hey, i'm nick, and i'm in 4th year of medical school in sydney, australia. been playing poker seriously for about 2yrs years now after picking the game up at home games during high school. i'm a fairly low-volume player - i can really only play weekends/holidays because of study load, but i've been a fairly consistent winner at the games for the last 2yrs.

i had been working as a swimming instructor on weekends for the first 3 years of med school, but decided to quit at the beginning of this year. the job was fun, but my shifts were awful - 7.30am-1.30pm saturday+sunday; gave me no time to sleep in or relax really (i am 8-5 at uni 5 days a week). so i decided to quit and step up my poker volume in place, seeing as i enjoy poker far more and my hourly was more than comparable. would never ever consider dropping out of uni for poker - i enjoy it way too much and would be killing my future, not to mention wasting alot of hard effort i put in both to get accepted into med school and to pass my first 3 years.

buttttt - things haven't quite gone as planned. got back from trip to europe in first week of jan, started crushing 100nl for about a week and then **** hit the fan. have pretty much not won consistently since mid-jan and i'm in the worst downswing i've ever had - dropped about -30bi's/-$2,700 between 100nl/50nl. it's been really quite demoralising coz i've had to move down and now with no cash flow other than poker, it's starting to hurt haha.

on the plus side, i went and got myself some coaching (which has really helped) and i feel like i'm totally in control of my game despite me still losing. coaching can't really help you avoid those 1-outers in 3b pots or set<set situations. i know things will turn around soon if i keep playing like i am, but i want them to happen quicker haha.

so for obvious reasons i'd like to turn this around to start earning some $$$ so i can live haha. i have bigger goals in sight though - at the end of the year i'm planning on living in Germany for ~6 weeks to study at a hospital there (all med students have an elective placement at the end of their 4th year, where they choose a hospital and do a 6 week placement there), and then afterwards would like to spend the next ~6 weeks travelling around Europe with mates until the new uni year restarts in Feb 2013. so i need money for that. by that point before i leave, i also would also like to have enough money earned to buy myself a laptop. i'm just running a beasty desktop at the moment, but having a laptop will give me the ability to keep grinding while i'm o/s, and both pay off the laptop and earn from it through poker. would be pretty sweet if buying something like a laptop actually earned me $$$.

i plan on playing at least 250k hands this year (more if rush poker comes back), with some live poker every so often. the star has such soft 1/2 games it's not even funny. only problem is rake is insanely high (10% with $10 cap + $5/hr table charge) and transport there is either too long or too costly if i drive and park. so you have to absolutely crush these games (which isn't hard) and run like Jesus to beat them long-term.

my goals for the year are pretty simple and straight-forward -

-get back to 100nl+
-play majority of my volume for the year at 100nl+ (don't wanna be stuck at 50nl)
-keep working at my game - vid's/coaching etc.
-play my A game as much as possible
-earn enough to travel comfortably O/S in 2012/13
-earn enough to buy laptop for O/S travel in 12/13
-pass all my 4th year rotations (paediatrics, mental health, obstetrics/gynaecology, oncology)
-keep fit, active and healthy
-chicago bulls win 2011/12 NBA championship and st. george dragons (NRL team) win 2012 premiership

2011 graph -



2012 so far -



plan on using this thread to keep me motivated and track my progress. will post garphs+hh's periodically plus any q's people have.

so here goes nothing - let's hope for some rungood!!!!

oh, and threadsavers for extra rungood -

blah - really need to stop grinding longer for vpps, esp. if i'm in a downswing. seshs like these don't help. not happy.

new goal - learn to quit when i'm ahead as long as i'm still in this downswing. vpps don't matter.



biggest winning hand -

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($50)
BB ($20)
UTG ($50)
UTG+1 ($50.75)
UTG+2 ($81.01)
Hero ($56.79)
BTN ($28.52)

Dealt to Hero K K

fold, fold, UTG+2 raises to $1.50, Hero raises to $5, fold, fold, fold, UTG+2 raises to $11.25, Hero raises to $56.79 (AI), UTG+2 calls $45.54

FLOP ($114) A 7 4

TURN ($114) A 7 4 2

RIVER ($114) A 7 4 2 8

Hero shows K K
(Pre 82%, Flop 91.6%, Turn 95.5%)

UTG+2 shows J J
(Pre 18%, Flop 8.4%, Turn 4.5%)

