Slevins: One day at a time

This op has undergone some pretty radical changes since It started.

Eventually I'd like to become a winning poker pro playing the high stakes games.

The main thing though is that I want to remember that poker is fun, and make sure I enjoy it when I'm playing. That's why I got so into the game in the first place and that's why I spent so much time on FTR to try to learn how to play.

So the one goal of this OP now is to enjoy poker and have some fun at the tables!

I used to lurk your old blog all the time, but never posted. It always each and every time became a flamefest, and I'm not interested in partaking in those.

Anyway, I really want you to succeed man. GL.

Thanks for your support Jack!

I'll be sure to stop by your bar for a cocktail to celebrate when I complete this

Good luck Slev. I have the same problem of indiscipline so hopefully reading this Op will help me as well. I'll follow with interest

Gl, Gary

I don't really get the depositing limits, why not just not deposit?

Good luck Slev. Don't let the haters of old get to you. You know they will show up at the slightest hiccup. Play your game, live & learn, and do what works for you.

GL bud.

Originally Posted by Parasurama

I don't really get the depositing limits, why not just not deposit?

from what I understand he's transferring money to his account to play with, but his bankroll is larger than the amount he has in the site

so if he tries to make a stupid shot at higher stakes he won't be able to due to lack of funds
and all he would lose is 11 BI max

Originally Posted by connectthesuitors

Good luck Slev. I have the same problem of indiscipline so hopefully reading this Op will help me as well. I'll follow with interest

Originally Posted by kmind

Gl, Gary

Originally Posted by nibbles

Good luck Slev...GL bud.

Cheers guys really appreciate the support !

Originally Posted by iopq

Originally Posted by Parasurama

I don't really get the depositing limits, why not just not deposit?

from what I understand he's transferring money to his account to play with, but his bankroll is larger than the amount he has in the site

so if he tries to make a stupid shot at higher stakes he won't be able to due to lack of funds
and all he would lose is 11 BI max

Yeah that's exactly it, to those not as inept as me I can understand how it might seem strange but trust me it's the only way I can guarantee not donking my roll in the early phases of this OP! It's just a means of protecting my role by only giving me access to a maximum of 16 buy ins at any one time

I am rooting for you Slev, but in all seriousness, keeping your money off the site is not learning to control the issues. Either you understand the reasoning behind BR management or you don't. Don't use restrictions to control yourself, just control yourself. 11 BI's is plenty to do something stupid. Having only enough to top up when you want to ten table and not expect the odd Stacking to happen early will only have you either dropping tables to top up or playing with like 83BB or something stupid on one table. Just put the money on the site so you have it, don't do anything outside of your plans in this OP and do your best to prove to yourself and everyone here that you have learned. There will be no flaming in this thread unless you do the same'ol same'ol. I will delete any inappropriate posts. But you only get one OP coverage, the next one leaves you on your own again.

Thanks Jyms you make a good point, I'm just so trying to avoid another failed OP! But I see where you're coming from. I won't move the bankroll of the site then as it accumulates, I'll rely on the progress in this OP to keep me on track and accountable instead!

First session report

4 hours into the OP I'm pleased to say the bankroll is still alive ... Slightly inappropriate jokes aside - I played 800 hands in 3.7 hours and ran at 21.3BB/100. But I'll be honest I did make the odd awful call and still have a tendancy to make the odd bluff which certainly isn't +EV - must stop doing that!

I'm due to clear a bonus soon which gives me my pick of 5 poker books from a selection of about 20, including some by skalinsky and harrington (it's something to do with 2+2 - i've never got around to checking the forum out in any great detail but stumbled on the signup offer through google) So... I'd like your thoughts on which books to chose, I seem to remember reading here before that some of skalinskys books are better than his others and as there are a few to choose from I thought I'd get your ideas, I'll post the titles I can pick from later today and hopefully you guys can tell me what you think!

Slev.

I gotta agree with Jyms on most of what he says. While I do like the idea of having an inhibitor on your funds in the way you've set it up.

I think you really need to understand that you could play losing poker on all 10 tables for the first hour of play, and your own failsafes won't let you continue to play at those tables.

This will lead to you playing scared because you don't have enough money online to withstand the immediate variance that could occur. Which is Bad bad bad!!!

If you're going to be playing 10 tables I'd imagine you need 2.5X buyins per table to withstand the possible variance. Which would be 25 buyins for the level.

So my question is this: WTF are you doing playing 10 tables at the same time? Can you beat 10 tables consistently? Why are you only striving for 3bb/100? I'd rather play 5 tables at 5-6 BB/100 and actually learn from my play than earn the same amount and feel pressured all the time.

Originally Posted by Ragnar4

Slev.

I gotta agree with Jyms on most of what he says. While I do like the idea of having an inhibitor on your funds in the way you've set it up.

I think you really need to understand that you could play losing poker on all 10 tables for the first hour of play, and your own failsafes won't let you continue to play at those tables.

This will lead to you playing scared because you don't have enough money online to withstand the immediate variance that could occur. Which is Bad bad bad!!!

If you're going to be playing 10 tables I'd imagine you need 2.5X buyins per table to withstand the possible variance. Which would be 25 buyins for the level.

So my question is this: WTF are you doing playing 10 tables at the same time? Can you beat 10 tables consistently? Why are you only striving for 3bb/100? I'd rather play 5 tables at 5-6 BB/100 and actually learn from my play than earn the same amount and feel pressured all the time.

Hi ragnar yeah I can crush 2nl when I'm on my game, it's just staying on it. TBH It wouldn't or at least shouldn't get to the stage where I'd ever lose 10 buyins on ten tables, because deposit inhibitors aside, I'm now working with a 5 buy in stop loss.

