Hi All

This challenge will be pretty simple in concept and hopefully I can achieve it over the next 10-12 months. I hate putting a set time limit on such things as all kinds of obstacles can come up to derail my progress. Still, a year seems pretty reasonable and hopefully it will be an interesting journey.

BACKGROUND

40ish guy. Playing poker for about 10 years off and on. Read several books. Used to be a CR member. Spent tons of time on CLP. Recently received some poker coaching (not sure I should say with whom ....don't want this to seem like an advertisement but lets just say they are 2+2ers).

RESULTS

Tracked results over the last 4 years.

AMT WON: 3812
HOURS: 298
HOURLY: $12.79
Win %: 73%

All at 1/2 with a little 1/3 mixed in and one lost buyin at 2/5

small sample. Games are a mixture of casinos and home games (high rake so go me!)

FINANCIAL SITUATION

Have a job that more than pays my bills. It also allows for monthly savings, credit card debt reduction (Owe a bit...nothing crazy) and the addition of $400-$500 a month to my bankroll. So Im able to take some losses and replenish a bit each month.

GOALS

• Take one poker lesson a month (my friend and I share the lesson cost and we often play together)
• Keep all poker winnings in BR. Nothing to life roll (no need)
• Increase BR to $5000 and take shots at $2/5
• Eventually increase BR to $15K to play $2/5 exclusively

I will use this thread to update progress, post hands and give session results. All of my play will be live as my job lets me travel a bit and visit multiple casinos

All comments and critiques (minus serious trolling lol) are welcome

SESSION REPORT

Went with my friend to our local card room for some poker and to test out the knowledge we have received through our lessons. We have had three lessons altogether and while much of the information was familiar, we definitely learned some new things. It was amazing how stagnant our games had gotten as we had become very nitty and maybe a little bit timid in many circumstances.

Our local game had just had a brush with LE over serving alcohol. This led them to move to a new location for about the 4th time in the last 2-3 years. At one time, it was a pretty huge operation with several cash tables going at once. Now, due to all the heat from said dust up, the game has shrunk quite a bit.

After securing the new location through my vast network of poker informants (really just one guy but vast network sounds so much better), we headed out to play some cards. It took us 10 minutes to find the game as the location given was an abandoned business. For just a moment, I thought maybe my contact had set us up as a joke or worse to be robbed. I am frequently paranoid about such things so the lack of noticeable activity at the location had me a bit spooked. Thankfully, it turns out the back of the building had a lower entrance and parking lot where we spotted cars. When you spot cars at an abandoned building, chances are something shady is going on inside...my kind of place.

We knocked on the door and got buzzed in by the doorman who knew us form countless other visits. The low ceiling room had 5 tables set up with a bar where a waitress would provide you with refreshments or chair massages. A couple of couches and big screen tv provided some level of comfort for those who needed a break from the tables.

One of the dealers immediately recognized us and made us feel quite at home. We exchanged contact info so that we could find the game again should the need arise (it will...100% guaranteed). He told us cash wouldn't start for prob an hour since the tournament was just getting started and suggested a sports bar down the street. We left after a few minutes and proceeded to said bar vowing to return.

After a drink or two at the bar and a ridiculous lightning storm that seemed to indicate the beginning of the apocalypse, we headed back to the room to finally play some poker.

We made number 6 and 7 at the table which started as 1/2 but the dealer announced it was supposed to be 1/3. This kind of jammed us up a bit as we had both bought in for $200. Playing a 66 BB stack is really awkward. I considered adding on right away but as no one else had bought in for more than $200 I didn't see any real reason to do so.

The game had its usual cast of loose passive fish. One guy, two to my left, was a huge spewtard. We counted at least $500 he dropped and I don't think he ever was up on the night. He played this gem with me.

7 Handed

UTG R to $15. Folds to Hero ($285).

Hero makes its $35 with AA

Villain says "All in" for $115. UTG folds. I call

Villain turns over 88

Player to my right says "I folded one of your 8s man." V looks defeated.

