Operation: Learning to Think - Eliminate The TAG-FISH in Me

Off to a good start. 11 hour day, 7000 hands - record day for volume and hours, horah. Kept it all in line, was a bit shaky at first but started running hot which put me back in the zone.

Shittt, nh sir. 11 hrs wow.

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

11 hour day, 7000 hands

!! wp

11 hours?! omfg... The most hours of actual play time I've ever gotten in a day was just over 8.

Yeah I dunno how I did it, I usually struggle to put in the hours.

Things irl are killing me right now and I'm pretty sure my overall win rate would be double without bs getting in the way of my thoughts - but this is something everyone has to deal with so it somewhat levels the playing field. I'm trying to (and about to) make some changes but it's difficult to figure out what it is I'm looking for (women problems lol fml). I think in terms of emotional stability I have improved alot over this year. Working hard at poker has definately had an impact on that. I feel like I'm constantly improving the way I handle stressful situations, and as a result I'm getting more work done with poker. I hate to bring irl bitching into this blog but there's very few people around me that I feel comfortable even telling them I'm not feeling all that great about certain things so being able to just spill out the fact that I'm pissed over some stuff is kinda cool.

Sigh... I think staying single for awhile is something I need to work on.

What is a bit surprising is this month has been really good so far, in that I've still managed to play fairly well - alot better than other months. I guess I've just improved and also learned to get better at blocking things out that annoy me while grinding. Yesterday's session I was completely in the zone which still surprises me, though I think I've done really well lately in controlling spew etc - of course there's always a few hands here and there where I go mental

I have an option to move back to Toronto next year, perhaps turning to a new chapter in my life will be ideal. Problem is, I'm going to need money. I hate being pressured into making money, especially from something as unpredictable as poker, but if things go well and I get start pulling in some decent coin I'll get to do the things I want. As far as college goes I have no idea what is going on..please don't ask, it isn't likely I'm going to finish my degree anytime soon. There is a small chance I may live with a friend of mine for a year who is studying real estate while playing poker on the side. This could be pretty +EV for my life and I can likely gain some insight into a field that I have strongly considered entering. I think the career is something that would suit me, but I guess I'll figure that out later.

And thus motivation ensues.

Playing poker tonight was a huge mistake. Down a buyin in 120 hands, smart enough to get out fast, yet dumb enough to even open stars.

fml.

Sick 11 hour session man, the most I've ever gotten in in a day was like, 5 hours? Fucking pathetic. You pwn me in everything it seems lolz. AT LEAST IM TALLER!!! (Cue, m2m growth spurt )

Hope things start looking up for u irl, as I think your poker career will take off even more once its all straightened out. GL!

thanks man.

and lol, watch me grow like half a foot now

Well I'm playing well at 100nl FR but the spewbox pops up at 50nl!

Good thing I have a huge edge at that level now ffs I'd be so busto without you guys <3

I sense a productive day tomorrow. Played 3k hands today, let's hope I somehow pull off 5k+ tomorrow!

*<60k VPP's till Supernova*

GOGOGOGOGOGOGGO

It's almost 3pm and I haven't gotten a single hand in. I'm off to the gym, I should be back in time for a short session before dinner, then after that it looks like I'll be putting in 5+ hours.

Well, I didn't play any hands today due to irl circumstances.

I should be fresh to go tomorrow.

Don't feel bad honey, that happens to me all the time.

Thanks man.

I got in 4200 hands today, which I'm pleased with. Getting better at keeping myself in line now..last couple weeks have been a bit of a spewfest. However, I know I'm moving forward.

I'm getting a coach soon to work with me at 100nl so I can take shots at 200nl. If things go well this will be happening throughout Nov/Dec. Go me. Only thing that might get in the way is me withdrawing money for life, but luckily I don't need to access much right now, so I still should be able to consider all this within the time fram I just mentioned.

*58,883 VPP's till Supernova*

edit: I just realized my pace is crap and I'm going to have to mega grind a few days here and there while balancing study/review/life etc. asdfsdgsdfhyrstrdy

What coaches are you considering?

Jason, PM.

My sleep schedule has become fucked once again...but for some weird reason I seem to get more done when I sleep in late/stay up late. Wth???

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

My sleep schedule has become fucked once again

Welcome back to the Dark Side.

Originally Posted by al yell

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

My sleep schedule has become fucked once again

Welcome back to the Dark Side.

I look forward to the evening droolers

Okay as far as poker is going, I think I'm stressing a bit. I'm putting in a ton of time lately, like, it's literally all I fucking do because well, I have no life and I'd like to make money. All the IRL crap that has happened this year has its effects of course, but I've definately only become stronger over it and have geared up a bigger drive to succeed and spew less, focus more etc.

