Update 7: October 1st - October 21st:

From now on I'll update when it feels right, instead of committing to an update every week, as it fast became a chore. However, I'll continue to commit to the monthly wrap-ups.

From Oct. 1st-6th I was on vacation with Maanya & Reyaan. We went to a hill resort with an elevation of 2.6km. At times, clouds at our elevation would flood the valleys with dense fog. Overall it was pristinely beautiful and a lovely getaway. Reyaan made sure to keep it a memorable experience by being a complete nightmare the entire trip












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So, how is this month going?

As mentioned earlier, on paper/PT4, it might look quite meh. Losing without much traction, perhaps. However, I'm optimistic. As you may notice from the By Stake and By Session pictures, I have dropped my average stake and upped my hands/hour in my most recent sessions. This has been a very enjoyable change. There have been some teething problems, as my showdown stats have dropped a little. Maybe some autopilot, or just general run bad. I am not sure yet. My summary would be that I'm playing pretty well, and running pretty badly, with a few extra missed bluffs/calls due to the extra action. Time will tell. What matters is that I am excited and having fun, despite getting a little bruised. And I'd rather run bad at 400-1k than 2k+

In any case, grinding has been super fun, and I am looking forward to seeing what develops. My plan of action is to keep doing what I'm doing for a little while longer, to get better and better at managing the action.

BB:


$:


Stake:


Session:


Challenge Data:


Goals:
• Flowstate
• Improved table management
• Get to a point where I'm happy to reintroduce 2k/3k with the increased table count

Cheers... Goooood luck!

Just watched your two videos on Nick Eastwoods ' punt or no punt ' and thought they were absolutely excellent,
How well you articulate what are clearly very advanced concepts and make them make sense was great.

Good luck at the tables

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed

I think you have all that it takes your smart and I think able to take risk etc.

What you don't want to see / do is your also sensitive and egoistic and you think you have it figured out in a strange way.

Bcz you have a lot of fanboys

But guess what playing real poker its not about being a celebrity

You should really work harder and do sims and calibrate your game to your opponents and give-up on your idea of being a "gto-coach"

I'm really rooting for you.

Yet still feel same as 7 years ago beating nl200 and advising a nl 50 player

Nothing has really changed

October 22nd-October 31st + October wrap-up:

Hi everyone

October is a wrap. Overall, I am feeling excited, whilst also a little concerned;
• Excited:
• ○ I dropped my table count from 6→5 during my recent sessions and noticed a clear improvement in keeping track of action, and thought process throughout. At times, I was playing A++ / 9.5/10.
• Concerned:
• ○ I am still struggling with focus and getting into a flow state. The task has become a lot easier said than done. I must find a way to figure this out, as it is such an integral part of the grind.

I'm happy with how I dealt with the negative variance this month. Truly, I was running awfully. Despite some doubts creeping in a little here and there, I knew deep down that I was playing just fine, and that it was just one of those stretches.

Still keeping stakes low until I'm happy with my mindset. Very happy with my discipline in this regard. Whilst I'm itching to get back to playing higher, I know that now is not quite the right time just yet; I need to first string together a few solid (mostly regarding mental performance) sessions before I can happily pull the trigger.

I am extremely excited to see what develops in the next ~six months. Despite the grim start to this $1m challenge and other hurdles I face, I am extremely confident in myself to do what I need to do to make things happen, and cannot wait to see things come to fruition. Happy playing the long game.

