Two week break from poker and poker related activities was a success. My mind was more free and able to focus on improving my habits for those 14 days.

Spent labor day weekend at my best friend's Lake House in NH-- was a great weekend trip. We played golf, hiked, hit the gym, relaxed on the boat, and had some really great conversations about life. One of the nights we watched Tony Robbins "I am not your guru"-- and man that guy is just amazing. As much as he does not want to be--- HE IS ABSOLUTELY MY GURU

Currently 9 months sober-- which is really a crazy thought

Other happenings:

I was able to really work on my mind/muscle connection at the gym over the last 2 weeks. So important to involve your brain (or try to) in every rep. Its been proven to boost results.

Had a bit of a neck strain the other day so have been crushing muscle rub and stretching at work for the last 2 days. Whenever I have a small injury it usually reinforces the gratitude that I can progress my body in the gym and how much of a privilege it is to be injury free. Its important to remember that the ability to get in the gym and workout--like most things in life-- comes and goes pretty quick.

Stuck with meditating everyday for 30 minutes-- usually broken up in two sessions-- one right when I wake up, and one peppered in during the afternoon or before bed. Adding meditation as a stable habit of my life has been a game changer. My day to day is so much more enjoyable with a more clear mind. Highly highly recommend the app headspace to anyone-- I never thought Id be a meditation guy and I am so grateful I gave it a chance.

Really excited to continue my poker journey-- right now its been a few months since I really got going on the challenge-- and after a slow/shaky start-- its been a pretty consistent upward trend that I am grateful for--- mainly 1.2--- for a total profit of 3561 over 138 hours. Will be excited to get back to the poker table this weekend-- I expect to hit Twin River Sat. night. Maybe a NH poker room Sunday.

I am about 1/3rd of the way through peak performance poker-- super impressed so far. Picked it up for the first time today in about 2 weeks and reinforced some questions I would like to write out answers to regarding my relationship with poker. Questions such as: Why am I doing this? What are some ideal pre-session activities to get my mind right? What is my identity within poker?... etc

Glad to be back 2+2, I missed checking in on some of the other goals and challenge threads- as well as reviewing some HH's and posting.

Enjoy your day

nice man, more progress happening itt

+1

in, glgl

Booked "free" rooms Sunday and Monday at Foxwoods. Contemplating getting a room saturday night at the place I usually go and making a weekend out of it.

That Monday the 19th is Foxwoods high hand frenzy. So really excited to be there for that action. Anyone else who will be there let me know-- always love to meet like minded individuals.

Received a $2/hr raise at work and am really grateful for that. Before that raise my break even point on life for a month=generating $550 of income from poker. That # now is drastically lower about($250) and will help me to focus on starting to pay back some student loans.

Last week I had played around with the idea of spending a year (potentially mid 2017-2018)-- dividing it into 3 segments-- and living in 3 different poker friendly places for 15 weeks each. Finding a part time/ temp job in a gym or health area (if possible) while I am there--- and just basically continuing my journey out of my comfort zone. I would want to be playing poker and making youtube videos or writing articles that would be in accordance with life/health coaching.

One of the beautiful things about poker is that if you can maintain high self-discipline and work ethic--- you have a way of being your own boss for periods of time if needed. Its such a unique way to generate income if you trust the process and learn from all the people who have done it right before you.

This would accomplish this idea of traveling for a year and playing poker. Its something I have always toyed with and if I never do it-- I feel as if it may be a regret.

More importantly living in a few different places would force me further out of my comfort zone. I love being in comfort zones.... and this journey to the Cape (something I never would have done on my own) has shown me that life offers you so much more when you keep evolving.

So ^^ this is still just quite the brainstorm right now and I am very happy with my job and hoping to continuing building my life up---

I had a realization the other day that I might be the most complete person today that I have ever been. I will be turning 25 on Oct 1. and I can honestly say that from 21-24 I was consistently declining as a well rounded person due to my partying.

This post was intended to just be an update about the high hand giveaway and I guess the dunks coffee just brought out some thoughts in me that I wanted to share with 2+2.

Enjoy your day

Drove down to Twin River last night for really quick 2 hour session. Finished up 54.

Wanted to see some cards and get a little confidence before going down to a weekend filled with poker. Get the feet a little wet---- its like having your QB throw a screen pass to get some confidence and momentum going. Helped me visualize success this weekend.

+++3615 over 140 hours.

