Blog
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Hey there, SM Blog readers!
Welcome back to the latest SM Staking Monthly Update!
In this edition, we’re excited to share the August 2024 poker highlights, including our awesome Summer Camp recap and our upcoming Back to Grind Challenge We hope you’ve had a fantastic summer, filled with fun adventures, memorable moments, and plenty of sunshine.
As September rolls in, it’s time to shift gears and embrace the new season. While “Back to School” might be the phrase on everyone’s mind, we’re all about “Back to the Grind” here at SM Staking. It’s the perfect moment to refocus, dive into your goals, and keep pushing forward.
So, grab a coffee, get comfy, and let’s jump into this month’s highlights, updates, and exciting news.
Here’s to a productive and successful September!
Top 3 Student Success Highlights: Unmissable August Achievements
Okay, as per usual, here are some exciting screenshots showcasing the impressive results of our students from the past month. We’re proud of the hard work and dedication everyone has put in, and it’s always inspiring to see the fantastic progress being made. Check out these highlights and celebrate the achievements with us!
GOTM: Can You Beat This Record-Breaking Graph of the Month?
GOTM!
This stunning graph showcases the remarkable results achieved by one of our dedicated students over July.
Despite the summer sun and all the temptations that come with it, true grinders continue to push forward with impressive results.
In just 5,100 games at the 100s limit in the GGpoker room, our student racked up an incredible $17,500 in EV+RB. This is a testament to not only their skill but also their excellent time management and commitment to the grind. It’s proof that with the right focus and discipline, success can be achieved no matter the season.
Take a look at the graph and get inspired by this phenomenal achievement!
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GOTM-1024x861.png)
SM Pool Spotlight: Inside July’s Largest $36k Transaction
Our dedicated SM Staking coach took a deep dive into the high-stakes action across Winamax, playing at limits ranging from $100s and $250s all the way up to the pinnacle of $500s.
The result? A jaw-dropping pool transaction of $36,500!
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/July-largest-transaction.png)
Big Wins: Celebrating Another SM Staking Jackpot!
Huge congratulations to one of our esteemed members for hitting the jackpot for the second time!
Just 10 days shy of the anniversary of their last win, they secured an impressive 2nd place and a hefty €120,000 reward for their efforts!
Let’s all draw inspiration from their success. Keep spinning, keep learning, and keep winning!
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/120k-1024x858.png)
SM Staking Summer Camp 2024
As promised, we’re thrilled to share some highlights from this year’s SM Staking Summer Camp! Held at a beautiful location near a serene lake, the camp was a perfect blend of relaxation and poker excellence.
The setting was stunning, providing the ideal backdrop for both learning and leisure. Participants enjoyed sunny days by the water, engaging in friendly games, and absorbing invaluable poker strategies. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to connect, share insights, and push their skills to new heights while soaking in the summer vibes.
Check out the pictures below to see some of the memorable moments from the camp. From intense strategy sessions to fun group activities, it was a summer to remember!
![SM Staking Summer Camp 2024 – Poker Highlights and Activities](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-1024x768.jpg)
![SM Staking Summer Camp 2024 – Poker Highlights and Activities](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-768x1024.jpg)
![SM Staking Summer Camp 2024 – Poker Highlights and Activities](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-1024x577.jpg)
![SM Staking Summer Camp 2024 – Poker Highlights and Activities](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/5-1024x768.jpg)
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s SM Staking Summer Camp! Your enthusiasm, commitment, and camaraderie made the event truly special. We’re already looking forward to next year’s camp and hope to see you there!
If you weren’t able to join us this year, don’t worry—there’s always next summer! In the meantime, if you’re not yet a part of SM Staking, we invite you to become a student.
Start learning, start winning, and join us for future events and opportunities.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the community!
Back to School Grind Challenge: Can You Conquer the 180-Hour Edition?
Summer’s winding down, and it’s time to shift gears and get back into the grind! Our highly Grind Challenge is running twice a year, in the spring and autumn.
The beach days were fun, but now it’s time to focus, hustle, and get back to doing what we do best—crushing spins.
The Challenge: Aim is to hit the 180-hour mark in September.
We’ve refined our system to keep things fair and competitive, whether you’re grinding at the low/mid or high stakes.
Points are awarded based on your SpinEV+RB and hours played, so every session counts.
How It Works
SpinEV+RB Points: Earn points for each buy-in won, calculated based on your AVG-BI
Hours Played Points: The more you grind, the more you earn. Points are awarded based on tiered levels of hours played—so don’t miss out!
Additionally, there are some fun ways to earn extra points:
These extras are tied directly to Challengers performance throughout the challenge, giving everyone the opportunity to rack up even more points.
How it works: Challengers must complete any of the Point Extras, post a screenshot, HH or video clip and earn 9 additional points.
It’s not just about the stakes; it’s about showing up, putting in the work, and pushing yourself to new limits.
Let’s see who’s got what it takes to top the leaderboards this time!
Wrapping Up: Thanks for Joining
We hope you enjoyed the updates and are as excited as we are about the upcoming challenges and opportunities.
Wishing you all the best as we dive into September. May this month be filled with success, growth, and plenty of wins. Remember, whether you’re joining the Back to Grind Challenge or simply continuing your poker journey, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
If you’re not yet part of our vibrant community, we invite you to join our Discord and become a student.
Connect with fellow players, access valuable resources, and start your path to success with SM Staking.
Here’s to a fantastic month ahead—let’s keep grinding and achieving great things together!
Best wishes and see you soon!
![CuatSpins](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/spade1-1-150x150.png)
Welcome to the July edition of our monthly poker blog!
Graphs of the Month
Check out this awesome journey from one of our students.
The first 2000 games were tough, as we can see from the graph, but they turned it around and ended up making $10k EV+RB.
Big props for sticking with it and grinding through the tough times. Hard work pays off!
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1-1024x665.jpg)
This graph also shows how important Rakeback is in poker and how wise it is to be in the Pool to beat the variance.
Understanding Poker Variance and How to Manage It
Variance is an inevitable part of poker, especially in formats like Spin and Gos where the outcome can be influenced by short-term luck. Variance refers to the natural fluctuations in results due to the randomness of the cards dealt and the luck involved in individual games. Even the best players can experience downswings where they lose despite making optimal decisions.
Embrace the Reality of Variance
Understanding that variance is a fundamental aspect of poker is crucial. Accepting the ups and downs can help you maintain a positive mindset during tough periods. Remember, a single session or even a series of sessions does not define your skill level. Your long-term results are what truly matter.
Bankroll Management
One of the most effective ways to deal with variance is through proper bankroll management. By ensuring you have a sufficient bankroll, you can weather the storms of variance without going bust. A common recommendation is to have at least 100 buy-ins for the stakes you’re playing. This cushion allows you to survive downswings and continue playing optimally.
Focus on EV (Expected Value)
While short-term results can be affected by luck, focusing on EV helps you concentrate on making the best decisions possible. EV is a measure of the expected profit or loss from a particular play, considering all possible outcomes. By consistently making +EV decisions, you’ll ensure long-term profitability despite short-term variance.
Take Advantage of Pool, Rakeback and Rewards
As highlighted in our Graph of the Month, Rakeback and rewards can significantly boost your overall earnings. Many poker rooms offer Rakeback programs that return a portion of the rake you pay, helping to smooth out the effects of variance. Being part of these programs can turn a breakeven or slightly losing player into a profitable one.
Keep Improving Your Game
Continuous learning and improvement are key to overcoming variance. Analyzing your hands, studying poker theory, and seeking coaching can help you refine your strategy and make better decisions. The better your skills, the more you’ll be able to mitigate the impact of variance.
Mental Resilience
Maintaining mental resilience is vital in poker. Variance can be emotionally challenging, and staying calm and focused during downswings is essential. Developing a strong mindset, practicing mindfulness, and taking breaks when needed can help you stay on track.
Conclusion
Variance is a double-edged sword in poker, bringing both thrilling highs and frustrating lows. By understanding and embracing variance, practicing proper bankroll management, focusing on EV, leveraging Rakeback, continuously improving your game, and maintaining mental resilience, you can navigate the swings and emerge as a successful player in the long run. Keep grinding, stay positive, and remember that hard work and dedication will pay off.
SM Pool
Say Goodbye to Stress and Hello to Success!
What is a SM Pool? I’m glad you asked!
The SM Pool project is a unique initiative for Spin & Go players, designed to unite professionals in their quest to overcome variance. Spearheaded by SM Staking, a premier Spin & Go academy with 8 years of experience, the Pool aims to decrease the influence of deviation on players’ results.
In the SM Pool, prize money goes into a common pool and is split proportionally to each player’s EV (Expected Value) using a special EV formula. This system allows players to mitigate the impact of variance on their results.
How to Join
You can register for the Pool anytime and join as soon as you receive confirmation. A monthly fee is charged for participation, and after confirmation, you will be added to the Pool list from the next day.
Join our Discord to find out how to get an additional 40% affiliate Rakeback: https://discord.gg/ZhUA3QhzdC
Wrapping Up
Dealing with poker variance can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that variance is just part of the game. Joining the SM Pool can significantly help in managing this variance, providing a community of support and a structured approach to minimize the swings. By being part of the Pool, you can focus more on your game and less on the stress of individual results, knowing that your long-term success is being prioritized.
Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial in poker. Less stress leads to better decision-making and a more enjoyable playing experience. As you continue your poker journey, take moments to appreciate the progress you’ve made and the hard work you’ve put in. Surround yourself with a supportive community, like the one we have here at SM Staking, to share your victories and learn from your challenges.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the upcoming SM Staking Summer Bootcamp! This event is not only a chance to refine your skills but also an opportunity to connect with fellow players, exchange strategies, and enjoy some summer fun. In our next monthly edition, we’ll be sharing cool pictures and exciting updates from the bootcamp, so stay tuned!
Enjoy the summer, embrace the journey, and keep grinding with a positive mindset. Remember, hard work and dedication will always pay off.
![CuatSpins](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/spade1-1-150x150.png)
Welcome to the June edition of our monthly poker blog!
We have exciting updates, highlights from last month, and some interesting news related to Euro football.
Let’s dive in!
Best Graphs of the Month
Conquering the GGPoker Tables
Our SM Staking member had an outstanding month in May, playing just over 5,000 games and raking in an impressive $16,000 in EV+RB profit! That’s more than $3 for every game played – incredible consistency and skill!
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GOTM-1024x861.png)
Big Wins
June was an incredible month with too many big wins to count! In our Discord server’s Upswing Joy channel, it seemed like big wins were shared daily, many of which were over five figures. Some players even posted multiple five-figure or close to five-figure wins. Congratulations to everyone for their amazing achievements!
Here are some for your viewing pleasure and motivation:
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1-1.png)
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-1.png)
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/3-1.png)
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/4-1.png)
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/5-1.png)
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/6-1.png)
Congratulations to everyone for their amazing achievements!
Euro Football Fever
Who Are You Rooting For?
The Euro football championship has been thrilling! We’d love to know, who are you rooting for? Share your favorite teams and moments with us in the comments below.
Winamax Expresso Euro Promo
During the Euro, Winamax ran an exciting promotion in their Expresso (Spin and Go) games. Every time you hit a 2x multiplier you would receive a random country flag, with silver flags being more frequent than gold flags. Win the game and collect the flag.
When your flagged team played and scored, you earned 1 point for each goal if you had a silver flag and 2 points for each goal if you had a gold flag. More goals you collected, more money you won. It added an extra layer of excitement to the matches!
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/E1.jpg)
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/euro.png)
Join Our Live Twitch Stream
Reminder: We have a live Twitch stream every Thursday at 19:00 LT time (GMT+3). Join in to learn from the best, ask questions, and improve your game.
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/live.png)
https://www.twitch.tv/smstaking
Missed the Stream?
Don’t worry if you miss the live stream! All our live streams are uploaded instantly to YouTube under the Live Tab. You can watch them at your own pace.
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PRGRHAc2ic.png)
https://www.youtube.com/@smstaking
Thank you for being a part of SM Staking poker community. Stay tuned for more updates, and keep those cards moving. Remember, consistent practice and dedication are key to success.
Good luck at the tables!
![CuatSpins](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/spade1-1-150x150.png)
As summer rolls in, we’re thrilled to share some amazing updates and highlights from our SM Staking community. The warm weather is here, and so are the scorching wins from our dedicated members!
April 2024 Graph of the Month: Dominating the GGPoker Tables! 🎉
Our SM Staking member was absolutely on fire in April, blazing through over 9,000 spins and amassing a jaw-dropping $30K in EV+RB profit! 💰 The dedication and skill on display are truly inspiring, and we’re proud to showcase this incredible achievement.
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Black-1024x861.png)
Big Win Highlight: €40,000 in Expresso Nitro! 🥇💸
One of our members kicked off their morning with an extraordinary win, bagging a massive €40,000 in Expresso Nitro! 🌟 This remarkable success is a testament to their hard work and sharp poker skills. Congratulations on this phenomenal win!
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/final_big_win-1024x858.png)
Join the Action: Share Your Grind and Battlestations on our Discord!
This month, our Discord server is buzzing with activity as members share their grinding and battlestations. It’s a fantastic way to stay connected, motivated, and learn from each other’s experiences. Don’t miss out on the ongoing discussions and camaraderie—join in and be part of our vibrant community!
