Sounds like 2019 was pretty much a smash man. I really need to visit SEA as soon as possible!

gl in 2020 <3

I will have 2 spare bedrooms in Pattaya for both you and OP when the time to release the inner degen is upon us.

Sounds like you crushed 2019 on all the most important fronts which is great to see, very happy for you mate.

You've definitely made a good choice going to Hanoi over HCMC too.

Best month I've had in a while. Got such a passion resurgence for poker that even though this is my highest volume month in over a year that I really feel like I should've put in more hands/hours this month.

Running hot, but still more enthused to dedicate the time to work on getting better at poker. My poker has really benefited from me being more efficient with my time and removing a lot of time leaks out of my day. Since new year, More time is being allocated to poker, performing stand-up and especially joke writing than was before. I am so proud of myself for not bleeding away 100+ hours of this month away on reading content on UK/ Scottish constitutional politics, football transfer rumors, culture war debates ect..... All of that has been such a negative part on my adult life and over the past 3-4 years especially. Looking forward to continuing my life distancing myself away from it all as much as I can.



Moving to Vietnam on Monday! I'm sad to leave my the friends I have in BKK for the next 6 months or so but this is just something that needs to be done for my comedy career. So much more easily accessible stage time in Hanoi for me and it's a mostly expat crowds and returning customers at the shows there which will motivate more to be more prolific. In BKK the Khao San comedy club is virtually all tourists with rarely any returning faces, which is great for getting jokes polished to perfection, but easy to get lazy and phone in your proven material night after night instead of trying hard to write new stuff and be constantly improving.


Will try to update more regularly in February


Glgl!

huge month mate! sick work. gl with the move/setting up in Vietnam <3

Insane volume and great results. You can't just be playing FR reg tables with that volume.. looks like some 6m reg and some zoom?

Highly rate the level of sacrifice you're willing to make for your comedy career, hope the move works out well and very nice month

Thanks mate. Feels good to enjoy the grind again for sure!

Yea, that 4 table cap was a blessing in disguise as I now play zoom and reg game quality has improved massively.


It's not much of a sacrifice tbh. Hanoi is cheaper and has a way cooler underground expat art scene. The only thing it doesn't have is the year-round hot weather. It's pretty chilly here right now... But I guess that good for me to stay in and grind/write jokes.



Been here since Monday and did my first bit of apartment hunting today, walked into this standard apartment building in the expat area and asked if the guy at the desk if they do one month or three month leases. He said "yes, 1 bedroom apartment $1000 usd/month and two bedroom apartment $1800 usd/month" LOL! I think I'll stick to looking on the facebook groups from now on.


The dream.

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $0.50/$1.00 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $221.97 (222 bb)
MP: $203.99 (204 bb)
CO: $147.39 (147 bb)
BU: $108.12 (108 bb)
SB (Hero): $249.45 (249 bb)
BB: $55.41 (55 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($1.50) Hero is SB with A♦ A♥
UTG raises to $3, MP calls $3, 2 players fold, Hero 3-bets to $15, BB 4-bets to $55.41 (all-in), UTG 5-bets to $221.97 (all-in), 1 fold, Hero calls $206.97

Flop: ($502.35) T♣ 9♠ 5♣ (3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($502.35) 9♣ (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($502.35) 4♣ (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $502.35 (Rake: $2.50)

Showdown:
UTG shows K♣ K♥ (a flush, King high)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 11%, Flop: 9%, Turn: 21%, River: 100%)

BB shows A♠ K♦ (a pair of Nines)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 5%, Flop: 2%, Turn: <1%, River: 0%)

SB (Hero) shows A♦ A♥ (two pair, Aces and Nines)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 85%, Flop: 89%, Turn: 79%, River: 0%)

UTG wins $499.85



PIO will melt your brain


PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $0.50/$1.00 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $37.28 (37 bb)
MP: $347.88 (348 bb)
CO: $53.12 (53 bb)
BU: $117.61 (118 bb)
SB (Hero): $100.00 (100 bb)
BB: $94.06 (94 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($1.50) Hero is SB with 5♠ 5♦
3 players fold, BTN raises to $3, Hero 3-bets to $12, 1 fold, BTN calls $9

Flop: ($25) 5♣ 3♥ A♠ (2 players)
Hero bets $8.08, BTN raises to $28, Hero calls $19.92

Turn: ($81) 8♠ (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $39, Hero raises to $60 (all-in), BTN calls $21

