i don't think anyone can be successful long term at poker, much less PLO, until they get a grip on the mental impact of variance.
mindfulness was the big unlock for me and dealing with poker variance. it probably took me 5-6 years from my first study/practice of mindfulness until it started having a positive impact on my poker game. this wasn't 5-6 years of constant study and application, but the lazy off and on, almost there with success and failure, before i was able to apply it to poker.
Set a quiet alarm on your phone for however long you want to meditate. Time no longer matters. Sit and be still. Clear your mind, and focus on the feeling of your breathing. Feel each breath fill your lungs, and put just a little pressure on you're breastbone. Feel all of your weight shift with each breath. Be still with your body for as long as you can. Thoughts are bad puppies in your way. They don't know any better, so gently pick them up and set them aside, over and over again. No scolding. No reprimand. Just put things back the way they go. It gets easier as you practice.
My favorite works best with someone else to hit the bell for you. But! Find a meditation chime. Ring it once and follow the sound down into nothing. See above. Ring the chime to come back to the world. I find it so much more relaxing, and it gives me a much deeper focus than just trying to meditate cold. And it has to be a bell. Recordings don't do the experience justice.
Lastly: mindful eating. Practice intense focus and mindfulness at the act of eating. Whatever snack you plan on eating, lose yourself in studying everything about it. Dried fruit is great. Smell it. Feel the weight of it in your hands. Place it on your tongue and learn all the little bumps. Test it to see how it changes as it sits in your mouth. Chew slowly, finding all of the tastes In the skin, flesh and seeds. Be entirely in the moment of nourishing your own body and enjoying what you are doing.
The best way to practice mindfulness is just to practice. Whatever you are doing, stop and truly be entirely in that moment and place, with no extra thoughts. Once you're clear and centered, go back to the world and tackle what you need to do.
lastly, Jason Su has a book "Poker with Presence: Unlocking the Final 15%". He calls calls it presence but imho it's pretty much same thing as mindfulness. His Book is still really good, lots of good information, anecdotes, and exercises that will help you on your journey.
Actually, I'm a sick **** that is married to the grind.
Day 1 of rebuild at 25z + reg table + binked a random $20 PKO tournament for like $250.
Got some advice from a HS reg in a discord that I'm in. He basically said that my view on variance is likely warped, and could contribute to some of my punting. So the plan is play a lot of hands, and embrace the variance.
Plan for now is to train discipline in the gym, and work through the elliot roe mental game course. And grind it out. And not be ******ed and shot take for no reason.
Was considering jobs and stuff, but low confidence I can make more grinding 25s.
You get work experience though. Lol, but you don’t want to hear that. Gl bud, hope you crush in November.
Planning on updating this blog regularly. As a way to keep myself accountable and focused. Prolly will post biggest 3 pots at the end of each day.
Today went to gym again, first day back. Good! Now to do it again, and again, and again...
Got advice from some people to not play zoom and focus on table selecting reg tables. Going to listen and do that.
Studied for a midterm that I have tmr, feeling OK on the material. My heart wants to play poker and prove myself now that I've been knocked down a couple pegs, but I know school is a valuable investment of my time. Going to head to a Halloween party tmr as well with GF - I don't drink or do other drugs, but should still be a good time.
