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08-01-2021 , 03:43 AM
Hello folks! My name is Ahti, long-term lowstakes-midstakes grinder from Finland. No-limit holdem online player .

English is not my first language so I do look to write in a simple manner and keep this understandable to everyone including myself.

... I was at my friends wedding yesterday, had fun . Also it was first alcohol I drink in a month and I do want to keep it that way (staying sober) .

Tomorrow I will be flying to Thailand ,... it's going to be 2 weeks in quarantine hotel room, my girlfriend comes from the Philippines to join me so it won't be that lonely, although we do have to stay in separate rooms.

I would like to write about poker goals later . My personal goal is to stay sober and healthy , keep up with exercising .

I have a strong tendency to go very hard with drinking . Yesterday was chilled and enjoyed the special event , didn't go crazy . I think taking long breaks from it helps somehow (from going crazy) . Also I've been working on stress management lately .


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I'm not very obsessed with anything, things go on their own pace pretty much . Something I could do more would be keeping up with pio-solver studies (sometimes doing more and sometimes less) , making it a habit to do solver work before playing would for sure be good, so I start with that as only thing I want to progress and will keep an eye on it . It's quite an important key to success with poker , although many players think they can replace it by listening to speech from a video (and paying for it) .
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08-01-2021 , 11:38 AM
In! GL!

I think having solid warm ups/cool downs is the way to go for sure. Pio/hh review before playing is a good idea.
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08-01-2021 , 12:57 PM
Glgl
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08-02-2021 , 08:55 AM
Thanks guys!

Came up my girlfriend was denied entry to her Singapore Airlines flight bcz "Thailand app", didn't worked. I wasn't even asked for it.

Sad situation but have to accept things as soon as possible and stay strong she just comes afterwards and it will be okay.
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08-04-2021 , 01:04 AM
GL!
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08-05-2021 , 07:16 AM
glgl Kiljusieppo!

I had some minor problems with alcohol use when I was younger - it really sucks that it is pushed onto you in so many social situations. Ideally you get to a point where you can have 1-2 beers with friends and have no problem - but not everything has that relationship with alcohol.

One question -

For a 100/200nl grinder wanting to move up, reg tables or zoom?
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08-05-2021 , 08:15 AM
Thank you Road & Shipit!

Busy day's . We organized new flight to girlfriend and papers from immigration she just jumped to her flight a bit stressful start to this trip , as her country will go to lockdown on 8th was pretty much only change to get her to come today . Haven't seen her in 8 months so quite happy (if she passes the notorious "Thai-immigration") ofc. lol .

Alcohol played a role with my mental issues , however it started during a strict lockdown that I was getting to somewhat manic episode's in my life last year. Being manic is like fire to mind, sleeping little and wanting to achieve something fast . Started getting delusional and was bothering lots of people fully unnecessarily , it was sad cycle . After had to travel back to home I lived with my parents and alone a bunch this year , had to rebuild my game after the winter having put me to depression and I was then too obsessed with exercise and trying to live perfect (yet having unhappy and too hard mindset) and sort of "failing" to drink again. I think most of my tendencies are just typical for us folks from northern Europe / Slavic countries , having to suffer and go hard kind of mindset - cultural heritage . Asian's have a more relaxed pace and mindset , living in an energy saving mode and I really like it .


Finally back to playing up to 2knl again and having a feeling that things are in my own hands . I'm quite sure it will stay that way as I've start to enjoy things I'm doing and not really forcing anything . lost weight and did do plenty of running last month , currently having to stick to home-workouts as being in a locked down hotel room .

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Regarding zoom / normal tables I think one thing is well known : winrates at soft sites such as ignition are in generally way higher than elsewhere. I've been getting decent Rb deals from pokerstars and the games have been tough enough to keep motivation to get to top of my game after each downswing. I think if you don't enjoy playing regular tables and can beat the zoom for acceptable winrate and enjoy it then it's good to stick with it (at least until you play 500nl and up).
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08-05-2021 , 09:07 AM


Cool hand from last month, hard to remember how to post image.
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08-05-2021 , 09:18 AM
Upload to imgur -> get share links -> BB code
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08-07-2021 , 10:52 AM
Good luck buddy.
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08-08-2021 , 12:35 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by _jimbo_
Good luck buddy.
Thanks jimbo .
...

Today is day 6 of hotel quarantine. Feels pretty much the same as any other times in an Asian city during a lockdown, just not much to do but to stay inside. Playing few hours a day , getting some action during the mornings at 1k / 2k usually which is nice. Playing Europe day/ evening would need to play quite a bit with regs to get seats at those games particularly at stars. I've lost my interest overall to play with regs, game selection is important and so is also putting energy to beneficial things . Also I'm sure there would be line-ups where I would be an underdog .

Food is pretty bad in this quarantine hotel but that was also kind of expected. I just eat less and am selective with what I do eat .
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08-08-2021 , 02:56 AM
Followed. GL!
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08-08-2021 , 10:35 AM
In. GL
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08-08-2021 , 02:52 PM
Quote:
Asian's have a more relaxed pace and mindset , living in an energy saving mode and I really like it .
Have you been to Japan haha? Never been to Thailand but felt it wasn't the case in Japan/Taiwan
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08-08-2021 , 08:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2021shipit
Have you been to Japan haha? Never been to Thailand but felt it wasn't the case in Japan/Taiwan
I haven't been to Japan, was planning to go before covid came, interested in quite few things there.

