[Poker Brothers] caltabiano's grinding + farming FTW!

Ummm I would assume he has a computer atleast to post here so that works too!

Originally posted by Fongie
Ummm I would assume he has a computer atleast to post here so that works too!

LOL I suppose that's true, always forget about PC gaming, it got too pricey for me.

20th/November/09. Dandycal: SSS NL200 + BSS NL25

Originally posted by Tim64
Hey, caltabiano

Take a day off poker - no study, no playing, no browsing poker sites. Walk around Brasilia. Have a beer with Daniel and a good hearty lunch - outside, if you can. In the evening, see a movie.

The next day, watch a video of the limit you play and think: I can do this; I have been doing it and I will again. I have the skills to beat this limit, and I will.

Tim

Nice piece of advice Tim. This is pretty much what I have done for the last couple of days. I was feeling sick with poker and didn't want to play at all. So rather than turning poker into an annoying office job where you are compelled to work specific hours I took my break and went out to have some pizza and read a little.

Today I got down to work again, after doing some reviews + videos and just had the best session of the month, which brought me back to break even for the last 65k hands.

Todays session made me feel quite relieved, but still it really sucks to hear that my brother had such bad sessions yet again this weekend. This is by far the worse family downswing we've ever been through. The good side of it is that his EV line is very positive, so at the very least that is reassuring for his confidence.

My downswing was really getting to me due to the fact that my EV line has been negative for over 100k hands. So yesterday I decided to check a few things out and discovered some interesting facts.

In November my KK ran into AA 250% (that is 5X more!!) more than in the previous month!!
My AQ also ran into AK 50% more. (In PF Ai)

I didn't even continue checking the other hands. This was enough to reassure me that there was a lot of variance going on here. But the results of this period of downswing have been really positive:

1 - I've been decicating more hours to study and session reviews.
2 - I'm playing less tables now (8-13), which allows me to think a lot more and analyse my game as I play, and also to make better decisions.
3 - I've changed my opening raise size and also the size of my iso raise and that has been working out quite well so far.
4 - I've added new moves to my game
5 - I've adjusted my 3 betting range, as I found out I was missing some + EV spots
6 - I've adjusted my Calling range against 3 bets, as I realised some regulars were totally exploiting me.
7- BSS study + SSS session reviews + thinking about my game is really sharpening up my post-flop play and that is also making a big difference, as I suspect there was a significant leak there.

I also think there was a significant change in the way I see my poker career. Reaching NL200 felt like a great achievement for me, and in truth there was a lot of merit in that. But as I got too attatched to the short-term profit possibilities that this limit was giving me, I completely forgot that I'm still really, really far from being a good poker player. There is still so incredibly much that I can improve and so many limits that I can beat that my present win-rate is compeltely meaningless in the long-run. COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS. So the most important thing, by far, if I actually want to live off poker is to sew the seeds of future successes today. If today I can make $5k a month, in one or 2 years time that will be $30k++++. so why worry? Just keep up the good work.

I don't really feel like posting graphics and figures for our overall of the 3rd week and the month, and I guess my brother will feel the same, haha. So maybe next week eh?

Peace!

" I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career, Ive lost almost 300 games, 26 times I've been trusted to take the game's winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over in my life, and that is why I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

N1

P.S.: BTW we have had PS2 here for a quite a while now and it costs about $200 usd I think. PS3 is also available. ♠_cool: They are only that expensive when they have been just released, the prices quickly decease afterwards.

Thanks for the pieces of advice guys!

I'm afraig of getting into gaming, because you just end up getting addicted to it and it never stops ♦ That's why I refrain from installing games in my computer... I thought of installing Civilization 4 a couple of times, but boy I'd have put so much time into it, I'm glad I didn't ♦

So, I took Tim's advice. I went out to have some ice cream in the shpping centre. Then as I was passing by a bookstore, I saw a film which I had been meaning to see for a long time: "Into the Wild". So I quickly pulled my Net+ card out of my wallet and shipped it like a pro! Came back home and saw it. It's an amazing film. I'm glad I bought it instead of renting it, as I'll certainly see it again. So, there goes the film advice for today

Yeah, we've had PS2 for a long tim already and PS3 has been out for at least a year I suppose? I don't really know, but I'm pretty sure we've had PS2 for about 4 years or so.

