Great stuff mate, any juicy hand histories for the lads?

solid year bro, look forward to future travel updates and might even catch you at PG when you come back to MTL!

Just read the whole thread, great job with the transition to 500nl!

What sorta stuff do you do at the gym? Bodybuilding type stuff? Hope that's going well too

vwp
not easy to beat 500 for a decent slug these days
gg

Thanks, gl to you too

Thanks for the sound advice, nice to get this type of input from someone playing 2k+. I have difficulty moving money around (Canadian banks are a real pain in the ass) but I'll look into it more in 2019. Playing 99% of my volume on stars is not that great.

You're right though, it's really fun jajajaja. If you win big, you feel like a king. If you lose couple buy-ins at 2k, you get this numb feeling of nothingness. Emotional roller-coaster pretty much.

+1

Thanks boss

Will be following yours as well

Will be nice to meet up in Rio

Thanks, gl to you too


10/10 degen, thanks for the classes

Lol I lost like 8k in less than 400 hands at 5k jajaja... Nothing to celebrate here

Thanks for the kind words, I hope I will

Yeah, I hope we can meet up as well eventually.

The other city we might do in Brazil is Florianapolis if ever.

Gl in 2019

Thanks

Thanks

Nah, I'm done w HHs lol. I might post some if I win a huge pot or something out of this world happens.

jajaja, i don't think you'll see me at a live table in the near future lol .

I have no patience for live play. If I had to play live for a living, I would find something else to do I think...

However, I'm down to meet up in a non poker setting when I'll be back. Don't know yet, but probably at the beginning of summer. Glgl

Thanks,

Hmmm, I do exercises just to look good really. I don't really want big muscles or be super strong. I just want to look good naked pretty much.

So a bunch of abs and upper body stuff. I do legs as well because it feels good afterwards (I like the post workout pain).

The other reason I exercise is because it helps me cope w poker and the swings and the emotional roller coasters. It provides stability in my life and helps me think clearer. Also a good way to fight depression and anxiety.

Thanks

I wouldn't say this is statement is true though. I think that anybody who puts daily work in poker off the the tables and plays decent volume (80k+ hands/month) can beat 500z. Also, having a good poker entourage certainly helps as well.

Glgl

dunno dude im putting in like 12 hours a day on average doing this **** and strugglign in basically micros ffs maybe ur just high(er) iq

Good year, Princess Elsa. Well deserved! Keep the grind up! I'll see you in 2019.

What's your poker entourage look like? Feel like this is really important.

gl this year!


this is stupid, quality over quantity when you are trying to learn the game and improve

How is your mental game? In the micros and with the volume you put it's probably going really hard on your mental game, micros are really tilting and you get massive punishment for bad plays while not as much rewards for good plays, so it's very easy to go nuts playing that much of micros. And there are lots of people with very high IQs that will never be able to be +EV at this game imo, mmasherdog said you don't need necessarily a very high IQ to play poker well and said doug polk is good at poker but is a very dumb person lol.


I think studying a lot and playing a lot is very good for improving, but while doing it you will always play your B game at best, so at some point it's a good idea to play less but with a better mental game. Specially after you yhink you have more knowledge of the game than your opponents.

Btw, OP, how many leg days/week? Love leg day lol. It's the only day I don't lift the same weights as skinny gym regs and old grandmas lol (the grandmas of my gym are ripped jfc haha)

Just found this thread, good stuff! I can use this for motivation for my pgc thread.

I used to always really struggle with the balance, anxiety, partying (way) too much too.

I lived abroad in a lot of the places you have been bopping around in, was king degen down there for a lot of years. Those years long passed me by but hearing you talk about me makes me reminisce about some of the good times, thanks for that.

Best of luck to you! It looks like you are living life to the fullest, and that is truly great.

Glad to see you doing well, all the best in 2019 <3

in my opinion in 2019 it should just be quality over quantity regardless, no sites rewards high volume anymore anyway

Get a coach. I struggled at the micros as well but I was too stubborn to take a coach so it took me forever to get out of the dumpster. Don't make the same mistake.

