Operation Pay College Tuiton (40K)

So here's the deal, currently I'm a second semester freshman at American U in Washington D.C. Last semester I paid my work study ($1500) with poker winnings. My schloarship isn't great so by the end of my college life I will owe somewhere between 30-40,000 dollars in loans.
I always had the dream of winning a big tournament and having the money to pay it all off. So why not make a commitment right now to make enough money to pay it off?

So this operation will either end by:
1. a. Satelliting into the Sunday Million.
b. Getting top 3.

or

2. Grinding my way up from 50NL to 400NL

I'm giving myself 3 and a half years to complete this, I feel like that is more than reasonable.

Objectives:
1. To have a goal and make a commitment
2. To have others help me along the way.
3. To help low stakers, through my improvements and journey, climb the ladder to mid stakes.
4. To commit myself to playing the best poker possible.

I'm setting my Poker Tracker to this date, lets see how I do.

My first objective is going to be fixing my biggest leaks right now and....
1. Spewing
2. Not paying attention to tables as much as I could.

and most importantly...
3. Build BR to $2500 and move up to 100NL.

Some hands from today, opp is 22/6 nit.
PokerStars Game #7696974225: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2006/12/31 - 13:19:53 (ET)
Table 'Sagitta IV' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: OCG81 ($37.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Takamura ($80.65 in chips)
Seat 4: 0mega-Dawn ($56.70 in chips)
Seat 5: redgrape ($157.75 in chips)
Seat 6: nemeelucas ($54.10 in chips)
redgrape: posts small blind $0.25
nemeelucas: posts big blind $0.50
TBCrepNY: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [7c 7d]
OCG81: folds
Takamura: raises $1.50 to $2
0mega-Dawn: calls $2
redgrape: calls $1.75
nemeelucas: calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [7s 6s 9c]
redgrape: checks
nemeelucas: checks
Takamura: bets $9.50
0mega-Dawn: calls $9.50
redgrape: raises $146.25 to $155.75 and is all-in
nemeelucas: folds
Takamura: calls $69.15 and is all-in
0mega-Dawn: folds
*** TURN *** [7s 6s 9c] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [7s 6s 9c 4h] [2s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
redgrape: shows [7c 7d] (three of a kind, Sevens)
Takamura: shows [9s 9d] (three of a kind, Nines)

PokerStars Game #7696904820: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2006/12/31 - 13:14:20 (ET)
Table 'Volpecula III' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: eon_bleu ($55.35 in chips)
Seat 2: sharpia7 ($69.70 in chips)
Seat 3: redgrape ($72.70 in chips)
Seat 4: all_in_4tw ($113.55 in chips)
Seat 5: thelob24 ($29.50 in chips)
Seat 6: KMastermindX ($31.25 in chips)
redgrape: posts small blind $0.25
all_in_4tw: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [Qd Js]
thelob24: folds
KMastermindX: folds
eon_bleu: folds
sharpia7: folds
redgrape: calls $0.25
all_in_4tw: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qh Jd 4c]
redgrape: bets $1
all_in_4tw: calls $1
*** TURN *** [Qh Jd 4c] [3d]
redgrape: bets $3
all_in_4tw: calls $3
*** RIVER *** [Qh Jd 4c 3d] [3c]
redgrape: bets $7
all_in_4tw: raises $14 to $21
redgrape: calls $14
*** SHOW DOWN ***
all_in_4tw: shows [7c 7s] (two pair, Sevens and Threes)
redgrape: shows [Qd Js] (two pair, Queens and Jacks)

Opp makes weak stabs, and is 44/33.

PokerStars Game #7697018695: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2006/12/31 - 13:23:28 (ET)
Table 'Hyakutake' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: comaz5 ($50.50 in chips)
Seat 2: joklaste ($151.80 in chips)
Seat 3: AMDS1989 ($8.45 in chips)
Seat 4: firts time ($30 in chips)
Seat 5: OCG81 ($51.75 in chips)
Seat 6: redgrape ($50.75 in chips)
AMDS1989: posts small blind $0.25
firts time: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [4h 4s]
OCG81: folds
redgrape: calls $0.50
comaz5: calls $0.50
joklaste: raises $2 to $2.50
AMDS1989: folds
firts time: folds
redgrape: calls $2
comaz5: folds
*** FLOP *** [Js Jc 3d]
AMDS1989 leaves the table
redgrape: checks
joklaste: bets $2.50
redgrape: calls $2.50
*** TURN *** [Js Jc 3d] [Tc]
redgrape: checks
joklaste: bets $6
redgrape: calls $6
*** RIVER *** [Js Jc 3d Tc] [5c]
redgrape: checks
joklaste: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
redgrape: shows [4h 4s] (two pair, Jacks and Fours)
joklaste: mucks hand

