It was the end of September 2019. I was managing a trucking company and working 70 hours/week. Even if I was home, work followed me as we had drivers on the road until 9 or 10pm each night. So while I was home, I wasn't "present"

It was starting to affect my marriage plus I was exhausted and angry all the time. A change was needed, and my wife said "go play poker".

With 6 months of living expenses socked aside and a separate roll just for poker, I dove in.

I've been at this for over a year now and the graph is still ticking up, despite:

1. Having mostly a fixed-limit mixed-game background and not having played much PLO prior to this switch

2. Covid shutting down live poker for multiple months

3. post-Covid games become more short-handed and tables getting tougher because Tampa was flooded with outside grinders

4. Being cheated by a pair of players at a weekly game until I noticed odd patterns and brought it to the attention of room management that watched them and booted them two weeks later


I'll try to cover some of the most common questions I expect to receive:

STARTING BANKROLL & MONTHLY/FAMILY EXPENSES?

I had 6 months of living expenses socked aside plus a separate roll just for poker. My mortgage is under $800/month and generally I live a fairly frugal lifestyle.

I am married, no children or plans for them. We're in our early 40's and have been together 20 years.

I was also willing to start working part-time or return to the workforce if things didn't go well.

WHAT ARE YOU EARNING? HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU PLAY?

In my previous job I was salaried with bonuses based on customers product carried. I was earning 65-70k/year.

Playing poker I earn a lot more on an hourly basis, and I've achieved a work/life balance that I was sorely missing.

I don't like to give specifics (which is why the graph above just shows you the # of sessions I've played and the total won on the right side is cut off). But I will say I earn somewhere within the range of $60-120/hr and generally work 25-40 hours/week

HOW DID YOU LEARN? WHAT DO YOU STUDY?

I was an "above average" player for NL Hold Em as well as fixed-limit cash games like Omaha hi/lo, Razz, Stud 8, Badugi, 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball, etc. Nothing special.

I had actually never given PLO a chance, I always had the view that it was "flipping coins for stacks" because I hadn't taken the time to study it.

One of my poker buddies mentioned he thought my style of play would do well in PLO, so I got Jeff Hwang's book and absolutely loved it. Gave me a solid foundation.

After that I read Rolf Slotboom and learned how to short-stack more aggressive or higher-stakes games against deep-stacked opponents.

A lot of folks recommend Jnandez but I just couldn't sit through any of his videos, he just bored me to absolute tears.

WHAT LIMITS DO YOU PLAY? DO YOU PLAY ONLINE?

I rarely play online. I have four poker rooms within 20-30 minute drive from my home and I find live poker much softer and more profitable.

My mainstay stakes are 2/5 PLO with a $10 rock (a forced straddle posted by the winner of the previous hand) with buyins of $200-2K and a 1/2 PLO game with an optional straddle of $5 permitted and buyins of $100-500. There's also a weekly 1/2 PLO game with a mandatory button straddle of $5 and UNLIMITED restraddles with buyins of $200-1K

I have played 5/10 with a $25 rock on occasion, but generally I short-stack that game (buyins are $500-5K)

HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE GAME? GTO?

Being that I play live poker with a smaller field of players that I encounter over and over, my approach is exploitative.

There are other pros in the games and we have essentially 180 degree different styles. Most of them are what I call "pushers"

They raise preflop and try to narrow fields, use position and increase their chances of winning any hand they enter because they are able to bluff in some spots and outplay if headsup

I am a "puller". I rarely raise, I really don't have a raising range preflop at all, EXCEPT when I can either get my stack in pre with a premium (or a hand I figure to be a favorite equity-wise given the action from other players, like if they all most likely have broadway hands blocking one another and I have a middle wrap) or if I can create a low enough SPR that on the flop I'm always getting my stack in.

The reason I prefer to "pull" in these games is for a number of reasons:

1. PLO is a very flop-dependent game. Getting stacks in preflop your edges are going to be smaller, so your opponents aren't making as big a mistake as they can post-flop

2. Fish like to play hands, they don't like to fold. By not raising I'm inviting them into the pot, the more the merrier!

3. While my chances of winning a hand drop facing more hands, the more players in the pot the greater chance that one of them will make 2nd best and pay off (lots of players overvalue two pair, bottom set, idiot ends of the straight, non-nut flushes and underfulls in this game)

4. Having multiway pots make it harder for the tougher and more aggressive pros in the game to run bluffs

HOW LONG DO YOU PLAY? DO YOU HAVE A STOP LOSS/WIN?

My average session is 6 hours, but I can do anywhere from 2-12 generally speaking. It all depends on how the games are, how I'm feeling, how I'm doing in the game, etc.

The reason I left my previous job was to not work my life away, so I don't have any drive to play a 36 hour session. I'm content playing for two hours, winning $1,300 and going home to see my wife and enjoy life off the felt.

My daily threshold for pain is 3K. It's all I bring with me. If I lose all that (and it's happened a few sessions since I started) I'm done for the day. It doesn't matter if the game is good, I know that's where I start to have my game affected adversely and I'd rather take it home and come back fresh for another day

Likewise, if I'm winning a lot but have dangerous opponents at the table with stacks that could really harm my own, I may rack it up and lock up a 3-4K win as well

BENEFITS/HEALTH/RETIREMENT?


