A stranger is being shown around a village that he has just become part of. He is shown a well and his guide says "On any day except Monday, you can shout any question down that well and you'll be told the answer" .

The man seems pretty impressed, and so he shouts down: Why not on Monday? and the voice from in the well shouts back: Because on Monday, it’s your day in the well.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to change the day in this little quote (since it's Wednesday), but I let it be. At the request of some friends on here, I am doing a well! Oh goody! Feel free to ask away and I'll do my best to answer everyone.

origin of your screename?

biggest poker achievement to date?

What was your progression through the µNL like?

During that time, what were the hardest and/or most useful non-obvious things you learned? Feel free to use your own judgment on what counts as obvious and what doesn't.

It was actually a very personal thing for me. (The screen name) When I was about 22, I was really unhappy with my life. I used to smoke weed, cigarattes, and drink a lot...plus I was probably around 375 lbs. I have no idea why, but I was looking at a very classic picture of an ape on all fours, slowly changing into an upright man and I thought to myself that this was what I needed to before I wound up dying in one way or another. In poker, I find that adapting to situations (villains, stack sizes, table dynamic, etc) is massively important for your game. "That which does not bend, will break."

Biggest poker achievement...I haven't won any big tournies or anything, but the first time I got a check from poker I felt really good. I think that being able to beat 100NL and being able to post here and do a well thread are way up there as well.

Blah blah, poker story, lifetime graph etc....

Do you work in real life, if so what?

Also are you still running/running marathons?

I started off with 50 bucks on stars and first planned to be a tourney player. The first poker books I read were the Harrington on Hold 'Em books and I figured I'd have a good edge on the other players. However, I soon moved to cash games as tourneys seemed too luck-based. lol I started off playing 5NL, beat that, got a $50 bonus and moved to 10NL and beat that too. The move to 25 was tough and I spent a LOT of time at 25NL breaking even. (I pretty much broke even for 80k hands at 25NL). Blaming the site, I moved to FTP (where I could get rakeback!! YAY!), tuned my game some and ran better, beating 25NL and 50NL for about 4ptbb. I've been around 50/100/200 since then, depending on my roll. I've withdrawn a few times and will sometimes move down, but I'm pretty confident that I can win, at least through 100.

Non-obvious/obvious is really person-dependent, imo. I remember when I first learned that the board needed to be paired for a FH to be possible (this was in 10NL, btw). Treading carefully in limped pots was a huge lesson I had to learn. Ummmm...... NOT raising someone I thought was on a bluff when I had SD value. I think the hardest thing I had to learn was to walk away when I felt tilty. I distinctly remember a day where I tilted off something like 7 BI's in 2 hours at 25NL. I was on AIM chatting with ranka and giving him updates on my rapidly dwindling BR and even though he kept telling me to stop, I felt like I just needed one good hand to get back into things...ugh..LOL. Please avoid doing this!!

Today is not Monday.

How deep is the water?

1/ how often do you review hands? Each day, each week? Do you review all your hands or just the big hands? Any routine that could help us?

2/ vpip/pfr/af for last 3 months?

3/ how many tables do you play at a time?

4/ what is your weight now?

5/ typical week of poker? Do you play everyday? How long are your sessions?

Most of the poker story's up, I think. After running like Jeebus for my first 20k hands at 100NL, I hit a massive downswing. Coincidentally, a lot of expenses magically appeared as well, and between the 2 my BR went from 4.5K to <300. I took a break and moved back to PS for a fresh start and played 25NL, then 50, and now 100. I'll see if I can compile my databases to get one big graph, but if not, I'll post 3 or 4 graphs in chronological order.

I tutor math as a job (though lately, I've been making more with poker), though I went to culinary school. I hated working in foodservice, but tutoring teaching really do it for me. I'm also finishing up a Math/Secondary Education Bachelor's and will probably teach math after I retire from making millions in poker. (IN MY DREAMS!!)

I run 3-4 times a week when I'm on top of things and I'm training for next year's "Goofy Challenge" which is a part of the Disney race where you run a 1/2 marathon on Saturday and then a full marathon on Sunday. (Funeral services are provided on Monday, ldo. I really really love running and it's responsible for most of my weight loss. I just wish it wasn't such murder on the ankles sometimes.

what was ur biggest loss and win in a session and for a day?

and why do i always cooler you?

Favourite 2+2 thread?

Poster who has helped your game most?

How do FT and PS compare at 100NL with regard to toughness of games?

What seperates a winning 100NL player from someone who cant break out of the micros?

1) Every week, when I get the chance. I wish I could review more though...I think it's an overlooked part of game improvement.

2) I don't have it on hand, but it's probably something like 13/9/2.5

3) My standard is 9 fast tables on stars, but sometimes I'll play 12 or 6 depending on what my goal is for the session.

