I think there's a really good cotw on blind defense out there somewhere. Def a difficult topic to address.

NOW I get what you mean.. lol. Wow I'm not sure I would even have the energy/motivation to grind micros and try to improve if I had your schedule. Big ups for that.

Thanks very much mate, I will look at that too. So far I am through three really good works on it but ofc putting it altogether takes a while for a novice!! I hope to post lots of hands on the subject too.


Thanks amigo!! When houses are done, poker gets those hours!!!

Worked until 11.00 last night. Changing one house from private let to student let (I let them to university direct so they return them in really good condition).

This is how last tenant returned it to me (just bathroom for now).....





And this is progress so far....


Stripped it back to the brick walls, left it to dry out for a few days, sealed the walls, batoned it out, this silver stuff is a 5mm thick insulation that gives same insulation as 100mm foam.




Cladding it out with plastic. Will just wipe clean each year now and be easy maintenance hopefully!
That's just the bathroom, the kitchen was as bad but is done now. All other rooms have been stripped back and redecorated. Don't ask about the garden, just picture a jungle and you have it!!

So I got home at 11ish, threw a chow mein down my neck and was up for poker at 5.45 this morning. No training as my body is pretty wrecked atm! At regular job now and this afternoon I am going to chill out with family for a few hours. Another big day at houses tomorrow.

Looking good man, what the hell kind of person was living there before?

Thanks mate (just a little insight into wth I get up to!). Actually it was an EX friend of mine!! He left owing me £2000 too. C'est la vie mon ami, better off without that kind of mate eh!?

July Goal Updates...

Goal 1 - Volume (20,000 hands for July)
Achieved to date 11,223 (56%). It could get to the stage where if I am awake I need to work on houses over next two/three weeks so not sure if can make this. I am gonna make it, wth am I talking about!?

Goal 2 - Forum Work
My hand # 1 - 99 on btn v utg (5 handed)
My hand # 2 - Set on mono flop 3 way in min 3b pot!
My hand # 3 - JTs Btn v CO

Goal 3 - Topic Work
Still working on blind defence. Not much further on writing article (see post re bathroom ) but while I have my drill in one hand and my saw in the other its always in my thoughts!!!

This is a work-in-progress.... Just to show where I am at so far with this blind play and also maybe you guys can point out any mistakes I am making so far etc....

Playing From The Blinds

Here I am going to attempt to talk about late position battles. The assumption (for this part) is that we are in SB or BB facing a steal attempt from the CO or BTN.
Firstly here are some defence ranges which I have found from a trusted coach. (I was told a while ago to play it safe from the blinds and fold a lot - I do not think this is the correct way to improve as a player, I want to get into tough situations, post hands and discuss how to move forward....)

Ranges To Play Versus Different Attempt To Steal (ATS) Stats.
ATS = <20% - Defend 77+, AJ+, KQ
ATS = 20-24% - Defend 77+, ATs+, AJo+, KJs+, KQo
ATS = 25-29% - Defend 77+, A8s+, ATo+, QJs+, KJs, KJo+
ATS = 30-34% - Defend 77+, A8s+, ATo+, KTs+, QTs+, KJo+, QJo+
ATS = 35-39% - Defend 77+, A8s+, ATo+, KTo+, KTs+, QTs+, QTo+, JTs
ATS = >40% - Defend 77+, A8s+, A9o+, KTs+, KTo+, QTs+, QTo+, JTs, JTo

These ranges are suggested to use against a competent player. Versus less competent players we can open our ranges. I am not sure in what way just at this moment...
The ranges do not take into account the other blind. So for example, if we are SB and BB is habitual squeezer we should be more inclined to 3bet rather than call. If BB is a fish that calls a lot then we can widen our range. Also if we are in the BB and SB is a fish who has called we can widen our range and play more pots with position on the fish.

Three Betting From The Blinds
We can three bet from the blinds if we have a strong value hand and we hope/expect to get called. A good default for this is TT+, AQ+, KQs. If the villain is looser then we can widen our value range.
We can three bet bluff light if our villain folds to 3bets too much (65% = any two cards ) and also if our villain calls preflop but we have a good postflop read on him such as he plays fit or fold on the flop.

