Rhodeman77
Straight Flush
I played about 500 hours averaging $70/hr in 2018 for my best year to date.
Cash Game My Modest 2018 Results (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Kain8
- Start date
crazman
Sitting Out
This thread made me realize I never calculated my stats for the year.
Cash Games:
Sessions - 15 (14 $1/$2, 1 $0.25/$0.50)
Game Time - 66hrs
Buy in - $4270
Cash out - $5846
Profit - $1576
Average = $23.88/hr
Tournaments:
Sessions - 3
Game Time - 19.75hrs
Buy in - $650
Cash out - $947.80
Profit - $297.80
Average = $15.08/hr
Not extremely profitable, but I'll take it for my first year seriously tracking.
Cash Games:
Sessions - 15 (14 $1/$2, 1 $0.25/$0.50)
Game Time - 66hrs
Buy in - $4270
Cash out - $5846
Profit - $1576
Average = $23.88/hr
Tournaments:
Sessions - 3
Game Time - 19.75hrs
Buy in - $650
Cash out - $947.80
Profit - $297.80
Average = $15.08/hr
Not extremely profitable, but I'll take it for my first year seriously tracking.
andy699669
3 of a Kind
Holy $#!T, that's 35000 a year?? Amazing.
Dang. even at 2/5 that's an impressive rate.
Rhodeman77
Straight Flush
$2/5 PLO plays a lot bigger than $2/5 Hold’em. It is much closer to $5/10 Hold’em I’d guess.
This thread made me take a big look at last years stats... brutal.
I knew I ran really bad, but the stats don’t lie... I had a negative year. About 1k total loss.. not sure of the reasons, but I do know that I have a weekly tourney I’ve frequently cashed, but didn’t once in 2018. I’ve had 34% overall tourney cash rate for span of 2015, 2016, 2017 (over 440 hours). In 2018, I only cashed 15% of my tourneys (over 140 hours), and I didn’t cash once in my weekly (6-7 table game), which is normally very profitable. I also had my first negative Vegas trip ever in 2018, losing $1800...
I don’t think my play has changed, and I actually think I’ve done as much studying as ever... I try to analyze some of my losing sessions and though I find some spots where I didn’t maximize value, I also find a ton more crazy variance than I can ever remember... in Vegas for instance, I had a single session where I felt like one of the better players in the game, but had set over set on dry boards THREE times in two hours (about a 1k loss just there). I understand weathering variance is part of the game, but I seem to keep lossing huge pots where I am getting it in good, but lose. Oh well..
2019 is a new year, and it’s already off to a good start.
This thread is a great reminder of the importance of keeping track of your game (whether it’s detailed stats or hand analysis). As bad as variance has been for me, I obviously have a leak somewhere, and analysis is important in identifying this. Thanks.
I knew I ran really bad, but the stats don’t lie... I had a negative year. About 1k total loss.. not sure of the reasons, but I do know that I have a weekly tourney I’ve frequently cashed, but didn’t once in 2018. I’ve had 34% overall tourney cash rate for span of 2015, 2016, 2017 (over 440 hours). In 2018, I only cashed 15% of my tourneys (over 140 hours), and I didn’t cash once in my weekly (6-7 table game), which is normally very profitable. I also had my first negative Vegas trip ever in 2018, losing $1800...
I don’t think my play has changed, and I actually think I’ve done as much studying as ever... I try to analyze some of my losing sessions and though I find some spots where I didn’t maximize value, I also find a ton more crazy variance than I can ever remember... in Vegas for instance, I had a single session where I felt like one of the better players in the game, but had set over set on dry boards THREE times in two hours (about a 1k loss just there). I understand weathering variance is part of the game, but I seem to keep lossing huge pots where I am getting it in good, but lose. Oh well..
2019 is a new year, and it’s already off to a good start.
This thread is a great reminder of the importance of keeping track of your game (whether it’s detailed stats or hand analysis). As bad as variance has been for me, I obviously have a leak somewhere, and analysis is important in identifying this. Thanks.
Rhodeman77
Straight Flush
If the Vegas cash game was a bigger game than you normally play it could take a long time for a part time player t make up for a loss like that.
The tournament cash drop would be more concerning since you play that the most and have a longer track record. Are the other players getting better? Have they started to figure out your play style? Have you become too predictable in spots? These are things I would look at.
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
If I had a return like that, I would have taken a massive shit on my bosses desk and left to play full time.
...and I like my boss.
