25k "Red Pill" Challenge
03-06-2019
, 06:02 PM
G'Day mates!
I have always been a reader and listener to this awesome & helpful Poker community and now... after more than 10 years... all of the sudden... I will start a PGC thread. I guess, nobody will ask why, because nobody really knows me but I hope you get to know me soon and gonna like what I am doing.
Besides, after all this years of grinding hard on my own, I finally need some fame
PREFACE:
I am a nice & open-minded guy and I would highly apreciate it if we can keep a pleasant atmosphere here in the course of my PCG thread. You are always welcome to boost my confidence with nice words, giving me positive feedback and constructive criticism.
About me:
I'm into Poker as a profession for more than 10 years and made a decent living of it but have always been a player who has operated silently in the background by playing mainly online NL Holdem 6max cashgames and only some random tournaments, unfortunately none of them with big results. Actually I consider to put more time and volume into tournaments as soon as I can sit still for more than a hour.
I'm 35+ of age and consider myself a poker veteran. I've been a long term successful player in the past and I am proud of grinding my way up from NL10 to NL1k from 2007 to 2013, whilst travelling the world & living in several poker flats.
At some time during my "career", I guess the "easy games" and success made me too satisfied and lazy and then it took me a long break even stretch with several mindblowing downswings and a lot of blaming the variance until I have realized that I need to improve my game seriously in order to be bring me back on track of success. Besides, most of my former poker mates have either already quit poker or made their millions and play only highrollers and high stakes now.
Yeah, I know some of the big guys personally, they have learned to play/played Poker with me, but at some time overpassed me due to my lazyness and I sometimes I feels like that I've missed out the train to Big Valuetown or also a bit like the last Samurai, still doing a "humble" living by playing the mediocre stakes and fighting vs the variance, not having the poker gods on my side and of course running constantly way below EV, both Poker wise as well as from my own expectations.
At the end, this feelings resulted in a lack of long term motivation and I decided to quit Poker for the time being... maybe it sounds kind of familiar to some of you
During my break in 2017/2018, I got my head in other things like webdesign, programming (btw. I own a piece of paper which says I'm a Master of Science in Computer Science which might be still my backup plan for the future) and also daytrading. However, I have never felt the passion and freedom like I feel for the game of Poker and somehow I missed the game and the competition involved.
To be honest, despite all the frustrations and mindset issues due to many bad moments in my recent poker career, I've realized that it's not for the money I like to play this game, it's rather the game itself I love so much! That's why I did my comeback with full motivation and with this challenge I try to sucessfully outperform the variance and hopefully go beyond my expectations!
long story short:
I've decided it's time for a public challenge and I hope it will help me getting out of my silent comfort zone and get me more into talking with other Poker players. My last results were quite dissapointing, therefore I need to work on my confidence, self discipline and my learning efficiency. I plan to restart my career at NL50zoom because I can get some volume easily and I see myself still skilled enough to beat it as a former NL200+ regular.
From now on, I will share my experiences and will do my best to be a part of the community which will surely motivate myself enough to get my ass back on track of success and hopefully also motivates you guys to follow my way through the course of my challenge and also to learn from my experiences. Let's get out of the hamster wheel together!
- Morpheus -(1999)
Now let's take the red pill and face the truth! The journey begins. GOOD LUCK US!
First GOAL:
- bankroll challenge from 2k to 25k by the end of 2019 playing NL50z++ (excluding cashback)
CHALLENGE RULES:
- starting bankroll: $2k
- starting site & level: Pokerstars NL50 zoom (poker site may be changed)
- current bankroll management: min 30BI for next level (aggressive because I can afford it to go broke and switch to a backup plan)
- for every 4h poker session, I will do at least 1h theory/session analysis! (at least 25% theory)
- Stop/LOSS: after 5 BuyIns having a break of at least 1h! (need some discipline not to fall into old behaviours and chase losses with B-Game)
- a 10 BI downswing results in at least 24h off Poker and aftwards there must be a detailled game analysis of the last sessions before the very next session!
Goals:
- aiming at a monthly volume of 50000 hands or 80 hours sessiontime (20h theory time)
- aiming at a positive redline
- aiming at a winrate of more than 5bb/100 after 100k hands
- maybe offer coachings in the future
- maybe I'll establish a twitch stream.
Pokerdiary (will be updated every once in a while - last update: 07.03.2019)
month: March 2019
hands: 0
sessiontime: 0
redline: neutral
bankroll: $2000
mood: very motivated to start the challenge
winrate: (at least 10k sample)
I have always been a reader and listener to this awesome & helpful Poker community and now... after more than 10 years... all of the sudden... I will start a PGC thread. I guess, nobody will ask why, because nobody really knows me but I hope you get to know me soon and gonna like what I am doing.
