Long Version:
My name is Tyler. I recently graduated college, and I have strong passion for poker. I've always competed and Poker gives me a chance to be able to do that for money. I was a two sport athlete in College (basketball, track). I was handed a City job in downtown Seattle where I've been working for a cool $35 an hour. My temporary assignment ends in December, and my plans after that are... well... undecided. I'd really like to be crushing 25NL and be able to relocate to a cheap country like Malta/Cambodia for 3+ months and play full-time, so we will see how this goes. I currently play Poker, smoke hella weed with my girlfriend and play beach volleyball/indoor. I'm a very good volleyball player, playing right below the AVP level (professional) and being only 5'9 is pretty impressive.. (42 inch vert and can dunk a basketball easily). I hate my job that I'm doing now... literally do nothing 7 hours of the 8 hours a day so I do my best to study poker when I can avoid getting caught.

I've always struggled with a few things in life... First, I always try to get rich quick. This constantly forced me out of my comfort zone and tied with a little confidence, ended in a lot of busted $20-300 bankrolls. I've decided to go back to the start, invest in some training tools and grind from the depths. The second thing I've struggled with is my addiction to SEX. I've had my fair share of women, but even when I'm sleeping with my girl... I still want to see other women naked (I wouldn't ever cheat)... but the thought is there. Overall, my goal to fix that issue in my life is to completely rule out all pornographic images as well. Only sexual desires I will get to fufill will be with my girlfriend. IF I DO VIOLATE, I WILL TELL YOU GUYS EXACTLY WHAT I WATCHED AND WHY I ENJOYED IT.. A PUNISHMENT OF SORTS. I will update everything after a session. My ultimate goal is to be a regular at the 100NL level and have a coach along the way.

Most important thing about this thread is UPDATING it DAILY or BI-DAILY at the worst and giving you guys a HONEST unbiased view into the life of a struggling Poker player who doesn't have his life figured out. ENJOY.

This is me on the LEFT.

Extended post;
Overall read the first chapter of Grinders Manual, and decided to try and implement the ranges that they are assessing in the book. This book as taught me a lot, and my plan is to take it chapter by chapter, implement it in my game, read it again (full notes), implement it in my game then read again without notes, and read over notes and put in a session again.. then move on in the book.

I think that way I can fully grasp everything I need in each chapter. I think a big problem with poker players is they read a book and try to implement it all at once. This way I get multiple sessions to implement what I learned in the chapter.

Overall, I had a +$20 session at 10NL (Graphs will be posted every 2 sessions + HH's). I punted away a decent amount at the end where I thought someone was bluffing. I seem to be making mistakes once I start to get lazy, so I'll need to work on that. I played pretty flawlessly and only really lost two big pots, one where I punted at the end and the other where I was counterfeited on the river and knew it.. and tried to fire a bet to push him off top pair and mid kicker.. he called and RIP. I was happy with the session, and am excited to finish Chapter 2 of the Manual today and implement those things in a session tonight. Right now the book is based on correct opening ranges, tweaking these opening ranges based on their perceived range and how to attack in certain spots when fish are in the blinds.

Book hasn't been a hard read so far, but the notes are pretty ridiculous.. I am constantly writing things down. I truly believe that if I follow this plan I can beat 50NL by the end of the book (probably 200k+ hands). I'd love to be able to crush 50NL, take a extended break from work (a week) and push 6 tables for 12 hours a day for a week and take down a large prize from "THE BEAST". Saw a guy who played strictly 25NL last week and finished top 10 for the $1,000 cash prize + seat into THE CAGE satty. I know if I can beat 50NL barely that I can get enough action to end each week with a cash prize from "THE BEAST".. the volume will be tough to deal with, but I do believe I can do it.

Another transition I'm worried about is being comfortable playing more tables. I 4-5 tabled last night, but I know that in this learning process it would probably be better to play less tables and implement the things I learn, so I'll have days where I study heavily and play fewer volume (because of tables) and other days where I study less, and play more.

