Two more days until 2010...I'm at work, with lots to do but little motivation to do it, hence the post.
I also played a little poker over Christmas!
Four sessions, two or three tabling $100 NL cash games on Full Tilt.
It must have been my first cash games at that level for over a year. Any attentive readers will know I was playing the $100 games a couple of years back but moved back down after I lost some confidence.
Now I don't care as much = more confidence = less folding like a pussy = more dosh!
I just went with my instincts in these sessions and won around $100 the first three times I played, and lost around $15 the last time.
I really enjoyed it, singing when you're winning and all that, but I found the oppposition pretty ordinary. Maybe it was Christmas and people were using the holidays to play a bit but I kept coming across foes that were clearly either playing above their normal levels or just having fun.
Part of the problem with cash game grinds is multi-tabling bots playing 12 tables ABC poker. No bluffs and bluffable but you'll never win that much off them. This time round there were enough one-table numptys to milk.
Can't recall any hands in particular but I'll try to save some hand histories next time I play.
How long will the Christmas players last? No idea...but I'll probably play another session or two around New Year.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
A post....at last
Well, I have decided to update this blog, which has been dormant since July.
So time for an update...
Well, lifewise 2009 has been dominated by my CFA exams. I failed level 1 in June, pretty badly to be honest, and took it again two weeks ago.
I did a lot better but I don't find out the results until January 27. If I could work on the exam full-time, it shouldn't be a problem. But having a full-time job means I don't really get that much time to study and when I do, I'm knackered.
Pokerwise I have played very very little. I don't think I played more than once between August and December. A SNG here and there, but no long sessions at all.
It is amazing what finishing an exam does to you – before every spare moment I felt guilty about not studying; now I can sit around in my pants watching crap TV guilt free.
So I played two sessions in the past week.
The first was a four-table SNG affair, one $12, one $6.50, one $3 (all 90-man) and a $50 Omaha H/L six-man cash game.
I lost $25 playing Omaha – logging off after ten minutes in a huff – busted out of the two of the three SNGs and winning the $6 for $150ish.
I then played four SNG/tourneys – a $24 + $2 tourney, $12, $6 SNGS (90-man) and a $2 tourney. Four-tabling is too much for me playing tourneys/SNG (cash is manageable) so next time I’ll stick to three.
I went past the hour in each, and at one stage was doing well in three out of the four…but predictably the one I did well in (4th) was the $2 tourney (512 entrants) for a $99 win.
I went mental a bit towards the end – and tried to bully my way to the win at the end. It was working and I had a big chip lead with four to go. But I then busted in two hands to the only other player to play back at me….sigh….should really have taken it down fro $275.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the sessions, which lasted around 3 to 4 hours which is a manageable time for me. The $200 profit was nice as well
However this is the stuff I write for work…
Goldman Sachs 2010 Summary
GEM/Asia
Positive on Asia – forecasting 36% total return (!) for 2010
Korea, Taiwan, China 40% returns. Capacity utilisation in Asia higher than most believe
GDP growth in 2010 in EM countries 7.3%, 1.9% Developed
Bullish on commodities – due to demand from EM
Credit
Weak GDP, low inflation, low interest rates in developed world will magnify ‘search for yield’ among fixed income assets
Nervous of lower-rated, more cyclical names which could ‘soften disproportionately as prices revert to fundamental value’
Interest Rates
US 10-yr yields to fall back to 3% in 2010, Fed likely to keep rates on hold
Rate rises more likely in Norway, Canada, UK (!), Sweden – where output gap is closing faster than in the major blocs
A yawn-fest I know, but our funds are all first quartile (in the top 25%) for 2009, and I have been promised a decent bonus (hurrah!)
Poker is now definitely a secondary hobby for me, so my goal for 2010 is:
1) Turn my FT bankroll of $470 to $1500.
2) Errr…that’s it.
I know now my strengths, multi SNGs/tournies…so I’ll stick to these.
See ya!
So time for an update...
Well, lifewise 2009 has been dominated by my CFA exams. I failed level 1 in June, pretty badly to be honest, and took it again two weeks ago.
I did a lot better but I don't find out the results until January 27. If I could work on the exam full-time, it shouldn't be a problem. But having a full-time job means I don't really get that much time to study and when I do, I'm knackered.
Pokerwise I have played very very little. I don't think I played more than once between August and December. A SNG here and there, but no long sessions at all.
It is amazing what finishing an exam does to you – before every spare moment I felt guilty about not studying; now I can sit around in my pants watching crap TV guilt free.
So I played two sessions in the past week.
The first was a four-table SNG affair, one $12, one $6.50, one $3 (all 90-man) and a $50 Omaha H/L six-man cash game.
I lost $25 playing Omaha – logging off after ten minutes in a huff – busted out of the two of the three SNGs and winning the $6 for $150ish.
I then played four SNG/tourneys – a $24 + $2 tourney, $12, $6 SNGS (90-man) and a $2 tourney. Four-tabling is too much for me playing tourneys/SNG (cash is manageable) so next time I’ll stick to three.
I went past the hour in each, and at one stage was doing well in three out of the four…but predictably the one I did well in (4th) was the $2 tourney (512 entrants) for a $99 win.