However, although I'm scrambling to get the bankroll growing, I think I'm ready for a vacation soon. I'll be heading to Toronto next weekend to visit some friends for a fun night out. This should let me relax a bit and get ready to take on November.

As far as girls go..well I'm pretty hesitant to enter another relationship right now. Things are compicated with that, though I did talk to an old friend today and I'm considering asking her out for a lunch date or something soon...still unsure. I guess I'll see what I'm doing and how I feel about that and just go with the flow. I may not really be ready as soon as I think I may, so I'll just continue to focus on poker and save it for later when I'm more eager.

In the meantime, I'll be grinding my ass off while mixing in some videos during down time, as well as reading here and there, but it seems as though I'm not doing as much of this as I'd like.

Alright, I think I'll put in one more session before bed after I'm done with this chinese food. Peace guys.

I just realized that I broke the $10,000 mark for profit from this years adventure which started at 2nl.

/brag

Big thanks to everyone who I've talked poker with, sweat, got coaching from, got sweat, replied to my threads, and read this blog.

Congrats bro. It's inspiring.

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

I just realized that I broke the $10,000 mark for profit from this years adventure which started at 2nl.
.

very cool. You've made a bunch of money the last three months then. nh, congratulations!

mad props M2M.

I'm insanely jealous as always sir. Hoping I can hit that mark soon.

Thanks guys.

I took an early shot at 200nl tonight and lost a couple of buyins really quickly, so I'll save my next shot for when my bankroll is over 10k.

Spewed like a mofo last night at 50nl. Should expect a long breakeven stretch there now.

Just played a really solid session. Probably made a few 'tight folds' but hey, that's a change from the 'I won't fold' mindset that seems to have creeped in this month ever since I figured out how to put someone on a range.

I'll leave this blog for now with a thought: It's not just their range that needs to be considered, it's HOW they play their range.

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

I'll leave this blog for now with a thought: It's not just their range that needs to be considered, it's HOW they play their range.

same thing right?
ranges are modified by every action to become a subset of their previous range. This subset is now their range

Originally Posted by daven

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

I'll leave this blog for now with a thought: It's not just their range that needs to be considered, it's HOW they play their range.

same thing right?
ranges are modified by every action to become a subset of their previous range. This subset is now their range

yeah, well like, there's been lots of spots where I know villains range, yet disregard how he plays it and instead try to force him to play it the way I want. example: running a multistreet bluff on someone when their hand is face up as a marginal made hand that 'shouldn't be able to stand alot of heat'. well if that person isn't weak/tight enough to let it go, you just burn money bluffing into stations.

so yeah, it seriously took me >500k hands to learn not to bluff people who can't fold.

like let's say villain checks the river to us. his range is XXY. he will only call a river shove if you he has Y. you shove for pot and you have a +EV bluff. now let's say his range is still XXY, but he snaps off your shove with everything - well its obvious we can't bluff, even if we KNOW X is like 2nd or 3rd pair. so sometimes a player will check their entire range on the river, and when we're left with a PSB all we have to do is determine whether we're value betting or bluffing given what we anticipate his calling range to be.

ok I just rambled about obvious random stuff and I may have screwed up my explanation on what I said, but yeah disregard this I guess I've been grinding like 8+ hours a day to get Supernova so I'm kinda burnt out. I realize I went out of line in regards to what you said daven. I think you and I think about poker differently though, like our pattern of thought is different, but we seem to end up arriving at the same conclusion. Interesting, but I think it's true for anyone really.

cliff notes:
[x] people are stations at small stakes too, not just micros
[x] you can't force people to fold
[x] m2m took forever to learn this
[x] m2m is getting Supernova

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

so yeah, it seriously took me >500k hands to learn not to bluff people who can't fold.

similar, but it's taking me longer... and add "not to call with bluff catchers vs people who can't bluff"

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

like let's say villain checks the river to us. his range is XXY. he will only call a river shove if you he has Y. you shove for pot and you have a +EV bluff. now let's say his range is still XXY, but he snaps off your shove with everything - well its obvious we can't bluff, even if we KNOW X is like 2nd or 3rd pair. so sometimes a player will check their entire range on the river, and when we're left with a PSB all we have to do is determine whether we're value betting or bluffing given what we anticipate his calling range to be.

ok I just rambled about obvious random stuff and I may have screwed up my explanation on what I said, but yeah disregard this I guess I've been grinding like 8+ hours a day to get Supernova so I'm kinda burnt out. I realize I went out of line in regards to what you said daven. I think you and I think about poker differently though, like our pattern of thought is different, but we seem to end up arriving at the same conclusion. Interesting, but I think it's true for anyone really.

i think that writing long rambling poker discourses is +++EV for the person doing the writing. And reading them and thinking about the content and context is also +EV most of the time. As for out of line - nope. And the pattern of thought thing is likely to be terminology as much as anything. by the way, the xxy explanation above is good - that paragraph would stand alone as a post in the beginners circle. Post it.

