Friday, August 18, 2006
August 18, 2006
had a good night...played 4 sngs, took 2 firsts and a 3rd. ended up 380 in sngs and down 22 in MTTs...played the $40k guaranteed and busted about the midway point after the first break. up a solid amount and played well...hopefully can do it again tomorrow. from here on out, i am cashing out everything over 3500 and right now, i sit at 3588 with over 120 in rakeback and 75 in affiliate payouts...so thats almost 300...hellz yeah!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
August 17, 2006
I have decided to shift gears and concentrate on day trading training, so poker is taking a back seat. Thats great news though because i think trading is a bit more stable, which is funny. anyway, i will get into more details later...after i finish up playing
the speeds are much looser preflop and people start to get jumpy come level 4. its expensive to play hands though...cuz you get raised and reraised quite a bit more, so you have to play only the solid hands and hope to catch a monster. I dont limp much, but when you get opportunities in late position with solid hands, you might want to take them. Opportunities come few and far between.
just won one and then called a push on the bubble with A8 and he had K8 and caught the king on the river...what a joke...i should have cashed and now i will bubble. same guy, i push with 44 and catch a straight, but i catch trips and the board gets a straight and he splits with me...unfuckingreal!
its only fitting that i make a comeback only to run into this AA and bubble anyway. I just dont see the bullshit variance ever shift back my way, thats the reason i get so sick of playing and just might play MTTs, but this poker this is too messed up. I mean, 3:1 doesnt mean 3:1...at least not in my world.
the speeds are much looser preflop and people start to get jumpy come level 4. its expensive to play hands though...cuz you get raised and reraised quite a bit more, so you have to play only the solid hands and hope to catch a monster. I dont limp much, but when you get opportunities in late position with solid hands, you might want to take them. Opportunities come few and far between.
just won one and then called a push on the bubble with A8 and he had K8 and caught the king on the river...what a joke...i should have cashed and now i will bubble. same guy, i push with 44 and catch a straight, but i catch trips and the board gets a straight and he splits with me...unfuckingreal!
its only fitting that i make a comeback only to run into this AA and bubble anyway. I just dont see the bullshit variance ever shift back my way, thats the reason i get so sick of playing and just might play MTTs, but this poker this is too messed up. I mean, 3:1 doesnt mean 3:1...at least not in my world.
Friday, August 11, 2006
August 11, 2006
I have started to dabble in the speeds more. I have also decided to take a different approach to blogging. I will just update a few times a week, not every day. I dont like the fact that this becomes a bitching session, but the bottom line is that bad beats and bad runs of cards and luck are going to happen. They will happen in short intervals, like during one set, and in long intervals, over the couse of weeks. I am finally starting to understand a few things...well, not understand because i have always understood the theory behind poker and statistics, but i didnt understand the emotional side of what those statistics mean. You just got to deal with it and stay focused...dont let it get to you because it will never go away...either embrace it or quit. and i think that those people on the tables that are complaining all teh time...they just havent done it yet.
anyway, back to the speeds...
played in a $44 MTT and took 14th of 504. was all in with 44 and lost my coin flip to AK. played well, made a lot of great steals...never should have gotten as deep as i did, but i stole a ton of blinds and then caught a hand and was able to win a few here and there. very happy with how i played...might play a few more speeds.
anyway, back to the speeds...
played in a $44 MTT and took 14th of 504. was all in with 44 and lost my coin flip to AK. played well, made a lot of great steals...never should have gotten as deep as i did, but i stole a ton of blinds and then caught a hand and was able to win a few here and there. very happy with how i played...might play a few more speeds.
Monday, August 07, 2006
August 7, 2006
Like a good boxer, i brush myself off and get up off the canvas. My ass has been handed to me a few times in the past few weeks...pretty much in a break even stretch here...get up a little, lose it back along with my confidence. Just not having a heck of a lot of fun right now, but a pro would sit back down and play. Not that I am a pro, but i would want to emulate that mindset and approach. so, here i go...
i think i located my major weakness...i am rushing things on teh bubble...granted i am ahead, but i need to slow down. sure, most times it will be pushed at me by the turn, but i need to pull back and resist that urge to push. It forces the issue and if you are all in by the flop, you may be ahead, but your hand must withstand 2 more cards, which can obviously shift the nuts several different ways when its all said and done. patience...i think i finally internalized this one and will always look for this weakness in my game because its so natural to me...i realized this by 2 tabling and really concentrating...i am not respecting the game...i am 2 tabling until i get my head on straight.
Al, i wanted to say thanks for the talk today...i enjoy our talks and they help me get in the right frame of mind...slightly more open, but our discussion tonight helped me make a few connections that I had missed...part of it being my thoughts in the previous paragraph. I also think that the depth of the commitment I made today with my training is finally setting in and I am feeling excited and looking forward to getting started...I just feel like things are happening and I am almost a little scared because I am finally setting myself up for success...strange...this moment of clarity has manifested itself as a sense of calm over me....i have never felt like this before...i mean, really i havent. i have also never gone this far towards creating goals and situations to suceed...i wonder if subconsciously i know i am heading in the right path and am preparing for the road ahead...lets see, but right now i couldnt be more at peace with my situation.
Ok, so far today i am down vig in my sngs...lost the first 2 and realized the error of my ways, then played to a 2nd, where i had the chip lead, a small one, heads up. so, not bad...i was feeling focused today, so i thought a cheap MTT would be a fun thing to do since i will be working really hard starting next week and wont have time to play these very much anymore...so i treated myself to an $11 MTT. right now, 2nd break, average stack is 18,100 and i have 41,105. Playing well, taking my time, letting hands develop, not overbetting...its like clarity returns, until i get sucked out on, but i will still be playing the hands well...i have been overbetting baby, once again i see it and i will not forget this one! Updates on the MTT to follow:
$11 MTT:
First break 7200
Second break 41,105 (111 left, 100 money)
i think i located my major weakness...i am rushing things on teh bubble...granted i am ahead, but i need to slow down. sure, most times it will be pushed at me by the turn, but i need to pull back and resist that urge to push. It forces the issue and if you are all in by the flop, you may be ahead, but your hand must withstand 2 more cards, which can obviously shift the nuts several different ways when its all said and done. patience...i think i finally internalized this one and will always look for this weakness in my game because its so natural to me...i realized this by 2 tabling and really concentrating...i am not respecting the game...i am 2 tabling until i get my head on straight.
