Hey there. This is like my 3rd PGC thread.

I've been lazy with the updates in the previous 2 and this is the last one I will make.

Im currently playing a mix on NL100 and NL200 online. My goal is to become a HS Reg by mid next year. The way I will try to acomplish this is by improving my Mental and Poker game.

Im halfway trough the Mental Game Book by Jared Tendler and it has really helped me understand why I wasnt getting the results I was aiming for before even thou I think I did have the Poker Skills to get them

I will update with hands and thoughts about my Mental and Poker Game. All comments are welcome and I hope to help some people along the way to get better aswell as I do.

Lately I have made a few drastic changes to my game and Im loving them so far. We will see how it goes from here

This is the graph so far this month. Started a bit lazy but putting in more volume this last few days




Cya around!

Im currently getting coaching from Gordon Gekko and skraper.
My classes with Gordon are coming to an end, and he has taught me alot but I feel like I need a new person to discuss stuff and view my game.

I found skraper in his own PGC thread: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...400nl-1244163/

He is on a similar spot than I am, thou he plays higher and Im sure he is a better player he is a Mental Game newbie as me and it will be fun to progress with someone who is doing the same path. So you will find some similarities between his thread and mine I guess




This was my 1st session since the start of this thread:



I played 9-10 tables most of the time. Played for a little more than 2 hours



Hand 1) Here was where I wrote my 1st mental note. It says that I started tilting after losing a hand wich I thought I played well but a fishy reg won vs me with a bad play imo. So that kind triggered a little bit of tilt from me. Im not of the type that has a ridiculous raise to cbet% so I dont think his getting it in on flop was good at all, he will be doing very bad against my range in this spot and his sizing was bad

Party Poker $100 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players

MP: $100.00
Hero (CO): $103.00
BTN: $114.15
SB: $103.50
BB: $110.13
UTG: $141.25

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is CO with Q A
1 fold, MP raises to $3, Hero calls $3, 3 folds

Flop: ($7.50) Q 2 9 (2 players)
MP bets $5, Hero raises to $15, MP raises to $45, Hero raises to $100 all in, MP calls $52 all in

Turn: ($201.50) 3 (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($201.50) 4 (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $201.50
MP shows 5 6 (a flush, Nine high)
Hero shows Q A (a pair of Queens)
MP wins $198.50
(Rake: $3.00)




Hand 2) Im experimenting with donking alot lately. I felt like this was the best way of getting more value of my hand without looking super strong. I didnt want to flat turn just incase he would not valuebet river again or give up in a club river.

Party Poker $200 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

MP: $175.00
CO: $226.65
BTN: $288.95
Hero (SB): $319.55
BB: $206.00
UTG: $86.70

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is SB with 6 6
1 fold, MP raises to $6, 2 folds, Hero calls $5, BB calls $4

Flop: ($18.00) 6 6 Q (3 players)
Hero bets $10, BB folds, MP raises to $26, Hero calls $16

Turn: ($70.00) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $42, Hero raises to $287.55 all in, MP calls $101 all in

River: ($356.00) K (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $356.00
MP shows A A (two pairs, Aces and Sixes)
Hero shows 6 6 (four of a kind, Sixes)
Hero wins $353.00
(Rake: $3.00)




Hand 3) another note I wrote down about mental game: I sometimes play scared when Im in some big NL200 pots wich doesnt allow me to make the best decission at some times. I think here maybe flatting turn was better.

Party Poker $200 No Limit Hold'em - 4 players

SB: $329.35
Hero (BB): $210.00
CO: $348.40
BTN: $246.83

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is BB with K K
2 folds, SB raises to $6, Hero raises to $20, SB calls $14

Flop: ($40.00) 8 2 6 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $21, SB raises to $50, Hero calls $29

Turn: ($140.00) 4 (2 players)
SB bets $50, Hero raises to $140 all in, SB folds

Final Pot: $240.00
Hero mucks K K
Hero wins $238.00
(Rake: $2.00)







Evaluation:

a) Estimate how much Variance influenced results: I think Variance wise it was a semi even session between setups/badbeats in my favor and agaisnt me. The thing that influenced positively was that most of the hands in my favour where in NL200 and the hands that were bad for me happened mostly in NL100. Example: I flopped quads vs AA in NL200 and a few hands later I had 88 vs AA in A87 in NL100 vs a fish. Session was like +150bigblinds

b) Mental Game: 7/10 - I wrote down 2 mental notes: I started tilting in a hand where I think I played good and a reg played bad and he ended up winning it. (wich is the AQ hand above) -entitlemente tilt- . But luckily I controlled it pretty fast as I was playing really focused on maintaining a strong Mental Game. Also I wrote down a note related to Fear, wich was that I felt a little bit afraid of doing what I thought was the correct play ATM in the hand with KK when playing NL200. But I noticed it pretty fast aswell, didnt give me time to correct cause I had already decided and acted by fear. But I will be more aware of this next time hopefully

