Urindanger is a very good friend of mine. He's a great player and an awesome guy. I would rather not say what I think he does specifically good or bad.

Genius is also a great player. He's one of the few that I really don't like playing against. He's very smart.

I don't think it's a good idea for me to talk about specific players' leaks or strengths. I guess if you want to matchup two players and ask who I think has the edge, I could probably answer those.

thanks jman-

I started this year in SSNL and have moved up and been very successful at high MSNL to low HSNL (working well into 6 figures for the year).

Q
--------------
I've hit a point where I can probably make about a half mill a year easily staying at the levels I'm playing now, should I keep moving up? What criteria would you suggest for making this decision? What should I be worried about if I was to move up (Variance, win rate, etc)?

you or antonius
cts or genius

?

thanks phil! i feel not only are you an incredible player, but you're also an incredible writer

Jman, thanks very much for doing this.

Some Q's:

Do you think poker has made you a happier person, on balance?

What are your primary motivations for playing, in rough order (money, competitive drive, enjoyment, needing something to do etc)?

Have you ever honestly felt better emotionally after losing 4+ buy ins at nosebleed stakes (after playing what you consider very well ), than you have after winning 4+ buy ins at nosebleed stakes (when you considered that you made some significant mistakes)? Actually, let's say high stakes = whatever stakes were high for you at a given point in your poker career. If this has occured, how far into your poker career was it before you could truly put decisions before results on an emotional level? Do you believe many high stakes players have reached this sort of mental outlook on a consistent basis?

Finally (this part is really just for me), and I know this will be tough to answer because you never play low limits, but what sort of winrates do you think would be sustainable for a player such as yourself at 100 or 200nl, if you were dedicated to achieving your best results?

Sorry if my questions suck but I wanted to get some in before you had finished taking questions.

Thanks (and happy holidays).

1) Approximately how many people in the world over the age of 30 would you deny action to at 200/400NL HU online? What about live?

Assume somehow that you could get in as many hands per hour, the live match is 100 bb buyin, and that the inconvenience of a waitlist, travelling to a live casino, cashing out, etc. does not exist.

If you don't know someone's age who you'd deny action to online and/or live who is close to 30, I guess just name the person unless you have reservations about naming names.

I know there are a lot of other issues like how well you are playing, how badly the other guy has been playing recently, etc. but just try to average all of that as best as possible.

2) What's the biggest criticism of my game you can provide? (Just one, since I know this can get out of hand if everyone starts asking)

I know I've written about the experience in detail somewhere. If anyone can find it, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise remind me later in the thread to look for it somewhere.

someone please link!!!!!

If you went back 3-4 years (or whenever you first took up poker), would you still take up the game or pursue a different career path?

If you still would have taken up the game, how would you have approached learning it differently?

Also, of everyone that you have ever spoken to about poker, who had the greatest raw technical knowledge base (outside of yourself)?

I enjoyed your responses on spending time w/ other good poker minds, and looking for the perfect play in every situation.

Really great answers Phil.

I don't play much shorthanded or any hu vs. durrrr raptor or urindanger bc we're v good friends and talk poker all the time. So I'll leave them out.

I have a lot of respect for genius and lars. I think they are two of the smartest players/best hand readers, though that doesn't neccesarily mean they're the best players.

Aggro players like PA, aba and krantz/wl are annoying as hell to play against. Also aba always wins allins, which is a tough style to counter.

I guess I'm pusposely avoiding the question kind've. I've learned that saying who is good and who isn't usually ends up bad.
My PT is pretty busted. I can find my numbers though...

21/16 preflop, 2.4 total AF

W$WSF 45.45%, Went to SD 28.88% , W$@SD 55.56%

Flop AF 2.6 Turn 2.0 Riv 2.5

I need to make my computer work before I can do this. I'll try later.
Intelligence, time (different point in career), Being able to play shorthanded and adjust to players.

A lot of it though is honestly variance and being in the right place at the right time. There are a top players who aren't any better than some 25/50 players. They just ran good at good times, and have the roll and the risk taking ability to play in great games. It's not that rare that a 200/400nl or plo game is softer than a 25/50 game going on at the same time.
We'll see.

Thank you.

The truth is, as much as I hate it and as unelegant as it is, against 99% of opponents, you don't have to worry about balancing your bluffs that much.

You should look at every hand individually. Sure you should think about your range, but only what you opponent thinks of it. Not your true range. You should think about what kind of hands your opponent might have and how likely he is to fold them.

Game theory is important to understand, but not so useful in practice (in most games).