I went mental a bit towards the end – and tried to bully my way to the win at the end. It was working and I had a big chip lead with four to go. But I then busted in two hands to the only other player to play back at me….sigh….should really have taken it down fro $275.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the sessions, which lasted around 3 to 4 hours which is a manageable time for me. The $200 profit was nice as well
However this is the stuff I write for work…
Goldman Sachs 2010 Summary
GEM/Asia
Positive on Asia – forecasting 36% total return (!) for 2010
Korea, Taiwan, China 40% returns. Capacity utilisation in Asia higher than most believe
GDP growth in 2010 in EM countries 7.3%, 1.9% Developed
Bullish on commodities – due to demand from EM
Credit
Weak GDP, low inflation, low interest rates in developed world will magnify ‘search for yield’ among fixed income assets
Nervous of lower-rated, more cyclical names which could ‘soften disproportionately as prices revert to fundamental value’
Interest Rates
US 10-yr yields to fall back to 3% in 2010, Fed likely to keep rates on hold
Rate rises more likely in Norway, Canada, UK (!), Sweden – where output gap is closing faster than in the major blocs
A yawn-fest I know, but our funds are all first quartile (in the top 25%) for 2009, and I have been promised a decent bonus (hurrah!)
Poker is now definitely a secondary hobby for me, so my goal for 2010 is:
1) Turn my FT bankroll of $470 to $1500.
2) Errr…that’s it.
I know now my strengths, multi SNGs/tournies…so I’ll stick to these.
See ya!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
A week of poker
I'm about to pick up the missus from Gatwick and have just logged off after another short session.
I ended up using my week of freedom mostly on the piss with mates so didn't play as much as I intended.
Just two session, three tabling multi table SNG and tourneys.
In the first I cashed in one, coming in 300-odd out of 2000 for a very small score.
My bustout hand was AQo versus J9s, I called from the big blind to an obvious bully boy but the hand didn't stand up despite flopping a Q.
Here are a couple of hands - the first when I was caught bluffing half way through. The second was a semi-bluff that worked.
PokerStars Game #30721869028: Tournament #180540393, $8.00+$0.80 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (75/150) - 2009/07/21 17:31:15 ET
Table '180540393 252' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: QuanticFive (11865 in chips)
Seat 2: omskurDZI (7820 in chips)
Seat 3: aldehuela (10135 in chips)
Seat 4: WjWeng (4341 in chips)
Seat 5: Talerz (19047 in chips)
Seat 6: madamxl (4258 in chips)
Seat 7: superweed (4531 in chips)
Seat 8: VERSEAU91 (9130 in chips)
Seat 9: Swuolzz (6178 in chips)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [Kh Td]
Talerz: raises 200 to 350
superweed: calls 350
QuanticFive: calls 350
omskurDZI: calls 275
*** FLOP *** [9d 8c 6d]
omskurDZI: checks
Talerz: bets 450
superweed: folds
QuanticFive: calls 450
omskurDZI: folds
*** TURN *** [9d 8c 6d] [Qs]
Talerz: checks
QuanticFive: bets 1200
Talerz: calls 1200
*** RIVER *** [9d 8c 6d Qs] [As]
Talerz: checks
QuanticFive: bets 2400
Talerz: calls 2400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
QuanticFive: shows [Kh Td] (high card Ace)
Talerz: shows [Qd Jc] (a pair of Queens)
Talerz collected 9830 from pot
PokerStars Game #30723092059: Tournament #180540393, $8.00+$0.80 Hold'em No Limit - Level XII (150/300) - 2009/07/21 18:02:38 ET
Table '180540393 252' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: QuanticFive (8975 in chips)
Seat 2: omskurDZI (8248 in chips)
Seat 3: aldehuela (1113 in chips)
Seat 4: WjWeng (7382 in chips)
Seat 5: Talerz (12033 in chips)
Seat 6: madamxl (14397 in chips)
Seat 7: superweed (19704 in chips)
Seat 8: miken22 (6066 in chips)
Seat 9: Swuolzz (7413 in chips)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [Jh Td]
QuanticFive: raises 600 to 900
omskurDZI: raises 800 to 1700
aldehuela: calls 923 and is all-in
QuanticFive: calls 800
*** FLOP *** [2h Qc 9c]
QuanticFive: bets 7235 and is all-in
omskurDZI: folds
Uncalled bet (7235) returned to QuanticFive
*** TURN *** [2h Qc 9c] [3s]
*** RIVER *** [2h Qc 9c 3s] [6s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
QuanticFive: shows [Jh Td] (high card Queen)
QuanticFive collected 1254 from side pot
aldehuela: shows [7s 8c] (high card Queen - lower kicker)
QuanticFive collected 3879 from main pot
Tonight I played three more SNGs, going deep in all three but only cashing in one - a $7 180-man turbo on Stars.
I ended up third for around $140. I was chip leader with around 40 to go but went card dead and tightened up near the bubble. I was either side of two bullies and couldn't cope really.
I scraped across the bubble near the back and limped onto the final table 8th.
I then trebled up with 10s and was suddenly chipleader again but couldn't see it through.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Bankroll update
I finally got round to updating my Bankroll info which had been stuck on December 2008 for...well seven months!
Not moved much really, reflecting my lack of play this year. The roll is now only just over $1k after cashing out but is still decent enough for the levels I play.
Played two killer tourneys on Full Tilt this morning, didn't cash in either :(
Not moved much really, reflecting my lack of play this year. The roll is now only just over $1k after cashing out but is still decent enough for the levels I play.
Played two killer tourneys on Full Tilt this morning, didn't cash in either :(
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
poker and sterling
Had another bash at poker last weekend - played four $10 double-or-nothing SNGs on PokerStars, cashing in two for solid break-even poker!
Back with my missus again since the last post for the shortest break-up in history. She is off to Athens all next week so I should be able to put in a couple of sessions while she's gone.
Just thought I would comment on sterling versus the dollar for all you high stakes players out there :)
Sterling has rallied since hitting a low of $1.37 to $1.63 as I write. For followers of this blog I was pretty vocal in my calls for sterling to fall from $2.
