I will mentor you for free

[Idiotex]

I really appreciate what you're doing here Jay and love the concept of the community. Perhaps what you will end up with is 25 / 50 players coaching 10 / 20 players, 10 / 20 players coaching 5 / 10 players, and so on and so forth, all the way down to 25/50c. That would be pretty cool.

Nobody is perfect but I believe I fit your selection criteria for suitable applicants. So, to the questions.

1. How you are currently improving your game

Superficially, I play roughly 1k hands per day, watch cardrunners videos, and discuss hands with other poker players. But I think more important than of this is the time I spend analyzing the game in my head. I try not to think about what I should be doing, but what I should do and the reason for it. I try to balance ranges against regulars even though I am a lowly 100nl grinder. I also started talking in chat with one of the only few really good regulars on ladbrokes (at the applicable stakes), and we are now discussing hands daily on AIM after our sessions. We are also looking to start making a one hour video of our play for each other to give an audio critique (Bryce style).

2. Your poker goals.

My poker goal is to beat 5/10NL for 4BB's/100, 4-tabling and playing roughly 1k hands per day. I might have to reassess this goal and bring it down to 3BB's if I found that I am simply not capable of this. I certainly believe that 4BB/100 is possible for a good player, it's just a question of whether they can maintain focus during downswings, and manage their lifestyle such that they are always playing their best.

The main reason that my ambition only extends this far is that it would provide for a comfortable lifestyle, but perhaps allow me to avoid the stress of long break-even stretches at higher stakes (see: better players).

However, as with all things, if I were to succed in meeting this goal over 100k hands, I would certainly re-eveluate my situation, as with all things.

My short-term goal is to move up to 200nl on January 1st.

3. Your current stakes and past earnings

I'm currently grinding 100nl. I'm away for 10 days in Melbourne (starting tonight). My goal for December is to win 20 buy ins and then move up to 200nl on January 1st. I started playing poker seriously a year ago, and after rakeback, bonuses and gross winnings, I guess I've made $8k or so.

4. A few examples of good strategy posts you have made.

I'm not a big strategy poster. I have tried to get into it many times. But while there may be some excellent posters in small stakes no limit, they are few and far between. I think I certainly have a competent understanding of hand ranges and the like, and in most cases I have found that people don't usually tell me something I don't already know. Often big decisions are very close, and when you make the decision you are aware of that. I am more concerned with more insidious mistakes, like c-betting too much or too little vs various opponents. Not check raise bluffing frequently enough. Stuff like that. Things that can't really be described in a simple strat post.

So to provide some insight into the strategy I have been thinking lately...

Minraising the flop in 3-bet pots: I have given a lot of thought to it and been working into my game recently against regulars. Minraising in a 3-bet pot tends to induce a fold or shove. No one has just called me as yet. The theory behind it is the usual mathematical stuff. If I raise to $4 in the cutoff, button 3-bets to $13.50, and I call, there is $27 in the pot. Button then c-bets for $21 which makes the total pot $48.

Now let's say the flop is an A 9 6 rainbow, and that the button raiser has a very wide range. To minraise it costs $42. The pot is $48. Thus, the minraise needs to cause a fold marginally less than 50% of the time to be profitable, in and of itself.

Doing some basic poker stove work with hand ranges, it is easily determined that given his solid range of 3-betting hands, this play will be profitable, given the assumption that he folds without top pair or better. KK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, some suited connector, KQs , KQo etc all fold out.

However, it also has the effect of making opponents stack off lighter, especially in 3-bet pots. I have been targeting one solid regular specifically with this strategy and had great success in deep stacked situations. If I flop a set in a 3-bet pot he cannot find a fold w/ top pair or an overpair for 160BB's+.

My minraises are always compatabile with my range as I never 4-bet regulars. So on any board I could have AA or KK. I only 4-bet fish who I am certain will shove.

I don't want to waste your time writing 10k words on one aspect of the game, but hopefully this offers some insight into the way I analyze the game.

5. A little about yourself.

I live in Australia. I'm a 24 year old male. I have two degrees. One in commerce and one in social sciences. At present I am just playing poker to make some cash while I consider my future. I have applied to do a dip-ed (a one year grad degree in education) that will allow me to teach high school. I hope to just teach relief two days a week and play poker to make extra money.

I appreciate your consideration.

James.

[spicybucknuts]

I suppose I will give this a shot even though I am obviously new by 2+2 standards. I have been playing poker for about 4 years, but I've become progressively more serious about improving my game over the past year. I may not be the ideal candidate because I have a regular job and I work over 50 hours per week. However, I have a pretty good head on my shoulders and I am engrossed by the finer points of the game.

I really love the competitive aspect that poker provides and I am at the stage of my life where I look towards pokers as a viable secondary source of income. I currently play 200NL, and as much as I enjoy making money I truly do want to gain a better understanding of poker concepts that will allow me to improve long after the sessions have ended. Sorta like teaching to fish, rather than giving a fish, etc.

I can provide screenshots that will detail my play on Full Tilt, Party, and Bodog if there is any chance that I will receive serious consideration. Obviously, as someone with no posts, I won't be offended at all if you don't give this a second thought. My previous screen name was danswer5, which I've had for over 2 years on 2+2, but I recently decided to start all over again and focus more on strategy posts and things of that nature. I'll end this right here because it's already longer than I intended; hope you find what you're looking for, and thanks for doing this.

I also wanted to add that I would be willing to pay a fee in order for you to choose me as an applicant. I only play 200nl, so the fee would not be exorbitant by any means, but hopefully this could be an added incentive to choose me as one of your pupils, considering that you will be doing so much extracurricular activity for free.

