Started with a $1/$2nl challenge, now we're here.
😮WARNING!! IMA 2+2 VIRGIN!! FIRST DAY AT THIS!! FIRST THREAD!!
The Goal is Simple - $40k in One Year (starting Jan.1st 2013) playing only $1-$2NLHE, and $1-$3 NLHE cash games. Most of my play will be @HSIPoker (90% of play), @HollywoodPoker (5% of play) in southern Indiana, and other (5% of play). I will make the occasional trips Vegas, Chicago, etc. My buy-ins will be least $300 and no more than $800 in all daily sessions. If I lose a $800 bullet in the first hour of play, then I leave. Therefore a losing session will never exceed $800. I am committed to play an average of 30-35 hours a week. All statistics (running total $, $/hr., #of hrs. win/loss ratio, etc.) will be tracked through my Poker Journal App. The max buy-ins on both of these games @HSIPoker is $300 up to half the big stack at the table (i.e. big stack has $1400, then new player can buy-in for $700, or other players at table can add up to $700 to their chips). Also @HSIPoker players can straddle from any position, so $1-$2 plays like a $1-$3 or even $2-$5 w/deep stacks. Side note: Just yesterday a maniac player at $1-$2 nlhe straddled for $350!! I will also play no more than $5k worth of tournaments for the year ranging from $300-$1700 buy-ins. The tournaments will be recorded separately, and will be added or deducted from cash game total profits at the end of the year (ending Dec. 31st 2013). I will stay committed to this all year and I will not stray from my rules. I can guarantee I will post at least twice a week, and would even like to link a monthly video segments throughout the year. If you stay with me on this journey, I can promise you I will stay with you throughout the whole year. You can count on total transparency in my poker grind. I will share honestly the ups and downs, the brutal swings, and sprinkle in some spice and substance. All while trying to spare you the bad beat stories. I rather do naked snow angels in freezing temps than listening to someone’s bad beat story. For future reference if you share one with me, I will act like I care, but I will really be thinking of when will this bad beat story end!! You can also follow - http://twitter.com/RayzRayl
Background – Starting playing seriously at age 25 during the Chris Moneymaker boom. Duh! It was around the same time I was teaching middle school math. I left teaching to create my own destiny. I started out playing low limits and have played as high as $25-$50 NLHE online. I am like most of you that have $ tied up on Full-Tilt. I am mostly a cash game player, and have played very few tournaments with very little success. I bricked the WSOP Main Event twice (I bought in once, and the other seat was a won through PokerStars). I seem to come up short on the big buy-in tourneys. My biggest score in tournaments are a couple of $20k cashes, and biggest score in cash games are a few $10k sessions. Sometimes poker was my full-time job, and sometimes it was supplement income. Right now it is my full-time job. I own a few rental properties, so that helps take the pressure off the grind. My girlfriend (15yr. relationship) and I have 2 girls (2yrs and 9yrs) that are joys of my life. My biggest challenge is explaining to them along with everyone else that I play poker for a living. I struggle with the fact that I am basically chasing money, and not doing anything productive. On the flip side, I do like the higher levels of thinking, the competition, and the pressure that poker offers me. Furthermore, I am not a gambler! I go straight to the poker room and straight out, nothing in between (no dice, no colors, no slots, no blackjack, etc.). Don’t get me wrong though I will bet anything I have an edge on. Most of all, I am a man devoted to my faith. Side note: I don’t see playing poker as sinful behavior, or gambling. I define gambling as anything where I’m not a favorite to win long term. More about me . . . thrive on competition, unique, introvert, outside the box thinker, gym fitness member, a bit anti-social, well mannered, authored my memoir at age 30, every other weekend drinker, love my church, entrepreneurial thinker, tennis junkie, green thumb, and I think cats are skittish.
Reason for Goal – The challenge itself is the ultimate reason for this goal. I was recently in a conversation with a friend of mine, and he was stating that $30k/yr. was a realistic earning for a $1-2, $1-3 nlhe grinder. I discussed that an “A” player putting in 40hrs/wk. can possibly make $40k/yr. He said, “no way”, and I said “I’m going to do it.” And that’s how this goal started. Reason 2) Simple – the goal will keep me staying determined to play flawlessly, and it will keep me focused at the task at hand. This goal allows me to stay “hungry” the whole year. I enjoy the pressure of striving to achieve something that is challenging. This challenge will keep me waking up each day and grinding. The satisfaction of achieving this goal will be half the fun, and the journey getting there is the other half. My subscribers, followers, and my post will keep accountable; and keeps me determined to play my “A” game. Thank you in advance for subscribing/following! Reason 3) it keeps the pressure off me playing the bigger games. I always told people the “poker lows” hurt more than the “highs” feel good. If that makes any sense to you! There were times when I was playing bigger limits where I would lose $5k in a sesh. Trust me those days sting! When I lost that amount of cheddar I would always think of what I could have done with that money; i.e. remodel the kitchen, go on shopping spree, buy a used car, get a golf membership at the country club, etc. When I win it’s like “cool”, but when I lose big it affects my whole psyche! With this goal I am managing my losses where worst case scenario is an $800 losing day. Reason 4) the $1-$2 NLHE is the most popular poker game around. There are more $1-$2 players than any other game. This will give a good idea of what’s a realistic earning from a solid $1-$2nlhe player. I want to do this for all the grinders. There is not a truer grinder than a $1-$2 grinder. Big Ups to all the 1-2ers!