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

[x] people are stations at small stakes too, not just micros
[x] you can't force people to fold
[x] m2m took forever to learn this
[x] m2m is getting Supernova

vnh

Originally Posted by daven

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

so yeah, it seriously took me >500k hands to learn not to bluff people who can't fold.

similar, but it's taking me longer... and add "not to call with bluff catchers vs people who can't bluff"

this is simliar to the 'don't bluff a station', where essentially the concept is, don't bet as a bluff because villain DOESN'T HAVE hands he will fold in his range (or enough to make it profitable), asa bit of an extension to this:

there are spots where villain can't even have a bluff in his range given his line!

finding little spots like this can save alot over the long haul.

Played about 5k hands yesterday, now on to today's grind..

Never skimmed through this before, keep at it.

M2M you big fucking stud you! I've been away for a few months and you've just done amazing. So glad to see things are going so well for you! Keep it up. I hope to end my absence now and get back to playing.

Hey Harley good to see you back around FTR. Hope poker goes well for you, and thank you for the compliments.

Alright for today I'll be putting in a bit less volume, but I still might get 3k hands in. I guess I'll just have to see how it goes.

Greetings from Norway m2m! (BTW m2m was a teenage chick group from Norway )

I always had faith in you when others were trying to drag you down. There is definitely some Pawnalot in you! Spread knowledge, happiness and sunshine my friend!

Thanks Sir P.

So I was bored and messing around with PT3 filters and I wanted to take a look at my stats from only 50nl and 100nl filtered for the last 30 days. Then I thought hey, I might as well take a look at my graph...(this does not include 200nl shot take failure or SHNL spew)



run good much?

Wow, so is FR where the mobnies are now? nh sir.

wheeeee

good to see someone listened to my move the hell up post.

Originally Posted by Bbickes

good to see someone listened to my move the hell up post.

I fucking love you

edit: (no homo)

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

Thanks Sir P.

So I was bored and messing around with PT3 filters and I wanted to take a look at my stats from only 50nl and 100nl filtered for the last 30 days. Then I thought hey, I might as well take a look at my graph...(this does not include 200nl shot take failure or SHNL spew)



run good much?

post the graph without the filters

Awesome work man.

Originally Posted by daven

post the graph without the filters

heh, just take off about $600, $200 of me tilting at HU and and big $400 spike where I lost 2 buyins at at 200nl in like 5min. I guess you'll see this when I post my monthly review.

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Awesome work man.

ty

even with some unlucky shot taking and some spew you're running $150/day over a decent sample, even better without:

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Awesome work man.

Shooting for 4000 hands today. Going to Toronto tomorrow so I think I may be calling it a month a couple days early.

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

Shooting for 4000 hands today

Clearly you are built for the grind! You may have mentioned this somewhere already but how many tbls are you playing at once generally?

Originally Posted by al yell

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

Shooting for 4000 hands today

Clearly you are built for the grind! You may have mentioned this somewhere already but how many tbls are you playing at once generally?

8-12ish, though sometimes 6-8. It all depends

Bleh, first session of the day was weird. I had 2 tables at once where I had 4bet, one where I planned on calling a shove and the other folding. I ended up mixing up the tables and accidently mis-click called QJo all in as opposed to sticking with my plan to fold. Well it turns out the dick waver who 5bet me had 33 so I was priced in lol, 3's held and I believe I look like a crazy mofo now. It's funny, I actually haven't been 4betting much at all lately, yet when I do I manage to do it on two tables at the exact same time in the exact same positions and screw both up :P

Wow where are these ppl who 5bet 33 on FTP? I guess I'm just missing something.

Had a brutal final session to end the month the other day which was half running bad and half spew. Just got back from Toronto now and won't be playing anything but the freeroll as far as poker goes because I'm too tired/hungover/tilted etc so I'll save it for Sunday.

Alright here's the monthly: (72% of the hands are 50nl, the rest 100nl and a few from when I took a shot at 200nl)



cash game $: 3,738.21
rake back $: 680.60
month closes @ + $4,418.81

Goals for November:
[ ] >100k hands
[ ] spew less/quit those sessions where I'm not feeling it
[ ] play more when I am feeling it
[ ] try getting some sort of study done..going to be difficult when going for nova at this pace though, fml
[ ] ...?

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

month closes @ + $4,418.81

very nice work. Hang on, weren't you at 2nl micro-styling earlier this year makes a very good reference for those who ask "is it possible?"

Yeah you are correct, I was at 2nl earlier this year.

