Poker Rants

Rush 50NL

2010-08-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

So I have $400 in my account at FT I am going to see how far I can go with this. I always seem to do better when I blog my results. Maybe its because I pay more attention. My plan is to get to $500 before the holiday weekend and then start from there. I plan to withdraw every 2 weeks and build up my roll keeping only 10 buy ins online.

I don't plan to put in a ton of volume, something like 200 to 300 hands per night. I am hoping to play about 10 hours per week, and study about 30% of my plan time each week and do a review of my play from the previous day.

Wish me luck.

Rush Poker

2010-05-11T22:05:00.001-07:00

Bankroll $192.

I have played about 900 hands of Rush Poker and am up one buy in at 10NL. I still have not decided if I like it or not. The volume of hands are nice, but its hard to get a read on people because as soon as you fold your off to another hand.

I am moving up to the $5.50 Sngs now and hope after one month to be back grinding $11s.

I still have a step 3 ticket I need to move along. Hopefully this weekend.

I am off.

Just an update

2010-05-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

Bankroll $164

I have gotten $12 of that in rack back. That's not to bad. I have played 17 tourneys this month a mix of 9 man and heads up. I am 6 for 6 heads up, these guys at the $2 level are pretty weak and passive. I have I am finally positive in the $2.25 9 mans showing 14.29% over 14 sngs and have some confidence back.

My ROI at the $5.50 is sick 3.16%, but I hope to start playing more than those since I have 30 buyins now.

I also have a step 3 ticket so that's and additional $26 in my bankroll. I plan to play a step 4 and see how that goes.

Not much more than that. Hope to grind it out this month and be back to playing $11s by June.

More of the same old suck outs

2010-04-28T22:51:00.001-07:00

Bankroll $101.

I had my bankroll up to $121 but I dropped another $21 tonight. I played 4 $2.25. I missed in everyone. I can't seem to win a race no matter what side I am on. Unfortunately winning those races is huge for your ROI. I hope I start running well soon. Oh an by running well I mean winning 50% of my races, no wait just win 30% of those and I would be killing this freaking game. May is just around the corner so I hope to have a better month.

I have also dropped $20 over 2k hands playing 10NL. I am really beginning to think I am bad at this game. I am starting to think I should move up where they respect my raises but that is just stupid, I want more fish to play with. I am just running bad in these hands too. MY AA and KK hands are getting cracked, I a missing my big draws and hands I dominate are hitting on me.

I just need the variance monster to go away or have Full Tilt turn off the doom switch off. My conspiracy theorist in me is thinking with the legislation going into effect soon they are just serving me up these beats so I go broke then they don't have to pay me and I wont be able to deposit.

Anyways, maybe I should take the next few days off and just relax and start back up in May.

10 days of break even poker sucks the big one.

Same Same Same

2010-04-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Current Bankroll $98.50.

I lost a about $25 this weekend playing 10NL. Thanks for the suck outs Full Tilt. I did recover some of the winnings playin 6 sngs last night. I am still down in the $5.50s but only a few buyins now.

I played 2 $1.10 45 man sngs and scooped a win out of won for a net of $15.00. I plan to just play SNGS until this weekend then see what will happend hopefully I will take off. I am currently one week behind schedule.

2010-04-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

Current Bankroll $101.

Played 8 last night with 2 min cashes. I took 2 terrible beats on the bubble.

Interestingly enough I have 9 bubble finishes in 25 games. Of those I have been 70/30 favorite 3 times, 30/70 dog once and flipped 5 times. I am not running particularly good. Overall I am down $7.00 over the 25 sngs. I hope something changes soon. I plan to play at least 25 this weekend.

I did win $9.00 in the 10NL game so thats at least positive.

5 days into this and I am break even so far.

Moved back to Full Tilt

2010-04-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

So, I pulled my roll of of Poker Stars and moved back to Full Tilt. I did this for two reasons. First I get rake back at Full Tilt and right now that is more than the FFPs at Poker Stars. Secondly I am not thrilled with the new buy in amounts at Poker Stars.

So my challenge is to deposit $100 on FT and when I get 20 buy ins for the next level I will take the shot. My current bankroll is sitting a $2k so I don't really see this as a problem, I just want to get back into SNGs and Tourneys.

$500 (HEEB)
Stake $100.
Rules :

5% for STT I feel I have a good edge in these.
2% for MTTs ( <= 45 man)
1% for MTTs (> 45 man)

Start Date: April 18th
End Date: May 18th.

Cash out $200 when I get to $500 evanluate where to go from here.

17 $5.50 9-man $20

Current Bankroll $120

End of the month....Thank Goodness

2010-04-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

Is there any goodness left? After the month I have had I am beginning to doubt it. This month I played close to 15k hands and lost about $15. Good news is I played about 30 $5.50 sngs and won $100 so this month I increased my roll by $100. I don't know if I am running bad or just bad at cash games.

This months plan is to play 40 sngs a week and about 2k-3k hands cash but I am going to drop down and play 10NL and work on my game. I want to also start playing 6 handed So I might try and play about 2k hands of this during the month. When I win 10 buyins in the 10NL game I will move back up to 25NL. I also plan on using the same rules for 6 handed when I win 10 buyins there I will move up to 25NL 6 handed. My SNG play should allow me to have a winning month an try and make $100-$200 for this month.

Wish me luck.

Need a break.

2010-03-17T06:52:00.000-07:00

Well this week had just been more of the same. One suck out after another followed by a long grind back to even. I have played a little over 1000 hands and I am down $4.00. I think I am going to give cash games a break for a while and play some sngs for the rest of the month. I run about 20% ROI in those and I really need the boost to my confidence as well my desire. I will post the results here. That's all I got.

Thank God its over.

2010-03-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

I pretty much bit the big one this week. I lost 4 buy ins out of the 5 I won the week before. I really am playing badly.

I dabbled a bit in 10NL short handed and lost $35 in a little over 1300 hands. Some of this was variance for sure. I took 3 bad beats but that's life.

I then proceeded to lose the rest playing my regular game. I review some of my hands and looked at every hand I lost $5.00 or more and I played them badly. Those hands coupled with some coolers it what costs me.

Since I already made Silver Star this month and will not make gold I have decided to lower my volume and only play 4 tables. I plan to concentrate on reads, playing in position and fixing some leaks.

One leak is playing low pocket pairs out of position in a raised pot. The only way I can win this hand is hit my set. If I simply fold these hands I would save alot of money. I should only play these hands in position as I have a chance to steal the pot if the raiser checks the flop or I can float and bluff a good turn.

Same with big Aces. I plan to play them timid early and more aggressive later. Position, Position, Position!!!!! I have it in my head now.

Here is some numbers for you. I have played 25,000 hands of 25NL. In the last 21,000 I have won $80 playing 8 tables. In the first 4000 hands I played 4 tables and won $130. Yeah, playing more tables is not winning poker for me. I will move back down to 4 for the rest of the month. So if I extrapolate playing 8 tables has cost me $450 in profit.

Live and learn.

Current bankroll $590.

Tough week!

2010-03-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

This week is off to a rough start. I have dropped 1.5 buyins in the first two days. So now to meet this weeks minimum goal is to make 5.5 buyins over the next 5 nights. I know I can do it. I am 2.75BB/100 through 23,000 hands. I had this over 3 at the end of the first week.

As an addendum to my rules, if for any reason I get up 1 buyin quick I will quit. I never can seem to build on this I always lose this back then end up either down or 1 buyin again 2 hours later, why waste the time.

Also I would like to go on a heater, and by heater I mean just make my 3 to 1 and 4 to 1 hands hold up. I am good with that. My plan is to get to 30k hands after Sunday nights session, so I am going to have to play about 1400 hands a night that's going to be tough.

20k Hands, Houston we have a problem.

2010-03-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

This last week I passed 20k hands at 25NL, to be more specific 21,455 hands. I am such an addict. Not really, but pretty close. I am running 3.31BB/100 which is pretty good. I would like this to be above 4 but the nose dive I took last month hurt that.

I made $118 this week in about 5300 hands which is my weekly goal. I am working on plugging some leaks and when I do that and play about 50k hands I will think about moving to 50NL.

Two major leaks I have found are: Completing the SB to frequently. There are a couple of scenarios with this. For example everyone folds to me, I was generally completing and would fold to a raise or I would play a bad hand out of position. I am now either folding or raising but never limping, unless of course I have something huge and I know the BB is a bully, I will go for the check raise.

The other leak is calling off when I have TPTK against a fairly tight player. For example I raise with AK and get a call from the blinds. The flop is A63 rainbow and the SB leads out. I don't mind floating this or even raising but if he continues to bet the turn and the river each with bigger bets I need to realize I was out flopped and fold. In this case the guy has A6 and yes I paid him.

Current bank roll $676, I hope to run that to $800 this week and play 5000 hands.

End of the month projections $1000 in the bank roll. 35,000 total hands played at 25NL. I will be looking to move up sometime in April with a bankroll of $1100 - $1200.

Back to Even

2010-03-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

I made back all my losses for this month. Now I can start making some profits. A couple of big hands helped me do it, but first the bad beat.

I picked up AA under the gun. I decided I would limp because there were a couple of yahoos punishing limpers in late position. The Button raised 4BB, it folds to me and I decided to shove. He of course snap calls with QhJh. The flop brings 2 hearts and the river one more. Nice down $13 on that hand.

I grind my way back and pick up QQ in early position. I raised get 3 callers. The flop is Qh3x6h. I decided to protect my hand and pot it. The middle two guys fold, the last guy reraises me. Well I have the nuts, its going to go all in and I am saying to myself I hope he has a set because I know I am drawing dead. I say this because I know the flush will hit, but I digress. He calls and shows 66. Ironically, the turn and river are both hearts.

I picked up KK on the button with 4 limpers I raise 6BB get one caller from a super tight passive guy. The flop was Qxx rainbow. He checks I bet $4.00 and he calls. The turn was an Ace he checks I bet $4.00 again. The river is another Q and he shoves his stack. I think about what he has here and I figure I am beat and lay down the Kings.

Anyways 1k hands last night, got back to even for the month. Current online bankroll $554

New Challenge Cash Games Baby Cash Games

2010-03-02T08:28:00.000-08:00

Current Bankroll $554 on stars. The plan to play 8k hands a week with a 4-6 buy in profit each week at 25NL.

I have played 16k hands at 25NL with a profit of 2.45BB/100. I went on a bad run at the end of the last month and dropped 8 buy ins over 4 days in about 4k hands. I could have prevented 4 of that with my stop loss that I ignored. Yeah lesson learned on that one. So I figured I would start blogging again so it will force me to review hands and get better, it has always worked in the past.

First night back down $20 over 1000 hands. I really didn't get to many hands or get into situations where I could stack someone. I have decided to open my range in position vs a EP raiser with Suited Connectors. My rational is I do this with pocket pairs looking to hit a set, I might as well do this with Suited Connectors and if I flop a combo draw play for my whole stack.

So last night I decided to put my plan in action and call a preflop raise vs a huge stack and a very loose player, cocky player with Ts9s, he was playing 60% of his hands. The flop came 2s8cJs so I flopped a flush and straight draw. I put him on AJish type hand . We end up getting it all in on the flop and he turns over As6s the turn is a 8 of spade giving me one out the Qs to win. I of course miss and that was my night in a nutshell.

So this week will be an uphill battle. I need to win 5 buy ins to meet my goals now.

Secomd Week

2009-07-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

Well I have been focusing on cash games this week. I have put in about 2000 hands and am up $120. I have played just a few sngs this week due to running bad in them.

The midnight madness this week was great. I went out in the first hand. AQ vs Q7, yes he called all the way and rivered the 7. Well at least I went out early.

Current bankroll $1398, it was $1430, but I just couldn't beat this one guy. He played every hand and won just about them all, He cracked my KK twice with Ax and went runner runner several other times. He called all the way to the river.

I have a week and a half to get this up to $600 and then do a cash out. Yay! my first earnings check.

First Week Down

2009-07-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

Well I have made my weekly goal I set and cleared $200. I have played 30 $11 and am running 45% ROI in those this month. My ROI through them all is %22 which is about where I want it to be. I cashed in both the 28k and the Midnight madness last week, both min cashes but still they count. I plan on playing the MM again this weekend and try and satellite into the 28K.

