I haven't read through this entire thing, but have you addressed why you think your bb per hour isn't higher?

I played 8 hrs today and won $93. I played well, my reads were on point and I got my chips in as a favorite most of the time.

Thank you. Yes it is a pretty common tell when someone explains their action they have an alterior motive. He is not betting the river because I am weak, he is betting because he made his hand. Villain said he had 55, he turned and oesd and rivered a fh. I think my bet on the turn was good, he just hit the river and I was able to get away.

It is funny that you mention that. I actually just started running again after being out of the Army 3 years. I have a routine now where I run from my room around Lake Merrit and back every other morning. On the days I don't run I am working my core and upper body. It definitely helps manage the stress of taking brutal beats and dealing with whiny disgruntled regs. Since I am sitting on my ass 8 hrs, I know it is important to balance it out with exercise so I don't get fat.

As far as taking days off, I am in full on grind mode and am feeling good about putting in a ton of hrs. I am not going to let the run bad tilt me or make me play bad. I'll take a day off this Saturday because my band is playing a gig in San Jose.

That probably has to do with my style which is very nitty. I have been adding a few hands to my range recently and looking for small spots to exploit. Though I have only played 18k hands of 1/2 this yr which is too small of a sample size to mean much. I have read 20/hr is about the most you can sustain at 1/2 so my 14/hr is decent. My observed wr for 2/4 is at 1/hr but that is only over about 2500 hands and I know for certain I can beat the game for much more once my bankroll allows me to take another shot.

November 2011

Total hours played- 41.5
Pace- 37
Average hourly winrate- $2
Winnings- $74

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 804
Average hourly winrate- $11
Winnings- $8923

Ok - I'm totally prepared to be accused of heresy by some on the online players out there, but I would say that 18K hands and 750 hrs is PLENTY to have a general sense of how well you're beating the game. Maybe you don't get a true statistical average, but if you're playing with the same player pool all the time, you should have a very good sense of how your skill stacks up. At the Oaks, at least 1/3 of the 100 max players pretty much play with their hands face up.

Part of this is that I don't see you racking up many big wins. Over all this time, you should have the occasional day when you run good and get a +600 or +700 day at 1/2.

If you end up at +93 after eight hours and say you played well and didn't run bad, something is very wrong.

If you are trusting your hand reading and player reading ability, then you should be playing way more hands than you are. The reason to play tight when you're learning the game is to avoid putting yourself in difficult situations. The more you trust your ability to outplay other people, the more you can profitably play marginal spots.

For ex. I'm not saying you should be raising A9 UTG, but you need to start (sometimes) raising A9 in the CO in a limped pot. Its true, somebody may have limped early with AJ and put you in a tough spot when you flop and A but 1) you may be able to get the right type of player to fold it because of your pf raise and 2) you should be reading the players & hands well enough often know when that's the case and get out of the hand with a minimal loss
3) Once people see you raising more hands, you get more action, and that's what its all about...

Loosen up, be more aggressive, trust your reads, and see what happens.

Good Luck! I believe Vegas is the best place for $1/2 and $1/3 NLHE. The rake is low, comps are good, a lot of game selection and "poker ladders" for you game/bankroll. For example, you have small 1/2 games from mostly $100 max stacks to $300 or more max stacks, then you have the 1/3 game which plays bigger than 1/2, then when you're ready to climb to 2/5, it's the same thing. It's cheap to live in Vegas and if you can discipline yourself to "be good" you'll be fine. How many hours did you put in Vegas and what was your $/hr in Vegas?

http://www.evplusplus.com/poker_tool...te_confidence/

This site gives a little perspective. The parameters I put in are
WR- 14 ($/hr are roughly equivalent to ptbb/100)
STD DV- 65 (pulled from pt3)
CONFIDENCE- 95%
HANDS- 18k

The range it spits out is between $5/hr and $23/hr. Seems about right to me.

I really think about wr in terms of evaluating each player I am at a table with and detemine who I have an edge over, I want atleast 2 or 3 players who I know I can beat and cover the rake. If there are not enough obviously losing players I look for a better table. It is very foolish the stay in a game and pass chips over the rake hole against players who are about the same skill level or only slightly worse. Even at a table where every single opponent is losing 10/hr you would not win anything because of the 100 that is raked off the table every hr.

