February 15, 2008

I hit a huge hand and lost top pair (AQ on a Queen high board), to 2 pair. that was for almost a buy in, but i called a preflop raise which turned into 5 total people on a 6 handed table calling a preflop raise of $34! I had AJc and the flop came queen hi and 2 clubs. I was in the SB and I pushed for about 100 more and got 1 caller that had me covered and another shorty that had like $8 left. I hit a club on the river and took down a $350+ pot. Up about $100 on the night...After losing that hand with AQ i was up about 80 and ground it out to up about 105 and quit to play in a tourney. I am playing the $55 buy in $50k guarantee. I have been itching to play a tourney and had some tourney $$ on poker stars and decided to give it a go. I shut down the cash tables cuz i was up over $100 and wanted to concentrate on the tourney. Looking for a deep cash tonight.

So far, i am up to about 3500 (starting stack is 3000) about 30 mins in...table seems loose and exploitable. Updates to come.

Sitting below average at the first break. had about 4500, but lost 800 on the last hand. I had JJ and bumped it from 100 to 350 and the button raised to 800. I called and the flop came King hi. I check and he bet out 900. I had a feeling he had AK and let it go. need to make some progress this hour. otherwise i just need to get aggressive late for a push to the money.

2nd hand after break i limp the button with 78. flop comes 456. i check and there is one bet. turn comes 8, i check and dude pushes...has me covered by a ton. i call and river comes 7 and we split. would have put me over 7k. now, i sit around 3000 after a missed flop on the next hand. oh well.

finished a cash session up 265. would have been 365, but i lost KK to A3 against a short stack. very close to gold vip on stars...one more session and I am there...so I will be playing in the 100k free roll next weekend, which i am looking forward to.

Final Recap:

Poker is such a weird game. It is really just a psychological battle that you play with yourself. Always a balance between confidence and arrogance. My confidence was totally shattered the other night. I dropped about 600 and I documented some of the hands. I got in great and just got unlucky. That is part of the game. My sessions following were very good and made up for most of the losses. I just need to learn to take it in stride and not lose my confidence. I play a tighter brand of poker than most on the cash tables, but when I get in, I have the best of it usually.

It is funny because I hit a nice hand and was shutting down my tables. I had the sit out next blind check box checked and the last hand occurred on both of my tables at the same time. I had AA on one and KK on the other. I won a few bucks with my AA, but ended up dropping about 30 with my KK when I got into a 3way pot and lost to A3. Oh well.

Regarding my tourney play. I had a few nice hands, one of which would have been huge, but it got counterfeited when the board matched my 8 high straight. I made a few moves, chipped up and then ended up pushing A6o in MP and ran into AA. I think I made my move far, far too early. I was pushing things too hard and need to be more patient. When the blinds creep up things can change in a hurry and there is no need to push too hard. I need to remember that.

Anyway, my poker confidence is returning and I hope I can put together a sustained run of positive results and make a push to 2k+ on my bankroll.

Valentines Day!

I had a nice Valentines Day with Penelope. We made a nice dinner and spent some time together. It is tough with the little man around, so our Valentines day will really be on saturday because her mom is babysitting.

I just dont know how well i am cut out for poker. I did dabble tonight kinda late. i won about 250 and am up over 1k again, but damn its tough to deal with the swings...the worst part is that i am so underbankrolled that i need to avoid as much variance as possible...and how can you really do that. last night was a horrible dose and tonight i didnt get any huge hands...the only ones i was all in were actually against a shortstack that bought in for 40 and i took all 40 2 hands in a row. so i guess i was never all in.

i did play quite passively. i want to find tables where people limp a lot because i can really outplay them post flop. however, when people raise aggressively preflop and there is action post flop, i tend to play too passively and give in to aggression. I need to find tables that fit my style because i really do mop them up. I need to really keep this in mind!

February 13, 2008

I took last night off because I wasnt feeling well. I ended up going to bed around 8:30 and felt great this morning. however as the day wore on i started to get a headache again and not feeling well. I felt better after I ate and play just under an hour, mostly 3 and 4 tabling. I finished up $140, but still kicking myself over a horrible call i made. I donked off about 60 bucks making a horrible call. those are the reasons I dont like to have too much cash in front of me at the tables quite yet. i just dont want to risk too much.

My total roll is over 1400...so looking good!

ive run into aces a few times in my second session...nasty. my AA just got busted for 350+ on a rivered flush..so not a great set.

i have not hit a set either...just on my first hand and missed... so hopefully the cards will turn my way. i am kind of afraid that if i do hit a set it will be a set over set or a flush or straight draw...just that kinda night

i had AK and raised over teh SB...he called and i flopped AK he had AJ and hit runner runner runner straight.

next hand on another table, i flop 9Q9 wiht A9 and dude holds QQ...just fuckin unreal!

sick night tonight...just getting so unlucky and nuttin i can do about it. I am getting in good and losing to some pretty miraculous stuff.

what a fuckin night...im just gonna shut down my blog for a while cuz im frustrated. got in perfect situations, but time after time i got drawn out on...runner runner, miracle 2 outters...just frustrating.

February 11, 2008

Well, I am trending upwards. My balance stands at 1210 + 55 in tourney $$. I plan on using the $55 in tourney $$ to either continue to build more tourney $$ to get a buy in to the bigger weekend tourneys or just use it as a buy in for the $55 buy in $50k guarantee. Honestly, I wouldnt mind just playing in the $50k guarantee. It has 15 min levels and a 3k starting stack. that is a pretty nice structure that suits my style nicely.

Today I had the biggest hand I have ever won. Actually, I did get involved in a multiway pot where I hit the fullhouse with QQ, but I dont think it paid off quite as nicely as the hand i had tonight. I was up about $150 early in my session but then ran QQ into AA on a jack hi board effectively negating all my profits for the session. I was grinding it out and slowly losing to a lot of aggression from other players. I need to pull it back a bit and play more selectively because I am playing timidly and letting the aggressive player take control. I was also missing every flop...except for this one...

I had about $183 and was in the BB. It was folded around to the SB who limped. I had K10o and raised to 7. The Sb called and we saw a flop of AQJ 2 clubs and a spade. I flopped broadway, but I didnt like the 2 clubs, so I raised $10 into the $14 pot. The SB popped me to $30 and I reraised to $75. the SB called and we saw a 5 of spades hit the turn. The SB checked and I pushed my final $100 into the pot and he called. The river was a 9 of clubs and I was pretty nervous that he was on the flush draw, but he tabled AQ and my straight held up. I had a nice pot of just under $365. It was nice hitting a big hand when I typically buy in for about $100-120 and shut it down when I get over $200 and I am not catching cards...overall was a good, fun night.

February 10, 2008

Happy birthday to my mom and grandpa!

it has been an interesting weekend. I know that when I win a lot in a night that i am mostly just riding the wave of positive variance. the ups and downs are tough, but necessary parts of playing poker. I have been going up and down and settling in around 1k. I hope to make some cash this upcoming week because i have been hovering around 800-1200 for the past week. I have added a 3rd table and have gone from about 1300 VPPs on poker stars to about 2500 in the course of the weekend. That sort of pace puts me on course for some pretty major milestones and benefits. I dont think I will continue it, but if the bankroll starts to grow at a tremendous rate, I dont think I can pass up the cash.

anyway, sitting over 1k and 1500 VPPs away from gold star. I didnt play in the freeroll on saturday and most likely wont make it next weekend either. however, I will definitely play the last saturday of the month. and hopefully can get myself the $285 bonus at some point April.

anyway, poker is good...

February 9, 2008

Last night I played a marathon session. About 4 hours, mostly 2 and 3 tabling. I achieved my silver star on poker stars and am halfway to gold. I hope to get there within 2 weeks because then I can play in the monthly 100k freeroll.

overall last night I didnt get too many monsters. I flopped full houses a few times with medium pairs, but overall my big hands cost me. I lost AA twice and KK to AA. If any of those hands go my way I am a winner last night. However, I did end up winning about 6 bucks :o)

so i guess you can call that a winning session...hopefully I can get some tables in tonight and tomorrow and get to about 2500 VPPs so i only need to get another 1500 over the next 2 weeks to get to gold...

February 7, 2008

Tonight was a blah night. I could definitely feel that I was out of sync. ran a few bad bluffs and lost a few 2 outters. I could feel that things were just not running my way for a good 40-50 mins. I was 3 tabling with no issues and bought in for 100 on each. I treaded water, busted out of one and rebought into another. I had about 160-180 on all 3 tables when I shut it down. I hit a few big hands on each...was hitting my sets late in the night and rallied to be down about 36 bucks...so overall pretty much break even.

Tomorrow, I should be able to achieve silver star on poker stars...i wonder if I will start to accumulate the FPPs at the higher rate immediately or if i have to wait until the month is over. but it does start to qualify me for freerolls and to purchase bonuses...i am halfway to my $50 bonus. depending on the how the month goes, i might save it all for the 285 bonus when I hit gold!

see ya at the tables tomorrow!

February 5, 2008

After a rough weekend of playing and definitely some questioning of my own play, I had an excellent night. I guess it is just me allowing the game to come to me and not trying to push the issue. Also, my big hands actually got action. I had AA a lot tonight, as well as KK. In an hour session of 2 tabling, I would say I had AA 5 times and got it all in twice and took them both down without improving. I also have noticed that I need to play more aggressively. I think playing passively helps me manage pot size when my bankroll is still in the building mode, but I think I give up a lot of pots that I could take down with a little more aggression. I guess this is what they are talking about playing with scared money. If you dont play the hand aggressively, you end up losing a lot of money that you could easily pick up. also, when you have a hand people will give you the benefit of the doubt and not pay you off.

So, even though I had a great hour of play and won about $365 or 3.65 buy ins, I think it was just a correction from the weekend. So, i am pretty much even since last Friday. That is part of poker and you have to get used to these swings. honestly, a 4 buy in downswing is not a swing at all.

