So long and thanks for all the fish - Page 3

Overall the game have gotten weaker during the pandemics. Games are def beatable on some sites at NL100/200, not sure about pokerstars. Table selection is key as always. Some good players supervising a bunch of bots must be insanely profitable tho. 30-40k a month doesn't surprise me by the slightest I'd think you could do even more.

Is linuslove still considered the best cash game player atm?

Also it's great to see Fayth still plays poker, I thought he was doing a business course or opening some business.

On June 17 2022 23:50 Oddeye wrote: Overall the game have gotten weaker during the pandemics. Games are def beatable on some sites at NL100/200, not sure about pokerstars. Table selection is key as always. Some good players supervising a bunch of bots must be insanely profitable tho. 30-40k a month doesn't surprise me by the slightest I'd think you could do even more. Is linuslove still considered the best cash game player atm? Also it's great to see Fayth still plays poker, I thought he was doing a business course or opening some business.

There are a lot of players that are about as good as linus and have been for some time now. I was just throwing that name out there because people actually know who he is. Most of the Russian high-stakes 6max regs are still quite exploitable, but there are a lot of extremely solid players from Europe that are at or near linus's level. When linus first became known as the best nl6max player he had quite a few leaks in his game. He didn't even have good preflop and was making weird all in jams on the flop because he didn't understand how to use piosolver properly. He has since fixed those and is a much better player than he was 3 years ago. He also found the time to become a top PLO reg and MTT's. So maybe Linus is the best nl reg still, but it's too hard to tell and there cannot be big enough sample sizes to prove anything anymore. Berri sweet is like linus in reverse, he is now a very good nl player.

On stars the games clearly aren't weaker since before the pandemic?? What site are you playing on? There was an initial influx of easy money but it has largely evaporated a while ago.

To give some actual numbers: z500 barely runs on stars now. Before the pandemic, player pool was around 50-80 during peak times. Look at the length of each monthly highstakes thread on twoplustwo and the volume recorded on stars. It's decreased quite a bit since jan 2020.

Like I said, the highest winrate at z500 in post solver era was ishter11 with 6bb/100 (and declining quite a lot at the time he quit). He was probably the best 6max reg at z500. Mine was around 3bb/100 over 400k hands and 6bb/100 at z200. But it seems like z200 is the new z500 now.

You get maybe 4 5/10 games running during peak hours, 2 of them will be 5 handed reg only, and 2 might revolve around a semi-fish/fish. That's your average night on pokerstars.

The issue with 5/10 and 10/20 games is that everyone takes a very long time for each decision, so your hourly isn't going to be that high.
. That's actually another thing that culturally sets American regs apart from Eu ones. The global games were insanely soft when I played there. I was one of like two-three that even bothered studying with sims. But near the end before i got banned, i'd say more than half the regs were studying with sims and they were improving rapidly. I actually coached about 5 mid-stakes regs on global, and know the regs there quite well. The games are probably still quite soft though.

Bots can't make that kind of money there anymore heh. The problem is that if they tried to make that kind of money, the players would catch them.

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@Doomer: Yeah if Buttonclickr is on American sites then gl haha. The Finnish hu regs are dominating that whole format. I'm not being pessimistic about stars. I guess it's subjective what people see as "good money", but the fact of the matter is, z500 doesn't even run.

Hey Ket! so much nostalgia here as well from time to time. It is so great to hear from you, I am glad to know that you formed a family and have moved on from poker succesfully. You said so when you came to SA and definetly seemed that you were over poker. It's great that you have a job looking at stocks, I am doing something of the sort as well, I guess I would call myself a swing trader in stocks. Been doing this full time ever since covid and I still enjoy it. Went in with the same obsessiveness I did with poker back in the day so I will definetly hit you up with a DM if you don't mind.

Also I remember we had a good time here, even though I dragged you into my second son's babyshower lmao, I just didn't want to fail you because you were here for just a few days, sorry! Wish we had more time to go out at night but was too difficult with my super pregnat wife, would love to make it up to you if you ever come back around.

Also love reading what you all guys have been doing all this time, lots of legends and great guys here, way too many to mention really, especially since most of us shared not only poker interest but a lot also starcraft/video games love, made friends and had experiences for a lifetime on this amazing ride.

Great read. Miss you and miss those times!

Great trip down memory lane Ket! I really enjoyed battling you. Fearless player with a great attitude.

It's kind of funny how poker nostalgie can also feel a bit sad. I don't know if any of us realized the spot we were in. What you said about me also very much strikes home haha. I took such bad care of myself, really put my mind and body through some fucked up pressure and stress. Definitely feel like I was on life-tilt a lot. I regret a lot of interactions / experiences / situations, but I learned a lot from it. I completed my redemption arc and I'm a very happy, content person now.

I hope you are well and doing good. Best of luck with COVID recovery.

