So funny you say that- because I too feel all my big hands come in my blinds!!!

And if I at anytime feel I'm not fully committed to playing I leave. If a part of you is somewhere else it's impossible for you to play your best. Whether it be boredom or stress, or you would rather be outside, OR you're subconsciously protecting a win, it's always better to leave. Took me years to actually listen to my own advice- but trust me, even if you think you're playing your A game you're not.

I like it that you're staying while the game is good. IMO setting a buyin amount limit or tournament requirement or monthly win requirement can effect your yearly net more than you think. What I've learned most from start to finish in this thread is that you are very goal oriented which is good, also you know the right dynamics that make for a good game, you know how important life balance is when playing this game for income, and you are highly capable of booking a 6 figure year in 2015. Best of luck in the 2-5-10 nl session.

I played at HSI last night. U guys were not joking about the 7 mile death stretch b4 u get to casino. How does HSI not pay to put lights on that road?

@$9 @absherrj great words of wisdom. @absheerj I think life balance is way more important in relation to poker succes than people think. It's nice to see u picked up on that. It's very important for staying focused, staying happy, keeping a clear head. Clear head = $.
@loudPac the deadly road is no joke. My gf and I was going to c a band play there on New Years, but both of us r super scared of the drunks on New Years after midnight. We decided against it.
Always B safe!

So an hour goes by since I doubled up w Aces, and I'm starting to find my groove. I'm up $1k and now sitting w a $2k stack. I'm thinking wow I finally did it!!! No way I can lose from here. $40k is mine once again!!!
Then the dreaded hand...

Seat 2: me $2k stacks

Seat 6: $3k stack, high % of vpip (40%) and the highest vpr at the table (30%) When he enters preflop he usually comes in w a raise. Aggressive, but can get him in trouble at times. Sometimes he can't find the fold button, and picks some bad spots. Plays as if he has something to prove to everyone. He loves action and loves to play as big as possible. Mid 50s.

Seat 9: $5k stack, hitting everything in sight, and on an ultimate heater. Highest vpip at the table nearly 50%. He loves to be in there preflop as u can see from 50% voluntary put in pot pre...meaning half of his hands dealt to him he is calling or raising preflop. He doesn't mind calling big bets pre. Has a lot of gamble. Voluntary preflop raise 20%. Retired and well off. Used to own some Hooter's restaurants. 60yrs old ish.

I'm the $10 straddler in late position. One limp before seat 6 makes it $35, 3 callers before I call $25 more w A7 off.

Pot is $180 and 5 players see the flop of AQ4. Seat 6 leads out $50, seat 9 calls. At this time, the dealer accidentally says "raise" - thinking seat 9 raised. I clearly see the $50 call out there from seat 9, and I'm putting my call out at the exact same time as the dealer mistakenly announces raise. I stop my forward motion, and said "he raised?" Dealer apologizes and said "my mistake, he called". I then continue to make the call. After I called, seat 6 says to dealer, "U almost got Ray to fold". Now I' thinking that seat 6 perceives me as a little weak. ...Game within the game.

Now it's down to 3 players, pot is $345, and the turn is a pretty 7. Seat 6 checks, seat 9 checks, and I'm thinking I'm golden w 2 pair so I bet $100. Seat 6 ch/raises to $300. Seat 9 quickly folds, and it's back to me. Now I'm wondering if seat 6 is playing back at me because of the dealer debacle . I know seat 6 picked up on me not wanting to call the "phantom raise" otf that never happened.
It's now the game within the game goin on. I'm wondering if the dealer error, and how I reacted to it has anything at all to do w him ch/raising. Is he trying to push me off because he thinks I'm weak due to my reaction to the "phantom raise" otf????
I go through the hand in my head and try to put all the pieces together. I know seat 6 raised pre, but he has a high % of vpr anyways. So that's doesn't mean too much. I know he bet 1/3 pot otf into 5 players behind - which seems strong. He ch/raises turn for value which seems even stronger. I see a flush draw out there, and have seen him ch/raise draws in the past. Cd this b one those times? After much thought, I decide to call in position, and see what he does otr.

