You got this man! Don't let one bad session get you down.

It may not be needed, but it is interesting as f***! Also doesn't really hurt to study flop textures and make muscle memory on some spots... I've done myself with Axx and Kxx BU vs Blinds and took my game a step further, also 1/4 bet (keep in mind when I played bet was 1/2 pot or 90% or something and you only overbet polarised in rivers)... It is not overkill for micros in my opinion because at least it makes you think about hands and not play like a robot!

Your study is super interesting as well... I will dm you

Deep consultation, macro penis, what is this thread turning into? xD xD

"I don't know. It's an adventure. What will we find out there on the streets?"

Hehe, love this, subbed and gl!

Best of luck. I will feel personally responsible if you donk it off so please try not to do that!

Hey! Saw you in the 10z pool just now. Would've said hi but every hand we were dealt in you folded.

Big thanks people and welcome. I am grinding but my keyboard broke (not tilt related) so I can't really type/respond for a few days.

Update soon. Getting used to zoom a bit now.

Drawcess who are you? Have you marked me as a nit yet?

Let the levelling begin.

Haha I'll reveal my SN next time I see you in the pool. Though you can find it if you search through my posts.

I'm sure you've marked me as a nit. No matter how hard I try I end up like 17/15 every session.

Some random decent german reg out of nowhere just started berating me in chat during a hand the other day for being a nit. Was quite funny.

Right, new shiny keyboard engaged. 🚀🚀🚀



4k mark but things slowly turning around into more of a smile than a stroke. After wheeling in that new stake syndrome it has been a steadier ride. Just play normal and zen. I am running hot too. Cheers variance -- see, you, later.

Hoping to dramatically increase volume over the next few weeks as I continue to study. Although I find zoom so good for one-tabling when you want to concentrate on every aspect of your game. Hit a spot, investigate, repeat.

Some early 10nlz thoughts:

- many fish
- wow, actual rakeback
- it does feel splashy enough to increase hero range enough to call when reasonable

***********************


2 heroes/2 punts


1. Interesting moves

BTN: 483.5 BB
SB: 113.2 BB
BB: 210.5 BB
UTG: 100 BB
Hero (MP): 107.6 BB
CO: 159.2 BB

6 players post ante of 0.1 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.1 BB) Hero has 9 T

fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (7.1 BB, 2 players) T 3 5
BB checks, Hero bets 4.5 BB, BB calls 4.5 BB

Turn: (16.1 BB, 2 players) 7
BB checks, Hero bets 10.3 BB, BB calls 10.3 BB

River: (36.7 BB, 2 players) K
BB bets 17.5 BB, Hero calls 17.5 BB

BB shows A 6 (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 52%, Flop 15%, Turn 16%)
Hero shows 9 T (One Pair, Tens)
(Pre 48%, Flop 85%, Turn 84%)
Hero wins 68.5 BB


2. Weakening of the Overpair

PokerStars - $0.10 Ante $0.01 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): 121.8 BB
SB: 61.5 BB
BB: 147.8 BB
UTG: 54.5 BB
MP: 144.9 BB
CO: 140.6 BB

6 players post ante of 0.1 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.1 BB) Hero has Q Q

fold, fold, CO raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 9 BB, fold, fold, CO calls 6 BB

Flop: (20.1 BB, 2 players) 9 9 5
CO checks, Hero bets 6.3 BB, CO raises to 12.6 BB, Hero calls 6.3 BB

Turn: (45.3 BB, 2 players) K
CO bets 21.7 BB, Hero calls 21.7 BB

River: (88.7 BB, 2 players) 8
CO bets 97.2 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 78.4 BB and is all-in

CO shows J A (One Pair, Nines)
(Pre 32%, Flop 16%, Turn 7%)
Hero shows Q Q (Two Pair, Queens and Nines)
(Pre 68%, Flop 84%, Turn 93%)
Hero wins 234.5 BB


3. Unverified power move

PokerStars - $0.10 Ante $0.01 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 211.8 BB
Hero (SB): 116.5 BB
BB: 288 BB
UTG: 100 BB
MP: 128.1 BB
CO: 83 BB

6 players post ante of 0.1 BB, Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.1 BB) Hero has A K

fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, BB raises to 9.5 BB, Hero raises to 24 BB, BB calls 14.5 BB