Current Bankroll $1220.

Goal to run that up to ~$1600 and finally do my first cash out of 60% of my winnings each month. If will be good to have a poker income again.

End of Month summary

2009-07-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update, still playing cash, sngs and tourneys.
End of month bankroll $1019 so I met my goal.

July is a busy month for me so I hope I an put in some volume soon.

Cash, Tournies, and Tokens

2009-06-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

So as I said I would focus on some Cash, SNGs, Midnight madness and Satellites.

Well this week I have played more cash and with the exception of tonight I have been doing pretty good. I have won $54 playing cash this month so far 5800 hands 4.58 BB/100. I still need to improve but hopefully I can move up a level next month.

I went deep in another Madness, 178/2000, pretty much card dead the entire tourney and still went deep. I finally called off my last 3100 in the BB with A6 and ran into AQ, I knew I was behind, but I was just getting blinded off. I guess I could have kept doing that for another 10 min but the money wouldn't have really changed, I needed to get lucky and quickly.

I won a $26 dollar token from an $8.80 18 man sng. Those are really soft, didn't play many hands and got to the end pretty easily. I will probably use it this week if not it will be around for a couple of weeks because next weekend is my backpacking trip.

Current bankroll $885.00 Plus 1 $26.00 token effectively $911.00
I have one more week to get it up to 1k I hope I can do it.

MTT's

2009-06-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

I have been messing around with some MTTs. I played in 6 MTTS and ran deep in 2. I played the $11 midnight madness on Friday cash 62 out of 2211 runners. I was in the SB and the button raised. He had been raising on the button alot and I had yet to play back. I had AK and pushed he instant called with A2 and hit the wheel, made $35 on that.

Played 4 $3.30 K0's knocked out about 5 people but my best finish was 19th. -$11.20

Played a $2.25 6 handed tourney placed 9th for $13 +$10.75. I just got a little inpatient in this one. My table draw down the stretch was really unlucky. I was stuck between two big stacks, one who raised in position and the other that called every raise out of the BB or SB. Any ways I finally got down to 12K in chips blinds were 1200/2400 in my SB. The button raised as usual, I decided to play back and ship my stack with QT, the BB called with TT, that's how he got me.

I also played some $11 sngs. I am only running about 12% on those and have played 50 for this month.

I have been super busy this month, and will probably be super busy until summer ends so my play is just going to be what it is.

I came to this conclusion last night, I was sitting there going deep in the #2.25 6 Handed tourney thinking man I have played this for 3 hours just to double up. It really means nothing to my bankroll. I really need to play higher limits where doubling up is worth it, however I am restricted by my bankroll. So I have decided to try and play some token tourneys and satellites into larger buy ins and go from there. So that the plan Grind out $11 sngs,10NL FR , $11 midnight madness and play satellites into the larger tournaments with my profits

Current bankroll $850. I would like to get this to $1k before the end of the month. Its doable....

Cash Session

2009-06-11T23:11:00.000-07:00

Cash games have not been kind to me. One bad bead or suck out after another. Tonight I got in 670 hands at 10NL FR and lost $34. Can you say WOW.

I had AA vs 55 yep he hit it I bet it all the way down.
I had KK vs 88 yep he hit it I bet it all the way down.
AK vs 55 flop was AK5 I bet it all the way down.

Finally out of my frustration I said I would push any AA or KK preflop and well I did just that. After all I am a man of my word.

KK ran into AA, of course the board was low so I probably would have called it off all the way down.

Good thing I got my rake back of $22, so I only took a $12 loss LOL. Its back to SNG for me!

Actually I don't really know why I play cash, its a freaking grind, but I guess tourney poker is the same too really.

Bank roll $777

I am off to bed.

Small Session

2009-06-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

Last night 4 Sngs two cashes two firsts. In one of them it took one hand I had a huge chip lead had 99 we got it all in he had AT flop was AA rag, I spiked a 9 on the river. Game over.

I played two MTTS a 2.25 6 hand, no joy had KK vs A3 he went runner runner for the flush.

The 3.30 KO, four limpers I had AK and shoved. Got called by AQ, AJ and 77, 7 hit a set and we were out.

Last night +$40.

I am running well below expectations so far. I think I am 12% ROI in the $11's. I just can seem to catch a break. I am sure it will turn around.

Bankroll $790

Coaching

2009-06-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

Well, sort of. I was helping a buddy try and fix some leaks. It was pretty fun to look at this hand history and see how he played vs me. Its good to review other peoples sessions too. I watch him play about 8 sngs he cashed in 4, but the rake is killing him at this level so he actually lost some money. If he moved up just one level he would have broken even, and up another he would have made a very small profit.

Anyhoo, tonight I plan to play for myself. Toodles!

Just an update

2009-06-06T09:40:00.001-07:00

I played some more 10NL 6 Max; total hands this month 1100 and I am finally positive at this game. I am up $8.00. I also played 500 hands of 10NL FR and up $4.75. I am running 3.67 and 5.03 BB/100 respectively.

The $11 sngs are not going to bad either. I have played 21 so far this week and have an ROI of 20.78%, for a profit of +$48.00. I will take that. I would like to get my ROI to about 25%. My plan is to play 20 more this weekend and hope I can eeek out a $100 week. It would be my first $100 week in a very long time.

Bankroll $803.

Slow Start

2009-06-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

Off to a slow start this month. I played 5 $11 sngs only cashed in one, it was a first. I pretty much owned the guy heads up. I also finished two 4ths. Moving up in one of those would have been a + $19 night instead of a -$10 night. Oh well, I plan to pick up the pace in these going to try and get 45 more in before Monday that will put me at 50 this week.

I played some FR 10NL for about an hour +$3.50. I had KK vs 68 lose when he hit the gutshot and TT vs 54 lose when he flopped the nuts. Yeah like that happens. I should have been up $20 but a win is a win.

Golfing tonight so I will be a game time decision if I play poker tonight.

Quick Session Tonight

2009-05-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

I got in a quick session of 6 handed NL. Played 530 hands of break even poker. Break even poker, that's so funny. Session started off real bad having TT cracked by 33 down $8. I fought my way back, even up about $4 when I get it all in preflop against a short stack who was just shoving all in preflop. I had AK he had AT I flop a K he goes runner runner for the straight. Down $4 bucks. I fight back get to even then have KK vs JJ get cracked on a turned Jack. I don't even know how this guy played this hand.

I am in the BB with KK, he raises UTG with JJ one caller. I reraised the pot he smooth calls, other guy folds, flop comes AQ4 rainbow. I bet out the flop figure he comes over me if he has the Ace, he smooth calls turn J I bet out 1/4 the pot, I just want to get a feel for what he does, he jams it, I know I am beat, I fold he shows JJ. I was so pissed but I guess I could have lost more or even less if I had checked the flop and turn.

I fight back and get to even then just quit. I am unsure about 6 handed, I think there is definitely some potential to make some good money, I just need to avoid those suck outs, I should have been up $25 on the night.

6 handed 10NL 797 hands -$16.20
FR 10NL 6376 hands + $15.81

Total cash game hands 16616 + $62.18 at least I am a winner at the 5NL tables LOL.

I will be back next week I plan on playing 50 to 75 sngs per week before I play cash games.

Cash, Cash Cash

2009-05-29T12:47:00.001-07:00

I have played about 1k hands of Full Ring. I am up $40 in those hands but only up $20 over 6k hands at 10NL.

I fired up some 6 handed 10NL, boy this is very very aggressive. I have about 250 hands and down $17, due to several well timed 3 card suck outs and a rivered flush which we got it all in on the turn.

Bankroll $750. I will try the 6 handed again as I think I can exploit some of the aggressive behaviors there. I doubt I will play tonight I am off for a backpacking trip this weekend and need to get the rest of my gear packed.

End of the Month

2009-05-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

Last night was my first losing night all month. I played 10 sngs and only cashed in one, although it was a first. I really thought I was going to get skunked. I had AA cracked by 44 all in preflop, I flopped top set twice but the guy flopped the nut straight both times. I flopped top two against a flop straight, lost every race. I had 5 4th place finishes, this really hurt, two 5th and two 6ths. Pretty standard stuff, well not really lots of coolers in one night.

My current bankroll is at $740ish. I have not put in near the volume I wanted to. I only played just over 100 sngs for the month. The good news is I am still crushing them even with last nights losses. I am running 30% ROI this month was over 40% before last night.

I am getting a little board with SNGS so I am planing on playing some 10NL both FR and 6 handed max over the next month as well as some $11 sngs.

This month was crazy busy in terms of work, family, mini vacation, back packing trip and the honey dos; I just fenced my back yard, it was brutal, but it looks good.

I hope to blog more next month I will try and put together a schedule for my sessions, but I think it will go something like 3 days SNGs 1 day FR and 1 day 6 handed, and the other 2 optional for what ever I want to do.

So my goal is around 100 sngs and 3k-5k hands 10NL FR and 6H for the month of June.

Week 2 and running hot

2009-05-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

I have not put in the volume I would have liked, I have played 67 SNGs this month. I should be at 100 by now but this month is extremely busy for me. I have hit a mile stone today. My bankroll on FT has reached $707 today. I now feel comfortably rolled for the $11 sngs. I will most likely play a few in the next two weeks while still playing at my current level to get acclimated to the next step.

I am running pretty good right now. Stats through 67 sngs:

ITM 50.75%
ROI 37.99%
Avg finish 4.
Total winnings $140.00

I am working on some leaks which I need to plug before I move up. One leak has to do with Heads-Up play. I am being to aggressive with weak Aces, Kings, and face cards when I have a deep stack and even in chips with my opponent. I am pushing all in preflop and the only hands that can call are ones that dominate me. I need to slow this down a bit and look for better spots to push.

I plan on working on that for the next two weeks and see if my heads up average comes up.

Stay tuned for updates.

Just another update

2009-05-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

Got into 11 sngs tonight. Cashed in 4, two 1sts, one 2nd (should have been first) and a 3rd (should have been higher too). Plus $7 overall. I will take it.

Ironically I had QQ 5 times tonight and lost everyone of them...LOL.

Overall a strange night, if I can keep making a profit while running this bad, I cant wait until I get hot.

I think I am going to drop down to the $2.25 sngs and try out 6 handed. I here these are pretty soft so I want to give them a try and feel them out. That is the plan for tomorrow, try and get 8 or so in maybe more.

Bad Weekend

2009-05-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

It was a bad weekend, had too much honey do's to do and a family emergency illness that is still not resolved. I only played 15 sngs total for the weekend. Way to small a volume. It seems everytime I try and get serious about putting in some volume life reaches up and says no.

I did however make around $30 so thats good. I hope to get in about 15 tonight to make up for it.

Last night I only played 6 because the first two I had AQ vs 22 and flopped two pair and 22 hit the set, I also had AQ vs J5 hit two pair and he river flushed me. So I figured it was going to be a bad night, I was wrong. I cash the last 4, 1st, 2nd and two 3rds.

Tonight I hope to get in 16 more. I should still be able to hit 80 sngs this week.

May 1st

2009-05-01T22:37:00.000-07:00

So this is my month. I plan to move up and start to make some serious money. Well not that serious but somewhere between $400 and $800 and continue that trend for awhile. So I fired up 8 $5.50 sngs just to test the waters. Well the I took 4 three card outers in the first 4 sngs. Not good. I then lost one race I was short pushed 33 vs K5 he hit a boat.

So there I am sitting zero for six and 3 left to play, yeah I started up another one after the first suck out. Well I ended up 1st, 1st and 2nd for a plus $9.00. Wow what a turn around. The sick part is if I hadn't took those suck outs it would have been a better night. I got a later start due to being on call and getting called so I hope to play about 20 tomorrow and again on sunday to to 50 sngs in this weekend. That should be a good start to the months goal of 300+.

End of April

2009-04-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well I had my roll up to $610 which was way more than my goal. However I played 5k hands of 10NL and lost 6 buyings to cooler and such. Oh well, my current bankroll is $550 which is where I wanted to be. I plan to play about 20 sngs tonight and hope to get this up to $600 if I get lucky.