Anyway, back on the winning track and another good session. Looking forward to taking tomorrow off for Penny's birthday and getting back to the tables on Thursday.

February 4, 2008

So far had my QQ run into AA and my king high straight lose to Ace high...just rough. I might just call an end to this madness and study for the series 7. not rolled properly to make any cash and dont have the time to build a proper bankroll.

February 3, 2008

Losing some big hands today. Dude limped when I had 10 6 and we caught 2 6s on the flop. ended up slowplaying and he had K6. lost 150 on that hand. a couple other nasty ones and not a good start.

ive had aces 3 times in about 20 mins and have raised 3xbb all times and cant get any action! sucks! I am thinking about limping them in late position next time i get them...always have to raise early.

had aces two more times and both times UTG! busted a shortstack for like 40 bucks...man, cant capitalize on these huge ones!

i finally get a guy all in with my AA and he turns the set! unreal!

every one of my pairs is gettign smoked tonight...just getting killed.

Today has been an exercise in patience and futility. I am failing on the patience portion, but there is not much I can do. I am getting solid hands like JJ and QQ and the boards are coming ace and king hi and 3 or 4 to a suit. I cant get any action on aces and never hit sets when i limp in with pairs...overall, just a rough day. I hope my roll survives.

it is fun to write this blog as i play because it helps me relive the session. I need to understand that the game is based on feel. I hit sets on 2 straight, only got action on 1 of them, but it seems like you start to hit in streaks and when the streak is bad, u keep pots small, play hands in position, check your ego and let hands go. I have made a couple calls that I could have saved myself probably $150, but I didnt. when things are going your way, take a few chances, like calling a raise in the SB or BB with small pocket pairs.

well, just lost set over set and gonna call it a night in a few...just a sick, sick session.

I should be leaving a table after I get up to like 160-180. if i lose a hand, i lose a buy in and a half, but when i win them, i only win a buy in...need to be more strict about that

February 2, 2008

Started out grinding away up about $60 and then my AA lost to a perfect set up but the JJ hit runner runner straight and I dropped a buyin. I fought back and am winning now, but now i am about even. Had a few nasty river beats again, but if you have good pot control and only push hard later in the hand and when the board is more favorable, you dont run into them quite as much. Keep pots small, build as you build a very strong hand and punish them when they try to draw out.

Great hand for me. I was SB with 10 10. there were two limpers and i limped along. Flop comes 10 5 5. I checked and it was checked around all 4 players. turn was the 2nd diamond and a card that brought straight possibilities. It was checked around again to the button and he put in a small raise. I called and the river brought another diamond to bring flushes into the mix. I bet 10, was raised to 25 and i pushed. it was an overbet for sure, but i figured it would look like i am trying to buy the pot. he called and i won over 110 in the pot. sweet!

I just shut down my tables and ended the night up $4!! :o) Another winning session!

I will update tomorrow.

February 1, 2008

As you know if you read my last blog entry, I am going to make a push to really play in February. In the past I have set all sorts of pretty attainable goals, but for one reason or another I never met them. I know this about myself and I ask Penny to be understanding and encouraging when it comes to me playing poker. With a new baby, I know she is taking on a lot and I need to be there for her, but I figure this month will show whether I can truly make cash, meaningful cash, playing NL poker or if I should just shut it down and turn my attention to activities that are more worthwhile.

Well, in the week that I have started shortstacking the $1/$2 NL tables, I went from a bankroll of about $200 to now over $1050. I had an excellent session tonight after a few that were stressful, but probably more realistic. I am up about $268. What I really like about NL is that I am experiencing variance even while winning every day I have played. I think that you can win very consistently and my bankroll is growing every night I sit down.

I only played just over an hour, but I let the game come to me. I am noticing that the shortstacks when they act passively are very mindful of their stacks and small bets can force them off, otherwise they just push. People make loose calls and firing a 2nd barrel is often necessary - even a 3rd!

Anyway, what a great night and I am enjoying playing NL so much more than sngs. I am just excited to add more and more tables and get my roll up to the full buy in!

Check in tomorrow because I hope to have another session of at least an hour.

January 31, 2008

Well, I finished up January on a nice note finishing a 5 minutes session up $29 bucks. Penny and I went out for pizza and i took the opportunity to jump on the computer after we got back and try to make the pizza money. I had a few hands, but made the bulk of it by hitting the nut flush on the river. I didnt get called on my 80% pot sized bet, but was glad to make a few bucks and finish my first month of playing - well i should say my first week and a half - without a losing session!!

I started with my $100 bankroll and played some Multi table sngs with some success. I got bored and decided to jump to NL when my roll was about $225 and now it sits just under $800. I am glad to say that mixed in there was some pretty hefty variance, mostly bad i must say because I didnt suck out once when the money was all in, but I did lose a couple of them for very big pots. So, I am very happy with my play.

February is upon us and I am looking to hit gold status on Stars. If i do that, i assume my bankroll will leap well above $2k this month! Let's see if i can do it!

January 30, 2008

Today I won a quick $20 and bought into a satellite into the $55 buy in $50k Guarantee. I donked out early, but I am going to try to satellite into some of the tourneys. However, I think I will hold off until I get my bankroll over $1k. Should have done that today...but i did play a bit impatiently. Updates to follow after my session.

lost to the river gutshot and rivered flush for $300+ pots...I had chipped up on a few tables and then got involved in big hands. Lost them both on the river. Hopefully my luck will turn later this session, but my goal was to win a quick $100-$200. I would have been up about $400 had those two hands held up. Gonna keep plugging away!

What a crazy night...got into a big hand 3 way with QQ vs AK vs not quite sure...board had paired and was all black, so i was nervous, but the river was a queen and i filled up! won a $260 pot. Down a little, just lost to a 2 outter on the river...man, just a crazy night. Been taking some nasty beats on the river, but fighting back!

Ok, so including the buy in for the tourney I burned, I am up about 65 bucks. I was down quite a few hundred and took a few huge pots...here are a few things I have learned...

NL cash is quite a bit more aggressive. People raise with garbage and try to bluff their way to win pots. there are also quite a few people that call down with 2nd and 3rd pair. So, I need to bet my hands for value on the river when I have a solid hand. I cant get pushed off hands so easily and need to control the size of the pot. Do not build it on the flop and be very careful about playing marginal hands out of position. yes, i know these are all simple concepts, but I am violating them. I need to realize that spewing a few bucks here and there mean a lot both to your bankroll long term and your psychological state during the session as you watch your bankroll evaporate. Need to be a bit more disciplined and need to learn to get into the poker mindset earlier in my session. Play strong hands, bet your good ones and just let the crap go...learn it, live it!

So, another excellent night results-wise. I made a few bad calls that costs me a few hundred. I knew better and should have just folded...trust your gut and instinct. i am up a net of about $45. bankroll is $755 and thankfully growing. I earned well over 300 VPPs and will most likely fall short of making any VIP status this month. But, considering I started playing so late in January, I should easily make gold next month...shooting for a few of those cash bonuses or maybe a buy in to a tourney...anyway, until tomorrow!

Wow, it's been a long, LONG time!!

I have been away from poker for some time. I haven't flushed my bankroll down the toilet, but my passion for poker was waning and I had other things that I wanted to focus on. I was more focused on my job, on getting back into shape, and in the time that I was away, I had a baby boy! So, a lot has happened in the past 9 months!

I have moved to Tucson and have taken a job. I am making roughly twice what I was making 2 years ago and am loving my job. Being a father is just awesome! Life-changing is an understatement and one of the best byproducts of being a new father is the newfound discipline and sense of responsibility. I know it might seem ironic that I am talking about responsibility and all of a sudden I pop in to start up my poker blog again. My girlfriend, Penny, was considering getting a part time job, but I told her that I wanted to see if I could start up playing poker again. If she worked 20 hours per week and made like $10/hr, I told her that was just a waste of her time. That if I could start playing poker profitably again that I could make that and much more from the comfort of our own home.

How this all started was I put a few hundred bucks in Poker Stars and was messing around playing sngs. I gravitate towards those because I am an effective player. However, the game is so mechanical and there are so many people grinding sngs that I decided i would make the leap to NL. It was something I have always wanted to do and decided I would say screw the sngs and focus on playing some NL. Well, I have a starting bankroll of about $100. I started playing NL about a week ago. I am shortstacking the $1/$2 NL game. I buy in for $100 and try to grind out some dough. So far, I have had all winning sessions and have brought my bankroll to over $700. I am also shooting to make Gold Star on Poker Stars next month so I can start to work towards earning some cash bonuses to build my roll. It is all quite fun and exciting. I know I am still gambling with my bankroll due to playing well over my head. One bad run and I am pretty much toast! However, recent success has made me feel confident and I am looking to document what i have learned and put it down for me to review. I am learning with every session and I dont want to forget some of the lessons that I have paid to learn!

When I sit down, I need to remember to not force the action. Control the pot size and do not build it too quickly...be careful of playing out of position and just relax and let the game come to you. At this level, there are so many people willing to put all their cash in the middle with draws and pure bluffs that being patient is the key. I forced a little and dropped about 2/3 of a buy in tonight. I spent the rest of the night digging out of the hole I dug and then another half hour grinding out some profit. On the night, up $40 and made 213 FPPs on PS.

Look out, here I come!!

MY NEW BLOGS

I have decided to create a new blog. Actually, two new blogs.

One is to continue my poker progress, but I have a few other things that I want to incorporate into my blog. I wanted to also take my poker progress and blog to the next level. Here is my new poker blog:

http://pokerprojectpreg.blogspot.com/

I have also picked up my training to start day trading. Here is my blog that is chronicling my progress. I have just started this blog and my training, so probably not going to be any content worth mentioning for at least a week or two.

http://letsdaytrade.blogspot.com/

Come check them out and see how I am progressing. Thanks for reading...