Now heads up, pot is $945, and river is a brick 6. Seat 6 stares at me for a second, and then gives off some confused vibes. To me his expressions came across as worrisome, but he still fires out a $600 river bet.
I count down my stack and see I have $1600...$1k left if I lose. If I call and lose, it's back to chasing $40k once more. I swear I thought about that stupid $40k mission of mine during this hand, but I wasn't going to let it effect my decision here on the river. Even though I was totally beside myself, I vowed to make the right river decision. As I'm tanking, I'm thinking I can't believe I'm in this pickle. As a couple minutes pass by I decide to ask seat 6 if he has AQ. I get nothing. Then I tell him that I'm not sure if I can fold this hand. Still I get nothing.

This is such a sick game.
AQ476
I hv A7 and a $40k desire.

I then...

Thoughts on this hand?? Thoughts on the river decision???

To b continued...

1. I hate weak aces. But I have played in that game and I do understand you need to open your range in order to make any money, so it is what it is, even though I hate playing this hand.

2. From the outside looking in it really feels/sounds like a false tell- like he wished someone would have raised or he wants you to think he wished you had folded. His bet sizing on remaining streets add to this read.

3. As played I would fold on river.

4. I put him on Queens, maybe AQ.

5. I really wish you would have just left once it (it being the 40k/ protecting the win) started dominating your mind.

6. REALLY hope this is your last bluff of the year and you called, he tabled A4, and you took down a monster!!!

Either way I hope you are having a great holiday!

His line seems most likely to be a set or a flush draw. I'm thinking you called and threw up in your mouth after he tables QQ.

Tough spot to find a fold in. From what it sounds like in youre description the guy sounds capable of showing up with less than A's and 7's. Compound that with your turn read that the guy thought you were weak on the flop and I probably lean a little more towards a call, but then again if he was bluffing wouldnt he bet bigger..? Then theres always plan C of shoving but I dont think many hands call that you beat so I think this is probably pretty spewy. He would be getting over 3-1 on a call so maybe he calls with AK, A4, and Ah6h but thats hard to put him specifically on those hands. 40k challenge on the line... I love the sweat!

fold pre, fold flop

as played, cant call turn and then fold river

pay that man his $

Luv the 40,000$$ sweat!

I know you will be hyped up for the big game today.
Because I have a financial interest in the game I'll be cheering for the Wildcats.Sorry.

Bad A's are the hardest hands to play imo....Therefore I avoid them as much as I can...especially in a raised pot...I'm sure you know this and are in position but I just think they put you in horrible spots like this. When you had a lead out and a call in front of you with 2 hearts you are most likely way behind or at the very least have to fade the flush. I just don't see how this can be positive equity to call the flop. If you didn't spike 2 pair what were you going to do?

As played I somewhat agree if you call the turn you call the river, but I would use your read at this point and may have to re-evaluate.

Sent from my SPH-L720T using 2+2 Forums

Slamdunk fold pf. Flop overcall is meh. I am folding to the raise OTT, we have A which takes out a lot of possible fds. Worse 2p combos seem unlikely, we could plausibly be up against AQ or a set here.

Nice year overall, I hope you continue posting in 2015 with a new ambitious challenge!

I understand the concern w the weak ace. It isn't a hand I typically play, but I was the straddler w a gd price to call in best position. More importantly, I felt I cd manage this hand carefully.
I call the flop bet only because I know my opponents. Both r lag players and very spewy. Even w a lead out and a call, I'm thinking my Ace may b gd otf. Mainly because I know my opponents and their gamble. If I was up against 2 abc/tag style players I may consider the fold.
It's when I was ch/raised ott where it gets tricky for my hand. Still I hv to consider the player and history.
All of u r correct tho- weak off suits Aces can b troubling!

Poker is a funny game. Every session I experience something new and different, this session was no different.
Yesterday I experienced the happiest chop I ever had in my 12 year career! I ended up calling the $600 bet on the river against this player, and he shows me the same hand, A7. I never had a chop feel so gd. It was pure bliss! The euphoric feeling felt like



After the dealer evenly split up the chips, I raked back all my money and once again I was oozing w excitement. It was like I hit the $40k mark all over again...for the 3rd time! My mood was full of joy, and my spirit was alive and well. The happiest chop ever!
WE DID IT!!!

I played for another hour, won a few more hundred, and got the hell out of there!

+$1,580 playing 2/5/10nl on 3hrs.



Ended up +$6,236 in December. After having a losing month in October, finished strong last 2 months ($13,436).



Yearly totals coming soon. Thanks for the support provided in 2014. The encouraging words, feedback, and critique helped me make it to the $40k mark.
It means a lot to me!

Onto the next one...2015

Awesome! Congrats!