---

Hands:

1. Slightly ridic line from villain

Winning Poker, Hold'em No Limit - $2/$4 - 4 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $742.03 (186 bb)
BU: $753.69 (188 bb)
SB: $561.60 (140 bb)
BB (Hero): $563.59 (141 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($6) Hero is BB with K A
UTG raises to $9.20, 1 fold, SB 3-bets to $46.80, Hero 4-bets to $106.20, 1 fold, SB calls $59.40

Flop: ($221.60) A 3 4 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $21.96, SB raises to $455.40 (all-in), Hero calls $433.44

First Turn: ($1,132.40) 6 (2 players, 1 all-in)

First River: ($1,132.40) 7 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Second Turn: ($1,132.40) A (2 players, 1 all-in)

Second River: ($1,132.40) 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $1,132.40 (Rake: $2)

First Showdown: Board: A 3 4 6 7

SB shows K A
BB (Hero) shows K A
BB (Hero) wins $565.20

Second Showdown: Board: A 3 4 A 3

SB shows K A
BB (Hero) shows K A
SB wins $282.60
BB (Hero) wins $282.60


2. Felt thin, but actually v std, esp. given PSB OTF

Winning Poker, Hold'em No Limit - $5/$10 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $2,552.15 (255 bb)
MP: $1,000.00 (100 bb)
CO: $1,054.90 (105 bb)
BU (Hero): $1,000.00 (100 bb)
SB: $945.50 (95 bb)
BB: $1,261.60 (126 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($15) Hero is BTN with A Q
3 players fold, Hero raises to $22.50, 1 fold, BB calls $12.50

Flop: ($50) K 2 A (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $50, BB calls $50

Turn: ($150) 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $199.50, BB calls $199.50

River: ($549) K (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $728 (all-in), BB calls $728

Total pot: $2,005 (Rake: $3)

Showdown:
BU (Hero) shows A Q (two pair, Aces and Kings - higher kicker)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 73%, Flop: 78%, Turn: 86%, River: 100%)

BB shows A J (two pair, Aces and Kings)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 27%, Flop: 22%, Turn: 14%, River: 0%)

BU (Hero) wins $2,002


3. (Bomb pot) Getting absolutely put into the bin. Annoying, because I really like my line, too.

Yatahay Network - $10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (SB): $1,324.93
BB: $861.99
CO: $1,282.50
BTN: $1,468.64

4 players post ante of $50.00

CO checks, BTN checks, Hero checks, BB checks

Pre Flop: (pot: $200.00) Hero has 9 2

Flop: ($200.00, 4 players) 5 T 4
Hero checks, BB checks, CO checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($200.00, 4 players) 9
Hero checks, BB checks, CO bets $65.26, fold, Hero calls $65.26, fold

River: ($330.52, 2 players) A
Hero checks, CO bets $271.20, Hero raises to $1,209.67 and is all-in, CO calls $896.04 and is all-in

Hero shows 9 2 (One Pair, Nines)
(Pre 31%, Flop 4%, Turn 11%)
CO shows T Q (One Pair, Tens)
(Pre 69%, Flop 96%, Turn 89%)
CO wins $2,662.75


4. What a life, eh?

Winning Poker, Hold'em No Limit - $5/$10 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $1,753.75 (175 bb)
MP: $1,897.01 (190 bb)
CO: $1,000.00 (100 bb)
BU: $1,046.00 (105 bb)
SB: $2,833.40 (283 bb)
BB (Hero): $1,516.80 (152 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($15) Hero is BB with A 8
1 fold, MP raises to $21, 1 fold, BTN 3-bets to $70, 1 fold, Hero 4-bets to $193, MP 5-bets to $316, 1 fold, Hero calls $123

Flop: ($707) 8 8 7 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $176.75, Hero raises to $353.50, MP calls $176.75

Turn: ($1,414) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $282.20, MP calls $282.20

River: ($1,978.40) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $565.10 (all-in), MP calls $565.10

Total pot: $3,108.60 (Rake: $3)

Showdown:
BB (Hero) shows A 8 (a full house, Eights full of Sevens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 12%, Flop: 91%, Turn: 98%, River: 100%)

MP shows A A (two pair, Aces and Eights)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 88%, Flop: 9%, Turn: 2%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) wins $3,105.60


5. Lucky me

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $5/$10 ($2 ante) - 2 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

SB: $1,272.19 (127 bb)
BB (Hero): $1,488.11 (149 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($19) Hero is BB with K J
SB raises to $23, Hero 3-bets to $105, SB calls $82

