Hello PG&C. I've decided 2014 is the year to build a poker roll and be more successful in general. I'll mostly be playing 10NL-25NL and $3.50-$7 6-max turbo sngs on the side. First, a little bit of TL;DR about myself.

Background

I'm 21 years old living in London and doing a MSc in Mathematics. I finished a degree in Computer Science last year, and I've found lots of the concepts I learned from my studies have helped my poker game and vice-versa. I've been a consistent winner at 10NL since 2010, but have never moved up for one reason: TILT. I would have around a 6bb/100 winrate when playing well but the minute I tilted (and it took maybe 1 bad beat to set me off) I'd spew a ton of buy ins and lower my winrate significantly, to the point where I'd be getting around 2bb/100 over large samples. On top of that, I would always withdraw when I was running bad then redeposit 30 BIs a couple of days later and start over, so I never built a roll. In addition to tilt issues, I've lived an extremely unhealthy lifestyle for the past few years. I've barely exercised, have eaten 1-2 meals a day, and have played WAY too many videogames. I would play easily 20+ hours of games each week when I was busy with school, and close to 100 hours a week when I had free time. This lifestyle was hurting my play at the tables while causing me to tilt more and play less volume, and was also having a negative effect on all aspects of my life. SO, for 2014 I want to live a healthy lifestyle and advance my poker "career". I believe by living healthier I'll naturally have more energy and a clearer mind which will help my play at the tables.

Graphs

An old graph from a year ago. I've stupidly formatted my computer several times without saving my databases so this is one of the only graphs I have for my past play. The swings are somewhat due to variance, but I believe I spewed plenty of buyins as well because of tilt:



Graph for 2014. Clearly running decent but I haven't been tilting at all which has really helped.:



SNG Graph for Dec-Jan 2014:



Goals

[ ] 20k hands/month.
[ ] Work on mental game and reduce tilt as much as possible.
[ ] Join a gym and go at least 3 times a week.
[ ] NO videogames for 2014.
[ ] Eat at least 2 healthy meals / 3 total meals a day.
[ ] Reach a $3000+ bankroll and start playing 100NL by 2015.


Savers

Played a short session. Up ~2 BI.

BR: $786.32
Hands this month: 11,087

I'm pretty overrolled but I'm just getting back into cash games so I might stay at 10NL for a while before trying out 25. Any tips on how different 25NL plays these days would be apprecitaed.

One hand from the session vs. a spewtard. I take most value hands out of his range when he checks flop and uses that kind of sizing on the turn/river. He may have a T sometime that he tried to trap flop with and now is trying to get the money in or he can maybe have some weird 3 he's 3-betting, but for the most part can't fold here vs. a spazzy player.

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $12.32 (VPIP: 29.03, PFR: 19.35, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 32)
SB: $10.00 (VPIP: 28.57, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 35)
BB: $7.71 (VPIP: 53.33, PFR: 26.67, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 15)
Hero (CO): $10.00

SB posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has J J

Hero raises to $0.29, fold, fold, BB raises to $0.71, Hero calls $0.42

Flop: ($1.47, 2 players) T 3 T
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($1.47, 2 players) 3
BB bets $1.40, Hero calls $1.40

River: ($4.27, 2 players) 9
BB bets $5.60 and is all-in, Hero calls $5.60

BB shows A 6 (Two Pair, Tens and Threes) (Pre 31%, Flop 13%, Turn 7%)
Hero shows J J (Two Pair, Jacks and Tens) (Pre 69%, Flop 87%, Turn 93%)
Hero wins $14.77

Still running hotter than the sun. No sick coolers and hitting almost everything.

BR: $844.10
Hands: 11,641

Got deep with a huge whale. Games are dead obviously.

