This one was a good fold...





Continuing with Ace high BDFD's but don't need any more BDFD's (using my ranges)

Instinctively I fold 1 and peel 2 and 3.

What about having 73hh in a bluff raising range? Presumably you are raising 88, 98 etc so what bluffs do you have there?

Why would you bluff raise this? This has almost no equity. Just bluff raise gutter balls, Sd/Fd here sometimes. You don't have to call with them. Raising this as a bluff is definitely a leak, weak BDFD. One of worst hands.

POKER VLOG - 3



Time stamps are listed on Youtube.

Everything is great amigos!

Have a great weekend!

So... It is 10.30 in the evening, it is Friday and I have just spent five and a half hours at the kids' school summer fair...

And I have had a three or four beers...

And I haven't done my Mental Game study for today...

Let's see what happens...

Mental Game Of Poker (Study)

Okay, it is definitely worth pointing this out...

My ability to play "well" after playing a hand badly (or at least I assume I played it badly as I was lost) has improved tremendously.

For example. earlier today I had this hand...



On the flop I was hoping to either bet small again on a blank or possibly jam on a more connecting card like this.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE POINT!

Previously this hand would have:-

1. Tilted me a little.

2. Affected my play for the rest of that session.

Today it:-

1. Tilted me for about 3 seconds.

2. Definitely did NOT affect me in the rest of the session after those 3 seconds.

BIG, BIG difference.

Back to the study...

---

Spectrum Of Emotion

The emotions of anger, fear, motivation and confidence have spectrums.

If I can learn to organise these emotions along the appropriate spectrum then the accumulation of a particular emotion will become easier for me to recognise.

JT gives an example of how emotion builds along a spectrum and I think this is very relevant to me...

"A player might have some uncertainty after a rough, losing day, unsure if he played badly or if it was just variance. Then, after a few more days of constantly running into the top end of players’ ranges, he begins to doubt if he’s making the right plays. He starts to hesitate, second-guess decisions, go against his gut, and make mistakes. Then, anxiety starts showing up in bigger pots, because he’s afraid of making a mistake. Eventually, these mistakes do happen because his mind is malfunctioning. Now, with bad play mixed into the bad run, anxiety starts to build before even sitting down to play. Simply thinking about playing is enough to spark anxiety. Over time, what started as uncertainty has turned into a strong fear of losing."

Actually the next thing JT suggests is that this player will play less and prefer to study but I don't think that has been the case for me.

However, I am 100% sure I get/got this accumulation before but rather than not playing I just got tighter and tighter (and probably more and more passive).

This diagram from the book basically says it all for me...



I did not know anything about this sort of thing before and I am very, very sure it is a problem I have.

---

Okay, that is 25 minutes done. I have read these few paragraphs many times tonight. I absolutely must read this again and again because I think I am finding the source of a lot of my issues.

I have had a quick read through of the next section "Performance and emotion" and I can see it is going to be a big help to me.

I am looking forward to my next session!

---

Up to pdf page 35 "Performance and Emotion"

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Never. Stop. Trying...

Yesterday was supposed to be a rest day but I had some time to myself so did a few poker things related and played for 90 minutes.

It did not feel right to play without preparation so I had to do all my pregame work first too but it was worth it!

This morning my review showed I played the flop as I want to.

I did have this hand that I folded as it felt really close to me in game so I again took the "easy" option.



Just analysed it and (with my ranges) it is super close so I am happy...

---

I try to make Sunday a family day as much as possible but usually I get the chance to do poker stuff in the evening as Helen usually works too.

I have got 60 minutes study, 60 minutes play and 10 minutes meditation planned in (no mental game).

Kids are both out at parties or playing right now so I can kick on with some more study...

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Enjoy the rest of the weekend amigos!!!

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I'd be 3betting this pre.

Chris, Chris, Chris my man.

Slow down. Slow the F down.

Love the vlogs and energy thou

What do i mean by slow down?

The above example at your stakes are not a good fold. It is a bloody MUSTFOLD.. 100% autofold.

Hehe.

Why?

In a mathematical sense when someone bets 50% you need to defend 66% of your range not to let the autoprofit.

But this is far to much to think about playing vs droolers who dont know what autoprofit is.

You ONLY need to defend this versus competent people who "might" exploit you.

Seeing as absolutely noone will exploit you at z10.

You can fold. And move on.

Ill point out a few more reasons.

1# Rake.

2# Your villains aren't playing that loose of a range for you to defend that wide pre or postflop.

