It's not all about poker

[RML604]

To give you a brief introduction, I'm a 24 year old software developer from Chicago. I live with my girlfriend of 3 years and work downtown. I really enjoy my job and make decent money.

I guess my goal with this operation is to start holding myself accountable for some of the shit that I want to do but am too lazy to actually do.

Poker life:
- Start actively engaging in poker discussion, both on irc and the forum.
- Start reading the forums and not just skimming them. This means no reading poker at work where I'm just browsing and killing time rather than actively thinking about what's being posted.
- Stop doing other shit while playing poker. I know this is common sense, but I have a very hard time paying attention when playing poker, especially b/c I have 2 monitors and can easily play 4 tables on left while browsing/etc. on the right. When I'm at the table, my attention needs to be 100% on the tables. With that said, I think I'll leave the tables I'm at now so I can finish this post
- Spend more time studying and only studying. Same as above, it's too easy to be watching a video on the left screen while doing other shit on the right. If I'm going to be doing studying, I am going to treat it like I treated math homework back in high school: Sitting down at the kitchen table with my book and paper, figuring shit out.

Personal Life:
- Get in shape. My gf and I are going to start the Power90 in a few weeks. I'm pretty excited that she's doing it with me, and I'm hoping we can keep each other motivated.
- Organize my office. This room isn't exactly a disaster, but it's fairly annoying. Since I spend so much time in here, I figure the least I can do is make it enjoyable to be in here.
- Get more sleep...as I write this 6 hours before I need to wake up tomorrow. This is starting tomorrow, of course.

So I'm going to try and keep up to date with this thing, and hopefully improve my game as well as my life. I have 4 days of skiing in Utah starting tomorrow, and then it's time to get shit done. Bed time.

[TonyB73]

first!

GL!

[HarleyGuy13]

RML good luck in your mission friend!

[RML604]

Got back from Utah today. It was nice to get away for a while. My legs are killing me from the skiing, but it felt good to get out and get some exercise. I'm going to try to get all of the equipment and shit ready this week to start the Power 90 next Monday. I'm pretty excited about doing it, hopefully I can stick with it.

Played a session tonight, lost but not much. I've been trying out 8 tabling because when I play 4, I end up browsing the web/irc/etc. on the right monitor. However, I don't think filling up both monitors with tables is the answer b/c I'm just not good enough and I want to learn poker, not just play poker.

I gave HEM a shot today. Everyone always says how superior it is to PT3, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Maybe it just takes some getting used to, but I think I like PT3 better. Of course, I'll have to dick around with it sometime while I'm not 8 tabling :\

I really need to start studying more and playing less. I just feel like I'm in such a hurry to get back to 10NL and then on to 25NL, especially having been at 10NL for a decent amount of time. And so I try to get in as many hands as possible but ignore studying and lower my hourly rate by playing too many tables.

I don't know why I'm in such a rush to move up. I don't need the money at all. My gf and I combined make plenty of money for our life styles. I need to stop thinking about the money/what level I'm playing at and just focus on getting better. I need to start thinking about ranges/equity/etc. and not watching my bankroll and hoping I can grind it up to play 10NL asap.

I think I'm going to try to watch 3 GS vids/week. Before I left for Utah I put on a video but instead of sitting at the computer desk, I sat back on the couch in my office and watched from there. This prevented me from doing other shit while watching the movie. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the screen as well as I hoped. Maybe next time I'll stay at my desk but throw my keyboard out the window.

My goals for this week are:
- Get everything ready for starting the P90 next Monday.
- Watch 3 GS vids, taking proper notes.
- Read a chapter of PNL and take notes.
- 4 Table but shut off the other monitor and focus on the damn game.
- Win $1,000,000+ and take the rest of the year off.

Hilarious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL5pd...e=channel_page

It's Mr. ChiCity complaining to Comcast that he has a girl coming over in a few hours, and if they don't come hook up his cable, there's no chance he's getting with this girl. He just wants a fighting chance to hit it.

[RML604]

Just finishing up my session for the night. Not sure how much I ended up because I'm trying not to focus on my bankroll too much, but I did finish up. All in all I think I played pretty well. There's a guy at the table right now that is 96/0 over 105 hands. He stacked me earlier with 46 against my KK, but it didn't really bother me too much and I was able to get it all back (not necessarily from him) and then some, so I'm pretty happy.