I lack the conviction I had last year but I can see another bout of weakness for sterling some time this year.
At $1.63, I would sit tight for a while and wait. My view is $1.45 is fairer value which is around a 15% gain from here.
Can't be arsed to go into the reasons why...but its my view for what its worth.
Back on the poker, I've made the decision to try to play some bigger tourneys while the missus is away. Only can do it on weekend so will try two not this weekend but the weekend after prob.
Ok, see ya
Back with my missus again since the last post for the shortest break-up in history. She is off to Athens all next week so I should be able to put in a couple of sessions while she's gone.
Just thought I would comment on sterling versus the dollar for all you high stakes players out there :)
Sterling has rallied since hitting a low of $1.37 to $1.63 as I write. For followers of this blog I was pretty vocal in my calls for sterling to fall from $2.
I lack the conviction I had last year but I can see another bout of weakness for sterling some time this year.
At $1.63, I would sit tight for a while and wait. My view is $1.45 is fairer value which is around a 15% gain from here.
Can't be arsed to go into the reasons why...but its my view for what its worth.
Back on the poker, I've made the decision to try to play some bigger tourneys while the missus is away. Only can do it on weekend so will try two not this weekend but the weekend after prob.
Ok, see ya
Monday, July 06, 2009
Weekend play
I had another tilt at some SNGs and tourneys this weekend on Full Tilt.
Four tables, all NL, all less than $10 buy-ins.
I was watching the tennis with one eye at the same time which is my excuse for busting out of all four, out of the money ;)
The closest I came to cashing was bubbling a $10 18-man SNG in fifth when I found Ks but my foe had As. Earlier I had doubled up a short stack with 2s v his QJo, pushed on turn and he made the call with two overcards, duly spiking a Q on the river…this would have put me in a comfortable chip-lead but it wasn’t to be.
Got deep-ish in the others but actually found four tables too many to properly concentrate on, couldn’t get reads on the other players when I switched tables.
My girlfriend dumped me this weekend which sucks very, very badly. I went to Glastonbury last weekend for five days and left her some very smelly skunk that I had left over.
I came back and in her dope induced state she decided to end it.
I was totally into her and it is hurting. Trying to think of the positives – I’ll be richer as she was stony broke and I paid for everything; and more poker, I spose…
Anyway back to the grind of City life
Four tables, all NL, all less than $10 buy-ins.
I was watching the tennis with one eye at the same time which is my excuse for busting out of all four, out of the money ;)
The closest I came to cashing was bubbling a $10 18-man SNG in fifth when I found Ks but my foe had As. Earlier I had doubled up a short stack with 2s v his QJo, pushed on turn and he made the call with two overcards, duly spiking a Q on the river…this would have put me in a comfortable chip-lead but it wasn’t to be.
Got deep-ish in the others but actually found four tables too many to properly concentrate on, couldn’t get reads on the other players when I switched tables.
My girlfriend dumped me this weekend which sucks very, very badly. I went to Glastonbury last weekend for five days and left her some very smelly skunk that I had left over.
I came back and in her dope induced state she decided to end it.
I was totally into her and it is hurting. Trying to think of the positives – I’ll be richer as she was stony broke and I paid for everything; and more poker, I spose…
Anyway back to the grind of City life
Sunday, June 14, 2009
A win!
Well sort of...
I played my first weekend morning session for a long time. Its the only time I really have to play tourneys. Woke up hungover, tired but unable to sleep so fired up some tables.
I kept four going most of the time, three tourneys and some cash games. The tourneys were a $10 killer and $24 + $2 on FTP and a $5 45 man on Poker stars.
I went deep in the one that counted, the $24 FTP tourney which attracted 400 odd peeps for a $9k prize pool.
I played solid poker throughout, sometimes aggressive and then sometimes like a total pussy, but I felt comfrotable...was chip leader with about 20 left, and made it to the final able with ease.
I write this slightly worse for the wear after a nite out and its funny but i only remember the suckouts. Once with qk v aq, when i rivered a j for a straight, and once with aj v aq when i rivered a jack.
I stopped playing aggressively twice, once near the bubble, and again on the final table...I ended up 7th for a $320 odd score but the winner, who was very beatable, got $2500. Busted with AKs v 10s for a standard flip, the only all-in flip I had all game.
wasnt to be tho, but def has got me thinking about poker again...
On the personal front I have started seeing someone finally after three years of singledom which is another reason for less play. She is away now which is why I can spend a morning playing.
Not my finest post but v v tired....see ya
I played my first weekend morning session for a long time. Its the only time I really have to play tourneys. Woke up hungover, tired but unable to sleep so fired up some tables.
I kept four going most of the time, three tourneys and some cash games. The tourneys were a $10 killer and $24 + $2 on FTP and a $5 45 man on Poker stars.
I went deep in the one that counted, the $24 FTP tourney which attracted 400 odd peeps for a $9k prize pool.
I played solid poker throughout, sometimes aggressive and then sometimes like a total pussy, but I felt comfrotable...was chip leader with about 20 left, and made it to the final able with ease.
I write this slightly worse for the wear after a nite out and its funny but i only remember the suckouts. Once with qk v aq, when i rivered a j for a straight, and once with aj v aq when i rivered a jack.
I stopped playing aggressively twice, once near the bubble, and again on the final table...I ended up 7th for a $320 odd score but the winner, who was very beatable, got $2500. Busted with AKs v 10s for a standard flip, the only all-in flip I had all game.
wasnt to be tho, but def has got me thinking about poker again...
On the personal front I have started seeing someone finally after three years of singledom which is another reason for less play. She is away now which is why I can spend a morning playing.
