Tough times don't last, tough guys do

Originally posted by Tomaloc
well whatever, but you can get the point. the more often you play your c/d/worse game more often, the less chance you recover.
and it seems that your accumulated emotion issues have already piled up to the point where you already hate the game after a single suckout into the session.

you can't just cast that aside and try to grind through it like a machine, it WILL get into your game and your energy in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. i've been there.

how to fix your accumulated emotion issues without taking a break?
i can't really say anything from my own experience. so good luck

I am also in the accumulated emotion club, and the worst part of when it happens is that you think you're playing A game when you're really not. Tommy, you'll probably deny this, but just look at that AK hand of yours. Two people limped then you shoved 100bb. This is not your normal A-Game, its classic accumulated emotion play, been there done that.

The only ways to fix it other than to take a break is to
a) learn to love (or at least accept) the lows as much as the highs
b) run good (temporary solution )

Originally posted by metza

Originally posted by Tomaloc
well whatever, but you can get the point. the more often you play your c/d/worse game more often, the less chance you recover.
and it seems that your accumulated emotion issues have already piled up to the point where you already hate the game after a single suckout into the session.

you can't just cast that aside and try to grind through it like a machine, it WILL get into your game and your energy in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. i've been there.

how to fix your accumulated emotion issues without taking a break?
i can't really say anything from my own experience. so good luck

I am also in the accumulated emotion club, and the worst part of when it happens is that you think you're playing A game when you're really not. Tommy, you'll probably deny this, but just look at that AK hand of yours. Two people limped then you shoved 100bb. This is not your normal A-Game, its classic accumulated emotion play, been there done that.

The only ways to fix it other than to take a break is to
a) learn to love (or at least accept) the lows as much as the highs
b) run good (temporary solution )

I did that on purpose. I saw him call an overbet shove pre with rags twice already. Nothing wrong with shoving AK there. I had a read. Usually, even on tilt, I nv 3b ship with any hand ♦

I respect all of you guys' advice. I know all the benefits of taking a break. Thanks for helping me when I'm going through this.

I'm not going to take a long break though. However I will cut down on the lengths of my session for the time being. 30 minutes. And my aim is not to spew throughout the 30 mins.

And I'm going to study a lot more. And take some mini breaks in between days.

I really wish there would be a punishment if I fail to meet these goals though. Then I will be able to control myself better. But being disciplined for 30 minutes should be fine, hopefully.

Since Saturday I have only played 2 short 2 table zoom sessions. It went pretty good. Seemed much more passive than regular tables (regs too). Helped that I ran well too of course.

Yesterday+Today's graph(all at N10 zoom)

I didn't spew much (tried one or two little bluffs when I sensed weakness but that's it) The short sessions are helping me a lot.

I am still making some questionable plays though. Also, I find that I am always rushing to make my decisions, even though I have a 30 seconds+ time bank. This is a habit I need to fix.

Will play another 30 minute session with regular tables tonight. And maybe another 30min zoom session.

Another 30min, but super run good session! Had my 2nd best day since April!

Since I ran so good I didn't have any problems about spew/making stupid calls. My problems today were more of not maximising value. There were some hands which I could have played more aggressively to squeeze abit more value out of the fish ♦

Hands like:

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $9.85 (98.5 bb)
SB: $10 (100 bb)
BB: $4 (40 bb)
UTG: $18.62 (186.2 bb)
MP: $10 (100 bb)
Hero (CO): $15.42 (154.2 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q Q
UTG raises to $0.30, MP calls $0.30, Hero raises to $1.20, BTN calls $1.20, 4 folds

Flop: ($3.15) Q 8 Q (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $1.55, Hero calls $1.55

Turn: ($6.25) K (2 players)
Hero bets $0.50, BTN calls $0.50

River: ($7.25) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $6.60, BTN folds

Results:

and

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $10.12 (101.2 bb)
SB: $11.72 (117.2 bb)
BB: $10 (100 bb)
UTG: $9.16 (91.6 bb)
MP: $10.15 (101.5 bb)
CO: $17.39 (173.9 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with A K
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.20, SB folds, BB raises to $0.50, Hero raises to $1.70, BB calls $1.20

Flop: ($3.45) K 6 2 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $2.10, BB calls $2.10

Turn: ($7.65) Q (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

River: ($7.65) T (2 players)
BB bets $2, Hero calls $2

Results:

The QQ hand was really poorly played. Even though he had nothing strong I should have realised that he might have a club and bet/call the turn.

