WARNING!!! Going pro... If you don't like hard work then GTFO!!!

Originally posted by Pikfrik
♠_thumbsup:

Spoiler

Nice spoiler! He does some good stuff Darren. Welcome on board, thx for support!

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Ola amigos!!

Man I felt rough this morning! Got up at 0420 to grind and was ok but then started to feel pretty sick (carried on btw, good to train this!). Its gone now but it kinda overwhelmed me and I was getting some negative thoughts. I think its the shock of all the hard work after my break!! Luckily when my wife got up she gave me some great support as always! Cannot thank her enough for this.

Crushed the next session at NL10 (after last update) so moved up to NL25 right away. Action not fantastic at 0430 so in that session I am mixing NL25 and NL10 in together.

Of course had the standard two coolers already to set me back but its no worries its not about results at the moment. Just keep playing my best and working as hard as I can.

Reading Tommy Angelo's Elements Of Poker and Haseeb Qureshi's How To Be A Poker Player (audio books FTW!).

Also working on 3 betting and c-betting. Sure I have worked on these a million times eh!!? I think I got too many things in my head so never moved forward. Well I am still rubbish but now I have got The Fooz!!!

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $671.78
Profit/loss = -$39.64

Results (since last update).

Feeling POSITIVE!! Let's DO THIS!!

Have fun everybody!!! ♦

Ola amigos!

Short video here with some results and an update of what I am working on and how much money I made so far (or not) - take a look!

Enjoy getting AWESOME!!! ♦

Did somebody mention HARD WORK!? I am knackered! No other way to describe it!!

Switched the schedule this week. Going to be playing my hours in one session (1930 - 0100) rather than splitting it (was 1930 - 2330 then 0430 - 0630).

Sunday night was fine. I set an alarm every 30 mins to stand-up and break off for a couple of minutes and refocus etc and it worked really well. Last night was tougher... During the last hour I was so tired I had to really give myself some motivation injections to stay awake! I cut down to 3 tables for the last hour to try and focus on quality (more than quantity). Hopefully its just a symptom of switching sleep pattern. Keeping a close (sleepy) eye on it! Actually enjoy training this stuff so maybe slightly crazy???

Had a fantastic 24 hours away from pc and poker and did some great things with my family. Really makes it all worth while.

Play has been going well. Lost a few coolers with boats and made some bad mistakes when struggling to focus but so long as I can see them and work on reducing them its all good.

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $660.65
Start = $711.42
Profit/loss = -$50.77

Graph (since last update).

Cliffs:
Knackered.
Positive.
Grateful.

Thought...
I see my poker amigos talking about time management and their struggles. I think it was Einstein (but could have been Donald Duck for all I know) who said "If it was not for the last minute then nothing would ever get done". I think of this a lot these days. I guess one just needs to alter one's perception of when your "last minute" really is.

GL everybody! XXX

Omg nightmare!!

Running like crap and to top that had to go to hospital with severe dental pain! Was overnight too so lost loads of sleep. Basically I am running on vapours right now

Got super strong pain killers, went to local dentist and need operation to remove two wisdom teeth (plus couple of minor fillings). Apparently one wisdom tooth too close to a nerve to remove easily.

So I am actually pretty high atm on these tablets. Bit behind on poker tasks but going to get everything done somehow - you can count on it.

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $607.76
Start = $711.42
Profit/loss = -$103.66

Graph (since last update).

Trying to remain positive!! All I can say is that I WILL keep going!!!!

(Health update )

Holy moley!!!

Medication is making me feel "high" which is a new experience for me at the tables!

Been violently sick too (not in-game!) which I think is just the 3 different medications reacting together. Sleeping a lot too but as I am off work did play a little.

Managed to get 5 or so hours in at the tables. Played 3 tables maximum which is actually really good for me anyway.

Keep feeling like I am getting little "AHA" moments at the table which is quite weird. I think it is from playing more (hours) then I ever played before. Pretty obvious I guess but never really thought about it before.