Read some interesting articles about the process of winning. Its not by mistake that coaches such as John Wooden and Bill Belichick (even Saban who im not a huge fan of)-- they are all about the process and focused on the next thing (Belichick " We are on to Cincinnati" lol then wins super bowl after people think TB12 is done).

ANYWAYS.....to maintain and establish the standard of success most of us want--- you have to be present in the moment--you cant be thinking about the past or worrying about the future. Those great coaches leave emotions out- focus on fundamentals- preach playing your role- focus on the now- do things in adherence with identity.

Mind game is something that seperates me from most players. I would struggle against many players on 2+2 heads up because my A game is just not going to be as creative and would have some NIT leaks against many/most of the grinders on this site. However in the games I play- I stick to my identity- focus on the now- think without emotions (most of time) - and I dont try to be a player that I am not.

I wanted to address that today because I think a lot of the more experienced players on 2+2 understand how important mind game is and how important having a life out of poker is for achieving long term SUSTAINABLE results. But for newer players, it can be easy to get so caught up in all the resources around you for strengthening your poker game-- that its easy to take for granted establishing peak states that then ALLOW for that knowledge to come out.

Losing out on money is going to create emotions that you need to prepare for. PERIOD. Like Mike Tyson says-- everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. ANTICIPATE those hits. Learn how people handled them well, and how people didnt handle them well. Prepare your mind for poker.

Sidenote: Two years ago I crushed some beers with Jimmy G in a boston bar and I've been telling everyone-- literally everyone all week about that time. #schoolgirlstatus

Peak Performance- pg 75ish-- 5% Solution--

What do I need to do to improve my preflop play by 5%?

Avoid any preflop speculative spots the first ~2 orbits of a session/table. Dont have enough villain info to have a good idea of implied odds/equity. Basically I have no idea who is going to pay me off light.


If I were 5% more prepared for a session I would do?

Tough one because the answers are easy but the implementation is harder. I would say pre session meditation before longer sessions. For shorter sessions-- (and this sounds silly)-- I want to be dressed in a business casual way. I think it changes my image favorably when it looks like I might be a kid with money (even though I am not )

As far as trip goes-- Grabbed a room in Dayville, CT for Sat night-- will play either Twin River/Mohegan/Foxwoods tonight. Sunday I expect to be at Mohegan in morning and Foxwoods after first slate of NFL. And Monday definitely Foxwoods for high hand promotion. Have rooms at Foxwoods for Sunday and Monday although do not anticipate staying over Monday night due to work at 8AM on Cape Tues. LMK if any 2+2ers will be around!

A profitable start to trip tonight/ sunday morning would probably lead me to playing some PLO at foxwoods. I am not married to the idea though-- and will be playing 1.2 NL otherwise. Monday though is all about the action generated at 1.2 from HH promotion.

Down 49 tonight at Mohegan 1.2

+3566 over 147 hours.

I flopped a set versus same villain 3x in 90 minutes---- and he caught up every single time and I lost monies 3x.

Such a bizarre session to start my trip. If it wasn't for same villain doubling me up early when I go out of line with a suited gapper preflop and flopped bottom 2--- it woulda been a really long night.

The last 4 sets I have flopped I have been ~91 %, 73% , 78 and 72% and lost. And I don't mean for that to come off as a complaint but I am a math nerd and so I felt obligated to share that.

Excited for sleep tonight- and to get back to Foxwoods tmrw. My results from mohegan (rare trips) are never usually slam dunks.

4 big hands with same villain

Villain-- early 30s male-- nice guy---outgoing--regular.

Hero: Stuck a few bucks-- image is tight at this point

Hand 1

Hero: QQ opens to 12 HJ and Villain calls in SB-- Eff stack ~100--villain short.

Flop: ($26) QK7

Checks to hero- hero bets 15 villain calls.

Turn: 4 ($56) Checks to Hero who bets $30 and Villain raises for $39 more I call. River is 8 and villain shows K2 for flush.

Hand 2

Hero: 300 to start hand V1 has 250

Hero limps MP with 77

Flop (6 limps) ($16) 753

Checks to hero who bets 12, 2 calls including V.

Turn ($52) 6

Check, Hero checks, Villain bets $35-- fold, Hero calls.

River ($112) J

Hero checks-- Villain bets $115. Hero goes into the tank. I just think most villiains at 1.2 will overbet for value on 4-liners and bluffing range will be more towards 1/2-2/3 pot. I end up folding and villain shows 98 and I was very happy with fold.