Semi Bluff

PokerStars Game #7696603236: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2006/12/31 - 12:50:48 (ET)
Table 'Hertzsprung' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: swtgapch78 ($75.70 in chips)
Seat 2: venturer49 ($10 in chips)
Seat 3: Stevieray24 ($57.05 in chips)
Seat 4: Bowlerman14 ($50.25 in chips)
Seat 5: akevin87 ($99.45 in chips)
Seat 6: redgrape ($50.75 in chips)
akevin87: posts small blind $0.25
redgrape: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [7c 8c]
swtgapch78: folds
venturer49: folds
Stevieray24 said, "GH"
Stevieray24: calls $0.50
Bowlerman14: raises $1.50 to $2
akevin87: calls $1.75
redgrape: calls $1.50
Stevieray24: folds
*** FLOP *** [7h Ac Tc]
akevin87: checks
redgrape: checks
venturer49 leaves the table
Bowlerman14: bets $3
akevin87: folds
redgrape: raises $9 to $12
Bowlerman14: calls $9
*** TURN *** [7h Ac Tc] [5s]
redgrape: bets $23

My big spew:
PokerStars GAME #7697146341: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.25/$0.50) - 2006/12/31 - 13:33:45 (ET)
Table 'Neith' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: wilson92080 ($62.10 in chips)
Seat 2: redgrape ($47.25 in chips)
Seat 3: scsylvan ($30.25 in chips)
Seat 4: oZcar20 ($46.85 in chips)
Seat 5: nemeelucas ($84 in chips)
Seat 6: batman162 ($15.75 in chips)
scsylvan: posts small blind $0.25
oZcar20: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [7c 7s]
nemeelucas: raises $1.50 to $2
batman162: folds
wilson92080: folds
redgrape: raises $4 to $6
scsylvan: folds
oZcar20: folds
nemeelucas: calls $4
*** FLOP *** [2d 8d 6c]
nemeelucas: checks
redgrape: bets $9
nemeelucas: calls $9
*** TURN *** [2d 8d 6c] [Js]
nemeelucas: checks
oZcar20 is sitting out
redgrape: bets $32.25 and is all-in

My Second biggest spew:
PokerStars GAME #7696909695: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.25/$0.50) - 2006/12/31 - 13:14:43 (ET)
Table 'Leto II' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: darigaaz79 ($97.15 in chips)
Seat 2: tuggermcg ($55.30 in chips)
Seat 3: donqui567 ($64.30 in chips)
Seat 4: Cassida ($29.50 in chips)
Seat 5: redgrape ($86 in chips)
Seat 6: Raakile ($51.80 in chips)
Cassida: posts small blind $0.25
redgrape: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [Qh Kh]
Raakile: folds
darigaaz79: folds
tuggermcg: folds
donqui567: raises $1.50 to $2
Cassida: folds
redgrape: calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [3h Ah 2c]
redgrape: bets $3
donqui567: calls $3
*** TURN *** [3h Ah 2c] [Ks]
redgrape: bets $7
donqui567: raises $14 to $21
redgrape: calls $14
*** RIVER *** [3h Ah 2c Ks] [Kc]
redgrape: checks
donqui567: bets $20
redgrape: calls $20

Up $120 today, the only really interesting hand was this one. Opp was 14/7 tagg nit. I had been playing pretty aggro. I almost folded the flop... I think I probably should've. The turn was an obvious call though with that bet IMO.

PokerStars GAME #7713070688: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/01/01 - 14:58:11 (ET)
Table 'Ilona' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: <call20%> ($26.10 in chips)
Seat 2: wurm ($56.45 in chips)
Seat 4: redgrape ($67.20 in chips)
Seat 5: PavanK ($101.90 in chips)
Seat 6: Wasper11 ($50.50 in chips)
Wasper11: posts small blind $0.25
<call20%>: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [Ac Ah]
wurm: calls $0.50
redgrape: raises $2 to $2.50
PavanK: folds
Wasper11: folds
<call20%>: folds
wurm: calls $2
*** FLOP *** [2c Jd 5h]
wurm: checks
redgrape: bets $4
wurm: raises $10 to $14
redgrape: calls $10
*** TURN *** [2c Jd 5h] [Th]
wurm: bets $39.95 and is all-in
redgrape: calls $39.95

Villain had 555?

Good point. What'd he end up having?

He had KK.
Made $50 in 1000 hands today, I spewed a bit on a bad call I should've thought about more. This was the only interesting hand. I'm not sure if I should have waited for the turn to put it all in.
PokerStars Game #7732902031: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/01/02 - 17:52:07 (ET)
Table 'Hanskya II' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: dh4ls1m ($50 in chips)
Seat 2: redgrape ($54.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Fille ($45.50 in chips)
Seat 4: soup167 ($31.80 in chips)
Seat 5: IndoPlayer ($127.45 in chips)
Seat 6: textwix ($55.05 in chips)
Fille: posts small blind $0.25
soup167: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redgrape [3d 3h]
IndoPlayer: folds
textwix: folds
dh4ls1m: calls $0.50
redgrape: raises $2 to $2.50
Fille: folds
soup167: folds
dh4ls1m: calls $2
*** FLOP *** [3s Jc Qc]
dh4ls1m: checks
redgrape: bets $4
dh4ls1m: raises $8 to $12
redgrape: raises $40 to $52 and is all-in

What'd you put villian on here? I like the allin reraise because you are most likely ahead and if he's chasing something then you're going to have to make him pay.

