Uni is out for the summer break and with almost four months of tedium ahead of me its back to poker. I have had a few threads here, none were very successful but I have been able to build up a BR from about 100$ to 800$. I've literally played everything, except games that are HU. I'm going to TRY to stick to one format, namely 6-max cash. Since i have been off for a month or two, and i had to withdraw some $$ just gonna start at 5nl, hopefully get around 25nl soon. Found myself a job in the time I've been off, so the I don't really mind about the money so long as I can win consistently.

Poker:
10-20k hands at 5nl winner on Party,
10nl ASAP,

Im also really into gym, manlet status though.
Weight atm: 144 (weights in pounds)
Bench: 286
Back Squat: 352
Deadlift: 374
Hopefully I can get my numbers up, and fix up my lower back which is ****ed atm. Because of this problem i havn't been lifting anywhere near my top numbers as of late.

Also been going out a bunch, and any cool stories which happen will be reported hopefully with pics

As always GL to everyone

MP: $4.79 (239.5 bb)
UTG: $3.78 (189 bb)
BB: $6.72 (336 bb)
Hero (BTN): $5.48 (274 bb)
CO: $3.57 (178.5 bb)
SB: $5.49 (274.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with J K
2 folds, CO raises to $0.12, Hero raises to $0.36, 2 folds, CO calls $0.24

Flop: ($0.78) 9 2 5 (2 players)
CO checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.78) 6 (2 players)
CO checks, Hero checks

River: ($0.78) 6 (2 players)
CO bets $0.37, Hero raises to $0.93, CO folds

[/hand_history][/converted_hand]



BTN: $2.50 (125 bb)
BB: $2.46 (123 bb)
SB: $1.56 (78 bb)
CO: $3.69 (184.5 bb)
Hero (UTG): $5 (250 bb)
MP: $3.83 (191.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A 9
Hero raises to $0.12, MP folds, CO raises to $0.20, BTN folds, SB calls $0.18, BB folds, Hero calls $0.08

Flop: ($0.64) Q 3 8 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets $0.61, SB folds, Hero calls $0.61

Turn: ($1.86) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.88, CO raises to $2.88 and is all-in, Hero calls $2

River: ($7.62) 6 (2 players, 1 is all-in)

[/hand_history][/converted_hand]



SB: $1.73 (86.5 bb)
CO: $8.76 (438 bb)
BB: $4.72 (236 bb)
Hero (UTG): $6.92 (346 bb)
BTN: $3.96 (198 bb)
MP: $6.89 (344.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9 9
Hero raises to $0.12, MP folds, CO calls $0.12, BTN calls $0.12, SB calls $0.10, BB folds

Flop: ($0.52) 9 5 3 (4 players)
SB bets $0.04, Hero raises to $0.08, CO raises to $0.44, BTN folds, SB calls $0.40, Hero raises to $2.40, CO folds, SB calls $1.17 and is all-in

Turn: ($4.18) 8 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($4.18) J (2 players, 1 is all-in)

[/hand_history][/converted_hand]

Up to 3k hands so far, playing ok, falling into the trap of not being able to fold second best hands, but i think its good i can identify those spots.
Any ways I have been thinking a lot of playing balanced strategies. Id really like to get together some very sound foundations so i might cover a problem spot every week and try and focus on that.
3 betting from the blinds v CO/BTN
First of all i think 3 betting from the blinds v UTG and EP1 is a fairly straight forward task given how a lot of the play is at the lower limits. Given that villian is not a fish or a lagtard, it is reasonable to say that most people remain relatively tight here. Hence, with the exception of reads ofc, 3 betting would be tight as a result. These easily defined ranges are usually understood by both players and nothing too fishy occurs.
However, when we come to the later position, villains like to flat a lot in position and make more moves post flop.
Here vs villian (hero in the blinds and villain in CO/BTN) I have been experimenting with checking the entirety of my range.
Often I find that villains are unwilling to fold to a c-bet OOP OTF on A LOT of boards (usually with the intention of floating and shooting a barrel ott), however many will also elect to check it back a greater portion of the time checked too. I think this plays quite nicely into my strat, because I have quite a wide linear 3 betting range in the position, maybe 77+, KJo+, KTs+, A9s+ (with complete air thrown in at times (78s, Axs), but this will widen/contract depending on villain.
Given that I am checking a lot OOP, even as the preflop agressor, the question arises as to how I deal with aggression.
The portion of my range that i will continue with is usually very strong when facing agression otf, for the aforemtioned reasons^. I am avoiding check-raising because i believe it absolutely screams strength, and I am usually completely unbalanced when i do it (usually I only do it vs fish). Check calling is often my plan, with the intention of donking the turn with the majority of my range (TPT/GK, over pairs, sets, combo draws, nut flush draws). Often this induces complete spaz from opponents who have no idea what the **** is going on.
Specific board textures and opponents will determine river play, which given that ranges are so often extremely strong here it becomes very straight forward.

Please criticise/tear apart/destroy my thought process if it is wrong, and please share your own insights.