I agree though the deposit inhibitor was not the solution, and I've scrapped that following Jyms suggestion. So far so good. I just need to keep it real, the timing schedule at the start of the blog's helping me alot - I'm no longer getting excited when I stack a couple of people, instead I'm just playing my game and getting excitment from the fact that I'm on schedule. That's what I'm focussing on from here on in. 3bb on average per day. Then if I do get smashed on the tables one evening and lose half my progress I shouldn't be tilted as I can take solice from the fact I'm still ahead of schedule! is what I need to achieve my goal of 100nl by September so that's all I'm worried about for now, If I do better all well and good, but I don't want to put unnescesary pressure on my game.

The Pyschology of Poker - Schoonmaker
The Poker Mindset - Hilger
Inside the Poker Mind - John Feeney


LOL Ninja Edit?

Update

Just finished my second session and it went well. I played well and managed to stop when I felt myself not playing at my best. I played 700 hands and averaged 19BB/100. I actually stopped when I lost a stack I heard myself bitching to myself about it after I lost it, so closed the tables down and thought I'd take a break.


Books

Within 2 or 3 sessions I will have cleared that book bonus so can choose some free poker books. What do you guys think, any ideas which ones would be a good choice?

I get to chose 2 from the following list: -

Harrington on Hold’em Volume I: Strategic Play
Harrington on Hold’em Volume II: The Endgame
Harrington on Hold’em Volume III: The Workbook
Harrington on Cash Games, Volume 1
Harrington on Cash Games, Volume 2
No Limit Hold’em: Theory and Practice - D Skalinsky, E Miller
Professional No-Limit Hold’em: Volume I
Winning in Tough Hold’em Games
Hold 'em Poker for Advanced Players - Skalinsky, Malmuth
The Theory of Poker - D Skalinsky
Hold'em Poker - Skalinsky
Small Stakes Hold 'em - Skalinsky, Miller, Malmuth
The Pyschology of Poker - Schoonmaker
Heads-Up No-Limit Hold 'em - Moshman

and 3 from the following list: -

Gambling theory and other topics - Malmuth
Gambling for a living - Skalinksy, Malmuth
Getting the best of it - Skalinsky
Skalinsky on Poker - Skalinsky
Inside the Poker Mind - John Feeney
Poker Essays - Malmuth
Poker Essays Vol II - Malmuth
Poker Essays vol III - Malmuth
Poker, Gaming and life - D Skalinsky
Poker Farce and Poker Truth
The Mathematics of Poker
Winning Low-Limit Hold'em (3rd ed)
Serious Poker
Statking (some kind of software)

Thanks I look forward to hearing your thoughts on those!

I've got this vision of sitting in a nice climate a year from now sipping some cocktail and playing poker on a laptop. It'd be nice to have the skillset (and money) to just be able to take off now and again and do that sort of thing. A year from now that shouldn't be too hard, as long as this OP is a success

Originally Posted by Jack Sawyer

The Pyschology of Poker - Schoonmaker
The Poker Mindset - Hilger
Inside the Poker Mind - John Feeney


LOL Ninja Edit?

Lol thanks Jack,wanted to edit my post before and don't like the 'edited' all over my posts. Thought I'd remove my last so I could edit the prior without it saying edited. I'm a bit of a perfectionist!

Thanks for that, I'd never heard of those three before so wouldn't have considered them without a recommendation, so I'm pleased I asked! But... The poker mindset isn't on my list

End day 1

Well finished for the night now. The last session was another solid winning one so I'm well on track at the moment. Since I started the OP about 24 hours ago, I've played 1991 hands, in 8.2 hours, and am running at 25.2 BB/100. Great progress but I'm not going to let it get to me. All I want is 3BB/100 a day, and I'll be playing 100nl in September! Looking forward to another good day tomorrow

GL gary

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

But... The poker mindset isn't on my list

I know

I couldn't sleep. Not sure why, I felt tired. My mind was too active. So I decided to do a little bit of study. I'm going to slowly work my way through the BC digest, I've read most before but have forgotten 90% of what I read. So am going to focus on one or two articles every couple of days.

Notes and thoughts to take forward from the reading

The Newbie Circle of Death

Do not allow yourself to move away from solid TAG poker. Just because your opponents are catching every miracle flop in existence, this doesn't make it profitable to play trash.

[1.] I'm going to keep tight to keep my edge.

Do not allow your confidence playing a TAG style delude you into thinking you're suddenly a great player capable of reading everyone.

[2.] If I'm not getting the right odds I'm folding. The strength of my hand is relative to the flop texture and my opponenets likely range. Even bad players hit the nuts.

Moving up and you

You need a large scale of hands before you can verify if you are beating a level. 20k of hands are needed at a minimum. At the microstakes 2.5BB/100 is a solid win rate.

[3.] I'm going to add a rule that I need at least 20k of hands at a stake before I move up, and I have to be beating that stake for an average of at least 2.5BB/100 otherwise I stay there until I am.

You need to ensure you move down when your bankroll dictates. Moving down is as important (probabally more important) than moving up.

[4.] Whenever I only have 30BI's for the previous level, I'm going to drop down to that previous level.

Some random thoughts at 5am

It's funny I'd like to play more poker now but have not allowed myself too. I played a fair bit yesterday and at 4am seen as I was awake and just finished some studying I wanted to play again.

Despite how keen I am to push on with the OP and get some hands in, I'm reminding myself all the time that this OP is about discipline first and foremost, before number of hands played, or winrates. Yeah the disciplined thing to do is to go to bed and sleep.