Al, i wanted to say thanks for the talk today...i enjoy our talks and they help me get in the right frame of mind...slightly more open, but our discussion tonight helped me make a few connections that I had missed...part of it being my thoughts in the previous paragraph. I also think that the depth of the commitment I made today with my training is finally setting in and I am feeling excited and looking forward to getting started...I just feel like things are happening and I am almost a little scared because I am finally setting myself up for success...strange...this moment of clarity has manifested itself as a sense of calm over me....i have never felt like this before...i mean, really i havent. i have also never gone this far towards creating goals and situations to suceed...i wonder if subconsciously i know i am heading in the right path and am preparing for the road ahead...lets see, but right now i couldnt be more at peace with my situation.
Ok, so far today i am down vig in my sngs...lost the first 2 and realized the error of my ways, then played to a 2nd, where i had the chip lead, a small one, heads up. so, not bad...i was feeling focused today, so i thought a cheap MTT would be a fun thing to do since i will be working really hard starting next week and wont have time to play these very much anymore...so i treated myself to an $11 MTT. right now, 2nd break, average stack is 18,100 and i have 41,105. Playing well, taking my time, letting hands develop, not overbetting...its like clarity returns, until i get sucked out on, but i will still be playing the hands well...i have been overbetting baby, once again i see it and i will not forget this one! Updates on the MTT to follow:
$11 MTT:
First break 7200
Second break 41,105 (111 left, 100 money)
Sunday, August 06, 2006
August 6, 2006
OK, it is with a renewed sense of discipline that i have taken on my challenge. I fucked around too much with MTTs last night...and should have cashed one, but made a move with JJ and dude had AA...not much of a move with JJ though, not much more i could have done.
Today, doing ok, took a first in my first set of 4. played well, made one loose call with 66 nearing the bubble...huge pot, took a chance and lost. i needed to get a big pot in there anyway at some point, and there was a lot of dead money in the pot and the big stack had pushed, i figured to muscle everyone...i put him on a strong suited ace and i called. he had jacks and i am writing in my blog right now...so it apparently didnt turn out for me. i might make that call again, but i did have a comfortable stack and it might have been a bit too aggressive. nah, i wouldnt do it again...shoulda folded.
I played well in the others. should have made the money in another but took back to back nasty ones from a dude. he was cool, we were chatting while we were playing, so it didnt sting like it normally would have...its funny, i chat with people that i see a lot online if they are willing to talk...its good to get to know the competition because i see them on here all the time. plus, heres the cool thing, if you get to know them, then you will play a better game when they are on your table...helps stay disciplined. OK, time to get some more going...playing well today. Need a little more impulse control this set...i fought it a lot last time and that one call proved it gets the best of me...
I am really starting to question the statistics behind poker...i mean, i realize they are what they are, but they just let you overestimate your hand...in my last set, here is the list of beats I took:
A7 vs A6 on the bubble simulataneously on another table, i have K10 with a K 10 on the flop, some dude pushes with A3 and catches runner runner for the straight.
my QQ lost to 88 when he pulled a 4 flush and busted me on the bubble
lost JJ to A9 on the bubble too
and lost AQ vs A3 heads up to win it, then I took 2nd.
all those beats probably cost me close to 500 bucks...maybe much more if i could have finished off those bubble situations. hard to stay focus, but i need a break...gonna chill, maybe play some more later. these donks are horrible on party poker, but they keep finding ways to suck out.
I dont think i am cut out for poker...i mean, i bubbled again, big stacks just suck and arent calling anything...i lose after getting sucked out on 3 different times...i build, get sucked out on, rebuild, get sucked out on...brutal. i cant do it...time to look into day trading...hopefully more stable...then i will come back adn play limit. do some bonus whoring and gear up for live play.
I did dabble in the speeds...played 2 adn took a 3rd. in typical fashion, we are all pretty evenly stacked, i get KK in BB and he pushes at me with A5o...i call of course and he flops 2 aces. more speeds...im gonna play speeds cuz they just go so much faster.
I like the speeds...time to start concentrating on these.
Today, doing ok, took a first in my first set of 4. played well, made one loose call with 66 nearing the bubble...huge pot, took a chance and lost. i needed to get a big pot in there anyway at some point, and there was a lot of dead money in the pot and the big stack had pushed, i figured to muscle everyone...i put him on a strong suited ace and i called. he had jacks and i am writing in my blog right now...so it apparently didnt turn out for me. i might make that call again, but i did have a comfortable stack and it might have been a bit too aggressive. nah, i wouldnt do it again...shoulda folded.
I played well in the others. should have made the money in another but took back to back nasty ones from a dude. he was cool, we were chatting while we were playing, so it didnt sting like it normally would have...its funny, i chat with people that i see a lot online if they are willing to talk...its good to get to know the competition because i see them on here all the time. plus, heres the cool thing, if you get to know them, then you will play a better game when they are on your table...helps stay disciplined. OK, time to get some more going...playing well today. Need a little more impulse control this set...i fought it a lot last time and that one call proved it gets the best of me...
I am really starting to question the statistics behind poker...i mean, i realize they are what they are, but they just let you overestimate your hand...in my last set, here is the list of beats I took:
A7 vs A6 on the bubble simulataneously on another table, i have K10 with a K 10 on the flop, some dude pushes with A3 and catches runner runner for the straight.
my QQ lost to 88 when he pulled a 4 flush and busted me on the bubble
lost JJ to A9 on the bubble too
and lost AQ vs A3 heads up to win it, then I took 2nd.
all those beats probably cost me close to 500 bucks...maybe much more if i could have finished off those bubble situations. hard to stay focus, but i need a break...gonna chill, maybe play some more later. these donks are horrible on party poker, but they keep finding ways to suck out.
