Hi, I thought I would start a small thread here as I have been enjoying a lot of the exisitng ones here. Even though this SN is brand new I have participated in this forum for around 20 years mostly lurking and learning with the occasional post.

Briefly about me

Am 40+ living in the Scandinavian region. Used to play full time back in 2003-2004. Played mainly fixed limit up to 200/400. Went pretty well and have never deposited a single cent of my own money as the initial deposit was a $100 gift from one of my friends. Of course I signed up under his affiliateship so I would say that he made plenty of me. After BF I pretty much quit online poker as I got myself a job and had to attend to my family aswell. The last ten or so years I have basically played live since I travel quite a bit in my line of work and enjoy the live setting, still as a winning player but far from the volumes I used to play.

Fast forward to autumn 2020 and the corona situation I find myself working from home and a lot of spare time over. Had $100 left @pokerstars and decided to give myself a challenge. Start from 2NL and work myself up slowly through the stakes once I hit 30 BI for next level. I started the challenge in november and also bought PIO solver to dabble around with. I was at first a bit cautious since I heard from other people that online pretty much is unbeatable these days compared to the golden age where you just had to log in to the ATM and win some money. So a side from being softer back in the day there was also some rake back which unfortunately is not available in my country...

So far I must say I find the games pretty beatable. Toughest stake was 5NL, currently I am playing 25NL. All games are full ring.

My graph since start of challenge:



One thing I've noticed when comparing to other graphs is my red line that stands out. I am not sure if I need to pay more attention to it as I might leave too much value just being too aggressive folding out worse hands?

My goal is to keep climbing and see where my limit is.

I will post the occasional hand aswell as updating my progress. Hopefully I also get some feedback along the way in order to improve my game.

Good luck and see you at the tables!

This is a typical spot I tend to struggle with a bit. Keeping the pressure on turn and making sure I extract maximum value and still not exposing myself to the obvious XR on turn when flush hits. I probably under sized the bet on river aswell.

PokerStars - $0.25 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 104.2 BB
UTG+1: 100 BB
MP: 100 BB
MP+1: 99.36 BB
MP+2: 91.2 BB
Hero (CO): 201.52 BB
BTN: 274.56 BB
SB: 100.8 BB
BB: 125.56 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has K K

fold, fold, fold, fold, MP+2 raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 9 BB, fold, fold, fold, MP+2 calls 6 BB

Flop: (19.4 BB, 2 players) 2 J 4
MP+2 checks, Hero bets 13.88 BB, MP+2 calls 13.88 BB

Turn: (47.16 BB, 2 players) T
MP+2 checks, Hero checks

River: (47.16 BB, 2 players) 9
MP+2 checks, Hero bets 14.88 BB, MP+2 calls 14.88 BB

Hero shows K K (One Pair, Kings)
(Pre 80%, Flop 86%, Turn 75%)
MP+2 mucks 6 6 (One Pair, Sixes)
(Pre 20%, Flop 14%, Turn 25%)
Hero wins 73.44 BB

I have had a few days with lower volume than I aimed for. However, I am now ready for next step up the ladder. Next up: $50 tables.

And here's the graph since start of challenge:



Also, easy push on river or should I XC?

PokerStars - $0.25 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 104.32 BB
UTG+1: 100 BB
MP: 100 BB
MP+1: 41.8 BB
MP+2: 165.48 BB
CO: 200.76 BB
BTN: 104 BB
Hero (SB): 100.4 BB
BB: 225.64 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB, MP+1 posts penalty blind 0.4 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.8 BB) Hero has Q Q

fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.48 BB, Hero raises to 9 BB, fold, BTN calls 6.52 BB

Flop: (19.4 BB, 2 players) 3 3 J
Hero bets 13.88 BB, BTN calls 13.88 BB

Turn: (47.16 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero bets 33.8 BB, BTN calls 33.8 BB

River: (114.76 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero bets 43.72 BB and is all-in, BTN calls 43.72 BB

So, I have had a pause for a year due to work related issues. Started playing again a week or so ago. Now let's get back to the grind.

Graph so far from start of challenge.



Hand of the day, can you find a fold here?

PokerStars - $0.25 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP+2: 98.6 BB
CO: 109 BB
BTN: 103.88 BB
Hero (SB): 134.24 BB
BB: 106.36 BB
UTG: 110.28 BB
UTG+1: 107.8 BB
MP: 81.12 BB
MP+1: 111.68 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 3 3

fold, UTG+1 raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, MP+2 calls 2 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 1.6 BB, fold

Flop: (7 BB, 3 players) 5 Q Q
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, MP+2 checks

Turn: (7 BB, 3 players) 3
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets 3 BB, MP+2 calls 3 BB, Hero raises to 7 BB, fold, MP+2 calls 4 BB

River: (24 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero bets 32 BB, MP+2 raises to 89.6 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 57.6 BB

MP+2 shows 5 5 (Full House, Fives full of Queens)
(Pre 82%, Flop 99.9%, Turn 98%)
Hero shows 3 3 (Full House, Threes full of Queens)
(Pre 18%, Flop 0.2%, Turn 2%)
MP+2 wins 195.2 BB

Obviously I had a brutal downswing when I took a shot at NL$50. Will wait until BR hits 36 BI, will probably be there before next week unless something radical happens.

Looks like a cooler.

Great results, glgl!