Nice work in the last couple of sessions, I like the aggression picking up lately. Put me in the raise with the flush column. You may not get a lot of calls, but you're good here like 99.9% of the time so try whatever you think gets called - whether it's a min raise or a shove. Also, by the way, just so you know "click back" means min raise. It's from the Internet, just clicking raise without changing the amount.

Interesting discussion with the bills vs. chips and denominations. I've always figured if the chips are normal to the game, bigger chips are more likely to get called because the bet "looks" smaller. So in a 2/5, $75 in green is more likely to be called than $75 in red in my opinion. In 1/2, that's up for debate. In 1/2, though, $100 with one black is probably less likely to be called than $100 with reds. However, I think when you bet like $125, one black and five red is probably more likely to be called than 25 red... I think once you're putting over a stack in, it starts to look really really strong.

"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend." - Theophrastus

June Graph



YTD graph



June went pretty well. I put in a decent effort, played alright. I played about 85% of my 180 hr volume target for the month and I played atleast a short session everyday.

Yeah I think it would be hard to test given so much external influences on the outcome of a hand.


I always keep my stack of bills folded in half behind my stack. I should have spread them out when I bet them I am obviously not trying to angle. Super weird situation trying to let him take the call back but not betraying my hand strength.


Yep bad spot. I think there might be some might be something to it but I doubt there is that big a difference.


As with all tells, they are more like tie breakers don't too much weight on them and always consider the context.


Ahh ok, didn't know that was online lingo, I usually just consider it a reraise esspessically a b/3b regardless of size.

Mini Challenge

Hrs 7/80

July 2014

Total hours played- 3.5
Average hourly winrate- $17
Winnings- $58

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 893
Average hourly winrate- $22
Winnings- $19158

An inspirational month. Nice leaps, dude.

"If you're walking down the right path and you are willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." - Barack Obama

South End of the Strip



I am going to try and slam in as much volume as I can this holiday weekend. It's been kind of a struggle breaking into 2/5 and getting things going so far this year. I will be persistent and keep pushing through the barriers.

Hand 1:

V1 (1200)- 35 yo asian male, tag, possibly on tilt
Hero's Image (900)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (7):
Hero is MP dealt JT
Hero raises to 20, LP calls, V1 calls from SB, BB calls.

Flop (76):
J32
Checked to Hero who bets 50, only V1 calls.

Turn (176):
T
V1 checks, Hero bets 100, V1 thinks for a bit and c/r to 250, Hero tanks and jams, V1 calls.

River (1836):
Q

very awkward spot OTT when he c/r, smells a lot like a small set but kind of weird that he c/c OTF. I really am not sure how many combos of draws he has here. He might just c/c again OTT with draws. I think we might be a little to deep to get it in with only 2p, he can't really have worse 2p. Anyone fold here or just call?



Hand 2:

V1 (1500)- 30 yo white male, lag
Hero's Image (1000)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (7):
Hero is MP dealt AK
Hero raises to 20 V1 calls from MP, LP calls, BB calls.

Flop (78):
AA9
Checked to Hero who bets 25, V1 calls, the rest fold.

Turn (128):
T
Hero checks, V1 bets 55, Hero calls.

River (238):
6
Hero checks, V1 bets 200, Hero calls.

I felt like the best way to play it was to play it passively, I don't think he is calling with worse than an A if I just b/b/b. I give him a chance to take a stab. OTR it looks like he has an A or better, I do beat AJ and AQ but I don't know if there is that much worse Ax in his range. But I guess my hand is super under repped so I shrug and call.



Thanks man!

Mini Challenge

Hrs 16.5/80

July 2014

Total hours played- 13
Average hourly winrate- -$89
Winnings- -$1163

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 903
Average hourly winrate- $20
Winnings- $17938

Hand 1-I'm shoving , villain takes my $ in this spot also to be honest.
Curious what others think , his raise size is so small with 2 flush draws out there, straight draw...I'd imagine he would check raise a bit bigger on that board with a set ..so I would generally range him with a pair/ draw .

Hand 2-
I see what your saying, if your gonna get value from betting , it will be from ax, and if he has ax, then when you check he's gonna bet it for you anyways. And also it doesn't put you in a rough spot if he indeed has a boat and raises you at some point in the hand.i would just like to have control of the hand here and get value from a non believer with 77,88 etc as well as the ax... However small the % edge in that.

I would b/b/ b/f here..
$65 turn
$175-200 river

How would you play jj-kk in this spot ?

"To those who are given much, much is expected." - Maya Angelou

4th of July Fireworks





We are getting down to the conclusion of the wsop. Play well to everyone in the main! I'm going to grind a little bit of cash and rail friends who are still in it at Rio.

I'm feeling pretty burnt out which is to be expected. After this week and I'm going to gear down and relax a little bit, forget about poker for a few days.

I'm going to try and spend less time on 2+2 going forward and I think I'll probably just update this thread every 10 days or so instead of after every session.

I'll post up my next vlog soon. I have a topic in mind but if anyone wants to suggest a topic that would be cool.

