A journey - much delayed ($8 to $8888 or quitting poker)

Card distribution was great last week, now it's time to pay the dues =T
Happy with my play, felt myself close to tilt a couple of times, water break and keep grinding.
Multiple coolers / tight folds =T
2 hour morning session (planned 3) -$30

First hour was uneventful. Break even mostly.
Second hour was a struggle right from the first orbit.

AA < JJ Villain RFI to 18 UTG, I click it back, he P5BJAM and take my 200bb =____=
QQ > KQs [AQT3A] 3BP: We get 2 streets of value with delay cb50, river bet66
A8 > J9s [T8232] SRP: villain 2B my turn probe and overbet river, against ATS80, CB88, rivB76 maniac we have an easy call
55,44,88 > made 3 sets at the same time... zero action =____=
QQ, AAx2, AK < ?? "time to make some money" became "what happened =____= ... managed to with w P3B AAx1, forced to fold the other 3 SRPs with runouts against multiple players with the others =___=
QQ < AK [QT3J5]3BP: villain 3B from UTG+1, I briefly considered folding (1500+ hands, 3B% 1.5 =_____=). We manage to save 100 of our 250 stack... feels bad but think I played ok
AA < QJ [AT3] monotone SRP: villain goes ham with xR, cbJAM and got there on river =___=
QTs < ?? [T74Q6] SRP: villain xc, xc, x overbet200 JAM... we make a tight fold
JJ < QQ [98448] 3BP: we play it cautiously and lose 1 street of value
T9s < AJ [K87] SRP: we xR our monster draw and got 3BJAM A high no draw??? we call off and lose to Ace high =_____=
AA < 66 quartered =____=
QQ > ?? [A8725] 3BP villain cold call out of BB: I went with cb33, x, 2BJAM on fourth flush river and got it through.
AK > AJ [KJ2A8] SRP: we x back flop, villain fires out slight overbet, river slight overbet and call my min2B

Now that I review it a bit, it's a miracle I only lost $30, time to relax and get some healthy food.
Overall journey 6100/ 8888 (96 days remaining for ~$2800)

The cards will turn around =) Hanging in there.
Another slightly losing short session.
1 hour about break even.

AA < JTs [AKQ] 3BP, I P3Bsq BN. Villain xR flop I don't improve.
KK ??? [K922] THIS WAS DISASTER, MISCLICKED Fold vs manic RFI11maniac end up stacking someone else 99 v. A2s =______=
AQ > ??? [JT32] on 3BP, on flush card T, I xJAM my combo draw vs his line of cb100, cb40 after checking his stats
87s < 98s [6547], SRP: villain 2B-call my 3B... he got there on the turn, we both have FD to go with it, and I don't improve.
AK = KQ [K85K], 3BP: we get it in on cb, xR JAM and we chop =T

We have been winning more than our shares of mid/small pot. Hanging in there.

Trying my best to stay with it, but it's been a struggle. Stay with it, stay with it, stay with it. The cards will turn around. Quite happy that I haven't tilted, though I find myself playing a bit subpar (timid) in a few spots.

Overall journey 6100/ 8888 (96 days remaining for ~$2800)

1.5 hour session, +30
Terribly start but quick recover. -30 to +50 end at +30
Cards were great, but funny thing is I felt I play quite a bit worse.

65s < KK [K74T7] SRP, I went for it with xR, cb125, river JAM and ran into it.
AK < A6 [A446] SRP (to 12bb??), maniac went with donk100, cb JAM and stack me =___=

this hand me thinking ... so it's another one of these sessions ... but help was on the way
tons of action, mostly on 2 tables with same maniac playing vpip 75 rfi to 7 or 10

AJ > A3s [AJ66K] SRP: villain calls down vs my cb50, cb125, overbet JAM
AK > ??, ??, ??, ?? it was already 100bb in the pot when I JAM from BB and take it down
TT > 44 [653] 3BP: we call short stack's xJAM
QQ > T9s [95488] 3BP: we CB33, x, pot R
KK < J7 [T948] SRP 5 players: short stack call CB with 2bb behind and gets there on T
QQ > ?? [887AQ] 3BP: x flop, xc T, xJAM vs overbet river
A7 > ?? [Q856] SRP: manic cb100, cb100 we 2BJAM
QQ > 77 [9742Q] 3BP: CB50 called by 2 spots (including tight player with F2CB=76%), x, lucky river
A9s > K4s [J6523] SRP: we raise from bn vs small cb w 5 players. Turned the nuts, cb33. Riv villain open JAMs
JJ > AQ vs maniac
AK < QTs, AQs vs maniac + other
QQ > AK vs maniac
KT < 54 [K966J] I could not hold on vs maniac's T overbet150, river over300 JAM
33 < T6s [Q93] maniac flopped the flush =___=
AA, KKx2
KJ < ??
KQ < ??

