Ye the PKR games were aggro at nl25, prob where a lot of these guys are from at nl20. I will expect the jump to nl50 to be a big one in terms of ability, but that's a fair way off for me yet, I only just got to nl20 and that'll do me for now.

I'll never get too far ahead of myself btw, far too nitty - and too slow as well these days!

Haha nah 25nl isn't aggressive, no microstakes are aggressive to be honest. Only start getting good players at like 200nl+ unfortunately I can't say I'm a good player which is why I'm not there yet lol

agree with cookies, haha

Ye I'd have to agree with you both, I think I may just have run into a few in quick succession near the start. It could also have been me seeing monsters under the bed for a bit to while I got used to the different dynamic after the spewtards at nl10.

I watched a vid in the Intermediate Course on here yesterday of Gerv playing nl30, man that was some aggro thinking going on there, whew! I've never thought in that way so it was a great lesson, but I think it may be too much for my nerves for the moment to play that strong!

Things to do:

#1. Watch Gerv again and try to understand the 'why'. Some scry stuff in there!

#2. Try being a bit more 'stealy' at nl20 and see how that goes. Try minraising if they go all meh and wishy-washy.

#3. Do some more work on calling ranges for oponents in 3bet pots for different positions. Why, because nobody folds is why!

#4. Learn about how to get maximum value rather than just 'value bet'. Articles vids, whatever it takes.

#5. Go through more of the Intermediate Course and repeat some again for reinforcement. Enjoying this, it's got fun elements in it.

Trying to step it up a bit again this month so we'll see how that lot goes, it may be too much at once for my little brain cell but at least it wont feel so lonely if it's busy.


Finally, the first week is over and we're a little ahead of the game so far except volume which fluctuates anyway so no probs there. It's a mix of nl10 and nl20 for when the latter is a nitfest.





Weekend coming up, hope the sun shines so I can take the dog to the beach for a walk and a swim.

Have a good weekend everybody, you'll most likely find me in the Intermediate Course if you want me.

Looking good mannnnn! Any great articles/vids, please share Added the Gerv vid to my list!

Dat green line tho! Woof!

You da man!

nice one Wish I could track my last session (pkr not tracking annon tables...) 4 hours so about 2k hands +16.5 buy ins :') golddddd mine!

Thanks peeps, yes, Lady Variance has definitely been in a good mood lately.

2K hands +16.5BI? :O:O:O:O:O Wtf! Looks like 'someone's' doing it right! Just wow, really pleased for you, let's hope that continues for a while at least!

Haha it's easy when you flop sets every hand make GS but it was more that the regs were over adjusting fish spewing. Had one reg who was 4b me a lot and then 5b shove AJs after I had 5b shoved v him (each time with QQ+ lol). Then I had a spew tard who mashed it in twice against me with complete air when I called with 2nd pair just spew spew spew

But yeah done a lot of studying recently and OK lots of luck but in a lot of spots it really paid off. I think the funniest thing is that me all in EV was probably only +1 as I lost to the AJs w/KK and over pair v a rivered 2 pair to one of the spewtards :')

30bi in three weeks and I'm guessing 15k hands :')

Good grief, crusher in my journey, that's ridiculous! All that study paying off as well as a bit of rungood. Great work indeed!

I am of course, trying valiantly to hang on to your coat tails, but things being what they are and the mrs being a bit poorly with her crunchy ribs, volume is a bit of an issue for now. That's my feeble excuse for not being as good by the way!

Found a new tilt problem I've not had before to, I had to sit out a few hands after this one because I kept looking at the stack size and hoping I wouldn't spew it back or get coolered somehow.
Simply, this is my biggest pot and biggest stack since moving up. Hopefully these tilt issues will be of a similarly enjoyable nature for the rest of the year!

Nothing special about this hand, I'm only posting it for those who see monsters under the bed (me included) and it's always KK+ when getting the money in here:



So I could use a nice day at the tables today, settle me down again and get myself back on track volumewise as soon as the mrs is better. Seems to be one thing after another for the poor girl lately.

Maybe it's time for a trip to he vet, she is getting on a bit after all.

Have a fun weekend everybody.

Oh well, the crusher Mal got crushered at last. Seems 12 days in a row was a bridge too far, I did manage 11 but I think that's three months in a row now, dammit.

No complaints but moving up looks worse when I take a hit and my graph looks like it's gone into freefall, whereas it's actually only a few BI for a stoploss. Gonna have to get used to that one, I'll have worse times that i do know.
C'mon Lady Variance, play nice!

Yesterday was a loony toons day. Tough to find a good game but when I did it was totally bonkers, shame I ran like I was up to my bollox in quicksand, but whatever.
When you see a raise to 2.5X and call and get a reraise to 40X and 2 people call, you just know the game is gonna be fun! 30e - 40e+ pots all over the place. Guy playing 88/7/4 sat in with 12e, nearly went broke twice, but when I left had 134e. Another guy 65/35/20 did 5BI and kept reloading, I mean, how good can it get! Just the best game ever so I one-tabled but no joy this time around.

Poker dead, everybody solid by nl20.

Study today is on my stats, difficult given my game has changed so much in 3 months and I've moved from nl4 to nl20 in that time, but I'll look for the most glaring leaks at least and see what I can do.

Not sure what my wr is overall, but it must still be around the 12-13bb/100 mark this month and around 6bb overall after dropping a bit, so it's all gravy.

Here's this week's zigzag thingy:




Make sure it stays fun is all.

Ahhhhhhh all good fun and makes the graph look gangster when you upswing out of it buddy!

20nl is yours for the taking just keep at it!

