Played lots this weekend. Totally skint after the skiing trip and Christmas so nothing to do except hit the tables!
Doubled up at least three times, and was up every session - this time mainly 2-tabling.
Had my first set over set win, 9s to my 10s.
Four people saw a 4xbb flop, k high flop which we all checked.
Turn was 9, I took at stab with a half-pot bet 1st up, he smooth called and the original raiser and button caller both folded.
The 10 came on river, I potted it ($30) he re-raised all in after some delay. Felt bad for him but it has happened to me before.
Another double up came from an aggressive player who basically bluffed off all his chips with q high against my flopped set of 9s.
He turned a flush draw but the last $50 bet clueless after I called progessively bigger bets on the flop and turn.
He then lost another $100 buy in, and a further $60 with another huge bluff.
My stack is now $2,266 which represents about $500 gain over the last week.
Still played the pee-wee SNG on Stars for fun, and the odd very low buy-in tourney, but cash games suit my style of play.
There are several more successful players than me multi-tabling at 50c/$1 NL, but I try not to tangle with them too much.
Most are playing ABC poker, are disciplined although probably slightly more aggressive than me.
Anyway there are still enough fish out there. The best thing that you can see at my level is someone buying-in for $43.76 or some other random amount. You can be pretty sure this is all their stack and they are there to gamble.
I still have $120 left of my bonus ($380 released) and plan to keep grinding. Even thinking about cashing some out but scared it might jinx my run.
I need two more 100 FT point days to qualify for the Bronze medal, which I'm going to save.
My record on big cash freerolls is pretty dismal!
Monday, January 29, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
FullTilt's being good to me
A very good couple of days have lifted my roll to the cusp of $2,000.
Yesterday I couldn't stop hitting and ended short session 2-tabling $150 to the good.
I had a couple of other hit'n'runs in the afternoon (I was meant to be studying for my exam this morning) also netted some bucks.
Went out after work and came back about an hour ago and thought I might try my luck again.
Started badly and it just got worse. Lost about $50 with Qs against 10s against a mega slow-player who hit trips on the flop. He/she actually played it good, checking on flop and turn, as there was a scary k on flop in a three-way raised and re-raised pot.
Then lost another $50 before realising my 10s were prob not good on a low flop against a raiser.
Dribbled another $20 away (my qk v foe's qa on a high flop) before calling it quits on that table.
On the 2nd table things were not as bad - I was only down around $20 when this happened.
Full Tilt Poker Game #1661190053: Table Hauck - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:30:41 ET - 2007/01/23
Seat 1: SuperGirl126 ($65.50)
Seat 2: RUDYTWO ($11.80)
Seat 3: fatestguyevr ($55.30)
Seat 4: Edroh ($48.25)
Seat 5: MBx ($101.50)
Seat 6: GMoney2001 ($99.05)
Seat 7: LetsExperiment ($149.25)
Seat 8: nivekcraw ($102.20)
Seat 9: QuanticFive ($89)
Edroh posts the small blind of $0.50
MBx posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [7c 8c]
GMoney2001 calls $1
LetsExperiment calls $1
nivekcraw folds
QuanticFive calls $1
SuperGirl126 folds
RUDYTWO calls $1
fatestguyevr calls $1
Edroh calls $0.50
MBx checks
This was going to be last hand so I limped here when I prob would have folded in mid position. Glad I did cos the flop was a beauty.
*** FLOP *** [5c 4c Qc]
Edroh checks
MBx bets $3.50
GMoney2001 folds
LetsExperiment folds
QuanticFive raises to $13
RUDYTWO has 15 seconds left to act
RUDYTWO calls $10.80, and is all in
fatestguyevr folds
Edroh folds
MBx raises to $100.50, and is all in
QuanticFive has 15 seconds left to act
Now what do you do here. Can you fold this? MBx had just sat down and I had no read on him. To be honest I thought he was ahead, and RUDYTWO's delay was because he had a Ac.
Who knows if I would have called if I hadn't lost so much before, prob not. But I remember thinking that I might need a 6c.
I called ....
QuanticFive: i have it but not too high
LetsExperiment: wow
QuanticFive calls $75, and is all in
MBx shows [Kc 3c]
QuanticFive shows [7c 8c]
RUDYTWO shows [Tc Qd]
Uncalled bet of $12.50 returned to MBx
*** TURN *** [5c 4c Qc] [6c]
QuanticFive: 6 clbs
I was calling for the card but typed too slow.
*** RIVER *** [5c 4c Qc 6c] [Jd]
MBx shows a flush, King high
QuanticFive shows a straight flush, Eight high
QuanticFive wins the side pot ($153.35) with a straight flush, Eight high
QuanticFive: ooo
RUDYTWO shows a flush, Queen high
QuanticFive wins the main pot ($37.45) with a straight flush, Eight high
LetsExperiment: OH MY GOD
RUDYTWO is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $193.80 Main pot $39.40. Side pot $154.40. | Rake $3
Board: [5c 4c Qc 6c Jd]
Seat 2: RUDYTWO showed [Tc Qd] and lost with a flush, Queen high
Seat 5: MBx (big blind) showed [Kc 3c] and lost with a flush, King high
Seat 9: QuanticFive showed [7c 8c] and won ($190.80) with a straight flush, Eight high
WHAT LUCK!!!
I cashed out a couple of hands later after being berated by one player, and backed up by two others for my call.
What would you do?
Anyway it meant I was back over $1,900 - $1,926 to be precise after another $20 bonus was realised on that hand too.
BTW I somehow managed to pass the exam despite the poker playing. It was multi-guess and I managed to get a few by process of elimination.
My mag is giving me £200 for passing it which is not bad.
Ok, bed time, its after 1am.
Ta-ra
Yesterday I couldn't stop hitting and ended short session 2-tabling $150 to the good.
I had a couple of other hit'n'runs in the afternoon (I was meant to be studying for my exam this morning) also netted some bucks.
Went out after work and came back about an hour ago and thought I might try my luck again.
Started badly and it just got worse. Lost about $50 with Qs against 10s against a mega slow-player who hit trips on the flop. He/she actually played it good, checking on flop and turn, as there was a scary k on flop in a three-way raised and re-raised pot.
Then lost another $50 before realising my 10s were prob not good on a low flop against a raiser.
Dribbled another $20 away (my qk v foe's qa on a high flop) before calling it quits on that table.
On the 2nd table things were not as bad - I was only down around $20 when this happened.
Full Tilt Poker Game #1661190053: Table Hauck - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:30:41 ET - 2007/01/23
Seat 1: SuperGirl126 ($65.50)
Seat 2: RUDYTWO ($11.80)
Seat 3: fatestguyevr ($55.30)
Seat 4: Edroh ($48.25)
Seat 5: MBx ($101.50)
Seat 6: GMoney2001 ($99.05)
Seat 7: LetsExperiment ($149.25)
Seat 8: nivekcraw ($102.20)
Seat 9: QuanticFive ($89)
Edroh posts the small blind of $0.50
MBx posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [7c 8c]
GMoney2001 calls $1
LetsExperiment calls $1
nivekcraw folds
QuanticFive calls $1
SuperGirl126 folds
RUDYTWO calls $1
fatestguyevr calls $1
Edroh calls $0.50
MBx checks
This was going to be last hand so I limped here when I prob would have folded in mid position. Glad I did cos the flop was a beauty.