Graph of bankroll rebuild so far
Todays results
Top 3 pots
Spoiler:
Ignition - $0.25 PL Hi (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 5 players
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.35) UTG has 8 6 Q J, Hero has A A 6 9, BTN has 4 K K 4
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.10, BTN raises to $3.90, 2 folds, UTG calls $3.65, Hero raises to $15.95, BTN calls $12.05, UTG calls $12.05
Flop:($48.20, 3 players) Q 7 T
UTG bets $8.80 and is all-in, Hero calls $8.70 and is all-in, BTN calls $8.80
Turn:($74.50, 3 players) 4
River:($74.50, 3 players) 8
Results: $74.50 pot ($0.00 rake)
Final Board: Q 7 T 4 8
UTG shows 8 6 Q J: (Two Pair, Queens and Eights)
Main Pot: [$74.30]: (Pre 31%, Flop 36%, Turn 19%)
Side Pot: [$0.20]: (Pre 39%, Flop 46%, Turn 19%)
Hero shows A A 6 9: (Straight, Ten High)
Main Pot: [$74.30]: (Pre 42%, Flop 49%, Turn 14%)
BTN shows 4 K K 4: (Three of a Kind, Fours)
Main Pot: [$74.30]: (Pre 26%, Flop 15%, Turn 67%)
Side Pot: [$0.20]: (Pre 61%, Flop 54%, Turn 81%)
Hero wins $72.30
BTN wins $0.20
Boring hand
Spoiler:
PokerStars - $0.25 PL Hi FAST (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 6 players
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.35) BTN has 7 8 7 Q, Hero has T A A 5
fold, BTN raises to $0.85, Hero raises to $2.80, fold, BTN calls $1.95
Flop:($5.85, 2 players) 7 4 2 Hero bets $2.78, BTN raises to $13.90, Hero raises to $47.26, BTN calls $21.94 and is all-in
Turn:($77.53, 2 players) 8
River:($77.53, 2 players) K
Results: $77.53 pot ($1.00 rake)
Final Board: 7 4 2 8 K
BTN shows 7 8 7 Q: (Three of a Kind, Sevens)
(Pre 36%, Flop 78%, Turn 85%)
Hero shows T A A 5: (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 64%, Flop 22%, Turn 15%)
BTN wins $76.53
Villain was 95vpip whale, I think flop is ok with gutter vs only this player profile. Would fold totally naked aces.
Hate playing guys like this! We spend all this time studying GTO to just gii with any piece. I just avoid players like this especially at these steaks since it just becomes a shortstack variancefest with large rake.
Hate playing guys like this! We spend all this time studying GTO to just gii with any piece. I just avoid players like this especially at these steaks since it just becomes a shortstack variancefest with large rake.
Really enjoying these updates, GL!
Yeah, they are very dangerous for sure! And thanks!
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.35) CO has Q K 5 6, Hero has 9 5 A 7, BB has J 8 Q K, UTG has T T 9 4
UTG calls $0.25, MP calls $0.25, CO raises to $1.35, Hero raises to $4.90, fold, BB raises to $7.50 and is all-in, UTG calls $5.30 and is all-in, fold, CO calls $6.15, Hero calls $2.60
Flop:($28.40, 4 players) 3 7 9
CO checks, Hero bets $26.98, CO calls $15.88 and is all-in
Turn:($60.16, 4 players) J
River:($60.16, 4 players) 9
Results: $60.16 pot ($0.00 rake)
Final Board: 3 7 9 J 9
CO shows Q K 5 6: (One Pair, Nines)
Main Pot: [$22.55]: (Pre 14%, Flop 27%, Turn 13%)
Side Pot #1: [$5.85]: (Pre 21%, Flop 30%, Turn 22%)
Side Pot #2: [$31.76]: (Pre 37%, Flop 34%, Turn 25%)
Hero shows 9 5 A 7: (Full House, Nines full of Sevens)
Main Pot: [$22.55]: (Pre 31%, Flop 44%, Turn 47%)
Side Pot #1: [$5.85]: (Pre 46%, Flop 52%, Turn 47%)
Side Pot #2: [$31.76]: (Pre 63%, Flop 66%, Turn 75%)
BB shows J 8 Q K: (Two Pair, Jacks and Nines)
Main Pot: [$22.55]: (Pre 23%, Flop 17%, Turn 31%)
Side Pot #1: [$5.85]: (Pre 33%, Flop 18%, Turn 31%)
UTG shows T T 9 4: (Three of a Kind, Nines)
Main Pot: [$22.55]: (Pre 32%, Flop 13%, Turn 9%)
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.35)Hero has T 5 Q J, CO has T 8 7 3, BTN has 3 5 A A Hero raises to $0.85, CO calls $0.85, BTN calls $0.85, fold, BB raises to $1.45, Hero raises to $6.15, CO calls $5.30, BTN raises to $20.79 and is all-in, fold, Hero calls $14.64, CO calls $7.86 and is all-in
Flop:($57.14, 3 players) 3 7 2
Turn:($57.14, 3 players) K
River:($57.14, 3 players) K
Results: $57.14 pot ($0.00 rake)
Final Board: 3 7 2 K K
Hero shows T 5 Q J: (Flush, King High)
Main Pot: [$43.58]: (Pre 39%, Flop 45%, Turn 92%)
Side Pot: [$13.56]: (Pre 45%, Flop 52%, Turn 100%)
CO shows T 8 7 3: (Two Pair, Kings and Sevens)
Main Pot: [$43.58]: (Pre 23%, Flop 33%, Turn 8%)
BTN shows 3 5 A A: (Two Pair, Aces and Kings)
Main Pot: [$43.58]: (Pre 38%, Flop 22%, Turn 0%)
Side Pot: [$13.56]: (Pre 55%, Flop 48%, Turn 0%)
Hero wins $42.05
Gonna head out to the halloween thing with GF, just a short session today. Friday - Sun is for the grinders!
