Haven't played much at all since uni started, but now I'm tackling 50nl



Custard first ever session of 50nl, probably the worst I've run in weeks lol

Epic!

BIG UPDATE: I've decided to quit playing poker on a regular basis.

I can assure you I have thought long and hard about this decision. I have sort of lost interest in the game, plus there's a good chance the rake could get higher in the near future and the games might get tougher. Whilst I have proved to be a winning player at stakes up to 25nl, I find the money amounts and swings involved at $25 and $50 buy-in stakes to be significant enough to mean something to me, so that it adds an extra level of stress when I play. This stress will only get worse as the stakes get higher which I believe would limit my progress and negatively affect how I play. I have come to the conclusion that poker is not just a stress but also a distraction as well from uni, where I already have a busy schedule as I'm doing a double degree (Maths and Music). I have decided I am instead going to focus on my music and songwriting.

My gut feeling is that my music degree has a higher longterm EV than poker. I realise I had the potential of earning a reasonable income from poker, but I nonetheless feel I have more potential with my music, as I feel I'm pretty talented at songwriting/composing/producing. I understand a lot of people have dreams of becoming successful in the music industry and many are of these dreams are unrealistic/deluded (think of failed X Factor auditionees). However given I have won notable music awards including scholarships worth thousands of dollars, national competitions etc. this gives me added reassurance that my chance of success might be slightly more realistic than most.

With music, you could potentially make millions if you have what it takes to strike a chord in the music industry. I'm not sure if I'll make it - very few make it to the top - but I'll probably always have regrets if I don't at least try. It's always been a dream of mine, and poker recently has been a big distraction to this dream, taking motivation and attention away from my primary goal. I just feel for me the ceiling is so much higher in music than in poker, so I have to go all the way and poker was the only thing getting in the way.

But this doesn't mean I am closing my poker account and never returning. I will leave some money in my account so I can still play poker for fun sometimes, and pop in every now and then to see if there's a good promotion on. It just means I won't grind anymore that's all (but I may go back to it at some stage, who knows). I'd like to thank you all for supporting my journey so far, in particular to Mike (MeleaB) and Mason (Brokenstars) who helped me a lot through coaching sessions and allowed my game to improve significantly. I hope all of you can continue to support me in the future wherever my career path takes me (and I may still posts updates here so stay subbed). I wish you all the best of luck and challenge you to make the most of this year!

I'll leave you with my favourite motivational video:

Hey man sorry to see you go, but obviously want to tell you that everything in life needs to be one of moderation and kept in balance. If you feel like you're spending too much time on poker and its distracting you--yeah, play less. But, don't just up and quit it (almost) if it's something you enjoy. Play it for fun when you have time/want to etc. You don't need to take it to seriously. Take me for example.

I wish you the best of luck in the music industry and hope you do well at uni. I think a break can be a great recharge and give you the time you need to think things through and possibly better balance your life's activities. I also want to congratulate you on the massive amount of progress you've made in poker of-late and you deserve a big round of applause for both the effort and accomplishments you've made, well done!

That being said, don't be a stranger, hmu any time!

You're absolutely making the best decision that you've probably ever made in your life. Music is perhaps also a pipe dream, like poker, but the difference is you'll get a degree from University in the process that will serve you for life.

Thanks dude! As I said, I'm not going to completely give up poker - I will still play casually sometimes, it's just I've found that grinding regularly at stakes I don't feel entirely comfortable at has taken away some of the fun and enjoyment of the game for me. A lot of the fun comes from taking part in promotions, or being able to outplay/soul-read my opponents in a short 30 minute - 1 hour session every now and then. If I play too much I get bored and tired of it, and it starts to feel more like a grind than a hobby.

I think next time I play poker (as a hobby) I will have a go at other types of games just for fun, as holdem cash games are starting to get a bit dull for me. So I might play a bit of omaha instead every now and then. Also I'm probably going to play a few MTTs when there's some sort of big event; I enjoy the ones with huge fields and big payouts relative to the buy-in. I will probably take part in events like the Sunday Storm Anniversary, Mountain Series, maybe even the SCOOP if I feel like gambling a bit. And of course I won't miss a big promotion like the million dollar freeroll!

Cheers Sect. I hope this decision works out for the best as I agree I feel I don't always make the best decisions but I feel this is one of my better ones I see my music dream as a bit like an unlikely, disguised straight draw. You won't always hit it, but when you do it usually pays off. I won't always make it into the music industry - it's far from a safe bet - but if I succeed then it will be well worth it. If I make it then that's obviously great, and if I don't then the effort I will have put in will ensure I do well at uni and end up with other potentially great career prospects instead. So in a way it's win/win either way.

