Poker goals:
[*] Save up $2,000 BR.[*] Keep track of poker sessions.[*] Run good.

Currently going over LLSNL stickies. I'd like to knock out at least one COTM a day.

No more donating my paychecks. BR...BR...BANK ROLL.

One post a day in blog about stuff I read.

Thoughts on table image:
I've recently went from maniac / aggressive image to NIT / scared money. I need to get my balls back.

Was I just running good consistently winning 4-8 buy-ins a session? Has it got harder since I last played? What's changed?

Why do I read so good but play so bad?

I wonder what my overall loss would be if I kept track of all my sessions. How do you lose for eight years and still think you can "beat the game"?

Why do I think of myself as a winning player?

Am I really just bad at BRM or am I just a fish/donk/whale and too stupid to realize it?

I know I make good reads but why is it so hard to trust them?

Why didn't I take that sponsorship offer when I was 21?

Why do I want to play poker for a living?

I really went off on a question rant...so more in depth thoughts on what I read about table image.

It seems easy for me to size up my opponents pretty quickly. I'm naturally gifted in reading people and I'm rarely ever wrong in my assessment. Ofc the first impression of someone changes with new information, time, etc.

I use to go out of my way to set up a table image by doing things like... Betting in the dark...checking in the dark...going all-in in the dark...showing bluffs for all my chips with 2-7 off suit. I spent a lot of time building a wild image hoping that it would pay off in the future. Well, five years later it hasn't. Sure, occasionally someone will remember my wild ways and not adjust against my new NIT style of play but mostly.. I don't know who the **** all these new guys are. And they don't know me either. The ones that do, the super regulars, don't seem to care anymore because I haven't been a real threat in two years.

Like I posted earlier: My image is now scared money and I'm usually short-stacked. Probably playing weak/tight with no BR.

I'd like to get my "bomb" image back that I use to have when I played online and transitioned to live. Aka my balls.

Thoughts on leaks:

BRM is probably my biggest leak. Leads to playing on scared money, not having enough to cover bad beats, poor decision making etc.

"Peeping" or calling to see if my read is right or wrong is also a big one. So many times I know I'm beat but call to see it. I need to just let it go.

I liked the "calling to reevaluate on later streets" post. If you know you're beat... Fold.

Leveling wars with the big stack might be a leak. Usually better to avoid them unless you catch a monster.

Not eating/being hungry at the table is another leak. Maybe it's my nerves from playing on scared money. I need to eat.

Staying too long use to be a leak. I'd play 1-2 days straight without leaving. I haven't done that in a few years though and should give myself some credit. Playing all night because I missed the bus was def a huge leak. I could have booked so many wins.

My pre-flop game has become a little better but I honestly have no set strategy for it. It's mostly tight and occasionally will loosen up given the right situation. It use too be way too loose and aggressive. I mostly play SCs, all PP, QKs+ from EP. Just realized this is probably a leak.

I shouldn't be limping SCs from EP. Should probably limp 88-JJ and fold to a RR with anything lower than 8s. Call a RR with 88-JJ. Raise with QQ+ and AQ/AKs.

Limp 67s-QKs, A10s/AJs 44-77 from MP. Fold to a RR unless getting proper odds. Raise 88-JJ, AQs, call a 3Bet, put in a 4Bet depending on player, fold to shove. Raise QQ+, AKs, 4Bet a RR call a shove.

LP 23s-10Js limp, 22-77, all Axs, all Kxs, fold to a raise. Raise 88-JJ, QJs-QKs, A10s, AJs, AQs, fold to a 3bet villain dependent. Raise QQ+, AKs, 4bet if RR or flat depending on the villain.

Pre-flop starting strat takes more thought than I've been giving it. Not sure how EV my take on it is. I should probably post that somewhere else and get opinions. It's fine for now.

Another leak is probably not talking/listening to music. It's like I'm in my own world. I need to be more engaging/friendly if not to the players at least to the staff.

If I think of anymore leaks I'll post later.

I want to add to my poker goals:
[*]Log 1,000 hours of play.[*]Post at least two HH for every session of play[*]Write a quick summary of the session down, possibly in this blog.

Your poker blog might be better suited for this forum:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...ls-challenges/
Would you like it moved there?

No. This isn't going to be a challenge blog... Although I did put down some goals so I can see why you'd suggest moving. I wouldn't care if you moved it except "The Blob!" would look kind of silly for a poker goals and challenge thread.

That's really my only objection...plus I like this being a "blog" to write down random thoughts etc.

Thoughts on taking poker more seriously:

I started out playing online when my friend sent me $1 on pstars. I turned it in to $5 and lost it. Then I started playing heads up with a friend of mine for $5 a game. Mostly 5 card draw then we switched to hold em. Also played craps a lot.