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: $10.68 (VPIP: 15.79, PFR: 12.63, 3Bet Preflop: 3.57, Hands: 98)
Hero (BB): $27.36
UTG: $12.02 (VPIP: 15.87, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 4.35, Hands: 66)
MP: $28.34 (VPIP: 80.26, PFR: 43.42, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 81)
CO: $25.96 (VPIP: 17.86, PFR: 11.61, 3Bet Preflop: 4.00, Hands: 112)
BTN: $17.27 (VPIP: 25.21, PFR: 17.65, 3Bet Preflop: 9.80, Hands: 122)

SB posts SB $0.05, Hero posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has Q Q

fold, MP raises to $0.30, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.10, MP calls $0.80

Flop: ($2.25, 2 players) 4 4 7
Hero bets $1.45, MP raises to $2.90, Hero raises to $4.86, MP calls $1.96

Turn: ($11.97, 2 players) 9
Hero bets $8.76, MP raises to $22.38 and is all-in, Hero calls $12.64 and is all-in

River: ($54.77, 2 players) J

Hero shows Q Q (Two Pair, Queens and Fours) (Pre 83%, Flop 91%, Turn 95%)
MP shows 7 2 (Two Pair, Sevens and Fours) (Pre 17%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)
Hero wins $53.27


Some serious hands. I think my biggest leak at the moment is my bet sizing.

Should I be setting up a river shove here by raising turn to like $3?

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: $10.00 (VPIP: 31.15, PFR: 26.23, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 61)
MP: $10.00 (VPIP: 10.67, PFR: 8.00, 3Bet Preflop: 3.85, Hands: 76)
Hero (CO): $12.28
BTN: $10.59 (VPIP: 24.47, PFR: 22.34, 3Bet Preflop: 7.41, Hands: 97)
SB: $5.76 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
BB: $8.57 (VPIP: 44.83, PFR: 34.48, 3Bet Preflop: 27.27, Hands: 29)

SB posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has 5 5

UTG raises to $0.30, fold, Hero calls $0.30, fold, fold, fold

Flop: ($0.75, 2 players) 5 2 2
UTG bets $0.40, Hero calls $0.40

Turn: ($1.55, 2 players) K
UTG bets $0.80, Hero raises to $2.25, UTG calls $1.45

River: ($6.05, 2 players) 8
UTG checks, Hero bets $3.74, UTG calls $3.74

Hero shows 5 5 (Full House, Fives full of Twos) (Pre 19%, Flop 91%, Turn 95%)
UTG mucks A A (Two Pair, Aces and Twos) (Pre 81%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)
Hero wins $12.92


Here I think I should be betting around $4.15 river vs. a fish. I think overall I'm consistently missing value by betting too small.

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: $11.32 (VPIP: 22.58, PFR: 19.35, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 31)
Hero (CO): $11.29
BTN: $8.59 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 28.57, Hands: 14)
SB: $19.80 (VPIP: 92.31, PFR: 42.31, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 26)
BB: $11.96 (VPIP: 20.34, PFR: 18.64, 3Bet Preflop: 8.00, Hands: 59)
UTG: $10.83 (VPIP: 21.18, PFR: 14.12, 3Bet Preflop: 3.57, Hands: 86)

SB posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has K Q

fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.29, fold, SB calls $0.24, fold

Flop: ($0.68, 2 players) Q 9 4
SB bets $0.10, Hero raises to $0.60, SB calls $0.50

Turn: ($1.88, 2 players) J
SB checks, Hero bets $1.40, SB calls $1.40

River: ($4.68, 2 players) Q
SB checks, Hero bets $3.50, SB calls $3.50

Hero shows K Q (Three of a Kind, Queens) (Pre 64%, Flop 96%, Turn 89%)
SB mucks 5 J (Two Pair, Queens and Jacks) (Pre 36%, Flop 4%, Turn 11%)
Hero wins $11.15


Another one with terrible bet sizing:

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: $7.46 (VPIP: 72.22, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
BTN: $14.37 (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 24)
SB: $9.42 (VPIP: 52.94, PFR: 17.65, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
Hero (BB): $10.00
UTG: $8.84 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)

SB posts SB $0.05, Hero posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has K Q

fold, CO calls $0.10, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.40, CO calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.85, 2 players) 6 3 9
Hero bets $0.60, CO calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.05, 2 players) 6
Hero bets $1.30, CO calls $1.30

River: ($4.65, 2 players) A
Hero bets $2.75, CO calls $2.75

Hero shows K Q (Flush, King High) (Pre 65%, Flop 54%, Turn 77%)
CO mucks 6 T (Three of a Kind, Sixes) (Pre 35%, Flop 46%, Turn 23%)
Hero wins $9.69

GL man, will be following

Thanks! GL to you too.

