This is a thread in which I discuss my progress (or lack thereof) as a poker player. I'll post every now and then as I try to work up the stakes and so in the future this will be the blog of either a failed small stakes poker player or a former, now medium/high stakes poker player. We shall see which it is. Not expecting a ton of input but thought it may be good for myself to help track things.

First post. I've been playing most days since October when I first started playing free money app poker. I have a day job as an industrial engineer and run a value investment firm, but despite the pay, I loathe my day job and my firm isn't large enough for me to sustain myself from yet which is how I got into poker as potential side income and as a hobby.

I started playing 5NL on Ignition in mid October and after earning about $150 or so at 5-10NL, decided to quickly move up stakes online. By December, I was playing live $1/$3 and online $1/$2. In December I did quite well at both, and made around $2,500 combined (most coming from live play on weekends). I was obviously pleased with myself until January which basically crushed me. I lost over $2,000 combined from both live and online play, wiping out December's winnings. I dropped down all the way to $10nl to actually use bankroll management and maintain at least 50 buyins at a time.

The downswing was a mixture of bad luck and bad play. In two days online I lost around $1,000 in set over set situations 6 maxing $1/$2- each one all my money was in on dry flops against a better set. Live I somehow lost around $1,300 in various weird situations- losing $300 at a time in 3bet pots with overpairs and having to fold to turn/river overbet shoves (which I have never found to be bluffs live) and a few large pots that went wrong.

The weirdest example:

From January ($1/$3):

UTG player (who I believe opens and calls raises with any two cards) opens to $15. We get 3 callers and I 3bet in LP with AQo to $60. Everyone folds but UTG opener who calls.

Flop Q94r (pot $169). UTG checks, I bet 1/2 pot, UTG calls.

Turn Q947r (pot $338). UTG checks, I bet 1/2 pot, UTG calls.

River Q9473 (pot $676). UTG checks, I check.

UTG shows 37o.

One weird hand and there goes a buy-in. Not sure why he called the flop but interesting play to say the least. The biggest suckout I had in January I lost a near $1,000 pot but this one just boggled my mind with no draw and air on the flop.

Played live last night for the first time since January, hands follow.

First pot from last night ($1/$3):

6 way limped pot, I complete with 58o in the SB (probably my first mistake but I like to see as many cheap flops as possible live).

Flop 673r ($18)

Checks to button who bets $18, I raise to $70. Folds to button who calls.

Turn 673A hh ($158)

Before I say what I did here, I should probably explain why I did it. The last hand I folded aces in a large 3bet pot when my opponent donk shoved the turn on a low paired board. Because of this, I only have around $100 left in my stack on this turn and it's just a really awkward spot. Him being a live player, I don't know whether he has a pair of sevens, 88-AA or a big hand here. I've been shown enough weird hands to know he could easily have 67, 63, or 37 along with sets. If I check, he bets and so I either have to fold or shove here. To profit from a shove I need him to fold 40% of the time or more here, probably not going to average that but with a 5 blocking a straight I am tempted to bluff. After telling myself for a few seconds to not bluff cause I will never get enough folds for this to be profitable live, I of course shove. He snap calls, river is a second 3 and he wins with quad threes. Basically my first decent sized live bluff and it didn't go so well... -_-

So that hand and the aces hand was how I lost a quick buy-in in two hands last night. I rebuy, and I lose the second $300 in another two hands within an hour.

The first one:

I 3bet MP from $15 to $50 in LP with AQo, UTG calls.

Flop QT9dd ($100)

I bet $60, UTG calls.

Turn QT92ddss ($200)

I bet $120, he shoves for about $300 more, I fold.

There goes $230.

So now I'm sitting on $70 and refuse to buyin again. I fold until I get AK, someone bets $15, one caller, and I shove. Auto called by both players and I lose to the one who has kings.

-_--_--_--_--_--_--_-

Lessons?

I probably should never bluff at live $1/3, particularly not big bet bluffing when someone seems attached to a hand. Secondly, be patient, just value bet and play more often.

Going to try to play live more often and hopefully start winning again. Currently studying/playing HU 10nl and 6max online, but I will probably try all formats. I usually do best HU but who knows.

The goal is to move up in online stakes every two months or so. By the end of the year if on plan I would be grinding $100nl online. Live it may take longer because of the drive to the poker room, but hopefully I can be a $2/$5 regular by the end of the year. Let's hope I can get back to making money. If not, then at least I realize sooner by tracking better that it's not in the cards.

Have read most decent poker books out there (Mathematics of Poker, all of Slanskys stuff, both of Janda's books twice, and the older ones) currently working with Piosolver a lot to hopefully help my HU game. Honestly not sure exactly how you would learn to beat high stakes besides playing a ton and working with solvers but that's my plan I suppose. For now I just have to play more often and value bet people to death at the low stakes.

I'll try to post once or twice a week and see what if any progress I make over time.