Rented the movie rounders and high roller: the stu ungar story. This was when I was 16-17.

My first time seeing poker on TV was way before that... When fossil man and Chris money maker played the final table. I think I remember Phil Ivey on that FT as well. It was at a BBQ and I sat in front of the TV watching it but I didn't really understand what was going on.

When I turned 17 I had a house game at my grandmas. My GF at the time bought me a set of chips and a felt table top. I came in 2nd place. Got a few poker books as gifts.

When I turned 18 I went to the casino for the first time with my mom and grandma. I remember being really nervous. I played $3/$6 limit. I won about $150.

Went back a few times with my mom and played limit.

The first time I played NL I went with a friend, and his really tall/kinda scary looking friend I didn't know. I won about $700 but I was afraid to go home with them and that much cash so I lost it back. Turns out the tall dude was a good friend of mines brother.

Lost a ton online and I played live occasionally. When I was 21 I found a local card club. I started winning $200-$500 a night. Moved up from $1-2 and started winning $1,000-$1,200 a night at $3/$5. Getting a lot of positive feedback from dealers, floormen, players, prop players, even the owner of the club had a dealer ask me if I wanted a sponsorship. I declined because I thought it was all luck and I knew I was a losing player.

I got in to a fight with my grandma and she kicked me out of the house. I was staying with a friend sleeping at the foot of his bed on the ground. After that my poker game took a dive. The first time I played a guy commented on my play and said "I've never seen anyone tilt this much." and he was right. I think I was on life tilt.

Sold my car after I blew through all my winnings for $1,000. Lost that too.

Ended up patching things up with my grandma and moved back in but my poker game didn't really recover.

Moved to Oklahoma, started college, got a $4,000 loan. The most money I'd ever had at one time. Played poker there and made a few hundred a night. Then I blew $400 was down to my last $100 for the night and made a ridiculous comeback. Got all the way up to around $3,200-$3,600 but lost it all. I transferred over to the last table there was (around 3am) and I should have cashed out and bought the minimum but I brought my whole stack.

I was doing fine until a hand that I'll never forget happened.

I remember I raised an old man on the turn with a four flush. The flop was As 3s 7h turn 9s. I had the 2s and an off suit king. Anyway I raised it on the turn to represent the flush I guess. He called. The river came Ac. I knew he hit the ace and insta-shove all-in to represent a full house. He had ~400. I had ~3200. Pot was about $300+

I was startled when the old man said "So, you can beat three aces huh?" .. I looked at him, right in the eyes, and shook my head no and looked directly at the dealer then looked away. He tanked for what felt like eternity. I cut out about $400 in green chips and slid then toward him. He pushed his stack all the way up to the line. He was shuffling his cards... After a while of him thinking I weakly said "Put the clock on him." and he called with A6. After that I tilted the rest of my stack in an hour or two.

I'll never forget that hand.

I started college in my home city. I've built up a debt of around $14,000. The majority of that money was lost playing poker. This was over a span of three or so years.

I occasionally play when I have money now that I moved back to my hometown. Nothing serious. $100 at the most.

I did go on a $2,000 run a few months ago off starting with $100. I played $1/$2, $1/$3, and $2/$5 for about a month. Played in a $450 tournament. This was when I didn't have a job. Eventually went broke though.

Now I have a job. Lost my last two paychecks playing $1/$2. ~$500. Never bought in for the max. Always was the short stack and on scared money.

So now I'm trying to take poker more seriously. Save up a BR, study the game, keep records. I plan on spending $10 on a poker tracker app. Set a stop/loss when I finally do play.

I really wish I kept records so I could see how much I've lost. Hopefully with some BRM I can become a winning player instead of a losing one.

I'd say I'm probably down ~$30,000 in the eight years I've been playing. I'd say that's a pretty safe guess.

~$14,000 in student loans.
~$6,000 online.
~$10,000 live play.

That's an average of $3,750 a year. It's not super terrible when I look at it that way.

never ever call clock! LOL

It's funny because that same day I called the clock on a guy on his way out the door (last hand) and he pushed his $500 rack in the pot. Board: A 9 7 rainbow. I think he had A8 or something really light. I had pocket 9s. I think the turn was an Ace but he didn't fill up and I took down the ~$700 pot.

Thoughts on why I'm stuck at LLSNL:

BRM is def. why. Never keeping track of my sessions. Being a losing player.

I remember playing $2-$5 and being really nervous and playing bad with my $500 stack... Most of the time I'd have a $500+ stack at $1/$2 and have no problem getting it in. Plus I was putting up half my BR on $2/$5.