Mines not been all that great this year. I feel like I’m getting worse. When I started 18 months ago I was playing super tight abc.
I should be much more profitable in my local 1/3 game. Players suck, but I think I’ve become a bit too loose in my over confidence.
Bit of a swingy chart. I need another spike
I should be much more profitable in my local 1/3 game. Players suck, but I think I’ve become a bit too loose in my over confidence.
Bit of a swingy chart. I need another spike
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Rhodeman77
Straight Flush
I was on vacation for the last 2 weeks of the year and had a very serious talk with my wife about reducing my hours working my regular job to play poker 3-4 nights per week. I just don’t know if would get burned out playing that much.
I have a great job, that pays well, but not as well per hour as poker!
Plus it would give me more time at home to help her with our 4 kids.
We ended up deciding I’d go to 2 nights per week for poker the next 6 months or so and if I can keep up the win rate I’d talk to my boss about going to part time.
Poker nights wipe me out for a complete day when I work the next day, I’m usually going on 2-3 hours of sleep, sometimes less.
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MrCatPants
Full House
I gotta get one of these apps. I've just been managing a bankroll to track total ups and downs, but feeling dorky and want the stats!
I'm up this year on poker alone, but don't know more than that.
I'm up this year on poker alone, but don't know more than that.
Rhodeman77
Straight Flush
Funny story. A few years ago all the “good players” in our network started using the tracker apps so it caught on with a lot of the other players. Well once a bunch of the fish realized just how much money they were losing they stopped playing!!!
Now, nobody shows the app if they still use them at all.
GIANTDustySquid
Straight
Religiously tracked every session I played for the last year and a half or so. Went through a bit of a rough patch along the way but fought through it.
Just recently made the switch to Google Pixel and lost all my data from my app. Saved the pics of the important stuff and transfered it. Wish I had kept up on it since I've been on an absolute tear lately in tournaments. Up about $4500 in tournaments the last two months, but down about $700 in cash
Just recently made the switch to Google Pixel and lost all my data from my app. Saved the pics of the important stuff and transfered it. Wish I had kept up on it since I've been on an absolute tear lately in tournaments. Up about $4500 in tournaments the last two months, but down about $700 in cash
MrCatPants
Full House
Funny story. A few years ago all the “good players” in our network started using the tracker apps so it caught on with a lot of the other players. Well once a bunch of the fish realized just how much money they were losing they stopped playing!!!
Now, nobody shows the app if they still use them at all.
Man this is a big fear of mine. I've been working on my game and gotten better, but afraid I'm going to start driving the social players off when they realize they're coming home empty too often.
I guess I gotta get better snacks in my new space.
Seeking Alpha Social Club
4 of a Kind
IMHO...the only thing that matters is if I had fun doing it??? I am a whole whopping $180 up since labor day (see standings below), but I truly treat poker as a social event. If I win along the way....then life is grand because I spent time with WONDERFUL friends and won enough money to buy them pizza and beer
Enjoy the journey my friend!!
Enjoy the journey my friend!!
I agree with @Seeking Alpha Social Club on the home game front.
Personally, I don’t use bankroll funds for home games and the stakes are smaller than I play at the casino. I consider it to be more of a social event, because my games are more with direct mates, so I don’t actually track the results.
I’m certainly not nearly as profitable at home, because I’m playing for enjoyment and will be splashier.
I’m all business in the casino though lol
Personally, I don’t use bankroll funds for home games and the stakes are smaller than I play at the casino. I consider it to be more of a social event, because my games are more with direct mates, so I don’t actually track the results.
I’m certainly not nearly as profitable at home, because I’m playing for enjoyment and will be splashier.
I’m all business in the casino though lol
Interesting thoughts... the weekly tourney has always been tough, with many semi pro folks playing. A weekly game I played recently was noted (on our area FB group) that the Herndon mob totals for the noteable players was 3 million.. so the player pool is tougher... another factor was this weekly upped its buy in by 50%, which has drawn this tougher crowd... but to fail to cash at all? Crazy. The player pool is big enough that I often see the same players, but I’m not usually a predictable player to start (I’ve been balancing my range before it was a term). I also think my game has improved (as I’ve already stated I’ve been studying more).
I think I’m working to shore up my game, but I also don’t want to deny the impact of variance here. I believe my game can improve, but in reviewing some of my tougher sessions, I’m having a hard time finding major issues with my play. I’ve shared many of these hands to my discussion group, and the consensus seems to be run bad. I don’t buy that’s the only cause, but I also dont want to play results oriented.