River: ($201) J♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $201 (Rake: $2.50)

Showdown:
SB (Hero) shows 5♠ 5♦ (three of a kind, Fives)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 52%, Flop: 98%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

BU shows K♦ J♠ (a pair of Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 48%, Flop: 2%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

SB (Hero) wins $198.50


Hopefully will have an apartment set up by my next update!

glgl

February:





Not as good monetarily as I would've hoped but a good month in other areas. Settled into Hanoi with an apartment, gym membership and daily routine. Waking up at 7am here isn't the most ideal for poker, but definitely the max ev overall when I spend a lot of my nights performing comedy in bars around the city.

Getting on a disciplined schedule has been something that I have foolishly put off for far too long. My sleep/grind life has been all over the place and lacked structure throughout my time in Asia, and that now that I'm really synced into one I can't tell you how good I feel about it.

Waking up at 07:00 and starting the day reading for 30 minutes then hitting the gym just makes me feel so much better throughout the rest of the day. I would love to Jocko Willink it up and get up at 04:30, but my nights are often occupied with performing stand-up in bars in the city and I don't usually get home until 23:30-00:00. I can do alright on between 6-7 hours a night but I'm not one of the savages of this world than can do okay on less than 5 hours.

I've been really prolific with writing new material as well. Putting my phone on airplane mode between certain hours has really helped with this. Mindlessly scrolling through social media is such a huge time leak and now that I have built in some discipline to address that vice I am really enjoying investing those hours into something much more important and rewarding.


glgl!

How's things with you just now? Hope you're well.

great read so far, gl OP

Hey thanks guys, sorry it's taken so longer to get this back on track.


I am now self-isolating in a really sweet little one bedroom house in Hanoi














There's really not a lot of panic here. Gyms, bars and restaurants are closed right now just like everywhere else, but because Vietnam have handled this situation so well since day 1 that everyone seems to feel that if we just keep playing by the rules then the whole country will make miraculously make it to the other side of this virtually unscathed.

Vietnam are offering foreigners 3 month visa extensions without having to leave the country now with the implemented travel restrictions, which actually works out great for me as I wanted to spend at least 6 months in Hanoi and the $350 the extension cost is less than what I'd spend on a visa run in normal circumstances.


There is obviously no opportunity to perform stand-up comedy which is a bummer. But I just have to use this time to improve the aspects of my stand-up that I can work-on. Writing new bits and especially getting some canned crowd work up my sleeve. I have hated hosting comedy shows in the past, but this forced break away from performing is making me want to become a passable host. On reflection, I know I'll now just appreciate the opportunity more than I will hate doing the extra heavy lifting a host has to do.

Now that I am not obligated to stay out late at night I am trying my best to go to bed early and get up st 4:45am every morning. I've been doing this over a week now and I can definitely see benefits already. Even now, when everyone has extra free time to themselves no matter what time they wake up I feel an added boost of energy waking up at 4:45 as oppose to 10:45 or whatever.


Poker has been swingy





Earlier this month I moved up to 200nl and I can confidently say I have surpassed and pretty much retired from 100nl entirely now. And it only took me 6 years.

100z lifetime








glgl

The big windows and a wee outdoor space are ideal for this isolation. Nice place but you gotta up your grinding chair game! Is that not a killer on your back? I'd be at least using that one that's downstairs.

Glad to hear you're seeing the positives and using the time productively. Making me feel I should change my sleep pattern; as I read this at 3.30am before going to bed...

How do you like Hanoi vs Bangkok for example or HCMC (don't know if you've stayed there)? Can you get by with English? How're locals? Do you have many street food options? Nightlife scene?

Liked the house a lot and congrats on the move up to 200nl

Forgive me if you've answered this already, but how do you manage with living in another country? I moved from California to Las Vegas and feel pretty isolated a lot of the time.

Congrats on beating 100nl ! glgl

Lovely little place you got, perfect for a bit of isolation!

Good to see you're sacking off 100nl and moving up.

Keep up the good work man, upswing at 200nl coming!

https://i.imgur.com/9ZPmr2O.jpg


Job done.

Yea, I've definitely gotten a lot better at getting up as soon as my alarm clock goes off no matter how warm and cozy my bed is. I just get up and get back in the game. Even if you don't get up at a certain time each day, just the habit of getting up and out of bed as soon as your alarm goes of instead of lying there looking at your phone bleeding away 45 minutes looking through intagram/twitter will earn you a lot of valuable time in the long run.


