Starting over AND getting a student !!

[tman7373]

Freelancer,

Let me begin by saying that this is a very admirable endeavor. As I'm sure is the case with many, I often find myself overtaken with the allure and thrill poker provides, forgetting that the true beauty is in the challenge and constant evolution of ability. To be truly successful (and to avoid certifiable insanity) it is imperative that one approach the game with humility, and a genuine desire to improve. You seem to encapsulate this mindset perfectly, as does the majority of this community.

Now, with my two-bit philosophy out of the way, let me get down to business. I have been playing poker for the better part of 3 years. While my original knowledge was developed in the physical world, the majority of my experience and second level developement has taken place online. I have played on almost all major sites, but consider PokerStars to be my home. I have played almost every level up to 1000NL, but would lable myself as a low-to-mid-stakes player. As of late I have had numerous expenses (the majority of which being tuition) and have had to reevaluate my financial outlook with regards to poker. This has landed me focusing almost primarily on shorthanded 50/100NL games on PokerStars. There was a period of about 3 months during the tail-end of 2006 during which I was averaging 7500+ hands daily 12 tabling 50/100NL.

The conclusion reached from excessive play: bad news. I began to realize that numerous leaks were devloping due to the lack of concentration. I became very prone to tilt and was very unhappy with the way things were heading.
Enter your post. Reading your post convinced me to mimic your plan, but out of a different motivation. While you are rebuilding driven by personal satisfaction, I, on the other hand, feel as if I've forgotten all of the lessons each hand has taught me. As for my proposal--

While you may not consider me to be the most apt pupil, I believe that, by completing an identical challenge to your own, we could have a reciprocal student-teacher relationship that would yield incredible benefits for both of our games. I feel like I have a lot to gain from your dedicated attitude, and hope I, too, have something to share.
As far as specfics go, I am more than willing to play any site that allows Americans. My optimal starting level would be 50NL, and proper bankroll is not really an issue. That's all for now, good luck with your search, and again, kudos.

Tman

[DWarrior]

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1) What site do you play?

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FTP now. Live in US, so no party, getting RB so no reason to move around.

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2) What limits do you play?

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4-table $50nl

Last year I pretty much played $100nl majority of the time, but I was extremely inconsistent. I think in the end I was like 1 or 2 bb/100, but I did not feel like I belonged at those stakes. I think my game is a lot better now though.

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3) Experience?

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Began playing ~3 years ago, immediately started reading books and read anything I could get my hands on. I think my biggest mistake is not sitting down to think about what I've read, I should probably have spent an equal time analyzing the ideas as I did reading about them. I was able to make reasonable income a couple of years ago from poker, but I lived with my parents, and they'd never let me play enough, they thought it was a waste of time. I probably put in 200-300k hands online over the past 2.5 years. Last year was kinda weird, I only logged maybe 40k hands and generally did not do anything poker. Looking to come back now. Member of CardRunners, watched all the low-stakes videos. I think I have a good idea of the basic concepts. Currently beating $50nl for 4bb/100. For some period of time, I tried to reduce poker down to a formula. Right now, I want to learn how to "play poker".

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4) Goals with poker (for instance what limits are you trying to reach)?

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Earn a living. My parents aren't paying for anything, and minimum wage is $7.50 before taxes. It's pretty easy to earn enough at the moment to pay the bills as a student (10k hands/wk 6bb/100 after rb at 50nl). I’ve only been executing this plan for 1 week so far though. I’ll also be getting a coach once I double my bankroll (like you, I started with $1k, currently $200 away). I don’t know if this will conflict with your proposition.

My goal is to beat 200nl for 4bb/100 before rakeback, 4-tabling 10k hands/wk.

I may look to expand into other games in the future. SH Limit looks fun, as does PLO and O8. SNGs also. I'm having enough trouble motivating myself to stick with HE at the moment though, so I don't want to spread myself thin.

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5) You need a drive to improve, this is WAY more important than your current skill level. I don't mind to explain everything twice as long as you listen and try to understand and build this into your game. If this doesn't work out the way I want, I will take up a different student (this is a last resort type of thing).

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Self-ad sticky on my monitor pretty much sums it up: “Now that I play poker well, I can finance other personal growth projects.” I want to be able to afford self-improvement courses and endeavors without having to worry about finances.

My number 1 problem is lack of drive in everything I do. I think it kept me from progressing as a player for the past 3 years because I think I'm definitely capable of playing much higher levels. Same goes for basically everything in my life, and I want to change that.

The other obvious drive I already mentioned, need to stay unbusto.

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6) I am considering posting some of our conversations here in uNL and ssnl if they contain a good discussion, if you guys are interested in this anyway. Hmmm actually this might make a good pooh bah post where I basically record my students progress and the pitfalls we experience together.

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OK, but if I come up with a theorem, I want it credited to me.

Finally, I think this will be useful as a way of forcing myself to review my game (something I don't do at the moment) and also analyze the strategies I read (like I said before, also something I don't do nearly as much as I would like).