Flop: ($214) 3 9 Q (2 players)
Hero checks, SB checks

Turn: ($214) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB bets $146.30, Hero calls $146.30

River: ($506.60) 7 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB bets $549.45, Hero raises to $1,098.90, SB calls $469.44 (all-in)

Total pot: $2,544.38 (Rake: $5)

Showdown:
BB (Hero) shows K J (a flush, King high)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 69%, Flop: 81%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

SB shows T J (a straight, Eight to Queen)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 31%, Flop: 19%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) wins $2,539.38


---

October 22nd-October 31st Results:

By Stake:


By Session:


BB:


$:


Monthly Results:

By Stake:


By Session:


BB:


Session:


Data:


Profits:
Playing: +$1837.23
Action Sold: 0
Rakeback: +$2209.43
Total: $4046.66

Progress: $-31,853.87/$1,000,000

Hi Luke, just found this thread and it made me signup for a TwoPlusTwo account after 10y or so LoL. Thanks for doing what you do and best of Luck!

Wow man, thanks a lot, nice to know I finally made you sign up to the site, better late than never

hey clanty curious as to why you dont put in volume at those stakes, since you've now added more 6M grinding to your mix

Hey man

As you can see from the pics, last month I put in 62 hours with a 6-day break at the start of the month for a vacation. That's about as much as I can hope to put in whilst managing other commitments.

Once two projects clear up, I'd like to be hitting 75 hours a month which is ~17 hours a week.

Update 9: November 1st-November 17th:

Hi everyone

Took my foot off the gas pedal a bit lately regarding volume. I believe that's partly down to winning and not 'needing' to grind as hard, or something to that measure. In any case, it isn't a good way to approach the journey and should look to be righted. A counter to this, though, is that I did put in x2 3-hour sessions b2b days after a +$10k session, despite not really wanting to grind for that long on either day. So perhaps I am being a little hard on myself. Anyway, I feel that I am not being sincere enough, so I will look to put a nail to it.

I noticed myself reduce table count this month whilst adding back in 2k and 3k. It makes sense given the tougher competition. I'll let things flow here, depending on how many HU/SH games I have, and how well I think I'm playing. I feel like less of a professional if I only have 3 tables going/only logging 200 hands/hr, but if they are all played HU/SH vs really top notch guys, then it seems reasonable to dial into those tables only, without trying to force other action. This happened a few times.

Outside of Poker:
I'm focusing on trying to separate my days between work and life. That means when work finishes, I am not only not physically working, but not mentally either(!); I wish to be as present as I can be around my family, taking in as much as I can with them, instead of being there physically, whilst sometimes being MIA mentally. It's a work in progress.

Also committing myself to a 6-week weight loss plan, to go from 188lb/85kg to 176lb/80kg. Wanting to really lean up for sports. I've lost 90lb/40kg twice in my life, once when I was around 17, and then again around 25. Both times were from approx. 125kg down to 85kg. I was a big boy . I've never got myself down to being super lean, though, so looking to lose these last 5kg's.

---

Hands:

1. Lmao

Winning Poker, Hold'em No Limit - $15/$30 - 2 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

SB: $3,147.50 (105 bb)
BB (Hero): $8,027.54 (268 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($45) Hero is BB with Q J
SB raises to $75, Hero 3-bets to $315, SB calls $240

Flop: ($630) 6 8 7 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB checks

Turn: ($630) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB checks

River: ($630) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB bets $945, Hero calls $945

Total pot: $2,520 (Rake: $1.25)

Showdown:
SB shows T Q (two pair, Eights and Sixes)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 27%, Flop: 29%, Turn: 23%, River: 50%)

BB (Hero) shows Q J (two pair, Eights and Sixes)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 73%, Flop: 71%, Turn: 77%, River: 50%)

SB wins $1,259.38
BB (Hero) wins $1,259.37


2. Suuuuper proud of my courage to BC here. Felt grim at face, but also couldn't deny the fact that it's easy to show up w/ bluffs here, as well as value. So tried to stay objective.