Just make sure you aren't using game theory to justify bad plays. If you bluff a river against a station, don't think after he calls with midpair "well he's an idiot and I'm making money in the long run since I bluff there 10% of the time"

You are making money in the long run if you bluff 10% of the time there. You probably would make more money if you bluffed 2%

Hey jman, thanks for doing this, its been an exceptionally interesting read so far. You're only one of the best poker players around, but you are the best at writing about poker out of any of the top players online right now. I've got a couple questions:

I noticed you have made exactly 1 video ever (unless there are others I can't find). why did you stop? did it have anything to do with worrying about giving away information? how much do you think it costs you for your regular opponents to see that? i'm curious because i have an offer to start making videos and i'm really on the fence about doing it.

also, feel free not to answer or to answer only briefly but i'd be really curious to hear any thoughts you have about my game.

How did you approach Omaha to get good so quickly? I asume you haven't played long, so was it just a natural transition for you from NLH? Do you think your edge is bigger vs shortstacks or fullstacks? You can't really have that big edge vs shortstacks I guess, but it seems that's all there is in nosebleed PLO.

What is your take on limping button HU vs a player who 3bets a lot, vs tightening up your PF range?

pretty sure he said in his blog once that he couldnt come to terms on the right price for one of his vids so since they didnt agree he isnt doing them for now

Great Questions
Yes, less tables definitely. Especially with another smart player watching you and discussing concepts. And especially HU tables.

Higher stakes, not really. It might make you a bit more interested, and the competition will be a bit tougher, but you might not play your best. You can learn a lot about the game 2 tabling fish hu though.
The one thing I learned most from Tommy Angelo, is how awesome quitting is.

You should pride yourself in making a good quit. I really mean that. When I'm playing and make the decision to quit, I'm very happy with myself.

The two real reasons to quit are if playing is -EV financially or -EV emotionally. I know the latter isn't a real thing, but I use it all the time.

Basically, if for whatever reason I think I'm not a favorite (or a very small favorite), I'll quit (Ideally).

Or if I'm unhappy or stressed out by playing, or would be much happier doing something else, I quit (Ideally).

Reasons you become -$EV should be obvious, and you should realize when you are unhappy.

Most pros love the freedom that poker gives them but it becomes a very restricting job actually. Much more consuming than a real one. For me at least. The problem is that we think of things in hourly rate, and we can work pretty much whenever we want. I hate it so much when I'm out with friends and just having an okay time and I think to myself "I could be working now. I wonder how much money this is costing me." Or when I weight the decision to go hang out with friends against the decision to work. It's not like I'm starving. I can afford to take some time off and be a person, but it's so hard for me, and I'd imagine, for some other players.
When I started playing, so many people had macho screennames like bignutz69 or whatever. I think being macho is ******ed. Actually it's much worse than ******ed. Being ******ed is cool with me.

Anyways, I made OMGClayAiken because it was not macho at all. I liked the idea of arrogant macho dbags guys losing money to OMGClayAiken.
I think a bet is usually standard. I think a check is fine too. The reason I checked is that I was clearly viewed by the table as a nit. I didn't think that he would call me down on all 3 streets because he'd expect me to have it too often. People know not to call down nits.

However, people also know to bluff nits! I thought he would almost definitely bet the flop with any missed hand, and 3 barrell with any draw. I also thought he might possibly raise me on the flop either to bluff me bc I'm a nit, or because he flopped a big hand, or to "find out where he was at" with 2nd pair. Live players do that a lot I've found. I didn't know what I'd do to a flop raise followed by a turn bet. Combined with the other factors and my FPS, I think it makes it a check.
I guess I should answer since I'll keep getting the question: Probably not.

I don't mean to duck this question, but I'm really not the guy to ask. I jumped into nl cash from SNGs at 5/10, and never played below 3/6 pretty much. I'm also not that much of a stats guy.

My guess for low low stakes, is that I'd play something like 28/10. I would want to play more hands because I can outplay people hardcore postflop. I also would want to keep pot sizes small so I have more room to work with once I can put them on a hand.

I don't recommend doing that, and I'm also very unsure if I'm right.

Jman,

For the 100th time this thread, thanks for doing a well! Now for the questions:

Do you travel much? Both for poker and to relax?
Where do you c/r the turn/river as a bluff in terms of board texture/villain line and villain tenancies?
Do you think 3 pair should beat 2 pair?

Everyone else keeps coming up with pretty solid questions, so I'll refrain from asking any mediocre ones. But I just want to echo everyone else and thank you for doing this Jman. As others have mentioned, your clear and detailed writing style makes this an amazing read. Even if it takes you several days to respond to some of these questions, the longer this thread goes on, the better.

Whats your attitude about your mistakes?

can you talk about the hand you just played where the third 7 came on the river against mrcall? what you had? your thought process? my guess is QQ. board was 77KJ7

Can you give examples of "durrrs rivershove w/ weak TP" and explain? ty

Jman,

First, it was cool meeting you throughout the WSOP, and I'm glad you ate the 500 balance at RBKs celebration dinner, I was sweating the flip when I realized you and I were the only ones with maryland bank cards at the end You're a stand up guy and it was a good time.