Not my finest post but v v tired....see ya
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Exam blues
It has been a week since my exam so I thought I would post something on it.
I was studying for the CFA ((chartered financial analyst). It is most prestigious exam in the investment world but is an absolute nightmare.
Three levels, taking a minimum of 2.5 years, and a frightening 35% pass rate for Lvl 1 – the exam I took.
It is not actually uber-hard material wise, anyone with a decent brain can master the concepts, it is the volume of work that sucks.
Six big fat text books to plough through covering accounts, equity and bond analysis, economics, portfolio management, alternatives, corporate finance…the list goes on.
I basically attacked the thing all wrong – I decided back in Jan that I needed to take notes from the books, which I duly tried to do for the next four months.
I then discovered you could buy notes online for £50 which are very usable and they come with access to hundreds of past questions.
Taking notes is fine if you have time to learn them. I didn’t.
In the last week I ended up looking at two of the sections for the first time and ignored economics ‘cos I thought my A-level in it would get me by. (a mistake!)
It was a very strange exam day. Last Saturday at the Excel centre. And 8,000 people sitting the exam. Yep, 8,000!
I reckon about 75% were non-native English speakers. You have never seen a bigger conglomeration of geeks in your life. Maths geeks from China, India, Saudi, France, Russia – you name it – all trying to tap into the financial dream.
I hardly heard a single English accent and when I did they were posh as hell.
The majority were massive cocks in my opinion, but then again, I s’pose I’m doing the same – sucking corporate cock for fat dollar. I like to think I had a life first tho’ – three years bumming round Europe and five years as a hack – and didn’t decide aged 8 that I would tailor my entire life in getting a City job.
Anyway, I learned a lot during the studies, and despite the tone of the entry, I really made an effort for. I understand the markets better and if I failed, I reckon I will get it in Christmas.
Played one session of poker since the exam when I was steaming drunk.
I have cashed out $5k – so still only playing the $50 tables, fired up four on Mansion, and tried to get the tables on tilt by typing “Drunk Jimmmmmyyyyyyy!!!!” (which is my name there) after winning any hand. Kept raising.
It kinda worked but being the target on all four tables was tough to manage. I was getting pissy too, and started abusing some Finnish bloke for being depressed. I promised to send him a lightbulb in the post to cheer him up when I beat him to one hand. Usual crap.
I had about $20 left on that table and announced I would raise all-in every hand and either double up or bust.
I did, again and again and again, and no-one had the balls to call. $20! Come on!
Anyone, the Finn finally called with 10s v my 74o and I donated my money.
His parting shot was “Don’t play bingo here” – I wanted to tell him how little $20 compared to what I have won…but left with my head held high :)
OK, thats's all folks!
I was studying for the CFA ((chartered financial analyst). It is most prestigious exam in the investment world but is an absolute nightmare.
Three levels, taking a minimum of 2.5 years, and a frightening 35% pass rate for Lvl 1 – the exam I took.
It is not actually uber-hard material wise, anyone with a decent brain can master the concepts, it is the volume of work that sucks.
Six big fat text books to plough through covering accounts, equity and bond analysis, economics, portfolio management, alternatives, corporate finance…the list goes on.
I basically attacked the thing all wrong – I decided back in Jan that I needed to take notes from the books, which I duly tried to do for the next four months.
I then discovered you could buy notes online for £50 which are very usable and they come with access to hundreds of past questions.
Taking notes is fine if you have time to learn them. I didn’t.
In the last week I ended up looking at two of the sections for the first time and ignored economics ‘cos I thought my A-level in it would get me by. (a mistake!)
It was a very strange exam day. Last Saturday at the Excel centre. And 8,000 people sitting the exam. Yep, 8,000!
I reckon about 75% were non-native English speakers. You have never seen a bigger conglomeration of geeks in your life. Maths geeks from China, India, Saudi, France, Russia – you name it – all trying to tap into the financial dream.
I hardly heard a single English accent and when I did they were posh as hell.
The majority were massive cocks in my opinion, but then again, I s’pose I’m doing the same – sucking corporate cock for fat dollar. I like to think I had a life first tho’ – three years bumming round Europe and five years as a hack – and didn’t decide aged 8 that I would tailor my entire life in getting a City job.
Anyway, I learned a lot during the studies, and despite the tone of the entry, I really made an effort for. I understand the markets better and if I failed, I reckon I will get it in Christmas.
Played one session of poker since the exam when I was steaming drunk.
I have cashed out $5k – so still only playing the $50 tables, fired up four on Mansion, and tried to get the tables on tilt by typing “Drunk Jimmmmmyyyyyyy!!!!” (which is my name there) after winning any hand. Kept raising.
It kinda worked but being the target on all four tables was tough to manage. I was getting pissy too, and started abusing some Finnish bloke for being depressed. I promised to send him a lightbulb in the post to cheer him up when I beat him to one hand. Usual crap.
I had about $20 left on that table and announced I would raise all-in every hand and either double up or bust.
I did, again and again and again, and no-one had the balls to call. $20! Come on!
Anyone, the Finn finally called with 10s v my 74o and I donated my money.
His parting shot was “Don’t play bingo here” – I wanted to tell him how little $20 compared to what I have won…but left with my head held high :)
OK, thats's all folks!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
More play and the stock market
I played another short one-hour session over the Bank Holiday weekend, making another $40 to leave me $90 to the good.
I've realised that my bankroll data is nearly six months out of date, which shows how the love affair with the game has dwindled somewhat.
If I get the chance in the next week or two I will try to update it but I doubt it is much more than the stated total of $5.5k.
I thought I would tell you a bit about why now is a very good to invest to pump some money into the stock market.
