Nice Kennedy quote. AJ hand- line is good, but I bet larger on both river bets. 30/105-125/rip it in. On JJ hand, larger flop bet and like you said, bomb turn if you think most of his range is flushes

Fist-pump shove with the AJ, they are always calling to chop when they have 200 in already.

I can't remember that last time I saw anyone 3b/f a river, people rarely even raise and then fold rivers so go for max value!

I'm caught up. Good thread, man. Jam the river with AJ, or at least make a bigger raise. If you believe he'll fold to a shove, maybe raise $175ish.

With the quad jacks, I like a bigger bet on the flop and turn. It seems like you make a lot of smaller bets on the flop - is that something you're doing on purpose with the coaching? I would go like $50 to $60 on the flop if I bet it. Basically, I'd bet what I'd bet with like QQ-AA and my draws, in order to merge my range. What do you think about a check-raise on the turn? Or even a check-call?

My thinking, and I'm not a huge c-r the turn guy because of how most people view it... But my thinking is that his range is pretty polarized. How many hands is he calling the turn with but checking behind with? I can't come up with many. He's either got 8's full or he hit his flush. Maybe a straight draw without the flush draw? If he weren't so nitty this might also induce a bluff.

I'm also thinking if I'm sitting there with like AhTh or something and you check, I bet and you raise I'm like seriously, WTF? 88? QJ? Like what hand are you raising in MP and doing that with? AJ with the Ah? I don't know if I find a fold with a flush there.

I would 3 bet TT and JJ in this spot, when we flat, the limpers are going to call as well and JJ doesn't do great multiway. I would rather get a HU pot and take it down preflop some of the time as well.

I would tend to agree with you on this but there was an exception in this hand that I don't want to get into on here. Readless I would 3b here more often than not.

The Ascent?

"I'm like a skillet bubbling until it filters up
I'm about to kill it, I can feel it building up
Blow this building up, I've concealed enough
My cup, runneth over, I done filled it up"
-Eminem

February has started off red hot for me. I haven't even had to reach into my pocket to top off with a black chip yet that's how well it's gone. Currently have a 20BB/hr WR which is obviously sustainable. I'm starting to get into a comfort zone at the table that I haven't been able to do up until this point on the stake. Twice this week I was taking down pot after pot and honestly felt that I was the best player at the table. When I sit down at a table and see what I call a "supernit" reg sitting as well I don't roll my eyes anymore. Now I see an opportunity to make a lot of money stealing their blinds with mediocre holdings and in the event they do call I'm going to have position on them and can more often than not steal the pot from them when the right flop hits.

It's been a weird combination of getting smacked by the deck but also getting cold decked every now and then. This week I ran KK into AA AIPF, got KK vs TT AIPF and the board ran out a straight, and got two outted on the river once. If these things didn't happen I would've had an absolutely insane week but you gotta take the bad with the good in this business.

I failed my goals pretty miserably unfortunately but it's difficult to do some of these things when I don't start the week off in MD. I didn't really get settled into home at MD until Wednesday. I'm starting to get slight guilt inducing comments about not being around from my parents and friends back home which sucks but it's something I just have to deal with right now. I had a talk with my mom the other day on the phone that got me kind of down but it also motivated the hell out of me and I think it's time to just start crushing.

Not too many more interesting hands since my last update but here's one where I think I left a couple extra dollars on the table:

Effective stacks $550
Preflop ($7): Hero is UTG+1 with KK
Hero opens for 25, MP2 calls, rest fold.

Hero has been taking down a lot of pots in the first two orbits at this newly opened table. I'm getting smacked by the deck but haven't shown down a hand yet and have a feeling MP2 is getting suspicious.

MP2 opened 66 earlier and tank folded when I 3b AKo. In a hand I wasn't involved in he also raised a flop cbet with a pair + flush draw and called it off when the cbettor 3b AI.

Flop ($57): Q 3 4
Hero bets 35, MP2 calls

He didn't call very quickly which leads me to believe that he doesn't have a FD in this spot. He may have AQ and thought about raising but I think it's more likely he has a weak Q or medium PP. I suppose he could also be slow playing a set but I think it's unlikely.

Turn ($127): 4
Hero bets 80, MP2 calls

Now I'm sold on him having a weakish Q or 66-99ish type hands.

River ($287): 3
Hero bets 140, MP2 tank calls by tossing the chips lightly towards my stack and MHIG.

I think after discussing the hand that I could have gotten away with a 175-180 type bet OTR. This guy clearly thought I was FOS and "put me on AK"

So that's it for this week. Hopefully the crushing continues into the heart of February and I can start making it rain up in here.