Besides, after all this years of grinding hard on my own, I finally need some fame
PREFACE:
I am a nice & open-minded guy and I would highly apreciate it if we can keep a pleasant atmosphere here in the course of my PCG thread. You are always welcome to boost my confidence with nice words, giving me positive feedback and constructive criticism.
About me:
I'm into Poker as a profession for more than 10 years and made a decent living of it but have always been a player who has operated silently in the background by playing mainly online NL Holdem 6max cashgames and only some random tournaments, unfortunately none of them with big results. Actually I consider to put more time and volume into tournaments as soon as I can sit still for more than a hour.
I'm 35+ of age and consider myself a poker veteran. I've been a long term successful player in the past and I am proud of grinding my way up from NL10 to NL1k from 2007 to 2013, whilst travelling the world & living in several poker flats.
At some time during my "career", I guess the "easy games" and success made me too satisfied and lazy and then it took me a long break even stretch with several mindblowing downswings and a lot of blaming the variance until I have realized that I need to improve my game seriously in order to be bring me back on track of success. Besides, most of my former poker mates have either already quit poker or made their millions and play only highrollers and high stakes now.
Yeah, I know some of the big guys personally, they have learned to play/played Poker with me, but at some time overpassed me due to my lazyness and I sometimes I feels like that I've missed out the train to Big Valuetown or also a bit like the last Samurai, still doing a "humble" living by playing the mediocre stakes and fighting vs the variance, not having the poker gods on my side and of course running constantly way below EV, both Poker wise as well as from my own expectations.
At the end, this feelings resulted in a lack of long term motivation and I decided to quit Poker for the time being... maybe it sounds kind of familiar to some of you
During my break in 2017/2018, I got my head in other things like webdesign, programming (btw. I own a piece of paper which says I'm a Master of Science in Computer Science which might be still my backup plan for the future) and also daytrading. However, I have never felt the passion and freedom like I feel for the game of Poker and somehow I missed the game and the competition involved.
To be honest, despite all the frustrations and mindset issues due to many bad moments in my recent poker career, I've realized that it's not for the money I like to play this game, it's rather the game itself I love so much! That's why I did my comeback with full motivation and with this challenge I try to sucessfully outperform the variance and hopefully go beyond my expectations!
long story short:
I've decided it's time for a public challenge and I hope it will help me getting out of my silent comfort zone and get me more into talking with other Poker players. My last results were quite dissapointing, therefore I need to work on my confidence, self discipline and my learning efficiency. I plan to restart my career at NL50zoom because I can get some volume easily and I see myself still skilled enough to beat it as a former NL200+ regular.
From now on, I will share my experiences and will do my best to be a part of the community which will surely motivate myself enough to get my ass back on track of success and hopefully also motivates you guys to follow my way through the course of my challenge and also to learn from my experiences. Let's get out of the hamster wheel together!
Quote:
"This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more."
Now let's take the red pill and face the truth! The journey begins. GOOD LUCK US!
First GOAL:
- bankroll challenge from 2k to 25k by the end of 2019 playing NL50z++ (excluding cashback)
CHALLENGE RULES:
- starting bankroll: $2k
- starting site & level: Pokerstars NL50 zoom (poker site may be changed)
- current bankroll management: min 30BI for next level (aggressive because I can afford it to go broke and switch to a backup plan)
- for every 4h poker session, I will do at least 1h theory/session analysis! (at least 25% theory)
- Stop/LOSS: after 5 BuyIns having a break of at least 1h! (need some discipline not to fall into old behaviours and chase losses with B-Game)
- a 10 BI downswing results in at least 24h off Poker and aftwards there must be a detailled game analysis of the last sessions before the very next session!
Goals:
- aiming at a monthly volume of 50000 hands or 80 hours sessiontime (20h theory time)
- aiming at a positive redline
- aiming at a winrate of more than 5bb/100 after 100k hands
- maybe offer coachings in the future
- maybe I'll establish a twitch stream.
Pokerdiary (will be updated every once in a while - last update: 07.03.2019)
month: March 2019
hands: 0
sessiontime: 0
redline: neutral
bankroll: $2000
mood: very motivated to start the challenge
winrate: (at least 10k sample)
03-07-2019
, 05:45 PM
ups, I thought I could update my first posting here frequently but it seems not possible anymore. 