Going to try and do some forum work now. I am a little bit off my schedule but I am determined to meet targets somehow. I don't see all this as a hindrance but more of a chance to test myself to keep going. I mean, it won't be too long before its my sole income so can't afford to be a big girl about these things then eh!!? I need to find out if they have got Wifi in the hospital

Results update tomorrow...

GL all!

G'day everybody!!!

Quick update of what has been going on... Try not to shed a tear, I will pull through

I cannot bore you with teeth talk much more!! Need some top guy to do operation as there is chance of permanent damage to important nerve. Cannot see this guy until 20th October. Life of pain killers until then (and not such strong ones)

Anyway!! Let's talk poker!!

Still having lots of mini AHA moments!! Nothing showing in results yet of course but definitely getting more comfortable in more and more situations. Just having better plan and thought process.

Cbet stat has rocketed (79) but 3b and fold v 3bet not changed much. Think its because its NL10 and they 3b so little here (so can fold easily).

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $605.17
Start = $711.42
Profit/loss = -$106.25

Graph (since last update).

Feeling drowsy but GOOD!! Let's PRINT!!

Good luck everybody (except villains)!!! ♦

All going great!!

Continuing to try to get my fold v 3bet lower - had a slight problem as was using wrong stat in PT4!!!!!!! Seems it has 2 slightly different stats so need to look for specic one for fold v 3b after preflop raise. Somebody told me this when I first got Pokertracker couple of years back but for some reason had gone back to the old stat. Anyway, it is still 75 which is still too high.

Looked through a load of spots with Fooz and he was little surprised to see that at NL10 the 3b stats are mostly like 4 or 5 (so we are gonna fold a lot) but we are preparing for higher limits so need to get used to it now

Cbet stat is fine now but will work on refining correct spots.

3bet is getting there, still work-in-progress obv.

Doing some cool homework looking at few situations and how many folds we need to make profit and how many we think we are likely to get.

Progress is fast at the moment imo!

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $647.18
Start = $711.42
Profit/loss = -$64.24

Graph (since last update).

Crush! Crush! Crush!!!

Come on everybody - let's crush this game!!!!!!!!!! ♦

G'day everybody!

Here is another video I made for my Youtube channel. It's a brief review of yesterday's play.

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $619.07
Start = $711.42
Profit/loss = -$92.35

Graph (since last update).

Graph for week

Feeling GOOD!! Let's PRINT!!

Good luck everybody (except villains)!!! ♦

So.... 4 hours into my 24 hour rest (from poker/internet) period I notice Gordon has sent me Skype message. This has to be serious...

Sorry Chris but your coach has quit!!!!

Wtf!!!? Cannot believe it to be honest. I am very angry about it and boiling up just thinking about it so I am gonna reserve my feelings for a while in case I say something regrettable. I also have some other thoughts I might share later but I don't wanna sound like sour grapes just yet so will give it another 24 hours for me to calm down!

Anyway, lots of thoughts ran through my mind and could not sleep too well after seeing this news. Will cut the long story short - I asked Gordon if there is a chance of me switching to HU and maybe getting coached by one of his successful recent students (Ilidak, Rovar or JurassicDaniel).

I am willing to do (almost) anything to get to where I need to be as quickly as possible. And I know the HU side is not so maxed out as the 6max side.

Luckily Gordon has agreed to this so I am currently organising with him what is needed to change over (assign me coach etc).

Long term followers will know that I did play HUsng's a few years ago (it is in 2+2 and BPC blogs) and that is actually how I found BPC in the first place (bought course). I really loved them but in those days I only played at 0430hrs and as I moved up I could not find any action at the tables. That was actually how I ended up at 6max just because there were more tables. Now, however, I do not play those times anymore so this will not be an issue!

I will need to get back into HU though so I think the plan will be to play NL4 for a couple of weeks and then hit the NL50 tables. I will inject some more money into my bank roll so I can cover those tables. Anyway, this will get sorted once my new coach is assigned.

So, overall this is a very positive thing that has happened. I don't want to bad-mouth Fooz (yet) but I will now be coached by someone in exactly the BPC way which was what I always desired.

I am playing 6max until I get further instruction.

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Last night had cool session. Was not sure about my mental state with knowledge I will be leaving 6max (only for 9 months while I make millions ). Started tables up and hit the brick wall...

