Hello all, I'm new to this forum, I've followed a few of the challenges without making an account. I thought it would be fitting that I make my own account and start logging my journey, for motivation and improvement purposes!

I am 20, in the second year of University in England, studying Business management, I started playing poker with friends, as with all these introductions, I became addicted due to the competitiveness. Started playing more and more until I found I could visit local casinos to play tournaments.

During the first year of University, I stopped playing the daily £30 or so buy in tournaments and switched to the cash game, which is a £1/1 £30 minimum £300 max NLH.

During the first year, as I was still learning the ways of winning in cash games, I managed a £3 hourly in the £1/£1 game, which I was extremely happy with, being able to win in a game that I naturally enjoyed was great, gave me a huge buzz.

After improving a lot, I have decided to try and take my game to the next level, after reading various books and talking hands with friends, I think creating this thread will help me take my skill level up a notch.

The goals for 2017:
- Log every session
- Try to discuss important hands in this thread
- Stay motivated during rough periods
- Keep studying

I will post every result in this thread, with some interesting hands, hoping that I can learn a lot from the fellow users of this forum, whether it being with regards to helping me choose different lines in certain spots, or to recommend ways in which I could study to improve my game.

I played two sessions last week, I will attach one hand from each session and the results of the session.

Many thanks!

Friday, 17th March 2017

£1/£1/£2 (must straddle) - table is extremely deep, my stack is £1200 - most stacks at the table have me covered.

I open UTG with 44 to £10, get called in 3 spots, the player to my immediate left is a fish who is seeing nearly every flop. The other two callers are in middle position, both of these players are loose aggressive.

The flop is 4Q6dd, I cbet £30. The fish folds and both of the LAGs call. When they call this cbet I think their ranges can still be fairly wide, as we are so deep I am cbetting a large % of the flops. Either player can have 66, however I don't place QQ in their range here, I expect this to 3bet me pre, there are some middling pairs and open enders, aswell as AQ JQs KQ, flush draws etc.

The turn is an off-suit 3, the open ender gets there, however I am still confident that I am ahead. I lead out for £100, after this lead they both know my range is extremely strong here. I have sets or over pairs only. The player on my immediate left calls, and the other makes it £400. This raise confuses me, mainly because the player to my left just calls the £100, so I am now afraid that I am infact in third place, QQ seems likely, 66 is possible and I now lose to a straight, I was afraid that betting here would potentially get me raised off the best hand, however as my range is extremely strong when I lead this turn, I believe the raise is never a bluff, so I fold. The player on my left calls, the pot is ~£1000, they both have £1500 behind.

The river is another 4, the first player checks, then the other jams for ~£1500, he gets called and shows QQ for the top boat.

Is there any way I can check call this turn to see the river? I feel like check calling the turn is bad.

EDIT: I ended this session +£600

GL with the cash; where are you playing in the UK?

Thanks! I'm playing in Southampton

Christ, 1/1 games with £1k+ stacks.

Sounds like our kind of game and it's in your old stomping ground....

Good luck with the poker, will be following!

Lots of £1/1 games with £1k+ stacks up here in Liverpool and Manchester. I fold that flop turn too. Don't worry about the river.

Saturday 18th March 2017 -

£1/£1/£2 (must straddle)

Just moved to this table, but I am familiar with most people at the table. I sit with £600

I open TT utg to £10, my immediate left 3bets me to £35, folds round to me, I call. (he has £550)

Flop is 446, he cbets £50, I continue, as I should with all of my range? Maybe there is an argument to fold, I'm not sure

Turn is a T, I check, he bets £85, do you jam here to get called off by his over pairs, or do you always just call and let him bet river, or maybe lead into him? He only loses to TT really. I call

River is an off-suit 5, I have more than a pot size bet, I jam, get snap called, he seems very angry with my flop call. Given stack sizes, is it ok to call flop?

Session+ £502

TT is super standard, I think 44 is an ok turn check as you are 1200 blinds deep, good to have hands that x/c that aren't draws/1pair maybe I'm reading too much into it though.

How come you keep raising Utg with a mandatory straddle?

TT seems absolutely fine. What do you do one something like a 6 9 turn and river with continued aggression?


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Hey man, good luck! I'm a student as well paying poker, but only online. Have you tried online poker? and if you have how do you compare it to live play?