I think part of my issue is I’m playing bigger, trying to extract max value in certain spots, and bloating pots when I’ve got the nutz, and many times (in these bloated pots, people are just getting there with thin draws... I believe I’m doing my best to maximize value, but getting unlucky.
...brief example: a week back, playing weekly tourney (cash game afterwards). 1/2 (plays like a 2/5). Sitting on $400 in EP. have
I bet $16, get 3 callers. Flop is 
. I lead for $45, get 2 callers SB and CO. Turn is 
, and I lead for $80, CO flats, and SB jams for $300. I Shove, and CO tank calls his remaining $240-ish stack.. SB has QQ, I roll over my set, and CO shows 67o (one card to come for a 1k pot). It’s the 
. I know CO dude was only 15% to win on the turn, and probably didn’t have the right odds to call any street of that hand... and that’s just one bad beat (albeit typical of playing poker). I get that variance happens, and bad beats happen, but hands like that have been happening with a much greater frequency this last year. And maybe the fault lies with me, in getting involved in bigger pot situations... but then in looking at the correct play, I believe I should be getting the money in there? No? And that hand defined the session, but I still cashed up (bot not by the 1k extra profit I’d have liked). But I digress. I dont want to turn this into a strat thread. Other than advocating that keeping stats is a good strat.... it allows you to identify possible issues, then work through them.
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I feel for you @Trihonda it definitely sucks when the biggest pots that you get involved in are the ones that you lose, especially when you get it in good. And you obviously got it in very good there.
I had the same scenario a couple of times, which set me back a bit and had me doubting myself. It can certainly skew the numbers a bit when you play a bit bigger stakes than usual and you hit a big loss.
I had the same scenario a couple of times, which set me back a bit and had me doubting myself. It can certainly skew the numbers a bit when you play a bit bigger stakes than usual and you hit a big loss.
WedgeRock
Royal Flush
That's only 500 hours. Normal working year is 2000 hours (50 weeks x 40 hours a week, with a 2 week vacation) so that would be more like $140,000/year extrapolated out.
RainmanTrail
Straight Flush
You will definitely get burned out if you ramp up your playing time that much eventually. If you have a good job that you enjoy, I highly recommend making that your priority and keeping poker as your additional source of revenue. You'll enjoy it more too, and as a result, you'll even play better. I paid professionally full time for 12 years, but I'm not just speaking from personal experience, I'm also speaking on behalf of every other pro friend I know. I've had countless discussions on this very topic with a lot of very strong players. It always becomes a grind. For everyone. Life is all about balance IMO. Don't let the important things slip. You'll probably even begin to resent poker and end up not wanting to play at all if you do.
Rhodeman77
Straight Flush
Thanks for the info. I do enjoy my job. I’ve been doing it for 17 years now and I’m only 41!
The main reason my wife and I have been talking about me playing more poker is the flexibility of hours. With 4 kids under 6 years old it is a lot for her to do by herself everyday.
My ideal situation would be to work 20-24 hours at my job and 20 hours a week playing poker. Even if it was just for a year or 2 until the boys were in preschool.
If I could could work 4 days a week, having Fridays off at a 20% pay cut I’d take it in a heart beat right now!
RainmanTrail
Straight Flush
Something else worth keeping in mind when thinking about whether or not you want to pursue poker as a career or a major source of income that you need to be able to rely on is that in addition to the variance you experience on the felt, you are also usually subject to seasonality throughout the year, and depending on where you play this can be pretty strong. Summer games have different player pools than winter games, and sometimes just finding a good game that's worth your time can be difficult. But most importantly, poker income is very much subject to the economy. You don't win money because you're awesome at poker, you win money because bad players make terrible decisions and you've plugged many of your leaks. When the economy struggles, the bad players dry up and you're often left to grind it out against other players with much fewer leaks. That's when you find out money doesn't always come easy at the poker tables. Then you often have to travel further in search of better games, and your cost to play begins to add up. The economy is fairly good right now, but it's volatile, and a lot of "experts" see more bears than bulls ahead.
RainmanTrail
Straight Flush
Looks like I played a total of 23 hours last year lol. Probably my lowest total since I was 16.
detroitdad
Royal Flush
I've had a solid first three months of the year.
I’d like this more if it measured new friends, good food and booze and of course fun gained from the local poker scene.
detroitdad
Royal Flush
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