Breaking Through the Darkness: My Poker Journey
Easy intro for me, My name is Jimmy. Playing poker for more than 5 years. Always playing, not always learning. Sometime MTT, sometime cash.
Bankrupt in poker for several time. Today I think it's time to break through.
Restart
During my years of playing poker, I always want to become better in this game.
But I struggle. I was not focusing on 1 particular game format. In 2019-2020, I play SNG, MTT on Pokerstars.
In 2021-2022 I play some NL2-NL10 games. 2023 didn't really play a lot. Now I think it's time to make up my mind.
I will be focusing on cash game tables. Getting better everyday.
Starting a blog
I was inspired by Freenachos' "One day, I'll see the light" on RIO. Highly recommend to check it out.
Through blogging, and letting people on 2+2 to check up on me. I think it's a way to encourage myself.
Short-term goal
- Building habits: Like practicing any kind of skills, persistent is key. Study everyday.
- Beat NL25
The journey continues.
3 Replies
This week I set a goal. I want to have a deeper understanding of CB especially IP CB. Mainly studying BTN vs BB.
The way I used to play was just mindlessly range bet on almost every board. Which is obviously not optimal.
Learning
Days before I decided to start a blog, I already tried to build my learning habit.
Past few days I've completed:
1. RIO - Building Heuristics: EP vs BB SRP C-Bet by Steve Paul
2. RIO - Building A Strategy: Preflop & Flop Play by Shaun Pauwels
3. RIO - Building Simple and Effective Flop Strategies by Freenachos
4. Some GTOW's free YouTube content
5. Some GTOW preflop and flop drills (Will get premium subscription soon.)
Main takeaways:
- Building a simple strategy in the beginning. Have some sort of grasp of what our default strategies is. Even when we hit some downswing in the future, we still have our simple strategy we are able to execute.
- Rinse and repeat, we will eventually build a solid knowledge of the game.
- Mess around with aggregate report and try to find heuristics.
Besides everything above, I also use Notion to start my own poker knowledge system. Which of course, was also inspired by Freenachos' CFP program's playbook.
Play
There's tons of streamer playing poker online. They often multi-tabling (ex. 4 RnC tables or 12 regular tables). Watching them play make me think I also have the ability to multi-tabling.
For now, I play 4 regular table max. After I have more insight of how different scenario should be played then I will try to add my table count.
Here's the graph I had yesterday. NL25/4-table/2 hour session.
Even though the result looks great. Still have tons of uncertain spot. Will try to have a default strategy for the following.
- SRP PFR/PFC IP
- SRP PFR/PFC OOP
- 3B pot
- 4B pot
Side note: Will go to Japan on a 7-day vacation. If some thing really funny I will also share with you guys!
The journey continues.
Back from a short vacation. One thing I will say about Japan is hot. Although is September still, very hot.
Disneyland was super fun, 10/10. Also went to Kamamura will definitely recommended it.
Now let's get back to poker.
Learning
Still working on my SRP IP CB strategy. I watched Max Lacerda's C-Bet Series: C-Betting Basics When In Position twice.
It's super tempting to play poker but not studying. LOL.
But from Max's video he said that:
Playing is not practicing. The only way we will get better at these spot is training and practicing.
At the beginning of this blog, I said I want to build a habit of studying poker. I think I am on the right track.
Keep accumulate my knowledge about poker, getting better and better everyday.
My plan for this week is to finish Max's all C-Bet Series video. And do the drills to make me comfortable in most common spots and develop an executable strategy.
Besides from video studying. I also joined a study group on discord. People over there are super friendly and helpful. Hope someday I can become the guy who gives advice.
As for playing, didn't play much after I get back home. Will try to play a few hours maybe this week.
Goals for this week
- Finish Max's C-Bet Series
- Build heuristics for IP flop CB
- 1 training video of NL25 playing on RIO
The journey continues.
What's up guys! After short vacation, was doing my business stuff. So didn't update the blog for last 2 weeks. Now I am currently in the States (San Jose). Haven't been in the US for few years. And I did try to play on Ignition and some live poker in Bay101. Was lot of fun playing different pool and live.
Learning
After been to US, I have a lot of spare time. Going to gym everyday, and did some learning.
Changing my studying routine a bit. I got Saulo Costa's Lowstakes Blueprint.
Very informative, and already found some part I'm not playing right in the beginning of the course.
Especially my overall strategy. Missing some spot in preflop and definitely too passive in some spot which lead to poor range construction.
Will try to fix them in my next few sessions.
Goals for this week
- Continuing on the course, and take notes.
- Go to gym everyday.
- Eat healthy.
The journey continues.
