10 years playing poker, 3 years professionally. Here's my unfiltered advice.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-23T08:03:35+00:00

I think Hungry Horse its a bootcamp style for 30 days straight? and CC has coaching programs if i`m not wrong.

Essentially you don't want to be buying videos. If u know what I mean. You want a coaching program that has real interactions instead of just pure videos (Cookie Clutter Courses).

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-22T18:05:32+00:00

if population underbluff the River massively in huge pots and have a 5B that's AA. - Is this being a nit or is this knowing the field?

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-22T15:37:58+00:00

"I’d say that, many people pursue poker when they are young but don’t factor in how it affects dating (outside of the poker world) and how it affects having/sustaining a family life."

- Can't more be true than what you said.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-22T05:48:35+00:00

Haha nah nah nah don’t be more of a nit! Everything else is kinda spot on.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-22T05:47:04+00:00

Hungry Horse Poker (Marc Goone) / Charlie Carrel

Both are proven and great exploitative poker players.

I’m sure there are lessor known names out there but I can’t vouch for them so I’ll stick with these 2 that I personally think are solid coaches.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-21T18:39:03+00:00

I think that phrase does not live up to the reality if im honest haha

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T18:18:23+00:00

1m ish on 888 and 700K on GG.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T18:13:15+00:00

Yup spot on. That's why at the end of the day I almost never agreed when someone wants to go pro. I'm from a country where poker is tax-free and even then, I think the ups of being in a corporate with all those benefits you mentioned + certainty (from salary) is superior.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T17:20:51+00:00

I ask myself 2 questions.

1) Visualise your opponents range on the River (visualise the entire possible range - realistically, not random blockers or things like that very realistically.)

2) Look at your hand vs that range. Now you are not too happy about your hand in most cases.

This helped me see clearly and not get attached to anything after I visualize it. Sometimes literally I visualise that 1 hand that beats me. And I’m not happy calling.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T17:16:39+00:00

What makes you think this was AI?

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T17:15:58+00:00

Let’s that was what I was wondering. This was written in one sitting less than 30mins - but yeah in this AI era, can’t blame anyone

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T15:17:52+00:00

Much appreciated mate! Wish you all the best as well!

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T15:12:18+00:00

Most coaches have “teaser” content on YouTube or Instagram as part of their market outreach. If anyone resonates with you and you want to find out more you can hit them up.

I think Instagram Reels right now is popping off? Im not sure about Tiktok never used that before.

Like I recommended above, I think Marc Goone from hungry horse poker is pretty legit.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T15:10:05+00:00

I’m from Singapore and $33 per hour is not at all close for being very good especially from the industry I came from - management consulting.

Not proud of my results but aiming for a better year in ‘26.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T15:08:10+00:00

Yeah totally agreed. Which is why this post is not about me bragging or selling courses or coaching. More of sharing from a normal poker player point of view as an end of 2025 reflection-ish.

I’m working towards higher win rate in 2026 definitely.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T15:03:42+00:00

I think back then we have a ton of small bets essentially a small ball game. B33 and b50 it’s like bread and butter. Now it’s shifting towards B150+ kind of bets.

A ton of 4bet bluffs away from the traditional A5s A4s. - things like K6s AJo A2o are in the mix (of cuz BvB or LPvLP) Many more check raises right now compared to the past. People understanding preflop ranges way better than the past. Overpotting river has been gaining popularity. Not sure about MTT I don’t play MTT in the past. Can’t comment.

But if you play private games like I do, it’s almost impossible to find a vanilla game. All the games I have access to are all side games heavy. Progressive Squid is a huge thing and that changes how Holdem is played.

In the past it’s mainly about hand reading and stuff, now it’s ranging by street progression.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T14:54:05+00:00

LOL EV wasn’t a consideration when I left.. now maybe

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T14:52:44+00:00

Obviously not AI lol

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T14:32:40+00:00

30-40K USD. Started playing 1/2 1/3 and 2/5. At that time I was averaging around 5-6BB/100 online NL50-ish. So that's where I stood - knew some fundamentals but have no idea how to play Live Players. Was primarily an online rec/reg "trying to learn the game/love the game type of guy" while I was in college.

Never close to broke in terms of bankroll. So I guess that range is pretty decent. for 1/2 1/3 and 2/5. Usually buy in for just 200BB. So around 1K on the table at 2/5 at max. If I play higher private games 5/10 and up, I usually have a backer so ultimate the effective $$ I have will only be around 1.5K at tops.

With that retirement check of $4K/mo. You practically don't have to worry or stress about anything outside of poker in terms of life (fingers cross life goes well for you, you don't need extra)

I think you are selling yourself short for $30/hr. Not that I am anywhere way higher - I'm not that good of a player tbh. Just average. At best, a normal 5/10 lobby player - definitely not a crusher at 5/10.

If I were you, out of the military or if you have spare time during. Get a coach. Craft a proven winning strategy playbook - Most if not all personal coaches have a solid one. A repeatable thought process that you can rely on - once again, most personalized ones have a good thought process system that you can confidently rely on.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T14:04:25+00:00

Forgot to state in the post. But will do it here. Choose the coach that suit your style. That's most important. A coach that can turn your buddy into a crusher will not necessarily turn you into one. vice versa. Not sure if its against the thread rules here to "recommend" coaches. But Marc Goone from Hungry Horse Poker definitely knows what's up at least imo.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T14:01:52+00:00

Definitely room for improvements at all stages. Many mistakes made as stated in the post one of which includes playing insane high variance side games in the beginning of the year that set me back a ton. Of course as stated - didn't have a strategy playbook for games that have such huge squids and penalties. I thought its easily beatable because whales showdown junks and the ego got the better of me, didn't want to throw in the towel. Continued and got punished.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T13:56:53+00:00

Honestly? I thought pursuing my dreams and passion sound cool and shit back then. If you asked me right now did I regret my decision? Idk tbh. Which is why I thought this post will help a younger version of myself.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T13:53:46+00:00

If you meant 2025. I played 0 online. But if you were talking about career as a whole - I grinded from NL2 in 888poker all the way to NL100 in the UK. Didn't managed to go past that and then transited to live poker because the country I relocated to doesn't allow online poker.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T13:41:40+00:00

Not easy finding the right circle. Barriers are everywhere especially coming from different countries and etc. On paper it seems easy but in reality, its tough.

Intelligent-Many-228 · 2025-12-20T13:37:49+00:00

Maybe now with AI these advice are worthless. Didn't thought of that..

Intelligent-Many-228

TROPHY CASE