Okay I'm in serious need of VPPs or else I screw myself out of getting Supernova for next year. I also want to have time to spend with family around Christmas without having to grind so much over the holidays, and I also would like to take this girl out for dinner - in other words I need to find a way to get these VPPs faster so I can have a life!

I will attempt to play 100,000 hands over the next 20 days.

*50,343 VPPs till Supernova*

edit: as of disclosing this I'm at 8,062 hands already, so this should be easy.

Yea that's not really difficult, so you'll be just fine imo. Rather than saying gl I'll say "Canada suxorz!"

Thats a pretty badass month man! Looks like the questions about pro status are starting to get answered

bleh..been swongy, im 4ptbb over my first 13k but have spewed about 4 stacks :/

I need to follow this new rule: When a session isn't going that great, DO NOT stick it out for more than 2 hours - they always end in disaster this way.

I find it okay to grind longer than 2 hours if I'm in the right mindset/zone or whatever you want to call it, but if I'm a bit edgy from the way I've been running/playing/feeling etc, I need to learn to keep it short.

Hopefully the 3 buyins I lit on fire this session will be enough to force me to focus on getting this right for once.

Nice new sig

New sig is courtesy of spoonitnow

In the first 3 days of the month I've played 16k hands. Been absolute hell. Running way below EV, spewed off like 4 buyins on top of that, which has created some epic swongs.

Let's hope I can get my head on straight and start focusing!

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

In the first 3 days of the month I've played 16k hands. Been absolute hell. Running way below EV, spewed off like 4 buyins on top of that, which has created some epic swongs.

Let's hope I can get my head on straight and start focusing!

sounds familiar. Hope you turn it all around!

Thanks daven. I plan on altering sessions today from 6-8 tables to 10-12. Hopefully this alternating method will provide more balance between thoroughly thinking and auto-piloting to to get veeps, and in turn increase focus and minimize spew

congrats on the month, i thought you were a really low stakes grinder haha. well done

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

congrats on the month, i thought you were a really low stakes grinder haha. well done

Thanks. Well it wasn't long ago this year I was at the micros...let's hope I keep it up aha.

Wow cant believe he CR river and did not lead. I had a hard time putting him on a range.

I don't understand why but I keep making too many bad bluffs and to top it off I'm running bad. Run bad + play bad = loss of money.

Perhaps you've always been making them and they aren't actually all that bad, but the running shit = constantly running into the top of people's ranges etc. Why not post a few and have 'em looked over.

If a downswing is startingn to affect your game and cause extra spew, this prolly goes without saying, but consciously try to take the lower variacne option if there's aclose spot. i.e elcting to not bluff if you think it's really close to being neutral EV. Might help to straighten your head out and avoid uneccessary extra spewage.

GL man.

Thanks man. Yeah, I'm going to perhaps avoid these really thin 'long ball spots' until I start showing signs of profit. Especially since spots like this end up being very costly if played incorrectly (i.e. 3 barreling etc)

I think I just fixed a ton of leaks that sort of creeped into my game over the past week. I'm now much more aware of alot of things I'm doing incorrectly and am taking action to eliminate these mistakes.

B/E for 40k+ hands

[x] not anticipating further action like I used to
[x] in the process of fixing this
[x] recently cashed out money
[x] ppl irl stress me out

;(

oh it's okay, I'm raping people again at the tables

sweet I just c/f'd in a 3bet pot..looks like a new beginning for me.

I one tabled 10nl earlier lol. +1 BI in 97 hands. EZ game. I got stacked within 3 hands of starting cuz I was all antsy, came back and didnt flop any big hands and still raped. One tabling is so eyeopening. Im def going to do some sessions of it in the future. Its awesome to just sit there and call out super narrow hand ranges and have their hand pegged 9 times out of 10. Now if only I can do that while 6-8 tabling.

I find I can't play less than 6 tables without going on mega spew tilt.

Yea agree, I was running 27/21/4.5 which isnt insane I guess, but its probably a lot more laggy than I would be running normally lol. I found that I was able to exploit the retards so much more. It was pretty much awesome lolz.

Its good to see you're working on getting back on the right track.

There will come a time where you will be down so many buyins you will feel as if it is impossible to grind it back. My advice to you:

Do not check your results while playing.
Be active in the forums/post some hands.
Keep thinking and putting people on ranges, eventually you'll grind it out and in the end, you'll become a stronger player after learning from your mistakes.

Amen brother. I've gotten really results oriented over the last couple of weeks, due to that prop bet I had going. If you just focus on playing well and making the right calls/folds/raises and don't worry about your results or BR, you're going to be so much better off. I've lost sight of that a bit and its good to see you hammering it home here. I'm going to go look up some articles in the BC Digest on tilt and not worrying about results. I need to get back on my game ASAP.