[higher_energy]

1. How you are currently improving your game

I think that one of the best ways to improve a game besides thinking through the hands is to actually put in the time and play. Practice and thinking through the hands makes perfect. Having said that, I have not played since the Fall of 2007 (besides trips to AC and Foxwoods) because I was busy applying for jobs, classes and college sports. Now that I work full-time, I will start playing again in the evenings and on weekends.
Despite the fact that I do work, my passion for poker never ceased. I have been reading a number of blogs online, as well as the strategy posts on 2p2 in both LHE and NLHE forums. The recent poker book that I bought and finished reading about a week ago was Stox's book on short-handed LHE.
About a month ago I renewed my membership at Cardrunners.
I constantly talk about hands and discuss scenarios with a few co-workers that play poker semi-regularly and have been seriously considering getting a coach in the NYC area. Unfortunately, I still can't settle on anybody just yet and this seems like perfect opportunity. I think that coaching is an incredible opportunity to jump start anyone's poker game.
In 2004 I had my first tutoring session with a high limit player on party (back than this was uncommon and I think I was his second student). We had three brief sessions which had a huge impact on my game. That summer I made over 35k in MTTs and I attribute all of my success to him.

2. Your poker goals.

In short, I want to improve and get a lot better. As I get back into poker I want to be comfortably beating 2/4 NLHE as well as 5/10LHE and up.
I am very determined and Id like to plug my leaks asap and be able to successfully exploit other's.
I need to improve post flop play, especially on later streets.
I need to improve my discipline, BR management and be honest with myself regarding poker (not mix poker winnings with actual salary).
I am willing to work as hard as necessary to accomplish these goals.

3. Your current stakes and past earnings

I am going to redeposit and start out at 1/2 NLHE as well as 3/6 LHE full ring.
I have played exclusively STTs and MTTs from 2003-2005 when I was in college, making around 30k during that time and have played cash games ever since, with the bulk of the hands logged at 1/2NLHE and 5/10 LHE HU.
My biggest day was a 300euro with rebuys tournament in Madrid where I placed second for 22k euroes (lost hu with 2/1 chiplead). I was staked for this tournament and spent 1.5k euroes on entry fees, so I only got half of the 22k cash.
Best month when I was playing MTTs online was 27k. Best cash month was +10k playing 1/2 and 2/4 last summer. My worst month was -8k right after that.

4. A few examples of good strategy posts you have made.

Although I have been an avid reader of 2p2 and a number of online poker blogs, I do not really have any poker posts that I am "proud off". All the poker-related posts I have are when I was trying to regain my confidence and rebuild my roll after that -8k month. If you find these helpful, feel free to look through them.

5. A little about yourself.
Graduated from college this spring with a degree in Econ and International Relations. As of July I live in NYC and work at a hedge fund. Most of my time is preoccupied with work, catching up friends and thinking (hopefully playing soon) about poker.

If you need additional info, let me know.

[nazahl]

this is a great idea.

1. just put in an application for a coach through leggopoker but have been posting hands, strat in ssnl for a couple months now. I keep a journal to review my sessions and write out the hands I misplayed so I don't repeat the same mistakes. people remember things they write down something like 80% better than when they just see/hear them. finally figuring out why/how I tilt which has been hurting my game lately.

2. I hope to be able to beat up to 3/6 or 5/10nl, I think its important to have realistic goals and expectations. 10/20nl and higher is seriously tough competition and while its possible to get there the chances that you'll be a long term winner is very slim considering the state of online games.

3. currently playing 1/2nl at fulltilt. bankroll is at approx. $14k that I've worked up from an initial deposit of $300 in august.

4.
one

two

three

5. graduated from penn state last spring. decided to put off getting a real job for a while to do some traveling/time off in England. been putting off getting a real job ever since, fell into poker. don't want to play poker forever, rather use it as a stepping stone to opening up my own business in the future. am focused, dedicated and feel as though I have lots of potential for improvement as I've only been playing nl for 3 months. have some ssnl street cred but its only at 100nl

other than that I dunno, man. I hope I get picked for this because it sounds like a great opportunity to learn and improve.

[fnord_too]

Just for a minute let's all do the bump

[keikiwai]

[ QUOTE ]

What you MUST have:

- Potential


[/ QUOTE ]

[ImsaKidd]

Did we ever figure out who moved this to the mod forum?

EDIT: looks like citanul

[spino1i]

Im a 10/20 NL player.. do you work with people that want to move from 10/20 NL to like 50/100 NL?

[NLSoldier]

[ QUOTE ]
Im a 10/20 NL player.. do you work with people that want to move from 10/20 NL to like 50/100 NL?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is my question as well, he said hes not gonna be back till tommorow though so I think im just gonna do an application anyways.

[GSykes]

1. How you are currently improving your game

I am watching any video that I can get a hold of.
I browse strategy based forums a little to much imo.
I coach a couple of people (unl 25nl etc)
I make videos for my friends


2. Your poker goals.

My poker goals would simply to be a MSNL grinder. Waking up and having the flexibility to play anywheres from 2/4nl - 5/10nl.

I also want to be comfortably play almost any tourney online. Meaning just on Sunday grinding every sunday major. AIGYOS?

3. Your current stakes and past earnings

200nl. I have had spotty bankroll management up until like 7 months ago. I am trying to get better of all aspects that I lacked before now.
6k profit last 7 months [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

4. A few examples of good strategy posts you have made.

My Carpal\Tunnel Post

5. A little about yourself.

I have just moved up to 200nl and really trying to advance my game to the next level. I have the next 8-9 months to really focus and work on my game. I also coach 5 players in uNL and would like to help those players as well with all the knowledge you have given me.