On June 20 2022 14:15 RaSZi wrote: Great trip down memory lane Ket! I really enjoyed battling you. Fearless player with a great attitude. It's kind of funny how poker nostalgie can also feel a bit sad. I don't know if any of us realized the spot we were in. What you said about me also very much strikes home haha. I took such bad care of myself, really put my mind and body through some fucked up pressure and stress. Definitely feel like I was on life-tilt a lot. I regret a lot of interactions / experiences / situations, but I learned a lot from it. I completed my redemption arc and I'm a very happy, content person now. I hope you are well and doing good. Best of luck with COVID recovery.

<3

On June 20 2022 03:27 locoo wrote: Hey Ket! so much nostalgia here as well from time to time. It is so great to hear from you, I am glad to know that you formed a family and have moved on from poker succesfully. You said so when you came to SA and definetly seemed that you were over poker. It's great that you have a job looking at stocks, I am doing something of the sort as well, I guess I would call myself a swing trader in stocks. Been doing this full time ever since covid and I still enjoy it. Went in with the same obsessiveness I did with poker back in the day so I will definetly hit you up with a DM if you don't mind. Also I remember we had a good time here, even though I dragged you into my second son's babyshower lmao, I just didn't want to fail you because you were here for just a few days, sorry! Wish we had more time to go out at night but was too difficult with my super pregnat wife, would love to make it up to you if you ever come back around. Also love reading what you all guys have been doing all this time, lots of legends and great guys here, way too many to mention really, especially since most of us shared not only poker interest but a lot also starcraft/video games love, made friends and had experiences for a lifetime on this amazing ride.

Aha nice, good to hear from you and for sure love reading these updates yours included

On June 20 2022 13:56 Nazgul wrote: Great read. Miss you and miss those times!

Thanks mate, aha glad to see my blog has drawn out a post from the LP big man. Hope all well

On June 20 2022 14:15 RaSZi wrote: Great trip down memory lane Ket! I really enjoyed battling you. Fearless player with a great attitude. It's kind of funny how poker nostalgie can also feel a bit sad. I don't know if any of us realized the spot we were in. What you said about me also very much strikes home haha. I took such bad care of myself, really put my mind and body through some fucked up pressure and stress. Definitely feel like I was on life-tilt a lot. I regret a lot of interactions / experiences / situations, but I learned a lot from it. I completed my redemption arc and I'm a very happy, content person now. I hope you are well and doing good. Best of luck with COVID recovery.

Thanks Lex! V glad to hear your positive update. Wasn't aware at the time it was as bad as you describe when reflecting on it above but love the 'ending'.. well not really ending as we all still have plenty of life ahead of us

What's your investment strategy at the current time Ket? Curious to know since you work in finance. If you don't mind sharing of course, it would be nice to know. I feel quite uncertain about how to approach things now.

On June 14 2022 22:08 Ket wrote: Xervean - OG LP Degen taking high stakes shots for rolls back in the day. I understand through social media the man has cleaned up his act and crushes chess/responsible stakes poker now?

Great post and awesome read! Ket was my poker therapist for many many years! I would have gone busto much more often if not for him. lmao! I got the poker nostalgia last year as well but I went crazy and put in 400k hands. I'm crushing 200nl for 8.5bb/100 after getting coaching and trying to break through into 500nl. I'm able to drop down stakes and keep playing mid session now if need be. Complete turn around from the old days when I would play 25/50 for rollz to get even! LOL

It was awesome finally meeting you and Yomer in Vegas in 2012! Glad to hear its going well in finance! I went the software engineer route. Congrats on the family!!

Shout-out to VdP!! <3 Kettle

On June 21 2022 07:41 Loco wrote: What's your investment strategy at the current time Ket? Curious to know since you work in finance. If you don't mind sharing of course, it would be nice to know. I feel quite uncertain about how to approach things now.

yo sorry I don't really have any kind of good answer for you - work wise I'm doing 100% bottom up fundamental stuff, meeting individual companies' mgmt teams, doing diligence on niche stuff and find hidden misvalued gems the market is ignoring or mispricing due to some kind of controversy. no big "here's where I think markets or rates or whatever else are going" herocalls from me. Personal account wise I'm just trying to own some individual names I like, diversify across different macro scenarios and leave a decent amt of dry powder to be able to "buy when blood runs in the streets" with if things get really horrendous.

On June 21 2022 14:23 Xervean wrote: Show nested quote + On June 14 2022 22:08 Ket wrote: Xervean - OG LP Degen taking high stakes shots for rolls back in the day. I understand through social media the man has cleaned up his act and crushes chess/responsible stakes poker now? Great post and awesome read! Ket was my poker therapist for many many years! I would have gone busto much more often if not for him. lmao! I got the poker nostalgia last year as well but I went crazy and put in 400k hands. I'm crushing 200nl for 8.5bb/100 after getting coaching and trying to break through into 500nl. I'm able to drop down stakes and keep playing mid session now if need be. Complete turn around from the old days when I would play 25/50 for rollz to get even! LOL It was awesome finally meeting you and Yomer in Vegas in 2012! Glad to hear its going well in finance! I went the software engineer route. Congrats on the family!!

