Making a living with STT SNGs

Without much history with BB I would say very often best line is to minraise with range that has barely any raise-fold range. Even if our shove range is ATC or close to ATC without premium hands BB has hard time to really abuse that. Of course it makes no sense to use such style if we assume that BB has enough history to make such read.

But very often he dont have sample even if he would be good enough to notice it. E.g. in practice when SB minraise here BB is still going to fold most of time. Sometimes he shoves and get called or gets fold. But to get decent sample on those shove situations will take long.

I would tend to shove hand like 77 in this spot unless I have reads I can induce BB to resteal decently wide. As I wrote earlier even with 27.6%, 22+ Ax+ K7s+ KTo+ Q9s+ QJo J9s+ T9s resteal range 77 is going to be just barely better induce than it is as shove versus 6.6%, 77+ ATs+ AQo+ calling range. So IMO 77 should be relatively far from automatic inducing hand.

For mid stack induce with 77 versus chip lead is rarely recommended. Could be happening a lot, but that doesnt make it good play.

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
I will try to brake down my thinking process with questions for you that should help you come to answers on your own.
<holy wall of text>

Do you really think about all of this when 17-tabling? (I mean, we usually don't have specific reads, just know the general opponent type at best.) I think the first sentence of ghaleon's first reply emulates the actual thought process during the grind closer.

Originally posted by ghaleon
Without much history with BB I would say very often best line is to minraise with range that has barely any raise-fold range. Even if our shove range is ATC or close to ATC without premium hands BB has hard time to really abuse that. Of course it makes no sense to use such style if we assume that BB has enough history to make such read.

But very often he dont have sample even if he would be good enough to notice it. E.g. in practice when SB minraise here BB is still going to fold most of time. Sometimes he shoves and get called or gets fold. But to get decent sample on those shove situations will take long.

I would tend to shove hand like 77 in this spot unless I have reads I can induce BB to resteal decently wide. As I wrote earlier even with 27.6%, 22+ Ax+ K7s+ KTo+ Q9s+ QJo J9s+ T9s resteal range 77 is going to be just barely better induce than it is as shove versus 6.6%, 77+ ATs+ AQo+ calling range. So IMO 77 should be relatively far from automatic inducing hand.

For mid stack induce with 77 versus chip lead is rarely recommended. Could be happening a lot, but that doesnt make it good play.

I agree that those plays are not great nor recommended but that is what are my expectations from CL in bubble BVB.
Also explained how to adjust or counter adjust to someones game plan and his/hers adjustment

Originally posted by tonypmm

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
I will try to brake down my thinking process with questions for you that should help you come to answers on your own.
<holy wall of text>

Do you really think about all of this when 17-tabling? (I mean, we usually don't have specific reads, just know the general opponent type at best.) I think the first sentence of ghaleon's first reply emulates the actual thought process during the grind closer.

The short answer is YES

Longer version is you have to practice all the things I mentioned outside of tables. You practice this when you learn simple bubble ranges. Then you use FGS ranges from HRC. Then you go step further by adjusting calling/shoving ranges of opponents. Next step is doing advanced hand analysis where you include 3bet ranges also. You then go further and do flatting ranges as well. After all is done, then you start practicing all this versus different opponent types. Guys that flat but don't 3 bet; guys that just 3 bet; 1 guy flats SB 2nd guy 3 bets BB ; 1 guy 3 bets sb 2nd guy flats BB. After all this you study your actual opponents and their leaks. Regulars that you keep clashing with in bubble often. Find their leaks in shoving/calling/3 bet/flatting ranges and exploit their leaks.
Finally you understand how FGS works and fully understand how each opponent will/would act in what stack up scenario.

All this will make your life whole lot easier and there will be no opponent, no matter how great he is, difficult to play against in bubble cause everybody has some leak.

I do agree that this is difficult to process while 15 - 17 tabling but you need to practice this outside of tables , whole thinking process and then playing tons of tables forces you to think quick and do these things on autopilot or from unconscious competence (Jarred Thandler MGOP).

Hope that makes sense

Just 2 things for this update

Partizan Belgrade plays in 75 minutes from now. I am super psyched and excited - can't wait for the game to start.

Also to share this amazing accomplishment and news with all of you who follow the blog:

From 1st of August there will be total of 9 of students from my program that will be playing 7$ limit.

It is amazing accomplishment when you consider that there are 11 students that are part of the program now, with possibility that 12th student might or might not join us in very near future who would also by the way start minimum on 7$ limit.

Very proud of how far they have come and expect great things to keep happening to all of them in future!