March 7, 2007

Well, where to begin. how about at my new blog. I am going to put together a new blog because this one has sort of been outgrown. No, I havent become such a great poker player that I no longer need to blog, nor have I log any tables in over a month. I just have had so much happen to me in the past month that I need to start fresh...a new perspective and a new blog. this blog has been fun and was a place where I could vent my frustrations, but I need to make a change. I will post the address to my new blog shortly. It will encompass poker, my life, and my projects...hopefully it will help me remain focused and help me document this interesting time in my life...

February 8, 2007

I have not seen a poker table in over a week. I want to start playing, but have a new woman in my life and just have no time. She doesnt have internet or any cable of any kind at her place...so there is no watching TV or messing around online...i must admit i wish she had internet, but i dont really miss it. And as for TV, that is awesome! I dont miss it one bit and when i do have a chance to sit down and watch some TV, i realize what a waste of time it is...I am glad that i no longer am addicted to mindless entertainment. However, I need to get back to playing poker...hopefully in the next month or two i will get settled down and back into a normal routine.

January 31, 2006

Bad start but good finish tonight. I bubbled and took a 2nd and 3rd in my final 3 sngs...ran into a big hand with my AK on the bubble...unfortunate...and lost a couple bad ones when i got ITM on the other 2. I have been playing well...a bit tighter tonight than last, but still playing well. I am tired, so i am gonna call it a night.

January 30, 2007

I just played a set of 3. Played well and took 2, 3, and 5th. ugh, i played great tonight and feel like i was owning the tables. Its amazing what people will call you with late in sngs. You really must stay disciplined and play your strong hands aggressively because you will get action. I took 2 str8 75:25 beats when we got to the money. That would have set me up with a dominating chip lead heads up, instead i was out in 3rd. I ran into aces with my AKs late in a sng...id do it again if in the same situation. And I took a few nasty ones in the one i took 2nd in...overall, good night and i might play a few more.

One thing i did a bit more of in this set was playing back at raisers. If there is a weakish raise and you are yet to act, i find that if you read any weakness or if they are the big stack, you can make a relatively modest raise and take it down. I think they feel like the smallish reraise is a sign of strength and they let the hand go...i need to start using this more...i am super tight early in sngs, so its best used the in the middle to later part when blinds have creeped up and my table image is definitely tight.

January 24, 2006

so far i have lost 3 buy ins...lost to an opened ender, horrible preflop call with Q10 and he hit...i lost AA to 22 and also lot 1010 to AK on the river ace...never fails! just lost A10s when i flopped a nut flush draw to K10 and i took one of his outs with the K of diamond...and he hit the 2 outter on the river! i lose every fucking coin flip...i fuckin hate poker. just lost kk to AA...not my night...

i am not in the right place right now to play poker...between the issues with online payments to the horrible beats and endless suck outs...i am gonna take a long, maybe permanent break from poker...if things open up a bit and the restrictions let up, i might start again, but right now i just dont have the desire to play...

bubbled when my set lost toa 4 flush. won another and heads up in another...won two...back to damn near even...im a stud again! :o)

January 18, 2007

I am a bit concerned about the news regarding Neteller. They are really making this hard on the casual player to fund their accounts. I am worried about how quickly this will affect the player pool and how difficult it will become to make some $$ playing poker. I hope the casual player is more hardcore than I think they are...willing to open up new accounts at online financial intermediaries to stay ahead of the US government...what a shame and waste of resources.

On to the tables...

January 16, 2007

I am playing periodically. I have decided to make one last ditch effort to pick up playing again. In doing so, I have allowed myself to gamble a bit. I am playing with a modest bankroll of just under $500 bucks and figured I would pick up my play and either crap out or start to make some money. One nice benefit is the money comes in faster and motivates you more, but one short slide and its all over. I dont think i would reup at this point...But I have been playing great since committing. I have won about 200 in 2 days...starting to build my bankroll, work on my game and starting to see the results. I am cashing regularly and taking a few too many bubbles for my liking, but it's a great sign that i continually get there. Time to adjust and play a bit tighter game...

Overall, promising. Periodic updates to follow...

I just ran some numbers and I am truly gambling by stepping up to the $36s. I only had about 14 buy ins...so that is definitely something I would tell others to avoid doing. If you add my current bankroll with the rakeback I have in my account, I now have about 23 buy ins. I dont feel comfortable until I have about 30-40 and truly comfortable when I have 70 or more. I have seen too many swings to feel comfortable with any less then 50.

Part of my game I need to work and focus on is my bubble play. I know how important this stage of the game is, but I have been a bit donkish lately on it...bubbling far too often and regretting some decisions I have made. I was shortstacked when I made these moves, but I was forcing the issue and cost myself some $$. The more regularly I play, the more I will be able to tighten up this bubble situation...repetition is key for me. These decisions must come quicky and be second nature if I am ever going to start to add more tables.

January 8, 2007

I havent played any since the first day of the month. Today I decided I am going to play the $36s and just stick with those to see if I make it...If I dont, I can quit poker for a while...I need to move up because I am getting frustrated at the lower levels.

I did play a few bubbles poorly...I need to make sure I play a better game on the bubble...I am getting a little loose at times. I guess that is a balance because being too tight on the bubble leads to blinding into 4th place, or at least making it difficult to money. So, I need to evaluate whether it is bad luck or bad strategy. I guess I was on the bubble with AK vs K6 and lost to my 3 outter...so it is more bad luck than anything...I like the way I am playing and think it will all come around...excited to be playing the $36s.

January 1, 2007!!

Well, a quick few thoughts before I start playing. I am going to try to grind as hard as possible for as long as possible. I need to see what I am capable of because I need to either give up poker or focus on it, but this half-assing has got to stop. I know I can make a good amount of money doing this, but the question has always been if my level of commitment is there. I am going to test that in 2007.

I am halfway to getting a new monitor to start 6-8 tabling. I would like to log about 500 sngs this month while I start to work out as well. Time to bring some discipline back into my life. I am going to try to clear my Full Tilt bonus as quickly as possible. I have been nickel and diming it down, but its time to clear it and start raking up the rakeback.

Here is a quick review of my revised goals for the year...

1. DISCIPLINE!!!!
2. Stay employed at my current job. I am starting a new job and would like to have some stability. As long as I am not going to be a full time poker pro, I might as well keep a decent day job.
3. Win at least $20,000 playing poker (not including rakeback!)
4. Enter at least 1 WSOP event - or play is larger buy in online tourneys with regularity.
   
5. Move up to playing $109 sngs
6. Hit my goals of playing 400 sngs a month. Moving up to 500-800 sngs a month as my game progresses.
7. Enjoy my life more
8. Appreciate my friends and family more
9. Work out!!! Getting too fat!!
10. DISCIPLINE!!!!

There is just so much to say about the past year and my plans/ambition for the new year. I have a great mental state of mind right now. The past year was interesting and I have learned a hell of a lot about myself. The one thing that I have internalized is that I need to work a little harder at my game, concentrate harder while playing, and be much more disciplined in everything that I do. I suppose those are fairly generic statements, but I think we often know how we are supposed to live our lives, but executing the plan is often difficult. I allow myself to be distracted too easily and end up losing a week of my life doing absolutely nothing. I need to quit wasting time and starting looking towards the future. That is why my blog will take a different tone because there is a new level of intensity I am hoping to bring to my game. I have been so lazy at the tables that I feel I owe it to myself to play proper and log the tables. My previous posts were typically afterthoughts...a bunch of yammering about bad beats and just venting frustration. Those are going to go away and I am going to start to focus on the progress I have made because I used to play at a significantly higher buy in than I am now. Now, its time to get back there and get over the next hump...

Full Tilt is down right now, but as soon as it gets back up to 25k+ players, i will start to 4-table.

I got my first 10 sngs in 2007 finished. I am down, but playing disciplined. Still surprised by the aggressive CALLING range that I see. I was called by 89 on the bubble. I think tightening up on the bubble might be in order due to this wide calling range...I also see a lot of King hi calls with kickers all the way down to 2. Getting in ahead and playing well...just need to keep doing what I am doing and I think I will be fine.

Took a beating tonight. Hoping that things will take a turn for me in the next few days. I think today I was able to play solid from the start...donked one sng off with a loose call early. I am finding that I get myself into good +EV situations, so I will take that as a good sign and continue to play this style. One thing to note, I often play slightly too loose when I first sit down...I need to be careful to sit down in a focused mindset...otherwise it takes me a set to realize that I need to pull back a bit. As I increase my volume of play, I am excited to see a hot streak all the way through. I often quit after a hot set...but it would be nice to keep playing and hopefully catch fire. Often, it isnt just the cards holding up, but you just get in the zone...I would like to see what happens when I log 3 hours in the zone :)

December 27, 2006

I have been steadily getting my bankroll back after a big night of losses before i went home at christmas. This game can be so infuriating when you are constantly trying to build...at some point it will feel good to have a certain bankroll and maybe skim every month...that would be ideal. but, until i get to that point, I will be obsessing over every loss.

I had a few unlucky situations tonight...I never sucked out and lost quite a few coin flips. i had a nasty one...i had QQ on bubble and was up against a pusher that just had me covered. I called, but the BB called too and he had us both covered. He turns over KQ and hits a river king. so, i ended up taking 4th...totally screwed! I didnt even spend enough time to think about it...i moved on to the next sng...i am even for the night...so gonna relax for a bit and maybe log some more sngs.

started a set...got to the bubble on each, bubbled on first 2 getting very unlucky....itm in the other 2...playing great! Just took one down...heads up in another...about even chip stacks. would be huge to take it down! my 88 lost to J9...so my final set was solid...getting too late to fire up any more...lets see where i stand. I won about $80...those bubbles sure did hurt. i am playing very patiently and laying down a lot of hands...

I am laying down big hands preflop into crazy aggression. I am not going to the coin flip early...I have laid down 10 10, 9 9, AQs, and various other smallish pocket pairs.