Absolute misclick, but hey
MP: $10.56 (528 bb)
UTG: $4.89 (244.5 bb)
CO: $20.37 (1,018.5 bb)
SB: $5 (250 bb)
Hero (BTN): $5 (250 bb)
BB: $4.09 (204.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with K 7
UTG raises to $0.12, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.24, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.12

Flop: ($0.54) K 7 4 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.28, UTG raises to $0.56, Hero calls $0.28

Turn: ($1.66) 6 (2 players)
UTG bets $1.05, Hero raises to $4.20 and is all-in, UTG calls $3.04

River: ($9.84) K (2 players, 1 is all-in)

[/hand_history][/converted_hand]

Lost about 100BB's to this guy a hand before, big fish, honetly thought I should have shoved the riv, he probably would have called imo. oh well

CO: $14.21 (710.5 bb)
MP: $2.36 (118 bb)
BB: $3.05 (152.5 bb)
BTN: $21.96 (1,098 bb)
SB: $3.74 (187 bb)
Hero (UTG): $9.26 (463 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K Q
Hero raises to $0.12, MP calls $0.12, CO calls $0.12, 3 folds

Flop: ($0.42) A 2 4 (3 players)
Hero bets $0.20, MP folds, CO calls $0.20

Turn: ($0.82) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.39, CO calls $0.39

River: ($1.60) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.52, CO calls $1.52

[/hand_history][/converted_hand]

Cracked 5k hands today; on that break even time though. Very rusty but I think im getting a little better everyday.
Also getting some good weights in at the gym. Smashed out 250x5 on bench, making progress there which is swell.
Hopefully I've got some better results to show in the next 5k.
+0.66 so far.

Interesting hand from today....




GL everyone

Another pretty meh day at the tables, 7.5K hands down, so getting pretty close to the first 10k hands. Still making a lot of pretty poor plays, but im really trying to iron it out. Running $20 below EV at the moment which sucks, but can't help bad luck sometimes.

Been getting better and better in the gym, Dl'ed 275 for the first time in about 5 months so woop.

Giraffe at 10K hands.

Giraffe as promised

+22.26$ to the BR as of my 10,000th hand.
Running close to 10bb/100 at EV adjusted winnings which is very promising.

Gl to everybody

gl brah!
gym grind ftw

You know it brah.

Usually im not a fan of slow playing, but in this instance i thought i would be very unbalanced. Torn between donking the river or C/R it. Usually bluffs will check back the river, but I decided that bluffs will definitely fold to a donk, and that bluffs sometimes will run a 3rd barrel. Very few value hands in villains range. Turns out he flopped a boat, hehe.






I have been experimenting with c/r some rivers that should prove troublesome for villains. Usually, i'm balancing situations like this with nuts, and low pairs,

Good first day at 10NL.
BR: +82.6$

GL to everyone

KK: Slow playing is the way to go here. After his turn bet I believe he flopped a boat because all his air would check behind on that turn unless he plans to shove any river to try to make u fold a high PP. His range is pretty polarized here assuming he is a decent player. I def checking the river.

Played very sub-par today which is sad :'( but grinded out a ****-tonne of volume.
15K hands down, now zooming 10nl on stars.




Funny hand, not sure if the river c/r is optimal here, considering I am running into a lot of these type of hands over and over again. Very close spot, but not quite sure.

grind grind grind...

Almost hit 20K hands, will complete later on tonight,,,
BR is up $102 since the start of the thread.





Pretty standard ship, coolerville though
Got it back though hehe

30K hands in the bank as of today, and BR is up 142+ across all sights.
Pretty nasty string of cards in the last 10K hands, and a lot of leaks that are coming to my attention.
Currently beating 10NL zoom for 5.4BB/100,
Giraffe coming in soon

Also have been playing the 235fpp sattys, currently 1/5 haha. Another 11$ to the BR anyway...

Another mint day at the tables and just surpassed 35K hands for the challenge.
BR: +234.93 in winnings so far, +10.9 in official RB

Next Poker Goals:
- Get to 50K hands, should be easily completed within the next week or so.
- BR of 750 (currently 522)
- Get to 25NL
- Continue to study atleast 1 hour per day

Good job bro
Recently made another goals thread and we both are our way to nl25. Not sure how many tables u play/volume u can play a month but it's tough for me to always grind with both of my damn jobs mixed with gym time.

We're all gonna make it brah. It looks like im on pace for a 100k hand month. Ive only got to work 2-3 days a week, although gym is a pretty big commitment too. I'll follow your new stuff

been a tough grind but im almost at 50K hands,
been downswonging lately, but meh
BR as of today is 630
im feeling very impatient as i want to get to 25nl ASAP

gl everyone

We will get there soon enough. How is lifting going?

Im thirsty for that money man

Yea good just smashed back just then, no deads or squats atm because my back is still giving me grief

Getting my weighted chins up though. Got 30KG x7 for 3 sets today which was pretty good.

May as well post some progress pics for the unaware:

Good stuff bro. Back is looking real good. I need to get on that level, my back is a joke. Once I get my back traps and legs bigger/thicker I'll prob look into competing.

Yea nice, i dont think ill ever compete i just love the training. My advice is to just go heavy as **** on it. Seems to work fairly well with all body parts really haha.

Good to see you smashing 10NL. Nice win-rate over the sample also, dispite recent downswing. When are you planning on moving up to 25NL? You waiting to get 5+bb for 10NL or waiting til you're rolled? I 3bet you the other day with 72o btw, couldn't resist.

Shame about the manlet status but mirin' rhomboids of peace. All the best.

I hade A4s and thought id 4 bet, but i dont want to tangle with experts . Yea man moved up to 25nl last week. Am down a bit, but i think i can turn it around.