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $10/$20 ($2 ante) - 2 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

SB (Hero): $2,362.03 (118 bb)
BB: $2,000.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($34) Hero is SB with K 6
Hero raises to $50, BB 3-bets to $200, Hero calls $150

Flop: ($404) A 4 6 (2 players)
BB bets $160, Hero calls $160

Turn: ($724) T (2 players)
BB bets $480, Hero calls $480

River: ($1,684) Q (2 players)
BB bets $1,158 (all-in), Hero calls $1,158

Total pot: $4,000 (Rake: $3)

Showdown:
BB shows J 7 (high card, Ace)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 43%, Flop: 53%, Turn: 30%, River: 0%)

SB (Hero) shows K 6 (a pair of Sixes)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 57%, Flop: 47%, Turn: 70%, River: 100%)

SB (Hero) wins $3,997


3. Upsetting vs rec

GGPoker, Hold'em No Limit - $10/$20 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $1,079.78 (54 bb)
MP (Hero): $3,058.22 (153 bb)
CO: $2,362.00 (118 bb)
BU: $4,001.43 (200 bb)
SB: $2,284.40 (114 bb)
BB: $4,951.20 (248 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($30) Hero is MP with K K
1 fold, Hero raises to $44, CO 3-bets to $82.94, 3 players fold, Hero 4-bets to $384, CO calls $301.06

Flop: ($798) 8 2 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $320, CO calls $320

Turn: ($1,438) 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $2,354.22 (all-in), CO calls $1,658 (all-in)

River: ($4,754) A (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $4,754 (Rake: $40)

Showdown:
MP (Hero) shows K K (a pair of Kings)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 77%, Flop: 66%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

CO shows 4 5 (a straight, Two to Six)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 23%, Flop: 34%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

CO wins $4,714


4. Waiting for the pinch



Winning Poker, Hold'em No Limit - $10/$20 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $2,670.20 (134 bb)
MP: $5,055.65 (253 bb)
CO (Hero): $2,732.00 (137 bb)
BU: $18,686.56 (934 bb)
SB: $2,016.45 (101 bb)
BB: $2,715.55 (136 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($30) Hero is CO with A Q
2 players fold, Hero raises to $45, BTN calls $45, 1 fold, BB calls $25

Flop: ($145) T 8 J (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($145) 2 (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($145) K (3 players)
BB bets $39.15, Hero raises to $150.80, BTN raises to $413.67, BB calls $374.52, Hero raises to $2,687 (all-in), BU folds, BB calls $2,256.88 (all-in)

Total pot: $5,899.77 (Rake: $3)

Showdown:
CO (Hero) shows A Q (a straight, Ten to Ace)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 76%, Flop: 22%, Turn: 13%, River: 100%)

BB shows 9 Q (a straight, Nine to King)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 24%, Flop: 78%, Turn: 88%, River: 0%)

CO (Hero) wins $5,896.77


5. (Bomb pot) Getting turbo binned vs giant rec.

BTN: $2,191.45
SB: $2,168.80
BB: $2,436.20
UTG: $6,258.45
Hero (MP): $3,147.50
CO: $15,644.01

6 players post ante of $100.00

UTG checks, Hero checks, CO checks, BTN checks, SB checks, BB checks

Pre Flop: (pot: $600.00) Hero has 5 3

Flop: ($600.00, 6 players) 9 8 3
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks, CO bets $200.00, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls $200.00

Turn: ($1,000.00, 2 players) 4
Hero checks, CO bets $330.00, Hero raises to $2,847.50 and is all-in, CO calls $2,517.50

River: ($6,695.00, 2 players) 7

Hero shows 5 3 (One Pair, Threes)
(Pre 43%, Flop 74%, Turn 32%)
CO shows 4 Q (One Pair, Fours)
(Pre 57%, Flop 26%, Turn 68%)
CO wins $6,692.00


