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From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story

01-21-2014 , 06:49 PM
In
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01-22-2014 , 10:07 PM
I also picked up Thinking, Fast and Slow on the recommendation of a friend.

Spoiler:
I've barely read it though.
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-24-2014 , 01:26 AM
Just a mini update until I am able to update on my laptop with proper formatting:

Playing really well lately and the cards are starting to cooperate. Up a couple of buy ins this week heading into the weekend and feeling really good. I've started making optimal plays with much more frequency (still nowhere near where I want to be) post flop and the results are showing. Currently on a five session win streak (no jinx one time).

On pace to meet all weekly goals except for 40 hours playing. I really need to start taking a nap in between the gym and my sessions. Without the nap as soon as I sit down at the table I start getting the yawns really quickly which I hate (I had a 5 Hour Energy AND a Monster Rehab before my session today and I was yawning ten minutes into the session). Being mentally alert is especially important because nowadays the more knowledge I gain the more mentally exhausting it is to play a long session for me as I'm constantly paying attention and trying to get the right reads on each player at the table. Sitting down already slightly tired just isn't going to end well most of the time.

Thanks for reading. Big update Sunday most likely.
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01-24-2014 , 01:42 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Breezee
Sick thread, what is your playing schedule like? Its tough playing after the gym. I wouldn't recommend it at all. Especially after reading an article on how the brain works after we work out.

A good tip would be to space your workout as far as the day will allow you to. Example, gym morning, lunch, shower then session.
Still trying to figure out an optimal daily schedule. It's hard because Maryland Live can get a huge wait list starting around 5-6 PM so I would like to get there before that ideally.

Maybe I can start trying
11 AM - wake up/breakfast
12 PM - gym
1 PM - lunch
2-4 PM - nap
5PM-2AM - grind

However this wouldn't work well diet wise as I would be eating such a huge % of my daily calories at the beginning of the day.

Been experimenting with different days off too. Sunday and Thursday seem like the likely play for me since I'd like to have a day off before the weekend rush hits. Sunday isn't a huge deal to have off anymore now that NFL football is over.
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-24-2014 , 01:50 AM
Glad to hear everything is falling into place. You can crush poker. When the concepts are clicking and the runbad is deactivated you are super solid.

As for the gym I obviously have figured out the optimal schedule.
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01-24-2014 , 02:04 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coasterbrad
Glad to hear everything is falling into place. You can crush poker. When the concepts are clicking and the runbad is deactivated you are super solid.

As for the gym I obviously have figured out the optimal schedule.
Thanks coast to coast. Enjoy the vaca but hurry back.

I need to get on your lifting regimen.
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01-24-2014 , 10:19 AM
It's amazing how much having a regular gym regimen has improve my regular work life and poker life. Try to stick to a regular regimen and keep a good balance going!
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-24-2014 , 02:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattgunner25
It's amazing how much having a regular gym regimen has improve my regular work life and poker life. Try to stick to a regular regimen and keep a good balance going!
That's the plan. Just trying to find a good balance because one is affecting the other too much right now.
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-26-2014 , 08:55 PM
The Turning Point?

"Who you are to be, you are now becoming." - Eric Thomas

Winning session streak is now up to 7. I feel like I am improving exponentially with each session that I play in regards to making more and more optimal plays. I still have a handful of missteps that I need to work on but overall everything is starting to fall into place. I'm starting to absorb more and more crucial info at the table as well as when I go over my HH's with Kydd. Confidence in my play right now is at an all time high but I'm lacking in the volume department. I still need to work out a solid daily schedule to follow so that I can get rest in between the gym and my sessions. I think getting that rest will ultimately allow me to add another ~2 hours onto each of my sessions which will start to add up in the long run.

I feel that starting my staking deal on a pretty substantial downswing was actually beneficial for me. It ultimately made me develop some pretty thick skin in regards to being on the wrong side of variance and knowing that eventually it will all even out. Case in point:

Effective stacks ~430, Hero covers
Preflop ($7): Hero is in SB with 99
UTG+1 opens for $10 (he had been doing this a lot), MP calls, HJ calls, folded to Hero who raises to $60, UTG+1 folds, MP calls, HJ ships for $420, Hero calls, MP folds.

HJ insta flips up AA, takes off his headphones and starts pacing around the table like he was in the WSOP ME on the bubble. He then asks me "YA GOT KINGS?!"

Flop ($915): KT4

Turn ($915): 8

River ($915): 9

About time (justice from my Borgata KK vs 99 hand?). HJ starts asking people at the table "WHAT AM I GONNA DO?!"

That happened on Monday and definitely gave me a big confidence boost for the rest of the week. I ended up getting paid back for this river throughout the week via numerous river suckouts by fish but it's no sweat. It's always nice starting off the week in the black so you have a nice cushion for the rest of the week.

Here's another hand where I felt myself really grow up as a player even if it doesn't seem special at all:

Effective stacks ~500, Hero covers
Preflop ($7): Hero is UTG with AA
Hero opens for 25, UTG+1, BTN, and BB call.

I had BTN pegged as one of the most passive players I had ever seen. He never showed one ounce of aggression in the 3 hours I had been playing with him.