Enjoy your day on and off the tables and may Partizan Belgrade win today of course !

Edit: What is even more amazing is that 3 out of those 9 guys have full time jobs!!!

I have set the challenge for August

You can follow it HERE

If by some miracle I get more then 3k games I will be super pleased with myself.

Now that there is 9 guys on 7s, I am planing on doing even more sessions with all of them. That means instead of 4-6 sessions a month , close to 6-10 sessions a month. So constant review, game plan checking, ICM , post flop sessions and sweats.
Some guys are more ready then others, meaning some already got to point to have 4%+ ROI, some are at around 2-3% most likely.
My personal goal is to get all the guys that I coach now to 7%+ ROI on 7s pre rb.
If this happens in next 2 months, I will be super pleased with what we have all accomplished and we can really look into mixing and moving to 15s exclusively!

So August will be super heavy with coaching. I will also do a lot of work on my game - to keep checking more advanced ICM spots + continue with my in depth post flop analysis.

I am also planing to open site for my students, just a forum really where they will post hands. I was telling them to post here on Poker Strategy but most of them don't have the status needed to post for their limit and game type. They have been posting in the skype group but that tends as you all know to get too messy + it gets very difficult to find particular hands - so site comes as ideal solution for it all.
I am aiming to do this by the end of the next week. Site will be closed for public, just open for my students.

Life wise, I plan to keep up Crossfit 3 times a week + 1 time a week individually. Besides this I will spend a lot of time with my family, both close and "far" relatives this month + my friends. I will also aim to see some girls, like 5-6 more this month cause it is a great way to relax get my mind off poker and just have fun (last 10 days have certainly brought that in me very much so).

Poker Strategy wise, I plan to record minimum 1 more video this month but will wait for the green light from the team to do so. Hopefully this will happen in near future. You guys can also feel free to give your ideas for new video, something you would like to see from me - I am open to suggestions.

Time management will be huge test this month and thanks to systems I was building for last couple of months, I feel this will all work out great regardless of number of things I have planed.

Last but not the least, I am looking into options of moving away for 4 month starting 1st of September until the end of this year. My options right now are Montenegro (Tivat or Herceg Novi) or Macedonia (Skopje). I am still looking into other options and I will make the decision once the month gets close to the finish.
Basically in those places I have apartment or house where to stay and all it will take me to move there is sitting in the car with my dad and him driving me there . 2 monitors, 1x desktop 1x laptop, foot stool, 2 sports bags later and I am ready to move anywhere!
So I will definitely keep you informed about this as the deadline I set in my head (1st of September) gets closer!

Lets see what happens but I always hope for the best and try to give my best!

Have a good day on and off the tables!

Man,

Have you ever been approached by scientists for blood donations or brain scans??? I'd love to know where your incredible drive and energy levels come from...

I know they say that confidence breeds success that reinforces confidence that breeds further success etc... but more than any of your actual accomplishments, your zeal for life is truly inspiring... in fact, I think you have just motivated me to go work out for the first time in awhile - Thanks!

Originally posted by Ramble
Man,

Have you ever been approached by scientists for blood donations or brain scans??? I'd love to know where your incredible drive and energy levels come from...

I know they say that confidence breeds success that reinforces confidence that breeds further success etc... but more than any of your actual accomplishments, your zeal for life is truly inspiring... in fact, I think you have just motivated me to go work out for the first time in awhile - Thanks!

Man,
I have never been tested that way but sure does sound very interesting to me. Would be willing to participate if such thing existed here in Serbia!

Glad you got inspired to work out. Hope you continue to do so. If we are just talking about poker, you will feel more energy and be way less tired = more focused in your sessions from working out steadily.

GL and THANK YOU for following and being inspired by something from here

Finished with the grind for today - 100 games total in less than 4 hours and variance/setups killing me left and right Update with graphs HERE

Tomorrow I will attend family launch around 2pm. I will lay out my plan for tomorrow for those into time management

8am - 8:10am Waking up
8:10 - 8:30am shower, brushing teeth, quick check for sleep time via Fitbit dashboard
8:30 - 9am Breakfast (4 blocks of protein , less blocks of carbs and 3 to 4 blocks of fat)
9am - 9:45am Responding to students questions, hands and checking for emails + tv shows
10am to 11 or 12 Meeting up with one of the girls for morning coffee and treats
12-1:45pm 1st grind session for the day , 50 games + snack (2 block of protein and carbs)
2pm - 4pm Family lunch (picking up healthy choices, having one or two beers to tops etc)
4pm - 4:30pm Drinking water, relaxing and preparing for 2nd grind session (perhaps meeting up with best friend for coffee and live sweat session)
4:30 - 6:30pm 2nd grind session for the day, another 50 games
6:30-7pm Dinner (same block intake like for breakfast)
Rest of the day - 3rd grind session, meeting up with another girl or doing more things with students + snack (2 blocks of protein and carbs)
Hitting bed latest at 1:30am!