Hand 3:

Hero: has been opening a little bit more-- lots of passive limpers at table and people playing fit or fold. Getting away from my gameplan and this hand actually teaches me a lot and reinforces why I usually avoid these spots-- but nonetheless I make a ~poor~ position raise preflop.

Hero 24 Hero in CO makes it 16 over a straddle with 2 limps-- V1 is straddle and flats-- 1 limper comes along as well. EFF stacks are $230. Again reinforcing how this was a -EV raise.

Anyways--- Flop $52--- 249

Checks to me-- hero bets $40. V1 flats-- other V2 folds.

Turn 5 ($132)

Checks to Hero- Hero bets $80-- V1 tank calls

River 3 ($292)

V1 insta ships

Hero ends up thinking for about 15 seconds-- realize that its not as scary as it looks-- and is pot committed-- calls.

V1 confidently turns over hand and hero is waiting for bad news but its Q9 and hero scoops pot.

Hand 4:

(still same villain) who I am about to flop another set against-- but then send him more chips

Hero looks down at 88 ($480)

Hero makes it 12 from MP-- gets 4 callers including V1 ( ~$180)

Flop is gorgeous ($48) 89K

Check, check, Hero makes it $30-- only V1 calls.

Turn is J ($108)

Hero bets $80-- V1 calls- has like $75ish behind.

River is 3

Hero puts V1 all in and he calls and flips Q7

Hero cashed out a few hands after this hand-- was a little pokered out and wanted to get some sleep for today (Football-Pats-Draftkings) and monday which will be a lot of poker.

SOME OVERALL THOUGHTS

I am pretty happy to be +5 in my first 2 sessions back. I havent played really well by any means-- I have put myself into some tricky spots. My sizing has been more of an emphasis and I have seen an improvement in some situations with that. Trying to take sunday football slate to enjoy the games (jimmy g went down ) and then have some good sessions and build some good momentum going forward.

-53 in quick hour session, totals = 3513 over 148 hours. $23.73/hr

Table was poor here-- ended up at a 1.2 with all older folks who were super passive. Left pretty quick to eat and watch NFL.

KJ vs AK on J22 10 Q and I bet/fold 15 on the river (IT WAS LIMPED POT PRE) and he JUST flatted with his straignt-- says a lot about the action at table!

Went downstairs and played a pretty good session, results did not line up and finished down 295. Run outs have been pretty cold for me.

This was the first session back (after 2 week break) that I felt as if I played with intention and I was more settled in.

++3218 over 154 hours

Hand 1

Hero (300) new to table

SB K8

Limps around- hero completes.

Flop ($12)
KJ8

Hero leads $10-- gets 1 call and all folds

Villain= 300ish, seemingly aggro and competent reg, talkative

Turn ($32) 4

Hero bets $25 and villain calls.

River ($82) K
Hero bets $50 and villain snaps and flips over KQ

Hand 2
Hero is utg ($350) has been super quite for awhile and left to go upstairs and meditate-- so table probably just views me as tight.

87 Hero limps

Utg+3 makes it 10, gets 5 callers and hero calls.

Flop ($65)

Q98::

Hero checks..... Hero covers all but 1 player in hand--- I dont love playing big pots with bottom pair and FD-- think its unnecessary so checking to evaluate.

A bet of $15 from original raisor followed by a call and a $150 shove-- hero folds, shove gets one call.

Board runs out 29 and J8 scoops it-- other guy had FD he claimed. Lost minimum there (technically would chopped) but just goes to show that my pair was dominated and FD was dominated-- so that hand doesnt look as good as it is multiway.

Hand 3
Hero looks at KK UTG and makes it 12-- gets 3 callers and a $140 shove from villain from 1st hand-- he built up a stack and lost like 500 of it in last few orbits so was really excited about him shoving to re-open action. I overshove-- folds around.

Villain shows AA and he holds He had widest shoving range of anyone at this table as I think he does this with like anything 77+ and AJs+

Hand 4
Hero has added on and has $300

Hero has AJ and limps MP (this is meh) table was raising a lot-- I'd call it a limp/eval.

Anyways Villain on my direct left makes it 13 ($250) and V2 who is a little spazzy at this point (AA Villain from hand before) flats-- I contemplate folding b/c I dont love my hand against V1s range (older guy, has WSOP pins on his jacket, seemed pretty TAG) but I want to be in hands IP against V2.