I've never played higher than $2/$5 but I'd like to someday. I remember I sat down at a $5/$10 table with about $200 and the guy to my right said it was a $500 minimum. My ATM card was stuck so I couldn't get any money out or else I would have. But that's my only experience playing $5/$10. Didn't even get to pay a blind. Lol

Right now my biggest goal is BRM. Even if in theory I am good enough to beat games higher than LLSNL, which I believe I am, its better to get this under control at the lowest stakes possible. So practicing good BRM at $1/$2 will def help at higher levels.

The highest game around is the $5/$10 game. Maybe in a few years I'll be able to play in it. But beating $1/$2 for more than $8 an hour would be life changing for me. I can only currently work for minimum wage...so being able to potentially make $15-$20 an hour would be life changing.

Thoughts on trouble hands:

AQ, KJ, QT, AT, KQo

I always thought of avoiding these hands. The post was interesting that it said we should either fold or raise with them. I agree with this and def. will add it to my game next time I am dealt one of these.

Playing trouble hands passively is dangerous because you're somewhat telegraphing your hand. Limping with them should def. be avoided.

Wow man, losing 30k over eight years must be brutal if beating 1/2 nl for $8/hr would be life changing.

Anyway, best of luck. Keep reading those stickies.

Thank you. Will do.

Thoughts on b/f:

How often do I level myself in to a b/c when the obvious play is a b/f? Too often.

"Pot odds" trying to talk myself in to a call with a "Soul read" ..

I have a pretty good feel for where I'm at against most opponents and instead of leveling myself I should plan a b/f against certain players and situations that come up. Example: holding two pair and if the flush comes up against a player I feel is on a draw. Well, no... I usually c/f there but then again I'm giving them an opportunity to turn their hand into a bluff. So b/f is probably a good play.

Obviously b/f with middle pairs, bottom pairs, and just above middle pairs pocket pairs (one overcard on the board) would be a good line to take.

Admittedly it feels good to call down with bottom pair to a raiser with air but I'm sure b/f would be a better choice.

Example: Day 1

Hand one: floated on the flop, hit third pair on turn, called river, guy mucks his cards facedown. Ok good read putting him on the flush/straight draw.

Hand two: one short-stacked player all-in on flop, we have bottom pair and are heads up against deep stacked fish. Turn doesn't seem to help him, he checks in this really bloated pot, you bet $25 for value, he calls. River comes, still no bells or whistles going off, he checks you bet $50. He tanks and talks to you to get a read, counts out chips and raises you for all your chips. You have no BR or money left after this so you take your time to make sure he didn't "really" back door that 8 on the river. After a few minutes of gathering enough information you make the call. He shows Ace-high and goes on life tilt.

Day 2: you bet two streets with air on a Ks Kh 7d Ts board and hit your 6 on the river! Guy bets all-in to you for his stack. You remember those two hands from yesterday and try to go for your third soul read. You talk yourself in to a call after saying "My kickers not that good." and see his body language become relieved. You proudly call and he says "I don't have a kicker." and flips over Kd5h..you say "Kings good." and muck your hand. All you can do is smirk to yourself at this FPS situation that just played out knowing all the reasons why.

The first time he check/called I put him on a king. The second time he called... I put him on a king. And when he went all-in on the river all those reads went completely out the window as I was blinded by hitting my 6. Yet when I looked at him after he went all-in on the river... it was like he was telling me he had a king. I think he even passed me a note that said "I has a King! LOLZ"

Anyway that may have derailed the b/f part of this post and been a bad example but I had to write about it. Just realized all three of those where not really b/f situations.

Thoughts on World Tour of LLSNL:

I haven't played at a variety of casinos or home games. I've played home games that took a really long time to get through a hand and ones that ran pretty smooth. I'm usually the best player/most serious in these but there is always a few who know what they're doing but aren't impossible to beat.

Difference between playing in California versus Oklahoma were pretty significant. In Oklahoma it was pretty rare to see someone buy in for the minimum. In California a lot of people do. The cost of living is a lot cheaper in Oklahoma though.

The play wasn't that much of a difference. If I had to choose I'd say that Oklahoma had the better players. I enjoy playing against tougher opponents so I liked playing at those tables more.

Thoughts on planning a hand:

I'm usually pretty good at planning ahead what I'm going to do on later streets. I'm rarely surprised by my opponents action and tend to predict what they're capable of doing and adjusting to it. Sometimes I level myself in to going against the plan.

I think it's important to follow through with your first read. Sometimes I "hope" that my opponent has "x" when I really know they have "y" and so I over play my hand and refuse to give up the lead.

I use to be able to slow down a lot more than I have been lately. Planning ahead when say the flush or straight get there, without just "being afraid of the flush", is extremely important. Consider who likes to semi-bluff draws, or who is capable of representing them when they hit and play accordingly.

Speaking of representing hands; I use to be good at representing a certain hand. I'd convince myself that I had a hand and play it in a way that looked the most credible. However you can only do this against thinking players and most of the time people aren't paying attention so for the most part so I stopped doing it. I now find that when I do try and rep hands I'm only doing it half-heartedly and at some point I give up and won't follow through. I guess I get gun-shy.

