Rapidesh123, Fighting Gold!!!

These are both personal takes. The 5bb/100 is not the better player and fewer tables/lower volume is not necessarily more fun. Just opinions.

I totally agree!

If I had to 4 table NLH, I'd die of boredom. And if I had half of my bankroll on the table, the stress of it would make the game anything but fun.

Yeah we had a similar discussion and I was at the time advocating lower tables for higher stakes but after thinking about it -> there’s really a lot more to consider and I think it comes down to personal goals, aspirations, etc. Although I do think most players are erring towards recreational even some regs so for me it’s likely more would say less tables is more enjoyable and posting big winrate graphs is more fun/satisfying

The better poker professional is the one who makes more money, it's simple as that. Obviously there are many other variables to take into account, like burnout, social life, exercise and study to improve and make more in the future. But in the end, who manages to make more money is the best professional.

It took me a long time to learn this

I prefer playing less tables with more focus, I believe it's the fastest way to get better in the game and move up. It's easy to lose yourself in the grind and auto pilot most of the time when playing high volume.

It's not about necessarily less tables. It's about less hours spent grinding. The 5bb winner can CHOOSE to play more hands per month and easily make more money. The 2bb winner does not have that option. The 2bb winner is probably so burnt out from the volume that he won't have much time to study and stop being a marginal winner. And like I said, there's other indirect benefits about spending less time grinding to win slightly less money. Time is also money. I fact, I will argue that time is worth way more than money.

While I agree that from a short term financial POV the better poker pro is the one who makes more money, your example is ridiculous. Better off using 3bb and 100k hands vs 5bb and 50k hands to prove your point. 200k hands per month is ridiculous. And this example is ESPECIALLY ridiculous coming from you. I've been following this thread on and off for years and from what I hear your own volume is laughable. You've been roasted many times ITT for your lack of volume and I don't recall ever even seeing a month where you had a graph with more than 50 or 60k hands.

Are you "full time"? Or do you have a part time job. Cost of living must be low in Brazil. Not saying this to be a d1ck, just curious.

Higher winrate (assuming your standard deviation does not have to dramatically increase to achieve it, which I don't think should ever be expected) means less risk of ruin, you can use more "aggressive" BRM schemes, move up faster having to play less hands in the process, withdraw more to living expenses, less psychological stress...

Same reasoning for staying away from zoom and zoom-like formats.

He lives at home with his parents, I think this arrangement will lower personal expenses no matter where you live.

why would you try to get better when you've let us know that you are already super good? Just move up and earn more?

Looked at Rapi's stats on Statname and couldn't find anything atrocious, actually seems quite solid even though his wr is still a bit far from the top ones.

Definitely a work ethics problem going on regarding the volume, putting bluntly, Rapi is just lazy.

Good news, people, got promoted this month! getting new material to study, the new coaches are beyond insane, like legit legends lol, it's going to be very good to study with those sickos. Will keep studying with the micro study group. Tbh that study group helped me to put so many hours of study that I would never have put otherwise.

As I was explaining to one new coach why my volume was low, I said to him that I didn't have a routine, then I've created a routine for me, with time to exercise, cook, study, play, sleep a lot and also some free time too. I believe that it will be easier to focus now that I have every hour of the week planned out. Will also skip some days off, will rest only 1 day every week.

Of course it was an insane example, don't take it literally, try to get the idea of what I was saying.
I'm a full time player that played mostly part time :( it will change, my volume is going up, the best thing that happened to me was to join metagame.

I said I was a decent player, not a garbage reg like people were saying at any opportunity they could. In poker you have to always improve or you will get left behind.

I still have a lot of leaks and I'm still too defensive and go to theory when I should choose the exploit, but in higher stakes this habit will help me more, so I'm fine with losing a bit of winrate to keep playing some spots more theoretically sound to keep sharp.