I dont think i am cut out for poker...i mean, i bubbled again, big stacks just suck and arent calling anything...i lose after getting sucked out on 3 different times...i build, get sucked out on, rebuild, get sucked out on...brutal. i cant do it...time to look into day trading...hopefully more stable...then i will come back adn play limit. do some bonus whoring and gear up for live play.
I did dabble in the speeds...played 2 adn took a 3rd. in typical fashion, we are all pretty evenly stacked, i get KK in BB and he pushes at me with A5o...i call of course and he flops 2 aces. more speeds...im gonna play speeds cuz they just go so much faster.
I like the speeds...time to start concentrating on these.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
August 5, 2006
Took a few days off, time to get down to business. Just getting started, might play a few MTTs today too...i know i can play them, but i feel i can be disciplined today!
doing ok...hands not holding up too well today, but managed a 2nd and i bubbled...real shitty. i might take breaks from blogging...it just becomes too much.
Ah, i was venting earlier...i know keeping a blog keeps me focused and documents my progress...i understand its value as a tool, but it just becomes part of the grind. I have been going through a slow spell here...good hands, getting in with the best, and losing. i am playing a MTT right now..made a move and got to even..then won a little one before the break and went up to about 3900 chips. i have just over 8000 right now..trying to be good. next break is 40 mins away...lets see what happens. i might start up a few $44 MTTs.
Just entered the $44 MTTs and fired up a $55 sng. i busted out of the 20k MTT when my AJ lost to KJ. I smoked this guy a few hands ago, and he spite called me and found out he had 3 outs. only to hit his king on the river...i woulda had over 10k in chips, but i was left with 3000, then lost AQ vs 99.
Played 2 sngs, took 2nd in both...busted out of one of my MTTs, but doing ok in the other...just lost a few chips before break, but still sitting ok.
This is priceless....so i get pretty deep in the MTT im in...28 people left, i have a decent stack, i get AA...i raise, get reraised and we are all in, we both have AA and split...8 hands later or so, i get AA on the button...i call the preflop raise and both blinds come along...3 fuckin hearts on the flop, and i get all in with the nut flush draw and 2 people called with flushes...i miss my flush, but damn, the fuckin flush on the flop cracked my aces pretty quick...damn, its hard to take sometimes...so AA twice and nothing to show for it.
Unreal...i need to quit poker lol these beats are too much...i have 10s preflop, raise 2 callers, KQ 10 flop...i raise, one caller...we get all in on the turn, he has KQ for 2 pair and gets a king on the river...all night lost JJ to 44 when he got the wheel on the turn...AJs to A2 to bubble...AA to J8..fuckin unreal.
I was in a huge pot multiway and i flop the nut flush...only to lose to the str8 flush...just crazy.
I was pretty undisciplined this weekend...i need to refocus and start playing sngs with a new sense of urgency...play smart!
Bubbled in the $10k guaranteed...so made it pretty deep. I could have blinded it out into the money, but i was looking to make a move. the play on MTTs is just so terrible its amazing. people call and bet with anything. that will be the last MTT for me for some time...i need to concentrate on grinding. poker truly is a grind, i am not having too much fun with it right now.
doing ok...hands not holding up too well today, but managed a 2nd and i bubbled...real shitty. i might take breaks from blogging...it just becomes too much.
Ah, i was venting earlier...i know keeping a blog keeps me focused and documents my progress...i understand its value as a tool, but it just becomes part of the grind. I have been going through a slow spell here...good hands, getting in with the best, and losing. i am playing a MTT right now..made a move and got to even..then won a little one before the break and went up to about 3900 chips. i have just over 8000 right now..trying to be good. next break is 40 mins away...lets see what happens. i might start up a few $44 MTTs.
Just entered the $44 MTTs and fired up a $55 sng. i busted out of the 20k MTT when my AJ lost to KJ. I smoked this guy a few hands ago, and he spite called me and found out he had 3 outs. only to hit his king on the river...i woulda had over 10k in chips, but i was left with 3000, then lost AQ vs 99.
Played 2 sngs, took 2nd in both...busted out of one of my MTTs, but doing ok in the other...just lost a few chips before break, but still sitting ok.
This is priceless....so i get pretty deep in the MTT im in...28 people left, i have a decent stack, i get AA...i raise, get reraised and we are all in, we both have AA and split...8 hands later or so, i get AA on the button...i call the preflop raise and both blinds come along...3 fuckin hearts on the flop, and i get all in with the nut flush draw and 2 people called with flushes...i miss my flush, but damn, the fuckin flush on the flop cracked my aces pretty quick...damn, its hard to take sometimes...so AA twice and nothing to show for it.
Unreal...i need to quit poker lol these beats are too much...i have 10s preflop, raise 2 callers, KQ 10 flop...i raise, one caller...we get all in on the turn, he has KQ for 2 pair and gets a king on the river...all night lost JJ to 44 when he got the wheel on the turn...AJs to A2 to bubble...AA to J8..fuckin unreal.
I was in a huge pot multiway and i flop the nut flush...only to lose to the str8 flush...just crazy.
I was pretty undisciplined this weekend...i need to refocus and start playing sngs with a new sense of urgency...play smart!
Bubbled in the $10k guaranteed...so made it pretty deep. I could have blinded it out into the money, but i was looking to make a move. the play on MTTs is just so terrible its amazing. people call and bet with anything. that will be the last MTT for me for some time...i need to concentrate on grinding. poker truly is a grind, i am not having too much fun with it right now.
Friday, August 04, 2006
August 4th, 2006
I took last night off...I made the decision because there will be 2 little kids staying with us for a week and i am sure that i will be missing a day during august here and there...so i didnt want to put too much pressure on myself. I did forego poker for a good reason, however. I met up with my new friends and we talked about day trading. I am intrigued by it and am going to learn more...gonna buy some books and start training. Man, i had a liquid dinner last night...pretty much crown and coke and budweisers...paying for it today!
I knew I would be able to make up some hours on the tables this weekend and also tonight. I am excited to get back...the day off was nice and i think important for a fresh mindset.
