Moving to play live and grinding to 25nl in the meantime

Got a good bit of studying in this week and some online/live action. Online still has been kicking my ass a bit and I am slightly down for the week playing 25nl. For my live play this weekend I played the $80 BI weekly tournament at Harrah’s and ended up placing 16/61. Shoved AQo and ran into AA for my last 6bbs. I think the ROI on these tourneys could be pretty high so I’m gonna sharpen up my 15-30bb play and tournament skills overall and keep firing for this tourney type. It’ll be nice to mix in with the cash sessions but I expect quite a bit of variance with it only being 20 minute levels. Tomorrow I am going to do a full report on my notes from the tournament and break it down from start to finish in a post on this thread.

In other news, this week a remote job opportunity was recommended to me and this could allow me to move somewhere that has a better live scene. My thoughts were to try to move to Tampa by the end of the summer if I end up getting the job and found a couple spots about 10 minutes from Seminole Hard Rock which I understand is a pretty big room. This summer I’m gonna try and go visit first but I’d love to check out either there or Hollywood FL to move to soon.

Went to Breakaway ATL this Saturday which was pretty cool as well. Never been into EDM or music festivals much and it certainly was an experience. Some peak people watching as well

Gotta get more online volume, particularly getting back to ClubWPTGold. Otherwise, gonna keep drilling and going through my courses.

Goals for the week:
- Continue IP/OOP c-betting drills GTOW, get more reps than last week
- Live 1/3 Preflop Drill
- Start to look at turn spots based on c-betting drill
- Finish Next CLP Course Module
- Put in volume on ClubWPTGold
- Post tournament report on this thread with breakdown of hands / areas of improvement
- 15bb avg stack tournament preflop ranges
- start to read about general postflop theory in tournaments / build heuristics

Live Roll: $1142
Online Roll: $175.32
ClubWPTGold: $102

Tournament Recap $80 BI

Structure:
Starting Chips - 12,000
Levels - 20 minutes
Breaks after every 7 levels

Level 1: 100/100

12k effective
Hero 7d7h CO

LJ limps, hero 300, LJ calls

Flop(800): Ts 4h 5c
LJ leads 200, hero calls

Turn (1200): 8d
LJ 200, hero calls

River: 3d
x, hero x

Villain shows ATdd

- After donk OTF and same sizing on the turn I thought this was always a top pair that felt vulnerable. In game I was thinking about raising turn and blasting river regardless if I improved or not. I could not convince myself I’d get this player to fold top pair so I gave up OTR. In retrospect I like the former plan

- Only other spot this Level was Q3dd from the CO facing +2 open limp, thought about ISO but decided against it

Level 2: 100/200/200 ante

KQo SB
UTG, +1, +2, BTN limp, hero completes and BB checks

Flop: 665 rainbow
folded to 600 continue

- Probably should ISO here for sure and don’t have to use a huge sizing because of the passivity at the table

11k eff.
Ks Jc BTN
folds to hero open 500, both blinds call

Flop (1500): 654 rainbow
x, BB donks 1k, fold
- guy ended up with JJ

Level 3: 100/300/300 ante

9700 eff. J3o BB facing +1 open to 1200, folded

9700 eff. Q9o +2 folds to me, folded

9700 eff. Q7s +1, folded

9100 82o BB, +2 limps, LJ, BTN, SB calls

Flop (1800): Ac 9c 8h
x, hero x, +1 500, folded

Level 4: 200/500/500

8900 eff
AJo SB, LJ limps, CO limps, hero 2000, folds around

11.1k eff
Kc Js CO hero
+2 limps, hero 1500, BB calls (started hand 3600 eff after ante), limper calls

Flop (4700): T98 rainbow
BB shoves for 2100 eff, fold, hero calls. BB shows A7hh
Q on the turn and we hold

34 bb K9dd UTG, open 1000, 2 callers - ended up folding to a donk on a flop that i didnt connect with

KQhh BB

+1 limp, LJ 2k, hero calls, limper calls

Flop (6500): Ah 3h 4h (LJ started hand ~11-12k eff)
x, x, LJ 2k, hero calls, f, f

Turn: 3d
Hero x, 2k, hero shoves and gets called by black queens and we are good

Level 5: 27,600 starting stack - 400/800/800

4d4h CO, hero opens 1600, SB/BB call

Flop: Ad 2d 7c
x, x, hero 2500, BB calls

Turn: Kd
BB 5k, fold

- was planning on barreling any non diamond but this player was very straightforward. Believed her OTT

QTdd HJ, open to 1600, CO calls, SB calls

Flop: K J 6 rainbow - no diamond
x, 2k, CO snap shoves 11k, call, hero folds

- should I check here?

