Hello, my name is Sam. I live in Oklahoma and I am starting this thread for many reasons. First, would be to track some hands and thoughts and hopefully gain some help from other poker players. Secondary would be making and tracking goals, setting goals and challenges and being accountable on here for some of that.

HISTORY
Personal:

First, some history about myself and my poker experiences this far. I am 32, I am single with 1 kid(son age 5). I have a career as a CNC Lathe machinist. I have been working as a machinist for 6 years now, 5 at the same job. I like my job for many reasons but like most dream of poker all day long. I currently have no plans to turn "pro" or make poker a career. I started playing poker like most after the big Moneymaker win. Although I was taught the game by my grandmother when I was 5 or so but I was told it was named "spit in the sea". I started in local home games and never had much success nor did I study or think about it. I just played and hoped to "get lucky".

POKER HISTORY

Many years past and I remained a basic fish that just loved to play. I mixed live games with online tournaments. I played the lowest limits online and $1/2 live. I focused mostly online as time went on. Before the big Black Friday online I would say overall I was a losing player. Biggest online tournament I won was for about $1200 but ultimately gave it all back. When black Friday hit I only lost a few bucks and have only recently returned to online play. Live play has been close to breakeven or loss. I never tracked live play until now and I never have had a bankroll to speak of. Best live cash in a tournament is 9th place in a $250 Oklahoma State Championship in 2008 or 09. Cash games live I'm just not sure. I have had many time where I won hundreds and lost. If I won I would always just buy something cool and wait until I had money to buy in again. Only playing maybe 4 or 5 time a year at best.

GOALS

As stated above I wish to post hands and get help to become BETTER. Track my progess and meet like minded players. As stated in the title I am starting from pretty much zero. I have no money saved to play and will be buying into $1/2 games with $100-200 based on what I can afford to lose from my Life Roll.

Short Term Goals:

• play 40 hours in December to get in the freeroll tournament.
• build a $1/2 roll of 10 buyins
• read 1 poker book for december

Long Term Goals

• play 500 hours in 2017
• build a $1/2 roll of 25 buyins(@300max=$7500)

Long Long Term Goals(DREAM BIG)

• play 1 summer at WSOP and play at least 1 $1500 tournament
• play in the MAIN EVENT
• build a poker roll of 25k
• pay off my house with poker winnings
• travel Europe for a summer playing poker

Hopefully this will be the longest post as I like to read and leave short posts. Next post will be my first session. Any comments, concerns, well wishes or just random thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading, Here we GO!!!!!!!!!!

Hi there,

First off, good luck to you.
Second, this is not the place for this sort of thing.

You'll want to take this is 'Poker Goals and Challenges'.
I've moved it there for you.

Good luck,
irtm

Thanks for the heads up. Don't want to be in the wrong place and thanks for moving it. I'm new to posting so I should expect to make some mistakes but I will improve.

Very cool Sam - best of luck!!!

FIRST SESSION

First session went well. I am going to figure out how to upload graphs from my phone in the future. But for now I will just post results and a HH.

Buy in $150. $1/2. Table is full with stacks ranging from $200-$1200. most at about $400 plus. my plan to start is pretty much play ABC poker. I play tight and wait for good cards while trying to pay attention and focused on the players and develop basic reads. TAG, LAG, etc...

The table is fairly tight for the stack sizes and not much happens in the first 2 hours. I win a few hands and I am up about $400 when this hand happens.

I am UTG+1 99

Button(villain 1) straddles to 5 folds to me, I make it 15.
MP calls(villain 2)(new to table seems loose) Male 30s
Villain 1 is also new and has recently lost a 100 and topped off for the full $300. no reads on him except he is the only guy wearing sunglasses(cheap looking) which leads me to believe he is not that great. he counts out chips for a raise and then lowers the stack from a $60 raise and makes it $45. I think for a while and then fold for 2 reasons. A, villain 2 has $100 or so, so if I call he can jam and then villain 1 can rejam. B, I did read a lot of strength from button and don't really know much else. I felt at the time it was a bit of a nit fold but still I made it. as expected the mp shoved and button called.