I ended up going to the diamondbacks game. Jilliann got some good tickets and we had to go...we left and the game was tied, but they gave up two runs in the top of the 9th, so im glad we left early and beat the rush...its nice to be 10 mins from the stadium.
I knew I would be able to make up some hours on the tables this weekend and also tonight. I am excited to get back...the day off was nice and i think important for a fresh mindset.
I ended up going to the diamondbacks game. Jilliann got some good tickets and we had to go...we left and the game was tied, but they gave up two runs in the top of the 9th, so im glad we left early and beat the rush...its nice to be 10 mins from the stadium.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
August 2, 2006
Well, worked late today...got home around 7:15. Its cool though...I came home, had a snack and fired up some tables. I had a solid set and lost a quick one, so fired up another...ended up with 2 2nds and a 3rd. up 125 and going to fire up another set pretty soon.
Took some rough ones late in my last set...bubbled on one and busted 5th on another after getting in ahead. Luck has evened out a bit...about what is to be expected. I am still in one sng...its a crap shoot right now, i am right up there with the leaders, but we all have like 3500-4000 in chips with blinds at 200/400, i have made a lot of pushes to chip up...never having to show down.
Took a bad run of cards and i lost my last set...the streaks of wins and losses is crazy, i wish it would smooth out a little...hold up a few times, then maybe a bad beat. the ups and downs are really hard to handle, but again, i need to focus on it being just part of the long term goal...the individual game doesnt matter, if you play it to the best of your ability...you will lose more than you win, but in the long run, your wins will return you a certain %age...as long as its over 10%, im cool...shit, over 8%. If i move up to the 109s, 8% would be just fine. Logged my tables for the night...14 of em...off to the sack.
Took some rough ones late in my last set...bubbled on one and busted 5th on another after getting in ahead. Luck has evened out a bit...about what is to be expected. I am still in one sng...its a crap shoot right now, i am right up there with the leaders, but we all have like 3500-4000 in chips with blinds at 200/400, i have made a lot of pushes to chip up...never having to show down.
Took a bad run of cards and i lost my last set...the streaks of wins and losses is crazy, i wish it would smooth out a little...hold up a few times, then maybe a bad beat. the ups and downs are really hard to handle, but again, i need to focus on it being just part of the long term goal...the individual game doesnt matter, if you play it to the best of your ability...you will lose more than you win, but in the long run, your wins will return you a certain %age...as long as its over 10%, im cool...shit, over 8%. If i move up to the 109s, 8% would be just fine. Logged my tables for the night...14 of em...off to the sack.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
August 1, 2006
Ok, despite only winning 85 bucks during my last 163 sngs...I feel fortunate. I won about a grand over July...sucks cuz i was up 1900 at one point...then just watched my bankroll dwindle...but I am encouraged because my play has come around, but the results just arent there. But, that is part of my challenge...its to overcome the results oriented thinking and focus on playing a solid game and logging tables. So, I have a lot of things riding on August...first off, Party has a promo that if you earn 100 party points every day in august, you win 300. Missing a day happens, but i am going to try to get that bonus, which means 9 sngs a night...which is significant, but that will ensure that i make my goal for sngs played...i am going to 2 table my first set and start to scale back a bit so i can concentrate a bit more, rediscover my game, and then add more tables...lets see how tonight goes!
Firing up set 1.
Set 1 went well, finished with a first and a second. Played very well...very happy with the way things went...my bubble play and itm play on the one i won left something to be desired...i was far too passive. the irony is that before i was playing well and losing, now we spent 20 mins with 3 people and no one can eliminate someone...blinds were 600/1200 lol
i did lay a nasty bad beat on the shortstack...we went at it preflop, he had KK i had QQ both of us had a club...the board ended up with X89 10 J of clubs, so i pulled the straight flush lol
Finished up my last set of 6 with 2 firsts...so I'm up tonight...woohoo...so, here is the problem...should i keep playing? i think i will take a short break and play some more. Playing stone sober tonight...a clear mind make a difference? Just a snifter of cognac while i played and i feel mellow!
Firing up set 1.
Set 1 went well, finished with a first and a second. Played very well...very happy with the way things went...my bubble play and itm play on the one i won left something to be desired...i was far too passive. the irony is that before i was playing well and losing, now we spent 20 mins with 3 people and no one can eliminate someone...blinds were 600/1200 lol
i did lay a nasty bad beat on the shortstack...we went at it preflop, he had KK i had QQ both of us had a club...the board ended up with X89 10 J of clubs, so i pulled the straight flush lol
Finished up my last set of 6 with 2 firsts...so I'm up tonight...woohoo...so, here is the problem...should i keep playing? i think i will take a short break and play some more. Playing stone sober tonight...a clear mind make a difference? Just a snifter of cognac while i played and i feel mellow!
Monday, July 31, 2006
July 31, 2006
Well, I am officially getting beat down. Just taking unreal beats...i gotta tell one...
I have 99 on the button and two in front of me are raising preflop. I call and the flop comes JJ9. check, bets of 325, I call, it is raised to 650, original raiser folds. I call, turn come rag, he pushes, i call, he had KJ for trip Jacks and I have him dominated with my 9s full Jacks. He hits a Jack on the river to take it down...thats unreal. time to play a few more.
I have 99 on the button and two in front of me are raising preflop. I call and the flop comes JJ9. check, bets of 325, I call, it is raised to 650, original raiser folds. I call, turn come rag, he pushes, i call, he had KJ for trip Jacks and I have him dominated with my 9s full Jacks. He hits a Jack on the river to take it down...thats unreal. time to play a few more.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
July 30, 2006
Happy Birthday to Jill...today is her birthday.
I am firing up my first set...hoping I can turn around from a losing night. Bad play and horrible beats were the theme of last night...i have a newfound sense of discipline, lets see if i can make it translate to the tables.
First hand i play, i get 2 pair by the turn and lose to the rivered flush...but, i only lost a few hundred chips...
I the bad beats started to slow down, a few hands held up, and I actually laid down a pretty nasty bad beat on someone. won like 30 on my first set. I feel like I am not playing as fast as i was before...i dont know what it was, but i just felt like something was pushing me. I got that under control, so now i need to learn to prevent it from happening.