AK hand... I had no idea whether he was fishy or not. But I really expected lots of slowplayed AA/KK and even QQ which got there on the turn.

Played 1214 hands today, most in a day for a long time. All of them were at zoom though. I played 3 30 minute sessions today. I'm liking it so far, I can take a break almost right after I start my session (30 mins really felt like 10 mins to me).

Today, not many tough spots. Had one trouble hand:

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $11.10 (111 bb)
SB: $1.73 (17.3 bb)
BB: $10 (100 bb)
UTG: $11.71 (117.1 bb)
MP: $11.98 (119.8 bb)
CO: $8.95 (89.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with A K
2 folds, CO raises to $0.20, Hero raises to $0.60, 2 folds, CO calls $0.40

Flop: ($1.35) 3 T 7 (2 players)
CO bets $0.10, Hero calls $0.10

Turn: ($1.55) A (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $1.10, CO raises to $3.30, Hero calls $2.20

River: ($8.15) 5 (2 players)
CO bets $4.95 and is all-in, Hero calls $4.95

Results:

The raise was huge but this really looks like fish overplay Ax to me... When he shoved river I thought he might have two pair + or set but I called anyway hoping to see something like AQ. It's weird that he min donked flop with a set though...

I'm lucky in most other 3bet pots though, this hand really made me laugh:

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $10.29 (102.9 bb)
SB: $11.16 (111.6 bb)
BB: $7.15 (71.5 bb)
UTG: $11.77 (117.7 bb)
MP: $16.81 (168.1 bb)
CO: $10 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with Q 2
2 folds, CO raises to $0.30, Hero raises to $0.90, 2 folds, CO calls $0.60

Flop: ($1.95) 2 2 Q (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $0.90, CO calls $0.90

Turn: ($3.75) T (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $2.30, CO raises to $5.80, Hero calls $3.50

River: ($15.35) K (2 players)
CO bets $2.40 and is all-in, Hero calls $2.40

Results:

Calling 3b oop with 67s, turn a flush. I'm pretty sure he fist pumped his own face when he saw my hand.

Will keep this volume going in the following days, maybe I will add in 2 more sessions on some days and see how I handle it.

And yea, I don't feel like going back to regular tables anytime soon. I'm running good at zoom and there are idiots paying me off.

Would you let us know where your current BR stands now?
Also, i read you cashed out $600 from 888. But I want to know from how much did you make $600?
How are you faring on Pokerstars so far?
And last question is do u play FR zoom or 6max zoom?

Originally posted by canniballsy

And last question is do u play FR zoom or 6max zoom?

Based on the hands he is posting I would say it will be 6max Zoom.

Originally posted by canniballsy
Would you let us know where your current BR stands now?
Also, i read you cashed out $600 from 888. But I want to know from how much did you make $600?
How are you faring on Pokerstars so far?
And last question is do u play FR zoom or 6max zoom?

When I started this blog I had $615 BR. Had around $100 of that in skrill and $70 in pokerstars though. Ran my BR up to $900 by end march, withdrew another $100 into skrill (So that I can have $200 ready if a reload bonus/free money bonus pops up). So I guess at that point I had around $630 in 888. Lost $30 I think last month at 888, so left with $600.

I'm running good on Pokerstars so far. +$70.72 this month.

I don't play FR in cash games at all. So 6max zoom.

I will try to update my BR more frequently. Sometimes I lose count too.

Current BR: $917.81

Just had bad zoom session. QQ<AK and 0% set in 600 hands. down 2BI.

It's okay though. But I think I will try out regular tables again tonight. Sometimes zoom can be a bitch because you rarely get action with premium hands (except when I have AK, and miss flop ♦ )

2nd zoom session, equally bad (didnt play reg tables cos too lazy to table select, paid the price). down 2 BIs too. Decided to stop for the day. Starting to tilt a little and my luck is shit today. Realities of zoom are catching up to me (Hard to beat when not running good)

Oh well, that's part of life.

Originally posted by tommygecko
Starting to tilt a little and my luck is shit today.

He is defenitely lying to you guys. He is on serious tilt!

I wish I could sit with him at the virtual felt when he is tilt
On a serious note: Buddy you have a great potential to go higher. You need to fix your mindset before you go bust!

I think I really need to stop playing and work on my game, specifically for NL10 especially.