I built around a 700bb stack and was playing quite poorly and nitty vs maniac who had a 500bb stack. Definitely rushed the AA, KKx2 and won minimum. So I decided to call it a session even though the game was still super good.

Overall journey 6100/ 8888 (96 days remaining for ~$2800)

-$30 not in 1 hour. Not quite sure how I played, will have to review this session. I THINK I played B to B+, but there's the nagging feeling of "hmm something is off here" .... maybe adjusting my play to the tables makes me feel uneasy?

Morning sessions are always wild. Maybe it's the early morning hours in Asia with tired players.
The preflop actions were nuts and so not many (any) interesting play.
Villains' FOLD BUTTONS were broken, so we bet big when we have it.

Tables were filled with 50-70bb stacks getting it in.
I tighten up and clean up with 3B resteal / 3B-CB50+
BUT the RNG wasn't going to let me leave with positive result this session.
Already 35bb for next GG Flipout 1 hour into the day =____=... all from losses.
AA = QQ
AA = AK
QQ < AJ [J84]
AK = QJ
KK < JJ
KK < AK
KQs < ATs [KQJ] =____=
ATs > AA [T42]FD
KK < 86??? [K975] 4BP: villain xR pot my small cb, of course I was calling any T (pot size left)

I felt myself playing a bit worse as the coolers start to stack up but we were still up as "luckily" most losses were to players with less than 100bb.
That changed with the last one, 800bb pot =T, time to do some exercises.

Luckily (for real this time), Continue to run hot in GG Flipout (helps to start with the largest stack by far). So the loss doesn't feel as bad.

Overall journey 6100/ 8888 (96 days remaining for ~$2800 | Peak = 6100)

deleting entire message because double posted same message by accident.

Will probably play the next two days. But here's April.

Pre Bonus

SUPER HAPPY with final result. Was at -$400 in game, moved down and grinded it back to positive.
Ran super well last 10 days, 40+ buy ins at NL10.
(maybe I should stick to NL10 =(... sad)

With Bonus

Happy with my volume, hard to dedicate a block of time with new schedule.
Squeezing in an hour here an hour there.

+55 in 2 hours. We break $1000 BR on GG =) April looked bleak but def turned around.
Was feeling a bit burned out, but run good cures all.

Dumbass me decided to shake a bottle of coffee AFTER I already opened it. It spilled everywhere include where my laptop's keyboard would be!!!
EXCEPT ... I happen to have been reading some notes from my kid's school and had them in a plastic folder ... covering exactly the laptop's keyboard
IT DIDN'T EVEN GET WET!!! TALK ABOUT RUNNING GOOD!!!!

I've decided to stick to NL10 at least for May. Improve my game before moving up (also good to build a bigger BR before challenging NL25)
I've also decided to take notes / stats and table select at NL10. Previously I just sit wherever and only take minimal notes at NL10.
Of course this helps a ton. I was 3B'ing wayyyy more than my usual self.

Today we play above the rim, A+ game. (Great cards also help)
@GuyThatPMMe - I note these hands for record but also I am terrible at reviewing my hands, so even though noting them in game is annoying / take away my attention a tiny bit, it helps review. I used to play 24 tables, so 9 tables + notes is manageable for me. MORE importantly, it's a like a self check, I don't want to look dumb, so I try not to play dumb lines - at least for 50+bb pots.
KK > AK
KK = AJ
AK > AJ [A44] three quarters
44 > AK [J42] villain punted with CB50, CBJAM
AQ > KQ Wouldn't call off AQ vs P4BJ without helpful stats
QJ < ?? [T94K]r SRP: villain CB33, CB50 we ... FOLD THE NUTS??? Kid woke up for a second and I timed out =T
AA > ?? villain F to P5BJ after putting in 100 of his 180bb stack???
92 < T9s, T9s [86547] Limped Pot: small flop bets, checked turn, I make a tight fold to bn overbet 150, lucky =), UTG comes back over the top JAM
A9s < AK [K429A] 3BP (me): villain get max value by not P4B
AA < ?? [QQ9K] 4BP (me): does villain have any bluffs here when he takes line of 2B, CBJAM???
JTs < QQ [A8765] 3BP (v): x flop, 2b my combo draw v delay CB50, go for it w OVERBET JAM ... make make a great call