My last set...i lost a flush to a full house on the river...and my JJ lost to 99 when he flopped quads on the bubble...just fuckin unreal. I need to keep working through this. the hard part is that i am playing well, losing when I am a 4:1 favorite and still bubbling...so its hard to find any upside until my luck starts to turn. I have been losing every coin flip and losing every time i am dominating...so i have to assume its just variance because i am continually in ahead and losing...frustrating.
Just lost AK to Kq when he caught a 4 to the flush...and KK to QQ in a 3 way all in pot..man, this is fuckin bullshit!
Finished my last set with a first and a second...Im up in 55 sngs, but lost 2 77s....so overall, down a few bucks...i fired up 4 more and a $22 MTT.
I have been watching people take horrible beats all night, but for some reason I am still playing. Had a solid set...starting to pick up my winning ways. Had a first and a third in my last set...so I am up over 250 playing $55s, down 154 in 77s...and I am in a $22 MTT, just doubled up, so sitting at just over 6500 in chips...updates to follow.
Posted a winning night...man, i gotta quit my bitching...but that just shows how close tonight was from being a huge night...starting to feel better about my play, and the streak of nasty ones was pretty epic. I am still in the MTT:
$22 MTT
First Break: 6378
I am firing up my first set...hoping I can turn around from a losing night. Bad play and horrible beats were the theme of last night...i have a newfound sense of discipline, lets see if i can make it translate to the tables.
First hand i play, i get 2 pair by the turn and lose to the rivered flush...but, i only lost a few hundred chips...
I the bad beats started to slow down, a few hands held up, and I actually laid down a pretty nasty bad beat on someone. won like 30 on my first set. I feel like I am not playing as fast as i was before...i dont know what it was, but i just felt like something was pushing me. I got that under control, so now i need to learn to prevent it from happening.
My last set...i lost a flush to a full house on the river...and my JJ lost to 99 when he flopped quads on the bubble...just fuckin unreal. I need to keep working through this. the hard part is that i am playing well, losing when I am a 4:1 favorite and still bubbling...so its hard to find any upside until my luck starts to turn. I have been losing every coin flip and losing every time i am dominating...so i have to assume its just variance because i am continually in ahead and losing...frustrating.
Just lost AK to Kq when he caught a 4 to the flush...and KK to QQ in a 3 way all in pot..man, this is fuckin bullshit!
Finished my last set with a first and a second...Im up in 55 sngs, but lost 2 77s....so overall, down a few bucks...i fired up 4 more and a $22 MTT.
I have been watching people take horrible beats all night, but for some reason I am still playing. Had a solid set...starting to pick up my winning ways. Had a first and a third in my last set...so I am up over 250 playing $55s, down 154 in 77s...and I am in a $22 MTT, just doubled up, so sitting at just over 6500 in chips...updates to follow.
Posted a winning night...man, i gotta quit my bitching...but that just shows how close tonight was from being a huge night...starting to feel better about my play, and the streak of nasty ones was pretty epic. I am still in the MTT:
$22 MTT
First Break: 6378
Saturday, July 29, 2006
July 29, 2006
Ok, I didnt play much last night, just 4 sngs and lost 70. I met up with my students and i learned a little about what they do...quite intriguing. I might give it a try at some point in the near future...the similarities to poker is astounding!
Last night, i played pretty well. took a 2nd and bubbled in one. I also took a few bad beats on one table...lost AK to A8 when he rivered a gutshot. Then I built my stack back and lost KK to 66 on a rivered gutshot again. that was tough...but i showed them a proper game.
My first 2 sets were ok...lost vig. got pretty unlucky too, i feel i am playing well, but the results arent showing it because of a few bad beats...yeah, i know, deal with it.
I am about to fire up my first set of the day...I have some work to do!
I am just getting horrible luck. Ive lost to 3 gut shot rivered straights when I was a strong favorite. Still taking brutal beats...i think it started out as bad play, but now i have it back in line, but my hands never hold up...so im still playing. Hopefully it will turn around.
just crazy...had my A10 lose to K9 when he called my push and i caught an ace but he rivered 2 pair...holy hell the river is killing me tonight.
I stopped the bleeding. I got a few firsts and brought my losses back down to a manageable level. Frustrating doesnt begin to explain it. Just epic bad beats, but i digress...i cant wait until this turns around!
Last night, i played pretty well. took a 2nd and bubbled in one. I also took a few bad beats on one table...lost AK to A8 when he rivered a gutshot. Then I built my stack back and lost KK to 66 on a rivered gutshot again. that was tough...but i showed them a proper game.
My first 2 sets were ok...lost vig. got pretty unlucky too, i feel i am playing well, but the results arent showing it because of a few bad beats...yeah, i know, deal with it.
I am about to fire up my first set of the day...I have some work to do!
I am just getting horrible luck. Ive lost to 3 gut shot rivered straights when I was a strong favorite. Still taking brutal beats...i think it started out as bad play, but now i have it back in line, but my hands never hold up...so im still playing. Hopefully it will turn around.
just crazy...had my A10 lose to K9 when he called my push and i caught an ace but he rivered 2 pair...holy hell the river is killing me tonight.
I stopped the bleeding. I got a few firsts and brought my losses back down to a manageable level. Frustrating doesnt begin to explain it. Just epic bad beats, but i digress...i cant wait until this turns around!
Friday, July 28, 2006
July 28,2006
I met with the day traders today. Sounds very interesting...maybe something i could parlay my poker earnings into.
I played one set for them and got a 2nd...took a few bad beats too. I think I showed them a solid game, so i am really hoping for their success...thats why i am heading back on monday. plus, that day trading stuff is fascinating.
I might try to get another set in, but i am looking to log hours tomorrow! I dropped 70 bucks...just not up to playing right now. gonna get some rest and play at least 4 sets tomorrow.
I played one set for them and got a 2nd...took a few bad beats too. I think I showed them a solid game, so i am really hoping for their success...thats why i am heading back on monday. plus, that day trading stuff is fascinating.