I'm getting downswings frequently because of my low WR (I'm quite sure now). I put myself into marginal spots way too often. That itself is making me think that something big is wrong with my game.

Problem is I don't know where to start fixing my game. I'm already fairly tight but still getting into many marginal spots, which isn''t a good sign.

It feels like I have problems everywhere, and I can't recognise them on my own. Getting private coach is a good idea but it is so expensive (not very affordable for someone at nl10) Maybe if there is an affordable option I will consider..

Right now I'm going to modify my goals a little bit. There is no point playing so many hands everyday if I'm only losing but NOT becoming better.

Any suggestions on how I should go about reworking my game? Maybe reconstruct ranges, etc? I kind of have some idea what I need to fix.. but I don't know how to do it the right way..

Think I will work on preflop first, and then the later streets

Tommy I had added you in the comm tool.

I am similar to you in that I find myself in marginal spots and lose some money that way.

Maybe we should bang our heads together and get a learning group up and running! I have been in some in the past and they are great for a month or two then they break down, maybe sort something out more permanently?

What do u think?

Originally posted by Stu24023
Tommy I had added you in the comm tool.

I am similar to you in that I find myself in marginal spots and lose some money that way.

Maybe we should bang our heads together and get a learning group up and running! I have been in some in the past and they are great for a month or two then they break down, maybe sort something out more permanently?

What do u think?

Okay, that is great!

hey bro, i am also playing NL10, but at zoom.

and i am also from sg, think it will be easy for us to do reviews and help each other since we are from the same timezone.

added you on comm tool, let me know your skype and we can exchange contact if you don't mind ♦

Didn't play any poker today. Went for a day trip in malaysia. Nothing special but nice to step out of the country once in a while.

Tomorrow I'm probably going to study 90% and play 10%. I am having trouble with preflop decisions sometimes. I opened equilab today and asked myself, CO vs unknown MP open(with regs behind), which hands should I 3bet, which hands should I call? I am uncertain with some hands, particularly AQ, JJ type of hands. 3bet or call? I can't even answer that after thinking for a long time (with info it's easier but vs unknown I can't come up with the more +EV decision). Time to watch some preflop videos. Got to fix whatever uncertainties I have before I start grinding again.

Was following EPT grand final main event, didn't like the way Lodden knocked Daniel out. Calling with 99 isn't the worst decision but it was clearly a desperation call (hoping to see AQ/AK). But maybe that's how tournaments are... If you don't have an edge/can't exploit your edge over your opponent you have to push your luck before you get run over/blinded out. I was rooting for Daniel so it's a bit sick ♦

Watched some videos in the past 2 days.

Played abit of poker, running good ♦

I'm not so motivated to play though. I have a lot of free time but I try to do something else instead almost all the time...

Need to find my motivation back!

Getting all in pre with AK, KK, QQ you should be happy almost all the time right? ♦

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $11.90 (119 bb)
SB: $10 (100 bb)
BB: $4.47 (44.7 bb)
UTG: $18.91 (189.1 bb)
MP: $4.88 (48.8 bb)
Hero (CO): $10.15 (101.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A K
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.30, BTN raises to $1.05, 2 folds, Hero raises to $2.60, BTN raises to $11.90 and is all-in, Hero calls $7.55

Flop: ($20.45) 7 J T (2 players, 1 is all-in)
Turn: ($20.45) J (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($20.45) Q (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results:

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $10 (100 bb)
SB: $9.90 (99 bb)
BB: $12.67 (126.7 bb)
UTG: $6.46 (64.6 bb)
MP: $10 (100 bb)
CO: $45.51 (455.1 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with Q Q
2 folds, CO raises to $0.25, Hero raises to $0.80, SB calls $0.75, BB folds, CO raises to $2.20, Hero raises to $10 and is all-in, SB folds, CO calls $7.80

Flop: ($20.90) 3 9 9 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
Turn: ($20.90) 7 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($20.90) 5 (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results:

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $21.71 (217.1 bb)
Hero (SB): $10 (100 bb)
BB: $10.10 (101 bb)
UTG: $6.15 (61.5 bb)
MP: $5 (50 bb)
CO: $5.05 (50.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K K
2 folds, CO raises to $0.25, BTN folds, Hero raises to $0.98, BB folds, CO raises to $2.40, Hero raises to $7.60, CO calls $2.65 and is all-in

Flop: ($10.20) 5 5 A (2 players, 1 is all-in)
Turn: ($10.20) K (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($10.20) 5 (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results: