Thanks For the SUB!!

I have no idea what to say right now. I'm just.. running training and playing some poker. Read some books and came out with some ideas at the park while writing things. I need to start playing on Wednesday and I'll think about what to say.. Right now my mind is fairly empty and there's not much to think about. I suppose there's somedays where you can't really say anything but nothing .

I hope I will have some more updates to talk about, I haven't been posting because my mind was empty.. and now its still empty, just writing to say I am still gonna continue posting..

Subbed! Hopefull your mind will fill up one day

Thanks!!

I finally got somethings to say, its been some time and I have been silent for a while lol. so its nearly been 4 months of me playing since I got to Malta, and I've managed to put in 150k hands, I suppose thats even considered decent in terms of volume. This month I realized I was in fear and I didn't even know it, and by reading and realizing what's going on made me think more.

Since I use to earn 10k/month consistently by game selecting well and just grinding it out and playing tons of hours ever since I shifted to playing less and playing more people the earnings hasn't been consistent like that. I suppose it's effected me a bit because I felt entilted to earn some $$ like that since it was practically variance free. It probably still could be if I really chose to, I'm sure you can make 10K month playing up to 200NL even if you could play enough tables in HU and are good. I talked about that route, but went against it to try to get really good at poker for the competition of the game. I've learned... more and more everysingle day that I actually really love poker and this was so suitable for me. I've always loved strategy games, just that word sounds so cool to me "strategy" lol I try to think about it in this way as much as I can.

Anyways, this month I'm trying to mainly play 600NL now and have been playing some of the best players in the games it has been an exciting challenge and learning from them have taught me a lot in order to improve my game. Unfortunately the highest stakes is what I'm struggling at this current moment, I don't get enough games from worse players and only the very good players will play me. I suppose that's how its suppose to work because people know how to pick there edges mainly. This month I played 43 hours, I've also studied for about 40 which is huge.. I think I'm ready now to stop studying as much and keep it to a much smaller ratio and get much more volume in now. I'm just very happy in general keeping this schedule and doing what I feel like. As the days go by I am now out of that box where I feel like poker use to be my 9-5 I've turned poker from a job into a passion. I walk away smiling, I walk away talking about poker. I'm not only a poker professional who does it strictly for business like I use to. I remember I use to study it like an algorithm, figuring out every pattern into maximize my edge outside of poker itself. I think that's the reason why I actually will finally have a shot to make it in the highstakes where as before I never stood a chance. Maybe next month will be my month, maybe it won't be I will just control what I can and enjoy my profession.

Hey man, been railing a lot recently, see you have been playing a large amount(or so it would seem) of 600nl(stars), who have you been getting most action off? who do you think is the toughest?

Obv I understand you may not want to answer this,

GL

Hey cool , yeah I have been playing much more 600NL at stars.. hmm

most action from so far is from HighTimesSwe. Who I actually think is pretty damn good and plays different from most players I normally play.

The toughest I've played so far.. probably buriedatsea, we play a very similiar game but he definitely has more experience then me in some spots.

I have ideas of what I want to do, and I am just going to approach things differently... my game selection has virtually gone to zero. Probably a bad idea. Think everyone always does a certain amount of game selection. Especially when im shotting and trying to establish myself at 600NL. Dropped 8k on those games which is about 13 buy ins so its not too bad. Back to playing 400NL for some time, then get back to it. I think this time around I will be smarter with who I play at those stakes, and if there good I'll play them mainly at 400NL. I'm really feeling positive about this month, and the future of poker despite the results not being the way I want it to be.

Its been a long time since an update..

I think its time like these where I question myself. Am I able to win at poker? Am I good enough? It gets tough sometimes. I don't know, I'm trying my best to buckle down and grind it out. Nearing 140K hands of breaking even. Its quite scary for me to even hear that #. Not really sure, This month I've stepped down and started grinding lower mainly at the moment. It's been really tough and probably my biggest challenge of all time. Even while grinding lower I'm only winning because of rakeback. Its still a low sample, but I can only imagine... if I stayed break even for the month it'd somewhat hurt my confidence. Its somewhat fragile at the moment, but I'll try to hold my best and stick to it. I'm aiming for a lot of hands this month and have been grinding a whole lot, and game selecting as well.

Hey man lurked this thread for quite a while and I was really impressed by your results.

I think it's normal to start questioning yourself after a long breakeven stretch and when you're constantly challenging yourself at higher levels, you can't expect to crush right away.

Just keep doing what you're doing, keep working off the tables and I'm sure you'll turn this around in no time.

GL

Keep going, Steve!

Thank you guys.

I been working on it its been a long time coming, been having a long break and haven't found the need to continually updating as I haven't had much to say. Updates coming at the end of the month; I was trying to play 100k hands but don't think I'm gonna make it the only way to be able to do that was zoom but Didn't want to make less from it just for the sake of finishing the challenge.. I think I will end the month with 84k hands. We'll see.

84k hands HU at midstakes+ ?? How the f...

How many hands do you play per hour on average?

Yeah.. it would have been. I didn't follow on pace though.

420-500 hands/hr

So I ended up hitting around 62k Hands, which is my biggest volume month, still I feel disappointed/ yet happy at the same time I suppose. I figured I'll update now since I don't see myself playing too much anymore for these next couple of days. I wanted to end up going for 100k hands. What happened was I ended up going to travel around Gozo for a day, my Arm ended up twisting from boxing and I couldn't click buttons anymore because it was too sore (I really appreciate my right hand much more now that its back). This month ended up good, and ended being my best month of the year ended up about 13k Euros// 18k US. Total amount of hours I put was about 128 Hours.

So for the rest of the month its gonna be half resting and just grinding VPPS to stay Platinum on poker stars I have found a maid to talk to and trying to extend and negotiate a deal in order for her to serve food for me everyday for every single meal. I am also looking to Jet ski this month and go out with my roommate before he ends up going back to Thailand. After that I will be living alone which will be a fun but more expensive experience. Bills will be somewhat expensive ~2k euros/month but oh well, I already found what I wanted to do with the other room and I plan on seperating it. I have started playing the 400 games again, and look forward to hopefully having a successful shot this time around, I'm gonna be playing it smarter this time. Goals next month will not be as ambitious but I still want to put in a good amount of hours.. 110 hours-160 hours sounds really good I want atleast 50K hands. Its summer time too so I want to be able to go out and have a good time as well.

I'll update again sometime in like 2-3 weeks maybe a month I don't know whenever I feel like it. It'll pretty much be the same goals every single month which is:

Put in ~ 50k hands 110-160 hours
Work on Boxing 6x a week, more when I can finally be ready for more.
Hit 70 KG (At 55KG)
Continue to Read / Listen to Books/Videos
Socialize// do something Exciting / Different Once a Month
Learn How to ... Ride a Bike/ Swim / do Magic / play Basketball etc.

ALSO: I feel like this was a really good month.. I need to make sure I don't get comfortable and settle too much, this month was a lot of conditioning and putting in work to push boundaries for everything. HONESTLY I felt like I would have made it if I didnt have boxing which really makes me stray away from the tables from time to time (I Hope to eventually withstand that and have better endurance for it and hold my own without having to take long breaks from it). I Really am starting to love Boxing and Weight Lifting, its just very tiring when you give it your all everyday 6x a week. Still would not trade it for anything at this moment.. Even to me my biggest priority is Boxing/ WeightLifting > Then Poker. For that Reason I don't know how aggressive I'll move around stakes, but I'll keep pushing and grinding as hard as I can. The biggest secret for me to even push this much volume even when I didn't feel like it sometimes was talk to myself and told myself you have something to prove being breakeven for that long really got to me and let me know, that I had to grind and fix every solution despite it being challenging due to my mental fatigue. Even letting go of my ego and just immediately dropping down and playing 200NL Mainly. Next month I will do 200/400 and 600/ bumhunting. This is nearly double my average volume, and in terms of hour its the best amount of hours I've done in about a year. So even though I didn't exactly make the goals I'm still happy, because of said reason. Still I want to keep aiming high, if I could put in more hours I will... I Hope that now that I will have a maid I'd actually be able to instead of having to cook my own meals/ spend time to go out to eat. So Actually with this I'm even more optimistic about next month then I was this month. Also reminding myself just to keep playing it out, because 20 days ago I was questioning myself after such a rough battle. I will remind myself everyday that I need to continue playing my best and continue to make as much money as I can will improving myself in every other possible way.

Good luck - subbed.

Ty For the Sub.

Long time no update, went on a hiatus after I tried shot taking the 600/1k games again, it failed (it was only till about the 4th time that I decided to game select smarter when I played these games by choosing the regs that I think are weakest). Went back at it, went for another shot at it, and also failed still that is variance afterall. I think this is about the 7th time I've failed establishing myself at these stakes. hehe, of course its only a couple of buy ins everytime I've dropped just a bit (15K euros //20K Us) disheartening I suppose to drop those buy ins, then start over at 1/2 2/4 to get it back just to get shut down again. I'll try again though.. Eventually I'll make it. Back to Grinding Lots. Was up about 7k for the month, now up about 3k to be fair I only put about 16k hands, which is very little. I took a long break this month as well as last month. Im gonna be more consistent though. Probably not with updates, but more so with just playing more hours.

Got Big Dreams. I want one of these in my house.



Sounds silly but I finally hit a realization moment that only I can make my dreams turn into a reality. Deep down while boxing I relied on other people, but they don't care about it, they will help, but its my dream, not anyone elses.

You want a big clock in your house? No problems!!!

Re-subbed to this, fantastic to read about your boxing and continued successes at the table. No doubts you will beat the higher stakes soon enough. I mean, you are THE champion right!?

I think you can buy your big clock !!

Thanks guys, but dunno if I can afford that clock I want a big clock made out of gold

Yeah I hope so, its been a lot of tries. It will eventually happen and when it finally does happen it'll be such a satisfactory feeling

Today was one of the best days I've had in a long time (i guess that doesn't really count for much since I haven't played much) lately... volume and hours will increase though, especially if I want a house and a Jacuzzi



Looks like shot #8 is incoming, as always, will try again if it doesn't work out.

The goal for this time refuse action from the really good players that I know have an edge on me. I will be willing to play players who I think are about at my skill level, but does certain things differently so I can pick up some new things to think about. Regardless though refuse them for higher stakes and only play them at lower stakes.

Thought of the day: I've always wanted to become a man, I've always valued people who had the things that are required to be one. Strength, Integrity, Intelligence, Energy Presence so strong that people are willing to stop everything there doing in order to get a conversation with you. The ability to push others to new thresholds. Was thinking about this while I was boxing, things that I'm not doing that is not a representation of a "man".

So when I'm doing certain things like playing games (outside of poker), or when I keep my room dirty, or when I am irresponsible I hope to ask my self every time or go by the guideline "is this what a man would do?" this is my version of what I think is a man, and I hope to be able to with hold to that in time.

Oh, another note I been on no masturbating. On day 23 now, pretty much my world record ever since I first learned about masturbating lol. I've noticed increased strength while boxing, more aggression. I still don't get irritated or angry or anything, so its been nice to feel relaxed still (may be because of going to the Gym often). I hope to hit atleast 100 days, I don't think I will stop forever, just temporary to teach myself discipline (which I really don't have), I go on skype too much and spend too much time there, I will decrease time there.

Got punched really hard today while sparring, my head feels like complete ****. Got a small little mark, but I can feel the intensity, it was an amazing sparring session. I got a couple punches in his lip, and one in his corner head. It was great. He got me really hard in the face a couple of times actually, and then got me in my rib cage it was my coach in Boxing, he didn't go really hard but hard enough where it was still challenging. I didn't fall down though and I kept staying and fighting. I'm looking forward to sparring this Saturday with other people that is not as rapid fast as my coach.

Poker has been different, I have been enjoying it immensely just as much as boxing actually, that satisfactory feeling from both when you walk away from it probably collides in a specific type of way. Loving the hell out of everything at the moment, and close to hitting 30 days of no fap. Sicksick days ~28 hours this week of poker is not bad, I think I want to hit around 30-40 a week, it would be nice I still got saturday so I'd still be on pace. Hitting 50-60k Hands/month would be ideal.

Shot #8 Going Pretty Lame.

