Nice update man!

Who would you list on your top 5 toughest opponents in the pool? Do you think the Nevada pros on WSOP are much tougher than NJ ones?

Tough to say would have different list for both HU/6 max, the gap between the top guys and the average reg is pretty signifcant though.

I think Nevada pro's are on average slightly better, I think the top guys in NJ though are stronger than the top guys in Nevada.

WSOP 25k HU championship is set for October 5th...

Baby's due date is set for October 21st...


How close is too close?

that sounds like a really fun/high roi event, given its live? play the HU imo

Divorce is expensive bro

Just don't forget to sell your mom a piece if you play.

Definitely an exciting event, wouldn't say high roi tbh going to be some killers in there.

As long as I put the sub 40bb work in before hand w HU, I'd be very confident I'd be +EV

Lol I think only if I missed it would be an issue. It's a maybe, gonna talk to the doctor and see odds of her being born 2 weeks premature.

Yeah, she's inevitably going to want a piece. My mother in law also always demands to get a piece from me. I've lost every time with her though so I think they think I suck at poker now tbh.

https://www.twitch.tv/bluffthespot

Doing a quick chat/interview over here if anyone is interested

Heard that Hassaikai guy is a real moron

Are you back with BTS?

I thought I saw a recent video of you promoting their academy training program.

I do one monthly webinar coaching that's for all BTS students and is part of the Academy package.

I also am signed to do a little bit of ambassador work to help them out. So I'll be on BTS twitch streams more often as well.

Outside of that monthly webinar I'm not doing any coaching atm, which has been kinda nice as I hit 60k hands last month; whereas my average was in the 45-50k mark.

Hopefully 15-20% more hands = 15-20% more profit cause I sure could use it

Should have a meaty update for end of the month, a lot to talk about

In the meantime, will be on BTS twitch stream tomorrow at 11:30 EST to hang out and talk some poker!

Absolute nut thread! Congrats on your success on and off the tables, will definitely follow this one

Thanks, always appreciate comments like these!


Life Updates

There's a lot to unravel here, as a bunch has happened in the last few months. I guess I'll start with some of the bigger changes and work my way down.


Victoria leaves her job

My wife worked for a childrens hospital in NY. Her job was to basically bring in money/donations/ and coordinate events to bring in money to the hospital (which was non profit). Obviously, as the pandemic hit her job became pretty hard to do.

You can't go out and throw outdoor events, a lot of people are hurting for money and donations were slowing.

Work slowly transformed from something she loved to really start to resent. She was unhappy every day. It got to the point where I pushed a bit harder that she just leave her job early, especially with the baby coming.

We talked it out and came to an agreement and her last day was in early July.

I think it's really cool that we're essentially two stay at home parents (not a lot of people get that fortune) so I'm excited to see us kind of hone our parenting skills together a lot.

Additionally, the pandemic has sucked but it did keep us home together a ton the past 2 years; so I'm way less concerned about us both being home all the time.

Lastly, of course there is financial motivation, her staying home just makes everything easier for me to focus on poker going forward. It would have been tough to watch the baby during the day, have her come home and then have to work nights.

Of course, there are some cons, like financial stress but we'll get to that later!


New Office

With the baby coming, we had to begin setting up the nursery. Our house isn't too big as we have 3 bedrooms (but SQ ft of the house is arond 1700 ft) so they are on the smaller side.

We had 2 bedrooms side to side, and then our guest bedroom was upstairs near the attic. We both agreed that the baby should be right across from us so I was a little sad that I was going to have to move my office to the upstairs near the hot attic.

Really thrilled to have been completely wrong about my assessment.





I think due to the smaller ceilings I thought the space would be too small, but it's really spacious and since it leads upstairs it has more of a private atmosphere which I like.

In turn, here's part of the nursery (not finished!)





Surrogacy

The pregnancy with Jazz has really gone smoothly. The surrogacy w her crossing paths with the new surrogate (Donna) has really made us appreciate having a family member be a part of it.