I'm not playing for stacks as nearly as often as I use to. I should be planning ahead to get someone's entire stack instead of making thin value bets to get payed the minimum. Also playing for stacks puts the most pressure on opponents and builds an aggressive image for later hands. I should be doing this more often than not.

Thoughts on becoming a pro:

I found this thread interesting and it was cool reading responses from people who play for a living. "Stay in school." was repeated a few times. Don't drop out to become a pro. One said it's possible to play poker 40 hours a week and still go to school.

I liked one post in particular that said if you're going to do it, put everything you have in to it. Work hard at studying your game and improving. He compared it to being a doctor, lawyer, etc. Just like any profession you have to put in the work.

I like the fact that poker can provide an income and also freedom to work your own hours. One pro said something like: "One bad day working for yourself is better than working for someone else."

I didn't like what one pro said about a large poker environment. It was along the lines of it will be a soul sucking experience with people shooting angles, threatening you, or berating you. And seeing the worst in people. He quotes "Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself don't become a monster. For when you gaze long in to the abyss, the abyss gazes also in to you."

I've always applied that quote to poker.

Another said to be friendly with the old timers and try not to come off as an arrogant young guy. Be nice to the staff, regulars, and fish. Easier to catch a fly with honey than vinegar sort of thing.

Who knows if I'll become a pro or not? Only time will tell.

Thoughts on bet sizing:

I've always thought about keeping my bets pretty much the same to not give away any tells. It's not as important for balance in LLSNL.

Betting the correct amount for the strength of your hand while getting max value is more important.

Also when bluffing I think it depends on what type of opponent you're up against when deciding to either bluff with a large bet or what looks like a standard bet for value.

It was interesting that the OP said something about wider pre-flop ranges = wider calling tendencies, which makes a lot of sense.

I have a good habit for keeping track of stack sizes but for the most part I don't know the exact amount that's in the pot. When I start playing this is something I need to work on. It def. will help when figuring out an appropriate bet size considering the pot.

Thoughts on big draws:

I'm usually really aggressive with big draws and always semi-bluff/play them like a made hand. I need to take in to consideration situations where I have no fold equity and remember that it is possible to miss my 15 outer.

Playing these draws more passively with the correct pot odds or implied odds makes more sense in a no FE situation.

I often lose a lot more money than I need to with missed draws. This is a leak that I need to fix.

I also will call on the flop to draw to a backdoor draw. Example: 3h4h, flop comes 2h 9s Kc. I'll call on the flop and continue with the hand if any five or heart hits and then usually semi-bluff from there. I do this way too much for it to be a profitable play in the long run. My hand is really disguised if I hit the river and will often get paid off but I don't think it happens enough while being so far behind.

Thoughts on adjusting to table dynamics:

It's hard for me to change tables at the casino I play because there aren't that many to choose from. However, I suppose I can occasionally change my seat to get a positional advantage over say someone who raises a lot of hands pre-flop. I almost never change seats, unless I'm squished between two dudes, but I can consider doing this for a positional advantage.

I play pretty standard and make adjustments as I gather new information. I also consider previous information from playing with someone in the past.

I think it's important to know when to switch gears and when to pump the breaks. The table is constantly changing and it's valuable knowing when that happens or is about to happen.

Thoughts on slowplaying:

I rarely slowplay but I should consider it. Like flopping top set on a dry board and being the PFR. I remember I bet out three times in this situation and never got any action.

Also slow playing a flopped flush doesn't make any sense. I checked down the nut flush the whole way once and didn't get anyone to bet.

Finished reading all of the COTMs... Hopefully they add new ones for 2014. My favorite was probably playing big draws. Also the leaks one was good too.

So far I haven't made any progress with my BR goal. I blew another ~$400 check. I made about $160 on top so ~$520 payed my phone bill for ~$40.

Got super fancy with 6s9s and double barreled bluffed with one of the biggest calling stations (with a short stack) I've seen in a long time in the pot. It was just Lol.

I'm going to give up the cigs and start working out. Maybe I'll sign up for a gym membership. That's +life ev right?

Also going to drink more water and no Soda. Try to eat better too. Maybe throw in a salad every now and then.

So let me re-set my goals:
[*] Save ~$2,500 for a car. (About two and a half months to three months from now.)
[*] Save $6000 BR. (30 buy ins instead of 10..big goal, I know. It's going to take a while...better start looking for another job.)
[*] Quit smoking.
[*] Quit drinking soda.
[*] Exercise.
[*] Continue reading stickies and post my thoughts here.
[*] Reply to three LLSNL HH a day.

So today:

NO cigs.
NO soda.

Eating a chicken salad for dinner.