On the road to midstakes!

Hey guys. What's up?
Nothing much, how are you?
I'm fine, thank you.

Well, I've been better to be honest. I'm started July off with another downswing: -3k$. And it really got to me this time. Zoom is really addicting so I just kept on playing over the last month, even though I'm clearly not in the optimal mental state to beat this game. Yesterday, I finally self-excluded myself (for a week) because otherwise I just can't seem to stop myself from playing this wonderful yet soulcrushing Zoom game.

And it worked out perfectly because today my very own copy of 'Applications of NLHE' arrived. Time to start working on my game seriously. ♠_cool: I hope to get a good gameplan going in the next few weeks. We'll start off easily with a preflop gameplan and hopefully get some postflop range-constructing going. Atm, my minds still boggles when I start to think about GTO-lines to take. I 'm still such a fish. Lately, I started thinking about my ranges and how to be unexploitable a lot more postflop. However, for now it mostly just confused me in a lot of spots. That's why I need to work out the math and build a more solid foundation to build my in-game thought processes on. I hope I finally find the discipline and will-power to do some significant work off the tables.

Small real-life paragraph incoming: My job sucks and I have done some sick slacking lately. I worked quite well today at work and I need to hold on to that productivitiy from now on. My project ends half of August so I have a shit ton of work to do before that time. My promotor recently decided to give me an extra 4 months to write up my PhD after that, I'm honestly not thrilled about the extension but having a PhD can't be bad. And the wife is happy with the job security.

Most important real-life story is the little baby that's on its way. Our daughter will be joining us somewhere mid-August. I'm soooo looking forward to that! The big day is coming closer and closer. And here I am whining about poker and work. I'm such a fish!

Most important real-life story is the little baby that's on its way. Our daughter will be joining us somewhere mid-August. I'm soooo looking forward to that! The big day is coming closer and closer. And here I am whining about poker and work. I'm such a fish!

It is another chapter of mind game. - never easy.

Start working on your working room that will be far enough so your wife cant call you out on a diaper change. Or pass one or other thing. Or ask any irrelevant question. etc.

Although working out discrete poker hours can be helpful - then your wife might not get too mad about your absence at random times.

Good luck being a dad!

Originally posted by ilioas
Good luck being a dad!

Thanks

I think my playtime will be cut down big time, definitely first months. But I expect to not care that much about that.

Originally posted by DeLau

Originally posted by ilioas
Good luck being a dad!

Thanks

I think my playtime will be cut down big time, definitely first months. But I expect to not care that much about that.
First months could be the easiest. The kid sleeps and eats a lot.
We can talk more on skype about that if you wish. I can share my experience.

Sure, send me your skypename.

Whaaaat?! You never told me

Gratz man!! Supernice ♠_biggrin:

Are you kidding anyone about this?

Lol, I would say first three months is the toughest...

Originally posted by Farmarchist
Whaaaat?! You never told me

Gratz man!! Supernice ♠_biggrin:

It's in my blog(s). Read them!

Originally posted by BrokesoBroke
Are you kidding anyone about this?

Lol, I would say first three months is the toughest...

That's what most people tell me.

Hi peepz, what's up?

I'm gonna bring in a short albeit significant blog update.

I continued my downswing at the end of June in July. I'm down a healthy 3.6k this month so yeah that sucks. I lost a little bit more than half of my bankroll at its maximum. It made me decide to quit playing for a while. Quit playing, not quit poker that is.

During my extended break (I expect it to last 3+ months) I will continue to work on my game. I plan on finishing applications of NLHE during that time and work on my postflop ranges with flopzilla/CREV. I actually just goofed around with CREV for the first time, really happy with that.

With this recent development, I'm definitely not going to make the goals I set in October last year (reaching midstakes, 20k bankroll). I feel kinda disappointed about that, but on the other hand I feel like I did improve a ton. Back then I was playing nl100 on everestpoker. Now I 'm playing nl200 zoom where regs are definitely better. Besides that, I also played nl500 with some of the best NLHE players in the world. That was definitely a fun experience (although probably not very +EV ).

See you later guys!

Short update:

Our daughter Sue was born a weak ago on August 19th. The feeling of having a baby really can't be compared to anything else, so overwhelming.