@Jon-PokerVIP Yes, not concerned, just wanted that 12 days challenge is all. Never mind, next time!

Well people, I think I'm coming to a crossroads as far as my game is concerned. I'm quietly confident that given a little rungood I can beat at least up to nl10 and possibly nl20 given what I've seen of it (small sample alert!). I'm confident I can al least make money down here longterm without actually being able to play.
I've had numerous conversations with people who definitely think and play better than I do, but I like the way I play for one reason, I win money.
Therein lies the crux. Do I want to improve and perhaps move up again at some stage, or stay here (in my nice warm comfort zone) and make less money but with less pressure?

A few pros and cons to consider,

Pro moving up;

1. More money possible even with a smaller winrate.
Not done the math on this so I'm making the assumption that winrates will drop but be compensated by a lower impact from rake.
Then there's more rakeback and rake race returns to consider which could compensate for some of the losses.
It may be possible to make a profit in a losing month I don't know but wouldn't that be fun!

I am not very money orientated as it happens, but bills needs be paid!

I'll need to look into it a bit, the sums shouldn't be a problem and there must be plenty of info about.

2. Progression.
Not be underrated imo, I think progression in my game would breed confidence, thus promoting more learning, which in turn helps the winrate improve, thus promoting more confidence, thus, .. well, you get the picture.
And do I really need to mention my coach expecting progression, do I?

3. Going as far as I can.
Kinda sits with #2 but not quite in the same vein. I tcould also get rather involved so I'll try to be as succinct as I can for now.
Progression shows improvement as does 'Going as far as I can', but the difference for me is that the latter is as much a personal it is a technical one.
Not finishing something I started has been the bane of my life. I've had 'talent' for a number of things and got as far as being good enough to go anywhere and compete, but not good enough to turn professional. This is more a mindset issue than a technical one, my gaming/sporting ability hasn't been in question.
When I went to university and came home for the summer after failing every (yes, every) exam the first year, me best mate asked me, 'Mal, I don't mean to have a go but, is there any chance of you acutally finishing something this time?' That question changes my entire attitude towards learning and of my perception of how people saw me.
I think it's how we are brought up to some degree. For example, I was brought up to be quiet unless spoken to, to know my place in the world and to respect my 'betters' like a boss or richer person or elders, whoever. In those days, going as far you can meant being the bosses son and getting to college etc., etc., where for us, the great unwashed, we were not encouraged to improve as often.

So, going as far as I can has more to it than just being the best I can be, even if the two are kinda symbiotic.


4. Self esteem.
This is another related to the above. Since I had a virus in my brain I can't do a lot of the things I used to do as well as I did. Kinda makes you feel a bit, y'know, meh about yourself.
Doing this poker game and improving, seeing the results (see, results orientated thinking can be beneficial!), being enouraged by others, my staking team buddes and coach in particular, are things a year or so ago I wouldn't have imagined possible anymore.
Not a small thing.

I think I'll leave it at that for now and do some cons next time round. I'd be amazed anyone will find all this drivel interesting anyway.


Meanwhile to lighten the mood someaht, here's the graph for the last few days. Pictures Mal, people like pictures!





Have fun.

Right, so, those cons.

I actually couldn't think of many except these few. Proably becasue I'm notused to moving up, rather I often need to drop down instead! haha
Anyway, I 'll try a few,

1. Comfort zones
Some people are comfortable playing where they are and haven't the ambition to put there profit on the line to try higher up, happy to pick up a bit of pocket money form weaker players.
Don't think I like this one because I can always drop down again if it all goes tits up. Not only that, I'd be better armed to beat my usual stakes even more than before after lessons learned.

2. tilt
If it does go tits up a weaker mindset might tilt and not play their A-game, causing more losses, causing more tilt, causing more - well, again you get the picture.
I don't see this either. If I moved up too quick it couild happen, but then why would I move up until I was ready both technically and mentally? Moving up to nl200 from nl4 a.s.a.p. is all well and good, but prepare well because if you don't they'll see you coming and you'll last about as long as a baitball in a Tuna shoal.

3. Sriously, finding reasons not to is hard!


Maybe someone else can enlighten me, I seem to going round in a circular argument doing this.

Have fun and stay away from that nasty tilt stuff, it hurts.

i think there is nothing wrong playing 2 stakes at the time ,if theres no good tables or very slow action dont be shy to open ones lower. money is money and untill your really confident it could be a reasonable line to take.

I can and do play nl20 and nl10 at the same time depending how table selection goes and am encouraged to do so by the bossman. Go where the money is indeed, nice reminder thank you and thanks for popping in and reading some of my drivel. Kudos points on the way!

Over thinking it much? Like this is a serious mental game issue if you are thinking like this. If you have the skill move up, if you dont feel comfortable either don't challenge yourself or make it your comfort zone. Simple. You will not make enough money playing 10nl or 20nl to really make a difference and if you stay in your comfort zone you won't improve will get like you said comfortable and probably end up losing money as you need to stay with or ahead of the learning curve.

No not so much overthinking, just thinking out loud is all. I want to move up, I just don't know if I have the capacity anymore to learn enough to get there, so I weigh things up first, it's what I alsways do. Call me Mr Cautious!

I just need enough to take the pressure from the mrs' pay check and my lack of one. I have suspected for some time I could win enough at nl50 to do that.

And I like thinking things through, always have. I'm probably one of the few bloke who reads the instructions before having a go at putting something together!

I am looking at the numbers and it seems to me

YOU ARE CRUSHING THIS MONTH.

Biggest month ever for us so far? LETS GO