Jachis - living out of small stakes

Hey,

well, I think your studying ways are actually pretty good and should be effective :). Then, the only problem is consistency i suppose.

Do you have any idea why you give up?

Generally, if you do one thing every single day for about a month, it should become a habit and you wouldn't need to think about it any more - you would just automatically do it :).

There are 3 phases of every project (in this case, the project would be building a habit).

During the first phase, you're motivated to do it, it's easy, you could even do more of it, etc.

During the second phase, you lose motivation for it and usually people give up.

But then there is a third phase, which people rarely reach. During the third phase, you will regain your motivation and easily finish the project.

So, how do you get from the 2nd phase to the 3rd phase?

Let's look at an example. Let's say that you've managed to get your studying up to 1h/day, but then you lose the motivation. It would be really hard for you to get yourself to study for 1h after you stopped studying for 3 days.

In that case, you should simply break down the problem into smaller steps. The most important thing with habits is that you do things every single day. So you could tell yourself to just study for 10 or 15 minutes until you get a hang of the habit again, and then you shouldn't have many problems with getting back to the old pace :).

So, the next time you find yourself losing the motivation, you can understand the situation and know how to react to it ;).

Now, what you can do is perhaps try studying first thing in the morning. Set a low minimum amount of studying (15 minutes? 30 minutes?) and work on increasing that gradually week by week.

And you can also limit your time spent on 2+2 with browser add-ons like stayfocusd (chrome) or leechblock (firefox).

Do you think this could work for you?

-Primož

Im not sure why Im giving up, but when I read about those phases, I see a pattern. When I start doing something Its because I have some good motivation when Im super excited to do the new thing, then after few days or few weeks it gets less exciting, the motivation is gone and I stop. And I find it quite hard to start again.

I actually tried something similar to leechblock and for a few days I actualy did some very little wandering on the internet. Then the soft crashed and I was back to my old habits.

Thanks for the very detailed asnwer. Ill try my best to use your advice and finally start building those good habits.

Originally posted by getdotacom
Also I think A9s-A8s is better than A5s-A4s.

Whats the rationale behind this? Is it just based on results from your database?

Thanks

I definitely open some random SCs over small PPs utg. Small PPs are just complete trash hands, recently i've even started thinking about folding small PPs when it's folded to me in SB vs regs who defend a lot in BB! (not sure if this is correct tho, have yet to do some calculations on it). Problem is you're just gonna miss 8/9 and then rely on zero equity bluffs in order to win the pot. And if you do get stacks in, you're probably oversetted >50% of the time.

Do you think the same logic about UTG opening range applies to Nl50 where there are much more bad players willing to pay of with various worse hands?
If not then at which limits you advice to start switching those low PP's to some SC's?

Speaking about SB opening range its been a while since Im folding the lower PP's if BB is not folding much. I think from UTG its a least posibble to get some Fold equity having stronger range in general.
Most of the regs give very little credit against SB opening range and call down fairly light.

Hey again,

regarding the motivation, it's really important that the motivation comes from within you (intrinsic motivation). So by writing a detailed vision and mission (check chapter 1 of my productivity guide), and reviewing (and changing) it frequently, it's going to be way easier for you to re-motivate yourself and stay motivated consistently.

Once you decide to take up a new habit, you can also simply add it to your vision statement and you will be reminded of it constantly ;).

Take care!

-Primož

Shoud the vision and mission be written as detailed as possible to everyday's things like if I want to improve something like Calling 3bets IP.

Do I write in my vision a generalization like- Im beating midstakes, or go into details like- 3bet pots cause me no problems, I have a good gamplan when calling or 4betting, and when thats true add the next thing in my vision?

The example statment ir yout guide doesnt talk about specific things but mostly about good charesteristics.

What adjustments do I make in future after I see how villain played his hand?

Villain is 19/16, 3bet BBvsBTN 12%, fold BB vs steal 87%. Raise cbet 20%

Can I assume he raises way to wide, since he does it with a hand that has very little equity and just barrels off. So I can give him less credit in future in similar spots.
Also he doesnt shove river when I actually have less than potsize left, should I assume at this point that this betsize indicates weaknes and in future look to confirm it?

Originally posted by jachis
Do you think the same logic about UTG opening range applies to Nl50 where there are much more bad players willing to pay of with various worse hands?
If not then at which limits you advice to start switching those low PP's to some SC's?

Speaking about SB opening range its been a while since Im folding the lower PP's if BB is not folding much. I think from UTG its a least posibble to get some Fold equity having stronger range in general.
Most of the regs give very little credit against SB opening range and call down fairly light.

