I was a typical online pro from 2008-2011. Made a bunch of money I was too young to understand what to do with. Moved to Asia after BF with my girlfriend and played low-mid stakes for 6 years. It was an incredible experience and I'm 100% glad I did it. But it's time to come home. I'll be playing (mostly) live 2/5 and would appreciate your comments and advice.

I have a few years living expenses saved up thanks to a ridiculously cheap cost-of-living and general life nittiness.

Goal: Put in 30 hours a week you lazy bastard
Starting roll: $10k I guess

Hand 1

HJ is 80/20 and on a huge heater in the first hour of play from $400 to ~$1200. He's folded twice to isos pre and once limp/folded KJs to a $20 raise (lol live). Post he likes to stab/fold and seems to pride himself on handreading people as having him beat. Prior to this hand he has never triple-barreled. Hero is YWG who's played like 2 hands and not shown down.

$600 eff
HJ raises $15, CO calls, Hero calls BU A5, BB calls

Pot $60
Flop A24
HJ bets $30, CO folds, Hero calls, BB fold

Pot $120
J
HJ bets $30, Hero calls

Pot $180
8
HJ bets $60, Hero??

All bets were pretty quick and after the river he shut up and stared at the board while he's usually real talkative, including while in a hand. My first instinct was fold>call>raise but after some thought I think it might be raise>fold>call

Hand 2

Villain is a maniac to my direct left, straddling from UTG+1, UTG and BU and raising his $10 to $35 80% of the time. He's shown down 86o, A7o, and QTo after straddle/raising. Once with $250 he raised to $35 and called off his stack HU with Q9s and won. Another time I limped CO behind 3 limpers, he made it $35 on BU, all called, I made it $150 and he angrily folded.

His first hand, I doubled him up betting $75 into $100 5 ways on J82ss and he called his last $65 on the turn 9 with T7o.

BU straddle
Four limps, CO Hero sees BU counting out a raise and limps, BU makes it $35 with $330 behind, four calls, Hero has $500 and is 100% sure the limpers are folding to reraise. What do you do with 88? AK? ATo? 33? A5s? Do you ever make it ~$180 and shove any flop or do you just jam pre?

Obligatory soup pics:

Malaysian Laksa, IMO the finest soup ever made


Ippudo Ramen in Tokyo, a close 2nd


Red, Pumpkin and Coconut curry from my favorite Thai place


If you have any questions about travel/living in SE and East Asia, ask away. Or any questions about soup. I love soup.

I live in Central America, Costa Rica, Id like to know more about your Asian experience

H1: For me Call is the worse option, between turn and river I think we have more Fold Equity OTT, however, Id call again because of the odds, you can try to raise OTR but doesnt it seem like busto? AP just let it go OTR...

H2: Id use a depolarized GII range here, since this is a depolarized range I want to GII preflop, trying to get value from several worse combos he can call with, I can determine this range as: 88+ AJo+... other hands Id try to raise and play having the lead (without limping myself) postflop, this is not saying im CB 100%, in fact, Id be checking a lot, trying to get tons of value from his bluffs..

Hey nice looking soups btw, I like Thai food. Enjoy

Biggest hand from last night

Before I sit down, OWG overlimps $10 straddle, BU jams $60, EP limper jams $500, OWG unironically declares that it's a "position raise" and calls off 100bb with 22 and wins the flip.

$600 deep with OWG
Hero TT raises EP $15 (lol me), OWG calls, bad lag makes it $50 IP with $215 total, Hero raises to $150, OWG tanks forever and flats, Lag just flats of course.

Pot $455
9TK
Hero jams $450, OWG complains for two minutes about not having a heart and folds, Lag calls and loses, shows K

This felt like a spot where flatting, making it $150 and jamming were all decent options and my lack of live experience really showed.

Made a relatively large mistake I'm not proud of:


BB is an OMC who checks pre here with AJ and KQ but probably not JJ. He has $350

Two limps, I limp BU QT, 5 players

Pot $25
TTJ
4 checks, I bet $20, BB calls, CO TAG calls

Pot $85
5

check, check, I bet $70, BB calls

Pot $225

A

We both check

I checked in game because I'm a dumbass who didn't realize he was BB and had every 10 in his range. I was certainly behind OTR if I give him an UTG limp range

If he calls KQ and AJ OTT

Board: TcTdJs5sAd
Equity Win Tie
MP2 59.23% 56.92% 2.31% { QsTs }
MP3 40.77% 38.46% 2.31% { AJs-ATs, KQs, KTs, QTs, JTs, T2s+, AJo-ATo, KQo, KTo, QTo, JTo, T2o+ }

