Cashgame crushers

Long time without update. Won't write a long post since I'm way behind schedule!

1. 1235 min played out of 3000 required => 4,5h grinding per day for the rest of the month.

2. 2 out of 7 posts => this is not the priority but will try to complete it.

3. 11/14 articles read => only achievable goal for now.

4. 15/99 posted hands in hand evaluation forum => 12 hands per day for the rest of the month.

Will do it!

Failed 3/4 goals previous month. Poker can't be very high on my priority list atm so I'm taking a bit longer break.

Will be back after a while... I promise.

I've been playing a lot this month. For my standards and have in mind I've been playing only for the last 10 days. Mostly concentrated on playing but also some hand posting and reading my notes. I was feeling comfortable and actually enjoying the game. Let's be frank it's easy when you win!

And then yesterday this happened...

I guess I was too confident and playing deepstack tables probably wasn't the best idea. At the same played my longest session in probably last two years = 327 min. All together I played 519 min yesterday!

This hand is probably the main reason I stayed longer than I should:

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10, $0.02 ante No Limit Hold'em Cash, 5 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (MP): $34.03 (340.3 bb)
CO: $28.74 (287.4 bb)
BTN: $45.63 (456.3 bb)
SB: $24.12 (241.2 bb)
BB: $35.13 (351.3 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A A
Hero raises to $0.40, CO raises to $1.60, 3 folds, Hero raises to $4.40, CO calls $2.80

Flop: ($9.05) T 2 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $4.50, CO raises to $24.32, Hero calls $19.82

Turn: ($57.69) 8 (2 players)
River: ($57.69) K (2 players)

Results:

Normal bad beat but I was waiting this guy so long and he was quite spewy and after this hand I just wanted to get it back. Also my concentration after 5h wasn't great.

I was quite sad and angry after finishing this session. After not so good sleep I see this is just another experience that will help me in the future.

I'm taking day off and tomorrow back to business.

I said and wrote 'this is the last time or I'm out' sentence many times. And I really meant it...giving my maximum to succeed. At least that what I thought. Unfortunately it wasn't enough because I wasn't putting enough of my energy, hard work and the most important thing - I never really believed I could actually do it. It sucks when you get used with idea 'I will give my all and if I fail at least I know I gave my best'...when in fact you know that 'if' is actually 'when'.

Why is this time different?
I put most of it on the paper. And I realised I actually enjoy playing poker, still.
What I hate about poker is losing. And I didn't acknowledge it for a long time but now I have to say it - I'm a LOSING PLAYER. I've been breakeven (with bonuses) for more than 6 months now and it sucks big time! Not being able to beat NL10 is humiliating and if I felt humble after few months I feel frustration and disappointment at this very moment.

Right now I don't enjoy playing poker. That's the reason I don't put as much volume but I rather read, think and watch poker. But that doesn't bring results right? Have to change it so I start enjoying in poker as I used to - through winning.

So what's the CHALLENGE?

Start playing NL50 by the 31.12.2013. Having a proper BR of 40BI.

Here is the more precise plan:

a) I'm starting with $305,96 BR.
b) I'm depositing $350 to get full first deposit bonus on 25th of August.
c) Have $530 first deposit bonus to clear.

a + b + c = $1185,96
Writing it like this $2000 mark doesn't seem that far away for 5 month period.

However if I give you results of my last 4 month you will see that won't be such an easy challenge to accomplish.

Results from 1.4. to 31.7.2013:
8304 min played (34,6 h per month)
hands played: 73005
winrate: -1,99bb/100 (NL10 + NL20)

Step by step plan:

1. August:

Playing NL10.
24 days * 150 min = 3600 min (60h)
1350 VPP

2. September:

Playing NL10.
23 days * 180 min = 4140 min (69h)
1500 VPP

3. October:

NL25
23 days * 180 min = 4140 min (69h)
2600 VPP

4. November:

NL25
23 days * 180 min = 4140 min (69h)
2600 VPP

5. December:

NL25
23 days * 180 min = 4140 min (69h)
2600 VPP

Prop bet offer:
I'm willing to offer $200 in total with 1:1 odds for prop bet. This is mostly for my bigger motivation but since I failed 3 times already in achieving my 'big' goal I don't think that's such a bad offer.