Hey, yeah I do think it's universal. It's just going to be hard to show a nice profit, even if they're looser, since you'll have such a hard time winning the pot when you don't flop a set. Obviously opening anything is going to get more profitble if you play worse players, but I would still prefer some SCs and whatnot over low PPs.

Originally posted by jachis
Shoud the vision and mission be written as detailed as possible to everyday's things like if I want to improve something like Calling 3bets IP.

Do I write in my vision a generalization like- Im beating midstakes, or go into details like- 3bet pots cause me no problems, I have a good gamplan when calling or 4betting, and when thats true add the next thing in my vision?

The example statment ir yout guide doesnt talk about specific things but mostly about good charesteristics.

Spoiler

I am a good listener and show compassion and understanding. I try to see things from other people's point of view. When I am near other people, I am a source of positive energy which spreads on to other people. I always offer help when I see someone needing it, with encouraging attitude.

Hey!

The vision and mission should be detailed but generalized :). So for example, you would say that you need to develop a good game plan in as many situations as possible, to always know what you're going to do, frequently work on your game etc.

Goals are the ones who should generally be specific. So it'd be a goal to work on your game plan in 4bet pots tomorrow for example. I can see what you mean here though. It would make sense to have a list of things which you've already mastered, and then to add the new ones which you still want to master to it.

I think it's ok either way, to have it on a seperate list or within the vision (and review them both daily!), or to have them joint together. It's up to you really, but be careful with the 2nd option (you don't want to have a 5 pages long vision statement because then you might start avoiding to read it ;)).

Does this make sense? Please do let me know if anything is unclear ;).

-Primož

Evarything makes sense.
Just finished my vision, took quite some time to realise where Im heading but I can imagine how reviewing it every day can keep motivation levels high.

I will rather try vision and goals seperatly, seems like one list could get to long and I might stop reviewing it.

Thanks for the advice, looking forward for this month.

Originally posted by jachis
I think that my mental game is ok, I tilt very rarely and I can play 3-4h sessions not be exausted.

Hey jachis!

My name is Erik and I will be part of the coaching staff focusing on Tilt, A-Game, Mindset, and Lifecoaching. Nice to hear that you are doing good in the tilt department!

If anything comes up with he mental side don't hesitate to ask. Working and removing mental issues even if they aren't immediate is good because it kkep you on your toes so to say

Cheers!

Hi Erik,
I read your posts on other threads and I see you constantly talking about meditation and mindfulness.
I would like to here how to start? Where can I read some good advice about meditation? Interent is full of info so its hard to understand whats good and whats not.
I actually did meditate for a few weeks, maybe even a bit longer, some time ago. I still have an aplication on my phone, where there are lessons of guided meditation. If I remember correctly first on was concentrating on candle flame. There where 5 lessons , each lesson for 2 weeks. After I finished all 5 I havent done anything further.

Originally posted by jachis
Hi Erik,
I read your posts on other threads and I see you constantly talking about meditation and mindfulness.
I would like to here how to start? Where can I read some good advice about meditation

Hey. Start by reading my thread on this link here: Mindfulness

Then you can just send me your email and ill dropbox you some Mindfulness mp3's if you like

Cheers!

Hi guys, havent posted for a while. Feeling quite good and at the tables, doing the guided minfulness exercise before every session, I think it realy helps me to stay more calm, focused and to see things more clearly.

I was thinking that maybe we could share some interesting custom popups, as Im not realy satisfied with PT4 default ones, I saw that on other threads people are already disccusing how to tweak their HUD's and stuff.

This one I saw in Oblioos video and copied for myself

Now when watching videos I try to make screenshots of popups I like.

This is also a usefull one I made. I guess the first collum is useless

Positonal 3bet stats

Also any suggestios for tweaking my HUD?

VPIP/PFR/3bet/Fto3bet/4bet/Fto4bet
RFI UTG/MP/CO/BTN/SB/ (hands)
Cbet/FtoCbet/AFqFlop/turn/river
FoldSBtosteal/BBtosteal/Fold BBtoSBsteal/WTSD

I will add fold BTNtoCO steal, read this suggestion yesterday and think I can use this stat very well.

Made this popup yesterday

Any suggestions what to add? I would like to add stats like : Barrels turn after ch/r flop or something like that, but those kinds are only custom stats which load very slowly.

Also I added to my hud Fold BTN to CO steal, now Im wondering how much doesn villain need to fold to reaaly widden my CO open? i think most of regs I saw Fold BTN to CO steal 70-85%

I recommend to use notecaddy for some specific stats, like barrels after raising flop etc. U will be able to see opponents hands that way, which is more important than knowing range IMO. Like if he raises 12% flops and then barrels 60% turns actually doesn't tell us much, maybe if we have 100k hands on him, we can figure out something. But when we can see that he did it with set 5/6 times, we can assume he's super strong.

