The eyeroll indicates sarcasm. So you don't think my post was great or adding to the discussion?

I'm sorry if the succinct nature of my post seems blasè to you. I'm only trying to illuminate the fact that even a rank 1 beginner understands combinatorics even if he doesn't understand it by that definition. And it's not necessarily beneficial to their gameplay because they don't understand when it applies or how to apply it.

But I'm sure you know all that buddy. And yeah your post was kind of rambling.

There's obv some merit to both sides but ultimately ava is obv correct. Mike is right that he may get confused and misapply stuff but that's not really a good excuse to ignore it. I mean sure, go ahead and ignore math and good learning tools if you want, you still can be a winner for now and prob can still be a winner for a long time if you are planning to just grind 2/5 live and lower. But if you want to have the highest winrate and hourly possible than there is no substitute for using the tools and putting in the work. I don't do enough studying either, studying isn't fun for most people, but it's important.

Correct.

Stay plugged, Rich.

White magic, baby.

Mike is right and you missed the point imo.

How is he "missing the point"? He literally gave both sides credit. This is part of the reason I respond glibly to you in general Rich. You're playing some weird partisan game here that's just stupid.

With that said, let's not derail this serious grinder's PG&C completely. He would actually benefit from an interesting technical discussion not centered around white magic.

GL! I always like grinding SoFla, happens only once a year or so which makes threads like this even more enjoyable to follow.

I got that AJ was oop and x/c, lead. There are big draws of course, but this isn’t the most draw heavy board. If turn checks back, AJ can evaluate river. All options are open then - bet big, x/call, x/r.

He missed the point and you did too apparently. I can't break down to you why 2+2=4 buddy. He says "ultimately ava is obv correct" and then says "Mike is right....but" and then goes on to say why he is wrong. That's not giving both sides credit is it?

Mike is right. You noobs keep paying off in bad spots thinking you are playing well and then citing "combinatorics". You can even be told what your leak is and still not plug it! LOL!!!!

I know more crushers who dont know or understand the word "combinatorics", than ones who do.

That's the way just about everyone plays a hand like this. I dont believe its the best option and I think that saying leading out in general is bad...is bad.

Not even sure where to begin with this. The arrogance & ignorance are both astounding.

Grats on clinging to Mike's coattails btw. Impressively sycophantic.

And lastly, like I said before, make this less about yourself, and maybe keep the discussion semi-civil/fair-minded for the benefit of OP (if you continue to insist on being the loudest person in the room that is).

Rich, this is not said to be mean but there's not a nice way to say it. You being in agreement with him is a bad thing for his pov. You are struggling to beat the game and you have said yourself that you think studying to get better at the game is stupid. How you approach the game is not something someone should be emulating if they want to get better and have success.

Which is why we agree that you can still do well without it and that using the available resources to study is not mandatory to be a winner. But every single person you are talking about would obviously be an even bigger winner if they properly studied the game in more depth.

This post made me lol. I emphasis all my failures and mistakes in case you haven't noticed yet. I'm not struggling to beat the game I'm in at all bro. You can play in the same game as me and we can crossbook each other if you like.

This is you missing the point again buddy. You don't have some knowledge these people don't have access to or understand. You are simply wielding it incorrectly. Like trying to beat someone to death with a rubber dildo.

If you are willing to escrow a few thousand with someone trustworthy we could try to make it happen sure. Could also crossbook you vs gazzy if he's willing to play 5/5 (or if you will sit 5/10) since he's in cali. Escrowing the money is mandatory though obv.

And it's clearly you who is missing the point but it's only hurting yourself so no biggie.

Ty, rich is a troll, just ignore.

I think mike really believes what he says though.

I would call less than 5 people in all of sfla "crushers" and in that 5 there is one who might not know combinatorics. The rest are exceptionally smart and were learning combinatorics back in 2008 when wiltontilt was posting videos on deucescracked.

If you are saying there are plenty of winning players that dont know, I agree. See my original point.

But I'm still left scratching my head a bit, as even recs these days are saying things like "you can only have 3 sets" and such. Its really quite simple, I'm sure you've already learned it.

Knowing "you can only have 3 sets" on the flop, is a long road to understanding any of this combo mumbo jumbo.

And BTW..nothing tilts me more than people saying things at the table like

"You can only have 3 sets here"
"That's the bottom of my calling range"
"I knew your range was merged"

SMH. The more someone uses lingo like that at the table, the less likely they are to be any good at all. I want to say "Congrats...you watched a poker video but you still suck at poker"

You admitted a week or two ago you don't actually track your results, and if not for your bonus/jackpot hands you would effectively be broke. SMH

p.s. if you can't use smartphone apps (lol flip phone) there are pc sites/software you can use, or excel, or even pen and effing paper to track your results.

*sips coffee*

WALT! Welcome.

I feel wrong when I look into that cat's eyez. Just saying.

Pretty much this.

I hope OP wasn't serious about playing 1/2 live with a $300 life roll.

It isn't what you make it is what you keep/save/invest, and expenses are the most important factor.

Oh yeah, don't make a habit out of XC-leading as it is going to be a mistake in most spots.