I didnt do anywhere need the volumne I needed. The last two weeks have been brutal at work putting in 80+ hour weeks to meet some dead lines. I got in about 150 sngs for the month.

I plan to move to $10 sngs, 80 SNG a week and try for 300 in may. I want my roll at about $700 before I jump so I need proabably a week or two to get there. I hope to blog more as my work schedule winds down.

I am also going to try and play the midnight maddness once a week on the weekends and hope I can get a good score there.

I just need to vent.

2009-04-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

So I am running bad in SNGS, so I decided to change things up and play some cash. Its about time I move up to the next level so I fire up four 5nl and four 10nl tables just to get my feet wet, look at the games etc. Well my first observation is they are terrible at this level too, maybe even worse to some extent.

So things are progressing nicely I am up 3 bucks early, mostly due to the 5nl tables. I picked up KK on the 10nl there is a raise and I repopped and he smooth calls, we get it all in on the flop, he has AA and I miss. I should have quit there, I knew this was going to be a bad night.

So I am down $7 when in the BB with 92 the flop comes A92 I get it all in against the SB, he has AT, yep hits the T. Ouch down $4 more.

Next hand I have Ks7s on the button I smooth call a min raise after I limped from the BB. flop two rag spades and a 7. He bets out I shove all in he instant calls with KQ, he has two outs and hit one. Down some more.

I have 55 flop is QQ5 you know it we get it all in, turn x river Ten, he had QT. down some more.

There were several more bull shit two to five outers hit on me, I lost pretty much every big pot. Total Damage tonight down $20.

This puts me down $55 int he last 3 days, this bullshit can stop now. Why do all the bad beats come at once? OH well I am over it.

Current bankroll $555.00 I hope to go on a sick run this weekend and get that up over $600. I am off tomorrow night, eating sushi then bowling with the wife and friends.

Half way through April

2009-04-15T23:16:00.000-07:00

Halfway through April and its still snowing. I have been on a serious heater lately. Well until the last two nights. I have dropped 7 buyins at the $5.50 level, but I digress, on to the good stuff.

Through 103 SNGs I have won $149.00 with an ROI of 26.30% not to shabby. A few days ago that was about 39% but oh well.

I have been placing second almost twice as much as firsts. I need to get this 50/50, I have taken some terrible beats heads up, but still the last few days I have been getting it in bad. I will work on that.

Cash this month so far 1600 hands up $43.00 really killing it. I will probably play cash the next few days and try to get back some loses since I am running bad in the SNGS.

This months total $192.00 I hope I can win as much in the next half. Until next time.

6 days and 60 bucks

2009-04-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Its been 6 days into April and I am up about 60 bucks. I have won $24 in cash games. The irony here is I have won $24 in about 1500 hands which is the same amount I won over 7000 hands in March. I am closing in on the 10k hands I am running about 6BB/100 which is where I wanted to be. I am figuring on playing another 10k hands at this level before I move up. It will probably take me 2 months to log those since I am concentrating on SNGs and MTTs.

I have played 41 SNGs, my ROI is only 14% I have gotten heads up 13 times and only won 4. I have taken some terrible beats heads up but at least I am getting there more often then finishing 3rd. I plan to pick up the pace this week and get a full 100 SNGS in.

I played two 5/45 finished 23 and 5th my ROI is 22%, but that doesn't mean much in only two attempts. I plan to play a few more of these probably like 5 a week.

I will post another update in a few days.

Cash Games are so unkind

2009-03-31T11:57:00.000-07:00

Well I grinded out 1300 hands last night, yes a pretty long session. At the end I was down $4. I had KK vs 85 lose to trip 5s I got my money in bad here. I did raise huge preflop. I also had QQ busted by 64 when the board flopped a 6 we got it all in and he turned a 4.

I managed some comebacks by pushing AA preflop and getting called by JJ and 99 on two different hands. I am still not sure if I am doing well or not in ring games yet. I am about 4BB/100 which is no where near where I think I should be, I just cant beat luck.

I had tons of AK, AQ last night and I missed them all, I raised 3BB in each of those hands or called a raise. No one folds at this level preflop and I missed every one. I think I should just flat call with these hands and decided after the flop. I am going to try that this time.

7100 ish cash game hands this month. Way to many as my edge in these ring games is not as great as SNGs or MTTs but I want to get better at ring games.

Current Bankroll is $355. I play to move to $5.50 sngs in April. I think what I shall do is play SNGS and MTTS first and then dabble once or twice a week in cash depending on where I am at profit wise.

Goal for April 80ish SNGs a week. Monthly goal $200.

Just an update

2009-03-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry fans, I have just been really busy and working on my game. Well the cash games are not going as good as I had hoped. I just can seem to avoid the bad beats. The other night I had AA 7 times and KK 10 times and only won a dollar. I lost all in preflop AA vs KK, he flopped a K. All in KK vs KQ on the flop and he went run run for the straight. 99 vs AQ vs AK flop AQ9, we get it all in goes JT for the win.

Enough about that here are my totals for cash: 5642 hands played +22.43, 3.98 BB/100. I really need this to move to about 7 or 8 before I move up in levels. I have been trying for 2500 hands per week in cash so my SNGS have been lacking. I think I am going to play a few more of those and probably cut back to cash to 1500 hands or so a week.

My SNGS results are awesome 38% ROI + 77.85 over 91 sngs. Not to shabby.

Current bankroll at $345.00. I play to move to the $5.50 sngs in April. Thas all for now.

I have switched to Cash

2009-03-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

I plan on taking my $270 roll on FT and start grinding out some cash games with some MTTs moved in. Partly because I am board with SNGS and Partly because my cash game skills are lacking.

I am going to start at the bottom 5NL and move up after I win $100. Through 767 hands I am up $10 and some change after two nights. I will continue this and will also play the $2.25 45 mans and the Midnight Maddness on the weekends and hope for a big score.

Still Running Bad

2009-03-05T22:40:00.001-08:00

I am still running bad, really don't know what I can do different. Guys are hitting those 3 outers and such. I am losing every 50/50 and I cant beat luck.

This month so far:

36 sngs 36.11% in the money, down $10.80 ROI -13.33% Less than 5 buyins
7 27 man 14.29% in the money, down $9.27 best finish 4th. Less than 4 buyins
1 18 man no cashes down $2.25 One buyin

Monthly Totals

44 tournaments 31.82% in the money, -$22.23, ROI -22.55% Down 10 buyins

I am only 5 days into the month, so much for that $400 goal, the way I am running I just hope to stay positive. Current Bankroll is $225, I got 100 buyins. Thanks to my over zealousness, OK so I took a shot and it didn't pay off. The plan to get to $300 buy mid march, $400 by the end of march I hope things turn around.

Two 27 man sngs

2009-03-03T22:53:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I didnt do much in regards to poker I did attempt to play some 27 man sngs. I think this is a good way to build the bankroll. I only have to win 1 in 8 to be profitable, with in my opinion should be easy to do.

I went 0 for 2, so I hope something goes my way soon. Down $4.50 which is no biggie. My bust out hands are as follows:

FullTiltPoker Game #10954251676: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82433565), Table 3 - 100/200 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:28:45 ET - 2009/03/04
Seat 1: Mudcat9 (1,155)
Seat 3: Vanman733 (760)
Seat 4: chambert (2,685)
Seat 5: Shizcoco (8,800)
Seat 7: gcuban (1,175)
Seat 9: mega_pixel_26 (4,690)
chambert posts the small blind of 100
Shizcoco posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [Kc Qd]
gcuban calls 200
mega_pixel_26 folds
Mudcat9 folds
Vanman733 raises to 760, and is all in
chambert folds
Shizcoco has 15 seconds left to act
Shizcoco raises to 8,800, and is all in
gcuban calls 975, and is all in
Shizcoco shows [3s As]
gcuban shows [8c 9c]
Vanman733 shows [Kc Qd]
Uncalled bet of 7,625 returned to Shizcoco
*** FLOP *** [Kd 4h 7c]
*** TURN *** [Kd 4h 7c] [Ac]
*** RIVER *** [Kd 4h 7c Ac] [Td]
Shizcoco shows a pair of Aces
gcuban shows Ace King high
Shizcoco wins the side pot (830) with a pair of Aces
Vanman733 shows a pair of Kings
Shizcoco wins the main pot (2,380) with a pair of Aces
Vanman733 stands up
gcuban stands up
Mudcat9 stands up
chambert stands up
Shizcoco stands up
mega_pixel_26 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,210 Main pot 2,380. Side pot 830. | Rake 0
Board: [Kd 4h 7c Ac Td]
Seat 1: Mudcat9 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Vanman733 (button) showed [Kc Qd] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 4: chambert (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Shizcoco (big blind) showed [3s As] and won (3,210) with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: gcuban showed [8c 9c] and lost with Ace King high
Seat 9: mega_pixel_26 didn't bet (folded)

I have no idea how A3 called preflop, but anyways I out flop him and he rivers me. Out 11th.

FullTiltPoker Game #10955231463: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82438560), Table 2 - 250/500 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:50:20 ET - 2009/03/04
Seat 2: beachaday (12,250)
Seat 3: danica KK (2,165)
Seat 4: Vanman733 (3,395)
Seat 5: Coeur-de-Pier09 (6,020)
Seat 7: Nightjump (4,360)
Seat 8: QuadmansLady (5,810)
Seat 9: redboot (6,500)
beachaday posts the small blind of 250
danica KK posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [Kc As]
Vanman733 raises to 3,395, and is all in
Coeur-de-Pier09 folds
Nightjump folds
QuadmansLady folds
redboot folds
beachaday calls 3,145
danica KK folds
Vanman733 shows [Kc As]
beachaday shows [Jd Js]
*** FLOP *** [9c 7h Qh]
*** TURN *** [9c 7h Qh] [3d]
*** RIVER *** [9c 7h Qh 3d] [6c]
Vanman733 shows Ace King high
beachaday shows a pair of Jacks
beachaday wins the pot (7,290) with a pair of Jacks
Vanman733 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7,290 | Rake 0
Board: [9c 7h Qh 3d 6c]
Seat 2: beachaday (small blind) showed [Jd Js] and won (7,290) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 3: danica KK (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Vanman733 showed [Kc As] and lost with Ace King high
Seat 5: Coeur-de-Pier09 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Nightjump didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: QuadmansLady didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: redboot (button) didn't bet (folded)

There is really no way I fold AK with 6 BB left, at least this guy woke up with a hand and I was actually behind. I would have been pissed if he had a lesser Ace and hit. Oh well out 7th.

Stats through 22 sngs, down $6.30, Lets get something started. I will be back tomorrow playing 16 sngs and I might try and fit a couple more of these in if win some playing sngs.

One site

2009-03-02T22:51:00.000-08:00

I am going to stick to one site, trying to manage bankrolls on multiple sites is just hard. I picked FT because I have rake back on there and at these levels it better than points on PS, especially since I am not going to get supernova. I kept $17 on there to dabble with every now and again and I have my points on there. I have 4 more chances, to win $11 tourney dollars with my points; I am 1 for 3 in those tourneys they are super soft; in all reality I should be 3 for 3. The other two I had KQ vs KT and he hit and tonight I had AA vs KsQs I flop a set with one spade and it goes runner runner spades. I am really not regretting moving to FT at this moment. Joker Stars I have had enough.

12 more sngs tonight. +1.80, not real good but its positive. I cashed 5 out of 12, with only one first. I keep getting sucked out on Q rag seems to be the hand that kills me. I have a 40% ITM but am still down, but its less than one buyin.

I reset my poker tracker and bankroll to March 1st. Basically that means I am wiping the slate clean of those $11 sngs, and just keeping track of all $2.25s. I am going to see if I can play 150 sngs this week, plus a MTT here or there. If I can I should be up somewhere between $50 and $75 winning back my losses and putting my bankroll back at $300. If I can do that I will make a jump to the $5.50s and hopefully keep it rolling. I am still shooting for a $400 dollar month, its just going to be hard if I can't move up to the $5.50 level quickly.

I am off tomorrow so see you later.

