Coming back to live NL after 3 year break!

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Rjame123

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Hey CC community I decided to start this thread after deciding to comeback to live poker. A little background, I started playing poker at age 9. Started out with stud and once Holdem became popular switched over. I learned about gambling from my grandfather. He was an old school hustler from shooting pool, to playing cards, to betting horse. If there was action he was in it.

I started playing in home games and with friends in high school for spending money. Once I became a senior we would play in some underground spots that were like playing online in the good old days.

I went off to college on a baseball scholarship and started playing strictly online. I was able to within that year turn a $200 deposits into 6k after living expenses and partying. I didn't track any progress at this time or take the game that serious. Just wanted extra money.

I ended up getting hurt after my sophomore year and really started grinding live and online. I turned my 6k into 15k within a year or more. Then it happened taking a shot at 5-10 NL live I lost 5k and it crushed me. I stopped playing until I graduated from undergrad. Then decided to get my masters. My parents wanted me to get a job so basically said you're on your own.

At this point I got a part time job and got back on the tables. It was bumpy at first because I wasn't making much money and using my bankroll for every expense. Then things started to click for me again and Black Friday hit. I was freaked out I didn't know what was going on or what to do. So I played strictly live 2-3x a week at prime tourist hours at Tampa Hardrock. I was able to pay my way through grad school and had money left until I found a job.

During this time the job market wasn't great and where I'm from the closest casino was 3 hours away. I found a great job from a connection and really focused on work and not playing poker. Reason mainly is I didn't want my connection to feel like they made a mistake in helping me out. Now three years later withs very solid income, no kids, no dependents and a great bankroll for where I'm starting 1/2NL. I am ready to get back to my journey.

Current schedule: Monday through Friday work and work on my game (review hands, research, post questions on here, ect.) s

Saturday and Sunday going to start out 1/2NL live at Horseshoe in Cincinnati.

Although I have the bankroll I see no reason to deplete it playing 2/5NL being away from the game for so long. I know it's going to be rough at first so going to take my lumps at a minimum if possible lol.

Any advice, questions, anything is welcome. I am nowhere near a pro nor was I at any point so there will be no trolling or ego from me on constructive criticism. Thanks in advance guys!
 
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Rjame123

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This was from last Saturday first day back at the tables playing 1/2NL ($200max). I brought three max buy ins with me. I bought in the max spewed that off pretty quick in about two hours lol. The second buy I started to get a feel for the table.
The biggest pot I won I noticed a pretty solid player. I had got in a hand with earlier and stuck around and missed a flush draw and showed it to him when I folded to his big bet on the river.

The hand we later got into I was big blind with 4-2 suited($250 stack). Four limpets to me I check my option.

Flop comes Jd 4s 2s.

Small blind checks, I check knowing the table is fairly aggressive I check. Villain ($500 stack)is next to act he bets $15. If anyone else called I was going to re raise but it folds to me so I flat.

Turn comes 4c

I check, Villain tanks for a bit and bets $45. I tank for a bit then call.

River card comes 8d

I check quick, Villian smirks and bets $90, I say I'm all in he snap calls. When I take the pop he says wow I thought you missed another flush draw man. I smiled and said I'm was hoping you did.

Ended the 7 hour session at one point stuck $200 to cashing out +$100 far from good but not terrible for a three year absence.

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jsh169

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Welcome back to a dying game lol.
 
Mr Sandbag

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Subbed.

42s hand: I prefer to bet for value vs pairs and draws.
 
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Rjame123

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42s hand: I prefer to bet for value vs pairs and draws.


Yeah I agree, I think if I would have led the flop I could've possibly gotten someone else involved with a top pair hand or draw. Also could've gotten re raised also possibly making it more profitable.
 
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Rjame123

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Welcome back to a dying game lol.


I'm not trying to make a living playing poker. I have a full time job that I enjoy. I love the game. What's the point in doing something if you're not going to try to be the best you can be though? So if it's dying I'm going to play till it's dead lol. Although I am very interested in PLO.
 
Aaron Soto

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Welcome back to a dying game lol.

I suggest you move to California. They just built a multi-million dollar hotel and casino that is going to be the new spot for wsop. The Bicycle Hotel & Casino it is massive. Out here in Southern California, Poker is a booming industry. We have all the casinos, flourishing 24/7 at any time of the day players ready to put their $ on the line.


Great post I'm looking forward to hearing how this goes. Looks like your grinding 1-2 same as me :)))))))) Best of luck. And poker has been around since like the 1800's......longer then any other American sport from what I know. Except boxing.
 
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Rjame123

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I suggest you move to California. They just built a multi-million dollar hotel and casino that is going to be the new spot for WSOP. The Bicycle Hotel & Casino it is massive. Out here in Southern California, Poker is a booming industry. We have all the casinos, flourishing 24/7 at any time of the day players ready to put their $ on the line.


Great post I'm looking forward to hearing how this goes. Looks like your grinding 1-2 same as me :)))))))) Best of luck. And poker has been around since like the 1800's......longer then any other American sport from what I know. Except boxing.