First of all: I've created a discord channel if someone wants to chat with me in more detail: https://discord.gg/FJvnPDS Feel free to join
My first day was fine, not too many nice spots but I'm satisfied about my play.
month: March 2019
hands: 1379
sessiontime: 224m
theory time: 60m
redline: positive
bankroll: $2039
mood: still very motivated
winrate: (at least 10k sample)
some hands:
HAND 1.1)
Preflop: I accidentally completed SB instead iso raising. So much on concentration
Both villains were very passive callingstations. Unlucky River make it close to shove for value, but I reckon vs a callingstation with WTSD of 40% it's still ok. What do you think?
https://www.weaktight.com/h/5c810628...lts=1&simple=1
Hand 1.2)
Villain is a solid regular. I do not see him raising twopair or set on turn and his overbet on the river makes not much sense despite he has the straight flush. I can't fold this hand and obviously he had the nuts and I look pretty stupid here.
Anybody find a fold here?
https://www.weaktight.com/h/5c810311...b464f?simple=1
Graph Day 1: (Actually not much to see but I wanted to try it out)
First of all: I've created a discord channel if someone wants to chat with me in more detail: https://discord.gg/FJvnPDS Feel free to join
My first day was fine, not too many nice spots but I'm satisfied about my play.
month: March 2019
hands: 1379
sessiontime: 224m
theory time: 60m
redline: positive
bankroll: $2039
mood: still very motivated
winrate: (at least 10k sample)
some hands:
HAND 1.1)
Preflop: I accidentally completed SB instead iso raising. So much on concentration
Both villains were very passive callingstations. Unlucky River make it close to shove for value, but I reckon vs a callingstation with WTSD of 40% it's still ok. What do you think?
https://www.weaktight.com/h/5c810628...lts=1&simple=1
Hand 1.2)
Villain is a solid regular. I do not see him raising twopair or set on turn and his overbet on the river makes not much sense despite he has the straight flush. I can't fold this hand and obviously he had the nuts and I look pretty stupid here.
Anybody find a fold here?https://www.weaktight.com/h/5c810311...b464f?simple=1
Graph Day 1: (Actually not much to see but I wanted to try it out)
03-08-2019
, 08:42 AM
thx mate!
thx mate, I will do my best
thx mate!
PS. Sorry guys, the Graph from Day 1 failed
but will not be the last one
thx mate!
PS. Sorry guys, the Graph from Day 1 failed
but will not be the last one
03-08-2019
, 04:21 PM
Day 2:
25k challenge - Overall results:
month: March 2019
hands: 5598
sessiontime: ~10h
theory time: ~1h
redline: slightly falling
bankroll: $2020 (+20)
mood: need to recover from the bad last session but still very motivated
winrate: (at least 10k sample)
The last session was a pretty hard grinding and I'd like to forget about it.
I am happy that I put in some big volume before the weekend where I am going for a small Snowboarding trip to the alps. A very welcome break after todays session where I've experienced too many bad setups vs me like 3x KKvsAA, nutflush under fh vs crazy maniac and unfortunately many other things happened not to my advantage. But it's ok. **** happens.
I've dropped close to my Stop/LOSS limit of 5 buy-ins twice, but managed to keep my mindset clear and have recovered my losses at the end. lucky me.
My Red Line has dropped today, but if you run bad and furthermore have to fold in a lot of big pot spots vs nitty-action, it's normal. The player pool is imho pretty soft though. That makes me feel very positive for the challenge's future!
Sorry guys, that I can't give you the 20BI upswing like all the other guys doing it when they start a challenge. It seems I have to go a rocky path at the beginning before reaching grinders heaven for my challenge. Maybe I need to start a twitch stream in order to get an upswing
No time for hands and graph postings now, gonna do it next week. They are ugly anyways, better a nice picture where I am going to now. Lookin forward!!!
PS: no comments to my hands in the 2nd thread so far
25k challenge - Overall results:
month: March 2019
hands: 5598
sessiontime: ~10h
theory time: ~1h
redline: slightly falling
bankroll: $2020 (+20)
mood: need to recover from the bad last session but still very motivated
winrate: (at least 10k sample)
The last session was a pretty hard grinding and I'd like to forget about it.
I am happy that I put in some big volume before the weekend where I am going for a small Snowboarding trip to the alps. A very welcome break after todays session where I've experienced too many bad setups vs me like 3x KKvsAA, nutflush under fh vs crazy maniac and unfortunately many other things happened not to my advantage. But it's ok. **** happens.
I've dropped close to my Stop/LOSS limit of 5 buy-ins twice, but managed to keep my mindset clear and have recovered my losses at the end. lucky me.
My Red Line has dropped today, but if you run bad and furthermore have to fold in a lot of big pot spots vs nitty-action, it's normal. The player pool is imho pretty soft though. That makes me feel very positive for the challenge's future!
