Making a living with STT SNGs

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
Hi Steve

I haven't visited that thread in a while really, good thing you posted question here.

I calculate things using 100k SuperNova renewal thingy which is worth 37% of RB.
When I use Sharkscope I just type 37% in the RB field and get the final result.
The way that things from RB are actually broken down I really didn't dig too much into. I would assume that FPPs are worth the most and then maybe 10% or so of RB is in actual stellar rewards

Hope that helps!

Yo on Tilt years ago every month you got your RB paid into your account and i assume the same happens on others sites that pay RB. As Stars don't u must have to physically request it? Other wise the 37% u show is just a number and not actual $$, bit hard to buy laddies dinner or pay rent with FPP

I think these 2 links explain it all

FPP PRO - HERE

Stars info - HERE

I use 100k FPP bonus for purchase + get rewards so that should add up to 37%

Cool cheers matie

There is pretty accurate info on rakeback percents in pokerstars website. 100k VPP as supernova in start of year and using 100k fpp cash packet gives 6 800 $ (37-41 %). 400k VPP would give 32 000 $ (44-48 %)

Done for the day - 132 games!

Problems with PT4 whole day. Using Sharkystrator I loaded 5-6 tables and then PT4 just kept going down - HUD not displaying etc. So I had to play 2 sessions 5-6 tables each or something then finally restarted computer 3-4 times and it worked!!!
After it did 50 games session and 75 games session but definitely lost an hour or more on those additional 7 games during the day.
Focus was good, distribution was decent, regs continue to make bad plays vs me , overall I am very happy with how things are going - future is looking brighter

Also coached 1 session 10-11, student overslept for 9-10am but I was up anyways doing some music related things

Tomorrow 2 coaching sessions 11-1pm, definitely going to do CrossFit and try to hit 150 more games.
For goals I will keep updating as if I will leave on 22nd when in fact I will be in Serbia 5 days earlier (17th). Tomorrow I will call airline and move the flight!

Here is how things look from 19th of September before leaving to Serbia on 22nd of October:
Grind goal before leaving to Serbia: 4000 games (will be 3k games most likely)
So far played: 1631 games

CrossFit training before leaving to Serbia: 15 (this one will do my best to hit)
So far completed: 5

Coaching sessions before leaving to Serbia: 35 (17 hours in 15 days - definitely doable!)
So far completed: 18

Meeting with Manda and Zeljka before leaving to Serbia : 4 (should hit 1 more before I leave)
So far completed : 3

Meeting with special girl : 3 to 4 times (most likely will manage to meet just once more maybe twice!)
So far completed: 1

Morning, railed quite a bit last night. Was watching with the mind set of the things that you spoke about in your last session with Colin. I was trying to put you on ranges and I found it quite entertaining. Even to me I thought I saw some weak play from your opponents, but maybe it is just the fact that they are at a higher plain then I am.

Any way do you have set times of the day you play? Are you aware that your search is still turned on? Good for me and others but I am not sure it is not intentional from you?

I had $60's open too and I didn't see you play. I know you are not targeting them at the moment but what is your criteria to do so, i know you slip the odd one or 2 in every now and then? Surely its not as simple as when you fancy it?

You were also in some none turbos, have you always done that and if so do you put them in one stack, so that you can easily keep track of that format ?

Last one you 17 table, why such an odd number? I believe you 4 table tile with the rest stacked behind this 4 tiles, 16 I get but 17 ?

Cheers

Steve

Hey Steve,

Thanks for railing me I forgot to switch off the search function, will do it later today.
Glad you managed to see some interesting ranges and play. Definitely I agree with you, every day I see some weak plays but that is why I can still make money at these stakes you know?

As far as number of tables go , I do 15 tabling total that was maybe some glitch or something ? I play 7x15$ turbos 6x30$ turbos and 2x15$ non turbos (reg speeds).

I started mixing a bit regular speeds couple of months ago before I went into 30s turbos. It was purely to increase the table count for me nothing else. It turns out that regular speeds are far less reg infested and that you can have much higher ROI there.
Regs don't like playing them because they last longer (50+ minutes per game average vs 37 mins or so turbos) plus I think most regs have trouble playing with deeper stacks longer which actually reflects in their weaker post flop and HU play.
So to sum it up, I like non turbos to increase table count but traffic is not good enough on them to 15 table, if it was it would be far more profitable to play them vs turbos obviously with 3-4 fishes per table it is a heaven!