Hero (BB): $10.99
UTG: $12.02 (VPIP: 22.59, PFR: 18.80, 3Bet Preflop: 7.07, Hands: 1,152)
MP: $15.87 (VPIP: 20.83, PFR: 14.58, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 49)
CO: $2.10 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 6)
BTN: $14.77 (VPIP: 26.90, PFR: 14.10, 3Bet Preflop: 4.58, Hands: 1,223)
SB: $12.73 (VPIP: 26.76, PFR: 16.43, 3Bet Preflop: 4.35, Hands: 217)

SB posts SB $0.05, Hero posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has K♠ K♥

fold, fold, CO calls $0.10, fold, SB raises to $0.40, Hero raises to $1.40, CO raises to $2.10 and is all-in, SB calls $1.70, Hero calls $0.70

Flop: ($6.30, 3 players) 9♠ 4♦ 5♣
SB bets $5.40, Hero raises to $8.89 and is all-in, SB calls $3.49

Turn: ($24.08, 3 players) 6♠

River: ($24.08, 3 players) J♥

Hero shows K♠ K♥ (One Pair, Kings) (Pre 10%, Flop 4%, Turn 2%)
CO shows Q♦ K♦ (High Card, King) (Pre 11%, Flop 6%, Turn 0%)
SB shows A♦ A♥ (One Pair, Aces) (Pre 79%, Flop 90%, Turn 98%)
SB wins $16.89
SB wins $5.99

Yh, cosmic, yada yada standard....

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Then....

CO: $10.38 (VPIP: 19.23, PFR: 11.54, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 27)
BTN: $8.97 (VPIP: 35.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)
Hero (SB): $10.83
BB: $10.40 (VPIP: 19.68, PFR: 14.63, 3Bet Preflop: 4.95, Hands: 1,480)
UTG: $9.83 (VPIP: 45.16, PFR: 8.06, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 65)

Hero posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has K♣ K♠

UTG raises to $0.20, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.70, fold, UTG calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.50, 2 players) 3♦ 2♣ 9♥
Hero bets $1.05, UTG calls $1.05

Turn: ($3.60, 2 players) T♠
Hero bets $2.52, UTG calls $2.52

River: ($8.64, 2 players) 5♥
Hero bets $6.04, UTG calls $5.56 and is all-in

Hero shows K♣ K♠ (One Pair, Kings) (Pre 80%, Flop 92%, Turn 5%)
UTG shows T♥ T♦ (Three of a Kind, Tens) (Pre 20%, Flop 8%, Turn 95%)
UTG wins $18.78

Oh, yes, thank you very much for this

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Then....

Hero (CO): $11.17
BTN: $9.85 (VPIP: 27.52, PFR: 17.73, 3Bet Preflop: 4.39, Hands: 2,543)
SB: $8.58 (VPIP: 65.22, PFR: 8.70, 3Bet Preflop: 9.09, Hands: 23)
BB: $4.48 (VPIP: 18.81, PFR: 10.89, 3Bet Preflop: 9.52, Hands: 103)
UTG: $15.47 (VPIP: 21.31, PFR: 14.75, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 63)
MP: $10.65 (VPIP: 40.99, PFR: 24.32, 3Bet Preflop: 14.46, Hands: 227)

SB posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has Q♦ Q♥

fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.25, fold, SB calls $0.20, BB calls $0.15

Flop: ($0.75, 3 players) 9♦ 3♣ 5♦
SB bets $0.10, BB calls $0.10, Hero raises to $0.83, SB calls $0.73, fold

Turn: ($2.51, 2 players) 3♠
SB bets $0.92, Hero raises to $3.09, SB calls $2.17

River: ($8.69, 2 players) 6♥
SB bets $3.86, Hero raises to $7.00 and is all-in, SB calls $0.55 and is all-in

Hero shows Q♦ Q♥ (Two Pair, Queens and Threes) (Pre 71%, Flop 80%, Turn 5%)
SB shows A♠ 3♥ (Three of a Kind, Threes) (Pre 29%, Flop 20%, Turn 95%)
SB wins $16.64

Loverly jubberly!! This is why we love poker correct!?