Most of my work history has been at small family-run companies. So I rarely had health benefits or any retirement plans.

I have a catastrophic plan just in case, and I sock money aside for retirement as well.

DO YOU PLAY TOURNAMENTS?

Rarely. They are a huge time-sink, you're locked in for 8-14 hours and unless you're coming in the top 3 in most of the local ones it isn't worth the time (i.e. I'd be better off playing cash games)

Add in that the rake can be really stupid in many of these (usually the house takes in more than 1st place, sometimes 1st wins more than 2nd and 3rd combined and they're only paying top 10% of the field) and I just prefer cash games.

I win 2/3 of my cash game sessions, whereas if I played tournaments you'd cash 10-20% of the time which means you have to lose 80-90% of the time. Mentally that's just not for me.

WHAT DO YOU BUYIN FOR? DO YOU HIT AND RUN?

In the 1/2 PLO I always buyin for the max of $500, the field is generally soft and my aversion to having that much at risk is low because I cut my teeth in the 2/5 with a rock game when I started.

In the 2/5 with a rock game I'll buyin anywhere between 200-2K. It really depends on the lineup and other stacks at the table. On average $1500

In the 5/10 with a rock game I always buyin for the minimum of $500. The guys in that game are always stacked 3-5K or more and I can essentially leverage their big stacks against one another, giving myself an opportunity to get my stack in with an opportunity to 3-5x it while possibly only having to beat one opponent at showdown.

I actually got accused of a hit n' run by a miserable reg in that game one time. I had bought in for $500 and lost it twice. On my third buyin I tripled it up, then I doubled that new stack up. I wound up playing for FIVE HOURS in the game, and the guy still couldn't help but be miserable and say "nice hit n' run sir" when I was leaving (I didn't get up right after the last double up btw, was there for at least another dealer rotation).

But at the end of the day, **** that guy. It's YOUR money and it's a cash game, so you can come and go as you please. If it was a private game where you only get in with an invite, obviously doing a legit hit n' run is likely to see you not invited back. But at the casino, **** those guys, you do you!

LEAKS/VICES?

I'm actually pretty fortunate here. I don't drink much, don't do drugs, don't gamble in the pits. Pretty boring actually.

ANY TIPS?

Don't be a miserable reg. I always have a smile on my face, I'm always engaging other players. Keep the game light, keep it fun. I consider myself an entertainer, the fish need to have fun while they are losing their money to me.

Don't be a dick to the dealers. They take a lot of crap, being in the service industry sucks. They get people who yell and swear at them, throw cards, spit at them, try to fist fight them, etc. Lots of miserable people who are unhappy with their lives will lash out at service workers because they feel like they have some sort of power over them and won't face repercussions. Don't be that person.

Don't be the guy wearing headphones and hoodie with no personality who only talks to berate the fish and tell them how bad they play, you are what's wrong with the game, you're only slitting your own throat because you can't get past your ego.

Also on the ego front, I'd rather play a $0.10/$0.20 game that I can win, than a $25/50 game where the only way to make money is you cooler someone because it's all tough players.


Alright, think I've covered a ton already. Hopefully I didn't kill the thread by answering all the questions already. Feel free to ask away!

Nice read. Good luck with your progress. Would love to see some updates in the upcoming year.

Nice intro man, I’m subbed! Best of luck to you in 2021!

Do you ever run it more than once, especially in the bigger games? Just curious


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If the game permits running it twice I'm always down

Some prefer only going once because if someone knows you'll go twice they'll be more willing to semi-bluff if they know they get two shots to get there, plus you may fold

But since I like to keep opponents happy, I'm willing to go twice. Plus, I'm usually ahead so it's better for me to go twice

Only thing I won't tolerate is someone who tries to pick and choose. If you go once that's it, no trying to switch up on me

That was a fun read. Gl, OP.

Liked the read, please keep us updated!

Nice reading man good luck for 2021, a couple of questions:

1) why PLO? You mentioned you had no background and other games are way more popular so why pick PLO?
2) Do you rely on live tells much?
3) What is your favourite non AA PLO hand?

1. I had played a lot of omaha hi-lo and felt I could pick it up easily, plus heard it attracted more gamblers while hold em had gotten tougher

2. I do rely on betting and behavoiral tells in some instances, have been known to make hero calls and folds

3. Probably a hand like JT98 ds

Hi I Subbed a while back thanks for taking the time to make the thread.

Updates?
How is the overall and PLO poker scene in Tampa like currently?

I had my best month in August (won 15K) and my worst in September (lost 11K) and October was no picnic either, posted another loss. This month I'm down as well, although I just had two solid back-to-back winning sessions in what feels like forever, so there's still hope I can pull November out of the fire.

The games can be hit or miss at all the limits. Sometimes they're rock gardens, other times there's enough fish to fry, and sometimes the variance can be insane when you get the maniacs straddling and trying to stack off almost every hand.

