Hola!
Long time no talk. Thought I would do an update for the end of the year.
Results
Graph $
Graph bb
Also won an additional 9k on other sites. Probably around 133k winnings for the year playing cash.
So.. yeah. I have mixed feelings abt this past year. Sure, it was the best year of my life. Both financially and on the personal level. But I'm still a bit disappointed w my results
It's the third year in a row that I make 100k+ which is ok, but I haven't taken the next step where crushers make 170k, 200k, 300k +, etc.
But tbf, I hadn't made money this year until mid June... which is insane. I lost or broke even EV wise from December 2018 until April 2019. Thats 5 month straight of losing poker basically...
Idk what happened, couldn't win anywhere really. 1k and 2k were not going well. 500z was super volatile as well.
In the end, I managed to turn it around when I came back to Canada around mid may. From there on, I went on a nice upswing until the moment I went back abroad which was in November... And to no surprise, returned to break-even/losing poker lol... Can't win when abroad lol, just completely ridiculous.
Ohh well.. it is what it is.
Stakes wise, I have no clue how to beat 1k (cursed stake). I also haven't been able to win at 500z since June. No clue why so? Maybe because I've been playing 1k-5k, I treat 500z like it's nothing whenever I play it and don't care enough? Perhaps. I'd like to think otherwise, but it might be that.
However, proud of my 2k results. 2k carried my year. 5k was going fine up until December where I dropped near 50k there... so yeah. Still a lot to learn there. Regs are good, tough. Nobody folds. It's hell.
I think if you make it to 5k and have a winning sample over decent amount of hands, and get to hold the lobby there, you've basically made it in poker.
It's probably the last big jump in stakes in the online poker world. So, I'll try to reach it over the upcoming year.
As for my win-rate, it's not that great tbh (aside from 2k). I do however do a lot of regbattling. Will play anyone 3handed at 2k. And I've also played in games where I was the clear dog (at 2k and 5k). Hmm, yeah it's a bit reckless, but I believe it's the fastest way, and one of the better ways, to improve and learn. When playing vs the best in the world, you gain so much knowledge and you eventually become closer to them; reducing the gap between yourself and them. And obv studying the hhs afterwards. So yeah, this has been my approach this year.
Biggest pots this year
1) This guy is just unbeatable
PokerStars,
Hold'em No Limit - $50/$100 ($20 ante) - 6 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker
UTG: $21,447.79 (214 bb)
MP: $26,210.13 (262 bb)
CO (Hero): $31,105.89 (311 bb)
BU: $23,865.56 (239 bb)
SB: $27,428.39 (274 bb)
BB: $15,567.01 (156 bb)
Pre-Flop: ($270) Hero is CO with 9
♦ T
♦
2 players fold,
Hero raises to $227,
2 players fold, BB calls $127
Flop: ($624) K
♣ Q
♦ 4
♦ (2 players)
BB checks,
Hero bets $619, BB calls $619
Turn: ($1,862) 8
♥ (2 players)
BB checks,
Hero bets $2,878.35, BB calls $2,878.35
River: ($7,618.70) A
♥ (2 players)
BB checks,
Hero bets $27,361.54 (all-in), BB calls $11,822.66 (all-in)
Total pot: $31,264.02 (Rake: $5)
Showdown:
CO (Hero) shows 9
♦ T
♦ (high card, Ace)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 48%, Flop: 47%, Turn: 27%, River: 0%)
BB shows K
♠ 7
♣ (a pair of Kings)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 52%, Flop: 53%, Turn: 73%, River: 100%)
BB wins $31,259.02
2) ughhhh
PokerStars,
Hold'em No Limit - $25/$50 - 6 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker
UTG: $5,447.00 (109 bb)
MP: $5,834.05 (117 bb)
CO: $5,147.00 (103 bb)
BU (Hero): $10,114.04 (202 bb)
SB: $19,532.39 (391 bb)
BB: $7,272.04 (145 bb)
Pre-Flop: ($75) Hero is BTN with K
♥ K
♠
3 players fold,
Hero raises to $100,
SB 3-bets to $475,
1 fold,
Hero 4-bets to $1,475,
SB 5-bets to $3,000,
Hero calls $1,525
Flop: ($6,050) 9
♣ T
♦ 4
♥ (2 players)
SB bets $3,000,
Hero calls $3,000
Turn: ($12,050) T
♣ (2 players)
SB bets $5,700,
Hero calls $4,114.04 (all-in)
First River: ($20,278.08) J
♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Second River: ($20,278.08) Q
♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: $20,278.08 (Rake: $3)
First Showdown: Board: 9
♣ T
♦ 4
♥ T
♣ J
♣
SB shows T
♥ Q
♥ (three of a kind, Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 18%, Flop: 23%, Turn: 95%, River: 100%)
BU (Hero) shows K
♥ K
♠ (two pair, Kings and Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 82%, Flop: 77%, Turn: 5%, River: 0%)
SB wins $10,137.54
Second Showdown: Board: 9
♣ T
♦ 4
♥ T
♣ Q
♣
SB shows T
♥ Q