I actually wrote a blog post this week detailing some of this here https://craigcraw.com/reflecting-on-bangkok/



Bangkok probably edges it over Hanoi with food imo, but you can get all types of good food in both cities. Hanoi wins hands down though if your favourite food is dog.

Yes you can absolutely "get by" with only English. Locals do actually appreciate it when you try. They're so supportive and will dumb it down to help you. Unlike in Europe when native English speaking noobs attempt to communicate in a second language, the locals are far more likely to just be impatient instead of helpful.

Locals are very nice and chill. Just as friendly as Thais. There are bag snatchers and pick pockets (pretty rough time for them, thankfully) like there are in almost every country, but that doesn't take away from the fact Vietnamese people are among the most caring, generous people I've ever met.

There is (was) a street food scene here for sure, but it isn't quite like Thailand's scene. But mid-market sit-in restaurants here are cheaper than in BKK

I don't drink, but I know the nightlife scene in Bangkok is bigger but also way more expensive. My English who lives in Bangkok friend says he can spend 5k baht on night out in BKK and he says he gets better value for spending that amount on a night out in London! Alcohol is super cheap in Vietnam. Would imagine most people will get 4 good nights out here for the cost of 1 in BKK

I manage here fine because if I ever feel sad I think about the place I was in emotionally before I moved, and I feel better instantly. There are pros and cons to living in southeast Asia. A big one for me is that it's easier to move here and click with expats because we're in this crazy continent together. I met a lot of friends through doing stand-up comedy. I hate to sound like When this is all over take up a new hobby or something. It's a great way to meet people and assimilate into a community.

Yea, I'm in a really fortunate situation. Only reason I've moved to this house in this secluded gated area is because my friend from BKK decided to move here and so she came o Hanoi, put a deposit on this place, went back to Thailand to collect her things and then they closed the borders. She was kind enough to let me move in. I've got a favour to pay back someday!



Probably PIO approved tbh

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

MNRoberts (UTG): $203.00 (102 bb)
steppero11 (MP): $114.85 (57 bb)
hurtNCYDE (CO): $216.25 (108 bb)
Mannyy12 (BU): $203.00 (102 bb)
enoh1 (SB): $203.00 (102 bb)
electrobot94 (BB): $285.25 (143 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero (hurtNCYDE) is CO with 9♥ 9♣
2 players fold, hurtNCYDE (CO) raises to $4.60, 2 players fold, electrobot94 (BB) calls $2.60

Flop: ($10.20) 9♦ 5♥ T♦ (2 players)
electrobot94 (BB) checks, hurtNCYDE (CO) bets $7, electrobot94 (BB) calls $7

Turn: ($24.20) 9♠ (2 players)
electrobot94 (BB) bets $16, hurtNCYDE (CO) calls $16

River: ($56.20) A♥ (2 players)
electrobot94 (BB) checks, hurtNCYDE (CO) bets $35.81, electrobot94 (BB) raises to $100, hurtNCYDE (CO) raises to $188.65 (all-in), electrobot94 (BB) calls $88.65

Total pot: $433.50 (Rake: $2.75)

Showdown:
hurtNCYDE (CO) shows 9♥ 9♣ (four of a kind, Nines)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 56%, Flop: 95%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

electrobot94 (BB) shows T♠ A♦ (two pair, Aces and Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 44%, Flop: 5%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

hurtNCYDE (CO) wins $430.75



PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

Snapstyles (UTG): $792.45 (396 bb)
Ankhes (MP): $299.55 (150 bb)
chirpybrox7 (CO): $388.41 (194 bb)
ChessMstrBB3 (BU): $136.36 (68 bb)
hurtNCYDE (SB): $281.97 (141 bb)
ANIILOVEYOU (BB): $218.93 (109 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero (hurtNCYDE) is SB with 4♦ 5♦
2 players fold, chirpybrox7 (CO) raises to $5, 1 fold, hurtNCYDE (SB) 3-bets to $22, 1 fold, chirpybrox7 (CO) 4-bets to $49, hurtNCYDE (SB) calls $27

Flop: ($100) K♠ 7♦ 5♣ (2 players)
hurtNCYDE (SB) checks, chirpybrox7 (CO) bets $39, hurtNCYDE (SB) calls $39

