I wanna be a business, man. Winning reg taking a stand against complacency.
Posted by Jeff
Posted by
Jeff
posted in
Poker Journals
I wanna be a business, man. Winning reg taking a stand against complacency.
So first off, a bit about myself. I'm 25, an engineering student from Toronto, and have been playing poker for about a year and a half. Started out on stars, the classic unrolled call station multiple depositor fishreg. Took to a few different sites, studied the game, albeit plateauing multiple times and not caring, but eventually got to the point where I became a winning player at 25nlz and then 50nlz. My biggest leak was, while slowly waning now, is poor volume, devotion to grinding theory and game, and poor brm. I know in my heart of hearts 20 buyins is not enough, yet have stuck to this metric while taking shots at 100nl around the sites figuring I'm a winner, and like a total degen denying the ever obvious fact that it doesn't matter. Couple that with being less than wealthy during the school year, and a 15 BI swing can effect me where I don't tilt per se, but definitely play less and study far less. This is silly, and really shooting myself in the foot, where I am aware that on my current site of choice (Bodog/Bovada), at the 100nl games I'm up ~50 BI over ~70k hands, and if I could just stick to a script I could definitely get some solid side income going for while at school.
So, about this script. I think I need to punish/prove myself, and this journal will be a sort of testament of my success and failures. Honesty about everything of my game and decision making is essential, and not wavering from a hypothesized but not 100% proven gameplan is mandatory to ensure I'm where I think I'm at. Result, regardless of outcome is welcome in all facets and I'm more than willing to negotiate with my ego, if anything it'll encourage more work out of me which is terrific.
I reckon I should start out with 25nl on Bodog (will consider MPN at 100nl, also will prob top off the bodog roll with any change left over from my job to expedite the process to 100nl), playing both reg speeds and zone tables 6 max. I will start with 30 BI and progress to 50 BI where shot taking the next stake will occur, for 5 BI attempts. Volume goals are kind of silly, sure, but I want to play 20hrs a week at the minimum, and use a session timer for probably 45minute sessions to begin. I feel if I;m in the zone I'll continue for 30 minute blocks, but I like the idea of shorter sessions where I won't be distracted to interwebs/fb/etc. Will be studying prior to daily sessions, plan on using snowie too as I just got into it, and posting some spots to these forums as opposed to reddit (which really kinda sucks). Graph posting will be difficult as I don't have the zone converter but do have card catcher for the reg speeds. I can do the simple math to figure out rough bb/100s I suppose. I think I'll also play some of the uber soft low MTTs, although I have yet to prove myself a winner I assume I have a +ROI and will be playing the small BI ones with a ~75 BI brm system, which should be fine for the limited occasions. I also plan on some HU cash, as my experience there while not nearly as proficient as 6max still seems +EV as general competition seem rather soft.
To anyone reading, I'll be 100% open about anything poker, most life stuff, probably will stream some sessions and be equally open there on https://www.twitch.tv/nigelplz . Will post hands/updates very regularly and am open to any and all criticism. As long as there's no outright malice I'm open to all ways of speaking, so feel free to rip my game apart and don't expect any less from me either! Anyway, lets fucking do it boys.
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seen you in the twitch streets, gl on BOV challenge !!!
Muuuch appreciated dude. Eagerly awaiting your input!
Limping 'strategies' from utg-co baffle me...I mean when I run into some weird nutty hand whats there to be said? If he has that he can have x for value that we beat so no big deal? Some spots I saved to work on later.
Utg 80bb eft limps, we 5x w AA on BU, BB 100bb flats. We bet 3 into ~4 on JT4r, both call. Pot 13 utg jams ~pot on 8 bdfd to the J, we block no fd. I mean, sure, bb can have 2p+ here, and us calling/rejamming can get us in tricky spots, but wtf does utg play this way. I cant see a fish limping TT+, so exclusively 44/ JT all combos, maybe 88, maaaybe some AQ/AK bdfd, maybe 89 all combos......I can also believe some Jx, can't see many 2 pairs tbh. Sigh call or fold?