[kaz2107]

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1) What site do you play?

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Abso... US resident [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] so no party
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2) What limits do you play?

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6 tabling 100/nl but not havin n e where near the results i want (considering movin down to work on some stuff at 50nl while i work on opening up my game not sure as of right now tho)

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3) Experience?

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started off with sngs at the begining of last year. got sick of them and moved to cash games in the summer. been grindin since. killed 50nl for 8.5bb/100 my last 30k hands but am now straggling along at 100nl at a measly 2.5bb/100.
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4) Goals with poker (for instance what limits are you trying to reach)?

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i wanna b beating 400nl by the time the semester is over. so that means movin up to 200nl rather soon like within a month or so. and then take it from there but deffinatly wanna get to 400nl sometime in the nearer future.

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5) You need a drive to improve, this is WAY more important than your current skill level. I don't mind to explain everything twice as long as you listen and try to understand and build this into your game. If this doesn't work out the way I want, I will take up a different student (this is a last resort type of thing).

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i work extremely hard and am willing to put lots of hands and lots of time to play. i have no problem playin 30 hours a week. and obv spend more time studying and working on my game to get to where i wanna be.


pick me HOLLA

[Freelancer]

[ QUOTE ]
Let me begin by saying that this is a very admirable endeavor. As I'm sure is the case with many, I often find myself overtaken with the allure and thrill poker provides, forgetting that the true beauty is in the challenge and constant evolution of ability. To be truly successful (and to avoid certifiable insanity) it is imperative that one approach the game with humility, and a genuine desire to improve. You seem to encapsulate this mindset perfectly, as does the majority of this community.

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Awesome words you used there, glad my english is decent. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
A interesting read nonentheless. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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Finally, I think this will be useful as a way of forcing myself to review my game (something I don't do at the moment) and also analyze the strategies I read (like I said before, also something I don't do nearly as much as I would like).

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Forcing myself to review my game is one of the main reasons I do this, with a student I have to explain my philosophy about the game and how I think about it. And the best way to internalize something is to explain it.

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Ok; like I said I'm still trying to learn how to use PokerTracker. My auto rate system (can't remember where I got it from now) put me under LA.

I make a conscious effort not to limp, I think I must be misplaying the blinds. From all others postions my PFR is over half of my VPIP.

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Send me a PM and I'll give you some pointers that should get you in the general direction, note some of my advice is maybe not spot on for the low limits but usefull nonentheless (I haven't played there a while now so I need to get a feel for the games first)...

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7)Things I need to improve on.
Im adding this category because I think if you're going to teach somebody they need to identify their weaknesses.

Mostly what I need to improve on is trusting myself and being able to lay down a losing hand...These two go hand in hand if you ask me. There are many times where I KNOW im beat and yet I call anyways. One of the toughest things to do for an aspiring poker player is to lay down big hands that are clearly beat. Again, im getting better but I know I still need work.

Bankroll management is another thing im currently working to improve by logging hours played/win rate etc. And also setting limits for myself. I will frequently get up big but not quit because I just love to play and im willing to risk breaking even for 2 more hours of hands. I know that isnt the formula for a winning player though and that prevents me from moving up in limits.

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I will get into there weaknesses and leaks once I picked a student, but nice thinking to include it. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
(I am assuming everyone still playing at uNL has leaks, I have them as well after all)

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dear sir, pick me

1) partay bitches
2) 100nl - ive been stuck there way too long
3) played for 3 months. 60K hands/month
4) 1knl would be nice, although id settle for 400nl
5) yeh i listen
6) yeh ok

i know im 100nl, but at party that doesnt really mean a whole lot. ive been tryin to move up to 200nl for 2 months now, and nothing is working. so basically yeh, ur coaching would be really good for me coz ive only been playing for like 3 months and ive got lots of leaks in my game

ty

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Muhaaa I already got you on AIM (not that your excluded now [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]), hit me up and we'll talk some strategy or something. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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So there is some background. At the moment I am playing on Titan and partypoker NL10, FR as well as 6max, especially the switch to 6max is hard I think.
My goals in poker is first of all to improve in the game and move up in the limits. To support my self and hoepfully to give others a good reading I have a blog panicnl.blogspot.com. Since this month I am setting goals for my self in terms of BR improvement winrate and number of hands played.
I know that an essential part of poker is the money, and I certainly understand that without money at stake the game would not be what it is. BUT I dont play the game for money, I play the game cause I like it, the decision making, the information collecting, the puzzle you ahve to solve every hand. And offcourse when you can buy some nice stuff at the end that is great but not the main reason I play this game.

