June 29, 2006

Man, I cant believe its already the end of June...just plain craziness.

Anyway, time to focus. I've had a great run the past two weeks and last night I had my first losing session in a while...well, losing over $100, dropped $110 in sgns and $22 in an MTT, so I will just consider it $110 because thats how much i lost in sngs...the MTT was a stupid move on my part. I knew it too when i fired it up...thats ok though.

On to the sngs...

Just finished 0/4 on myt last set...unreal tonight. crazy, I ran into AA so many times when it was getting late and I had a pocket pair...really hurts. But, i played pretty solid...got a bit jumpy again...need to chill out.

This set is starting at 10...let see if 10 is nicer...had 2 tough ones right away...so fired up 2 more and cashed 2 2nds and bubbled on the last one...i played pretty well on the bubble...there is definitely more talent playing the $55s than before...but I will adjust. Gonna fire up another set.

Tough night...ended up down about 392...played a bunch again, and lost again...hmmmm. i am going to review hand histories for a bit and hit the sack.

June 28, 2006

Had a losing session tonight. funny thing too because on my way home from work I was talking to my friend Al and I was telling him how when I am winning, i usually cut my play short...often playing just one profitable session. Last night, I played 3, but one was profitable. I even played a $22 MTT and did well until i pushed my 88 into QQ and lost. I was the victim of a few suckouts...a few horrible bluffs by guys that had no outs, until the runner runner hit...but thats poker.

I think part of the reason I didnt do so well was two fold. first, i felt out of sorts...i had so much confidence lately that i didnt feel comfortable playing. I ended up being too aggressive too early and addressed it in my second session, but not my third. I usually go to the gym after work, relax and fire up some sngs...i didnt do that tonight. Second, I think I need to mentally prepare more prior to playing...it just makes sense. any time I enter into something competitive, I like to mentally prepare myself and i need to start doing that in poker...have a more set routine and maybe do something like play a game online to help me get focused because i just wasnt there tonight. I think I will play an online game to help me gauge my level of focus and mental fatigue before i start to play...live and learn...now its time to see if i have the discipline.

12 sngs played, -110
1 $22 MTT, -22

-$132 for the night...so not horrible, but not great. No firsts, three 2nds, and a third in 12 sngs...12 is a great number though!

June 27, 2006

Played a set tonight...was excited and really lookin to go! After I got home from the gym, I was messing around playing other games online while I cooled off before my shower and i was kickin ass...I could tell I was focused properly, so I jumped in the shower and got to playing. I fired up 4 $55s and noticed a lot of the same people in all of my sngs...so i knew i was in for a fight. as usual, it was down to 5 and there were 2 or 3 of them on each table. I busted out on two of them and ended up winning one and taking second in the other...overall +180 for the night so far. I might watch a movie, but if not, fire up another set.

The funny thing is that I got some bad luck and both of the ones I cashed on, i sucked out to stay alive on the bubble :)

June 26, 2006

Tonight I went to the gym, came home and had dinner, cleaned up, played a set and took a 2nd and a 3rd and won $30 on the night. Just continuing to grind away with a set here and there and trying not to pull from my roll...i fronted a friend some money and transfered some more to another friend, so i ended up pulling over $250 from my roll after I pulled $750 for my car. I need to pull some more when its ready...but I still have 3425 in my roll and RB on its way at the end of the week...lookin sweet. Need to keep up the nice run and start 6 tabling.

My plan was to pull from my roll at $4k, but i already did for over $1k and need another $500 in the near future...so after this latest round of stealing from my roll...its clear sailing all the way to $5k and a second monitor!

June 25, 2006

Played a set tonight...finished with 2 firsts and up 280. I am having a nice run here, up over 1100 over the past 10 days. Too bad all my extra money went to fix my car, otherwise i would be sitting pretty nicely.

My sng stats so far this month:

77 $55 sngs
25.1% ROI
+$1065

Lost in the one $77 sng I played.

Overall with RB for the month, I am up almost $1100. This is why I need to quit playing tourneys...it drained a good 350 from my bankroll this month...I am in building mode, not gambling.

I am making a push to get my roll over $10k. I am a long way from there, but believe it shouldnt take me too long to do it. then, I should be able to play some bigger tourneys and make some runs at some big cash. maybe even a WSOP tourney or two.

June 24, 2006

Just started a few...my pocket pairs are running into slightly higher pocket pairs tonight...but one third so far in 3 sngs...2 more fired up...we shall see.

Ended up with 2 3rds in 5 sngs. Down 75 for the night. calling it quits.

June 22, 2006

I took my time when I got home tonight and ended up getting home from the gym a little later than i thought i would. I just finished my protein shake and am gonna hit the shower, but its already 8...sucks starting so late, but i really need to keep working out, probably more than i need to play poker. Im down 16 pounds and really have been undisciplined in my head, so I am encouraged! i might start waking up a little early and run outside before work...i think it would be a great idea, but i just hate mornings so much...plus, im not that big on running outside on the concrete and where the crazy drivers are. You never know...you are running with some head phones on and you dont hear or see someone driving at you...makes me a little nervous.

June 21, 2006

Just played a set of 4. I guess i should be happy, but i took 3 3rd places. so, I cant complain, but i will!

so far, up 80.

Rehashing the play, I made some moves and i would make them again...was a good showing...gonna take a well deserved rest and fire up another set.

June 20, 2006

Watched the NBA finals tonight...man, what a game. I am glad the Heat won, i was pulling for Dwayne the whole time, but I have a feeling that this finals might have created a few Dwayne haters. He was getting some calls, shot 25 free throws in game 5 and then 21 in game 6...pretty amazing. But he drives all the time and is going to pick up calls...ah! Nice job Dwayne!

I am freaking tired right now...its about 9:30. I ran on the treadmill...had a few days off so i felt great. Now, I am tired. Going to fire up a set though...I need to log hours. I think once i get my roll over $5k I will get another monitor and start to 6-table. That will eventually lead to 8-tabling, which is necessary for me to be able to log any significant amount of tables. Ambitious goal and I hope i dont end up regretting it, but thats where I am heading. On to the poker...

Played my one set for tonight. Took a first and a third and up 130.

Very happy to have another winning session. Tonight was kinda weird...for some reason i turned the chat on...and people were just dickheads. I am not putting chat on. people were criticizing for making some proper plays...i made a few that i shouldnt have...and was pushing too many edges, but i think its because all 4 sngs were looking good and the first one that got to teh bubble I lost....so i think that put me on edge too. But, I recovered strong and had another winning night. I am sure glad I dont know how to play this game...or at least thats what the people said as they busted out HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

June 19, 2006

I am ready to get going...looking to log about 2 hours a night from here on out...need to step things up and think 2 hours most nights will take care of business...if I can log anywhere near 200 sngs a month, that will be right where I want to be. A good month of running hot can make me well over $2k...

Going to play 2 sets of 4 tonight for sure...updates to follow.

Set 1: 4 $55s 1 - Second place -70
Set 2: 4 $55s 1 - First and 2- Seconds +330
Played 3 on the bubble at the same time with no real problems.

Total: +260 for the night

June 18, 2006

Played live again today. Just a great group of guys...i wish they had this tourney every weekend. Then again, I probably wouldnt go every weekend...they run a great show.

I am very happy with the way I played today...took a bad beat, AJ to J10...i got him all in on the turn and he rivered the gutshot straight. Left me with 390 in chips...i quadrupled up when I got pocket Queens. flop and turn were all under cards, but 3 were spades, the river was a queen and i took it down. I won a few more chips, but when we consolidated down to the final table, i was busted out 10th. first hand after the break i get AKo and push...called by Q8s and he turns a queen...thats all she wrote...both hands i lost i was ahead in pretty solid position. Cards just didnt cooperate. I really like the blind structure and believe these slow blinds are perfect for my play. Very encouraging because WSOP blinds are similar. anyway, hoping to log some tables tonight and get my roll over $3k again. I just keep sucking $$ from it, i need to quit doing that...but with a 1900 payment for my car this week, i didnt have much choice.