Been going well since last update. Job is on point, making money and paying the bills. Rent is paid, cell is paid, internet paid, water/trash paid, electric paid, car insurance paid, gf's ins & car payment paid (she pays it), netflix/pokergo paid... being responsible. Relationship is actually on the 'up'... go figure. This girl has my heart, but god damn is she emotional. Too emotional... Does things based off of how she is feeling, all the time. It's not a good thing, and something she has to work on. Hopefully she can figure it out, it's something I have no control over. I feel for her... she hasn't had the easiest up bringing, dropped in the USA basically on her own and told to go make it happen. She has done that and more. I'm so proud of her and what she has accomplished, but her emotions need to be harnessed or tamed down. Women....

I had the itch to play some poker on Friday, ending up reg'n the 11AM donkament at the Isle Casino. It was a $3,000 guarantee, $120 buy-in. Had a 2 person overlay, I was the youngest player. Tons of OMC, nits and just rec players. I ended up getting heads up with this fish who had me 3-1 after busting 3rd place with his 84o, "I knew I was alive".

The target fish at the FT was blasting off. I watched him make a very bad bluff with 53o, air bluff, against this old lady that was just horrible.

OTT.

Hero has a solid image, never showed down a bluff, played super solid all tourney, was respected.

Final Table - 9 handed
2.5k/5k/500

Hero 110k
Villian 140K

UTG limps (fish that air bluffed)
OMC on BU limps
SB calls
Hero in BB, Looks at JcJh. Raises to 18K.
UTG Calls.

***(Sizing is a bit small, I know... I was getting limpers to fold PF with small sizing, and I wanted the UTG fish in the hand. OMC would limp/fold every time he got raised. OMC was just playing way too passive/weak)

Qh5s7s flop.

I lead out 12K, and he pretty jams it on me. I was confident we were ahead of his UTG limp/calling range, which is basically any two cards. Sure enough, up against 46o and we hold. Most people at the table looked at me with some bewilderment and awe... OMC asked me how I could make that call against the only person that could knock me out. I thought it was a very obvious GII spot...

I was chip leader up until 3 left, where said fish just went on a super heater.

1st place was $1350, 2nd was $810... he offered me $1000 and he takes the 'victory'... I had about 10 bb's and was fine with this deal.

The tournament was a decent 'feather in the cap' moment. Went and played the $150, 15k Guaranteed at the Hardrock on Saturday, hot off the win. Busted in 41st. Meh... Haven't played since then. Kind of hurt losing the $150. It's so weird right now. Losing hurts, more than winning gives me satisfaction. Winning that $1k, was great and all.. but losing the $150, I 'felt' it more.

I suppose I'm Starting to value money again.... Great!!!

Liquid bankroll is not enough to play cash with a clear conscious yet. Holding off from $1/2 NL cash games until I get at least $3,000 (10 buy-ins) liquid in my hands, SOLELY for poker. Not this like half botched bill/poker bankroll share crap.

June Goals
$1,000 in Bank Account
All July bills paid
workout 5 days per week

Good luck out there everyone, life gets better when you put some effort in. Few weeks ago, I was at a real low, really low... I felt like dying, really... and I never, EVER, felt any type of way like that. I felt like a complete loser and failure at life with nothing positive going on.

I made a decision to turn it around, get a job, get out of the house. Get out from behind online poker micro stakes and go get on with life. Made a few phone calls, got in front of some faces that could help me, and here I am.

Now I feel 100% better, it's amazing what a little effort in life can do. Get out of bed, put some shoes on, and get out there. Make **** happen fam!!

Crushing Life

Been owning it on all fronts.

It's amazing what some focus, drive, and determination can do. I've managed to start a small business up, which is producing a steady income. It's nice, I can work whenever I want, with good returns and not too much time invested. I put poker on hold for the whole month of July. I didn't play a hand. I needed to focus on other areas of my life before hitting the felt again.

Been crushing the gym, feeling better then ever. My body is starting to transform and show results too, which is super encouraging. No plans to stop, I wanna get in the best shape of my life. I've always been out of shape/fat/chubby, most my life, with a few stints of fitness sprinkled throughout the years. It's just time to take it to the next level and get shredded.

I made up with the girlfriend. We had some heart to hearts (not easy). I found out some things that I really didn't want to, but in the end, our relationship is stronger than ever. We have a new 'commitment' to each other, it feels fresh, even after 10 years of being together. It's a nice breath of fresh air for our relationship. We have a firm understanding of each other, and our goals and expectations. We're seeing eye-to-eye and are both in self-improvement mode.

I'm starting to play live again, in the month of August. It's live poker grind time. Going to put in as many hours as possible at $1/2 this month of August, mostly at Hardrock. The goal is to grind up $3,000 this month from live poker. I think it's a very realistic and attainable goal. I'm stoked for this month, it's going to be a great one, no matter what.

the 6betme thread.... sigh. I've been following it (really the only thread I check regularly). What a trainwreck. It has been pretty sad to read, watching the self destruction. I was 6betme a few years ago. Exactly the same mindset and everything. I'm so glad I have 'grown up' and can appreciate poker and life for what it is. I feel for him, I really do. I can only imagine what is going on in his world right now, the pity... self sabotage, sighhh... He brought it upon himself though. It's a very good lesson for all poker players, and a thread everyone should read if you haven't.

Hope everyone out there is still crushing life and the tables.

GL and hope to see some of you around the rooms!
Peace & love,
-Ty