PartyGaming - $0.50 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: $23.57 (VPIP: 25.63, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 165)
BTN: $49.25 (VPIP: 15.80, PFR: 13.09, 3Bet Preflop: 7.80, Hands: 410)
Hero (SB): $55.17
BB: $52.63 (VPIP: 18.96, PFR: 15.90, 3Bet Preflop: 6.16, Hands: 2,746)

Hero posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has 7♣ 2♠

fold, fold, Hero raises to $1.50, BB calls $1.00

Flop: ($3.00, 2 players) 7♠ 5♥ A♥
Hero bets $1.70, BB raises to $3.40, Hero calls $1.70

Turn: ($9.80, 2 players) A♠
Hero checks, BB bets $9.31, Hero calls $9.31

River: ($28.42, 2 players) 4♣
Hero checks, BB bets $38.42 and is all-in, Hero calls $38.42

Villain is very nitty pre, Fold BBvsSB 81%, fold to cbet IP 61%, raise cbet 12%.

I thought that villain will have a draw a lot here. I dont think he raises Ax, I block A7 and 77, he also might have A5 and 55
His AF by streets is 3,56/3,18/1,33
His AF is very low on river so i guess I could just fold expecting him to have me beat almost always but I did level myself into calling.

I've been stealing 100% agaisnt him and cbetiing a lot, but I dont think its to likley his playing back at me cause if he would, no way He's be folding so much.

After seeing what he had would you start 3barreling a lot on Axx,Kxx if villain just calls cbet as I can expect him to raise with his decent TP's?

Next hand with a somewhat similar question.

PartyGaming - $0.50 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: $43.51 (VPIP: 19.00, PFR: 13.12, 3Bet Preflop: 4.26, Hands: 224)
CO: $75.64 (VPIP: 27.69, PFR: 18.85, 3Bet Preflop: 6.19, Hands: 269)
BTN: $50.00 (VPIP: 19.26, PFR: 14.27, 3Bet Preflop: 4.78, Hands: 858)
Hero (SB): $55.00
BB: $55.72 (VPIP: 24.71, PFR: 14.12, 3Bet Preflop: 2.94, Hands: 85)
UTG: $62.39 (VPIP: 28.17, PFR: 14.08, 3Bet Preflop: 3.13, Hands: 76)

Hero posts SB $0.25, BB posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has Q♣ A♦

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to $1.00, Hero raises to $4.00, fold, BTN calls $3.00

Flop: ($8.50, 2 players) Q♥ 3♣ T♦
Hero bets $4.50, BTN raises to $9.00, Hero calls $4.50

Turn: ($26.50, 2 players) 6♦
Hero checks, BTN bets $14.00, Hero calls $14.00

River: ($54.50, 2 players) 9♥
Hero checks, BTN checks

Villain RFI BTN 39%, Fold to 3bet 52%, 4bet BTN 0 (0/10), Fold to cbet 3b pot 60%, first time I see him raise cbet 3b pot.
One 4bet he had made he had AA, so Im not sure can I expect him to flat premiums sometime.

After seeing what he had, does it make sense to at least 2 barrel with high Fq in 3bet pots against this villain, cause when his strong he shows it on flop?

1. hand - I think stealing atc against huge nit is OK, but u have to lay down ur hand postflop most of the time. U already made +ev steal, u don't have to make sick moves postflop, u can cbet sometimes and give up to any action unless u hit big. I think it's a clear fold OTT. That A hits ur range pretty good and I don't expect nit to continue bluffing on that board, especially when he pots. Same for the river - he expects u to snap with any Ax and he's not bluffing for that reason. He's not trying to bluff u off Ax ever

2. hand - is that a reg @nl50 ?xD Raising that flop ... wtf and no comments for checking the river. I think u have to auto 3barrel this guy on any board when he calls. If he checked back that river with set, he will never call u lite. I think he's folding even AQ OTR when u 3barrel this board.

Thanks for the reply.

Hand 1
I see how its an easy fold OTT, maybe even flop. Probably leveled myself into calling thinking it would be cool to catch villain bluffing with 72o or something not considering whats my percieved range..

It cleraly ok to cbet a lot against this villain if he also folds to cbets a lot right? Thats how I justify stealing or 3betting wider if villain doesnt necceserily fold enough Pre.

Also after seeing that villain raises strong Ax on this board makes sense to barrel him a lot when he calls similar boards?

Hand 2
Yeah, villain some kind of reg. I see quite often that even in 3bet pots some regs super fastplay their nuts even when it makes very little sense, the river checkback is more unusual

I think Im not adapting enough to these villains and not barreling enough when they're range contains much less strong hands on turn or river.