You mentioned 60s... I played that 1 game in the coaching and my plans are definitely in direction of 30s and 60s next year. Problem with 60s is that for example yesterday I saw in 4 tables in the lobby 4 regs that I have marked as either balanced, aggro or wider than nash sitting there , waiting for 2 unknowns to enter? Using Sharkystrator color coding I think it would take me forever to play 50 games a day 60s. The other night I entered table with 2 unknowns which turned out to be loose passive fishes, 1 wider reg and 2 aggro regs.

So to answer your question with table selecting, I would be willing to play 60s with 2 fishes any day of the week + 3 regs, with emphasis on 3 regs being different kind of regs (balanced, wider than nash, super aggro and nit/rock best combo being balanced wider than nash and nit or 3 nits ♦ !!!). This type of table suits me well and believe can have positive ROI up to 5-6% with ITM of 37% or so.

Yesterday I shakrscoped some people I play on 30s that also mix 60s and saw some encouraging things for me. On 30s I don't have problems playing them and they make on 60s like between 2 to 4% ROI PRE RB! This is fantastic news for me. In my calculations I was planing to mix 30s and 60s and have average ROI of 3%. I believe that is very achievable the only question for me is now number of hours it will take to mix those 2 limits (much less traffic compared to mixing 15s and 30s) and securing stable bankroll for that (I would move up there with 7k$ just for it , assuming that 2/3 of games will be 30s 1/3 60s because of traffic).

Hope that answers your questions Steve and thanks for coming in and asking all these interesting questions + observations!

How life can be unpredictable and awesome!!!

Finished grinding 1st session 75 games and while talking with my dad over skype got a knock on the door. It was my brother from Herceg Novi! He flew from Belgrade and will stay here until Monday. Bye bye heavy grinding, hello hanging chilling visiting beaches again etc ♦

Just wanted to share it with all of you. Will grind 75 more games tonight and let him hang with my aunt for a change but from tomorrow it will be crazy.

By the way, he is interested in learning to play poker, I sent him some Poker Strategy basic articles about starting hands, equity and odds - he says he wants to get serious with it.
I tell him its all milk and honey for me now but period of learning improving and becoming profitable player can feel like forever. Whatever he decides I will support him and teach him if he needs my help!

Enjoy your night on and off the tables !

Done for the day - 151 games!

Solid focus, distribution not so good + regs continuing to make huge -EV calls and shopping
Coached also 2 sessions today but tomorrow plan to work out + 1 coaching session.

Regarding goals I will just keep the ones from before but I did write that 5 days less going back home will result into less of everything.

Here is how things look from 19th of September before leaving to Serbia on 22nd of October:

Grind goal before leaving to Serbia: 4000 games (will be 3k games most likely)So far played: 1782 games

CrossFit training before leaving to Serbia: 15 (this one will do my best to hit)
So far completed: 5

Coaching sessions before leaving to Serbia: 35 (15 hours in 14 days - definitely doable!)
So far completed: 20

Meeting with Manda and Zeljka before leaving to Serbia : 4 (should hit 1 more before I leave)
So far completed : 3

Meeting with special girl : 3 to 4 times (most likely will manage to meet just once more maybe twice!)
So far completed: 1

I must say this is a very inspiring blog, also I watched Wednesdays addition of you and Collin on the live feed, and I thouroughly enjoyed it, it has given me motivation in my 9 man turbo endeavours.

Keep up the great work and crush matey

Originally posted by shanesmith
I must say this is a very inspiring blog, also I watched Wednesdays addition of you and Collin on the live feed, and I thouroughly enjoyed it, it has given me motivation in my 9 man turbo endeavours.

Keep up the great work and crush matey

Glad you enjoyed the coaching and find the blog inspiring!
Hopefully in future there will be more coachings like these with Collin. I really enjoy them and I get the feeling he likes doing them with me also but you should ask him that really

No games played today!!!

Spent whole day with my brother , in the morning just coached 2 sessions + afternoon worked out CrossFit. Apart from that whole day was family related, awesome lunch and drinking coffee and visiting different places with my brother in Herceg Novi. In the evening we went out with about 6-7 people with us and it was very cool hanging with them including Manda and Zeljka. Got back about 20 or so minutes ago home.