Relatively routine spot, utg 50bb opens 3x, we flat 88 on bu, sb 75bb cc. x\s to us on 66Jr, just wondering how we construct betting and checking ranges here. 88 seems to benefit more from betting than checking I assume? given the likely wide ranges though are we ever printing more money from checking?
Another similar cb spot (I've been realllly trying to get better at cb frq given likely rfi/cc per pos) Utg we open Akcc 100bb efc and bu cc. Do we cb on Tc8dQd? I mean, it seems fine both ways and probably not a big deal, but given a call, do we really barrel a low club? Do we bet an A non d?
So thats it for now, session down a stack, pretty routine 45 min sesh and not much to report.
Dumb spot is dumb. It seems on the zone games people have .....supremely varying 3b strats.
Hero (BTN): 94 BB
SB: 56.55 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Qd 7d
fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2 BB, SB calls 1.5 BB, fold
Flop : (5 BB, 2 players) Qc 3s 6s
SB checks, Hero bets 3 BB, SB raises to 6 BB, Hero calls 3 BB
Turn : (17 BB, 2 players) Ad
SB bets 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB
River : (23 BB, 2 players) 7h
SB bets 21 BB, Hero calls 21 BB
SB shows Qh Qs (Three of a Kind, Queens)
..............................................................................................
Flop I was kind of lost as to what our exact hand/range wants to bet, given the dumb spr. Also 4b sizing should of been more, like 28, but I was timing out!
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has As Ad
fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, BTN raises to 11 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 25 BB, BTN calls 14 BB
Flop : (51.5 BB, 2 players) 8h Jd Kd
Hero bets 21.75 BB, BTN calls 21.75 BB
Turn : (95 BB, 2 players) Js
Hero bets 56.75 BB, BTN calls 56.75 BB
River : (208.5 BB, 2 players) Qh
BTN shows Jh Td (Three of a Kind, Jacks)
Week has gone well, did a fair bit of volume, running a fair bit below AIEV for sure but generally running well. Will post some hands shortly, but overall super pleased at my gameplay and study, and being off stars!
Why did you decide to leave Stars?
Figured my hourly was higher on Bodog especially given I never achieved Supernova. Also, while I love the game and studying it, I feel the higher winrate and less variance of Bodog suits my mental state atm much more.
Updates?
awesome dude, Getn shit done
Whats your opinion on bodog btw? Ive never played on the site I Know they have some super-degens but have herd a lot of bad about the site in terms of collusion, rogue programmers compromising the random card generator, and security loopholes etc
So rolls doing quite well, playing 50nl now regularly, and doing quite well, will post a month graph soon. Shame that I havent imported and zone hands, up heaps there, and reg volume is only like 10k hands.
Wiz, I got full faith in Bodog having a fair RNG and whatever, collusion I'm sure is evident, but haven't seen any foul play. To be fair, the rake is fine (with zero rakeback it kinda sucks), but the play/table selecting and sheer profitability is nuts, and can't see myself leaving for another site for a while tbh. Like everytime I consider going back to stars for 50nlz, I think....why not just shottake a soft 100nl table? The winrate is higher, reduces session variance, and the hourly is quite nice as well. Like, I have a sample (albeit when I wasn't nearly as solid) beating 50nlz for 2bb/100, and if I played now lets say it 4. Thats like 11 or whatever with rakeback, where a 8bb/100 50nl on bodog at a meager 280 hands an hour is the same. Add in heads up/a 100nl table even at 6bb/100, and its far less variance heavy to boot. Might change my mind, but not atm.
Yeah I transitioned to zoom from the ipoker network and was beating 20nl + 50nl at something ridiculous like 14bb-18bb/100 over 100k hands which was awesome but their new mandatory software update prevented me from multi-tabling so then moved to stars. been looking for a new site to sky rocket the ol winrate. are all tables anon and is it true you can't use huds. thanks dude
Yeah all tables are anon and after a lot of work, I've come up with strategies that are quite good vs gen pop. I have a hud that uses per session stats which when the right stats are used are actually quite valuable. I think MPN would be a fun site to mess around with the low rake, decent volume and anon tables, which fish love.