Flop 8h9h3c
Turn 3h
River 10h

mp shows AcQh

button shows AhKc

I covered both and a flop call would have lead to a big pot, so was my fold to a 3 bet on the button nit or not? I still cant decide how I feel about this 1.

RESULTS:
I played for 4 hrs and 5 mins. and cashed out for $360. a $210 profit
so I repaid myself the $150 and now have a BR of $210.I think I will still buyin for $150 until I get my roll to about $1500.

Thank you much!

2nd Session

duration: 1hr 40mins

buyin: 160
cash out: 311

result+151

Bank Roll:
+361

December Hours: 5hr 45mins/40 hrs about 13% complete

Table was really tight. Feel like I played well. the session went by really fast. After dabbling with many different preflop raise sizes I have decided to make all raises $10 preflop with $2 added for every limper. I feel like this will help to hide my preflop strength as I will do this with a large portion of my starting hands, limpimg in some small blinds and checking some big blinds.

Only exciting hand from tonight when I raised KK UTG to $10.

3 callers, highjack, button, BB.

Flop comes QcJh10h

BB checks, I bet $21 into $41

highjack SNAP calls, button grabs 100 and reraises, BB tanks and then shoves for $250 total.

I tank fold and the highjack calls off $150 and so the Button has both covered and calls.

Turn 3c

River 7h

highjack has 10s, button has 9s8s for the straight and then the BB rolls over.......... wait for it...... 9h 8h! and didn't even realize it was a straight flush. talk about a freeroll. So some how I got away from this crazy pot without an explosion.

Gonna get in 8 hours or so tomorrow so I am pumped. I have 2 bullets($150) so hopefully I can make it 8 hours. I feel good at the table confident at my abilities to not punt off my stack. I only hope the cards can fall in my favor long enough to build some wiggle room to make plays and mistakes and still keep playing.

3rd Session

I got in a long session today and things did not go as planned. I went up and down all day and folded probably 70% of my hands. I will say I probably didn't play the best as I did get frustrated at a few points. I played the biggest hand i have played since I started this thread.

Duration: 10 hrs 42 mins

Buyin: 160

Cashout: 30

Result: -130

Bankroll: 231

December Hours: 16 hrs 27 mins/ 40 hours about 38% complete

$1/2 full table. Table is full of old regs who are having a good time and being friendly. I am chatting with the older lady at the table when I am dealt AA UTG.

I lead for $14. So far I have a tight image and have a stack of about $230.

folds to the CO who calls(V1) $120 behind
SB calls quickly(V2) $160 behind
BB thinks and calls(V3) $42 behind

Flop KcQh10s pot($56)

V1 checks, V2 checks. I lead $30.

V3 calls, V2 calls, V3 calls and is allin

Turn 8c pot($170 or 180)

V2 checks. I lead $100.

V3 tanks and calls allin for less, V@ goes allin for $18 more and I call.




Going back tomorrow for another long session hopefully things go better. Still excited and ready to start a new day and crush it.

4th Session


Well I am writing this post nearly a week later as I wait for my seat in a $1/2.

First off when I show up to the casino I am 6th on the list after calling nearly 45mins ahead. They are only running 2 tables because of a Sunday tournament. After a 2 hour wait I am finally seated at the 1 table I didn't want. And right to the left of 2 older asain fellows who are very aggressive and have 300 and 900 stacks. I buy in for 200 even though I didn't really want to. That was my first mistake that and not waiting for a seat on the better table. Then I did something I never do and I decided to straddle the button because everyone else was. Third mistake.

Duration: 45 min

Buyin: 200+35

Cash Out: 0

Result: -235[/COLOR][/COLOR]

V1: older man LAG(400)
V2: older lady LAG(300)
V3: older lady TAG (200) saw her lose to a big bluff 2 hands before and seamed tilted.

So I straddle the button for 5. V1 calls. V2 raises to 20. Vs calls mp. I call AhJh. V1 Calls.

Flop: Ac7h6c

V1 checks, V2 checks, V3 jams for 160.
It's on me and quickly V1 and V2 much before I can act. I'm not sure why but this really effected me and made me want to call more. I thought for a while about how she was bluffed before and then I called. It was a really bad call, probably one of the worst calls I have made. I lost all but 20 in chips.

She showed 77 for a flopped aether played really fast. She got me hook line and sinker. Nice hand.

