That AT hand @Jon-PokerVIP now I've had a chance to look back at the vid. I do find myself re iso-ing a lot there actually. Actually more than I choose to fold. I guess I just chose the fold route there and see how this guy looked after a few more hand, but for sure. As you can see it was my first thought anyway.

Ok just coming towards the end of April, and man... this has been a tough month. One that's definitely challenged my mental game with being on the bad end of variance and also how it affects my thought clarity. But this has actually been a MASSIVE positive for me as I feel I've yet again learnt so much.
I really do think you can learn the most when things aren't going your way as it forces you to play better to get yourself out of a hole... also it'll make me prepared for this again when I go through the inevitable downswings that will happen.

I'm happy that I've stuck with it even though I've had my doubts about myself playing this game. I'm determined to be as good as I can be and that will never come by giving up!

Thanks to @Jon-PokerVIP for putting up with my random rants about my variance and my not dealing well with some run bad etc. He always brings you back down to earth and basically reminds you that only you yourself can turn things around and work your damn hardest to get through it.

The team of guys are great and I'm having fun doing random sweat sessions and learning from everyone in some way.

So I'm gonna try and kick the last bit of the Month's arse and maybe it'll be great and maybe not, but I know I'm learning and I feel pretty good right now!

And how many people think it's 'just' a card game.

Glad you are feeling good and just like anything it comes down to experience and just getting used to handling the swings!

I believe you have what it takes to be a long term profitable player but these things can take time. Just like going to school, college and uni to then become a doctor - thats 21 years of education before you make money

Been a while since my last post.
Been learning a lot and having a ton of fun with the guys on the team who are all so awesome.
Sadly my fortune has been negatively beyond words can say.

This is how today went.


1...

funkystyle(SB) $13.79 - VP:13 PFR:4 AF:4.0 W:0| STL:25|100 3B:0| CB:|0 N:2.79 Hands:23
_mav_14(BB) $10 - VP:29 PFR:19 AF:1.3 W:25|75 STL:32|47 3B:8|50 CB:80|75 N:-9.58 Hands:105
Me(MP) $10.40
presnya(UTG) $9.75 - VP:50 PFR:33 AF: W:0| STL:50| 3B:0| CB: N:-1.60 Hands:6
Wickedcream(CO) $11.42 - VP:82 PFR:36 AF:8.0 W:22|100 STL:25|100 3B:20|0 CB:50|0 N:13.02 Hands:11
sorbex(BTN) $21.77 - VP:16 PFR:11 AF:10.0 W:25|67 STL:33|80 3B:4|50 CB:60|50 N:11.32 Hands:111


Pre Flop: Me(MP) with [K,A]
presnya(UTG) raises 0.25,
Me(MP) raises 0.80,
Wickedcream(CO) raises 1.35,
sorbex(BTN) folds,
funkystyle(SB) folds,
_mav_14(BB) folds,
presnya(UTG) calls 1.10,
Me(MP) raises 9.60,
Wickedcream(CO) calls 9.05,
presnya(UTG) folds


Flop: (7,9,3)

Turn: (7)

River: (K)

Final:
Wickedcream(CO) wins 22
Me(MP) shows [K,A]
Wickedcream(CO) shows [K,9]



2...

teolb(SB) $13.05 - VP:31 PFR:26 AF:1.3 W:50|75 STL:100|67 3B:17|0 CB:100|100 N:11.56 Hands:39
Me(BB) $10.35
DexterityAA(UTG) $10.10 - VP:10 PFR:10 AF:Inf. W:0| STL:40|100 3B:0| CB:100| N:-1.18 Hands:21
sorbex(CO) $10 - VP:0 PFR:0 AF: W: STL:0|100 3B:0| CB: N:-0.15 Hands:4
phoenix89(BTN) $6.20 - VP:28 PFR:17 AF:2.0 W:33|0 STL:67|86 3B:7| CB:100|0 N:0.35 Hands:29



Pre Flop: Me(BB) with [Q,Q]
DexterityAA(UTG) folds,
sorbex(CO) folds,
phoenix89(BTN) folds,
teolb(SB) raises 0.25,
Me(BB) raises 0.80,
teolb(SB) raises 1.80,
Me(BB) raises 9.45,
teolb(SB) calls 8.25


