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

Boom!

Another great poker day banked!

I hit all my targets and again I left playing until the end as a little "reward".

Actually I am getting so motivated to get good these days it isn't hard to push myself to do the study at all. It is just hard to fit it all into the day!

I know my poker knowledge is pretty atrocious but Victor has given me some great stuff to work on and I am enjoying the challenge.

Studying is way higher EV for me now than playing. Still gotta play a little though!

---

Yesterday I did 130 minutes of study.

I reviewed the flop hands from previous day (small sample). I analysed two flops I had played BB v BU in detail (J76tt and 972r) and analysed one flop BB v BU (K62tt) in detail that I had a Piosolver screenshot of to see how I am comparing.

I also spent 15 minutes reviewing my coaching session notes after I realised I had some confusion still going on!

---

I played for 60 minutes.

Tilt control was really good. Everything just felt so much better. Zero flop mistakes blind v blind as caller.

---

Mental game work was good and I meditated and visualised. I saw a new meditation from Mark Devine somewhere so I gave that a try and really liked it. Will do it again and let you know!

---

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study notes)

---

That was a lot over my 20 minutes today but it was too good to stop! Up to pdf page 48 "Tilt = Anger + Bad play"

---

Have a great day amigos! Crush life!

Cowabunga!!!

Hit the targets again (just in time for bed)! Same targets set for today but I have got some family stuff going on tonight that might restrict me (father-in-law is over from Macedonia for a few days).

---

I studied for 120+ minutes.

I analysed one flop that I played BB v BU (642r), one flop that I have got a PIO screenshot of BB v BU (843tt) and for some reason I looked at a turn analysis (above actual hand 642r on 7tt turn).

I should not have done the turn analysis as I am not ready for that yet. I think I was just really intrigued to do it. It took me far too long (due to mistakes) and took valuable time away from my flop work. Lesson learned.

---

I played for 60 minutes.

I played one table of 5nlz focusing on facing flop cbet and tilt awareness.

I got sucked out on and dominated a few times and observed the tilt coming a little ("what, not again!?") but managed to stay okay. It is not resolved yet though so quite a lot more work to be done yet.

I also made a few call downs that I would never have made before. I am not sure if they are mistakes or not but it was kind of good to see that I didn't insta smash the fold button.

Something to watch!

---

I meditated and visualised for 15 minutes.

I used the Mark Devine box meditation again. It is basically inhale 5 seconds, hold 5 seconds, exhale 5 seconds, hold 5 seconds. Repeat.

He also shows a way to inhale and exhale using the belly, diaphragm and chest which seems to help the process along well.

I felt really relaxed and calm during and after the meditation and hit the tables feeling pretty damn good!

---

I did mental game work for 20+ minutes.

That's another 20+ minutes really well spent on mental game!!! Up to pdf page 49 "The Tilt Of Tilt"

---

Everything is good. Motivation is high. Skills are improving (and most importantly I feel I am working on just one or two things so well that I will get them to the desired level of Unconscious Competence in the end).

Tomorrow is my son's 6th birthday party so I am really looking forward to that!

Have a great weekend amigos! I hope you are enjoying life as much as I am!? Keep growing!

Your detailed summary of Tendler's book is really interesting and to the point, I happened to need a reminder so I'm thankful ♠_thumbsup:

I'm not a big tilter but I definitely have a problem with accumulated emotions. When I lose several days in a row I tend to hit my threshold really fast and I can't seem to do much about it. That also depends on my physical state (if I couldn't do sport outside those days) and of course my mood IRL.

Have a good week end, you've deserved it, and keep up the good work, you're definitely not one to procrastinate !

Wow! Very cool! I haven´t read your blog during June, because I had extreme high work load and even couldn´t play much poker but now reading all the posts since May I have to tell you: You´re really dedicated and a real fighter! I´m sure, you will reach your goals - a bit slower because of your job but you will do it. Just take care of your health and beware of a burn-out!

POKER VLOG #5

00.16: Health update!
00.52: Last week's targets
02.00: Stupid mistakes!
03.34: Next week's targets
03.56: Business opportunity???
04.42: Let's talk self improvement...
05.11: Poker as a life tool
05.44: Mistake after mistake...
06.38: I have learned so much
07.30: Realising how little I know
07.55: Bestpokercoaching
08.15: Maths is better!
08.42: Fixed mindset?
09.25: Poor life skills
10.18: When standard lines suck
12.35: Personal growth
12.55: Tilt talk

Badabing!!!

Targets were slightly lower than normal as Helen and I needed to spend some time discussing a business opportunity that might be coming our way. Pretty major!

---

I did 45 minutes study...

One detailed flop analysis (BBvBU on AA7tt) and a quick review of BB hands v SB or BU from last session.

In the flop analyses I am getting better all of the time. I am making better predictions of what the bottom of my calling range should/could be. Also I am finding little hacks to help me study and learn a bit better.

In the review all hands were well played but tiny sample (one tabled).

---

I played for 45 minutes...

Nice session, played flop well, tilt control and recognition was good.

---

I meditated for 10 minutes and visualised for 10 minutes too.

---

I studied mental game for over 20 minutes...

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study Notes)

The Tilt of Tilt

This is an extra layer of tilt where I might angry just because I tilted or because I let something tilt me. Additionally it could be if I have no idea how to cure my tilt problem.

