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
look at that rake, ouch
GL!
Busted couple hands after i took this pic.
Final hand.
JJ cdnt fade 88
Ty dudes for the good lucks
Been thinking bout this hand in T for last couple days.
Level 9 w bb 1500 I believe.
Villain and I around 60k in chips.
Got moved to a new tables and no clue on anyone. To this point, only been dealt in a few hands and noticed V has played everyone of them.
Mp player (100k) wearing bone conduction earpods opens to 3500. I flat pocket 8s. Button (80k) calls. V in bb calls.
4 way pot 16,500
Flop 763r.
Checks to me and bet 5500. Button calls, bb ch/calls, bone conduction ch/folds.
3 way pot 32,000
Turn 3. 7633r
This time bb Villain leads out 10,000. I think bout raising, but just call. Button folds.
Hu pot 52,000
River 7. 76337
Not the best river card. Bb bets 14,000.
Is this a call or fold?
*Villain made it Day 2 bagging 700k.
raising or folding both seem better than calling, you have a lot more 7s in your range than V does, if you are ever shipping with anything besides the nizzies here 88 is the perfect hand to do it with since you double block 87.
note: havent played poker in 7 years
raising or folding both seem better than calling, you have a lot more 7s in your range than V does, if you are ever shipping with anything besides the nizzies here 88 is the perfect hand to do it with since you double block 87.
note: havent played poker in 7 years
Ur right i need to think bout raising in certain spots.
I cd rep the 7 and raise, but he still calls w 3 (or pocket 6s)
Bb cd hv all the 3s and all the 7s, 45, pocket 6s.
So many hands that beat me, but that price is so tempting.
What bluffs cd he have? I’m blocking 89 810 85.
So he has to hv it, right?
Not sure about this one.
I'd expect V to have a random 6 here almost always
Been thinking bout this hand in T for last couple days.
Level 9 w bb 1500 I believe.
Villain and I around 60k in chips.
Got moved to a new tables and no clue on anyone. To this point, only been dealt in a few hands and noticed V has played everyone of them.
Mp player (100k) wearing bone conduction earpods opens to 3500. I flat pocket 8s. Button (80k) calls. V in bb calls.
4 way pot 16,500
Flop 763r.
Checks to me and bet 5500. Button calls, bb ch/calls, bone conduction ch/folds.
3 way pot 32,000
Turn 3
Ended up folding my 88 face up only w hopes he wd show. He did!! 52o. Fml
You make too many assumptions. He's basically min leading out hoping for cheap showdown. Even hands like A4o or 44 will take this line a bunch. He might occasionally have a boat but I'd expect him to have some kind of made-ish hand besides a boat waaay more often, along with random 52o junk like he did.
I'd consider raising river against a lot of V's tbh and it would never be as a bluff.
We needed a promo hit to get us back near 1/3 40k pace and got the promo hit today.
+$1209 but still behind pace by decent amount
More hours logged and we get there for sure. 20hrs a week tho is sweet. As long as we can get by. Lol
You make too many assumptions. He's basically min leading out hoping for cheap showdown. Even hands like A4o or 44 will take this line a bunch. He might occasionally have a boat but I'd expect him to have some kind of made-ish hand besides a boat waaay more often, along with random 52o junk like he did.
I'd consider raising river against a lot of V's tbh and it would never be as a bluff.
I’m starting to feel u.
Been thinking bout this a lot because it was a key spot in the tourney. One that propelled Villain to a healthy day 2 stack and one that sent me closer to exit.
Maybe it’s a call.??? I’ve heard from 6 players and have 3 calls 3 folds It’s an interesting spot for sure.
Tried finding the call and cdnt. I’ll b more experienced for next time.
How much wd u raise here otr if chose that option? We both started w 40bigs.
I’m starting to feel u.
Been thinking bout this a lot because it was a key spot in the tourney. One that propelled Villain to a healthy day 2 stack and one that sent me closer to exit.
Maybe it’s a call.??? I’ve heard from 6 players and have 3 calls 3 folds It’s an interesting spot for sure.
Tried finding the call and cdnt. I’ll b more experienced for next time.
How much wd u raise here otr if chose that option? We both started w 40bigs.
Double checked stack size and with your ~40bb stack to start the hand I wouldn't be raising river for value ever with this hand actually. Much better to call and have almost 20bb left.
If you had V covered to start the hand I could see raising river to something like 38,000-44,000 and still have ~30bb if you lose. Readless I'm calling but a lot of player types I like raising if we are deep enough to not be going all in.