4) Right now I'm about 240, though I got as low as 205...I'd really like to drop another 20 lbs, but my body seems to have other ideas for some reason lol.

5) I try to play Monday-Friday, but sometimes I can't. I miss out on a lot of the best hours spending time with my GF (she gets my nights and weekends), but honestly, I don't want poker to take over all my time. It's important to have balance in life and spending time with my girlfriend makes me happy! (Her too, I hope lol). I usually play 2 hour sessions unless I'm feeling really good and the table's really juicy (then I'll play longer). I'm also learning to walk away from the computer when I start to feel frustrated (walking away=+++++EV)

does not cumpute.


Favourite starting poker hand?


Is there any 2+2 thread that you feel made a big impression on your game?( Bascially wanna make sure you dont anser SS Q with thread from BBV or something)

Which 100NL reg that poosts here do you try and avoid?

If you could get coaching from any of the small-high FR forum who would it be?

Biggest winning session at 100NL: $324 over 108 hands
Biggest losing session at 100NL: -$185 over 96 hands

I'm not sure how to check by the day, but I'm pretty sure my best day earned about $650 and my worst lost around $375

Why do you always cooler me? I think it's the pink cast.

Cheers for doing this.

1 what is your poker goals
2 what do with pp and scs
3 do you ever play a tournaments

Favorite movie?

Favorite kind of music?

Lifetime graph?

Poker story?

Favorite non premium hand?

Your all time favorite hand?

Do you study or work?

# of tables you usually play?

You are a bad human being. Comment on this please.

You said you were a heavy drinker and a weed smoker. Did you ever try anything "heavier"?

Thanks for doing this pal, looking forward to bid on the ebay sale of your sexy pants!

As far as non-BBV threads, I'd have to say Pokey's thread on using PT, though there are a ton of great threads on this forum. BBV is a toss-up between the thread with all the Sammy Farha pics and the one where some guy craps himself because he doesn't want to leave the table holding AA. (This thread delivers in more ways than one).

I think a bunch of posters have helped me a ton on this forum and on AIM, but as far as people who stand out, I'd have to say ranka, AlexB182, Chargers, trebek, Curvy, and Split Suit, and threads just because of the hours of time we've put into going over hands on AIM and in sweats. I could probably name at least 20 other people who've helped my game on the forum, but I know I'll forget someone and I'll spend too much time trying to think of everyone.

Overall, I think the games at FTP100 are tighter than stars, but I think they play about the same. Stars software is just better imo and it makes me tilt less which is obv +EV. lol

As for being a winning 100NL player, I think adjusting is the biggest key. There are a wide range of players here and knowing how to get value from different types of players is really important. (i.e. calling down maniacs sometimes). Hand reading is also really important here as well. Know thy villain!! (or something)

I forgot some other questions this is do with 3betting


1 do you three bet often and if so what guildlines do you try and follow.
2 if you 3 bet light what vpp and pfr do you bet against
3 what hands should you 4 bet with

Congrats on the weight loss.. That takes a *lot* of self-discipline, and IMHO if you can pull that off, you can pretty much do anything else hard in life (e.g. masters degree, write a book, become president of internet). People with normal metabolisms will think I'm full of crap, but **** those skinny jerks.

Are there spots at uNL where you tend to slow down with pre-flop aggression in order to adjust to your opponents? Spots that maybe wouldn't be as common at 100NL or higher?

Also, are there any stats that notably improved your game once you added them to your HUD?

lol@does not compute. I think I was just doing these things to escape...but that only lasts so long.

My favorite starting hand...I really do love pocket 7's, but 67s is a close second.

Most of Pokey's threads should just be framed and put on a wall, imo. The one on PT analysis and the post about blind-stealing stand out most to me. I also like MTTR's short-stacking illuminati thread. As it goes in depth about a lot of poker math (and I think it's incredibly useful for tourney play too).

I don't really like avoiding people...I think and hope that playing against people better than me will improve my game. However, I will say that 1pokerboy and Coordi frighten me. There are also a lot of people whose names I don't know on stars.

I got some coaching from Split Suit and was very pleased with it. If I was going to get lessons from someone who plays higher...probably Smart Money. He just puts in an insane amount of volume, runs something like 20/8, and smacks 1/2 around.

do you have a dog?

and if u do/did if it woke u up after and hours worth of sleep would u kill it or try to let it run away or not do anythign at all?

SPEEEEEEDLE!!!

I'll listen to just about anything with heart in it. (i.e. not commercial pop music or whiny R&B) I listen to rock/metal more than anything though.

I'm still working on the lifetime graph. If anyone knows a good fast way to combine databases, IM me PLEASE!!