Using my mind more efficiently is necessary to solve the problem.

The Benefit of Tilt

This has already been mentioned. Yes, tilt can improve my game!

Remember that when any emotion gets too high it has a "profound effect" on ability to think and eventually shuts it down.

Thinking is what I use in-game to play the spots that are not learned to the level of Unconscious Competence.

So when I tilt and that thinking is obstructed it points to the parts of my game that need working on.

Winner's Tilt

This is not an anger issue but an overconfidence issue (or fear of losing the money back) and will be covered in chapter 8.

Tilt Profile

Every player tilts in a slightly different way (and for different reasons). A good time for me to work on it is immediately after a session while it is still fresh.

This is JT's list of questions to ask myself as a guide to start analyzing and identifying tilt.

I need to try to answer these questions and put anything else that comes to mind to form the basis of my Tilt Profile. "It is impossible to control something you don't understand" so I need to continue to build my knowledge base (both general and self).

Let's give it a go!

1. What causes you to tilt? (Bad beats, losing to fish, running bad, etc.)
- Losing medium to big pots because I don't know how to play them better. Maybe even small pots too.
- In sessions where I run bad I do sometimes look to the sky and say "again, seriously" type stuff but I am pretty sure I am laughing when this happens and not tilting. BUT, I need to watch it...
- Being card dead and having to fold a lot but I am pretty sure that it is frustration again and I think I am just doing something wrong.

2. What are the things you say to yourself out loud, or to other players, when frustration starts rising and when tilted?
- I do not say anything at all when the frustration kicks in for being clueless or frustrated.
- If there is real tilt when running bad I do tend to say "What, again!?!?!?"

3.How do you know that you’re on tilt? What’s the first thing you notice?
- Opening up the replayer when I am still playing.
- Focus wanders to a specific hand that is over.
- Looking at my graph (I think this was more related to when I used to have a small stop loss as I don't seem to do this now).

4. How does your body react to tilt? (Head gets hot, body is sweaty, heart races, fist is clenched, etc.)
- I cannot think of anything here but maybe I grit my teeth?

5. Can you identify the point when tilt starts shutting down your thinking?
- No. But if I have opened up the HH replayer it is probably before then!

6. At what point do you take action to deal with tilt?
- Previously never. Now, before I play and when i notice I am losing focus/thinking too much about a hand I just lost.

---

Over 20 minutes done. Up to pdf page 50 "Seven Types of Tilt"

---

I honestly feel really really good at the moment about poker. I just cannot picture anything but massive progress.

---

Originally posted in another blog!
What effect do you think your learning from poker has on your parenting?

Wow, what a great question!

The answer: The learning that I have done that is a direct result of my struggles to get good at poker have had a MASSIVE POSITIVE IMPACT on my ability to be a good parent.

Of course that is a matter of opinion.

I can't overstate it enough. My self-improvement journey feels miraculous to me. I do not believe I would have improved so much if I had done something easier or something I am better at.

I honestly believe I have improved as a human almost every single day.

The impact that has on my parenting must be huge. Like some of the things I push my kids towards now? I really wish I had that as a kid.

The struggle is the key.

Like when these people tell me to quit poker etc. They seriously have no idea. Relentless my man, relentless! Unstoppable!

So many things I could say about this, I feel I could write a book!

Damn good question!

Originally posted by MyFloXyBabY
Your detailed summary of Tendler's book is really interesting and to the point, I happened to need a reminder so I'm thankful ♠_thumbsup:
I'm not a big tilter but I definitely have a problem with accumulated emotions. When I lose several days in a row I tend to hit my threshold really fast and I can't seem to do much about it. That also depends on my physical state (if I couldn't do sport outside those days) and of course my mood IRL.
Have a good week end, you've deserved it, and keep up the good work, you're definitely not one to procrastinate !
Thanks man! I definitely chilled a bit!

Originally posted by Primrose6789
Wow! Very cool! I haven´t read your blog during June, because I had extreme high work load and even couldn´t play much poker but now reading all the posts since May I have to tell you: You´re really dedicated and a real fighter! I´m sure, you will reach your goals - a bit slower because of your job but you will do it. Just take care of your health and beware of a burn-out!

Thanks Primrose. Burn-out? Not even close yet!

Bah... Bad day...

On a bright note I hit all my targets for time spent on poker.

On a darker note I was "tilting" at the tables last night...

---

I played for 60 minutes...

I had a very small tilt hand near the beginning of the session.

I controlled tilt very well. It was more about this being a good opportunity for me to see what my signs of tilt are so that I might recognise it better in future.

I was biting the insides of my cheeks and having "here we go" sort of thoughts but, as I say, it was nothing really just something for self awareness.

However...

As the session wore on, I knew I was having to fold a lot and just felt the frustration building...

"Why am I still so bad at this game"

"Aaaaargh!!!"

That makes it look worse than it is but there is no doubt it is there.

I don't think it affected my play at all but it is for sure going to accumulate if I don't work on it.

So. I must work on my flop game when facing c-bet. The same as I have been doing for the last few weeks.

It looks like I played those situations exactly as I was coached. At some stage I will have learned this to a level of Unconscious Competence and then I can move on.

There is no point in trying to learn something new until this part of my game is mastered (or it will gradually get unlearned again).

Frustration is logical for me after all of this time and effort particularly as I have made so many learning mistakes (my fault).