lol amazing, never thought I'd see the day

On June 24 2022 09:16 KeyleK_uk wrote: Shout-out to VdP!! <3 Kettle

<3<3
ridiculous how you guys weren't in OP, were at top of mind when I was making the post and looking back on all the good memories with sc/poker people but for whatever reason I didn't connect you with being LP regular posters even though you obviously were, I guess because we already went way back before LP even started

my Keylek story I'd have shared in OP was when I was making a couple Cardrunners videos in ~2008 was deciding i need some hu 5/10 multitable action vs a reg for a video, failing to get anyone in the lobbies to play me at the time (not a problem I'd expect to have today lol) so asking you if you fancied a battle for a CR video. Ended up making a "how not to play unless you want to get raped by keylek" video.

thanks Ket, that's pretty much what I expected from you but it's helpful to know

Hi Ket,

Love the pics & nostalgia. Very fond memories of you & TJBentham. Legends. Happy to see that you've progressed successfully in life with family & working in finance which is an unofficial passion of mine and a great place for any smart ex-poker player to be in. I imagine its a perfect fit for you.

I agree with RaSZi, it was such a fun time, money flowed, many of us didn't think about the future or the magnitude of the opportunity we stumbled upon. I wish I had a little more years & wisdom under my belt during the early years... I look back on the poker friendships and experiences fondly, and its a great post to jar my memory, so thank you for that. I'm not in touch with too many LPers these days, just a few. It's interesting to wonder where everyone is at, I always viewed poker as being a kind of stepping stone before I continued on the normal life path of school / work, but damn its hard to quit. I'm still here grinding. Poker seems to have that effect.. even people who successfully transition out of poker tend to find their way back at one point or another, even if its just for a bit of fun

Good luck in the future, buddy.

On August 1, I'll return from my 1.5 month European vacation. I guess I'll write a blog about it to provide some content to LP.

On June 15 2022 18:48 Loco wrote: Yeah Fayth was a sick grinder, probably still is. He's the one guy I've known to be basically addicted to owning people at something he's good at. He couldn't really see himself doing something else in life. Having a family didn't change that for him. But if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have had the motivation or confidence to do what I did back then. As for me I stopped grinding anything for a few years and started living - exploring things I had neglected in life as a grinder. Studied things I was interested in, became involved in different groups. But more recently I started grinding something again - this time weightlifting. I enjoy the grind with something physical. It's familiar and yet novel. For work I got a job working on Google Stadia from home and it's very chill.

Does Fayth still breakdance? iirc, he was the small guy who attended WCG and was breakdancing at a certain point.

Insane list. Feeling very nostalgic rn.

Weird how LP sticks with one even though I only met a handful of guys fromhere in RL.

Just now stumbling upon this post. Very fond memories of making you uncomfortable. Sometimes, while waiting at stop lights, I’ll throw my car into park and crank the emergency break up, and giggle. I don’t know if you still do that, but part of me really hopes you do.

Haven't been on LP in forever and just randomly decided to check it out while doing work stuff, eating pizza and drinking beer at a bar. I too share the nostalgia that so many other old legends from this forum have. I will also forever cherish many of those memories shared with you all. I was a dumb, young, and immature kid from Tennessee and was able to learn so much from so many of you sharing houses in Vegas or traveling to tournaments abroad.

As a funny side note I will share a quick story that involves some posters in this thread and Ket that will hopefully make some of you laugh:

I was 18 years old coming off of luckboxing the Sunday Million and playing in my first live tournament ever: The PCA main. The night before the tournament I got a chance to meet a lot of LPer's for the first time (BigBob, Mez, Alex, Nolan come to mind). Pokerstars threw an incredible party with free booze and food. As most dumb immature 18 year olds would do, I overly indulged. I completely blacked out and was told later on that I was on a mission to find IMSAKIDD (a notorious MSNL ratholer) and kill him. I woke up with no recollection of what happened and with every single piece of furniture in my hotel room stacked upon my bed. Bigbob and Alex and maneuvered all while I was passed out.

Fast forward to tournament time and I was able to shrug off my hangover as only an 18 year old kid can do. I'll never forget playing with Gavin Smith (RIP) and being nervous and rattled as shit. He could tell I was new to live poker and kept making fun of my &quot;internet bets&quot;. I had sold I think 50% of my action and Ket had a piece. He had gotten word that I was a stupid drunk mess the night before and came down pretty hard on me on LP. He was totally in the right and I was in the wrong of course. I feel like I learned a pretty valuable lesson after the fact in doing what is right, being professional, honorable, and having solid integrity. Later down the road we shared so many awesome experiences in Las Vegas and got along great. I feel very fortunate to have met you Ket and so many others from LP.

I miss all of you deeply and hope everyone is crushing life in their own unique way. And I'm certain all of you are

Oh Tim, I had completely forgotten about doing that. Those were some damn good times.

The lurkers come out for kets blog lol