*** FLOP *** [5c 4c Qc]
Edroh checks
MBx bets $3.50
GMoney2001 folds
LetsExperiment folds
QuanticFive raises to $13
RUDYTWO has 15 seconds left to act
RUDYTWO calls $10.80, and is all in
fatestguyevr folds
Edroh folds
MBx raises to $100.50, and is all in
QuanticFive has 15 seconds left to act
Now what do you do here. Can you fold this? MBx had just sat down and I had no read on him. To be honest I thought he was ahead, and RUDYTWO's delay was because he had a Ac.
Who knows if I would have called if I hadn't lost so much before, prob not. But I remember thinking that I might need a 6c.
I called ....
QuanticFive: i have it but not too high
LetsExperiment: wow
QuanticFive calls $75, and is all in
MBx shows [Kc 3c]
QuanticFive shows [7c 8c]
RUDYTWO shows [Tc Qd]
Uncalled bet of $12.50 returned to MBx
*** TURN *** [5c 4c Qc] [6c]
QuanticFive: 6 clbs
I was calling for the card but typed too slow.
*** RIVER *** [5c 4c Qc 6c] [Jd]
MBx shows a flush, King high
QuanticFive shows a straight flush, Eight high
QuanticFive wins the side pot ($153.35) with a straight flush, Eight high
QuanticFive: ooo
RUDYTWO shows a flush, Queen high
QuanticFive wins the main pot ($37.45) with a straight flush, Eight high
LetsExperiment: OH MY GOD
RUDYTWO is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $193.80 Main pot $39.40. Side pot $154.40. | Rake $3
Board: [5c 4c Qc 6c Jd]
Seat 2: RUDYTWO showed [Tc Qd] and lost with a flush, Queen high
Seat 5: MBx (big blind) showed [Kc 3c] and lost with a flush, King high
Seat 9: QuanticFive showed [7c 8c] and won ($190.80) with a straight flush, Eight high
WHAT LUCK!!!
I cashed out a couple of hands later after being berated by one player, and backed up by two others for my call.
What would you do?
Anyway it meant I was back over $1,900 - $1,926 to be precise after another $20 bonus was realised on that hand too.
BTW I somehow managed to pass the exam despite the poker playing. It was multi-guess and I managed to get a few by process of elimination.
My mag is giving me £200 for passing it which is not bad.
Ok, bed time, its after 1am.
Ta-ra
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Three-tabling
Sticking to the $100 NL tables on Full Tilt seems to have worked.
My bankroll is at a truly staggering $1,764 - well, ok I'm not breaking any records but I'm pretty pleased.
Playing at this level seems to concentrate my mind more than the $50 tables where I fritter cash away.
On Sunday evening I was all set for the raketherake.com $16,000 freeroll which had 1,500 entrants. Like last month my table had just 3 people playing and like last month I didn't last very long...9 minutes to be precise.
My Qs losing to A7o on a 7 high flop, all in on flop, and he hit an A on the turn.
Every time I play a NL tourney I get sucked out on - once memorable hitting trip 6s on the flop, getting all in v ako and losing to runner, runner a and then k.
Not planning on playing many more in the short term.
It will be interesting to see what effect the Neteller ban on US players does to numbers at FT and poker in general.
It surely is the next step to a total ban on ALL sites for yanks.
The only hope now is that the Democrats get in and they reverse the law, although there has been no noise from them on this front.
More and more Europeans seem to be playing the game, and if it takes off in Asia the game will surely get another boost in numbers.
China is a huge marketplace, and they LOVE to gamble. Disposable income is still low there though, and I'm not sure they have sorted out their banking laws sufficiently to be able to deposit properly.
The only downside to my success since I got back from skiing is that my exam revision has suffered. I'm actually a little worried I will fuck it up on Tuesday which will be a mite embarrassing.
Anyway good luck to my 'hundreds' of readers.
My bankroll is at a truly staggering $1,764 - well, ok I'm not breaking any records but I'm pretty pleased.
Playing at this level seems to concentrate my mind more than the $50 tables where I fritter cash away.
On Sunday evening I was all set for the raketherake.com $16,000 freeroll which had 1,500 entrants. Like last month my table had just 3 people playing and like last month I didn't last very long...9 minutes to be precise.
My Qs losing to A7o on a 7 high flop, all in on flop, and he hit an A on the turn.
Every time I play a NL tourney I get sucked out on - once memorable hitting trip 6s on the flop, getting all in v ako and losing to runner, runner a and then k.
Not planning on playing many more in the short term.
It will be interesting to see what effect the Neteller ban on US players does to numbers at FT and poker in general.
It surely is the next step to a total ban on ALL sites for yanks.
The only hope now is that the Democrats get in and they reverse the law, although there has been no noise from them on this front.
More and more Europeans seem to be playing the game, and if it takes off in Asia the game will surely get another boost in numbers.
China is a huge marketplace, and they LOVE to gamble. Disposable income is still low there though, and I'm not sure they have sorted out their banking laws sufficiently to be able to deposit properly.
The only downside to my success since I got back from skiing is that my exam revision has suffered. I'm actually a little worried I will fuck it up on Tuesday which will be a mite embarrassing.
Anyway good luck to my 'hundreds' of readers.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Back on it
...and bleeding chips.
I'd forgotten how frustrating this game is after a week away.
My neck hurts and I'm pissed off after jujst four hours playing.
Lost a $200 pot with As to some multi-tabling 'rock' who I totally fished in, only for him to hit runner, runner flush on a rag board.
Seeing the guy - ruxyman - sitting there doing nothing for round after round after this hand is mighty galling.
I'm slightly on tilt, but am going to 3-table the $100NL tables and see what happens.
Wish me luck!
I'd forgotten how frustrating this game is after a week away.
My neck hurts and I'm pissed off after jujst four hours playing.
Lost a $200 pot with As to some multi-tabling 'rock' who I totally fished in, only for him to hit runner, runner flush on a rag board.
Seeing the guy - ruxyman - sitting there doing nothing for round after round after this hand is mighty galling.
I'm slightly on tilt, but am going to 3-table the $100NL tables and see what happens.
Wish me luck!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Last post for a couple of weeks
I'm off skiing on Saturday and then I have an exam on the Tuesday when I get back so I won't be playing poker again for a while.
I decided to take a break from the grind of the Full Tilt cash tables after frittering away $120 at the start of the weak.
I had lost patience and had got into the mindset that I was going to lose.