Flop $40 (AK6)

V2 leads out for $5, I make it $30, V1 flats and V2 calls.

Turn is 4 ($130) V2 checks, I bet $55, V1 takes a second and flats and at this point I am pretty sure he has A10-AQ, probably more AQs in range. And V1 folds.

River is 5 I bet $35 as a pure blocker against AQ and he calls-- and sure enough flips over AQ.

Kinda of a nightmare the way the hand played out--- exactly what I feared about the hand in calling preflop came to fruition.

Hand 5

AQ (250) added on again

I am in the BB and it goes limp, limp, big stack villain ($1100) makes it 16 in HJ, V2 who is spazzy player from every other hand ($200 flats, I flat (thought about folding here) and V2 older guy from previous hand flats.

Flop JJ5

It gets checked around and original raisor Cbets and take it.

Tricky spot preflop-- I could see arguments made for 3 betting, flatting and folding.

Hand 6

Hero ($225) OTB looks down at JJ, raises to 10 on top of 2 limpers, both call. Flop comes A23, a bet of $5 and a call in front of me-- I fold and that was my cue to get up and head back up to the room down just about a full buyin. IN for 5 out for 205.

Overall

I mean basically down 400 over the last 2 days on CT trip-- it could have definitely been worse-- folding that set of 7s last night and winning that big pot with 2 pair last night on the 4 liner to straight eased the loss.

Anytime you flop 3 sets against same villain in a 90 min period and he catches up everytime, then run KK into AA of the player who is playing 60/25 poker, its very detrimental to your bottomline

Biggest part of today was that I meditated a 2 times and got into the gym-- was feeling very unmotivated after football games ended and I pushed myself to get into the right state of mind before playing the session-- that definitely helped my play tonight, lead to more intention and I made a lot of disciplined folds preflop.

Signing off til tmrw 2+2

Enjoy your life!

Finished off my Foxwoods trip last weekend with an uninspired -30 over 4 hours during day on Monday. The place was absolutely packed for high hand frenzy.

Played in the Manchester Poker room last night. Started the session off down -110 due to a missed turn bet which allowed a villain to both catch up and value bet river. Really was frustrated-- but hero was able to get paid off in a big pot with a set against TPTK and scooped up some other pots along the way for a +282 session.

I try not to be results oriented but seeing some chips flow my way and cashing out for a decent session really did boost my poker spirit. It can be challenging to deal with the emotions of running bad--- even though I rationally know and understand that variance comes with the territory of mid-high volume poker.

Plan on playing at Twin River tmrw during day.

Right now +++3470 over 161 hours.

++3332 over 164 hours after a -138 session for a few hours at Twin River 1.2 Monday.

Best session I played in awhile-- got a little unlucky on 1 run out but felt good about session.

Hand 1

45 OTB (Hero $300) fairly new to table

Limps on the button after 6 limps.

Flop (14) K73

SB bets $6 which gets called by 3 in front of me, and I feel its a pretty easy call, definitely some stationy type fish in the hand based on a few hands I have seen, everyone is pretty deep, only 1 player who called was below 150. 2 or 3 had me covered.

Turn (44) 6

SB (v1) bets again 15 ($275) Asian older who seemed to be semi-reg. V2 who is 50s white guy who cant miss and is semi aggressive flats, folds to hero--- hero makes its 75 total.

V1 calls. And V2 pauses and says I cant get away from this can I? And ends up calling too.

River (265) 5 completing FD

V1 bets 5 and V2 insta makes it 100 and I fold

So about the worst case scenario there--- hitting my clean 3 outer, committing a decent amount of chips to the hand, and then front door flush completing.

Hand 2
Hero (190) QQ

(missed some flops with 78suited, JJ, and 77 before this point)

Hero opens UTG for 15-- same exact villains from hand 1 come along-- as does an unknown new to table.

Flop (60) 246

Hero leads for 40--- same two villains as before call-- V1 (Asian guy pretty short stacked at this point ~130 pre) V2 (white guy on a heater-- now drinking on a Monday morning--has some swagger--~600ish)

Turn (180) 2

Hero shoves turn-- V1 calls for less-- and V2 folds.

River is the Q and V1 had pocket 88s so was good anyways.

Hand 3

Hero (350) gets dealt J9 on HJ

Open to 15 from V1 (V2 from all other hands-- ~600ish--white guy drinking) I flat him IP-- (wanted to see a flop this deep and IP in this spot) and a tilted reg whose probably my age calls as well.

