Monday, May 29, 2006

May 29, 2006

I am making nice plays, just losing coin flips...lost 3 of them in a row on the bubble...so putting myself in position to win, just need some hands to hold up. Today, played 2 $55s and a $77. Busted on the $77 when i lost a coin flip...and playing well in the $55s...chip leader on the bubble right now. Lets see if i can finish this one off.

Ok took a 2nd...man, dude sucked out on me heads up with 96 to my A3...when these coin flips even out,this will be fun...so im about even for the night. going to take a break and play some more.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

May 28, 2006

I went to Harrah's to play in their $60 tourney. Blinds are crazy in these tourneys, but I wanted to get some live play in if I ever plan to play any of these bigger buy in tourneys...I would rather take some lumps at $60 a buy in than $1000 and up.

I have always felt like I was close to making the final table in the previous 3 times I have played. I would usually find the blinds growing at a scary rate and me going card dead...Occasionally I would catch a hand and lose a race or even get sucked out against.

My hands held up today...I did lose KK to AQ, but it didnt cripple me...and I won a big pot on the next hand with JJ. I ended up getting blinded away and finishing 7th. We all wanted to chop it up for $400 each, but the big stack didnt wanna do it..I dont blame him. But it did hurt my payout...i ended up cashing out $192.

Hoping to play some after the Suns game.

So I played about 9 sngs and finished all 3 out of the money...so got killed tonight. sucks...had success live, not online today. Man, I was close to cashing out too...gotta start the comeback!

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

May 23,2006

Well, I didnt play last night because I was watching game 7. Tonight, I didnt get home from work until 7, watched tv while I ate dinner, and now I am dead tired. I am gonna hit the sack because I think I am going into work a little early tomorrow...this is going to be another bitch of a week...and so will next week. So, showing discipline by going to the gym and getting my tables in will be key. I think playing on the weekend will be important...and this is a long weekend too. Hitting the sack.

Monday, May 22, 2006

May 22, 2006

Ok, I figured if I wanted to play more poker, I needed a plan...something to gauge my progress because I need that sort of thing. So, I decided that I would set goals and work towards them. I thought a few simple rules would do the trick...and here they are:

1) For every $1000 I win, I will take out $1000.
2) I will redeposit half to get party point bonuses. I might cash out $1500 and redeposit $1000 to get more bonuses. I figure if I am going to cash money out, I might as well make some party points for utilizing my cash.

So, for every $1000 I win, I get to keep $500 bucks and I get 2000 party points. Pretty sweet.

so, I am $321 away from my first cash. I won $520 the past 5 days, so I am just shooting for the next $500 increment in my bankroll...so I am a few days out from cashing hopefully. Now that the rules are set...time to get to work.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

May 21, 2006

I had intended on playing a lot this weekend and found myself halfway through Sunday and not having logged a single sng. So, around 5 I decided I needed to play and thought I could get a few sngs in before the Sopranos. I fired up 2 and busted out of one about 30 mins in. I was doing pretty well in the other and decided to fire up one more. I ended up winning both and winning $335 in just over an hour.

I have noticed that since I have been away from the game more, I have much more respect for it. I play every sng like it matters. Seems like when I start to play a higher volume, I just churn then out and care a little less about the outcome. Start to get into the law of large numbers thinking...that this individual game doesnt matter so I play more aggressively. Maybe it is also I am starting to have more respect for money...

Thursday, May 18, 2006

May 18, 2006

I had to play today. There really was no option...

So, after working out and watching the Suns game, I was thinking of bailing out on my commitment to play. But, I knew I couldnt let Al down because he took the time to try to motivate me...and I appreciate that.

So, feeling tired, I decided to fire up 2 $55 sngs...about 2 mins into each, i decided i needed to play 1 more. So I 3-tabled tonight. Busted out in one at about level 3...got a bit overaggressive, but made a good move, he just had better cards. I made it into the money on the other 2, getting there as the shortstack both times. I ended up busted in third in one and winning the other. So, a very nice night...no suck outs for me...and none against me. was a nice change of pace.

up $185...feels good. Now I know why I kept telling myself to play!

Monday, May 15, 2006

May 15, 2006

Well, I am at it! Fired up 2 $55s and not too long into it, i get AKo on one and KK on the other...i won a small pot with my AK and got busted when i ran into AA. WELCOME BACK!