I got motivated just last week, to start going higher stakes again. Just a feel of how its going, I was running 4.5k over EV, till I decided to start shot taking after I got inspired by one of my friends. Now I'm 5.5k under EV So pretty much since the shot take ~11K under EV, so pretty much I knocked out all of my profits from last week. I'm going to take tomorrow off, still I feel very good and go work on my game watch some videos etc. Then come Tuesday ready to play again. Not only that by the end of today at the hand got God-Moded (Not even just by EV), Ran 2nd nuts into Nuts for ~2k pot. I insta quit when it started not going right. Since I pretty much lost all of last weeks profit, which was suppose to be my extra cushion, I am back in the 5 buy in before I stop shot taking the higher stakes again.

Amazing and simple amazing progress, thread, show of character. Im impressed by everything about you Iamchampion. Ive also bought Gordons material, but for 6max. Have you had any experience with that material?

And would you advice me to apply for coaching for profits or whatever with Gordon. Is he worth the time? ( My initial thought is HELLS YEAH, NO DOUBT ) but want to hear it from you hehe.

Take care and keep it up and youll be champion both in poker and life soon

Nope, no experience with it.

Thoughts about Gordon: He advocates simple poker, let me put it in a different perspective. Poker is really about making a lot of $$, and thats what he knows how to do best. There is only a certain threshold I think he can reach though advocating the things he teaches and there will be a time when you will eventually need to advance your level. Is he/ was he worth it? Well yes, in my situation at that time he was definitely worth it, who knows what I would have done. I may have gone back to killing it at MTT's but playing hundreds of hours a month, I really don't know, I may have been busto, I may have been a full ring player. I will never know what would have been on the other side. I honestly think I'd rather be in the position I am in now though instead of whatever may have been. He showed me that to make a lot of $$ in poker, you just needed to keep it simple and I am grateful for the opportunity he presented to me.

Although I have advanced my game since then as I want to multiply my money and am playing in much tougher games now, I still think Gordon will be worth it unless you yourself can find a way to pass more money then the 100k - how much he takes for the year. You figure out your level, and your expected amount you can make in a year and go from there.

I will not say he is worth your time, or he is not, it always depends on your situation. I would say he is worth it for anyone who is up and coming, and I would say he is not worth it if you are a 400NL reg already earning a lot a month (then again if you are a 400NL reg earning a lot, you'd probably already know what your doing and figured out how to earn a lot, and can just pay coaches by the hour to further improve your game)

Big thank you man for the long awnser. Will definetly hit him up seeins as im able to put in atleast 240h+ each month im sure hell be interested

Best of luck to you my friend,

Keep the good work up

GoodLuck with That.

Shot #8 Failed.

Wasn't meant to be, things went wrong outside of the poker tables. Dropped nearly 13K. Oh well. Its time to start all over again live and you learn was pretty frustrated over the whole situation, but I'm over it now I should still be happy at where I am at this point, I have an opportunity to make it far still, this set back shouldn't be anything but a reminder. Now will be spending all month trying to recoop all those losses.

Shot #9 coming soon.. I hope.

Do you think it might be a better investment to spend your shot taking money on coaching?

13K could get a few hours of serious instruction.

Just an idea.

GL.

I've spent a ton of money on coaching the thing with poker is that you never stop learning .

At this point in time though (or so I think, coaching will do nothing for me and its just up for me to grind) for my mental game I listen to videos or read books (which I think is necessary for me)

Updates: i went on sick doomswitch, dropped nearly 15k euros, was owned mentally, broke my arm while boxing, slept outside for one day because my door was stuck and key wouldnt open it. Despite it all im humbled to have been able to experience it all. Typing with one hand and playing with one is a peculiar experience.

I've passed on a decent amount of reg battles on stars, because I felt like I have been playing bad while trying to regain momentum from all of this. Even started playing 100. Played nearly 60k hands so far, and am stuck 6k euros now. I will continue to play a lot during this time... honestly feel like I have something to prove, and my validation comes from my relevancy.

This month more then any, I started to learn and value the mental game, a pre warm up, and an idea of how you want to go about it with the games is very important.

#9 will come whenever it was meant to come it will be the last time or close to the last before Im successful