1/3 Grinding and Bankroll

No stats from mixed games - have you decided to give them up?

I’m a very small loser this year in the 20/40 mix, basically break even, and a small winner in the 10/20 mix, both small samples. Haven’t touched the big mixed game really at all this year after it set me back last year. I do so well at Omaha I’m probably going to cut out all other games for the rest of the year so I can maximize my earnings, unless a really good opportunity arises or there are no good Omaha games running.

Ended the month on an L, lost top two double gutter to overpair+wrap early on, the board pairing 2 counterfeited me, then lost QQ773 in 4! pot to AJT84, T54r flop, and some other smaller pots, but made a comeback near the end with AAKQ9 on AJT in 3! pot, got two streets from a double flush draw that bricked.

Have a participant for the free coaching session now!

Looking forward to closing out the year on a high note, will involve focusing all my volume on PLO as much as possible and avoiding distractions.

Got solid sleep, lattes and music now, took care of some business and going to get ready to hit the tables. My crusher PLO friend confirmed that his month to month profits were very consistent too when he was grinding all the time. Guess PLO really isn't that high variance of a game when you get good enough compared to the field.

Mid session update…running meh, sorta card dead too. AA cracked, and nut wrap versus two sets bricked too. Staying the course and grinding plo even though it’s tempting to get up and play the decent-looking mixed game. Gotta remember my goal for the rest of the year and stick to it as much as possible while still keeping it as fresh and fun as possible.

The whale hit and quit at my plo game so I figured I could afford to play 30/60 mix for a little, didn't really get anything going there though, made a 5 dugi but no low in badacey and chopped against a 7/7, made a wheel in 2-7 triple draw starting with 7542 in a 4! pot, got there after the first draw and got raised after the second draw! I raised again, and he raised AGAIN! And it wasn't a chop. (He didn't show.)

Jumped back into plo after mix broke and lost a 5! pot with AQJJ7ds (tried to squeeze out the callers and one of them decided to backraise AKK....) and otherwise pretty card and spot dead, got to c/r broadway one hand and held, broke about even on the second plo session. Posted an L first day of July, the fact that all my sets got cracked didn't help, AJT65ds pre didn't hold against two inferior holdings either. I am happy with my play overall though at plo.

Slept in a little later than usual after going to bed late threw off my schedule a little, but at least I am well-rested for another day of grinding.

Dumbo - keen to purchase your plo5 study guide.

Lmk what to do. Congrats on the strong showing.

Cheers!

Mesfin

Instructions are in my coaching thread too (https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/290/c...) but for convenience I’ll put them here as well. You can PayPal $20 to [email]ichispiro@gmail.com[/email]. Please provide me with your email address via PayPal or some other method so I know where to send the guide to. Thank you!

Played 10/10, lost top and bottom second nut flush draw and over cards to nut flush draw open ender and top pair, at short stack depth I just got it in and lost both runouts, running well at 1/2 5 though except lost top boat to quads. Winning session so far, and game is still ok with a couple fun players with a lot of chips in front of them. Unfortunately colluder couple at same table with us. But at least I have a chance to stack them both.

Flopped a straight a couple times and got bad runouts, flopped a wheel with backdoor diamonds and a higher straight redraw in the straddle and lost to open ender + flush draw and chopped small side pot against another wheel with better redraw. Ended up decently on the day by the time I got tired but hardly any records broken. I'll take a small win given how the last two sessions went.

Good sleep, lattes now and music, market still going up which is always nice, waiting for the next dip.

Mid session update, got a new student who plays in my room, ran well at 5/5/15, AKKQds held multi-way, and dude who has had my number for a couple years calls my Fanny pack a purse (whereas his similar bag is a “satchel”😉, I say no offense taken and proceed to stack him and say “my purse must have been lucky.” Hahaha…! Left for 1/2 AA game wasn’t even that good and I was thankful to win, folded mid set incorrectly in 3! pot at a medium spr once but otherwise going well. Good start to the month finally!

Dumbo: if you had to write out your recipe for success in 50 words or less what would it be?

Watching/learning eagerly from afar.

Good wrap up to the session yesterday, even though I lost top set nfd to two pair worse flush draw, his backdoor flush draw came in...! Lost a 90/10 there for the first time in a while. Ayee! Was in an action game with blind bets and raises, ended up making a couple grand there thanks to AKQQ and QQJT8, flopped top set both times and boated or quaded. Also won KQT99 on JT7 versus ??, bet bet ad got there otr. Lost AAQQ3 to maniac whale, backdoor nfd came in ott and got it in with two overpairs fd and nut gutter but he had a little set.

Got plenty of rest albeit it a little late of a rise.