Now I know a better path (which I will also improve) and I must stick to it vehemently.

I am relentless.

I am unstoppable.

Let's get back to work...

---

I studied for 120 minutes...

I did 2 x flop analyses BB v BU (843tt, QT3tt) and have started a third one (982tt) that I will complete tonight.

I also spent 15 minutes revising pot odds for bluffing (e.g If I bluff 2/3 I need 40% folds to auto profit) and revising what that means for defending frequencies (e.g If she bets 1/2 I should look to defend ~67% of my range).

Also I had a few minutes looking at previous day's session facing flop c-bet.

---

I did mental game study for 20+ minutes...

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study Notes)

Seven Types Of Tilt

The most common types of tilt (and if/how they affect me!):-

- Running Bad Tilt. It is not unique. It builds up over time and is caused by one or more of the other types of tilt happening frequently...

- Injustice Tilt: Beats, coolers and suck-outs are the best examples. It would make me feel cursed or unlucky. I do sometimes get this tilt if I get a good few beats in succession but I "think" I am just having fun with it. Definitely need to watch it and work on removing it though...

- Hate-losing Tilt: Even if I understand short-term variance maybe I just hate to lose. It is not the "wanting to win" that is the issue here but how I handle the inevitable losses. Definitely an issue, looking forward to more...

- Mistake Tilt: "Making mistakes is frustrating for many logical reasons, these reasons just happen to be flawed because of inaccurate views about learning". This is huge one for me. This is where most of my tilt comes from and particularly the frustration. Hopefully my "inaccurate" views about learning are improving.

- Entitlement Tilt: Believing winning is a possession so one tilts when someone undeserving takes it. I don't have this, more like the opposite!!!

- Revenge Tilt: Seeking vengeance at the table. Not me, no way...

- Desperation Tilt: The urge to win money back and get unstuck. Makes one force the action, play too long, move up. I have been known to play too long for this reason in the past. Maybe I forced the action sometimes too (but very rarely) Never moved up. Something to look out for for sure.

JT is going to discuss each type of Tilt. He says I could jump to the ones I think I have or read them all. I am going to read them all in case something new jump out.

General Strategy For Tilt

1. Recognition. Needs to be more than just away from the table. I need to see the signs that tilt is coming in-game. If the signs are too small I need to work on recognition so that I CAN spot it coming. I cannot control tilt until I can recognise the signs while playing.

2. Preparation. Review my profile, injecting logic statements and strategic reminders as part of my pregame routine. This gives me a better chance to spot tilt coming as well as helping me to take action before it is too late!

3. Performance. Make controlling tilt a priority. Inject logic as soon as I see the signs of tilt coming. Mark hands or make notes of when and where frustration showed up.

4. Evaluation. My evaluation will depend on the severity of the tilt.

If tilt was mild focus on the improvements I made with tilt.

If tilt was significant but not severe then take notes soon after playing. Details are fresh. Add everything I can to my tilt profile. This increases the recognition skill. Helps to find resolution if I can go through the mental HH.

When tilt is horrible taking notes right away is a massive help (even though I probably want to jump off a bridge!). Vent it! Write it all out. Get the critical details out of my head and onto paper where I can see them. THIS IS REALLY VALUABLE! It might help me calm down quicker too!

---

Well over my 20 minutes! Up to pdf page 51 "What Progress Looks Like"

---

I own this. Everything that has happened so far is MY responsibility.

Better. Every. Day.

K9s UTG is generally too lose of an open to me. Especially in zoom, even if people are bad at micros, you'd need the whole table to be pecularly fishy (and passive) to make it EV+.

The only range including it I know of is Snowie's one, and for me it's just one more proof that Snowie is really not a reference ♦

(And I'm already rather the lag guy UTG, the only one of my group opening all the suited aces for example ;))

Hmm...

Today was a great day for getting my tasks done. I feel like I should be doing a little bit more but I need to think this over a little. I burned out before and am wary of going back there. I think I am being over protective though...

---

I played for 60 minutes...

Frustrating session yet again. I am trying not to fold so much but it just seems correct to me so often. My redline tanks like crazy!

Anyway, I just need to keep faith in what I am working on and get better at that. Hopefully something will come up in the next few coaching sessions that puts me on the right track.

---

I studied for 135 minutes...

I finished my analysis of BB v BU on 982tt flop and did two more complete analyses of BB v BU (AT4tt, KJ7tt). I am getting better and better at this but still some way to go to Unconscious competence!

I also spent 15 minutes going back through my coaching session looking at hands I check-folded flop when I should have at least check-called.

---

I studied Mental Game for 20 minutes...

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study Notes)

What Progress Looks Like and How To Keep It Going

First step is getting better at recognition (seems its coming then!). Does not mean can control it yet but it is critical first step.

Some markers to evaluate progress:-

- I spot tilt earlier and can control it more easily
- I recover or get back to normal quicker after bad sessions
- It takes more to get me to my threshold
- It is easier to push through and play for longer
- Intensity of anger is lower
- Biggest weaknesses have improved

Log improvements in tilt profile. Note that it is possible to make slight backwards steps but they are worth it (especially if it highlights problems).

RUNNING BAD TILT

So common that people think it is part of the game!

Although it seems bad there is not much better for helping to identify both mental AND technical flaws.

Running bad tilt is caused by a form of accumulated tilt over differing periods of time. It is a vicious cycle. Ever increasing.

