Hi everyone,

My name is Chris. I've played poker online and live on and off since around 2004. I'm in my early 40s and work in finance. Poker has kind of been in and out of my life over the years but I always seem to end up coming back recreationally. My FT job doesn't allow for FT hours, but I've always had a passion for poker that has sat dormant over the years. Sometimes for a week or two, sometimes for a year or two. I'm always looking to learn and really enjoy the mental aspect of the game.

I've binked some fairly big wins in tourneys and cash in the past, but have just recently started to study again and hone my play and work through navigating poker in today's world. I've built up my ACR BR a bit over the past few months, mostly through low limit cash games.

The purpose of this thread is moreso for accountability to myself. I plan on using it to track my progress. I currently play 50NL Blitz, some 50NL PLO, an occasionally I'll drop to 25NL depending on what I'm feeling at the time. The goal in 2022 is to build the BR up to be able to play 100NL up to 200NL Blitz. When I get to $6,000, I'll take a shot at 100NL until I'm back to $5,000 then I'll drop, or if i get to $10,000 I'll take a 200NL shot and drop if I lose $2,000. Basically a 10 buy in shot when I'm overolled for my prior level. I play exclusively on ACR as I don't have a lot of options, then again, I also haven't really looked too much here in Ohio. ACR is morseo familiar but I'm willing to expand my sites based on recommendations here.

I will mix in some SNGs and tourneys as I need the variety to keep me engaged. I just rarely do tourneys these days due to the length of time you have to play. I just don't regularly have 10 hours to play in a session, but occasionally will. With that said, mostly cash games. I've frequently been in the top 500 in the ACR Beast promo but not always as not every week I get in front of my comp to play.

I will be posting hands I find interesting as well as my updated results. Again, mostly so I can own my play, get scorched here for awful plays I'm sure, and look to improve. I'm a net winning player overall and feel I have the general intellect to continue to be so.. although I acknowledge I have leaks I'm not even aware of yet and am nowhere near the best. Hopefully, through this thread, I learn, I grow and my bankroll follows suit.

This was more of a bookmark as I get started. I'll post thoughts and insights as sessions occur.

I look forward to providing updates and hopefully a very sharp graph to the north! I'm starting my stats as of today.

STARTING BANKROLL: $3,258.12
Hands: TBD
My C Won: TBD
My C All-in: TBD
BB/100: TBD

STARTING BANKROLL: $3,258.12
CURRENT BANKROLL: $3,247.65
Hands: 746
My C Won: $-10.22
My C All-in Adj: $74.24
BB/100: -2.74

Swingy session for an hour today at 50NL Blitz. Here's a few hands from the session I just wrapped. I picked the top 3 and bottom 3 hands quickly before I dig deeper to look for some more interesting spots. There were a few I will probably come back to later, or in a different post.

Yatahay Network - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 169.02 BB
SB: 244.78 BB
BB: 64.06 BB
UTG: 174.92 BB
MP: 109.96 BB
Hero (CO): 113.76 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A A

UTG raises to 3.5 BB, fold, Hero raises to 13.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, UTG calls 10 BB

Flop: (28.5 BB, 2 players) J 6 7
UTG checks, Hero bets 15.3 BB, UTG raises to 59.62 BB, Hero raises to 100.26 BB and is all-in, UTG calls 40.64 BB

Turn: (229.02 BB, 2 players) K

River: (229.02 BB, 2 players) T

UTG shows 8 8 (One Pair, Eights)
(Pre 19%, Flop 13%, Turn 5%)
Hero shows A A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 81%, Flop 87%, Turn 95%)
Hero wins 223.02 BB

Yatahay Network - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB
SB: 111.36 BB
BB: 192.7 BB
UTG: 229.98 BB
Hero (MP): 143.56 BB
CO: 102.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has J T

fold, Hero raises to 2.5 BB, fold, fold, SB raises to 10 BB, fold, Hero calls 7.5 BB

Flop: (21 BB, 2 players) 7 K Q
SB bets 6.82 BB, Hero calls 6.82 BB

Turn: (34.64 BB, 2 players) 7
SB bets 20.78 BB, Hero calls 20.78 BB

River: (76.2 BB, 2 players) 4
SB bets 73.76 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 73.76 BB

SB shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Sevens)
(Pre 79%, Flop 27%, Turn 23%)
Hero shows J T (Flush, King High)
(Pre 21%, Flop 73%, Turn 77%)
Hero wins 217.72 BB