Everything has gone smoothly since a few early hiccups before the transfer, and now we're into the third trimester.

Also, not sure I mentioned the name, but we decided on Isabella Jazmine Pawar.

Back on track, got to feel her kick for the first time last week which was a pretty special moment. I'm really excited for fatherhood, not feeling the nerves yet!

As smooth as everything with Jaz has been, the process has been harder with Donna.

She's great, but there's nothing you can do replace the familiarity with family. And as far as the business w Surrogacy goes, there's just a ton of bills.

There's been issues with some of the medicines affects on her and they very directly told us there's a chance this might not work and we may need another surrogate.

So yeah with all the variables going on, it's never going to be smooth. But I can't lie it's been draining. With process still ongoing it's hard to say, but with IVF included the price may hit 200k.

Feels like an insane price to pay for wanting kids this way; and also makes me feel incredibly lucky that I can do this because I am good at a card game.


Poker and My Mental Health

I have felt more financially stressed this year than any other year in my life. It feels like a bit of an oxymoron because I also have never had as much money in my life.

I think a big reason is having a family, there's a real dependence on me, whereas when I was 22 well it was just me, and I had a degree if poker didn't work out and I had options.

I had a difficult time accepting that I had to move down (no more 5k HU+) despite still having a big year. I really owe it to Elliot for helping me reframe my mindset here because it was something I really struggled with.

I also felt really taboo (not sure if this is right word) talking about financial stress with my friends when they know you're doing well.

Let's be honest, if you're complaining about money after renting out a boat for your wife's bday you're kinda gonna look like a dick

In the end, I have enough money to pay my bills and still play poker and I think that was the important thing for me. I feel like my ego (of not wanting to move down) and keep things status quo def hurt me a bit.


As far as poker,



I lost the above for biggest losing hand of the year. ( I 4b pre, bet small, shove turn) *If I could play it again I'd check turn

These games never ever run so it does always sting to lose here, but that is the price of poker. I also didn't have a buyer set up so I took the full brunt of the loss.

That was I believe the first or 2nd day of the month, and I'm really happy with the way I've taken my mental game. Just consistently doing my mediation, working out, and putting the volume in.

I ended up scrounging together a win in July after a horrific start and am on pace for 2nd biggest year of my career after last year.

I've made big strides w mental approach to the game and I've also gotten way stronger theoretically (ty Clanty)

I have considered myself above average exploitatively, but to be honest I would say I haven't played well in that area this year.

I've made a lot of changes to my game and there's still a lot of thinking going on. Sort of like rookies in the NFL. But I do think once everything clicks and becomes subconscious we are going to get really, really going.


Has been awhile since I posted some hands so here's a few


1.) Reg finding the -50%

PokerStars - $5 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 3 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 138.55 BB
SB: 177.42 BB
Hero (BB): 119.63 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A A

BTN raises to 2 BB, fold, Hero raises to 10 BB, BTN raises to 25 BB, Hero calls 15 BB

Flop: (50.5 BB, 2 players) 4 5 4
Hero checks, BTN bets 12.53 BB, Hero calls 12.53 BB

Turn: (75.55 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, BTN bets 18.79 BB, Hero calls 18.79 BB

River: (113.13 BB, 2 players) 3
Hero checks, BTN bets 82.24 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 63.32 BB and is all-in

BTN shows 7 4 (Three of a Kind, Fours)
(Pre 20%, Flop 90%, Turn 95%)
Hero shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Fours)
(Pre 80%, Flop 10%, Turn 5%)
BTN wins 239.36 BB


2.) Fair enough


PartyGaming - $5 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 304.14 BB
SB: 44.26 BB
BB: 104.97 BB
UTG: 103.45 BB
Hero (CO): 144.32 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q J

fold, Hero raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, BB calls 1 BB