Everyone's is unique but with commonalities.

Note that when running bad other types of tilt get triggered. So a bad beat for example will tilt me more (and when running bad they are happening more too).

A run of bad variance does not cause tilt - it reveals the real reasons causing tilt.

Watch the thoughts that come to help identify the underlying tilt...

I would say with some certainty that I suffer from Hate-losing Tilt and Mistake Tilt.

So see which tilts running bad gives me and work on the corresponding section.

If nothing comes up and it is really just bad variance that is making me angry then I need to work on the whole concept of variance. Knowledge of variance is a skill like any other. Train it to the level of Unconscious Competence.

Great story in the book from Matt "mbolt1" Bolt about how he struggled with variance but got help from JT and even went through a 90 buy-in downswing by ignoring results and focusing on playing each hand!

---

Up to page 53 - Injecting logic

---

I own this.

And not only that, I will get better at improving!!!

I have to say, a blog that teaches us alot. Cant thank you enough for the helpfull information and motiviation you give me to also improve my game.

Esp the thoughts to identify underlying tilt helped, i really never knew that telling myself im playing bad is the real tilt. I thought its the opposite since you know something is wrong you could do better. But tbh, most of times you might do worse.

Keep it up, cant say more still to nooby for that. But learning.

Cheers
Arnusen

A gooooood day!

Today everything clicked into place a little bit. I just seemed to get into flow in my study and particularly in the organisation of my study.

I still finished it all at exactly the last minute but I managed to go out for a family meal in there too! My father-in-law goes back to Macedonia today so we had an evening out and a few beers to say goodbye.

---

I played for 60 minutes...

I didn't run too well, like 3.5/10, so it was interesting to see how I reacted to a couple of things.

Lost a stack to a 3 barrel in a 3bet pot with TPTK AQ and took it pretty well. I mean it is standard but when I am generally not running/doing well it affects me more for sure. Like "again, seriously!?" kinda BS.

I did feel a lot better at the tables for some reason and not sure I know why. I THINK it is because I am getting more confident on the flop but not sure, look forward to seeing more tonight!

---

I studied for 120 minutes...

Two more flop analyses BBvBU (Q64r, 865mono) which when compared to Piosolver I got pretty damned close! Helped my confidence maybe...

I also spent 20 minutes going through hands that Victor corrected me on in our coaching session. That seems to be helping me too so will do more of it!

---

I meditated and visualised...

I found a mediation by Alan Watts on Youtube that was pretty cool. Have bookmarked it to do again.

---

I studied mental game for 20+ minutes...

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study Notes)

Focused more On Results than Quality

Hard to do when running bad.

Focusing on quality of play (instead of results) is a skill. So it falls under the rules of the ALM.

If I check the cashier/graph it does not mean no progress is being made in inproving the skill of focusing on quality of play.

Look for increased recognition, checking results less frequently, getting less frustrated when looking to track progress.

Each time I run bad it is a chance to look at how much I have learned. Keep tracking progress until reach Unconscious Competence!

It seems logical that after several losing days then booking a win would be good. It avoids pain of another losing day and helps confidence. Right?

It depends! I need to evaluate the risk...

1. Booking a win is a great option when my confidence is low AND it is obvious that I am playing poorly. This is a time to book a win. It is almost EV- to play at all. Maybe booking the win will increase confidence and get me back on track to playing better. REALISE THAT THIS IS A SHORT TERM FIX ONLY.

2. Play a little longer if I have improved my tilt problem and proven I can control it. Pushing through this will help to build my mental strength/muscle.

Poker/Life Balance

I read this excerpt and at the moment poker has zero affect on my "outside of poker" life so I am not going to comment on it. However, I need to be aware it is there for when I am making mega-bucks.

Predicting Bad Beats

Hmm, this is gonna be interesting!

"Knowing" they are going to hit their draw on the river. Getting dealt Aces and assuming they will get cracked. Knowing my flopped set is going to get coolered.

I DO THIS A LOT!

The mind (and body) predicts events based on recent data. When running badly predictions will be based off recent losses/beats.

Predicting more losing is only a problem if:

1. I play a losing strategy in a desperate attempt to avoid taking losses. I AM SURE I DO THIS AND IT IS A LACK OF SOLID FUNDAMENTALS THAT ALLOWS ME TO DO IT. LOOK FOR IT!

2. I believe that my predictions are actually true!

---

A lot of this is especially relevant to me today. I especially need to look at these spots where I think I "play a losing strategy to avoid taking losses". I think preflop especially but maybe also postflop I avoid some spots due to lack of knowledge + avoiding bigger losses.

Up to pdf page 55 "Injecting Logic"

---

So yeah, a good day (even if I lost $).

This journey is bumpy. I am still near the bottom of my curve. Learning is exponential though right!??

Looking forward to another day of getting better at everything...

Have a good weekend amigos.

---

Originally posted by Arnusen
I have to say, a blog that teaches us alot. Cant thank you enough for the helpfull information and motiviation you give me to also improve my game.

Esp the thoughts to identify underlying tilt helped, i really never knew that telling myself im playing bad is the real tilt. I thought its the opposite since you know something is wrong you could do better. But tbh, most of times you might do worse.

Keep it up, cant say more still to nooby for that. But learning.

Cheers
Arnusen

Good luck on your journey too, thanks for kind words.

