learning No Limit Holdem - adventure & lifestyle

Originally posted by taavi1337
Any info on this PokerStars rewards program ?

it is called "Power Path"
The $0.50 Spingo ticket you win can provide up to a $10,000 Gold Pass. The highest I've seen is a $109 ticket. I didn't win. The most common are the $1.00 and $1.50 Step-2 entries.
The prize in each of those is a Step-3 ticket to an $11 tournament, and (you guessed it) the prize there is a Step-4 ticket.
You don't need to wait for tickets. If you're so inclined, you can just pay the $ and enter at whatever stage you like.

I play the $0.50 ticket every day, and about a third of the time I get a step two.
It is good free practice for tournaments, and relatively easy, if you play sanely.

Full details: https://www.pokerstars.com/poker/promotions/power-path/

Cheers,
VS

while answering your question, I was reminded that I had some $11 Step 3 tickets, so I played 'em

See: Classic Satellite Fold

Ah I see. Definitely good way to practice NLHE and tournament skills. Thanks for sharing the Power Path information. I need to re-look my goals, currently a bit too money-oriented (chasing small sums); but solid skills in NLHE and tournament NLHE could "pay off" more if I am patient. I am also really used to cashgame, which is easier to practice with small kids.

I totally feel you on the cash game front. When you have kids, being able to hit 'sit out' at any moment is a lifesaver! I’ve been caught in that same trap of chasing small, immediate wins, but your point about the Power Path has me rethinking things. Patience is definitely the hardest skill to master in NLHE, but probably the most rewarding. Good luck with the goal shifting!

Originally posted by calimanpool
I totally feel you on the cash game front. When you have kids, being able to hit 'sit out' at any moment is a lifesaver!

Playing a 15-minute session from phone browser in car while others were talking to strangers on beach has definitely been one of my brightest summer memories!

I hope I will be able to mix in more of some good old cashgame warrior sessions, as we now travel again to a "two-week Christmas family party" :/

This "family warrior grit" training was really interesting. First I lost like 2 BI making two really stupid hero calls for stacks and also constantly sitting out in cashgame, because of family calling; but later couldn't get sleep, played again and lost some more BI but then got it back and won also by making correct hero calls. Lol.; night total like -2BI ; this is rewarding education-wise, as I tried to play NL2+ (this time obviously NL2 only as I lack roll a bit again)

Got my gaming mouse back from them (girlfriend and her mother); also in super good mood again cause got relationship better.

(at apartment with WiFi internet)
She: "So you're playing again... Are you winning also?"
Me: "Yeah, like +140€ to +150€ this year."
She: "How many hours of gameplay?"
Me: "Like 60."
She: "That makes like what?"
Me: "About 2€/hour."
She: "You should make at least minimum wage in poker."
Me: "Yeah, I did get these gamedev workshops running this year..."

Other than that, no big news, I already gave 600€ to her from those workshops, hoping to continue with that type of surprises next year also, even though 3 kids have left now, so now there's like 13 kids in total instead of 16 kids at peak times... (giving gamedev workshops in two schools in her hometown). Poker breakthrough could be nice but even better is to have that relationship sorted out...

Morning grind sending the month back to positive again... so the only losing month is November, -6€. Last year there was also one losing month, September 2024, -8€. I think with this relatively low volume, there simply has to be a losing month (one out of 12 months), cause the swings are that big, even though I am winning +10bb/100 to +30bb/100 (sometimes more than that, sometimes less than that).

But looks like NL2 is a bit too high stakes still. I am much more experienced now and confident, and trying to take this challenge of playing NL2+ (NL2 and higher), but at the moment my poker BR is like 23€ and real life BR is like 132€; which doesn't make poker BR <4% of total br; but something like 15% of total br. It is rewarding to learn and play NLHE and I really enjoy it, but I feel I should maybe focus on gamedev to try to bring more money to girlfriend.

Good relationship and a stable income from a job you enjoy are the best. Keeps your mind free and worries away. Makes the 60 hours next year even easier to focus. Only finding the might be difficult.