I played just three Pokerstars SNGs over the last two days, winning a $6 turbo (Omaha H/L of course) on Tuesday night.
Last night I came came 6th in another $6 turbo, before dropping down to a $3 turbo which I won.
Not a lot else to say.
When I get back from my hols and studying I'm planning to give some of my tips in how I'm beating these Omaha H/L PL games.
Good luck on the tables.
I decided to take a break from the grind of the Full Tilt cash tables after frittering away $120 at the start of the weak.
I had lost patience and had got into the mindset that I was going to lose.
I played just three Pokerstars SNGs over the last two days, winning a $6 turbo (Omaha H/L of course) on Tuesday night.
Last night I came came 6th in another $6 turbo, before dropping down to a $3 turbo which I won.
Not a lot else to say.
When I get back from my hols and studying I'm planning to give some of my tips in how I'm beating these Omaha H/L PL games.
Good luck on the tables.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The run continues
Don't wanna seem arrogant and I know it is all for puny stakes but I have been killing the turbo SNG on Stars.
After the weekend the results wre: 2,6,1,10,2,3,2,2.
And then 1,1,2,4 tonight.
I basically feel that I can make the final three almost every time, and decisions are coming so easily.
If you check www.sharkscope.com and type in QuanticFive you can see how well I'm running. Basically I was dead even after 20 games and since then I have made $120 in about 25 games, with an overall ROI of 70%+
The only downer is that I'm having so much fun on Stars I haven't been doing well on FT.
I reached a high of $1550 but now am at $1426 and falling.
After the weekend the results wre: 2,6,1,10,2,3,2,2.
And then 1,1,2,4 tonight.
I basically feel that I can make the final three almost every time, and decisions are coming so easily.
If you check www.sharkscope.com and type in QuanticFive you can see how well I'm running. Basically I was dead even after 20 games and since then I have made $120 in about 25 games, with an overall ROI of 70%+
The only downer is that I'm having so much fun on Stars I haven't been doing well on FT.
I reached a high of $1550 but now am at $1426 and falling.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Star SNGs
You may remember that I was trying to increase my pee-wee stack on PokerStars by playing the turbo $3+40c Omaha H/L SNGs.
Well I'm in the midst of WSOP-esque run :)
Since Thursday I've played 11 games while I've been grinding away on the Full Tilt tables.
My results are: 3,2,1,1,x,3,3,3,3,1 and finally a 1st on a RAZZ $3+40c.
My dwindling roll on Stars has risen from a puny $30 up to $90.
OK, I'm not going to break the bank but if I keep at it I hope to be able to get back to my starting $200 there
Well I'm in the midst of WSOP-esque run :)
Since Thursday I've played 11 games while I've been grinding away on the Full Tilt tables.
My results are: 3,2,1,1,x,3,3,3,3,1 and finally a 1st on a RAZZ $3+40c.
My dwindling roll on Stars has risen from a puny $30 up to $90.
OK, I'm not going to break the bank but if I keep at it I hope to be able to get back to my starting $200 there
Grinding
I've been playing a lot of the past few days, managing to rack up 100 FT points on each of the last five days.
Four out of the five days were winning days, but progress was, until this morning, frustratingly slow.
Yesterday, for instance, I lost a $50 buy-in to a four-outer on the river (we were all in by the turn) and a 2-outer for anoher $25.
I went to bed last night at around the same time a player called Phatheon logged on, and started four-tabling. The only reason I noticed him was that he was playing so tightly.
Anyway, eight hours later, after a decent night's kip for me, he was still four-tabling - and playing much looser.
He was not on tilt, but just calling and raising more, and putting his chips at risk.
Anyway this happened.
Full Tilt Poker Game #1542964686: Table Wengert - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 5:38:21 ET - 2007/01/06
Seat 1: toedrag27 ($34.80)
Seat 2: Likethebox ($75.55)
Seat 3: Patient Paddy ($35.10)
Seat 4: squeege55 ($80.80)
Seat 5: Pockets Impty ($98.60)
Seat 6: phaethon ($38.40)
Seat 7: KGB_AK ($100.60)
Seat 8: I__WIN 4 LIFE ($7.95)
Seat 9: QuanticFive ($47.75)
QuanticFive posts the small blind of $0.25
toedrag27 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [Th Ts]
Likethebox folds
Patient Paddy folds
KGB_AK: i'm blowing heads up
squeege55 folds
Pockets Impty folds
phaethon raises to $1.50
KGB_AK folds
I__WIN 4 LIFE calls $1.50
QuanticFive calls $1.25
toedrag27 folds
*** FLOP *** [7s Ad Td]
QuanticFive checks
phaethon bets $3
Likethebox: p.i.m.p
I__WIN 4 LIFE folds
QuanticFive calls $3
*** TURN *** [7s Ad Td] [6c]
QuanticFive checks
phaethon bets $8
QuanticFive raises to $23
phaethon raises to $33.90, and is all in
QuanticFive calls $10.90
phaethon shows [Qh Qd]
QuanticFive shows [Th Ts]
*** RIVER *** [7s Ad Td 6c] [8s]
phaethon shows a pair of Queens
QuanticFive shows three of a kind, Tens
QuanticFive wins the pot ($75.80) with three of a kind, Tens
phaethon is sitting out
And a few hands later...
Full Tilt Poker Game #1543030427: Table Wengert - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 6:06:29 ET - 2007/01/06
Seat 1: toedrag27 ($53.45)
Seat 2: Cuddler11 ($56.05)
Seat 3: Patient Paddy ($34.90)
Seat 4: squeege55 ($74.70)
Seat 5: Pockets Impty ($99.30)
Seat 6: phaethon ($71.25)
Seat 7: KGB_AK ($104.60)
Seat 8: lord80 ($44.75)
Seat 9: QuanticFive ($80.50)
QuanticFive posts the small blind of $0.25
toedrag27 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [6c 6h]
Cuddler11 calls $0.50
Patient Paddy folds
squeege55 calls $0.50
Pockets Impty folds
phaethon raises to $1.50
KGB_AK has 15 seconds left to act
KGB_AK calls $1.50
lord80 folds
QuanticFive calls $1.25
toedrag27 folds
Cuddler11 calls $1
squeege55 calls $1
*** FLOP *** [6d Jd 3d]
All check
*** TURN *** [6d Jd 3d] [Jc]
QuanticFive bets $4
Cuddler11 folds
squeege55 folds
phaethon raises to $8
KGB_AK folds
QuanticFive raises to $23.50
phaethon has 15 seconds left to act
phaethon raises to $69.75, and is all in
QuanticFive calls $46.25
phaethon shows [Td 9d]
QuanticFive shows [6c 6h]
*** RIVER *** [6d Jd 3d Jc] [6s]
phaethon shows a flush, Jack high
QuanticFive shows four of a kind, Sixes
QuanticFive wins the pot ($144.50) with four of a kind, Sixes
phaethon is sitting out
Now I know I got lucky by hitting my trips but I was fully expecting him to fold to my re-raise. Especially on the 2nd hand. If anything this shows how playing too long, or too many tables impairs our judgement. Take a break kids! Anyway, here endeth the lesson.
