daven - a year in the life

2009 and poker

ok, a new year and decisions that will need to be made, including what role poker in my life.

I come off contract end-April. Then I have to decide what next!!!
options are
1)continuing to work
2) travel (with or without poker)
3) staying in one place (with or without poker)

I've pretty much decided I want to stop working for a while. I can probably take an up-to 18month break from work without it affecting my long-term career prospects/ability to find re-employment in my current field. This makes sense, cos i'm not convinced that i want to continue in the business analysis/process design/project management style of work in the medium- or long-term

I also want to give pro-poker lifestyling a shot. A reasonably serious shot.. Whether this is a good or bad idea is moot, but i've pretty much decided to start this sometime in 2009.

so, things i am considering while deciding what to do when i finish work, I want to do some or all of:
play poker, travel, climb, surf, master spanish, get super-fit, see friends scattered around the globe

Serious poker play narrows down the type of travel I can do.

a complicating factor is that my girlfriend (she's amazing!) is returning to Germany end-March then returning to NZ end August to take up a good post-grad scholarship she has been awarded.

February and March I'm going to have only light poker playing, ca. <20k hands/month.

so, decisions to be made. I guess it's good to be in a position of having too many exciting options to allow a simple choice...

poker and shorter-term
as for poker. January I'll clear a $500 bonus from FT, and then dunno. Play some. Study some. End a horror downswing. Play better. Re-introduce discipline into my game.

When I've decided a go-pro-start-date I'll be asking for advice. Thoughts include spending the first month bonus-whoring the $2-$3k that seems to be available to a multi-tabling 50-200nl player. Also thinking of splitting my time between 100/200nl FR grinding (as income), and 25/50nl shorthanded and heads-up to assist longer term poker development. Also start playing low buy-in MTTs and SNGs to start to gain some understanding of those games.


as for the year-in-the-life goal - it's likely to be difficult to reach if I don't play much, but it's still attainable...

things are good.

hell yer!
now I see whats happening in may... :P
good man.

Also, nice to hear about your female friend. Sounds like things are good alright.

This thread is going to be just as inspirational as it was last year, good luck daven.

edit: Is the 500 FT bonus from the ironman promo?

20buyin downswing since late-December. This year running sick bad. AA is breakeven and only got it 26x in 10k hands so far in 2009, sets are losing $$ as well. Yuck. Running into loads of complicated spots/situations vs regs and unknowns, more than before. Having trouble distinguishing call-downs from slowplays. Time to study the turn

I've also been re-examining pre-flop play - spotted some leaks and now I need to do some more range calculations to confirm some suspicions.

This bad run is making me re-think bankroll management. I'm still comfortably rolled (50+buyins online) for 100nl, but I don't think I'll move up to 200nl for a while longer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nice_aiau

edit: Is the 500 FT bonus from the ironman promo?

---

yep. Based on play July-December 2008. I've also got enough medals to buy another bonus ($300) if i feel like it.

playing better, but still down 10buyins for the year at the tables. Running a couple of buyins behind EV - was a lot more until I hit a river 2-outer a little deep....

Not as bad as it sounds though, I've cleared the $500 reward bonus, cashed in some loyalty freeroll and got some rakeback to make me about breakeven for 2009 after 23k hands. Super-low-volume and likely to stay that way until May.

I'm incredibly psyched on the idea of finishing up at work and spending a year experiencing the pro-poker thing! May spend the northern summer drifting from climbing area to music festival to juggling hangout to surf beach to wherever I end up first though.

looking forward to catching up with circus freak friends here: http://www.ejc2009.org/

climbing freak friends here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bleau/

and generally hitting the sift pretty hard....

biggest hand in a while last night... and 5 buyins behind EV on my last session. Crazy breakeven year.
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (3 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (Button) ($315.20)
SB ($35.75)
BB ($247.50)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif
Hero raises to $3.50, 1 fold, BB raises to $12, Hero calls $8.50

Flop: ($24.50) 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (2 players)
BB bets $18, Hero raises to $50, BB raises to $121, Hero raises to $303.20 (All-In), BB calls $114.50 (All-In)

At 100nl this could be a fold.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bjsaust

At 100nl this could be a fold.

---

you're right, i should have posted reads and history at the table - especially around the 3/4 betting action and post-flop aggression. It's playing way different this deep and this short-handed among Full Ring regs...

His range in this situation is 99+, any pair + FD, any Acxc.

