him have an edge on each other?What regs do you avoid? And which ones avoid you?
I think you can find most of the answers above in the commnets :) anyway, thanks Bjoerni89 and HUSNG for that thread
- I think I answered your question above :) I don't do too much aside the tables, except skyping with other players, talking about hands.- Most of the time browsing!- I've played cashgames for quite some time, mostly becuz there was no action the SnGs (sux if u dont play hypers ~_~). It definitely requires a similar skillset, you just have to keep in mind that your play changes with the different stacksizes. Many SnGlers are good cashgame-CAP players, obviously because you are just 20bb deep. That changes completely if you are 200bb deep of course. But the games stays the same, you have to think in ranges and determine your play on your effective stacksizes.- Yea, we pretty much all know each other. Regarding the highstakes players I talk from time to time with Pistons, Fisfarfar, Fishenzon, Micide, Trader, Serkules and Old Time Gin the most I guess. I didn't ever talk to Adonis though, simply because he is totally badmannered in a game and I have no interest in talking to him at all. Many people say he is quite friendly when you meet him, but thats no excuse for behaving like that on the internet, in my opinion.- Hmm, the agreement is mostly that you simply stop joining them or they stop joining you. From time to time we ask each other to get the lobby or play some games, and its okay for me most of the time. Regarding the "who gets the lobby": in 99% of the time its basically the person who registers faster :)- Probably about ~100. I like playing regulars, because I think my play improves the longer I play someone. If I don't have the feeling the a person is dominating me I often play a lot against him (which wasnt always the wisest decision though).- mhm, it depends on how badly I want to play. People I don't ever join (without asking before in skype) are Fisfarfar, Fishenzon, Micide, OTG and Pistons.
do you do any mindset-work?how do you handle badbeats/downswings?Did you have any problems with your mindset?
My questions are:1. Is it true that the best poker players in world are actually the biggest lucky people in this game? Because I want to believe that the skills are very important thing in poker. 2. Patience, skills (to read the game, to adapt the game according the stack/other players/blinds/position), good luck, coolness. Is this enough to play a smart poker on high level?3. Is it a good idea for a player to be TAG, LAG, LP, TP kind of player at same 6-handed table? Best regards and thank you in advance,Tina
Hello, I want to ask you, what is your range of flat calling OOP preflop and what is your 3-betting range preflop to minraise againist unknown opponent ? What about hands like 89os/s 78os/s 67s 56s ? I am never pretty sure what to do with this kind of cards. :-/And how about playing your draws againist unknown or standard TAG opponent with 10BB - 15BB stacks ? check behind? c-bet/fold ? Thank you for your answer ;)
Hi Bjørn.I have been playing for about 3 years now, some time for fun and some times really tried to improve.I used to play a lot of Sngs 9/10 man and barely made it even after 6k+ games (without rakeback).Although I know the general opposition is getting better and better these days I have a few questions here, that might sound rather silly but would help me a lot. 1) I have a lot of leaks reading "fish" at relatively low stakes. Their ranges can always be anything. Which patterns can you spot on the $5 to $11 buy in level, that are able to give you an edge ? I know there are some regs and my calling range for example in a 12-15 blind effective stack button all in from a reg is wider because he shoves much lighter than a total fish usually and stuff like that.2) I have been "sponsoring" my losses in those 9-10 man Sngs with the HUs I've played along the years, never considering going full HU before now, but then suddenly something seems to go wrong there also. I do not tilt much and I really care about making the right decision, but that is where the problem comes. I am good at spotting good bluff situations, I know most different boards and my "relative hand strenght" but all these don't seem to help much, when up against fish, on the contrary ! So what is the best strategy against those fish ?3) When playing HU sng, what variance can one expect to have in the long run ?4) (I know this is silly, but I think it is relevant, maybe even to a lot of players out there :) ) Say you have 50 bucks on any given site and want the most stable, secure way to just increase your bankroll exponentially ? I my situation, I am very willing to learn, buy pokertracker etc. if nessesary and I would play like 6-8 hours a day, even more, if I would be able to turn the tables and finally get past this breakeven play and be profitable. What games should one play, what stakes and with which approach generally ? I hope this is not too long and that you are able to answer :)Good luck at the tables btw. (I can comfortably say that, since we'll probably never play the same stakes xD )
Hey. I am currently strugling with one issue. Maybe you had simmilar experience.I am currently learning the strategy for HU hyperturbos, but It bothers me a lot that I have to count the effective stack size all the time. It slows me down and I can't fully concentrate on expanding/contracting ranges when I'm geting shallow.Did you use any tool or program that showed you the effective stack size?? Or do you know about any?Cheers =)
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