On a related note It's interesting that 99% of the times I've tried to build my bankroll in the past, I've played until I pretty much was completely tired, went to bed, and then started again the next morning. Not exactly a recipe for success! Also a little bit of Slevin trivia... in the eight months I've been playing I can't remember keeping a bankroll since depositing it for more than 3 days. Yes I think 2 days was my record - not something I'm proud of, but I think it all ties in with discipline.

I'm realising in this OPs infancy that having the discipline not to play until your burned out and taking regular healthy breaks is just as important as having the discipline to fold when you're beat and play solid TAG poker.

Goodnight !

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Goodnight !

Goodnight and Good Luck!

Originally Posted by Muzzard

GL gary

Originally Posted by PlayToWin

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Goodnight !

Goodnight and Good Luck!

Thanks guys

First losing session. Couldn't keep running at 20BB/100 I guess!

It's been a bit of a disaster this afternoon to be honest. The client kept crashing on me which tilted me. I was up 3 buy ins at one point, then lost a couple of pots where I was way ahead, the last pot I lost it was all getting to me a little too much, and I decided to call a loose/agressive all in, with a flush draw and an overcard, he had a pair and there went another buy in.

Down almost $3.62 over the 600 hands. I'm going to break for an hour, and head back to the tables at 7pm.

It's moments like these that can be the making or breaking of an operation, I know I'm only a couple of buyins down, but after being almost four up during the same session, I was really feeling it. Then I remember my goals and that I'm still well ahead of them at the moment, I also remember that conquering the negative feelings when I have a bashing like that is the key to the success of the OP. That makes me feel a little better.

I decided to take a look around the net today to see what I can find to bring me back into the zone. The first thing I stumbled across was the now well known zero-to-hero challenge that Chris Ferguson took on a couple of years ago. What I hadn't noticed until just now is just how much patience he showed in the early months, and just how much he was rewarded for it with a soaring progress from about $600 to 10k in one month towards the back end of it. Well OK he is Chris Ferguson, but I couldn't have asked for a better reminder of the need for consistency and patience in the early stages of bankroll development.

Be Strong Slevin.

and good luck!!!!!!!!

I'm realizing similar stuff... successful poker doesn't mean poker 24/7, or even once a day. Taking some time to reflect is very +EV, both pokerwise and lifewise. I've been going gung-ho for the last few months, but have noticed that as I slow down a little and focus more, I'm happier and play better.

Best of luck Slevin.. I've trolled your other op, and am pullin' for ya man!

Originally Posted by flomo

Be Strong Slevin.

and good luck!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by nUFamn

I'm realizing similar stuff... successful poker doesn't mean poker 24/7, or even once a day. Taking some time to reflect is very +EV, both pokerwise and lifewise. I've been going gung-ho for the last few months, but have noticed that as I slow down a little and focus more, I'm happier and play better.

Best of luck Slevin.. I've trolled your other op, and am pullin' for ya man!

Thanks guys it's great to have your positive vibes It means alot - cheers!

Was having some teething problems with the new site, it's Ipoker. I can't multi-table stack which was a bit of a nuisance as it doesn't seem to work at all randomly doesn't give focus to the right window... and I only have a small monitor! But then things went from the sublime to the ridiculous... earlier today they told me that my ISP wasn't supported when I couldn't log in .... LOL! Anyway seems to have resolved itself now.

I've cleared my book bonus which is nice! I'm also up for the day now, so all in all a good day! Things are going nicely

Edit: No longer up for the day =( in fact day two closes with a loss of 73 cents after 1k of hands.

End day 2
It was going so well you wouldn't believe it. Then I got stacked twice for 300bb, and 250bb - two stacks I'd slowly nourished over the course of about two hours - ARGH! But I sit back and reflect how well I've done in the past two short days, How I've still almost doubled my bankroll and this helps me to escape that sick feeling of being whacked over the back of the head and robbed!

Interesting developments of a mental nature... I'm noticing a change in my attitude towards losses now, usually I'd immediately want to buy back in for the full amount (250BB's) or just buy into a $10 SNG. The stacking happened within moments of each other and once the gut churning facts set in, all I wanted to do was shut the tables down to preserve the rest of my bankroll. It's 2am so a good as time as any to stop.

Not the ideal mindset to be in, a month or two from now I'd like to be unphased, and want to continue impassive and emotionless when this happens, but I'll settle for that bankroll protection instinct any day lately, it's far better than wanting to gamble the loss back by playing outside of the bankroll.

Realise Slevin this isn't a loss. It's simply an arbitrary line in lifetime graph of hands. Tomorrow is another fresh day and new opportunities to develop the bankroll.

Yeah! this is the mindset I'm going to cultivate from now on. I've just renewed my GS membership I think I'll take some time away from the tables during the morning/early afternoon tomorrow and swot up a little

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Then I got stacked twice for 300bb, and 250bb

Post these two hands plz

Books from the first list I'd get if I were you:

1.) Professional No Limit Hold'Em- Has a LOT of interesting topics and concepts inside to keep you thinking. Introduces SPR and how to use PF bet sizing to put yourself in advantageous positions postflop.

2.) Theory of Poker- The virtual Bible for any Poker player. Seriously, anyone who is serious about poker should own this book and read through it from time to time. You pick up a little bit more everytime you look into it.

Alternate- The Psychology of Poker- Haven't read it, but I HAVE read your old blog and I think this would be a good choice for you to get in the right mindset.

Books from the 2nd list:

1.) The Mathematics of Poker- Again haven't read this one yet, but I don't think anyone can learn too much about the technical side of the game.

2.) Inside the Poker Mind- Again the mental/psychological side for you.

3.) Sklansky on Hold'em- Heard a lot of good reviews on this one.