I rebuy with the 35 I have left in the BR. Mistake 6 or 7 who knows by now it's all bad.

I end up getting it in again with AJ on an A63A board and losing to 666.

Bust out and my BR is back to zero. And it only took 30 miss. That's the worst part. I had no more to rebuy (good) and could not get any hours.

Please leave comments telling me how bad it was so I can NEVER donk it off again.

5th Session

It's a Friday when this session happens (still behind on posting this 1 will catch me up).

Buyin: 160

Duration: 2 hours

Cash Out: 60

Result: -100

Fairly card dead. Played a little too loose as I think I could have left with 100 or 120 had I played tighter.

Only interesting hand of the short session.

I limp in the cut off KdJd.

V1 TAG old man
V2 TAG
V3 LAG old man
V4 LAG
All stacks are less then 3 but more than 150

Everyone limps and the blinds check.

Flop. 4d3d2h

Checks around

Turn: 6c

V1 checks, V2 bets 15, V3 calls, V4, calls, Hero calls, V1 raises to 50.

V2 calls, V3, calls, V4 calls. It's 35 to win 265. So I call with the 2nd nut flush draw.

River is a King of clubs. DANG.

V1 shops it, V2 calls, V3 mucks, V4 mucks, I muck. They both show 5 and split the big pot.

Didn't hate my play in this session except I could have played tighter.

The 100 comes from my own pocket so hopefully I can win it back plus more in the next session. Not too worried just want to play well and get my hours for the December free roll. Gonna ask about that next trip to be sure I get them in time.

6th Session

Buyin: 200

Duration: 8 hrs

Cash Out: 230

Result: +30

Thought about this on the way home and instead of starting the 30 as profit and my roll being 30 I decide to subtract my last loss.

Overall I am down 70 out of my own pocket over 27 hours since I started this thread. I have always been a tournament player and have played very little cash overtime. I am learning alot about myself and what it's like being a not at a table. Still don't mind being a nit while I am getting this started. I bluff in certain spots and call down when I feel I have the best hand but it seems like most 1/2 players are crazy loose. They will not raise that much but will call down a ton of hands on a draw.

I have seen a few 2/5 regs sit down and just raise 15 pre and continuation bet with any 2 cards and build stacks quick. I have seen them run them down quick too. It really makes me wonder how well they really do in the long run. Am I just way too tight? Are they too loose. Honestly feel like I should be in the middle of those.

Not really a great day or bad day. The pots I won had to call down with marginal hands and catch bluffs. No easy spots, no big pocket pairs. Not 1 AK or AQ in 8 hours. 1 KK. Just a bunch of small pairs that I would miss or get repaired if I raised or miss if I limped.

I am enjoying the thread thus far. Good job on the consistent updates here.

Btw, I pm'd you.

Awesome man thanks so much. Feel free to keep the comments coming and let me know what you think about about my play or anything really. I am super motivated to play as much as possible and get better, share my story and meet new friends.

7th Session

This is the best session I have played so far, got back out of negative and now am back on profit. This table was by far the most exciting table. So much so I could barely keep up the notes. So many crazy hands I may have to break up into 2 posts. I have not played at that many crazy 1/2 tables but this was the ****ing CRAZIEST. No drunks and everyone was nice and having a good time. But 1 fish made the action explode. When it was all said in done a guy racked out 2k I had 500 another had 700. I left shortly after he did as the action died. The max Buyin is 300 at our 1/2 so to run up to 2k is pretty insane in my eyes.

Okay so here goes.

Buyin: 150+120

Duration: 6 hours

Cash Out: 406

Result: +136

Hand 1.

Hero (150)
V1 (200)

Hero 9c9d SB. Mp raises to 6. Btn calls, I call, bb ca

Flop 8d7d5d

I check, V1 bets 25. I call

Turn 5c

I check he bets 65. I think for a while then jam. I bet alot hand here that continuation bet the flop and AK, AQS with the diamond draw. Unfortunately he says I have to call and rolls over 96off for a flopped straight.

River is a blank and he rakes all my chips. This is 30 mins into the session and I am now happy I kept 120 back just incase. I would normally leave but I felt good and it was only 30 mins in. I need hours.