BTW: Horraaaay! My brother is breaking even for the month! So that means we're doing great at -$2356.69. Only $12.3k to go! Go go go go team Poker Brothers!!

Originally posted by caltabiano

So, I took Tim's advice. I went out to have some ice cream in the shpping centre. Then as I was passing by a bookstore, I saw a film which I had been meaning to see for a long time: "Into the Wild". So I quickly pulled my Net+ card out of my wallet and shipped it like a pro! Came back home and saw it. It's an amazing film. I'm glad I bought it instead of renting it, as I'll certainly see it again. So, there goes the film advice for today

Best film I ever saw, really makes you think.
Saw it about 5 times, mostly showing to others.

Oh, man, maybe this nightmare is finally about to end. Brother, hopefully this signifies better times are coming!

Originally posted by caltabiano
I'm afraig of getting into gaming, because you just end up getting addicted to it and it never stops ♦ That's why I refrain from installing games in my computer... I thought of installing Civilization 4 a couple of times, but boy I'd have put so much time into it, I'm glad I didn't ♦

lol, you have no idea how many times i started a civ4 game at 9 pm, played, took a look at the time and noticed it was 3 am
But sometimes it helps getting your mind off the game, and playing a game where skills do in fact come handy for short term results is refreshing ♦

CiV4?!?!

I'm IN!!!!!!!! (Hamachi FTW!)

♦

Originally posted by enemaze

But sometimes it helps getting your mind off the game, and playing a game where skills do in fact come handy for short term results is refreshing ♦

QFT

Yeah keep grinding guys....

Yeah, Civ4 is eternal. You start playing and you just keep on going forever!
But I think that when I want a time off, I'm gonna try to engage in more social activities instead of games.
But of course if we scheduled to play Civ4 together, it could be considered social...?

@Skeat: I'm pretty sure I'm gonna watch it a bunch of times also. Probably showing it to a bunch of people too ♦

So, here's my plan for the day: NO POKER \o/ ♦ I'm gonna study a lot, but I'm not gonna play 1 single hand. I'm really close to dropping down to NL50, lol. And I'm a bit scared. I'm gonna study a lot today and tomorrow, I shall start the day 4-tabling.

All of the downswings I had happened during a moment where I lost a bit of focus in studying the game... coincidence? I think not. Bloody greedy mind we have... I wanted to get the $8k bonus in Titan by the end of the year. Well, fuck that, that's a silly goal, as I'd have to play a ridiculous amount of hand. Whats $8k anyway? Hell, a few months ago, I was contented with $400/month, why do I need $4k now? I'm still a bloody fish. The money is but a consequence of hard work, so focus on hard work and not on the money!! I want to be a bloody good player and I know I CAN. So That's what I will do. If I hadn't been focusing on grinding so much, I could have been focusing on working on my game and maybe I'd be making some moeny and I could move up to NL200 and then I'd be getting more Titan points and voilá! I could maybe get the $8k bonus, but noooooooo! You must be greedy, must you not, Pip?

So yeah! To infinity and beyond!!!

Originally posted by caltabiano
Yeah, Civ4 is eternal. You start playing and you just keep on going forever!
But I think that when I want a time off, I'm gonna try to engage in more social activities instead of games.
But of course if we scheduled to play Civ4 together, it could be considered social...?

@Skeat: I'm pretty sure I'm gonna watch it a bunch of times also. Probably showing it to a bunch of people too ♦

Mindless Griding Mode OFF

So, here's my plan for the day: NO POKER \o/ ♦ I'm gonna study a lot, but I'm not gonna play 1 single hand. I'm really close to dropping down to NL50, lol. And I'm a bit scared. I'm gonna study a lot today and tomorrow, I shall start the day 4-tabling.