Trust me I have noticed that I haven't had any big winning sessions and it is a little demoralizing to see fish walk away up 1k. Yesterday I did run bad in a few big pots running 99 into A8s aipf, 1010 into 62s aipf . Lately more often then not my tp hands are getting flushed away on the river despite me betting enough to deny villains the odds to draw. I will just keep pounding away and the results will come sooner or later.

I know from experience that downswings can last thousands of hands which can be a long time for a live player, and that is why I am prepared with a bankroll that can handle it.

You are right about those adjustments I should be making and I am opening a little wider from mp and adding a considerable amount of hands from lp depending on the situation and table dynamics.

I know I have the post flop skill to play more hands and I just need to step outside of the 16 tabling nit I programed myself to be.

Thank you, your advice is very welcome as always.

All those reasons are exactly why I want to live out there. I quit drinking, don't really do drugs that often and would never be dumb enough to start shooting heroin or doing meth. I met plenty of addicts when I was locked up and never want to be one. Never been to a strip club in Vegas, planned on going to one the last few trips but didn't get around to it. I would not make it a habit though because I know those women can swindle every last cent out of you.

I've logged 82.5 hrs in Vegas this yr playing 1/2 and 1/3 at 22/hr. I found the games are a little softer (more drunk people) and of course the rake structure is a little better. On my last trip I played just about exclusively at MGM Mirage properties because of the rake.

PA,

The thing I've been learning over the past few months, is that having a solid win rate in live poker is really about maximizing the percentage of the sizable pots that are low EV plays. By this I mean, the situations where I'm pushing a player off a weak hand, setting up a player to bluff into me, betting them off the hand when they miss etc.

I'm never going to be right all the time, and even when I am some players get stubborn or lucky, but my EV is generally limited to the percentage of time I'm wrong. On the other hand if almost all the big pots I'm playing are when I jam it with a set vs. the other guy's flush draw - sure, I may be ahead, but this is a hugely high EV situation. I won't shy away from these, but its not typically how you want to be making most of your money.

For ex. what was the hand where you got it all-in pf 99 vs A8? Unless the other guy was extremely short stacked or obviously on a steal, I don't want to be shoving on either side of this equation pf...

I opened for 10 in ep, one mp caller, villain min 3bets me to 20. Villain had been dropping a few hundred so far and was probably tilting. Last time he 3bet me he AQo and I felt he was pretty weak in this spot as well and my hand was probably best. I 4bet to 60, mp folds villain 5bets for 23 more I call.

I played 4 hrs today and won $125. I got to watch some of the WSOP ft. I like the format where they don't show hole cards until after the hand is over.

November 2011

Total hours played- 45.5
Pace- 43
Average hourly winrate- $2
Winnings- $76

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 808
Average hourly winrate- $11
Winnings- $9048

play 8 hours make $250

I like it when they have the TVs on cause nobody pays attention to the game

Good luck to you. I enjoy reading your thread. I'm retired now here in the bay area but stay at least 8 mos. per year in Las Vegas to play poker and of course win money. Table selection is very important to be a winning player and that's why I like playing in Las Vegas. When I park at the Venetian , aside from the Venetian poker room, I can walk to the Wynn,Mirage,Harrah's and Imperial poker rooms. When I park at the Bellagio, I can play at Caesars,Ballys,PH and Flamingo. I'm a winning player here in the bay area but my hourly winnings is not worth playing.Your year to date hourly winnings playing at Oaks will be tripled in Las Vegas most likely. If you love playing poker and serious about improving your skills, you ll make it. Stay focus and you ll be playing with me and clubhopper next year.

I played 8 hrs today and won $196. It's nice to be going in the right direction.

One thing I have noticed is that I have developed really bad posture. I spend so much time either peeking at hole cards or slouched over my laptop. I'm making an effort to sit up a little straighter between hands.

I know I'm lazy.

Glad you like the thread my friend. Table selection is definitely the key, I don't mind wondering to the next casino if I don't find a good table at the one I'm at.

November 2011

Total hours played- 53.5
Pace- 59
Average hourly winrate- $5
Winnings- $272

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 816
Average hourly winrate- $11
Winnings- $9244

I played a short 2 hr session today and won $236.