Interesting...

So, today I not only hit my targets but I actually blasted through and over them!!!

I did 30 minutes more study than target and 60 minutes more play!

Maybe I have had a breakthrough in some personal skill!?

---

I played for 120 minutes...

Er yeah, I kinda flipped when a guy called my 3bet with A4o and flopped trips v my KK over pair! I was not thrilled with his slow play either but hey, thank God for the fish right!?

That was rapidly followed by losing AK to Q9s all in pre for a 40bb loss which is cool but happening straight after the other one certainly it tested my mettle!!!

I did play pretty well over all (my standards not yours!) and the main thing was that my BB flop play looked really good and my tilt recognition was excellent!

One thing that was funny was that I rivered a flush in a 4bet pot as preflop caller. Villain had overpair KK on flop and turned top set but she bet pretty small so I called needing very small implied odds and hit. The funny bit about it was that I felt bad for being lucky when actually I (think I) played the hand well!

The more mental game work I do and the more I study self improvement the more it becomes apparent that I have some pretty serious self confidence and lack of self worth issues!!!

Hey, no worries though, nobody is working harder on that stuff so it's just a matter of time!

---

I studied for 150 minutes...

I did three flop analyses BB v BU (843tt, J63r, A92tt) and compared them to Piosolver printouts. I wasn't so hot on the A92tt but I nailed the other two pretty well!

I did a quick review of my BB spots from the day before - all good.

I spent 30 minutes going through my coaching session video making sure I understand all the opportunities to continue BB v BU on the flop facing a cbet.

Man I have drilled this so hard! And I know I am not there yet but it is coming. I really wish I could do this full time now as I feel it is just the time now that is holding me back!!!

---

I meditated and visualised...

Did the Alan Watts meditation again. Really like it.

---

I studied mental game for 20+ minutes...

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study notes)

This should have been on the end of yesterday's notes and is worth putting on my monitor..!

Resetting Your Mind

When running normally, one bad session can be "emptied" from the mind easily (workout/sleep) but when it builds up after few days it gets harder to play A-game. It gets more likely tilt comes every day.

Maybe it used to take 5 beats to tilt me but after prolonged run bad it can take one!

The reason is the brain has too much anger to digest. It could eventually force me to stop playing to clear my mind. This can be tilting too!

If I don't want to take time off I need to clear the anger somehow...

I read Appendix 1 now about warm-up and cool down. I have never really cooled down in poker. I am usually pretty exhausted and know that if I don't get to sleep soon then I am going to behind and struggling all day the next day. I need to think about that a little...

Anyway, my notes for Appendix 1 will come at the end but for now I will try to implement these as a cool down...

1. Estimate variance. Helps to be more objective about how I played rather than relying on the score.

2. Evaluate how I played. How did I perform in the areas I am working on. Did I improve tilt control and recognition.

And I will make notes of these things each day.

INJUSTICE TILT

Basically this is if I wonder when I am going to get my fair share of the luck. Everything is against me. I am cursed! Here I would be tilting trying to fight the scales of justice.

Answer these questions to help find the missing logic causing injustice tilt...

- Does it feel like I never get your share of the luck, or that I am always getting screwed? Yes, actually it does! But it is not always and I also know a lot of people run really bad/have huge downswings! I have always just put it down to not being good enough really.

- Does it seem as if the money I've lost is being taken from you? As I don't really understand this I am going to say no. The money is just part of my roll. I really don't know about this!

- Is a bad beat, cooler or suck-out worse when it happens against a fish or a regular? I think it is worse for me against a regular. I kinda feel I am contributing to the poker economy when a fish bad beats me!!!

What are the situations when bad luck really gets to you? - Really weird just thinking about this. Firstly when instances of bad luck are close together (time wise). So that means it has accumulated or I have not "simmered" from the first instance. Also right at the end of sessions (so that is short term results orientated).

Are you jealous or resentful of other players who you think run better than you? Actually no but I just realised that when I run well I actually put myself down and tell myself that I am not skilled just lucky. So I resent it when I run well!!!

When variance is really bad, do you wish poker wasn't this way, or that you could somehow control variance? Never wish it wasn't this way, no way. But, I think I take lines sometimes to avoid variance so that seems like trying to control it.

---

Up to pdf page 55 - "For many players..."

---

So that was a really good productive day and I feel pretty hyped about it.

There is no way on earth I can keep working like this and NOT improve massively. Not just at poker but at being professional and productive.

This, my friends, is the business!

---

No play or mental game today, just a little bit of study. At work this morning and then some family time.

Have a great weekend amigos!

Ooooh, your K♠ 9♠ - hand is sooooo typical for low limits. I experience the same situations in my SnGs over and over and over again. Chasers!

Not much poker over the weekend...

60 minutes study and 60 minutes play.

I did spend a fair bit more time on "self improvement" stuff, particularly looking at possible sources of my low self confidence and my self doubt issue.

I think I hit a couple of real golden nuggets, a couple of self realisation moments perhaps?

---

Today I am not going to make my study notes of The Mental Game Of Poker as per normal but I am going to race ahead a little and speed read the chapters on FEAR and CONFIDENCE. Just in case I can pick up some more pointers.

I will also do a couple of flop analyses and I will keep re-reading my coaching session notes as it is helping me drill the BB v BU spots.