Flop (50) Q96

V1 checks V2 cbets 25---- ( I think this is a pretty easy call IP) I think if we go heads up his turn action will be easy to evaluate) surprisingly V2 comes along too.

Turn (125) Q

Gives me backdoor flush

V1 checks, and V2 bets out 50----- I thought this was a really close spot, really close, but I ended up folding due to the paired board. I am hard pressed to think V2 ever has a hand that I am beating when he fires twice in a multi-way pot. I think the worst hand he makes that bet with is A9. Also for all the times I do hit my flush-- I would be in an interesting spot anytime he leads a river-- would probably only want to call instead of shoving.

I do like the call on the flop-- and I am okay with the call preflop IP upon further review. Also villain ended up getting called on turn and putting V1 all in on river-- which got called and he had QK.

Hand 4

Hero (280)

(I hadnt really thought about this hand as a mistake until I went to write this post--- I am so used to flatting with JJ preflop and underrepping that this hand slipped mind the first few times I went over hands in my head)

Hero is dealt JJ

Spazzy villain from every hand (700ish) about opens to 10--- I am in MP-- and flat--- and get one flat behind from new player ($200)

Just really seems like a spot I should be 3 betting to isolate IP. Seems like an easy 3-bet/fold.

Usually my reasoning for flatting with JJ is pretty simple--- usually players recognize 3 bets as AK-AA-KK or QQ at 1.2. JJ is the 5th hand they will think of IMO.

Therefore 3 betting with JJ basically ends up being the bottom of your range and turns your hand strength somewhat face up. What I see happen a lot is if a villain is OP against your 3 bet-- they will usually check top pair good kicker to you on boards that bring an overcard-- not to trap-- but to play the hand passively because they are worried about being behind.

^^Why I seldomly will 3 bet JJ at 1.2 NL--- with that said every hand is situational and I failed to realize that looking back-- if my frequency is ~85/15 with 3! JJ-- this seems like it should be part of 15%.

ANYWAYS... we go to the flop 3 ways and flop comes (38) 558

Spazzy villain checks to me and I bet 20, unknown V2 flats. V1 folds.

Turn is (78) A

Not too worried about this card-- at the moment I actually preferred it to a 9 or 4. Hard to think the A changed where I was in the hand unless he has A8.

I check and V bets 25-- Really think he has a lot of 5s in his range-- but his bet sizing was so small and between that and his flat on the flop-- thought I am still ahead decent amount of time. 2 outs to the 3rd nuts as well.

River is a K

I check, villain quickly checks and I thought he was going to flip over 8x or a busted SD and I was scooping the pot-- he tabled 53

Could not believe he checked the river. He is chopping with any 5 that isnt a full house.

Life

Life is going super well. Have been really intentional with my morning routine, my meditations, reading, and lifting. Signed up to take CLEP marketing test that will finish the last Gen ED credit I need for Umass Amherst-- I have had 117/120 credits since I walked my senior year (2014) and have been that "off" my life game for the 2 years previous to my sobriety-- that I never got it done. .

After I finish that test I will be buying the personal training test registration ticket/materials from ACE (American Council on Exercise) ~600. (at least thats the plan) That certification is something that will be good for my job and future. And it is the pre-requisite to the ACE certification that I really have my heart set on.... Health Coach. So thats my vision for that right now. Getting those done by summer next year seems attainable-- but will evaluate.

I turn 25 on Saturday. Super grateful I am here. My friend works in the Red Sox ticket office and is getting tickets for me and my Mom for Saturday nights game-- David Ortiz's retirement celebration big night is planned for Saturday!

I did not think after my 24th birthday that for my 25th I would be....
A. Not drinking
B. Working in fitness
C. Living on the Cape
D. Single
E. Pursuing certifications
F. A meditation enthusiast
G. At Peace
H. Happy
I. Physically fit
J. Writing on 2+2 and playing profitable poker on top of a full time job
K. A 2x rehab vet
L. On probation
M. Writing a gratitude journal everyday
N. Realizing that I put my family through a lot-- and that my birthday can be best spent with my Mom (shes a HUGE Ortiz/sox fan too)

If in some crazy scenario you gave me this list in advance-- say a year ago--- would never have thought THAT there would be anyway I would be grateful for ALL of the above.