Tomorrow 2 coaching sessions, will try to work out again but regarding grinding will chill as my brother leaves on Monday so plan to spend whole day with him again!

Here is how things look from 19th of September before leaving to Serbia on 22nd of October:

Grind goal before leaving to Serbia: 4000 games (will be 3k games most likely)So far played: 1782 games

CrossFit training before leaving to Serbia: 15 (this one will do my best to hit)
So far completed: 6

Coaching sessions before leaving to Serbia: 35 (15 hours in 14 days - definitely doable!)
So far completed: 22

Meeting with Manda and Zeljka before leaving to Serbia : 4 (should hit 1 more before I leave)
So far completed : 4

Meeting with special girl : 3 to 4 times (most likely will manage to meet just once more maybe twice!)
So far completed: 1

Couple of things going on

My brother left this morning back for Belgrade. We spent great weekend, really great fun going out whole day and partying in the evening.
Today I was so tired that I started to yawn when I started my grind at 6pm! I just loaded 15 or so tables and stopped immediately, hit the bed to rest. Woke up at 11:30 in the evening (an hour or so ago).

Some other things worth mentioning

My CrossFit training is not going as planned. I find it difficult to motivate myself as some external life things are taking my energy and focus. It is crucial to work out with best possible focus, use maximum speed and max yourself out with interval/HIIT training. I find it very hard to do it when in my mind some things are overwhelming me and taking so much of my energy. One of such things is my returning back to Serbia in 11 days from now (17th of October). I will write about it all more when I summarize my stay on 17th of October or even before.
I will try in remaining 11 days to do minimum 5 trainings but will also try to push myself and go for 5 trainings per week or 10 total so to speak. Every other training I will make it recovery one so instead of doing 40 reps of pull ups push ups sit ups and what not, I will go for 20 or so 50% of actual training. Still better to do SOME then NONE training!!!

Coaching happened in past 3 days 2 sessions. I feel I will hit the target I set 35 hours since now I got 24 hours completed and just tomorrow I have 3 coaching sessions lined up. So 11 hours in 11 days - definitely doable and will be completed.
I am particularly proud that from 9 people I coach (7 excluding my brother and best friend) 4 of them have 8%+ ROI on 7s pre RB, 2 of them go between 4% and 7% and 1 of them is working hard and should crush the games in very near future.
So despite me playing low volume before arriving to Herceg Novi on 1st of September, in those 3 months I manged to invest time into tons of coaching and CrossFit/healthy lifestyle. Looking at it 3-4 months later now, I can say that it was absolutely right thing to do. Look forward to future months and all the guys crushing hard and moving up! More on that towards the end of the year.

Grind will be less than 4k games but 3k that is for sure. I am positive I will hit 3k games and that makes me happy because of 3 reasons: 1) Coming to Herceg Novi really payed off because I have played 3k games in 3 months before coming here and it will turn out that I will do that here in 1 month (excluding 19 days where I spent every single day with my brother and sister out of the house!!!) 2) I have worked on my game and improved/increased my ROI in future games 3) Overall experience here has been so fun and relaxing for me that I have gotten my motivation to continue setting new goals and reaching them + grinding steady volume.
I expect to do 9 days of 150 games a day which will be 1350 games + 1798 games from 19th of September = 3148 games total.

So finally here is what is happening in next 11 days (packing computer on Thursday so 10 days really)

Grind = 9 days of 150 games average = 1350 games
Coaching = 11 hours in 11 days
CrossFit = 5 trainings minimum in 11 days , will go for 10 with less intensity
Meeting with special girl = once minimum as time is limited with all the other activities planed.

Finally here is the plan from 17th of October until the end of the year life wise

17th and 18th of October
Belgrade, hang with my brother and sister + my very close friends, go to Partizan vs Red Star derby game, go out in the evenings enjoy it

19th to 22nd of October
Be home in Nis, unpack all the stuff, set up computer again for grinding, go for 1 or 2 CrossFit trainings, meet with family and friends

22nd to 24th of October
Again in Belgrade, this time for Partizan vs Besiktas football game + seeing my brother and sister, hanging with close friends and all the rest

24th of October until end of the year
Get back to Nis, continue with steady coaching, frequent CrossFit (3-4 times a week), set and complete realistic grind goals and prepare myself for Belgrade move in January next year.