Turn: ($178) Q♥ (2 players)
hurtNCYDE (SB) checks, chirpybrox7 (CO) checks

River: ($178) T♣ (2 players)
hurtNCYDE (SB) bets $193.97 (all-in), chirpybrox7 (CO) calls $193.97

Total pot: $565.94 (Rake: $2.75)

Showdown:
hurtNCYDE (SB) shows 4♦ 5♦ (a pair of Fives)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 21%, Flop: 25%, Turn: 11%, River: 0%)

chirpybrox7 (CO) shows A♥ A♦ (a pair of Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 79%, Flop: 75%, Turn: 89%, River: 100%)

chirpybrox7 (CO) wins $563.19


vs reg. Think people way underbluff anyway but most common bluff population is AK I'd say. So definitely not ideal spot

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $280.92 (140 bb)
MP: $192.74 (96 bb)
CO: $200.00 (100 bb)
BU: $200.00 (100 bb)
SB: $209.25 (105 bb)
BB (Hero): $233.82 (117 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is BB with 3♠ A♠
2 players fold, CO raises to $4.58, 2 players fold, Hero calls $2.58

Flop: ($10.16) 4♦ K♥ 2♠ (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $8, Hero calls $8

Turn: ($26.16) 5♣ (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $18, Hero raises to $49, CO calls $31

River: ($124.16) 5♥ (2 players)
Hero bets $40.07, CO raises to $138.42 (all-in), BB (Hero) folds

Total pot: $204.30 (Rake: $2.75)
CO wins $201.55





glgl

Cool house! I'm jealous as I'm quaranteening in a tiny studio... How much you paying for it?

$400/month


DO NOT RUN THIS THROUGH A SOLVER! IF THE SIMULATION DECIDES IP MUST BLUFF CATCH WITH THE SAME HAND THAT OOP SHOULD BLUFF WITH, YOUR COMPUTER WILL EXPLODE!

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG (Hero): $203.00 (102 bb)
MP: $95.79 (48 bb)
CO: $205.22 (103 bb)
BU: $287.61 (144 bb)
SB: $290.21 (145 bb)
BB: $200.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is UTG with A♠ T♣
Hero raises to $4.60, MP calls $4.60, 3 players fold, BB calls $2.60

Flop: ($14.80) 2♦ A♣ 7♠ (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, MP checks

Turn: ($14.80) T♥ (3 players)
BB bets $4.22, Hero raises to $21.77, MP folds, BB raises to $51.15, Hero calls $29.38

River: ($117.10) 4♦ (2 players)
BB bets $144.25 (all-in), Hero calls $144.25

Total pot: $405.60 (Rake: $2.75)

Showdown:
BB shows T♠ A♥ (two pair, Aces and Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 50%, Flop: 50%, Turn: 50%, River: 50%)

UTG (Hero) shows A♠ T♣ (two pair, Aces and Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 50%, Flop: 50%, Turn: 50%, River: 50%)

BB wins $201.43
UTG (Hero) wins $201.42

Everyone is at risk of getting COVID-19. Except deaf people, as they have developed heard immunity.







Thought getting check jammed otr given my hand and sizing would be impossible

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $200.00 (100 bb)
MP: $475.04 (238 bb)
CO: $225.17 (113 bb)
BU (Hero): $220.07 (110 bb)
SB: $200.00 (100 bb)
BB: $142.39 (71 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is BTN with A♠ 6♠
1 fold, MP raises to $4.30, 1 fold, Hero calls $4.30, 2 players fold

Flop: ($11.60) 3♥ 4♣ Q♠ (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $3.75, MP calls $3.75

Turn: ($19.10) K♣ (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $14.15, MP calls $14.15

River: ($47.40) 2♠ (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $69.39, MP raises to $452.84 (all-in), BU (Hero) folds

Total pot: $186.18 (Rake: $2.75)
MP wins $183.43


Yeah Boi

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $211.45 (106 bb)
MP: $251.39 (126 bb)
CO: $218.36 (109 bb)
BU: $458.94 (229 bb)
SB: $84.75 (42 bb)
BB (Hero): $202.89 (101 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is BB with 5♠ 6♠
2 players fold, CO raises to $5, 2 players fold, Hero 3-bets to $22, CO calls $17

Flop: ($45) T♠ 2♣ 9♠ (2 players)
Hero bets $40, CO calls $40

Turn: ($125) 3♠ (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

River: ($125) K♥ (2 players)
Hero bets $31.79, CO raises to $156.36 (all-in), Hero calls $109.10 (all-in)