In the time I have been following the markets (first as a journalist and now as an analyst), it is clear that the entry level is the most important ingredient to making money.
You can pick the best company in the world, which will survive a downturn and profit during boom times, but what matters more is what price you got in.
I bought JJB a month ago - partly after doing a little work for my friend in his share tipping contest I wrote about a few posts ago.
It is up 125% since then. I have bought Lloyds at 60p, Taylor Wimpey (Britain's biggest housebuilder) at 45p, Enterprise Inns at £1.30. The list goes on.
All are shit companies, that were priced to go bust. They didn't and I profited. I used to own Lloyds at £6. JJB was a fiver not so long ago.
With the FTSE 100 at 4,300 it is a fantastic to put some money away for a couple of years, take the dividends and cash out for a healthy profit.
I now have almost all my personal wealth in equities, and will keep it there until I can afford a house - the market still fears armageddon and is cheap, cheap, cheap. Armageddon has been and gone, Lehman's went bust, Lloyds, RSB and Barclays nearly went bust. But they were saved, the Government is printing money like no-one's business but we will survive.
Buying stocks and shares, you are basically backing capitalism to my mind. There has been a bounce and a lot of the dross that I bought has topped out for now but on a two to three year view it is a win-win situation. Back capitalism and profit!
Rant over :)
I've realised that my bankroll data is nearly six months out of date, which shows how the love affair with the game has dwindled somewhat.
If I get the chance in the next week or two I will try to update it but I doubt it is much more than the stated total of $5.5k.
I thought I would tell you a bit about why now is a very good to invest to pump some money into the stock market.
In the time I have been following the markets (first as a journalist and now as an analyst), it is clear that the entry level is the most important ingredient to making money.
You can pick the best company in the world, which will survive a downturn and profit during boom times, but what matters more is what price you got in.
I bought JJB a month ago - partly after doing a little work for my friend in his share tipping contest I wrote about a few posts ago.
It is up 125% since then. I have bought Lloyds at 60p, Taylor Wimpey (Britain's biggest housebuilder) at 45p, Enterprise Inns at £1.30. The list goes on.
All are shit companies, that were priced to go bust. They didn't and I profited. I used to own Lloyds at £6. JJB was a fiver not so long ago.
With the FTSE 100 at 4,300 it is a fantastic to put some money away for a couple of years, take the dividends and cash out for a healthy profit.
I now have almost all my personal wealth in equities, and will keep it there until I can afford a house - the market still fears armageddon and is cheap, cheap, cheap. Armageddon has been and gone, Lehman's went bust, Lloyds, RSB and Barclays nearly went bust. But they were saved, the Government is printing money like no-one's business but we will survive.
Buying stocks and shares, you are basically backing capitalism to my mind. There has been a bounce and a lot of the dross that I bought has topped out for now but on a two to three year view it is a win-win situation. Back capitalism and profit!
Rant over :)
Saturday, May 23, 2009
online play
Played my first bit of online poker in a long, long time tonight.
I only wanted to play an hour after a day's study but the magic is still there ;)
Fired up four $50 NL tables at Stars and apart from letting a couple of pots go with weak play in position, I played decent poker. Came out $50 up, mostly down to one hand...
PokerStars Game #28535104923: Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2009/05/23 15:37:47 ET
Table 'Holmia V' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: QuanticFive ($65.25 in chips)
Seat 2: hockey59 ($16.55 in chips)
Seat 3: kevorkallin ($3.90 in chips)
Seat 4: irishguy2005 ($40.65 in chips)
Seat 5: przemol ($50 in chips)
Seat 6: darg0r ($50 in chips)
Seat 7: Steve8Taylor ($27 in chips)
Seat 8: -Jenna88-<3 ($38.20 in chips)
Seat 9: Henck123 ($36.05 in chips)
hockey59: posts small blind $0.25
kevorkallin: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [Qh Qc]
irishguy2005: folds
przemol: folds
darg0r: folds
Steve8Taylor: raises $1 to $1.50
-Jenna88-<3: calls $1.50
Henck123: folds
QuanticFive: calls $1.50
hockey59: folds
kevorkallin: calls $1
*** FLOP *** [4s 9c Qd]
kevorkallin: checks
Steve8Taylor: bets $1
-Jenna88-<3: calls $1
QuanticFive: calls $1
kevorkallin: folds
*** TURN *** [4s 9c Qd] [Qs] - Bingo!
Steve8Taylor: checks
-Jenna88-<3: checks
QuanticFive: bets $3.50
Steve8Taylor: calls $3.50
-Jenna88-<3: raises $4.50 to $8 - As soon as he did this I knew he had a set!!
QuanticFive: calls $4.50 - Flat called just in case I scared him off
Steve8Taylor: calls $4.50
*** RIVER *** [4s 9c Qd Qs] [7c]
Steve8Taylor: checks
-Jenna88-<3: bets $27.70 and is all-in - On queue
QuanticFive: calls $27.70
Steve8Taylor: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
-Jenna88-<3: shows [4d 4c] (a full house, Fours full of Queens)
QuanticFive: shows [Qh Qc] (four of a kind, Queens)
QuanticFive collected $85.65 from pot
OK, quads over set is very lucky, but I got that 'I love poker' feeling I have been missing the past few weeks.
The way he played his set, letting the clock go right down, was how I used to play my sets every time - now I tend to lead out if I don't have position and then check further down to induce the bet.
Anyway, cya...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Study and work
The exam pressure is really starting to kick in - two weeks until the big day now - so I have had to say no to the next home game, which kinda sucks.
It was at Artem's house - who we have christened Bank of Russia - and would have been like when the Viking's came over to England the first time, a mass rape and pillage session.