When talking to non poker players always include the phrase "after taxes"!

Enjoy the gathering and prosperous time!

Originally posted by Rhodriguez
a stable income from a job you enjoy

I don't know how you put those together, so far I have mostly enjoyed the thrill of adventure. But definitely, steps can be taken towards the desired goal of "poker br <4% of total br".

Super happy with PokerStrategy.com service, thanks! I don't often find this "positive excitement" feeling among workers in the field of entertainment/gaming, but here this one is just so strong and definitely keeps me coming back here, also the humor aspect together with positive motivation is strong here. I pay for another poker coaching site 22€/month for different type of content, but here many good things are for free.

Also I would like to thank early Full Tilt Poker for coming to Europe, that one had incredibly good game-feel that just kept me playing there. I could get in when I was 17! (Now im 34)

Made interesting choice. I just cut the poker BR to <4% of total BR. This also means that I now play 0.10€ SnGs until I get total BR to >200€; then I can move to 0.20€ SnGs.

Sometimes in business is that, all data and all results of analysis point to a result; but the result looks insane or incredible or unbelievable. Then I still do that result, feels amazing.

NL2 results on main site (iPoker) this year:

Hands: 11,509
Winrate: 27.16 bb/100
(Money won): 62.52 €
Hours played: 53.5 hours
(Average hourly): 1.17€/hour

Tournaments at iPoker: +20€
Other poker sites: +63€
(Year TOTAL): +145€

Will try to increase bankroll from other sources first, before trying again!

Grinding some 10c SnGs; some type of +4BI swing in less than hour, from -0.20€ to +0.20€. Unbelievable. Gotta ramp up those SnG skills and include 20c SnGs as well when I have the roll from outer sources.

"Insane variance" at SnGs. Down like -8BI in a row. Luckily I chose the 10c SnGs! :f_biggrin::f_thumbsup:

Working model found. What I did, I played a bit too high, you know, when you are with kids you don't really want to lose 2€ or 4€ while grinding next to them, as chips in that 8km shop are 2€, drink is 1€ and ice cream is 1€. But grinding 10cent level next to them feels soooo wonderful! (In the future also 20cent SnGs). Will try to implement the 1000x BI BRM as long as I can. Money will come from other sources, and as i have already crushed NL2 and won alot at NL4/NL5, there's less fear involved.

Trip to parents place is soon over... :/ I will miss this place ❤️

trip there with car

at my childhood forest with my sons

How do you say, "Are we there yet, Dad?" in Finnish?
When I was growing up, snow was infrequent. Whenever we got a good snowfall though, we got out our toboggan, and headed for a logging road with a long, straight downhill stretch.

Our toboggan looked like the illustration in this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toboggan
Ours was one section longer though, and we could fit all four of us on it.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
How do you say, "Are we there yet, Dad?" in Finnish?
When I was growing up, snow was infrequent. Whenever we got a good snowfall though, we got out our toboggan, and headed for a logging road with a long, straight downhill stretch.

Our toboggan looked like the illustration in this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toboggan
Ours was one section longer though, and we could fit all four of us on it.

The drive is more than 2 hours, so I took out camera to entertain them for few minutes. In Estonian it sounds: "Kui palju veel on jäänud sõita issi??" (How long is left to drive dad??) Hoping to go to Finland soon, I really love that country. I have been there many times with boys volleyball team and hipi gatherings later. Finland hippies are top world class hippies 👍 crazy beautiful place.

Originally posted by taavi1337
The drive is more than 2 hours, so I took out camera to entertain them for few minutes. In Estonian it sounds: "Kui palju veel on jäänud sõita issi??" (How long is left to drive dad??) Hoping to go to Finland soon, I really love that country. I have been there many times with boys volleyball team and hipi gatherings later. Finland hippies are top world class hippies 👍 crazy beautiful place.

Ooops, Sorry — I should have known that!

…wishing you the very best for a peaceful, prosperous 2026,