I haven't really accomplished any of my weekly goals so far. I'll probably go shopping over the weekend for a yoga mat and maybe some other stuff to get ready for the Power 90. As for watching 3 GS vids, I haven't watched any. I did read a bit of PNL and am on pace to keep up with the book club, so I'm ok with that. Tonight I started 4-tabling but then cut back to 2 so I could really focus on the tables.

I still have trouble forcing myself to put opponents on a range every hand, especially hands that I'm not in. It's the one area of poker that I need to focus on the most, because it's such an integral part of playing any hand.

I have been trying to think of a computer program that I could write that would quiz me on ranges, but I can't really think of how to do it (not technically, just in general). I guess my best bet is to use PT3 and just replay the big hands that went to show down.

I'm pretty excited about the 3rd Group Sweat Session this Sunday. I definitely need to dig up some trouble hands and submit them for review, as well as being vocal during the session. I find myself being intimidated during those things, but I need to just get over it and start asking questions.

Bed time. Good day at the tables today for the first time in a long time. Feels good!

Play it:
Press the Space Bar 2000

Simple enough, just see how many times you can press your space bar in 5, 10, or 20 seconds. I keep falling just short of 100 in the 10 second one. Give it a go, it's pretty fun for being so stupid.

[RML604]

Just got 105 in 10 seconds. And boom goes the dynamite.

[RML604]

Had a pretty good weekend, up a few BIs. I still feel lost at the table a lot. I need to study more, away from my computer where I easily get distracted. Purchased NL T&P tonight, so I'm excited about that arriving. I would really like to take a microscope to it and study the material like I would a high school text book.

One of the difficult parts of studying poker, at least for me, is that even if I don't study I can sit down and play, and do so so. It's not like math or science where you can walk into class without doing any studying and get by (unless you're the exception). I need to start treating poker like a school subject if I'm going to be serious about it.

Didn't start the Power 90 today b/c my gf was sick all day, and I really want her to do it with me so we hold each other accountable. I did eat very healthy today, including eating half a grapefruit this morning at work that tasted awful. Even through grapefruit tastes awful to me, I like it. I was trying to explain it to a friend today, and the only analogy I could come up with is that I also like to pull my nose hairs out with my fingers. It makes my eyes water and it kinda hurts, but I like it.

Time to get high and do some dishes. I am so out of control...

[RML604]

Just finished my session for the night. All in all I was pretty happy with my play, but there were two hands that I'm not sure if I was making the right lay down:

Villain is 15/6 over 149 hands.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($2.61)
Button ($10.15)
SB ($10)
BB ($4.28)
UTG ($6.42)
UTG+1 ($8.02)
Hero (MP1) ($7.91)
MP2 ($8.72)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with Q, A
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.05, Hero bets $0.25, MP2 calls $0.25, 4 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.82) A, 5, 6 (3 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $0.60, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.02) Q (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $1.20, UTG+1 raises to $3.20, Hero folds

Total pot: $4.42 | Rake: $0.20


This next hand happened at the very beginning of the session. To me this screams set, but maybe I'm wrong. Thoughts anyone?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG+1 ($3.75)
MP1 ($9.81)
MP2 ($9.93)
CO ($6.02)
Button ($11.06)
SB ($5)
Hero (BB) ($9.73)
UTG ($2.70)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J, J
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.05, 2 folds, CO calls $0.05, 1 fold, SB calls $0.03, Hero bets $0.30, 1 fold, CO calls $0.25, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.70) 4, 2, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.45, CO calls $0.45

Turn: ($1.60) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $1, CO raises to $2.40, Hero folds

Total pot: $3.60 | Rake: $0.15


I'm not sure about those hands. Bad lay downs?

[PlayToWin]

I'm not sure about those hands. Bad lay downs?

I think they were good lay downs. Don't sweat it.

[sil693]

both seem goot to me. wp

[dranger7070]

I was trying to explain it to a friend today, and the only analogy I could come up with is that I also like to pull my nose hairs out with my fingers. It makes my eyes water and it kinda hurts, but I like it.

Time to get high and do some dishes. I am so out of control...