• maybe a half pot bet would've looked scarier than OB150 JAM? not sure
  

AA > JJ [Q843K] 3BP (me): CB33, CB100, xC vs JAM, get max value
A3s > ?? [T98K4] 3BPsq (me vs maniac): x flop, CB50 on flush completing T, goes for it overbet150 JAM and get it through
KK > ?? [QJ99] SBP (me): CB33, xJAM vs float66
43 > A5, A2 [AQ52] limp pot: just a cooler
KQ < ?? [KJ3] SRP: we make discipline laydown to flop cb50-3B
A3s < ??, ??, ?? [AQ93]r SRP: we make another discipline laydown. flop c cb, T I bet from bn and was met with 2B-C =____=... river UTG JAM
98s < ?? [K76J] Villain xR, cb overbet JAM and we dont have odds to call even w straight flush draw =T
77 > AK [9859T] SRP: flop x through, villain delay cb80, villain xR smallish vs my bet33 ... I tank call as I don't see any NON FH doing this for value... and FH prob goes big.
AQ > ?? [KJ42]2fd 3BP (me vs maniac): we x flop, CB50-3B overbet JAM to rep AK+
AJ > ?? KQT43] SRP: cb33, cb125, xJAM (2fd bricked, prob too greedy)
JTs < QJs [T843T]2fd SRP: x, delay cb66, villain 2BJAM on board pairing flush card ... i can't find the call .. he showed missed BD combo draw
87s > A6s [9654T] SRP: I flopped straight flush, flop cb33, turn overbet125, river overbet125 ... villain call w A blocker
TT > A7s 3BP (me): Q
33 < ?? [9638T] SRP (5 players): x, lead50 2calls, river66 was met by call - overbet 2BJ, I make a sad fold
A2s > KQ [Q7699] SRP: cb33, cb125 nFD, cb125 (got there)
T9s < QQ [T924Q]2fd SRP: I went with cb33, cb125, cb125 and call off v 2BJAM I tank call (beat mFD - even w Q in it, sets wouldve xR earlier, ... so I lose to KJs (2 combos)... didnt expect QQ to have flatted from SB... =____=
KK < AA
AK < AA [A72] 4BP

was up nearly 10 stacks before handing part of it back at the end.

Overall journey 6200/ 8888 (96 days remaining for ~$2800 | Peak = 6200) *NEW PEAK

Mid session update: +$20 over 1.5 hours
My Play = B+, My Cards = A

KJ < AJ [Jxx] SRP: value own ourselves with delay cb75, overbet125
AJ < KK [Jxx] SRP: value own ourselves with delay cb75, overbet125 (hmmm I see a pattern there)
A3s > JJ [T524] 3BP (by villain - we've target his RFI often, he doesnt like me): we call tiny CB25, we induced xJ w bet25
AK > Q8s [JT9Q] SRP (same v): villain xR small (why?), we bing the turn and 2BJ v his cbet (why?), he calls (why?)
75s > 87s [K657A] SRP (same v): xR vs cb33, cb125, xC vs riv bet125, max value?
K9 > QT KJ8QK SRP (same v): x, villain lead80, villain xC vs our riv bet 125 when 2FD bricked
TT < ?? [64298] SRP: I donk33 (as I oft do on this board)... villain reacts w/ 2B big, CB100, CBJAM ... 2FD bricked but I Fold
JJ < ??, ?? BB Fold to RFI-2B-cold3B... [AAJTK] F/T x through, R saw - B33,2BJAM 200bb... maybe we saved stack???
AA > AA (1200bb pot... one side scooped, so sick) I was not involved
87s < KQ, Q8 [JT92]r limp: flop goes bet-2B-Call-Call, we fold T when our small lead was met with multiple aggression
A5s > 65s [9433K] SRP: we go for 2B, cb125, give up.. and won? =D
QTs > AKs [J43TJ] 3BP: villain, x, delay cb50, CB100... we realistically only lose to TT + however many AJs, KJs he 3B from BB v mp???
QJ < ?? [K7T43] SRP: cb33, cb125, cb125 to rep BD Flush and got jammed on =T
AQ < ?? F to Huge P3B villain 1700H, 2%P3B...villain happily flash ATo wouldve flopped AAQ ... did I just throw away BBJP hand???