Real Life:
Girlfriend had a pumpkin carving thing at work today... I kind of enjoyed the time alone because I got to completely focus on playing. I also am in the process of a stake where I sold 50% of my 50 entries into $5.50 tournaments. Ran bad for the very few I played (3 shots) so that sucked for myself and others who invested. Obviously lots of time to turn all of that around (44 more entries). No sex cuz period, so that was brutal but tonight is the end of that.. so your boy is gonna get a pump or two lmao. Have to decide to go back to my college to party with a bunch of kids I don't like that much, or go to my GF's work party. I would much rather sit in all day and not do any of those things (not big on halloween) but I'll have to do something because she reaaaaaally wants to.. ****. O well.


TL;DR:
- Overview of everything I'm learning in the book "The Grinders Manual"
- Played 2k+ hands and was profitable at 10NL (HH's and graphs posted every 2 sessions)
- Implementing Study/Play strat where I play 3-4 sessions per chapter, focusing on implementing things I've learned into my game
- Will have alternating sessions where I play a lot of volume and little study and vice versa.
- I have to decide to go to College to party this weekend or not.


Poker Challenges:
- Grind 5NL until comfortable moving to 10NL [ X ]
- Post at least 2 hand reviews after every OTHER session [ X ]
- Watch one RIO Learning Path video a DAY [ X ]
- Finish a chapter of Grinders Manual [ 2 ]
- Finishing Grinders Manual 5 times w/ complete notes [ 0/5 ]

Real Life Challenges:
- No pornographic images [ 1 days ]
- Gym 5 times a week [ 0/5 weekly ]
- Give up all candy/soda [ 0 days ]
- Find a new hobby [ NA ]

Thanks, HH's and graphs will be posted NEXT POST!

Having a tough time getting away from hands... or am I running bad?

Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4: http://www.pokertracker.com

BTN: 91.5 BB (VPIP: 32.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 25)
SB: 200.5 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 33.33, Hands: 9)
Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 100 BB
CO: 115.9 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7c 7h
UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 2 BB

Flop : (6.5 BB, 2 players) 5d 3h 5s
Hero checks, UTG bets 3.1 BB, Hero calls 3.1 BB

Turn : (12.7 BB, 2 players) Kd
Hero checks, UTG checks

River : (12.7 BB, 2 players) 7d
Hero bets 6 BB, UTG raises to 18 BB, Hero raises to 66 BB, fold

Hero wins 46.3 BB
0.8 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.

----




Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4: http://www.pokertracker.com

UTG: 153.2 BB (VPIP: 23.85, PFR: 19.27, 3Bet Preflop: 7.50, Hands: 110)
Hero (MP): 100 BB
CO: 218.1 BB (VPIP: 16.76, PFR: 11.56, 3Bet Preflop: 9.23, Hands: 182)
BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 21.23, PFR: 19.81, 3Bet Preflop: 4.71, Hands: 221)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 17.09, PFR: 15.38, 3Bet Preflop: 8.51, Hands: 119)
BB: 466.9 BB (VPIP: 36.11, PFR: 20.37, 3Bet Preflop: 6.82, Hands: 111)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Ac Jd
fold, Hero raises to 2.5 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 2 BB, BB calls 1.5 BB

Flop : (7.5 BB, 3 players) 9s 2h Ah
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets 4.8 BB, fold, BB raises to 15 BB, Hero calls 10.2 BB

Turn : (37.5 BB, 2 players) Ad
BB bets 22 BB, Hero calls 22 BB

River : (81.5 BB, 2 players) Kh
BB bets 62 BB, Hero calls 60.5 BB and is all-in

Hero shows Ac Jd (Three of a Kind, Aces)
(Pre 60%, Flop 53%, Turn 77%)

BB shows 5h 3h (Flush, Ace High)
(Pre 40%, Flop 47%, Turn 23%)

BB wins 192.4 BB
2.4 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.