Poker story: I think it's mostly there, but I'll add that I sold MTG cards to gain my starting bankroll. I thought poker might be a better time investment...yay for being right! lol

I study and work, though work's been pretty dry since January (due to my boesses deciding to change the schedule after I specifically asked them not to, due to my class schedule). Poker's paying the bills for now, but I really do love teaching/tutoring.

I usually play 9 fast tables. Normal tables tilt me with their slow movement and repeated asking for blinds. lol

I'm a Puerto Rican in the Bronx. You expect me to be a good person?

Did I every try anything heavier...I think so, but it wasn't on purpose. When buying marijuana from a "friend of a friend", it's good to bring that friend to ensure that it's not laced...ugh...

I am actually thinking of getting some hot pink spandex shorts and putting them up. The question is, should I go running in them first before selling them? If so, should I wash them?

Movie: There are many! I really thought Death to Smoochy was awesome, but I also love Fight Club, Seven, Pulp Fiction..and pron, obviously.

My favorite hand...LOL Villain is SobraoGirl. This is my fave because I got cursed out after it was done, but knew exactly what she had and played accordingly

Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked

MP1: $8.25
MP2: $23.65
CO: $7.50
BTN: $24.60
SB: $5.80
Hero (BB): $51.45
UTG: $5.20
UTG+1: $24.30
UTG+2: $27.35

Pre Flop: Hero is BB with A K
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 3 folds, CO raises to $0.75, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.50, UTG+1 calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.35) T 2 J (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, CO bets $2.25, Hero calls $2.25, UTG+1 raises to $5, CO raises to $6.75 all in, Hero calls $4.50, UTG+1 calls $1.75

Turn: ($22.60) 7 (3 players - 1 is all in)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $6.75, Hero calls $6.75

River: ($36.10) Q (3 players - 1 is all in)
Hero bets $11, UTG+1 calls $10.05 all in

Choose one (and a short explanation if you're up to it):

Moving up / Multitabling

3bet / coldcall IO hands IP

limp / raise small PP UTG (NL100 and below ldo)

posting / replying (HH)

Posting in the CO / Waiting till your BB

PT3 / were smart and waited

experience / study

+EV / No Variance

Thanks for doing this Rapid, I loved your recent "Play a hand against me Deep" post

1) I'd like to be able to beat 1/2 for 2-3 ptbb and have poker as a means of income (or at least building up savings). As for playing it professionally or playing it full time, I really can't say (though my game needs a ton of improvement if I'm going to consider doing this at all). I also like the idea of working from home and having a flexible schedule...not to mention not having to work for someone whom I think is an idiot. lol I think I'd like to play in the WSOP too...it'd be fun!

2) It really depends on the table and how deep the stacks are. In general, I'm open-raising all PPs from pretty much any position unless the table is mostly short-stacked (in which case, I'm leaving). I'll raise SCs as I get close to the button, but I'm not messing around with them in EP. It's tough to get the most out of them OOP.

3) Sometimes I do for a change of pace, but I'm not as knowledgeable about things like ICM as I'd like to be. With the double VPP WSOP step tournies around, I find myself playing some of those on Stars.

4/5) 3betting is really touchy and depends on my position, the villain, and stack sizes. If I think I'm ahead of the villain's raising range and that raising carries more EV than flatting, I'll 3bet. If I'm in the button and CO loves to steal AND thinks I'm a nit, I'll 3bet a pretty wide range. If I'm in the blinds and BTN/CO likes to steal, I'll probably 3bet a wide range too. The part I have trouble with is figuring out which hands have more value as a 3bet and which have more value as a flat call (especially from the blinds). (I'll end here because I feel like I'll get really wordy if I keep typing lol)

6) Again it depends, but here, it depends more on the villain and how much FE the 4bet will carry. If I think villain is folding a lot of hands to a 4bet, then I'm more apt to 4bet AK (and occasionally something wacky like 78s). If I think he'll call my 4bet with more than just KK++, then I think it's profitable to 4bet KK+ and rarely QQ. The toughest thing imo is knowing whether flatting a 3bet with a hand like KK/AA will be more profitable than 4betting.

I think squeezing and light 3-betting aren't happening all that often at 50 and below, and much more often than not, a preflop 3bet is KK+/AK. I pretty much never 4bet light at 50 and would really need a solid read to do so any lower than that. I also won't steal as lightly in the micros since more people are loose and already "partially invested" in the hand.

Fold to cbet is really important to have up there, and TBH, I feel like I'm getting a lot of value from "Attempt to steal blinds %". Not only does this provide lots of opportunities for lighter 3betting, but it gives you an idea of how positionally aware the opponent is and can also help you narrow their ranges when they raise EP. A 13/9 with an ATS of 46 and a 13/9 with an ATS of 10 are going to play VERY different games, imo