Destroying the rakeback grinder mindset. (200NL+)
01-21-2024
, 07:25 PM
Hey guys, first post here. I'd like to share my journey evolving from a rakeback grinder to a true winner.
A bit about me: I started playing poker about 6 years ago, initially making some extra money while studying. After finishing university, I played tournaments on Unibet and partypoker while working at uni. About 4 years ago, I transitioned to cash game tables (starting with 50NL) and grinded them for the PP leaderboards and rakeback. I studied charts, watched tons of videos, made decent money for my country, and eventually started grinding full-time. Then, I played PS Zoom tables, starting with 100NL, where I had a decent win rate. In 2022, they offered me the 40% rakeback challenges, which increased my total RB to 65%, but I needed to rake 10k/month, so I started playing 200NL tables. I cleared about 10 challenges with a marginal win rate pre-RB. However, they later reduced my rakeback to 10%, so I started playing on GG. I played R&C tables and normals, grinding pretty consistently (from 200NL - to getting humbled by actually good regs at 1k NL), but struggled to make decent money because of the PVI system and the enormous rake.
So, after a long time grinding for rakeback, I want to focus on playing actually good poker. I'm still motivated to play long hours, but I want to drastically change my play/study ratio and be extra focused while playing. (It turns out playing 9 tables while watching YouTube and answering messages is not +EV) Also, I'd like to be part of a bigger community, probably even joining a CFP, because I made exactly 0 poker friends on my journey and haven't even discussed hands with any other player, despite watching who knows how many hours of videos where others talk about the game.
Some results from the past:
PokerStars from 2022.01.01-2023.04.31. Being breakeven at 200NL after 1mil hands doesn't look that good. Always needed to grind a lot at the end of every month to clear RB challenges, which really ****ed up my winrate. Also, I only played 500 Zoom focused and when the pool was good enough.
Last 4 months GG stats. I don't have hands for a few months, but I was break-even in the 200 R&C pool. Ran like **** in the 1k games, but I'm clearly losing hard against good regs, finding myself guessing in a lot of situations, combined with the rake and the lack of bankroll, I'm far from being competent battling these guys.
Enough talking. From now on, I'm going to frequently upload some graphs and interesting hands, which hopefully stops me punting to whales and grinding 3 more hours playing my C game for the extra $40 from leaderboards.
Also, I'd like to not share my screen name yet because I have no idea where this thread goes. Thanks for reading, and please share your ideas or call me out if I say something dumb.
A bit about me: I started playing poker about 6 years ago, initially making some extra money while studying. After finishing university, I played tournaments on Unibet and partypoker while working at uni. About 4 years ago, I transitioned to cash game tables (starting with 50NL) and grinded them for the PP leaderboards and rakeback. I studied charts, watched tons of videos, made decent money for my country, and eventually started grinding full-time. Then, I played PS Zoom tables, starting with 100NL, where I had a decent win rate. In 2022, they offered me the 40% rakeback challenges, which increased my total RB to 65%, but I needed to rake 10k/month, so I started playing 200NL tables. I cleared about 10 challenges with a marginal win rate pre-RB. However, they later reduced my rakeback to 10%, so I started playing on GG. I played R&C tables and normals, grinding pretty consistently (from 200NL - to getting humbled by actually good regs at 1k NL), but struggled to make decent money because of the PVI system and the enormous rake.
So, after a long time grinding for rakeback, I want to focus on playing actually good poker. I'm still motivated to play long hours, but I want to drastically change my play/study ratio and be extra focused while playing. (It turns out playing 9 tables while watching YouTube and answering messages is not +EV) Also, I'd like to be part of a bigger community, probably even joining a CFP, because I made exactly 0 poker friends on my journey and haven't even discussed hands with any other player, despite watching who knows how many hours of videos where others talk about the game.
Some results from the past:
PokerStars from 2022.01.01-2023.04.31. Being breakeven at 200NL after 1mil hands doesn't look that good. Always needed to grind a lot at the end of every month to clear RB challenges, which really ****ed up my winrate. Also, I only played 500 Zoom focused and when the pool was good enough.
Last 4 months GG stats. I don't have hands for a few months, but I was break-even in the 200 R&C pool. Ran like **** in the 1k games, but I'm clearly losing hard against good regs, finding myself guessing in a lot of situations, combined with the rake and the lack of bankroll, I'm far from being competent battling these guys.
Enough talking. From now on, I'm going to frequently upload some graphs and interesting hands, which hopefully stops me punting to whales and grinding 3 more hours playing my C game for the extra $40 from leaderboards.
Also, I'd like to not share my screen name yet because I have no idea where this thread goes. Thanks for reading, and please share your ideas or call me out if I say something dumb.