All of the downswings I had happened during a moment where I lost a bit of focus in studying the game... coincidence? I think not. Bloody greedy mind we have... I wanted to get the $8k bonus in Titan by the end of the year. Well, fuck that, that's a silly goal, as I'd have to play a ridiculous amount of hand. Whats $8k anyway? Hell, a few months ago, I was contented with $400/month, why do I need $4k now? I'm still a bloody fish. The money is but a consequence of hard work, so focus on hard work and not on the money!! I want to be a bloody good player and I know I CAN. So That's what I will do. If I hadn't been focusing on grinding so much, I could have been focusing on working on my game and maybe I'd be making some moeny and I could move up to NL200 and then I'd be getting more Titan points and voilá! I could maybe get the $8k bonus, but noooooooo! You must be greedy, must you not, Pip?

So yeah! To infinity and beyond!!!

Very good thinking.

Our graphs look quite similar and I'm also around 20-30 stacks under EV for my last 2 months. All the more reason to study more, and more and more and not just play.

Forget bonuses. Focus. Improve and start winning again.

Good luck!!
SoyCD

Originally posted by caltabiano
Yeah, Civ4 is eternal. You start playing and you just keep on going forever!
But I think that when I want a time off, I'm gonna try to engage in more social activities instead of games.
But of course if we scheduled to play Civ4 together, it could be considered social...?

@Skeat: I'm pretty sure I'm gonna watch it a bunch of times also. Probably showing it to a bunch of people too ♦

Mindless Griding Mode OFF

So, here's my plan for the day: NO POKER \o/ ♦ I'm gonna study a lot, but I'm not gonna play 1 single hand. I'm really close to dropping down to NL50, lol. And I'm a bit scared. I'm gonna study a lot today and tomorrow, I shall start the day 4-tabling.

All of the downswings I had happened during a moment where I lost a bit of focus in studying the game... coincidence? I think not. Bloody greedy mind we have... I wanted to get the $8k bonus in Titan by the end of the year. Well, fuck that, that's a silly goal, as I'd have to play a ridiculous amount of hand. Whats $8k anyway? Hell, a few months ago, I was contented with $400/month, why do I need $4k now? I'm still a bloody fish. The money is but a consequence of hard work, so focus on hard work and not on the money!! I want to be a bloody good player and I know I CAN. So That's what I will do. If I hadn't been focusing on grinding so much, I could have been focusing on working on my game and maybe I'd be making some moeny and I could move up to NL200 and then I'd be getting more Titan points and voilá! I could maybe get the $8k bonus, but noooooooo! You must be greedy, must you not, Pip?

So yeah! To infinity and beyond!!!

I had those same thoughts written down a week ago. It's much more important to improve your game and think about what you instead of masstabling because of bonus issues.

Originally posted by caltabiano
But of course if we scheduled to play Civ4 together, it could be considered social...?

Definitly with skype and booze!!!

Originally posted by Skeat

Originally posted by caltabiano

So, I took Tim's advice. I went out to have some ice cream in the shpping centre. Then as I was passing by a bookstore, I saw a film which I had been meaning to see for a long time: "Into the Wild". So I quickly pulled my Net+ card out of my wallet and shipped it like a pro! Came back home and saw it. It's an amazing film. I'm glad I bought it instead of renting it, as I'll certainly see it again. So, there goes the film advice for today

Best film I ever saw, really makes you think.
Saw it about 5 times, mostly showing to others.

i usually dont watch too many films.

however, after your post i just streamed the video and watched it (i mean, it must be good if u watched it 5 times already).

if u have more such film advices calta, pls dont hesitate and post them!

rly a good film and - no matter what attitude u have i guess - makes u think a bit. like that stuff

now im back in the real world, back to grinding mode
@ calta: dont overthink things too much. u are on quite a prof. mindset level and your play also seems to be on a very solid level for nl100 (i mean we already had some sessions, i told u that your overall game is great for nl100). dont level or think too deeply where there is nothing to think about. if u question yourself "hm, he does xy, what does this, in a vacuum, mean ... well, in a vacuum its strong ...." then stop thinking. if its a strong move, he is strong. if u get c/c flop and turn oop in 3bet pot where u are 3better ... yes, he is weak. u can shove the river and he will then fold TT on a xxQxx board. take the easy way, vbet as hard as somehow possible, dont pay off at all. get value and dont balance anything. u just need to think about balancing vs rly rly thinking opp. and dont play tough tables. nl100 has enough soft tables i guess. dont pay off!! play position. just follow these rules and kill em.