Down 2 buy ins and have 2 more fired up. playing well so far...getting in with good hands and being patient...just need my hands to hold up and ill be in business. I feel like playing again :)

ugh, bad start...playing solid, hands arent holding up...protecting them too. tables seem really tight preflop. we dont see many limpers and its amazng what we see being shown down...really quite confusing. bubbled on my last one...still got one going, gonna take a break and fire up some more.

ok, well took a 2nd...so did some damage control...down about 2 buy ins, plus vig...so not too bad on my first sets.

got Kings again...and got a dude to push into me with KQs, and he caught the flush lol i was chip leader, and it didnt cripple me thank god. still going in both...

got a 3rd...im playing well...very happy with my play. get chip lead, take bad beat, get lead again, bad beat...its a solid day. how fitting i got a 3rd when my AK lost to AK...but he was suited and caught the flush...but overall, i thought the games seemed tigher than usual, but most of the guys loosen up later and start to gamble.

I feel I played well...very well i think and ended up cashing my last 2...took a 2nd and a 3rd. nasty beats in both...i woulda had chip lead heads up after my 99 ran into his AA and crippled me, i came back to get 7500 chips and get him all in with K10o to K9o when he pulled flush...sometimes every coin flip goes against you...that was today for me and ended up +$15 bucks after 7 $55 sngs. a good confidence booster. shit, i couda just won a $22 heads up and won more :) but almost $10 in rakeback is always sweet.

overall, im done complaining...and happy to be back at the tables!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

May 14. 2006

I have decided that not playing poker is just a bad move on my part. For playing 1 hour a day, I can expect to net anywhere from 1200-2000 a month...even better if i run hot. That is just too much money to pass on. I think I might struggle trying to manage 3 time-consuming activities in my life...work, working out, and poker. i know i would get burned out quickly...but even if I could last a few more months playing poker, it could get me ahead financially...regardless...i want to get back at the tables.

The last time I played any 10-man sngs, i played 3 $55 sngs and took a first...but i have been messing around in the heads up sngs...so i win 18 bucks in 10 mins and usually quit. i find them to be more of a distraction and a novelty...something where i can win a quick few bucks and call it a day. they are a big reason I am not playing 10 man sngs. I will not allow myself to play anymore heads up sngs...until i get focused on the full 10-man ones. lets see what kind of progress I make this week.

Saturday, April 29, 2006

April 29, 2006

Played a few sngs today. I played 1 heads up $22 sng and lost, so i fired up 2 $55 10=man sngs on party. Had AA on both within the first 15 mins...one netted me about 450 chips and the other cost me 90% of my chips...had a dude call me with AQs and hit a flush. so, i fired up another sng and ended up winning one. So, im up 63 bucks...gonna try to play more and more...hopefully play about 4-6 sngs a night.

Monday, April 24, 2006

April 24, 2006

Well, I have been dabbling in the heads up sngs with mixed results. I started out messing around and got killed. then, my friend told me he found them easy, which I interpreted as a challenge because I had not experienced the same thing...so I decided to start to play with more purpose.

I have been up and down, but doing solid. Had a funny $22 heads up sng today. we played over 20 mins and i had him all in and behind in every level, but he sucked out every time. I just got incredibly unlucky...and the final hand, he had just over 2000 chips, so i had just under...blinds were 200/400 and i pushed K10s. He calls with AA, of course. so I fired up a $33 because i want to win some $$ if I win, so I have Q6 and min raise. He min raises back to me and the flop comes 2 6 7. I bet out, he pushes...at this point, i just say fuck it and call. He has 52 and my 6s are looking better! turn comes....5! mother F#&!er!! River hits, 7! JUSTICE!

I am heading to the gym, up 5 bucks. i just dont think these heads up sngs are worth it...they are tough to play a few at a time...i gotta get back to the regular sngs.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

April 19,2006

My first night back wasnt pretty. I messed around with heads up sngs and ran into some tough luck and bad play on my part. i really felt like a fish...never got into that comfort level, but i will keep on playing and hopefully get back into the groove. Ended up dropping a few hundred last night...hoping for a better night tonight. im gonna play a heads up sng and hit the gym.