Here are some of the unique poker setups
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/3-768x1024.jpg)
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/3jc9c7CkDJ
Stay tuned for more updates and exciting news from SM Staking. Let’s make this summer a season of success and big wins!
![CuatSpins](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/spade1-1-150x150.png)
Welcome to the SM Staking Blog!
Hey there, poker enthusiasts!
We’re excited to introduce the brand-new SM Staking Blog! This is your
go-to spot for all the latest updates, stories, and everything happening in the SM Staking world.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting, there’s something here for everyone.
A Little About Us
For those who might be new around here, SM Staking is a premier poker coaching and staking school focused on Spin & Go players. Our mission is to help players of all levels improve their game, maximize their EV, and achieve their poker goals.
What to Expect
In this blog, we’ll cover a wide range of topics:
- Coaching Updates: Insights and tips from our top coaches
- Spotlights: Interviews and stories from our coaches
- Events & Promotions: Info on upcoming events and special promotions
- News: Anything new and interesting
Meet Our Coaches
![](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Coaches.png)
Did you know
Our Discord community is a vibrant place for general discussions, getting more information, and asking any questions you may have.
Join us and become part of the conversation and great community!
We’d love to hear from you! What topics would you like us to cover in future posts? Do you have any questions or suggestions? Join the conversation on our Discord server.
Thank you for being a part of the SM Staking community. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, and happy grinding!
![SM](https://smstaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-favicon-150x150.png)
January, 2023
January 2nd, 2023
New toy at Home!
March, 2023
March 3rd, 2023
Greetings from Thailand!
May, 2023
May 10th, 2023
Hey folks, kicking off this month with a whirlwind of poker action! I thought I’d drop a quick update to keep you in the loop.
Diving deep into the poker scene this month! Can you believe it? I’ve already clocked in 25 hours of coaching in just ten days, focusing heavily on Spin & Go strategies with my students. Our goals are ambitious, but we’re determined to crush them together. The best part? I’m receiving private messages with some seriously impressive graphs post-coaching sessions – talk about motivation! Let’s keep this pace going strong 🤘 #PokerCoaching #SpinGo
I have spent around 12 hours studying with https://www.puregto.com/ marked hands and deeply analyzed ~120 hands. And also have made some profits while playing GG 200s 🍀
May 30th, 2023
Hey there, my amigos!
As I’m not planning to play much for the last few days of the spring – decided to make a new blog post.
What’s new since my last update? Well, not much has changed… except for my results! 😄 Towards the latter half of the month, I found myself feeling a bit burnt out, which unfortunately translated into some less-than-stellar decisions and subsequently, poorer EV. But here’s where it gets interesting: huge shoutout to GG for keeping my Player Value Index (PVI) soaring high! Typically set at 50%, this month they decided to award me an average of 92%, resulting in a jaw-dropping 111% rake back! It’s the craziest rake back I’ve ever experienced on this platform. 😯 #PokerResults #RakebackGoals
GG May:
Plans for this summer: not much grinding online as WSOP is starting. At the end of June going to Vegas to win millions $$$. After that few weeks for traveling in the USA West Coast. Also we gonna have SM summer camp in a few weeks, I might share some moments from there with you guys as well as my adventures from Vegas in this blog! 🎰 🏄♀️
See you soon, keep crushing! 💪 🍀
June, 2023
June 25th, 2023
Spent 25 hours playing since my last post. Mb a bit more studying 😄
Made almost 10k 💰 Leaving to VEGAS tmrw, see you there! 🎰
August, 2023
August 8th, 2023
Hello its me again, 1 week already since I got home from Vegas. Spent there 1month including 1 week trip to San Francisco.
In terms of poker results, this trip wasn’t exactly flawless. My balance took a hit, hovering around -25k, and that’s not even factoring in all the expenses incurred from travel, accommodation, and holiday expenses. 🫣 #PokerJourney #UpsAndDowns
Feeling fully refreshed now. Missed a lot my working space at home. Starting with a new energy my coaching/grinding schedule! 🎰 🚀
Also gonna share some pictures with you guys from my Vegas/San Francisco adventure!
Room view from the 46th floor in Vegas casino hotel 🤯
Trying to hug a Redwood tree, these trees are the tallest in the world (up to 100 meters). Naturally found only in California
October, 2023
October 3rd, 2023
Was asked to show today’s stream graph, so here we go. Running like a ☀️
https://youtube.com/live/kLkaugyld7E – streams are saved on our YT channel. Here is my today’s stream