Thanks, did we play vs each other?

My poker entourage is well varied, I have friends that play 50nl, some play up to 10knl, some are mtt pros, others only play live. But the thing is, I don't talk much strategy w these guys even. Most of the stuff I do is on my own.

However, they all have a common denominator. They are all trying to become a better person and better at life. That's why I hang out/talk w these people specifically. It's not because of poker really. It's mostly to understand what they are doing to improve at life. And to share books, knowledge about meditation, talk about diet, what training they do, etc.

So yeah, by entourage, I mean, try surrounding yourself w a group of people that are positive and are trying to learn and improve daily.

Thanks, you too.

I agree to some extent. I do believe that when you're at micro and low stakes, putting big volume to build a roll and get out of 100-200nl asap is very important.

Depends, when I'm tryharding gym , I go 6 days/week (mostly when I'm back in Canada) so about two leg days for the week.

When I'm travelling or when I'm playing a lot of tennis, I go to the gym every second day only, so 3-4 times/week. So 1 leg day/week in that instance.

Yeah balance is an ever struggle for me as well. I always want to focus on one thing, either parting, drinking, going out, drugs, get girls or play poker, study like crazy, healthy lifestyle, etc.

I was a decent degen in Lima, but so far in Rio, I have been focused only on poker, will see how long this lasts though lol.

Like I said, I feel very lucky and grateful for the life I'm living right now.

Best of luck to you too

Thanks, wish you the same

PP doesn't seem too bad to build a bankroll at the micros.

Quote:
I agree to some extent. I do believe that when you're at micro and low stakes, putting big volume to build a roll and get out of 100-200nl asap is very important.

So you think its better to play like 4z tables instead of 2 and give up some winrate?

IMO it's better to not play zoom at all until you can afford to play nl200. Just bumhunt reg tables and aggressively take shots.

Well done! I look forward to follow your 2019 hope it will be a good year

Hola!

Long time no talk. Thought I would do an update for the end of the year.

Results



Graph $



Graph bb



Also won an additional 9k on other sites. Probably around 133k winnings for the year playing cash.

So.. yeah. I have mixed feelings abt this past year. Sure, it was the best year of my life. Both financially and on the personal level. But I'm still a bit disappointed w my results

It's the third year in a row that I make 100k+ which is ok, but I haven't taken the next step where crushers make 170k, 200k, 300k +, etc.

But tbf, I hadn't made money this year until mid June... which is insane. I lost or broke even EV wise from December 2018 until April 2019. Thats 5 month straight of losing poker basically...

Idk what happened, couldn't win anywhere really. 1k and 2k were not going well. 500z was super volatile as well.

In the end, I managed to turn it around when I came back to Canada around mid may. From there on, I went on a nice upswing until the moment I went back abroad which was in November... And to no surprise, returned to break-even/losing poker lol... Can't win when abroad lol, just completely ridiculous.

Ohh well.. it is what it is.

Stakes wise, I have no clue how to beat 1k (cursed stake). I also haven't been able to win at 500z since June. No clue why so? Maybe because I've been playing 1k-5k, I treat 500z like it's nothing whenever I play it and don't care enough? Perhaps. I'd like to think otherwise, but it might be that.

However, proud of my 2k results. 2k carried my year. 5k was going fine up until December where I dropped near 50k there... so yeah. Still a lot to learn there. Regs are good, tough. Nobody folds. It's hell.

I think if you make it to 5k and have a winning sample over decent amount of hands, and get to hold the lobby there, you've basically made it in poker.

It's probably the last big jump in stakes in the online poker world. So, I'll try to reach it over the upcoming year.

As for my win-rate, it's not that great tbh (aside from 2k). I do however do a lot of regbattling. Will play anyone 3handed at 2k. And I've also played in games where I was the clear dog (at 2k and 5k). Hmm, yeah it's a bit reckless, but I believe it's the fastest way, and one of the better ways, to improve and learn. When playing vs the best in the world, you gain so much knowledge and you eventually become closer to them; reducing the gap between yourself and them. And obv studying the hhs afterwards. So yeah, this has been my approach this year.