Good Luck Slev, you need to stay focused on this one. Don't get off track and keep your head in it. You are off to a good start despite being down the last couple of sessions.

Keep it up dude.

Originally Posted by Muzzard

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

Then I got stacked twice for 300bb, and 250bb

Post these two hands plz

No point really. One was a cooler and the other I just played poorly giving too much credit to villians stats.

Originally Posted by dranger7070

Books from the first list I'd get if I were you:

1.) Professional No Limit Hold'Em- Has a LOT of interesting topics and concepts inside to keep you thinking. Introduces SPR and how to use PF bet sizing to put yourself in advantageous positions postflop.

2.) Theory of Poker- The virtual Bible for any Poker player. Seriously, anyone who is serious about poker should own this book and read through it from time to time. You pick up a little bit more everytime you look into it.

Alternate- The Psychology of Poker- Haven't read it, but I HAVE read your old blog and I think this would be a good choice for you to get in the right mindset.

Books from the 2nd list:

1.) The Mathematics of Poker- Again haven't read this one yet, but I don't think anyone can learn too much about the technical side of the game.

2.) Inside the Poker Mind- Again the mental/psychological side for you.

3.) Sklansky on Hold'em- Heard a lot of good reviews on this one.



Good Luck Slev, you need to stay focused on this one. Don't get off track and keep your head in it. You are off to a good start despite being down the last couple of sessions.

Keep it up dude.

Thanks for that info Dranger I'm just waiting on them to confirm the books are authrised they said it can take upto 30 days... then upto 6 weeks to ship... idk as long as I get them I don't mind. Yeah TOP thanks for confirming that, I was edging towards that and inside the poker mind, both you and jack sawyer mention that one so I think thats a definate as is TOP !

------

Update!

Well it's time for a short break! The ipoker software continues to be the most counter productive poker client i've ever discovered! After another couple of hours intermitently letting me log in and out I've given up. The support say it's to do with antivirus software that AOL and my ISP have installed which intereferes with their network... one things for sure it's just not usuable as is. So I've decided the best thing to do for now will be to head back over to Stars. I've cashed out my bankroll which should be in my account by next week at which point i'm going to move to Stars, the only thing that worries me is if stars 2nl will be harder, I could swear it seems to be... Then again Jyms in one of his videos speaks of there being hardly no difference even at 10nl between the sites, as all of these players are still learning the basics - so I'm probabally reading too much into it!

BR currently $47.60 - I'm going to use the time between now and when my BR hits my account to study some more - probabally a good thing.

Will be posting next update early next week when I start grinding stars!

dont worry about whether stars is "harder" - the more you do this the more you will convince yourself its true regardless if it is or isnt, and that will inevitably lead to you making poor decisions at the tables etc etc.

just take this break to go over all the basics you've learnt recently, how to adapt them to different players etc, and when you start playing just focus on ABC poker. dont start each session thinking "this is probably going to be harder" - because you'll only be making it seem harder than it really is.

gl slev, props to you for the GS thing as well.

Thanks Sil I'll remember that, I think I might try to write everything I know down my style how I play what I should be thinking about etc... In word to reinforce it all, that's good advice about going over the basics again - I'll make sure I do.

I don't think you'll have any trouble with 2NL @ Stars. There are tons of villians with >50% VPIP (Some 80-90%). Just play good cards from late position. Seriously, do this always = discipline. I'm way overrolled for 2NL, but I'm working on my game there. I'm starting to really appreciate position play. Being last to act lets me manipulate the pot size to suit me. Also, I've found that c-bets win the pot if you have a tight table image. I c-bet about 50%. If c-bets aren't working at a table, then just quit trying but they should if no more than 2 villians are in the hand. That's also why it's important to have a high PFR% ...to get some of the donks to fold there crap (another thing I'm working on). Lastly, no matter how bad they suck, DON'T call all-ins unless you KNOW you have the best hand. Just fold it and play the next hand. I know you know these basics but you have to have the discipline to stick with them ALWAYS! I'm working on discipline too. LOL

We'll get there buddy! I got faith!

Originally Posted by PlayToWin

I don't think you'll have any trouble with 2NL @ Stars. There are tons of villians with >50% VPIP (Some 80-90%). Just play good cards from late position. Seriously, do this always = discipline. I'm way overrolled for 2NL, but I'm working on my game there. I'm starting to really appreciate position play. Being last to act lets me manipulate the pot size to suit me. Also, I've found that c-bets win the pot if you have a tight table image. I c-bet about 50%. If c-bets aren't working at a table, then just quit trying but they should if no more than 2 villians are in the hand. That's also why it's important to have a high PFR% ...to get some of the donks to fold there crap (another thing I'm working on). Lastly, no matter how bad they suck, DON'T call all-ins unless you KNOW you have the best hand. Just fold it and play the next hand. I know you know these basics but you have to have the discipline to stick with them ALWAYS! I'm working on discipline too. LOL

We'll get there buddy! I got faith!

The bold part is what's important.

Wrong. You shouldn't only play good hands from late position depending on your classification of "good." As you get closer to the button open up your range more, not just restricted to premium hands. Premiums are basically what you should be sticking to until mid-late position, then you can start opening suited connectors and all that.

But whatever technicality and I'm sure you know this lol.

Originally Posted by dranger7070

Wrong. You shouldn't only play good hands from late position depending on your classification of "good." As you get closer to the button open up your range more, not just restricted to premium hands.

Yea, you're right. That's a good distinction to make as long as you can also let the hand go with no flop improvement. Of course, you could try being a c-bet monkey. Sorry to take over yor Op, Slev.

heh no worries I'm studying this weekend getting myself fighting fit for when my bankroll hits stars so have nothing new to post - enjoying your conversation.