It will only leave you in really marginal spots where Villain almost always has a stronger range cause their all nits at z10.


----------

Prolly plenty of reasons more.

But stop looking into small spots, go buy Jandas newest book. Polish your fundamentals, and realize this:

At z10 and even 25, people have nitty ranges. Heavily weighed towards value. One would say they are terribly unbalanced.

So should you think about balance at all? When they clearly arent? Arent we thinking of balance so people cant exploit us?

So why think of balance? Or any other fance **** like MDF.

All you need at z10 is:

* Dont tilt

* Value bet

* Fold ALOT of rivers

* Dont bluff at all barely ( Everyones range is so strong anyways )



When you have worked at these things, forgot about balance and all fancy sht.

You will CRUSH.

Then you will become better at these tings, move up and let all other schmucks worry about balance.

Im playing z100 right now and people dont know balance here either.

Best of luck.

( DONT TRY TO PLAY LIKE CR9 WHEN UR PLAYING WITH PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS, JUST RUN AROUND THEM!!! )

And the Ah5h hand. Super easy fold.

Again, if you keep going for these spots you will pay massive rake. But more importantly, z5-10 people dont think that you will continue with that range.

( meaning their Cbet range is way tighter than you think )

So if u ever continue with these marginal hands at ur stakes, u will be slaughtered by their valuerange. ( which i said, is heavily wieghed too. Like 95/5 )

Make life easier for you.

And dont pay all the rake you just can.

If i were to start over at z5 or 10. Id play ONLY like 18/15/5 and become GREAT with those ranges. With those hands. Practise and gett better and eventually add more hands.

You cleeeeeearly dont need to play that wide.

<3

+1, A2-A5s make good 3b bluffs BB v BTN in most scenarios.

Not an easy fold at all. It's probably a call because villain will cbet this board with any two and his range should be wide.

First of all its a 3B pre.

Secondly, i dont work in absolutes. Neither should you.

Id estimate that most z5 regs, lol. If they exist. Do not, cbet this board 100%.

Calculate for rake etc and its a pretty effin easy fold imo.

This is the main reason people get stuck in z5-10 imo, they pay all the rake in the world. Trying to play a way to wide game.

But each to his own.

Mental Game Of Poker (Study)

Performance and Emotion

If emotion is too low it is hard to perform well and if emotion is too high it's the same.

I think most of the time emotion is too high for me (reacting to losses, being frustrated about ability etc) rather than too low but I also know I might not have enough emotion at times as well (the money does not matter, too tired, unable to get fired up).

(The next chapter is going to solve it all!!!)

CHAPTER 4 - STRATEGY

"The two primary strategies needed for solving mental game problems are:-

1. Injecting Logic: The short-term strategy that contains mental game problems while playing and also takes a small step towards resolving them.

2. Resolution: The long-term strategy to correct the faulty logic that's causing problems in your mental game."

Okay, so I can inject logic to "fight, delay or block out tilt" while I'm playing.

It is necessary to inject logic to help achieve resolution but it is not the permanent cure.

"Injecting logic works best when:-

1. You catch the build-up of emotion, such as tilt or fear, before reaching your emotional threshold." [because once that threshold is crossed the ability to think shuts down and it is usually too late]

"2. Your logic also corrects the underlying flaw."

So as I see it this injecting logic is going to be the step I take in-game to stave off rising, unwanted emotions. It is not the long-term solution to curing my tilt(s).

It is basically "containment strategies" but will also help the process of finding resolution.

There are six steps to injecting logic:-

1. Recognition
2. Deep breath
3. Inject logic
4. Strategic reminder
5. Repeat as necessary
6. Quit

I think I have started to do this a little bit.

When I make a "mistake" I say to myself "you don't KNOW the correct way to play that situation yet so try to forget that hand NOW and go back to your flop play and play your best".

I don't take a deep breath but I will!

---

That's 30 minutes! Up to pdf page 39 - 1. Resolution

---

Yesterday was mostly family day but they left me home alone for a while!

I did 60 minutes study (analysed a flop, reviewed play, watched video) and also played 120 minutes.

I try to study more than play but yesterday I was playing until family came back from parties and they took a while so I carried on playing!

---

I am going to go into work tomorrow. I am trying to get a lift there as the seat belt really hurts my wound but if not I will stuff a cushion over my belly and grimace!

---

Good luck at the tables amigos! Have a productive week!!!

---

Went back to work today... Only out for 8 hours tho as not fully fit yet. Feel sore and tired now though, can feel an early night coming on!!!