I can't really think of anything besides QJ, obviously the biggest possibitlity. I'd probably bank on that 75% of the time.
You know its kind of funny though because I can't put opp on JJ-QQ even though I have no reads. Because I'd suspect the only people to limp/call then JJ-QQ would have to be super passive.

So pretty he could have J3 or Q3 if he absolutely sucked, in which case he'll call no matter what. He could have Qx, but someone who is stupid enough to check raised Qx is going to get it all in too. Draws it's probably better to push because they will probably call with horrible odds.

So pretty much I'm letting air fold. However, calling would cause our hand to not take as much money from opp if a scare
card comes.

Obviously , I'm not calculating this during the hand because it takes way too much time. During the hand my thought was of the scare cards that could come and of his likely holdings.

GL skins, nice long term goal.
how many hours a week are you able to play?

When I get back to school I probably can play ten, right now I'm not playing many because it's my winter break and I want to hang with my friends.

Didn't play any hands yesterday, but my friend paid me back 200 dollars I lent him over PS so now I have +$200 without even playing a hand!

If you actually thought he had QJ then I think that you did make a big mistake by pushing on the flop.

The way you played this hand very clearly defines your hand as a set, but your analysis here doesn't really awknowledge the other hands he could possibly have had that might have the raise seem like a good idea to him. He might have AQ, AJ, and flush draw, including the hand you're most afraid of (besides a higher set of course), K-T of spades. With K-T of spade--he's calling the all-in bet profitably. With A-Q, A-J, or QJ, you have a possibility to make a lot of money here if you just call his raise.

Let's assume that he has QJ. You bet out $4, he raises to $12, and you call. If you're 100% positive that he's got top two pair, you're going to get a big bet here. Imagine you're him. He might put you on AQ, AA, KK, or a flush draw, or a straight draw. The bottom line is--there's a wide range of hands here that he can beat, and in his mind, he'd be an absolute fool to not to bet out here and give you a free card. So he's got to bet at least $22-27 and you can raise all-in and have him pretty close to pot committed.

If he has a flush draw, then you have a decision to make. You can either push all-in like you did and make him surrender his $14 in the hand and kick himself for raising himself out of the pot, or call, and if a scare card doesn't come out you can bet 3/4 to 100% of the pot to force him to make a mistake on the call.

One thing I don't like about pushing with the hand on the flop in this situation is that in 50NL I don't find to many people that will make this big of a raise semi-bluffing. The way you play the hand--it's completely obvious that you have a set to any kind of a thinking player, and so you're only going to get called by a straight flush draw (a little better than a coin flip for you and a profitable long run call for him), a higher set (obviously a profitable call for him), and then if he's a donk maybe hands like AQ or QJ. In this case, in order for him to make a CONCEPTUALLY correct move to bet out for value on his hand he has to think is good (the likliehood that he's ahead right now given your range of hands at this point dictates that he bets for value and push out draws), he has to make an ACTUAL mistake because he's badly beaten in the hand. This, my friend, is where profit comes from. You make it pretty easy for him to avoid making a big mistake on the flop by defining your hand so starkly.

On the other hand, it's a ridiculously coordinated board and there are a lot of cards on the turn could beat you if he's a on a decent draw, so I'm not saying it's necessarily a mistake to push on the flop, only that it was flawed reasoning if you thought he had top two. Another option here is to call the flop raise and then, if a non-scare card comes out (or even if it does) bet out abour 75-100% of the pot so he makes another mistake in the hand by calling (especially given your stack sizes, since he will in no way have the implied odds at that point to push his draw).

I could work this mathematically if I had some sense of the probabilities that villain here is raising with a draw, but I don't think it would add much more light to this than I have.

I see your reasoning but there is a 25% chance on the turn an A, K, or flush comes that possibly kills my action. Something you should also take into consideration.

Today I made $70 so now my BR is at 2200, 300 away from moving up. Had some really bad shit happen, which i didn't mind. But what really upset me is some spews i made. I KNOW 98% of the time the right move to make and I just sometimes don't make it. I'm such an A.D.D. douche. Idk if someone else has had the same problem but it's really costing me. It would literally raise my winrate a lot if I could just sit there and think before every move. So that's what I'm going to commit to do.

Commitment 1: Wait 10 seconds before you make every big move.

You might want to trying recording a video while you play, and narrating. It really helps you slow down since you have to vocalize your thought process.

I'm in the same situation as you IAskins. I had a cashout at the US ban that took me back into 50NL-100NL no man's land BR range. I'm am sitting on 2100 and taking shots at 100NL on the weekends when the games are softer. Also taking shots at 100NL to clear off the PStars Bonus faster.
Anyway I too have the spew problems you and Zook mentioned. I like to set up my image too much and that costs me BB in the process.
Good Luck,

It just has to do with my ADD personality I think lol.

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Operation Pay College Tuiton (40K)