So I rebuy digging further into my pockets.

I rebuy for 120. Then get into it again with the same Villain as before.

Notes on villain: seems to be mixing it up alot. It's 3pm on Sunday he is wearing a cross and drinking jack and coke. I'm fine with people who do either or both just strives me as weird. He is loose and involved in many pots.

Hand #2

Hero (120)
V1 ( 300+)
V2 (400) TAG asain man

Hero UTG 88

I limp, 1 mp limp, btn limp, SB calls, bb checks. Crap! Should have raised.

Flop: 984r

SB leads for 12, BB calls, I raise to 42 both call. YES!

Turn 5c brings a flush draw.

SB jams, BB folds and I call.

V1 shows Q9 off. What????? The table is about to go crazy and this is just the start.

Unfortunately I am not invloved in many more pots that are worth mentioning. But will write a post about all the crazy action I saw next.

Back to playing off some profit. +66.
Honestly was the best I have run since I have started so it felt good to book a win. I think I am more than 75% way done with my hours but will still be playing as much as I can when I can.

Will post a goals update next week.

7th Session continued

Gonna post some weird spots I saw at my crazy table.

V1 (500)
V2 (500) asain guy

Flop xx68Kr

I missed the start of the hand but I look up and see a raise from V2 to 115 on the turn. V1 seems fishy. He seems to play a good strategy but seems to not really understand some things. He holds his cards up way too high. So when V1 raises to 200 and is forced to complete to 230 and doesn't understand why but goes with it I think he is still new to live poker or nervous. I think he is new.

River goes check check and V1 tables 610 off???????? Huh. More surprising is that V2 mucks. 700 plus pot with a pair of 6s and a 10 off?????

V1 rakes a huge pot and runs his stack up to just around 1k.

Shortly after.

V1 (1000)
V2 (600) TAG

V1 raises 30, V2 reraises to 100. V1 jams. V2 thinks and asks if he has Aces? V1 says were flipping. V2 shows KK and mucks. Table is licking thier chops wanting to take him down.

Many hands are played with many all ins and larger than normal raises and calls.

It finally explodes in a 3 way allin with V1fishy, V2 Asian man, V3 LAG 2/5 reg I referred to in a recent post. I notice this reg has won a bad beat jackpot as his photo is on the wall and it says it was a 89k jackpot. So I know he has money lol. Dude is actually really funny and nice but crazy aggressive.

All 3 got it in for a 1500+ pot on a KJK board.

V1 has AJ off
V2 has KQ
V3 has A10 off

Turn is a King
River blank

V2 rakes a huge potential and kills the table.

A new guy sits down and I am in BB.

He throws down 100 very sloppy and let's the chips fall everywhere.

Cards are dealt and before UTG can act this new guy in mp raises 50? Dealer says UTG has to act first. At this point he pulls it back. UTG folds and then the new guy mucks??????? Wtf. Me and UTG are just stunned. Floor is called and for some reason they let him just take it back his bet after the cards are in the much.

How do you go from raise 25x the big blind to a fold when the UTG folds? It was good before you knew he was in the hand but now that he has folded you can fold too? Clearly this guy was just out of it or drunk or nervous. Funny but left me wonder WTF are people doing. Hahaha. Good times.

Hey man, welcome to live poker. Glad you're taking some steps to post hands and try to improve!

First thing's first: you should spend some time over here:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...low-stakes-nl/

You would do well to post one or two individual hands (I suggest the 99 hand to start) in separate threads to get some feedback and help you get a better feel for note taking, posting, relevant information, etc.

You obviously have some serious leaks in your game, but don't worry, that's to be expected!


Also, take a look at some of these threads, as they will really help nail down some concepts that you need to get figured out:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...llsnl-1168186/


Good luck, and keep updating!

Thanks for the help! I will definitely be checking those out. This is exactly the type of help I am looking for.

Thinking about what nwolfe said today about my leaks and I cant help but seriously agree. I knew I was playing an ABC tight style but I can tell just by watching I am too passive. I know my table image is tight to anyone who plays a few hours with me, but I am aware of this and image and I do take advantage of it when certain spots come up and I can exploit my tight image, usually in position when everyone is passive or making small bets I re-raise. even have picked a few spots to raise big when there is a straddle on the button and a few limpers and I am in late position.