Sorry guys, that I can't give you the 20BI upswing like all the other guys doing it when they start a challenge. It seems I have to go a rocky path at the beginning before reaching grinders heaven for my challenge. Maybe I need to start a twitch stream in order to get an upswing
No time for hands and graph postings now, gonna do it next week. They are ugly anyways, better a nice picture where I am going to now. Lookin forward!!!
Happy weekend to all of you!!!
PS: no comments to my hands in the 2nd thread so far
Last edited by w4llace; 03-08-2019 at 04:27 PM.
Reason: PS
03-12-2019
, 05:33 AM
I had an awesome sunny day in the mountains with fresh snow when free riding the mountain slopes on saturday at Kitzsteinhorn. During the drive, I have used my time for poker theory ftw.
The session yesterday was ok, although I was still running more bad than any good, I managed to end it positive! As soon as the bad run will stop, I will fly to the moon
BTW. I have received an Pokerchallenge offer from Pokerstars which brings me about 20% extra, but I need to grind 3k of rake during the next 30days to accomplish it. Not to bad and it will motiviate me to put on volume as well.
Anyone of you recevied the same or similar Poker Challenges? Let me know!
Day 3:
25k challenge - Overall results:
month: March 2019
hands: 8193 (+2595)
sessiontime: ~14h
theory time: ~5h
redline: slightly falling
bankroll: $2099 (+76)
mood: positive session, but red line needs to improved.
winrate: (at least 10k sample)
The session yesterday was ok, although I was still running more bad than any good, I managed to end it positive! As soon as the bad run will stop, I will fly to the moon
BTW. I have received an Pokerchallenge offer from Pokerstars which brings me about 20% extra, but I need to grind 3k of rake during the next 30days to accomplish it. Not to bad and it will motiviate me to put on volume as well.
Anyone of you recevied the same or similar Poker Challenges? Let me know!
Day 3:
25k challenge - Overall results:
month: March 2019
hands: 8193 (+2595)
sessiontime: ~14h
theory time: ~5h
redline: slightly falling
bankroll: $2099 (+76)
mood: positive session, but red line needs to improved.
winrate: (at least 10k sample)
03-26-2019
, 02:18 PM
I have paused my challenge due to an exclusive Poker challenge by Pokerstars, where I can get 60%+ Rakeback when grinding a volume of $4500 rake within 30days.
I have calculated that I need to play more than 150000hands within 30days
Hence I play a hell of a volume since 15 days 4tabling zoom, also setup a twitch streaming channel if you might check it out and leave me a follow:
https://www.twitch.tv/thepokermatrix
Please no haters and rats, my priority when streaming is fun and having some nice chat with you when massgrinding heaps of volume. Furthermore, please be aware that during this challenge you might see a nitty guy, not always playing his A-Game on every spot.
I have calculated that I need to play more than 150000hands within 30days
Hence I play a hell of a volume since 15 days 4tabling zoom, also setup a twitch streaming channel if you might check it out and leave me a follow:
https://www.twitch.tv/thepokermatrix
Please no haters and rats, my priority when streaming is fun and having some nice chat with you when massgrinding heaps of volume. Furthermore, please be aware that during this challenge you might see a nitty guy, not always playing his A-Game on every spot.
03-26-2019
, 09:05 PM
05-07-2019
, 09:05 AM
Challenge reloaded, you are able to watch me live now on https://www.twitch.tv/thepokermatrix and almost every day in the future. Will update the progress later the day. LETS F. GO
06-03-2019
, 09:39 PM
I will continue to grind on GGPoker for June because of a pretty nice promotion there, my progress so far:
https://i.gyazo.com/6d8da13e7bfc8f5b...485f5bd65c.png
https://i.gyazo.com/6d8da13e7bfc8f5b...485f5bd65c.png
06-13-2019
, 02:53 AM
Yesterday I was running insanely bad but the bad level of players compensates the downswing and at the end I was "only" 3 stacks down.
I'm live now and attacking again if you like to watch: https://www.twitch.tv/thepokermatrix
07-02-2019
, 06:59 AM
I've started to play the rush and cash tables at GGPoker. They are ultrasoft but incredible swingy. The Variance hit me hard at some time and also I find myself not adapting properly to the ante structure at the beginning. Now that I have optimized my gameplan, I works better and I am looking forward to another crazy month with this game.
I'm going to stream it almost every day guys! Watch out for Neo at: https://www.twitch.tv/thepokermatrix :f_cool:
graph: https://gyazo.com/06a9d43bdf0c9c9852be5af29d77db2f
I'm going to stream it almost every day guys! Watch out for Neo at: https://www.twitch.tv/thepokermatrix :f_cool:
graph: https://gyazo.com/06a9d43bdf0c9c9852be5af29d77db2f