Definately agree though that positon > strength of cards. Better position = more info, = wider range. Worse position = less info = tighter range.

I mentioned a while back that I would wait until I had 20k of hands at each stake before moving up, I think I need to alter that a little for the very early stakes say 2nl-10nl, I'll probabally just move up as BR permits, once I hit 25nl then I should probabally start enforcing that rule.

Just at 2nl if I continue as I am I'll be rolled for 5nl long before I hit 20k of hands and at these tiny stakes where there's not much difference in quality of opponents I don't think it'll matter to just let my BR dictate when I move up to save some time.

What do you guys think on this? Cheers!

Yea definitely agree just move up and down as BR permits until you get to 10 or 25nl. Then again, it took me right around 22k hands to get out of 2nl, then again I started with $10 lol.

Edit: 01 March/2pm GMT.

Fresh Approach To Sessions

'It ain't what you do it's the way that you do it'

Soundtrack for todays post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rX8rc5_ceQ

This is so true I've recently started studying the Grinderschool Vids again from scratch. One video in particular I've already watched a couple of times in the past, yesterday was the third time. I've watched the video. In the past I've thought to myself, yeah that sounds sensible... and then haven't done anything about it. The video is one of Jyms he talks about the need for mental preperation before a session, how focus is important - no distractions. About the need for getting reads on villains. About the need to keep an eye on your table so you can move if it's not playing well. 'Leaving a bad table, is more important than finding a good table'.

It aint what you do it's the way that you do it. I'm changing the way I do it. Starting today I'm going to play in the early hours of the morning mostly (because that's when the house is quite) this will help to cut out distractions. I'm also going to make sure I have a couple of drinks ready for the session, that the phones off. No checking PT during a session (I've been doing that with increasing regularlity recently).

I'm due to start a new job in a couple of weeks which is working from home (one of the things that attracted me to it) - it's only about 6 hours a day so still leaves me plenty of time for poker. The hours are in the early evening which fits in great with the new concept of playing poker in the early hours when the house is quite. I've developed a new schedule which I'm going to start today - within a week or two I hope I'll be use to it.

Wake : 3PM
Free Time: 3PM - 5.30pm
Last Session Review: 5.30-6.30pm
Study Time: 6:30-8pm
Break: 8pm-9pm
First session: 9pm-1am (4 hours)
Break: 1am-2am
Second Session: 2am-7am. (5 hours)
To Bed : 7:30am

I'm going to wake about 3pm have a couple of hours of free time. then I'm going to review the previous session, and take any notes, then I'm going to watch a training video. Next I'm going to play a 4 hour session, then have an hour break. Second session will then start at 2AM and I'll finish at 7AM, then wind down for half hour and go to bed, sleep for 8 hours then start over!

When I start my job it simply means most of the free time and last session review will be replaced by my working hours, and I'll have to start the first session an hour later (at 10pm instead of 9) which will mean when I'm working I'll still be able to get 8 hours of poker in a day.

My intention is to follow this schedule 6 days a week, and take one day out a week to go out play pool / socialise etc...

From now on I'll be posting a short post daily with my 1st session /2nd session daily results.

My BR is now in my paypal account which means I can transfer it over to my card and start playing from this evening. So first session will be in about 12 hours time (at 2am) the next few days will be a little tricky as I get used to the new schedule - but i think it'll be worth it.

Well, if you're not used to playing 4hr and 5hr sessions, I would advise to work up to it with shorter sessions. Your brain can get in a haze without you realizing it until it's too late. That could be trouble for your roll. Especially if your multi-tabling.

Also, why don't you want to check poker tracker during play?

Overall, it sounds like a good plan. GoGoGoGo

Yeah i'm used to it playtowin, i usually average 4+ hours!

Originally Posted by PlayToWin

Also, why don't you want to check poker tracker during play?

Overall, it sounds like a good plan. GoGoGoGo

Because it takes my attention away from the tables and I know the intelligent approach is to realise that short term results are completely insignificant and not let them get into my sphere of thought while playing. This is a real big thing for me, I'm working hard to get to the stage where short term results don't bother me. I'm a long way off though!

Thanks for the words of encouragement

Oh man this poker lark can be quite frustrating at times...

Was 8 buy ins up, now after a pretty sick bad beat and a few more hands later im about 3 buy ins up. Ack. Shouldn't complain. I know this is what poker is. Just grind.

Grinder = 'SMALL, and CONSISTENT' winnings.

Reduced to 1 table while I recompose! Current session 3.6 hours, 2000 hands, 8.6BB/100. Shouldn't complain I guess, I made my 3BB/100 target.

I wouldn't post on FTR while grinding. Update AFTER the session next time, just so you can focus on the table(s).

Cheers kinda of stopped anyway, 1 tabling is like falling asleep for me... at 2nl.

End day 3

It's been a good day for the bankroll today, I'm up 3 buy ins through 2nl holdem, I played for about 4 hours and played well on the whole. I was 10-14 tabling. When I'd finished the 2nl session I decided to try a bit of Omaha, I like what little Omaha I've played so just fancied a change to wind down with. I bought in as I would at 2nl, on a .01/.02 Omaha hi table and managed over the course about an hour and half to win 3 buy ins, so the bankrolls seen a 6 BI increase today which is great.

I can't wait until I hit 10nl+ when I can start playing a bit more 'poker' I feel like a bot at 2nl at the moment, but whatever works right? I'm just avoiding any marginal situations and waiting until I think I'm way ahead. It seems to be doing the trick.

I've revised the first post a little becausee now I'm back on stars the limits have changed a little.

