WARNING!!! Going pro... If you don't like hard work then GTFO!!!

What does the target rate represent in $/hour terms?

Originally posted by hurmi
What does the target rate represent in $/hour terms?

Hmm, I dunno if I can answer this so accurately. I mean the target was $10k by 1st August 2016.

I would suggest you to remove it because poker earnings are not linear and and most of the time you will have miss match with it way below or way under. This line represent predicted earnings in time frame (if you would play exactly the same amount of hours everyday the slope of the line would represent predicted earnings in $/h on $/day...) I my experience the best thing you can do is set how much time do you want to spent everyday on playing poker and play every hand the best way you know it. Otherwise keep up doing great job and wish you good luck at the tables.

Profit/loss: + $382
Hours played: 27.75 (Was off work two days )
Hands played: 5500

Hands commented: 37
Hands reviewed: 26
Reviewed workbook: x5
Studied poker video: x6

Average sleep per night: 6h 48m Getting there!!!
Times meditated: x7
Self improvement book: 5.5 hours
Journal: x6
Gratitude list written: x5 (missed a day where should have done it)
Written out life purpose: x5 (missed a day where should have done it)
Blogged: x4

$10k Journey

Great week for profits, really happy with that. Did get 7 more hours in than hoped due to being off work but was still great hourly this week.

Had a 4bi downswing in one session where I was up $150 and ended up down $50 and learned something from that. For sure fish ran good but I could have saved some money by not playing too many tables and focussing on biggest fish. Huge reminder about this put into daily warm-up for future!

I am going to make myself some 10 minute guided meditation sound tracks because now I feel I can do a lot of it on my own without help so I can tailor them exactly to my requirements. I wonder if that is something people would like me to share? Let me know if so.

It is funny, I seem to be making money consistently now but I still have this strange "I must be running good" mindset. Maybe my whole life I just never felt good enough or deserving of success? The mind is so destructive when it wants to be, so interesting!

So all is great! Enjoying playing, making some $, family and life perfect. Happy days.

Have a great week amigos!

Originally posted by xxnub
I would suggest you to remove it because poker earnings are not linear and and most of the time you will have miss match with it way below or way under. This line represent predicted earnings in time frame (if you would play exactly the same amount of hours everyday the slope of the line would represent predicted earnings in $/h on $/day...) I my experience the best thing you can do is set how much time do you want to spent everyday on playing poker and play every hand the best way you know it. Otherwise keep up doing great job and wish you good luck at the tables.

This is really good advice and it is much appreciated, thank you! As you can see... It is gone!!!

Thank you for the kind words also.

Seems the track is in the right direction!

I wonder, what workbooks you study and what videos. I see sometimes you put the situation name of the video/workbook, but where d you find these, which site..? I'm having trouble finding the right ones to follow ...there is so many of them and most seems to be a waste of time or little value added.. or maybe I can't get the value out of them:)

Profit/loss: + $61
Hours played: 6
Hands played: 1062

Hands commented: 5
Hands reviewed: 5
Reviewed workbook: 3bp river; 3bp flop v rz
Studied poker video: face donkbet turn

Sleep: 7.25 hours and 6.25 hours

Profit looks good but again got that "could be better" feeling.

Last night played a couple of aggro fish that I needed to make top pair(ish) against and only time I did they had better (lost flush v flush). Standard stuff so not sure why I even talking about it to be honest, I am being stupid, it is just part of the game! Glad I got that off my chest!

I see Pokerstars is getting rid of standard HU tables and just offering Zoom. I dunno why anyone plays (just) there anyway! Still it is not good news for some people I guess but there are plenty of other sites, just a bit uncomfortable for those guys at first with all the change. I do have to laugh a little at how they try to convey that they are doing the "recreational players" a big favour though!

Why is is that when I ask people "how are you?" I get replies like "Not too bad", "I am okay", "erm, you know, bit crappy but I get on with it"??? Humans are seriously insane. Really they are.

Have a great couple of days amigos! I am going to!!!!

P.S. You are going to have a great couple of days too but probably your mind won't let you admit it...

Originally posted by hurmi
Seems the track is in the right direction!
I wonder, what workbooks you study and what videos. I see sometimes you put the situation name of the video/workbook, but where d you find these, which site..? I'm having trouble finding the right ones to follow ...there is so many of them and most seems to be a waste of time or little value added.. or maybe I can't get the value out of them:)

Hi! Thank you for positive comment!

I have tonnes of notes from my few years of playing. Also I have videos from Gordon that I still watch (I still think he is the best person I have seen videos of btw). I have just amassed a wealth of material that I like to go over from time to time. Unfortunately this means I have nothing particularly to recommend to you, I am sorry.

