Haha not sure which post you are referencing but I've definitely said things before along the lines of my life having been significantly happier due to playing poker for a living. Of course that's easier to say with having been able to have a decent ev expectation each year. For those scraping by with small bankrolls barely able to cover expenses I'm guessing that poker can be an extremely stressful/unhappy line of work. I think like with anything else there will be pros/cons and it all comes down to how you weigh them. It seems like you've thought things through and aren't just making a quick emotionally based decision to leave your job. You can mitigate most of the risks by a) having a decent idea of what your backup plan is if needed b) Having a proper bankroll/liferoll c) Having low enough expenses to where there is the ability to save a big chunk of the yearly ev so that you can both save for the future as well as have a significant buffer zone in the decently likely event that your yearly ev shrinks a bit.

The coworking space idea sounds cool. I get a decent amount of interaction from my wife/friends/neighbors/dog but it can be motivating to be surrounded by other people hard at work. Structure/schedule is a good idea too. It's something I have tried to do more of lately.

All good points. Thanks for the input

April





Study hours- 9.5

I gave a months notice at work so my last day is May 16th. I have a desk reserved at a co-working spot which starts May 20th. I'm pretty excited about it. I'll use the 2nd half of May to experiment with the breakdown of my day and figure out a volume and study goal.

Lowlights


1) I wonder how much extra money I’d have if I never had the thought BLOCKERS just before making a river call

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 3 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

Hero (BU): $1,066.13 (213 bb)
Small Blind (SB): $656.98 (131 bb)
Big Blind (BB): $510.00 (102 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is BTN with A♥ 7♥
Hero (BU) raises to $15, 1 fold, Big Blind (BB) 3-bets to $57.50, Hero (BU) calls $42.50

Flop: ($117.50) 5♠ 6♣ 3♦ (2 players)
Big Blind (BB) bets $40, Hero (BU) calls $40

Turn: ($197.50) 5♣ (2 players)
Big Blind (BB) checks, Hero (BU) checks

River: ($197.50) 7♦ (2 players)
Big Blind (BB) bets $404.92, Hero (BU) calls $404.92

Total pot: $1,007.34 (Rake: $2)

Showdown:
Big Blind (BB) shows 4♣ 4♠ (a straight, Three to Seven)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 52%, Flop: 81%, Turn: 86%, River: 100%)

Hero (BU) mucks A♥ 7♥ (two pair, Sevens and Fives)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 48%, Flop: 19%, Turn: 14%, River: 0%)

Big Blind (BB) wins $1,005.34


2) Ask the audience

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 3 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

Dealer (BU): $843.27 (169 bb)
Small Blind (SB): $622.00 (124 bb)
Hero (BB): $929.75 (186 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is BB with Q♠ Q♥
Dealer (BU) raises to $15, 1 fold, Hero (BB) 3-bets to $60, Dealer (BU) calls $45

Flop: ($122.50) K♦ 5♥ 4♣ (2 players)
Hero (BB) bets $40, Dealer (BU) calls $40

Turn: ($202.50) T♣ (2 players)
Hero (BB) checks, Dealer (BU) checks

River: ($202.50) 6♦ (2 players)
Hero (BB) checks, Dealer (BU) bets $260.38.......


Highlights


3) Spewy but mandatory highlight reel hand. I like the idea of bluff catching just not with a hand this weak especially on turn with another street to play.

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 4 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG (UTG): $572.00 (114 bb)
Dealer (BU): $1,498.90 (300 bb)
Small Blind (SB): $495.00 (99 bb)
Hero (BB): $436.00 (87 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is BB with J♠ Q♣
1 fold, Dealer (BU) raises to $12.50, 1 fold, Hero (BB) calls $7.50

Flop: ($27.50) 7♠ 5♥ 5♠ (2 players)
Hero (BB) checks, Dealer (BU) bets $8.07, Hero (BB) raises to $26, Dealer (BU) calls $17.93

Turn: ($79.50) K♥ (2 players)
Hero (BB) checks, Dealer (BU) bets $28.25, Hero (BB) calls $28.25

River: ($136) 3♣ (2 players)
Hero (BB) checks, Dealer (BU) bets $76.50, Hero (BB) calls $76.50

Total pot: $289 (Rake: $3)

Showdown:
Dealer (BU) shows 9♣ 6♣ (a pair of Fives)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 37%, Flop: 37%, Turn: 26%, River: 0%)