The upshot is I'm back up $1,378.75, the level I was a before my xmas Razz nightmare.
The only thing of note is that i tried my hand at a Horse $5 tournie on FT attracted just shy of 100 players. Ironically, the Razz rounds kept me in this all the way to the final table, 6th place, and a whopping $15 profit. Not really worth the time, it was nearly 2am when i finished and I suffered at work the next day, but it definitely got the blood pumping a few times.
Cheers.
Four out of the five days were winning days, but progress was, until this morning, frustratingly slow.
Yesterday, for instance, I lost a $50 buy-in to a four-outer on the river (we were all in by the turn) and a 2-outer for anoher $25.
I went to bed last night at around the same time a player called Phatheon logged on, and started four-tabling. The only reason I noticed him was that he was playing so tightly.
Anyway, eight hours later, after a decent night's kip for me, he was still four-tabling - and playing much looser.
He was not on tilt, but just calling and raising more, and putting his chips at risk.
Anyway this happened.
Full Tilt Poker Game #1542964686: Table Wengert - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 5:38:21 ET - 2007/01/06
Seat 1: toedrag27 ($34.80)
Seat 2: Likethebox ($75.55)
Seat 3: Patient Paddy ($35.10)
Seat 4: squeege55 ($80.80)
Seat 5: Pockets Impty ($98.60)
Seat 6: phaethon ($38.40)
Seat 7: KGB_AK ($100.60)
Seat 8: I__WIN 4 LIFE ($7.95)
Seat 9: QuanticFive ($47.75)
QuanticFive posts the small blind of $0.25
toedrag27 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [Th Ts]
Likethebox folds
Patient Paddy folds
KGB_AK: i'm blowing heads up
squeege55 folds
Pockets Impty folds
phaethon raises to $1.50
KGB_AK folds
I__WIN 4 LIFE calls $1.50
QuanticFive calls $1.25
toedrag27 folds
*** FLOP *** [7s Ad Td]
QuanticFive checks
phaethon bets $3
Likethebox: p.i.m.p
I__WIN 4 LIFE folds
QuanticFive calls $3
*** TURN *** [7s Ad Td] [6c]
QuanticFive checks
phaethon bets $8
QuanticFive raises to $23
phaethon raises to $33.90, and is all in
QuanticFive calls $10.90
phaethon shows [Qh Qd]
QuanticFive shows [Th Ts]
*** RIVER *** [7s Ad Td 6c] [8s]
phaethon shows a pair of Queens
QuanticFive shows three of a kind, Tens
QuanticFive wins the pot ($75.80) with three of a kind, Tens
phaethon is sitting out
And a few hands later...
Full Tilt Poker Game #1543030427: Table Wengert - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 6:06:29 ET - 2007/01/06
Seat 1: toedrag27 ($53.45)
Seat 2: Cuddler11 ($56.05)
Seat 3: Patient Paddy ($34.90)
Seat 4: squeege55 ($74.70)
Seat 5: Pockets Impty ($99.30)
Seat 6: phaethon ($71.25)
Seat 7: KGB_AK ($104.60)
Seat 8: lord80 ($44.75)
Seat 9: QuanticFive ($80.50)
QuanticFive posts the small blind of $0.25
toedrag27 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to QuanticFive [6c 6h]
Cuddler11 calls $0.50
Patient Paddy folds
squeege55 calls $0.50
Pockets Impty folds
phaethon raises to $1.50
KGB_AK has 15 seconds left to act
KGB_AK calls $1.50
lord80 folds
QuanticFive calls $1.25
toedrag27 folds
Cuddler11 calls $1
squeege55 calls $1
*** FLOP *** [6d Jd 3d]
All check
*** TURN *** [6d Jd 3d] [Jc]
QuanticFive bets $4
Cuddler11 folds
squeege55 folds
phaethon raises to $8
KGB_AK folds
QuanticFive raises to $23.50
phaethon has 15 seconds left to act
phaethon raises to $69.75, and is all in
QuanticFive calls $46.25
phaethon shows [Td 9d]
QuanticFive shows [6c 6h]
*** RIVER *** [6d Jd 3d Jc] [6s]
phaethon shows a flush, Jack high
QuanticFive shows four of a kind, Sixes
QuanticFive wins the pot ($144.50) with four of a kind, Sixes
phaethon is sitting out
Now I know I got lucky by hitting my trips but I was fully expecting him to fold to my re-raise. Especially on the 2nd hand. If anything this shows how playing too long, or too many tables impairs our judgement. Take a break kids! Anyway, here endeth the lesson.
The upshot is I'm back up $1,378.75, the level I was a before my xmas Razz nightmare.
The only thing of note is that i tried my hand at a Horse $5 tournie on FT attracted just shy of 100 players. Ironically, the Razz rounds kept me in this all the way to the final table, 6th place, and a whopping $15 profit. Not really worth the time, it was nearly 2am when i finished and I suffered at work the next day, but it definitely got the blood pumping a few times.
Cheers.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Christmas Blues
OK, so I was a little optimistic in my last post.
My NL play is still solid, and I made another $100. Although I did have to move up to the 50c/$1 level to get this.
However my roll has actually taken a bit of a battering.
The reason: I seem to have found a poker version of blackjack in the form of Razz.
With my roll at an all time high of $1,400 I decided to have a stab at heads-up Razz ($2/$4 limit). Won $20 without showing against a clown.
Bolstered by the success I moved to the $8/$16 level (!) and leaked all $160 of my buy-in in about 15 minutes.
Unperturbed by that I then lost another $150 playing $2/$4 limit RAZZ, five-handed.
I couldn't hit a thing. The basic rule of Razz seems to be don't play paint and don't play pairs, but whatever starting hand I had I then paired up or hit a succession of high cards. Also kept losing on the river when ahead.
I was on serious tilt by the time I managed to close the table down.
To cap it all I then donked off $70 on an Omaha H/L PL table and roll was down to a sorry $983. Arse!
I've managed to bump this back up to $1,160 - where I was about a fortnight ago - but it still is mighty galling.
So, just for fun, I've decided on some New Year's Resolution's a la MilkyBarKid
1) Build my roll to $3,500.
Very do-able at my current win rates, anything extra is a bonus.
2) Win a cash MTT with more than 100 entrants.
I'm not a massive MTT player, and have only a loyalty points freeroll (on Absolute) once. I've placed loads, especially back when I started playing in 2004, but it would be nice to get there at least once in 2007.
3) Don't play limit holdem and NO RAZZ.
Pretty obvious really.
4) Learn how to use Pokertracker better
I've got it, and log my results but I need to take the time to read the Pokertracker user guide, written by Iggy.
5)Try to vary my game more
This has to be the one of the keys to success on the cash tables. Although no matter how tight you've played, there always seems to be some chump who's bought in with all his stack and can't help but call to see your nuts!