What I can say to you is that it is only recently I started really taking on knowledge from my study. Before that I think there just was not any room or space in my brain/body/life to take in information - so no matter how hard I worked I never got any better. At anything! I mention this because of your "or maybe I cannot get the value out of them" comment as that was some of the case for me.

Good luck. Any more questions please fire away - I am desperate to help (anyone)!

Ola amigos!

I often get asked about how I get motivated or inspired (and struggle to answer ) so I am going to post regularly on my main blog and on Facebook what is making me tick today! A bit like a thought for the day but I am trying to calm my thinking lately so I don't want to call it that!

I won't do it every day. You can follow in my blog or on my Facebook page - I don't want to clog up my poker blogs with it too much.

Have a good one amigos!

schöne disziplin

Hello friends... Here is quick update of two days at the poker tables...

Profit/loss: - $24
Hours played: 6.5
Hands played: 860

Hands commented: 10
Hands reviewed: 11
Reviewed workbook: 3bp flop and 3bp turn IP v 2BAR
Studied poker video: Face turn donk bet

Sleep: 6h45m and 6h30m

Again I played some aggro guys. I realised that this is not profitable long term if it is NL50. If they are spewtards then ok I can stack them quickly but the ones who play a bit better it is hard (for me) to beat both the player and the rake. I actually like to play them as I find I learn interesting stuff but holy moly the rake just kills me.

Also I think I was not quite as "present" at the tables these last two sessions. I cannot quite figure out what that is so will be aware of it and just observe what is going on. Actually felt a little bit like I used to feel when I was just doing too much - it is like there is no "space" in me to perform.

I don't put enough "effort" into getting 7 hours sleep lately so next week going to focus on that...

Valentine's day this weekend! Going for a meal with Helen at one of our favourite restaurants.

Have a great weekend lovers

Originally posted by firefly91
schöne disziplin

Thank you

Profit/loss: +$179
Hours played: 20
Hands played: 3375

Hands commented: 25
Hands reviewed: 21
Reviewed workbook: x5
Studied poker video: x6

Average sleep per night: 6 hours 45 mins
Times meditated: x7
Self improvement book: 9.5 hours
Journal: x5
Gratitude list written: x5
Written out life purpose: x5
Blogged: x4

Decent results this week and happy with output etc.

Learned to not play too much versus the aggro guys (the ones where I feel I need to make decent TP+ hand) at the higher rake sites/limits as I cannot beat them and rake yet.

Study has been good - since I got more relaxed overall I notice how little information I have retained in the past. Hopefully I am getting better at that now. I think it is because I have more "space" to take things in.

I will focus on sleep more this week and will try to get to sleep by 11.30 latest.

$10k Journey

Still going well. Not getting much action at NL100 but am also being super selective there. In fact PKR does not even have it and Skypoker just seems reg infested and rake is still very high there. At microgaming can hardly get a table, ipoker not seen a fish yet and Party similar. Don't think I got a table at Tigergaming for at least a month!

Hopefully will steam past the $3000 mark this week!

Other stuff

Meal for Valentine's on Saturday with Helen was AWESOME!!! Did not want the food to stop coming

Yesterday we took the kids to the park for an hour which is always great, went to the pub for a swift pint (or two) and saw our yearly 20 minutes of snow and then had an enormous Chinese take away. Don't want to weigh myself after this weekend!!!

Have a great week amigos!

Hi amigos, here is snapshot of poker results and progress for last two days...

Profit/loss: + $49
Hours played: 5.75
Hands played: 732

Hands commented: 10
Hands reviewed: 10
Reviewed workbook: min 3bp flop x 2
Studied poker video: std 3bp flop x 2

Sleep: 6.75 + 7 hours

Average sessions at the tables, not much action around tbh.

Tried so hard to get 7+ hours sleep both nights (even cut session short to get to bed!) but first night I woke up "bing" after 6.5 hours. On one hand it is great I can get this much after old 4 or 5 hour sleeps but I really hope to get it higher still as alertness will increase in my opinion.

This was funny hand last night as guy was aggro and I was chuckling that I had stacked him for a few seconds until I realised his stack had doubled - had to look up the HH!!!