01-22-2024
, 04:09 PM
03-04-2024
, 05:49 AM
February Update:
I tracked my results every day in February, which turned out to be the worst month pre-rakeback in my poker career. Frankly, I was hesitant to share a graph this ugly, but I'm here to improve, not to brag. So, the graph is as unattractive as it gets. (It's mostly 200NL R&C, 200NL normal tables, 500NL normal tables)
GG increased leaderboards and promos, catching my attention and enticing me to play long hours for C$, which, in hindsight, was clearly not the right move. Additionally, I took a week-long break due to a ski trip.
I broke down every type of rakeback separately, providing insight how GG rakeback truly looks. On a positive note, I also won my first BBJ after 10 months of playing on GG.
Total rake: 14673
Rakeback: 4331
Leaderboard: 3450
GGCare: 169
Other promos: 845
Bad Beat JP: 13454
Total: 22249
Month result: 6529
Poker Goals for March:
Only play normal tables - regain a bit of confidence, find out if I even beat the game prerakeback.
Don't chase leaderboards.
Study at least 1 hour a day and watch others play at least 30 minutes - mainly focusing on BB and SB spots.
Not bluffing into fish with theory-sounding blockers.
I tracked my results every day in February, which turned out to be the worst month pre-rakeback in my poker career. Frankly, I was hesitant to share a graph this ugly, but I'm here to improve, not to brag. So, the graph is as unattractive as it gets. (It's mostly 200NL R&C, 200NL normal tables, 500NL normal tables)
GG increased leaderboards and promos, catching my attention and enticing me to play long hours for C$, which, in hindsight, was clearly not the right move. Additionally, I took a week-long break due to a ski trip.
I broke down every type of rakeback separately, providing insight how GG rakeback truly looks. On a positive note, I also won my first BBJ after 10 months of playing on GG.
Total rake: 14673
Rakeback: 4331
Leaderboard: 3450
GGCare: 169
Other promos: 845
Bad Beat JP: 13454
Total: 22249
Month result: 6529
Poker Goals for March:
Only play normal tables - regain a bit of confidence, find out if I even beat the game prerakeback.
Don't chase leaderboards.
Study at least 1 hour a day and watch others play at least 30 minutes - mainly focusing on BB and SB spots.
Not bluffing into fish with theory-sounding blockers.
04-05-2024
, 05:45 AM
Quote:
04-05-2024
, 06:02 AM
March Update:
Good month money-wise, but I'm still not satisfied with many of my plays. Played less tables, and avoided chasing leaderboards. Occasionally R&C tables felt better than normal (mostly at afternoon), so I played 2 of those instead of 6 normal tables. Also luckily I hit a 200NL BBJ again (2nd in 12 months). Also played a few tournaments for fun.
Results:
Total: Rake: 12773$
Rakeback: 2800$
Leaderboard: 600$
GGCare: 53$
BBJ: 12136$
Other promos: 466$
Winnings at table: 3945$
Tournament winnings: 3600$
Total: +23600$
Goals stay the same. Mostly trying to play 500NL tables, and study smaller pots.
Good month money-wise, but I'm still not satisfied with many of my plays. Played less tables, and avoided chasing leaderboards. Occasionally R&C tables felt better than normal (mostly at afternoon), so I played 2 of those instead of 6 normal tables. Also luckily I hit a 200NL BBJ again (2nd in 12 months). Also played a few tournaments for fun.
Results:
Total: Rake: 12773$
Rakeback: 2800$
Leaderboard: 600$
GGCare: 53$
BBJ: 12136$
Other promos: 466$
Winnings at table: 3945$
Tournament winnings: 3600$
Total: +23600$
Goals stay the same. Mostly trying to play 500NL tables, and study smaller pots.
05-15-2024
, 07:40 PM
April update:
Quite month poker-wise, with okay results. I've had a lot of other things going on, so I'm not satisfied with my volume. Also, I didn't play for the first two weeks of May. Haven't found a good team or an inspiring group of people yet, so I feel a bit stuck at 200-500NL. I will focus on regular tables in May, trying to play my A game.
Rakeback: 3020$
Leaderboard: 1015$
GGCare: 150$
BBJ: 906$
Other promos: 116$
Winnings at table: 3512$
Tournament winnings: -1000$
Total: +7719$
Quite month poker-wise, with okay results. I've had a lot of other things going on, so I'm not satisfied with my volume. Also, I didn't play for the first two weeks of May. Haven't found a good team or an inspiring group of people yet, so I feel a bit stuck at 200-500NL. I will focus on regular tables in May, trying to play my A game.
Rakeback: 3020$
Leaderboard: 1015$
GGCare: 150$
BBJ: 906$
Other promos: 116$
Winnings at table: 3512$
Tournament winnings: -1000$
Total: +7719$