Total pot: $406.78 (Rake: $2.75)

Showdown:
CO shows J♠ J♦ (a pair of Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 78%, Flop: 68%, Turn: 16%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) shows 5♠ 6♠ (a flush, Ten high)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 22%, Flop: 32%, Turn: 84%, River: 100%)

BB (Hero) wins $404.03







PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $296.56 (148 bb)
MP: $219.49 (110 bb)
CO (Hero): $229.45 (115 bb)
BU: $204.60 (102 bb)
SB: $195.57 (98 bb)
BB: $200.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is CO with 5♠ A♠
2 players fold, Hero raises to $4.60, 2 players fold, BB calls $2.60

Flop: ($10.20) T♠ T♦ 6♠ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3.20, BB raises to $14.14, Hero calls $10.94

Turn: ($38.48) Q♣ (2 players)
BB bets $24.86, Hero calls $24.86

River: ($88.20) J♥ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $185.85 (all-in), BB folds

Total pot: $88.20 (Rake: $2.75)
CO (Hero) wins $85.45

Good thread Stay safe and gl!

lmao quite good that

my favorite part of this thread was the updates when you got a haircut. right now i'm concerned about the situation. have you shaved it yet?

I will, thank you!




Could definitely use a trim now tbf. The barber shop I go to here are apparently reopening on Sunday, but they're very upmarket/hipster and will no doubt have people queuing round the block if they do.




Vs good agro reg. First easy river decision I can remember vs him.


PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 7 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG (Hero): $200.00 (100 bb)
MP: $72.00 (36 bb)
MP+1: $484.11 (242 bb)
CO: $212.55 (106 bb)
BU: $208.00 (104 bb)
SB: $350.89 (175 bb)
BB: $817.87 (409 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is UTG with A♥ 7♥
Hero raises to $4.60, 5 players fold, BB calls $2.60

Flop: ($10.20) 6♥ T♥ 2♥ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($10.20) J♠ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $7.46, BB raises to $36, Hero calls $28.54

River: ($82.20) 8♠ (2 players)
BB bets $777.27 (all-in), Hero calls $159.40 (all-in)

Total pot: $401 (Rake: $2.75)

Showdown:
BB shows K♥ 3♥ (a flush, King high)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 34%, Flop: <1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

UTG (Hero) shows A♥ 7♥ (a flush, Ace high)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 66%, Flop: >99%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

UTG (Hero) wins $398.25



Thoughts vs unknown rec?

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 9 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $275.35 (138 bb)
UTG+1: $200.00 (100 bb)
MP: $596.25 (298 bb)
MP+1: $200.00 (100 bb)
LP (Hero): $418.74 (209 bb)
CO: $109.67 (55 bb)
BU: $200.00 (100 bb)
SB: $40.43 (20 bb)
BB: $206.15 (103 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is LP with 6♠ A♠
2 players fold, MP raises to $4, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets to $15, 4 players fold, MP calls $11

Flop: ($33) 8♥ A♦ 6♦ (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $16, MP raises to $80, LP (Hero) folds

Total pot: $65 (Rake: $2.75)
MP wins $62.25





Agro rec

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $1/$2 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $559.30 (280 bb)
MP: $200.00 (100 bb)
CO: $427.97 (214 bb)
BU (Hero): $225.59 (113 bb)
SB: $152.03 (76 bb)
BB: $200.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($3) Hero is BTN with K♠ 6♠
3 players fold, Hero raises to $4.60, 1 fold, BB calls $2.60

Flop: ($10.20) 4♦ T♠ J♠ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3.29, BB calls $3.29

Turn: ($16.78) 2♠ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $12.27, BB raises to $45.46, Hero calls $33.19

River: ($107.70) Q♦ (2 players)
BB bets $146.65 (all-in), Hero calls $146.65

Total pot: $401 (Rake: $2.75)

Showdown:
BB shows A♠ 7♦ (high card, Ace)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 61%, Flop: 51%, Turn: 16%, River: 0%)

BU (Hero) shows K♠ 6♠ (a flush, King high)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 39%, Flop: 49%, Turn: 84%, River: 100%)

BU (Hero) wins $398.25



Glgl

folding the A6 is absolutely not allowed i know you're deep and it is the dreaded FR x/r, but still, he can just have AK or some random straight draw