Level 6: 19,500 stack - 16bb // 600/1200/1200

J9dd BB I think I had both covered, 7-handed, LJ limps, CO limps

K9cc SB, Jammed 14bb over LJ limp and BB who both were close in stack sizes. Got folds but this might be a punt

KTo, LJ 17.5 bb facing two MP limpers, folded

Level 7 (last before break/re-entry ends): 20,700 stack - 13bb
800/1600/1600

55 UTG, 3k stack remains in BB - i folded

84ss BB, HJ limps, hero checks

Flop: K94 with one spade
x,x

Turn: 9c
hero 2k, fold

- straightforward player, never would check a strong hand twice

Break - Level 8: 21,500 starting stack ~10.5 bb eff
Between 24-28 left of 61 entries
1k/2k/2k

17,500 chips left - 18 remain, 7 paid. Down to 2 tables

avg stack 20bb

8-handed
LJ limp, jammed 77 CO for 17,500 effective and got it through

Level 9: 23,500 stack
1500/3k/3k
16k stack

Shoved AQo from BTN over MP limp, ran into AA
out in 16th GG

Had a losing 25NL session on Tuesday but just played another shorter session and booked a small win. I do feel as if I am improving in some spots but need to get my confidence back after this downswing I've had recently. I decided that I am going to break up my sessions into 1-2 hour sessions either around noon or 1pm or evening between 7-10. I think the games are beatable at this time and if I set a time frame to play ahead of time I can be prepared for the session. A couple spots below from today's session.

HH1:
opened AJo in the CO and got 3-bet jammed on by the BTN for 26bb effective, I saw this player get out of line the previous hand and do this with KJ so I thought I might have the equity to call, he had 77 and runout was clean so I lost that one.

HH2: Had to give up on this one multi-way, thought I had too much equity not to call OTF/OTT

$25 eff. w/ both villains
UTG Limp, Hero BTN KsQs Raises $1, both blinds call, UTG folds

Flop ($3.25): 3s Js 9h
SB x, BB bets $1, Hero calls, SB calls

Turn ($6.25): Jc
SB x, BTN $2.50, Hero calls, SB calls

River ($13.75): 7c
checks around, SB wins with 97cc

HH3: I think this turn play is correct but could be a massive punt

$25 eff. w/ BB

Hero CO w/ AsAd opens to $0.63, BTN calls, BB calls

Flop ($1.89): 8s 6d 9s
BB leads $1.25, Hero calls, BTN folds

Turn ($4.39): 6h
BB bets $6, Hero Jams, BB folds

- my thinking here was that 88/99 probably gets squeezed a lot preflop and it is unlikely that this villain overcalled T7s or 57s. With the large sizing OTT I thought this is probably some form of a combo draw or pair+draw. At this point I figured it is better to get it in while ahead vs a hand like JTss, 77, 45s that never pay me off OTR. This could be the wrong approach though being IP, maybe I should keep his bluffs in and call down

HH4:

$27.59 eff. w/ BB

Hero K3cc BTN opens to $0.63, BB calls

Flop ($1.36): 5c 8c 8d
x, x

Turn ($1.36): 3d
x, hero bets $0.88, BB calls

River ($3.12): 4s
x, x

Villain shows A3hh

- This one went wrong a few ways I think. I am not sure about checking back flop, this is probably one of my best c-bet semibluffs so I am thinking I should have just bet. Also, OTT when I pick up SDV I probably don't need to turn my hand into a bluff but if I am going to bet turn and get called I have to follow through on the river. I think once he calls turn I am probably behind most of the time but x,x and I might have enough SDV to check it down if I miss my FD.

A couple questions to those of you that read the thread. Then, I'll follow up with some context.

Where in the South East portion of the U.S. is the best for live poker action?

What is an attainable but difficult win rate to achieve at 2/5 by the end of an 18-24 month stretch? (Not win-rate for the entire time but an hourly rate after being a reg at 2/5 for 1yr+)

I began the process of following through with a job opportunity that I mentioned previously on this thread. In short, it is a remote job that would allow a more flexible lifestyle than my current job. Also, I would not be confined to a particular city, only the South East of the US. Because of this I immediately was thinking of moving to Tampa and getting a place near the Hard Rock there. From there, my goal would be very similar to the first post of this thread. Establish my win rate at 1/2 or 1/3 and get volume, move to 2/5, hopefully become a regular in the 2/5 game and establish a difficult, but attainable win-rate in that game and go from there. With the lifestyle change I really think that I could play 4-6 days a week and easily put in over 1k hours in a years time. I also am fortunate that this job opportunity could provide money to support building a roll in this time frame.