6. Once in a lifetime HH

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $5/$10 ($2 ante) - 2 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

SB (Hero): $1,451.48 (145 bb)
BB: $1,070.30 (107 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($19) Hero is SB with J 6
Hero raises to $25, BB 3-bets to $100, Hero calls $75

Flop: ($204) J J J (2 players)
BB bets $99.50, Hero calls $99.50

Turn: ($403) 6 (2 players)
BB bets $199, Hero calls $199

River: ($801) 6 (2 players)
BB bets $669.80 (all-in), Hero calls $669.80

Total pot: $2,140.60 (Rake: $5)

Showdown:
BB shows Q Q (a full house, Jacks full of Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 84%, Flop: <1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

SB (Hero) shows J 6 (four of a kind, Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 16%, Flop: >99%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

SB (Hero) wins $2,135.60


7. (Bomb pot) Okay then

Hero (SB): $2,454.50
BB: $3,249.38

2 players post ante of $100.00

Hero checks, BB checks

Pre Flop: (pot: $200.00) Hero has A A

Flop: ($200.00, 2 players) 3 A K
Hero checks, BB bets $65.60, Hero calls $65.60

Turn: ($331.20, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, BB bets $494.80, Hero calls $494.80

River: ($1,320.80, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, BB bets $2,588.98 and is all-in, Hero calls $1,794.10 and is all-in

Hero shows A A (Three of a Kind, Aces)
(Pre 87%, Flop 83%, Turn 91%)
BB shows 4 2 (Straight, Five High)
(Pre 13%, Flop 17%, Turn 9%)
BB wins $4,907.75

---

Bonus:
1. The ultimate dream spot in a bomb pot





2. The battle arena .



---

Results:
By Session:

By Stake:

BB's:

$:

Data:


...

Just noticed I am +10evBI's, but down $50k net. Just goes to show how hurtful HS can be. Onwards and upwards, hopefully.

That's it for now... Goooooood luck!

What is your plan for it?
Thanks for the entry as always !

Congrats on your first 2p2 post

I've been doing the OMAD (one meal a day) diet, consisting of a lunch time meal of around 2400 cals, 110g protein, ~0g refined/added sugar.

On Sunday's I have what I'd say is half a cheat day, around 4k cals, but all clean. Still ~0g refined/added sugar.

Idk exactly how many calories I'm burning each day, I'm estimating 3700-4000. This puts me at around 3lb loss/week, quite steep, but doable for me in shorter stints. Once I hit my goal I'll likely continue with OMAD, but bump up the calories

I personally find this working extremely well for me, most days I am hitting ketosis around 6am which is great.

IMO the hardest part about dieting is not sticking to the diet itself, it's trying to find what works for you. Once you figure that out, you're pretty much golden.

A small piece of dark chocolate of an evening can help reduce hunger pangs but would break the fast

Sent from my XQ-AS52 using Tapatalk

He is not a grinder! 75 hr a month what a joke lol

Thanks, that a huge calorie deficit, hope you will not feel too tired,
I did OMAD too but i find it really hard to do anything (poker related or sport) after that big meal for a few hours..

I try to do everything I can to not break the fast. As soon as I do, I know I'll be hungry the following morning.

I do not intend to be a "grinder", moreover, I'm not only a poker player, I'm also a coach and a father. And I've got two other work projects going on that I can't talk about just yet. In the next few months they'll be finished up. All in all, I'll be very glad to be hitting 75 hours/month.

After I have my big meal (~2400 cals or so), I take my son out on a long walk, around the town and in the park. 60-90 mins. It's great for digestion and avoids that crash you speak of.

First week I lost 5lb, realistically prob lost some water weight. Then I went a little crazy on Sunday and ate ~6k cals. Albeit I kept to my goal of only clean foods without any added sugars, but without concern for volume . Need to do a little better managing those cheat days ^^