Flop: (4,5,J)

Turn: (A)

River: (J)

Final:
teolb(SB) wins 20.40
teolb(SB) shows [K,K]
Me(BB) shows [Q,Q]



3...

junior06(SB) $14.71 - VP:18 PFR:12 AF:3.7 W:20|100 STL:33|79 3B:3|100 CB:20|0 N:4.66 Hands:91
GameSetMatch(BB) $10 - VP:0 PFR:0 AF: W: STL:|100 3B:0| CB: N:-0.10 Hands:1
Me(CO) $10.15
Cahier666(UTG) $11 - VP:18 PFR:18 AF:Inf. W:0| STL:0| 3B:17| CB:100| N:-0.90 Hands:11
ghersergiu(MP) $19.79 - VP:20 PFR:18 AF:5.3 W:27|50 STL:40|82 3B:10|67 CB:78|0 N:5.53 Hands:138
senit(BTN) $6.50 - VP:60 PFR:13 AF:1.7 W:13|100 STL:0|0 3B:11| CB:|0 N:2.85 Hands:15


Pre Flop: Me(CO) with [J,J]
Cahier666(UTG) folds,
ghersergiu(MP) folds,
Me(CO) raises 0.30,
senit(BTN) raises 1.05,
junior06(SB) folds,
GameSetMatch(BB)
folds, Me(CO) raises 8.90,
senit(BTN) calls 5.45


Flop: (2,A,6)

Turn: (7)

River: (8)

Final:
Returns 2.70 to Me(CO)
senit(BTN) wins 12.85
Me(CO) shows [J,J]
senit(BTN) shows [2,2]



4...
funkystyle(SB) $10.06 - VP:30 PFR:25 AF:2.0 W:40|50 STL:63|64 3B:17|0 CB:75|33 N:9.92 Hands:53
cashedi(BB) $12.35 - VP:12 PFR:7 AF:0 W:50|100 STL:50|100 3B:5|50 CB:|50 N:1.65 Hands:41
Me(BTN) $14.44
cloudchase(UTG) $12.86 - VP:28 PFR:23 AF:Inf. W:33|0 STL:45|64 3B:24|0 CB:33|100 N:0.26 Hands:57
Cahier666(MP) $10.40 - VP:13 PFR:13 AF:Inf. W:0| STL:54|100 3B:4|100 CB:100| N:0.30 Hands:67
1NoMad1(CO) $10 - VP:27 PFR:18 AF: W:0| STL:100|60 3B:9|100 CB:|100 N:-1.10 Hands:22


Pre Flop: Me(BTN) with [J,J]
cloudchase(UTG) folds,
Cahier666(MP) folds,
1NoMad1(CO) folds,
Me(BTN) raises 0.20,
funkystyle(SB) raises 0.75,
cashedi(BB) folds,
Me(BTN) raises 1.90,
funkystyle(SB) raises 9.26,
Me(BTN) calls 7.96


Flop: (8,6,9)

Turn: (7)

River: (J)

Final:
funkystyle(SB) wins 19.92
Me(BTN) shows [J,J]
funkystyle(SB) shows [5,5]



These were the only spots I ended up AIPF today.

It gets me a little more emotional purely when I know I'm crushing the players that I know make silly plays. I know I'm pushing JJ when I otherwise wouldn't because of how I know the player plays etc. I know I'm crushing these guys and then I've repeatedly ran in to this.

I'm just chilling out though now and gonna move on, but this being the second month running that I've run insanely bad, does take it's toll on things, and I'm just gonna grind 10NL until this stops I guess, as I would if this was my own BR.

Not much I can say, I'm having such a good time, I know that @Jon-PokerVIP knows I'm putting in the work and I just hope it can pay off. Poker is a tough game on the mind, but running bad does have it's affects. In the way that I literally have to hit stoploss and it looks like I'm not moving on with my learning when I can crush and just hit stoploss for nothing more than literally bad luck. But time will tell I guess...