Hand 1:

V1 (1200)- 55 yo white male, loose passive
V2 (700)- 45 yo white male, tight hasn't been too active
Hero's Image (550)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (7):
Hero is SB dealt QQ
MP raises to 20, 1 MP caller, raises to 20, LP calls, V1 calls from LP, V2 calls from LP, Hero 3b to 140, folds to V1-V2 who call.

Flop (461):
AT8
Hero bets 140, fold, fold.

It was kind of weird to get 2 callers of the huge 3b. Less than psb left, probably have to call a shove, I think worse might peel a small bet.

Hand 2:

V1 (320)- 50 yo white male, loose passive
V2 (390)- 40 to white male, havn't seen him play a hand yet
Hero's Image (500)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop splash pot (54):
Hero is MP dealt AT
UTG limps, MP raises to 6, Hero 3b to 60, V1 calls from MP, V2 4b to 185, folds through.

I probably have like 30% equity at best, probably a little less. Looks like a fold.




Good points. In H1 I think I might be able to call OTT and see what he does OTR and soul read. My 3b probably folds out almost all worse made hands.

H2 I really think he is more likely to take a stab with air than call down light. I would hate to bet and get raised, that would be so gross. I probably b, c/c, c/f with JJ-KK. Thanks for the thoughts!

Mini Challenge

Hrs 27/80

July 2014

Total hours played- 23.5
Average hourly winrate- -$24
Winnings- -$571

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 913.5
Average hourly winrate- $20
Winnings- $18529

Would be a super tough spot on the TJ hand on the river.. 2 flushes .. Any spade/heart.. 8,9,k,a if he fires I'll be hating life

Very nice thread, those firework pics are pretty sweet. Sucks you haven't been running hot this month along with other coolers you've had to deal with, despite Vegas being 110 degrees right now.

Wow, this is the most well put together PG&C I've come across on this forum. The format with the quote, picture, then hand histories is nice and the hand histories themselves are quite clean.

Good luck, will follow.

agreed

im thinking about using your format moving foward

"Action is the foundational key to all success." -Pablo Picasso

DTLA



Beach in Ventura



Valley of Fire



Antique Slots in Laughlin



Best to call in 1 hr before showing up during WSOP





Deja vu (2/5 YTD)



I played like 60 consecutive days through WSOP which is a personal record. I pushed the volume but I think I could have done better. I took about a week off. I'm renting tmckendry's car until he gets back next summer. It's nice to have wheels.

I went to LA for a couple days, didn't end up playing any poker though. I'd like to go and play 5/5 Live at the Bike sometime soon, that would be fun.

I went and checked out Valley of Fire which is a park 1 hr North East of Vegas, pretty cool rock formations like Red Rock.

I also went down to Laughlin, the third most popular gambling destination in NV. It is 1.5 hrs south of Vegas and the site of a stand off between Hells Angels and Mongols biker gangs a few yrs back. They have 1 tiny poker room and they spread 2/5 nl and no 1/2 nl which is cool. The game was really good.

I am planning to go easy on the volume and focus on other stuff like my social life, art and music for a little while until I get the urge to play more again.

There are a lot of cities with poker near by I'd like to check out over the next couple of years. Here is a list-

-Chicago
-Detroit
-Dallas
-Sacramento
-Santa Rosa
-Denver
-DC
-Niagara Falls
-Boston
-Montreal
-NY
-Philly
-Seattle
-Vancouver

I also plan to take a trip to Europe next year.

I still haven't recorded my next vlog yet but I'll probably have it up next post.

I've got a few hh from the last few days, probably just going to post em in LLSNL tomorrow.

Yep pretty sick.

Haha I like the weather here.

Hey thanks, I appreciate that. Credit for hh formatting goes to my former coach KyddDynamite.

Right on, you're more than welcome.

Mini Challenge

Hrs 23/40

July 2014

Total hours played- 96
Average hourly winrate- $3
Winnings- $263

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 985
Average hourly winrate- $20
Winnings- $19363

"Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots." - Victor Hugo

Valley of Fire



A couple casinos in Laughlin





Here is my latest vlog-



The volume is going to be pretty light again for this mini challenge.

I want to a take a trip back to the Bay in August to see friends and family. I'll probably pass through Reno and Sacramento and play a few sessions.

I am super stoked to catch Offspring, Bad Religion and Pennywise at Hard Rock in a month. I've been a huge fan of all those bands but never seen em live.

I also still haven't tried out Ultimate, WSOP or Bovada yet. Both my roommates play online and we have some grinders come over and play at our place occasionally. I really have no idea what my hrly would be playing 100nl or higher. The hard drive on my laptop is maxed out so I'm planning on giving it a whirl as soon as I get a new laptop.

Hand 1:

V1 (530)- 55 yo white male, lag, bluffs sometimes
Hero's Image (1000)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (7):
Hero is SB dealt AK
2 MP limps, LP raises to 15, V1 3b to 30 from BTN, Hero calls, limpers call, pfr calls.

Flop (151):
QJ6
Hero bets 75, folds to V1 who raise to 225, Hero ships, V1 snaps.