Cliff Notes – Can I? Or can’t I? Make $40k in 2013 playing only $1-$2 and $1-$3 NLHE. Playing at least 30hrs/wk. and buying in for no more than $800 a session! I will also invest no more than $5k in tournaments in 2013 that will be factored into the $40k/year goal. I will post often with full transparency. I thrive on competition. My motto is look good, feel good, play good. I like puzzles. I have a degree in Mathematics. This is my very first post on 2 + 2 forum. 
All feedback welcome.
Thanks,
Rayz
@mastaaces its a suited connecter. The implied is strong.
In a below avg morning game.
Dude in seat 4 here is talking bout a driving service that he has for asst living homes. I like that idea.
Reverse implied is stronger considering this is a single raised pot. What's the difference between T8s and T2os? They're basically the same hand! They're almost definitely the same in this spot. 86s would be a better hand to play preflop since the reverse implied odds aren't as bad when you aren't holding that god awful weak ten. T8s has especially bad reverse implied odds. It doe not have good playability multiway in a single raised pot. The sort of implied odds you'd want to get with this hand is when you raise with it and get 3bet then you could more reasonably think you aren't going to be dominated as much by a stronger ten. Even still a good opponent is going to 3bet some suited broadway tens. Fold pre.
Was for some reason reading above post until the words T8s and T2o are basically the same in this spot.
Was for some reason reading above post until the words T8s and T2o are basically the same in this spot.
villains have a lot of AT/KT/QT/JT/T9 and very little A6/K6/Q6/J6
so TT4 you are equally uncomfortable when it's multiway and someone blasts off and you have T8 or T2
whereas in 664 you feel very good about your hand with 86
i can't tell if this was you being sneaky or stupid, but you can't possibly know the other villians cards and intentionally cherry picked offsetting kings which make your non kings stronger or not
see how you lose a bunch of equity just swapping KJs to QJs
or heaven forbid, we just change it to ranges instead
villains have a lot of AT/KT/QT/JT/T9 and very little A6/K6/Q6/J6
so TT4 you are equally uncomfortable when it's multiway and someone blasts off and you have T8 or T2
whereas in 664 you feel very good about your hand with 86
I realize this. I was more commenting on the absurdity of T8s being close to T2o preflop, as he was referring to preflop. I still think the decision is pretty clear, but not as clear as T2o ofc.
Or a more succinct explanation, why say something that’s clearly not true to explain your POV?
I realize this. I was more commenting on the absurdity of T8s being close to T2o preflop, as he was referring to preflop. I still think the decision is pretty clear, but not as clear as T2o ofc.
Or a more succinct explanation, why say something that’s clearly not true to explain your POV?
At least with T2os you won't flop a lot of draws that will miss most of the time. You won't make any second best straight or flushes with that hand either.
Why say something clearly not true to explain my point of view? Why use hyperbole? Why use language at all, why not just use binary code, machine language?
Why say T8s and T2os are the same hand here? Even preflop in this spot there isn't much difference. I said as such to make it clear how bad I think this call is preflop. I think thinking you can call and profit here with T8s is marginally and I mean very marginally less bad than thinking you can call with T2os and be profitable here preflop. They are basically the same hand.
Can someone gv me a crash course in mtt real quick?
Not a T player but still overdue for a big score.
Can someone gv me a crash course in mtt real quick?
Not a T player but still overdue for a big score.
always button straddle
the person who initiates chop discussion has the biggest edge as he controls the shape of the discussion, so be sure to establish yourself as the chop thought leader by polling those at the table if they are willing to chop or not immediately upon sitting at each new table
if you don't wear a scarf, sunglasses, & a hat then you will not be respected as a man of talent
always button straddle
the person who initiates chop discussion has the biggest edge as he controls the shape of the discussion, so be sure to establish yourself as the chop thought leader by polling those at the table if they are willing to chop or not immediately upon sitting at each new table
if you don't wear a scarf, sunglasses, & a hat then you will not be respected as a man of talent
I've played wsop and wpt tourneys for many years but never saw a tourney that allowed button straddle.
And the "chop leader" is usually the fish IME. Cmon
At least with T2os you won't flop a lot of draws that will miss most of the time. You won't make any second best straight or flushes with that hand either.
Why say T8s and T2os are the same hand here? Even preflop in this spot there isn't much difference. I said as such to make it clear how bad I think this call is preflop. I think thinking you can call and profit here with T8s is marginally and I mean very marginally less bad than thinking you can call with T2os and be profitable here preflo
Someone run a solve of this spot preflop and let’s talk more about how T8s and T2o have basically the same value here plz. lolz
Someone run a solve of this spot preflop and let’s talk more about how T8s and T2o have basically the same value here plz. lolz
I am the solver and I told you the solution already. T8s=T2os. Fold pre. If you don't get it then keep calling with hands that are going to be dominated and get you in trouble. All hail the mighty solver who removes the need for us poker players to use critical thinking. Good on ya.