I am soo confident that I c ould add 2 more tables with very little drop off. I only think that i would struggle if i started to bubble in all 6 of them...which would be an awesome problem to have. still grinding away towards my new monitor...about halfway there.

Now that I am not messing around with less than 4 tables...I find that I can log a very high number of sngs...I cannot imagine 8-tabling...averaging 10-12 turbos an hour. I know some people 16-table...but i need to bask in the glory of 8-tabling and thinking about the numbers that landmark means. I cant wait until I move up levels and 8-table...baby, the cash will be coming!!

December 24, 2006

Played a little most of the nights when i have been at home. Done pretty well and my game is heating up right now. I have cashed in the last 4 sngs, going 1, 1, 3, 2. I am just over double my initial stack in the FT $35k Guaranteed. I am starting to concentrate a little more on my game...I hope I can use this focus to take my game to the next level again...I feel like I am going to be able to replicate what i did before...and that was build a very nice bankroll that i will no longer need to pull from...so i am very excited at the thought, but being realistic - I dont think I had the focus to pull it off. This break has been so good for me...i totally understand why people say you need a break or the value in taking one...

Anyway, i am doing well early in the tourney, updates to follow.

First break, I have 3210 in chips - just below the average of 3470. 584 of 1341 still remain...pays the top 216.

I needed to get some cards and I waited too long to be able to open it up a bit...so i ended up in a pretty good hand, but i did lose it. I had A8o in the bb and had one limper. 8 hi flop, we both checked, another undercard, I bet he calls, another undercard and i push, he calls with pocket 8s. Ugly one...i was obviously hoping he was holding a strong ace...
Now i realize why that was such a bad assumption. I should have known he wouldnt have played an AQ or AK like that preflop. that left overpairs, which he would also have bet preflop, so most likely middle pairs. I should have realized that most underpairs would have caught their sets or made a straight, so i should have either moved on the flop, which was fatal, or just fold to aggression...which i probably should have...which means i should have checked my hand and folded if he raised...which was originally the plan, until he checked...which i should have just checked it down...folding to any bet.

2006 Goal Revisited

As we close out 2005, my head is spinning how fast this year has gone by. All in all, it has been a good year. But, looking forward to 2006, I am so excited. I have a new job, set a lot of goals for myself, and a better attitude and perspective on things. So, as we start 2006, I wanted to list my goals and wish my friends a happy new year. My 2006 goals are as follows:

1. DISCIPLINE!!!!
2. Stay employed at my current job. I am starting a new job and would like to have some stability. As long as I am not going to be a full time poker pro, I might as well keep a decent day job.
3. Win at least $25,000 playing poker (not including rakeback!)
4. Enter at least 1 WSOP event
5. Move up to playing $109 sngs
6. Hit my goals of playing 250 sngs a month. Moving up to 400 sngs a month as my game progresses.
7. Enjoy my life more
8. Appreciate my friends and family more
9. Work out!!! Getting too fat!!
10. Get the software program I have been brainstorming moving along.
11. DISCIPLINE!!!!

Good luck to all those setting goals. I hope we all achieve everything we set our minds to.

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I remember making this post. Ah, how I was into the game and had so much enthusiasm. It has faded a bit as the highs and lows have taken their toll on me. I know i havent logged as many sngs this entire year as some have in a month or two. thats part of my problem, the volume of play just isnt there yet, which is dedication, which is Discipline. so the real question is do i want it??

That is a great question. I cant even begin to answer that. i think the structure that a day job brings me is important, but I see other ways that i can obtain structure in my life...this year i am going to find out how deep my dedication and desire for poker is. right now, i have to say i have a 50/50 chance of making this post again next year. it isnt that i cant play or that i will crap out. i honestly believe that i can play this game profitably. the only question is can i log enough sngs to make it worthwhile, and in doing so, will it require more time than i am willing to give...those questions will indeed be answered later this year!

December 15, 2006

Tonight, I plan on logging some tables. I have been slacking this week. I guess I have been preoccupied thinking about going home and connecting with some friends I havent seen in a while...Plus, work has been pretty heavy.

However, that is no excuse. This weekend I plan on logging a bunch of sngs and hope to make back everything I lost last weekend during my terrible saturday night/sunday morning. I made back a little, but lets see if i can continue to get some luck and keep my play solid. I am just nervous until I can get my account up over the $1k mark because at that point I will finally feel confident that I will not crap out...until then, i feel like I am gambling and I dont like to gamble when poker is concerned...blackjack is one thing, but poker is not meant to be gambling.

December 14, 2006

there is a little party at work, but it doesnt start until 7 or 7:30...not sure if i want to stick around or not. I am past the phase where I feel like i am missing out...ive been to soo many parties and get bored pretty easily at them. I have hung out with hot drunk girls and stupid drunk guys before and the novelty has worn off...plus, I really dont want to be driving home wasted. Plus, its work-related. sure, i work in the corporate office, so none of the people I actually work with will be there, but word travels fast...and doing stupid things here is actually more like a badge of honor than something to hang your head in shame over...still on the fence.

As for poker, I need to get my tables in. I really wanted to qualify for one of the iron man challenge freerolls on full tilt...i made great progress, but the last few days off have pissed it away. I am still on target, but with the holidays coming up, who knows if i will be able to finish the month off strong. I am kinda looking forward to playing on stars too, so i need to clear the FT bonus because it is an amazing rakeback deal...and stars has no rakeback, so it would be silly not to clear the bonus before bailing...lets see what happens tonight.

December 10, 2006

Horrible luck is holding off until after teh bubble tonight. i have taken two nasty ones when we get into the money...lost A10s to A5o and JJ to A10s.

I figured I am going to continue to log a decent number of sngs every night until I either crap out or make a good run. Obviously, i hope not to crap out, but then again, unless i dont start to make some progress i might be better off doing something else with my very limited free time.

I need to keep things in perspective. I have never been able to log as many sngs as many of the 2+2 posters. they show their monthly stats and their downswings can often number more sngs that i log in a month...however they have huge upswings as well. I just need to hang in there and go with the flow of the game. I feel underbankrolled...so i am gonna stick with the $24s until I hit $1200, then i will start splitting up my tables...half 24s and half 36s. I am happy with the number of sngs I have logged so far...i would say close to 100. i am trying so hard to get my rakeback up to $300...right now it stands about $100, but if i can clear that full tilt bonus soon, i will continue to play there until i get $300 and then move to Poker Stars.

December 9, 2006

Not a great start...still at it. Going through card dead stretches. Tonight, i have been staying out of the way because I am not getting a lot of quality starting hands. The action is fast and furious, making me even less likely to open or enter a pot. but, even when you are a spectator you experience variance. lots of double ups for the small stack. Again, i am continually amazing with the level of play. people calling pushes on the bubble with Jack high. I took 3rd when my K7 was called preflop by J10. I hit my king, but he hit runner runner flush.

not sure if I am going to continue playing tonight...thinking about it. I think i am gonna take a break and fire some up later.

I just cant believe this shit...i raise with AQ and get called. I flop an ace...on the turn i get him all in and he shows QQ...I hav eAQ, and he hits the 1 outter!

Up and down...getting in good, so cant be upset with my play. just lost my JJ to AQ...i wish they could just flop the Ace...actually I had a flush draw on the turn...and the queen hits on the river. gotta stay focused and keep grinding...volume is the key, so variance is a part of the game...this is a heavy dose...so i just gotta get used to it. you know, i am realizing that playing is learning to deal with it every day, not just every so often...when you play 20-30+ sngs a day...you run into it more often than you can avoid it!

The queen on the river has FUCKED me so many times tonight. I was on the bubble, 2nd stacked and the big stack min raised...i called. flop is all blanks and i hit my 9 on the turn to give me a set...i push, he calls with QQ. FUCKING QUEEN ON THE RIVER AND I BUST! i just dont understand how this can keep fucking happening. I better go on one hell of a winning streak to make up for this bullshit!

Truly unreal tonight...i bubble every time as the shorty keeps sucking out on the bubble and i get fucked! full tilt is fucked!

I dont know if i can play poker...i just dont know. i can play the tables, i can get in ahead, i can log a shit load of time and get my volume up, but these nights where idiots make plays and get paid all night long are just insane. I know it isnt the site...i mean, come on, but it just doesnt seem right. i can believe how bad these players are. i should be dominating them and i just dont know what to do anymore. i will play a shit load tomorrow and either crap out or make some back.

December 7, 2006

horrible run so far tonight...every donk is hitting their hands. called with 76 on bubble and i hit my pair only to get sucked out on...just terrible. trying to stick with it, but i think im down at least 10 buy ins already.

rough night...i keeplosing the important hands...on the bubble or near it when i get in good and my hands dont hold up...sticking with it...still playing well. i was playing poorly early, but i adjusted and now am getting deep in most sngs...trying to dig outta the hole.

Took one down...so cashed in a couple tonight...gonna fire up a few more.

wow, I quite possibly had the best finish to a night. I fired up 4 sngs to try to dig out of the hole...# $22s and a $36. I took 2nd in the $36, 2 firsts and a third i believe to finish the night up. I wsa down a lot...i would say over 250, not quite sure, but i won like 4 bucks, and released a $20 bonus, so ended up over 24 bucks...not a lot, but considering the start, pretty amazing...plus rakeback baby!

December 2, 2006

I am not happy with this sng software I bought. It doesnt pick up all the sngs that I play. I paid $40 bucks for it. Not that it is a lot of money, but i should have known better. I should have went with a more polished product, but i was trying to support the community. i didnt realize, or take time to think, about how tough it is to create and maintain a poker product that imports hand histories. The sites are continually making changes to their format, so keeping up with it is pretty difficult.