I might try to get another set in, but i am looking to log hours tomorrow! I dropped 70 bucks...just not up to playing right now. gonna get some rest and play at least 4 sets tomorrow.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
July 27, 2006
There are some problems with the blogger website, so i couldnt update last night. had a horrible night and got smoked. Started out that my hands werent holding up...then I ended up playing pretty poorly...so it was a bad night overall...my roi for the month is still respectable 15%...so these are more just corrections than anything, but it surely sucks when you are going through them...plus it was a bigger correction than necessary cuz i donked my money away! on a positive note, i believe i played more than 20 sngs last night...
Tonight, I start my challenge to play 300 sngs this month. If I get a new monitor and set up to 6 and 8 table, then my goal will be higher. However, this goal is more than 2 hours of play per day, so it is pretty aggressive for me considering i work my full time job. My birthday is coming up next month on the 28th, so thats why i am starting my challenge today. I will either be celebrating that I met an ambitious goal and am well on my way to building my bankroll and one step closer to hitting my $10k bankroll goal. I am hoping to be up $3,000 if I meet my 300 sng goal...time to start playing.
So far, 9 sngs played and up $155. i got disconnected heads up after i took the chip lead...took a good 2 minutes to get reconnected and still had the lead...ended up taking him down. solid first 2 sets, gonna play another and if i win, i am gonna fire up a few monster sngs and try to start qualifying.
The first two sets were saved by first place finishes. I ended up having a last set of 5 because i busted early in one. So ended up netting about 125 on the last set. So, that means tomorrow i can play a few monster sngs. I am gonna hit the sack. There are much stronger players playing late, so the key is to get your sets in early, then quit late...unless you are on fire, but i would pull back the number of tables.
Results Day 1:
Played 14 sngs. +280 (3/2/0/9)
Tonight, I start my challenge to play 300 sngs this month. If I get a new monitor and set up to 6 and 8 table, then my goal will be higher. However, this goal is more than 2 hours of play per day, so it is pretty aggressive for me considering i work my full time job. My birthday is coming up next month on the 28th, so thats why i am starting my challenge today. I will either be celebrating that I met an ambitious goal and am well on my way to building my bankroll and one step closer to hitting my $10k bankroll goal. I am hoping to be up $3,000 if I meet my 300 sng goal...time to start playing.
So far, 9 sngs played and up $155. i got disconnected heads up after i took the chip lead...took a good 2 minutes to get reconnected and still had the lead...ended up taking him down. solid first 2 sets, gonna play another and if i win, i am gonna fire up a few monster sngs and try to start qualifying.
The first two sets were saved by first place finishes. I ended up having a last set of 5 because i busted early in one. So ended up netting about 125 on the last set. So, that means tomorrow i can play a few monster sngs. I am gonna hit the sack. There are much stronger players playing late, so the key is to get your sets in early, then quit late...unless you are on fire, but i would pull back the number of tables.
Results Day 1:
Played 14 sngs. +280 (3/2/0/9)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
July 26, 2006
I am messing around tonight...playing some monster qualifiers on Party. Just looking to get a few wins so i can play in the first couple freerolls...should be fun...I have a long time to go until they start...mid august. I might just 4 table a few 6s and see what happens.
So far tonight...6 sngs (played a few 11 monster qualifiers, but those done really count), and am up a net of 30 bucks...so up for the night. I am going to play another set and hope to win something and call it a night.
So far tonight...6 sngs (played a few 11 monster qualifiers, but those done really count), and am up a net of 30 bucks...so up for the night. I am going to play another set and hope to win something and call it a night.
July 25, 2006
there is a reason i am making my 25th post on the 26th. first off, i was playing at the end of my night. after work i met up with 3 guys and am going to start teaching them poker. the great thing is, they are day traders and one of them is the owner of the small office. They have 6 work stations with 2 monitors...something I have been dying to get my hands on. So, they invited me to meet with them, maybe learn a little about what they do, and I can play 6-8 tables on their network to cut my teeth before buying my own set up.
I have been doing a lot of thinking and have decided to set up a pretty ambitious goal for myself. There is a lot of significance to this goal and I will break it down. for the rest of July, about 5 days, I hope to be able to average over 12 sngs a day. That is 3 sets a day. However, come august, depending on how many days a week I meet with the guys and play up there and when I get my multi monitor set up, my ambitious goal will be to play 500 sngs. After my correction last night of -335, most of which was preventable because i played poorly, my monthly return is sitting at 25% and overall 2 month return is about 18%. I would like to keep my ROI in the upper teens, or >17.5% while on the $55s. I believe I can keep it over 18%. For planning purposes, I chose to assume a 15% return. If i can hit my volume and return goals, that will equate to 4775 profit. WOW! that will be my biggest month by far, but this will require more mental stamina than I have ever previously given. I have played 300 sngs in a month before...and I believe it will take me LESS time to do my 500 if I 4 table at a minimum. I just cant wait to add 2 more tables...6 tabling is my goal for August...getting proficient at it. So, there are my ambitious goals...gonna acclimate to 6 tables, hopefully 8 very soon, and playing 500 sngs...I will not even care all that much if my ROI drops to 12%...The real object of this goal is two fold.
First, it really is to see how i respond to pushing myself with a higher volume of play and more tables. Mentally, it can be taxing. The swings can be brutal. I want to see how I hold up and if i can do it long term...
Second, it is to really boost my bankroll. A month like I am planning for august will be an average month for me if i can acheive my goals...if i get there, i plan on making that my goal every month. but you have to start somewhere. If i can accomplish this, it will double my bankroll and get me to a point where i can start taking $$ out...it will put me near the 10k mark and allow me to take out 2000+ at the end of september if i can do this 2 months in a row...the money might finally start to flow for me...I am excited, nervous, and cant wait to see what happens.