Flop 345

T 9

R 2

V says "Yes" turns to me and says "sorry man. I had to do it. pocket pair and all" (Yes we all should ship aipf with 88 as a 4 bet at all times). UTG V says "Man why didn't you run it twice?" to me. Sigh. Reload.

The rest of the night was uneventful. I believe I won back probably twice as much from the V in that hand over the course of the evening including...

UTG ($450) same UTG as from first hand. Aggressive preflop. Slows down on most flops as he's often oop

BTN ($500) same V as the guy with 88. Leaking money all night. He had just added on. Gets scared on the turn and river of any bet he doesn't understand. Prefers to get it in on the flop or PF.

HERO ($280) in HJ. Tight and aggressive. Been losing a little bit but showed down only winners.

UTG raises to $20. Hero (AK) Calls. BTN calls.
(I flatted here bec I hadn't seen the BTN fold to any raise when he had the button. I figured I could get value from a strong hand like AKs and could always bluff the BTN off his hand ( this had happ several times during the night as he played fit or fold) and I had position on UTG.

Pot is $64

F is J 3 5 Rainbow.

UTG c. Hero C. Btn bets $10. UTG calls. Hero Calls

Pot is $94

T is 3

C.C.C.

(Now Im ready to bet if UTG checks on practically any river)

R is A

UTG C. Hero bet $25 ( I thought this sizing looked like I wanted a call, which I did. Perhaps it should have been bigger?) Both fold

Needless to say it was a good table. Unfortunately, I ran down $70. My buddy ran up about $450 and he played terrific.

There was one hand where I opened UTG +1 with QQ for $11

One caller. My buddy 3 bet me to $35 in the BB.

LOL. I knew he was on one of two hands. I folded. Field caller folded. He told me he had KK. We don't softplay each other but we don't go out of our way to play pots with each other either.

A decent way to spend three hours but no good for the BR.

BR: $690

Of course I will be adding prob about $400 to it in a couple weeks so not worried about it.

Currently in PA and only about 20 minutes from a casino (Mt Airy). Ill be here a week so Ill definitely be hitting it up. Possibly Hollywood as well. Little further for that one.

I will post a full trip report as soon as I have played.

HOLLYWOOD GRANTLAND

I decided to hit Hollywood before leaving Pennsylvania. I had never been to this casino and for those of you who don't know, the poker room is tucked in the corner right near the exit to the track. If the ponies are your sort of thing , you can take in the races and find the next Kentucky Derby winner while getting your poker fix.

Speaking of the ponies, one of the horses fell and broke his leg during a race. I am a horse racing neophyte so I had no idea that when this happens, they literally put the horse down right at the track in front of all the fans. Of courts the table began to make the obligatory jokes about dogfood after this happened. Still, I did manage to make $10 betting against a guy who was just so sure his horse would win a race. He took his horse while I took the field (lol).

Now onto the poker.

I wish I could say I played a lot of big or interesting pots but the reality is I didn't. It was yet another reminder that poker is often just a lot of patience and slow but steady grinding. During those times I find I have to amuse myself with table talk.

I was in seat 4 and the guy in seat 2 was a nice recreational player. Somehow the conversation turned to playing aces and he proceeded to tell me about all the times he got his aces cracked at one certain casino. One story revolved around how he 3 bet preflop to $26 with aces and got 3 callers for a $102 pot. When the flop came 2 2 4 he shoved all in for $250 (lol). He got called by JT who runners him. I asked why such a big bet he said he wanted to win the $100 pot right now. Yet another player who thinks its "destiny" to win when they have aces. He busted shortly thereafter and left.

The table was very loose passive. Many flops were seen 8 ways. I did have one somewhat interesting hand where I think I played it ok given my villain.

Hero (235) tight image. Table had folded to a couple pf raises I had made.

Villain (covers) loose. Younger guy. Liked to play pots in position and float. Hadn't showed down much except some bluffs and semi bluffs

MP QJ

Hero limps. 7 limpers

Pot is $16

Flop Q 89

Checks to Hero. I bet 7. Villain to to my left calls. All rest fold

Turn is K

I check. Villain often bet-bet in these situations to bluff. I was going to let him do it.