♥ (a full house, Tens full of Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 18%, Flop: 23%, Turn: 95%, River: 100%)
BU (Hero) shows K
♥ K
♠ (two pair, Kings and Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 82%, Flop: 77%, Turn: 5%, River: 0%)
SB wins $10,137.54
3) Meh... this never works lol
PokerStars,
Hold'em No Limit - $25/$50 - 3 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker
BU: $7,010.93 (140 bb)
SB (Hero): $9,741.93 (195 bb)
BB: $14,963.88 (299 bb)
Pre-Flop: ($75) Hero is SB with J
♦ J
♣
1 fold,
Hero calls $25,
BB raises to $200,
Hero 3-bets to $725, BB calls $525
Flop: ($1,450) T
♦ 7
♣ K
♣ (2 players)
Hero bets $376.48,
BB raises to $1,129.50,
Hero calls $753.02
Turn: ($3,709) Q
♠ (2 players)
Hero checks,
BB bets $1,853.50,
Hero raises to $7,887.43 (all-in), BB calls $6,033.93
First River: ($19,483.86) 8
♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Second River: ($19,483.86) 3
♥ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: $19,483.86 (Rake: $2)
First Showdown: Board: T
♦ 7
♣ K
♣ Q
♠ 8
♦
SB (Hero) shows J
♦ J
♣ (a pair of Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 84%, Flop: 71%, Turn: 8%, River: 0%)
BB shows 9
♠ J
♠ (a straight, Nine to King)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 16%, Flop: 29%, Turn: 92%, River: 100%)
BB wins $9,740.93
Second Showdown: Board: T
♦ 7
♣ K
♣ Q
♠ 3
♥
SB (Hero) shows J
♦ J
♣ (a pair of Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 84%, Flop: 71%, Turn: 8%, River: 0%)
BB shows 9
♠ J
♠ (a straight, Nine to King)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 16%, Flop: 29%, Turn: 92%, River: 100%)
BB wins $9,740.93
4) Nty cashout option
PokerStars,
Hold'em No Limit - $25/$50 - 3 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker
BU: $9,166.86 (183 bb)
SB: $6,131.34 (123 bb)
BB (Hero): $6,205.34 (124 bb)
Pre-Flop: ($75) Hero is BB with K
♥ K
♣
BTN raises to $130.50,
SB 3-bets to $600,
Hero 4-bets to $1,350,
BTN 5-bets to $9,166.86 (all-in), SB calls $5,531.34 (all-in),
Hero calls $4,855.34 (all-in)
First Flop: ($18,542.02) 9
♠ 3
♥ J
♣ (3 players, 3 all-in)
First Turn: ($18,542.02) J
♦ (3 players, 3 all-in)
First River: ($18,542.02) 8
♦ (3 players, 3 all-in)
Second Flop: ($18,542.02) 2
♥ 4
♣ 6
♣ (3 players, 3 all-in)
Second Turn: ($18,542.02) 7
♦ (3 players, 3 all-in)
Second River: ($18,542.02) K
♠ (3 players, 3 all-in)
Total pot: $18,542.02 (Rake: $2)
First Showdown: Board: 9
♠ 3
♥ J
♣ J
♦ 8
♦
BU shows Q
♦ Q
♠ (two pair, Queens and Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 3%, Flop: 1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)
BB (Hero) shows K
♥ K
♣ (two pair, Kings and Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 96%, Flop: 97%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)
SB shows Q
♥ Q
♣ (two pair, Queens and Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 1%, Flop: 1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)
BB (Hero) wins $9,270.01
Second Showdown: Board: 2
♥ 4
♣ 6
♣ 7
♦ K
♠
BU shows Q
♦ Q
♠ (a pair of Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 3%, Flop: 1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)
BB (Hero) shows K
♥ K
♣ (three of a kind, Kings)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 96%, Flop: 99%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)
SB shows Q
♥ Q
♣ (a pair of Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 1%, Flop: 1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)
BB (Hero) wins $9,270.01
5) Biggest hand in terms of bb
PokerStars Zoom,
Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 6 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker
UTG: $684.92 (137 bb)
MP: $500.00 (100 bb)
CO: $673.65 (135 bb)
BU: $500.00 (100 bb)
SB (Hero): $2,555.20 (511 bb)
BB: $1,968.06 (394 bb)
Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero is SB with A
♥ A
♦
4 players fold,
Hero raises to $15,
BB 3-bets to $45,
Hero 4-bets to $100,
BB 5-bets to $200,
Hero 6-bets to $600, BB calls $400
Flop: ($1,200) A
♣ 9
♠ 9
♥ (2 players)
Hero bets $311.22, BB calls $311.22
Turn: ($1,822.44) 4
♥ (2 players)
Hero checks,
BB bets $1,056.84 (all-in),
Hero calls $1,056.84
River: ($3,936.12) 3
♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: $3,936.12 (Rake: $3)
Showdown:
BB shows K
♠ A
♠ (two pair, Aces and Nines)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 12%, Flop: <1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)
SB (Hero) shows A
♥ A
♦ (a full house, Aces full of Nines)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 88%, Flop: >99%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)
SB (Hero) wins $3,933.12
So yeah... that was my poker year pretty much.