As you see no coaching sessions tomorrow which is why the schedule looks empty + no CrossFit training. With coaching + CrossFit in the same day it is like 4 hours minimum reserved

Sunday will be very cool also as I plan to grind minimum 100 games, meet up with Curly but also work out outside CrossFit. It will be 4 rounds of 300m runs and 40 (air) squats for time. So total 1.2km and 160 (air) squats. I will aim to do that one in less than 20 minutes which should be fun considering my muscles are killing me. Think of it as each set taking 4 minutes + 1 minute brake maximum between sets , that's 20 minutes total. Hopefully I can do the 40 air squats in 2 minutes and do the same with run - we shall see!

That is all for the day - enjoy your weekend on and off the tables!

Another challenge update HERE

Meeting up with girl was wonderful - spent 2 hours together, really fun times!

Later I played 50 games but it took forever - 2 and a half hours!

After this lunch happened which was really lovely - ate some great food and kept track of how much I was eating what !!!

After lunch, meet with my best friend and another friend of ours. Did live sweat session with him. He is doing really well, considering that 7 months ago he had zero knowledge about poker or texas holdem, he is like rocket scientist now! We talked about me leaving on 1st of September. I am more leaning towards Montenegro than Macedonia but I will think about it all for 2-3 more weeks and then get packing and get ready to leave.

After this spent some time with my dad which was very emotional to say the least.

Then I went on to play another session of 50 games and now here we are!

Tomorrow's time management will be much more busy then today's. Just consider that I will have 2 coaching sessions, CrossFit workout, aim for 100 games minimum, meet up with my best friend for coffee and another live sweat + consider going out if I finish it all on time.

Enjoy the remaining of your weekend on and off the tables!

Mr IVI
long time no see
Havent been following your blog lately been busy with some IRL stuff

Gonna follow and kick your ass regularly from now on
So better post good graphs yeah
Dont wanna see my angry

Hey Abhi!

Nice to see you man. Hope you are doing good!

For graphs check the challenge threads. I may from time to time post a graph here, usually with some record like winning/loosing day.

Now that you will follow the blog more, get ready as there will be some goal setting by the end of the year. Will announce it all by 1st of September!

Challenge update but no games today !
You can still read about what went on today HERE

I would also like to share with you that I will 99% move to Tivat, Montenegro from 1st of September!

Apartment that I will stay in is our friends property so if they are there until 15th of September, I will go to Herceg Novi from 1st to 15th for 2 weeks to stay at my family place. It will be cool to see my aunt and uncle, hang for those 2 weeks and talk life things over. I do however prefer to be totally isolated so that I can grind and not be disturbed in any way so Tivat is ideal solution for me!

Last night I watched some pictures from people at seaside in Tivat (from my facebook friends), then used google to search for images and finally watched some promo videos... I am thrilled with what I saw to say the least!
Also for those of you that don't know, Tivat is one of the most exclusive places now in Montenegro since they built Porto Montenegro in it. Basically all super rich mega giga stars come there with their yachts and eat great food, relax chill and party at night

I will just share with you here video and some pictures from this amazing place.
Before that, I will start looking for cleaning lady for there, internet providers and places for chairs for my grind. Everything else I am pretty set for - coffee places, restaurants, markets, beaches, banks/atms etc

Video

Pictures (use google images and type Tivat for plenty of others)

Enjoy your day on and off the tables!

P.S. These palms remind me of Miami and Canaries Islands 100% - great times!

Place looks awesome, what's the climate like there?

It reminds me a bit of Malta, the bay picture at least.

Let's see if you actually move there because I think I have seen like 99 countries pass by here that you thought of moving to

Originally posted by Demonic226
Place looks awesome, what's the climate like there?

It reminds me a bit of Malta, the bay picture at least.

Let's see if you actually move there because I think I have seen like 99 countries pass by here that you thought of moving to

Very hot and LA like weather It is like Malta except girls in Montenegro are super hot, like Serbian girls

I am moving for sure,minimum 2 months.

My goal will be to grind, 8k games in those 2 months and win post RB 10k$.
After that I will see if I will stay there further or not. It all depends on a lot of side things and family situation primarily.