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Anyway, stayed really focussed as wanted to get hours in and not hit stop loss if possible and managed to turn it round. Was very happy with my play and stuck to mainly lines from No BS 6max book (like I was before when crushing )

Session Graph

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $630
Start = $711
Profit/loss = -$81

Feeling GOOD!! Let's PRINT!! ♦

Hey!

Well, I think I did all my stuff to switch over to heads-up. Been learning a bit about preflop ranges and also trying to get used to the whole format! Kind of weird but its also fresh and good for me to be challenged like this.

Very excited as now I have been assigned coach. Ilidek is the unfortunate one who will be trying to beat the passive nit out of me for the foreseeable future

We are yet to meet properly but hopefully tonight we can get a meeting going after work.

Tomorrow my pc is going to the pc hospital for big upgrade - did not realise how important this is and I also know jack about tech stuff so putting it in hands of expert.

Operation on teeth is 5 days away too, kinda crapping myself but also cannot wait for pain to go please!!!!!!!!!!

So, played some NL4 heads-up and it went ok. Some moments of panic trying to figure out what the hell I should be doing! Also had some trouble getting PT4 working, not that I would know much how to use HUD yet but wanted to make sure its importing the hands!

Watched a couple of basic HU videos and made tonnes of notes and also rewrote them again to try to learn it better. I need to play and get these ranges into my head, I really struggle to learn well from videos until I actually do the stuff myself.

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $642
Start = $711
Profit/loss = -$69

Graph (since last update).

HU4ROLLLLZ - Gogogogogogo!!

Good luck everybody ♦

PC gone to expert to be upgraded today (using work crappy thing atm). Thought I cannot play for a couple of days but can probably use an old machine without tracker, see if it works ok tonight. Dunno what stats good/bad yet anyway so can just practise basics (not sure should be trying to adjust yet anyway).

Got bit owned last night, played aggro monkeys (50% 3b and 90% cbet) and did not have clue what lines to take against them, like I wanted to call down lighter but also wanna be disciplined. Playing my normal lines I just got crushed. Lost about 4BI and hit stop loss but coach says can play 10BI stop loss from now whilst at NL4. Might leave these guys for now and stick with idiots (like me )

Figuring out ways I can get tonnes of hours practise in over next few days (pre op)... Gonna try old pc tonight/tomorrow. Still pretty drained from all painkillers and lack of sleep but surely can practise NL4 ok!

Just read notes for operation and after... Says cannot do anything for 48 hours, no machinery (includes kettle ffs!), no looking after children ;), no driving etc. Does not say jack about not playing NL4 though

Made loads of charts and action sheets to stick on my new noticeboards, desk getting way too cluttered

Hopefully can meet up with coach asap but I am being damn awkward atm! Desperate to get working...

No graphs, no PT4, lost ~4BI.

Computer is upgraded!! Got loads of stuff to sort out on it like getting PT4 configured again and setting up Skype, Camtasia etc etc. Not one of my strong points but getting better

Had a rest day while it was out-of-action. Played 5.5 hours tonight (on old pc), 676 hands and was up 1BI. One guy totally kicked my butt though I had no idea what the hell he was doing but I could not really get to SD and the couple of times I did he had a slightly better hand.

Everyone else was super crap though!

Rake is ridonkulous!

Loving heads-up - it is way more fun than 6max!!

1.5 days until teeth removal/operation!!! ♦

Holy hell!!!!!!!!!!

Teeth removed and hopefully they have not damaged my nerve. Don't wanna speak too soon but they didn't say much about it afterwards so hopefully they managed to do it ok. Tbh I was as high as a kite so can't remember wtf was going on anyway. ♦

Serious pain now, worse than the original pain but hopefully only few days of this???

If I can talk I will make this week's update video tomorrow - going to do one talking about first impressions of heads-up poker.

I got 8 hours play in before I went for op. Posted my hands and commented on a load in the forum. Hopefully I can keep up-to-date this week but will probably not play until I feel less agony

Lost 6BI but can't say much about it now as pretty drowsy!

