Title: Day 1 Results: The Grind Begins
January 1 results
Introduction
Day 1 of my 2025 poker grind is officially in the books, and it was a rollercoaster. As I dive deeper into transitioning fully to the $33-$55 stakes while incorporating satellites to mitigate variance, the journey is already proving to be an exciting challenge. With a mix of ups and downs, I’ve learned some valuable lessons from my first day, which I’ll break down here. I’ll also share a few key hands that defined the day.
Let’s jump into the results and see what Day 1 brought to the table.
Day 1 Results
Here’s a quick breakdown of my performance:
Games Played: 24
Average Stake: $24.08
ROI: 66.4%
Total Profit: -$142
While I didn’t end the day in the green, the experience provided several takeaways that I can use to sharpen my strategy moving forward. My average buy-in (ABI) ended at $24.08—short of my goal to reach $30. Working toward an ABI of $33 remains a key focus for the upcoming days.
Key Observations from Day 1
Unexpected Highs and Lows:
I managed to hit two four-of-a-kinds across different tournaments, which is a rare occurrence. However, those highs didn’t translate into sustained success.Flips Didn’t Go My Way:
In the $30 Deepstack tournament, I ended 22/121 after being 4th in chips with 26 left. Losing three consecutive flips derailed my momentum, resulting in a bust just outside the money.Trusting the ICM Model:
A critical mistake cost me in the $55 tournament, where I ended as the stone bubble (15/96). With 5.57BB and 15th in chips, I shoved 98♠♠ from late position, hoping to steal. I misjudged the situation, as the SB woke up with QQ and called. In retrospect, this was an ICM fold, as other short stacks were closer to elimination, and securing a min-cash ($100) would have offset some of the day’s losses. Lesson learned: ICM discipline is crucial.
Key Hands from Day 1
Hand #1: Bubble Mistake in the $55
Tournament: $55 NL Hold’em
Situation: I was 15th in chips with 5.57BB. The SB (6.3BB) and BB (12.7BB) both had slightly more chips than me.
Details: Holding 98♠♠, I attempted to shove from the cutoff, targeting the blinds. While my hand plays decently against a wide calling range, this was a poor ICM decision given the circumstances. The SB called with QQ, and I didn’t improve. In hindsight, folding here would have increased my chances of laddering or finding a better spot.
Hand #2: Value Gone Wrong
Tournament: $99 NL Hold’em
Situation: Midway through the tournament, I held K♠T♠ in position against a known competent player. The flop came K♣7♦4♦, giving me top pair.
Details: I c-bet 30%, and the villain check-raised. I called to reevaluate on the turn, which blanked. It went check-check. The river brought another K♥, giving me trips. Villain checked, and I decided to go for thin value, betting small. To my surprise, they check-raised all-in, representing a full house or better trips. Despite my gut telling me to fold, I called, only to see them flip K♣J♣. This mistake cost me a significant portion of my stack. Next time, I’ll trust my instincts in such spots.
Hand #3: Mystery Bounty Pressure
Tournament: $20 + $2 Mystery Bounty
Situation: We were in the bounty money with three of the top 14 bounties still available. I covered the villain and saw an opportunity to apply pressure.
Details: The villain c-bet for just 20% of the pot. I debated whether to flat-call and check-raise the turn, but their smaller bet made me decide to go for aggression, hoping they held Ax. Covering the villain factored into my decision-making, as securing a bounty would significantly boost my ROI.
Replay This Hand: View the hand replay
Lessons Learned from Day 1
ICM Discipline:
Understanding and applying ICM principles is non-negotiable in tournaments. Shoving marginal hands when other short stacks are closer to elimination is often unnecessary risk.Value Awareness:
Knowing when to go for thin value versus checking down is critical, especially against skilled opponents. Trusting my reads and instincts will save chips in the long run.Leveraging Coverage in Bounties:
In Mystery Bounties, stack sizes play a pivotal role in decision-making. Covering opponents opens opportunities for aggression but requires careful execution.Mental Resilience:
Losing flips and making mistakes can derail confidence, but keeping a long-term mindset is key. Each hand and tournament is a learning experience.
Recommended Resources
Podcast: Just Hands Poker Podcast
This podcast is simple and straightforward—a perfect listen when you want to reset and get back to basics while playing.Book: Mastering Small Stakes No-Limit Hold’em by Lexy Gavin-Mather
A highly accessible book for recreational players or those new to poker. It’s well-structured and avoids heavy poker jargon, making it an ideal read to build a strong foundation.
What’s Next?
Day 1 was just the beginning. While I didn’t finish in the profit column, I gained valuable insights into my game and identified areas for improvement. For Day 2, I plan to:
Focus on better ICM decisions in satellites.
Analyze tough spots from $50 + $5 games to improve decision-making.
Continue building volume at $33 stakes while balancing satellite entries.
Work toward increasing my ABI to $33 by refining my game selection and managing costs effectively.
Stay tuned for my next update, where I’ll break down additional hands and share my progress toward achieving a $30+ average buy-in and 20% ROI.
Call to Action:
What adjustments have helped you succeed at higher stakes? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let me know in the comments or connect with me on Rutland3434 on X and
. Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly updates on my poker journey!