Calling From The Blinds
We can call small/medium pocket pairs if we think the pot is going to be multi-way. So in the SB if BB is always calling or in the BB if there are already two players or more in the pot.
We can call some good high broadway hands if we are targeting a weaker player. Example given was we have AJo in SB and BTN reg has isolated a fish. If we 3 bet here we might push the weak player out of the hand and isolate ourselves versus the reg. So we call as we do not want the fish to fold.
We can call a strong hand if villain folds to 3bets way too much (over 80% over big sample). This will not happen too often but we can call AA, KK, AK etc here.
We can call in the BB if villain is stealing and has a wide range and is opening for 3x or less AND he does not fold much to 3 bets. Look at ranges above for this.

So What Is Our Plan When We Have Called In The Blinds...?

Check-call
We check-call when our hand is likely to be the best hand on the flop but we do not want to get stacks in (or fold) to a 3 bet. So say we called 99 preflop and the flop is K72r, we know the villain cbets this flop always then we call to maximise versus his bluffs. Think about villains range and how we fare against it.
A question that arises from this is what do we do if villain is barrelling us off our hand too often. For example on the 99 hand if villain bets the turn we can end up check-calling flop and check-folding the turn too often. In this case we can strengthen our check-calling range to include sets and TPTK type hands and make money from him in this way.
Basically we can keep check-calling as long as we think villain can be bluffing and/or we think we still have the best hand.
On the turn we must think things like "Does this villain bluff often?", "Does this villain bluff THIS turn card often (think scare card or cards that bring draws)?", "Might I still have the best hand?".
Second pair type hands are often only good to check call for one street depending on villain but with top pair we can often check-call twice and make a decision on the river - all villain dependant of course!!
When we get to the river if villain bets again we have a very tough decision. Have we seen villain tripple barrel before? Has villain got any weaker hands in his value range? At the micro's the general rule is that villains' tripple barrel ranges are usually nutted. And if we do think villain is barrelling us off the best hand then, as above, we strengthen our check-calling range and make our value this way.

Check-raise
We check-raise when we flop a draw with no showdown value. So say we flatted JsQs preflop and flop comes Ks7h2s. We cannot check call with only Queen high (even if it goes XX, XX we may not win) so we should check-raise here (of course remember that we assume villain is wide from his LP steal attempt and his high cbet likelyhood on this flop, therefore we get lots of folds). Even if he does not fold here we do now have the inititative and 9 outs to a very strong hand. If we get 3 bet here we have to fold, we cannot call it off - we are behind all of his made hands and he might have a better flush draw. The times that we flop a draw with showdown value we should check call. So we flat QhJh and flop is AhJc2h then we should check call. Also we should check call with the nut flush draw, we might have the best hand and we also keep in his weaker flush draws giving us the chance to win a very big pot if we both hit the flush (however, if we have reason to believe villain will get it in with weaker flush draws on the flop we can check-raise to get it in as we dominate all of his draws and we usually flip versus his made hands).We can put draws like two overs and backdoor flush draw in to our check-raise range too if villain is wide and will fold enough.
We check-raise flopped sets that we want to get all in with. On wet boards we do it to get value from draws and worse made hands. On dry boards we might do it if villain thinks we do not rep anything etc. Remember though if we have a villain who barrels us too much we can get our value by putting sets into our check-call range (see above).
We can also check-raise with very good top pairs that we flatted preflop for deception. So if we flatted AK preflop because he folds to cbet too much we can now XR on K85 and he might go into bluff catcher mode (nobody folds top pair right ). We can still check call with those hands though if he is the aggressive type that barrels too much.

Don't forget bet! We can do that when our range hits the board really hard with sets/2p, especially on very dry boards.

Really like your mindset.

quote you here:

The bold thing is so true! You should do what you want and dont listen to others. If everybody listen to others all the time, that you can't make it and so on, we would all be mediocre!

GL on your mission!

says he works hard. plays 20k hands a month

lol

I mean unless you some prodigy you'll be a rec player in 3 years, no way you can move up to 200 to rival what you do now. 20k hands to learn might of been enough in 2009 but not now.

Yeah, thanks mate. I will get to leading soon I hope! Still a long way to go on this subject for sure. As I get back into playing I will post lots of hands about blind defence too.

Thank you for this Sir, shame it was followed by this....
Would you like to read the thread Sir? Or do I need to explain it again?

July Goals Updates...

Goal 1 - Volume (20,000 hands for July)
Achieved 11,616 (58%) - not looking so good this but actually part of this weekend I cannot work on houses so much (will still do 16 hours sat/sun!) as have my son (girls going camping!!). I should get some hands in then I hope!