Flop ($102): 789
BB checks, Hero bets $65, UTG+1 folds, BTN raises to $150, BB folds, Hero folds.

I wanted to ask him what he had when I left but I didn't and still feel really confident in my fold. He's just never raising with a hand that I'm beating in this spot. Not long ago I would have shoved, gotten snapped by bottom two or 56, and lost $500.

It's become super apparent to me that making correct laydowns is such a crucial aspect of the game that I had been sorely lacking in. Taking everything into account before making these decisions is only going to boost my winrate.

I mentioned this in the chat thread already but now that I am gaining more and more knowledge I find it so much more mentally draining to put in monster sessions. I remember the good old days grinding 1/2 at Borgata where I could sit there for 10-12 hours without having to think about what my opponents had and hopefully luckboxing into a profitable session and dreaming about being a pro putting in 40+ hour weeks because it would be SO EASY. It's not...not yet at least.

So since I got to the Borgata on the 14th of Jan until now I have cashed 12 out of 13 sessions with a w/r well north of 10bb/hr over that time. Hopefully I can keep the momentum going this upcoming week and just start consistently crushing.

I fell short of a couple of last weeks goals but I am killing it in the diet & fitness department. I also booked a no soda last longer with Kydd where I win if he drinks soda before I do or I don't have a soda until 2015. This can only help with my 40 lbs lost bet as well. Will do a one month update on where I am weight wise on Feb 1st.

A staple of the Randal_Graves diet:

Spoiler:

Chipotle double chicken salad (no rice)


Goals for the week of 1/20-1/26
[28] Play a minimum of 40 hours
[X] Go over all recorded HH's after each session
[6/7] Go to gym 5 of 7 days
[7/7] Follow daily meal plan all 7 days
[3/7] Read "Thinking, Fast and Slow" 1 hour minimum per day


Goals for the week of 1/27-2/2
[ ] Play a minimum of 35 hours
[ ] Go over all recorded HH's after each session
[ ] Go to gym 5 of 7 days
[ ] Follow daily meal plan all 7 days
[ ] Read "Thinking, Fast and Slow" 1 hour minimum per day
[ ] No soda

I also bought a white board and hung it up in my room (childhood dream fulfilled) and will be keeping track of numerous goals and figures on it. Will post a pic of it once I have it all formatted.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned. Good times are ahead.
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01-26-2014 , 11:19 PM
good read, subscribed.

gl
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01-27-2014 , 02:44 AM
Very inspiring post Randall. Gl man

I felt the same way that you did in your AA hand the other day. I had a similar villain, super super passive all day.

I opened AA, btn calls, and villain calls SB. Flop JTx and villain just leads out $45 into $45. I wanted to fold so badly. I ended up folding to his $100 turn bet.

Gotta have the discipline to make the correct folds. You'll save so much that a lot of other regs won't.
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01-27-2014 , 12:03 PM
Whiteboard:

From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-27-2014 , 12:14 PM
From AIDS to PAID.. Isn't that the Magic Johnson story?

#TitleRipOff
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-27-2014 , 12:47 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke0424
Very inspiring post Randall. Gl man

I felt the same way that you did in your AA hand the other day. I had a similar villain, super super passive all day.

I opened AA, btn calls, and villain calls SB. Flop JTx and villain just leads out $45 into $45. I wanted to fold so badly. I ended up folding to his $100 turn bet.

Gotta have the discipline to make the correct folds. You'll save so much that a lot of other regs won't.
Thanks for reading duke. My cheesy inspirational quote of the week revolves around the importance of discipline.
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01-27-2014 , 12:54 PM
I dig the whiteboard, nice to have a constant reminder to keep you on track.
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-27-2014 , 03:36 PM
Lindsey Duke (for reference):



From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-28-2014 , 02:01 PM
Didn't someone in the chat thread call her ugly? Lol than proceed to go on a rampage?
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-28-2014 , 02:14 PM
If she's ugly then I need to readjust my chick meter.

GL OP looks like as long as you have the motivation, you can do it!
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-28-2014 , 03:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrubyKGB
Didn't someone in the chat thread call her ugly? Lol than proceed to go on a rampage?
Yep. Someone then agreed with him.

Some people are just dumb.
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-28-2014 , 07:28 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randal_Graves
Yep. Someone then agreed with him.

Some people are just trolling on the internet.
FYP
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01-28-2014 , 08:15 PM
the 99 hand is pretty spewy ... just awful.
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01-28-2014 , 08:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IbelieveinChipKelly
the 99 hand is pretty spewy ... just awful.
Explain
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-28-2014 , 08:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IbelieveinChipKelly
the 99 hand is pretty spewy ... just awful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by trob888
Explain
I don't call off my stack - even at 84 BBs - with medium PPs. At best you're flipping a coin here. We are not provided any read that villain DOESN'T have a premium here. Yes, he opens on the small side a lot ... So I'm OK with a 3-bet, probably a little smaller, maybe $50 and then I think it's a trivially easy fold with 99.
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01-28-2014 , 08:43 PM
You read the HH wrong
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote
01-28-2014 , 08:55 PM
someone shipped over our 3-bet ... that's all that's truly relative.
From AIDS to Paid: The Randal_Graves story Quote

      
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