Can't really think of much else at the mo, though I might add a couple at a later date.
On a personal note, I moved into my new flat today and have plans to see a couple of mates in Manchester for the New Year.
Work is going well and I'm actually quite hopeful of a promotion in the next couple of months. I have a finance exam in Jan which I should pass and am off skiing in two weeks for my first holiday in ages.
Ta-ra
My NL play is still solid, and I made another $100. Although I did have to move up to the 50c/$1 level to get this.
However my roll has actually taken a bit of a battering.
The reason: I seem to have found a poker version of blackjack in the form of Razz.
With my roll at an all time high of $1,400 I decided to have a stab at heads-up Razz ($2/$4 limit). Won $20 without showing against a clown.
Bolstered by the success I moved to the $8/$16 level (!) and leaked all $160 of my buy-in in about 15 minutes.
Unperturbed by that I then lost another $150 playing $2/$4 limit RAZZ, five-handed.
I couldn't hit a thing. The basic rule of Razz seems to be don't play paint and don't play pairs, but whatever starting hand I had I then paired up or hit a succession of high cards. Also kept losing on the river when ahead.
I was on serious tilt by the time I managed to close the table down.
To cap it all I then donked off $70 on an Omaha H/L PL table and roll was down to a sorry $983. Arse!
I've managed to bump this back up to $1,160 - where I was about a fortnight ago - but it still is mighty galling.
So, just for fun, I've decided on some New Year's Resolution's a la MilkyBarKid
1) Build my roll to $3,500.
Very do-able at my current win rates, anything extra is a bonus.
2) Win a cash MTT with more than 100 entrants.
I'm not a massive MTT player, and have only a loyalty points freeroll (on Absolute) once. I've placed loads, especially back when I started playing in 2004, but it would be nice to get there at least once in 2007.
3) Don't play limit holdem and NO RAZZ.
Pretty obvious really.
4) Learn how to use Pokertracker better
I've got it, and log my results but I need to take the time to read the Pokertracker user guide, written by Iggy.
5)Try to vary my game more
This has to be the one of the keys to success on the cash tables. Although no matter how tight you've played, there always seems to be some chump who's bought in with all his stack and can't help but call to see your nuts!
Can't really think of much else at the mo, though I might add a couple at a later date.
On a personal note, I moved into my new flat today and have plans to see a couple of mates in Manchester for the New Year.
Work is going well and I'm actually quite hopeful of a promotion in the next couple of months. I have a finance exam in Jan which I should pass and am off skiing in two weeks for my first holiday in ages.
Ta-ra
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Winning run
I'm absolutely loving my poker at the moment. Cash games on FullTilt rule and I made another $100 in about 90 mins of two-tabling.
I'm now playing just 25c/50c NL and don't plan to move up til I reach $2,000.
I was lucky last night, hitting trips with 3s and 9s, and winning some by acting weak with As (after raising pre-flop).
I re-read yesterday's post and my style is slightly more complicated than basically feigning tightness and then stealing.
I have some other tricks, and one of the best is to raise pot pre-flop with position lots. It can definitely put low stakers on tilt and confuses the hell out of them.
I'm now playing just 25c/50c NL and don't plan to move up til I reach $2,000.
I was lucky last night, hitting trips with 3s and 9s, and winning some by acting weak with As (after raising pre-flop).
I re-read yesterday's post and my style is slightly more complicated than basically feigning tightness and then stealing.
I have some other tricks, and one of the best is to raise pot pre-flop with position lots. It can definitely put low stakers on tilt and confuses the hell out of them.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Slowly rising
The last week or so has been as hectic as ever. Lots of xmas dos, and room hunting have taken their toll.
I have one more booze-up left and then its Xmas, thank god.
I'm really not enjoying tournament and SNG play at the moment, but cash games are going well.
My stack is up to $1,300 now and slowly rising. The three sessions I've played since my last post have each netted around $100, all from the 25c/50c NL and 50c/$1 NL tables on FullTilt.
The more I play the more I realise how stupid I've been over the past two years of play.
The game is so much easier with a big stack behind you.
I've no problem calling big bets if I think I'm ahead and most importantly, I can now push around timid, small stack players who are obviously playing with all the roll. Frankly they seem to be papping their pants every time, they put some money in.
I really try to work on table image.
I like to play very tightly for a few rounds. And make a show of checking down blind v blind battles with a pr, so I can show at the end.
This means I can start stealing as my foes think I'm a supertight.
Last night I was flopped two str8 at the same time, on different tables and got paid off.
With Christmas coming, my aim is to move the roll past $1,500 by the new year, which is more than reasonable.
As long as I stay in my comfort zone of no more than 50c/$1 NL, I should be able to manage it.
On the home front I'm moving into a room in a house in Brixton with a freelance journalist and a French actress/post-grad student.
SPeak soon
I have one more booze-up left and then its Xmas, thank god.
I'm really not enjoying tournament and SNG play at the moment, but cash games are going well.
My stack is up to $1,300 now and slowly rising. The three sessions I've played since my last post have each netted around $100, all from the 25c/50c NL and 50c/$1 NL tables on FullTilt.
The more I play the more I realise how stupid I've been over the past two years of play.
The game is so much easier with a big stack behind you.
I've no problem calling big bets if I think I'm ahead and most importantly, I can now push around timid, small stack players who are obviously playing with all the roll. Frankly they seem to be papping their pants every time, they put some money in.
I really try to work on table image.
I like to play very tightly for a few rounds. And make a show of checking down blind v blind battles with a pr, so I can show at the end.
This means I can start stealing as my foes think I'm a supertight.
Last night I was flopped two str8 at the same time, on different tables and got paid off.
With Christmas coming, my aim is to move the roll past $1,500 by the new year, which is more than reasonable.
As long as I stay in my comfort zone of no more than 50c/$1 NL, I should be able to manage it.
On the home front I'm moving into a room in a house in Brixton with a freelance journalist and a French actress/post-grad student.
SPeak soon
Monday, December 04, 2006
Volatile returns
I played a lot this weekend, and played very poorly.
I have been made homeless after falling out with my flatmate/landlord, so I knew the weekend was to be the last time in at least two weeks when I had a chance to play.
Reaching a four-figure bankroll seems to have affected my play and I'm having trouble pushing on past it.
I have no trouble losing to the better hand all-in, but have too often called off all my buy-in on some very dubious calls.
I'm finding it too easy to just insta-call an all-in re-raise, w/o thinking. Sometimes they're bluffing, or have a marginal hand, but I've managed to lose a couple of $100 buy-ins simply from not thinking through the hand properly.
I've been trying to take advantage of the drunk American by playing early doors on the weekends, with success.
But ran into a drunk, and very lucky, bully to my left who raised every bet I made.
I waited and waited, but was getting nothing, before playing back at him on a turned str8, only to lose to a 4-outer, higher str8, on the river.
My roll is now just shy of $1,000 and will remain there until I find a new place to live.
Over at Stars, I've started turning my dwindling bankroll back up by playing pee-wee sit'n'go's ($3+.40c turbos omaha h/l) and am slowly eeking it back up, but this is more for fun than anything.
I'm staying for the next two weeks at my news editor's flat in Stoke Newington, while she is on holiday in Vietnam.
In the meantime I have two viewings, one in a flat in Hammersmith and the other in a house in Finsbury Park.
I'm hoping either will be suitable, but it looks like it will be an interview situation a la Shallow Grave.
We shall see if my charms work on them!
I have been made homeless after falling out with my flatmate/landlord, so I knew the weekend was to be the last time in at least two weeks when I had a chance to play.
Reaching a four-figure bankroll seems to have affected my play and I'm having trouble pushing on past it.
I have no trouble losing to the better hand all-in, but have too often called off all my buy-in on some very dubious calls.
I'm finding it too easy to just insta-call an all-in re-raise, w/o thinking. Sometimes they're bluffing, or have a marginal hand, but I've managed to lose a couple of $100 buy-ins simply from not thinking through the hand properly.
I've been trying to take advantage of the drunk American by playing early doors on the weekends, with success.
But ran into a drunk, and very lucky, bully to my left who raised every bet I made.
I waited and waited, but was getting nothing, before playing back at him on a turned str8, only to lose to a 4-outer, higher str8, on the river.
My roll is now just shy of $1,000 and will remain there until I find a new place to live.
Over at Stars, I've started turning my dwindling bankroll back up by playing pee-wee sit'n'go's ($3+.40c turbos omaha h/l) and am slowly eeking it back up, but this is more for fun than anything.
I'm staying for the next two weeks at my news editor's flat in Stoke Newington, while she is on holiday in Vietnam.
In the meantime I have two viewings, one in a flat in Hammersmith and the other in a house in Finsbury Park.
I'm hoping either will be suitable, but it looks like it will be an interview situation a la Shallow Grave.
We shall see if my charms work on them!
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Rising fortunes
Just a quickieto say since my last post I've managed to get a wireless internet connection up-and-running at the flat.
Unfortunately the $900 deposit turned into $500 because the blackjack demons returned. V. v annoying.
But I have since turned this $500 into $1065.35 on FullTilt, a huge stack by my standards.
Most of this has come from the 50c/$1 NL tables, and a little from omaha h/l.
My basic plan is to stick at this level until I reach $2,000 - then move up.
I'm enjoying my time at the tables, mainly because I'm not playing so much.
Unfortunately the $900 deposit turned into $500 because the blackjack demons returned. V. v annoying.
But I have since turned this $500 into $1065.35 on FullTilt, a huge stack by my standards.
Most of this has come from the 50c/$1 NL tables, and a little from omaha h/l.
My basic plan is to stick at this level until I reach $2,000 - then move up.
I'm enjoying my time at the tables, mainly because I'm not playing so much.
Rising fortunes
Just a quickieto say since my last post I've managed to get a wireless internet connection up-and-running at the flat.
Unfortunately the $900 deposit turned into $500 because the blackjack demons returned. V. v annoying.
But I have since turned this $500 into $1065.35 on FullTilt, a huge stack by my standards.
Most of this has come from the 50c/$1 NL tables, and a little from omaha h/l.
My basic plan is to stick at this level until I reach $2,000 - then move up.
I'm enjoying my time at the tables, mainly because I'm not playing so much.
Unfortunately the $900 deposit turned into $500 because the blackjack demons returned. V. v annoying.
But I have since turned this $500 into $1065.35 on FullTilt, a huge stack by my standards.
Most of this has come from the 50c/$1 NL tables, and a little from omaha h/l.
My basic plan is to stick at this level until I reach $2,000 - then move up.
I'm enjoying my time at the tables, mainly because I'm not playing so much.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
One game
Lack of internet at home has seriously curtailed any poker play since my last post.
I've only managed to squeeze in the odd game while visiting my parents at home.
Only three things of note have happened since last month:
1) I've cashed out of PartyPoker, which has lost a LOT of traffic since the gambling legislation was passed. My neteller a/c now sits with $900.
2) I've slowly leaked $80 of my $200 deposit at Stars
3) I played the BIGGEST tournament of my life!
As you can guess I didn't cash but it was probably the closest I've come to a big payout.
It was the raketherake.com freeroll for Party players which had reached the dizzy heights of £25,000. Yet the new legislation limited it to non-US players and so only 54 lucky souls got a chance to play.
I happened to be home that Sunday so it worked out prefectly.
Six players paid, with 1st getting over $9,000 and 6th reaping $1,750.
It started ok when I won a few chips with 9s v two high cards.
My first double up was farily streaky when I re-raised all-in an early position raiser with aqs, and he flipped over qs. Ace on the flop.
With 10 min blinds and 3,000 starting chips, it quickly became a raise/fold game and lots of all ins.
I called a small stack all in with 5s, and he turned over k9s. NO k, no 9.
I then reraised a yo-yo bluffer with kqo all-in, and he took ages before folding.
I took the rest of his chips with kq again, vs his kj.
Had 10k in chips and was sitting pretty when I lost a ako v 8s race.
Then lost ajo v a10o all-in preflop (10 on turn) my only bad beat all game and was out 14th.
O well.
Thats a pretty quick summary but basically, I can't complain after outdrawing the qs early and not getting sucked out on 3x before my badbeat at the end.
Work is good. I've pretty much cemented my position as the best of the reporters. And yesterday picked up a pretty handy freelance gig which should net me a few quid each month.
Internet comes on Friday, and I'm heading for full tilt with the $900.
I've only managed to squeeze in the odd game while visiting my parents at home.
Only three things of note have happened since last month:
1) I've cashed out of PartyPoker, which has lost a LOT of traffic since the gambling legislation was passed. My neteller a/c now sits with $900.
2) I've slowly leaked $80 of my $200 deposit at Stars
3) I played the BIGGEST tournament of my life!
As you can guess I didn't cash but it was probably the closest I've come to a big payout.
It was the raketherake.com freeroll for Party players which had reached the dizzy heights of £25,000. Yet the new legislation limited it to non-US players and so only 54 lucky souls got a chance to play.
I happened to be home that Sunday so it worked out prefectly.
Six players paid, with 1st getting over $9,000 and 6th reaping $1,750.
It started ok when I won a few chips with 9s v two high cards.
My first double up was farily streaky when I re-raised all-in an early position raiser with aqs, and he flipped over qs. Ace on the flop.
With 10 min blinds and 3,000 starting chips, it quickly became a raise/fold game and lots of all ins.
I called a small stack all in with 5s, and he turned over k9s. NO k, no 9.
I then reraised a yo-yo bluffer with kqo all-in, and he took ages before folding.
I took the rest of his chips with kq again, vs his kj.