I think I also need to buy that software program that tells you which hands to push against an estimated range. I know I play too tight...way too tight. It is solid for me in sngs though. I realize that if I get all in as a 60:40 favorite that I will win more often than I lose. but, that edge is so marginal on any one hand. Against these donks playing the $24s and $36s on Full Tilt, I would like a bigger edge because I can afford to be patient. Thing is, I am continually AMAZED at the range in which I am being called. If I push on the button, against a shorty or even someone with a similar sized stack, i am getting called with hands like J8o. I would never put that in a calling range, but I guess I would have to. Thats just amazing to me that someone will call off all their stack with J8o. I mean, you got this far, just pick a better spot.

So, tonight I logged 13 sngs. 4 tabling, thats about 2 hours works. I cant wait until I get my rakeback up to $300 so I can buy myself a new monitor. then, the next $300 will be for another. Then I should have a killer set up to really test myself. Outside of playing a +EV game, volume of play is the most important stat to monitor. the more tables I can log in an hour, the more my $$/Hr will go up and the more money I will make.

I have been reading that many players experience the same problem as me...only able to log 150-200 sngs a month. We are the guys with full time jobs or other commitments. The young college kids can devote 5-6 hours a day while 8-tabling and log mass quantities of sngs - making tons of money. I would really need to have a full year of $10k plus months before I would consider quitting my job. I could make that amount without the stress of having to win it. I admit that my job keeps me disciplined and I believe if I was a pro poker player, I would follow in the steps of Stu Unger, but just not nearly as good.

Winning night to start off my December...Let's continue to build on it!

December 1, 2006

I keep trying to play more poker, but outside interests and demands are not allowing me to have the time to do it. I want to push myself, but then realize I am not playing my best game. I am usually tired and not able to play as well as I would like. I did play about 150 sngs this month. I think I can hit 200 and as soon as I get about $300 in rakeback, I am going to cash it out and get a new monitor to start 6-tabling.

I am grinding away. I dont want to set goals right now because poker is not my first priority. My goal is to play as much as I can and play well. I need to work on playing more when I am playing well, but often times I am tired and just want to go to bed...feeling good after a winning session. I know that if I continued to play and started to lose my winnings, I would not be able to sleep. right now, I just do what works for me. I had a marginally profitable month. I won a few hundred and made a little in rakeback...nothing spectacular. I would like to build my roll and play the $33+3 exclusively before I move up. Once I am able to move up to the $33+3s and start to build my roll at that level, I will start to investigate playing on Poker Stars. they do not have nearly as many intermediate levels, they dont have $30-something sngs.

I am being more realistic about poker. I know it's just a hobby right now, but if I can slowly build my roll again and learn to tolerate high volume play, then maybe it could become something more.

November 26, 2006

tonight is the night i get sucked out on.. having a bad run...all the draws are coming in on me...still working on it though.

November 24, 2006

Doing ok, maybe down a buy in or two. Played a $36 tonight. I will fire one up when playing well. bubbled again for my 2nd str8 bubble in a $36. short stack doubled up once and then i took a stab and got caught...just unlucky. Still in 2 sngs...lets see how they finish up.

Just called a bubble push with A7s and dude pushed 24 into me and he caught runner runner straight...fuckin unreal! Last night my hands held up, tonight they dont even come close and the suck outs are in full effect...hoping i can ride it out...lets see what happens.

Well, I did some good things tonight and and some bad things...first lets talk about the good things. I played a pretty solid game tonight. A few beats put me on tilt, but i can feel it coming and i do my best to control it. I play by emotion, so when i feel in my gut to call or raise, I play by feel. However, since I can feel my frustration growing inside me, I know that I must switch gears and play by the book. So, I was able to keep myself in check, which kept the bleeding to a minimum. However, my frustration manifested itself in another way...I opened up 3 $36 sngs. I told myself I wasnt going to do that until I was properly bankrolled, but my performance in those has been excellent outside of bubbling the last few...my play had been good enough to money. so I figured lets give it a shot and see how it turns out. I won 2 of them and finished out of the money on the third, but still had a velry nice chip stack in the 3rd one...got it all in as a slight favorite nearing the bubble and got drawn out on...if that hand holds up, i believe I could have moneyed...playing good poker again!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Had a great Thanksgiving. Went to the Camelback Inn for brunch...what an amazing spread. Had lamb chops, filet mignon, amazing turkey, king crab claws, potatoes, prime rib, creme brule and fruit for dessert. Just awesome!

Came home and watched some poker on TV...got inspired and played. had a great night, took quite a few firsts for a change. I took down a bunch of sngs and played very well. My hands held up today...that was really encouraging and good for my confidence. Up 220 playing the 22+2...solid night.

November 21, 2006

Now that I am playing a little more and trying to keep a clear head, I realize just how often my dominating preflop hands, at least according to the books, actually get dominated. with regularity, my stronger aces get cracked pretty creatively... 4 card flushes, always 3 on the flop and one on the river...or runner runner straight. Didnt let it get to me...didnt even think about it - just fired up some more and plugged away. Played a 33 and was doing great until my AJs lost to A8o on the bubble when his gutshot, that he pushed with, came thru on the river. Sucks because that could have lead to a very nice profit for the night...I was up more than the buy in and could have built up a nice day...

I decided to join an $11 MTT for some fun...gonna relax and play and hope that i can play for an hour or two on my $11 bucks...would be great to get my money back...but of course I am looking to cash DEEP! Wish me luck.

Update on MTT:

Well, its been up and down. I had about 1150 chips and got AA in early position, bumped to 180, or 3xbb and got the button to call. i ended up doubling up through him and am sitting with 2540 with an average stack at the break of 3550. I need to catch a few hands, but havent had too much other than the monster. lets see how the second hour goes...there are only 471 out of the 1114 that started...pays top 180.

248 left 19 mins before break number 2. just got it all in with 10 10 when someone with about one third of my stack pushed, i pushed over the top and he had AJs...my 101 0 held up and i am sitting nicely. still need a big hand...got moved to the table with the two chip leaders...hope to double up one more time before break.

Holy shit, Just jumped into the top 60...will write it up in a sec.

Ok, just after my last post about busting that dude with 1010, i got A10s on the button, it was folded to me, i bumped to 3.5xbb and it was pushed over the top of me by the SB. I had to fold, but that was 25% of my chips. I then get a small pair in late position and I limp...dude pushes and i have to fold. i am down to like 2500 chips...i am SB, blinds are 150/300 at this point and the 3 big stacks on the table are all in before for for 900. I push for my final 2500, and all 3 call...FUCK! flop comes 9 high and one of them bets 5000 and the other two fold...he shows JJ...i caught an ace on the turn and quadrupled up! sitting over 10k right now, break in 4 mins...almost to the money...194 left!

Second Break:

Sitting nicely. have 8525, which is just about the average. I had to call a min raise when i was on the BB. Just too good of odds to fold with suited 64. 4 people to the money.

Took 124th...made like 4 bucks lol. was fun though. I realize that in my tourney game, i need to open it up a bit more. I guess I was pretty card dead too...but i still need to make some plays when the cards arent coming and make plays. if i lose and bust, it just wasnt meant to be. but my goal was just to cash. I played well and had some cheap fun...

November 20, 2006

Playing today...doing ok, but had a bad run of luck...was in twice ahead and had the better ace both times and the board hit a 5 card flush lol

still at it...i am getting screwed when i get itm...lost the two i just said, then lost JJ vs 22 and then lost KQ vs K5. unreal. I am playing well, just getting fucked as usual. I really dont like full tilt...i mean, within 10 mins had the dominant hand and the board gets 5 of one suit...i mean come on, then to lose my JJ to 22...that was pricess...then i lost that fucking KQ to K5 when he hit runner runner flush...

must be running bad...cuz just getting horrible suck outs against me...getting in ahead and getting deep...just not getting any luck. fucking full tilt.

My last set i finally hit a suckout...up for the night...i am so happy with my play...i need to play more poker...my game is ready...i just need to learn how to deal with the swings...i am just not there yet as you can read!

November 13, 2006

I have decided to try to stick to a much more regimented approach to poker. Let me rephrase – I am going to try to stick to a more regimented approach to poker. The days of my cavalier attitude towards it are over – I have been humbled. Last night, I thought, “Hey, I am not going to drink a beer or two or three for that matter and play poker.” I usually come home from work, after fighting traffic, crack a beer, maybe eat and fire up some tables. That just didn’t seem to work lately, especially with my game being off. So, I have come up with a new approach.

- I am not gonna drink anymore before or while I play.
- There are some online games, not pac-man/video game style games, but these are puzzle games. It’s odd, but when I play them before playing poker, my results at the tables often mimic the results on these games. I think it is a FREE look at my mental focus.
- I will continue to play when I am winning
- I will stop when I am losing

I am excited because all I am requesting of myself is some discipline. If this poker thing is ever going to be something that I do long term, a work-style approach is necessary.

I realized this was necessary because there was just too much variance in my play from one night to another. At the last few jobs I have had, we could crack a beer on Friday afternoon and unwind. A few times, we would crack a beer and realize we had a little more work to do. I would really struggle to find the focus once I started to drink…EUREKA! The reoccurring theme I have is FOCUS and DISCIPLINE. I am making baby steps, but at least I am making progress.

In trying to maintain discipline, I am not going to be playing tonight because I am pretty tired and it is only 7:30 and I havent eaten yet. So, I will just have a little wine, eat dinner and watch monday night football and hit the sack pretty early. Hopefully I will have more energy tomorrow night. Honestly, I think I could play, but i would like to put together some winning sessions and get some momentum going. I used to have maybe one losing session a week...so that is where I would like to get back to.

November 12, 2006

I did some 3-tabling. I decided not to drop down too much, I played 1 $11 and decided to just fire up $22s. I cant win one to save my life, but i got a bunch of 2nds and 3rds. I think i monied in like 4 of 6 or 5 of 7, but i played very patient and was folding some big preflop hands in the face of some limpers or early aggression. I have been reading a lot on limit poker and have decided that i need to select my hands better. Yeah, the game is different, limit vs no limit, but stats is stats and ev is ev...so i am trying to focus better on my game and playing with a clear head...seemed to work today, i hope i can put a few winning days together.