-----------


Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4: http://www.pokertracker.com

BTN: 153.2 BB (VPIP: 23.81, PFR: 19.05, 3Bet Preflop: 7.89, Hands: 106)
Hero (SB): 107.6 BB
BB: 217.6 BB (VPIP: 16.27, PFR: 11.45, 3Bet Preflop: 9.38, Hands: 175)
UTG: 100 BB (VPIP: 21.33, PFR: 19.91, 3Bet Preflop: 4.71, Hands: 220)
MP: 101.5 BB (VPIP: 16.81, PFR: 15.04, 3Bet Preflop: 8.51, Hands: 115)
CO: 272.6 BB (VPIP: 36.19, PFR: 20.95, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 107)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Ah Ac
fold, MP raises to 3 BB, CO calls 3 BB, fold, Hero raises to 11 BB, fold, MP calls 8 BB, CO calls 8 BB

Flop : (34 BB, 3 players) Kd Th Qd
Hero bets 96.6 BB and is all-in, MP calls 90.5 BB and is all-in, CO calls 96.6 BB

Turn : (317.7 BB, 3 players) 3s

River : (317.7 BB, 3 players) Qc

Hero shows Ah Ac (Two Pair, Aces and Queens)

Main Pot [305.5 BB]: (Pre 77%, Flop 28%, Turn 21%)
Side Pot [12.2 BB]: (Pre 89%, Flop 37%, Turn 26%)

MP shows Kh Jh (Two Pair, Kings and Queens)

Main Pot [305.5 BB]: (Pre 13%, Flop 25%, Turn 14%)

CO shows Kc Qs (Full House, Queens full of Kings)

Main Pot [305.5 BB]: (Pre 9%, Flop 48%, Turn 64%)
Side Pot [12.2 BB]: (Pre 11%, Flop 63%, Turn 74%)

CO wins 301.9 BB
2.4 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.




Feel as though I need some work on post flop.. badly.

Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4: http://www.pokertracker.com

BB: 103.7 BB (VPIP: 7.69, PFR: 2.56, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 41)
Hero (UTG): 131.8 BB
MP: 223.6 BB (VPIP: 29.39, PFR: 22.13, 3Bet Preflop: 5.60, Hands: 618)
CO: 102.7 BB (VPIP: 35.71, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 15)
BTN: 400.2 BB (VPIP: 15.91, PFR: 13.64, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 134)
SB: 121.3 BB (VPIP: 17.62, PFR: 12.44, 3Bet Preflop: 8.11, Hands: 203)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Jc Qc
Hero raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, BTN raises to 11 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 9 BB

Flop : (23.5 BB, 2 players) Qh 9h Ts
Hero checks, BTN bets 11.2 BB, Hero calls 11.2 BB

Turn : (45.9 BB, 2 players) Th
Hero checks, BTN checks

River : (45.9 BB, 2 players) Js
Hero checks, BTN bets 14.5 BB, Hero calls 14.5 BB

Hero shows Jc Qc (Two Pair, Queens and Jacks)
(Pre 45%, Flop 84%, Turn 93%)

BTN shows 7s Ks (Straight, King High)
(Pre 55%, Flop 16%, Turn 7%)

BTN wins 71.2 BB
1.2 BB was deducted from the pot for the jackpot.




For that price on river, I have to call right?.. this type of hand is why I'm losing all my pots. Making correct calls PF and early streets but them getting there by river

GL OP similar life as in I'm 20 smoke hella weed with my girlfriend and also have a thread. Stay high my friend. the porn **** kinda freaked me out not gonna lie haha but good luck bro!

Wish I had the option to have this problem... :P.

Gl.

in for this lol

Thanks for support from those who have posted. Would really appreciate any reviews of hands I've posted! Will do another sesh tonight and will post everything (graphs etc) tomorrow.

Try to copy&paste the HTML version for prettier viewing of HH.

H1: would raise smaller on river with 77
H2: AJx fold river
H3: Not loving the donk-shove OTF
H4: Only hand I'm iffy about.. I think we should be betting turn here though - as played its a fold on river

Quitting porn is a good idea and very GTO for lifestyle. I'm still trying to fully eliminate it from my life too lol.

Gl OP, hopefully by the time you move to 25nl, I'm comfortably grinding 50nl =)

THE HOMIE!!!
Appreciate it man, you better update your graph soon mang!! :P If you got skype, PM me and we can chat!