Overall I felt pretty happy about my mental game this session and controlled my emotions well imo

c) Poker Game: 7/10

Even thou I was playing a strong Mental Game I had a very important conversation going on Skype, and I got distracted by it and lost focus for a while. Overall I think I played pretty well and stayed in my B+/A- Game for most of the session.

d) Notes: I was pretty happy with my overall game. I have to remember to stay aware of everything so I pay close attention to my mood changes and emotions going on.

e) Reg Notes: Not many tough spots to say the truth. Session consisted of alot of coolers in my way or in their way. Luckily for me the ones in my way were mostly in NL200. I took a few notes while playing like a good reg who called my 3bet oop CO vs MP w/ A2s, proceeded to float on J74r, turn J went check-check and he proceeded to fire a bullet on 2 river. I didnt think he would call my 3bet oop so light -dont like his call at all- and I dont think thats a board where he can defend either. But after that ofc his line was good betting the river. (I had KK)

btw I was using a very similar system to the one that skraper has in his thread with evaluating my progress (due to us reading the same book).

I liked how he made his a little bit better so I went ahead and copied his format. ^^

gl everyone. playing 2nd session of the day in a few minutes

Might start doing the same in my thread as you and skraper if u guys dont mind

Cool thread, good luck OP.

Reading The Mental Game atm too, should start the journal as well.

gl op

your line in h2 is pretty cool if its the right villain type. But vs others, a c/r will look like air to them and potentially induce spaz. Where as your donk will look more like 'something' (77/FD/Qx). Just have to decided which line is the least credible to this specific villain.

After last session Im breaking even for the month =/

Lost a bit over $900. Mostly in NL200. I had looots of interesting hands, i will go trough some now. Heres the graph








1st hand) This was starting the session. Its a 3bet I will definetly do IP and soometimes I also do it OOP. Decided to do it and got coolered I guess. Had no problem with it. just fun hand ^^

Party Poker $200 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players

BTN: $200.00
SB: $226.55
Hero (BB): $209.00
UTG: $288.00
CO: $239.35

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is BB with 6 7
UTG raises to $6, 3 folds, Hero raises to $20, UTG calls $14

Flop: ($41.00) 4 5 K (2 players)
Hero bets $24, UTG calls $24

Turn: ($89.00) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $43, UTG calls $43

River: ($175.00) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $122 all in, UTG calls $122

Final Pot: $419.00
Hero shows 6 7 (a straight, Three to Seven)
UTG shows A K (a flush, Ace high)
UTG wins $416.00
(Rake: $3.00)


2nd hand) This villian floats me alot. I thought it was a good spot to overbet river. Its hard for him to fold an A being the type of player he is

Party Poker $100 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players

MP: $141.50
Hero (CO): $109.50
BTN: $179.34
SB: $106.85
BB: $103.63
UTG: $100.00

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is CO with 4 4
2 folds, Hero raises to $3, 1 fold, SB calls $2.50, 1 fold

Flop: ($7.00) A K 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $4, SB calls $4

Turn: ($15.00) 4 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $9, SB calls $9

River: ($33.00) 4 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $49, SB calls $49

Final Pot: $131.00
Hero shows 4 4 (four of a kind, Fours)
SB mucks J A (two pairs, Aces and Fours)
Hero wins $128.00
(Rake: $3.00)


3) This villian has a high call btn and is aggresive. I guess the hand is ok. Would love some thoughts. too much of a Hero?

Party Poker $200 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players

BTN: $213.97
SB: $658.95
BB: $200.00
Hero (UTG): $319.05
CO: $49.65

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is UTG with A J
Hero raises to $6, 1 fold, BTN calls $6, 2 folds

Flop: ($15.00) K J 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $9, BTN raises to $26, Hero calls $17

Turn: ($67.00) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $38, Hero calls $38

River: ($143.00) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $143.97 all in, Hero calls $143.97

Final Pot: $430.94
BTN shows 5 A (a straight, Ace to Five)
Hero shows A J (a pair of Jacks)
BTN wins $427.94
(Rake: $3.00)


4) This hand is against the same Villian than hand 3. Same table, only a few hands after.

Party Poker $200 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players

UTG: $427.94
CO: $657.95
BTN: $200.00
Hero (SB): $201.00
BB: $197.79

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is SB with Q Q
UTG raises to $5, 2 folds, Hero raises to $20, 1 fold, UTG calls $15

Flop: ($42.00) 5 T K (2 players)
Hero bets $22, UTG calls $22

Turn: ($86.00) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $37, Hero calls $37

River: ($160.00) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $157, Hero calls $122 all in

Final Pot: $404.00
UTG shows A J (high card Ace)
Hero shows Q Q (a pair of Queens)
Hero wins $401.00
(Rake: $3.00)



5) Im only posting this hand cause I nearly tilted when it happened. Villian is a bad reg and he is running really good vs me lately. I dont like the line that he takes on the flop and I was about to tilt but I controlled it

Party Poker $100 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players

UTG: $101.70
MP: $166.07
CO: $100.00
Hero (BTN): $156.34
SB: $28.41
BB: $100.00

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is BTN with Q J
3 folds, Hero raises to $2.50, 1 fold, BB raises to $8, Hero calls $5.50

