you cant stop the PROPHET
I came up with this idea throughout a two-week holiday that I took a while back. I'd just played cash at a week-long tournament series. Normally, I'd treat these things like a holiday - play for 12 hours, drink for a couple of hours with friends, and then return the next day for more of the same. However, everything was last-minute this time, and my hotel was a 15-minute drive from the casino. I couldn't drink. This was game-changing.
I became vaguely interested in health and fitness when my weight ballooned to 80kg. I'd been 60kg, healthy enough, for about four years, but all the alcohol I'd drunk and exercise I hadn't done shot me right up. I started going to the gym, drinking less, eating better, and dropped to 70kg. But that's where my momentum died. I weighed in at 69.4kg this morning, which is still not great given I'm in my twenties. I shouldn't be wasting my theoretical prime like this.
What I noticed at this tournament series is that everyone was living like ****. Everyone was drinking during/after playing, diets were awful because all casino food is fried, and everyone was overslept because of late-nighters. I consider poker a sport in some ways, and none of these people were particularly athletic.
Whilst I was on holiday this month, the Olympics were on. I always find it inspiring to watch competitive sports - people performing at the highest level is infectious. The emotion and thrill of the competition look incredibly exciting, similar to deep runs in tournaments, but with more of the body involved. Then I had an idea - what if I treated poker like these athletes treat their disciplines?
I've done a lot of research into routines for mind sport and physical sportsmen. Turns out there is a lot of pseudoscience online concerning sports and coaching. Lots of people want to sell you 1-on-1 packages, "life coach" deals and online things. It was a pain to cut through all the chaff and get some key bullet points.
Being in shape doesn't replace the edge of skill. You don't suddenly get better at poker for the sake of being jacked or super fast - but I think that living super-healthily can enable you to think "on the spot" more effectively and have better memory recall, emotional regulation and mental tenacity. I hope it can serve as the "cherry on top" of the skill edge that I'm continuing to build as I practice.
I have been thinking about what my goals are. My life goal is to win everything, but this is a bit far-fetched and doesn't help with short-term motivation, so I've planned out objectives for this stage in my poker career:
Spoiler
- Play 30k Hands a Month Online
- Run 4 Days a Week
- Stretch 6 days a Week Pre/Post Exercise
- Exercise 6 days a Week
- Sleep 8+ Hours Every Night
- Drink alcohol as little as possible
I will also buy a YELLOW PORSCHE with the winnings.
I live in the sticks, so getting live experience isn't really possible unless I travel for some bigger regional/national series. But in my country, they're not that great anymore. I also don't mind just playing online, because then I get to 100% focus on the plans that I've made.
I also have a nutrition plan that I've worked out. It's quite flexible, but focuses a 2200kcal limit daily, 150g protein intake for recovery/buildup, lots of fruit/veg for nutrients. Five days a week strength training in afternoons, 4 days a week running short/long distance to improve time in both disciplines
My daily posts aren't going to be too detailed because I have quite busy days planned, but I'll make sure I provide the topline (weight, hands played, results, etc). Happy to answer questions about my methodology such that other people can try this out.
I'm also considering starting a coaching operation in my free time, geared at live poker players in the US up to 5/10. I don't have the record to prove my ability above this stake yet.
One doesn't just jump into the life of an athlete though - the body will surely burn out and the mind become deflated. I intend to spend the final four months of the year building up to a level I would consider "athletic", to ensure that I stay attached to the program that I have designed.
It's 10pm presently, I begin the experiment tomorrow. Tuesday's exercise is a short distance run (thankfully) in the mornings, and a Pull session in the afternoon. I will update the thread on how it goes, as I begin what could be a few years of work.
Enjoy yourselves,
bb/100
Spoiler
P.S. I didn't mention this in the original post, but I am blessed to be financially secure enough that poker results don't affect me. As such, there will be some serious bankroll mismanagement in this thread. I feel that because I can afford to weather some serious swings, I am a good control candidate for this kind of program. I remember having to make ends meet when I was 20/21 and frankly the stress would be too much.
Gl man! Nice mindset, I hope you run good on the felt!
How old are you, what is your height (to be able to comment on your weight goals), and how did you acquire your current roll ?
Through your parents of self made ?