I just uploaded my HHs into tourney manager. I got 4 3rds, a 2nd, and a 4th. Pretty crazy!!

November 10, 2006

I havent played the past two nights. Went to bed early after a few long nights of ass raping in poker. definitely needed the break. looking forward to playing this weekend. i was gonna drop down to the 11s, but forget it. if i crap out playing the 22s, so be it and i will conclude my blog. My desire has been very high and low regarding poker over the past month. I think I can do it, but there are too many other things that are taking precedence. I am not saying I hope I crap out, i still have over 15 buy ins, so actually i might drop down to the 11s because I dont want to sabotage myself. It is just really hard to win your money back at half the rate you lost it.

November 8, 2006

Well, last night was definitely frustrating. Full tilt has been pretty tough on me and I think a day off is in order. I am gonna take today off from poker and watch the Suns play. If i do log some sngs, it will be 1 or 2 tabling and maybe 1 or 2 sessions. not looking to log volume, but spend more time thinking and evaluating my play. I think I need to relax and center myself a little more before I fire up some tables. I pretty much leave work, fight traffic, come home, change my clothes, say hello to my roommates and fire up some tables. I need to slow down, relax, prepare and then play.

November 7, 2006

I have been thinking about what I will be going through as I increase the volume of sngs I play. the swings will come fast and furious. I moved down to the $22+2 sngs on full tilt this weekend and decided to 4-table them with a vengence. In a month, I could easily make $2k+ playing these, so it isnt like there is no money to be made. I think its a good move because my play seems pretty good up to this point and my return is showing that. however, we are talking such a small sample size that it isnt really relevent. I think 1-2 months of 4-tabling the 24s will do me just fine...hopefully can log about 1000 sngs in that time. I have been logging a lot of them this past week, so hopefully can continue.

the hardest part for me is firing up the first set because i immediately put myself at risk to lose money. Once i get going, i am ok...so I have just sat down and started playing the past few nights and have logged a healthy number. I will look later, but i will give an update for my first week in november...i think i am close to the 100 sng target i set, but i also took at least one day off, i think maybe even 2 off this week...I am looking to get at least 100 this next week.

Started the night losing my AA vs QQ on the river. when it flops a gut shot str8 for the queens, i knew i was toast.

Totally had a great play...KK on BB and the sb completes. i just check and queen hi flop, he bets pot, i min raise, he pushes with Q8 and catchs the 8 on the turn.

All big pairs have let me down...I have lost AA, KK, QQ, and KK. tough night. still at it. I just had AA and KK on 2 tables...won them both, but didnt go to showdown.

I have been playing terribly...that and no luck..fuck it, done for the night.

I dont know what it is, but either i just cant do this, or logging lots of hours just isnt possible for me, but i cant seem to get back to where i was. i am going to start playing the 11s...i am just not playing well...dont know what it is...need to take a break and tomorrow sounds great!

November 6, 2006

frustrating...but still at it. playing well and in ahead every time so far, but that guarantees nothing...need to get some wins.

Well, I really dont know how to play much better...i get in ahead and continually get screwed...fuckin 3 outters and over vs underpairs...unreal! I just dont know what to do or change. People make these fucking crazy calls and get paid off...i just dont understand it.

I powered through one final set and finished strong. Helped to salvage the beating I took last night...about even since when I started...up a little I guess if you count rakeback, but that really is a moral victory, not really something to brag about.

I have been giving some serious thought to playing limit...starting to develop my limit game i think would be a good way to build a bankroll and start to learn some more of the nuances of the game.

My set came together because I pulled back my play. I think i was overaggressive on and near the bubble...i would take down chips, but i was not maximizing my play. No, i wasnt pushing my big pairs and scaring people off, but i would reraise very strongly and push drawing hands away...so i think i was my own worst enemy. sometimes getting in ahead isnt all you have to do, you still have to maximize the opportunities you get...and you cant lose sight of that.

November 5, 2006

Well, I played in my bi-weekly game today. It has been about 2 months due to football season, but I really miss it. It was a lot of fun. It was essentially a sng, we only had 11 players today. I was card dead the whole day and had a few chances to go bust, but I played very well. I had KK with a board of A34 all spaces and I held the king of spades. I didnt raise, dude raised 500 and I called...turn came another ace and we both checked. River was a blank and he raised 500...I folded and he flopped the set and turned the FH, so I was lucky the spade never came and I got away pretty cheap. I ended up bubbling when I got 77 and raised on the button. flop came 568 and dude pushed into me. I had to call and he turned over Q10 and I was in pretty good shape...until the turn and river came 10 10 and I got smoked. sure sucked!

I am playing very well live...I think I will start to play more if I can get my online game to come around and fund it. Time to play a little online.

OK, gonna fire up a few sngs...had a few beers, so might only fire up 2.

Been playing a lot...just getting very unlucky...trying to stick with it. I guess I am just running bad, but it went from the live tables and followed me online. These people online continually overplay their hands on Full Tilt and they continually get paid off for it. trying to keep my focus and not go on tilt...I am pretty good at that, but it sure would be nice for a hand to hold up...I am not talkin my 60/40, but have lost pocket pair over pocket pair 3 straight times...please hold up, pleasE!!

I dont know if i am pushing things or if i am just running into monsters...but i am getting solid hands on the bubble and people continually are overplaying theirs...does this mean i am playing mine too meekly on this level? however when i open it up people are catching me with big pairs. tought dilemma...i think its a bad run, but i think I might be forcing some thing while getting a bit unvlucky...all adds up to a bad night!

Been a terrible night...gonna keep playing and when i quit hit the sack...hopefully can finish strong.

November 4, 2006

Well, 0/4 in my first set...lost AA twice, hit top pair but ran into a set, and got sucked out twice on the other to bust. Playing great, getting in ahead and not getting lucky. Full tilt, tho I am very confident it is legit, just seems shitty.

November 3, 2006

I am still not feel all that well. My head just feels out of sorts. I am at work, able to get my work done by the deadline and feel relatively good overall, but my head just doesnt feel right. I hope it isnt anything serious, which i am sure it is not.

So, I hope to log a few sets tonight. I played one very good set last night. Full Tilt just makes me nervous. the suckouts are epic. Any time i get in ahead on the bubble, I figure I am toast. I honestly made a bubble bursting call (well it crippled the dude that pushed, left him with about 100 chips when blinds were 300/600) with J10o. Yes, that is a terrible call...I was fully aware of it. however, my thought process was this. He is shortstacked, like I am, so he is pushing a very wide range. I figured he was either pushing a small pair or a weak ace...he had a weak king and i hit my 10. I was more confident sitting there, on the bubble and all in, with J10o and behind than i am with Ax against two face cards. call me crazy, but thats how full tilt plays out.

anyway, i gotta finish some stuff up at work and I will be at the tables tonight.

November 2, 2006

Man, last night was a bad night for many reasons. I came home and logged a bunch of sngs...didnt upload them because i took an ass raping. it was all bad play...all me. later on, the suns played and i went to watch them on tv, but i got a headache. I never get headaches. this one put me down, ended up puking. went to work, didnt feel quite right today...i think im getting a little sick, but its month end at work and i cant get away right now...too much to do.

so, came home tonight...relaxed and watched the football game. played a quick set of 4...i dont want to go without playing for a day cuz it really hurts in terms of trying to hit my goals. I could easily play another...feeling in control today, but i am happy. I lost my composure, got angry, but played well. full tilt is worse for suck outs than party poker. its fuckin crazy. but, i ended up winning one and taking 2nd in the other...would have won the 2nd one too if my AQ would have held up against K3 to the rivered 3!! unreal...this dude sucked out on me before, on the bubble when i should have busted him, but he sucked out...its good tho, cuz he thinks hes good and i will see him again.

up 105 tonight after losing over 250 last night. i just couldnt cash pasat 3rd place last night...had like 4 3rds and no higher finishes...that kills the ROI.

NOVEMBER!

It's time to get serious and start logging some sngs. 100 a week, 400 a month...get to it!

I am going to start posting my progress towards my weekly goals at the end of my daily entry.

My weekly target is 100+ sngs with a positive ROI.

Got about 10 sngs in....down a few buy ins. Had a hard time controlling my aggression toinight. I reeled it in late and cashed my last 3, but I believe all 3rds. Could have salvaged it with a first, but didnt get there. Finally get my game under control and into the money and then take a few bad ones to knock me out..falling behind early in my session made me tight up on the bubble and not play quite as aggressively as i would normally.

Progress:

Week 1:

October

October was in interesting month. I rediscovered my desire to play poker only to find out that Party Poker wouldnt let me play. So, I had to wait until the dust settled. Once it did, I got set up with a good deal for playing at Full tilt and have not looked back.

So, October was successful in my eyes because it got me back to playing, I am focused and showing the necessary discipline to play profitably, I have software tracking my results, and, most importantly, I have the desire to play. I understand where I need to go and what it takes to get there. I just need to find out if I have what it takes to execute the plan. I think I do.

I am setting goals of 100 sngs a week. The first $400 in rakeback I get I will use to buy a new monitor and start to 6-table. That alone will allow me to increase the volume of play by 50% with no additional time investment. Where else can you find a $350 investment increase productivity 50%?

I am looking foward to November!

I wanted to add a few notes. November is going to be my proving grounds. I am focused on getting over this mental hump that has been keeping me from really seeing what my future holds in poker. I am sick of speculating when all I have to do to prove what I can do is play.