Flop: (4.5 BB, 2 players) K A 6
BB checks, Hero bets 4.25 BB, BB calls 4.25 BB

Turn: (13 BB, 2 players) 4
BB checks, Hero bets 15.5 BB, BB calls 15.5 BB

River: (44 BB, 2 players) 3
BB checks, Hero bets 122.57 BB and is all-in, BB calls 83.22 BB and is all-in

BB shows A 7 (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 52%, Flop 81%, Turn 91%)
Hero shows Q J (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 48%, Flop 19%, Turn 9%)
Hero wins 39.34 BB
BB wins 209.85 BB


3.) Dream flop

PartyGaming - $10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 100 BB
CO: 114.98 BB
BTN: 352.43 BB
SB: 353.42 BB
Hero (BB): 186.31 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K 7

UTG raises to 2.2 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 10.5 BB, UTG calls 8.3 BB

Flop: (21.5 BB, 2 players) 7 A 7
Hero bets 5.5 BB, UTG calls 5.5 BB

Turn: (32.5 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero bets 24 BB, UTG calls 24 BB

River: (80.5 BB, 2 players) J
Hero bets 120.15 BB, UTG calls 60 BB and is all-in

Hero shows K 7 (Three of a Kind, Sevens)
(Pre 28%, Flop 91%, Turn 95%)
UTG mucks K A (Two Pair, Aces and Sevens)
(Pre 72%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)
Hero wins 60.15 BB
Hero wins 200.1 BB

I thought so too

Great update! You mentioned about poker being a means to an end, what is your end goal with poker? Do you plan to save up to move onto another field (like doug polk)?

awesome update, as usual!



out of pocket?

I guess I should be careful how I word my posts. I love my job. I love poker. But I'm not obsessed with the game as I was my first year or two. I'm very happy putting in 30-40 hours a week into the game.

The end goal is to pretty much have me and my family set for life when I'm done playing. I don't really have any end goals to be the best. It's not worth the sacrifice of hours for me to get to that level.

If someone is going to move past me after I put in my work I'm just gonna have to tip my cap to them.

I always said if I started to not enjoy poker I'd move on; it'd be hard to say now though. I've put a lot of time and $ towards poker (I've invested nearly 6 figures into my career) and any career change is going to be a heavy paycut.

Thankfully, I still very much enjoy the profession.

Yes all out of pocket, lights almost at the end of the tunnel!

The US medical system always blows my mind.

Congrats on everything! Having a kid is the best thing I ever did, makes every day amazing.

Office set up looks great! Having that place to separate work from the rest of your life will be really important with kids in the house. Feel free to hit me up anytime if you want some extra help with the mental stuff, especially in regards to balancing the family/poker side of things. GLGL!

For the 20k hand, I simmed and your hand bets 33p or 25p a good portion of the time ott. I'm sure you've looked at it too, just throwing it out there if anyone else is curious.

Yeah def needs a complete overhaul imo.

Always love hearing that, thanks for sharing

Yes, I remember you offering this way back, I plan on reaching out soon.

Yeah, plan on really implementing a firm line between work time and family time

Yeah, I took a look and in my sim was like 80% small bet. In game, I was only thinking x and jam. (4bp are def a weakness in my game).

I discussed w MMA and he did say x/ small bet. Kinda bad to admit, but at time of hand I rushed my decision a bit since I knew EV's would be very close between the options anyway.

Thanks for sharing

The best thing you can do is to have set times you work. It makes it easier on everyone mentally. Happy to chat with you about some of the things I've learned along the way if you need. GL and enjoy it!

Yeah, I do have a set schedule every week (usually set this on Sundays) as a base guidline.

Here's a base for this week



As you can see majority of sessions are 2 hours, sometimes up to 3 hours. I really struggle past that mark.

I usually play 2 sessions at night and on my bigger grinding days sneak a session in during the day. I'm unsure how this sort of schedule will change with a baby.

Yes, thanks will filter out any questions to you guys.