I live in my parents' house with my brother, I'm very fortunate, really grateful to have a nice place to live in a very good part of the city, got a car I can drive, everything is close and it's somewhat calm here (although it's getting more crowded year after year). So cost of living is low for me, will use that to my advantage and save a lot. Learned how to save money in the recent months.

May results

Made around 1.5k, it was good, but my work ethic was garbage this month, ran good, but I got this leak that whenever I book a decent win in a day (in BB), I want to quit, I have 0 clue on how to deal with that. Always played more while losing too. I believe that if I manage to follow the routine I've planned, I will end up playing a fixed amount of hours, then it will be fine. But I've decided to change my routine a bit: will take 2 days off per week, at least in the beginning I got to do that, will respect those days off a lot and specially the days of work.

Learning a lot, at least my study hours went up a lot this month, studying new strats, also started studying in a new study group, got 2 going on. The new coaches are insane too, really happy to be in the team, I believe that it's only a matter of time that I will be playing nl200. Also I'm going to start upgrading my grind setup, tbh I've got one of the worst setups I've had in my life lol, my setup is pretty garbage and 0 professional, I can't play more than 4 stars tables, got a big TV that I use as a monitor, but resolution is low. This month will buy the monitor, then I plan to buy a table, any ideas on good tables to grind? I don't mind paying a lot for something that will last many years and that can have its height adjusted. After that will buy a second monitor for the lobbies, I believe after that I will be in a very good setup, since my chair is very good (despite being cheap).

Will start playing also on a new site next month, people say that games in there are good, sadly there are few tables going on in there, but it's ok, need to play on a second site and make more hands/hour.

Graph:

Some hands

H1: When I see this one I remember that scarface part of the movie where Tony Montana says "you're ****ing with me? You're ****ing with the best?! I'M TONY MONTANA!!!" haha vamooooooo

PokerStars - $0.50 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 171.68 BB
UTG: 103.68 BB
CO: 95.5 BB
BTN: 102 BB
SB: 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q♥ A♦

fold, CO raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 11 BB, CO calls 8 BB

Flop: (22.5 BB, 2 players) 5♠ 6♠ 5♥
Hero bets 5.34 BB, CO calls 5.34 BB

Turn: (33.18 BB, 2 players) 2♠
Hero checks, CO bets 19 BB, Hero calls 19 BB

River: (71.18 BB, 2 players) T♠
Hero checks, CO bets 60.16 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 60.16 BB

H2: bold

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 159.52 BB
Hero (SB): 156.96 BB
BB: 125.68 BB
UTG: 116.32 BB
MP: 140.08 BB
CO: 56.24 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has T♣ T♦

fold, MP raises to 2.52 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 11 BB, BB raises to 24 BB, fold, Hero calls 13 BB

Flop: (50.52 BB, 2 players) 4♦ 4♥ 3♦
Hero checks, BB bets 12 BB, Hero calls 12 BB

Turn: (74.52 BB, 2 players) 4♠
Hero checks, BB checks

River: (74.52 BB, 2 players) 3♠
Hero bets 36 BB, BB raises to 89.68 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 53.68 BB

H3: vamooooooo!

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (MP): 100 BB
CO: 172.08 BB
BTN: 87.44 BB
SB: 75.24 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 176.6 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has Q♦ Q♣

fold, Hero raises to 2.32 BB, fold, BTN calls 2.32 BB, SB calls 1.92 BB, fold

Flop: (7.96 BB, 3 players) 4♠ 9♠ 3♥
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets 3 BB, SB raises to 9.8 BB, Hero raises to 24 BB, fold, SB raises to 72.92 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 48.92 BB

Turn: (156.8 BB, 2 players) 5♥

River: (156.8 BB, 2 players) 4♥

H4: vs reg that has been running very well vs me

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 100 BB
BB: 157.32 BB
UTG: 101.16 BB
MP: 130.68 BB
CO: 104 BB
Hero (BTN): 169.16 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 4♥ A♦

fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, SB calls 3.6 BB, fold, MP calls 3 BB