He flipped 8c9c and my 70%equity wasn't enough to win this particular pot....

Sucks, but with 250bb effective stacks his range SHOULD be a lot tighter than the one you give.

[edit]Actually with PF action and the chances you're bluffing this flop I guess a wider range isnt so bad. Normally you should need something very near the top of your range to stack off for this much though.

You are veeery deep, that should influence the way hand is played

ugh gross. With and read that he would do this with draws this is a mandatory stack off but it's so nasty to lose there :(

thinking of taking a poker-break to be all refreshed for the grind once i finish work.

Stupid January poker. Stupid wannabe LAG-daven sucks and should stick to the TAG-Nit basics he can at least play profitably. Stupid 200nl.

Stupid breakeven month.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

Stupid wannabe LAG-daven sucks and should stick to the TAG-Nit basics he can at least play profitably. Stupid 200nl.

Stupid breakeven month.

---

i spoke to soon, and returned to my roots. Big doses of TAG-nit, and lovin' it.
+1.8k for January.

Plan for the next while is to withdraw $2k every time I make $3k. It means my online bankroll will limp up slowly...

Not even sure how much i have online across sites right now - maybe $7k? I should check the stale balances at some of those sites I rarely visit - especially with the $NZ at a 6yr low against the $US...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven-OUT

Stupid January poker. Stupid wannabe LAG-daven sucks and should stick to the TAG-Nit basics he can at least play profitably....

....returned to my roots. Big doses of TAG-nit, and lovin' it...up 1.8k

---

any chance this "adjustment" threw off the NAG-tits? errrr, TAG-nits?

Feb 1st, 2009. Wheeee!!!!!!!!! some highlights....
session was a lot worse than below might suggest

1)

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG+1 ($196.50)
MP1 ($113)
MP2 ($141.25)
MP3 ($277.70)
Hero (CO) ($102.85)
Button ($122.50)
SB ($214.95)
BB ($253.25)
UTG ($113.25)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif
4 folds, MP3 raises to $3.50, Hero calls $3.50, 2 folds, BB calls $2.50

Flop: ($11) 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (3 players)
BB checks, MP3 checks, Hero bets $6, BB calls $6, 1 fold

Turn: ($23) 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
BB bets $14, Hero raises to $40, BB raises to $180, Hero calls $53.35 (All-In)

River: ($209.70) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $209.70 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
BB had 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (three of a kind, tens).
Hero had 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (three of a kind, eights).
Outcome: BB won $206.70


2)

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($130.10)
BB ($196.80)
UTG ($104.15)
UTG+1 ($59.45)
MP1 ($137.30)
MP2 ($15.95)
MP3 ($134.30)
Hero (CO) ($102.50)
Button ($187.50)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif
2 folds, MP1 raises to $3, 2 folds, Hero raises to $10.50, 3 folds, MP1 calls $7.50

Flop: ($22.50) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $14, MP1 calls $14

Turn: ($50.50) 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $78 (All-In), MP1 calls $78

River: ($206.50) Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $206.50 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
MP1 had 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (full house, tens over Jacks).
Hero had 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (straight, Jack high).
Outcome: MP1 won $203.50

3)
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG+1 ($67.05)
Hero (MP1) ($112.55)
MP2 ($106.40)
MP3 ($77.05)
CO ($218.70)
Button ($42.75)
SB ($100)
BB ($100)
UTG ($159)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $1, Hero raises to $4.50, 5 folds, BB calls $3.50, 1 fold

Flop: ($10.50) 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $8, BB calls $8

Turn: ($26.50) 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
BB bets $25, Hero raises to $100.05 (All-In), BB calls $62.50 (All-In)

River: ($201.50) 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $201.50 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
BB had Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (full house, Jacks over fives).
Hero had Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (straight, King high).
Outcome: BB won $198.50


4)
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP3 ($64)
CO ($387.80)
Button ($155.45)
SB ($121.05)
BB ($192.55)
Hero (UTG) ($100)
UTG+1 ($312.05)
MP1 ($85.50)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif
Hero raises to $3.50, 1 fold, MP1 calls $3.50, 4 folds, BB calls $2.50

Flop: ($11) 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $11, MP1 raises to $82 (All-In), 1 fold, Hero calls $71

Turn: ($175) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($175) 3http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $175 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
Hero had Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (straight, Queen high).
MP1 had Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: MP1 won $172

don't worry daven, you were up on me tonight, and at the end of the day that's all that really matters

Not sure why you 3bet 79cc in hand 2 but don't 3bet 88 in hand 1 unless opp in hand 1 was a total nit. As played, I don't see how you can do much else. You could check behind flop and give up, but that's weak.