Hero (BB) shows J♠ Q♣ (a pair of Fives - higher kicker)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 63%, Flop: 63%, Turn: 74%, River: 100%)

Hero (BB) wins $286


4) Miracle misclick. Only cost me 5 bucks to see where I was at

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 3 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

Hero (BU): $721.28 (144 bb)
Small Blind (SB): $788.00 (158 bb)
Big Blind (BB): $1,023.10 (205 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is BTN with J♥ J♦
Hero (BU) raises to $15, Small Blind (SB) 3-bets to $60, 1 fold, Hero (BU) calls $45

Flop: ($125) A♠ J♣ 3♥ (2 players)
Small Blind (SB) bets $40.49, Hero (BU) raises to $121, Small Blind (SB) calls $80.51

Turn: ($367) 5♥ (2 players)
Small Blind (SB) checks, Hero (BU) checks

River: ($367) K♥ (2 players)
Small Blind (SB) checks, Hero (BU) bets $5, Small Blind (SB) raises to $607 (all-in), Hero (BU) folds

Total pot: $377 (Rake: $2)
Small Blind (SB) wins $375

Seat 3: Small Blind (small blind) showed [Q♣ T♣] and won ($375)

May





Study hours- 17.5

Full time grind started May 20th. It's a weird feeling not having to go to the place I was going everyday for the past 9 years. One of the main things I want to be aware of being my own boss is laziness rationalization. Seems like a common trap a lot of poker pros fall into, not having someone telling them what to do and where to be. I experimented with a daily routine and my goal going forward is 6+ hours of play per day, 1+ hour study. I don't want to set a hand target because with different stakes and # of players you can't control hands/hr and I don't want to sacrifice quality for volume. Dropping tables is something I've been doing more lately.

Bob and pokerarb, good call with the cowork space. Good idea for many reasons. Just getting out of the house and being around other people working is huge for my psyche and motivation.

Hands

1) Got me

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 3 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

Dealer (BU): $201.45 (40 bb)
Hero (SB): $683.63 (137 bb)
Big Blind (BB): $615.56 (123 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is SB with A♦ J♣
1 fold, Hero (SB) raises to $15, Big Blind (BB) 3-bets to $45, Hero (SB) 4-bets to $122.50, Big Blind (BB) calls $77.50

Flop: ($245) 7♣ K♦ 4♠ (2 players)
Hero (SB) bets $82.50, Big Blind (BB) calls $82.50

Turn: ($410) K♣ (2 players)
Hero (SB) bets $177, Big Blind (BB) calls $177

River: ($764) Q♠ (2 players)
Hero (SB) bets $301.63 (all-in), Big Blind (BB) calls $233.56 (all-in)

Total pot: $1,231.12 (Rake: $2)

Showdown:
Hero (SB) shows A♦ J♣ (a pair of Kings)

Big Blind (BB) shows A♣ A♠ (two pair, Aces and Kings)


Big Blind (BB) wins $1,229.12


2) Barreling off in 4bet pots. Common theme of torching this month

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 3 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

Dealer (BU): $1,211.05 (242 bb)
Hero (SB): $757.70 (152 bb)
Big Blind (BB): $624.78 (125 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is SB with Q♥ A♦
1 fold, Hero (SB) raises to $15, Big Blind (BB) 3-bets to $51, Hero (SB) 4-bets to $145, Big Blind (BB) calls $94

Flop: ($290) 2♥ 4♣ 3♦ (2 players)
Hero (SB) bets $87, Big Blind (BB) calls $87

Turn: ($464) 8♣ (2 players)
Hero (SB) bets $150, Big Blind (BB) calls $150

River: ($764) 8♦ (2 players)
Hero (SB) bets $375.70 (all-in), Big Blind (BB) calls $242.78 (all-in)

Total pot: $1,249.56 (Rake: $2)

Showdown:
Hero (SB) shows Q♥ A♦ (a pair of Eights)

Big Blind (BB) shows 8♥ 8♠ (four of a kind, Eights)


Big Blind (BB) wins $1,247.56


3) Sometimes you just gotta put a man on AK and go with your read

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 3 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

Hero (BU): $1,077.46 (215 bb)
Small Blind (SB): $656.19 (131 bb)
Big Blind (BB): $526.00 (105 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is BTN with 9♣ 8♣
Hero (BU) raises to $15, 1 fold, Big Blind (BB) 3-bets to $60, Hero (BU) calls $45