HSI January promotions.
Maybe I can log an average of 50hrs/wk next month and get $400 rake back.
No Aces Cracked on no limit!



2014 totals coming tonight.
Still thinking of a 2015 challenge.

Here you go Ray...at Belterra last night. (Why?). $100 if black aces cracked. You had to try to get them cracked because you can't win a pot that big. Unfortunately (or fortunately), the promotion ended 10 minutes earlier and I didn't know it.

I check/called 3 streets vs a tight lady on a very wet board. At showdown I slapped them down like I knew I was beat.

I was good and everyone was amazed that I knew I was good.

That's funny fluke22! I'm really amazed at how many poker rooms offer that stupid promotion!
U always have some great post on here and on FB. I enjoy reading them.

Looks like Jimmy (poker supervisor) took some more of my advice. He finally listed buyIns as $A + $B. U don't know how happy that makes me. It looks like event 1 and event 9 hv the best value. Even w the aggravating $20 add-on it's still less than 20% rake. 11% on event 9!



CPC is same time, so it may impact this schedule some.

where does it say $20 add on?
are you playing in this, or you heading up here?
c p c will have some big numbers!

@tswpoker thanks man. It's been a year of ups and downs, but mostly ups.
@23straight the add on is on page 2 of the tourney schedule on HSI FB page.
Right now, I'm leaning towards CPC but who knows. ???

2014 TOTALS

Overall for 2014:
Cash: +$45,314. $52.22/hr.
Tournaments: -$4,115
Overall: +$41,199

Biggest surprises:
*Making $45,314 in cash logging an average of 17 hrs/wk.
With tournaments my average work week was closer to 20hrs. Logging more hours is something I want to improve on for next year. I said the same thing 2 years ago and still logged only 20. So we'll see.
*another losing year in Tournaments. Don't know if this should b a surprise anymore.
Career overall I think I may b close to neutral (thanks to a $20k live score back in 2008ish placing 2nd in the $580 Midwest Poker Championships), so 2015 will put me in the red or black for my career.
*Finishing the last 2 months strong! Last 2 months were my best months!
*My only cash in a tourney (4th place) felt like a fail once I was at final table. Being 2nd in chips w 5 left, and busting 4th didn't set right w me.
*The tourneys fails in general were a big disappointment to me, and vow to do better in 2015.
*The winning percentage was around 65% which went down from last year, but average won and hourly was higher. This makes sense because of the higher limit games I played in 2014. Still wd like win percentage near 70%.
*My health issues from Sept-Nov was a big surprise. I was really scared for those 3 months, but it's finally under control. I've always had issues w anxiety all my life, but those 3 months I thought it was something worse. It felt like my heart was failing me. Really scary times. After seeing the doctor, and running am test, the diagnosis was a panic disorder. The medication doc prescribed has been working very gd. No issues since Nov, and it's been a big relief. Health all gd. Blessed and thankful.
*Having a $5k winning session on Derby night was a big surprise. I almost didn't play on Derby Day, but knew the action is always gd on that day. Glad I did!

Looking forward to see what 2015 brings.
My goal is to work more, play as much tennis as possible, live life zenfully, spend much qt w the family, try to talk my gf into having another kid, deepen my faith, continue to b an awesome landlord, stay healthy and fit, find a way to help my friend Aiden and his Lego Legacy charity, devote more time to stuff that matters.

The 2015 poker goal/challenge is yet to b determined. Still clueless. As requested tho, I will continue this thread, but I will be posting less in 2015. It will still be frequent, just not everyday like it has been. Mentally I just need to relax more. Poker has been all I thought about for the last 2 years because I been trying my hardest to improve and b the best I can b. It was the main reason I started this thread. I just want to b as gd as possible! It's been an obsession of mine, and too much can b detrimental to the zen life. I'm trying to find balance that is best for my poker success, and my health. Hope u understand.

I guess I will figure some kind of poker goal/challenge for 2015 and fill u n on the deets New Year's Eve. Suggestions welcome.

Very special thank you to anyone who has ever posted on this thread! All posts are appreciated greatly. Because of the feedback, criticism, and motivation that u all share on this thread, is the reason I keep fighting hard to get to the top. My fight and desire to make it to the top is as strong as its ever been. I won't stop until I get there, and we will do it together. A big thank you to all of u! It means more than u know.
Thank u. Thank u. Thank u.
@rayzrayl

25 hours a week, 70k profit, no tournaments.