Will write about it all by the end of the month in big update for end of year goals!

As far as moving to 99 countries, I never intended to move but rather visit! This year I visited Bulgaria, Romania and Czech Republic, now I plan to do the Montenegro visit/stay. I might squeeze in visit to Austria maybe (Vienna) or some other location (perhaps USA end of the year?).
As far as moving for longer periods 6+ months I will consider doing this when they do the same thing for Poker Stars in Serbia as they just did in Bulgaria. I will not stay to live here under these conditions, so most likely I will go to Thailand,Montenegro or some other location

Challenge update HERE

Today couple of things done. Besides CrossFit, hanged with best friend, ate healthy, grinded one longer session (76 games) and did tons of things for Montenegro move.

CrossFit alone was very difficult and exhausting considering that yesterday I completed that individual training of 160 squats + 1.2km fast paced run.
Whole day felt pain in the muscles and needed a rest. Can't wait to hit the bed now!

For Montenegro I found solution and places for internet. I will already have cable internet, will just purchase another stick/usb internet and use it as back up. Also there is tons of free wi fi in the actual city which is great for chilling outside and grinding some HU hypers enjoying the wonderful weather
I also ordered some clothes today online and looked into some other things I will need.
Finally, today I spoke to my brother who is from Herceg Novi. We spoke a lot, talking out the details of my arrival and such.
I also spoke with my dad and around 10th of August we should have all the info about Tivat place. Whatever happens I am leaving/moving on 1st of September. I might end up staying some days in Herceg Novi at 1st but it really doesn't matter - just very excited that I will have opportunity to grind like crazy at such a wonderful locations, paradise like!

Very much look forward to how everything will play out.

All I care about this month is to grind 2 to 3k games mixing 15s and 30s; coaching like crazy and preparing for Montenegro move + CrossFit and healthy eating!

This is all for this update - tomorrow is crazy day , 3 coaching sessions, will try to do 2 x 75 games sessions to make it a standard and will start grinding morning sessions (finish 1st session by 3-4pm latest!)

Enjoy your week on and off the tables!

Busy days, it seems you are really enjoying the CrossFit training, I hope you reach your goals with it bro!

Btw, it is almost 12 CET and I don't see you at the tables yet

About free wifi spots and grinding, that is a very very bad idea bro. If you want to get your account hacked, that is the way to go. Everyone with even a little knowledge (and there is plenty of info about it online) can "listen in" to your connection and get into your laptop so tried to avoid using public wifi, especially with playing poker and other sensitive stuff.

Originally posted by Demonic226
Busy days, it seems you are really enjoying the CrossFit training, I hope you reach your goals with it bro!

Btw, it is almost 12 CET and I don't see you at the tables yet

About free wifi spots and grinding, that is a very very bad idea bro. If you want to get your account hacked, that is the way to go. Everyone with even a little knowledge (and there is plenty of info about it online) can "listen in" to your connection and get into your laptop so tried to avoid using public wifi, especially with playing poker and other sensitive stuff.

Yeah CrossFit is going really great, extremely happy with how I am approaching and handling it all. Will miss it very much in Montenegro. Already spoke to my trainer and he will send me training plans and while in Montenegro might actually do more FitCon which is CrossFit approach to just cardio work outs which is crazy hard. These exercises can be done in nature easily and don't need weights for it.

I am logged into the stars , saw you on some tables but lobby is totally empty. I estimate that it would take me 3 and a half hours instead of 2.7 or 2.5 when peak to play 75 games now. Sharkystrator starts to reg when there is minimum 3 people in the lobby, the way I set it. So I will rather do the grind afternoon when traffic is more effective and go now for coffee with my best friend

Regarding internet, I will grind my SNGs in the apartment and use backup USB stick for it. When out in some coffee place I will enter skype to do some video chats with family and friends. Occasionally I may enter Stars for some HU hypers but that lasts like 30-45 minutes tops.
I hear what you are saying but from my experience I haven't seen or heard that happen yet to any poker player.
Did this happen to you bro or somebody you know?

Partizan Belgrade is playing today vs Ludgorec from Bulgaria.

We leave for Belgrade in 30-45 minutes. Super psyched and hoping that we will trash them with 2-3 goals difference.

Sign off with this adrenaline rush song that whole stadium sings for scoring goal!!!

Oh, it's funny that Serbians say 'give a goal' (meaning 'score'; Russians say 'drive a goal in' like a nail ("забить гол"), btw).

GL with giving the Bulgarians a lot of goals and lessons! And of course not conceding.