BB: 97.76 BB
Hero (SB): 140.88 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 5♣ 5♦

Hero raises to 2 BB, BB calls 1 BB

Flop: (4 BB, 2 players) 8♦ 5♠ K♥
BB checks, Hero bets 2.64 BB, BB calls 2.64 BB

Turn: (9.28 BB, 2 players) 7♦
BB checks, Hero bets 6.16 BB, BB raises to 12.32 BB, Hero raises to 34.92 BB, BB calls 22.6 BB

River: (79.12 BB, 2 players) Q♣
BB bets 58.2 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 58.2 BB

BB shows Q♦ Q♥ (Three of a Kind, Queens)
(Pre 81%, Flop 9%, Turn 5%)
Hero shows 5♣ 5♦ (Three of a Kind, Fives)
(Pre 19%, Flop 91%, Turn 95%)
BB wins 187.52 BB

Did another "Today I..." post which you can see here.

Have a good couple of days amigos!

Hi guys, here are poker results for last two sessions...

Profit/loss: +$18
Hours played: 5.75
Hands played: 579

Hands commented: 10
Hands reviewed: 10
Reviewed workbook: min3bp flop x2
Studied poker video: std3bp flop x2

Sleep: 6h30m and 7h0m

Definitely less action going on this week. Small sample but will be watching this.

Had some luck last session so am fortunate to make any profit last two days if I am honest.

My daughter woke me up first night and I could not get back to sleep. Last night I also woke up after 6 hours but did get back to sleep - that is rare for me. I am starting to feel that I am going to break the "average 7 hour" barrier!

Got a few things on this weekend, work tomorrow morning, got to go to couple of houses on Sunday and fix some small issues. Gives me chance to see what the students are doing to my houses! You would not believe some of the things I see. Or maybe you would?

Have a great weekend amigos!

Took a few sessions this week but finally crept past $3k...

Here is another Today I... post I did too!

Ola amigos! Here are poker results for week 18...

Profit/loss: +$204
Hours played: 18.5
Hands played: 2333

Hands commented: 29
Hands reviewed: 25
Reviewed workbook: x5
Studied poker video: x7

Average sleep per night: 6 hours 49 mins!!!
Times meditated: 7
Self improvement book: 9.5 hours
Journal: x5
Gratitude list written: x5
Written out life purpose: x5
Blogged: x4

Happy with sleep this week. Made extra effort to end sessions/cool down quicker and get to bed! Did lose some time of playing due to this (did not start some sessions on time as kids were on school holiday so were not going to bed at usual time).

Happy with +$204 too. Last night's session I was considering not playing as felt tired and had drunk few beers earlier as we went for family meal. Started playing and fish ran good so was down $100 and was not sure my mind was strong. Said to myself "be present, this is standard, play your best and go through it" and session turned around to profit.

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

$10k Journey

All going great! Mindset is fantastic, really feel like I have got tilt under good control. I think some improvement will still come from more/better rest which will open me up to learning more effectively and staying present at the tables. No need to rush though, I am enjoying everything far too much to change anything!!!

Have a great week amigos!!!

1st hand fun...

Hero (BB): €53.24
SB: €50.00

SB posts SB €0.25, Hero posts BB €0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: €0.75) Hero has J♠ A♣

SB calls €0.25, Hero raises to €2.00, SB calls €1.50

Flop: (€4.00, 2 players) 8♦ 2♣ A♦
Hero bets €1.89, SB raises to €9.45, Hero calls €7.56

Turn: (€22.90, 2 players) 9♥
Hero checks, SB bets €21.65, Hero calls €21.65

River: (€66.20, 2 players) 4♣
Hero checks, SB bets €16.90 and is all-in, Hero calls €16.90

Hi friends, quick update of poker results and goings on for last couple of days...

Profit/loss: +$149
Hours played: 5.25
Hands played: 800

Hands commented: 10
Hands reviewed: 10
Reviewed workbook: Min3b pot turn x 2
Studied poker video: Std 3bp flop x 2

Sleep: 6h30m & 6h15m

Great sessions (+$120 then +$29). Playing super relaxed and present and decisions seem to be much easier for me lately. I am convinced a lot of this is due to less pressure I put on myself and it gives me room to perform (in both learning and playing).

Sleep is not brilliant. Maybe thinking about it too much now and just need to relax, go to bed sensible time and let it happen. It is possible that 6h30m is going to be my best average. Only 6 months ago I was averaging 4h30m so it is massive improvement and it shows in poker results and in general well being (mostly mind stuff).

My 4 year old son has got chicken pox and is covered in spots! He is okay in himself so far and is not scratching toooo much. I will take Friday off work to look after him as Helen is teaching that day. I look forward to these days together but prefer it not to be for illness!!! Looks like Friday will be a day of playing trains!!!

Have a great couple of days amigos! Choo-choo!!!