This

[sil693]

ahh that spacebar game is quite epic haha. 99 in 10secs is best so far. i WILL reach 100 before the end of today!!!

edit - 101
edit - 114

wheeeeeeeeee

[RML604]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP1 ($5.68)
MP2 ($8.39)
MP3 ($5.54)
CO ($3.57)
Button ($4.93)
SB ($10.28)
Hero (BB) ($6.83)
UTG ($4.90)
UTG+1 ($6.85)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, K
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.05, 1 fold, MP2 bets $0.20, 3 folds, SB raises to $0.60, Hero raises to $6.83 (All-In), UTG+1 raises to $6.85 (All-In), 1 fold, SB calls $6.25

Flop: ($20.73) 2, 6, J (3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($20.73) 9 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($20.73) 8 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $20.73 | Rake: $1

This hand is from last night. I'm not sure why I decided to just push here, but I can't see how it's the right play. Maybe a raise this big gets called here by QQ, seeing as how the one guy had AQ. But at the same time, I think some players might be able to get away from QQ here, which is obviously not good. I was almost certainly getting stacked this hand, so I'm not bothered about that. But I am bothered about how I played it in general.

I obviously have to raise, but how much? I would say I should have made it $2 or so.

Thoughts?

[dranger7070]

Yea I think 2-2.50 would be about right, but I'm not so sure that pushing here is bad either. It's 5nl and most guys will take AK (and AQ apparently), AA, KK, QQ, and probably JJ if they are loose enough, so I don't think this move is terrible.

Also note, that I play 5nl 6-max and FR is obviously nittier than 6-max so my range could be skewed because of how players at my level play.

[PlayToWin]

I'm not sure why I decided to just push here, but I can't see how it's the right play. Maybe a raise this big gets called here by QQ, seeing as how the one guy had AQ.

You decided to push because you had the 2nd best hand possible preflop? The only reason not to push would be because you would force all other hands to fold, thus losing value. However, at 5NL there are many donks who will call with TT or JJ+ or AK, etc. Not a bad push if you expected a call. That being said, it's not a play that I would make, because I would typically expect everyone to fold to the shove and would rather make smaller bets and evaluate each street. This is a play I would expect to see at high stakes (Poker After Dark, lol) So what beat you, AA, a flush, possibly a smaller pair hitting a set?
In your own Op thread, it's ok to post results, imo. Note: also coming from a 6-max point of view.

[RML604]

So what beat you, AA, a flush, possibly a smaller pair hitting a set?

I wouldn't care if a flush or set beat me, I was mad not because i ran up against AA (I didn't realize I forgot to check show results when converting), but moreover because I might be getting smaller pairs to fold. In this hand, I was going broke, especially when you look at the flop. So I don't care about that. What I was worried about was folding out smaller pairs.

I do think I played it wrong, but I wasn't mad that I ran up against AA. You are right though, a lot worse hands are pushing all-in pre at 5NL, and thus a lot worse hands are also calling all-ins pre:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG+1 ($8.46)
MP1 ($4.58)
MP2 ($12.67)
MP3 ($8.71)
CO ($17.56)
Hero (Button) ($5)
SB ($1.11)
BB ($1.60)
UTG ($10.62)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K, K
4 folds, MP3 bets $0.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.65, 2 folds, MP3 raises to $8.71 (All-In), Hero calls $4.35 (All-In)

Flop: ($10.07) J, 5, 2 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($10.07) 10 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($10.07) 7 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $10.07 | Rake: $0.50

Results:
Hero had K, K (one pair, Kings).
MP3 had 6, 6 (one pair, sixes).
Outcome: Hero won $9.57

------------------------------------------------------

Here's another hand that I played and I'm not sure how well I played it. I think I played the flop and river fine, but I'm not sure about the turn.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($9.35)
BB ($6)
UTG ($9.79)
MP1 ($6.70)
Hero (MP2) ($5.08)
CO ($4.69)
Button ($7.77)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 10, 10
2 folds, Hero bets $0.20, 3 folds, BB calls $0.15

Flop: ($0.42) J, 7, 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.25, BB raises to $0.50, Hero calls $0.25

Turn: ($1.42) A (2 players)
BB bets $0.55, Hero calls $0.55

River: ($2.52) K (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3.83 (All-In), BB calls $3.83

Total pot: $10.18 | Rake: $0.50

Results:
BB mucked A, 9 (flush, Ace high).
Hero had 10, 10 (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: Hero won $9.68

Flop: Standard c-bet on the flop, and I'm not going to fold to a min-raise here. He could be playing back at my c-bet, as villain was pretty aggressive.