Gave back winning from morning session.
-$20 in 45 mins. Never got anything going.

My Game: C - Maybe lunch was too heavy, concentration was not great. Found myself in unfamiliar lines vs unfamiliar foes with quite a weak range (holding) 4-5 times.
My Card: D - Got 4B'd tons more than usual. Bluffs met with raises, values met with Folds =T.

• Q3 < KK, AQ, QT [Q434T] limped pot: we xR big and got 3 callers, we give up on the Turn
  
• 88 < AK, 74s we fold pre when our RFI was met with P3B, cold P4B... flop comes [A88] =____= 74s CBJ FD and got there ... whelp
  
• TT > 88, T9s, A9 [Q5369] 3BP: it checked around F/T, we go for thin value bet66 and got 3 callers and WON???
  
• 99 < T8s [976] 3BP (me, vs maniac): he donk JAMS ... I obv can't fold =____=
  
• 88 > AQs [KKJK9] 3BP (v)): villain CB60, xTurn, I misclicked min bet R and he 2B to 12bb??? We make the clear, though non trivial call. We lose to AA, AK, KQs, QQ... except for AK, I am heavily discounting the rest w FCB60. We beat AQs + randoms.
  
• We managed to get back to even with the previous good call... then KK < AA =T... some sessions you just don't win. Also I played pretty poorly and played my hand faced up in too many mid sized pot.
  

Will skip posting a bit and concentrate on starting May well. GL at the tables fellas.

Overall journey 6200/ 8888 (92 days remaining for ~$2800 | Peak = 6200)

We are running sun running as per usual. Just believe and it'll happen.
We are ~1300 into profit for May

Historical graph (for as much as I have on this laptop)
Can't seem to beat 25NL still (at least it's mostly sideway the last 100k hands)
Swearing off 25NL for awhile (for real this time!!!)

Historical graph (for as much as I have on this laptop)
Consistently winning at 10NL.
I started keeping notes at 10NL and the game feels much easier now.

May started off real hot +600 in 3 days.
Slowly got grinded it up to roughly +800.
Then I played 30 minutes of 25NL and got coolers after coolers -$250.
Slowly grind it back up and a BBJP rockets us to over 1000 profit.

Some of the bigger pots (Excluding preflop AI)

SRP (5 ttF): AA went to down triple barrel pot pot JAM.

3BP (me): CBet got tons of action but I was priced in (I think AJs is the only combo I am dead to)

SRP: Wild maniac stuck on BET bn running 50bb stack to 700+. We got 4BJ'd and our nuts hold.

Not 4B'ing priced in TT and he bet-call off on 996

I mean... this is how you win $600 in 3 days of 10NL.

On a better day I could've found this fold. Called off to TJAM when I "improved"
In game I justified the call (Flop 3B-call???) with "I've been extra aggressive with worse, he might be making a move" =(

4BP: It happens, it is what it is.

I am sure I had a good explanation for this in my mind at the time.

I have been focusing on maintaining T/R aggression, this has helped the WR a lot.
Hands like this (T/R 2B or CBPot+) doesn't usually come up for me. This month so far 30+ instances, usually 5-10 a month.

A byproduct of focusing of T/R aggression helps another part of my game tree.
It kind of "fixed itself".
Red dot is the start of May

Overall journey 7500/8888 (79 days remaining for ~$1400 | Peak = 7500) *NEW PEAK

Take too much time to post both here and @DKB's discord. Sorry for the time lapsed.

We are playing well (I think I levelled up a bit) and running hot (definitely).

It helps that I've mostly played 10NL discovering / patching my leaks while at mostly a stress-free pool.