One goal that has changed in the months since that initial post is the MBA. I always planned on going back to school and trying to take a shot in the corporate world but that sounds like hell when I look at it now. I have just realized that I really don't like working in an office to the extent that I am willing to close some doors of opportunity in that world. I have no clue what I want to do with my life but have a feeling it has to be a different route. This new job and lifestyle change will be good in the short-term and could solve issues of being tied to a place I don't like, missing family/friends, not being able to play live poker, and overall isolation. However, its in the same vain of other "office jobs" which will probably still come with that existential dread. Anyways, gotta find an obscure job or career I guess.

I have really only done mid-week updates the past couple and it has been a bit of time. I haven't been putting nearly as much volume on Ignition but I would say that the quality of my play has been far better when i have been on, still hanging in the 25nl streets. The volume has also shifted to multi tabling on ClubWPTGold because it seems like better quality games. I am going to finish analyzing my hands from recent live sessions and will have a follow up post with those.

Sick, nice win on ClubWPT! All it takes is a little rungood at the right table for giant wins like that, and then those big wins will carry you through a lot of negative variance.

I am on board with buying in for $500 to get your feet wet at $2/$5. That is basically what I do. The nice thing about buying in short is you can always add on later if the table is good and you feel like you are playing well. Plus, with an online background, playing 100bb deep should be familiar territory.

As far as the best places to play in the Southeast, I would think anywhere in Florida would be good. Some of the smaller rooms might be better though, as I would imagine $2/$5 and above at the Hard Rocks will have a lot of foreign professionals. I'm sure NOLA and Mississippi are great too. I need to get down there at some point.

Thanks Dan, I appreciate the feedback on a Florida and jumping into 2/5. It seems like there is a great poker ecosystem there and I have heard the same about NOLA and Buloxi, MS in particular. ClubWPTGold still has great games running, I saw unfortunately it may be leaving some states right?

Tonight I was hoping 2/5 might start up as I ran up a bit of a stack and potentially would’ve moved over. I think I’ll take a shot over the next few sessions. Today was probably my best session live over 7.5 hrs. I’ll put some hands below and welcome any feedback.

HH1:

1/3/6 BTN straddle
605 eff w/ +1

Hero JThh BB

SB limp, hero $25, UTG call, +1 call, HJ call, CO call, BTN call, SB call

Flop (150): Kc Qh 2d
x, hero $50, only +1 calls

Turn ($250): Ks
x, x

River ($250): 6s
hero 225, fold

- Not sure if the c-bet is good here when this multiway and almost max OOP. Thought with BDFD and playing pretty deep better to play the OESD aggressively.
- Caller is probably weighted to a lot of KX so turn is especially bad but I also expect a bet here almost always from this player on the turn so I felt I needed to bluff river

HH2:

1/3/6 BTN Straddle
$195 eff w/ UTG

Hero TsTd CO
BB limp, UTG $25, +1 calls, hero calls, str folds limper folds

flop ($90): 4c 4h 2c
UTG $60, fold, hero shoves and called by 99

HH3:
1/3/6 BTN straddle
Hero Ac Ad SB $20, only STR calls

Flop ($50): Kc Qs 7h
hero 20, call

Turn ($90): 6h
hero $75, call

River ($240): Tc
hero $200, fold KJhh

- Maybe size down the river? Still surprised to see this fold from this player
- probably larger c-bet

HH4:
7-handed
Hero AThh LJ, +1 limps, hero $20, BTN calls

flop ($49): 4d 9d 8s
x, x

turn ($49): 7h
hero $25, fold

HH5:

BTN covers
1/3/6 BTN straddle
Ks Qc HJ
SB limps, BB limps, +1 limps, +2 limps, $20, BTN calls, limpers call

Flop ($120): Qd 6s 8h
x, hero $60, BTN calls, UTG AI 35

Turn ($275): 4s
x, x

River (275): Ac
x, x

- missed a value bet here on turn or river. really disappointed with this one

Had a swingy session this past weekend, going to post some hands in the coming days. Headed to Parx right now since I just got into Philly, hopefully I’ll have some interesting hands to add!

I did the same thing when I was 20, moved to Rhode Island to play live poker and online (ignition) both let you play if you were under 21.

Found a lot of success because I was doing things people weren't doing, and that is what they teach you in the real world buddy. They reach you how to use software and to be reliable, but also to do as your told like in military except you actually have respect for yourself there.