If he folds KQ and AJ OTT

Board: TcTdJs5sAd
Equity Win Tie
MP2 67.05% 63.64% 3.41% { QsTs }
MP3 32.95% 29.55% 3.41% { ATs, KTs, QTs, JTs, T2s+, ATo, KTo, QTo, JTo, T2o+ }

If he folds AJ and calls KQ OTT

Board: TcTdJs5sAd
Equity Win Tie
MP2 52.68% 50.00% 2.68% { QsTs }
MP3 47.32% 44.64% 2.68% { ATs, KQs, KTs, QTs, JTs, T2s+, ATo, KQo, KTo, QTo, JTo, T2o+ }

And for my thought proccess in-game, if he has his UTG limp range, giving him AA and JJ 1/3 of the time:

Board: TcTdJs5sAd
Equity Win Tie
MP2 31.08% 27.03% 4.05% { QsTs }
MP3 68.92% 64.86% 4.05% { AhAc, JdJh, AJs-ATs, KQs, KTs, QTs, JTs, T9s, AJo-ATo, KQo, KTo, QTo, JTo }

So yeah, it was a clear bet. And I wasn't even on my phone or anything. Just a complete brainfart/choke.

Well, today I played two hands and lost $1040:

TAG raises EP, donk1 calls, whale calls, donk2 calls, I call BU A2

Pot $105
A29

donk1 bets $25, whale calls, I raise to $130, both call

T

donk shoves $160, whale calls allin, I call

9

AK and AQ are good

BU straddle $10

Nit calls BB, whale calls, I make it $55 with AA, nit raises to $175, whale calls, I go allin for $550, both call

Nit has AKo and whale has A5 and wins.

My first month as a live poker pro is in the books and I'm up $1220 for a cool $18/hour. The most hours I played in a week was 25 but I feel I can get that up to 35 with more experience/coffee. I'm visiting my brother for the next 5 days and have a 2 week vacation starting the 21st so July goals:

60 hours

Yeah that's about it. All those exercise, learning, social goals are too personal for me. So this is likely gonna be all POKER

More food pics!!!

Yeah this seems like a great thread in the making, have a lot of respect for you being a life nit and saving that money.

glgl

Seoul is an incredible food city - maybe the best in Asia.

My favorite thing I had there was what I can only describe as a "chicken cheese pot."

It's stir-fried chicken with two cheeses and ramen noodles. After you cook it it's just a gooey delicious mess. One of the best meals I had in Asia.



This is the place if you wanna check it out 신미경 홍대 닭갈비

MP is an OWG who likes to bet out with TP+ and raise gigantic with big hands. BU is a terrible LAG who is down a few $300 buyins.

I iso OC AT $25, two calls

Pot $80
T86

I bet $50, both call

Pot $230
5

I shove, BU has $250 and MP $350

There's not a lot of spots that come up I'm completely unused to.

MP is OWG who likes to lead medium strength hands MW like 67s on T73r and A7s on A93 etc. $600 eff

CO is MAAG who's not afraid to put in big 3 barrel bluffs and is generally agro. $1800 eff

BU is a bad loose passive and made two huge, incorrect folds with draws and showed them in the last hour. He played them both by just calling flop and folding to a raise. He's stuck a few buyins, straddles at least 3x an orbit, and has $600. I cover everyone.

BU straddle, I iso AJ to $40, 4 ways

$165

AQ9
MP leads $75, I call, CO thinks for way too long, looks pained, and calls, BU snapcalls

$465

6

MP checks, I check??? CO checks, BU bets $200, MP fold, I???

This is just a spot that never comes up online. On the one hand it's a 40bb bet, I'm not closing the action, I have the Jc, and BU hasn't been that agro postflop, especially MW.

On the other hand, MP almost always has some dumb Ace, I'm getting > 4 to 1, I only lose to Q6cc, A6, and maybe Q9 or AK (he is the type to flat AK pre).

I felt really lost here. It seemed like a spot where every option was both meh and obvious. It's a weird feeling.

Incredible hand from yesterday:

BB is a maniac, straddling BU to 35 at 1/2 and 3betting/squeezing top 20% of hands. BU is a supernice Jamaican guy "just here to gamble"

BU straddle to $5

BB calls, BU announces "I have ten eight, I check"

Pot $11

642

BB checks, BU "I need some help, I check"

Pot $11
5

BB checks, BU "I need a seven"

Pot $11
7

BB goes allin for $110, BU says "why you did that mon" and calls

BB KK, BU has... T8

Had an uneventful week where I felt like all hands played themselves then yesterday these came up:

H1

MP is OWG, a bit loose, SB is loose/passive, a little crazy postflop. They both have $300 or so

I iso BU $30 with AK, two calls

$95

T86

SB check, MP leads $40, I raise to $160??