I think they are postponing it so I will be involved next time.
The study is going badly actually - I have discovered I don't get financial accounts. It is incomprehensible and more importantly, boring as shit so every time I start reading about it I fall asleep. Not great preparation...
My life is being dominated by the study so no real online play to speak of either.
The only wisdom I can impart is on the dollar again...which I will surmise as SELL IT! We are at 1.50 and it will be 1.70 by the end of the year. Could be wrong but that is my call.
Knocking this out from work so better get back to it.
CYA!
It was at Artem's house - who we have christened Bank of Russia - and would have been like when the Viking's came over to England the first time, a mass rape and pillage session.
I think they are postponing it so I will be involved next time.
The study is going badly actually - I have discovered I don't get financial accounts. It is incomprehensible and more importantly, boring as shit so every time I start reading about it I fall asleep. Not great preparation...
My life is being dominated by the study so no real online play to speak of either.
The only wisdom I can impart is on the dollar again...which I will surmise as SELL IT! We are at 1.50 and it will be 1.70 by the end of the year. Could be wrong but that is my call.
Knocking this out from work so better get back to it.
CYA!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Home games
Well its been a while...
Probably the longest spell of no updates since I started the blog.
The lack of updates reflects my lack of play really - I no longer log on after work as a matter of course and my play now is limited to weekend tilts at the tables and home games (hence the title of this post).
The online play is still profitable but I have withdrawn $4,800 from all the sites, leaving $250 in Stars, FT, Party and Mansion.
This is enough for my levels, four-tabling $50 - as long as I don't go busto!
The home games are no a regula occurence and I'm killing them in the main. I feel a bit bad as some of them are good mates but they really have no clue.
It is mainly with unemployed ex-bankers with loads of cash and spare time.
We play cash, PL hold'em with pee-wee 10p,20p blinds but as no-one knows how to fold we often get up to £70 to £100 pots.
An example of how shitty the play is:
Six-handed, I have 75s in MP. A raise before me and everyone calls to the BB who pots it for about £4. Everyone calls except me!
Flop comes A,K,x - BB bangs it, everyone calls, another A comes, then a blank and four of them end up all in.
The pot is around £75. They flip them and there is QQ, KK, JTs and 82o!
The guy who played 82o is a Russian unemployed derivatives trader who literally has no idea but is immense fun to play with. He has left down around £60 to £100 every time and he doesn't give a shit. Perfect!
I've made about £100 from three games with these guys...should have been a more except for this hand at 4am (eight hours into our session) when I was utterly arseholed.
Early position raises, and two call. I am on button with 66.
Flop A, 3, 5 (rainbow) - they check to me and I bet out 2/3 of the pot. Both call.
Turn a 6 (gin!) and I put £5 down after they check to me again.
The early position raiser is an old mate Dan (a lawyer who earns a shitload of cash but is utter garbage at poker). He basically cant fold and duly calls, the other player folded after giving me the stare-down - lol.
River 7. Dan then bets out the pot which was £22. I have about £65 in front of me and Dan has been getting lucky and has about £20 left...
I couldn't see anything to beat me...he doesn't have the gumption to slow-play and I figured A7 at best.
I push, he calls and I know I am sunk...he flips over 77!
We wrapped up a few hands later with me down £15 instead of up again a load.
I'm really loving these games tho as the banter is superb and the play worse than any online game you could find. They think they are figuring me out but I know I will win it back.
Apart from this I am studying for my chartered financial analyst exams on June 6 - hardest exam I have ever taken (and its only level one of three). This is basically taking up all my poker time and then some.
When they are over tho I plan to party like an absolute banshee, already booked tickets for Glastonbury and Big Chill and will head over to Prague in June too for some alcohol therapy.
Happy gaming!
Probably the longest spell of no updates since I started the blog.
The lack of updates reflects my lack of play really - I no longer log on after work as a matter of course and my play now is limited to weekend tilts at the tables and home games (hence the title of this post).
The online play is still profitable but I have withdrawn $4,800 from all the sites, leaving $250 in Stars, FT, Party and Mansion.
This is enough for my levels, four-tabling $50 - as long as I don't go busto!
The home games are no a regula occurence and I'm killing them in the main. I feel a bit bad as some of them are good mates but they really have no clue.
It is mainly with unemployed ex-bankers with loads of cash and spare time.
We play cash, PL hold'em with pee-wee 10p,20p blinds but as no-one knows how to fold we often get up to £70 to £100 pots.
An example of how shitty the play is:
Six-handed, I have 75s in MP. A raise before me and everyone calls to the BB who pots it for about £4. Everyone calls except me!
Flop comes A,K,x - BB bangs it, everyone calls, another A comes, then a blank and four of them end up all in.
The pot is around £75. They flip them and there is QQ, KK, JTs and 82o!
The guy who played 82o is a Russian unemployed derivatives trader who literally has no idea but is immense fun to play with. He has left down around £60 to £100 every time and he doesn't give a shit. Perfect!
I've made about £100 from three games with these guys...should have been a more except for this hand at 4am (eight hours into our session) when I was utterly arseholed.
Early position raises, and two call. I am on button with 66.
Flop A, 3, 5 (rainbow) - they check to me and I bet out 2/3 of the pot. Both call.
Turn a 6 (gin!) and I put £5 down after they check to me again.
The early position raiser is an old mate Dan (a lawyer who earns a shitload of cash but is utter garbage at poker). He basically cant fold and duly calls, the other player folded after giving me the stare-down - lol.
River 7. Dan then bets out the pot which was £22. I have about £65 in front of me and Dan has been getting lucky and has about £20 left...
I couldn't see anything to beat me...he doesn't have the gumption to slow-play and I figured A7 at best.