Well ahead of schedule at the moment - hopefully it shouldn't be too much longer before the BR's ready to tackle 5nl! =)

Just finished first session of today played 800 hands, ended up even. Last hand was a killer, cost me a big stack, I just went to post it but it's not in my instant HH or pokertracker which is kind of driving me mad.

Anyway I had a set of 66s got beat by a straight. for about $5 stack.

He raised from EP with 9T, shoved the river for $3 odd... I don't know maybe I should have folded the set? I just didn't think there was much of a chance of him having 9T... the only two cards that made the straight. Oh maybe I should fold sets to boards that have a possible straight when I'm shoved for close to 200bbs? I dunno...

If I can find the hand I'll post it!

Think I'll try a couple of games of Omaha.. Holdem is becoming a bit of a drag lately - I can't wait to get out of 2nl!

in the stars client, under request on the top bar, you can request your last however many HH's and they will be emailed to you. id do that if i were you and then post the hand. it might very well be standard - but then again it might not.

as for the omaha - its good you're enjoying it, but be careful not to lose your focus. its far far easier to learn one game at a time, and because of that if you stay focused on NLHE you should progress up the limits faster than if you try to learn both.

after all, isnt moving up what this is all about. . . . .

gl

Oh dat slevin!!!


Good luck man.. I'm rooting for ya. You sure seem to have changed from the old days. I'm glad your still around, and keep on keeping on.


BTW, that is in no way, shape, or form sarcastic

Originally Posted by XxStacksxX

Oh dat slevin!!!

Good luck man.. I'm rooting for ya. You sure seem to have changed from the old days. I'm glad your still around, and keep on keeping on.


BTW, that is in no way, shape, or form sarcastic

Thanks man

Originally Posted by sil693

in the stars client, under request on the top bar, you can request your last however many HH's and they will be emailed to you. id do that if i were you and then post the hand. it might very well be standard - but then again it might not.

gl

Great idea thanks, I found it - I remembered it slightly differently in my daze after losing the stack. He didn't raise... But I'd be interested to know if this was a bad hand or just a cooler guys.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (MP2) ($3.87)
CO ($2.07)
Button ($3.32)
SB ($1.08)
BB ($4.33)
UTG ($5)
UTG+1 ($2.25)
MP1 ($3.60)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 6, 6
3 folds, Hero calls $0.02, 3 folds, BB checks

Flop: ($0.05) 8, 6, A (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.05, BB calls $0.05

Turn: ($0.15) 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.14, BB calls $0.14

River: ($0.43) J (2 players)
BB bets $4.12 (All-In), Hero calls $3.66 (All-In)

Total pot: $7.75 | Rake: $0.35

Results:
BB had 10, 9 (straight, Jack high).
Hero mucked 6, 6 (three of a kind, sixes).
Outcome: BB won $7.40

OMAHA!

OK so as I said an hour or two ago I've been enjoying the odd game of Omaha lately especially after a long NL session where I'm breakeven. Having read Sils advice about concentrating on one game I'm going to make sure I only play it now and again...

I've just had a pretty wicked 1 table session, here are the notable hands: -

1.
PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.02 BB (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($11.40)
Button ($1.66)
SB ($10.92)
Hero (BB) ($2)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, A, 9, J
UTG calls $0.02, Button bets $0.09, SB calls $0.08, Hero raises to $0.38, UTG calls $0.36, Button raises to $1.61, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2 (All-In), UTG calls $1.62, Button calls $0.05 (All-In)

Flop: ($5.75) A, 10, 7 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($5.75) 7 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($5.75) J (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $5.75 | Rake: $0.25

Results:
Button mucked 2, 6, 9, 10 (two pair, tens and sevens).
Hero had K, A, 9, J (two pair, Aces and Jacks).
UTG mucked 6, Q, A, 8 (two pair, Aces and sevens).
Outcome: Hero won $5.50

2.
PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($2.24)
CO ($10.55)
Button ($5.79)
SB ($4.98)
BB ($9.44)
Hero (UTG) ($4.85)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, 9, J, J
Hero calls $0.02, 1 fold, CO calls $0.02, Button calls $0.02, SB calls $0.01, BB checks

Flop: ($0.10) 5, 10, J (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $0.10, 1 fold, Button calls $0.10, SB calls $0.10, 1 fold

Turn: ($0.40) K (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.40, Button raises to $1.60, 1 fold, Hero raises to $4.73 (All-In), Button calls $3.13

River: ($9.86) Q (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $9.86 | Rake: $0.45

Results:
Button mucked Q, K, K, 3 (three of a kind, Kings).
Hero had A, 9, J, J (straight, Ace high).
Outcome: Hero won $9.41

3.
PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($2.24)
UTG ($10.59)
MP ($5)
CO ($4.86)
Button ($9.40)
Hero (SB) ($9.39)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8, K, 5, K
UTG calls $0.02, 2 folds, Button bets $0.09, Hero calls $0.08, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.07

Flop: ($0.29) 2, 5, K (3 players)
Hero bets $0.29, 1 fold, Button calls $0.29

Turn: ($0.87) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.87, Button calls $0.87

River: ($2.61) 10 (2 players)
Hero bets $2.51, Button calls $2.51

Total pot: $7.63 | Rake: $0.35

Results:
Button mucked A, 8, 7, A (two pair, Aces and fives).
Hero had 8, K, 5, K (full house, Kings over fives).
Outcome: Hero won $7.28

4.
PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($2.12)
CO ($10.56)
Button ($4.96)
SB ($4.84)
BB ($5.48)
Hero (UTG) ($13.17)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 8, 4, 4, 2
Hero calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02, 2 folds, SB bets $0.08, BB calls $0.06, Hero calls $0.06, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.26) 2, K, 4 (3 players)
SB bets $0.14, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.68, SB calls $0.54

Turn: ($1.62) 9 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.57, SB calls $1.57

River: ($4.76) 10 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $2.51, SB calls $2.51 (All-In)

Total pot: $9.78

Results:
SB didn't show
Hero had 8, 4, 4, 2 (three of a kind, fours).