The 3 pairing OTT is weird. Low stakes players tend to xr turned trips in this spot as opposed to leading out. 7x, 6x is still possible.
River for that price has to be a call. The bet sizing makes no sense, as does the line. Why would V make a 25% PSB with the nuts on the river? And taking out his 3x via the turn line, the line is just fishy and smells FOS. Can't fold getting 5 to 1. A PSB or even a chunky value bet might get me to lay it down, but not 25%.
The 3 pairing OTT is weird. Low stakes players tend to xr turned trips in this spot as opposed to leading out. 7x, 6x is still possible.
River for that price has to be a call. The bet sizing makes no sense, as does the line. Why would V make a 25% PSB with the nuts on the river? And taking out his 3x via the turn line, the line is just fishy and smells FOS. Can't fold getting 5 to 1. A PSB or even a chunky value bet might get me to lay it down, but not 25%.
I dont think V ever has a 7 here which is why i was advocating for an all-in if you think you could get a 3 to fold, but may not be deep enough to get the fold. 56 is also a possibility for V to have, flop the nuts then slow play to milk pot, turn is a scare card so leads out, river double pairs board so makes a really small blocker bet to try to get cheap showdown.
Grinded the court some after the pokerz. Working on a U shape retaining wall. Also, deciding now to remove all rock on the front side and go w grass on that side. Pickle Pic update soon.
Took day off poker yesterday to take advantage of nice weather. Gotta get this retaining wall done so we can start playing some serious pickle.
Here grinding today w a new tipping method.
We tipping out of the cup holder. Keeping all my chips in play. Anything to help this $40k 1/3 challenge.
.
1/3nl up $400ish…
A few minutes before leaving, a whale sits and puts on a $20 straddle otb. A couple tight nits call the $20, I decide to take a safe route call w 88 in cutoff. Whale makes it $120 w $250 behind. Folds to me and feel we are ahead of whale’s range and ship ($800 covering whale). He calls w Ac2c.
Clean flop, bad Ace turn.
Leave a few hands later +85. Cd hv been a +800ish day if 70/30 plays correct. Oh well, played perfectly throughout the 5hr sesh.
Each of these boxes weigh 60lbs, so feel this is gonna be a very sturdy pickleball net.
Anyone wanna put this together for me?
Happy so far w the Pro Dominator Pickle Net.
Spent 5 minutes piecing these together. Hopefully the net assembly is easy.
Quietly staring at my well built pickleball net while drinking a fresh brew on an already food stained 1yr old couch.
In a few minutes, imafinna to sit by the window and stare at the court.
think i found a new project for ya
@rickroll lol.
Do I even need to b flipping in 1/3nl?
Fun player wanted gamble. Helluva of a nice kid, but lost a couple big pots and now looking to dub up, or leave. The $160 he has left has been straddled all-in 3 hands in a row.
Hand 4… I straddle $6 otb. He blind shoves $160 in the sb. Utg, an og gambler, shoves $280 after 7 long head scratches. The rest of players fold faster than typing “faster”. I peel AKo. I gotta hammer the edges. I call.
Utg pocket 5s take it down. Another big one that cdnt go our way today. Back to back days ugh losing the biggest pots played.
Won bunch of small ones tho.
+281 and a nice 5 game win streak.
@rickroll lol.
Do I even need to b flipping in 1/3nl?
Fun player wanted gamble. Helluva of a nice kid, but lost a couple big pots and now looking to dub up, or leave. The $160 he has left has been straddled all-in 3 hands in a row.
Hand 4… I straddle $6 otb. He blind shoves $160 in the sb. Utg, an og gambler, shoves $280 after 7 long head scratches. The rest of players fold faster than typing “faster”. I peel AKo. I gotta hammer the edges. I call.
Utg pocket 5s take it d
Your mindset is off. That beat is not worth thinking about more than two seconds let alone writing it up here. It's a nothing burger. It also seems like your trying to make yourself feel like a better player than you are. You don't get to count the EV for the hands that you lost and ignore all the hands that you won. I do the same thing too sometimes, learn to recognize this tendency in yourself. As long as you care that you lost that pot you are going to be a worse poker player than you could be.
You are obsessed with the fish logic idea of booking wins. It's easy to win 5 in a row when you count every chip in your stack and protect "the win" at all costs. All it means that when you lose you will lose big and when you win you will win small, on average.
Also don't forget that the 1250 promo is reported directly to the IRS so you will be forced to pay a third of it in taxes. So leave a few hundred behind when you start buying levered SMCI calls