Just wanna "thank you" for the people following along, we are on track baby =). 10K views - mostly just myself reading old notes probably =D
Hope you guys run well.

May: +1600 =) ♠
A "fair" result is closer to +1000 (excluding the BBJP)
Played much better "poker" with more bluffs and looser ranges when in LPs.
Even NL25 was positive (but still feel uncomfortable when playing it)

Graph with bonus

Graph without bonus

First 12 days, we sun run, the last 18 days, we are almost exactly break even in game.
BR still grew slightly due to bonuses.
Also, kid was on holiday so didn't get much volume in. First 12 days covered like 65% of the month's volume.

N8: 5200
GG: 2650
Overall journey 7850/8888 (60 days remaining for ~$1050 | Peak = 7850) *NEW PEAK

Month started off with some REAL run bad.
Lowlights including 7-8 coolers for -11BI in a quick 1 hour session.
We drop to as low as 2300 but managed to not tilt and grind back to even.

Even until this session that just ended. We run like the sun and get back the losses with interest. *1200bb in 3.5 hours!

Did I finally crack NL25??? (prob not, but at least we are improving)
Running up 800+bb stacks.

N8: 5200
GG: 2900
Overall journey 8100/8888 (54 days remaining for ~$800 | Peak = 8100) *NEW PEAK
SUB 1K TO GO!!!!!

Playing quite well overall but the results haven't really followed. Running 20BI below EV for June... in 5 days??? in NLHE???

It is what it is. BR stayed around 8100, so we should be glad we managed to offset the run bad with good play.
JUST IMAGINE playing break even and go on 28BI downswing (after rake).... or worse
JUST IMAGINE playing at -5bb/100 and go on 33BI downswing (after rake).

Look on the bright side, just breath... and wait for the rockets to launch us.

BR going in the WRONG ****ING DIRECTION!!!
It's actually not THAT bad, with bonus, it's close to 2650, right where we ended May.

But I am not going lie, this is starting to effect my play.
EV: +650
$: -100 (it's actually -300 after rake, almost identical to our bonuses)

$750 @25NL ... is ****ing 30BI below EV in 7 days!

3 DAYS in a row getting hammered by the RNG 😡😡😡😡😡 when AI

Finally couldn't handle the consistent run bad and tilted off some money.
At around the 16k mark for June, we reached $825 below ev.... 33BIs.

Anyway the graph is pre rake, so side is terrible, played poorly and tilted off a few buy in before taking a break and coming back to battle.

Number looks bad, but it's not as bad as it seems.
Current balance: 2430
Rackback: 100 (played 12 hours session, $80rakeback in a day)
Daily rakerace: not sure if I'll be top1,2 or 3... so let's say $80

We can also expect something from GGFlipout as we have a whopping 200bb (avg is like 12).

So all in all, we are near 2650 where June started.

Kind of proud of the recovery after tilting and reaching as low as 2400. I should be glad, break even is very acceptable given the (still) 25BI below EV run bad from hell.

OKAY, PAUSE WTF SERIOUSLY! So I play 9 tables at Ante, they are currently at 190bb x6, 1922bb x1, 187bb x2 ... that's 9 tables. to lose 10BB is 1 orbit ... so that's 9+orbits playing exactly 3 hands ... getting 1 win, losing 2 to P3B and seeing zero flops. that's 90bb just dead given away... ya know this JUNE thing really is getting tiring. I am just playing my normal ranges, but the run bad is kind of off the charts.

I am sure I've gone similar stretches quite a few times (100 hands, winning 1), but to start a session like that on top of June's unreal "luck" is infuriating.

Took a few hours to review DB and find my leaks. Play B+ IMO, was trying to implement some new things and that was taxing, made some small mistakes that I don't normally make. Fairly happy with my play overall. No tilt, very focus and successfully executed a few good T xR bluff spots.

High point: +100
Low point: -30
Result: break even ...

Not sure if it was GG's or my network, no response to my "Hey, KK, great, let's 3B". Timed out ... and then all the tables stopped responding and gave me the circle of death (the loading icon). The problem is that I have a 300bb pot w Bottom Set on [KQ57] ... couldn't do nothing about losing the pot as I get annoyed for 5 minutes, seeing the screen refresh with the circle of death. When I came back, I am off all my tables and my BR is $30 lighter =T. Maybe I was up against QQ, KK, who knows. Anyway, I didn't want to chance the network (and a bit annoyed), we take the break even.