Your plans seem very ambitious, and as you mentioned it's not realistic to go from 0-100 suddenly. Even if you're young your body will not react well.
Take it slow and increase your training volume progressively, otherwise you'll burn out or get injured.
Source:myself, been training for the past 13 years and experienced first hand how difficult it is to stay consistent and avoid injuries.
Hands Played: 1513
Result: -£47.49
Pools haven't changed much since I left. The same nut-peddling regs, the same tight-passive fish. I will continue mentalling it off at every opportunity. No one seems to catch on.
Thinking about what I want to do with all the money I'm going to win. I'm currently looking at investment options, and whether it's worth house-hunting right now. I think the house of cards is going to topple in a couple of years and house prices might fall a bit, but I'm no financial savant, and that's purely speculation.
A good friend of mine bought himself a Porsche last year. It's just some 20k Boxster, but **** me that car is fun. We took it out when I went down to London, and I have to say I fell in love with the idea of owning a sports car. They're not particularly practical, but then they don't need to be. I might buy a yellow one. Something like this:
Spoiler
I figure if I "earn" it through poker, it more justifies such a frivolous expense.
I'm 23 turning 24. I'm about 178cm. In terms of a specific number for a weight goal, I don't have one. I expect my weight to drop a fair bit, then steadily increase as fat goes at first, followed by an increase in muscle buildup. I'm not fussed about the specifics really, but I like tracking weight daily as it makes a cool graph. I did it every day for 5 months at the start of the year, and it showed me visually how much weight can vary day-to-day, whilst still trending downwards.
I always weigh myself in the same conditions. Before any food/water in the morning, immediately after having a piss. I donÂ’t know how this came about, but itÂ’s controlled in this sense.
I won about 30k playing live poker across 2022 and 2023. Was also on a couple live-stream games in that time as well. I've worked a very well-paying job since last year as well. Living expenses are considerably below my income.
Your plans seem very ambitious, and as you mentioned it's not realistic to go from 0-100 suddenly. Even if you're young your body will not react well.
Take it slow and increase your training volume progressively, otherwise you'll burn out or get injured.
Ambitious is the right word. I've tried and failed previously to implement similar routines, mainly because I was busy or not motivated enough. Now that I've moved more into a bubble in this new house, I have the freedom and the space to give this a better shot.
I've planned out a slow ramping up to this process. I always find my knees go when I take up running, so pre- and post-run stretching has been researched to try and minimise the risk. Plyometrics on Wednesdays to try and add some more dynamic strengthening to my legs specifically.
Steaks?
GL
Hands Played: 1507
Result: -£131.53
On a pretty clear downswing from the graph's appearance. Been reading AlexeSsz blog, funny how these Russian regs talk about things.
I like their approach to the game.
Missed protein goal today. Went to the bank instead of eating a proper lunch - will make sure I bang a protein shake daily from now on. 22g for about 90kcal.
Not sure I’ll run tomorrow as planned - quads feeling quite tight after I essentially sprinted for 10mins on my out-of-shape legs. Probably try a slower pace 10-20 minute run Friday.
Will bash more shitreg skulls in tomorrow.
These guys just seem incapable of clicking the call button when the pressure is on.
BTN: 100 BB
SB: 100 BB
bb/100 (BB): 112.68 BB
UTG: 98.38 BB
MP: 211.08 BB
CO: 298.76 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, bb/100 posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has J♠ A♠
fold, MP raises to 2.24 BB, CO raises to 7.48 BB, fold, fold, bb/100 raises to 20.2 BB, MP raises to 35 BB, fold, bb/100 calls 14.8 BB
Flop: (77.98 BB, 2 players) Q♥ 5♣ 7♥
bb/100 checks, MP checks
Turn: (77.98 BB, 2 players) 6♠
bb/100 bets 28.14 BB, MP calls 28.14 BB
River: (134.26 BB, 2 players) 2♦
bb/100 bets 49.54 BB and is all-in, fold
bb/100 wins 130.26 BB
Hands: 1581
Results: -£118.93
Definitely the best I've played since I've returned. A lot sharper in comparison, making a lot of good calls, good bluffs. Avoiding fold button at all cost. I've been hard on myself the last couple of days for "torching it off" - I'm just getting back into things so a few bumps in the road are reasonable. Managed to look at 5 of my biggest hands and they all seemed fine. Just downswing blues.