Flop: (13 BB, 3 players) K♠ Q♦ 4♣
SB checks, MP checks, Hero bets 3.12 BB, SB raises to 12.44 BB, fold, Hero calls 9.32 BB

Turn: (37.88 BB, 2 players) J♥
SB checks, Hero bets 22 BB, SB calls 22 BB

River: (81.88 BB, 2 players) 8♦
SB checks, Hero bets 130.72 BB and is all-in, SB calls 61.56 BB and is all-in

H5: one of the sickest bluffs of my life

PokerStars - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 120.04 BB
CO: 105.84 BB
BTN: 188.2 BB
SB: 71.56 BB
Hero (BB): 110.2 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has Q♥ Q♣

UTG raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 9 BB, UTG calls 7 BB

Flop: (18.4 BB, 2 players) 6♠ 2♦ 9♥
Hero bets 4.4 BB, UTG calls 4.4 BB

Turn: (27.2 BB, 2 players) K♠
Hero checks, UTG bets 13 BB, Hero calls 13 BB

River: (53.2 BB, 2 players) J♥
Hero checks, UTG bets 38.12 BB, Hero raises to 83.8 BB and is all-in, fold

Bonus hand lol

vamooooooooo

need a good psychological coach for winners tilt , the same way you need it for big losing sessions,

every poker player will have it at some point

Welcome to the club!

I've be thinking a lot about it, and it is something I struggle. I don't know how the massgrinders really do it, how the can pull the motivation to grind for hours every single day, especially the ones who can do it regardless of the result. Unless motivation is not really the answer, and relying on motivation, or motivation alone, might be hurting us instead of helping. My view on motivation is that it's caused by our brains anticipating a certain reward, a certain high. If you get a high when you book, and see, a winning session, as I do, I think we have a possible logical explanation on why you can't play much volume.

One logical step, if what I said above makes sense, is to instill in you the discipline to not look at results, to make the biggest possible effort to completely dettach from your cashier and your graphs for as long as possible.

Maybe reframing the why you play online poker might also be a solution. Instill a sense of duty, instead of working for gratification.

But I don't know, maybe the brains of the guys who made it in poker while putting a lot of volume for years did it because they are wired differently, and they don't get any high off of short term results, but only by reaching the glorious end.

Or maybe we do have two (or more) subtypes, and all those ways work similarly well for the different brain wirings. I don't know, but I'm sure we are not the only people who suffer from this type of problem, and figuring it out would be helpful to a lot more players.

Here's an old school quote which really hit home for me:

it's very simple. It's the deep fear that you'll lose money.

If you do not need to have results, your mind will let you play at any time. Booking sessions/finishing early/etc all roots down to that. Even living in your mom's basement, somewhere in your brain, you have a deep fear of losing money and not being able to make it as a pro. If you had a big boy income from a job, you'd play all your free time.

Anyone whos done poker or trading for decade+ and gotten a good job can back me up on this. Some minds are weaker, i personally was just like that even if at the time i did not know it was because of that fear.

hmm for me I’d say it probably factors in, this fear of loss thing, but moreso than anything it’s the fear of feeling like crap for the rest of the day, no matter how much money I’ve made from poker, everytime I have a losing session or several in a row, I feel angry, stressed out etc. sometimes I just book the win to have a good day

it’s weak mental game probably but like I can lose waaaay more from stocks or from crypto and I won’t feel a thing

I could play starcraft or chess and lose a bunch of games and feel the exact same way as having a losing session in poker

Exactly. Poker players have ridiculously short term memory. You could be on the sun run of your life and then a couple bad sessions could ruin your mood or at least be very irritating. Not putting in volume is your subconscious trying to protect you from those negative feelings even though it's really dumb. But where do those negative feelings come from? My guess is that it is a deep rooted fear that you can't "make it". Which is why Xeno can lose piles trading and not care but that doesn't apply to poker. Could be wrong though.