I thought I would ease into the day. I am playing the $20k Guaranteed on party. $11 buy in. I know I said i wasnt gonna play them anymore cuz they are just sucking my bankroll, but $11 isnt bad. I figured I would focus on it for a bit and try to win $100 in it...then I dont need to log anymore tables tonight. Lets see how it goes...limped in on a few, just about 20 mins in and im at 2820...nothing exciting to report yet.

Got impatient and busted out of tourney...truly poor play on my part. fired up 4 sngs...lets see if i fare any better.

well, busted out of one quickly and fired up another...busted out of 2 more pretty quickly and took 2nd in my final 2...ended up winning 25 in sngs and lost 11 in MTTs...

June 17, 2006

Took tonight off. I watched some of the hockey game and the taylor vs winky wright fight...good fight. i dont like winky wrights style, but he is effective. taylor is such a hard puncher...i think winky was afraid of him at the end...

anyway, tomorrow i have a busy day planned...gonna get up early, about 7 and hit the treadmill. at 9 i am heading to brunch and at 11 i have a poker tourney. this tourney is fun, but i busted out 7th last week and it took 3 hours, so hopefully if i last long i hope to cash. never really had any cards last week, so hopefully i will have better luck. after that, i plan on playing some sngs while i watch the basketball game...so a great weekend for sports, outside of the US tying Italy...we needed the win.

June 16, 2006

had a solid session last night...looking to follow up on it. had a few beers after work and feeling pretty good...just fired up 4 sngs...finished up the night +180. had a 1st and a 2nd...thought I played pretty well. Was nice to put back to back winning sessions together again. I needed it for my confidence after hitting a 10 buy in downswing a few nights ago.

June 15, 2006

Ended up getting my ass handed to me last night...pretty much just bad play. It was a quick crash course in how not to play for me...so hopefully i will be back on track tonight.

I had a nice comeback...played 3 sngs and cashed in 2, with a first and a second...so thats up 235 and made back half of what i lost in an hour tonight...solid session...my reward is an early bed time.

June 14, 2006

So far, 0 for 3. just busted when my Aces were cracked by 4s...funny thing is that i had pocket pairs about 5 hands out of 12...my stack slowly dwindled as i tried to catch a set...then lost aces to a flopped set of 4s. The irony!

I have been playing a little looser...time to tighten up.

Well, still not playing well. I had an epic suckout and ended up taking the big stack at that point and coasting to the end...so in 6 sngs, 1 first and 5 ootm. time to get back to work...need to tighten up...i am playing a bit too loose and am uncomfortable post flop...

I played a $22 MTT tonight...got it all in with 2 pair to his overpair and catches the set on the river...my luck in those MTTs has been terrible...I told myself i wouldnt play anymore and what do i do...what an idiot!

June 13, 2006

Ok, I'm kinda pumped. I just manually ran my stats and created a new spreadsheet to track them, however I got my old software up and running and can upload my hand histories and keep better stats, which is really key for me...so that could give me the new boost I need.

I have an awesome idea that I ran by a friend of mine and its something that could materialize pretty quickly. I will see where it goes in a few weeks, but will most likely just fizzle away. I dont have the time or energy to focus on anything else...still working out about 5 days a week. Definitely getting results...Ok, enough bullshit, on to poker...

June 10, 2006

Just getting started...fired up 2 sngs and a $44 MTT...updated on the MTT to follow. Hoping to get in a few sngs tonight.

connection problems are wreaking havoc on me. folded QQ on me...then the next hand i got 77 and it folded those too. very frustrating.