---

Reviewed yesterday's play and flop play looks good again.

---

Analysed continue range BB v BTN on A92tt when she c-bets 0.6x. It seems I don't need to go too wide there. Some off-suit broadways at a push.

---

I have only got 60 minutes play and 60 minutes study planned in for today (plus meditate/visualise etc) as I knew going back into work was going to shatter me out!

Anyway 50 minutes study is done already so will get kids ready for bed and then watch a video and play.

No mental game today.

---

I need to get a sub to a training site again. Is RIO still the best in the business amigos?

I don't even know what else is available these days. Ivey League died I believe!?

---

Wow my bed is calling me loudly! I envisage falling asleep during meditation tonight!!!!

RIO is good but what you need my man, is Jandas new book. And nothing else.

In your last post, your talking about not taking shortcuts ( your facebook post ), to reach success. Alot of people use videos as a "shortcut" cause that "work" is not as hard as the one you put in deconstructing a book.

Videos are sh*t, literally. When comparing to Jandas book.

Go either Janda or incase you just bloody have to have videos, go with the upswing lab.

Cause both have a clear A-Z path.

Go with RIO and you have to find that A-Z path on your own.

Which id estimate only 1% can do. Maybe less.

Much easier to get confused and just run in the WRONG direction cause your just jumping videos etc.

Best of luck

Hi GeeTeeOhh, nice to see you hung around, appreciate it!

Thanks for advice too. I agree videos are not as good. I only watch 10 minutes or so when I don't think I have the brain left to do another flop analysis. To be honest that is not good enough, I should just go through that barrier.

I did watch some Upswing stuff which seemed quite good. I might get Janda's new book too.

---

I have got 60 minutes study, 60 minutes play plus meditate and visualise planned for today.

I knew I would be pretty tired still from going back to work so did not set my target too high.

It is 21.00 here now and the study is done (plus a bit extra)!

Did 2 x flop analyses plus quick review of yesterday's flop play (all looked good).

I am looking forward to meditating as I am pretty hyped up and need to relax!

---

I am missing not doing any mental game work these last two days but I should find some time tomorrow - I think it is helping my performance a lot lately.

---

Good luck at the tables amigos but more importantly... KEEP WORKING ON YOU!!!!

Get the book asap ill refund you if you dont like it.

Just wanted to drop by and mention that your attitude is so inspiring.

Keep it up man

Got laid out last night by vicious acid reflux attack - don't really need that when recovering from operation still!

Was not going to go to work as I only slept around two hours and that was broken sleep.

Trouble was we had £480 go missing yesterday and I am the chief detective!

Kinda found it today though, my boss had paid some money into the bank without using a paying-in book - totally effed me up!!!

---

Targets today are 60 mins study, 60 mins play, 20 mins mental game, visualise and meditate.

I have done the study (review and 2 x flop analyses), meditated and visualised.

Now for some mental game then I will play and try to get to bed early in the hope that acid stays away (it is only mild at the moment)...

---

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study)

1. Recognition.

Okay this is really huge. Basically I need to develop the skill of noticing that emotion is rising.

I think my meditation practice will help here as I feel that has helped me to become much more self aware of what is going on in my mind. I mean, I am still pretty terrible at this but better!

I need to look for patterns...

Steps to improve the recognition skill:
A. Create a profile - JT has a an Appendix of questions to help analyse mental game. Try to organise by the signs of when they occur.
B. Study the profile - keep reviewing it.
C. Examine the consequences - what damage do they cause and what implications are there for the future if they remain unresolved? What is the cost? Affects (life, confidence, family etc)? Understanding the consequences helps motivate into action.
D. Add to the profile.
E. Set an alarm - especially if I don't realise I have tilted in game. It is to force me to look and see if I have emotions rising. Already doing this.
F. Take action - once I see that my emotional pattern has begun to take affect I must take action (see step 2 Deep breath)

Funnily enough JT now says how helpful meditation/mindfulness can be to build awareness - I highly recommend this but I must also realise how useful my meditation practice is for my mental game.

2. Deep breath

I am interested in this as I am not sure what it is going to do!

"The primary purpose of a deep breath is to create separation between you and your emotion so you can inject logic"

Hmm, I wasn't expecting that.

JT goes on to say that I could use deep breathing not only to calm down (I expected that) but also to get fired up if my emotions are too low. I recently bought a meditation which uses deep breathing (almost gasping) to get fired up and it works!

3. Injecting logic

"consider injecting logic as a work out to build mental muscle and become stronger"

I need to come up with a phrase or statement to keep my head straight before I lose it! Ideally it corrects the faulty logic creating the problem (helping me towards resolution).