Time for a well deserved rest.

Your dedo working hard mate so I'm 100% sure you will come through and be moved up to 20nl at some point this summer!

Have you thought about writing down after each session how you feel you played? Like rating out of 10, difficulty of session, difficulty of villains, varience and what you learnt. This way even if you loss I find I reflect well on the session and feel pretty good regardless of result. Just a good way to get through the bad run

Yeah, some some sessions I definitely feel I play better than others, like anyone.
If you know you've run bad then there's really nothing more than a bit of frustration, but also a lot of great feelings that you got yourself in a lot of good spots.
I've been finding that moving back to the reg tables has been a game change. I'm better now than I used to be and find it easier to play how I need to vs the different types of guys. And just knowing the notes I have on them and what they're capable of and having the confidence to play right vs them specifically is great. I find that I'm not just sitting down looking for fish anymore, because I have knowledge of how the guys play, I've been able to use that effectively.

And talking to the guys, watching vids, sitting and studying has been what's made this so much easier.

So all in all I'm having so much more fun not playing the reg/none anon games. And even though I ran bad, the spots were really good for me unlike some of the high variance stuff that comes up vs unknowns at the anon.

Nice to see your thoughts on how you get through the tougher side of this game, or how this game impacts your mental state after a long bad run.

Are you playing BV at the moment yourself?

I'm playing pkr which is in the microgaming network

I honestly think the biggest edge at 10nl-100nl comes from mental game. If you can not tilt or spew when others around you are, or not get into battles and think clearer, play your a game more often, even if it isn't as good as others, you will win so much!

Through my sessions I note my thoughts and feelings and try to recognise if I'm playing my a b or c game and from that can adjust my opening range, who I play against, number of tables etc. And will also be very aware ifni slip into my b/c game and can cut sessions quicker or return to my a game quicker than most.

The review them takes of all this info account and I go into my next session with a good idea where I will be strongest or weakest, what is making me play good or bad and what new skills I need to work on

Poker is for sure not easy...if it was there would be no such thing as the micros and well we would all be on a beach somewhere. It has to be hard as so is everything else.

I think people forget to compare it to other skill sets which require a ton of hard work.

So football like 5 divisions say and Premiership is the top level.......

We can all play Sunday league

Only some can play 5th dvision

Few less can play 4th division

Few less can play 3rd division

Few less can play 2nd division

Not may can play 1st

Barely anyone can play Premiership.

What does happen is the ones who work the hardest and are the best get the furthest but it didn't happen overnight.

So they start playing when they are 5, go to summer camps, play Sunday league, play 5 aside, go to play for under 12s, move to under 16s, try to get into under 18s, play lower divisions, move up, try to get picked for Country and then one day they make it...

Prime example

23 years of playing football, no one really heard of him, now the most spoke of football player in the world and has just won the ultimate title

Hey all!

Another update of how things are going here.

If I'm being honest, I think I've had to have a good think about everything. And I felt like I've been putting a few things in my real life on hold, hmmm maybe that's not quite right.
I guess I could phrase it better by saying I might have not been paying enough attention to a lot of other important things in life and basically dived head first into this poker world again when I started with the staking. I've moved forward as a player. But my results haven't really correlated so far with it. Though if definitely had my share of run bad. It's mainly been working on my mental game.

So what I've decided to do is to basically just take a bit of a step back and allocate a certain amount of time to poker each day, and when I'm not doing it... just clear my mind of it completely! Be able to get on with everything else and be efficient with my time. More so than I have been.
I have started this month putting in some 8hr sessions here, 6hr ones there. And study on top of that... which is all cool but I don't think it's the way I should be going about things. So hopefully I can keep the rest of my things in life smoother this way. And that will in turn take off the pressure.

Right now I feel like I've been pretty much a break even player since the staking, but then there's some sample size factors and I feel I have much to learn, but sometimes just can't always pinpoint where I'm going wrong.

Well I've decided to make a 20 min vid again and I really would appreciate some help. There's a specific topic in this video that pops up in a couple of hands. And I made a thread about it a while back, about playing OOP in 3bet pots as the aggressor. So anyway I'll post it up, and any guys feel free to comment.