Second Session, Still Running GUD

2009-03-01T22:36:00.000-08:00

So I played 8 more sngs on FT, I dropped down to the $2.25 and I still suck. Its really starting to annoy me. I want so bad to put in the volume and the hours but man the suck outs are so brutal, its not even fun anymore. I know the suckouts are going to come. Its like I expect it. I need quads to win and god knows how often that happens.

FT 3 out of 8, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd. Down $3.30, 1.5 buyins. Not bad I guess.

The hand that killed me was QJ vs 66 flop is QQ7, dream flop for me, we get it all in guy turns over 66. Turn and river are both 6's.

On PS I played 8 more, with much less success. I am playing the $3.40s there. I cashed 2 out of 8. Down $13.60, 4 buyings. So I had AA vs TT cracked on a turned T. AA cracked by K9 with turn K river K, which is the only way he could win since the board paired on the flop. I finished 2nd to a donky. I had him in AJ vs Q4 blocked his suits and he hits a 4. Had him all in A9 vs 85, flops a 5 finally I had him all in 66 vs A9, the best situation for him and he hits the 9 and then tells me he runs good. No shit Sherlock, get a day job.

Recap:
7 Bad beats to take me out, thats almost 50% of the SNGS I played in.
5 50/50 situations and I lost them all.
3 hands I pushed into a dominated situation

If you look at the big picture this might look good. If I dont take those 7 bad beats, I actually would have made money. If I just won 2 of those races it would have been a great night. Oh well.

I have said it before and will say it again, I can't beat luck or employees. Their luck has to stop sometime, doesn't it. I looked at my sharkscope and I am down over the last 400 sngs. Oh well, at least I have a day job. I guess my dreams of playing in the series this year will be crushed again.

I am starting my diet, and exercise program tomorrow so hopefully all the stress and stuff will be left there and I can actually get catch some breaks. This months goal looks bleak at best. Down $125 today it will probably take me all month to make that up if my hands can hold up. If I keep going like this I will probably be broke and done playing online by the end of the month. It will have been good while it lasted, I have not made a deposit in over 3 years and plan on keeping that up.

First Session, I RUN GUD!

2009-03-01T15:41:00.001-08:00

Just the highlights, just the facts.

FT 1 for 6 down $48.00 ouch.

1 suck out KK vs AJ, that's how I run
5 50/50's I won one, I am taking to many chances on these this should be alot lower.

PS 1 for 8 down $61.00 double ouch.

4 suck outs.
1 cooler AK vs QT flop AKJ.
2 50/50 I won one, WHOOT.
1 missed flush draw, I never push all in on draws, this is why. However they sure hit against me.

Total down $109. Maybe I just jumped the gun moving to $11's. Maybe, Maybe Maybe.

I digress, I cashed out $200 on PS, I need to get the feeling of cashing out back. I have not cashed out in about 3 months. New rule is: cash out 50% of my winnings each month. If I don't have a wining month well that's going to suck isn't it.

I am jumping back down to $2.25 on FT and $3.40 on PS, The juice is higher but I need some confidence back and get some of my losses back. If I can put in the volume I should cover my first day losses with two weeks. Man one day's loss is going to take two weeks. Wow, poker kind of sucks. Good thing its just an obsessive hobby of mine.

Also no cash games, I dabbled in them and I just don't have the edge I have in the SNG or MTT. If I want to gamble I will play a MTT. Wish me luck, actually don't wish me luck, just wish me that my hands will hold up I am tired of getting the 3 outer hit on me.

Oh well, I will try and play another session tonight on FT and PS hopefully I can get $20 of that back tonight.

Feb Summary, March Goals

2009-03-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

Not much good happened for me with regards to poker in the month of February. I pretty much ran bad and had a negative month. My ending bankroll on FT was $295, but my net was actually -$15 because I got $20 in rackback.

On Stars I ended with $492,down $13. So so the totals for the month down $28.

I went deep in a 2600 person MTT, cashed in 169 lost a race but made $14.

This months plan is to keep playing some MTTs on weekends and I also plan to start playing the $10+1 SNGS.

This months goal $400. I hope it goes well.

Its been a week.

2009-02-23T08:21:00.001-08:00

I know it's been awhile, a week to be exact. I have been sick all week and only playing a few cash games. I lost 4 sngs on Stars early last week and decided to grind it back playing the 25nl tables. It took a few nights but I got it back.

Yesterday I played 4 sngs on FT, I won one so I scored a big 50 cent profit. I had KK beat by AT twice and ran my flopped two pair into another flopped two pair. Bank roll sitting at $297.00. I am down about 8 buyins but I hope to get those back and finish the month around $350.

Yesterday I played 4 sngs on PS. I finished with 2 sngs and one 3rd for a $13.50 profit. One heads up I was way behind and couldn't come back, the other the guy hit a flush on the river after we got it all in on the flop. Oh well. I did hit two straight flushes in this session, one a Jack high and the other a ROYAL baby. Bankroll $513, up $10 this month.

Total this month down $30, considering how I have been running and not playing that much its not too bad. I am going to see a doctor today, hopefully get some medicine and be back to playing more poker by the weekend.

Still Running Bad

2009-02-15T22:24:00.000-08:00

This month has been incredible, I must have the Midas touch, well maybe the opposite because everything I touch poker wise is turning to shit. So I dropped down on FT to the $2.25 played 8 sngs.

1. I had KK pushed all in got called by QQ, flopped Q, but that was ok..Not really but I was still in it. Then I flopped a J high flush we get it all in and they guy makes a bigger flush on the turn. out 8th

2. QQ vs AT vs 89, I flop a set, AT flops two pair, so the board is AQT, the turn a blank, the river a J and 89 wins. Yeah I run good. out 7th

3. KJ vs A3 I flop K, he turns 3, rivers Aces, Yeah, I am not kidding, out 5th.

4. JJ vs TT rivers T, Then I flop top two, the donk calls with a runner runner flush, and hits it. out 2nd

5. 1st, wow, I finally won one, AK vs AT and my hand holds up.

6. JJ vs AA cooler, wonder why I never hit these out 4th.

7. Short stacked pushed A5 ran into AJ, yep cant hit these, but had it been the reverse I am sure I would have still lost. out 3rd At least its the money.

8. A9 vs A7 he hits the 7, out 3rd.

So with the mighty profit of $3.60 and my bankroll over 300 I fired up 6 $5.50. So here is the blow by blow.

1. Ak vs JJ missed, lost coin toss, oh well.
2. KQ vs 37 I flop top, he hit 37 on the flop, who calls this preflop.
3. KK vs AA, what can you do, I dont fold KK preflop to these donks.
4. AK vs J9, yes he called and hit trips, maybe he works for FT, his name wasn't in red so maybe he has super powers.
5. AK vs AT, cripples me, AQ vs 88 vs 67 flop top two, turns 8.
6. A7 vs 53, yes he called with 53, I hit the Ace he hits two pair. I did get 3rd.

So I jump on stars and play 4 more 5.50 figured it would all work out, boy was I wrong.
1. TT vs JJ, out 5th.
2. A7 vs A5, you know it, rivers the 5.
3. Q9 vs A2, how he called with A2 preflop I have know idea, at best with this hand your 3/2 favorite, let me stress that again at best your 3/2 favorite, in most cases you have 3 outs. Any who I hit the Q on the flop and he rivers the Ace.
5. 77 vs KQ vs 8T, I lost.

Played some cash on FT and won $18.00 so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Down $6 on the night. FT bankroll $295.

Down $22.00 on Stars bankroll at $480.

I am not sure what I am going to do, I am running bad, when I should be crushing these games. I may have to take a few days off and regroup. I know you have to run bad; its part of the game. It just seems like this happens every 6 weeks or so. I crush the game for 6 weeks, then for two weeks I run bad, very bad, lose every race, every all in situation its horrible. I lost confidence in my game, but the hand histories show I am way ahead when the money goes in. I can handle losing all the races, just let me win when I have the other guy dominated, but I am losing those too. I almost expect to get beat and that means I have to stay away from the game for a while. I guess I am going to take the next 3 days off and just not worry about the game.

On a side note, I start my diet, get healthy or what ever you call it for the summer. I am hoping to run a 5k by may. I will blog my workout stuff in here too, not that anyone cares or even reads my blog.

Weight as of today 235, wow that's a big boy.

Running very very bad!

2009-02-12T21:32:00.000-08:00

I am running so bad, its just sick. I know it happens, I know it will get better, and I know it will happened again.

Played two sets of 4 on FT:

Set 1: 1 cash for 3rd -$13.50
1. I flopped nut flush, we get it in guy turns boat out 7th
2. Had the SS all in 3 times drawing to 3 outs each time, he hit everyone out 3rd
3. AK vs AT, hits 4 flush out 5th
4. AK vs K6 rivers 6 out 6th

Set 2: 1 cash again 3rd -13.50
1. AQ vs TT was short so I pushed and missed out 7th I go short because I had this guy all in 3 times QQ vs AT twice and he hit the Aced and AK vs KT and he hit the Ten.
2. AJ vs Q6o come on how do u call this out 5th.
3. I was short so I pushed A7 ran into AJ and of course I cant hit.
4. Short again pushed A7 ran into AT and of course I cant hit.

If you cant sense my tone, its sarcasm. I really don't expect to hit those 3 outers but they sure has hell seem to hit on me a lot, so why cant I.

Poker stars 2 sets of 4.

Set 1: one cash for 2nd. Big woot there.
1. A8 vs 77 I hit we get it all in, he calls turns set. out 5th
2. Short pushed 89 suited, vs KK, bad timing, out 6th.
3. out 2nd 98 vs AJ I flopped two pair, he rivers str8.
4. AK vs QJ, you know what happens out 7th.

Set 2. Made some money. 3 out of 4 cashes 1st, 2nd, 3rd. I am figuring its turning around.

1. KJ vs KQ I miss out 6th.
2. KK vs AJ he hits out 3rd, another 3 outer.
3. 1st, I had him 12k to 1.5k in chips I am in the BB with 97s he pushed I called hit str8. I know it sounds like a suck out but really it wasnt. Blinds were 300/600 I had to call I was getting 2 to 1 and I put him on Ax so I figured I was getting the right price to call. He had AJ do the math you will see I was right.
4. A9 vs JT he hit out 2nd.

So thinking it was good, I decided to drop -16.00 in a cash game, largely do to AA vs KK all in preflop and he turned a King.

I run so good. I was planing on playing some MTTs tomorrow, but I am just running to bad and the reality is I believe the donks are going to hit, so its time for a break.

FT Bankroll $298, was $336 so basically I have $34.00 or 6 buyins this week, I think after the break I will start out playing some $2.25 to get my confidence back. If I get back up to about $315, I will jump to the $5.50 again.

PS Bankroll 503, just break even, which sucks. Not sure what to do here I have 100 buyins so I guess I will continue with $5.50s and see how it goes.

I will most likely take the weekend off, look through some hand histories and start back up fresh on Monday.

Coolers, I hate them

2009-02-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Tonight was awful, I played 4 on FT and 4 on PS and just had terrible coolers, and suck outs. So I decided to stop. I really need to play more when I am running well, vs running bad.

FT cashed 1 for 4 3rd place. I lost every race had AK vs KJ I flop top two he hits straight. I had A9 vs A7 he hit 7 took me out 4th. Bank roll $323.

PS one cash again for 2nd. A8 vs 77, I hit he re hit, ouch.. AK vs QJ he rivers Jack.
Bank roll $495.

My first negative night in a while, I know I will have them and I am sure it will turn around. I am taking tomorrow off. Will be back playing on Wednesday. I need to get something started. Maybe playing on two sites each night is the wrong I idea. Maybe I should just rotate sites each night or two. I will think about that.

A slow climb, short post

2009-02-09T09:44:00.000-08:00

I played 4 sngs this weekend on FT cashed in 3. one 2nd and two 3rds. +$9.50 I also got my rake back $20 on FT bringing my bankroll to $336. I believe now I am sufficiently rolled for the $5.50.

I also played 4 sngs this weekend on PS, cashed in one for 1st. I am up $1.50 in 16 sngs on Stars. At least is positive. Bank roll $503

Now that I am better. I plan to play a bunch more.

Slow start this month

2009-02-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

I am off to a slow start this month. I have won $10.50 in 12 sngs on FT, all of that profit came from last night. I went 3/4 for a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. So far I have a 15% ROI and ITM 50%, not too shabby after the slow start. Current FT bankroll $306.