Interesting Hand: 9max 25NL Ante (300bb deep)

• KJs BN: Flat vs CO RFI. BB comes along.
  
• F (15bb) [J88]: check to us, we bet33, both call
  
• T (30bb) [J]: we continue small bet33, both call ... this isn't normal ... hmm...
  
• R (60bb) [A]: I REALLY considered checking (and I've gotten better at not giving an F about "The Right Play in Theory") but somehow I didnt listen to myself. We bet two thirds.
  

We got xJAM for 300bb... CO CALL (All in for 120bb)... we F
THANK GOD CO CALLS else I would probably tank cry fold and think about it for a long time.
BB: 88, CO: QJ

Had a good morning session +300 over 2.5 hours or so.
Had a terrible afternoon session. -240 over 15 minutes ... never even got up to 9 tables before I had enough.

KK > 96s (+$15) ... first hand, rando open JAM, we say thank you... that's about the highlight
KK < AKs (-$65) ... second hand... same table... ran and lost THREE TIMES...
R1: Broadway, R2: Wheel, R3: Flush ... yup no A and we still managed to lose 3 runs *SMH*
QQ < 66 [543] (-$25) ... SRP, villain decided to xJAM ... and get there
99 < AJs [A93] (-$50) ... SRP 5 to the Flop... x to BN when villain spaz, he JAMS 200bb into pot of ~25, we got flushed both run outs.
... okay that was maybe 2 orbits ... feeling a bit on edge already

AA < 77 [722KQ] (-$25) ... 3BP, saved $25 when we x OTF and very passive villain fire out T/R for smallish sizing.
AK < 75s [K7555] (-$50) ... 3BP, villain (UTG) donk and follow through 3 streets for big sizing ...
AJ < AT [AT727] (-$25)
TT < 44 [98734] (-$25)
Last two hands, probably could've saved some money. Decided that I am no longer on my A game and having my head bashed in seems like a bad way to spend time, so I closed the table.

Just like that, fewer than 5 orbits and we are done.

N8: 5200
GG: 2700
Overall journey 7900/8888 (48 days remaining for ~$1000 | Peak = 8100)
Actually not that far from the peak. Putting things into perspective, it really hasn't been THAT bad, it just felt that way.
It's possible that I should've stuck to what I said and stayed at 10NL and finished the 8888 milestone first =T. What do you guys think?

mid session update. currently being buried for $150 or so in 1.5 hours.

Very first hand #1: QQ < AJs, rando RFI 20bb, I P3BsqJAM and he calls off 150bb and get there ... here we go again...
QQ < AA
AK < AA
AK < AA
KK < AA
AK < AQ
77 < JJ [A73]m, 3BP, villain cbPOT, we JAM he calls it off and take my money
There goes around $300 just like that.
On the bright side, we haven't won an AI PF yet, so... that means they'll come around right???
Will give myself another $200 or will have to move back to 10NL, otherwise there's not enough time to make 8888.

AND we are back to 10NL... let me tell ya, this sucks ***.

Definitely could've played better in some spots, I think the EV graph affected my play around the 13k-14k mark. Played a little too scared of AI, maximizing win% instead of EV. That's just bad poker.

Hopefully there's still time to make the 8888 mark. These 14 days in June has been challenging mentally.

GG BR: 2500 (-150 after bonuses in June, which is like nothing but it feels SOOOO much worse)
N8 BR: 5200

7700/8888

We managed to get back to even / slightly profitable mid month, but it's been a real struggle.

We are still -32BI below EV.

Mid month recap w rake: 36k hands
50NL: -75 (rake 14 x 2.5 x 0.50 = 20) : -100
25NL: +200 (rake 24 x 2.5 x 0.25 = 150): +50
10NL: +225 (rake 11 x 2.5 x 0.10 = 27): +200
[ET TU BRUTE? 10NL joining the dark side and fell below EV today]

GG BR: 2650
N8 BR: 5200

Overall journey 7850/8888 (45 days remaining for ~$1000 | Peak = 8100)