Started mixing tables on stars with .25/.50. With the all in cash out option significantly reducing the standard deviation, I feel comfortable playing 2 tables of PL50 and 4 tables of PL25.
3 hands
Tough play by my opponent! Used max time bank on this hand iirc. But I think at the end of the day vs a reg given really good odds to call, with the straight blocker in hand, a call is justified.
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.35) UTG has Q A T J, Hero has T 7 9 8, SB has J 8 6 T
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.10, 2 folds, SB calls $1.00, fold, UTG raises to $4.65, Hero calls $3.55, SB calls $3.55
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.75)Hero has Q K A A
fold, Hero raises to $1.75, CO raises to $6.00, BTN calls $6.00, SB calls $5.75, fold, Hero raises to $30.50, 2 folds, SB calls $24.50
Flop:($73.50, 2 players) K 3 K
SB checks, Hero checks
Turn:($73.50, 2 players) 4
SB checks, Hero bets $35.19 and is all-in, fold
Results: $73.50 pot ($2.00 rake)
Final Board: K 3 K 4
Hero wins $71.50
Somewhat entertaining, I'm running 11 BI below EV at .25 and .50 but these games are so soft it hasn't mattered yet.
Last edited by KnoxKnoxJoke; 10-29-2022 at 02:32 AM.
Didn't really play today, games seemed to be not good for whatever reason. Whatever. I have errands to run, so figured I might as well get them accomplished. Didn't go to the gym today, woke up too late, and have some headache for whatever reason. No hands worth posting really.
Binked an in-person MTG tournament for 1k today, split 4k with the top 4 finishers. No grinding poker today. However with the extra bankroll boost, I feel comfortable playing more tables of 50s. Pretty exhausted, just wanted to update.
Fwiw, a lot of my confidence that I will be able to attain my goals in poker comes from my previous success in MTG (Magic: the Gathering, a trading card game with a large competitive community). Had top 50 elo in the world for around a year or two years. Still feel like I am competing on a high level, although I don't focus on the game anymore.
Poker and MTG share many similarities regarding hidden information, critical thinking etc... And I am decent enough at chess (peak 2400 on lichess, so probably 1800 IRL without studying for abt 10 years).
I feel like I have evidence to suggest that my goals are attainable. Even if inside of poker my results have been mediocre at best (beat x stake for small amount, punt it off at higher stake). Poker is just much harder than MTG or chess imo, because people actually do it for money.
I think some strategical stuff and mental game stuff need to click, and I'll be cruising! Feeling voracious, ready to tackle the coming week! Also excited to see my grade on my biology midterm.
How much money can you make with Magic? Chess zero euros.
Think your backround is solid.
Yeah chess is air, just play for fun and it’s a good way to stay sharp.
Magic I believe top players can make around 30k USD per year. I’m not a top player, so maybe I could make 20k USD per year. It’s not great. But all your volume happens on the weekends, so the time commitment is actually not that high.
Decent day today, woke up late with gf and had to put in the gym hours a bit later in the day. Lost a bit playing exclusively .25/.50 tables.