Yatahay Network - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 123.52 BB
SB: 162.38 BB
BB: 80 BB
UTG: 138.56 BB
Hero (MP): 129.2 BB
CO: 126.92 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7 7

fold, Hero raises to 2.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 1.5 BB

Flop: (5.5 BB, 2 players) 7 4 3
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (5.5 BB, 2 players) 3
BB checks, Hero bets 3.34 BB, BB calls 3.34 BB

River: (12.18 BB, 2 players) 8
BB checks, Hero bets 9.68 BB, BB raises to 33.32 BB, Hero raises to 111.54 BB, BB calls 40.84 BB and is all-in

BB shows 4 4 (Full House, Fours full of Threes)
(Pre 19%, Flop 5%, Turn 2%)
Hero shows 7 7 (Full House, Sevens full of Threes)
(Pre 81%, Flop 95%, Turn 98%)
Hero wins 154.5 BB

Yatahay Network - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 159.62 BB
SB: 110.34 BB
BB: 102.5 BB
UTG: 120.5 BB
MP: 106.64 BB
CO: 108.7 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K K

fold, MP raises to 2.5 BB, fold, Hero raises to 12.5 BB, SB raises to 28.5 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 159.62 BB and is all-in, SB calls 81.84 BB and is all-in

Flop: (224.18 BB, 2 players) T A 3

Turn: (224.18 BB, 2 players) J

River: (224.18 BB, 2 players) 5

Hero shows K K (One Pair, Kings)
(Pre 82%, Flop 92%, Turn 14%)
SB shows J J (Three of a Kind, Jacks)
(Pre 18%, Flop 8%, Turn 86%)
SB wins 218.18 BB

Yatahay Network - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 121.6 BB
SB: 270.62 BB
BB: 383.22 BB
UTG: 241.2 BB
MP: 104 BB
CO: 76.64 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K A

UTG raises to 2.5 BB, fold, CO calls 2.5 BB, Hero raises to 8 BB, SB raises to 20.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 121.6 BB and is all-in, SB calls 101.1 BB

Flop: (249.2 BB, 2 players) 3 2 6

Turn: (249.2 BB, 2 players) 5

River: (249.2 BB, 2 players) Q

Hero shows K A (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 30%, Flop 17%, Turn 11%)
SB shows K K (One Pair, Kings)
(Pre 70%, Flop 83%, Turn 89%)
SB wins 243.2 BB

Yatahay Network - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 107.66 BB
SB: 120 BB
BB: 132.24 BB
UTG: 100 BB
MP: 100 BB
Hero (CO): 114.82 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has T J

fold, MP raises to 2.5 BB, Hero raises to 8 BB, fold, fold, fold, MP calls 5.5 BB

Flop: (17.5 BB, 2 players) K 9 J
MP checks, Hero bets 5.48 BB, MP calls 5.48 BB

Turn: (28.46 BB, 2 players) Q
MP bets 20.28 BB, Hero calls 20.28 BB

River: (69.02 BB, 2 players) 3
MP bets 66.24 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 66.24 BB

MP shows A T (Straight, Ace High)
(Pre 68%, Flop 27%, Turn 77%)
Hero shows T J (Straight, King High)
(Pre 32%, Flop 73%, Turn 23%)
MP wins 195.5 BB

STARTING BANKROLL: $3,258.12
CURRENT BANKROLL: $3,257.39
Hands: 1048
My C Won: $-.48
My C All-in Adj: $83.98
BB/100: -.09 (LOL)

Added a few hundred more hands at 50NL Blitz (4 tabling) during my lunch break. I work from home so I can just pop my personal laptop on occasionally and blast a few hands off. No real interesting hands. Here's a couple though. I think the KQ I fold the river in hindsight. His VPIP and post flop stats were hyper spew though and it was very realistic he had AA - 88 on river reraise along with missed flush draws. Maybe a fold is results oriented though, I'm going to chew on it. The 63.. obv can just fold pre and avoid the whole thing. I think my BB defense needs some work and my SB/BB defends has been something that's given me fits in the past as well. Probably it for today. I thought I could come back in and edit later to add some insight but couldn't find the option when I came back to edit. Lesson learned for future posts as I figure out how I want this to work and be best utilized.