Goals for week of 2/3-2/9
[22/30] Play 30 hours (shortened due to being home)
[X] Go over all recorded HH's with Kydd
[2/7] Gym 5 of 7 days
[X] Follow daily meal plan when back in MD
[X] Read "Mental Game of Poker" by Tendler
[X] No soda

Goals for week of 2/10-2/16
[ ] Play 35 hours
[ ] Go over all recorded HH's with Kydd
[ ] Gym 5 of 7 days
[ ] Follow daily meal plan
[ ] Read "Mental Game of Poker" by Tendler
[ ] No soda

Good luck with that man - I've dealt with that some before too... Are they trying to guilt you for gambling or just for being away?

How are things going with getting the gym workouts in and not being tired for your session? Did you start doing a nap in between or something else? Curious what worked...

After the first couple weeks, going to the gym will boost your energy and awareness during your sessions and pretty much all other aspects of life

Just for being away mostly. And my mom text me while I was at the table and I never think about outside distractions at the table so it was pretty depressing. I actually flipped it around into motivation and had a really good night that night playing.

Slacked on the gym this week but I still was really tired at the table despite getting 8 hrs of sleep a night. I'm starting to think there's something wrong with me because of how tired I get at the casino.

Oh ok, gotcha. That's a tough part of your early to mid 20s, I guess for a lot of people. I know I dealt with some of it, my mom loves it when I'm around to this day and hates it when I'm away.

Do you only get tired at the casino? If not, is there a chance you have sleep apnea or something? I had that and was exhausted all the time til I found out and got it treated. It's a miracle I didn't have a bad car accident, I fell asleep at the wheel several times and couldn't figure out why.

If it's only at the casino, is somewhat dark in there? It could be that your body is sensitive to not getting enough natural light, which regulates being alert vs. tired. Taking a walk outside for 10-15 minutes every four or five hours could help with this. It could also be that you aren't eating enough overall due to the diet goals or while playing. I used to play like 12 hours and realize I hadn't eaten - terrible for energy. Now I found some organic-type granola bars they sell at the Borg that I love.

Have you tried increasing your carbs?

A common complaint about my room is that it's pretty dark. I usually play at night so walking outside wouldn't help my natural light intake. It's not that I'm falling asleep or anything it's just that I'm non stop yawning during my sessions and just feel exhausted.

Also you've lost a lot of weight real quick which could definitely cause you yo be tired.

Great thread...I have had same issues in the past and the walk outside has really worked wonders for me. 95% of time I do not play with headphones but I do keep them on me for when I go outside and take a 10-15 minute walk. I have a few go-to songs and it pumps me right up.

Definitely could be the case. I'll try taking a walk every couple of hours and see if that helps.

I don't think a walk is going to help, I think your body is physically exhausted and you should aim for 1 lbs a week.

Just try increasing your calories/day by like 500 and aim for a 500 deficit. Do it for a week then see how you feel.

That could do it... I definitely find that when I'm tired I am not nearly as good at the tables. I lose the top end of my edge, which is really making sick reads and finding the best bluff spots.

Maybe you can find a blue light/natural light app on your phone. I have a big light I can use on my desk for the appearance of natural light and it always wakes me right up. I used it when I had a place without good light through the windows in NYC.

Minimally, taking a walk should re-energize you a bit. Fresh air may help too.

Can't hurt. Thanks for the suggestions man I'm gonna try and get some help from the H&F forum to modify this diet.

I used to have this exact situation, but I was playing at the borg so it wasn't the lighting. Taking walking breaks didn't help but I noticed I was always exhausted on days where after I woke up I went back to sleep for an hour or so. Now even if I see I've only had like 5 hours of sleep I'll just get right out of bed instead of trying to go back to sleep. If going back to sleep right after you wake up is a habit you have try not to do it anymore.

Great thread! Keep up it OP with the juicy updates. Good luck with your journey!

I usually get 6-8 hours and wake right up.

Should try out the sleep cycle app.

I have it. Might fire it up again thanks.

Got two outted early in my session tonight and lost AK vs QQ AIPF and the coin didn't come out tails unfortunately. Winning streak snapped.

Gonna grind some MGOP tonight.

Ughh I'm going through exactly what your talking about and I'm trying to break the cycle right now. It's hard I get home after playing at like midnight-1am, pumped up to begin with, then smoke a bowl and or bang my girl and before ya know it it's 5am. I'll sleep till 11 then wake up and go back to sleep for a few hours.... Soooooo unhealthy