V bets $15. I call. Pot is $70

River K

Check. Villain bets $30. I call. Villain mucks

Not a huge pot but I beat this guy a few times like this.

I played about 4 hours and ran up $89. Meh. Still I felt I had good reads on the table but few opportunities. All in all a fun trip if somewhat uneventful.

Now for a day of driving with Bart Hansen in the background!!

Too funny

Hi all

I know I haven't updated this thread in awhile. Work has been crazy but fortunately I am in a part of the country where I should be able to get some hours in and update this thread. So without further adieu

8/1/14 Ameristar Blackhawk

My job took me to Colorado Springs, CO. I have never been to Colorado so this was a nice opportunity to check out this magnificent state. Having grown up on the East Coast , I haven't really been to REAL maintains. Let me tell you...I was impressed. The Springs (as the locals call it) are just east of the Rockies. You can be in the mountains in 15-20 minutes. Pikes Peak is visible from all over town. Amazing views of craggy peaks, vast fields of green and majestic peaks that soar to the sky. It's a beautiful place and made me realize I need to come back when I have more time. Many of the days I was here were rainy so the views weren't always available but when they were they didn't disappoint.

I had planned on driving over to cripple creek to play poker but the weather kept closing the road. Apparently when it rains the run off is so severe that they have to close the interstate. I didn't want to get over to CC and not be able to easily get back to my hotel room.

I finished up work early on Friday and decided to drive up to Ameristar Black Hawk. I had heard good things about this poker room so the hour and fifteen minute drive seemed worth it. Once again Colorado delivered.

The drive up to the casinos takes you west along Interstate 70. It's quite a grade as you rise to about 10,000 feet in elevation. After leaving the 70, you get off on 6 which is the awesome little winding road. On one side you have a cool looking river with rapids that people use to raft, something which I now want to try. Towering rock walls rise on both sides of you and you have this sense they could collapse at any moment which adds to the experience. It's a great drive and not that long but don't expect your cell phone to work!!

Once I got to Ameristar, I parked and headed inside. Ameristar is a two tier casino. Upstairs consist of mainly slots while the downstairs has more slots, table games and of course, the poker room. After getting my name on the 2/5 list, I got a text about ten minutes later saying my table was ready.

The table was new so no one had any real advantage of knowing anyone. Some at the table only bought in for $200, some $300. I bought in for $400. I had $1000 on me but I didn't want to commit too much money until I saw how the table played.

To my left I had an older lady from Mass. She was nice but only bought in for $200 which disappointed me. Seat 1 had OMC in for $200. Seat 2 middle age white guy in for $700. Seat 3 was a young Asian in for $200. Seat 4 me. Seat 5 older lady. Seat 6 young 20ish guy with headphones in for $500. Seat 7 was a middle aged guy with his hair slicked back who bought in for $500. Seat 8 was a young guy who looked a little like PSU Mike. Seat 9 was a middle age Asian guy

So for the first orbit or two I paid attention quite closely to hands. I got a decent feel for how most of the table played. The first real chance I got to do much was when I got dealt Aa UTG. I raised to $20 which had been the normal amount. 4 callers lol. I have the lady in Seat 4 covered but the other three have me covered ($400 effective stacks) Perfect!

Flop

832

Figure that's about as good a flop as I can get. I decide to bet $60 into $100. All four fold. I guess this was decent sizing. Not really sure.

The table was semi loose and semi aggressive. There were some limped pots but plenty of preflop raising as well.

I nursed my stack up to about $460 when the following hand came up.

4 limpers. I have 66 in the SB. I complete and the BB checks. 6 players to the flop

Pot is $30

Flop 863

Bingo. I bet out $20. 4 folds. Seat 9 crazy Asian guy who has me covered call. I figured he could have some draws, some 8x hands and some air. This guys was a wild card and had called down really light against some players

Pot is $70

Turn. T

Good card for me if he has a hand like A3 of diamonds , some hands like T8. Saw no reason to slow down.