Yatahay Network - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 222.1 BB
SB: 102.7 BB
Hero (BB): 100.26 BB
UTG: 170.72 BB
MP: 266.1 BB
CO: 184.84 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 6 3

UTG raises to 2.5 BB, fold, CO calls 2.5 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 1.5 BB

Flop: (8 BB, 3 players) 3 5 3
Hero checks, UTG checks, CO bets 5 BB, Hero calls 5 BB, UTG calls 5 BB

Turn: (23 BB, 3 players) 5
Hero bets 7.2 BB, UTG calls 7.2 BB, fold

River: (37.4 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero bets 11.72 BB, UTG raises to 35 BB, Hero calls 23.28 BB

Hero shows 6 3 (Full House, Threes full of Fives)
(Pre 33%, Flop 5%, Turn 0%)
UTG shows 5 5 (Four of a Kind, Fives)
(Pre 67%, Flop 95%, Turn 100%)
UTG wins 102.04 BB

Yatahay Network - $0.50 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 84.58 BB
SB: 120 BB
BB: 120 BB
UTG: 134.42 BB
MP: 267.12 BB
Hero (CO): 105.52 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K Q

UTG raises to 2.5 BB, fold, Hero calls 2.5 BB, fold, fold, fold

Flop: (6.5 BB, 2 players) 3 5 Q
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: (6.5 BB, 2 players) 7
UTG bets 3.08 BB, Hero calls 3.08 BB

River: (12.66 BB, 2 players) Q
UTG checks, Hero bets 10.52 BB, UTG raises to 39 BB, Hero calls 28.48 BB

UTG shows 5 5 (Full House, Fives full of Queens)
(Pre 51%, Flop 98%, Turn 100%)
Hero shows K Q (Three of a Kind, Queens)
(Pre 49%, Flop 2%, Turn 0%)
UTG wins 86.14 BB

STARTING BANKROLL: $3,258.12
CURRENT BANKROLL: $3,472.98
CHALLENGE PROFIT: $214.86

Had a pretty lukewarm day yesterday playing 50NL Blitz, and hopped on today to play 4 tables for awhile, and pretty quickly got smacked in the face with the wrong side of a couple of flips. I decided to shut down the tables roughly 300 hands in and fire up 4 tables of PLO instead. I find that switching games, for me at least, helps to combat tilt and to an extent protects me from it. The shift in mindset and strategies between different games refocuses me, and make it easier to go to a "different place" instead of living in my mind in the prior games decisions/outcomes. I've gotten better at walking away when my mindset starts to weaken due to either variance or, to be blunt, bad play on my part.

As for today's PLO session.. I played well, ran better, and seemed to always have my opponent just a bit lighter than me in marginal spots. Got AAxx in twice pre and "held" both times. This PLO Session I was up around $416. I was down 4 BI pretty quickly at NLH before I shut down and switched games (-$200 in 50NL Blitz for the session). I don't have PT4 for PLO, as when I signed up I didn't really play PLO much. Now I find it to be my more profitable game than NL cash and will probably invest in adding this in the near future.

No bankroll update to speak of, but I did use one of my $95 tickets from the Beast to play the VENOM Mega Sat yesterday. I actually have quite a few tickets and never use them. I ended up chipleader when it ended and won my seat to the Venom in Jan. I plan on playing Day 1B and registered for that after it ended. I didn't get into any really big tussles. 30 spots paid seats w/ spot 31 getting $1,090 and I really just abused the bubble as the big stack. I think I raised and took it down 23 of the last 25 hands played. It's been forever since I played any real tourneys due to time restrictions, and even today I had that it went until 1am and am a bit tired since I had to work today. Happy for the $2,650 ticket though, but it won't reflect in the BR (which is essentially the same as the last update, Maybe up around $175 after hitting a points milestone for $50 in rakeback and another $125 for the weekly leaderboard. Otherwise, I swung a bit up and down in different sessions but basically even.

I didn't play much around the holiday, or have much free time, so I'll put pen to paper with the results when I have a few minutes to dig into my results.

I've been mostly playing PLO when I have played, minus the tourney.

I had a few others up while I played through the sat to fill the time, but no real results to speak of and mostly just to curb some of the tournament tedium.

Good luck in Venom! Is it live or online?

Made day 2 of the Venom.. I'm sitting on 1.8mm on a starting stack of 300k. middle of the pack through 2 day 2s. more updates next week and I'll go back and look through HHs for some interesting hands. Wish me luck, day 2 we will be close the $$$ and we're sitting with around 90 BBs to start the day.