I have got another coaching session tonight! I can't wait to find more ways to work on my game and more spots I can improve on!

---

I'm on fire! Ready to burst!!!

---

Originally posted by Primrose6789
Ooooh, your K♠ 9♠ - hand is sooooo typical for low limits. I experience the same situations in my SnGs over and over and over again. Chasers!
Yeah it is funny, the fish did exactly what we want it to do so I should be happy!

POKER VLOG 6

- What I am learning in coaching
- Some general opinions on coaching
- GTORB for range analysis
- Flop play OOP
- Mental game warrior!

So so so...

I had a coaching session on Monday which again blew my head off!

It is still making me angry that I never got a coach like this before!

We looked at a lot of spots as PFR OOP. Mostly on the flop and then looked at some turn and river situations I had gotten myself into. To say I was clueless here is a HUGE understatement!

Victor also took a quick peek at my stats for the BB OOP stuff we worked on before and it looks like I am still folding too much! Better but not good enough. Sample is a bit small but I need to keep my eye on this still as I feel I am playing it correct (but stats don't show that).

I did not play a session after the coaching so I got a rare (lately) red mark on my Excel! To be honest my head was swimming with new information and it would have been better to just give a couple of buy-ins to charity!

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Yesterday was back on track. I got my sub to GTORB sorted and got all of my tasks done.

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I studied for 120+ minutes...

I spent one hour making notes from my coaching session. It was quite a lot of new (and confusing) stuff for me so one hour of watching and making notes only covers 23 minutes of the session!

I spent at least one hour in GTORB trying to work out wth is going on! I have only got access to the library of solutions for now. I looked at a few of the hands in there to get familiar with it all. Pretty tough for an older guy!

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I played for 60 minutes...

This was the absolute best I have ever felt at the tables! I just felt like more and more of my decisions were being made for a VERY GOOD REASON. Previously I just wondered if I was following a manual correctly.

What was funny was that due to my mental game work I was trying to focus on seeing spots where I am lucky rather than unlucky.

I flopped a straight in a 3bet pot with 76 on 854 and was "yes, you lucky @&%$" and unfortunately villain folded. Then I flopped top set and got the same result. Still, I was flopping sexy and I saw it and recognised it!

What I don't want to talk about is when I 3b JJ BB v CO (with ~50bb) and bet big on 762r and jammed 8 turn and the @$!% had T9o! Or when I 3b KK CO v MP and lost some bb's on J82, X, J to KJo.

I just felt lucky... Seeing people calling KJo and T9o in those spots made me feel so much better!

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I meditated and visualised for 10+ minutes...

Tried a 10 minute Youtube meditation that was "okay".

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I studied mental game for 20+ minutes...

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study Notes)

The mind figures out what is fair by considering these:-

- Variance/luck
- Quality of my skill
- Quality of opponent's skill

These factors determine edge. Calculating them ACCURATELY is not easy. It is a real SKILL to be able to spot subtle variance, a mistake on my part, or a good play from villain.

People are terrible at understanding the maths. Even some people think AA is not their best preflop hand! People interpret results terribly. People estimate their own skill terribly.

Injustice tilt develops from errors in my ability to filter results well and so skews what I believe is fair.

Injustice tilt would not exist if calculating those three factors was easy.

Sometimes the uncertainty of those things is enough to drive you mad!

Understanding variance is a skill I can improve on and it will be covered later.

The major biases in poker are covered next...

Terrible at Spotting Good Variance

I remember bad luck more than good luck, especially under emotional pressure. I am skilled at spotting bad luck but not good luck. So true!

When on a bad run then it gets even worse as the bad luck is all I remember!

Start to recognize both sides of the coin.

More than is Fair

I assume that good luck is more tied to my skill and that bad luck is just that rather than MY mistakes. Wrong!

It can be hard to identify good luck but part of that is because I don't attribute winning to good luck.

Suggestions to help correct this imbalance:-

Short term: Improve ability to spot positive variance and ability to spot my mistakes.
Long term: Go back through whole career and try to spot instances of good luck, especially ones I thought were because of my skill but probably were not. Then look for instances where I thought I was unlucky but was actually making mistakes.

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Up to pdf page 58 - "Injustice Tilt Opportunity"

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So it has been a great 48 hours for finding new material (coaching) and improving my study methods (GTORB and coaching).

Things can only get better!!!!

I am off to hit GTORB and review my coaching session some more. Wish my brain good luck!!!!!

Hello EYP,
Been silent reader of you blog from the first cfp 6max days Good to see the good work on your mental game! Have you ever tried blocking out results entirely? Not looking hem, not looking bankroll, not seeing your stack duaring session(just put you own hud on top of your stack) and doing that like whole month? in zoom it is quite easy to keep your stack 100bb and when some rec have big stacks in pool then just keep your stack and look it when you are in pot with someone who have more than 100bb. At least dont look hem and bankroll for a month just marked hands, stats. For me it is helping. i have some anxiety and self esteem issues from real life. Pluss worring all the time. So my highs are very high and lows very low. When you are not knowing how you are doing results wise then you can not go "deeper" in downswing or overconfident/dreaming when winning, because you dont know what the results are. At first you know somewhat correctly but after week you should not know anymore

Great day! Mental game work is awesome! Strategy work is awesome!

Put in an hour of work on my student houses too and still got all my tasks done (just)!