I have gotten my ass handed to me playing nut flush draws...had I hit, would have tripled up in one and doubled up early in a tourney on the other...I've never been a big fan of the flush draw...starting to hate it even more. So that knocked me out of the tourney...on to more sngs.

Busted out of my 2nd sng. lost 2 coinflips...but chip leader on the bubble on my other...i busted just about everyone lol..and 2nd stack doubled up through me when his 88 beat my jj...i had a few suck outs against the short stacks...hopefully i can pull off a win to hav a profitable session.

I am getting screwed...had 11k in chips with 4 to go and i am now the shortstack...very frustrating. just had short stack up against me i had A8 and he called with A3 and we split lol

Sucks. took 3rd.

June 8, 2006

I fired up 3 sngs and a MTT. I took 2nd in one sng and am now about 50 mins into the tourney...about 150 are out, with just under 200 to go...pays top 40 and I dont have too many chips...2100 something...need a few big hands and to be patient, but blinds are 100/200, so i cant wait forever.

at the first break, i made a few pushes and picked up a couple chips...but blinds are moving up and I only have 2250 chips...750 less than I started...so I have decent position after the break starts..so i will have to try to pick up some blihds early and hopefully pick up a hand.

I pushed a few times and got to 3300 without showing down a hand. but blinds were creeping and i pushed AQo and was called by 55. they held up and I lost...so i think it was a good spot to make my move because it was getting late...thats how it goes. down like 70 for tonight...im gonna cash out like 750 and redeposit 500 for the bonus...

June 7, 2006

Played a few sngs today. I was pumped because I started by playing in an MTT $55 buy in with a lot of people...I caught QQ in middle position within the first 5 mins. I raise to 4xBB because there was one limper, next to act pushes, I call and he has KJ. Flopped the K and I was crippled.

Fired up a total of 5 sngs, and did the same thing as monday. I lost the first 3 and finished first and third...so i didnt win the final two, but at least got me to even. I did well in my first 2 sngs, but got a bit antsy with about 5 left and made a move on the button with Q8s and got called by the big blind with 99. Need to play a bit more patiently approaching the bubble...thats when the fish come out and play. I have to admit i had a few late suckouts tonight...so got a little reward.

Glad I was able to log another 6 tables tonight...with a positive result.

666

Today was the big day...666. yeah, so anyway...I went to the gym and decided to watch Star Wars 3. I never saw it because I was so disappointed by the 2nd one...but I liked it...it was pretty dark though, much more than I thought. But still a good movie.

So, since I am going to be playing more poker and documenting my progress, I thought I would quickly recap the start of the month.

I lost 37 my first session and won 225 in my second. We will soon find out what my 3rd session brings, but we will find that out tomorrow. I have to hit the gym and log some hours...just means no TV.

June 5, 2006

Decided not to go to the gym today...couldnt sleep last night and just felt drained...my neck is stiff and just pissy overall. So, with that mindset I decided to play some poker. I am a numbers guy, so I use the power of numbers, mainly $$, to motivate me. I know how a few hours a week can add up to $1000's in very short time. I think maybe I am putting too much pressure on myself to be "on" because i sit down and just cant get up the focus to play. I guess the good part is that I dont play when I dont feel up to it, but thats the bad part too. Today, I felt like crap, lost my first 3 hands that i was all in with a better ace and lost all 3. It got pretty creative...but i kept my head on and opened up a few more and ended up $225. Had aces cracked and came back to win it...strong finish. I was patient and was rewarded with good cards that held up...but i definitely showed some patience and I need to remember to play tight...there is a lot of BS going on, but they will bluff into your monster...and if it happens, you can usually take that momentum and get to the bubble. Anyway, I am back, played 5 sngs and won 2...hopefully I can have a good session tomorrow after I hit the gym.

June 4, 2006

I've been trying to get my live game going...havent been doing much online. I hope to start playing some more, but just havent found the time.