To answer your question, I would say focus on poker exclusively and devote all your time to it. Make your life revolve around it and maximize your efficiency. Get value from your strong hands and don't pay off your opponents. Push your equity edge as a favorite. Play without fear. Be the aggressor. Game select. Be nice.

Ran well at 1/2 until flopped top set straight gutter back door flush draw and didn’t get there versus flopped straight no redraw. Left for 10/10 where I quickly ran it up AKQJT and AKQQ both got me there. Taking a quick break for food and will get back to the grind. Hopefully not too late tonight, I have family stuff tomorrow.

Happy Fourth of July!

Edit: Plo Lists are frozen and 10/10 broke while I was taking my break so I am at 20/40 limit…!

Lost some back at the end, QQ

Despite an excellent pre-session routine, I ran poorly in the big pots for most of the session so far, too set lost to non nut wrap and top pair fd and gutter lost to top three, gambled a couple hands too pre didn’t work out. Got it in mid pair nut wrap and one fd blocker and bdfd four ways in big 3! pot and the flush draw got there. Grinding it back.

Grinded it back up a little then ran top two bdnfd turned nfd into mid set, then morning promo intercom announcements started (they are loud and annoying to people not in for promos), and I decided to book the smallish L as I was getting too tired and I didn't want to totally mess up my schedule. Tomorrow's a new day. Pretty annoying session if I am being totally honest, all things considered. It's one long session and I am still doing well this month. Gotta keep positive and perspective.

Good start to the day, good pre session routine, good chat with a friend about the top two versus middle set, could be played as a check call at my stack depth. Raising and missing a lot now at 5/5, hoping to get a seat at 10/10 before the game breaks. Channeling my inner ohm. Remembering I’m doing well and remaining level headed.

Having a good pre session routine builds up tilt resistance I’ve found. Really helpful.

Session update: ran decently at 5/5, coolered 2x on 722cc, 10/10 seat opened up and playing here now, ran meh in beginning losing AAT54 in 3! pot spr 1 on T64 both my bdfds to 66, then ran it up until lost 75/25 on both runouts with nut straight two pair to second nut straight and mid set, he boated on both runouts. Really tragic after losing some other big pots lately as a sizable favorite. Grinding it back now…!

Just as I was about to post this I won AJ854 nut hearts to 77 Q-hearts on 567hh from the same action player who stacked me straight over straight earlier. Grinding it back indeed!

Towards the end, chopped AKQT8 to KQ9T6 on KJ2, had him in terrible shape - 80/20 - with my better wrap and better pair, even turned a better flush draw, until the second river where we chopped as he hit two pair, really frustrating one to chop. Lost a 3! pot or two here and there just whiffing and eventually got tired and called it another losing session as the game got three-handed even though it was still good, playing an energy-intensive short-handed game is something I prefer doing when I am fresh and well-rested and not at the end of a long session. A bit of a disappointing finish, if I ran at EV I would have been up a lot last night. Still nice to be reminded that I have an edge in the game. Month is still young and at least I a winning something. Now for a good pre-session routine and hopefully some rungood!

Just had my first session with Dumbo and he really added a lot of value in our session. He was very open and very descriptive in his advice. I would highly recommend Dumbo!

Thanks bro, you’re great to work with. As my grandpa used to say, “Keep it up, you’ll go far!”

Running well today for a change, making hands and getting paid, and no bad beats. Coaching session went well, felt really satisfied afterwards actually like I was bringing a lot of value. Helped to have a very open minded student. It was my first in-person session which probably made a difference too.

Session was going well until the very end, 5! AKKQTds $1,400 pre shipped the last $750 on J84r and lost to AQ987 for a big pot, no one had AA, dude who won hit and run. Womp-womp end to the session as game got bad and I was tired. Small loss, not too bad at least. I played like a champ and just got unlucky at the end there, now some well-deserved rest.

Ran decently, woke up early and games started good but got worse, gave some back towards the end and top set didn’t hold against a draw. Decided to pause plo for a little and play some hold ‘em for a change as I’ve been getting beat up lately in some big pots at Omaha. Need to keep my motivation high if I am going to keep playing for the long haul and a little break to play hold ‘em sounds good right about now. The games aren’t even that good.

I’m embarking on a $100,000 bankroll challenge, my biggest challenge to date. I don’t want to predict how quickly I will complete it this time given that I’ve been running mediocre lately. Just felt like I needed another goal to get me out of the poker doldrums and keep up my motivation.

Given that I completed my $50,000 challenge in under a month my hopes are to finish this goal in two to three months, but only time will tell. Time to bring my elite A game to every hand I play and really push myself.

No missing value bets, no paying off, no spew pre, get it in good post.