In the past, this blog is really something I do for me, not really caring if anyone actually reads it. Now I care about my success, about getting over the hump and logging significant amounts of sngs, and reaping the rewards. So, WHEN I do make it over the hump, I think adding more insight into what I do, how I do it, and what process is very important. Up to this point, the answers to those questions are irrelevant because my progress isnt exceptional. once i get over that hump, i think the path I took will be much more meaningful because it lead to somewhere others are trying to go.

Not that I am not at a solid intermediate step. I was always a winning player. let me rephrase that, it took very little tweaking of my game, all which i did on my own, to make myself into a winning player. so i had a lot less work to do to get to where I am...all the more reason to not be impressed with my accomplishments. Now, i have to put in the work and GRIND the tables. that is something i have had very mixed success with. November is the test...lets see if i end up hitting my goals or if i am full of hot air.

Halloween

I didnt play any poker last night. After I got home from work, I relaxed and ordered some pizza for the Monday night game. After eating a bunch, I got tired and went to bed around 8:30. the plan was to be fully recharged for the week to log a bunch of hours at the tables, but I am feeling more tired today than yesterday. Hopefully it is just a slow start, but I should have taken a vitamin this morning. I took one two days in a row and felt really good…I might start to make that part of the daily regimen.

I think I would just like to set a weekly goal of 90-100 sngs. Enough blogging for right now, I will be playing tonight and giving updates.

Work is winding down for the day and I am feeling very focused on playing poker tonight. I know the Suns are playing their first game of the season tonight, but I need to make up for last night. If I can log a solid 3 sets in before the game I should be set. I am promising myself that if I am winning at the end of 3 sets, I will fire up another. I need to play more when I am winning, less when losing...seems obvious doesn't it?? Try it!! It is much harder than it sounds!

Well, I played about 10 sngs and was down 2 buy ins, watch some of the suns game and then fired up a set of 4. Ended the night up almost 2 buy ins...so was a very nice last set. I played well, patient and caught a few cards. Was brutal early when my hands were getting outdrawn...damn flushes. I lost to 3 rivered flushes...I realize its all part of the plan, but I took them in stride. I am getting much better about taking beats and just rollin with it. Another winning night, up over $55. Alomst have the roll over $1k! I am happy I got about 10 in tonight...looks like there are plenty people on Full Tilt to make it worthwhile to keep firing them up until 10:30...there were still over 21k people on the site when I am writing this. Hopefully I can start hitting the gym and logging 6 tables!

October 30, 2006

Had a good weekend. A bit disappointed in myself because I still did not hit the very attainable goal I set for myself. The odd part is that after I played a few sets 3- and 4-tabling, I remember saying to myself how easy it would be to hit goals if I can 4-table. I mean, 3-sets and I have 12 sngs played…play a 4th and we start to push 20 in a day, which is a really good number for me. Maybe I need a partner in crime…someone that plays a lot of sngs and I can see them do it, but for some reason I have a mental block. I know it has to do with results-oriented thinking and being happy I am up for the day, but I need to focus more on the number of sngs played, NOT the amount I have won.

I hear stories of people going from the $11s to the $109s in months…and I have run the numbers and know I could jump up within a few months too if I could hit my projections. It might be tough for me to hit my projections this week because I am wrapped up in sports lately…Monday night football tonight, then Suns basketball games Tuesday and Wednesday, and then a great college football match up on Thursday. I would like to log 12 a night, but we shall see. Once I can 6-table, that would only be just over 1 hour of work a night…that would be pretty amazing. Just for those that are not numbers oriented, let me break it down to what 12 and 18 sngs a night would equate to.

I am assuming an attainable, yet respectable ROI or 12%

12 sngs a night:
360 a month
$1850

18 sngs a night
540 sngs a month
$2775
When I jump to the $60, those numbers change to $3,078 and $5,617 respectively. Now we are talking. Previously, I think my over-confidence dropped my ROI significantly when I started to 4-table. I was still able to make money, but my return was dropping. I can feel the difference in my level of concentration. While there are still the unavoidable bad beats, it is much easier to take lately because I know the game I am playing is the game I envision in my head…I was unable to execute it before, but now I am in the right mindset to do what is necessary to bring my game, and my returns, to the next level.

October 29, 2006

Getting a later start than I wanted, but went 0/3 and was card dead...when I did get in, I was in with the best, just never held up...not bad, hoping my luck gets a little better next set. $36s on FT take forever to start.

Just finished up my last set of 4...needed to fire them up quickly, so i started 3 $36 and a $24. The first two i finished up I won took 2nd in the other and bubbled on the last...nice set after starting 0/3. Woulda been huge had I cashed in the final one...but very happy with the way they all played out. I was big stack on most of them...played patient and my hands held up and i won a few coinflips. Gonna try to get another set in...

I didnt get another set in...I need to get over this hump. I always find a distraction. I think part of it is that I am up and satisfied...instead of going for the kill and a huge day, i pack it in and figure its good enough...so the only time i ever log a lot of sngs is when i am having a losing day...and thats just plain stupid. I will get over this, but i just cant wait until i can get a new monitor. I think around the holidays or just after I will have to invest in a new one and start to 6 table...

This damn gambler's mentality...I want to hit the tables quick and run. That is my blackjack strategy and it worked well for me. I need to disconnect poker from gambling because I have the edge...i need to continue playing when my game is tight...it was TIGHT tonight and I didnt play more. what is my problem!!!

October 28, 2006

Everyone is hitting their draws against me today...fucking unreal. Trying to stick with it...so far, not affecting me too much.

I am getting very unlucky today. Sticking with it...trying to remain clear headed...just need a few hands to hold up and will be fine.

Buckled down late and hand a few hands hold up...just zbout broke even for the session...i think i lost the bonus they released for me and a little more, but thats not too bad. I had a really bad run to start my set, so i am glad i was able to finish strong and continue to play winning poker as I took some nasty ones. I am gonna take a break and start up some more later...In another 10 minutes i will upload my HHs into tourney manager and see how it all shakes out.

I think the problem with my HHs from full tilt is that if you try to upload them before they are complete, i think it messes up the file and the end is created on a different file...so it messes up the HH. I am being patient and will see if this solves my problem.

I think waiting solved the problem...sweet.

I started up the first of my next set...hoping to play for at least an hour and a half...so looking to get in a min of 6, hopefully closer to 10.

Fired up 4 sngs...trying to get back into 4-tabling...

Solid first set...had one sng where i got sucked out on twice and finally the 3rd nasy one knocked me out...sometimes you have to figure you played well, thats all u can do.

Finished up my first set 4-tabling with 2 2nds and a bubble...played extremely well. My level of focus is there...gonna fire up another set.

I got sidetracked and was reading some articles online...so never got that last set fired up. If i got one more set it, that would be 20 for thei night...not too bad.

October 27, 2006

I cant get over how different my attitude is towards poker right now. Now I see why my game was break even at best over the past month or two. I took a very cavalier attitude towards the game...like my lower limit sng game could never be -EV...could it? I mean, I used to to grind the $77s, how could I not dominate the $22s? well, its pretty simple stupid! You took an arrogant approach to playing and didnt give it your best effort.

So, now that I feel my mental focus is where it needs to be, i am so excited. I can feel the game coming to me...in a previous post, i was thinking about how I havent come that far in my poker game, but now i might have to reconsider. this break really has opened my eyes and given me some perspective. I just got a bunch of books from party poker and I am ready to grow my roll and start expanding my game. now, i hope i can maintain this level enthusiasm and focus.

I cant wait to play this weekend. I never really have played a ton in a weekend...I am going to try to log 60-75 sngs this weekend. I will post periodic updates on my progress.

Side note here...I am seriously starting to put together a plan to move outta the country. Nothing too crazy, and its going to be a 10 year plan...but, here are my thoughts.

the more i see of this country, the more i want to escape. do i really see it being better anywhere else? Not really, but i definitely dont see it any worse. and, if i can live a more independent lifestyle at a fraction of the costs, while not being bombarded by the american media, i think that is definitely a step up.

My goal is to take some of my poker winnings and do two things with it. One - find other places to make some money online. there are tons of casino bonuses that you can clear and it is actually positive EV when you break it down - assuming the game is a fair one...and that might be a bad assumption.

Two - I would like to start some sort of internet business. It doesnt have to generate a lot of money, but it would be nice if it could net about $1k a month. outside of this country, that kind of money is pretty darn solid and might even be able to sustain me...so that is something i am looking to develop so there is even less pressure on playing poker. regardless, i dont think i would even want to build a big business/internet business because then it would just become more work, feeding the greed, and defeating the purpose of getting out of the country. I am looking for a simpler life.

October 26, 2006

I am working out the kinks with the developer of the Tourney Manager software. It is great and he is very responsive. I would recommend it to anyone that would like a piece of software to track their progress and results.

I started playing some $36 sngs last night on Full Tilt. I feel that I have adjusted to the 9-man tables and different blind structure. I just cant stop thinking that I should be playing the $60s. However, I need to keep things at a slower pace and work my way up. the $36s offer plenty of $$ to the winner and I need to continue to get back into it before I get too greedy. Bankroll building is not something that can be rushed - it takes time and consistency. I usually take a very conservative approach to building a bankroll and never crap out once I hit a certain threshold. I believe this time will be no different because I never play outside of my means. The first few months, I am going to be accumulating my rakeback in my Neteller account and once I clear all my bonuses, I will start to make deposits and build my roll a bit more quickly. After I reach the $60s, when my bankroll reaches $2000 at a minimum, is when i believe things will start to get exciting. It really is hard to stay patient while I move back up the ranks, but humilty is a huge part of poker and long term success.

So, reading a lot of poker blogs, i am continually surprised that people update so infrequently. Poker is stressful and lonely work...i mean LONELY! If you dont have poker friends you know what i am talking about. To speak passionately about poker, your gameplan, and your goals to non-poker players, they will either listen and then tell you to pick up a new hobby. Or, they will just wait until there is a lull to change the subject - bottom line is no one wants to hear it. so you figure this out and never talk about it...it is hard to keep all of this stuff internalized and i use my blog to spew out my excitement as well as my frustrations. it is therapeutic...