Had 10k in chips and was sitting pretty when I lost a ako v 8s race.
Then lost ajo v a10o all-in preflop (10 on turn) my only bad beat all game and was out 14th.
O well.
Thats a pretty quick summary but basically, I can't complain after outdrawing the qs early and not getting sucked out on 3x before my badbeat at the end.
Work is good. I've pretty much cemented my position as the best of the reporters. And yesterday picked up a pretty handy freelance gig which should net me a few quid each month.
Internet comes on Friday, and I'm heading for full tilt with the $900.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
New job, new city
It's been six weeks since my last post so for any readers out there I thought I'd update my blog.
I'm now a financial journalist working for a magazine in London.
My life in the north is over, probably forever, and I've joined the throng on the tube every day.
I suppose I'm still in a honeymoon period here. I'm sad to say I enjoy the subject matter, which is almost wholly investment-based, the money's ok, and the office is teaming with media honeys.
The best thing has to be the freebies where PR companies and fund managers are literally falling over themselves to offer us free stuff.
Whether it be a posh lunch, drinks after work or tickets to see a footie match or concert.
In just a month though I already feel overqualified for the job, most people here are either writers just out of journalist school or graduates.
No-one has shorthand and most can't write a decent story.
I've been on jobs with people five years younger than me, with incredibly posh accents, working for Reuters or the FT, who basically are a joke to journalism.
I s'pose this is my fault for spending four years bumming around Europe...
Anyway, the new job seems to have rejuvenated my poker skills.
I've taken the $290 I deposited a while back on Party to $800, which includes taking an additional $200 out of there into Stars.
Stars is up to $260 now.
Not doing much different, just playing higher limits and playing tight
Back to work now
Ta-ra for now
I'm now a financial journalist working for a magazine in London.
My life in the north is over, probably forever, and I've joined the throng on the tube every day.
I suppose I'm still in a honeymoon period here. I'm sad to say I enjoy the subject matter, which is almost wholly investment-based, the money's ok, and the office is teaming with media honeys.
The best thing has to be the freebies where PR companies and fund managers are literally falling over themselves to offer us free stuff.
Whether it be a posh lunch, drinks after work or tickets to see a footie match or concert.
In just a month though I already feel overqualified for the job, most people here are either writers just out of journalist school or graduates.
No-one has shorthand and most can't write a decent story.
I've been on jobs with people five years younger than me, with incredibly posh accents, working for Reuters or the FT, who basically are a joke to journalism.
I s'pose this is my fault for spending four years bumming around Europe...
Anyway, the new job seems to have rejuvenated my poker skills.
I've taken the $290 I deposited a while back on Party to $800, which includes taking an additional $200 out of there into Stars.
Stars is up to $260 now.
Not doing much different, just playing higher limits and playing tight
Back to work now
Ta-ra for now
Monday, August 07, 2006
Happy days
I had one of my best days on the felt yesterday in months.
I was feeling slightly the worse for wear after two nights of the tiles on Friday and Saturday, plus a round of golf in the rain on Sunday.
But it made no difference as I managed to kill two tables.
I played for about two hours on two tables (25c NL) before supper. On one I hovered on or below my $25 buy-in the whole time, but the second was a dream.
I won a $25 pot with jks and the turned nut flush. About two hands later I held 5s and the flop came 5,7,2 rainbow and I picked up about $20 without showing.
A few more wins and I left with around $75 for a tidy $50 profit.
Then, later in the night I found the BIGGEST fish I've ever come across.
He played every single hand, bet big, bluffed lots and seemed to have no idea of pot odds.
The best news of all was that he had more than $100 (4x the maximum buy-in) and seemed more than happy spread his winnings around.
It was very obvious after just a few hands that he was playing any two cards and would bluff at pots if he smelt any weakness from a player.
Yet people kept folding to his bets which was keeping his stack intact.
One example of his play was to call a $10 all-in pre flop raise (thats 40x the BB!) with 84s.
I was up to around $31 when I called his $3 river bet and raised turn with 2nd pr to win a tidy pot and move to $40.
I can't remember the hand I busted him the first time but I think I slow-played the nuts and he fell for it.
He reloaded $10.52 suggesting this was the last of his deposit and quickly doubled up with flopped 2pr (94o) v. Js.
The last hand was though I remember and it was sweet.
I had 54o in the small blind.
Flop came 575 with 2 diamonds. I checked, a new player - who deposited just $5 and had already doubled up against the FISH - bet $1, the FISH called and I called.
The turn was a 6 (not diamond), I checked, the new player checked, FISH bet $4 and we both called.
The river was a magic 4! I checked - basically I was 99% sure he would bet. He did, betting $20 (out of his $24.92 left), I put him in and he showed 83o for the rivered str8.
So, the 4 really was the money card.
I've been racking my brains to remember the first big hand but can't.
Anyway when I sat down he had over $100, when he left I had over $85, another player had about $60 and there 12 people on the waiting list, clamouring for a go at him.
In about four hours play my stack grew from around $250 to $370.
And this time I'm NOT going to lose it all by playing Limit Hold'em or Blackjack, honest!
Typing this at work so must dash.
I was feeling slightly the worse for wear after two nights of the tiles on Friday and Saturday, plus a round of golf in the rain on Sunday.
But it made no difference as I managed to kill two tables.
I played for about two hours on two tables (25c NL) before supper. On one I hovered on or below my $25 buy-in the whole time, but the second was a dream.
I won a $25 pot with jks and the turned nut flush. About two hands later I held 5s and the flop came 5,7,2 rainbow and I picked up about $20 without showing.
A few more wins and I left with around $75 for a tidy $50 profit.
Then, later in the night I found the BIGGEST fish I've ever come across.
He played every single hand, bet big, bluffed lots and seemed to have no idea of pot odds.
The best news of all was that he had more than $100 (4x the maximum buy-in) and seemed more than happy spread his winnings around.
It was very obvious after just a few hands that he was playing any two cards and would bluff at pots if he smelt any weakness from a player.
Yet people kept folding to his bets which was keeping his stack intact.
One example of his play was to call a $10 all-in pre flop raise (thats 40x the BB!) with 84s.
I was up to around $31 when I called his $3 river bet and raised turn with 2nd pr to win a tidy pot and move to $40.
I can't remember the hand I busted him the first time but I think I slow-played the nuts and he fell for it.
He reloaded $10.52 suggesting this was the last of his deposit and quickly doubled up with flopped 2pr (94o) v. Js.
The last hand was though I remember and it was sweet.
I had 54o in the small blind.
Flop came 575 with 2 diamonds. I checked, a new player - who deposited just $5 and had already doubled up against the FISH - bet $1, the FISH called and I called.
The turn was a 6 (not diamond), I checked, the new player checked, FISH bet $4 and we both called.
The river was a magic 4! I checked - basically I was 99% sure he would bet. He did, betting $20 (out of his $24.92 left), I put him in and he showed 83o for the rivered str8.