Good decision.

Bit pathetic though derailing every stars thread "they are so great, the promos are so nice yadayada" while people who are around for decades tell you different stories.

You are young so here are 2 tipps for you which will come handy in future:
1. Sometimes its better to stfu especially if you are clueless
2. If people who are older/longer around/more knowledgable in a certain area HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT opinion to yours than you should very strongly reevaluate your opinion and there is A VERY HIGH chance that your initial opinion is incorrect


Gl

Thanks Tim. I do however disagree with you branding certain (perhaps unpopular) opinions as "incorrect" as an opinion is person's own point of view, not a fact, so people can be entitled to different and sometimes contrasting perspectives about an issue.

I understand there are a lot of people who are directly affected by the SN/SNE cuts and rake increases and these changes are terrible for them, but for me personally they don't really affect me so the only change to me is the improved series of promotions this year so far on Stars which is a net positive. However I am a minority here, as most players posting in these Stars threads are SN/SNE or play in games where the rake has increased, so it's understandable why they might argue with my views and see me as disruptive when that is not my intention.

But thanks for the advice anyway, and I will re-evaluate how I present my opinions in the future.

Obv everybody is entitled to an opinion but if 2 parties have differing opinions moar often than not one of those is incorrect.

It also wasnt really about teh SNE changes. That was one big part of the puzzle where teh company is heading.

Yea you might be right there could be more rake increases and stuff like that coming, I'm certainly not contesting that - in fact this was one of the reasons I decided to quit now before things get any worse.

What's your obsession with sheep's and paintings of sheep's?

I'm from New Zealand that's why

I've always say u that u should consider to take music most seriously.. and i'm happy to hear u r doing this Tom...as i say u more than one time i've quit music for a "real" life as i was young and it was my biggest mistake in life...i've ended up doing things that i not enjoy..i've always hope u don't make the same mistake! now i'm Really happy u don't!
..well also a little bit sad that u quit poker..but anyway..... cards wont run away..( years do that ).
..u r also always welcome at my studios in munich..i know is not so close to u but..is a little world!..i promise u a lot of good german beer!
GL*

GL whatever you do

guess stars changes arent so good eh, always lol'd at how a micro idiot had so much to say when infact you actually have no idea.

Thanks! You've always been a great supporter of me and I appreciate that. And yea that's why I've decided I want to go all the way with my music - I'll look back and have regrets about what might have happened had I tried. Good to know, I'll be sure to stay in touch! Cheers and gl

Thanks, you too bro

Sorry for having opinions that you don't agree with, but ultimately I'm entitled to my own opinions and you cannot really change that. As I've said before, I don't believe there's such thing as a "correct" opinion as everyone has their own different views about things, so whilst you may not like my opinions you have to accept them for what they are. I'm just glad I've demonstrated that I have the confidence to put forward my opinions no matter how unpopular they are and accept criticism, as opposed to just hiding in shame and not sharing any opinions in fear of being put down by others. Sticks and stones - throw them at me, but I am bulletproof. I do have my own advice for you personally though, and that would be to focus on just putting forward your own personal opinions in the future rather than insulting other people for theirs. Cheers

Wait, how can you think the stars changes were good for the micro games?

This first bit above the quote is the important part - the rest you can take or leave

I'm disappointed that you've given up on the 2016 challenge you set yourself. This diary thread could have been your real contribution to 2+2 but ultimately it came to nothing.

It is my view that if you can't stick it through the stress you've complained of in your attempt to climb out of the microstakes then the music world will absolutely crush you. It's a tougher grind than poker by a large factor & it also is mostly boring most of the time just like every task that requires dedication & repetition to become proficient. Talent, skill & knowledge [qualities you claim to have] will not open the doors of the music world if you can't put up with years of failure. All musicians pay their dues & I don't think you have that 'stickability' factor.

Where is that track you were going to put on YouTube a while back? Where can I see your creative product?

You are not to be trusted - in part because of your convoluted trolling history & in part because it's still difficult to know which parts of your output to take seriously even in your current mode where you claim to be above board!

When it comes to the crunch you very rarely accept criticism [red above] - I have seen little evidence of a growth in your insight despite numerous interactions with people who do know a lot more than you about the current & historic online poker world.

Outside of the strategy parts of 2+2 [your stakes & games are different from mine] I see you had some utility in approx just one thread where PokerStars 'rewards' & promotions were being discussed & that's it really.