I've always wanted to move out to California but family holds me here at the moment. I'm sure I'll be out there to check it out once I get my game back to par. We will have to link up.

Oh yeah for sure it's not dying people love poker. I remember when I was first playing people thought it was stupid. Now if you're a winning player it's awesome. I get I wish I could play and win from people all the time.
 
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Rjame123

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Just sat down at the table!! Hope I brought the run good magic with me lol 😛
 
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2 hour update +247.. More updates and details to come
 
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End to an 8 hour session last night. Bought in max $200 cashed out $500. Table started out super tight. Picked off a few small pots in a lot of spots. Which also meant no one was paying off any bets. WR for tonight $37.50 per hour.

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The reason I love playing on Saturday night. Guy comes to the table shortest stack maybe $150. He gets in for $50 and grinds it up to around $125. A few hands later he gets in a hand with me.

Hero- AA opens for $12 from HJ position.

Three callers. Flop K93 rainbow.

Checks around to hero bets $30.

Folds around to the short stack that is up to $125 jams all in.

Turn A river 2. Villian turns over his hand K8 off and says that's some bullshit good call and storms off.

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Overall win rate for first two sessions $26.67 hopefully can keep that trending in the right direction.

Hand number two that pissed someone off.

Hero BB with 64 diamonds.

Five limpers hero checks option.

Flop Qd3s9d

Checks around to the button bets $12. Hero calls everyone else folds.

Turn 5c

Hero checks again button bets $25. Hero raises to $65 button calls.

River 7d

Hero puts villain all in $75, villain snap calls. Shows Q9 off says are you ****ing kidding me hold my seat, never returned.

I will go over a few hands I misplayed later today and maybe a few river bets I may have missed.
 
Mr Sandbag

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Nice start. Only advice I have is to not look at your overall results; just log your session and close the App. It'll be a long time before you get an even remotely decent sample size and there is no upside to watching your win rate/profit swing around.
 
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Rjame123

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Nice start. Only advice I have is to not look at your overall results; just log your session and close the app. It'll be a long time before you get an even remotely decent sample size and there is no upside to watching your win rate/profit swing around.


Thanks man yeah I expected to have a rough start. It's not so much good play though. A mix of running well and some bad rec players. I'm honest enough with myself to know I have a lot of leaks that need to tighten up.

I agree i'm definitely not reading much into any stats right now really just posting them for everyone else. I will start just logging them and maybe posting at the end of each month?

I do have a question for everyone. I've noticed when I first sit down I have a tendency to spew chips early. I tightened it up a bit this last session but just curious if this is common? Also what some of you do to combat that initial adrenaline rush when first sitting at the table? Usually after the 30minutes I get into my game and focus and logical thinking start to happen. Could this be just from not playing in so long and will eventually be second nature or is it something I need to be worried about moving forward.
 
Mr Sandbag

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Hmm. I've never had that problem. Never really hard of it either. If anything I would think most people tend to be super tight right when they sit down and loosen up as they get comfortable.

Sounds like an experience-related thing though. I would think that as you start playing more you'll be comfortable at the table right away and be able to play your normal game.
 
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Rjame123

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Yeah I would think playing super tight would be the norm as well. I can't recall feeling this way in the past. May just be lack of experience like you said from the first time to the second it seemed to get better for sure. I'll give it some time though.
 
Aaron Soto

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WOW!. That's a really good start man. I am jealous! I love the way you played that straight-flush draw on the turn. That is one hell of a way to play it and that is how you should always play it. I think you should always keep track of your spending in Poker. That is just my opinion. I read that in a book.

I play a tight game when I sit down. I usually am waiting on big hands to start getting involved in big pots. I like to get a "feel" for my opponents first. I also like to get a "idea" of the general dynamic of the table loose, aggressive, tight, lots of bluffing, do they have they cards the represent etc. Everyone plays different though.

Good luck!
 
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Rjame123

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WOW!. That's a really good start man. I am jealous! I love the way you played that straight-flush draw on the turn. That is one hell of a way to play it and that is how you should always play it. I think you should always keep track of your spending in Poker. That is just my opinion. I read that in a book.

I play a tight game when I sit down. I usually am waiting on big hands to start getting involved in big pots. I like to get a "feel" for my opponents first. I also like to get a "idea" of the general dynamic of the table loose, aggressive, tight, lots of bluffing, do they have they cards the represent etc. Everyone plays different though.

Good luck!


Thanks man I appreciate it. Yeah I'm not to worried about the money right now as much as I am about getting better which should lead to more money hopefully. Don't get me wrong I want to make money though!

Yeah in the past I used to fold my first 3-5 hands every time unless I look down at a premium hand. For some reason I find myself tanking over calling with Q3 suited type hands for no reason. Then I'm like wait chill out and focus. The first time back that's why I lost my first buy in because I called a few and got in bad spots. I'm trying to figure it out though!!
 
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Rjame123

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Does anyone watch or subscriber to Live at the Bike? I personally like it a lot and enjoy watching players play the buy ins similar to mine. How hard is it to get on the show? Is it usually a long waiting list? I'm kinda interested in trying to get in on the 2/3 game just for experience.
 
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