First off, this isn't going to be a normal PG+C thread. I'm not going to make 1 million in a year, or grind up to the nose bleeds in a week. I'm going to do this right, and take notes along the way.

About Myself

I'm 21 years old and a manager in a supermarket working 39 hours a week. I bought my own house to invest some money and rent it out to a family. (I moved back in with my parents and am looking for a place at the moment)

One year ago I learnt how to play Blackjack. Properly.

I studied the basic strategy, learnt how to count cards, learnt the deviations and studied bankroll management, all with my buddy from work.

We put a bankroll in place, found the best casinos and began putting in the hours. There was A LOT of variance, but the more I found myself in a casino, the more I was drawn to the poker room.

My friend from work suggested I go to a free roll tournament with him (I busted out within 20 minutes!)

From that point on, I was bitten!

My Poker Journey so far

I decided to treat poker like I did with Blackjack (I mean how hard could it really be?) HA...

I became a very small fish in a very large pond. So I locked myself away and I've studied. I have extensive notes on EVERYTHING I've read so far. (even 2+2 threads are printed out and highlighted :/ )

I've been studying in my spare time for 3 months now. I play 2NL (4-6 tabling) and I have been reading EVERYTHING I can.

So Far:

• I have read David Slansky's Theory of Poker
• I have posted some hand histories online
• I am signed up to Deuces Cracked
• I play in live tournaments regularly (and have won 2 in the last week, I ran really well I think)
• I am going on a poker weekend away this weekend with work! (Too excited)
• I have a maths tutor to help me study 'The Mathematics of Poker' by Bill Chen
• I have only played 7,000 hands online (I want to study more before I commit to putting in volume

My goals for the year

• Read, The mathematics of poker, Pokers 1%, Doyle Brunsons supersystem 1+2, The theory of Poker, Harrington on holdem 1-3, Harrington on cash games, Harrington on online play
• I will grind up to 25nl (I don't want to set to high a goal as I want to do this right and It has to be achievable for me)

Whats the ultimate aim? To leave my job and become a full time pro

This is it. This is my year to learn.

Next year will be a completely different ball game.

I'll see you all out there. Wish me luck

Pochesepts

What country are you operating out of? Are you playing mostly live or online? Good luck OP

UK, and definitely mostly online. Although the lives games in Manchester (UK) are apparently very soft, so towards the back end of the year I might venture out onto the felt.

Good luck, op!!

One thing I can tell you, from someone who also started as a blackjack player, is that one of the huge differences with poker is that you can't expect to learn how to become a winning player just by reading and studying a lot.

Reading books is great, but a lot of the advanced concepts you are studying won't really apply at the smaller stakes and can actually hinder your progress if you're over thinking. After reading some of the basics (which it seems you already have), you really have to learn by playing many many hands at the micros, then go back and study more to prepare for moving up. Be prepared to feel like you're kind of starting over again with new concepts at every new level. Expect to make a lot of mistakes at first--it's all part of the learning process.

Also, remember that there's not always one single 'best' way to play every hand like there is at blackjack. There is more of an art to it, because there are so many factors that go into each decision. This is the thing that actually drew me to the game, but I know some blackjack players that hated not knowing the "right" answer every single time.

The good part is never having to worry about looking over your shoulder in the casino, haha.

Thanks kitty!

My blackjack partner wants us to put in a lot of hours this year, but everytime I'm playing, all I can think is, "I could be learning so much grinding/studying right now"...

In fact I've started looking at life as if every decision I make could be +/- EV! Haha.

Oh dear poker is a scary thing...

But you're right, having the pit boss not try and screw you over at any opportunity is a nice plus.

Poche

My first 7k hands at 2nl.

VPIP 9.21
PFR 7.24
Total AFq 59.43

I've won a whole $9.06

Not sure what to spend it on yet? Maybe 906 penny sweets, or keep it in my massive bank roll. :')

I'll post again after my Poker weekend away with work!

P

Poker Update

I have returned from my Poker weekend away with Work (89,000 employees at the company).

And...

I won the main event!

I was definitely a little shocked, but I have worked hard, I also finished David Slansky's theory of poker and am currently working my way through Black Rain's 'Crushing the Micro Stakes'.

A lot has happened but I am definitely happy to get back on the online horse. Set some strong short term goals and Grind on.

Note: When my mum asked where I'll be putting my trophy. "My Grinding Station" probably wasn't the best answer.. haha awkward.

P

GL with your transition, poker's definitely a good decision

following !

Seems like a crazy journey will keep up GL op.

Todays update,

The way I'm reading Crushing the micros, is that I read about a certain principle and then practice each one over a few hundred hands so I get it grained in.

I have also completely redesigned my HUD which has been a huge challenge to get used to!

Played a really good session today, would have been up around $5 (that's a lot over 255 hands at 2NL to me). But got a terrible bad beat (all in)... See below:

PokerStars - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 95 BB (VPIP: 90.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
UTG: 93.5 BB (VPIP: 29.17, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 24)
UTG+1: 147.5 BB (VPIP: 8.33, PFR: 6.25, 3Bet Preflop: 5.26, Hands: 48)
MP: 104 BB (VPIP: 14.81, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 27)
MP+1: 23 BB (VPIP: 23.33, PFR: 6.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 31)
CO: 103.5 BB (VPIP: 15.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
BTN: 104 BB (VPIP: 21.05, PFR: 5.26, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
Hero (SB): 123.5 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, fold, fold, CO raises to 4.5 BB, fold, Hero raises to 15 BB, BB calls 14 BB, CO calls 10.5 BB

Flop: (45 BB, 3 players) 9 9 6
Hero bets 43.5 BB, fold, CO raises to 88.5 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 45 BB

Turn: (222 BB, 2 players) 7

River: (222 BB, 2 players) 8



Annoying, yes. But to be honest I should have thought, 'Why would a fairly TAG player shove on me here?'. Ahh well, you learn over time and hands.

My focuses on todays session were bet sizing and blind stealing at 2NL... (they are far from ABC poker)

My updated graph below. Looks like a landscape of mountains! And it's probably going to continue that way whilst I practice the principle in the book.



Good luck grinding everyone!

P