Work: very busy atm, finishing up the project I've been working on the last 2,5 years. I will have meetings with all involved companies next week, have to prepare a presentation and finish up the final report. Timing really sucks, I wish I could focus all my energy on my wife and daughter.

Poker: The day after my last post here (30-07), I decided to end with a bang and play nl1k zoom for a bit. Lost 1,8 BI in about 200 hands so yeah that was fun... After about a week into August, I just had to start playing again and decided to donk around on unibet. First some 6max, but then I tried some HU and really enjoyed it. I ran very well and plan on really improve my HU-game and mix it up with 6max in the future.
I also really got into CREV, mostly watched interesting vids but dabbled with it a bit myself too. So really happy about that. It really motivated me to become good at this game. I feel like just realising this is the way to go is giving me an edge over a ton of ignorant regulars.
Since the birth of my baby, I didn't play or study poker at all. Not sure when I 'll be able to pick it up again, but it obv dropped a spot on my priority list.

Later guys!

Gratz on the 1k shots! Hmmm sorry gratz on your daughter! ♦

Graz ♠_biggrin:

Originally posted by Riverdiver
Graz ♠_biggrin:

Thnx

Originally posted by Dublimax
Gratz on the 1k shots! Hmmm sorry gratz on your daughter! ♦

Well, it wasn't exactly a shot. Maybe you could call it a YOLO

And thnx

Congratz man, really happy for you

Oh hey, thanks man. How are you doing, how is the PhD going? I bumped your blog unsuccesfully about a month ago.

Heyho boys and girls! (yes, I stole this greeting from MR. TT )

So yeah, update time again.

Regarding personal life, everything is awesome with the little girl. She is the prettiest girl in the whole wide world! Seriously, she is. She's eating up a lot of my energy but I don't mind. I finished the project I worked 2.5 years on. All the companies involved were happy so jippie. I really worked my ass off the last few weeks and currentlye still in decompression-mode. New work is already piling up again

Poker: I watched a vid on the mental aspect of poker a couple of days ago. The producer started out with saying that by watching a technical poker video, one could increase his winrate with maybe 0.05-0.2 bb/100. By watching a mental game video (and improving it), one can improve his winrate with maybe 5bb/100. This thought really hit me and I (finally!!!) realised I should improve this aspect of my game. The general idea of the vid was that you should use maximum brain capacity to play the hands. So I made a couple of changes to my grindmodus:
no more music while grinding
no skype/forums while grinding
checking results once a month. This one is really huge. Before, I would check my results after every big hand, so probably like every 5min while playing. I haven't checked my results for 3 days now and I like it. Feels weird though.

On another note, I thought that I might try to get to supernova this year but just realised it's not gonna happen. There just is not enough time to play. I also want to continue to play nl100 zoom for a while even though I am rolled for nl200. The long loosing stretch really got to me and I just want to grind for a while without worrying about moving up/down all the time.

Will check in again here at the end of the month with results. In the green please!

Missed these guys!

Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $139.02 (139 bb)
SB: $121.39 (121.4 bb)
BB: $116.82 (116.8 bb)
UTG: $107.27 (107.3 bb)
MP: $100.50 (100.5 bb)
CO: $74.81 (74.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with 4 4
UTG raises to $2.50, MP folds, CO calls $2.50, Hero calls $2.50, 2 folds

Flop: ($9) Q 7 K (3 players)
UTG checks, CO checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($9) 4 (3 players)
UTG checks, CO bets $1, Hero raises to $8, UTG folds, CO raises to $15, Hero raises to $30, CO raises to $45, Hero raises to $136.52, CO calls $27.31 and is all-in

River: ($153.62) A (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results:

Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $127.62 (127.6 bb)
SB: $130.24 (130.2 bb)
Hero (BB): $147.86 (147.9 bb)
UTG: $38.20 (38.2 bb)
MP: $104.78 (104.8 bb)
CO: $48.95 (49 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A T
2 folds, CO calls $1, 2 folds, Hero raises to $5, CO calls $4

Flop: ($10.50) A A 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $5, CO raises to $14, Hero calls $9

Turn: ($38.50) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $29.95 and is all-in, Hero calls $29.95

River: ($98.40) 2 (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results:

Just had an awesome session. Ended it with 14BI at 4 tables. I lost a couple of buy-ins in the beginning of the session so I guess I'm up about 7-8 BI. Still haven't looked at results so jeeej. Still thinking about how much I'm up or down but not as obsessively as before. Looking forward to seeing them at the end of the month.