Biggest pots this year

1) This guy is just unbeatable

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $50/$100 ($20 ante) - 6 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

UTG: $21,447.79 (214 bb)
MP: $26,210.13 (262 bb)
CO (Hero): $31,105.89 (311 bb)
BU: $23,865.56 (239 bb)
SB: $27,428.39 (274 bb)
BB: $15,567.01 (156 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($270) Hero is CO with 9♦ T♦
2 players fold, Hero raises to $227, 2 players fold, BB calls $127

Flop: ($624) K♣ Q♦ 4♦ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $619, BB calls $619

Turn: ($1,862) 8♥ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $2,878.35, BB calls $2,878.35

River: ($7,618.70) A♥ (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $27,361.54 (all-in), BB calls $11,822.66 (all-in)

Total pot: $31,264.02 (Rake: $5)

Showdown:
CO (Hero) shows 9♦ T♦ (high card, Ace)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 48%, Flop: 47%, Turn: 27%, River: 0%)

BB shows K♠ 7♣ (a pair of Kings)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 52%, Flop: 53%, Turn: 73%, River: 100%)

BB wins $31,259.02

2) ughhhh

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $25/$50 - 6 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

UTG: $5,447.00 (109 bb)
MP: $5,834.05 (117 bb)
CO: $5,147.00 (103 bb)
BU (Hero): $10,114.04 (202 bb)
SB: $19,532.39 (391 bb)
BB: $7,272.04 (145 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($75) Hero is BTN with K♥ K♠
3 players fold, Hero raises to $100, SB 3-bets to $475, 1 fold, Hero 4-bets to $1,475, SB 5-bets to $3,000, Hero calls $1,525

Flop: ($6,050) 9♣ T♦ 4♥ (2 players)
SB bets $3,000, Hero calls $3,000

Turn: ($12,050) T♣ (2 players)
SB bets $5,700, Hero calls $4,114.04 (all-in)

First River: ($20,278.08) J♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Second River: ($20,278.08) Q♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $20,278.08 (Rake: $3)

First Showdown: Board: 9♣ T♦ 4♥ T♣ J♣

SB shows T♥ Q♥ (three of a kind, Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 18%, Flop: 23%, Turn: 95%, River: 100%)

BU (Hero) shows K♥ K♠ (two pair, Kings and Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 82%, Flop: 77%, Turn: 5%, River: 0%)

SB wins $10,137.54

Second Showdown: Board: 9♣ T♦ 4♥ T♣ Q♣

SB shows T♥ Q♥ (a full house, Tens full of Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 18%, Flop: 23%, Turn: 95%, River: 100%)

BU (Hero) shows K♥ K♠ (two pair, Kings and Tens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 82%, Flop: 77%, Turn: 5%, River: 0%)

SB wins $10,137.54

3) Meh... this never works lol

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $25/$50 - 3 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

BU: $7,010.93 (140 bb)
SB (Hero): $9,741.93 (195 bb)
BB: $14,963.88 (299 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($75) Hero is SB with J♦ J♣
1 fold, Hero calls $25, BB raises to $200, Hero 3-bets to $725, BB calls $525

Flop: ($1,450) T♦ 7♣ K♣ (2 players)
Hero bets $376.48, BB raises to $1,129.50, Hero calls $753.02

Turn: ($3,709) Q♠ (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $1,853.50, Hero raises to $7,887.43 (all-in), BB calls $6,033.93

First River: ($19,483.86) 8♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Second River: ($19,483.86) 3♥ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $19,483.86 (Rake: $2)

First Showdown: Board: T♦ 7♣ K♣ Q♠ 8♦

SB (Hero) shows J♦ J♣ (a pair of Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 84%, Flop: 71%, Turn: 8%, River: 0%)

BB shows 9♠ J♠ (a straight, Nine to King)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 16%, Flop: 29%, Turn: 92%, River: 100%)

BB wins $9,740.93

Second Showdown: Board: T♦ 7♣ K♣ Q♠ 3♥

SB (Hero) shows J♦ J♣ (a pair of Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 84%, Flop: 71%, Turn: 8%, River: 0%)

