So im a 37 year old man who has been playing poker on and off for around 20 years...

sadly due to severe degen traits i have had lots of off years where i selfbanned and im largely out of practice, i can only play on poker stars as its the only site which effectively allows me to ban casino games (i degen big time on roulette and blackjack) and it also lets you restrict higher limits.

Last week my Dad told me about the 13th anniversary of the million so i deposited $50 satted in and managed to finish in the money for around $750 , i then played some $2-$5 Omaha and manged to win a few hundred so currently i am sitting with £750 ($980) in my account.

My plan is to play $25 Omaha and NL Zoom, plus maybe a mtt here and there i have restricted all higher limits and i will also have to restrict the sports book.

i am posting in here for 2 reasons

A) Some visible accountanability, i have always played better if i know my results are logged
B) Help with some hands, HUD layoout and general encouragement


i think if i cant after a few months show some kind of profit, or at least a tangible improvement then i might have to admit that poker for me is not worth the time.

im going to run my first session in a minute and i might post some hands if that is ok, would really love some help and encouragment

some hands

should i be playing this in a 3 bet pot?

as played ok with all the draws?

PokerStars - $0.25 PL Hi FAST (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $25.54 (VPIP: 16.09, PFR: 10.34, 3Bet Preflop: 9.76, Hands: 90)
SB: $10.00 (VPIP: 71.43, PFR: 42.86, 3Bet Preflop: 25.00, Hands: 8)
BB: $26.55 (VPIP: 12.50, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 25)
Hero (UTG): $26.65
MP: $25.00 (VPIP: 38.89, PFR: 27.78, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
CO: $33.14 (VPIP: 21.43, PFR: 17.14, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 74)

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has 5 6 7 8

Hero raises to $0.75, fold, CO raises to $2.60, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls $1.85

Flop: ($5.55, 2 players) 4 8 A
Hero checks, CO bets $2.66, Hero raises to $9.00, CO calls $6.34

Turn: ($23.55, 2 players) 9
Hero bets $15.05 and is all-in, CO calls $15.05

River: ($53.65, 2 players) T

Hero shows 5 6 7 8 (Straight, Ten High)
(Pre 34%, Flop 28%, Turn 30%)
CO shows A T A 9 (Three of a Kind, Aces)
(Pre 66%, Flop 72%, Turn 70%)
Hero wins $51.65


this is clearly ******ed, i assume its a fold pre on flop and on turn so i basically just played it really bad?

PokerStars - $0.25 PL Hi FAST (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): $64.24
SB: $23.72 (VPIP: 32.00, PFR: 12.00, 3Bet Preflop: 5.88, Hands: 27)
BB: $45.54 (VPIP: 27.96, PFR: 19.35, 3Bet Preflop: 11.63, Hands: 95)
UTG: $50.22 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 22.22, 3Bet Preflop: 9.09, Hands: 27)
MP: $27.11 (VPIP: 16.00, PFR: 8.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
CO: $37.89 (VPIP: 16.88, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 10.71, Hands: 78)

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has 9 8 A 7

fold, fold, CO raises to $0.85, Hero raises to $2.90, fold, fold, CO raises to $9.05, Hero calls $6.15

Flop: ($18.45, 2 players) 4 5 8
CO bets $14.14, Hero calls $14.14

Turn: ($46.73, 2 players) T
CO bets $14.70 and is all-in, Hero calls $14.70

River: ($76.13, 2 players) 3

CO shows A 4 6 A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 61%, Flop 67%, Turn 70%)
Hero shows 9 8 A 7 (One Pair, Eights)
(Pre 39%, Flop 33%, Turn 30%)
CO wins $74.13

just a cooler?

PokerStars - $0.25 PL Hi FAST (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BTN): $30.70
SB: $53.94 (VPIP: 22.73, PFR: 15.91, 3Bet Preflop: 5.56, Hands: 46)
BB: $14.72 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 8)
UTG: $23.68 (VPIP: 28.21, PFR: 20.51, 3Bet Preflop: 5.88, Hands: 41)
MP: $18.02 (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
CO: $12.97 (VPIP: 15.00, PFR: 7.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 41)

SB posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has T 9 T K

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.50, SB raises to $1.75, fold, Hero calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.75, 2 players) 3 J T
SB bets $2.40, Hero calls $2.40

Turn: ($8.55, 2 players) 5
SB bets $8.19, Hero raises to $26.55 and is all-in, SB calls $18.36

River: ($61.65, 2 players) A

SB shows Q A A K (Straight, Ace High)
(Pre 65%, Flop 35%, Turn 25%)
Hero shows T 9 T K (Three of a Kind, Tens)
(Pre 35%, Flop 65%, Turn 75%)
SB wins $59.65

a holdem hand, a shove like that is a must call right?

PokerStars - $0.25 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: $22.22
Hero (SB): $25.00
BB: $43.63 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
UTG: $12.47 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
MP: $41.57
CO: $38.51 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)

Hero posts SB $0.10, BB posts BB $0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.35) Hero has K A

UTG raises to $12.47 and is all-in, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $25.00 and is all-in, fold

Flop: ($25.19, 2 players) 9 7 5

Turn: ($25.19, 2 players) K

River: ($25.19, 2 players) A

Hero shows K A (Two Pair, Aces and Kings)
(Pre 34%, Flop 18%, Turn 0%)
UTG shows K K (Three of a Kind, Kings)
(Pre 66%, Flop 82%, Turn 100%)
UTG wins $24.06

hey man, w/e ure 37! what if you become a 500nl winner at the age of 50? will it be wasted time? I think not! keep the dream alive just dont gamble in games where there's no skill edge to be had!

wish you good luck

Goodluck mate, put your head in to it.

Best of luck! I'm in my mid 40s and the last few years of study has paid off.. never too late.

thanks guys, literally my main hurdle is my mindset, i can tilt in a session and have a 5 minute spell when im just punting money away....or ill chase money on a stupid bet.

many years ago i had a £2k roll on stars and was playing rush omaha and mtts to moderate success... i had a redic session where i lost £500, something like 10-15 buyins, i then went to heads up $1-2 lost another £500..

i then decided to put the remaning £1k on Bayern Munich to beat Chelsea in the champs league final which would of recouped £800 back.

that was a painful lesson, i didnt play for a year after that!!

interested in what you mean by the games where there is no skill edge? what would you say they are?

roulette eg.