So far, won a heads up 22 sng in 3 hands, went and ran 2.75 miles, and then won another 22 sng on the first hand...up 36 bucks, woohooo a winning night.

Ok, actually this first part of the entry was for april 18th. anyway, just starting. lost a few...finally got into a groove, was patient, 6 left, i had JJ raised and had 1 caller, 5 hi flop, he checks i bet pot, he pushes, i call. he shows 99, 9 on turn...not the reward i was looking for. hopefully will turn around...im gonna play for a few hours tonight.

on the bubble...im the 2nd big stack and get AJ on the button...shortstack, has just under half of my stack pushes and i call...he has A9 and catches a flush! my fuckin luck is horrible! still alive though...hoping to cash my first 10 man sng since i started playing again lol how sad

Ok im heads up with a 1:3 chip disadvantage...lets see if those heads up sngs are helping lol

TOOK HIS ASS DOWN!!

Sunday, April 16, 2006

April 16, 2006

So I changed up my date format...but no one will notice :)

I thought I would take this opportunity to say Happy Easter to everyone.

I want to get back into playing and hopefully this week will be my week. Working out is a priority and so is my project...hopefully my friends will pick up the slack on my project and i will be disciplined with my working out. What I am asking from myself in terms of playing poker is truly minimal...1 hour a night. I guess I am just feeling rusty and am not mentally ready for a losing session. I need to power through this and just fuckin play!

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

April 12, 2006

Played 2 $11s to get started...didnt wanna jump into the 77s. now im in 2 22s...didnt play the first 2 very well...

not dong well in the small buy ins...weird play and im just not used to it...after i get these done, i dont know if im gonna jump to the 77s or not. i am getting up, but just making bonehead moves and calls...very rusty....i dont wanna let myself get like this again. when you have a good thing going, dont take it for granted!

I finally settled down and played my game...built up some chips and lost a coin toss with JJ to AK...so i rebuilt and lost A6 to K5. frustrating...but a good sign that i am getting back in the groove.

well, despite some rough luck, i played well and lost 3 hands where i was all in and ahead. hands arent holding up...still feel out of sync, but am getting closer to playing good poker....still trying to press a bit too much, but i think i reigned that in and am ready to log a few more...still down under 70 bucks, so cant really complain.

Playing well with no results...about to crap out on my empire account...so that was a worthwhile free 25 bucks from empire....cashed out over 300 and lost the rest getting back in the game...then again, i am chip leader on a 33 right now and if i win i will be up for the night lol

lost KQs to K9o...i love this game...

now im shortstacked...sucks, not a nice welcome back. fucked again, A3s loses to 68. lost more 3 to 2 and 3 to 1 hands today...so happy i played the lower stakes tables...but maybe i took those losses because i was at a lower stakes table. regardless, i feel better about my game and am ready to move up tomorrow.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Saturday 4/1/2006

Wow, I havent posted in a week. I am almost as bad as Ric.

I guess my new job has been taking up a lot of my time...and i have been going to the gym and stepping up my work on my project...testing will start soon and i will have a good idea about the future of my project here in a month. Poker has taken a back seat this month, but i have a feeling it will return this month. i am shooting for 120 sngs and a 15% ROI. That is my goal for April and it is very attainable! I have always been able to play 120 sngs...the only way I will allow myself to drop below that threshhold is if my project is making me money...lets see if i log any tonight...

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Saturday 3/25/2006

Just finished up 3 sngs. Decided to 2 table on the laptop while I watched the UCLA/Memphis game. I ended up busting out on my first sng making a move on the button and lost. I fired up another to have 2 tables running and ended up taking 2nd in the 2nd sng that I started. So I was down juice and shortstacked on my 3rd sng. i fought back and doubled up when there were 5 left. i had A10s on button and pushed my 2900 chips. blinds were 200/400 and the big stack, in the sb, called me. he had 99, i caught a 10 on the turn and the river and took the chip lead. back and forth i made it to heads up a 1:3 chip disadvantage. I played tight and made it hard on this guy...I ended up outplaying him pretty bad heads up...making quite a few moves with absolutely nothing....wrestled the chip lead and took him down. up $329 in just over an hour...gonna go out and watch the Phoenix Suns game. Amare is back and looks awesome!