Goal 2 - Forum Work.
Difficult to do this when not playing any hands but I did get 500 hands in this morning and marked some for review so here we go......
My Hand #1 - Double barrel think standard, river XF???
My Hand #2 - JQo flat small 3b IP hit OESD on flop, raise or float?
My Hand #3 - 86s BB v SB

Goal 3 - Topic Work
Hoping to write some more on this, watched some cool videos last night but seems real aggressive to me so far!!!

sizing is bad in the first. 3brling is fine as is giving up
flat flop
prolly 3b pre. Post it depends,its fine to give up

Seems AGES since I posted on here!! Actually only 4 days....

Working like crazy trying to get this house ready for 1st August. It is going to be really close. Should have booked some holiday from regular job but not got much left.

Played 13.5k hands this month which is only 67.5% of my target. Won't be playing anymore either as I think I will be working on this house until midnight tonight and possibly even all night tomorrow just to finish it off!

Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, in the grand scheme of things it is nothing and the way the UK property market is about to go I should be very happy very soon!

August will be a "weak" poker month too as I have four other properties rented to students which I have got a fair bit of work to do on. It is a shame as I worked hard on some study and not being able to put it to use at the tables is a real waste. We forget so much of what we learn if we don't use it immediately.

As this is kind of the end of the month for me poker-wise I will post some results later...

Hope you all crushed it!!

Hey followers!

Just to keep you updated....

Nearly finished houses now. 18th August is final day for working on them.

Cannot wait to get back to working on my game instead of my properties!! Have tried to keep in touch by reading hand history threads and reading some poker books (at work DO NOT TELL THE BOSS!) but nothing like REAL study.

I did not show any July results so here it is. I only played for first two weeks really and even that was small amount.

Hi,
I've just read all your thread.
Some reactions:
Firstly, lots of respect for the courageous, energetic, positive way of dealing with life.
Secondly, I read between the lines and I assume you are quite intelligent. Maybe therefore you'ld like to do some brain work as poker. I understand, but..
Thirdly I think that in your case when you have so little time it would be more interesting to develop yourself in other things than poker (reading books, other courses, recreational chess/... . In my opinion if you want to get good at poker, you need really A LOT of time. Since money doesn't seem an issue, I therefore think that in your case there are other domains to be explored.
Fourthly, I think your two analyses on button play are very very good. It's a concept that many players don't understand well, and you resumed it in an excellent way. Congrats.
Fifthly, if you want to continue anyway, try to apply the following: fold to reraise unless superstrong. Imo if you lay down 9/10 vs RR you crush the micros HARD. (tried it myself) The players on your stakes just very rarely bluff..
If you will continue, good luck anyway(intellectually you will ceryainly beat the game!) but as I said, I think there are more social, cultural domains to be explored that will make you happy with the time given.
And lastly, the way you react to posters replies shows you are a very understanding comprehensive man. Congrats on that too!

Rikkorov, thank you very much for both reading my thread and taking the time to make your reply.

I really appreciate all your comments and views and hope you continue to follow me on my journey!

Hey OP, gl with going pro and with the thread. I was about to post about how 20k hands/month is not hard work but then I saw the list of everything else you do in a day, and now I have mad respect for your work ethic.

The one thing I do wanna say though, as a professional poker player (though I grind MTTs personally) is that while I acknowledge that different people need different amounts of sleep per night, there's absolutely no way that you're playing your best poker while sleeping only ~5 hours per night and doing all that during the day. I would strongly recommend getting more sleep if you can possibly find a way, and subsequently you will find that the number of tables you are able to play optimally during your sessions increases dramatically, and you might be able to play the same number of hands in half the time.

GL

Thanks for that amigo, much appreciated...

Houses are going really well, could be back to attack soon....

About to come back! Houses all done (well 99% anyway!). Am about to buy another one too I hope.

Will get some hands in next few days but family holiday this Saturday for one week then back to seriously WORK HARD AS HELL!

Edit: That is a bit ridic as over the last 6 weeks I don't think I could have actually worked any harder!! Last night was first time I saw my kids before bedtime for ~ 6 weeks!

Sad, I understand why it happens and I am glad work and not poker is the reason for this, but it still makes me sad.

good luck man maybe are paths will cross in the wsop.

OP what would happen if you slacked off for like... 10 minutes? I'm assuming something disastrous for everyone. Your like that bus in speed that cant slow down. anyway props on keeping this up, mad energy! glglllllll

Goodluck with your challenge. I wouldn't be able to do all what you do with so less sleep. :-)