So, the 4 really was the money card.
I've been racking my brains to remember the first big hand but can't.
Anyway when I sat down he had over $100, when he left I had over $85, another player had about $60 and there 12 people on the waiting list, clamouring for a go at him.
In about four hours play my stack grew from around $250 to $370.
And this time I'm NOT going to lose it all by playing Limit Hold'em or Blackjack, honest!
Typing this at work so must dash.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
The fall and rise of a bankroll
Poker is a strange beast. When you're running hot, it seems the easiest way to make money. But then the bad beats start and you wonder why you bother.
My roll on Party has reached a high of $450 and a low of $138, from a starting point of $295.
Over the course of the month I've learnt a valuable lesson: I'm rubbish at limit poker.
When I play low-level NL, I'm a winning player. Ditto for SNG and MTTs.
But the odd win on limit doesn't disguise the fact that I suck at the game.
The low point came a couple of weeks back after some serious tilting on $2/$4 Limit badbeat jackpot tables. And I shouldn't even be playing such high limits with my current bankroll.
Anyway, I've eeked it back up over the next few sessions and stand at around $250 again.
I honestly think part of my problem is that once I'm up I start relaxing, and end up losing pots I should never have been in in the first place.
Workwise, I have seven days left to go before I leave regional journalism for ever.
It will also mean I won't be playing as much poker, as moving to London means more hours at work and a longer commute.
But in the meantime, I still plan to play as much as poss until then.
Bye for now
My roll on Party has reached a high of $450 and a low of $138, from a starting point of $295.
Over the course of the month I've learnt a valuable lesson: I'm rubbish at limit poker.
When I play low-level NL, I'm a winning player. Ditto for SNG and MTTs.
But the odd win on limit doesn't disguise the fact that I suck at the game.
The low point came a couple of weeks back after some serious tilting on $2/$4 Limit badbeat jackpot tables. And I shouldn't even be playing such high limits with my current bankroll.
Anyway, I've eeked it back up over the next few sessions and stand at around $250 again.
I honestly think part of my problem is that once I'm up I start relaxing, and end up losing pots I should never have been in in the first place.
Workwise, I have seven days left to go before I leave regional journalism for ever.
It will also mean I won't be playing as much poker, as moving to London means more hours at work and a longer commute.
But in the meantime, I still plan to play as much as poss until then.
Bye for now
Monday, July 17, 2006
Update
Been playing sporadically in the past ten days.
NL, limit, and bit of Omaha and the odd freeroll.
My roll reached a high of $430 before dropping back down to $270.
Most of the losses have come from $1/$2 limit and the $2/$4 Badbeat jackpot tables.
On Sunday I tried a couple of multi-table SNG, 3-table and 5-table, and came 3rd and 2nd respectively to net myself about $70-ish profit so I'm standing around $360 now.
I like Party but I'm thinking about having a go at Full Tilt and its 100% deposit bonus.
On the work front I just handed in my notice! I start work as a reporter at an investment magazine in London next month.
I've decided to rent out my flat up here and will be moving back down south soon. I'll prob have to stay with my folks for the first couple of weeks, but I should be able to find a room somewhere.
NL, limit, and bit of Omaha and the odd freeroll.
My roll reached a high of $430 before dropping back down to $270.
Most of the losses have come from $1/$2 limit and the $2/$4 Badbeat jackpot tables.
On Sunday I tried a couple of multi-table SNG, 3-table and 5-table, and came 3rd and 2nd respectively to net myself about $70-ish profit so I'm standing around $360 now.
I like Party but I'm thinking about having a go at Full Tilt and its 100% deposit bonus.
On the work front I just handed in my notice! I start work as a reporter at an investment magazine in London next month.
I've decided to rent out my flat up here and will be moving back down south soon. I'll prob have to stay with my folks for the first couple of weeks, but I should be able to find a room somewhere.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
The Good, The Bad and The Downright Ugly
I'll start with the ugly because this happened first.
I'm afraid to say my Blackjack demons returned in a big way. My roll at Ultimate Bet was sitting pretty at around $400, having soared from a low of about $20 a couple of months ago.
I was playing tightly and winning money regularly. Then disaster struck and blew it all in 30 minutes.
My initial deposit was $200 and I've managed to win about $75 from rakeback, but it still hurt. This was all last week, and was too embarrassed to write about it.
Suffice it to say that I lost about $50, and then kept trying to win it back with bigger and bigger bets.
Went camping with some colleagues at the weekend, which was a great way to forget about my poker pains.
Returned on Monday and deposited my Absolute bankroll of $300 into Party Poker.
I'd never played there before so it was fun to have hundreds of tables to chose from.
The Bad is that I lost about $50 quickly on the 25c/50c NL tables. I couldn't hit a hand, missed flushes, got trips cracked 2x.
The good is that I quickly released my 20 per cent bonus of around $55 to clear that debt and then won a $6 10-man SNG late last night.
It was limit, which I didn't realise when I enrolled, but I got a handy chip lead when I flopped a set with 4s, and then rivered a fullhouse with JKo to crack As and a flush.
I was late for work this morning as a result of my late night playing, and got a mild ticking off, but I really don't care.
As for work, I'm plodding along, its the start of silly season when everyone's on holiday and not much is happening.
I went for a job interview in London at a magazine yesterday and feel I've got a good shot at getting it.
I have a writing test to do tonite. This month could be the end of my northern dalliance and the end of my regional newspaper career.
We'll see.
I'm afraid to say my Blackjack demons returned in a big way. My roll at Ultimate Bet was sitting pretty at around $400, having soared from a low of about $20 a couple of months ago.
I was playing tightly and winning money regularly. Then disaster struck and blew it all in 30 minutes.
My initial deposit was $200 and I've managed to win about $75 from rakeback, but it still hurt. This was all last week, and was too embarrassed to write about it.
Suffice it to say that I lost about $50, and then kept trying to win it back with bigger and bigger bets.
Went camping with some colleagues at the weekend, which was a great way to forget about my poker pains.
Returned on Monday and deposited my Absolute bankroll of $300 into Party Poker.
I'd never played there before so it was fun to have hundreds of tables to chose from.
The Bad is that I lost about $50 quickly on the 25c/50c NL tables. I couldn't hit a hand, missed flushes, got trips cracked 2x.
The good is that I quickly released my 20 per cent bonus of around $55 to clear that debt and then won a $6 10-man SNG late last night.
It was limit, which I didn't realise when I enrolled, but I got a handy chip lead when I flopped a set with 4s, and then rivered a fullhouse with JKo to crack As and a flush.
I was late for work this morning as a result of my late night playing, and got a mild ticking off, but I really don't care.
As for work, I'm plodding along, its the start of silly season when everyone's on holiday and not much is happening.
I went for a job interview in London at a magazine yesterday and feel I've got a good shot at getting it.
I have a writing test to do tonite. This month could be the end of my northern dalliance and the end of my regional newspaper career.
We'll see.
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