Gym starting on Saturday I reckon. My arms are tired from moving in the last of the boxes, legs are still tight from my 10-minute sprint. I have the freedom to take things super slow.
Being in a much larger house than I was previously, my energy bills have shot up. Didn't expect it, although it is logical.
We're launching a new web infrastructure at work, so I spent a lot of today crawling through the codebase and fixing things. Didn't manage to have a look at any of my hands yesterday as a result. Bumper session tomorrow.
Been reading more Russian HS reg blogs. The way they think is very CIS, but there is an insatiable hunger in that region. It's one of the reasons why they're so cracked at the game. I hope to one day be as hungry as they are.
I've never liked getting things wrong. Even in elementary school, despite being the best student in class by far, I wouldn't ask questions for fear of making a mistake. I have no issue making mistakes in my bubble, but in front of others, I feel incredible shame to the point of despair. I don't like working with most others for this reason, it doesn't give me any positive feeling. Neutral when things go well, awful when things don't.
In reality, mistakes are part of learning. I'm supposed to be making them, else I'm not improving, or pushing things close to the wire enough. I'm lucky that I'm able to make mistakes and learn from them so quickly - it's one of the qualities that is going to enable me to excel at the game. Need to establish a stable ego and confidence, and stop "being a bitch" as this 1KNL pro told me over some beers.
In spirit, here are some hands I think I torched today.
Spoiler
BTN: 100 BB
SB: 150.68 BB
BB: 108.44 BB
UTG: 202.88 BB
bb/100 (MP): 118.32 BB
CO: 113.1 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has K♦ Q♥
fold, bb/100 raises to 2.5 BB, CO calls 2.5 BB, fold, fold, fold
Flop: (6.5 BB, 2 players) K♣ 4♠ T♠
bb/100 bets 7.72 BB, CO raises to 110.6 BB and is all-in, bb/100 calls 102.88 BB
Turn: (227.7 BB, 2 players) A♦
River: (227.7 BB, 2 players) 6♦
bb/100 shows K♦ Q♥ (One Pair, Kings)
(Pre 48%, Flop 5%, Turn 9%)
CO shows 4♣ 4♦ (Three of a Kind, Fours)
(Pre 52%, Flop 95%, Turn 91%)
CO wins 223.7 BB
Think it's reasonable to not believe people when they do this, if he ever shows up with A7o then it's absolutely great to call. If he shows up with draws a lot it's great too. Not sure what to think.
Spoiler
BTN: 5.84 BB
SB: 390.42 BB
bb/100 (BB): 101.5 BB
UTG: 101 BB
CO: 105.42 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, bb/100 posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has A♣ 2♣
fold, fold, fold, SB raises to 3 BB, bb/100 calls 2 BB
Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) K♠ A♥ 6♥
SB checks, bb/100 bets 2.46 BB, SB calls 2.46 BB
Turn: (10.92 BB, 2 players) 2♦
SB checks, bb/100 bets 17.74 BB, SB calls 17.74 BB
River: (46.4 BB, 2 players) 9♦
SB checks, bb/100 bets 25.12 BB, SB raises to 367.22 BB and is all-in, bb/100 calls 53.18 BB and is all-in
SB shows A♦ 9♠ (Two Pair, Aces and Nines)
(Pre 64%, Flop 76%, Turn 17%)
bb/100 shows A♣ 2♣ (Two Pair, Aces and Twos)
(Pre 36%, Flop 24%, Turn 83%)
SB wins 199 BB
Kinda thin to the wire again. If he ever has worse two pairs for value then I can't fold ever. I'm **** at these river raise spots when people play them so awfully.
Spoiler
bb/100 (BTN): 109.72 BB
SB: 100 BB
BB: 104.5 BB
UTG: 175.96 BB
MP: 189.48 BB
CO: 107.42 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has 8♦ 9♠
fold, fold, fold, bb/100 raises to 2.5 BB, fold, BB calls 1.5 BB
Flop: (5.5 BB, 2 players) 2♣ Q♠ 7♦
BB checks, bb/100 bets 2.24 BB, BB calls 2.24 BB
Turn: (9.98 BB, 2 players) 2♦
BB checks, bb/100 bets 5.4 BB, BB calls 5.4 BB
River: (20.78 BB, 2 players) 5♦
BB checks, bb/100 bets 19.94 BB, fold
bb/100 wins 19.74 BB
Figure size is good on the turn. Not sure how relevant holding 8♦ is because not blocking a whole lot. Figure we want to play pot and jam on this river so I think might just pot this instead of giving up, really don't know.