I push, he calls and I know I am sunk...he flips over 77!
We wrapped up a few hands later with me down £15 instead of up again a load.
I'm really loving these games tho as the banter is superb and the play worse than any online game you could find. They think they are figuring me out but I know I will win it back.
Apart from this I am studying for my chartered financial analyst exams on June 6 - hardest exam I have ever taken (and its only level one of three). This is basically taking up all my poker time and then some.
When they are over tho I plan to party like an absolute banshee, already booked tickets for Glastonbury and Big Chill and will head over to Prague in June too for some alcohol therapy.
Happy gaming!
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Insider
One of my old journalist colleagues - now political editor of the Manchester Evening News - has been obsessively writing a rather good blog for the past three years.
It mostly covers politics - both local to Manchester and national - but he has started a mini-competition which follows the shirt sponsors of various football clubs.
Global recession. Football. Fun
The reason I mention this is that I am "The Insider".
I've had a go at predicting the winners but I reckon I have just as much chance as any one else.
If you fancy playing, drop by his blog and post yr predictions in his comments.
GL!
It mostly covers politics - both local to Manchester and national - but he has started a mini-competition which follows the shirt sponsors of various football clubs.
Global recession. Football. Fun
The reason I mention this is that I am "The Insider".
I've had a go at predicting the winners but I reckon I have just as much chance as any one else.
If you fancy playing, drop by his blog and post yr predictions in his comments.
GL!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Ooops
Seems Neteller has downgraded my account so I need to email them some bumpf before they will let me at my roll...
So no, I didn't pull my US $ last night.
The market opens down 2.5% and sterling down 0.83% against the dollar - so maybe a blessing in disguise.
So no, I didn't pull my US $ last night.
The market opens down 2.5% and sterling down 0.83% against the dollar - so maybe a blessing in disguise.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sell the dollar!
OK, I'm doing it. Today's move has convinced me that sterling could rally again.
When I get home tonight I'm going to withdraw a decent chunk of my US dollar roll and put it in sterling.
It is not quite at its low - the dollar having reached $1.38 last month. It currently stands at $1.43.
My thinking on when to cash out has been murky since the start of the year. The UK economy is in the shit and the Government is planning to print a whole load of money to get us out of it. Coupled with this is the legacy of huge budget deficit thanks in part to Gordon Brown's spending while he was Chancellor.
However, I think the market has decided that Obama's spending plans ($787bn) dwarf Briton's and that the dollar has overshot.
I may be wrong and the pound may go lower, but I don't think by much, and I want to cash with in the $1.40s rather than 1.50s or 1.60s.
As a caveat, I'm not as confident on this prediction as I was on my last few - when I called the crash in sterling - but this is what I plan to do tonight.
As for poker....haven't played a hand since the weekend :)
When I get home tonight I'm going to withdraw a decent chunk of my US dollar roll and put it in sterling.
It is not quite at its low - the dollar having reached $1.38 last month. It currently stands at $1.43.
My thinking on when to cash out has been murky since the start of the year. The UK economy is in the shit and the Government is planning to print a whole load of money to get us out of it. Coupled with this is the legacy of huge budget deficit thanks in part to Gordon Brown's spending while he was Chancellor.
However, I think the market has decided that Obama's spending plans ($787bn) dwarf Briton's and that the dollar has overshot.
I may be wrong and the pound may go lower, but I don't think by much, and I want to cash with in the $1.40s rather than 1.50s or 1.60s.
As a caveat, I'm not as confident on this prediction as I was on my last few - when I called the crash in sterling - but this is what I plan to do tonight.
As for poker....haven't played a hand since the weekend :)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sets and the dollar
For cash game regulars, sets are the most profitable hands in poker.
You have disguise and more often than not, surety that you have the best hand. The perfect storm is when u are up against an overpair or big ace that hits.
Extracting the most money out of sets is an art; sniffing out sets even more so - but to be profitable consistently playing full ring hold'em cash you need to have this skill.
Case in point last night. I was four-tabling my usual $50 cash games and slowly chipping up.
I had doubled up on one table when I got involved in a big hand with a player who had recently sat down.
I flat-called his EP $2 raise with AKo in mid position and saw a two-way flop of AJx (2 hearts). He led out just under the pot on the flop, I smooth-called. Turn a second Ace. He again leads out 3/4 of the pot. I call. River a blank heart, he fires out a $23 bet.
What does he have?
Well, unless he is bluffing he has to have at least AK, AQ, AJ, JJ or flush - and that's it.
Is he bluffing? You very, very, very rarely get full-ring players who play this aggressively - firing three bluffs in a row is tough! As I said earlier, he had only recently sat down so I had no read on him.
What I should have done was type his name into 'Find a Player' (we were playing on Pokerstars) - he was sitting at 10-tables. A multi-table bot. No bluffs. A clear fold.
As it was I made a terrible call and duly lost.
My instinct was telling me to fold, and I talked myself into calling...
A hand later in the evening, and one which turned out to be my last hand of the night, involved another set.
I was dealt AA in EP and raised to $2 again. I was sitting on around $80 on this table and hand been raising pre a lot.
No respect then, so three callers, including the BB.
I bet out $5 on a flop three low cards, two folds before the BB called.
This immediately set alarm bells ringing as this foe had been playing T-I-G-H-T.
Turn another rag, foe checks, I bet $7.50 (half the pot) and she check raises to $15.
Yes I have Aces but she has a set, a slim chance of 2 pr, but she def has me and I fold.
In hindsight, I could have maybe gotten away with a $5 bet on turn as there were no draws. A call from her on the turn means most likely I am ahead.