Flop: ($122.50) Q♥ J♣ 8♦ (2 players)
Big Blind (BB) bets $55.25, Hero (BU) calls $55.25

Turn: ($233) T♣ (2 players)
Big Blind (BB) bets $115.50, Hero (BU) calls $115.50

River: ($464) 6♠ (2 players)
Big Blind (BB) bets $295.25 (all-in), Hero (BU) folds

Total pot: $464 (Rake: $2)
Big Blind (BB) wins $462

Seat 3: Big Blind (big blind) showed [K♠ A♣] and won ($462)

Nice month m8! Also I can confirm the 6 hours volume + 1 hour study per day is the nuts. Also +1 to dropping tables especially if you're playing this much shorthanded. FWIW AJ hand I don't think we should ever really double and triple barrel with this hand. The K pairing actually just sucks - v will never fold JJ-QQ and OTR I don't like follow through because AQ that peeled twice can call. On the river we get JJ to fold but we block that - and of course you have to expect tons of AK and AA/QQ here too.

Gl for June!

Wp andees, and sick redline

Thanks mate. Was also reading your thread and thought it was funny we came to the same conclusion re: hours breakdown.

Yeah both 4bet pots I'm not love with. I was thinking ranges "should" be decently wide BvB. He "should" get to the river with a bunch of lower pairs I fold out and with an awkward 1/3 pot left to jam it doesn't need to work that often. But it's very possible these hands get folded too much turn or even flop. Or even preflop.

Same to you! will be following your thread


Thanks man, apparently moving up to where they respect your raises is a thing. Think I may also be guilty of stealing some of your ev this month. Will be sure to give it back soon!

June





Study Hours- 14

I went on a live poker trip/vacation this month for 9 days which is the reason for low volume. On the days I did play I averaged about 5.5 hours, which is ok but I'd like to improve that to above 6. Quality of play was good some days but a lot of days I felt I played sloppy and distracted. Need to cut out the web browsing/texting/youtube on the side while playing. The worst is finding yourself on the turn or river with a big decision and having no idea how you got there. That happened way too often last month and will be a point of emphasis for me in July. Fortunately the poker gods bailed me out again.

A few cool hands:

1) #FPS Getting creative. River B/3B bluff is a pretty rare occurrence. Reminded me of a famous hand between Vanessa Selbst and Ben Lamb where Vanessa value bet river with trips then 3bet bluffed and got him to fold a medium flush. Looked for it on youtube but couldn't find it in the sea of J7 6bet videos.

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 3 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

Dealer (BU): $356.42 (71 bb)
Hero (SB): $914.86 (183 bb)
Big Blind (BB): $1,228.09 (246 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is SB with Q♠ J♠
1 fold, Hero (SB) raises to $15, Big Blind (BB) 3-bets to $45, Hero (SB) calls $30

Flop: ($90) 6♠ A♦ 4♥ (2 players)
Hero (SB) checks, Big Blind (BB) checks

Turn: ($90) Q♣ (2 players)
Hero (SB) checks, Big Blind (BB) checks

River: ($90) A♠ (2 players)
Hero (SB) bets $25, Big Blind (BB) raises to $104, Hero (SB) raises to $377, Big Blind (BB) folds

Total pot: $298 (Rake: $2)
Hero (SB) wins $296

Seat 1: Big Blind (big blind) mucked [A♣ 3♣]


2) Something about blockers and going all in. Thought it was interesting that in theory top 2 in his spot is mostly played as a river check back.

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 5 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

UTG (UTG): $506.13 (101 bb)
UTGplus1 (CO): $516.60 (103 bb)
Dealer (BU): $480.00 (96 bb)
Small Blind (SB): $205.28 (41 bb)
Hero (BB): $630.17 (126 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is BB with A♣ T♠
1 fold, UTGplus1 (CO) raises to $11, 2 players fold, Hero (BB) calls $6

Flop: ($24.50) 2♦ T♥ J♣ (2 players)
Hero (BB) checks, UTGplus1 (CO) bets $7, Hero (BB) calls $7

Turn: ($38.50) 4♣ (2 players)
Hero (BB) checks, UTGplus1 (CO) bets $27.44, Hero (BB) calls $27.44

River: ($93.38) Q♣ (2 players)
Hero (BB) checks, UTGplus1 (CO) bets $65, Hero (BB) raises to $584.73 (all-in), UTGplus1 (CO) folds

Total pot: $223.38 (Rake: $3)
Hero (BB) wins $220.38

Seat 5: UTGplus1 mucked [J♠ Q♦]

1st half 2019 update to follow

Am I a fish for calling with the a3? I have trouble seeing the necessity to balance his check back range on the turn as well too.

