Somebody asked me what's the difference between a winning and losing player at low steaks no limit holdem. My response in summary from my experience:

The hours you put in, time of day, day of week, holiday, all these factors matter. Don't tip, don't buy food or massage (bring your own food water) always play all of you free hands, wait til after the button to start, know when you're outmatched and move away accordingly, table select, don't get married to top pair, know the angles not only to employ angles on others but to protect oneself from anglers as well. Try not to play a game where the casino swipes 17bb/100, which a lot of places do nowadays. This means you have to be running 25bb/100 to show a substantial profit, which most players are incapable of. If there are not at least 4 fishy fish at your table, you most likely will break even or lose, so know when to drive back home immediately.

Thoughts?

hope you will make it, but you shouls at least be able to afford drinks and tips after a big pot.
Bringing you own food or water really????

Honestly, it's about 2 factors: moneywise, it's a big leak to pay so much for food. At the 2/5 blinds, buying a water is half a BB. If you win 2 pots per hr, it's another 1 full BB per hr. Food? 3-4 BB. The other day, I literally saw a guy playing 35 bucks in front of him, and getting a massage for a dollar a minute. No joke. Liek, wtf.

2nd factor: health. Casino food is highly unhealthy. Bring and apple, some carrots, snacks, and live a longer, fuller, healthier life, instead of being a super obese regular who gets a burger and a large coke every 3 hours. Up to you.

I agree, just don't bring your own water please you can eat at home before going to casino

From my point of view (I'm not a pro), if I see someone bringing his own water or food at the casino I would classify him as scare money. Just my opinion but if some players see it this way, you will have more difficult decisions to take at the table

There's a costco nearby, so if I come before 6 pm, I try to grab a salad or chicken Bake from there for 3 or 4 bucks

lol

i was sitting on $900 plus last week at my $1/$2 game. sitting next to my friend, ex-GF, and the casino I'm at charges $3 for fiji if you are playing $1/$2. i'm thirsty, decide to get a water, tip $2; $5 for a bottle of water. Friend tells me what a waste, that I should stop at the store and buy water for $1 a bottle and bring it with me.

I have bottom set of 5s on a QT5 board. I check ship, pot is 600 multiway. Guy who has AQ calls my ship, I'm super happy bc I'm down about 700 this session. I'm almost even after I win this.

Turn is a jack. River is a king. GG. Commerce officially hated me for some reason.



Next session, I have KK, guy angle shoots pre saying all in or something and I said what? Then he says "I said call 40." I could tell he is a super spaz, so I say, "oh good I would have folded if you said all in, haha."
Flop comes 678 rainbow. He says all in for 160. I either put him on an under pair. I reluctantly call...
Turn comes a 9.
River comes a 10 for a boarded straight.

I flip KK hoping he mucks. He asks the dealer 3 times if there is a straight on the board. And then after no response, he flips 22 over, for a chop. GG.

Thats my life folks. I make all the right decisions, yet I'm punished for it.

Keep your head up my friend. Don't get in the mindset of feeling like a victim of the cards, they are perfectly objective even though it doesn't seem that way sometimes. Just keep making good decisions and you will be rewarded in the long run.

+1

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Haven't read entire thread yet, but has anyone talked to you about playing the $2-$3 game at the Bicycle? They comp food and beverages as long as you play. You can eat breakfast lunch and dinner there and it's all free (except tip). Buyins are $100-$300 and players are absolutely horrible. On top of that, they often pay cash bonuses each month based on how much you play… GL man!

Bravo, sir... Bravo.

Yes, I've played there before as well. My experience there has been bitter sweet. I was up at the 2-3 game for about 150$ with a set of tens while waiting for the 3-5 game. At the 3-5, I doubled my 200$ buy in playing super solid, I told myself I'd get up after all my free hands. Utg, my last hand I peek down to see kings. Long story short, I got 5 bet, and I was leaning towards a fold, but then last second I thought, this is kings. Too strong to fold. I call the ship for all my money. He had aces. I go home with a loss instead of 350 up. It's totally my fault.

Silver lining, I do love that they have unlimited free food for the higher games.

Last 2 sessions, up 250, up 153. Not a bad start to February, hope this month will will make up for last month and then some.

I'm getting more serious about the grind, and although a long string of run bad is very demotivational, I know that this is the only thing occupation wise I want to excel at.

Notable hands from the last 2 sessions,
In the small blind, I see KK, half the table limps, when it comes to me I make it 35 total. Big blind asks how much I have, it's about 170, and then shoves all in. Back to me, I call and table my KK. Flop comes Ace Ten 4, rainbow. Turn is a Jack. River is a 7.

Board: AT4J7
I don't feel like I beat much. Guy turns over QQ for pretty much the only all in hand I beat. Always these weird run outs.


Another notable hand:
I have AdAc in the SB. half the table limps. I make it 16 more. Everyone calls, 5 players to flop. K98 all hearts. I have no heart. I check. Checks to button, old grinder man, he is a reg. Makes it 30. I fold. Everyone else folds.

Should I have done anything different?

It's impossible to say without stack sizes or reads.

vs a half pot bet, i think c/c is better than c/f

Before hand started I had about 143, grinder man on button had 190 or so.

Subbed Krab
Exciting read throughout the thread, hope you can make it out in LA, it's no easy life, but the SSNL live games are soft as can be.

Thanks for the support Trent. It is a tough living, my game has gotten even more solid than ever, with just the occasional spew.

Highlights of today's game, got coolered, called a 3 bet ship that didn't make any sense with QQ, guy apparently had KK but couldn't range him on that bc of how weird he played it. KK held up, lost 140 that hand.

I had AA (120) on the button after a streak of not playing any hands for about 38 hands. Tight image established at table. I make it 25, I get called by BB(250) and MP1(160). Flop comes 457rainbow. Checks to me, I bet 60. Goes call, call. I'm alright with it, I'm pretty sure I'm ahead of both. Turn is a 5, checks to me again, I say all in, for 35 bucks. Goes call, mp1 goes all in lol. BB calls. Now I don't quite know what to expect. River blanks.

MP1 opens his hand for K5off for turned trips. BB mucks, most likely a straight draw with a pair, and Hero Mucks AA.

Shiiiiiiiiiiit night.

Hi KingKrab

i'm an italian poker journalist I find your story really interesting! I haven't read all the thread... so... could you resume your year? Did you have an interesting profit? What are your goals now?

I write for italiapokerclub.com and I like to make an article about your adventure! I think it will be cool!

Yeah, you shouldn't make it $18 with AA and $35 with KK.

Pick a consistent sizing based on limpers, position, etc. Since both hands were SB with 'half the table limps' you need to be consistent.

I was going to say this but then assumed the 35 was at a 2/5 and the 18 was at a 1/2. 5$ increments and such.

Hello Mizuno, thank you for your interest. If you would like, you can PM me for questions or to schedule an meet up perhaps

why leave yourself 35 behind?
you should be shipping the flop for 95.
There's already 75+ in the pot

This is all one sad level

I get that, but if I ship, it's pottish, and only made hands such as sets or straights call, which I can beat neither. I carefully thought about my bet size, and 60 would charge the draws maximally. Point is, I made a good value bet and the guy over calls with middle pair. I think it's quite weird on his part