I have been doing a lot of thinking and have decided to set up a pretty ambitious goal for myself. There is a lot of significance to this goal and I will break it down. for the rest of July, about 5 days, I hope to be able to average over 12 sngs a day. That is 3 sets a day. However, come august, depending on how many days a week I meet with the guys and play up there and when I get my multi monitor set up, my ambitious goal will be to play 500 sngs. After my correction last night of -335, most of which was preventable because i played poorly, my monthly return is sitting at 25% and overall 2 month return is about 18%. I would like to keep my ROI in the upper teens, or >17.5% while on the $55s. I believe I can keep it over 18%. For planning purposes, I chose to assume a 15% return. If i can hit my volume and return goals, that will equate to 4775 profit. WOW! that will be my biggest month by far, but this will require more mental stamina than I have ever previously given. I have played 300 sngs in a month before...and I believe it will take me LESS time to do my 500 if I 4 table at a minimum. I just cant wait to add 2 more tables...6 tabling is my goal for August...getting proficient at it. So, there are my ambitious goals...gonna acclimate to 6 tables, hopefully 8 very soon, and playing 500 sngs...I will not even care all that much if my ROI drops to 12%...The real object of this goal is two fold.
First, it really is to see how i respond to pushing myself with a higher volume of play and more tables. Mentally, it can be taxing. The swings can be brutal. I want to see how I hold up and if i can do it long term...
Second, it is to really boost my bankroll. A month like I am planning for august will be an average month for me if i can acheive my goals...if i get there, i plan on making that my goal every month. but you have to start somewhere. If i can accomplish this, it will double my bankroll and get me to a point where i can start taking $$ out...it will put me near the 10k mark and allow me to take out 2000+ at the end of september if i can do this 2 months in a row...the money might finally start to flow for me...I am excited, nervous, and cant wait to see what happens.
Monday, July 24, 2006
July 24, 2006
I am inspired today! I am just fully internalizing what making the jump from 4 to 8 tables is. It really is a big moment because you go from merely making a great return to making a hell of a lot of money! Being able to 8+table is the real test of being able to do this as a profession. You can make plenty averaging less than 2 hours a night...I finally feel like i have all this stuff internalized, and i am ready to crank out sngs like they never have been before. I truly believe I am a winning poker player at sngs and believe I have an excellent ROI. I believe and have proven to be able to do this while 4-tabling...so I am going to try to 8-table them. I will start by 6 tabling and getting a feel for that...then 8-tabling...this should get interesting.
About to start up a set of 4, i will be 4-tabling until i get a new monitor.
First set finished up...not bad, +$80, but i had 3 3rds and a 4th...so close to a huge set...yet, so fricken far! Played well, these guys just bet right into you...there is no reason to show strength any time, just let them do it themselves. They just bet into the nuts...raise when your hand feels vulnerable to you, otherwise just call.
Just got set 2 started. Pretty solid set...I donked one off early, but finished strong in the other 3. Got a first and a second to net 180 for the set...yeehaawwww! The key is getting that third set in...is he gonna do it???
It was raining with lightning and thunder, so I didnt fire up my last set...an excuse, possibly, but i really did want to play more. Every day I get more encouraged.
Results:
Set 1: +$80 (0/0/3/1) and that OOTM finish was a bubble
Set 2: +$180 (1/1/0/2)
About to start up a set of 4, i will be 4-tabling until i get a new monitor.
First set finished up...not bad, +$80, but i had 3 3rds and a 4th...so close to a huge set...yet, so fricken far! Played well, these guys just bet right into you...there is no reason to show strength any time, just let them do it themselves. They just bet into the nuts...raise when your hand feels vulnerable to you, otherwise just call.
Just got set 2 started. Pretty solid set...I donked one off early, but finished strong in the other 3. Got a first and a second to net 180 for the set...yeehaawwww! The key is getting that third set in...is he gonna do it???
It was raining with lightning and thunder, so I didnt fire up my last set...an excuse, possibly, but i really did want to play more. Every day I get more encouraged.
Results:
Set 1: +$80 (0/0/3/1) and that OOTM finish was a bubble
Set 2: +$180 (1/1/0/2)
Sunday, July 23, 2006
July 23, 2006
Only logged 5 sngs last night. I got a bit sidetracked this weekend...i still hope to get some good sessions in today. Weekends are different for me. Because I play during the week, I come home after a pretty consistent day. Wake up, work, come home, relax, and play. Weekends really bust up my routine and sometimes I dont feel mentally ready to play. However, starting this week, no more distractions and no more fuckin around. I will play my biweekly tourney every sunday and thats it...then i will be grinding the sgns...NO MORE EXCUSES!
Getting my first set going right now.
Just finished up my first set. Didnt play too well early, but started to get more aggressive and picked up some momentum. I won one and was heads up with only 2200 chips in the other...i decided to try to play for first and took the chip lead at one point...but I ended up with a 2nd. Overall, not bad. I needed to focus more early...play a little tighter. I loosened up a bit and it made me play a little faster on all 4...that isnt a good thing for me usually. Gonna eat and fire up another set.
Set 2 is done...busted out of one on a bad move...but otherwise, not too bad. Got 2 3rds to lose vig on the set.
Set 3 was solid. Played well from start to finish. Got very short stacked (<800 chips to a bad beat) and came back to win it. Starting to get in my groove...time to start hammering out tables.
Results:
Set 1: +$180 (1/1/0/2)
Set 2: -$20 (0/0/2/2)
Set 3: +$130 (1/0/1/2)
I am +$290 and feeling good, but there is lightning outside and we lose power pretty regularly when it storms out here...pretty annoying. So, i might just relax for a bit to see if it blows over. I would hate to be in the middle of a set and lose power.
Had to add a little note here. On my 3rd set, we were ITM and the 2nd and 3rd stacks went at it...the 2nd big stack hit a Royal Flush against the 3rd stack. He and I were chatting and celebrating his feat when I eliminated him and took it down. Just thought it was funny that before he could finish revelling in his feat, he was done and didnt even win the sng where he got his royal flush...I was happy to be the spoiler!
Getting my first set going right now.
Just finished up my first set. Didnt play too well early, but started to get more aggressive and picked up some momentum. I won one and was heads up with only 2200 chips in the other...i decided to try to play for first and took the chip lead at one point...but I ended up with a 2nd. Overall, not bad. I needed to focus more early...play a little tighter. I loosened up a bit and it made me play a little faster on all 4...that isnt a good thing for me usually. Gonna eat and fire up another set.