PS is not going as well, I am up $1.00 through 8 sngs, two 2nds and two 3rds. I am 50% ITM though which is good, I just need to move up one spot, I finished in 4th 3 times all to 3 outers so if I can hit just one of those, it would be a much better profit.

Down a few bucks in some cash games on PS too, I had my KK vs TT busted, AA vs KT busted and out of all that I am only down $3 which is less than the blinds. I will probably put in some time this weekend and see if I can play about 50 sngs over both sights. Current PS bankroll $503.

Will continue to play $5.50 for the rest of the month and also play a bit more on FT to attempt to get both bankrolls to the same amount before March.

I am scheduled to play some live Deep stack events in March and hopefully they will be profitable.

New Month New Goals

2009-02-02T15:15:00.000-08:00

Last month I got my FT roll from $100 to $290 thanks to a $3rd place MTT that scored me $90 in profit. I played that same MTT Friday hoping for another big score, its pretty soft in my opinion. Well I scored, but it was the minimum paid top 45 busted out 43 when my AQ ran into A5 all in preflop and he hit. The sad part was if I win this hand I go deep, my stack would have been top 4. Oh well I will try again this week.

FT Bankroll $290 going to take a shot at $5.50
PS Bankroll $505 going to play $5.50

First night not so good. I playd 4 on FT and 4 on PS. I am not sure that is such a good idea I think I may just need to play all 8 on one site each night.

FT 1 out of 3 for 3rd place I flopped top two we got it in, he caught flush on river. -$13 for the night. I hope to get this back plus a small profit tonight.

99 vs 33 out 5th could have make this a more profitable or less "lostable" not really a word, but oh well thats how it goes.

PS 2 out of 4, for a 2nd and 3rd for +.50 big score here. I placed 4th in the other 2.

Also I noticed Poker Tracker doesnt import tournies for PS, going to have to use my spread sheet and that really sucks. I guess you can ask for the tourny results then import but I am not sure that is going to work.

I hope tonight goes better. I would love to get my FT roll over $300 tonight and go from there.

Just a post

2009-01-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

I have played 3 sets, 4 MTTS and come cash sessions since my last posts:

Set 1: 4 cashes, two 1st, two 2nds +10.80
Set 2: One cash 1st, I thought I was going to get skunked...Won the last one. - $9.00
Set 3: only 7 sngs here two 1sts and a 3rd +5.80

I also played 4 more for two seconds for +1.80

So sngs this weekend +9.40.

I Played some MTTs this weekend, I intend to keep that up.

2.25 180 sng donked out 160. Was playing really loose trying to get chips early, not really my style.
3.30 455 busted out 89 just out of the cash
1.00 130 out of 855, top 102 got paid, made a stupid move and pushed 44 ran into kk.
2.25 3rd out of 455 paid $94 I got it all in A2 vs QJ he hit a Q but I had flush draw missed. First paid $195.

Total MTT +85

Cash session (.05/.10 NL) +9.00 in cash: Total for the weekend +103, good weekend. Bankroll sitting at $285 ready for the $5.50s next month.

The interesting thing about the MTT I cashed in, it paid top 36 and I was 42 out of 42 at one point and went on to cash in 3rd place. My hands held up for once. Anyways back to the grind tomorrow. I plan to play out the month a $2.25 and hope to have my roll over $300. Until next time.

100 sngs

2009-01-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

That's right I have finished 104 sngs on FT @$2.25. My last 3 sets were all positive gains, so that's nice. I have been dabbling in some cash games at the 10NL level, very very loose, bad play, but I digress.

Set 1: Three cashes one first, two 2nds, 4 bad beats and one cooler QQ vs AA. Still +$1.80 for the session.

Set 2: Same night 5 cashes, one 1st, one 2nd, three 3rds, one bad beat and one cooler flop 2 pair against bigger 2 pair.

Set 3: The big one, 5 cashes, two 1st, two 2nds, one 3rd, and one bad beat AK vs KJ, Runner Runner for the flush.

Stats through 104 sngs 20.8% ROI, 46.8% ITM, Profit $49.00.

If I have another two weeks like this I should be sitting at $225 - %250 for the beginning of Feb and will be playing both sites at the $5.50 level. I have played about 500 or sngs at that level and have had an ROI of 20%+ there, I see no reason why I cant keep that up. I will keep you posted.

I also plan to dabble in some cash games from time to time, just so I don't lose that skill or luck..LOL

Skunked !!

2009-01-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

Skunked, well not really but if definitely feels like it. I have played 3 sets since the weekend and only made a profit of $1.80, not even one buyin for this level. This week has really opened my eyes to how bad these people really are. They push all in preflop with AA and ATo calls. In my opinion both plays are bad, but calling a preflop all in with AT is absurd.

Set 1: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, no profit. Nothing really interesting in this one, my 3rd place finish was KT Vs QT and he hit.

Set 2: two 1sts, two 2nds profit $10.80. Here is an interesting hand. We were heads up I had a small chip lead and in the BB with 67, SB completes and we see a flop. I miss the flop and check, he checks behind. Turn is a 6 I check, he checks behind. The river 7, I bet out figuring I just rivered him, he reraises and I push he calls and shows AA, I win and take 1st. Bad play on his part, but its like they say, win a small pot with AA or lose a big one with AA.

Another hand I flopped two pair, his two pair was bigger. I am not getting away from flopping two pair heads up.

Set 3: one 2nd and one 3rd -$9.00. The wildest set I have played, guys open pushing and multiple guys calling. Everyone was calling preflop raises with trash and then pushing allin or calling allin on the flop. It must have been payday or something.

One hand I had AA raised big preflop and got 4 callers, The luck box pushed in on the flop so I just folded the other two called, he had KT for top pair and it held up. If I make that call I probably win that sng but I end up going out 4th when the same guy raised and I shoved QQ and he held KK.

I took some bad beats tonight, but nothing more than usual. I just didn't have any chance to take down some big pots. In most of my sngs I was under 1k in chips when the blinds were 60/120, not too good. I called it a night instead of playing another set.

Last 7 day total $7.20. I think I am going to take a night off and see if I can get back into it. I would really like to move to the $5.50 sngs by Feb, current bank roll is $157. I need this at $200 to try a shot.

My roll on PS is sitting at $500 -- Maybe I should just play over there for a few days.

Stats through 80 sngs:
ROI: 14% -- To low IMO
ITM: 43.8% -- Good Here

I have 19 4th place finishes I really need to work on getting a few more of these into cashes.

That's all I have for now.

Weekend update

2009-01-11T21:33:00.000-08:00

I played 3 sets, positive in 2 out of 3 and just barley positive for the weekend.

Set 1: 4 cashes three 2nds, one 3rd, two 4ths.

In the two 4ths I had TT vs QQ, and A7 vs AK -- Coolers.
In the 3rd I had QQ vs AK and he rivers Ace.
In one second place I had K3 vs 95, yes he called with 95, I hit two pair, he hit trips.
In the other second it took 3 hands KQ vs AT I won, QQ vs AA I lost, AK vs 88 I lost.
In the other second I was 6 to 1 dog in chips, I hit top pair, was out kicked.
+$1.80

Set 2: one 1st, three 2nds, one 3rd, two 4ths. Nice I finished top 4 in all of the SNGS in this set.

The 1st place I had a huge chip lead, no brainer here.

The second place finishes: I got sucked out on two pair, he hit trips.
77 vs AQ in another one. A2 vs K9 in the last one.

The 3rds, blinded out in one, 77 vs K2 he hit a boat K22.

The 4ths AQ vs A2 I flopped top pair, he 4 flushed me. JJ vs QQ crippled me.

+$14.40

Set 3, only two cashes both 3rds. I took so many 3 card outers in this set. I had a guy all in 3 times and each time he was a 3 to 1 dog and hit. He ended up taking me out in 4th when I pushe QT and he called with T5 and I flopped the Queen and he went runner runner for the gutshot str8. Ouch.

In one of the 3rds I had this guy all in several times. He barley had me covered and I pushed with KQ and he called with QJ and rivered the J.

In the other 3rd place finish I pushed top pair and AA slow played and busted me. I would not normally push in that situation as we were all deep but the suck outs tonight just tilted me a bit.

I had planned on playing one more set, but the way I ran in the last one its probably best that I didn't, plus my tiltness means no way. I will play tomorrow that's for sure.

Weekend total: +5.40 for 24 sngs....What a waste, but its still positive.

Stats through 56 SNGs on FT:

ROI: 18.6%--took a big hit tonight.
ITM: 46.4%-- I like this, hope to keep it right here.

26/56 cashes
39/56 top 4 -- I like this it gives me a chance.

1sts - 7 - I am better heads up than this.
2nd - 10 - I had a horrible time heads up this weekend. I got heads up 7 times and only won one. If I had one a couple more, this weekend would have been a whole lot better.
3rds - 9 - I would like to get a few more of these into heads up.
4ths - 13 - I would like to get more of these into cashes. I need to look at those finishes and see where I can improve.

+ $23.40 Not too bad playing $2.25s.

I will say the play is horrible down here, I am really going to try and focus my play on FT for the rest of this month and build my roll to $200 and then jump to the $5. Currently my roll on FT is $150. My roll is $500 on stars and ready for the $5 level.

Two more sets

2009-01-08T22:07:00.001-08:00

So I played two more sets on PS here are the highlights.

Set 1:
3 cashes two 1sts and one 3rd
+5.20

I ran KK into AA, I raised preflop, he reraised I decided to just call and open push the flop just in case an ace flopped. No Ace, I pushed and he called. Oh well, can't ever lay this down.

I played this other guy heads up he was 5 to 1 lead in chips. I got down to about 1500 and pushed AQ and he instant called with 64 I doubled up. Next hand JJ I pushed again he called with T4o. Next hand AK I pushed again he called with 62. I ended up winning. Sometimes I don't know what they think.

Qh9h pushed with 4 left with 1700 and blinds 100/200 ran into QQ. I think I was getting inpatient and I have looked over my 4th place finished and it looks like in many of them I am pushing marginal hands when I could have raised smaller taken the pot or released and then pushed another hand. I am going to work on that area.

I donk called AcJh vs AK on a Kc5c4c board. He lead out, I reraised he pushed and I instant called and went out 9th. Very stupid play, I need to stay in them longer.

Set 2: The big night. I only played in 7 $3.40 but also played a $1.20 to work on some stuff. I placed 3rd in the $1.20 but I digress.

Cashes in this set two 1sts, one 2nd and two thirds +22.10.

I played very well in this set.

The one I placed second in I had AcKc vs 99 and missed and it crippled me. I am not sure I can lay this down.

One hand I had Q7 vs JT flop was J4Q I check, he bets I call, turn was a blank I check he bets I call, the river MONEY...7. I figured him for a Q or J but his hand was much bigger we get it all in I take him out with my bigger two pair.

The other first place finish was really weird. I had 6s4s in the BB the flop came spade spade 6 so I bet he calls. Turn an Ace I bet he raises I just call. River A of spades I bet he raised I pushed and he folded leaving him crippled with the blinds 200/400. I don't know why he folded. I think I stick the last 1200 in and see what happens. I took him out two hands later with KT vs KJ when I pushed preflop and hit the flop.

Stats through 31 sngs on PS:
ITM 48.4%
ROI 33.2%
Profit +$35.00

15 cashes 7 firsts 1 second 7 thirds. My heads up has been outstanding. My 3 place finished I ran AX into bigger Ace twice, Took two 3 card outers, and had a flush vs flush. Not much I can improve on in that area.

I will be moving to FT for another 32 sngs.

My First Losing Session!

2009-01-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

It was just a matter of time before it was going to happen. I fired up 8 sngs on PS and cashed in only 3. One 1st and two 3rds. Tonight's haul -$2.80, not even one buy in so I can live with that.

One interesting hand tonight. I had 33 limped and flopped the 3rd nuts, 399. I bet out and get one caller. I put him on a 9, Turn was a King, I bet out and he called. The river was a deuce. I bet out again he reraised the minimum. Turns out he had K9. I went on to cash 3rd in this one and was busted out by the same guy with flush vs flush, Only one card in the deck beat me and of course he had it.