Make your life a masterpiece my friends

Really good session last night-- until- I paid off flopped trips for 200ish with my Kings and then ran AKsoohted into trips in a 3 bet pot the very next hand. -178 over 4 hours which is ++++ 3154 over 169 hours.

Poker wise have been a little frustrated and I want to start having a little more fun during my sessions. Poker has been (meh) fun for me of late and trying to evaluate that. Definitely has some to do with this slight downswing/breakeven stretch, but probably more so to do with not having a concrete goal that is compelling about poker right now. Need to evaluate my feelings.

I like your ideas of meditation and short sessions and regular meetings.

Thanks man appreciate that.

Meditation gives me beginners mind when I am getting too caught up in something. It allows me to objectively view things as they are, not worse or better-- clarity.

Thats something ^ I have struggled with my entire life. Seeing things for face value.

In Elements of Poker, Tommy Angelo talks about the benefits of meditation (& yoga), short sessions & avoiding tilt ( which has caused me to lose $$$ big time). Not saying this is all it takes but it augments the nuts & bolts. GL

25th birthday spent with my Mom was a success, she had a great time, and we created awesome memories seeing David Ortiz off.

Life happened this week.

My first rehab stint was about 11 months ago-- I was in there for 3ish weeks and went back home when insurance ran out-- and was drunk and causing chaos for my loved ones and myself within 5 days of my departure.

During that rehab I had 2 friends who I was extremely close with. We did everything together: yoga (attempted to at least), worked out, played basketball, spent thanksgiving dinner together, talked/watched the Patriots.

We also opened up about our fears and what we wanted out of life.

You become extremely close with people in a rehab situation, especially when it is the first experience for all of you. You are at rock bottom and are clawing for some semblance of life, and love. These two friends of mine gave me that.

At the Red Sox game I found out that one of them had died. He was 27.

I knew he had been struggling a little bit. It was on my mind over the last few weeks to reconnect with him-- as we had been out of touch for a couple months.

I see what his girlfriend and friends post on facebook and it breaks my heart. I am truly heart broken he is no longer with us. He has been in my prayers and thoughts over the last week.

As best as I can- trying to live for him, and know his mind is at peace.

My Life

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things that I can. And the wisdom to know the difference.

Today I had a serious conversation with a girl that I have always had some buried feelings for. We had a semi fling back in college, and have been really close since. Some drunken hookups and some "dinner" dates in the dining hall. The conversation didnt go how I would have liked to hope, and that was tough to swallow. My instinct tells me that the feelings were definitely there until I kind of used her as a crutch and was a little too needy around this time last year when I was a mess.

So how am I going to react to this week.......

First I meditated for about 1 hr 45 mins over the last 24 hours. I need to feel all these emotions, its part of the human experience.

Next get back to what I love. I love working in fitness and playing poker as a combination for income. So I went through about 30 pages in the ACE personal training guide, and listened to a poker podcast. Planning on poker tomorrow as I monitor my DFS and fantasy teams from Twin River 1.2.

Third is to workout. This one is tricky because I like to take 5 days off from the gym every 4-6 weeks to give my joints a rest. Currently in day 2 of that planned 5 days. Core work and leg work will be thrown in this weekend for mindset purposes. Fear is physical and I need to combat that.

Fourth is to get to an AA meeting. AA is about way more than just not drinking--- drinking/drug use/any addiction is just what gets people in the door. The root of AA is living your best life and I need some external sources to help me reinforce those principles.

Lastly living with appreciation and gratitude. When I live with expectations, I end up only being relieved when I reach a desired outcome, but devastated when I dont. This is a lose/lose.

When I live with appreciation, I am overjoyed by reaching a desired outcome, and find neutrality and feel open to move forward when an outcome doesnt appear to go my way. This a win/win.

Thanks for taking a moment to read about my journey 2+2. This thread has been a major part of my growth and happiness as a person.

-Dave

Very solid day poker wise, got in a 5 hour session after first slate of football. Had some really strong preflop hands and capitalized on that. Finished up 258 after 5 hours at twin.

The weather was really poor so instead of driving back 90 mins to cape I decided to get a room for 90, get a good sleep, and put in another session tomorrow.

Very pleased with the way I played.

Just came across your thread.
As someone who understands the damage that alcohol can do to your life and those around you, it has been interesting to read.
Best of luck with everything, stay strong and keep flopping sets

Thanks Mikel!

++3545 over 182 hours. $19.47/hr.

Twin River was a successful weekend. Played 3 sessions--- +258, -77, and + 210.