So last night my son (4) is struggling a little with his chicken pox and it takes a bit longer to get the kids to bed. Helen is going round to a friends for a quiet drink so we have dinner earlier than usual and my session is going to start late. I don't want to finish late either as sleep is a priority for me at the moment so my intended 3 hour session (I am already behind target hours this week) is looking more like it will be 2 hours

Some time ago I would have some anger building up - call it resentment or resistance to what is. Now I am totally present and accept/allow.

Some fleeting thoughts come into my head...

"Should I skip meditation tonight? NO!"

"Shorten warm-up a little it will be fine. NO!"

So I meditate, read my notes and watch an excerpt from a poker video.

Second hand of session...

SB: €49.50
Hero (BB): €50.39

Hero posts BB €0.50, SB posts SB €0.25

Pre Flop: (pot: €0.75) Hero has A♣ A♥

SB raises to €2.00, Hero raises to €7.22, SB calls €5.22

Flop: (€14.44, 2 players) 7♦ 7♣ 4♠
Hero bets €9.77, SB raises to €19.54, Hero calls €9.77

Turn: (€53.52, 2 players) T♥
Hero checks, SB bets €22.74, Hero calls €22.74

River: (€99.00, 2 players) A♠

Call it karma, deserved, law of attraction, alignment, coincidence or luck... Call it what you like. It sure made me laugh!!!

Hi guys, quick update of poker results and efforts for the last two days...

Profit/loss: +$111
Hours played: 5
Hands played: 837

Hands commented: 10
Hands reviewed: 10
Reviewed workbook: Min3b pot turn x2
Studied poker video: Looked at something by Barewire not sure if ready for that yet!

Sleep: 6h45m & 7h20m!!!!!!!! Get in!!!

Happy with result of course but could have been better...

I am playing too passive versus guys who keep min stabbing and stealing pots. Being too passive has always been my weakness in poker (maybe it is old age ). I could of course just sit out these guys but I am usually playing ones that look like stations so it might be a bit of variance that I don't make hands and stack them. I think I have gone back to old ways of adjusting too quickly when my bluffs get called down. Something to look at and I think better to tackle it rather than just sit these guys out as they are hugely EV+ imo.

I am off work today looking after my son and his chicken pox! He seems really well in himself today so hopefully it is getting better.

Not sure I will play at all today as we are having lots of fun (he is having some lunch atm) and tonight Helen and I are popping out for a quick meal and a drink (actually Helen does not drink at all so I will have her pint of beer!) to celebrate our second anniversary of getting engaged!!! Well we got engaged on leap year February 29th so it does not come around so often

Had a really good sleep last night! 7h 20m! I was very tired last few days!

Have a great weekend amigos!

P.S.

Microgaming - €1 NL (2 max) - Holdem - 2 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (SB): €100.00
BB: €31.40

Hero posts SB €0.50, BB posts BB €1.00

Pre Flop: (pot: €1.50) Hero has Q♣ 8♠

Hero raises to €2.00, BB calls €1.00

Flop: (€4.00, 2 players) Q♠ J♣ 6♦
BB bets €4.00, Hero calls €4.00

Turn: (€12.00, 2 players) Q♥
BB bets €25.40 and is all-in, Hero calls €25.40

River: (€62.80, 2 players) K♦

Profit/loss: +$207
Hours played: 13.25
Hands played: 2105

Hands commented: 20
Hands reviewed: 20
Reviewed workbook: x4
Studied poker video: x4

Average sleep per night: 6h 40m
Times meditated: 5
Self improvement book: 7 hours
Journal: x4
Gratitude list written: x4
Written out life purpose: x4
Blogged: x4

So not a great week for poker in terms of usual production! I lost a day as took a day to look after my son and ended up with two poker free days. This is not a bad thing really as I often have weeks where I don't have one day away from it which is not "healthy" in my opinion.

Profit was great though, especially considering the low amount of hours played (although it does include some rakeback).

$10000 Journey looks like this so far...

Total profit stands at +$3266.

129 days gone and 150 days to go so win rate or hours needs to improve but if I am honest I am not sure I can (or want to) do anything more, or anything different, to what I am doing right now.

Just noticed I am on +$942 for February so hopefully will make it the first $1000 month of the journey!!? Maybe a nice rake back payment could get sent today to help me on my way!!!

Have a great week amigos!

Originally posted by Eatyourpeas
Just noticed I am on +$942 for February so hopefully will make it the first $1000 month of the journey!!? Maybe a nice rake back payment could get sent today to help me on my way!!!

Just about made it without the RB! Goodnight!