I finished with two 4th tonight as well, I think I really played bad in both of those. I over played a flush and straight draw in one and he called me down with top pair and weak kicker. I got it all in a few hands later with the guy when I pushed JJ and he called with AK and hit. My over play cost me some valuable chips and I would have still been alive, but crippled.

The other hand I over played was Blind vs Blind the CL limped in with 22 the board came 459 two diamonds, I had Td3d, he check and I bet out he flat called. the run was a6 which gave me straight draw and flush draw, I bet out again, he flat called. I bricked the river and he check. I figured the only way to win is to bet, so I made a half pot bet and he instant called. I am not sure I could have made that call or even played it that way, but it hurt. I went out a few hands later when I pushed 6c5c and ran into A6.

Some interesting points. I have not had a 2nd place finish on PS, just firsts and thirds. I am not sure what to think. My ROI, slipped down below 20%. I am still positive on PS so that's a plus. Tomorrow I need to play 16 to get in 32 I need to go back to FT.

I was also thinking would it be worth it to play both sites at the same time instead of alternating nights? What do you think? No one reads this so I don't expect any answers, but its worth a shot.

First Session on PS

2009-01-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

I am still pretty sick, but I don't want to fall to far behind my goals so I fired up 1 set last night on PS. I am playing the $3.40 level.

I had 4 cashes two 1sts and two 3rds as well as two 4ths.

Some interesting hands from last night. I had TT vs 77 we get it all in preflop. The flop comes 893 rainbow. I was pretty happy with that flop and would love to see a Jack on the turn to counterfeit his 7s. Well someone was listening and gave me that Jack, unfortunately the river Ten killed me and I busted out 4th.

I had AA vs QQ and he turned a Q. I cant really blame this guy. I reraised him preflop and the flop came all unders. We got it all in and BAM, Q on the turn.

I was short stacked with 5 left and had 88 so I pushed and got two callers AK and KJ. I was glad they both had Kings, less outs to outrun, but no need I flopped quads and went on to take first in this one.

I hit a set of 2's and tripled up against two weak Aces. I flopped another set of 2's and tripled up.

I hit about 6 sets last night, flopped a boat and quads also. I guess that's what you get for AA getting cracked.

I will have to say that the $3.40 play is pretty bad. Snap calling all in preflop with KQ, dry Aces or 22 in the early level is really really bad IMO.

Session total $10.80.

I really think 25% to 30% is attainable. I am not sure I will get a session in tonight, having some people over for dinner, but I will try.

Happy New Year

2009-01-04T21:41:00.000-08:00

Well my New Year started off with me in bed for 3 days. I had just picked up a WII and rock band 2 was delivered. I have not even taken it out of the box. I did however manage to get in 4 sets yesterday and today. I am still a little sick so I will just give the highlights:

Set 1: 5 cashes, one 1st, three seconds, one 3rd.

Heads up I went 1 out of 4 but took 3 coolers, what can you do still profitable.

Set 2: 3 Cashes two 1st and one 3rd.

The 3rd I pushed AQ vs A6 and he hit.

Set 3: 3 Cashes again, two 1st and one 3rd.

This was an interesting set, I ended up on 4 tables as this other guy. He was horrible but really lucky. He ended up taking me out of 2 of them one in for 4th the other for 3rd. I pushed TT and he called with A2 flopped trips. Then I lost a 3/2 race. He sucked out many, many times, oh well that's poker.

Set 4: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, only break even and only set I didn't win in.

The second place finish was A9 vs K4 I hit the ace he 4 flushed me to take me out. Would have been nice to make the $3.60 as I easily had this guy crushed in terms of play.

4 Set totals:
ROI 25%
ITM 43.8%
+$18.00

Top 4 spots 20/36, 55% which is pretty good. I wouldn't mind seeing this up a bit more.
Cashed 14/20 with 4 left which is 70% of the time, I like this.

10/14 top two which is 71%. I think my aggression with 4 and 5 left is paying off. I will continue improving in that area.

Heads up 6/10 - If I had not taken some big suck outs this would have been better. However 60% heads up not to bad, would like to see this at 70% - 75% by the end of the month.

Anyways, I am off to bed, I have been sent to the couch due to this cold, I am hopeful tonight is the last night on there. I will be playing on PS the for the next 32 sngs trying to build my bankroll over there.

What a turn around!

2008-12-30T21:02:00.000-08:00

So I went back and analyzed my 3rd and 4th place finishes. I noticed two things:
My 3rd place finishes I was really short stacked and my ratio to being ahead vs behind was just one. In my 4th place finishes I was also short stacked but my ratio to ahead vs behind was 5. SO I figured there was a possible leak in my game, specifically bubble play.

I also noticed I was heads up 12 times but only won 7 of those, another possible leak.

So I did some research and figured out I need to be more aggressive on the bubble, and in doing so that will help me get to heads up more often. Basically, I am taking more calculated risks on the bubble and possible giving up $3.60 to win $5.40 or even $9.00.

So I looked up some push fold charts, Nash Equilibrium Game Theory and SAGE Game Theories and ICM. I fired up 8 sngs and with my new found aggression on the bubble and heads up strategies and went to town. Also I am going to keep a record of the blinds and my chip stack to track how good or bad I am doing

Only one session tonight kinda under the weather and going to go to bed early.

1. 5th, A6 vs 99 2400 in chips blinds 150/300 I was on the button and pushed.
2. 1st, Q8d vs K6o he only had 1500 chips blinds 250/500 I shoved and hit
3. 1st, QJ vs AA he only had 2000 I shoved and flopped trips
4. 7th, 33 vs 88 blinds 60/120 700 chips I pushed UTG.
5. 4th, AK in the BB, SB raised I re popped he had AA, blinds 50/100 2k in chips, in hindsight I probably could have just called and whiffed the flop and possibly got away from it. The again I am only really afraid of AA, jury is still out.
6. 2nd, Hit top pair and flush draw, he flopped two pair, not sure I could get away from this hand heads up I had 3300 blinds 150/300, I was in the BB and had Qc2c maybe I should have pushed preflop, the flop was Qh9c4c, he had 94o.
7. 1st, KQ vs K3 I raised he re raised all in I called he only had 2000 chips blinds 200/400.
8. 5th, pushed K5s on the button ran into AJ blinds 100/200 had 1300 in chips.

Tonight's total +$14.40

WOW! WOW! WOW!

2008-12-29T22:09:00.001-08:00

Wow, and not World of Warcraft. Tonight was just....Well I am at a loss for words.

I played 16 sngs tonight cashed in 6 for 37.5 percent but in the end lost $10.80 which was everything I won yesterday.

Session 1: 2/8 down $9.00(4 buy ins)
1. AJ ran into AQ which crippled me, so I pushed K9 and ran into AQ out 6th.
2. 77 vs J5 flop was all unders I pushed he called with air, rivered Jack 5th.
3. AK vs A5 he hit crippled me with 4 left, by some miracle I managed 3rd but pushed A9 and ran into KJs and he flopped the flush.
4. KK vs AK, yes you know what happened, pushed 66 vs AK he hit out 6th.
5. SS pushed T9 got called by 63 off he hit trips
6. 4th blinded out, had nothing.
7. 2nd SS hit mid pair, pushed he called with draw, and hit
8. Pushed AJ vs KT crippled me out 6th.

Session 2: 4/8 down $1.80(not quite 1 buying)
1. SS pushed K9 vs TT missed 3rd
2. SS , the short stack double twice, I managed 3rd pushed 99 ran into QQ
3. QQ found KK, I have had QQ 4 times in the last two days and have ran them into AA or KK each time 7th.
4. Flopped top 2, get it all in he turns flush. 8th
5. QQ found AA, he slow played it well out 6th
6. Flopped top pair, he riverd one of his 3 outs 2nd.
7. A9 vs A8, he hit, 3rd
8. Flop trips, run run for the flush, yeah... 7th

Totals through 48 SNGS:

ROI 16.7% what a turn around.
ITM 45.8 this is pretty good.
1st - 7
2nd - 5
3rd - 10
4th - 7

Interesting facts: with 4 left I am running 76% to cash. I will take that.

I need to review my 3rd and 4th place finishes and get them moved up one spot. If I can move up one spot I am a slight favorite to make it to first.

Three more sessions

2008-12-28T18:34:00.000-08:00

Session One:

Went on a nice heater, Cashed in 5 out of 8, with two firsts, one second and two thirds. I bubbled twice and finished 5th in the other one. I took two horrible beats in this set. I had TT busted by 66, AK vs KJ and he flopped trip Jacks. All my other hands held up.

Session Two:

I cashed in 3, one first and two thirds. I had AJ vs 76 and he hit the straight which cost me second place. I lost a race 66 vs K7 which cost another second place finish. I had QQ run into AA twice. One interesting hand with five left I pushed with AT hoping to take the blinds and got called by 22. How you make this call is beyond me. You are 50/50 against most hands and the hands you are not your a 4 to 1 dog. Oh well he made the call I missed and out 5th.

Session Three:

5 cashes again. Two firsts, one second and 3 thirds. Not to shabby. One interesting hand was with 3 left. I raised enough to pot commit the short stack. He pushed all in and the big stack pushed all in. I had AJ and was completely lost in the hand. If I folded I had about 2k left. Well I donk called and ran into AA and KK. The short stack had AA and tripled up and I went out in thrid. Next time I should fold this hand.

Stats through 4 sessions--- 32 SNGs:

ROI 40%
ITM 50%
Profit +28.80

These number far exceed my expectations I was hoping to have and ROI of 25% but after looking at these session I did take my far share of suck outs, I gave a few too. I think if I can sustain this I might be able to move up if a few weeks. I do enjoy playing 8 tables at a time.

My first 8 tabling session!

2008-12-26T20:59:00.000-08:00

Well I had my first 8 tabling session tonight. It was a bit overwhelming at first. It wasn't because of the volume of tables, I can easily play 6 at one time, mix and match of cash and tourneys, but rather the anticipation. I also realized that I need to take a 5 minute break in between sessions just to relax a bit.

First hand out I picked up KK and doubled up from AK. Good thing too because a few hands later I picked up AA against 99 and he flopped a set. Ironically I got AA again 5 hands later and was all in against the same guy who had AA. The best part was his complaining about it. I said pretty funny coming from you who hit a two outer on me. His come back was "The best hand won." Fish you got to love them, but hate them at the same time.

I finished with two first places victories and one second place. Ironically all the hands held up to finish those tourneys, I had JJ vs 45 and A9 vs A7 hold up in my two victories. Then A7 vs AT lost as it should be.

I finished 4th in two, I had QJ vs T3 off he rivered a 3 and AT vs 65 he flopped two pair and filled up on the turn. I win one of those and I have a bigger night.

I finished 6th when I was short stacked and pushed 88 and ran into KK.

I also finished 8th and 9th to some coolers. I had 88 with and OESD on the flop and pushed all in and got called by J4 who also had a OESD but I was counterfeiting two of his outs, needless to say he rivered a Jack.

I also flopped two pair against another two pair.

Session totals up $5.50. I will attempt this tommorrow a few more times and see how it goes.

Still running bad

2008-12-24T07:59:00.000-08:00

I move $100 over to FT for my experimental bankroll. I still use the same bankroll management as my primary roll. I fired up 2 $2.25 sngs. I hit two pair, and my opponent goes runner runner for the flush, out 6th. The other I had AK and reshoved against a bully, got two callers, AJ and QJ, the Jack hit, out 4th. I lost another $4 on in cash when my QQ got chased down by a flush, my AK, AQ, JJ all lost after the flop.

I played 2 $5.50s on Stars placed 4th and 2nd for +$2.50 but took a $4 hit in the cash game when I ran into AA with KK and just couldnt release the hand.

The game plan is to take off the next two night. Get pumped up full of holiday cheer. The food always helps too. I plan to 8 table on FT Friday night I hope it goes better.

Well have a Merry Christmas.

FT roll $95
PS roll $460

Just and update

2008-12-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

Since I have been running bad I decided just to play two SNGs last night. Placed 4th and 2nd for $2.50 profit.

I also moved some money over to Full Tilt to play there when I am running bad on Poker Stars.

