(Can't remember login info, it's been over a year. I simply added a 2 to my username)

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/1...5-plo-1647993/

===

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a year since I've been around 2+2. So much has happened in 2018, I wanted to give a brief recap and talk about my goals in 2019.

- At the end of December, I discovered some old crypto wallets I had stored away that were worth a significant amount of money

- Although I didn't sell at the top, I sold for a healthy profit in Q1 of 2018.

- I played a few 10/20 and 5/10/20 games throughout the year. Although I didn't lose my shirt, I didn't enjoy playing at that level even though I was bankrolled for it.

- I spent about 4 months away from the poker tables (aside from some low limit PLO and NL home games)

- During the last 4 months, I've dedicated a significant amount of time studying the game from CrushLivePoker.

- I've plugged so many leaks that I either didn't realize or too stubborn to see.

- I'm back to playing 1/3 NL for fun. I'll mix in some 2/5 into my sessions for 2019. I love learning about the game, I obviously play to win, but have no emotional attachment to the money at these limits.

- This break was the best thing I could have done. I'm really loving poker again like I did when I first saw Rounders.

- I've spent a good amount of time floating around Thailand and Philippines in 2018. In 2019, I'm looking forward to staying closer to friends and family in the US.

- In the last 18 months, I've lost almost 100 pounds.

- I'm happy to be back.


2019 Goals

[ ] Play at least 800 hours of poker

[ ] Spend at least 5 hours per week on poker study

[ ] Continue building my crypto side business

[ ] Workout at least 3 days per week

[ ] 2 hours a week of quality time with friends

[ ] 3 hours a week of gaming (PS4/PC gaming is a great stress reliever for me)

[ ] 30 min a week of mental game


Game: Mix of 1/3 and some 2/5

Hours: 28 hrs 15 min

Total: $2,486 (aka nice heater)

I'm mixing in a little 6 max into my game when I have some free time. I've spent the last month working through CrushLivePoker Fast Track Videos plugging leaks and working on aggression. I'm calling far too light on the river for this stake. Little evidence of value owning, river bets seem to be very polar. I have a habit of thinking everyone is trying to make a play at me. I recognize it's an issue.


-=* * =-

Game: 25/50 NL Ignition 6 Max

Hours: 3 hr 20 min

Total: $137.00


Game: Mix of 1/3 and some 2/5

Hours: 28 hrs 15 min

Total: $2,486 (aka nice heater)

I took today off to start an early birthday celebration. So instead of getting a good night sleep, I've been playing 25 and 50 NL online for the last 5 hours. Lots and Lots of isolation and 3 betting. I'm working on being over aggressive so I can start scaling it back. I've been up and down a few buy-ins all night.

Headed to MGM National Harbor this weekend.

-=* * =-

Game: 25 and 50 NL Ignition 6 Max

Hours: 8 hr 20 min

Total: $221.00


Game: Mix of 1/3 and some 2/5

Hours: 28 hrs 15 min

Total: $2,486 (aka nice heater)

Continuing doing well, played 13 hours at MGM National at the 1/3 for +354. I'm about to take a nap and head back to the casino for about 17 hours (fingers crossed). When I'm home on Monday, I'll outline my thoughts. Discovered a bunch of leaks I'm looking forward to resolving.

-=* * =-

Game: 25 and 50 NL Ignition 6 Max

Hours: 8 hr 20 min

Total: $221.00


Game: Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 41 hrs 15 min

Total: $2,839

Like anything else in life, sometimes plans change. A friend messaged me last night that a few of the guys are grilling steak and watching football. I decided to come back early. Had another great night, I was down 2 buy-ins early with a big flush/gutty bluff (villain had rockets which gave the table a chuckle) and my FH 22 A4429 into A4. Luckily, I was able to chip away with lots of 3 betting and a big hand 99 A99 into AK. People tend to think I'm a maniac and call me lighter than they probably should. I'm still playing too many hands and need to work on my bet sizing and overbets. +494 5.15 hours.

A few random thoughts:

- With my style, I have no doubt in mind that I should expect big swings with this type of aggression at lower stakes.

- Rob F from CrushLivePoker talks about being willing to accept playing worse in order to play better with experimentation.

- I'm finding a lot of freedom being able to experiment when the money isn't that significant.

- I'm doing a much better job watching all the hands rather than screwing around on my phone. I try to figure out ranges when I'm not in a hand.