Goals to achieve by 31.12.2013:

1) hours played = 336h
2) posts to write = 63 (3 per week)
3) earning 10650 VPP points
(I have 1267,46 lifetime VPP at the moment; that means having 11917,46 VPP by the end of the challenge).

Originally posted by yaxkukmian
I said and wrote 'this is the last time or I'm out' sentence many times. And I really meant it...giving my maximum to succeed. At least that what I thought. Unfortunately it wasn't enough because I wasn't putting enough of my energy, hard work and the most important thing - I never really believed I could actually do it. It sucks when you get used with idea 'I will give my all and if I fail at least I know I gave my best'...when in fact you know that 'if' is actually 'when'.

Why is this time different?
I put most of it on the paper. And I realised I actually enjoy playing poker, still.
What I hate about poker is losing. And I didn't acknowledge it for a long time but now I have to say it - I'm a LOSING PLAYER. I've been breakeven (with bonuses) for more than 6 months now and it sucks big time! Not being able to beat NL10 is humiliating and if I felt humble after few months I feel frustration and disappointment at this very moment.

Right now I don't enjoy playing poker. That's the reason I don't put as much volume but I rather read, think and watch poker. But that doesn't bring results right? Have to change it so I start enjoying in poker as I used to - through winning.

So what's the CHALLENGE?

Start playing NL50 by the 31.12.2013. Having a proper BR of 40BI.

Here is the more precise plan:

a) I'm starting with $305,96 BR.
b) I'm depositing $350 to get full first deposit bonus on 25th of August.
c) Have $530 first deposit bonus to clear.

a + b + c = $1185,96
Writing it like this $2000 mark doesn't seem that far away for 5 month period.

However if I give you results of my last 4 month you will see that won't be such an easy challenge to accomplish.

Results from 1.4. to 31.7.2013:
8304 min played (34,6 h per month)
hands played: 73005
winrate: -1,99bb/100 (NL10 + NL20)

Step by step plan:

1. August:

Playing NL10.
24 days * 150 min = 3600 min (60h)
1350 VPP

2. September:

Playing NL10.
23 days * 180 min = 4140 min (69h)
1500 VPP

3. October:

NL25
23 days * 180 min = 4140 min (69h)
2600 VPP

4. November:

NL25
23 days * 180 min = 4140 min (69h)
2600 VPP

5. December:

NL25
23 days * 180 min = 4140 min (69h)
2600 VPP

Prop bet offer:
I'm willing to offer $200 in total with 1:1 odds for prop bet. This is mostly for my bigger motivation but since I failed 3 times already in achieving my 'big' goal I don't think that's such a bad offer.

Goals to achieve by 31.12.2013:

1) hours played = 336h
2) posts to write = 63 (3 per week)
3) earning 10650 VPP points
(I have 1267,46 lifetime VPP at the moment; that means having 11917,46 VPP by the end of the challenge).

40BI for nl50 is too nitty imo, 30 sounds about right, unless you have tilt issues or sthing.

good luck

GL!

Wow Ime,

like the sounds of this challenge...
Would like to know more about your plans, maybe I'll catch you on skype later tonight...

GL

gl man, just keep studying and I'm sure you can beat NL50 !

And even if you don't succeed, you still haven't used your free hypers lesson

@boom...
I'm thinking of adding one table after I reach 30-35BI. Depends how comfortable I will be feeling playing the certain limit. Although at the moment I have mental problem of playing B/C game too often so I will be playing only 4 tables during this challenge in order to play my good game. Tnx:)

@martinstids...Tnx to you too:)

@nmilan84...
Yeah, there is no point in only posting and skimming through forum. We have to move up. We could have some sweat session.

@bjela...
Hahaha tnx for making me laugh...need it lately. I sure hope I won't use your offer any time soon.

In the past I tried to post only quality posts and that's really a mistake, because then time passes and it gets harder and harder to post anything. So in the future I will post more 'empty' posts but will post regularly.