Hands: 12,241
BR: $867.23

Been playing short sessions since I'm pretty jetlagged and my concentration starts to break after an hour or so. Here's one interesting hand:

Villain is passive pre but I presume him to be pretty spazzy post (inf. turn/river aggressive factor over a small sample). I iso because we're a little deeper than 100bb and my hand just plays so well vs. a player like this even OOP. I bet big on flop/turn to charge draws and worse pairs since this guy's just not a folder. River I snap c/c because I think he'll bet almost 100% of his range including missed draws. Feels good to be right in these spots

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: $10.18 (VPIP: 80.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)
BTN: $5.35 (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 5)
SB: $12.20 (VPIP: 17.46, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 64)
Hero (BB): $52.62
UTG: $11.98 (VPIP: 80.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 5)

SB posts SB $0.05, Hero posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has Q J

UTG calls $0.10, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.40, UTG calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.85, 2 players) Q 2 7
Hero bets $0.60, UTG calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.05, 2 players) 3
Hero bets $1.45, UTG calls $1.45

River: ($4.95, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, UTG bets $4.70, Hero calls $4.70

UTG shows A 9 (One Pair, Sevens) (Pre 56%, Flop 45%, Turn 27%)
Hero shows Q J (Two Pair, Queens and Sevens) (Pre 44%, Flop 55%, Turn 73%)
Hero wins $13.70

Following GL. Also i would cut off the results of the Hands so we are not result oriented when commenting you can post results at later date :P.

Hands: 13,498
BR: $908.18

This will probably be my last update for a while. Going to be busy since I'm starting uni again soon so won't be playing much for a few days. When I come back I'll probably try playing some 25NL. I think I'll be most comfortable making the full transition once I hit $1000 or 40 BIs because I'm a huge nit

I played another short 6-tabling session since I was really jetlagged and not up to the normal 12-table grind. No too interesting spots so far, just had a few coolers but managed to win alot back against some people that took really weird lines. Here are a few "WTF" hands:

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: $10.00 (VPIP: 22.50, PFR: 17.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 41)
BTN: $35.82 (VPIP: 43.33, PFR: 6.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 32)
SB: $10.05 (VPIP: 30.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
Hero (BB): $10.77

SB posts SB $0.05, Hero posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has 8 A

fold, BTN calls $0.10, fold, Hero raises to $0.40, BTN calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.85, 2 players) 3 Q 7
Hero bets $0.55, BTN raises to $1.10, Hero calls $0.55

Turn: ($3.05, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, BTN bets $2.90, Hero raises to $9.27 and is all-in, BTN calls $6.37

River: ($21.59, 2 players) 2

Hero shows 8 A (Flush, Ace High) (Pre 34%, Flop 46%, Turn 100%)
BTN shows 9 A (Flush, Queen High) (Pre 66%, Flop 54%, Turn 0%)
Hero wins $20.62



PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: $10.00 (VPIP: 23.21, PFR: 10.71, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 57)
BTN: $15.50 (VPIP: 17.95, PFR: 13.68, 3Bet Preflop: 4.65, Hands: 120)
Hero (SB): $10.50
BB: $11.60 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
UTG: $16.72 (VPIP: 89.47, PFR: 47.37, 3Bet Preflop: 27.27, Hands: 19)
MP: $10.16 (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)

Hero posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has Q Q

UTG raises to $0.20, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.10, fold, UTG calls $0.90

Flop: ($2.30, 2 players) 4 J J
Hero bets $1.20, UTG raises to $2.40, Hero calls $1.20

Turn: ($7.10, 2 players) 3
Hero checks, UTG bets $5.00, Hero raises to $7.00 and is all-in, UTG calls $2.00

River: ($21.10, 2 players) 7

Hero shows Q Q (Two Pair, Queens and Jacks) (Pre 83%, Flop 88%, Turn 77%)
UTG shows 9 4 (Two Pair, Jacks and Fours) (Pre 17%, Flop 12%, Turn 23%)
Hero wins $20.15

Hands: 16,639
BR: $927.78


Played a little bit more. Thinking of going for GoldStar this month so I'm going to try to play some big sessions when I have free time.

One interesting hand happened BVB vs. a reg. I steal because his fold vs. steal is 82% so it's immediately profitable. He reps pretty much nothing when he raises that flop, especially since I block 88 and 78. I also expect him to flat call most of the time with 7x or better because we have some history and he knows I like to barrel. Turn and river are overcards so I think he'll perceive them as bluff cards and I call down. Only hand I really see him playing this way is maybe 9T, but I also block some of those combos and in general I think for the most part his range is air. Also, his location was (Russia).

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: $10.35 (VPIP: 25.53, PFR: 19.15, 3Bet Preflop: 5.00, Hands: 47)
CO: $12.68 (VPIP: 23.94, PFR: 14.79, 3Bet Preflop: 4.08, Hands: 145)
BTN: $13.43 (VPIP: 57.14, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
Hero (SB): $10.00
BB: $10.00 (VPIP: 14.95, PFR: 12.89, 3Bet Preflop: 2.94, Hands: 198)

Hero posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has T 8

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.29, BB calls $0.19

Flop: ($0.58, 2 players) 7 8 7
Hero bets $0.35, BB raises to $1.00, Hero calls $0.65

Turn: ($2.58, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, BB bets $1.96, Hero calls $1.96

River: ($6.50, 2 players) J
Hero checks, BB bets $6.75 and is all-in, Hero calls $6.75 and is all-in

Hands: 18,956
BR: $972.37

Will be playing 25NL the next time I play, I think I've been at 10NL long enough. Going to drop down to 10NL if I fall below $800.

A couple of strange hands from the last session. First one is vs. a decent reg. I know he'll think I iso the fish super wide and I never check Kx or better on the flop, so he'll barrel a huge amount of his range. He bet EXTREMELY fast, I thought he'd at least think about it on the river before shoving.

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: $10.42 (VPIP: 26.60, PFR: 22.34, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 95)
MP: $18.98 (VPIP: 56.72, PFR: 7.46, 3Bet Preflop: 5.71, Hands: 69)
Hero (CO): $10.00
BTN: $10.00 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 28.43, 3Bet Preflop: 5.41, Hands: 105)
SB: $18.18 (VPIP: 27.27, PFR: 18.88, 3Bet Preflop: 6.90, Hands: 295)
BB: $11.07 (VPIP: 38.30, PFR: 29.79, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 47)

SB posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has Q Q

fold, MP calls $0.10, Hero raises to $0.40, BTN calls $0.40, fold, fold, fold

Flop: ($1.05, 2 players) 5 K 4
Hero checks, BTN bets $0.75, Hero calls $0.75

Turn: ($2.55, 2 players) 3
Hero checks, BTN bets $1.95, Hero calls $1.95

River: ($6.45, 2 players) 7
Hero checks, BTN bets $6.90 and is all-in, Hero calls $6.90 and is all-in


Another one vs. a spewtard fish. Honestly, I think butchered this super bad, not even sure what to say about it. I bet tiny on flop to induce a raise and just called to induce bluffs on the turn. I was going to just call turn but he bet so small I elected to minraise since I thought he'd float super light. River I guess I could check again, honestly just not to sure about this at all. What's the best line for getting value from someone whose really spewy and bluffs here?

PokerStars - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: $17.87 (VPIP: 20.69, PFR: 18.01, 3Bet Preflop: 3.19, Hands: 264)
Hero (BB): $13.54
UTG: $12.14 (VPIP: 19.30, PFR: 13.45, 3Bet Preflop: 3.28, Hands: 176)
CO: $13.35 (VPIP: 90.48, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 30.77, Hands: 21)
BTN: $21.37 (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 7.41, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 27)

SB posts SB $0.05, Hero posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has A A

UTG raises to $0.30, CO calls $0.30, fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.30, fold, CO calls $1.00

Flop: ($2.95, 2 players) 2 4 3
Hero bets $1.00, CO raises to $2.00, Hero calls $1.00

Turn: ($6.95, 2 players) 9
Hero checks, CO bets $1.90, Hero raises to $3.80, CO calls $1.90

River: ($14.55, 2 players) A
Hero bets $6.44 and is all-in,

Hands: 19,525
BR: $913.85

Got crushed over a small session at 25NL. Lost AA < QQ and seemed to not be able to get anything going in other spots. Here's a few hands I wasn't sure about:

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (SB): $25.72
BB: $29.66 (VPIP: 13.75, PFR: 3.75, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 82)
UTG: $27.12 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 13.89, 3Bet Preflop: 5.56, Hands: 111)
MP: $26.57 (VPIP: 31.82, PFR: 22.73, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 22)
CO: $26.53 (VPIP: 27.78, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 36)
BTN: $22.12 (VPIP: 27.50, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 11.76, Hands: 41)

Hero posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has K A

fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.74, BB calls $0.49

Flop: ($1.48, 2 players) A 6 2
Hero bets $1.00, BB calls $1.00

Turn: ($3.48, 2 players) 4
Hero bets $2.75, BB calls $2.75

River: ($8.98, 2 players) 4
Hero bets $5.25, BB raises to $12.25, fold

BB shows K J (One Pair, Fours)
BB wins $18.60


PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: $44.96 (VPIP: 29.27, PFR: 13.41, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 83)
MP: $38.02 (VPIP: 84.27, PFR: 11.24, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 89)
CO: $25.00 (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
Hero (BTN): $25.00
SB: $24.75 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
BB: $96.21 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has A K

UTG raises to $0.75, MP calls $0.75, CO calls $0.75, Hero raises to $3.30, fold, fold, UTG calls $2.55, fold, fold

Flop: ($8.45, 2 players) 4 T J
UTG checks, Hero bets $4.25, UTG raises to $12.50, fold

UTG wins $16.19


PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): $31.05
SB: $25.10 (VPIP: 15.79, PFR: 3.51, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 59)
BB: $23.65 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 12.79, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 88)
UTG: $24.90 (VPIP: 30.77, PFR: 30.77, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
CO: $25.73 (VPIP: 17.65, PFR: 17.65, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 18)

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has Q T

fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.74, fold, BB calls $0.49

Flop: ($1.58, 2 players) 7 T 5
BB bets $1.50, Hero calls $1.50

Turn: ($4.58, 2 players) 3
BB bets $4.25, Hero calls $4.25

River: ($13.08, 2 players) J
BB bets $17.16 and is all-in, fold

BB wins $12.49

Good Luck with your challenge.

I am currently also playing 10NL but taking shots at 16NL and 10NL deep.

Would be interesting once you have a sample what you think the difference in the games are.

What times of day do you think the games are softer, do you play any Zoom?

I think games are pretty soft throughout the day. The main difference I notice is Fri/Sat night and all day Sunday there are way more fish. So far, I've noticed 25NL plays quite similar to 10 but regs are definitely better and everyone is more aggressive. Overall I'd say it's definitely harder, though I'm running bad now so that may be why I think it's tougher.

Appriciate your thoughts. I manage to play an hour at lunch and weekday evenings. Sounds like i'm missing ta lot of value.

However Id like to think 10NL is beatable for 12bb/100h and whilst it is I can turn over stress free money.

It's so -EV having a GF!!

BR: $504.17 (cashed out $320)
Hands: 22,276

Quick update. Still running terribly at 25NL. -8 BI and 4 BI below EV. I think I made a few mistakes overadjusting but for the most part I've just been sucked out on rivers over and over and generally running quite cold. No big deal, only a ~3k sample so it doesn't mean anything. Overall, I don't find the games too much tougher than 10NL though people are definitely more aggressive. I also cashed out my $320 initial investment from the start of the year. Probably a mental game leak, but I feel more comfortable playing when it's with all profit. On the plus side, I've hit my hands goal for the month and overall think I'm playing decently. I'll post some hands later, but nothing too exciting, mostly coolers and awful rivers.

BR: ~$725
Hands: 30,902 (this month)

Long story short: I quit for a while to focus on school and other things. I've finally made the transition into not playing any video games at all, and have found myself with a ton of extra free time despite devoting most of the day to preparing for exams and working on a thesis. Deposited $300 recently and have been crushing 10NL. Obviously running super well in all-ins but also feel I've been playing well. Will shot take 2 tables of 25NL ZOOM when I hit $750, which should hopefully be quite soon now (kind of feel like the doomswitch is going to be activated on me soon given how well I've been running haha)




I realize it's quite rude of me to come back after all this time with no savers. So, here they are:

Hands: 36,320
BR: ~$800

Started 25NL. Feels like I spewed quite a few buyins at the start thinking people were way more aggro/bluffy than they actually were. Still managed to end in the green thanks to some kind donations. Regs overall have been confusing the fk out of me, doing really weird things. Anyone able to explain what's going on in these hands?



Seems like a very weird line to take with AQs and the 4-bet jam looks alot like AK or a weaker hand that doesn't really want to play postflop but doesn't want to fold.


PokerStars - $0.25 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $23.93 (VPIP: 16.90, PFR: 9.86, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 74)
Hero (SB): $29.11
BB: $23.62 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
UTG: $32.04 (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
MP: $131.33 (VPIP: 30.77, PFR: 30.77, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 14)
CO: $66.94 (VPIP: 37.50, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 8)

Hero posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has Q Q

fold, MP raises to $0.75, CO calls $0.75, fold, Hero raises to $3.25, fold, MP raises to $131.33 and is all-in, fold, Hero calls $25.86 and is all-in

Flop: ($59.22, 2 players) 5 T T

Turn: ($59.22, 2 players) J

River: ($59.22, 2 players) 5





Not really sure what to say about this one other than the guy was a huge spazz and I just wasn't planning on folding that much equity at any point in the hand. Didn't expect this result though :O


PokerStars - $0.25 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $33.85 (VPIP: 13.33, PFR: 6.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)
SB: $40.78 (VPIP: 57.14, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
Hero (BB): $25.00
UTG: $7.64 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
MP: $26.03 (VPIP: 37.50, PFR: 28.13, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 32)
CO: $14.06 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)

SB posts SB $0.10, Hero posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has Q K

fold, fold, fold, fold, SB raises to $0.75, Hero raises to $2.25, SB calls $1.50

Flop: ($4.50, 2 players) 3 5 A
SB bets $4.25, Hero calls $4.25

Turn: ($13.00, 2 players) J
SB bets $12.50, Hero raises to $18.50 and is all-in, fold







Super confused by this guy's line. Makes no sense to me, is he bluffing or value-raising the flop?

PokerStars - $0.25 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $25.00 (VPIP: 3.33, PFR: 3.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 30)
SB: $57.69 (VPIP: 26.49, PFR: 15.89, 3Bet Preflop: 5.66, Hands: 155)
BB: $36.05 (VPIP: 34.15, PFR: 31.71, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 44)
UTG: $24.75 (VPIP: 5.56, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
MP: $28.47 (VPIP: 26.09, PFR: 17.39, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 71)
Hero (CO): $26.72

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has K A

UTG raises to $0.68, fold, Hero calls $0.68, fold, fold, fold

Flop: ($1.71, 2 players) A 7 3
UTG checks, Hero bets $1.00, UTG raises to $2.50, Hero calls $1.50

Turn: ($6.71, 2 players) 5
UTG bets $4.25, Hero calls $4.25

River: ($15.21, 2 players) A
UTG checks, Hero bets $9.25, UTG calls $9.25

Subbed gl

Hands: 44,396
BR: ~$720


Played a marathon session a 25NL ZOOM to hit Goldstar. Just got coolered over and over. Two leaks I think I have is calling too light on rivers (people really aren't bluffing, they have what the rep most of the time), and losing focus when playing for too long. Other than that just ran into a ton of setups and lost quite a few BI. Still feel quite comfortable at 25, and can't really complain since I ran well for the rest of the month. Also quite happy I managed to turn a $300 deposit into a 25NL roll in one month. Will be continuing 25NL in the future as long as my roll doesn't fall below $600.


Monthly Giraffe:





Goals for May:

[ ] Study up for exams, put in at least 5 hours per working day into studying.
[ ] Work on dissertation, try to put in 1-2 hours per working day into this.
[ ] Maintain gold Star, put in 30k hands in the month (1-2 hours a night if possible, studying comes first)
[ ] Work out at least 3 days a week while eating properly (3 meals daily, 2 of which should be healthy)
[ ] Wake up before 9 AM every weekday.

Solid April and solid goals for may keep it up!

Thanks man! GL to you too.

are you playing normal tables or zoom?