I have no idea why but I tried this cold shower thing that I have seen people chatting about. Had hot for normal couple of minutes then slammed it on cold for 15 seconds! HOLY CATFISH BATMAN! What's the big idea!?!?!?!? Doing it again tomorrow LDO!

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I played for 60+ minutes...

Well, due to my mental game work I don't want to talk about variance or luck...

Played really well I think!

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I studied for 120 minutes...

I did two flop analyses for OOP as PFR (COvBU on K75r and MPvCO on 773r). I am getting the hang of GTORB now but I really would like to be able to input my own ranges etc to help me work more effectively. Not sure I can justify the extra $ just yet though.

I reviewed all of my OOP flop hands from yesterday which all looked good.

I studied/re-watched my coaching session making thorough notes.

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I meditated for 10+ minutes...

Followed a meditation by Eckhart Tolle - one of my favourites as I seem to space out a bit!!!

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I studied mental game for 20+ minutes...

The Mental Game Of Poker (Study Notes)

INJUSTICE TILT OPPORTUNITY

I must be aware that looking for opportunities to improve when I tilt is NOT about just trying to put a positive spin on things but is about "finding something of real value that can make you stronger mentally"...

1. If I learn how to handle bad luck better I will have an edge over other players.
2. How I handle bad luck might predict how I will handle good luck. So if I ran good for a period I can be more realistic about it and not set myself up for a fall.

WISHING POKER WASN'T THIS WAY

Do I wish poker had less variance? If not then why do I take some "lower" variance lines??? I know logically that variance is what makes poker so profitable so why do I sometimes try to avoid it!?

Note: Trying to avoid variance (even slightly!) is like saying "I cannot handle the emotion that variance causes me". MASSIVE AHA MOMENT!!!!???

If variance did not cause me any tilt then I WOULD LOVE THAT IT EXISTS!!!!!!!

What I must do:

1. Get better at understanding it.
2. Improve how I handle it emotionally.

DESIRE TO CONTROL VARIANCE

This desire can show up in small ways. Calling for the cards I need (hmm), avoiding looking at the flop so as not to jinx it (I never watch an all in run out!), standing up during a race (nah).

Although these things seem small but it is wishing I can control variance which means I am giving up control! If I have truly run bad is the frustration or anger affecting the quality of my play (apparently this is usually what happens)? Seeing as I cannot control variance and CAN control how I respond to it the aim is to BUILD UP MORE MENTAL MUSCLE so that I respond more effectively.

"Variance is a major reason that poker is so challenging. Resolve the desire to control variance, and instead focus on being in more control of my game."

AN EXCUSE NOT TO LEARN

Maybe I have avoided learning sometimes because I thought my losses were due to bad variance??? It sounds a little understandable BUT even if losses were down to bad luck it is logical to still work hard on my game.

It is easier to complain about bad luck than do the work because there is less to lose. If i tried to improve and still lose (no comment!) that means I got beat good and proper. By complaining it causes a vicious circle until I face reality and do the work.

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Up to pdf page 60 - "Bad Beat Stories"

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I'm loving all this, I really am!!!!!!!! Bring it on!!!!!

Have a great day amigos!

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Originally posted by veeretas
Hello EYP,
Been silent reader of you blog from the first cfp 6max days
SADIST!!!
Good to see the good work on your mental game! Have you ever tried blocking out results entirely? Not looking hem, not looking bankroll, not seeing your stack duaring session(just put you own hud on top of your stack) and doing that like whole month? in zoom it is quite easy to keep your stack 100bb and when some rec have big stacks in pool then just keep your stack and look it when you are in pot with someone who have more than 100bb. At least dont look hem and bankroll for a month just marked hands, stats. For me it is helping. i have some anxiety and self esteem issues from real life. Pluss worring all the time. So my highs are very high and lows very low. When you are not knowing how you are doing results wise then you can not go "deeper" in downswing or overconfident/dreaming when winning, because you dont know what the results are. At first you know somewhat correctly but after week you should not know anymore
THIS LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE TRIED YEARS AGO! AT THE MOMENT WHAT I AM DOING IS TRYING TO BUILD MY MENTAL MUSCLE THOUGH. THAT MEANS TRYING TO GET THROUGH ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS RATHER THAN DO THESE AVOIDANCE TACTICS.
I THINK IT IS EASIER FOR ME TO DO THAT AS THE MONEY IS NOT IMPORTANT YET SO I CAN EXPERIMENT A LITTLE.
THANKS FOR THE GREAT IDEA THOUGH - I MIGHT WELL NEED IT IN FUTURE!!!

Oh yeah

Great day for productivity improvement. Did more work than I had targeted. Feels good to push through...

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I studied for 140 minutes...

15 minutes reviewing hands from previous session. I had missed a couple of check-raise opportunities BB v BU. I thought about one of them in game and deemed it a check-fold but I was wrong. Other one was actually almost exactly the same. Have put this in my pregame routine to make sure I am watching for it. In other words it is not to Unconscious Competence yet.

I did a flop analysis (UTG v BTN in SRP on T72r) and did it for two different bet sizes from villain. Compared to GTORB I was really close so hopefully I'm getting better. Just need to make sure I can then transfer it into my game.

Also I spent another hour making thorough notes from my last coaching session. It is still amazing me how bad some of my play/thought process is. Or maybe I am more amazed it has not been addressed before...