But after reading some articles from Bart Hanson and a few threads mentioned above I realize I am still just playing my cards and not considering my opponent hand ranges as much as I need too. Clearly I can see who plays more pots than others, and I watch the action and tendencies of players and make mental notes on things they do. But I need to make some MAJOR improvements in many areas around this subject.

When I read through an article by Bart and he explains his thought process I realize mine is nothing like his. I am thinking about things very simply and could think through things a lot better than I have been.

I realize now that studying is going to be just as or more important than the hours I put in at the table at this point. definitely plan on spending some time reading more threads on llsnl. I have heard that before but I don't think I believed it or tried it. Studying before now has not been a big priority but going forward it will be.

Anymore good suggestions on other sites to study on as well as on here? Is crush live poker good for the money? thinking about trying it for a month for the podcast and videos. Anyone try it and if so what was your experience?

Well its finally Sunday getting ready to go put in a session. Didn't get to go to play Friday as I had my hands full and was unable to play. I did however break down and finally put some more money on America's Card Room. A few months ago I rediscovered online poker and quickly lost a few buyins playing way to high in the cash games chasing rakeback. I quickly lost a few buyins and decided to stop. Last night I was really bored so I decided to deposit some money. $50. to play micro buyin tournaments. I love tournaments but live tournaments take forever and are too expensive to play a lot.

so my online BR management will be simple. no buyins over $1. until I get to 100x for the buyin.

Bankroll: $50

played about 10 tournaments and did really well. I won $26.52 a Omaha 8/b for 1st and 4th in another NLH MTT.

Bankroll $73.91

not bad for a first night, off to the casino for some live action.

8th Session. This session was broken into 2, 3 hour and 30min parts.

1st Buyin: 200

2nd Buyin:160

Duration: 7 hours

1st Cash Out: 160

2nd Cash Out: 183

Result: -17

BR: 49

Bonus I was comped the brunch buffet before the start and a burger after my cash out. So I I'm 20 plus on comps so almost even for the day. Nothing too exciting to write about. Lost 1 big hand when I had K9 on an AK9 board and lost a big pot to A9. Dude was betting big all night and slow played on me. The table was full of drunk or drinking yuppies that had to ask "how much is the min. Raise?" Loved it. But I thought I would be stacking there chips instead the hit a few hands and left up money. They weren't as fishy as I thought. Also a nice asain man bought me a beer and then shipped 400 while waiting with ok hands but spewed a bunch.

Hero K7dd in cutoff

Limp. Limps around flop comes

7h6d8d

Hero(150)
V1(180)
V2(120)

Checks around

Turn: Qc

Hero checks, V1, checks, V2 bets 11.

I check raise to 33.

V1 calls, V2 calls,

River 10c

Checks around. My 7s are good.

Was betting my draw cause I thought they were weak and V2 could have many hands. But when they both call I think I am screwed. Happy it checks through.

Good luck with this brother. An entertaining read thus far. And randomly I'd suggest if you can to listen to some of the poker podcasts out there in your spare time or at work, if thats possible, to help you on your journey.

Some of the ones I listen to from time to time to all the time for some to check out to see if you find them worthwhile:

Grinder School
Just Hands
Mindset Poker
One Outer
The Poker Life
Postflop Poker
Red Chip Poker
Smart Poker Study
Thinking Poker (this is a favorite of mine)
Under The Gun
Weekly Poker Hand (another favorite & super short, but insightful)

Thanks for the advice. I have considered this but have not tried 1. I am going to take you suggestions and force myself to to listen to at least 1 of you recommendations by New Years. In fact going to look into that right now. Big New Years post coming soon. Should be 14 hour session to get in all the drawings.

9th Session

Buyin: 220

Duration: 6 hrs 20 min

Cash Out: 455

Result: +235

BR: +284

Side note I also won 220 playing the slots. Normally I don't play. But I took a break and bought dinner and while waiting I decided to put 1 buck in. It spun and I hit 35 and cashed out. Then a few hours later they broke our table and had to change all the chips and cards cause some guy bleed on the cards. So I put a 5 in the same machine and won another 35. Then when I left I put in a 5 and then another and won about 170. Cashed out put in a 10 and lost it and went home.