Some BBV hands of this session:

Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $46.98 (47 bb)
SB: $132.42 (132.4 bb)
BB: $107.01 (107 bb)
UTG: $207.42 (207.4 bb)
Hero (MP): $171.05 (171.1 bb)
CO: $146.68 (146.7 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with K K
UTG folds, Hero raises to $3, CO raises to $9, BTN folds, SB calls $8.50, BB folds, Hero raises to $26.50, CO folds, SB calls $17.50

Flop: ($63) Q 9 T (2 players)
SB bets $60, Hero raises to $120, SB calls $45.92

Turn: ($274.84) T (2 players)
River: ($274.84) T (2 players)

Results:

Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $213.12 (213.1 bb)
SB: $117.48 (117.5 bb)
BB: $225.11 (225.1 bb)
UTG: $122 (122 bb)
MP: $160.41 (160.4 bb)
CO: $100 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with 7 J
UTG folds, MP raises to $3, CO folds, Hero raises to $9, SB folds, BB calls $8, MP calls $6

Flop: ($27.50) 6 8 K (3 players)
BB checks, MP checks, Hero bets $13, BB calls $13, MP folds

Turn: ($53.50) 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $34, BB calls $34

River: ($121.50) 5 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $89, BB calls $89

Results:

Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $101.50 (101.5 bb)
SB: $319.36 (319.4 bb)
BB: $108.70 (108.7 bb)
UTG: $190.79 (190.8 bb)
Hero (MP): $435.90 (435.9 bb)
CO: $115.29 (115.3 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with K K
UTG folds, Hero raises to $3, 2 folds, SB calls $2.50, BB folds

Flop: ($7) K A T (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $5.50, SB calls $5.50

Turn: ($18) 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $26, SB calls $26

River: ($70) 5 (2 players)
SB bets $48, Hero calls $48

Results:

Guess I'll add a hand where I lost too.

Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players

BTN: $46.50 (46.5 bb)
SB: $79.69 (79.7 bb)
BB: $100 (100 bb)
UTG: $118.09 (118.1 bb)
Hero (MP): $386.56 (386.6 bb)
CO: $107.02 (107 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A♦ A♣
UTG folds, Hero raises to $3, CO calls $3, BTN raises to $7.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $17.50, CO calls $14.50, BTN folds

Flop: ($44) 6♠ 7♣ T♠ (2 players)
Hero bets $18, CO raises to $89.52 and is all-in, Hero calls $71.52

Turn: ($223.04) 8♠ (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($223.04) 8♣ (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Howdie peepz!

September has almost come to an end so it's update time! I started grinding for serious again after about a 6 week break. Decided to start grinding nl100 zoom again and wanted to put in a big sample before moving back up. I was already rolled for nl200 at the beginning of the month but was very low on confidence. Here's the graph:

I'm obv quite happy with this graph, it's about 5.4 bb/100. Since it was going so well, I decided to no longer wait and start grinding nl200 zoom. I just finished my first session there. It's tougher than nl100 (less fish, weaker regs) but still beatable. I have played this limit before but now I'm way more relaxed while playing it.

I posted a couple of weeks ago that I would focus more while playing. I have done that and I'm very sure my winrate is couple bb/100 higher because of it. One thing I really need to focus on mindsetwise is making loose rivercalls. It just happens so often that I think 'omg, I'm never good here' and just close my eyes and call anyway.

So next month is back to nl200, hope we get a green month. If all goes well, I might even attempt a shot at supernova this year.

Fun hand of the day, villain tanked for 90s!

Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $181.26 (181.3 bb)
Hero (SB): $134.42 (134.4 bb)
BB: $158.33 (158.3 bb)
UTG: $200.09 (200.1 bb)
MP: $401.37 (401.4 bb)
CO: $97 (97 bb)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7 6
4 folds, Hero raises to $3, BB calls $2

Flop: ($6) 2 J 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $4, Hero raises to $14, BB calls $10

Turn: ($34) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $26.50, BB calls $26.50

River: ($87) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $90.92, BB calls $90.92

Results:

In! GL next month.