Hand 3 I don't like PF, but standard afterwards.

Hand 4, did you stove a range afterwards to make sure your call was okay against that range? His shove does look awfully bluffy but I think you are looking at getting outdrawn pretty frequently, he can have a made hand/set/combo draw pretty easily and imo the best you can hope for is a chop.

1) flop bet sizing is a bit small imo, even though this is a very dry flop and you're not that worried about free cards a bigger bet sets you up for larger turn and river bets.

2) 3bet is fine with reads. idk why you would shove the turn instead of 2 smaller bets?

3) Looks good

4) It's close but fine I think esp with the gutshot.

I hope february treats you well :)

Cardsman - thanks for the comments on the hands :) those 3-bets are completely opponent dependent, like a lot of the lines - I posted the hands to show me losing a bunch of buyins, i should probably post reads as well though to explain my play!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by badgers

I hope february treats you well :)

---

February is funny.
I'm not that motivated to play well at the moment. I'm really into experimenting with wide ranges and styles, even though my A-game suits me fine and is a style that wins well. Then I get annoyed at losing a bunch of buyins, so I go back to standard lines and win them back.

Then I go and look at tableratings and realise that jump off jyi has won nearly 10k playing 100nl this year already, and he's good - but not that good.

I need to get psyched on winning poker $$ again. Upside is that I'm enjoying playing still. What I really want to do is spend a year with poker as my only income stream - and see if I can make it... what's making it? Dunno, I'll write that post when I start out.

In the meantime, I need a new goal to motivate me. I pulled out another $1500 US into my savings account a few days ago - now I have $2800 on Full Tilt (and some spread across other sites + neteller). Goal is to play well. 50k hands at 3ptBB/100 is $3000 + a pile of rakeback. Ok, kicks off now. I'll report back in 50k hands. Could take a while as I've barely played 100k hands in the last 12 weeks....

You can probably count on $5 to $10 of extra bankroll at the end of the month on this this fitness prop bet, but don't spend it all in one place :P

1. Call Cardsman down and outdraw his set :)
2. Possibly tilt him.
3. ?????
4. Profit!!

JK man...

xxJylxx is aggro but can be floated on fwiw.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

now I have $2800 on Full Tilt (and some spread across other sites + neteller). Goal is to play well. 50k hands at 3ptBB/100 is $3000 + a pile of rakeback

---

50k hands is gonna take an age.
a little bit of rakeback, and a dash of low bb/100 and i'm up to $3200 on that site now. Still a long way to go before i get 50k hands in...

i wrote (and enjoyed) writing a long article on 3-betting. http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...on-t81911.html
Comments on the content beyond the hand examples would be nice...
whatever, i guess i'll keep the maths i did to myself, glad i didn't post it.

i also posted a funny multi-street bluff hand where the river (i thought) played itself - preflop was pretty bad though.
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...nl-t81896.html
lucky i recognise that i'm not that good, and that critical feedback = $$$

I have to decide on career vs poker and travel next week.
Cast a vote.
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...rk-t82213.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

I have to decide on career vs poker and travel next week.
Cast a vote.
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...rk-t82213.html

---

Assuming your very confident in your pokers I voted "poker and travel". Why taylor a life around your job, when poker gives you a chance to integrate a job into your life?

Btw, I´m getting into climbing again. If you go with poker&travel you know where u can find me ;)

You know that post may have been more suited to the commune. You'd find more pros there than in BC. Then again it probably serves as good inspiration for the micro grinders. Either way, GL.

The only thing I will say about poker vs. job is that professional skills can sometimes erode. It can be hard to go back after extended time off. Just make sure you keep as many options open for the future as possible, and enjoy life whichever path(s) you choose.

looks like I'm heading to europe for a few months middle of this year (northern summer), then back to NZ to live next to a surf beach with good climbing all around while my girlfriend studies (southern summer), then... who knows?!

Will probably play some poker sometime along the way...

I have been thinking about poker profits the last few days. A few things clicked while I was grinding a simple, short, standard, rainy saturday morning session.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9822/examplesession.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IowaSkinsFan - Jan 2008

In a datamine of 100nl this month, guess what the stats were for the two biggest winners in the game? 12/10 and 12/6.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fnord - Feb 2005

You under-estimate how much of your profit comes from players that suck worse than you and fail to seek them out.

