Hi All

Quick intro.

I have lived in London for most of my life and have moved to Hong Kong a couple of years ago. I have a full time job and it is because of this job I relocated. I have had a fun and hectic couple of years here and have spent vast sums of money for entertainment, going out and drinking to which I really have nothing to show for the money spent. After a conversion with a close friend I have decided that this year will be a year of personal betterment.

So this year I will concentrate on things that could/should be a positive impact to my life, or at least stop myself in going over board with the excessive spending and fun.

2016:

1) I have already enrolled onto a distance learning programme to study a second degree in law (llb). 2/3 year programme

2) and I have chosen poker as my second goal.

So why poker: I played when I was living in London and have played online on and off for a few years. I really enjoy it and have played some circuit tournaments and have had some minor success in cash games. So I hope that this hobby can be a little earner as well as a past time to keep myself balanced whilst studying.

As this is my first thread, I hope that you guys can help by chipping in on discussions to keep me motivated. I think that I am too carefree that I lose focus easily so hopefully with this I can keep going. There is also an incentive for me to keep this thread and do well with my goals as there is a 'punishment' should I 'fail' (a small 'wager with my friend)

Being so close to Macau this will be a dual thread for live and online poker. Goals will only be set for online poker. It is hard for me commit to travelling over to Macau on a frequent basis and anything less will make any goal meaningless. Results/hand/discussion will be posted for both.

2016:
Online: 400,000 hands for the year
Money target: $20,000

The money target is complete guess, as I have no idea what I can achieve. I just assumed an optimistic 5bb/100 on NL100 and see how it goes.

BRM there isnt one really as I can top up as and when required so money counted will be profit/loss only.

Game choice: Zoom 6max NL 50 & 100, occasional spins and tourneys.

See you at the tables

ONLINE: 0/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: 0/20,000 (USD) (all formats for ease, if required I can split later)
ADJUSMENT: 0 (USD) (This is for any awards/rakeback should there be any)
MACAU: 0 (USD) (Currency conversion will be @ 8 HKD PER 1 USD for ease)

I will include any mini goals should any come up.

I just found out there there will be tournament series Macau Millions from tomorrow for 10days.

I will go to play the warm up tournament and maybe more events depending on how it goes. Definitely will play some cash games, hopefully softer games around the series.

Warm up: buying 2000hkd guarantee 1mil hkd. (250usd buy in, guarantee 125k usd)

Will post pics

I played the warm up event yesterday, at the City of Dreams macau.

2pm start and busted at around 7.30pm.

Overall nothing too out of the ordinary, I think my lack of live tournament in the last 1/2 years has played a part. I found the blinds went up very quick and steep so found it difficult to play hands from level 5 onwards. Final hand shoved my last 4k remaining in cutoff at blinds 600/1200 100ante and got snap call by A9 and that was that.

Didn't manage to play any cash games as the waiting list was huge. I think I may play the event next week.

Cant work out why how to rotate these pics.

I will now get cracking with the challenge.

I have installed HM2 and got it work. Not messed around with the HUD yet, I think I will play without the HUD inplay and use HM2 for off line tracking at the moment i.e. volume and win/loss tracking.

I don't want to do too much with the HUD as I just want to get stuck in and play some hands. Also as during my 'test' for HM2 the HUD made the computer go slower. So the plan is to get comfortable with the play and sessions, then to slowly implement the HUD into my play. I think I will start with zoom nl25 just to slowly built up some stamina and momentum.

Hopefully a positive update in the next day or two.

I managed to get some free time and played my first session.

Zoom nl25, 2/3 tabling



ONLINE: 1380/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: 106/20,000 (USD)
ADJUSMENT: 0 (USD)
MACAU: 0 (USD)
MACAU TOURNEY: -250 (USD)

Decided to played the main event of the macau million series, hk$3k buyin with hk$3mil guarantee.

On the way now.

I have played some sessions on stars so will post update when i get back.