- I'm happy with my mental game progress.
https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Game-P.../dp/B005RZRHDG

- Even with my 2 bi drop within the first 45 min, I'm having the time of life. I can't stress this enough, it's a blast.

-=* * =-

Game: 25 and 50 NL Ignition 6 Max

Hours: 8 hr 20 min

Total: $221.00


Game: Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 46 hrs 30 min

Total: $3,333 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

Enjoyed your first thread. Nice job cashing out your crypto ��.

Now, let's see some PLO smashing!

Hey, nice to hear from you. Thank you for the reminder, I forgot to mention PLO on my 2019 goals. I'm still spending time each week working through training material. I plan to add that back into the mix over the next few months after plugging some major PLO leaks.

Friends though I was crazy cashing out of my crypto cash so early. I just wanted to be cash flush, it wasn't like I had some type of major insight. I'm glad it worked out

I had a great time watching football with the crew and playing a small casual 1/3 $100 stacks game. I'm playing most hands, I'm not trying to lose but I'm also not trying to to figure out capped ranges. Played 4 hrs and 15 min and made $135. We drank a lot of beer, grabbed some dinner at a steak house and finished some CrushLivePoker studying before bed.

It was great connecting with everyone. We're talking about taking the RV and headed to MGM in the coming weeks as a group. I'm sure we can find some trouble.

Tonight I'm heading back to the gym and continuing to improve my eating habits a little more each day.

-=* * =-


Game: Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 50 hrs 45 min

Total: $3,468 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

GL this year with the goals. I'm curious to know which training site or material are you using for PLO?

Thanks for the positive vibes for 2019, I hope the same for your goals. I'm a big fan of the Jeff Hwang series of books. As for video training, I use CrushLivePoker for both PLO and NLH. Even the short handed book from Hwang forced me to look at the game from different perspectives even playing full ring live.

Thank you, will look into it.

Today's Random Poker Thoughts

1)

In another PG&C thread a follow, the topic of people making comments at the table came up. Here's how I deal with people getting upset at me at the poker table for how I played a hand:

"The lack of emotional control at the tables can be a great source of entertainment. I usually completely ignore comments directed at me. If I'm bored, I might say something like:

- I love any hand with a 5 in it (especially if there was no 5)
- At this hour I only play red cards

Not in a whinny b*tch tone, but sheer conviction/confusion with a smile. In fact, I'm smiling right now just typing it. Keeping the table mood light for bad gamblers is part of the winrate."

2)

Although I'm not in my poker temple praying to go on a downswing tomorrow, I'm looking forward to seeing if the work I did on tilt control (mental game series of Jared Tendler) took hold. For me, it all boils down to if bad players aren't making poor plays, the money would dry up.

Played the same low buy-in 1/3 game at my friend's house for 3 hours. I was down $150 the first 30 ish minutes when my QQ ran into AK all-in. Nothing terribly exciting about the hands, isolated and value bet hard. Ended up +$251.

I wish this run was at 5/10 this summer.

-=* * =-

Game: Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 53 hrs 45 min

Total: $3,717 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

I woke up early to study 1.5 hours (CLP-Top Section #7 Floats and Small Flop Checkraises). I've been trying to add more flop checkraises into my game recently. I'm working through floating vs flop CR against different textures and villian tendencies.

30 min walk later tonight and 30 minute drumming cardio.

I was worried about getting stuck in Maryland this weekend with the weather, so I decided to stay close to home. Had a friend introduce me to a new home game (we have quite a few in the area). Good group of guys.

1/3 * 4 hours * +$281

Nothing terribly exciting. I've added a little more flop bluff raising and value bet when I had it. I did bluff a guy off kings, I noticed he limped AK and AQ earlier which lead me to believe he's only raising big pocket pairs. When the flop came an A, I thought it was likely he couldn't hold on.

Nice heater, no complaints.

I also spent 3 hours on CLP - Top Section study.


-=* * =-

Game: Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 57 hrs 45 min

Total: $3,998 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

Found a 1/2 game tonight (never here on the weekends). I fly out in about 8 hours for work, since I won't have time for poker next week, I thought why not.

1/2 * 4 hours * -$51 Finally had a losing session.

Most of it was fairly standard, lots of pocket pairs that didn't hit and missed flops. I stole quite a few small pots and experiments with 25% flops on some flops with the intention of taking it away on the turn.