---

I post three hands below from this session, all are against bad players who like to bet and bluff and slowplay and junk - but don't understand. I am not posting these as examples of hands well-played - the set in particular was interesting as I was convinced that UTG was flop re-raising his whole range, sb calling and then i get to shove, my read was wrong...

ok, am I getting at anything? I think so. I've not been too worried about profits the last few months - instead focusing on 'improving as a player' or 'learning to auto-pilot 16-tables x 4hrs'. Profits have arrived, but not fast (thanks bonuses and rakeback!)

I've also been getting carried away with reg-wars and 3/4/5 bet spots.

What the quotes above and the hands below show is that taking money from bad players isn't too hard if you do some basics right. Not losing much money to good players also isn't too difficult in Full Ring. This leads to something I often forget - minimising losses to bad players is key, cos someone else will soon take the dead money.

Time to go apply some newfound tolerance and simplicity to my game. About time, given that I'm only two months from being on the road again!!!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG+1 ($269.95)
MP1 ($119.25)
MP2 ($96.05)
MP3 ($215.75)
CO ($112.90)
Button ($141.55)
SB ($107.65)
Hero (BB) ($134.05)
UTG ($20.70)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif
5 folds, CO bets $2, 2 folds, Hero calls $1

Flop: ($4.50) Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $1, Hero calls $1

Turn: ($6.50) 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $1, Hero calls $1

River: ($8.50) 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $8.50, Hero raises to $130.05 (All-In), CO calls $100.40 (All-In)

Total pot: $226.30 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
Hero had 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (straight, eight high).
CO had 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (two pair, Aces and fours).
Outcome: Hero won $223.30



Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (BB) ($128.20)
UTG ($86.35)
UTG+1 ($77.45)
MP1 ($83.50)
MP2 ($329.95)
MP3 ($100)
Button ($50.70)
SB ($54.15)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $1, 4 folds, SB bets $2, Hero calls $1, UTG+1 calls $1

Flop: ($6) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (3 players)
SB bets $6, Hero calls $6, UTG+1 calls $6

Turn: ($24) Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $10, UTG+1 calls $10, 1 fold

River: ($44) Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $44, Hero raises to $88, UTG+1 calls $15.45 (All-In)

Total pot: $162.90 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
Hero had 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (three of a kind, nines).
UTG+1 had Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (one pair, Queens).
Outcome: Hero won $159.90


Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG+1 ($115.30)
MP1 ($49)
MP2 ($45.50)
CO ($216.40)
Hero (Button) ($123.50)
SB ($54.55)
BB ($100.45)
UTG ($59.55)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif
3 folds, MP1 bets $3, MP2 calls $3, 1 fold, Hero raises to $13, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $45.50 (All-In), Hero calls $32.50

Flop: ($95) 3http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($95) 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($95) Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $95 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
Hero had Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (one pair, Kings).
MP2 had Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (high card, Ace).
Outcome: Hero won $92

it has now been five days since i decided poker over work - taking effect in May. I decided that i need to play consistently well now that I have chosen this path. A-game, I hope to get to know you well.

Seems as though the poker gods aren't too pissed either.

may I present the last five days, long may this type of winrate continue...

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8...stfivedays.jpg

maybe i spoke too soon - the poker gods are laughing.

Running bad - yep
Playing bad - kinda
Net losing with KK over the last 103 times dealt - yep
Breakeven March to date - yep
including a 20buyin downswing - yep
Doomswitch anyone?!?!

meh, was hoping to withdraw $4k this month. Took out $2k the first week, but think that might be it - will see what the next fortnight holds.

Oh well, seems as though i'm writing to myself anyway! I quite enjoy that, an online diary of my poker journey - sometimes others commenting along the way, other times sitting inside my head....

Feels that way sometimes eh?

Wow @ KK stat. I checked something today because I felt I'm having trouble in 3-bet pots with AK OOP. Filtered in HEM and I havnt flopped a single pair in a 3-bet pot in the blinds (and not all in pre) with AK all year. No wonder I feel like I'm having trouble there.

one of those months. At this rate I'm going to be lucky to finish the month in the black. i'm even thinking about dropping to 50nl for a while. I keep on making $2k withdrawals and now i've somehow only got $1500 on FT. Otherwise i could bring some $$ from other sites across i guess - $1k on everest makes no sense cos i play there never, that sort of thing.