In November go to London for Tottenham vs Partizan game and hang with my very good friend for a weekend - I hope I will get to do this as visa takes 3 weeks to get! ]

By the end of the year take another trip, for 2-3 days (extended weekend) with my brother, best friend and another friend of ours. Maybe my brother and sister manage to join us also (would be very happy if that worked out)!

Enjoy your day and remaining of the week on and off the tables!

Done for the day - 150 games played!

Another one of brutal card distribution and downswing days. On top of that regs making spewing plays and getting rewarded bringing the additional damage on top of setups.
Saw some really bad and ridiculous plays but I can just say like always - keep making these plays vs me I look forward to them really

Coached 3 sessions total so 27 out of 35 hours completed!

Today was a day for walking out, went to the store walked in the hills and down + at home did pull ups all day in sets of 5 without any assistance. So will count it as 50% training or off day training.

Tomorrow 2 coaching sessions lined up, 150 games and 100% CrossFit workout.
That is all and enjoy your day on and off the tables!

Done for the day - 150 games played!

Card distribution in HU was brutal 2/3 of the time today. Was not happy with couple of post flop spots and the way I played them early/mid game. Still seeing some super spewy plays by regs vs me which will in future bring me more profit long run.

2 coaching sessions completed so total 29 out of 35 games.
Also completed CrossFit training which I am very happy about. So that is 2 trainings in 2 days.

Tomorrow will meet with special girl, in the afternoon go for some walk and drinks, squeeze in CrossFit and of course go for 150 games.

Day off from coaching!
Went to bed around 3:30am last night and woke up during the night 2 times.
A lot of things going through my mind, organizing prioritizing setting new goals working through systems, preparing for move and getting into right mindset for all of it etc

Today went for a walk already, did some food shopping and worked on my game.

Added couple more things to my HUD + found some very interesting facts and edges vs regs. Very much look forward continuing to work on this more as I am sure it will be future of SNGs for at least year or two on 30s+. Definitely don't plan to do any videos on this topic but I just want to say it is huge!!!
Comparing my current knowledge with some regs that mix 30s and 60s that constantly play/clash with on 30s, I am very confident I can do it next year with proper BR management. Also want to say that I am just scratching the surface here so there is tons of place to improve. If I get stuck on my own, will look into some coaching to unlock this unexplored area. Overall very excited that hunger for knowledge is back and is stronger then ever now!

Around 3pm going for some coffee, meeting special girl around 5pm, planing to start my grind around 6pm.

Will do some off day training now with pull ups push ups and rope jumps.

Done for the day - 150 games!

No coaching as I mentioned but instead spent lovely day out, went for coffee and to hang in different coffee places close to beach + meet with special girl for hour or so. Great times.
Beside this, worked on my game in the morning, added some more things in the HUD as I said. In terms of training I walked tons up and down the hills different incline + did pull ups at home - would say intensity was like 30-40%.

As far as grinding goes, there were times I felt I was loosing it post flop in early game but ICM/Bubble/HU was very solid except that I can't catch a brake on 30s. Besides all that am confident things will turn around eventually. Think my table selection with Sharky is good, I play maybe 2 good regs and 1 bad with 2 fishes on 30s or unknowns which is enough to have long term + ROI on 30s. Right now it is not there but it is due to variance and some early game lighter stacking and people shopping (being ahead flop , turn or river catching up after all ins or calling down to bluff catch but 2 high cards coming to cancel 1010 JJ etc)

Anyways since 19th of September I now got 2248 games which is very solid. I will get another 752 games before 15th as my plan is to spend 15th and 16tth with my family + maybe meet with special girl once more and do all the packing for 17th. That is 5 more days of grinding (including the one that started).

Today I also spent about 1 hour creating excel with different PRACTICE areas for music. Listing categories of artists, books, recording, ear training, composing, recording, collaborations and linking it all etc
This is something I very much look forward from January as I plan to move to Belgrade and besides poker do about 3 hours a day of music on average for starters.

2 and a half months left until January but I am already setting realistic goals from January for study coaching and my grind. Many things will depend on financial situation as I support my family and it costs a lot of money to do that - as I am sure many of you are aware who do support their families.
Ideal situation would be to move to 30s exclusively from January and play 2k games a month 10 months a year minimum with expected ROI of 4% pre RB. This would pay off + let me do coaching, CrossFit, music/practicing/preparing album/performances and have time for my family and friends. So next year will be going all in that direction.