and totally forget lines in HEM.
a) forget ev lines. u can be down 3k in ev but 5k up in setups or vice versa / setup is not only when u overset somebody, but i dont wanna get into detail now.
b) forget sd winning lines. these lines are just indicators of your style. since everybody has his/her own style, lines are different. but in the end it doesnt matter. green line matters. look at your bb/100 and your overall green line. the lower the limit, the more important it is to have a sick sd winning line, cuz u need to extract max value out of your value hands. increasing non sd winnings at nl100 for the sake of having a nice red line is massively -ev, im sure. ppl are not known for folding too much, hence your red line must be low/negative.

and try to analyze in game where your profit is coming from. its definitely not from pf AI due to nice metagame and history. its probably from vbetting turns and rivers ip and folding 2nd best hands every time they wold never consider it in the same situation. so try to get into as many of those spots and avoid marginal pf AI (dont know if u 3bet AK on bu vs mp e.g. and always get it in. maybe thats not the best option when their stacking ranges iis qq+ [just a guess obv]) 3bet the 84s instead and kk+. so u make money everytime they get it in with qq and ak.
edit: AK has nice value in single raised pot ip, i dont tell u to fold that now haha. also, it induces squeezes and stuff which is nice .... but well, this was just one random example. just wanted to say u rly have to think about every decision whether its max EV or not. sure 3betting is +EV here. but is it maxEV?

what i actually just wanna say (lols this is a long post sry): in every spot on every street, think about the max value line of the whole hand and every future street and then act accordingly [this is actually the only rly important part of my whole post here ... try to rly understand what i mean by that]. even if it means never to cbet A high flops if u have an A cuz they always fold. sure its incredibly exploitable .. but guess what ... they wont recognize and exploit it
and dont forget. its NL. u can do crazy things be creative at times! overbet (for value) or minbet turns (e.g. for free sd) sometimes. u think its obvious? well, yeah maybe, but they call tp anyway or their fd

sry for the long post, now im in grinding mode again.
gl at the tables

Hey guys, I read a few pages (20 is a bit much), nice blog. Just wanted to congratulate you with becoming successful poker players, good luck and keep it up!

@TT: Thanks for the post! It's definitely very motivating. I'm pretty sure I started overthinking things a bit. I really have to watch myself with that, as I think I have that tendency, not only in poker, but in anything I do.
I'm gonna forget about red line and EV line and red line. To hell with that! I know it means nothing, but I keep worrying about it. I shall stop it.
I know how to beat those people, so all I have to do is kill them! Your post made a lot of sense to me tbh. I agree with everything and I kind of feel relieved now. It's like you enlightened me with it. It made me remember how things are actually pretty simple.

Thanks a lot for it!

I have decided to set up a working plan that I shall try to follow most days:

- 2h 4-tabling
- 1h reviewing all hands from the 4-tabling session (I think 1h should lbe enough. But I can increase it if I feel the need)
- 3 - 4h 8 - 12 tabling for volume. I won't review these hands because there'll be way too many to review. Of course I'll mark some of the hands during the session and I can review ONLY those later on
- 1h of some pure study (watch a video, read articles, books...)

Not necessarily in that order obviously. That should allow me to spend 8h a day with poker, putting in 2.5k - 3k hands a day and doing a good deal of study. I shall see if it works for me!

Obviously this is for the week days, during the weekend I'll grind harder because it's fishy time ♦

@Gerv: Man, if you manage to convice me to do that, I'm gonna be a very miserable person.

@Soy and anstaeding: Glad to hear you're of the same mind! Let's all becomes sick good players and meet at the top, shall we?! ♠_evil:

@Berzerger: Yeah, 20 pages is definitely way too much lol. Thanks for the encouragement!! Cheer

hi poker brothers,
i have been readin ur blog for a long time and i must say 1 of best, very motivating.

im also grinding my way to profitable poker maybe ill start a blog to keep track and get some feedback if ppl like it.

caltabiano i think in the interview i saw u play at titan with the default layout, i play there 2 and its definatly -EV.

maybe we could meet on skype or something and talk some poker and ill show u how to change the layout, im portuguese u can talk ur language

skype: gugapt

What's with all the talk about 20 pages?

I'm on page 10, lol..