Hero wins $111

biggest losing hand -

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($22.66)
BB ($28.72)
UTG ($42.07)
UTG+1 ($71.74)
UTG+2 ($50.09)
MP1 ($50)
Hero ($58.89)
BTN ($49.25)

Dealt to Hero Q Q

fold, fold, UTG+2 raises to $1.50, fold, Hero raises to $4.50, fold, fold, fold, UTG+2 raises to $11.50, Hero raises to $58.89 (AI), UTG+2 calls $38.59 (AI)

FLOP ($100) K 4 T

TURN ($100) K 4 T 6

RIVER ($100) K 4 T 6 8

UTG+2 shows A A
(Pre 81%, Flop 90.8%, Turn 95.5%)

Hero shows Q Q
(Pre 19%, Flop 9.2%, Turn 4.5%)

UTG+2 wins $98.43

glglgl with all of this...and hope Med School goes well also

Best of luck in med school + poker

tyty. hoping for big things this yr, both poker- and life/med-wise.

working a week of night shifts this week, so not a ton of time to grind. will post a graph at week's end tho.

GL Bleffo!

downswings happen. Control yourself and things will turn back. Gl man.

blah - rly disappointed with how this week went. put in 3 solid winning session, then blow it all in a single one. can't believe how gross i'm running. i still feel like i'm playing well, but idk.



fun hands -

vs. a idiot reg

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($50)
Hero ($54.34)
UTG ($24.75)
UTG+1 ($50)
UTG+2 ($19.20)
MP1 ($53.21)
MP2 ($66.32)
CO ($16.84)
BTN ($51.25)

Dealt to Hero K A

fold, fold, UTG+2 calls $0.50, fold, MP2 raises to $1.50, fold, fold, SB calls $1.25, Hero raises to $6.90, fold, MP2 calls $5.40, SB calls $5.40

FLOP ($21.20) T 5 K

SB checks, Hero bets $10, MP2 folds, SB raises to $43.10 (AI), Hero calls $33.10

TURN ($107) T 5 K 6

RIVER ($107) T 5 K 6 Q

SB shows T K
(Pre 28%, Flop 54.9%, Turn 72.7%)

Hero shows K A
(Pre 72%, Flop 45.1%, Turn 27.3%)

SB wins $104


kinda misplayed this one vs. a decent reg but oh well

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($54.16)
Hero ($96.66)
UTG ($50)
UTG+1 ($104)
CO ($86.97)
BTN ($51)

Dealt to Hero 9 9

fold, fold, CO raises to $1.25, fold, SB calls $1, Hero calls $0.75

FLOP ($3.75) Q 8 9

SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets $2.50, SB folds, Hero raises to $10, CO calls $7.50

TURN ($23.75) Q 8 9 K

Hero bets $16, CO raises to $35.50, Hero calls $19.50

RIVER ($94.75) Q 8 9 K 8

Hero checks, CO bets $40.22 (AI), Hero calls $40.22

CO shows J 7
(Pre 33%, Flop 33.4%, Turn 77.3%)

Hero shows 9 9
(Pre 67%, Flop 66.6%, Turn 22.7%)

Hero wins $172

know you'll do it man, gl.

so stupid. can't win anymore. donswing is getting to level of stupidity now.



sigh. gonna take a week or so off to re-evaluate my game, get my head straight and decide what i wanna do going forward.

fun hand vs. a 28/12 rec. player -

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($50)
BB ($30.25)
UTG ($22.69)
UTG+1 ($51.79)
Hero ($56.75)
MP1 ($43.37)
CO ($50)
BTN ($83.60)

Dealt to Hero A 4

fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.50, fold, fold, BTN calls $1.50, fold, fold

FLOP ($3.75) 5 K 4

Hero bets $2.60, BTN calls $2.60

TURN ($8.95) 5 K 4 7

Hero bets $6.15, BTN calls $6.15

RIVER ($21.25) 5 K 4 7 4

Hero bets $14.50, BTN raises to $40, Hero calls $25.50

BTN shows 5 5
(Pre 66%, Flop 70.5%, Turn 20.5%)

Hero shows A 4
(Pre 34%, Flop 29.5%, Turn 79.5%)