Here's $45 of my loss (effective stacks $190):

MP 1: Raise to $11
MP 2: Call $11
Hero HJ: 3bet to $45 with AJo
Button: 4 bet to $105

4bet at 1/2 is a unicorn. I kept entertained watching most hands putting people on ranges. I'm working to stay more engaged when I'm not in a hand. Drank a few beers, munched on some lasagna and met some new friends. +ev

I'll see you all again next week.


-=* * =-

Game: Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 61 hrs 45 min

Total: $3,947 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

I'm still traveling for work and found a little casino (not on Bravo) that had 4 1/2 games running. It wasn't that. enjoyable, lots of angry nits complaining about everything ranging from dealing unlucky cards to 'the guy that keeps raising my limps' (ooops hehe).

1/2 - 3.5 hours +$161

I made a few poor bluffs that were snapped.

Situation 1: Naked A flush bluff.
Situation 2: 922 flop, bluff raised, op shoved (96s)

I staddled the whole time (button) and 2 others started to do the same. Most of my profit came from stealing since most at 1/2 have no idea how to adjust to straddles.

-=* * =-

Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 65 hrs 15 min

Total: $4,108 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

Work was insane the past week, mostly 7a - 10pm. I fly back home Fri night, I planned to take a powernap and head to MGM for the weekend. My body decided to reject that idea and I slept until about 1pm Saturday. I've been spending the day working on my 3bet ranges in and out of the blinds. Tomorrow, I want to focus on some check-raising spots I know I'm leaking money.


-=* * =-

Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 65 hrs 15 min

Total: $4,108 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

I woke up 2 hours early + lunch to study the following:

1 hr mental game
1 hr check raising spots
1 hr 3betting and overbetting

-=* * =-

Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 65 hrs 15 min

Total: $4,108 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

3 hrs - $900

1. I tried to get cute with 99 on 765 -$300
2. 55 AK5, he has KK -$300
3. Flush draw, OESD, I end up turning my river J into a bluff -$300

Aside from #1, #2 and #3 were standard


-=* * =-

Mix of 1/3 and 2/5

Hours: 68 hrs 15 min

Total: $3,208 (poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

1/2 deep home game



4.5 hours +$371

I'll update the totals and post some thoughts later today.

2019 Check-Up

- I'm typically one of the most aggressive players at the table
- I'm purposely going to the far extreme and then focus on scaling it back
- Giving lots of action on small pots helps me get paid off on large pots
- Keeping the atmosphere light and fun (not fake) is profitable
- People seem to buy-in deeper whenever I arrive. I assume I'm perceived as the donator. I do nothing to try to change that opinion
- Aside from a few solid players at these lower limits, I can tell I'm perceived as a whale. I do some blind raises near the button, straddles now and then, play a lot of small pots etc...
- I'm value owning myself more and more which I believe is an improvement. Most river bets tend to be polar from opponents. I'm learning to pay more and more attentions to showdowns.
- I dusted off $300 last night in the first 20 minutes. Nobody likes to lose, but I'm proud it didn't bother me much. Tilt control is not automatic for me, I'm still actively working on it.
- I still get way too lazy on hand-reading, I'm working on it each game.

Life is good, enjoying cleaning up leaks each day I play.


-=* * =-

1/2 - 2/5

Hours: 72 hrs 45 min

Total: $3,579 (secondary poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

1/3 ^ 2.5 hours ^ $200

Nothing really interesting to report. Lost a few flips and runner runners, otherwise, very happy with my play. This is one of the shallower 1/3 games, so I decided to get a decent night sleep. I'm taking tomorrow off and then off to MGM NH for 25+ hours 1/3 and 2/5.


-=* * =-

1/2 - 2/5

Hours: 75 hrs 15 min

Total: $3,379 (secondary poker bankroll is around $35k that's reserved as I move to higher limits)

Headed to MGM NH tonight. Here are my goals:

1. Play at least 25 hours by Sun 10pm
2. Watch as many flops as possible and think about different hands to continue
3. Focus on my isolating and 3 betting ranges
4. Pay more attention to blockers, pot odds

11 hours * 1/3 MGM NH * +$1366


Tired, I will update later tonight after some sleep.. its about a 10 hour round trip. Yeah, I'm crazy. lol

I'm still on track with some local games to hit my 25 hours this weekend.