The way she played her set was the way I would have played it, two, three years ago. It works but against experienced players it is just too obvious.
The title says a post on the dollar too but I'm at work and need to get back on it.Will try to giev some thoughts on the dollar this weekend.
You have disguise and more often than not, surety that you have the best hand. The perfect storm is when u are up against an overpair or big ace that hits.
Extracting the most money out of sets is an art; sniffing out sets even more so - but to be profitable consistently playing full ring hold'em cash you need to have this skill.
Case in point last night. I was four-tabling my usual $50 cash games and slowly chipping up.
I had doubled up on one table when I got involved in a big hand with a player who had recently sat down.
I flat-called his EP $2 raise with AKo in mid position and saw a two-way flop of AJx (2 hearts). He led out just under the pot on the flop, I smooth-called. Turn a second Ace. He again leads out 3/4 of the pot. I call. River a blank heart, he fires out a $23 bet.
What does he have?
Well, unless he is bluffing he has to have at least AK, AQ, AJ, JJ or flush - and that's it.
Is he bluffing? You very, very, very rarely get full-ring players who play this aggressively - firing three bluffs in a row is tough! As I said earlier, he had only recently sat down so I had no read on him.
What I should have done was type his name into 'Find a Player' (we were playing on Pokerstars) - he was sitting at 10-tables. A multi-table bot. No bluffs. A clear fold.
As it was I made a terrible call and duly lost.
My instinct was telling me to fold, and I talked myself into calling...
A hand later in the evening, and one which turned out to be my last hand of the night, involved another set.
I was dealt AA in EP and raised to $2 again. I was sitting on around $80 on this table and hand been raising pre a lot.
No respect then, so three callers, including the BB.
I bet out $5 on a flop three low cards, two folds before the BB called.
This immediately set alarm bells ringing as this foe had been playing T-I-G-H-T.
Turn another rag, foe checks, I bet $7.50 (half the pot) and she check raises to $15.
Yes I have Aces but she has a set, a slim chance of 2 pr, but she def has me and I fold.
In hindsight, I could have maybe gotten away with a $5 bet on turn as there were no draws. A call from her on the turn means most likely I am ahead.
The way she played her set was the way I would have played it, two, three years ago. It works but against experienced players it is just too obvious.
The title says a post on the dollar too but I'm at work and need to get back on it.Will try to giev some thoughts on the dollar this weekend.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
One hundred dollars
Hi all, sorry for the lack of updates again. I've just returned from two weeks sunning myself in Florida.
My parents spend most of the winter there now - been doing it for five years now -and I finally got my arse over to visit them.
Played a lot of golf, studied, eat well and managed three runs.
I deliberatley left my laptop at home so I would study more, although I couldn't stay away from the felt for two whole weeks and downloaded FT on my mum's laptop.
I four tabled cash games on the whole and finsihed around $100 up.
Also had a shot at a few Mansion SNGs, but basically lost my rakeback from the previous month.
The online betting ban must be so frustrating for Americans - I couldn't even place a bet on the Australian Open tennis.
I fancied Dementieva and got a friend to place a £20 bet for me and got 9.5 - but she crashed out to Serena in the semis. Bum!
My parents spend most of the winter there now - been doing it for five years now -and I finally got my arse over to visit them.
Played a lot of golf, studied, eat well and managed three runs.
I deliberatley left my laptop at home so I would study more, although I couldn't stay away from the felt for two whole weeks and downloaded FT on my mum's laptop.
I four tabled cash games on the whole and finsihed around $100 up.
Also had a shot at a few Mansion SNGs, but basically lost my rakeback from the previous month.
The online betting ban must be so frustrating for Americans - I couldn't even place a bet on the Australian Open tennis.
I fancied Dementieva and got a friend to place a £20 bet for me and got 9.5 - but she crashed out to Serena in the semis. Bum!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Poker Pains
No poker at all to speak of, hence the lack of updates for ages.
I had a very boozy Christmas and then a week off work to rest and recover. During the past three weeks I have played maybe 20 SNGs and tourneys, all at small buy-ins and most have amounted to nothing.
I don't really have the motivation to play at the moment. I'm studying a lot, playing a bit of XBOX 360, reading, chilling - just no poker.
I'm sure the will to play to return, I've had breaks like this before, so keep checking the blog.
The only wisdom I can impart on you is that I am slightly concerned about a sterling rebound. Looking at the numbers I have $6k in various poker accounts and neteller, which at current levels is £4,100. It costs a fiver to withdraw cash, so I may just pull out most of it and then put it back in again when the dollar is stronger.
The problem is I'm pretty sure the dollar will weaken against most currencies, say the Aussie dollar, Canadian dollar but against sterling (which is pants at the mo), I'm less sure.
So for now is do nothing - which pretty much sums up my poker grinding at the mo!!!
I had a very boozy Christmas and then a week off work to rest and recover. During the past three weeks I have played maybe 20 SNGs and tourneys, all at small buy-ins and most have amounted to nothing.
I don't really have the motivation to play at the moment. I'm studying a lot, playing a bit of XBOX 360, reading, chilling - just no poker.
I'm sure the will to play to return, I've had breaks like this before, so keep checking the blog.
The only wisdom I can impart on you is that I am slightly concerned about a sterling rebound. Looking at the numbers I have $6k in various poker accounts and neteller, which at current levels is £4,100. It costs a fiver to withdraw cash, so I may just pull out most of it and then put it back in again when the dollar is stronger.
The problem is I'm pretty sure the dollar will weaken against most currencies, say the Aussie dollar, Canadian dollar but against sterling (which is pants at the mo), I'm less sure.
So for now is do nothing - which pretty much sums up my poker grinding at the mo!!!
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