BB shows 9♠ J♠ (a straight, Nine to King)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 16%, Flop: 29%, Turn: 92%, River: 100%)

BB wins $9,740.93

4) Nty cashout option

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $25/$50 - 3 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

BU: $9,166.86 (183 bb)
SB: $6,131.34 (123 bb)
BB (Hero): $6,205.34 (124 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($75) Hero is BB with K♥ K♣
BTN raises to $130.50, SB 3-bets to $600, Hero 4-bets to $1,350, BTN 5-bets to $9,166.86 (all-in), SB calls $5,531.34 (all-in), Hero calls $4,855.34 (all-in)

First Flop: ($18,542.02) 9♠ 3♥ J♣ (3 players, 3 all-in)

First Turn: ($18,542.02) J♦ (3 players, 3 all-in)

First River: ($18,542.02) 8♦ (3 players, 3 all-in)

Second Flop: ($18,542.02) 2♥ 4♣ 6♣ (3 players, 3 all-in)

Second Turn: ($18,542.02) 7♦ (3 players, 3 all-in)

Second River: ($18,542.02) K♠ (3 players, 3 all-in)

Total pot: $18,542.02 (Rake: $2)

First Showdown: Board: 9♠ 3♥ J♣ J♦ 8♦

BU shows Q♦ Q♠ (two pair, Queens and Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 3%, Flop: 1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) shows K♥ K♣ (two pair, Kings and Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 96%, Flop: 97%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

SB shows Q♥ Q♣ (two pair, Queens and Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 1%, Flop: 1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) wins $9,270.01

Second Showdown: Board: 2♥ 4♣ 6♣ 7♦ K♠

BU shows Q♦ Q♠ (a pair of Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 3%, Flop: 1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) shows K♥ K♣ (three of a kind, Kings)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 96%, Flop: 99%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

SB shows Q♥ Q♣ (a pair of Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 1%, Flop: 1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) wins $9,270.01

5) Biggest hand in terms of bb

PokerStars Zoom, Hold'em No Limit - $2.50/$5.00 - 6 players
Hand delivered by Upswing Poker

UTG: $684.92 (137 bb)
MP: $500.00 (100 bb)
CO: $673.65 (135 bb)
BU: $500.00 (100 bb)
SB (Hero): $2,555.20 (511 bb)
BB: $1,968.06 (394 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($7.50) Hero is SB with A♥ A♦
4 players fold, Hero raises to $15, BB 3-bets to $45, Hero 4-bets to $100, BB 5-bets to $200, Hero 6-bets to $600, BB calls $400

Flop: ($1,200) A♣ 9♠ 9♥ (2 players)
Hero bets $311.22, BB calls $311.22

Turn: ($1,822.44) 4♥ (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $1,056.84 (all-in), Hero calls $1,056.84

River: ($3,936.12) 3♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $3,936.12 (Rake: $3)

Showdown:
BB shows K♠ A♠ (two pair, Aces and Nines)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 12%, Flop: <1%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

SB (Hero) shows A♥ A♦ (a full house, Aces full of Nines)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 88%, Flop: >99%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

SB (Hero) wins $3,933.12


So yeah... that was my poker year pretty much.

As for irl stuff this year, it was pretty crazy. Was always on the move this year. Traveled a lot, met a bunch of new friends, experienced new things, etc.

I started the year in Lima alongside ggbruce and some polish poker friends. Went to Machu Pichu, etc. Was cool.

Then, around mid January, went to Rio for like 50 days or so. Ammadnav, giova, gdz4hotwings and SoF came to visit. I had such a good time there.

Met at the beach lol



Afterwards, just before carnival, I left to BsAs for like 3 weeks. Rly liked it in Argentina even though the city itself is just incredibly massive and big. The meat is ridic and the women are pretty.

Came back to Rio again after that in like mid March for another month. Played that 10k donkament at Copacabana Palace. Made day 2 but busted towards the end of the day. RIP. All the Swedish poker guys were in town; was a lot of fun. Had a few memorable dinners during that time. Shout out to Marcus, David, Micheal and Kris

My friend Phil and I



Then, went to Belo Horizonte to meet up w a German poker friend of mine and ended up staying a bit more than a month. The city itself was w/e. Cool but nothing crazy.