UTG: 85.26 BB (VPIP: 17.24, PFR: 10.34, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 30)
Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Qs Qh
UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 10 BB, fold, UTG calls 7 BB
Flop : (21 BB, 2 players) Jh Kc 5s
Hero checks, UTG checks
Turn : (21 BB, 2 players) Jd
Hero checks, UTG bets 8 BB, Hero calls 8 BB
River : (37 BB, 2 players) 2h
Hero checks, UTG bets 18.5 BB
.................................................
iPoker - $1 NL - Holdem - 9 players
MP: 66.05 BB (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 6.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)
SB: 85 BB (VPIP: 26.67, PFR: 13.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)
Hero (UTG+1): 97 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Kc Kd
fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, MP calls 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 2.5 BB, fold
Flop : (10 BB, 3 players) Kh 6d Ad
SB checks, Hero bets 5.5 BB, fold, SB calls 5.5 BB
Turn : (21 BB, 2 players) Qh
SB checks, Hero bets 13.02 BB, SB raises to 33 BB, Hero
............................................
iPoker - $0.50 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hero (BB): 101 BB
CO: 94.9 BB (VPIP: 15.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has As Th
fold, CO raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 2 BB
Flop : (6.5 BB, 2 players) Qs Js 8d
Hero checks, CO bets 4.24 BB, Hero calls 4.24 BB
Turn : (14.98 BB, 2 players) Kd
Hero checks, CO bets 8.98 BB, Hero raises to 28.92 BB, CO calls 19.94 BB
River : (72.82 BB, 2 players) Kh
Hero
So it's been ages, been a bit busy with things. Will post some HHs soon, quick update, the roll is alive and well, have withdrawn some and its still at >2k, which combined with a fairly massive game plan of bum hunting fullring, especially when its shorthanded, has led to some serious upswonging. Stay tuned.
Nice one man, keep it up :-D
Interesting spot
BTN: 98.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
Hero (BB): 115 BB
UTG: 108 BB (VPIP: 36.36, PFR: 27.27, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
MP: 95.5 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Ad Qd
fold, MP raises to 3 BB, CO calls 3 BB, BTN calls 3 BB, fold, Hero calls 2 BB
Flop : (12.5 BB, 4 players) Ts 9d 5d
Hero checks, MP bets 6.25 BB, fold, BTN calls 6.25 BB, Hero raises to 24.5 BB, MP calls 18.25 BB, fold
Turn : (67.75 BB, 2 players) 4c
Hero checks, MP bets 68 BB, fold
MP wins 134.25 BB
Update, been playing quite well, ran the roll up to 2.8k with the help of 2nd in a 5kgtd 33$6max, and am considering my options of what to do. I thiiiink I'm gunna take the roll out, use half for life shit, and deposit the other half to stars.to play some 50nl and see how that goes. Seems silly, but am really wanting to grind some volume on stars, prob just 9-12tbl reg speeds, and it'll incentivize me to study more. I think in a month I'll get another couple k on bodog to play some 100nl and potentially merge the rolls when 200 becomes a thing.
Ignoring zone, which is....another k or so, here the reg speed graph
http://imgur.com/Wyrxazw
Hey Jeff,
Your title caught my eye because my biggest struggle as a player is complacency with regards to studying. "Taking a stand against complacency" is very well phrased and something that I'd like to remind myself of from time to time.
I'm glad things are going well! I have a few questions and comments...
You initially said that one of your goals was to study before every session. In my experience, that's a really difficult goal to achieve. How has that been going? If you're struggling with it, I'd suggest studying for just 10 minutes before every session (and not missing a day) to build the habit for yourself.
You moved to bodog because the games are softer, which means a decrease in swings. You said that was good for your mental game.
Now you'd like to move back to stars to grind more volume. I completely understand that desire, and it might be the best course of action for you, but it also might not.