I must write it down so I don't need to rely on a malfunctioning mind when I really need it.

Mine look a bit like this...

"You lost a pot but don't worry, you don't know how to play that hand yet. Thinking about it now will affect your play and cost you money. Focus on your flop decisions only and play your best NOW"

and

"Are you folding because it feels safe? You will never get to higher stakes by folding without reason. You must get out of your comfort zone. Mistakes are good so make some and then learn from them. Make some calls and GROW!"

---

Heaven only knows how long that took but over 30 minutes! Up to pdf page 41 - 4. Strategic Reminder

---

Most of the work is done, let's play some poker...

---



---

Really appreciate the kind comments and the advice, thank you so much.

Acid reflux is a bastard thing. Just started getting it this past year.

Doug Polk seem to have it to( random as f ).

Had some before, but after rigorous workout schedule and diet changes. Its all passed.
( wink wink )

To be honest I think it's just one of those things I'm stuck with now. I work out and I've got a reasonably healthy diet. I know there are certain things that make it worse (Tacos are a killer for me) but it happens with almost anything.

I took yesterday off work as I hardly slept again. Only had slight acid going on but after the previous night's shenanigans plus still not 100% after my operation I decided some extra rest was required!

---

Yesterday I planned for 60 minutes play, 60 minutes study, 20 minutes mental game study and 15 minutes meditation/visualisation.

All completed! Well, it wasn't that tough not being at work but I managed to sleep a lot of the day too!!!

---

I analysed 2 flops (BB v BTN) and reviewed my previous day's flop play (seemed good). I also spent quite a lot of time in Equilab looking how different flops hit different ranges.

---

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study)

4. Strategic Reminder

The strategic reminder is not part of mental game, it is just poker strategy.

When I start to tilt I recognise it, separate (deep breath), inject logic and then remind myself of the poker strategy that I am working on.

That is the strategy that is affected by tilt (not learned to unconscious competence) and the one that I lose when my malfunctioning mind takes over.

JT says to list either of the following next to my injecting logic statement...

A. A list of only what goes missing from my thought process when making a poker decision

or

B. A list of all the factors I consider when making a poker decision

I think I will start by making a list of all the factors I consider (or at least "should" consider) when making a poker decision and see how that works...

5. Repeat as necessary.

The mental game problem is not resolved so I will continually need to go back over the 4 steps before.

I know this just from the last week or so. A couple of crazy beats or an extended period of being card dead and I am tilting again (sometimes).

Seems it will be a long (but necessary) process and all part of being professional.

6. Quitting

"Quitting is a skill."

Ultimately resolving mental game problems means I will need to find a way to play through.

Until that time though there will be occasions when I need to quit and occasions when I can play through it.

It is not good enough to quit all of the time and think there is no mental game problem. It is still there. Avoidance is not resolution.

If I tilt and truly think there is no way to recover and play well in the session then I can quit.

However if I am unsure then I should consider that building mental muscle takes effort and use that particular occasion like training - to build my muscle.

Push harder and try to play longer. Build the muscle. But always think about the risk:reward ratio and do not be afraid to quit.

---

20 minutes done! Up to pdf page 42 - "RESOLUTION"

---

COACHING!

Last night I had a coaching session with IveGotUrOuts (aka TheStudent).

He very kindly offered to look at my DB a while back and came back pretty quickly with some harsh comments about my play. I like that!

After some "fun" negotiations I have bought a six session package and we did the first one last night (we also did a trial session first to make sure we are on the same wavelength!).

What I will say for now is that it was a very different experience to any of the coaching I have had so far in my journey. I enjoyed it very much.

The most important thing for me is that he is teaching me a way to study the game. Something for me to take away from the session and use as a framework to improve on my own.

I am aware that I have been excited about new coaches in the past so I am not going to make any bold statements here...



I have got lots to work on and that makes me happy...

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Enjoy the weekend amigos, this is not a practice run!!!

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(Befriend me on FB here)

Have you ever wonder how much money/skill you would gain in life, if you were to put so much time into different hobby, as much as you do in poker?

I really think poker got into you, I mean, it's like reading 100 pages of delusion and you still aren't getting anywhere. You make all these pages long updates how much you learn and still fail on every corner.

Don't mean to **** on you, but holy ****, you are a family man not 18 year old.

All the luck in future, you still have a lot of energy for an old man, but transform it into something else than poker and I believe it will be a lot more EV+ for you.