I'm also having trouble posting hands right now as I think there's been an update to my Hold'em Indicator which has glitched the hand replayer... so hopefully that sorts itself soon!




I'd ask some specific people to comment but tagging pros to look at a 20 min vid seems a bit cheeky and time consuming, I just hope there can be some discussion

Take it easy everyone!

I took a peek, made a few notes. I may be my usual waffling self but here we go,

1:04 tab1 87cc is a 3bet for me BB v CO

2:10 tab 3 9d4d bb v SB mr is at least an easy call.

5:43 tab1 J2o BB v mr from SB is a fold or a 3bet, no call there for me. However, after vill chks flop and we take it down I make anote fit/fold for villain.

7:52 tab3 Ad6d 5 ahnded is a raise, you're im MP now not utg.

9:45 tab6 AhAd v nutter, don't slowplw v a nutter, if you bet bigger you may temp him into a shove if that's his fun. and no checking, too fancy.

10:10 tab1 Player looks fishy and after a caller I'd make it at least 1.00 - 1.10 even IP if we don't want multiway.

17:35 tab4 66 set on fl card turn needs a bigger bet of 2/3 or so. ppl will come along with a pair and a draw anyway. w34z3l said to me in my review don't slow down just coz the fl card came in. Don't assume it, they'll tell you quick enough themselves, until then keep going.

21:42 tab3 TTT and discussing how much to bet when vill has only 1.35 left in a 3.28 pot is funny.

As o the 99 hand on that board I don't think I'd call, I was set mining 4 handed anyway.

Let's see if anyone laughs at my ideas!

Thanks Mal! All thoughts are welcome!

Also @CrazyCookie I saw you ripping apart a vid from @Pwll so feel free to do your worst here to!

78s can be a call or 3b, never a fold!

94s can be a call BvB folding isn't awful though

K9s is an easy open in MP (3:26)

4:47- A8s I don't mind the 3b but I don't get the "with an Ace blocked bit". We are only blocking like 5% of the combos that he will continue with so yaknow, kinda pointless thinking about it

6:00 A5s I prefer using this as a 3b bluff thana fold

"I'm not a fan of playing out of position" ... Soooooo I'm guessing your blind win rate is losing at over 70bb/100 combined?

6:50 KQ giving up OTT is fine

66 ehhhhhhhh, I don't hate the bet but I don't love it either, I think checking might be better OTT

9:40 AA bet like 75-90% OTF he isn't folding any piece or a draw, making it 50% is giving him a much better price to call

10:35 AJo is close, I probably bet as we can turn a SD and have two OC also so FE + equity is pretty ok!

14:00 2Q give up OTT every time!

14:10 Ajo I don't love this 3b but I don't like calling much either, probably close between 3b and folding

15:00 44 chekc flop, we get very few folds really and the hands that do fold check flop then fold OTT so I much prefer a delayed cbet here

16:10 I don't understand this "we don't want to bloat the pot" that you keep saying, bit of a live/fish thing to say. We want to make a bet that gives us the highest EV regardless of what it does to the pot. Here we have a pretty nice hand that when it makes the flush/straight we want money int he pot. Also we want to increase our fold equity somewhat as we are behind more of villains range. 40c is much better sizing

KQ is NEVER a fold UTG :')

17:30 bet normal size OTT here with 66 and bet 1.7 OTR fold to a shove, i don't hate your sizing

19:10 99.... like yeah he is looking pretty strong but don't think we can fold OTF with an over pair

19:20 88 check it down, do not bet OTT

20:20 KJs 3b

20:20 AJo Just bet, villain folds a LOT on this texture and we have two over cards, can bluff on any BW

21:10 Q9s What are you doinggggggggggg Can't fold this v the uber fish! Call at lest if not 3b

22:48 78s, open in MP is fine, folding isn't horrible

Hey @CrazyCookie Thanks for looking over my vid!

There's some points there I'd have a bit of an answer too.
The 78s hand early on. It's been another one of those things that I've been a little unsure of when say MP raises or UTG. And I'm OOP, it just seems like I don't feel I do well enough with those hands there. But maybe that's not true for you. Again something to work on. But it should be in my calling range there. However is that always the case? I mean vs all opponents?