Flop: (48.6 BB, 2 players) 8 8 4
Hero bets 15.3 BB, BB calls 15.3 BB

Turn: (79.2 BB, 2 players) 3
Hero bets 77.1 BB and is all-in, fold

Hero wins 75.6 BB



4. 'Misclick lol'

(made me wonder though, pretty awful spot for v's range)

PokerStars - $0.10 Ante $0.01 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 138.9 BB
SB: 106.9 BB
Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 111.5 BB
MP: 96 BB
CO: 199.7 BB

6 players post ante of 0.1 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.1 BB) Hero has K A

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.8 BB, fold, Hero raises to 10.8 BB, BTN calls 8 BB

Flop: (22.7 BB, 2 players) 3 8 J
Hero bets 7.2 BB, BTN calls 7.2 BB

Turn: (37.1 BB, 2 players) 3
Hero checks, BTN bets 17.8 BB, Hero raises to 53.4 BB, fold

Hero wins 69.4 BB

The old turn minraise eh?


*****************

Bonus keyboard porn:

@Piniiii

My thoughts exactly. Splashing out on a solver early with micro profits increased my confidence AND it made the game so much more interesting as a whole. Which itself increases motivation and learning cycles. I honestly think I'd have quit after two years if I hadn't done it.


@Drawcess

I've found you in tracker (although whether I'll trig in game is another thing. I think the antes block out the avatar names at the start of the hand plus my awareness at the table is shocking at the best of times)

Yeah I figured you would find me. I don't think we have many hands together though. Maybe 40? I'm assuming you've also gotten an exclusive poker challenge by your rakeback comment?

As far as those hands:

H1:

I'm surprised this was a bluff from villain. Is he a reg or fish? Most spots I've run into like this it is value.

H2:

Also really shocked this is a bluff, though there are a few loose aggro regfish that I have tagged who will blast off like this.

H3/4:

I love the aggression here. I don't have enough of this in my game.

H1 - well he sort of snap donked the river which, to be fair, with his actual hand selection has some merit to it. But it really made no sense in game, psychologically, because that K changes a lot and why would you snap donk a flush? To intimidate your opponent into... calling? +10 for effort, -5 execution

Nay, although it sounds like a want one. Do you have to ask or somein?

I was being somewhat ironic in that i think what you crawl back in chests does seem to have gone up enough now where it's worth clicking it, but I suspect a paltry sum all the same.

I don't know what you have to do to get them. It seems randomly at stars discretion. Though they do seem to be only coming to volume zoom grinders. Maybe you'll get one soon?

Mine is $80 back for $200 in rake. Have 28 days to do it, and can do it up to 5 times. But it takes me most of that to do it once, and I have to grind pretty hard at 10z for that in one month.

***10k hands update***

Ok, first 10k hands booked and overall v happy with stake, if not cringing a bit about some of my own fishy play.



There are so many (10+) triple barrels and Z-game level punts in these figures that were either called down by passives with the goods or, frankly, just way out of line. tut tut. I have a habit of getting high at night and one-tabling freestyle looking to crush redline EV. Great from a creativity and fun POV but kind of a disaster for this challenge.

Easy to fix though. Less human more bot.

I really like playing this zoom stake in general, so that's a big YES from me for the format. I've rarely felt outplayed technically and early impressions of field are a good mix of every type of player but mainly varieties of fish.

I know it might sound arrogant at this stage but I think I've overestimated this field so far and been looking to outplay when sometimes it's best just to underplay.

Still, gotta fix 'em leaks!


******************


HAND: Favourite 10BB pot all time


Cannot describe how happy this tiny hand made me.


PokerStars - $0.10 Ante $0.01 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 100 BB
SB: 100 BB
Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 5 BB
MP: 152.5 BB
CO: 100 BB

6 players post ante of 0.1 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.1 BB) Hero has 2 A

UTG raises to 4.9 BB and is all-in, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 3.9 BB

Flop: (10.9 BB, 2 players) T T 5

Turn: (10.9 BB, 2 players) A

River: (10.9 BB, 2 players) 2

Hero shows 2 A (Two Pair, Aces and Tens)
(Pre 33%, Flop 17%, Turn 95%)
UTG shows Q Q (Two Pair, Queens and Tens)
(Pre 68%, Flop 83%, Turn 5%)
Hero wins 10.4 BB


********

PS: What's a jack for?



Currently running 225BB/100 with J4s. Have. it.

Would this be Jared Tendler approved?