Set 2 is done...busted out of one on a bad move...but otherwise, not too bad. Got 2 3rds to lose vig on the set.
Set 3 was solid. Played well from start to finish. Got very short stacked (<800 chips to a bad beat) and came back to win it. Starting to get in my groove...time to start hammering out tables.
Results:
Set 1: +$180 (1/1/0/2)
Set 2: -$20 (0/0/2/2)
Set 3: +$130 (1/0/1/2)
I am +$290 and feeling good, but there is lightning outside and we lose power pretty regularly when it storms out here...pretty annoying. So, i might just relax for a bit to see if it blows over. I would hate to be in the middle of a set and lose power.
Had to add a little note here. On my 3rd set, we were ITM and the 2nd and 3rd stacks went at it...the 2nd big stack hit a Royal Flush against the 3rd stack. He and I were chatting and celebrating his feat when I eliminated him and took it down. Just thought it was funny that before he could finish revelling in his feat, he was done and didnt even win the sng where he got his royal flush...I was happy to be the spoiler!
Saturday, July 22, 2006
July 22, 2006
Well, trying to recover from last night. Not a great night for me...but i think sitting down already being at a 1:3 chip disadvantage really hurt me psychologically. I didnt sit down in pushbot mode, i sat down in deep stack mode and passed up on early coin flips when I should have taken them. I will not play in tourneys where they allow people extra chips...unless I can get the extra chips.
I just played a set of 5. I busted out early in level 2 and fired up a new one...nope, i didnt 5-table. I played pretty pooly...got bad cards and played my hands pretty weakly. The action is so loose and the raises so out of line that it makes it pretty hard to not risk all your chips at a relatively early stage...if you dont push, they certainly will...so I am protecting my hands pretty aggressively preflop, then turning to a calling station post flop. I do play some hands aggressively, but I havent had much to play and havent been able to get into my groove...hopefully I will get some cards in my next set. I am gonna take a shower and relax a bit first...I dont think I am fully awake yet.
Results:
Set 1: -$25 (1/0/0/4)
I just played a set of 5. I busted out early in level 2 and fired up a new one...nope, i didnt 5-table. I played pretty pooly...got bad cards and played my hands pretty weakly. The action is so loose and the raises so out of line that it makes it pretty hard to not risk all your chips at a relatively early stage...if you dont push, they certainly will...so I am protecting my hands pretty aggressively preflop, then turning to a calling station post flop. I do play some hands aggressively, but I havent had much to play and havent been able to get into my groove...hopefully I will get some cards in my next set. I am gonna take a shower and relax a bit first...I dont think I am fully awake yet.
Results:
Set 1: -$25 (1/0/0/4)
Friday, July 21, 2006
July 21, 2006
Well, tonight I am hitting the casino with a guy from work. He and I talk poker a little bit and his game sounds pretty solid. So, we are hitting a small rebuy tourney tonight at 7...hopefully i can cash...if i get a decent cash, i might use that money to start my live roll because i dont plan on building one of those for a few months. next weekend i have my bi-weekly tourney, so I am fortunate to be logging some live play and doing well at it.
I hope to play a lot this weekend. Drawing inspiration from Curtains poker blog, link to the left, I want to start to add tables in the next few months. I know most of the people play speed sngs...adn in the future i will have to dabble in those, but right now, i am cool with the hour long regulars...but i think my game is ready for the speeds. When they first started on Party, i tried a few and i think they are just as profitable as the regulars...moreso due to increased # of sngs per hour...which is the key, so i might have to jump to those pretty soon.
Anyway, wish me luck at the tourney...will update when i get home.
That tourney is pretty tough...solid players, but more importantly, it just isnt worth it if you dont log some hours at the tables before. This was not a rebuy, but there was one add on at the break. I sat down with 2000 chips and other sat down around me with 6000. there was a 3000 add on for 20 bucks at the break. I had about 1400 chips at the break and rebought for about 4400 to start on level 4. I just kept getting bullied and didnt have much of anything. I stole some blinds when i pushed Q9 UTG. I figured if anyone had the table image to pull it off, it was definitely me. I pushed Q8s and got 3 callers...ran into AA and went home. Blinds were 500/1000 with 50 ante. I didnt have much choice and coulda more than quadrupled up if I caught.
I am gonna take the rest of the night off and relax...log some big tables tomorrow!! gonna shoot for a big number...if i run well, maybe try some speeds...That is gonna be important in the long run to increase my earn.
No More Casinos to play blackjack...Im done with that game. It makes me want to gamble...and I dont want to do that...i cant play both blackjack and poker in the same day...i cant switch gears that fast.
I hope to play a lot this weekend. Drawing inspiration from Curtains poker blog, link to the left, I want to start to add tables in the next few months. I know most of the people play speed sngs...adn in the future i will have to dabble in those, but right now, i am cool with the hour long regulars...but i think my game is ready for the speeds. When they first started on Party, i tried a few and i think they are just as profitable as the regulars...moreso due to increased # of sngs per hour...which is the key, so i might have to jump to those pretty soon.
Anyway, wish me luck at the tourney...will update when i get home.
That tourney is pretty tough...solid players, but more importantly, it just isnt worth it if you dont log some hours at the tables before. This was not a rebuy, but there was one add on at the break. I sat down with 2000 chips and other sat down around me with 6000. there was a 3000 add on for 20 bucks at the break. I had about 1400 chips at the break and rebought for about 4400 to start on level 4. I just kept getting bullied and didnt have much of anything. I stole some blinds when i pushed Q9 UTG. I figured if anyone had the table image to pull it off, it was definitely me. I pushed Q8s and got 3 callers...ran into AA and went home. Blinds were 500/1000 with 50 ante. I didnt have much choice and coulda more than quadrupled up if I caught.
I am gonna take the rest of the night off and relax...log some big tables tomorrow!! gonna shoot for a big number...if i run well, maybe try some speeds...That is gonna be important in the long run to increase my earn.
No More Casinos to play blackjack...Im done with that game. It makes me want to gamble...and I dont want to do that...i cant play both blackjack and poker in the same day...i cant switch gears that fast.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)