You should make a goal to start playing the 5/10/20 game on fridays! I try to come down and play it every once in awhile and I know you could crush it. It can be a cruel game as you know, but well worth the risk.

Going hard in 2015 playing all the games I'm rolled for.
Because the game selection is limited where I live, the majority of my play in 2015 will be 1/2nl. Although, I will be playing higher when those games run, and take bigger shots where/when I see fit.

If I can accomplish the 10 goals I have listed below; then it will be a one helluva year!

MY 10 POKER GOALS FOR 2015.

-Be up 6 stacks of high society by the end of 2015 playing 1/2nl up to 10/20nl. $60,000.
-No Losing Months.
-Log an average of 25/hrs a week.
-Come in top 3 in the WSOP League Finale. Getting top 3 will win me a Las Vegas tourney package. (WSOP Packages are: $11k, $4k, $1,500. Finale is April 11, 2015)
-Log 1,000+ hours at Horseshoe Southern Indiana's poker room. This feat will take me from platinum to diamond card. (1,000hr requirement in a year to get diamond).
-Log 200 hrs in Jan and get the $400 promotional bonus HSI is offering. (HSI rake back promotion for Jan rewards a player $2 x hrs logged. 200+hrs requirement).
-Have a $10k winning month.
-Have a $5k winning session playing 2/5nl or higher.
-Have a $2k winning session playing 1/2nl.
-Play a 24hr session.

All 2015 goals will b posted in blue at the top of every post I make in 2015. That way everyone knows these goals at all times. If I complete a goal, I will move it from blue to green. If a goal fails, I will move it from blue to red.

#FULLTRANSPARENCY. I will keep everything I earn in the form of poker chips. At the end of every month I will post pictures of my monthly stats, monthly graphs, and a picture of running total earned with poker chips. For example, if I'm up a total of $15k at the end of April; then I will post a pic of $15,000 in poker chips.

Q). If I'm keeping my poker earnings, then how will I pay for living expenses?
A). I clear about $2k/ a month from my rentals, and plan to use that money to pay my bills, entertainment, and also use for other expenses. If I need to dip into my savings for living expenses I will, BUT ALL THE MONEY I make from poker (in 2015) will b kept separate in my safety deposit box. For this challenge, I have acquired a safety deposit box at my bank where ALL my poker earnings will be kept in the FORM OF POKER CHIPS. I will color up along the way. Hopefully at the end of the year, I will have at least 12 gray beauties in my box (gray is a HSI poker chip worth $5k).
I will also keep poker chips from other surrounding casinos within 5hr drive. *Poker earnings from casinos outside a 5hr drive will be cashed out, and that money will also be put in the safety deposit box. It will all be transparent along the way, and I will keep everyone informed throughout 2015.

I take pride that all my stats/data in this thread have been very precise and accurate. Thus, I will continue to be ultra-precise in 2015, and continue to provide as much proof/transparency as possible along the way. Pictures and occasional videos will further help the authenticity of this thread.

Thanks in advance for following, and keeping me motivated to achieving these goals. 2015 will be a year of great determination, and I look forward to facing these new challenges. No matter how bad it gets, I promise to give every ounce of fiber in my mind, body, and soul to not give up. I'm going hard this year, focusing at the task at hand, and leaving nothing behind in accomplishing these goals.
I'm an uncommon breed that continues to walk my own path and invest in what I know. Fear of failing and naysayers won't get in my way. I play for money, and my poker chips are the scoreboard. Coming heavy in 2015 for those 6 stacks of high society.

Due to these ambitious goals I will be grinding a lot more than normal, trying to widen the gap between me and the next guy. Stay tuned...

https://youtube.com/watch?v=g-jwWYX7Jlo

Fix my eyes on the Lord and ALL things are possible.

#Noquit #KarateKid,

@RayzRayl

Please drop the no losing months goal. Its completely out of your control and will cause undue stress.

Woot Woot Woot Woot! Super excited to rail in this thread throughout 2015. Don't worry about posting every session. Weekly updates or less even will do. Just do what you can and focus on the goals at hand. LOVE THE GOALS! GL in 2015!

Edit: I take the over on 60k.

GL. Subbed for 2015.

I'm on board! Can't wait to see the poker chips pile up!
I love everything about these goals! From the color format, to the safety deposit box, to the chip porn.
Glglgglglglglglglgl