No I don't think you're a fish for calling the A3. In general i'd auto fold any bluff catcher vs a river 3b but I think this spot is different being checked down to the river and leading quarter pot. Kinda looks fos in hindsight. Don't really love my play but it's cool it worked out. If you mean just calling and not raising my small block bet I'd say that's fishy but I don't think that's what you mean.

Don't mind his turn play I can see merit for either option. Tough for him to get 2 streets, doesn't need protection, and gains value when I stab my air otr.

crushing it. wp, spicy hands

Mid-year update

YTD graph/stats





Very happy with the results so far. The fear I (and I think most players) have is the results aren't "earned", ie I could just be running well over expectation. Impossible to know but I view this fear as a good thing because it's a big motivator.

So far the pro life is 10x better than the cubicle life for many reasons. Only time will tell if it's sustainable. Let's see how I'm feeling when I go through a long downswing/breakeven stretch . Looking forward to cranking out volume and study hours for the 2nd half of 2019


Also, I'm looking to do a little bit of free coaching for one person. Reason is I'd like to gain some experience before actually charging an hourly. Helping somebody out is also a good reason in and of itself. If you're interested shoot me a PM with a little bit about yourself and why you want/deserve the coaching. (site, stakes, any software you use, what you hope to accomplish, etc.) Thanks!

Nice thread man, sick results. I'm pretty much a live player but when I have played online I only see my opponents mucked cards on rare occasion when they decide to show. Did Vs just decide to show on your HHs after folding or is this somehow automatic?

Thanks cornbread. No, after 24 hours you can download hhs with all hole cards revealed. One of my favorite features

July





Study Hours- 14

Swingy month. Next month I have some things planned so it should be lower volume. My plan is to go hard in September with summer ending and football starting. More people at their computers and sports bettors on the site blasting away? That'd be my guess but who knows.

1 hand. All fun and games when you flop top set in a 3bet pot 300+bbs deep. But when all the money gets piled in on this board do I just have a bluff catcher?

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 6 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

UTG (UTG): $883.15 (177 bb)
UTGplus1 (MP): $472.50 (95 bb)
UTGplus2 (CO): $1,618.92 (324 bb)
Hero (BU): $1,796.37 (359 bb)
Small Blind (SB): $263.30 (53 bb)
Big Blind (BB): $824.65 (165 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero (Hero) is BTN with Q♠ Q♣
2 players fold, UTGplus2 (CO) raises to $12, Hero (BU) 3-bets to $57, 2 players fold, UTGplus2 (CO) calls $45

Flop: ($121.50) 8♥ 6♦ Q♥ (2 players)
UTGplus2 (CO) checks, Hero (BU) bets $39.16, UTGplus2 (CO) raises to $166.03, Hero (BU) calls $126.87

Turn: ($453.56) A♥ (2 players)
UTGplus2 (CO) bets $307.17, Hero (BU) calls $307.17

River: ($1,067.90) 2♠ (2 players)
UTGplus2 (CO) bets $1,088.72 (all-in)...Hero?

Hmmmm checking your chart for the answer.

Can't imagine folding this,

Looks like the answer is around hand 42000. Thankfully I thought the same:

River: ($1,067.90) 2♠ (2 players)
UTGplus2 (CO) bets $1,088.72 (all-in), Hero (BU) calls $1,088.72

Total pot: $3,245.34 (Rake: $4)

Showdown:
UTGplus2 (CO) shows J♠ T♠ (high card, Ace)

Hero (BU) shows Q♠ Q♣ (three of a kind, Queens)

Hero (BU) wins $3,241.34

What's your opinion on his flop raise?

Flop raise I like especially if you think the person in my spot is cbetting too much.

Nice month brah!

Thanks brah. You da real mvp for creating that masterpiece of a thread

what made you decide to call ? had to feel good to see his his hand

nice results

Wasn't sure if it was 42 or 44k.

Him raising flop makes me want to call river more.

Boooom, way to crush it.