And finally, after nearly 6 months abroad, came back home around mid-may or so.

Basically, alternated between Quebec City-Montreal-Toronto from mid May to October. It felt good to be back home, but at the same time, was a bit boring.

Also went to NYC for like 4 days in October to visit some friends and go out/party. Had a blast.

NYC



So this bring me to early November. I left for some sturf town in Costa Rica called Santa Teresa for about 3 weeks w a close irl friend of mine. Was cool. Beautiful place but super remote. The nature was pretty sick though. The waves, the beach, the animals. Everything was "wild". Internet was busto though.

"Pro-surfer" me



Finally, at the end of November, I went to Sao Paulo to meet up w my good poker friend Zinhaoo and to play the BSOP. Had an awesome time there as well. Ran deep in the HR, and made my first live cash. Wouhou!!

Made some new friends too: shout out to Max, Rodrigo, Saulo and Luigi

Could only find this busto IG story from all of us lol



So after that... came back to Canada on December 16th... but left again six days later for a seven day cruise in the Caribbean w my family for Xmas. Went to Honduras, Belize, Mexico and the Bahamas. Was alright but a bit boring.

And so now, I'm back in Montreal. Planning to go back to BsAs before the end of January w my good friend gdz4hotwings for a month or two. Just to play poker and tennis everyday. Then, idk. We'll have to see.

As for some personal achievements, I managed to learn Spanish last year which has proven to be v useful given that I've been spending a lot of time in SA during these last two years.

For 2020, I already started learning Portuguese. Definitely harder than Spanish, but not impossible. Studying everyday for like 30min or so.

I also plugged a lot of irl leaks over the course of the last two years which I'm rly proud of. I am much more confident in myself, less awkward and shy socially, way better w girls in general. Much more patient, composed. Just a better human being. I'm happy of the person I am becoming. I see massive improvements whenever I look back at who I was 1-2 years ago.

I also have been seeing a psychiatrist regularly ever since September to talk about whatever issues I have (both irl and poker wise) and trying to work them out. It's been proving to be v helpful so far. I was on the fence before starting it, but now I see benefits already from these regular sessions. It basically gives me the same therapeutic feeling that I get after working out. This general serenity, calmness and the feeling that you are able to cope w w/e issue or problem that might arise.

Anyways, this is pretty much it. Sick year overall.

Oh and shout out to Clanty w whom I study regularly. Most knowledgeable person I know in poker.

Cheers,

Great update and sounds like a sick year this year mate - given the line ups you are playing your results are really quite sick and the volume is also very good for these stakes.

Particularly jealous of Costa Rica, looks like a great time.

Glgl in 2020 and beyond.

awesome update, enjoyed speaking with you on and off on skype this year and also on the podcast. huge respect for your approach to battling and moving up in a time in poker where very few people do, you definitely had an influence on me pushing myself harder last year as well. keep well and see you at the tables

best of luck this year! win it all <3

Very nice update friend and glad to hear poker is still going well Send a pm if you come down to SA this winter, it would be nice to hangout

Hey man nice year, great recap. I lived in BsAs for much of about 9 years total; it’s my favorite city ainec. Definitely do some traveling around Argentina (and the beaches of Uruguay) while you’re there, PM me if you want. Good you learned Spanish. If you want to really understand and be a part of the culture it’s a must.

Good volume too. With everyone making fewer mistakes we are just going to be at the mercy of the variance train from time to time. Glad to see you popped out of it for a nice year.

Cheers & GL

Seems your 2019 was a blast, looks amazing. Results are solid for the avarage stake you play, variance is a ***** and I bet traveling this much had an impact aswell. Just lock yourself in a basement this year, so we can have more graph porn on 2+2

gl in 2020

Gj w the volume! Really think you should ditch 500z, you are better off doing something else or studying when there are no games.

Also inspiring work on yourself outside the tables. You have one very important task to make in 2020, gl with that.