Here's a mental trick that could help. Has anyone seen the show "Band of Brothers"? Amazing mini-series about the last year of WW2. If those brave men were out there dying, why are you allowing yourself to be upset if you have a few bad sessions? Just soldier on.

"The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it." - Ronald Spiers

Thanks a lot, excellent read, I believe in my case I fear something far worse than losing:

This, lost an insane amount of money in few days with btc, but it felt nothing, now if a reg outplays me and I get stacked I get really mad, even more if I'm overcalling/overbluffing

Maybe it's a good idea to start playing a competitive game that I play very poorly to learn how to deal with this feeling?

I've played only one game of lol in my life, didn't like it. I've used to play dota 2, have around 2.5k hours of that on steam and more 2.5k of dota 1 in my life lol. Very tilting indeed haha.

Will start playing a new format in magic the gathering: modern. I'm pretty bad at it (despite being a competent player in the game on other formats), my friends got some tier decks I can play, but will develop my own rogue deck and try to win with my strats.

I've tried this format a bit and got completely schooled and because of that I felt bad and never bothered to play again. So came back to my usual format (commander) that is 4fun so I could blame variance or people joining forces to kill me early. Always had something to blame other than my bad plays.

Will play this once a week and will play some big tournaments when they happen, maybe will travel to Brasilia to play some. Let's see if it will help me to accept my losses better on poker.

yeah that part too. I just got a 120$ mousepad. I was playing my game like a ***** maniac. 4 days later it has slow spots and im back to my normal self. I can't even bring myself to play, i am just so stressed and angry at my performance even though i am one of the best.

Some of us are weaker than others mentally for some things and theres rarely anything you can do about it besides being perfect.

I'm curious on the thought process behind the AQo hand, the A4o hand, and J8s hand. Seems kind of spewy. I think if you disregard the leveling wars your winrate will improve.

Sorry for not updating this thread anymore, had 2 low volume breakeven months and wasn't very happy with my game, low motivation and lack of motivation killed my volume.

I believe I posted here in these poker goal threads to keep a journal for people to read it for "when I make it", to inspire people, I've always enjoyed reading those old school threads from otb, linus, jungleman's the well, galfond's well. I thought I would end up like some sort of legend of the game, but it didn't happen.

It's fine, I've never had as much work ethic for the game as I have now. I believe I will never have as much passion for the game as I had in the past, but it's fine, I believe my passion is very strong and it's my biggest differential (along with experience ofc).

Had some mental coaching with a guy from the team, everything changed after that, realized my mistakes and now I have a vision, goals and I'm looking for opportunities to improve. I'm finally consistent with volume and study.

But my goals changed: I don't think I will be that "legend" that I thought I would be, tbh it doesn't matter, I just want to live a healthy and comfortable life. My goal is to farm my retirement, enjoy a good life and be happy. Poker is just my job and it's ok to not be in the top of the top. I will ofc work as much as I can, because in today's environment it's very hard to make a lot of money in the game, so will work hard.

My next goal is to buy a pc screen, a standing desk and a new chair to improve my grind, will make the best possible setup so I can play more. Then will focus on saving money so I can retire, I believe that with $400k I can retire here in Brazil, will probably make a little more than $1k/month (free from tax and inflation) of passive income with 0 risk with government bonds.

I will also quit updating this thread often, but I will make one update every end of year, tbh I enjoy posting here, learned a lot and made a lot of online friends through this forum. See you later people.

Do you see yourself getting to that 400k within a decade? What opportunity costs are there with not getting a "real" career? I personally think that unless you're killing it (six figures minimum) or lucky enough to be in a region locked pool that is artificially soft poker is not worth investing time and money in. At least not in high cost of living countries. Maybe Brazil is totally different from Canada and the wages/cost of living are so low that crushing 50nl there is the equivalent of crushing 500nl here. Are you crushing 50nl though is the question.