I know I'm not supposed to get attached to results etc, but

vs a fish
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($120)
UTG+1 ($115.40)
MP1 ($231.15)
MP2 ($99)
MP3 ($74.50)
CO ($97.85)
Button ($215.50)
SB ($82.70)
Hero (BB) ($100)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif
UTG calls $1, 1 fold, MP1 bets $5, 1 fold, MP3 calls $5, 3 folds, Hero calls $4, UTG calls $4

Flop: ($20.50) Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $5, MP1 raises to $15, 1 fold, Hero calls $15, 1 fold

Turn: ($55.50) 3http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $45, Hero raises to $80 (All-In), MP1 calls $35

River: ($215.50) Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $215.50 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
Hero had 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (full house, twos over Kings).
MP1 had Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (full house, Kings over Aces).
Outcome: MP1 won $212.50


meh
vs an aggro lag wannabe
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($101.50)
Hero (Button) ($102.60)
SB ($99)
UTG ($58)
UTG+1 ($56.10)
MP1 ($132.50)
MP2 ($281.60)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif
4 folds, Hero bets $3.50, SB raises to $11.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $8

Flop: ($24) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
SB bets $20, Hero raises to $40, SB raises to $87.50 (All-In), Hero calls $47.50

Turn: ($199) 3http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($199) Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $199 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
Hero had Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (three of a kind, Jacks).
SB had Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (three of a kind, Kings).
Outcome: SB won $196

boring
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP3 ($198)
CO ($106)
Button ($376.05)
Hero (SB) ($168.55)
BB ($205.50)
UTG ($188.60)
UTG+1 ($109.45)
MP1 ($247.15)
MP2 ($155)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif
2 folds, MP1 bets $4, MP2 calls $4, 3 folds, Hero raises to $15, 1 fold, MP1 raises to $247.15 (All-In), 1 fold, Hero calls $153.55 (All-In)

Flop: ($342.10) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($342.10) Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($342.10) Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $342.10 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
Hero had Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (three of a kind, Aces).
MP1 had Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (straight, Ace high).
Outcome: MP1 won $339.10


loving those rockets
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($184.15)
MP3 ($42.50)
Hero (CO) ($115.65)
Button ($100)
SB ($200)
BB ($77.60)
UTG ($212.55)
UTG+1 ($98.40)
MP1 ($340.85)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif
1 fold, UTG+1 bets $3.50, 3 folds, Hero raises to $11, 3 folds, UTG+1 raises to $98.40 (All-In), Hero calls $87.40

Flop: ($198.30) Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($198.30) 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($198.30) 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $198.30 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
UTG+1 had Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (full house, Jacks over fours).
Hero had Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (two pair, Aces and fours).
Outcome: UTG+1 won $195.30


I wait until the turn cos i read a set and want to get my money in way ahead. Well, the plan worked
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($118.50)
Hero (CO) ($100.65)
Button ($200.40)
SB ($90.30)
BB ($105.95)
UTG ($90.70)
UTG+1 ($87.65)
MP1 ($175.50)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif
UTG calls $1, UTG+1 calls $1, 2 folds, Hero calls $1, 1 fold, SB calls $0.50, BB checks

Flop: ($5) 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $5, 2 folds, UTG raises to $15, 1 fold, Hero calls $10

Turn: ($35) 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
UTG bets $20, Hero raises to $65, UTG raises to $74.70 (All-In), Hero calls $9.70

River: ($184.40) 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $184.40 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
UTG had 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (full house, nines over twos).
Hero had 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (straight, ten high).
Outcome: UTG won $181.40

ouch.

Just keep trudging along. Feb was like this for me, but I started off up over 6g in March. The bullshit ends, and when it does, poker is so much more fun.

just realised that i'm only six weeks away from the end of this op!

The goal was to get to $25k. I've withdrawn about $17k to my NZ accounts during this year i think (I'll need to check bank statements to confirm - that's what it looks like from the transaction histories on the poker clients), and i've got around $4k online still. Six weeks to go, I'd need to run at $700k/week to do it. If i get close I'll be happy enough.

edit. just realised that my 400k fpps are worth something - seems the going rate is $3.5/1000 = $1400 worth?!?

The year has been interesting, and now I'm preparing to spend May fulltime on poker, then a few months where i imagine volume will be light while i enjoy a northern summer in europe, and then back to NZ sometime late this year and devoting some serious time (18 months?) to see if i can become a decent poker player...

but for now, it's to 50nl and some study - even running bad i should be beating 100nl. Time to find and plug those leaks! and end a $3k downswing

Nice work, daven..

cheers, Dev, Robb.

In this post I will make leak notes

1) playing too many tables
2) not trusting reads enough in 3-bet pots - when that 92% fold to 3-bet guy calls he probably has a hand
3) calling weak draws without implied odds
4) Kxs in limped pots - why?!?!?5
5) playing when i'm tired or continuing to play after noticing my game looseining up inappropriately
6) limping behind with a bad range
7) playing small pocket pairs OOP
8) calling heavy flop action wen I'm beat
9) c-betting overcards 4-way
10) blind play vs steals
11) allowing short-handed tables to absorb too much of my attention
12) paying off sets with overpairs when villain's entire range is sets or better overpairs

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

3) calling weak draws without implied odds and focusing too much on my draw rather than what I can represent

6) limping behind with a bad range when I cant take down the pot unimproved postflop

---

Cheers ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

2) not trusting reads enough in 3-bet pots - when that 92% fold to 3-bet guy calls he probably has a hand

12) paying off sets with overpairs when villain's entire range is sets or better overpairs

---

DING DING

I've got these leaks big time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

but for now, it's to 50nl and some study -

Time to find and plug those leaks! and end a $3k downswing

---

did some study and spent a few days at 50nl playing with some more sanity! I'm playing only 11-12 tables now, time to really take notes and use reads properly... This seems to be my optimum number of tables for now - it means less rakeback and rakerace results, but another 1BB/100 will more than compensate. Also, I started playing better... trivial 50nl sample size of 5k hands at 5ptBB/100 felt good - noticed that FR 50nl seems to play a lot softer than 100nl on FT, but that may just be a result of playing less tables

Anyway, i then took a four day break heading away on a climbing, camping, beer drinking, lake swimming trip with a bunch of friends. Also happened to be my girlfriend's last weekend in NZ for quite a while. Dropped her at the airport early this morning and instead of more sleep I decided poker was in order. And it felt time to move back up. Well, i'm pretty happy about that call - 4k hands of 100nl so far today and running a nice +ve variance 5ptBB/100.

What does this mean? well, it was looking like being a losing month. Now I'm up for March, not a lot, but in the black. That means I still haven't had a losing month (after rakeback and bonuses) since I started posting on FTR - pretty happy about that, especially given that I still suck, have a less than optimum pre-flop game and am often completely lost post-flop. Add a page long list of leaks/weaknesses and I'm looking forward to giving poker full focus for a while

It feels good to know that I have the discipline to move down in stakes to plug leaks, and then to come back and somehow haul back up to breakeven and more after a 30buyin downswing. An interesting journey this poker game is turning out to be....

Wow man. Those are quite the swings. Congrats on the discipline. LuckySlevin you are not...

WTG Daven... LLLLLLeeeets get ready to HUMBLLLLLLLE!!!

this from the March graph/results thread.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Silly String

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ZwiFT

if you beat fullring this is how your graph will look, there is no variance in it =)

---

A smooth graph is a product of a high win rate and lots of hands, IMO. The game you play and even playing styles has less to do with it than you think.

---

It made me think.
The better your winrate (i.e. your REAL edge in the game you play), the more likely it is that negative variance will be a flatline or small dip, rather than a crashing, burning downswing of tilt-busto proportions.... And if -ve variance is resulting in breakeven patches it's even less likely to cause tilt.

Then I look at my swingy graphs. Hmmm.... Swingy, tilty, probably means i'm barely better than the games I play.

Interesting.
I'm also musing on whether a winrate >4ptBB/100 is sustainable at 100nl. I think it is - and add on 1BB/100 in promotions/bonuses/rakeback and this is decent earnings. I have a goal - to reach this level of skill and discipline.

April has had some volume and i'm doing ok so far. Shame about my EV graph and my unfailing ability to call river re-raises with overpairs vs nits. That's about the difference between april winrate to date and the 5ptBB/100 i am aiming for..

april so far:
volume - tick
playing well - erratic
patching the list of leaks above - some of them, some of the time. Goal = all of them, all of the time.

the last couple of sessions have been fun poker grinding, 5k hands and good results - I've been hitting hands against my new favourite fish. I'm up $400 against him over these last two sessions.

Today was nice, first +$1k day in a while :)

I'm open limping less and folding vs obvious completed draws more

I'll buy my ticket to Europe just after Easter, expecting to arrive mid-May. Will be based in Bonn for a while, playing poker and going on road trips around Europe (expecting a bunch of circus/juggling, climbing, and surfing). Debating whether to stop in Thailand on the way back for climbing and to visit my sister in malaysia. I'll get a ticket that keeps those options open.

Awesome, Daven - I owe you $9, though, from our fitness bets. It won't get you to Malaysia, or anything, but I do owe it :P

daven mate! I Still owe u alot,
you infulence me to get better n shit. I havent played in ages, I came on here when i was drunk, and was just checkijng wats going on on ftr. I will be back within the month!! I will be FTRing very soon!

so april has been my first decent volume in ages. Shame I'm running only 1.5ptBB/100. So far i've played 54k hands, and i feel as though my game is going ok. Need to re-read the list of leaks above once in a while though.

I've been thinking about what to do my first pro month - options are huge Full Tilt volume or retain iron man with low volume (or buy a month off) while clearing some crazy bonus/rake race thing on some other site. Ladbrokes is the main contendor I think, $1k first deposit bonus that clears pretty fast + a big rake race. Only downside is that I'd have to play 6-max cos their full ring traffic is pathetic. 6-max is pretty much a requirement regardless if I want to clear a bunch of easy bonus $$ and/or eventually move into mid-stakes. I also have to take into account the fact that I'm switching countries sometime during May, and that could result in limited grind time for a week or so.

I'll do the maths on figuring out which will provide me with best $ return for least effort. Later. In the meantime I want a decent return in April. $5k would be a nice start.

I've also decided to learn basic short-stack strategy over the next six months. I'm thinking about SuperNova Elite in 2010, and that will be a lot easier if I can pilot shortstack when I'm tired....

Looking forward to Europe. And looking forward to coming back as well!!! I've decided to build a wind-turbine/solar combo power-pack system so that I'll have zero power bills, and figuring out how to hook it into the national grid. So I've learnt about ametek motors, washing machine motors, conversions, etc. Should be fun ;)

life is pretty damn cool

OK, like everything you said interests me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

6-max is pretty much a requirement regardless if I want to clear a bunch of easy bonus $$ and/or eventually move into mid-stakes.

---

I recently chose to focus on 6m (despite your advice!) for the additional reason that I find it easier to go from 6m back to FR rather than the reverse, without a 5k hand adjustment/downswing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

I've also decided to learn basic short-stack strategy over the next six months. I'm thinking about SuperNova Elite in 2010, and that will be a lot easier if I can pilot shortstack when I'm tired....

---

Don't let 'em hate. Short-stacking is a legitimate endeavor, and I played with it just to prove I could "invent" some basic principles based on game theory and poker knowledge. Short-stacking (or playing them) requires some very precise manipulations and adjustments preflop, and the short-stacker wins any time he's better at the adjustments than his competitors. Learning the theory helps you beat the better ones you play against. But if you become a 20bb-ratholing-hit-and-run-motherf*&%#r then FTR ban imo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

I've decided to build a wind-turbine/solar combo power-pack system so that I'll have zero power bills, and figuring out how to hook it into the national grid. So I've learnt about ametek motors, washing machine motors, conversions, etc. Should be fun ;)

---

I'm such a geek - I'm like, oh that's freakin' cool, I gotta go online and see about one for my place!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven

life is pretty damn cool

---

weeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daven on May 9th 2008

So, a $goal?
I guess US$25k is attainable. That's it then. I'll update here occasionally, monthly, significant milestones, etc..

---

two weeks left to go in this year of my life poker project.
the goal was $25k.

I've withdrawn $17k and have $5k sitting on various accounts and neteller.

So I'm still $3k short, but I have two weeks left. I've got about $750 in rakeback earned but not yet received so far, and I'm gonna get something out of a rake race - anything from $200-$1k is possible depending on volumes. So I need to win a few $$ at the tables to. A-game time.

gogogogogogogogogogogo

GLGL - go be the baddest motherf#$%er in the valley!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Robb

Don't let 'em hate. Short-stacking is a legitimate endeavor

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Robb

But if you become a 20bb-ratholing-hit-and-run-motherf*&%#r then FTR ban imo.

---

lol. :P

About options for May: I think it might be best to work on a site you're comfortable with. Keep up your status on your favorite site and consider everything else a side-project. Playing for a living requires some sort of routine and, at least for me, it's tough to site-hop all the time.

miserable session just gone. KK vs AA a few too many times and then couldn't hit when I shoved what turned out to be a 17-outer on the flop!!! dunno how villain called it, dunno how i didn't hit, do know that it was a 265bb pot!

But, it's not all bad ;) I've been grinding out hands like a sailor or summat. That means i'm sitting in the top 15 of some rake race (10-15 pay $750), and even a mediocre 1.2ptBB/100 adds up after 91k hands. Plus some rakeback. Around $3k in poker earnings for the month so far, excluding whatever comes from that race.

The 25k is still a possibility, but i'll have to play/run better. Think I need about $130 a day - should be easy? but....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dev

Playing for a living requires some sort of routine and, at least for me, it's tough to site-hop all the time.

---

thanks for the advice, i'll keep this in mind

i think poker can teach me a lot. I'm coming close to understanding where i want it to take me. Hopefully i'll be able to present it coherently when i start my next op.
Some sort of pretentious combo of reading too much existentialist blah, sci fi, dealing with gunshot wounds, winding up a long session as project lead/manager/BA for a project that has been more roller-coaster than my poker journey, beer, caffeine, and not enough time in the water....

I seem to be hovering close to some sort of poker realisation/epiphany/call it what you wil. Sometimes it all feels so clear, if that clarity could be the level of my standard game (rather than my rare A++ game) I would be ready. Anyway, for now i'm just going to withdraw another few grand and then move up to 200nl.

i have worked part-time the last 12 months, allowing time to explore the potential of poker as a viable part-time-job for the next couple of years while i explore more of life.

I'm up about $20k in poker over that 12 months. Goal was to boost my poker profits to $25k, looks as though i'll be missing by about $1k (i was about there a few days ago though). Bonuses and rakeback were far more important than they should have been.

I am now unemployed. Tomorrow night I have my desk closing party at work. I guess that means I'm now a pro-poker player? I head to Europe in under two weeks and am likely to play only erratically for a while.

Thanks to everyone who has commented in this thread, replied to hands posted here and around FTR, explained the errors of my poker thinking, and written the diamonds scattered through this site.

Soon I will start another op-thread.
I need to set some goals. I don't want to be a 1ptBB/100 multi-tabling small stakes grinder clearing a few k every month ad infinitum. Time to lift my game.

$100k+++ in the next 12 months. Game-on.

below is my advanced poker $$ tracking system
poker money out
Full Tilt - bank withdrawals
16/10/08 - $1900 (net)
31/10/08 - $2000
9/11/08 - $2000
23/11/08 - $2000
1/2/09 - $1500
5/3/09 - $2000
27/4/09 - $1620

Party - bank withdrawals
4/9/08 - $850
4/10/08 - $2550
16/10/08 - $2300

total withdrawals as at 15/4/09 - $18,720

Poker balances (15/4/09)
Full Tilt = $2500
Everest = $810
Party = $15
Empire = $0
Pacific = $110
Purple Lounge = $450
Neteller = $15
total balances (15/4/09) - $3900

22.6k

plus:
rakeback due May 2nd $600ish
Rake race payment due $750

Wow, those numbers really back up why its so advantageous to be in a position where you dont need to withdraw.

GL with the future!!

nh sir, this operation is quite inspirational.

GLGLGL

Daven, it's been great watching you soar up the stakes. You set some goals more than a year ago, and worked hard to get there. You earned it.

nh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

nh sir, this operation is quite inspirational.

---

NH

Congrats, daven, and gl2u in this next phase. I've enjoyed playing against you, and I wish I could move up the ranks. In a way I guess I have, but I have been at $100 for so long it feels like I will never get there. Have a great time in Europe!!!

Good luck daven! I look forward to reading your next op!

daven!

these blogs have inspired me to create one of my own soon, so everybody can get to know me a bit better as well and I think it'll help with achieving goals etc.

can we get an update from you?
how has it gone since April?? are you a fulltime pro now?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bspahn

daven!

these blogs have inspired me to create one of my own soon, so everybody can get to know me a bit better as well and I think it'll help with achieving goals etc.

can we get an update from you?
how has it gone since April?? are you a fulltime pro now?

---

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ro-t84889.html