If financially I am not properly rolled, will continue mixing or even dropping 30s for month or two but add more tables on 15s (like 17-18 instead of 15), add some more non turbos to decrease variance etc.
Either way I have different scenarios ready for different spots. I am also very happy that students are crushing 7s and am waiting for them to complete some more advanced things to move to 15s and expect positive ROI there. Then things are really going to kick in from new years!

Anyways, enough about all of this. I will write more in depth as year approaches to an end!

Plans for tomorrow:
3 Coaching sessions (10-13)
CrossFit 100% intensity (14-15)
Working on the game/HH review (16-17:30)
Grinding 18-01 - 150 games

Have a good night on and off the tables!

So far today completed

3 coaching sessions = 32 out of 35 since 19th of September!
Did some walking and grocery shopping
Did cardio and about 20 unassisted pull ups through out the day in sets of 5 3 and 4 (3 months ago couldn't do a single one - very proud of this, can always be better of course!)
Checked spots for post flop to stop the leaking in that area during downswing!

Will start grinding after 6pm as traffic is better then. In the background I will put some Jazz music - yesterday listened to Steps Ahead albums!

Until then will do some more unassisted pull ups (10-15 maybe) and will do them even during brakes and before bed. Ideally would like to do 40 of them today through out the whole day.

Enjoy your day on and off the tables!

Done for the day - 150 games!

Also did 7 more unassisted pull ups during brake between 2 sessions, it felt very good. Definitely need to get one of those door hanging bars for Serbia - will look into it when I get back.

As far as game goes, I felt I was more in control both sessions for post flop. ITM was still bellow expected and there were tons of setups but it doesn't matter. I am satisfied with the way my mindset is with tactical game that can always use improvement of course.

4 more days left to grind 602 games total to hit 3k games!

Tomorrow 2 coaching sessions lined up 10 to 12 and I plan to go coffee place close to beach and coach from there. It will be lovely weather and I want to take that opportunity as I did many times while here. It is truly fantastic to do what you enjoy doing and have this fantastic nature/sea/temperature/surroundings around you - truly grateful for it all!

Enjoy your weekend on and off the tables!

Herceg Novi today !

Did 1 coaching session, 14 unassisted pull ups (5 when I got up, 4 after breakfast and 5 before leaving to beach).
Spent 2 hours talking to my brother and best friend, enjoying seaside and fantastic view. Really grateful to be here!!!
Did work for my students and checked my systems.

Things are really falling into all the right places.

Heading home soon to work out using 15 min AMRAP with pull ups push ups and double unders. Should be tons of fun.
After work out plan to check more hands, do the review and of course go for 150 games more.

These final 602 games might get me to 100k FPPs which is cool cause its never bad thing to get 1.6k$ in RB

Enjoy your weekend on and off the tables!

2 more teasers for all of you considering to leave the city and live/enjoy/grind at seaside places. Should get some cut for marketing Montenegro and Herceg Novi ♦

All the jokes aside, it is really great here and with highest recommendations for all of you considering this type of move!
Standard/prices are close to Belgrade which is basically draft 0.5 beer is 1.5 to 2 euros, double espresso is 1.20, food is affordable, internet not more than 30 euro per month.
I am extremely lucky to have relatives here and to live here for free. Usually renting apartments here go for 50 euro per day! Renting houses is like 2.4 to 3k euro a month.
You can find room to rent for 10 euro per day but it depends what period you come here.

I can just say that 11th of October and temperature is 24 degrees Celsius without any strong wind. Walk around in t shirt and shorts all day long. Free wi fi anywhere, great service, great looking girls.

Close to Herceg Novi are tons of other places worth visiting and for next year I will try to come from June all the way to October! Then I plan to tour around all the small towns and places with amazing beaches. If you need to fly anywhere, there is Tivat, Podgorica and Dubrovnik airports with low cost airlines all withing 30-60 minutes from Herceg Novi.

Poker wise there is some Russian Poker Tour in Budva which is very close to Herceg Novi. I didn't go this year but next year I will organize to go with my balanced grind. There is places to play cash but I am online player not a huge fan of going live spending hours and letting variance stop me from enjoying the life