As for irl stuff this year, it was pretty crazy. Was always on the move this year. Traveled a lot, met a bunch of new friends, experienced new things, etc.
I started the year in Lima alongside ggbruce and some polish poker friends. Went to Machu Pichu, etc. Was cool.
Then, around mid January, went to Rio
for like 50 days or so. Ammadnav, giova, gdz4hotwings and SoF came to visit. I had such a good time there.
Met at the beach lol
Afterwards, just before carnival, I left to BsAs for like 3 weeks. Rly liked it in Argentina even though the city itself is just incredibly massive and big. The meat is ridic and the women are pretty.
Came back to Rio again after that in like mid March for another month. Played that 10k donkament at Copacabana Palace. Made day 2 but busted towards the end of the day. RIP. All the Swedish poker guys were in town; was a lot of fun. Had a few memorable dinners during that time. Shout out to Marcus, David, Micheal and Kris
My friend Phil and I
Then, went to Belo Horizonte to meet up w a German poker friend of mine and ended up staying a bit more than a month. The city itself was w/e. Cool but nothing crazy.
And finally, after nearly 6 months abroad, came back home around mid-may or so.
Basically, alternated between Quebec City-Montreal-Toronto from mid May to October. It felt good to be back home, but at the same time, was a bit boring.
Also went to NYC for like 4 days in October to visit some friends and go out/party. Had a blast.
NYC
So this bring me to early November. I left for some sturf town in Costa Rica called Santa Teresa for about 3 weeks w a close irl friend of mine. Was cool. Beautiful place but super remote. The nature was pretty sick though. The waves, the beach, the animals. Everything was "wild". Internet was busto though.
"Pro-surfer" me
Finally, at the end of November, I went to Sao Paulo to meet up w my good poker friend Zinhaoo and to play the BSOP. Had an awesome time there as well. Ran deep in the HR, and made my first live cash. Wouhou!!
Made some new friends too: shout out to Max, Rodrigo, Saulo and Luigi
Could only find this busto IG story from all of us lol
So after that... came back to Canada on December 16th... but left again six days later for a seven day cruise in the Caribbean w my family for Xmas. Went to Honduras, Belize, Mexico and the Bahamas. Was alright but a bit boring.
And so now, I'm back in Montreal. Planning to go back to BsAs before the end of January w my good friend gdz4hotwings for a month or two. Just to play poker and tennis everyday. Then, idk. We'll have to see.
As for some personal achievements, I managed to learn Spanish last year which has proven to be v useful given that I've been spending a lot of time in SA during these last two years.
For 2020, I already started learning Portuguese. Definitely harder than Spanish, but not impossible. Studying everyday for like 30min or so.
I also plugged a lot of irl leaks over the course of the last two years which I'm rly proud of. I am much more confident in myself, less awkward and shy socially, way better w girls in general. Much more patient, composed. Just a better human being. I'm happy of the person I am becoming. I see massive improvements whenever I look back at who I was 1-2 years ago.
I also have been seeing a psychiatrist regularly ever since September to talk about whatever issues I have (both irl and poker wise) and trying to work them out. It's been proving to be v helpful so far. I was on the fence before starting it, but now I see benefits already from these regular sessions. It basically gives me the same therapeutic feeling that I get after working out. This general serenity, calmness and the feeling that you are able to cope w w/e issue or problem that might arise.
Anyways, this is pretty much it. Sick year overall.
Oh and shout out to Clanty w whom I study regularly. Most knowledgeable person I know in poker.
Cheers,