Some of the most reasonable & personable people on 2+2 have put you on ignore. But you have a view of yourself that makes it very hard for you to see why this has happened. Here is my experience/view of you for what it's worth:

*** You enjoy being the contrarian for the sake of being contrarian & you have little investment in the opinions you weave from thin air
*** Your thesis that all opinions are in some sense equal is of course nonsense, this is the sort of argument so beloved of 9/11 truthers, young Earth creationists & anti-vaxxers
*** Once you have formed an opinion you will resist to the bitter end any argumentation that's contrary to it - although it looks as if you might just be seeing the light on certain things. Maybe.

Your narcissistic tendencies & undue self-regard have poisoned the well. You are not taken seriously because it's too much hard work figuring out when you're genuine & engaged.

lifetime graph plz

Well not exactly. But look at it this way - the SN/SNE cuts hurt the supernova+ players, most of whom play midstakes+ so it's these midstakes+ cash games that will be mostly affected by this change. The recent rake increases also mainly affect tournament players as well as HU cash game players, but have little effect on microstakes cash games. In summary, whilst it may get slightly tougher if people move down from midstakes after the cuts, I'd say the micros is impacted the least by these changes relative to other stakes.

But the positive part is the promotions have got significantly better this year (imo) and this affects microstakes players the most. The February milestone challenges in particular was great value, but other good promos as well such as the million dollar freeroll etc. I feel this improvement in the promotions has also encouraged a lot of rec players to take part and the micro games have got softer as a result when the promos have been running. So overall, from my experiences at the tables I feel there has been a net positive change to the quality of the games this year.

I am also disappointed, but I think saying it came to nothing is unfair. I started out at 5nl at the beginning of this challenge and moved all the way up to 50nl, making thousands of dollars in the process and improving my game significantly.

I think you're missing the point. It's not that I couldn't "stick through the stress". If I was just playing poker with no other big commitments then I'd easily be able to put up with it. I've been knocked down in the past but got back up on my feet. It's more the fact that I can't put up with the extra stress and commitment of poker on top of what I've already got going with what is already a huge workload with my double degree in music and maths (not to mention my social life at uni as well). It's more the fact that it's been an added stress and distraction for me. In the past I had to sacrifice time and motivation that I really needed to work on my music, to instead focus on playing and learning poker. It is now that I've finally realised this is not the best way to spend my time.

The track is basically finished, but it's more complex than that. I need to do some vocal retakes and change some of the synth sounds and mixing etc. which requires me to remake the song in a different production software and takes time. The song sounds decent as it is, but I want it to be perfect. I also want to make a cool music video to go with the song filmed in several different locations with lots of camera angles and other people involved, so that'll take time as well. Had I used the time and motivation that I'd put playing poker these past months into music instead, then the song might have progressed further by this point. But now I've made a commitment to devote all my time and effort into getting not just one song, but 3 songs finished by June at the latest. I've worked really hard this week and intend to continue this trend in the coming weeks.

I'm sorry you feel that way. I realise I've made mistakes on this site, most of them from 2015. Perhaps I am quite stubborn with some of my views, but then again there are times when I have shown I can back down and admit wrong if I've been proven otherwise so I don't think that's entirely true. I only "resist to the bitter end" if I feel quite strongly about something. Whilst I agree that some of these supernova+ players are more experienced than me, since it's the SN/SNE cuts that directly affect these players, it is these players who will therefore speak up the most against the changes. So whilst I agree they have more knowledge and experience, I also see there being a significant amount of bias in their views. So whilst Pokerstars PR team do their best to spin the company's changes in a positive light, the opposite can be said of SN+ players who all seem to highlight the changes in the most negative way possible. Not trying to discredit them or saying there isn't any truth to their points - since they do bring up some very good points. All I'm saying is that they are naturally biased against the changes.

After changing HUDs last year and not keeping my old data, I don't have a full lifetime graph of all stakes that I can share. But I do have a lifetime graph of 25nl here:

Care to share some tips for crushing 25z?

Yea, here are some general tips:

[] Fold a lot to postflop raises (even strong hands in some cases) and don't worry about being exploited - most of the time you're exploiting them.

[] In general, forget about trying to be balanced/GTO in every spot. Balance only matters if you're playing vs a solid reg

[] Use very unbalanced betsizing vs fish. I often bet close to pot when I have the goods, and sometimes less than half pot when I have air. They won't notice (don't do this vs regs as it'll be more obvious to them)

[] Don't barrel too much. It's ok to give up sometimes if your hand doesn't improve or pick up additional outs.

[] Don't tilt. Tilt is the biggest winrate killer

Hope this helps!

If you email PokerStars support [*DON'T* use the "get hand history" feature in the "Tools" menu of the PS client] asking for all the HHs & TSs since you signed up with them, they'll provide a password protected link to where you can download a zipped file [or files] containing all your HHs/TSs

This request is normally fulfilled same day
The unzipped format is .txt which can be directly imported into PT4 or HM2