Chapter 2

Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $19,445 (-$155)
Spending Roll: $1,767
Hours Played: 4
Total Hours Played: 25
Session: 6
Game: NL 1/2
Location: Casino Kansas

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I'm in an area for the next few days that has barely ANY games above 1/2. I'm here for my job, otherwise I'd be somewhere else. Lost $155.00, I blame the loss on bad play. I'm so bored at that limit, I played too many hands vs a old man coffee type table. I was hoping to play some casinos during the road trip, but work demands have been too insane.

I've blocked off 240 hours of play over the next 7 weeks. I want to spend my time getting volume in at 2/5.

Life is good.

Starting Wed, I'm away for a 12 day poker trip in Maryland. The goal is to get as many reference point as possible in the 2/5 NL. I've been doing a lot of CrushLivePoker studying, it's time to put the lessons into action.

I've also added in the following goals:

- Workout 5x a week
- Poker Study 6 hrs a week
- 30 min a day language study
- 30 min a day gaming (to unwind)

Enjoying my remaining days at home. I haven't reported a lot about this lately but my food and workouts are dialed in. I'm down almost 40 lbs since October of last year. Despite some health issues around my vision, I feel amazing.

I'm looking forward to phase 1 (12 days) of hardcore grinding starting Wednesday morning.

Chapter 2

Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $20,125 (+$680)
Spending Roll: $1,767
Hours Played: 6
Total Hours Played: 31
Session: 7
Game: NL 1/3, 6 rock, $620 buy-in
Location: Home-game 1

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One of my good friends is moving out of the area, so I came by to play for a few hours. I was very happy with the handing reading all night. I'm forcing myself to continue to pay attention to player tendencies when I'm not in a hand. I had an interesting hand come up:

Loose Player has about $110
I have $940
MP+1 has $290

Very Loose Player (Button) Straddles for $20 on the button.. got hit with a few coolers earlier

I'm UTG +1 with JJ and reraise to $58, I'm viewed as one of the tougher players that sometimes get out of line with aggression.

Solid Lag in MP1 shoves for $300. He's typically fairly loose putting pressure on flops, tighter when the pot gets bigger. We've played a lot over the last year and know each other's game fairly well. I haven't seen many of these type of shoves from him in the past.

Hero... ?

I expect the straddle to go with it with most hands. He's extremely frustrated and just wants to gamble. As for MP1, would he really over-shove with KK or AA here since he knows I'm raising with most pocket pairs, AJ+ with this player. I know he knows I'm isolating this bad player so maybe he's making a play. Would he do that with weaker than JJ knowing what I'm up to?

impressed by how well the poker is going for you potluck!

with the hand you post, wouldn't have thought he would have AA or KK as you say. would have thought he would have AK AQ QQ TT maybe even a slightly lower pocket pair with so much money already in the pot. i think we are ahead of a lot of his hands, there is already a lot of money in the pot and likely to be more from the straddler so I'd be very happy to call.

how did the hand play out for you?

I appreciate the kind words. I've basically elimated all distractions lately and focused on work, workout, clean eating and poker study. I'm seeing some nice progress so I'm encouraged.

I ran through the exact same breakdown you mentioned in my first 90 seconds of tanking. Unfortunately I leveled myself. I thought the villian knew what ranges I was building and he was shoving AA-QQ because I would discount most of those hands and therefore snap. From a live read perspective, he just looked so comfortable.

We had the same hand, JJ. I feel good about my thought process, I just leveled myself.

Chapter 2

Day 1 and Day 2 (half) out of 14
Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $20,125
Spending Roll: $3595.00(+$1,838)

Prorated July Expenses: 0 out of $500
August Expenses: 0 out of $1,500

Hours Played: 15
Total Hours Played: 46
Game: 2/5 (and a little 1/3)
Location: Maryland casinos

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I have a lot to share. I wanted to post the results so far and get some sleep.

MGM National Harbor

Chapter 2

Day 2 (2nd half) out of 14
Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $19,750 (-$375)
Spending: $3595.00

Prorated July Expenses: 0 out of $500
August Expenses: 0 out of $1,500

Hours Played: 3
Total Hours Played: 49
Total Trip 1 Hours: 19
Game: 2/5 NL
Location: Maryland casinos

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Hand Check

2/5 effective stacks are $260
Hero in BB, sat down 60 min prior to hand

MP1 raises to $25, SB calls, Hero calls in BB with 85hh

Flop 6h4s3s

$75 in pot after rake. MP1 bets $25 SB calls $25 ($125 in pot), hero shoves for $235. MP1 folds, SB tanks and calls with 67o.

Standard?

Observations

Differences between 1/3 and 2/5 at MGM National Harbor and Maryland Live

- Play is significantly looser on weekends at all limits (no surprise)

- Since less 5/10 games run on the weekdays, I recognize quite a few 5/10 players in 2/5 during the week

- In 2/5, harder to blow people off hands if the story doesn't make sense

- Last night, quite a few players had $2k+ so it can be play much deeper than other 2/5 500 cap games I've played in the past

- Less limping, more isolating

- Hand-reading seemed much easier, not as many random Q2o type hands

- I need to work on my betsizing

I miss the LA 5/5 games. Maybe its the 2/5 tables I've sat, significantly more challenging than LA.