I was wondering if you had any thoughts on the pros and cons of playing online vs live. I assume most of your experience is online but I've often struggled with the idea of trying to get more live volume in. I've spoken to many 2p2ers, both those that play mainly live and obviously those mainly online, and was wondering if you felt there were any clear benefits/disadvantages to one vs the other that were worth discussing (other than the ability to multi table online I guess). Sorry if that question sucks, this thread kept me up an extra couple hours. Thanks.

edit: thought of another question. I know cash games are generally the way to go in terms of really "learning how to play poker" and attainable earns long term, but, having experience with tournaments, can you tell me why you still play them given that cash is generally "the way to go" at this point in your career I would imagine? Or more broadly, why a good cash game player should play tournaments if at all (even if in low volume)?

i assume it has a lot to do with h@lls calling range.

Ivey is slightly more annoying to play against, but Brian is usually tougher.

I'm much more of a TV guy than movie guy. I watch a ton of TV. I dunno. I liked Eternal Sunshine, V for Vendetta, ummm, I don't think either are my fave though. Just first thing that popped into my head. I forget about a lot of movies. I probably will think of my fave later.

Nothing super awesome, or that can be appreciated if you weren't there. Most of my favorite poker memories come from playing drunk 2/5nl live with friends.

One time a few of us were playing at the Wynn. I staked my friend, Mikey for the game. He's one of the funniest people I know. Everyone thinks their friends are really funny, but I'm serious about this. Most posters who know me can vouch for this.

Anyways it was a really fun night, but the highlights started when these two dbags came and sat at the table. They were more drunk than us, and they used the word 'brah' non stop. "Hey you want another drink brah?" "Nice bet brah" etc.

When the cocktail waitress was taking orders, one of them ordered "a vodka cranbarry... and your phone number"

We all laughed at him, but Mikey went on for probably 5 minutes straight making fun of him. I'm not gonna try to recreate it.

Anyways, later in the session, the vodka cranbarry brah is down to about $90. He's been suuuuper nitty and very chatty. Folded to Mikey, who's right next to me in the HJ. He opens to $20. Folds to the SB brah who shoves for $90. Folded to Mikey who has a pained look on his face.

Mikey is a very smart guy and he totally understands the game. However, he's a self proclaimed 'feel player'. He looks at me and says "I know you're not gonna like this, but I have a good feeling." And calls the last $70. I figure he has something like 44 and knows that this guy has been a huge nit, but just wanted to call.

Flop comes T57. Brah flips up KK and starts to dance and sing "make it rain"

Mikey says to me "Well, I guess I need a five or a duece." wtf?

Turn 2 river J. Mikey tables 52dd and rakes in the pot. Brah is completely stunned. So is other Brah. "That's so ****ed up brah"

They both leave while Mikey does an impression of them.

--

Another cool poker story was when Tom Dwan and I couldn't sleep one night. We invented poker games and played them HU until like 9am. We bet in 'units'. Every game we invented, we played 1-3 freezouts and the winner won a certain amount of units. We'd bet on each match. One unit was redeemable for the other person doing something stupid/embarrassing. I completely owned him and ended up like 18 units. At 10am we went to breakfast with this girl Kaitlin who was staying with us. (I had to mention she was a girl bc me going to breakfast with Tom after staying up all night with him wouldn't help all the rumors about him being gay (I love you Tom))

We made him do 20 pushups on the floor of a crowded Denny's. He had to high five our waitress 3x, and use some words we said in a sentence to her. I remember one was 'girdle' but I don't remember the others.

Afterwards we went to Best Buy, where he performed a quadrouple pump fake. That means he asked a guy for a high five, pulled his hand back when he went for it and said "pump fake", got him to go for it again 3 more times, saying "pump fake" each time, and then actually high fiving him on the 5th. It was awesome to see.

The best part was owning him in hu poker though.

**** sorry. Too late.

I've thought about this a lot. Most people have dreams/aspirations...things they'd really like to pursue. Being an actor, writing a book, traveling the world. Most of them can't pursue their dreams because of their real jobs or families or financial situation. I'm lucky that I have the freedom to pursue a dream.

I've had some from time to time but none that have really stuck with me and made me think 'man, I really wanna do this.'

I've decided that poker is too good of an opportunity for me to pass up right now. So I'll play for now. That's all I should really worry about, imo. Hopefully I'll make enough money so that when I do figure something out that I really want to pursue, I'll be able to do it.

The short answer though, is that I don't want to play poker my whole life, no. It's okay for a job, but I don't really enjoy it usually.