BTN wins $98.75

another awesome hand vs. a 16/8 terrible rec. player -

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($47.75)
BB ($70.12)
UTG ($50)
UTG+1 ($50.50)
UTG+2 ($61.64)
MP1 ($56.27)
CO ($21)
Hero ($50)

Dealt to Hero 7 7

UTG raises to $1.50, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls $1.50, fold, fold

FLOP ($3.75) 5 9 7

UTG bets $2, Hero raises to $7.50, UTG calls $5.50

TURN ($18.75) 5 9 7 3

UTG checks, Hero bets $12.25, UTG raises to $28.50, Hero raises to $41 (AI), UTG calls $12.50 (AI)

RIVER ($100) 5 9 7 3 3

Hero shows 7 7
(Pre 19%, Flop 5.2%, Turn 2.3%)

UTG shows 9 9
(Pre 81%, Flop 94.8%, Turn 97.7%)

UTG wins $98.25

lol. never easy this game. played extremely well (imo) this weekend, yet still can't escape that variance. i feel like this DS might be turning itself around tho which is always good - would just like results to come faster.

this week -



lol. can't say much about this hand, but pretty standard for me.

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
Hero ($62.83)
BB ($52.08)
UTG ($18.50)
UTG+1 ($80.21)
UTG+2 ($22.25)
MP1 ($50)
MP2 ($79.89)
CO ($60.33)
BTN ($50)

Dealt to Hero Q Q

fold, UTG+1 raises to $1.75, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls $1.50, fold

FLOP ($4) 3 Q K

Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $3.06, Hero raises to $10, UTG+1 raises to $25, Hero raises to $61.08 (AI), UTG+1 calls $36.08

TURN ($126) 3 Q K A

RIVER ($126) 3 Q K A 8

UTG+1 shows A A
(Pre 81%, Flop 10.5%, Turn 97.7%)

Hero shows Q Q
(Pre 19%, Flop 89.5%, Turn 2.3%)

UTG+1 wins $123


boom.

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($43.91)
BB ($56.04)
UTG ($74.90)
Hero ($96.34)
UTG+2 ($46.11)
MP1 ($49.50)
MP2 ($18.50)
CO ($50.75)
BTN ($50.92)

Dealt to Hero J Q

fold, Hero raises to $1.50, fold, fold, fold, fold, BTN calls $1.50, SB calls $1.25, BB calls $1

FLOP ($6) 9 T T

SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $4.20, BTN folds, SB folds, BB raises to $9, Hero calls $4.80

TURN ($24) 9 T T K

BB bets $21, Hero calls $21

RIVER ($66) 9 T T K 4

BB checks, Hero bets $64.84 (AI), BB calls $24.54 (AI)

BB shows T Q
(Pre 26%, Flop 55.1%, Turn 0.0%)

Hero shows J Q
(Pre 74%, Flop 44.9%, Turn 100.0%)

Hero wins $112

pretty good river for me

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
Hero ($50)
BB ($33.02)
UTG ($51.34)
UTG+1 ($11.88)
UTG+2 ($50.75)
MP1 ($33.59)
CO ($23.71)
BTN ($61.40)

Dealt to Hero A A

fold, UTG+1 raises to $1.50, UTG+2 raises to $3, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $8, fold, fold, UTG+2 calls $5

FLOP ($18) 8 8 A

Hero bets $5, UTG+2 calls $5

TURN ($28) 8 8 A 5

Hero bets $8, UTG+2 calls $8

RIVER ($44) 8 8 A 5 Q

Hero bets $29 (AI), UTG+2 calls $29

Hero shows A A
(Pre 81%, Flop 99.8%, Turn 100.0%)

UTG+2 shows Q Q
(Pre 19%, Flop 0.2%, Turn 0.0%)

Hero wins $99.50

lol. so tough to run good for an extended period of time. on the bright side i'm up for the month, for the first time in a while lol



always fun losing an 80/20 -

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($28.50)
BB ($53.39)
UTG ($46.44)
UTG+1 ($21.60)
UTG+2 ($67.41)
Hero ($53.83)
CO ($66.85)
BTN ($59.07)

Dealt to Hero K K

fold, fold, UTG+2 raises to $1.50, Hero raises to $5, fold, fold, fold, fold, UTG+2 raises to $13.50, Hero raises to $53.83 (AI), UTG+2 calls $40.33