Last month I had back-to-back days where guys put in their stacks preflop with shitty Kings (KK43 and then KKQ5 ) against my obvious Aces preflop and both days they found a King on the flop (the 2nd day when another nitwit decided to gamble with KJT9 so there was only one King left in the deck.

While I lost both of those sessions and hands, guys were desperately trying to give me their stacks, so I can't be mad at them for trying to pay my bills.

Today went really well, although I had an extremely odd hand come up that I wound up winning a few hands into the 5/5 with a $10 rock game.

I call a straddle to $20 from the blinds holding AJ95 and then I pot right away on a flop of 994

Somehow I pickup THREE callers on this rainbow paired flop? Turn is K I slow down and check, the next guy to act bets $200 and somehow the other two players call? I call as well and the river is the 5

I check and it's checked around to the last to act player who goes all-in for his last $400, I make the call, not expecting anyone else to come along. First guy who had bet $200 on the turn folds, but the third guy hems and haws for awhile and then tosses in the $400 as well. The bettor announces he has a flush and I turn over my boat and it's good.

What is "AMA"?

Ask Me Anything

I have started to learn PLO. It sounds like the variance is very high in these games.

1. Have you made friends with other regs? Or other players?
2. Will your goal be to move up in stakes?
3. How do you handle losing months? (I think this would be the toughest thing to deal with. Especially in a game where losing months are going to happen)
4. How would you rate the competition live vs online? It sounds like live games are butter soft

So you have the 5s in your hand and the river is also the 5s. I’d recommend not playing there anymore. All jokes aside, that is a very nice spot.

Why?

1. Yes, I'm friendly with other regs (both pro and recreational). While I'm extroverted when I'm around people, I'm generally introverted and prefer time at home relaxing, playing video games, watching shows with the wife, etc. So I don't really hang out with any of the poker people.

2. The issue with moving up in stakes is the availability of the higher stakes. There was a period where an uncapped 25/25 game ran for about a month and a half with unlimited restraddles, but a lot of guys went broke and the game dried up. There is sometimes a 10/10 game with a $25 rock and unlimited restraddles (buyins 1K-5K) that runs, but it's been less often lately. So right not the limits regularly available are the 2/2 with $5 rock and the 5/5 with $10 rock.

There are higher stakes private games that run, but those are guys that will do a flip for $25,000 which is just too rich for my blood. Plus my style of play doesn't really garner me invites into those juicy private games.

And I'm not really interested in traveling a bunch to find higher stakes, as the whole reason I quit my job to do this was so that I didn't have to work a ton of hours anymore.

3. It's funny you ask, I had my best month in August, my worst in September, I lost in October and I was on track to lose this month too but managed to pull it out of the fire. I analyze my play and try to determine if I'm screwing up in spots or just running bad. Overall it's been run-bad, the longest streak I've experienced unfortunately. Guys getting it in with awful kings against my obvious aces preflop and getting bailed out immediately, etc.

I try to look at each session individually, rather than worry that I need to catch up from a previous loss. The same applies with losing months, sometimes the fish gotta be fed and unfortunately sometimes it's my job to do it.

4. I haven't played online in a LONG time, but I can only imagine not only is the competition much tougher, but the level of cheating/collusion is higher as well. The live games can be butter soft, but there have been days where I bounced between multiple tables and stakes and all the games were tight/tough. One nice thing is that you see a lot of the same people over and over, so I can look at a table and know if it's worth playing or not most times.

Because the guys who pick and choose know exactly what they're doing. They recognize that if they're ahead in equity it's better to run twice, and if they're behind they can probably only win once.

Most players frown upon others picking and choosing like that, although some don't care either way. But for me I'm not going to let the other player select an option that benefits them and does the opposite for me. I always go twice regardless, but switchers get the one and done routine.

Really happy to see another higher stakes live PLO blog pop up. I am planning a trip down there in December. We have similar styles. Also lolz - had my best month followed by my worst recently also. Glgl.

PS: do you ever play plo5 down there?

I wish my wife would tell me go play poker lol
Good read 👍🏼

In Tampa we rarely get Big O running (the high-low version). Usually if it does run it's a nitfest, short-handed and breaks fairly quickly. There is a group of guys who started running a weekly 6-card high only PLO game at other poker rooms in the area (Silks and then Derby Lane) but they have it setup to be 1/2 with a mandatory $5 button straddle and unlimited restraddles, plus buyins are 200-1K

There's a couple of pros and a degenerate dealer who gives you all the action in the world, but from my time in the game it's all straddling and putting stacks in preflop so those guys can build their stacks to somewhere in the 6-8k range and play the stakes they really want to play. It does attract some gamblers for sure, but those are the guys buying in for 200-400 and losing it over and over. Being deep-stacked against other pros in that game and playing with all the restraddles really makes the variance through the roof, so not really what I'm looking for unfortunately.

Any updates?

I moved to Austin TX and have a vlog on YouTube now here:

https://www.youtube.com/@PokerJeezus

Been a month or so since I last did a proper video, but had been putting them out every week for over a year. Working on something pretty big and exciting for me out here that I'm hoping to have sorted in the next few weeks so I can announce it.

It's been a minute but I've got a new vlog up along with an update on the future of my content production