GL amigos - and look after your teeth ffs!!!!

Woke up and pain is not so bad today - just keep taking pain killers and I think we are good! A little bit drowsy so not going to play for few hours but can do some study :book: .

Today I will look at some villains in PT4 and see how they are playing - then try to find out:- 1. If they have mistakes I can exploit/learn to exploit and 2. If I can learn from their play. Hopefully we will cover this in coaching....

Never done anything like this so need to toy around in PT4 and find out best way of doing it.

Let's do it!!!!!!

(Maybe do Youtube video later, don't feel up to that atm)

Edit: Just stood up to get something for my ill son (3) and went really weird/feint so definitely no play for a while (even NL4 ♦ ). Gotta say the drugs were awesome

Ugh! It is just not going well IRL for us atm. Our 3 year old son is in hospital . He has croup (type of flu). Has been given steroids and was kept in overnight. Poor wife has been with him so she must be shattered !

Mouth is hurting more today but had no pain killers for 5 hours so hopefully will go now I dosed up

Did at least 6 hours study yesterday (did not feel up to playing). It was new stuff to me (filtering PT4) so it probably take me 2 hours next time. Looked at 10 villains to see how they play and how to adapt versus them preflop. Coach has already made video of my work so gonna study that today.

Played 5.75 hours too (well was up all night worrying ). Already played better just from the study I did I think! Ran bad but meh...

Had a sneeky peek at how much rake I paid so far at NL4. It is incredible!!

Right, depending what happens with son I should try to make video today with update and view of heads-up so far!!!

Will update BR etc later too...

Thank you!

gl.

I doubt anyone reads this anymore! It is just a tale of woe

Wife and both kids are ill now. It's some type of croup/flu (not man flu ) so looks like I am gonna try to look after them today! Never mind my aching mouth

I can't make a video while all this is going on but will give some roll updates and graphs and sum up my first month here (it's been longer)...

Was a real mess-up when my 6max coach left but it is the best thing for me. Still don't wanna bad mouth him but you know, some guys are better at teaching than others ;). Now I switched to heads-up and my coach is Ilidek. We only had couple of brief sessions so far (my fault entirely) but already I can see the difference. Practically every word he said to me so far improved me as a player. Also no time is wasted - it is straight to business.

I am also totally loving CFP!! I have learned so much already about how to think about poker and how to act like a professional. Yeah its tough and its hard work. I did not expect or want anything else.

I am totally LOVING heads-up. It is so much better for me to be involved in every hand. I used to struggle to focus on the action when I had folded at 6 max and I was playing on auto-pilot too much. Heads up is more like a "match" trying to outwit the opponent and see where you can make money from him/her. Also it is better for the learning process (for me). Every hand there is an opportunity to learn and improve (I am not saying this cannot be the case at 6max but it wasn't for me).

The mental tests could be tougher at heads up. Only playing NL4 to practise/learn at the moment so its not too mind-twisting when something goes bonkers. I am looking forward to improving myself and testing myself when the goddess of variance strikes (of course I am running bad already, honestly ). I have had some real shockers already, few AI pre and some wicked rivers (lemme know if you guys like to see funny/bonkers hands, personally I don't care for them). Think I am 5BI under EV but EV is not very true story.

Graph of HU so far...

Stats...

Cannot believe the rake! It is 22bb/100 hands - a buy-in every 450 hands??? I heard its really bad anyway. Hopefully it gets better when I move up!?

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $1856
Start = $1962
Profit/loss = -$106

(Played 173.75 hours in 33 days = 5.26 hours/day = 36.9 hours/week = oh yes!)

Originally posted by vandenberg23
Thank you!

You're very welcome! (What for tho ?)

Originally posted by 4s4s4s
gl.

Thank you.

Hey guys!!

Finally got round to making my latest video!! Had the Blue Screen Of Death with about 4 seconds left so was gutted!!! Then, put Camtasia on and it recovered it somehow!!! Was elated again!! Everything seems a real roller-coaster ride lately - you will see in the video!!

We got a special guest appearance too

Roll Update.
Bankroll = $1879
Start = $1962
Profit/loss = -$83