FLOP ($108) 9 T Q

TURN ($108) 9 T Q T

RIVER ($108) 9 T Q T 5

UTG+2 shows Q Q
(Pre 18%, Flop 78.9%, Turn 95.5%)

Hero shows K K
(Pre 82%, Flop 21.1%, Turn 4.5%)

UTG+2 wins $105

[ ] poker is dead -

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($27.12)
BB ($41.96)
UTG ($104)
UTG+1 ($12.90)
UTG+2 ($20.96)
MP1 ($50)
MP2 ($50)
Hero ($59.48)
BTN ($50.05)

Dealt to Hero A A

fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $2.50, fold, fold, BB calls $2, UTG+1 raises to $12.90 (AI), Hero calls $10.40, BB calls $10.40

FLOP ($38.95) 2 9 3

BB bets $3, Hero raises to $30, BB calls $26.06 (AI)

TURN ($97.07) 2 9 3 2

RIVER ($97.07) 2 9 3 2 9

Hero shows A A
(Pre 70%, Flop 89.5%, Turn 100.0%)

BB shows T Q
(Pre 14%, Flop 9.0%, Turn 0.0%)

UTG+1 shows 8 K
(Pre 15%, Flop 1.6%, Turn 0.0%)

Hero wins $94.57

countdown to busto

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
Hero ($50)
BB ($105)
UTG ($50)
UTG+1 ($112)
UTG+2 ($50)
CO ($18)
BTN ($80.97)

Dealt to Hero K K

fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, fold, fold, BTN raises to $1.50, Hero raises to $5.50, fold, UTG+1 calls $5, BTN calls $4

FLOP ($17) T 2 8

Hero bets $9, UTG+1 raises to $18, BTN folds, Hero raises to $44.50 (AI), UTG+1 calls $26.50

TURN ($106) T 2 8 T

RIVER ($106) T 2 8 T A

Hero shows K K
(Pre 72%, Flop 79.8%, Turn 4.5%)

UTG+1 shows A T
(Pre 28%, Flop 20.2%, Turn 95.5%)

UTG+1 wins $103

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($50.25)
BB ($27.37)
UTG ($77.57)
UTG+1 ($52.69)
UTG+2 ($67)
MP1 ($26.99)
MP2 ($65.02)
Hero ($50.38)
BTN ($25.29)

Dealt to Hero J J

fold, fold, fold, MP1 calls $0.50, fold, Hero raises to $2.50, BTN raises to $6, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $30, BTN calls $19.29 (AI)

FLOP ($51.83) J 9 3

TURN ($51.83) J 9 3 2

RIVER ($51.83) J 9 3 2 7

Hero shows J J
(Pre 54%, Flop 74.4%, Turn 22.7%)

BTN shows K A
(Pre 46%, Flop 25.6%, Turn 77.3%)

BTN wins $49.50

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($54.45)
BB ($39.42)
UTG ($50)
UTG+1 ($61.10)
Hero ($50.75)
BTN ($54.63)

Dealt to Hero 8 8

fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.25, BTN calls $1.25, fold, BB calls $0.75

FLOP ($4) 8 9 T

BB checks, Hero bets $3.20, BTN raises to $10.87, BB folds, Hero raises to $49.50 (AI), BTN calls $38.63

TURN ($103) 8 9 T A

RIVER ($103) 8 9 T A Q

Hero shows 8 8
(Pre 17%, Flop 6.8%, Turn 2.3%)

BTN shows 9 9
(Pre 83%, Flop 93.2%, Turn 97.7%)

BTN wins $100

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $0.50(BB) Replayer
SB ($50)
Hero ($50)
UTG ($32.78)
UTG+1 ($32.95)
UTG+2 ($27.08)
MP1 ($52.76)
CO ($50)
BTN ($55.83)

Dealt to Hero Q Q

UTG calls $0.50, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $2.50, UTG calls $2

FLOP ($5.25) J 3 8

Hero bets $3.80, UTG calls $3.80

TURN ($12.85) J 3 8 2

Hero bets $9, UTG calls $9

RIVER ($30.85) J 3 8 2 T

Hero bets $17.50, UTG calls $17.48 (AI)

Hero shows Q Q
(Pre 68%, Flop 75.4%, Turn 68.2%)

UTG shows A 8
(Pre 32%, Flop 24.6%, Turn 31.8%)

UTG wins $63.31

just keeps on going...