Here is hand I played-

First round after I sit down I open utg for 10 with AK, get 2 mp callers than lp makes it 100 straight. Huge raise, I think for awhile. Haven't played much with this villain so he probably doesn't know how tight my utg range is. I think he trying to push everyone out, I don't think he would do this with aces or kings. I decide the best he could have here is queens so I ship my 200. callers fold, raiser calls.

The board bricks out and my heart sinks a little. Then villain says "your pair is good" He tables AQ what a beautiful sight.

I got in a some study time at the book store before heading down to SJ.

November 2011

Total hours played- 55.5
Pace- 64
Average hourly winrate- $9
Winnings- $508

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 818
Average hourly winrate- $12
Winnings- $9480

I played 3 hrs today and won $79. I didn't feel like the tables were too great (only 2 tables going which is pretty bad for a Sunday) so I opted to get in some more study time. I was rereading some of NLHT&P which is just excellent.

I'm lagging begin pace a little but not so much as to where I won't be able to catch up.

November 2011

Total hours played- 58.5
Pace- 69
Average hourly winrate- $10
Winnings- $587

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 821
Average hourly winrate- $12
Winnings- $9559

I'm doing the same thing... I'll follow your thread too. I may or may not MOVE to Vegas... probably just going to visit along with the LA scene on occasion.

Bankroll then to vegas in b4 busto

I played 7 hrs today and won $12. Played in the 2/4 today because the table looked good. Still running bad in the bigger game, but managed cover my loses playing 1/2.

Here are a couple hands I played in the 2/4 game-

I raise to 30 with AJ from mp over a straddle and ep caller. I get 2 lp callers and ep comes along. Effective stacks 200.

Flop- AQ6
Pretty nice flop for my hand, tp with the 2nd nut fd I lead for 75 into 129 after studying my opponents for a bit. lp (a somewhat weak player) thinks for a few seconds then calls, the others fold.

Turn- 10
I pick up a gutshot to broadway but I'm commited already anyway I go all in for 95 into 379

River- 3
lp tables AQ nice hand sir.

I have KQ in mp I open for 15 and get 1 mp caller and 2 lp callers.

Flop- 10109
I fire 40 into 61, old guy min raises me. Pretty easy fold, as I probably need a J to catch up. Sure enough he flashes K10.

GL with your goal buddy.

November 2011

Total hours played- 65.5
Pace- 75
Average hourly winrate- $9
Winnings- $599

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 828
Average hourly winrate- $12
Winnings- $9571

I played 5.5 hrs today and won $102. The tables were pretty good.

Here is a hand I ****ed up pretty bad-

I pick up 99 in mp and raise to 10 or two ep limps, lp, bb, and ep1 all call. ep2 3bets to 22. I thought this was weak but it could possibly be a monster. This villain had called a big 3bet last hand with 35s and relatively short stack and won after flopping 2p. I was really thinking about 4betting to something like 80 but decided to just call (probably a huge mistake). So everyone else comes along. ep2 has 120 behind.

Flop- 866
Checked to me and I bet 50 into 107, lp goes all in for 6 more, ep1 calls (has 140 behind), I call.

Turn- 4
Straight draw gets there, I am still behind a 6. I am ahead of an 8 and the draw. I decide to bet 100 into the side pot which in retrospect is pretty terrible. ep1 calls.

River- 5
Villian bets the last 40 and I call. He flips 76. Thats why I should have 4bet pf. Nice hand sir.

I knew I bombed that hand so bad, I played pretty well the rest of the session though.


November 2011

Total hours played- 72
Pace- 80
Average hourly winrate- $9
Winnings- $676

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 834
Average hourly winrate- $12
Winnings- $9673

I played 9.5 hrs today and lost $362. It was a frustrating session, I did make a couple notable mistakes. One spot I double barreled a HU pot ip with overs when the turn didn't change anything. I also played the hand below like ****.

The deck wasn't running out well for me at all. I raised a turn bet with with a massive combo draw but bricked out. I picked up kings and queens a few times but had to let them go on unfavorable boards.

Here is the hand I butchered the worst-

I pick up AQ in the sb. Sometimes I raise it up and sometimes I just complete which is what I did here. We go 7 to the flop.

Flop- AQ6
I check, mp villain bets 7 into 10 and gets 2 lp callers. I raise it to 50 straight which is about a pot sized raise but maybe I should have gone bigger. ep calls the other 2 drop out.

Turn- 9
I bet 50 again which is obviously very dumb. I should have definitely just checked. Villain goes all in for 37 more and I pay him off.