Also my not a fan of playing OOP, well I'm about a fan of it as most people are. It doesn't mean to say I don't study playing those spots

The AJo I 3bet vs UTG. Usually I'd target people who fold to 3bets often on a regular table, but here on anon I just want to try it out a bit more. Or would you suggest going the other way? It's tough as we don't really have a sample on the guy. But I don't always 3bet here, it's just I'd prefer to if I do choose to play it.

Also I made a bet on the turn with the 88 pair I think after the turn paired and the guys weren't showing any interest. You say to check it back... but I feel with the action so far I often have the best hand enough and yet it's vulnerable enough vs the small equity these guys combined might have. Maybe it's just close though. I'm not sure in the long run which play will work out the best.

When I say I'm 3betting with an Ace blocker, it's just basically another little reason I'm using that hand to 3bet bluff with IP. I've heard many coaches say the same phrase in the same situation. It's nothing but an added reason. Though on anon, I don't get much with a sample size of their F/3b so I think it's probably a decent thing to think about at the very least. But yeah, maybe it is pointless. But really?

The KQ thing UTG, I've personally never thought about folding it, but I posted a hand up on forum and had one or two talking about it being a fold PF UTG. So I was basically referencing them. They weren't random guys either. Regular known poster at least. But it's not something I do.

KJs for me is 'sometimes a 3bet and sometimes a call'. If the player is looser/stickier then I should lean towards the 3bet for value sure. I probably should have here.

The Q9s near the end, who was the UBER fish? Raiser was just playing a normal liking 26/26 over a small number of hands. Or are you referencing back to a play from earlier you saw involving him?

So yeah... again thanks very much for putting in your time, I appreciate it Nick! Just thought I'd give my replies. Also the harsher you or anyone can be to get any fishy mistake plays rectified, then the better as far as I'm concerned! I'm learning, but not close to where you are yet!

In time sir... in time

You shouldn't be not a fan of playing out of position though. It is a part of poker! You mention it wayyyy too much in 30mins for this not to be an issue, what is your BB/SB 3b v stl and BB/SB fold v steal? And what is your BB/SB win rates?

Without a sample I prefer not 3betting more speculative hands, especially v EP. It isn't horrible but I would prefer to take KQo and some baby suited aces first. If you include this every time your 3b bluff range becomes too wide v a fairly strong range given he is EP.

88, why do we bet in poker? To get worse to call or better to fold- largely! Like yeah there is an argument to get them to fold their equity but them folding would be correct so we don't gain much, also when they call we are loosing so much it just can't be worse to check back imo.

Yeah, me saying I'm going to eat healthy because I like the look of red food is another reason for eating healthy but is not the main reason we do it! Using an Axs hand because of it's blocker value is completely useless as you block so few combos they continue with! We 3b them because they play very well IP as we can barrel more as a semi bluff with BDFD/FD which is going to be +EV a lot of the time. Don't get sidetracked with pointless information/sayings, focus on what is making it +EV.

Yeah, you just mentioned KQ might be a fold just making sure you don't think about it

KJs will just play much more profitably as a 3b Also he is a fish so build them pots with big cards

Q9s, the raiser was min opening everything then just playing ABC post, also it is never a fold v anyone anyway



I try not to be too harsh, sorry if it sounds like that, I do most on the fly so it is just my commentary haha- @Pwll probably hates me for it

Hey all just making another video today that I thought I'd share.

The Blaze Football Cannon promotion is underway and I've been having some fun putting in a ton of hands.

Thought I'd make a vid and attempt to win the 100e at the end

As far as fast fold games go, this right now has to be the softest going. So I think the Zoomers will envy us Blazers right now

Hoping for a big month with hand and winnings. gl all!

Last hand of the day brag...

I even clicked the 'sit out' button before I hit the flop... how cocky is that?

I was going to moan about not remembering the last time I had one but lifetime I have probs had more than anyone I know lol and deffs hit one in a tourni like 2 weeks ago.