Visited Taiwan for a week 4 years ago, did fly from Macau to Taichung and went from there with train to Taipei. Food is very good in Taiwan but its definitely quite busy over there.

Day off and time to give 2nd covid test . They take 3 tests in this two week quarantine.
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08-08-2021 , 09:53 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiljusieppo
I haven't been to Japan, was planning to go before covid came, interested in quite few things there.

Visited Taiwan for a week 4 years ago, did fly from Macau to Taichung and went from there with train to Taipei. Food is very good in Taiwan but its definitely quite busy over there.

Day off and time to give 2nd covid test . They take 3 tests in this two week quarantine.
Yes the night markets are amazing. cheap and hot food after a good night, not much more u can ask for in life
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08-09-2021 , 08:22 AM
Plan to stay in BKK after ASQ? I live here too, so holla if you want a pal (also a mid-stakes boi)
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08-10-2021 , 01:26 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bagpuss
Plan to stay in BKK after ASQ? I live here too, so holla if you want a pal (also a mid-stakes boi)
Yeah, have a condo for two months after this . For sure would be down to meet . We are looking to move to Ko Samui though,... will see when.

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Made two play's today which I didn't really like (other one is perfect in pio world and other is just fine but pre-flop blunder / just a hand that doesn't really go to that range ever) . Basically both were just hands I try to create more action than what would be necessary because feeling bit bored . I hope to be more mindful of this quarantine having start to affect a bit mentally and just play more solid again.
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08-13-2021 , 02:48 AM
Day 11 or quarantine, getting soon out of here.

Took the mental note of those hands I mention last post , still keeping with the pace of making 1-3 plays daily which I'm not the biggest fan. Results have been good lately and I'm quite happy with my game , reduced eating again (was at a point ordering french fries and club sandwiches after got tired of the food but now stopped again with that stuff, eating less and feeling better). I miss doing sports , it's going to be a lockdown after getting out of here which means best to start just doing home work-outs at condo as it's better than nothing ... haven't done it here because not feeling like doing much in small room. ( bad excuse I know)

Last edited by Kiljusieppo; 08-13-2021 at 02:57 AM.
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08-15-2021 , 10:55 PM
Hit the 20 buy in "downswing", some of it at 2k so that wiped my results of this month away in few days pretty much. Played a good amount of 200 nl zoom yesterday, can't say to get confidence back as I didn't really lost it at any point but to sort of ensure getting to right track as fast as possible.

Working moderate but fairly high hours over the week, only did 2 work-outs in this 2 week quarantine which is way too little. It's a bit bad excuse that I don't like to work-out in small room, however I am 100% confident I will be working out nearly every day if can do running or gym so I try not to be pressured with not working out. My brother finished iron-man thriathlon race with a decent result day before yesterday, happy for him. I'm not really into races or taking sport that seriously but rather find it just very enjoyable to run in particularly, hope can do that in Koh - Samui
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08-16-2021 , 04:25 AM
glgl what I am doing since a month now is just trying to do 100 push ups during the day. 10 everytime when I take a break, which takes like 10 seconds. Obviously its nothing and you def have to do other sports but just something atleast get some exercise when I feel like I have no time. Subbed!
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08-17-2021 , 04:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisgaui
glgl what I am doing since a month now is just trying to do 100 push ups during the day. 10 everytime when I take a break, which takes like 10 seconds. Obviously its nothing and you def have to do other sports but just something atleast get some exercise when I feel like I have no time. Subbed!
yes, push-ups are good and thank you . Will start soon to do work-outs as got to my apartment today.


Quite an unorganized and stressful day moving out of quarantine, hotel didn't do things properly with check-out (kicking me out too early even had the hotel paid until tomorrow)... was living some interesting moments sitting in the heat with luggage without sim-card and wondering how long it takes to get to my room . Everything worked out though, just got quite tilted with how the hotel was handling things.

I think soon things will start rolling normal , quarantine went okay , new apartment is okay (although previous tenant had broken a door and smoked inside) , .. Need to relax and get to neutral mindset before starting to work again.

Last edited by Kiljusieppo; 08-17-2021 at 04:45 AM.
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08-17-2021 , 09:34 AM
Good luck
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08-18-2021 , 09:36 AM
Thank you Mr. Mr.


I was running a bit outdoors today, as having roughly 400 meter area around condo (parking lots) to kick around . Happened to be the hottest time of the day so kept it quite short (HR was very high after not doing any cardio in 2 weeks and then getting to heat) , so just looking to start doing it in mornings + adding the home work-out after it as I did today. Enjoyed it a lot.


Played about 6 hours today , bit bad sleep , taking more breaks and playing less tables than usually , also skipped the 2k seat .

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Off topic thoughts :

With writing a lot (mostly to myself) and reading many forums I did learn there is always room to be judgmental + there is always room to argue . If I learned anything from these arguments? People pushing their first thoughts as facts and at more educated forums arguing with links to some research about something, clearly way more with the intention to show Themselves being "right" than anything else . I like when logical things are being said in as simple manner as possible, it always means that the subject is more important than the "Me, Myself and I" ,... sadly there is not many forums like this . Most just are full of people discussing simple things with complex answers using complex words to try standing out with something . It's just the way I feel about internet lots of times,...Luckily can still play poker and let the cards explain themselves.
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08-18-2021 , 09:47 AM
Mostly things are simple. Nothing to worry about Ahti .
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