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I played for 75 minutes...

After losing half a stack first hand in an unsure spot I felt really good at the tables. Tilt control and recognition was excellent.

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I meditated etc for 10+ minutes...

I did a basic Headspace meditation and some affirmations for good measure!

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I studied mental game for 20 minutes...

Mental Game Of Poker (Study Notes)

BAD BEAT STORIES

Prime example of injustice tilt. Hate hearing them but compelled to tell them. Why?

Working on other parts of this chapter could/should resolve this. If not find the reason for telling bad beat stories using that list and fix it!

JEALOUSY

Injustice tilt can develop without even playing! Maybe see someone else running hot and feel that is unfair (without giving consideration to their ability). I think I have felt this once or twice!

People even say some top players got lucky! Could get jealous if a friend does really well when I haven't.

To improve on jealousy work on these:-

HATE LOSING TILT

Losing is a fact in all competition. Even more in poker due to variance. In poker the better player loses more often than in anything else.

HOW I lose a hand matters more than the simple fact I lost it.

WHY do I hate losing?

- Is it the FEELING? Losing sometimes feels terrible and that feeling can linger and go into other life stuff.
- Is it the MONEY? Winning money is how you get measured.

Of course I will never celebrate losing but the next sections will help to "make peace" with it!

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Up to pdf page 61 - "COMPETITIVENESS"

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Overall it was just a day where I really did myself justice. I feel like I am ready to push myself harder...

A minor whoopsie!

Tasks went well but somehow I played only 50 minutes not 60! Just a misjudgement, I have no idea how!

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I studied for 120 minutes...

I did 2 x flop analyses of actual hands from previous session (BB v SB on 422r and BB v BU on 984r). FWIW I played both hands correctly but was interested to see how wide I can continue.

I studied coaching notes for 30 minutes. Due to previously missing flop check-raise opportunity.

I reviewed previous days hands looking purely at the spots I am working on with Victor.

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I played for 51 minutes...

No idea how I missed 10 minutes off! A rare red mark on my Excel.

I ran good and made sure I was aware of the fact!

For example...

$0.02/$0.05Zoom No Limit Holdem
PokerStars
6 Players
Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter

Stacks:
UTG (100BB) 100bb
UTG+1 (176.2BB) 176bb
CO (170.6BB) 171bb
BTN (226BB) 226bb
SB (125.8BB) 126bb
BB Hero (100BB) 100bb

Pre-Flop: (1.4BB, 6 players) Hero is BB A♥: A♣:
UTG raises to 3BB, UTG+1 calls 3BB, 2 folds, SB calls 2.6BB, Hero raises to 19BB, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls 16BB, SB folds

Flop: A♠: Q♣: A♦: (44BB, 2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets 31.6BB, Hero calls 31.6BB

Turn: 3♥: (107.2BB, 2)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets 77.2BB, Hero goes all-in 49.4BB

River: 9♠: (233.8BB, 2), 1 all-in

Final Pot: 233.8BB
Hero shows four of a kind, Aces
A♥: A♣:
UTG+1 shows a full house, Queens full of Aces
Q♦: Q♥:

Hero wins 197.4BB (net +97.4BB)

UTG+1 collects 27.8BB (net -100BB)
SB lost 3BB
UTG lost 3BB

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I meditated for 10+ minutes...

Did 10 minutes meditation without guidance with slight danger of falling to sleep! I also did some affirmations.

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I studied mental game for 20+ minutes...

Mental Game Of Poker (Study Notes)

COMPETITIVENESS

Being competitive is a good thing. Wanting to win in poker makes good sense even for every session BUT I need to know for sure that these things are NOT IN MY CONTROL IN THE SHORT TERM.

I know that there are times when I make profitable plays but lose to bad players but it is hard to see that in the moment.

Note that when I play there is more "on the line" than just winning money...

So when I lose it is not just the money but also (specifically for me) the ability to move up in stakes, confidence in my game and progress towards my goals.

Then I might assume there will be more losses in the future and I might imagine never winning and get into a downward spiral.

Define the real problem. Being competitive is not the problem. Being frustrated at losing is not the problem (in fact frustration can be good sometimes - without tilt at least).

Consider these to help define the cause:-

1. Define winning. Take a look at the other things that are in play and define what winning means for each of those. So for me "How do I know when I can move up in stakes?" Answer = currently when I have won for 30000 hands.

2. Drop the assumption that losing will continue. This is a flaw in believing I could predict the future. I cannot! To help look at past results where I won.

Oh yeah, I can do that...

Here...

and here...

And I must remember I was breaking even for ages up to the day before those two graphs.

MONEY LOST

Another reason to hate losing is that I might believe the money lost is gone forever. Try instead to consider that money as an investment in my edge that yields a return over the longer term. That sounds logical but if that was how I was thinking then I would not let short term results affect me.

Consider thinking of an hourly win rate over the long term rather than looking at short term wins and losses. Although it might be considered a way to rationalise losing (it is) over the long term it is way more reliable.

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Up to pdf page 62 - "Believing..."

This mental game work is huge for me at the moment. It is easy for me to think it is small and negligible but I think it is making a huge difference in my ability to play at my best for longer.

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So it was another great day even though I messed up on my play time.

I am feeling more and more confident.

Have a great weekend amigos!

P.S. Today is meant to be a day off but I already did a session review and a flop analysis!