You'll be going from 280 hands an hour to 800ish(?) and from softer games into tougher games. Each of these things will reduce your winrate, and together they could do so significantly.
If you want to make volume your goal, I'd suggest not taking on both at once. In other words, I'd start by 4 tabling on stars and seeing how you feel about your edge in the games and the added swings that come along with a reduced winrate. THEN I'd add a table or two a week (so long as I felt comfortable).
When adding tables (or moving over in the first place), you might want to drop down a stake for the first short while too. Hopping into something you're not as used to can lead to flimsy confidence levels, and a downswing at your normal stakes would be rough on a lot of people's mental game.
Whatever route you choose, keep up the good work and keep us posted!
The best thread title on RIO for sure. :P
I don't think studying before each session is a great way to organize your time. You have a limited amount of "mental bandwith" and you really want to be fresh for each session so you can play to the best of your abilities. A quick review of concepts or browsing forum posts can be a nice warmup, but I wouldn't really consider that studying. The kind of studying that's going to really improve your game is going to take more time and focus. I'd recommend doing that type of studying after you're done grinding for the day, when you can relax a bit and take your time to improve your game.
Hey Phil, really appreciate the read through, now I'm more than a bit displeased at how little I've put into this journal.
I think I was a little arrogant in assuming the pace of the studying I was putting in would hold. I mean, its far more usual for myself, and I'm sure others to binge study while inspired, and then go on a hiatus when things are going fine/good. Naturally, I fell into the ...sabbatical phase, and haven't put in nearly the same effort as I had earlier in the month. I still review sessions quite regularly, and do HHs on another site before play, but for far less time than I had originally banked on. With that said I'm glad I find it somewhat addictive debating ideas/strategy with others on hands, and I think that's a decent avenue for learning/not stagnating. The idea that you can have a intuition on something, apply your framework to prove some strategy is greater than another, and then have your framework challenged is kind of awesome, very engineering-esque. I agree wholeheartedly the mental fatigue from really going indepth with study is a bit too demanding to put a good session in afterwards. Frankly, now I think it best to simply allocate the time for study as if it was just another session entirely (cheers DirtyD).
The internal debate of site of choice is based on nothing in particular, barring some mild ego driven want to play vs stronger players and rack up a good sample to prove to myself I'm getting better than I was on previous samples on stars.....which while writing seems so flimsy of a reason. I feel confident in saying I could beat the games, but if hourly is lower....it seems like a costly endeavor for pride.
I think I should stick with bodog to be honest, the games are so very 2010, its beyond absurd to long for games like that and think of the missed value when I didn't play then, but then to leave them now. I couldn't feel more motivated now to really give 100% on putting in the work and sessions, and I swear I'll update this thread at a much higher frequency.
Thanks all for the kind words and advice, you got a seriously solid community here!
Agreed ^
DirtyD has made a very good point. The pre-frontal cortex has a limit and studying wears it down quickly. The pre-frontal cortex is key for decision making. You want to place a few hours before study and playing. Also avoid intense visualization exercises prior to playing (especially images you haven't yet experienced, i.e right brain created ones).as this will also use valuable cpu energy for the day.
I think separating studying and playing is a really important thing to do.
When I was learning 8 game, I spent my mornings working on theory and then took a break (not a 5 minute drink break, like lunch+ gym 2 hrs extended break).
And then put some hands in in the afternoon.
I think that sort of split is the minimum you'd want. Even allocating entire days to playing or studying might be useful.
I'm from Toronto as well so hit me up in a month when I'm back from vegas and I'll give you a free coaching session.
GL
Hey Chris, that'd be absolutely awesome, will definitely holler! I've been recently doing something quite similar and to good effect with the studying, having a coffee and studying, and playing hours after where the findings get the marinate a little. I remember reading an article about how sleep, no matter how short, is imperative for something sticking and becoming more instinctive when I was pulling all nighters for school, and think I might try doing some work a couple hours after sessions as well towards the end of my day.
Gl in Vegas dude, run pure!
wat hapens in vegas, stay in vegas
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