It was a great session. I feel like I played well even though most the money I won was fairly easy. I was patient and payed alot of attention to other players and trying to define hand ranges and guessing what some players might have at show downs. Just trying to pay as much attention to people as possible. I saw to different times where someone said call and put out less chips and the dealers and winners didn't notice. Each time it was small like 10 or 20 but still I don't think some people are paying enough attention.

Here are a few hands.

Table is full 1/2 stacks are all around even 2-300. Been playing about an hour. I have a Tight image.

HAND 1
8c9c limp preflop.

Hero 280
Villain 280

Flop Qc 10c 3c

I lead 10 into a a pot of 12, 6 players behind.

Btn calls, everyone folds

Turn Js

I lead 15 he calls.

River 4c

I check he bets 20 I fold

He shows me Kc5c for a better flopped flush. I like my lead and my turn bet. Not much I can beat other than a flopped set. The river saved me 40 or 50 bucks. Lucky me.


HAND 2
JhJd
Hero 150
Villain 250 asain lady regular

Just played a hand with here where I limped her btn straddle and she 3 bet to 20. I called with 89c and lead an AK9 flop. She calls and I check turn and and fold to a 25 bet. I felt she didn't have anything but I can't continue with bottom pair out of position. And she WILL call down light.


I bet 15 mp. Folds to V calls in SB, Bb folds

Flop Js6s5h Bingo!

I lead 25 like before when I bet folded. She calls.

Turn 7c

I check and she bets 25 like before. I c/r to 80. She calls.

River 3s

She checks I check quickly and should have thought about this more. But the straight gets here and the flush draw. She shows a J and mucks.


HAND 3
Hero 280
Villain 350

Hero AQ mp raises to 13. Sb calls

Flop QJ9r

V checks, I bet 25, he calls.

Turn 8

He leads 35, I call

River K

He bets 60 I fold, I should have folded to the turn bet. He shows me a 10 and latter tells me he had a 7 too. 10 7 must have been suited I guess? NH.

HAND 4
Hero 150
V1 100
V2 800 Lag.
V3 250

Hero has KdKc UTG
Raise to 15 mp. 3 callers mp, btn, bb

Flop 3hKh3c

Jackpot!!!!. V1 checks, I check
V2 bets 25, v3 folds, v1 ships for 65 total.

I call, v2 calls,

Turn 5c

I check, v2 checks

River 4h

Brings a flush draw and a straight. I jam for 100 and v2 folds. BB proclaims boat proudly and rolls over 34off for a river boat. I show him KK and he says man I knew it. V2 was spewing chips at this point both raising with any 2 and calling down with any 2. Definitely should have bet less or even checked.

1 more session until New Years . I will be playing from 10am 2016, to 2 or 3am in 2017. Kinda nice it will be 10 session even since the start. Going to post a review, with new thoughts, goals and results and what I learned.

Don't be results oriented. Folding 99 there oop is fine. How would you feel if the flop didn't spike your 9 and they had over pairs?

GL with this journey, try avoiding pit games and slots as they can be huge bankroll bleeders.

Thanks for the reply and advice.

100% agree. On both counts. When he 3 bets preflop that flop is the best possible outcome. If a 9 doesn't come I am worried about overs and out of position the rest of the hand in a bloated pot. I was thinking too much about the reulst as that pot would have been huge for my BR. Really not how i should look at things in terms of results.

Also agree on slots and pit games. Just a random thing and I don't plan on playing anymore for 2017 unless I somehow get free play. Every dollar put into a slot machine is like lighting it on fire. Before I really got into poker I would go and lose at slots alot. I hated the feeling of losing to a machine but loved to gamble. Glad I found poker or I might still be losing to that 1 arm bandit. All thoughs people just stare blindly at a screen as they quickly hit the button and hope for the best.

An older guy I work with has a girlfriend that is addicted to the casino, has no job and loses 100+ allowance a week to slot machines. I ask why not learn a game that gives you better odds of winning? His reply is they don't want to make anybody upset by their actions at a table. Afraid if they do the wrong thing people will get mad at them. 100 percent not how I view things but apparently some people do.