I'm playing Sunday Million this week. I intend on winning it.
Need to work on focus. Every day I'm playing with two monitors. One monitor only poker, other monitor everything - spotify, discord messages, youtube, Wikipedia, HS blogs. The second there is downtime in the hands I am clicking away on the other side, desperate for the dopamine hit.
I don't touch my phone anymore. Everything was uninstalled after I realised that I was being conned by the tech companies for what, ad revenue? influence? something evil.
But instead of fixing the problem I've filled the hole with other shite.
I could consider turning the other monitor off - but that isn't exactly discipline-training.
Tomorrow I will start training focus. 1 hour timer with breaks after each to reset, see if I can hold focus for these 1 hour sessions.
put the lobby and hand histories on the other monitor
sick needle
Haven't sat in a desk chair for a long while. Sharp pain on the right-side of my body shooting from the pelvis down the leg, then aching in general all around the lower spine.
I sit in an IKEA Markus, I think that I sit kinda okay, but when doing review work I have a notepad in front of me, desk behind, so have to lean a bit forward to type (like I am now).
Used to do
a couple months ago, probably going to have to go back to it. It's impossible.
Can't be 23 with chronic back pain that's awful.
Might buy a walking pad but the good ones seem to be £400+ and I'm stingy with stuff like this.
Forgot I played this hand yesterday. Recs like to bluff and I hate to fold 😀
BTN: 100 BB
SB: 161.66 BB
bb/100 (BB): 136.28 BB
UTG: 127 BB
MP: 100 BB
CO: 113.26 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, bb/100 posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has 9♦ K♠
fold, fold, fold, fold, SB raises to 2 BB, bb/100 raises to 6 BB, SB calls 4 BB
Flop: (12 BB, 2 players) 6♠ 5♣ 2♠
SB checks, bb/100 bets 6.5 BB, SB calls 6.5 BB
Turn: (25 BB, 2 players) 6♣
SB checks, bb/100 checks
River: (25 BB, 2 players) 2♦
SB bets 8.88 BB, bb/100 calls 8.88 BB
SB shows T♠ Q♠ (Two Pair, Sixes and Twos)
(Pre 45%, Flop 49%, Turn 32%)
bb/100 shows 9♦ K♠ (Two Pair, Sixes and Twos)
(Pre 55%, Flop 51%, Turn 68%)
bb/100 wins 40.62 BB
This happened yesterday, didn't expect such a thin value bet :p
BTN: 105 BB
SB: 137.82 BB
bb/100 (BB): 189.6 BB
UTG: 101 BB
MP: 47 BB
CO: 100.5 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, bb/100 posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has 4♣ K♠
fold, fold, fold, fold, SB raises to 3 BB, bb/100 calls 2 BB
Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) 6♣ 4♠ 7♦
SB checks, bb/100 checks
Turn: (6 BB, 2 players) T♠
SB checks, bb/100 checks
River: (6 BB, 2 players) 9♠
SB bets 4.28 BB, bb/100 calls 4.28 BB
SB shows A♥ 4♦ (One Pair, Fours)
(Pre 75%, Flop 86%, Turn 93%)
bb/100 mucks 4♣ K♠ (One Pair, Fours)
(Pre 25%, Flop 14%, Turn 7%)
SB wins 13.84 BB
nice. But I suggest you use the hand replayer more. If you have any focus to spare, click through to check for relevant/meaningful HHs...