The Macau trip was a new experience?! I got to the casino at 2pm (2pm tournament start time) casually make my way to the poker area and the tournament was at full capacity and there was a queue/wait list, I got position 144!!!!! Ooops. Played some cash while waiting, fast forward, 2 hours later I was sat down. On the third hand and the first hand I played this happened. (Note. blinds 200/400, starting stack 10,000, I have 2 x 5k chips)

I look down at AJ suited UTG +2 I raised to 1300 with one 5k chip (same as the other raises I've seen) folds to bid blind and he makes it 4000. I was thinking to either fold or jam but tending towards to fold and whilst umming and arring I was tapping the table the dealer read that call passed me change and was about to deal the flop and I stopped her saying I have not acted, I didn't feel my thinking tapping was calling tapping, in the end was counted as a call and the flop came 7J5 villain goes allin and hitting tptk I had little choice but to call and he showed kk and I was out. First hand played, ouch.

Annoyed I gone all the way to Macau and waited 2 hours for that to happen, plus I couldnt get back to the cash game cos the waiting list got too long. On the way out played some pit games won my buyin plus a little so called it a day even though there was a turbo entry to make day 2 later on.

Back to the online challenge.

I managed to get some sessions in and the results below

Total



Findings:
I think that after work I am too eager to play plus I think I try too hard with fancy plays etc early in the challenge. After the first 2/3 sessions I managed to get backs to basics mainly ABC poker and the results got a little better but definitely stopped the fast losing.

I think I have adjusted to the games I play at the moment 90%+ at zoom NL25 and occasional NL50.

I think I am dealing with the swingy sessions well and sticking with the basics at the moment. At around break even at the moment, I am happy with this and is setting me up to play more comfortably with 4 tables to up my hand count and also my decision making feels quicker with the practice.

Plan for the next week to churn out more hands and again keeping with the basics and getting more comfortable the process etc. Lets see what happens with this week. Ideally to keep consistent 3/4 tables to get more hands and have a positive on the money, excl rakeback/adjustments

ONLINE: 8,713/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: -34/20,000 (USD)
ADJUSMENT: 0 (USD)
MACAU: 0 (USD)
MACAU TOURNEY: -250 (USD

I managed to get a couple of sessions in results below.



I started by playing znl50 and started to drop quickly but fortunately things turned around just as quickly. With the swings more than what I have been used to in the last few weeks I decided to mix some znl25 & 50 to balance things.

Generally feeling good and pretty comfortable so trying to get a better feel within these limits and aiming to keep positive results coming.

I am now running HM2 and HUD in play, the cluttered display is a little distracting but getting used to it and slowly trying to make use of it.

I have also downloaded a book to get more into the mathematics of the game. Poker Math That Matters, hope to clear this book within a month.

ONLINE: 12,903/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: 100/20,000 (USD)
ADJUSMENT: 0 (USD)
MACAU: 0 (USD)
MACAU TOURNEY: -250 (USD)

A few interesting hands

Hand 1

I was getting close to folding as I didn't know how I could win, I tanked a long time, but decided if I lose I'll take it loss.

Thoughts?





Hand 2





Hand 3

I thought I was trapping but obviously not










Hand 4

Is raising the turn a good idea








Hand 5

Ooops freerolled

I had a tough few days, only playing on znl 50, it seemed everything was going against me, the usual of have a good hand but against something better. In addition to this frustration it seem that every calling station was not folding and somehow hitting their hand on the river.

On a positive note I am not down too much so I am still fairly confident and not going on any major tilt.



Based on the red line and blue line, I think I playing a bit too aggressively generally and definitely on draws and having sessions where I don't think I made many of them. I hope to narrow my range so I am not dependent on winning based on aggression only, and also be careful with how I play drawing hands.

Because of the tough few days I decided to cash in on some coins to boost my balance and also acts as an anti-tilt measure.