Game plan is to play the $2 sngs there until I reach $200 then move to the $5's.

Other than that not much going on. Will try and set in a set of 4 on FT tonight and see how that goes.

Its been a while, the upcoming new year and new goals.

2008-12-22T12:04:00.001-08:00

Well Since I last posted 6 months ago I built my bankroll from $100 to $550 as of last night. I am currently having the worst month I have ever had. I am down $140 and most of that came yesterday -$89 I played 17 sngs and only cashed in 5 and no wins. Acutually I think they were all thirds.

I have also come to the conclusion when I blog, I win more. So I plan to get serious about poker and serious about blogging.

I am going to take a break for a few days and get through the holidays. I was hoping to get my roll to $800 by the end of this month but I figure I am tilted, running bad, or have a doomswitch on my account. Who knows.

As of Jan 1st I plan to pick up the pace and number of tables. The goal is to drop all the way down to $3.40 limit and 8 table 2 to 3 sets a night. I plan to hit 100 or more sngs per week.

Details 8 table $3.40 for two weeks. I expect my ROI to be somewhere between 15 and 20 percent. My goal however is 15. This will net my 51 cents per sng on average. So that $50 a week in profit. After the two weeks I will evaluate and then determine if I should move up. Bankroll target $650

At $5.50 and the same ROI which I believe is still attainable I should see an increase of $32 per week. I will continue this for 3 weeks and then evaluate. Banroll target $900.

At $11 and same ROI, I will continue to play the same and with my same win rate get and additonal $82 per week. I will conitnue this for the entire month of Febuary.
Bankroll target $1500.

I will post my nightly results, graphs, hands I feel that are important. Please feel free to comment.

Just cant get back to even.....What is wrong

2008-07-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

Over the last 8 Sngs I have actually won, I know can you believe it. Up 14.50. Tonight, it really looked bleak. I had QQ vs QJ, Lost, Had QQ vs AJ lost, 99 ran into AA and on the very next hand picked up QQ and ran into AA against the same guy. My saving grace for the night was this hand. I won the tourney and made .50 cents tonight.

PokerStars Game #19185808836: Tournament #98665080, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/07/29 - 00:20:26 (ET)
Table '98665080 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: vanman733 (7890 in chips)
Seat 7: CRB23 (5610 in chips)
CRB23: posts small blind 100
vanman733: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [7d 8d]
CRB23: calls 100
vanman733: checks
*** FLOP *** [5d 3s 6d]
vanman733: checks
CRB23: bets 600
vanman733: calls 600
*** TURN *** [5d 3s 6d] [2d]
vanman733: checks
CRB23: bets 4810 and is all-in
vanman733: calls 4810
*** RIVER *** [5d 3s 6d 2d] [4d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [7d 8d] (a straight flush, Four to Eight)
CRB23: shows [4h 5s] (a straight, Deuce to Six)
vanman733 collected 11220 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11220 | Rake 0
Board [5d 3s 6d 2d 4d]
Seat 2: vanman733 (big blind) showed [7d 8d] and won (11220) with a straight flush, Four to Eight
Seat 7: CRB23 (button) (small blind) showed [4h 5s] and lost with a straight, Deuce to Six

Just a small win, but a win none the less

2008-07-23T23:28:00.000-07:00

Just won $3 tonight but at least I am wining.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7351992479: Table La Jolla - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:09:35 ET - 2008/07/24
Seat 1: gwenj ($7.65)
Seat 2: spamhorse ($8.60)
Seat 3: villamendez ($3)
Seat 4: HooverHawk ($9.55)
Seat 5: slinjo77 ($9.30)
Seat 6: kevinmnola ($12.75)
Seat 7: BrinkTD2 ($3.60)
Seat 8: Dogdrake ($5)
Seat 9: Vanman733 ($13.30)
Vanman733 posts the small blind of $0.05
gwenj is sitting out
spamhorse is sitting out
villamendez posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [7s 7h]
gwenj stands up
HooverHawk folds
spamhorse stands up
slinjo77 raises to $0.35
kevinmnola folds
BrinkTD2 has 15 seconds left to act
BrinkTD2 folds
Dogdrake folds
Vanman733 calls $0.30
villamendez folds
*** FLOP *** [7d 2d 7c]
Vanman733 checks
slinjo77 has 15 seconds left to act
Greed_hohol sits down
GReeNACReS3 sits down
slinjo77 checks
Greed_hohol adds $2
*** TURN *** [7d 2d 7c] [2h]
GReeNACReS3 adds $5.60
Vanman733 checks
slinjo77 checks
*** RIVER *** [7d 2d 7c 2h] [Qd]
Vanman733 has 15 seconds left to act
Vanman733 bets $0.80
slinjo77 folds
Uncalled bet of $0.80 returned to Vanman733
Vanman733 mucks
Vanman733 wins the pot ($0.75)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.80 | Rake $0.05
Board: [7d 2d 7c 2h Qd]
Seat 1: gwenj is sitting out
Seat 2: spamhorse is sitting out
Seat 3: villamendez (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: HooverHawk didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: slinjo77 folded on the River
Seat 6: kevinmnola didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: BrinkTD2 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Dogdrake (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Vanman733 (small blind) collected ($0.75), mucked

Sums up my month Flop the nuts get no action, oh wait a few minutes later

Full Tilt Poker Game #7352112189: Table Coconut Grove - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:23:26 ET - 2008/07/24
Seat 1: Debilidad ($2)
Seat 2: Vanman733 ($11)
Seat 3: dididavid ($4.60)
Seat 4: moment ($1.85)
Seat 5: RELsezHIGH ($10)
Seat 6: Ice Coy ($4.85)
Seat 7: japanesejoe ($8.10)
Seat 8: Inthaplass ($2.80)
Seat 9: mdmanser ($6.65)
Vanman733 posts the small blind of $0.05
dididavid posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [Qd Jd]
moment calls $0.10
Ice Coy folds
japanesejoe calls $0.10
Inthaplass calls $0.10
mdmanser folds
Debilidad folds
Vanman733 calls $0.05
dididavid raises to $0.30
moment calls $0.20
japanesejoe calls $0.20
Inthaplass folds
Vanman733 has 15 seconds left to act
Vanman733 calls $0.20
*** FLOP *** [Kc Tc 9h]
Vanman733 checks
dididavid bets $1.30
moment folds
japanesejoe folds
Vanman733 calls $1.30
*** TURN *** [Kc Tc 9h] [4c]
Vanman733 checks
dididavid bets $1.50
Vanman733 calls $1.50
*** RIVER *** [Kc Tc 9h 4c] [7s]
Vanman733 bets $1.70
dididavid calls $1.50, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $0.20 returned to Vanman733
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Vanman733 shows [Qd Jd] a straight, King high
dididavid mucks
Vanman733 wins the pot ($8.95) with a straight, King high
dididavid is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9.90 | Rake $0.95
Board: [Kc Tc 9h 4c 7s]
Seat 1: Debilidad (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Vanman733 (small blind) showed [Qd Jd] and won ($8.95) with a straight, King high
Seat 3: dididavid (big blind) mucked [Kd Td] - two pair, Kings and Tens
Seat 4: moment folded on the Flop
Seat 5: RELsezHIGH is sitting out
Seat 6: Ice Coy didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: japanesejoe folded on the Flop
Seat 8: Inthaplass folded before the Flop
Seat 9: mdmanser didn't bet (folded)

A few more hands

2008-07-22T22:56:00.000-07:00

So tonight I played 480 hands and netted $5 dollars. Way too little for 2.5 hours of play. Oh wait I dropped $10 in the first 5 minutes to some nasty coolers. So most of the night I was playing behind, and at one point got down $15. So any profit from that I will take.

The hand that made me profitable was AhKh. There was a raise in front of me and I had position so I decided to call. Flop was Jhh, and the preflop raiser bets out. I put him on a PP like QQ, TT, 99, AQ, AJ so I decided I would call because mathematically I was a favorite. I bricked the turn and he lead out. The river was an ace of clubs and he bet out again, but since I chased this far I have to call with the amount of money in the pot. He showed KK. Then he said the following:

NoLimitSoulja11: I hate your life you worthless piece of sh.it
NoLimitSoulja11: As.shole go play in traffic
NoLimitSoulja11: donks like you
NoLimitSoulja11: and this fu.cking site
NoLimitSoulja11: who allows dipsh.its like you to catch their shi.t

First suck out I gave in a long time and it felt good, but after this display it really felt good. I think its going to turn around for me now.

I also decided to play a token tourney on Full Tilt for 1800 points and won a $26 token which I can use to play in bigger tourneys. I hope I can turn that into cash and have a nice finish. I plan to play it on Sunday.

I will probably take the next few nights off just to wrap my head around things and take a break.

The Poker Gods must hate me this month.

2008-07-22T00:34:00.000-07:00

I think someone really really wants me to not be profitable this month. Switched over to cash games played 1000 hands and only up $11.25. I lost $20 tonight on FT but up on PS but just barely.

Tonight was really strange, I missed every flop, ran into every cooler and everyone out drew on me. I had 10 pocket pairs in the first 20 min on one table lost every hand. It was incredible. I finally reloaded and had J8 in the BB flop top two, we got it all in and he had pocket 8's. I couldn't beat this guy, He call my preflop raise all night and hit every time.

Oh well back to the grind of work and poker tomorrow. I am hopeful to get another 1000 hands in before this weekend and try for 2000 by Sunday.

Cash Games

2008-07-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

So I have decided to give SNGs a break. They are really frustrating me at the moment. In SNGS you risk your whole equity on A8 off and get called by Q3 because its the right thing to do. Those types of things don't happen in cash games. I would never push all in preflop with A8, why? Its just not profitable. Cash is about building pots and winning them, tourneys you have to gamble at some point because you getting blinded out. So with that I am moving back to cash for a while.

My bread and butter has been the cash game I ran $25 up to $4000 before I can do it again. I plan to play cash the rest of the month and probably next month mix in cash and tourneys we will just have to see. I also plan on playing my points for tourney entries and hope to hit a big score in one of those.

I will start playing by the 20 buyin bankroll rule which at this moment means I play .05/.10 NL because my bankroll is split between two sites. I will import all my stats into Poker Tracker and provide the details in my blog.

Two sessions so far and up $27. I have had a few interesting hands. I had QQ and the flop came J9Q rainbow. The preflop raiser bets out I reraised he just called. I figured he didn't have KT most likely a KX holding as he would have shoved after my reraise. The turn a Td which put a two flush out. He bet out $2 and I decided to call because I had a 20% chance for a redraw and figured if I hit I would stack him. The river blanked a diamond and he check and I checked and he showed AK. Personally I would have bet the river, my reraise on the flop doesn't suggest diamonds but most likely a QX. If he comes over the top then I have a decsion.

The other hand I had my top set of 8s out run by runner runner straight. I bet it the whole way and he chased with nothing and hit the gutshot on the river. Oh well, I love these guys in cash games.

Just more suck outs as usual

2008-07-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

Played 6 tonight cashed in 1 for second and had him dominaed when he hit on the river. Down $12.50 for the month. I am not sure whats going on. I have to believe someday my hands will hold up.

I have played 33 SNG on Poker Stars and cashed in 10, sucks I know. Here are a couple of Gems I took tonight. If I get to $300 on Stars its going to be cash out time. Also I am not playing on Stars for a week, hope something can turn it around.