-

Zoooom is so fun, God. And yeah, I imagine you're overestimating the field a bit, it's one of those things that you can only really see when you've "completed" a stake and go back to play it after. Also, <100nl, I think the difficulty of Stars relative to other sites is overstated in general.

Awesome man! Glad to see you doing well.

Subscribed, glgl!

Cheers Lethiferous!


**20k UPDATE**

Great news guys. I fixed my red-line issues:





Here's the green one:



Challenge going well - a little slower than I'd like. Hoping to ramp up volume as I get more comfortable but just one/two tabling and really thinking through every spot 'as if I'm to be judged' feels good right now until I hit my target WR.

Currently running at 3.28bb/100 which, considering how much of a lunatic I was in the first 10k, is ok by me.

I played much better in this batch all round. Not throwing away as many stacks on speculative bluffs, marking bad hands and forcing myself to replay at least 10 errors a day. I like this system. 90% of my leaks still seem to be obvious bluffing/calling errors that suggests my real issues are mental game and concentration > theory.

Zoom is such a leak finder. I'm also dropping the mega-solve masterplan for now. Just doesn't seem necessary yet to get where I want to go. I think over the years just recording and marking hands has been THE greatest difference to my game out of everything.

Enjoying the poker and appreciating the motivation to grind. GL all!

*********

Are you good enough to fold QUEENS here??


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

BTN: 108.3 BB
Hero (SB): 163.9 BB
BB: 179.2 BB
UTG: 100.5 BB
MP: 100 BB
CO: 277.8 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG raises to 3 BB, MP raises to 9 BB, fold, BTN raises to 22 BB, hero fold, fold, UTG calls 19 BB, MP calls 13 BB

Flop: (67.5 BB, 3 players) A A 6
UTG checks, MP checks, BTN checks

Turn: (67.5 BB, 3 players) K
UTG checks, MP checks, BTN checks

River: (67.5 BB, 3 players) 3
UTG checks, MP checks, BTN checks

UTG shows 5 5 (Two Pair, Aces and Fives)
(Pre 16%, Flop 8%, Turn 5%)
MP shows 7 7 (Two Pair, Aces and Sevens)
(Pre 19%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)
BTN shows J J (Two Pair, Aces and Jacks)
(Pre 66%, Flop 83%, Turn 90%)
BTN wins 64.5 BB

Bugger

Nice results, agree on the importance of hand reviews. Things are so obvious after the fact compared to in the moment sometimes, so good to replay everything in slow motion.

Love the QQ hand lol, online poker is dead hey, everyone at the micros is playing perfect GTO

Has no right to be as funny as it is

-

I fold the queens too.


New stake syndrome is so real, even when you're playing against literally the same opponents.

Hi all, quick update and exciting new pledge.

10nlz going fine, not crushing but just about holding my own. Still haven't played much is the real issue.

Doing this challenge has helped me realise that my #1 leak right now is VOLUME. I'm normally the one pointing out to others that too much of that kills your WR, and that's true, but I've also realised I've been using that little motif as an excuse to barely grind at all while I surf the abstract world of theory where I'm always great at poker when I look up the answer.

I also, probably, smoke too much weed.

🌿🌿🌿

This is a somewhat unavoidable aspect of my life (chronic migraines) and, honestly, nothing else comes close to marijuana as a preventative or abortive medicine. So a complete ban could do more harm than good. But it has been a silly while since I've not smoked at all (4 years) and I do miss sobriety and getting 100 things done and being a normal person for five minutes. This challenge is obviously going as fast as a snail in snailshit and it needs a biological revamp.

My pledge, *salutes forehead*, for the rest of this challenge is to try and ONLY smoke after I've booked my targets for the day.

No 🎯, no 🌿

I need more structure in general, so if anyone has any good examples of some solid study/play schedules they've been able to maintain or that might inspire I'm glad to hear them. There was something good over on Alvin's channel this week about being more of a scientist and writing down the top ten things you know you aren't good at and only focusing on the top three until they're mastered. I'm going to try that next.

And volume.

GL and see you in soberville (if it even exists)

Good luck man! If you have the exclusive poker challenge I'd say make that your volume target for the duration of it. I had $200 in rake for $80 back, which was 35kish hands at 10z, and was a good challenge in 28 days.

It was a GRIND, and now I'm cutting back to focus on quality with 2 instead of 3 tables.

Thanks Drawcess. You've just made me realise all my communication settings in the PS client are set to 'No'.

Hmm. That might be why I never get any offers!

What are you raising the turn with in that 3b pot?