I see this a lot with TP hands and felt I had some good FE

H2

SB is a loose 70yo capable of bluffs. CO OMC, BU 70/20. $600 eff

I raise $25 EP with AA 3 calls

$100

JJ9

SB bets $55, I call, rest fold

$210

8

He bets $115

H3

Nit limps EP with $300, whale limps CO, maniac limps BU, I complete 94, donk checks

$25

993

I bet $15, nit calls

$55

2

I bet $30, nit calls

$115

Q

I check, he instabets $50

I should probably b/f for $60-70 to get value from pairs and Qdxd. This guy limps 22-99, small SC and raises KQ+, AJ+, TT+ pre. He stacked off against his "rival" a few hours earlier with $300 on Q53r with Q9o in a srp by donk3betting allin.

H4

This guy just stacked off after isoing $40 pre and just shoving $500 on a T97r flop and losing to J8. He raises to $20-40 about half the time. Postflop makes huge bets with scared hands, just gives up multiway a lot on flops. $500 eff

CO raises isos $25, I 3b $80 with AQ, he calls

$170

982

check, check

:9diamond:

check check

4

he insta bets $115

This is a spot where online I close my eyes and click call online but live I've typically seen people make bluff stabs on flop+turn rather than river.

H5

Same villain as last hand $500 eff

I iso BU $30 AK, CO calls

$65

K42

CO check/calls $40

$145

J

CO snap grabs a random amount of red chips and throws em in there. Turns out it's $45. I call

$235

2

CO quickly but not-so-randomly sends in a black and 3 greens for $175

So I came up 3 hours short of my 60h goal this month. I was invited to dinner halfway through my last session and I was 75% sure that the Russian mobster guy across the table just called in a hit on me after I sucked out on him. So it seemed prudent to leave.

I'll be spending the next two weeks in Seattle/Vancouver with family and am super excited.

I've only played 6 hours this month due to being sick and jet lagged from my trip. My goals for the next month are play 100 hours and buy a car. The latter is not going well.

"I almost sold this car today, a guy really liked it"

*takes an extra 2-3 seconds to start before test drive*

"Hmmm it must be because no one has driven it in a while"

I really, really hate this process

Definitely in for this one, GL brother.

Had a really boring week. Two break even sessions then a big loss and big win. Only two significant hands:

Hand 1
BU has $180 and isos 3 limpers to $20, I 3bet SB $80 AK

EP, MP, BU all call???? EP and MP both have $450

Pot $330
A77

I bet $155 (too big imo), EP minraises $310, MP flats, BU folds, I shove and lose to MPs 77. NH

Hand 2
MP 40/20 opens $20, CO 50/10 calls, I call SB 66, BB LP calls

Pot $80
JT2

Ck ck ck ck

Pot $80
6

I bet $55, BB calls, CO calls

Pot $245
6

I bet $135 (might be too small, I felt their calls OTT weren't flush heavy), BB snaps, CO makes it $320, I shove, BB fold, CO snaps for $700ish and his TT is no good.

Nice flop check buddy. I was on major tilt after losing the $1k high hand in the last 4 minutes so I left and tried Hawaiin poke for the first time. It was real good.

Hey men, You say you save a lot of money even playing low / mid stakes when it was your monthly expense?

When I lived in Taiwan, I spent about $1500 a month including rent, food, utilities, transport, a month of vacation. Having a gf/roommate is nice

1500 is more than I thought without doubt, ty

Played three hands in the past week that have been bugging me so I'd like to get em on the record.

Hand 1
I iso $30 MP with AA CO, BB, EP call. CO has $50 left, EP $700.


Pot $125
662

EP leads $45, I call, CO allin for $50, EP calls, I call

Pot $275

T
EP bets $150, I call

Pot $575

3
EP shoves $500, I call

I called because he was an old loosish weird-playing dude and there was a chance he'd play JJ-KK like this. If I continue with 22, 67s, 66, TT+ then AA has to be a call but really, who fires this huge into a sidepot? I could maaaaybe fold turn.

Hand 2

I iso MP $30 with JJ, CO makes it $135, I shove for his $380.

In another hand he 3bet allin with $200 to a $20 raise with AJo but he was really tight for a couple hours after that. Also, I am really bad at eyeballing peoples stacks and thought he had less than $300. Oh well.