Looking for spots to go absolutely batshit in. No one protects their checks at all, it's all just "oh i have a bad hand please let me showdown" NO YOU CANT
BTN: 203.04 BB
SB: 100 BB
BB: 100 BB
bb/100 (UTG): 133.86 BB
MP: 198.42 BB
CO: 100.86 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has 3♥ 3♣
bb/100 raises to 2.5 BB, fold, fold, BTN raises to 9 BB, fold, fold, bb/100 calls 6.5 BB
Flop: (19.5 BB, 2 players) K♦ 7♥ J♠
bb/100 checks, BTN bets 5.56 BB, bb/100 raises to 22.04 BB, BTN calls 16.48 BB
Turn: (63.58 BB, 2 players) 5♦
bb/100 checks, BTN checks
River: (63.58 BB, 2 players) 2♠
bb/100 bets 102.82 BB and is all-in, fold
bb/100 wins 60.4 BB
Not making it to 1.5k tonight without sacrificing rest for tomorrow. Spent 5 hours buying more furniture for the house.
Hands: 652
Result: -£2.62
Back on a furniture hunt tomorrow. Hopefully can get 1.5k as planned. Legs feel good enough to run, will try get a 15 minute lighter run in.
I'm ****ing ADDICTED to the reduced section. I've bought a chest freezer so I can invest all my money in meat/fish/bread so the dividends can pay off when I don't have to buy anything for the next 20 food shops.
Copped 60 wraps today for £4, must've saved like £16
I live right by a MASSIVE store as well so I can walk three minutes every evening and hoover up all the reduced every single day.
I'll save thousands
brazil sent the porkchop patrol to and try stop me
bb/100 (BTN): 183.98 BB
SB: 203.8 BB
BB: 127.74 BB
UTG: 167.5 BB
MP: 100 BB
CO: 195.56 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has Q♠ Q♦
fold, MP raises to 2.2 BB, fold, bb/100 raises to 8 BB, SB raises to 25.8 BB, fold, fold, bb/100 calls 17.8 BB
Flop: (54.8 BB, 2 players) 2♦ T♠ 8♠
SB bets 26.04 BB, bb/100 calls 26.04 BB
Turn: (106.88 BB, 2 players) 5♥
SB checks, bb/100 bets 45.74 BB, SB raises to 151.96 BB and is all-in, bb/100 calls 86.4 BB and is all-in
River: (371.16 BB, 2 players) T♣
SB shows J♠ J♦ (Two Pair, Jacks and Tens)
(Pre 17%, Flop 10%, Turn 5%)
bb/100 shows Q♠ Q♦ (Two Pair, Queens and Tens)
(Pre 83%, Flop 90%, Turn 95%)
bb/100 wins 367.16 BB
========
BTN: 173.26 BB
SB: 110.74 BB
BB: 105.76 BB
UTG: 60.06 BB
bb/100 (MP): 120.3 BB
CO: 204.18 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) bb/100 has 6♦ 5♦
fold, bb/100 raises to 2.5 BB, fold, BTN raises to 8 BB, fold, fold, bb/100 calls 5.5 BB
Flop: (17.5 BB, 2 players) K♣ 3♥ 4♥
bb/100 checks, BTN bets 8.3 BB, bb/100 raises to 24.58 BB, BTN calls 16.28 BB
Turn: (66.66 BB, 2 players) 7♠
bb/100 bets 29.82 BB, BTN raises to 140.68 BB and is all-in, bb/100 calls 57.9 BB and is all-in
River: (242.1 BB, 2 players) K♠
Players agreed to run it twice.
River #2: (242.1 BB, 2 players) A♣
bb/100 shows 6♦ 5♦ (Straight, Seven High)
Board #1 (Pre 36%, Flop 34%, Turn 100%)
(Straight, Seven High)
Board #2 (Pre 39%, Flop 35%, Turn 100%)
BTN shows Q♦ K♦ (Three of a Kind, Kings)
Board #1 (Pre 64%, Flop 66%, Turn 0%)
(One Pair, Kings)
Board #2 (Pre 61%, Flop 65%, Turn 0%)
bb/100 wins 119.06 BB
bb/100 wins 119.04 BB
======
but you cant stop the prophet
august 2024 roundup
hands played: 6761 over 5 days
result: -463.2BB
not the worst result in the world honestly having just come back into things. everything took a massive **** in the first couple days but you can literally see where i start to remember how to play the game
I'm just gonna keep playing 1500 hands every day until I'm cracked at the game. I've got a work trip this week, and I normally try to find some big live games when I do these because the company comps me a fancy hotel and travel costs, so anything I lose is practically a freeroll. Got a few other days this month booked out, but outside of that it's grind all the way baby.
30k hands in September seems doable. i want revenge
in 4 the music