Can someone gv me a crash course in mtt real quick?
Not a T player but still overdue for a big score.
You can't win a tourney in the early stages of it. Surviving is worth money because everybody but one person loses all their chips eventually but you can still get paid if you survive long enough. So don't try to win all of the chips in the beginning of the tourney, wait til the end to try to win all the chips.
I've played wsop and wpt tourneys for many years but never saw a tourney that allowed button straddle.
And the "chop leader" is usually the fish IME. Cmon
I know the WSOP just started allowing the button straddle last year. I'm not sure if the WPT does or not. Just ask the dealer when you sit.
I don't think it is mandatory to be the first to start talking chop, but the last thing you want is to not say anything and by the time the deal is struck you get chopped out.
I am the solver and I told you the solution already. T8s=T2os. Fold pre. If you don't get it then keep calling with hands that are going to be dominated and get you in trouble. All hail the mighty solver who removes the need for us poker players to use critical thinking. Good on ya.
Another very intelligent and rational response as is customary from you.
You are right. None of the best players use solvers to learn things. They trust their intuition like you and BS to stagnate and get nowhere in terms of progression.
Nothing to learn from taking a look at the actual potential ranges/math of a spot. Carry on. Keep crushing in your “career” Rick.
Another very intelligent and rational response as is customary from you.
You are right. None of the best players use solvers to learn things. They trust their intuition like you and BS to stagnate and get nowhere in terms of progression.
Nothing to learn from taking a look at the actual potential ranges/math of a spot. Carry on. Keep crushing in your “career” Rick.
Your entire response is just vitriolic and an attack against me. This is getting off the rails buddy, it's just a poker discussion. You were offended by my comparison of two hands and my response rankled you and now you've completely lost the plot. Let's agree to disagree.
Also buy a solver so you can solve these spots yourself if it's so important rather than imploring an online poker forum to solve a hand for you.
Good day sir!
preflop is the least of the worries here. at these stakes it might be winning in some lineups, might be losing in others. the rest of the hand just shows flaws in very basic concepts. if every other player in this hand just has like a combined 6 outs (not even to the best hand, just to future equity decisions) checking back the flop gives away over $15-$20 in equity while simultaneously not narrowing their ranges at all. this is very bad. the whole reason you're even in this particular river spot is because of this. betting the flop also takes away turn leads from most opponents, allowing you to play the size of the pot you want (geometric) on various turn cards. as played the river is a trivial call.
Your entire response is just vitriolic and an attack against me. This is getting off the rails buddy, it's just a poker discussion. You were offended by my comparison of two hands and my response rankled you and now you've completely lost the plot. Let's agree to disagree.
Also buy a solver so you can solve these spots yourself if it's so important rather than imploring an online poker forum to solve a hand for you.
I post at work 95% of the time because I couldn’t be arsed to spend time on 2+2 during my free time.
I wasn’t offended by your comparison of two hands, I just thought it was stupid and detracted from the actual point you were making. I never even said I’d call T8s. I was stating the obvious massive difference of the two hand classes. This is reasonable.
You are correct that you tilt me, and it’s because you consistently engage in discussions in very disingenuous manners.
If you look not far above you will call my post vitriolic when the post I was responding to you claimed yourself the official solver and basically scoffed at my supposed lack of intelligence for thinking a preflop sim could be relevant/interesting.
Maybe consider your own tone before playing the righteous card.
Will this finally b the one?
Or just another one?
The half dozen of Ts played each year are all selected by “its time”. “It’s time” for the 6 figure score. “It’s time” for the affirmations, validations, authentications. “It’s time” for deep run visions. “It’s time” to shake it up.
3miler morning run, pick kids up early from school, travel day, charge at the Buc-ee’s, arrive at Dads, hang, go to bed.
11a. wsop event 2 Friday. $400 $750kg.
Current…
Good luck!
I’m making my way into Cherokee tonight, and will be playing flights B, C, and D, if necessary!
always button straddle
the person who initiates chop discussion has the biggest edge as he controls the shape of the discussion, so be sure to establish yourself as the chop thought leader by polling those at the table if they are willing to chop or not immediately upon sitting at each new table
if you don't wear a scarf, sunglasses, & a hat then you will not be respected as a man of talent
Also, don't forget whenever you sit at a new table to shove all in blind for good luck and to assert dominance!
Good luck, hope you make a deep run.
[QUOTE='juiCe[3x];58464499']Also, don't forget whenever you sit at a new table to shove all in blind for good luck and to assert dominance!
Good luck, hope you make a deep run.[/QUOTE]
Set the image early. Great advice!
We made it. We here.
A Woodford night capper.
Thanks man.
Figured if we keep showing up and something gd bound to happen.
Just arrived. Will update on breaks or bust.