I bet $50. V calls.

Pot is $170.

River. 2

Good blank. I mean 45 did get there but I just didn't think this guy limps in with that hand in late position. He had been raising a good bit from HJ , CO and BTN

I decide to bet small to get a call from a T or an 8.

I bet $60. Villain thinks for a moment. He raises to $160

There is a weird rule in Colorado that only allows you to bet $100 at one time. I had heard about this rule before the game started so I wasn't sure if I could reraise here or not.

I had about $325 left and I just never thin this V has a big hand here.

I snap called and said "I called sir. Show your hand". He mucked his hand

I had to rack up soon as my flight is early.

I played about 1:45 and ran up $337. Not bad I guess. Game is no tougher than $1/2 IMO.

I'll be playing in central CA next week and more trip reports to follows

BR is at $1900

CALIFORNIA LOVE

Landed in Sacramento yesterday morning. Decided to head to Thunder Valley. I looked at the casino in downtown Sacramento but after block after block of homeless guys and people using upside down shopping carts as tables, I decided to try somewhere a little safer.

Thunder Valley is a pretty large casino northeast of Sacramento. Its kind of in the middle of nowhere which is ok with me.

The poker room is near the back of the casino and a pretty good walk from the parking lot. Walking through the smoke filled casino did wonders for my allergies but finally I made it to the check in desk where I was promptly told the 385 person tournament was tying up all the tables and probably would be for the next hour.

I put my name on the list for 2/5 and wandered to check out the table games. Craps is always a favorite of mine so I figured "why not?" when I saw a $5 craps table.

Apparently California has some sort of law against betting on the outcome of a roll of dice which is absurd but I digress. So it took me a little while to get the hang of the craps game I was part of.

In this version you roll a blue and red die but they aren't true die. They have six sides but they only have 1, 2 and 3 pips repeated on them. Once you roll they look at the color of the higher die and then they have two special decks of cards that are red and blue. These cards have numbers 2-12 on them just like if you rolled two real die. Whatever the card says is what you "actually" rolled. Lol California.

Anyway after a quick $65 I decided to play some single deck blackjack. I also had a little learning curve here as well as the dealer had to tell me just about every rule (only use one had to look at the cards, if you stand put them under your bet, no doubling except 9,10 and 11) I asked for a rule book at one point lol. I am used to shoe games so this was a little different.

I gave back all but $5 of my craps winning after hour and a half and decided there had to be a seat open by now. When I got back to the poker room, I had in fact been skipped and my phone didn't get their text. The manager just told me to head to an open seat anyway so off I went.

My table had lots of short stacks...$300, $200. One guy was in for $700 so I bought in for $505 (my normal 100 bbs plus my $5 in craps winnings haha).

I didn't play a lot of interesting hands but I have to give credit to the Crush Live Poker approach of bet-fold. Early on I played the following...

Villain (mid age Asian guy who seems pretty loose. Likes to call IP with almost anything)

Hero ( Havent played a hand yet so no real image) ($505....V covers)

V Limps.

Hero (KQ) in CO. Raise to 20. V Calls. Pot is $45

Villain says "Check dark." Whenever I hear this I think I am never up against a big hand or even a pocket pair. Its always some sort of drawing hand imo.

FLOP

893

I bet $20. V calls pretty quickly and says "check dark." Now I think he has a drawing hand for sure.

Pot is $75

TURN

A (More equity and a reasonable card for me to barrel

I bet $50. He thinks for a moment and calls and says "check dark." lol

Pot is $175

RIVER

2

I think for a moment and bet $105. V insta folds. No draws got there. He pretty much never has an Ace and my hand might have been good at showdown but I figured why not get a hand like 66-77 to fold? Anyway that was my thought process. Comments are welcome

The only other hand of note was the following....

UTG (late 20s guy, haven't seen him show down anything but hes called a good bit)

Raises to $10

MP Hero (TAG image I think at this point. Shown down a couple winners but folded a good bit) $500 effective

A:J 3 bet to 35

Villain Calls. Pot is $85

FLOP

Q83

Villain is giving me the staredown like I am about to say something mean about his mom. He checks.