I am going to be honest with you, you're not going to make it like this. Forget the dumb subscriptions and focus on database and solver work. Also don't get the MBA...

Even then it is still tough... i mean it takes years to become good at Microsoft Excel. Good as in Investment Banking good and writing VBA code.

Not sure what you majored in maybe you could let us know?

Also go out there and find the love of your life, go to the gym or train. I am just being honest with you because you live in America like myself and the way poker is now is that if you aren't from a 1st world country then i see it being a viable opportunity to make money online or live.

Society in the USA is dying, we have so many issues, i would kill to be the old man coffee playing 5/10 or 10/25 at my local casino, he is probably the happiest guy there and has lived the most amazing life but no one notices.

***

Hey @240sx, while I appreciate the feedback, there are a few points I wanted to confirm I understand correctly.

Im a bit confused on the first part, respect for yourself in the military specifically? And I’m not sure what real world application you’re referencing in regard to this thread. I’m assuming you mean the corporate world in general?

As for subscriptions. I’ve found CLP to be helpful for live play and hand analysis. There are a lot of guys beating 2/5+ which is a goal of mine, so that’s where I see the value of this study. Solver I supplement and probably should be more structured with.

I think that you are saying poker isn’t viable in the US. Honestly, this seems to be the consensus with many people but I guess that’s why I want to keep my options open long term (MBA/career)

I graduated from business school at a well known public university, my focus was Supply Chain Management. A lot of people in the companies I’ve worked at (pharma and tech) have went on to prestigious MBA programs. Thought this could be an opportunity for career growth completely outside of poker. But I hate the corporate world, so that also includes finding a purposes either outside of work or in a different line of work.

I agree with the life experience part, BJJ and lifting/running are some of my other hobbies. Had a wonderful girlfriend that I would’ve otherwise called the love of my life but her career aspirations took her across the world. Maybe in the future we will reconnect or there are plenty of others out there.

Just got back to ATL after a work trip to Philly. Was able to play two sessions during the course of the week here, Monday and Wednesday. Monday was a pretty miserable game and set a very bad expectation for poker rooms during weekdays. I ran below EV but this wasn’t even my issue. I have never sat at a more silent two tables in my life with people who seemed so unhappy. Played the hand below and then table changed about 1 hour into my session. After that, decided to play for another couple hours and call it a night. Just didn’t want to chase losses when the quality of the game wasn’t that great and it was mostly short stacks The only significant hand I played is below.

HH:
Hero Qd Qh CO,

+2 raises $15, LJ calls, Hero $60, SB calls, +2 calls, LJ calls

Flop($240): Qc 8c 4h
SB all in $150, +2 fold, LJ calls, hero all in for LJs remaining $40, call

Turn ($770): Tc

River ($770): Ah

LJ AKcc
SB 88

Ended this session down $250, happy to get it in good and dealing with beats like this much better.

Wednesday, June 25th
Met up with a friend from a study group of mine since he is based in the Philly area. We played about 4 hours on Wednesday and had an awesome table. I ran pretty well and will attach some hands below. Otherwise, it was awesome to connect with a friend I made solely through poker. We actually also share a common interest in BJJ and obviously connect well over poker.

HH1:
ATss BTN

CO limps, Hero $15, SB calls, CO calls

Flop: 8s 7c 2c
x, $15, hero call, SB folds

Turn: 6h
$15, hero call

River: 5d
x, hero $70, fold

HH2:
J9dd BB

+2 limp, HJ call, BTN $14, hero call, limpers call

Flop: 8d Td 7s
x, $10, fold, call, hero $40,+2 call, fold

Turn: 6h
hero $80, fold

HH3:
ATss LJ
+1 limp, +2 $10, hero $30, SB calls, BB calls, +1 calls

Flop ($120): Td 8d 2h
x, BB $100, fold, hero fold, SB calls for remaining $44

SB QQ
BB ATcc

I think that since I got back at a decent time I’ll go play tonight. Probably try to get in the game in the afternoon and see if I can get a substantial session in. From a social aspect it might be better to do this and go out tomorrow night with friends rather than vice versa. I regret not getting more sleep Wednesday night because I would’ve went and checked out Live! Philly because it’s not far from the airport. Instead I opted for better sleep to avoid playing when I was tired, so I feel much better equipped to play today. Attached below are my results for this month, aside from some ClubWPTGold sessions that I mentioned last time. Since my last post I started using PokerBankrollTracker, it’s fairly simple and free so Id encourage others to check it out. Let’s hope I can wrap the month up with some more positive results.