Goals for August:

3) Posts made = 10

Quick updates about my HM2:
- disabled 'show winning/losing value colors'
- removed all $/ EV $/ $ per hour/ bb/100 statistics from my reports

So no more result oriented focus and thinking. I really like how balance is not immediately seen at PS. Hopefully I won't be opening it too often
_____________________________________
August:

1) Playing = 165/3600 min

2) VPP earned = 55,58/1350

3) Posts made = 1/10

My HUD looks like this:

NAME/ HANDS
VPIP/ PFR/ AF
FLOP CB/ FLOP FOLD CBET/ TURN CBET/TURN FOLD CBET
STEAL/ SB FOLD TO STL/ BB FOLD TO STEAL
3B/ FOLD TO 3B/ WTS

Every comment is welcome
_____________________________________

August:

1) Playing = 334/3600 min

2) VPP earned = ???/1350 (won't update this regularly since I have to open cashier to see this info and I don't want to see $$ by the end of the month)

3) Posts made = 2/10

you should use "3b from blinds" also. Many players 3b ton from blinds ~20% and from MP only ~4%. If you only use "3b" you lost much information.

also WTSD is not so important until hundred hands, and if we have hundreds vs someone, then he is a regular

just my two cents

oh forget something:

I use color coding with definitive minimal number hands. For example: VPIP/PFR after >50 hands
3b after > 300 hands
etc

By using this, I dont get false 3bet agrro from small sample hands. I use PT4.

Nice hud I think I'll be copying this as mines very basic at the moment!

Originally posted by patszerdonk
you should use "3b from blinds" also. Many players 3b ton from blinds ~20% and from MP only ~4%. If you only use "3b" you lost much information.

I have positional rfi and 3b in popup

Had everything in the HUD but there was too many numbers

Originally posted by patszerdonkalso WTSD is not so important until hundred hands, and if we have hundreds vs someone, then he is a regular

just my two cents

Agree that we need more hands. This is the last thing I added and I'm still not sure whether it's a must or not.

Originally posted by patszerdonkI use color coding with definitive minimal number hands. For example: VPIP/PFR after >50 hands
3b after > 300 hands
etc

By using this, I dont get false 3bet agrro from small sample hands.

I don't totally agree with you. It's true that even 50 hands we can't know his actual VPIP/ PFR but before you have some showdown you have to estimate and some numbers are better than none.
There might be a situation when you get solid hand and can't even estimate his range since he played only 40 hands vs you. If you saw that he's 75/15 you would know better how to continue with the hand. Although agree we should take stats with small sample sizes with caution some players can be identified already after 10 hands... 70/0 or 90/70 or sth like that. Of course 10/10 guy doesn't need to be a nit and the same goes for 33/33 guy after 10 hands since card distribution has something to do with it.

Thanks for your input. Really appreciate it.

Nice hud I think I'll be copying this as mines very basic at the moment!

Make good use of it. And if you find some ranges that don't go with the color do comment. GL ♦

I found some really sick stuff I'm doing. I went through my database of last 2 months for my opening range. And there were the hands that weren't supposed to be.

EP

In EP I found crap like 22-55. A7s,KJs, KTs, QJo, ATo, 65s, JTs... hands that I surely can't play profitably OOP. So I defined my range more precisely not to open random hands like this.

Super tight EP open will look like this (8%)
66+
AQ+
KQ+

This range will be played if I have 3b behind me or players who like to play me IP.

Vs regs and unknowns I will expand my range to 10-11%, adding SC.

If having bad/ calling stations in the blinds I will also add ATs+, AJo+, KJs, QJs and won't play SC.

MP

I was very surprised to see opening some strange hands like 22-55, A7s, A6s, A5o, KJo, KTo, QJo,T9o,...

I wrote down more specific range to open which will be around 12%.

If there is passive game with less 3b behind I will add some SC while in more aggro game I will tighten my range to starting 12%.
Also did 16% range vs bad/ calling station players which contain more highcard value vs random calling hands.

I'm still not totally satisfied but playing less hand OOP is definitely a good start.
_____________________________________

August:

1) Playing = 1222/3600 min

2) VPP earned = 509,33/1350

3) Posts made = 3/10