Swimming out of Venezuelan Hell

Hi Luis!

Very interesting first post, I'll be following.
It's always exciting to hear about people who see poker as an opportunity, rather than just another hobby.

I'm a little concerned about your bankroll management, though. You said you started playing NL5 once you got $50, which is only 10 buy-ins. I'm sure you're aware that the recommended bankroll management around here is 25-50 buy-ins.

Of course, you can choose yourself what kind of bankroll management you think works best for you, but I'd be curious to hear what made you follow a different strategy. Especially if American dollars to play with are hard to come by for you, I'd personally advise you to use a pretty strict bankroll management plan.

Anyway, best of luck!

+1 on BRM if you can afford to reload then aggressive BRM is ok, but since it was some money a friend gave you a more conservative BRM is probably better. It really doesn't make a huge difference as if you move up to nl10 w $200 or $300 it's only an extra week grind if your beating NL5. GL

I really like your move to Malta goal, I might do something similar in the future too, although I was thinking of Bolivia for 6 months!

Originally posted by Harrier88
Hi Luis!

Very interesting first post, I'll be following.
It's always exciting to hear about people who see poker as an opportunity, rather than just another hobby.

I'm a little concerned about your bankroll management, though. You said you started playing NL5 once you got $50, which is only 10 buy-ins. I'm sure you're aware that the recommended bankroll management around here is 25-50 buy-ins.

Of course, you can choose yourself what kind of bankroll management you think works best for you, but I'd be curious to hear what made you follow a different strategy. Especially if American dollars to play with are hard to come by for you, I'd personally advise you to use a pretty strict bankroll management plan.

Anyway, best of luck!

Originally posted by peche025

+1 on BRM if you can afford to reload then aggressive BRM is ok, but since it was some money a friend gave you a more conservative BRM is probably better. It really doesn't make a huge difference as if you move up to nl10 w $200 or $300 it's only an extra week grind if your beating NL5. GL

I really like your move to Malta goal, I might do something similar in the future too, although I was thinking of Bolivia for 6 months!

Yeah I had about $54 and I opened 2 NL5 zoom tables "if I drop under $40 in any moment I go back to NL2" but that day I went up to about $60.
Now that I have 85 if I drop to 50 I go back to NL2. If I drop to 50, go back to NL2 and get busted well fuck me.

Thank you guys for your opinions I know it's not quite ortodox, but still it's not that crazy

About your move to Bolivia I'm not certain but I think Bolivia is worse than Venezuela right now. So unless you are a cocaine enthusiast I wouldn't recommend making your move there

I don't recommend this kind of BRM, but you're the boss.

So when do you plan to move up to NL10?

Oh, and by the way, do you play mostly full ring or shorthanded?

Originally posted by lkdr9494
About your move to Bolivia I'm not certain but I think Bolivia is worse than Venezuela right now. So unless you are a cocaine enthusiast I wouldn't recommend making your move there

lol I have friends there, it's cool imo. But I guess like everywhere a lot depends on where you go and who you know

One more zoom grinder.

Following for sure,
Best of luck,

Fran

When you make tons of money from poker, you won't need to leave, will you? Women are siiick over there GL!

Originally posted by Harrier88
I don't recommend this kind of BRM, but you're the boss.

So when do you plan to move up to NL10?

Oh, and by the way, do you play mostly full ring or shorthanded?

If it goes well goes well if it goes wrong I start over from $50 and learn a lesson

I'll move up to NL10 with $400 which now sounds a little rough to achieve before march ends but we'll see

I play always full-ring. 4 tables

Originally posted by pecheo25
lol I have friends there, it's cool imo. But I guess like everywhere a lot depends on where you go and who you know

You are right there sir.

Originally posted by tonypmm
When you make tons of money from poker, you won't need to leave, will you? Women are siiick over there fish love GL!

Well there are certainly a couple of girls I'm really really going to miss but there is no future here unless you're really really loaded of american dollars and you'll live like a king, altho probably not too long. With a portion of that I could probably take any girl with me

Thank you guys for your support and feedback it's really motivating

Originally posted by lkdr9494
I'll move up to NL10 with $400 which now sounds a little rough to achieve before march ends but we'll see

10 BI for NL5 but 40 BI for NL10?

I guess you just don't like playing NL2, eh?

Originally posted by Harrier88

Originally posted by lkdr9494
I'll move up to NL10 with $400 which now sounds a little rough to achieve before march ends but we'll see

10 BI for NL5 but 40 BI for NL10?

I guess you just don't like playing NL2, eh?

Well yesterday I played 3 sessions, first was even, second won a BI, and last lost 3 BI , I think I was too distracted and I stopped playing as soon as I realised. It also made me think again about changing limits and I've decided to go back to NL2 until I reach $130. Below I post the graph of the day, 3198 hands over 3 hours and 53 minutes.

Graph

Spoiler

subir fotos a internet

A couple of the mistakes I made:

QQ v KK

Spoiler

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 116.4 BB (VPIP: 28.57, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
Hero (SB): 121 BB
BB: 104 BB (VPIP: 13.33, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)
UTG: 42.4 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
UTG+1: 95.2 BB (VPIP: 9.30, PFR: 9.30, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 44)
UTG+2: 213.4 BB (VPIP: 17.65, PFR: 11.76, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
MP: 60.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
MP+1: 216.4 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
CO: 119.2 BB (VPIP: 12.50, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has Q♦ Q♠

fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.4 BB, Hero raises to 7 BB, fold, BTN raises to 22 BB, Hero raises to 60 BB, BTN raises to 116.4 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 56.4 BB

Flop: (233.8 BB, 2 players) K♦ A♥ T♣

Turn: (233.8 BB, 2 players) 6♠

River: (233.8 BB, 2 players) 9♥

Hero shows Q♦ Q♠ (One Pair, Queens) (Pre 18%, Flop 13%, Turn 9%)
BTN shows K♠ K♣ (Three of a Kind, Kings) (Pre 82%, Flop 87%, Turn 91%)
BTN wins 224 BB

JJ v AA

Spoiler

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 102.6 BB (VPIP: 16.92, PFR: 12.31, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 66)
SB: 202 BB (VPIP: 14.89, PFR: 14.89, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 49)
BB: 110.2 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 14.04, 3Bet Preflop: 2.44, Hands: 115)
UTG: 98.6 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 10.42, 3Bet Preflop: 5.26, Hands: 98)
UTG+1: 114.2 BB (VPIP: 10.40, PFR: 7.51, 3Bet Preflop: 1.45, Hands: 177)
UTG+2: 94.2 BB (VPIP: 17.02, PFR: 14.89, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 47)
MP: 60.2 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
MP+1: 107.2 BB (VPIP: 5.00, PFR: 5.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
Hero (CO): 101.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has J♠ J♥

fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, SB raises to 12 BB, fold, Hero raises to 40 BB, SB raises to 121 BB, Hero calls 61.4 BB and is all-in

Flop: (203.8 BB, 2 players) 3♦ 6♥ 6♣

Turn: (203.8 BB, 2 players) 3♣

River: (203.8 BB, 2 players) 2♦

SB shows A♦ A♠ (Two Pair, Aces and Sixes) (Pre 81%, Flop 92%, Turn 95%)
Hero mucks J♠ J♥ (Two Pair, Jacks and Sixes) (Pre 19%, Flop 8%, Turn 5%)
SB wins 195.4 BB

KK v AA

Spoiler

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 186.8 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
SB: 69 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
BB: 95.6 BB (VPIP: 17.14, PFR: 6.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 105)
UTG: 50 BB (VPIP: 14.62, PFR: 14.04, 3Bet Preflop: 8.20, Hands: 173)
UTG+1: 137.8 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
UTG+2: 100 BB (VPIP: 7.32, PFR: 3.50, 3Bet Preflop: 1.57, Hands: 319)
MP: 53.6 BB (VPIP: 9.34, PFR: 7.23, 3Bet Preflop: 3.13, Hands: 338)
Hero (MP+1): 132.8 BB
CO: 100 BB (VPIP: 14.58, PFR: 6.25, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 49)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has K♠ K♥

fold, UTG+1 calls 1 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 5 BB, CO raises to 17.4 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 48 BB, CO raises to 100 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 52 BB

Flop: (202.4 BB, 2 players) T♠ Q♣ Q♥

Turn: (202.4 BB, 2 players) T♥

River: (202.4 BB, 2 players) 3♦

Hero shows K♠ K♥ (Two Pair, Kings and Queens) (Pre 18%, Flop 10%, Turn 5%)
CO shows A♠ A♣ (Two Pair, Aces and Queens) (Pre 82%, Flop 90%, Turn 95%)
CO wins 194 BB

I also sucked on a AA with KK but didn't win as much as I lost in the others

Spoiler

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 153.8 BB (VPIP: 9.18, PFR: 6.12, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 100)
Hero (SB): 149.8 BB
BB: 150.2 BB (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
UTG: 96 BB (VPIP: 20.74, PFR: 10.37, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 136)
UTG+1: 100 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 4.00, Hands: 69)
UTG+2: 151 BB (VPIP: 12.50, PFR: 6.25, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
MP: 111 BB (VPIP: 13.67, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 1.83, Hands: 303)
MP+1: 50 BB
CO: 49.6 BB (VPIP: 6.31, PFR: 6.31, 3Bet Preflop: 4.44, Hands: 111)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has K♥ K♣

fold, UTG+1 raises to 4 BB, fold, fold, MP+1 raises to 12 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 41 BB, fold, fold, MP+1 raises to 50 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 9 BB

Flop: (105 BB, 2 players) 4♥ K♠ 6♠

Turn: (105 BB, 2 players) 9♠

River: (105 BB, 2 players) 5♦

Hero shows K♥ K♣ (Three of a Kind, Kings) (Pre 18%, Flop 91%, Turn 95%)
MP+1 shows A♦ A♥ (One Pair, Aces) (Pre 82%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)
Hero wins 100.6 BB

Summary:
-BR: $75
-Playing NL2 Zoom tables at Pokerstars
-Moving up to NL5 with $130

I don't think the KK hands were a mistake. Going all-in preflop with pocket kings is normally the right thing to do, except maybe in some rare situations where both of you are really deep stacked.

The other hands were overplayed, I believe. JJ is not good enough for a preflop push for 100BB without any clear reads on your opponent.
I probably would have called the 4-bet with QQ, but I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do (I'm a shorthanded player, after all). On flops like this, it shouldn't be too hard to fold your hand then.

Originally posted by Harrier88
I don't think the KK hands were a mistake. Going all-in preflop with pocket kings is normally the right thing to do, except maybe in some rare situations where both of you are really deep stacked.

The other hands were overplayed, I believe. JJ is not good enough for a preflop push for 100BB without any clear reads on your opponent.
I probably would have called the 4-bet with QQ, but I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do (I'm a shorthanded player, after all). On flops like this, it shouldn't be too hard to fold your hand then.

Yeah, but you know that feeling when you got the kings and the guy goes all in and you know he got the aces, I have to admit it really puts me to think; of course I almost always end up calling.

The JJ and QQ I usually wouldn't called/raised to a 4-bet unless I believe the guy is very loose but as I said I was tired, distracted I was thinking in something else and was playing in sort of automatic pilot.

I think I shouldn't had that session in the first place but well whatever, lesson learned, don't play just to play.

Greetings mates, hope you are having a nice monday
Some interesting stuff happened this weekend.
1. My bankroll escalated to $100 not precisely because of my grinding in zoom, but because I cashed $21 in the 30k VIP weekly in pokerstars. This is good of course, but makes me feel stucked in cash tables. I'v been doing okay these days but I always make some silly mistake/s that cost whatever I made.
2. I've decided to make my move to Manchester (yes, Manchester, not Malta) on september, since I have a friend studying over there and we can help out each other quite well (I know england is very expensive compared to Malta at least) but I believe it's better to be with a good friend than alone in a foreign country.

So
September "Final" Goals: (not only poker related)
-$3000 Bankroll (planning to be grindingin NL25 at that time).
-Leave grass.
-Gain about 15 pounds. (I'm 6'3 and weigh about 150 pounds).

This month I expect to reach NL5 ($150), cut by a third my grass consumption and go to the gym at least 4 times a week.

Summary:
-BR: $100
-Playing NL2 Zoom tables at Pokerstars
-Moving up to NL5 with $150

Good luck everyone I'll be updating when there are new to be told

Hello mates I'm glad to tell you I just reached $150 and will be "starting" to play NL5 on monday. It took me about a month which I don't know if it's too slow since I saw a guy from Norway that did it in a day but I feel like I've been playing quite good. A bit weak but winning. Assuming I made $60 in the last 15k hands I think I'm improving

I leave the graph here for you to see my pretty winning green line

So I'll take tomorrow off and start fresh on Monday to grind on NL5
If I drop to $100 I go back to NL2.
About moving up to NL10 probably when I reach 300-400 bucks, I'm not sure.
I feel a little like I'm playing 'scared' in NL5 for some reason.
Here is an example:

I don't know wtf happened in my mind he had like AK or 66 22 then maybe the flush. I ended up scared and after I realised I stopped playing. It was probably nothing but I'll see on Monday.

Summary:
-BR: $150
-Playing 4 NL5 Zoom FR tables at Pokerstars
-Moving up to NL10 with $300-$400

Good luck everybody I'll be updating when there are more news ♦

Hello all, yesterday I started grinding on NL5 I've been having some good sessions. I've played about 6k hands between today and yesterday and my BR is up to 180 bucks. Don't want this upswing to end

GRAPH:

Some interesting hands:

This one felt pretty good ^^

Other happy endings:

And today's baddest:

Summary:
-BR: $180
-Playing 4 NL5 Zoom FR tables at Pokerstars
-Moving up to NL10 with $300-$400

Those are some nice graphs!
I wish I could be that productive, I only manage to play maybe 1.5k hands a day. And it's not even like I have better things to do...

Btw, I don't even think that the AQ hand you posted last Sunday (the one where you're up against TT) was that badly played. I think that there are a bunch of people at this limit who would play flush draws the way villain played his hand, so I probably would have checked the river as well. You could have been a little more aggressive on the turn, I guess. But still, not that much of a bad play, imo.

Also, I used your idea of covering hand replays with spoiler tags in my own blog. Hope you don't mind.

Originally posted by Harrier88
Those are some nice graphs!
I wish I could be that productive, I only manage to play maybe 1.5k hands a day. And it's not even like I have better things to do...

Btw, I don't even think that the AQ hand you posted last Sunday (the one where you're up against TT) was that badly played. I think that there are a bunch of people at this limit who would play flush draws the way villain played his hand, so I probably would have checked the river as well. You could have been a little more aggressive on the turn, I guess. But still, not that much of a bad play, imo.

Also, I used your idea of covering hand replays with spoiler tags in my own blog. Hope you don't mind.

Well I play about 3k hands a day because I have absolutely nothing else to do. I wake up about 9 o'clock cook, eat breakfast play a session from 10:30-11 to 12-12:30, go to the gym which is right in the corner for about an hour and a half, I'm home and have eaten lunch by 2-2:30, play another session until 4, then go play table tennis with some friends (or watch some episodes of burn notice if my friends are unavailable) then go back home have dinner, play another session and go to sleep and repeat. That's quite much my everyday with some small variations.

Right now I managed to come back from a bad session

Spoiler

sube imagenes

Got some unlucky hands, but got some lucky as well, this one being the topwinner of the session:

Spoiler

PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 151.2 BB (VPIP: 14.71, PFR: 10.29, 3Bet Preflop: 6.29, Hands: 348)
SB: 100.4 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 24)
BB: 360 BB (VPIP: 10.15, PFR: 7.08, 3Bet Preflop: 1.57, Hands: 330)
UTG: 68.8 BB (VPIP: 16.28, PFR: 3.10, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 133)
Hero (UTG+1): 120.8 BB
UTG+2: 111 BB (VPIP: 8.00, PFR: 8.00, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 25)
MP: 22 BB (VPIP: 19.23, PFR: 7.69, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 26)
MP+1: 100.4 BB (VPIP: 14.07, PFR: 10.37, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 139)
CO: 131.2 BB (VPIP: 13.03, PFR: 6.56, 3Bet Preflop: 1.77, Hands: 312)

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has Q♣ Q♦

fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, BB raises to 12.4 BB, Hero raises to 40 BB, BB calls 27.6 BB

Flop: (80.4 BB, 2 players) 8♦ Q♠ 2♥
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (80.4 BB, 2 players) Q♥
BB bets 320 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 80.8 BB and is all-in

River: (242 BB, 2 players) 4♠

BB shows K♠ K♣ (Two Pair, Kings and Queens) (Pre 82%, Flop 9%, Turn 0%)
Hero shows Q♣ Q♦ (Four of a Kind, Queens) (Pre 18%, Flop 91%, Turn 100%)
Hero wins 232 BB

So I'm still at 180.

I saw the spoiler used in hands in some other blogs and liked it keeps the posts "small"
I also saw your blog and we are grinding pretty much at the same stakes, and have almost the same bankroll. So you have made yourself a rival (in a goku-vegeta type of way).
So good luck brother

PD: I just reached gold status

I am playing micro zoom as well and will be following along!

Originally posted by lptjuggernaut
I am playing micro zoom as well and will be following along!

Best of luck mate. Checked out your AJ v AK 500 bb pot. I'd probably alt+f4 pokerstars, pokertracker, jerk off and play again in about 2 hours. Best way to deal with bad beats and bad sessions

I had another bad session of my own:

I really hate those sessions when I start losing and have to manage to come back to make at least a bit of profit. However this time I didn't manage to come back, but I only lost $1.21 which isn't that bad. I feel like having the second best hand every fucking time and when I do have the nuts my opponents fold no matter what betting line I use (they have shit).
If I hit and cbet they fold. If I don't hit and cbet they call.
So still at 180 bucks, 2-3 more sessions to go today; I'll be updating.