Going to focus on pokerstars for now, I like being able to bum hunt and cash out lets me play higher than I "should" be able to, increasing my hourly.
Big 3 hands
This hand is vs mega whale, gonna lose a lot but also gonna get called by worse a lot (saw him call off with a jack in these types of spots) was my justification. However, I think I don't have the best hand often enough to justify jamming. So probably check call. Limp reraise was based on his preflop stats.
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.75) BB has Q J Q 9, Hero has A 5 5 A
3 folds, Hero raises to $1.75, SB calls $1.50, BB raises to $7.00, Hero raises to $22.75, fold, BB calls $15.75
Flop:($47.25, 2 players) 9 8 2
BB checks, Hero bets $41.52 and is all-in, BB calls $41.52
Turn:($130.29, 2 players) 9
River:($130.29, 2 players) 8
Results: $130.29 pot ($4.00 rake)
Final Board: 9 8 2 9 8
BB shows Q J Q 9: (Three of a Kind, Nines)
(Pre 34%, Flop 42%, Turn 90%)
Hero shows A 5 5 A: (Two Pair, Aces and Nines)
(Pre 66%, Flop 58%, Turn 10%)
Was mixing 25PLO and 50PLO. Took a break to hang out with GF for a couple hours. No tournaments. Down $240.
3 hands
Maybe he can value bet A7 sometimes idk. Would fold vs certain villains. Blockers extremely important here, would expect solver to probably be folding KKxx on river. Maybe was on a bit of tilt, picked up timing tell or sizing tell or something idk.
Hero shows K K Q 2: (Full House, Kings full of Sevens)
(Pre 64%, Flop 94%, Turn 100%)
Hero wins $147.18
Not much info on villain, just feel like I have much worse hands that were value on the flop that I can fold on the turn. This is a spot where blockers are extremely important though. So might be a punt.
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.75)Hero has 3 4 A A
UTG raises to $1.75, fold, CO calls $1.75, fold, SB calls $1.50, Hero raises to $8.75, fold, CO calls $7.00, fold
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.75)Hero has 3 T Q A
fold, Hero raises to $1.75, CO calls $1.75, 2 folds, BB calls $1.25
Flop:($5.50, 3 players) 3 T 7
BB checks, Hero bets $2.61, CO calls $2.61, BB raises to $12.40, Hero calls $9.79, fold
Turn:($32.91, 2 players) Q
BB bets $31.26, Hero raises to $35.85 and is all-in, BB calls $4.59
River:($104.61, 2 players) J
Results: $104.61 pot ($2.00 rake)
Final Board: 3 T 7 Q J
BB shows 7 T 9 T: (Three of a Kind, Tens)
(Pre 50%, Flop 94%, Turn 95%)
Hero shows 3 T Q A: (Two Pair, Queens and Tens)
(Pre 50%, Flop 6%, Turn 5%)
BB wins $102.61
Thankfully I'm used to running bad, will just have to put in the hours and grind it back up! Early to bed tonight, wake up tmr and grind, go gym, maybe hang out with GF, and grind some more.
Also, did some checking out my results.... Didn't realize just how expensive the cash out feature is on PS. Going to have to not use it anymore + switch back to iggy I think.
Some run good - games haven't felt all that good on ignition at PLO50 unfortunately. Also fired $220 in tournament entries and cashed for 420 roughly.
Going to focus on PLO tournaments until I'm rolled for 1/2 I think. Which means I'm mostly going to battle on GG and Stars. Mostly small field, so hopefully don't get dunked on by variance too hard. Going to supplement with 25PLO games.
Gonna head to the gym tonight, study a bit and get to bed.
3 hands
Thought my opponents line was suspect, didn't expect him to check back T8 on the turn but he's acting like he has T8 on the river. Would prolly make same call again.
Pre Flop:(pot: $0.75) BTN has 8 T K T, Hero has K A 5 Q
UTG raises to $1.50, 2 folds, BTN calls $1.50, Hero raises to $6.50, fold, UTG calls $5.00, BTN calls $5.00