5.
PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($2.10)
MP ($10.56)
CO ($4.96)
Button ($5)
SB ($5.40)
Hero (BB) ($17.66)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, 10, Q, 7
UTG calls $0.02, MP calls $0.02, 1 fold, Button calls $0.02, SB calls $0.01, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.10) 4, 8, Q (5 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks, MP bets $0.10, Button raises to $0.22, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.22, 1 fold, MP calls $0.12

Turn: ($0.76) 2 (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, Button checks

River: ($0.76) 6 (3 players)
Hero bets $0.76, 1 fold, Button raises to $3.04, Hero raises to $9.88, Button calls $1.72 (All-In)

Total pot: $10.28 | Rake: $0.50

Results:
Button mucked 3, 6, K, J (flush, King high).
Hero had A, 10, Q, 7 (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: Hero won $9.78

Decided to stop here with so much of my bankroll sitting in front of me feel like I could have continued, but that was a pretty excellent session and I think having so much of my bankroll in front of me might have started to influence my play. Just the boost I needed! So I'm up almost 8 buy ins after that session.

Nice about the omaha dude.

But anyways, about the set<straight hand. What were you putting him on that made you call his shove? I mean, what does he c/c down with here that he just open shoves the river? set of J's? 8's? A's? Two pair doesn't seem too likely but you never know. 9T is definitely in his range.

You have to remember that fish don't make a monster overbet on the river without SOMETHING. Obviously, I think this isn't a TERRIBLE call, but idk. I think you could have gotten away from it. I mean, you have bottom set dude, its a good, but not GREAT hand. Analyze the situation next time I think.

Thanks I see them doing this with any two pair, and as a complete bluff - that's why I called - meh i still don't know about that hand. That's one vote for having folded then, cheers!

anyone else agree or disagree? =)

Toss up. At higher stakes, easy lay, but at the pennies, Slev is right, these maniacs will do this with air. I can't fault you for calling, but I would have folded (but I'ma bit ova nit).

I'm not saying its a snapfold or anything, but I think you COULD have found the fold button in that situation. I just don't see him open shoving the river with a complete bluff. It's not a terrible call, especially at 2nl.

WOW, slev's runnin hot @ omaha. Nice session!

Cheers Cbat, yeah that Omaha session was pretty awesome =)

End day 4

The second 2NL session went better than the first I'm pleased to say, despite breaking even over 900 odd hands earlier in the day, things went a bit better in the second session and I manged to win a buy in and a half over 750 hands (10.8BB/100) I also had another game of Omaha after (always just one table with Omaha) and finished another 1.5 buy ins up so a really good day today.

So those combined with the earlier Omaha session means as things stand BR is now $89 I'm really pleased with the progress, I just have to keep reminding myself that it's about small consistent winnings. 5nl... is within touching distance now!

YEAH! Yesterday before I went to bed I won another buy in. The new sleep schedule is working well I'm getting used to it. Just finished a 400 hand session where I ran at 36BB/100. Which means the BR is now $100.03 - PHASE 1 COMPLETE =)

Heh, no coincidence I stopped as soon as I passed the 5nl BR requirements! I think I might go to the pub to celebrate lol.

5NL here I come!

Good stuff, time to update the signature to Phase 2!

n1 slev, keep it up.

Cheers guys just updated the signature, this is a nice feeling, there's no going back now, no more retarded bankroll mis-management.

congrats slevin, keep up all this good work!!!

congrats man.

Don't do what i do when i move up. Same game different numbers. Open up gradually once you have a feel for opponents.

pwn

Grinder School poster boy. Good work and continued success.

Nice work Slevin. How many tables do you usually play??

Thanks for all the comments really appreciate them =)

I didn't go to the pub in the end, I was tempted but tonight is 'pool night' and I'd meet alot of people I used to play pool with, and probabally end up drinking too much lol, so I decided against it - If I'm honest now I've hit 5nl I'm kind of keen to push on too

Originally Posted by Schya

Nice work Slevin. How many tables do you usually play??

Thanks Sycha - I average 10-12 tables, since I moved back to Stars, I love how reliable the client is multi tabling, kind of took that for granted before, it's nice to have it back although I'm pulling that in a bit as I start 5nl, have been two tabling and so far so good, so will probabally increase to 6-8 max, and try that for a week or so.

I've just finished watching some of the party poker premier league. I swear Hellmuth is the funniest tv personality I've seen... full stop. He makes me laugh so much, combine that with the way they edit it to make him look like he has continual esp- and I can't get enough of it.

End day 5

5:30am now and I've just closed the tables down. My recent progress means alot to me for a couple of reasons. Firstly I'm starting to think I might have learnt some discipline at last and finally be heading in the right direction with the poker, the thought of the difference poker could make to my life in one or two years from now really excites me. The other reason I'm happy with the recent progress is that I've underachieved in most things I've done tbh (in life as well as poker) and that's why It's so rewarding to finally be getting somewhere with the poker.

I've played a total of 3700 hands today. The first 500 were at 2nl, and then once I hit $100 BR I stopped. The second session was 1300 hands and I run at a little over 5BB/100 at 5nl. The last session I just finished I had to grit my teeth and grind through. The first 800 hands I was about a dollar down but I knew it had to come good if I just continued and played the solid poker I've been learning. I watched a .02/.05 GS vid before this session, (by Jyms... I swear he's single handedly created the whole ultra microstakes library over at GS lol!) It's a good video and really reinforced the key points of a winning ultra micro strategy. 'There's no magic secret' he says in the video, it's solid ABC poker. That's what I told myself after the first 800 hands which were slightly under breakeven, and it gave me the grit to just continue on through. Even though at one point I was starting to doubt myself!