I decide to flat rather than 4b because I would pretty much be turning my hand into a bluff. AKs plays alright multiway and I don't want to shut out dominated hands. I just went ahead and bet out on the flop, maybe a c/r here could be okay or maybe even c/c. As played I figure I have to GII OTF despite no fold equity because I am calling any turn bet on any turn card.



Hand 2:

V1 (320)- 25 yo asian male, has been playing snug for the round since I've sat down
Hero's Image (500)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (7):
Hero is MP dealt AA
Hero raises to 20, V1 defends BB.

Flop (38):
953
Checked to Hero who bets 25, V1 instacalls.

Turn (88):
2
Checked to Hero who bets 50, V1 c/r to 100, Hero calls.

River (288):
6
V1 bets 160, Hero folds.

OTT I highly doubt he has a set, I could have the best hand and have some outs vs 2p. OTR I don't think he is bluffing here very often and there aren't many overpairs he could be vbetting so I let it go.



I only logged 87% of my goal for the last mini challenge, will try to make it up at some point.

I am going to shoot for 30 hrs for this mini challenge.

Mini Challenge

Hrs 35/40

July 2014

Total hours played- 108
Average hourly winrate- $0
Winnings- $37

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 997
Average hourly winrate- $19
Winnings- $19137

nice vlog ... it's probably one of the hardest aspects of trying to be a profitable pro or semi-pro; we all think we KNOW what the right play is, that when the wrong play is made against and we lose, sometimes instincts take over and we 'provide instructions' on how to play the game.

as for the splash pot a couple of hands ago, you say V raised to $6 and you made it $60 ... i assume that's a typo somewhere. either way, no way i'm calling with ATo.

sick hand with the royal draw.

gl

Yeah I see it all the time. People will spot a leak and try to coach them, it is extremely counter productive. We all have to check our egos at the door.

I actually had ATs that hand so there was a typo. There was 50 dead put in the pot, so 60 was about a potsized raise.

Carl, any questions about Detroit poker and I'll be happy to answer. Occasionally I get a hotel downtown on weekends because I'm 40 miles away, so if you had Detroit in your plans in next two months before I leave hmu.

Getting it in ott hand 2

Yeah man. If you go to Detroit, shout here first. We'll prepare the welcome wagon.

Rough July Carl but hang in there and I'm sure it'll turn around soon. On the AsKs hand, I'd almost always say shove that flop over the raise, but do you think you have any fold equity? If not (the raise isn't that much more), flatting may be better - you're priced in, and you'll be getting almost the exact same price on the turn... So basically, unless you think the villain will fold when you hit, you can fold when the turn pairs the board if you put him on sets. Occasionally he may slow down and you may draw for free.

Since Chicago is on the list, might as well add Milwaukee (75 miles away).
Fun city, with a 20 table room at Potawatomi Casino, which is right in the city.
plenty of 1/3 and 3/5nl.

If you're coming up to Northern NV in August, I highly suggest you swing through Tahoe instead of Reno. During the height of summer season, the action at Harveys in SLT dwarfs that of even the Peppermill. Granted if you're looking for 5/10, then Peppermill is the only casino around that spreads it, but, the 3/5 at Harveys vs Peppermill is much looser and gamboooley given the flood of action seeking, fat-wallet tourists!

Pure, thanks for the all the effort you've put into the thread. I've really enjoyed it. What is your thought process for donking in hand one? I was thinking through a similar spot recently and c/c or c/r AI may be better options given position and action.

If you come to philly I'll give you an OFC rematch

sub - seem like a good dude. Good luck.

FYP

Look at all these people lining up to get try and get him to come to their city. You're the man Carl. I hope the cards start falling better for you.

"One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful." - Sigmund Freud

XS



Marquee



Hey how's it going?

So I've played very little poker the last 10 days. I ended up going to a self development conference to invest a little time and money on my social skills. It's been extremely fun and educational. It is basically 6 hrs of seminar with 15 different speakers and then we all hit the clubs after for 7 days straight. Today is the final day.

I thought I would just share this series of videos because the principles are just as applicable to playing poker as dating and hooking up. Owen Cook is an awesome speaker with a lot of good ideas and charisma. This series is like 5 hrs altogether but I'm sure a lot of you guys are grinding with nothing better to do so check it out if you'd like.









I decided I am going to stop including winrate stats because it's not something I really care about. I play poker for the freedom, any amount of money I make I am happy with. I'll just focus on quality and quantity of volume.

Right on!

Thanks for the thoughts.

I would expect nothing less

I mean if I b/c OTF I don't think I can fold even on paired turns because villain has as many combos of overpairs as sets. Thanks for the thoughts man.

Thanks for the heads up, might have to throw that in the itinerary.

I might swing through both for a night. I actually have a funny story about a trip to Lake Tahoe I'll post when I get time.

My pleasure. I just wanted to build a pot as I have the most equity. I think donking accomplishes more than a c/r. c/c maybe reasonable but think playing passively with such a huge draw feels wrong.

I'll take you up on that, chess rematch aswell.

I am actually evil

I feel the love.

Mini Challenge

Hrs 0/50

August 2014

Total hours played- 5.5

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 1005.5