I decide to check to make a move on the turn if possible

TURN

7

Villain hasn't blinked for like 30 seconds now staring at me. He checks

(I think this is a good barrel card for a delayed Cbet. He cannot call without at least one high club and why wouldn't he lead if he had a hand like KQ with the K of clubs here? I think its pretty unlikely he has much here...maybe a small pair or some connector)

HERO bets $50. Villain folded so fast that he was literally almost to the entrance to the poker room walking away before I even knew he had folded.

It was a pretty uneventful day. Overall the aggression I am beginning to incorporate into my game mixed with my prev nut peddling is really starting to pay off. I don't feel like I have run particularly well or bad...just average.

I was listening to Bart talk to a caller and he was asking the guy why he bet in a certain situation. He reminded the caller that we bet for two reasons...value and to make a better hand fold. I use to just bet to bet thinking that's what I was supposed to do. Now I am putting much more thought into my bets, the sizing and when and its definitely paying off.

SESSION RESULTS

TIME PLAYED: 1:21
W/L: +93
BANKROLL: $2025

Next trip report....the card rooms of central California

CARD ROOM

I had heard about these card rooms in CA before my trip here. I was curious as to what differences there were with casino poker and decided to try my luck.

I am not going to name the card room I played at because I plan on playing there all week. I will be glad to name it after I leave just in case the random 2+2er is in the room and can figure out who I am.

The room was a converted business of some type I am guessing and fortunately not very far from my hotel. Upon arrival I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the room was inside. There were flat screens on the wall, several gaming tables such as Blackjack and Baccarat and 7 poker tables. Check in lists were displayed on a monitor on the wall.

My first experience was in the low buyin donkament. I paid my entry fee and then ordered some breakfast which consisted of bacon, eggs and pancakes all for about $6. Not bad really.

The tourney was your standard short stack, fast blind affair. I found my self down to 20 Big Blinds with one hand to go before the addon when I played the following.

Villain (22 BB) (Unknown...haven't seem him play really any hands to speak of)

Hero (20 BB) (Won a hand early on and then lost a decent pot with QJ against KQ on a Q hi board)

Blinds 50/100

V makes it 300 in MP.

Hero makes it 700 with AQ

I had pretty much committed myself to shoving on any reasonable flop if he checked to me.

V calls. Pot 1550

FLOP KJ9

V Checks.

H shoves. V snap calls with JJ

Board bricks out and Im done. Lol

I don't hate my play and after stoving my range at AQ+, QQ+ I think villain is behind my range. I would have liked his play better if he just shoved preflop.

Cash didn't start for about 30 minutes. The cash game was a $1-$-$3 game. $2/$5 didn't usually run. I had never played this game before with the button posting a sb. It was definitely helped the action a bit

They take a $4 rake which is not bad.

I didn't play too many interesting pots. The following came up ....

Hero MP (290) (TAGish image. Havent really gotten in too many pots)
V BB(covers) (Totally a station. if he connects with the flop he is calling down)

Hero raises to $11 with JJ

BTN calls. Villain calls

Pot $33

FLOP

352

V checks

Hero bets $20. BTN folds. V calls

Pot $73

TURN

T

V checks. Hero bets $35. V calls.

Pot $143

RIVER

J

Bingo! My study has shown me many people don't bet rivers that improve their hand. I am trying to improve my river value betting so I am not shutting down at all. Afterall if I was beat I would have heard from villain on the turn.

V checks. Hero bets $50 (not sure of sizing here. I want two pair and one pair hands to call. Maybe a bit larger)

V calls and MHIG

There weren't too many more hands to share really. I felt I played well. I went back for a second session later that night. My game is improving and I am staying out of trouble. Less calling and more raising and folding is the ticket.

RESULTS

Session 1
Time: 2:12
W/L: $115

Session 2
Time: 2:01
W/L: $330

OP writes well...