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Its amazing but your story and the way you think about the game sounds exactly like me, you'll get there on your own. But as usuall this doesn't mean your excluded. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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I think this is an awesome idea. I also think that whoever you choose should then be prepared to do this same for someone else......share the love


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This is actually a good idea, I'll ask whoever I pick to coach some one in return and hopefully creating a chain reaction. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]



To everyone;
I am getting more responces (from people I didn't totally expect them from as well) than expected, to make the selection process a bit easier for me I am going to pick 5-10 people on monday (the application will be closed than). With those people I'll talk a bit on aim, after that I'll narrow it down to a single person.

[Panic__NL]

"Its amazing but your story and the way you think about the game sounds exactly like me, you'll get there on your own. But as usuall this doesn't mean your excluded. " QUOTE



I certainly do not hope so :-)
Although you think my approach to the game is good, that does not mean I dont have anything to learn. But whoever you choose is fine to me, I hope I will make at least the final 5-10. Good luck with the selection.

[Supwithbates]

Anybody who is interested in being my student please post in this thread the following;
1) What site do you play?
2) What limits do you play?
3) Experience?
4) Goals with poker (for instance what limits are you trying to reach)?

1) United States, so only pokerstars unfortunately.
2) 10NL and 25NL, almost exclusively 6max. I used to play pure 25NL but through a running bad and withdrawals I'm down to about 18 buyins now and have moved down to 10NL to rebuild.
3) I enjoy poker very much and want to master the game. Obviously, the money is nice, but the drive to play perfectly is most important for me. For this reason I much enjoy higher stakes if I can afford it, because usually the money isn't entering into my thought process because I'm viewing everything in terms of BBs and pot odds.
4) I've been lurking/posting here way too much for the past year. I mostly have played tournaments in the past and have been very successful in low buyins like 1$ MTTs and 4/180s (about 1k$ in profit with 100% ROI). I'm up and down in uNL ring games, and about breakeven through 20k hands over my lifetime. (I mostly only 2table, my play starts to suffer past 3). I play very aggressively when possible, and like to adjust to table dynamics, mixing in LAG and TAG styles as I see fit. It's not uncommon for me to be playing 14/7 at one table and 35/25 at another, but winning both.

I won't pretend that I don't have quite a few MAJOR leaks in my game, but I think that I have a good conceptual understanding of the game and would learn very quickly if I had someone good watching and playing with me, helping me plug my leaks.

[kazana]

@Freelancer:
You could also post my questions for you from the pm + your answers, I think that should be interesting for most applicants. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Freelancer]

Now it's time for my questions:
1) Why would I want you to be my coach?
2) What would you be able to teach me that 2p2 can't?
3) Will you enforce your style upon your student, or will you try to tune his play to be more EV?
4) How would you know your student succeeded? What are your landmarks for knowing when you've succeeded or failed?


Those where the questions, you got the answers though kazana. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[kazana]

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Now it's time for my questions:
1) Why would I want you to be my coach?
2) What would you be able to teach me that 2p2 can't?
3) Will you enforce your style upon your student, or will you try to tune his play to be more EV?
4) How would you know your student succeeded? What are your landmarks for knowing when you've succeeded or failed?


Those where the questions, you got the answers though kazana. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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Hehe, okay, here are the answers from Freelancer:

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1) I have a solid understanding of the game and the principles behind it, its a free service to the community though and I don't feel the need to prove myself.
2) 2p2 mainly deals with specific hands, not with the general flow of the game. I'm also planning to focus on the student's game and fixing there leaks wich is obv. better than general advice.
3) I fully realize that the style I play (25/23 or so) is way different than the optimal style for the lower limits, or even a optimal style for the limits I play right now. However Id be trying to teach game strategy and not so much a certain style...
4) When I start noticing changes in my students game I will know that my 'training' had effect, the students themselves are probably the best judges wether the 'training' pays of or not...

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[whoomp]

Hey there thanks for doing this man, I'm 22 years old student of Computer science from Slovenia. I have the trial version of Poker Tracker, but I'm going to register soon. I play about 3 hours daily 6 tabling 10 NL FR, but recently shot taking 25 NL I play just 2 tabled of 6 max.

1) What site do you play?

Party poker.

2) What limits do you play?

NL 10 and taking shots at 25 NL 6 max.

3) Experience?

I've been playing for about 6 months, at first I was fooling around with various games playing limit and SNG's. 2 months ago I started playing NL more seriously and really trying to improve. Started with around 50$ and grinded it up first at 5 NL then switched to 10 NL and now I have a 350$ roll at 10 NL and I'm taking some shots to see how NL 25 feels.

4) Goals with poker (for instance what limits are you trying to reach)?

My short-term goal is to move up to 50/100 NL as fast as possible, so I can make some spending money. Long term goal is to play 400-600NL and higher making a decent living for myself.

[/b]5)[/b] You need a drive to improve, this is WAY more important than your current skill level. I don't mind to explain everything twice as long as you listen and try to understand and build this into your game. If this doesn't work out the way I want, I will take up a different student (this is a last resort type of thing).

I recently spend a lot of my free time studying the game, watching training videos, discussing hands with friends, I really want to get better at poker.

So I hope you pick me for your tutoring, see you around!