Took a few hours off after the -77 session, went to a local par 3 golf course, enjoyed the sun, meditated a bit in between holes, shot a 37 (+11... 2 drops hurt score....), and went back to the casino with a clear mind.

Last week I took time to be grateful for poker. Ended up writing out some of my thoughts to myself and then reviewed those notes to myself before every session. Helped my mental game to have that vision of why I was playing. Reinforces that if I am going to play.... there is all the reason in the world to play optimally and stay mindful.

Avoid focusing on results, or projecting even before a session starts about the pending results and the feelings that will come after.

^^ I wonder if anyone else does that--- but I have this irrational tendency to project my results, and even worse to project how I will feel after that projected poker result.

Getting back to the beginners mind that I had at the beginning of this journey has been a goal of mine. Remember why I started this challenge, and what value poker adds to my life.

Happy to say that--------The drive is back.

It took detaching myself away from the emotions and rollercoaster that poker AND Life is--- to realize that poker makes me happy. Its a unique opportunity to legally make money doing something that (at this time) is very fulfilling. It is something that I am both passionate about and makes financial sense at this point.

Might even drive tonight after work 90 minutes each way, just to play 2 hours--- and the fact that I am considering that excites me.

Enjoy your life. Remember you will DIE someday and use it to your advantage. Enjoy the human experience.

Dave, I have to admit that the 3 hour trip to play for 2 hours excites me also. OTOH, why not just pay yourself the $38.94 and get some sleep.

Haha^^ Truth.

Ended up staying home that night.

Played 4 sessions since last update--- over the weekend..... +162 at Manchester over 1 hour, -15 at Hampton Falls over 2 hours, +297 over 5 hours at Twin, and +97 over Twin River over 2 hours.

192 hours +++4086 $21.28 hourly.

Was going to write up a history of my run good of late--- I instead got listening to Bart Hansons new podcast on Crush Live--- called Specific Bet Sizing.

Something I have been thinking about a lot lately-- probably what has even taken an temporary emphasis over my mental game (which is rare for me to study something more than mental game) is manipulating ranges through my bet sizing.

Some fun hands to play along with---purely run good hands!

Player descriptions will be light. Mixing a few sessions here.

KK UTG ($440)

I decide to limp.Really aggressive table with a few short stacks---- perfect situation to limp/reraise and get some potential dead money in the pot.

SB (190) opens to 20. Short stack goes allin for less. I make it 65. SB tanks a little bit and shoves. He is a pretty solid player, his range here is limited to AA, KK, QQ, and AKs, MAYBE JJ. I actually took a little while because I was trying to figure out if he would shove AK/QQ here because I know he has a lot of AA in range. I end up calling his shove after thinking through it a bit.

Board runs out 1053A4 and my Kings held up--- he showed QQ.

55 CO ($300) Open to 10 in front, I flat, UTG limp/reraises ($150) to 30, opener calls($175), I think this was close, ended up calling being pretty sure that I was calling 20 to win (pot 70+ 1 stack) and getting proper odds for hitting a set.

Flop window (5) 10 7

Checks through to me, I think about checking back but I decide its pretty unlikely a bet will fold through here, I bet 55 and limp/reraise shoves, fold, I call. He had AA and it runs out K 4.

AA($330) Button

UTG opens to 12 and it folds around to me CO. I make it 35 and he flats.

Flop (AA7)

He checks, I check.

Turn is 5 he checks and I bet 35. He calls.

River is Q He checks and I bet 65. He tank calls with JJ. And I win.

Got an entry to the Caribbean cruise package that Twin River is giving away this Friday.

108 ($450) CO

Limp in CO after a few limps. (I can justify a raise/fold/limp here-- cant remember my reasoning for limping in this case)

SB makes it 12 and 3 players call- I call- as well as 1 behind and we see flop very multiway.

Board 1082

Raisor leads out 15, woman at table who Ive played with before (180) who is a somewhat attractive mid 50s woman who loves to have some drinks and mess with everyone--- whom also tonight has been hitting on me hardcore--- makes it 45. She has sets here, she has some draws, maybe some JJ-QQ, I need to protect my hand--- I just bomb the sizing with some deeper players behind me--- I make it like 155. Everyone folds. She like insta calls and I am worried.

Turn is 8 River is 5 I scoop a big pot and she shows me 22. So ran into the top of her range, and honestly once she calls the hand I expect her to have with the most frequency.