Friday, March 24, 2006

Friday 3/24/2006

I am in the Party $40k Guaranteed...just doubled up in first 10 mins with KK vs QQ :)

I am also in a $22 3 table sng. Thought I would experiment a bit. I havent played in so long, I'm starting to lose my street cred'! hahahahaahha

Updates to follow!

Busted out of the 3 table sng...never had a hand. Jusst fired up a $77 and about to get into another...almost to first break in the $40k...

First break and I am at 7076. Average is 6300...gotta kick it in gear right after the break...in 2 sngs...no cards, just lost 99 to jj for half my stack...

Lost a hand where i made a move with position...and to a suck out when a dude played a weak ace and caught against my queens. just wasnt feeling the sngs...gonna finish the tourney and see how i feel...play some sngs later.

An hour and a half in and i am at the average...just about 10k.

I have truly gone card dead tonight...but i am still at 10k coming up on 2nd break...i stole a few pots...made a few good moves and picked up some pots to keep me treading water...

went card dead and pushed my A10...Ak called and busted 404th. Not the way i would have wanted to go out, but I didnt get one hand....I got KK early and doubled up, but the only other hand i had stronger than AQo was AA UTG and I raised 3xBB and I took down the shitty blinds. just wasnt my night...i did damn well though with what i had...so a positive effort, but result...i should have folded, but i just got so sick of looking at shit.

I ended up down $142 today. Not a big fan of how I played. If I continue to play like this, I should just cash out and save my money. I need to tighten it up and play more conservative preflop and open it up post flop...actually, may have gotten a bit too aggressive at some points today.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Thursday 3/23/2006

I still havent played poker since last tuesday. Not that I havent wanted to, but working has taken up a lot of time. The college bball tourney has taken up tonight...and I am too tired to play anyway. I hope to log a few sets this weekend and get back into the swing of things...i dont have to work my other job tomorrow, so i will definitely log some tables after hitting the gym!

Monday, March 20, 2006

Monday 3/20/2006

Today i started my new job and had to go to my second job as well...so not sure if i will get around to poker tonight.

Job was great...liked it, the people and everything else...cant wait until the honeymoon is over so i can get down to business!!

If i get a set in, i will update! Otherwise, see ya tomorrow!

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Sunday 3/19/2006

I havent played poker in a while...been a nice, mentally stressfree time. There is a definitely balance in terms of how much poker I will be able to play. I am going to try to get my sleep schedule straightened out. I went to bed at 4:00 AM this morning, but have to be at work tomorrow at 8:30 AM....so there is definitely going to be a very tired Ryan the next few days/weeks.

Ok, tomorrow I start my new job, so gotta put on the happy face...god i hate having to put on the happy face...but i am excited to start working. I think once my schedule returns to normal I will start to play more poker...i never had a problem logging 125 sngs a month...and i think that is a good goal for me every month...that will bring in plenty of fun money!

Shit, its not even midnight and i am thinking about hitting the sack. this is definitely going to take some adjusting!

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Thursday 3/16/2006

UWM WINS AGAIN!! the Panthers are doing themselves proud again!! They are quite the tourney team, taking down Oklahoma of the Big 12!

I am heading to the gym right now...so trying to get my fat ass in shape. Lots going on, me starting a new job, working out, working on a project, poker, and a second job...something is going to have to give. I will be shedding my second job soon and poker has definitely been pulled back a bit. My project is progressing...we should be finding out soon whether we can make a huge leap forward in the next week or so...anyway, exciting times!

Tennessee just squeaked by Winthrop...Bruce Pearl working his magic in Tennessee! That would have been an epic loss, thank god he pulled it off! Good start to the tourney...Al, Nevada is getting handled with about 6 minutes to go...if the badgers take out U of A, the tourney will be all over for ya :)

EMBRACE THE CHEESE!! UWM, Marquette, and the Badgers will move on to the round of 32!!!

Ok, Marquette came out on fire and closed the 14 point half time deficit to 1, but let it get back to double digits...come on Novak, lets hit some 3s!!!

Marquette closed it to 3 with about 1:40 left!

Down to 1 point with 53 seconds left...Novak hit 2 threes in about a 10 second span...according to espn gamecast...close it out!!! Good effort by Marquette...they only played the 2nd half...cant play half a game in the tourney!