Chapter 2

Day 3 Part 1 out of 14
Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $19,750
Spending: $3595.00

Prorated July Expenses: $510 out of $500
August Expenses: 0 out of $1,500
Next vacation money: 0 out of $3,000

Hours Played: 3.5
Total Hours Played: 53.6
Total Trip 1 Hours: 22.5
Game: 2/5 NL
Location: Maryland casinos

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I was up close to $1200, lost a few coolers and scratched off a small win for $510 for the morning session. I have some major leaks, going to drop down to 1/3 for a few days (at least) until I feel better. I feel good.

I finished July expenses, next is $1500 for August expenses and hopefully money toward my next vacation.

Chapter 2

Day 3 Part 2 out of 14
Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $19,750
Spending: $3595.00

Prorated July Expenses: $510 out of $500
August Expenses: $730 out of $1,500 (+$730)
Next vacation money: 0 out of $3,000

Hours Played: 4
Total Hours Played: 57.5
Total Trip 1 Hours: 26.5
Game: 1/3 $500 buy-in
Location: Maryland casinos

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Taking a few hours off and then getting back to the grind. Nothing too exciting, bluffed a few OMCs (old man coffee) for decent size pots and hit a flush against trips. I know.. I know... I'm not learning much at 1/3. I am working on a few leaks like 3betting in bad spots, not getting lazy hand reading and bet sizing.

I'm folding pre with those starting stacks. You have to call $20 more but it's not worth it - as you aren't going to flop well enough to continue and end up burning $$$.

As played you got one of the best flops you can ask for, so never folding after that point. Only mistake imo was the pre flop call with that stack. When stacks are so shallow like that, suited connectors and gappers go down in value.

I agree with the assessment. At the time, I'm sure it was frustration for not having a hand in an hour. It's definately a leak in my game I'm trying to correct. Thanks for the input.

Chapter 2

Day 3 Part 3 out of 14
Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $19,750
Spending: $3595.00

Prorated July Expenses: $510 out of $500
August Expenses: $977 out of $1,500 (+$247)
Next vacation money: 0 out of $3,000

Hours Played: 3
Total Hours Played: 60.5
Total Trip 1 Hours: 29.5
Game: 1/3 $500 buy-in
Location: Maryland casinos

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I'm absolutely exhasted. I have a hand check to post tomorrow that involves JJ on J22.

Hand Check

Effective stacks $550 at 1/3, Hero UTG +1

Hero opens to 15 with JdJh UTG+1, MP flats, Button Flats

Flop is Jc2d2s -- Pot is about $40 after rake

Hero leads out with $15. I've been the most aggressive person at the table. I figure people will call down wide. MP calls and button folds. $70 in the pot.

I put him on a range of AJ, KJ, QJs, JTs or PP. He is a standard 1/3 player, loose calls and random aggression.

Turn is a 8d. I bet 45, he raises to 105.. Hero ?

Chapter 2

Day 4 Part 1 out of 14
Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $19,750
Spending: $3595.00

Prorated July Expenses: $510 out of $500
August Expenses: $1494 out of $1,500 (+$617)
Next vacation money: 0 out of $3,000

Hours Played: 4
Total Hours Played: 64.5
Total Trip 1 Hours: 34.5
Game: 1/3 $500 buy-in
Location: Maryland casinos

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Wow, I'm on a heater lately. Decided to go home for 2 days to recharge and enjoy my weekend with my girl. My July and August expense goals are complete. Now I get to focus on my next vacation.

Kudos to CrushLivePoker.com

Day 5 out of 14

I slept a full 7 hours in my own bed and felt amazing. Today my focus is working out, catching up with friends and spending time in the lab reviewing some notes from the tables. I booked my flight back to Asia in September.
5

Correction from yesterday: August Expenses: $1,594 out of $1,500 (+$617)

very easy call - unless he shows you a 2 than jam lol.

Cool, exactly how I played it. River is a blank, he checks, I bet 40%. I'm not sure about that sizing. I'm trying to target either a PP or possibly get him to bluff raise. Maybe betting 25% to keep ranges wide?

Chapter 2

Day 5 out of 14
Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $19,550 (-$200)
Spending: $3595.00

Prorated July Expenses: $510 out of $500
August Expenses: $1594 out of $1,500
Next vacation money: 0 out of $3,000

Hours Played: 4
Total Hours Played: 68.5
Total Trip 1 Hours: 38.5
Game: 1/2
Location: Home-game

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Decided to hang out with some friends playing a 1/2. I lost most of my stack with AA K88 rainbow. Opponent stayed in the whole way with QJhh for runner runner flush. You want the bad calls all day long but wow.

Studying is going great.

I'm about a few more hours away from Maryland. My goal is to play a few hours tonight in to morning, back to hotel to get work done from like 4a - noon. 4 hour nap, 2 hours work and back to casino. It was nice to be home for a few days, back to 8 day poker schedule.

Chapter 2

Day 6 PT1 out of 14 (possibly 12)
Ch2 Starting Bankroll: $17,000
Current Bankroll: $19,550
Spending: $3595.00

Prorated July Expenses: $510 out of $500
August Expenses: $1594 out of $1,500
Next vacation money: $257 out of $3,500 (+$257)

Hours Played: 6
Total Hours Played: 74.5
Total Trip 1 Hours: 44.5
Game: 1/3
Location: Maryland

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Ran into KK with my QQ the first hand of the session. I was -$605 in the first hour. Grinded a little longer than I wanted, ended up +$257. One of my big hands was 67ss vs KK deep. I hit a straight. I also check raised 2 oops pair and flush draws which helped the momentum. Very tired, need to be up in 4 hours for job and then back to poker later today.

How does your wife feel about you spending weekend away playing poker? Just curious as it relates to my own situation.