ONLINE: 25,178/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: -300/20,000 (USD)
ADJUSMENT: 125 (USD)
MACAU: 0 (USD)
MACAU TOURNEY: -250 (USD)

Some of the annoying hands

I did not play much this week due to non poker issues.

But I am happy to report that the last two sessions has gone quite well. It seems like a good opportunity to report the month.



I am happy that this is a positive month, though the volume and $ is a little behind speed.

Month breakdown.

nl25z: -$2 after 11,457 hands
nl50z: $300 after 17,596 hands

I think my challenge is really just beginning from February as the warm up with nl25z has taken some time and last week was essential a 'off' week. Looking forward to the coming month. I think overall I am happy with my progress, I do not think that it will perfect average and also I am playing a little lower than my intention from my first post.

I think if I can keep pace with $1k to $1.2k for the next couple of months and slowly feed in nl100z then I will know if the financial goal if achievable.

Anyone know of range of realistic $/month for nl50z (say over 50,000 hands) or BB/100, I know this is open ended but just want to gauge realistic targets any thoughts would be appreciated

For now I think January was good first step and now to move forward.

I think my last post/note to self about slowing down and narrow my range has help me alot primarily avoided difficult spots. Lets see how this one pans out and hope it is not just a variance uptick.


ONLINE: 29,063/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: 295/20,000 (USD)
ADJUSMENT: 125 (USD)
Total: $420 (USD)
MACAU: 0 (USD)
MACAU TOURNEY: -250 (USD)

Couple hands. Your opinion comment would be appreicated

I forgot to mention that i will be heading to London to visit my parents, some friends and have some down time from work. So hopefully an opportunity to play a bit more and also visit some of the poker rooms i played at before when I move to HK, the empire casino and the vic.

Got back to London, managed some small sessions since last result update.




Definitely feeling comfortable and feel that I am playing well at nl50z. The progress has been steady and I feel that I am sticking with the plan and taking my time instead of the rushing feeling to play many hands like at the start of the challenge.

The next mini goal is to work on stamina, I seem to lose energy around the hour mark and require to close a table. I do not feel my game tails off but need to reduce the table numbers to ensure focus. I would ideally like to run 4 tables to maximise efficiency especially with having a full time job. I definitely do not want sacrifice my game in doing, so my plan is to instead of closing a table I will substitute one with nl25z as a sacrifice table and see how that develops.

ONLINE: 31,175/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: 495/20,000 (USD)
ADJUSMENT: 125 (USD)
Total: $620 (USD)
MACAU: 0 (USD)
MACAU TOURNEY: -250 (USD)

Today has been one of those days where nothing is going my way. I am down big today but do not feel that I have been playing too bad.



Today is the first proper session I have played since arriving in London.

I cannot work out if it is run bad, or if the player pool is different to when I was in Hong Kong time zone. I think I gave a good go at trying to turn it around but today is definitely not the right day, see hands below. I will take this a loss and hope that I can recoup over the rest of the month.

ONLINE: 36,276/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: -384/20,000 (USD)
ADJUSMENT: 225 (USD)
Total: -$159 (USD)
MACAU: 0 (USD)
MACAU TOURNEY: -250 (USD)

Seems the 2p2 hand converter icon disappeared? I will try to post hands later.

This happened the first 4 days of my holiday back in London.



Nearly 40BIs down so didnt play for the rest of my holiday. Oooops should have kept my holiday as holiday.

Note sure why such a sudden and fast slide, I guess a combination of disruption from family, bad/slow internet (parents home), different player pool due to timezone difference and tilt as a result of the above.

I am now back in Hong Kong for a week and getting back into my normal routine and over the jet lag.

Now the catch up. No new plan of action just see how the catch up progress is at the end of March.

ONLINE: 50,853/400,000 HANDS (cash game only)
MONEY: -1,426/20,000 (USD)
ADJUSMENT: 225 (USD)
Total: -$159 (USD)
MACAU: 0 (USD)
MACAU TOURNEY: -250 (USD)