Anyway after grinding through the first 800 odd hands, the session picked up (despite me getting 3 outered for a buy in on the river in one hand and my KK's meeting AA preflop in another).

By the end of the session I'd played 2000 hands and ran at 12.7BB/100.

My BR is really reaping the rewards of hard work, discipline and paitence now which is great motivation in itself. Also the new sleeping schedule is helping I think, playing the main session in a quite house with everyone asleep really cuts the distractions down!

I guess we all play for different reasons, I really enjoy the game but the thought that I could be eventually earning some decent money from poker and the impact that could have on my life is a big driver for me. That's why I'm more determined than ever to make sure this OP's a success =)

Originally Posted by LuckySlevin

I'm more determined than ever to make sure this OP's a success =)

You're doing great obv and you're inspiring me. I was wondering if you had any problems psychologically in adapting to the bigger bets at 5NL. Also, how 'bout posting your 2NL stats from this Op, if you don't mind.

Originally Posted by PlayToWin

You're doing great obv and you're inspiring me. I was wondering if you had any problems psychologically in adapting to the bigger bets at 5NL. Also, how 'bout posting your 2NL stats from this Op, if you don't mind.

Thanks playtowin I didn't have any trouble adjusting to the bet size, I just see it in terms of bb's so it doesn't really phase me. Psychologically what did effect me a bit was the difference in play here. They do on the whole play better here than at 2nl and It took me a few hands to get used to that. I was expecting this to be 2nl with bigger blinds and stacks but it isn't. To get good value I'm having to be a bit more creative here, for instance there was a hand I played recently where the guy was calling me down on a AAx flop, where I'd bet almost pot, then almost pot again on the queen turn, the guy was running pretty loose and limp called PF so I was fairly certain he wasn't holding AQ (the turn was a queen)- the river made a backdoor flush. I knew he wouldn't put me on a flush from the way I was betting and I was fairly certain he had an ace from the way he was calling me down, I had AK so shoved the river (OOP) - I knew this looked like a bluff and sure enough he snap called with A7(o). I'd never have done that before, I'd usually have value bet - so I'm getting out of 'bot mode' 2nl here that's the biggest adjustment I'm making I think, to try to maintain a decent winrate.

I've pulled these stats from two sources because on Ipoker I played under a different name so my stats are in two sets of data, I had some trouble with Ipoker which you probabally know if you read the posts earlier in the op, so 1-2k of ipoker hands aren't in these stats, but otherwise they're fairly accurate.



I'm really pleased I'm inspiring you thanks :P

Jesus man. I can't believe you are running 11/8 and are winning that much so fast. Its disgusting lol. I mean, I know its FR and all but damn. I play 6-max and ran 17/12 at 2nl, and since I've moved up I've made a few adjustments (mostly position-wise) and am currently running 22/17 overall (which I like a WHOLE lot better ).

But yea, not knocking your style or anything, just its crazy that playing that tight is so profitable. Hurray for morons, amirite?

Keep up the good work and continue to pwn imo.

lol, the benefits of nit ring poker.

Just played my first session of the day and it went well I played 968 hands and ran at 13.6BB/100.

I can feel myself growing stronger as a player now and it's really good! Here are two key hands from the session.

1. This might have tilted me before especially as I was 200bb deep, but no more - "nh donk, 33 lol" he jibed in the chatbox. I just shrug and move on. I know I'm playing a winning strategy.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($4.03)
SB ($9.91)
BB ($1.21)
UTG ($10.31)
UTG+1 ($5.15)
MP1 ($2.90)
Hero (MP2) ($10.96)
MP3 ($5.04)
CO ($3.12)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 3, 3
UTG bets $0.20, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.20, 5 folds

Flop: ($0.47) 8, K, 3 (2 players)
UTG bets $0.20, Hero raises to $0.55, UTG raises to $0.90, Hero raises to $1.75, UTG raises to $6, Hero raises to $10.76 (All-In), UTG calls $4.11 (All-In)

Turn: ($20.69) Q (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($20.69) 6 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $20.69 | Rake: $1

Results:
UTG had K, K (three of a kind, Kings).
Hero mucked 3, 3 (three of a kind, threes).
Outcome: UTG won $19.69


2. This was an interesting hand for me I broke a rule I've virtually always obeyed that GS taught me, bet strong hands, strong. I 4bet pf, and obv had him crushed on the flop, wanted to disguise my hand a bit on the flop, seemed to have worked perfectly!

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($9.95)
CO ($11.80)
Button ($5.77)
SB ($5.94)
BB ($1.58)
Hero (UTG) ($8.86)
MP1 ($5)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, A
Hero bets $0.20, 4 folds, SB raises to $0.35, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1, SB calls $0.65

Flop: ($2.05) 8, A, 9 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($2.05) 7 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.50, SB calls $1.50

River: ($5.05) 5 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $3.44, SB calls $3.44 (All-In)

Total pot: $11.93 | Rake: $0.55

Results:
SB mucked K, K (one pair, Kings).
Hero had A, A (three of a kind, Aces).
Outcome: Hero won $11.38

I think I might go play a bit of live poker today, theres a pub local that plays tonight I haven't been there for about 5 months (I've played live 3 times) but think it'll be a nice change, think I'll give them a call in a minute and see if they're on tonight and go around there. It'll be as much social as poker - I haven't been to a pub for weeks!