River- 3
Villain tables K2, nice hand sir.

November 2011

Total hours played- 81.5
Pace- 91
Average hourly winrate- $4
Winnings- $314

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 843.5
Average hourly winrate- $11
Winnings- $9311

I played 3 hrs today and lost $273. Just another session of run bad, the turn and river were killing me over and over.

It looks like my profit for the month is pretty much wiped out. I am still a little behind pace so I'll focus on that.

November 2011

Total hours played- 84.5
Pace- 96
Average hourly winrate- $0
Winnings- $41

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 846.5
Average hourly winrate- $11
Winnings- $9038

I played 2.5 hrs today and won $461. It seems like I used up all my run bad the last couple days because today was a different story. I was flopping well and holding up. I know these patterns of "running bad or running good" are all just my brain trying to make sense of random occurences. In reality each hand is independent. One area I can see for growth is not letting a string of loses affect my mood which it had after dumping my whole month's profit in only a few hrs. I need to remember to stay focused on the long term.

The first few rounds at the table I made a few hands and everyone folded to my cbet. A villain I don't think I've played with before probably thought I was just running everyone over. He ended floating my turn bet and donking 100 on the river which was an ace and completed a backdoor flush. I studied him for a minute and got him to talk (most opponents don't mind answering my questions when I dig for info ). He said "I'll show" which convinced me to make to call with a flopped set.

The tables kind of dried up, so even though I wanted to keep playing I decided to just take off. So I am unfortunately lagging behind pace, kind of tired of posting this and sounding like a broken record so I need to really get into grind mode and put in some 10 hr days.

My band is playing a gig in Richmond tomorrow so I think I'll take the day off.


November 2011

Total hours played- 87
Pace- 101
Average hourly winrate- $6
Winnings- $502

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 849
Average hourly winrate- $11
Winnings- $9499

I think you have the right attitude. Maybe when a table "dries up," just rack up and move to a new table. Or a new stake. Moving around tables will help you get more volume in, and I know I seem to do better when I don't sit at a single table for 8 hours.

I understand that we're playing for the hourly rate, but I am not certain playing 10 hr days would be the wise thing to do. I can't speak for the rest of the free world, but I believe less is sometimes more. Just don't think it is prudent to play long sessions as humans can't function A+++ for long periods of time. It is more prudent to play shorter sessions of 3-6 hours, but if you must play longer sessions, I would say 8 hours should be the limit, simply because we need the rest of the day to do other things in our life.

I played 2 hrs today and won $112. I was at a decent table. I tried a river bluff (very uncharacteristic of me) with a missed combo draw when checked to otb, got snapped off by 2nd p. It probably helped my image though because the same villain 3bet my lp open huge (I opened for 15 and he made it 65 over a btn call ) with JJ and I shipped with QQ.

You are right. I actually change tables more frequently then almost anyone. When I was playing online I probably spent more energy scanning the lobby for good tables to get on the wait list and closing out dead tables than actually playing hands (when you are at a good table hands pretty much play themselves). When the table I'm at is slow I scope out the 1 or 2 other tables of 1/2 and check out the 2/4 table if it is running. I recognize faces pretty well and know which regs I want at my table, and which regs I want to avoid.

I've kind of thought about this lately. Thinking of winrate in terms of hourly is only good for to have a comparision to a real job. Trying to play x number of hrs is not going to net me a fixed amount. What is important in poker is being at a good table and playing well. I am confident I play solid most of the time (besides those fishy hands I posted that I am ashamed to admit to playing) and my skill doesn't vary too much. Table conditions do vary widely.

Quality is better than quantity, so I think next month I might just take the focus off hitting a set number of hours like working a 9 to 5. When I had to travel 2 hrs to get to the Oaks I had to just make due. Now that I live close I can just drop in, scan the tables and If I don't see any tables I'd like to play at I'll just spend some time studying and check back later.

Poker is much different from other jobs in that you get paid less to do a tough job (hard table), and can get paid more to do an easy job (soft table).

November 2011

Total hours played- 89
Pace- 112
Average hourly winrate- $7
Winnings- $614

2011 YTD

Total hours played- 851
Average hourly winrate- $11
Winnings- $9611

Your analysis is flawed because you can't win money if you aren't at the table... more hours at the table=more money in your pocket. Variance not withstanding.