Hand 3

$700 eff
BU loosish MAWG isos $25, I 3b BB $90 with AK He calls

Pot $200

K78

I bet $90, he snap makes it $200, I call

Pot $600

4
I check, he snap checks

T

I check, he checks

I've seen this flop play quite a bit and it's always a mid-strength hand. River was either a $180 block or a $400 shove; I'm not sure. He showed KQs


In other news, I called the clock on a guy (after 5 minutes) who was clearly folding based on his speech/mannerisms. As soon as I did, his fratbro friend had some nice things to say like "who's the dick in seat 1" and "you ****ing 90 pound piece of ****"

I wanna forget this hand for the rest of my life but I'll share it anyway

BU straddle, SB TAG calls $10, I call MP $10 with 88, CO nit raises to $35, BU whale allin $65, TAG calls, I fold, CO calls.

Flop
88A

Turn
A

I called pre when I always raise here bc the action was on me for like 30 seconds while I tried to make change for the cocktail waitress. I sometimes have trouble with little things like that; making the table happy at the expense of a few dollars in ev.

They were only ~400 deep but good god it felt awful. I would feel more awful if I didn't win the $1k high hand with the minimum AAATT and if I weren't running like a jesus lizard in August but still...

The board on the river is

AA27A

There's 4 minutes to the next high hand after Seat 8 pretends that she didn't see seat 6 check 2 minutes ago. After another minute or two of stalling and the fish at the table getting very annoyed and not realizing what's going on do you:

A) call the clock
B) call the floor, explain the situation and soft angle she pulled on seat 6
C) tell her you won't call the clock if you split the $500 equally to the table if she wins
D) do nothing

FWIW she was a big nit up 3 buyins and had already won a high hand that session.

Lmao call that ****.

Had my worst day of the summer so far at -$2050

I was to the left of a 90/80 maniac and couldn't capitalize. Felt I misplayed a few spots too:

These are all about $1k eff

Hand 1

Maniac EP opens $15, I call KQ (should've 3bet, players behind weren't bad enough), two others call

Pot $65
K25

He bets $55, I call

Pot $165
3

He bets $120, I call

Pot $405
3
He bets $235 and flips over the 6, I fold

In another hand he called a $200 shove with 63s and lost to 66. He showed the 6 after I asked him if he had 63 again. I don't know how I feel about this fold, probably terrible

Hand 2

BU OWG raises $20, Maniac raises $55, I raise $135 with JJ both call???

Pot $405
KT7

Ck ck ck

Pot $405
5

Maniac leads $250, I fold, BU folds???

I folded bc I thought BU would have TT+, AK a lot but oh well

Hand 3

OWG raises EP $25, Maniac $65, I make it $140, some nit makes it $310 and I fold :-/

Hand 4

Maniac BU isos $20, I make it $85 with QQ, he calls

Pot $180
T97

I bet $140, he jams, I call

I have at least 45% vs his range so not foldin. Couldn't hold vs JT. One bad thing about this room is it's the only one around you can't run it twice.

Hand 5

I raise EP $25 with AQ, 5 calls.

Pot $125
942

Checks around

Pot $125
Q

Maniac bets $85, I call (not good prob), 3 more call

Pot $550
J

Maniac checks, I check, OWG2 bets $200, CO snaps, BU fold, Maniac fold, I fold

OWG2 says good call, CO shows JTo and wins.

So I folded not thinking about it getting 5:1. OWG2 hadn't done anything weird since he sat 2 orbits before and CO was on the nittier side. OWG2 probably would've bet bigger with QJ+ in hindsight though. CO easily has QT,KQ

Hand 6

I raise $25 EP with 99, 4 calls, Maniac makes it $120, I fold.... 3 calls

I folded bc I assumed one of the $200-400 stacks would jam too often for me to profitably call here. Obviously the flop was 942r and maniac fired $350 with AK so there's a little extra turning in the stomach from that one.

Having these awful days is good for remembering that every time I step in the room the worst case scenario is I lose a couple % of my net worth. Before the last 2 days of August I was running incredibly well so I'm not too upset. Funny story: My worst online day in terms of % of my roll was Feb 29, 2008 because Stars was running a double VPP promotion so I "couldn't" quit. For years I made it a tradition to take off the last day of the month.

August: I played about 100 hours and made $30/hour. Looking forward to the holiday weekend grind. Hopefully I won't play like ****.

Prob calling again vs maniac.
Bigger pre like $200. Never folding turn.

Again like $200-240 here.

NH wp

Raise run vs spazz you have the nuts!

This last hand depends on stack depth. But ripping it pre fairly often.