Turn: The A hits his range pretty hand, but it's also a perfect scare card for him to fire another bullet. I thought he might have the A, but I thought the combination of him firing a 2nd bullet, myself having the flush draw, and the size of his bet justified the call.

River: I don't see any reason to put him on a flush draw here, and I think this looks like a good spot to bluff at on my part, so I just went ahead and pushed, expecting a call.

Looking back at this hand, I think I'm happier with how I played it than I was right after it happened. His bet sizes are just so weak, I don't see where I can fold.

Thoughts?

Awesome/Funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJGQ_tTmYgI

If you like Will, Carlton, uncle Phil, and folkish music, check this song out, it's pretty sweet.

[XTR1000]

Fold turn. Even tho the turn can be considered a "scare card", club draws are prob a good chunk of his flop range and you have very little equity when behind, your club outs aren´t clean most of the time. Also, you´ll need an awfully bad opponent to shove river.

[CBAT]

I'm in to follow this blog. That damn spacebar game is addicting (I suck at it, don't want to tell you what my scores are)!

I don't have much to say about the poker aspect, but I was wondering how P90x is going. I find their commercials so fascinating because the people in the videos literally add 25lbs of muscle and drop about 15lbs of fat in just 90 days. I don't really see how it's possible, but the guy who leads the exercises is so jacked!

Anyways, GL with both!

[RML604]

I don't have much to say about the poker aspect, but I was wondering how P90x is going.

Unfortunately, there is no chance that I would be able to do the P90x, so I'm just doing the Power 90, no x. I think I could do the exercises, but there's no way I can find 1 1/2 hours in my day to work out.

As far as how is the P90 going, my girlfriend and I have delayed the start a week b/c she was sick all last week. But now it seems like she's trying to back out of doing it with me, so tomorrow I'm going to start and if she comes along, great, but if not, oh well.

My goal is to finish the P90 and then do the P90x after wards. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm hoping it'll get me at least some what in shape and motivated to do the P90x, which looks like it's 10x harder.

Hilarious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa04d8iwJac

Just remembered I was watching AFV the other day when this clip came on, and I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. You should seriously watch it, because it's both amazing and hilarious. It was the winner on AFV that night, if you need more convincing.

[CBAT]

Oh, I didn't know that there was a P90 and a P90x. Well good luck with that and that dog is amazing! Not only with the peeing, but also with the standing on its front two legs for so long!

[PlayToWin]

Turn: The A hits his range pretty hand, but it's also a perfect scare card for him to fire another bullet. I thought he might have the A, but I thought the combination of him firing a 2nd bullet, myself having the flush draw, and the size of his bet justified the call.

River: I don't see any reason to put him on a flush draw here, and I think this looks like a good spot to bluff at on my part, so I just went ahead and pushed, expecting a call.

I think XTR1000 has a good point about folding the turn, but I might call it. On the river it's a definite check behind, since you could easily be beat. *Also, you don't "bluff" expecting a call. You bluff to get a fold and win the pot.

[PlayToWin]

I think XTR1000 has a good point about folding the turn, but I might call it. On the river it's a definite check behind, since you could easily be beat. *Also, you don't "bluff" expecting a call. You bluff to get a fold and win the pot.

I should confess that I suck at poker. You may not want to take my opinions too seriously, though I'm trying to give good advice. I've played 10NL, 5NL, and am now playing 2NL (though I'm rolled for 5NL) because I want to prove I can beat a level over a good sample-size of hands. I know that I have some things to work on and 2NL is a good place to do that right now. XTR1000 does not suck, lol.

[RML604]

Day 2 of Power 90 in the books. Yesterday was weights, today was cardio. I was pretty sore today, we'll see how tomorrow goes.

Haven't played much poker lately. Just wrapped up tonight's session, so so. I'm still being lazy at the table. Instead of putting my opponent on a range and then figuring out my equity, what parts of his range call/fold/raise/etc, I just brainlessly act/react. I really need to take a better approach while I'm playing, but it's just laziness and complacency stopping me. It's frustrating, but I have no one to blame but me.