Flop: ($16.50) J 6 Q (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $9, BB raises to $29, Hero raises to $148.34 all in, BB calls $63 all in

Turn: ($200.50) K (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($200.50) 6 (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $200.50
Hero shows Q J (two pairs, Queens and Jacks)
BB shows A A (two pairs, Aces and Sixes)
BB wins $197.50
(Rake: $3.00)



6) Hand agaisnt same villian that hand 5. Again, his defense is too light, his range is too weak if he is calling as lightly as this. As I said he is running good vs me -.- . I check turn cause he is floating me tons and loves aggresion in position. Figured that apart from his bluffs he would even bet-bet sometimes with AJ maybe even AT putting me in TT-JJ-QQ-KK, cause I've seen him do that kind of stuff.

Party Poker $100 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players

BB: $122.51
UTG: $95.50
MP: $331.93
CO: $101.70
BTN: $113.64
Hero (SB): $106.43

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is SB with Q A
2 folds, CO raises to $3, 1 fold, Hero raises to $10, 1 fold, CO calls $7

Flop: ($21.00) 2 3 A (2 players)
Hero bets $11, CO calls $11

Turn: ($43.00) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $20, Hero calls $20

River: ($83.00) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $60.70 all in, Hero calls $60.70

Final Pot: $204.40
CO shows 4 5 (a straight, Ace to Five)
Hero shows Q A (two pairs, Aces and Nines)
CO wins $201.40
(Rake: $3.00)


7) last hand. I overshoved river to tried to get Tx and everything worst than that to fold. I Think I like this spot to do it, just because its easy for me to do it with 22/88 aswell and I dont think villian will think Im crazy enough to overshove 2x pot with a naked fd here. Clearly none of that matters to him due to the hand that he had, but Im pretty sure I could get AT and everything worst than that to fold. As a sidenote I guess I could have made it smaller on the river haha. Maybe 100 or something and not 162 AI. But I like shoving on this river aswell If I have 22-88 so well. -.- Im not sure. Maybe its just spew, I thought it was pretty good atm. thoughts?

Party Poker $200 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players

CO: $200.00
BTN: $258.42
Hero (SB): $200.00
BB: $287.49
UTG: $297.40
MP: $52.02

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is SB with A 2
UTG raises to $6, 2 folds, BTN calls $6, Hero calls $5, 1 fold

Flop: ($20.00) 8 2 T (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, BTN bets $10, Hero raises to $32, UTG folds, BTN calls $22

Turn: ($84.00) T (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($84.00) 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $162 all in, BTN calls $162

Final Pot: $408.00
BTN shows T T (four of a kind, Tens)
Hero shows A 2 (two pairs, Tens and Twos)
BTN wins $405.00
(Rake: $3.00)





I had many other coolers/badbeats, some my way or their way but a lot more std than this hands so dont really feel like posting them .

Will do Evaluation now :P


Evaluation:

a) Estimate how much Variance influenced results: I think Variance influenced a little bit on this session but I dont really felt like I was running sooo bad. I guess I got kinda unlucky to run to the top of my oponnent ranges in certain spots and god badbeated/coolered more than not, so yea Variance influeced to my loses this time I guess =/


b) Mental Game: 8/10 - I think I handled myself extremely well in terms of Mental Game this session. I managed to stay very cool without even trying that much. I was just enjoying the game and didnt have much negative thought, and when they appeared I worked them really fast. I was sepcially proud of myself after seeing the results and staying calmed.

Only at the end I think I spewed a buy in and thats why Im not giving myself a 9/10 or 10/10, but it wasnt that awfull anyways I guess


c) Poker Game: 7/10

I think I played OK again, not my best. I analized ranges quite good and played createvly. I did have some doubts in certain spots and dont know If I played them entirely correctly.

I just didnt feel like I was playing my best but not bad at all

d) Notes: Not that much to say really. It kinda sucks that Im doing this a few hours after the session cause I dont really remember it aswell as if it just happened but well, I think I played OK and controlled my emotions really good. felt proud of that, too bad Variance didndt go my way this time :P

e) Reg Notes: Had lots of interesting spots trough the session wich I will be checking with my coach. I didnt really feel outplayed at any times and I think I played createvly. Had a few reg wars in wich I came out losing but I think after analizing the hands that I played them well and sometimes villians didnt -wich is good for me- , specially in the case of hands 5 and 6 so was pretty happy about them.


------------

I had to leave the session cause I had a Soccer Game (I play lots of sports and specially soccer, wich Im pretty fkn good at ^^)


Had a coaching session for tomorrow with skraper, but a friend got tickets to go to the Stadium to our National Soccer Team Game vs Colombia. so that should be lots of fun and I will have to cancel class, hopefully we can do it on Wednesday




Gogogo!

P.D: Sorry if its too much of a brick post. Will try to make them shorter in the furute.

Id love some comments about the hands

We lost 3-1 in soccer

After that I went out with some friends and ended up not playing yesterday. Today I will continue ^^