Last night was a winning night...I believe I logged about 10 sngs, but I cant be sure because I am not a big fan of full tilt's hand histories. as i mentioned earlier, they are not uploading properly into the tourney manager software, so i cannot count them via the software. I believe i counted 11 new ones, but I really dont know. I am sure a fix will be available in the next day or two and I will be happy once again. until then, i need to concentrate on my day job. After the gym tonight, its poker!

A few notes i wanted to document.
- I need a bigger monitor
- I need to get back to 4-tabling profitably
- I need to only 2-table currently

I went back to the first few months of my blog and read a few of my entries. I have decided that I am only slightly ahead of where i was when i started this year...at least in terms of my poker game. I believe much of this was due to work, but the other part is from bankroll constraints, ie taking money out to pay bills. It is really disruptive to your game because as you start to generate more money, if you do not move up, it stunts your poker growth and boredom isnt far behind. i think that is part of my problem.

I have read a lot of blogs where the person went from rags to riches in a year. I believe my intellect affords me that opportunity, but my desire might not be there. I am pretty mentally drained when i get home from work, so logging 2+ hours at the tables is pretty tough for me. I am anxious to see what I could do if i were properly bankrolled and able to log 3-4 hours a day while 4 tabling. that would definitely be the right number of sngs to make substantial money. when i had the opportunity to do this, i blew it...took a wicked downswing early and lost my nerve.

my gameplan is to play out the rest of October, reassess, and set some goals for November and December. getting back into poker is kinda like riding a bike...you dont forget, but you arent quick as good at it as when you left...I am going to try to push myself harder this time around...learn from my mistakes, and make a push to support myself through poker. my first goal is to break the $1k mark in my bankroll ASAP...i am just one really good session away from doing that...

Had a nice session...was up $80 and still had my last sng open. Was playing so well tonight...i would love to continue playing, but i need to think about bed...i was on the bubble, had a dude all in with my KK vs A4 suited and he spiked the A on the river. seems like those damn weak aces always get me, but i never seem to hit with it...but overall, a good night.

October 25, 2006

I am excited to feel the poker bug in me again. My only fear, and part of the reason I took a break, was because I started a new job and wanted to focus on it. Well, I hope I can balance everything. I love my job, but unless I can make a little more, poker will be a part of my life. If i could get a $20k raise, I would set poker aside...it would be just a hobby.

So, back to grinding and I am pretty damn excited about it!

As anticipated, I am thinking about poker while I am at work...this is not good because i cannot focus on work then. However, while mulling over stats and numbers, it reminds me why I was so "addicted" to poker before. The money is just so crazy. I read a lot of blogs about people that are winning a lot of money and it just is crazy...the amount of money young kids are throwing around...I just hope they have the good sense to put some of it away.

Anyway, I am setting some goals for myself. I am so excited to be tracking my statistics again. Software is such a blessing! I am going to be playing a combination of $24 and $36 sngs for the foreseeable future. I used to grind the $77s on party, but I am slowly getting back into it. I cashed out all my bankroll and its sitting in neteller, but i put $600 in Full tilt for the bonus and I am hoping i can grow my bankroll without ever having to reload...I also want to start to develop a more well rounded game...i think reading some of the poker books i bought would help.

Off the top of my head - my goal is to log 1000 $24 and $36 sngs before moving up. Not 1000 of each, but a combination. if i find that I am dominating at the 500 sng mark, then i will move up to the $60s. I am also playing around with my target # of sngs per month and havent figured out what would be a good number. I would like to see about 250-300 a month, but I used to 4-table and was thinking about adding more...so If I start to 4-table again soon, I am thinking 400 a month would be a good number...plus, i am playing turbos...i used to play regulars. this is fun and exciting...Tonight, i will start 2 tabling and if I am playing well, move to 3. I am sure i will be 4-tabling in no time. BOTTOM LINE: 350 sngs per month is the bare minimum i should be shooting for. If i ever want to grow a bankroll and get it to where I can support myself, i need to get used to logging a lot of sngs, and 350 is a drop in the bucket!

Mad at myself right now cuz i flopped a set and it folded me cuz i was paying too much attnetion to another table...cost me a buy in.

Not a bad night. A little bad play by me tonight...starting to overplay on the bubble...need to get that under control. Once I reel that in, I will be happy. I would play more, but I was up more after 2 sngs than I am after a bunch more. Plus I got my first $20 released from Full Tilt, so I think I only won a few bucks tonight...but logging tables is what is important...

I wasnt able to focus on more than 2 tables today. I think the small size of these tables is making it hard for me to see how much each player has in front of them...eye strain is becoming a problem, so i will have to get a better, bigger monitor.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

October 24, 2006

So I am at it again...had aces twice today and cracked both times...not off to the start i wanted, but I feel I am playing well. I can't wait until I start to log some more significant numbers of sngs so I can determine if i am playing a profitable game...hard to tell. I feel good about it, but never can tell until the money starts coming in over the long run.

I remember why I hated poker before. Man, I am playing really well, getting in ahead and losing. At least I got to heads up this time. The break really helped because it doesnt bother me nearly as much as it did when I was grinding. However, the memories are starting to come back and the emotions that I felt...thankfully, like i mentioned, my emotions dont come up to the surface like they used to. Either it is me improving my level of control, or just the benefit of taking a short break. I think it will be important to distinguish which one it is because if its the former, I will be very happy. It will mean another step overcome in my journey...if its the latter, then it looks like I have some more work to do....regardless, back to the tables...

I'M BACK, BABY!

I have been questioning my game because I have been experiencing a lot of bad beats and just horrible luck. But, after a while you start to get sick of hearing yourself say it. I mean, come on, I am aware it is very easy to fool yourself, so I try to be as objective as possible when evaluating my game. I feel I am playing solid sng poker again. I qualify that because I realize sng poker is not poker...its a more mechanical style that takes some skill on the bubble, but thats about it.

Currently, I am playing the $22+2 turbos on Full Tilt. They are pretty laughable, so I am glad to be playing and eating a lot of fish...I have tourney manager up and running and will start tracking my stats again. when party changed its format and they wouldnt upload into sng tracker, that made me lose focus because i need to look at the numbers to stay interested...let me restate that because it is so important, I NEED TO SEE THE NUMBERS TO STAY FOCUSED! What that means is that I need to keep solid statistics if I am going to do this long term. I cannot take a cavalier attitude towards it. After I stopped keeping stats and obsessing over my game, I took the attitude that if bankroll keeps growing, who cares how quickly it grows or what my ROI is. That complacency is what causes games to erode to barely profitable or -EV. I am promising myself that I will be as diligent now as I was before. It's time to make some money!

October 16, 2006

I am no football coach, but I understand a few things about football. One is that when you are a good team, you usually get one chance to win the game. The Cardinals have had their one chance the past 3 home games we have gone to and pissed it away each time. It really is sad...soo sad and frustrating. A team that is soo close, I just dont know what the problem is.

I took tonight off from poker to go to the Monday Night Football Game. What an amazing game...too bad it went against us! Bears 24 Cardinals 23!

October 15, 2006

I deposited $600 in Full Tilt, so I am going to be trying to get playing on Full Tilt. They have a good rakeback deal there, so I might start trying some at Poker Stars later. I just want to find the place where I will be logging and grinding most of my tables. For now, rakeback wins.

Well, I played about 6 sngs...not really sure. I have to adjust to the new blind structure on Full Tilt. It threw me for a bit, i had to make adjustments because I was getting too aggressive too fast. There are far more intermediate blind levels than on party...i mean, they dont double like on party, they go from 20/40, 30/60, 40/80, or something like that, instead of just doubling...so it took a little adjusting. I finished strong with a first and a second...full tilt seems cool...cant wait to log some more tables this week...i really gotta get back into poker! i make too much money playing to turn my back on it.

Anyway, I felt better later in the session...finally didnt overplay my hands and get too aggressive. no poker tomorrow...MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BABY!

October 9, 2006

I played 6 sngs. Have to admit i played much too loose my first couple...played well the last few. my final two sngs i took 3rd and 1st. played well in the one i took 3rd...pushed with 44. i couldnt believe it when i got called with Q10 offsuit. Truly unreal! Ended up realizing that if i win the final sng, i would be up the vig i lost last night...thankfully I took it down and won my first sng in a while...back to my even 100. feeling pretty good...i am ready to do some more of this...cant wait until the legislation BS gets sorted out.

October 8, 2006

Well, I cashed everything but $100 out of party. Gonna wait to see what happens. I started to play some $11s and played well. hands just arent holding up...its weird, like i am card dead for days, then i make it to 5 left, blinds 200/400 and i finally see a big pair, KK. I raise, get one caller, flop come 868, i figure no ace, i push, of course he has A8o. thats the kind of shit im talking about...

Played 4 sngs and took 2 3rds...so lost vig. not bad. i am back to playing a tight game preflop. I just wasnt able to find the groove before, but now i think my game is coming around...still not where i want it to be, but getting closer. I cant wait until this online poker ban bullshit blows over so i can figure out where i want to start amassing player points. I have been wanting to jump to Poker Stars for a while, so now it seems like a great time assuming they are available to US-based players. If not, i will look for a site with the best rakeback deals and largest volume of players. If i go to Stars, i will sure miss rakeback.

October 2, 2006

Well, What a time to try to find focus on poker...it appears the legislation is actually going to have some affect on my life. Those fuckin crooked politicians messing around where they shouldnt again. Right now, its all speculation and posturing...and there is over reaction online. I will wait a few days until the smoke clears. most reputable sites are restricting deposits and cash transfers among US-based players. Some say the legislation will not affect the their customers...I sure hope its all talk, but if Party goes away, and Poker stars does too, then i will have to find the most popular new site because all the fish will school there...kinda sucks, but too early to tell. lets see how it shakes down.