Got NL T&P today in the mail, so I'm looking forward to reading that.

Awesome:


They're real, and they're spectacular.

[BooG690]

Even through grapefruit tastes awful to me, I like it. I was trying to explain it to a friend today, and the only analogy I could come up with is that I also like to pull my nose hairs out with my fingers. It makes my eyes water and it kinda hurts, but I like it.

I seriously thought I was the only sicko that liked this. Your blog is great. Funny shit.

They're real and they're spectacular.

Love the Seinfeld reference. Keep it up!

[RML604]

Had a good session tonight. Played one hand poorly that I stacked off with, I think my bet sizing was off. All in all, pretty standard. I'll have to find a hand tomorrow and post it, I don't feel like looking through the session right now.

Did the first two days of P90 and then haven't done anything since. Didn't do it last night because I went to see Watchmen (meh, was a bit too long, but it was decent), and didn't get home until 10. Tonight, I was just being lazy and didn't do it. It's hard to get in a groove and work out every day. But I'm gonna try to get back on track tomorrow, hopefully I can.

[RML604]

This is a hand from last night's session. No reads/meaningful stats on villain:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($7.22)
CO ($3.68)
Hero (Button) ($5.10)
SB ($6.65)
BB ($4.85)
UTG ($8.28)
MP1 ($2.19)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q, A
4 folds, Hero bets $0.15, SB calls $0.13, BB calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.45) 6, 7, A (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $0.25, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, BB calls $0.50

Turn: ($1.95) 9 (2 players)
BB bets $0.25, Hero raises to $1, BB calls $0.75

River: ($3.95) 10 (2 players)
BB bets $2.95 (All-In), Hero calls $2.95

Total pot: $9.85 | Rake: $0.45

Results:
Hero mucked Q, A (one pair, Aces).
BB had A, 8 (straight, ten high).
Outcome: BB won $9.40

I think my turn raise needs to be bigger here, probably around $2 or $2.50. One thing I find myself doing a lot is raising in multiples of the initial bet rather than based on the pot. Sometimes I get caught up the moment and forget that even though I'm raising him 4x his bet, it's not nearly enough b/c his bet was so small.

Is anyone folding this river?

[RML604]

http://www.vivalagames.com/play/basejumping/

Base Jumping. You're basically free falling against 3 other players, racing to the ground, except you need to pull your parachute at some point. The harder you hit the ground, the more life you lose. It's one of my favorite flash games. I just made it to Round 5.

Seriously, play it.

[RML604]

Well I was having a pretty good session tonight until the final hand of my night:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($1.83)
SB ($10.32)
Hero (BB) ($5.95)
UTG ($7.60)
UTG+1 ($4.13)
MP1 ($5.38)
MP2 ($10.07)
MP3 ($11.48)
CO ($10)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, K
UTG calls $0.05, UTG+1 calls $0.05, 3 folds, CO (poster) bets $0.20, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.80, 2 folds, CO (poster) calls $0.60

Flop: ($1.72) 4, 7, 10 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.30, CO raises to $2.60, Hero raises to $5.15 (All-In), CO calls $2.55

Turn: ($12.02) 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($12.02) 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $12.02 | Rake: $0.55

Results in white below:
Hero had K, K (two pair, Kings and threes).
CO had 10, 10 (full house, tens over threes).
Outcome: CO won $11.47

I never know what to do in spots like this. I mean this looks so much like a set. But I hate folding KK here, especially at 5NL.

Other than that, the session was a good one. Still ended up, but that last hand took a huge chunk out of the profits. Oh well, still better than breaking even or losing.

Haven't played much poker lately. I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things soon. Work has just been super busy, so not much I can do about it.

Other than that, nothin to say. Haven't bought any more gems from the grocery store like my Flamin' Hot Funyuns the other week.

Oh, I did watch this tonight and it's absolutely hilarious:

Drunk History

If you haven't seen it, it's basically someone gets wasted and tells a story from history, and then they have real actors like Michael Cera and Jack Black act out the narration. It's fantastic, and you should probably watch it right now.

Enjoy.