PokerStars Game #18953340238: Tournament #96754498, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/07/20 - 01:43:35 (ET)
Table '96754498 1' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: jrancor (1460 in chips)
Seat 2: TheHitdog (1000 in chips)
Seat 3: drm2006 (1540 in chips)
Seat 4: alextoobad (1450 in chips)
Seat 5: vanman733 (1540 in chips)
Seat 6: binocular00 (1250 in chips)
Seat 7: andydufreis (1460 in chips)
Seat 8: ImFedUpA6 (1740 in chips)
Seat 9: pizzaaking (2060 in chips)
binocular00: posts small blind 10
andydufreis: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Kh Kc]
ImFedUpA6: folds
pizzaaking: calls 20
jrancor: folds
TheHitdog: folds
drm2006: folds
alextoobad: folds
vanman733: raises 80 to 100
binocular00: folds
andydufreis: calls 80
pizzaaking: calls 80
*** FLOP *** [Ah Ks Td]
andydufreis: checks
pizzaaking: bets 140
vanman733: calls 140
andydufreis: calls 140
*** TURN *** [Ah Ks Td] [Ac]
andydufreis: checks
pizzaaking: checks
vanman733: bets 100
andydufreis: calls 100
pizzaaking: folds
*** RIVER *** [Ah Ks Td Ac] [9c]
andydufreis: bets 720
vanman733: raises 480 to 1200 and is all-in
andydufreis: calls 400 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (80) returned to vanman733
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [Kh Kc] (a full house, Kings full of Aces)
andydufreis: shows [Ad Kd] (a full house, Aces full of Kings)
andydufreis collected 3170 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3170 | Rake 0
Board [Ah Ks Td Ac 9c]
Seat 1: jrancor folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: TheHitdog folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: drm2006 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: alextoobad folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: vanman733 (button) showed [Kh Kc] and lost with a full house, Kings full of Aces
Seat 6: binocular00 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: andydufreis (big blind) showed [Ad Kd] and won (3170) with a full house, Aces full of Kings
Seat 8: ImFedUpA6 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: pizzaaking folded on the Turn

PokerStars Game #18954222089: Tournament #96758018, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/07/20 - 02:55:26 (ET)
Table '96758018 1' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: vanman733 (1210 in chips)
Seat 2: eddieace (2665 in chips)
Seat 4: Creamedcage1 (1880 in chips)
Seat 5: m@verick1123 (5225 in chips)
Seat 7: VietBoyDman (1155 in chips)
Seat 9: sallyb0tzz (1365 in chips)
vanman733: posts small blind 75
eddieace: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [8h 8c]
Creamedcage1: folds
m@verick1123: calls 150
VietBoyDman: calls 150
sallyb0tzz: folds
vanman733: calls 75
eddieace: checks
*** FLOP *** [5c 4d 2c]
vanman733: bets 1060 and is all-in
eddieace: folds
m@verick1123: folds
VietBoyDman: calls 1005 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (55) returned to vanman733
*** TURN *** [5c 4d 2c] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [5c 4d 2c 4h] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [8h 8c] (two pair, Eights and Fives)
VietBoyDman: shows [5h 5d] (four of a kind, Fives)
VietBoyDman collected 2610 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2610 | Rake 0
Board [5c 4d 2c 4h 5s]
Seat 1: vanman733 (small blind) showed [8h 8c] and lost with two pair, Eights and Fives
Seat 2: eddieace (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Creamedcage1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: m@verick1123 folded on the Flop
Seat 7: VietBoyDman showed [5h 5d] and won (2610) with four of a kind, Fives
Seat 9: sallyb0tzz (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

I can't beat luck

2008-07-18T22:46:00.000-07:00

Thats my new phrase. Check out this hand.

Rant On -----
On line poker is rigged. It has to be. There is just know way I can be running this bad. I consistently get my money in way ahead just to get sucked out on. I have had it with this one.

Poker Stars is dead to me. I have dropped $90 this month on suck out after suck out, it truely amazing. I win this hand I win the SNG.

Rant Off -----

PokerStars Game #18926785458: Tournament #96531086, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/07/19 - 00:22:24 (ET)
Table '96531086 1' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: pistilwhip (1260 in chips)
Seat 2: vanman733 (3090 in chips)
Seat 3: beavishead12 (1920 in chips)
Seat 5: BraamDePace (3570 in chips)
Seat 6: geeger (810 in chips)
Seat 7: Assgott84 (1505 in chips)
Seat 9: mkbwhizkid77 (1345 in chips)
BraamDePace: posts small blind 15
geeger: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [4h 5h]
Assgott84: calls 30
mkbwhizkid77: folds
pistilwhip: folds
vanman733: calls 30
beavishead12: raises 75 to 105
BraamDePace: calls 90
geeger: folds
Assgott84: calls 75
vanman733: calls 75
*** FLOP *** [2d Ah 3d]
BraamDePace: bets 250
Assgott84: folds
vanman733: raises 350 to 600
beavishead12: raises 1215 to 1815 and is all-in
BraamDePace: calls 1565
vanman733: raises 1170 to 2985 and is all-in
BraamDePace: calls 1170
*** TURN *** [2d Ah 3d] [7d]
*** RIVER *** [2d Ah 3d 7d] [Kd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BraamDePace: shows [Ks Ad] (a flush, Ace high)
vanman733: shows [4h 5h] (a straight, Ace to Five)
BraamDePace collected 2340 from side pot
beavishead12: shows [As Kh] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
BraamDePace collected 5895 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8235 Main pot 5895. Side pot 2340. | Rake 0
Board [2d Ah 3d 7d Kd]
Seat 1: pistilwhip folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: vanman733 showed [4h 5h] and lost with a straight, Ace to Five
Seat 3: beavishead12 (button) showed [As Kh] and lost with two pair, Aces and Kings
Seat 5: BraamDePace (small blind) showed [Ks Ad] and won (8235) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 6: geeger (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Assgott84 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: mkbwhizkid77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

This month is all about taking suck outs. If my hands would hold up I would be unstoppable. The reality is I know I will get sucked out on, its just the large number of suck outs I have had in the last two weeks has been unreal. Tonight I went 3/5 down $2.50 because I played two $11 sns, lost them both, on to A6 vs 55 I flopped A6 he caught a set, and top pair with nut flush draw and missed and he out kicked me.

The two I cashed one was for a first and the other a second in which I had a huge chip lead and lost to 3 suck outs in a row before I finally had to go all in because I was short stacked, and I out flopped him only to have him catch the flush on the river.

I started to play some cash to help the varience this month. Won $18 in the cash game so I am back up for the month. A whopping $7.50. I hope my SNG luck changes soon, a nice run puts me back to even for the month on Stars.

Poker Reads

2008-07-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Opponent reads are so important, but also so deadly. I remember watching Kenny Tran at last years WSOP. He was making so many sick calls and it was paying off. Sometimes though, your completly wrong. He are some hands played last night and my reads on them, some good and some bad.

There is no way he checks the flop if he hits top pair after limping. So I just called.

PokerStars Game #18853829418: Tournament #95928911, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/07/16 - 00:04:40 (ET)
Table '95928911 1' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: Mr Obvious59 (1790 in chips)
Seat 2: Mr. Outs1111 (4620 in chips)
Seat 3: nerknerk (1350 in chips)
Seat 4: nc1vanous (1670 in chips)
Seat 6: frodollars (1625 in chips)
Seat 8: vanman733 (1310 in chips)
Seat 9: Mrzazou (1135 in chips)
Mrzazou: posts small blind 25
Mr Obvious59: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [8c Jc]
Mr. Outs1111: calls 50
nerknerk: folds
nc1vanous: folds
frodollars: folds
vanman733: calls 50
Mrzazou: calls 25
Mr Obvious59: checks
*** FLOP *** [5d 9s 8d]
Mrzazou: checks
Mr Obvious59: checks
Mr. Outs1111: checks
vanman733: bets 100
Mrzazou: folds
Mr Obvious59: folds
Mr. Outs1111: calls 100
*** TURN *** [5d 9s 8d] [9c]
Mr. Outs1111: checks
vanman733: checks
*** RIVER *** [5d 9s 8d 9c] [2h]
Mr. Outs1111: bets 250
vanman733: calls 250
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Mr. Outs1111: shows [Ah Ts] (a pair of Nines)
vanman733: shows [8c Jc] (two pair, Nines and Eights)
vanman733 collected 900 from pot
Mr. Outs1111 said, "gcall"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 900 | Rake 0
Board [5d 9s 8d 9c 2h]
Seat 1: Mr Obvious59 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Mr. Outs1111 showed [Ah Ts] and lost with a pair of Nines
Seat 3: nerknerk folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: nc1vanous folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: frodollars folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: vanman733 (button) showed [8c Jc] and won (900) with two pair, Nines and Eights
Seat 9: Mrzazou (small blind) folded on the Flop

I knew he didnt have a king, he bet the whole way so why not bet for value on the river. I tried to value bet the river making him think I had the king but I guess I didnt bet it right.

PokerStars Game #18853608641: Tournament #95928870, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/07/15 - 23:52:38 (ET)
Table '95928870 1' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: Rick005151 (1423 in chips)
Seat 2: Fluffy Force (1433 in chips)
Seat 3: CRASH1965 (1260 in chips)
Seat 5: vanman733 (1900 in chips)
Seat 6: comfort60 (1484 in chips)
Seat 7: Greenwood02 (1850 in chips)
Seat 8: giggett (2950 in chips)
Seat 9: Ferrari 5 (1200 in chips) is sitting out
comfort60: posts small blind 15
Greenwood02: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Ac Jh]
giggett: calls 30
Ferrari 5: folds
Rick005151: raises 123 to 153
Fluffy Force: folds
CRASH1965: folds
vanman733: calls 153
comfort60: folds
Greenwood02: folds
giggett: calls 123
*** FLOP *** [Kd 8c 7c]
giggett: checks
Rick005151: bets 50
vanman733: calls 50
giggett: calls 50
*** TURN *** [Kd 8c 7c] [Ts]
giggett: checks
Rick005151: bets 50
vanman733: calls 50
giggett: calls 50
*** RIVER *** [Kd 8c 7c Ts] [Kh]
giggett: checks
Rick005151: checks
vanman733: bets 420
giggett: folds
Rick005151: calls 420
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [Ac Jh] (a pair of Kings)
Rick005151: shows [9d 9h] (two pair, Kings and Nines)
Rick005151 collected 1644 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1644 | Rake 0
Board [Kd 8c 7c Ts Kh]
Seat 1: Rick005151 showed [9d 9h] and won (1644) with two pair, Kings and Nines
Seat 2: Fluffy Force folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: CRASH1965 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: vanman733 (button) showed [Ac Jh] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 6: comfort60 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Greenwood02 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: giggett folded on the River
Seat 9: Ferrari 5 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Bad Read here. I put him on an Ace, but not the nuts. Good thing I didnt go broke. Next hand this guy takes two out.

PokerStars Game #18854134602: Tournament #95928729, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/07/16 - 00:22:15 (ET)
Table '95928729 1' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: yenseeker (3840 in chips)
Seat 2: vanman733 (2390 in chips)
Seat 5: Dragons_222 (4155 in chips)
Seat 7: OHGold (875 in chips)
Seat 8: hightest333 (1265 in chips)
Seat 9: pokerking213 (975 in chips)
yenseeker: posts small blind 75
vanman733: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [6c 2c]
Dragons_222: calls 150
OHGold: folds
hightest333: folds
pokerking213: folds
yenseeker: folds
vanman733: checks
*** FLOP *** [7c 6h 7h]
vanman733: checks
Dragons_222: checks
*** TURN *** [7c 6h 7h] [7d]
vanman733: bets 150
Dragons_222: raises 150 to 300
vanman733: calls 150
*** RIVER *** [7c 6h 7h 7d] [8c]
vanman733: checks
Dragons_222: bets 450
vanman733: calls 450
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dragons_222: shows [7s Ac] (four of a kind, Sevens)
vanman733: mucks hand
Dragons_222 collected 1875 from pot
hightest333 said, "nh"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1875 | Rake 0
Board [7c 6h 7h 7d 8c]
Seat 1: yenseeker (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: vanman733 (big blind) mucked [6c 2c]
Seat 5: Dragons_222 showed [7s Ac] and won (1875) with four of a kind, Sevens
Seat 7: OHGold folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: hightest333 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: pokerking213 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Moved back to Poker Stars tonight, the beating continued. Lost all 4 sngs now I am down $8.00 for the month.

Bust out hands:
K9 vs A8 flop two pair he turns trips, out 4th
22 vs KQ he flops a flush, a race I know but was short on chips
AA vs A9 he rivers flush, all in preflop. out 4th on this one
55 vs AQ he hits straight, I figured I was racing but I was the SS so I had too, out 4th.

The Irony of poker

2008-07-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

So I am up for the month and feeling pretty good. Confidence has been restored! Then these hands happen.

A funny little hand. I played this hand because I was gettting about 3 to 1 preflop, I closed the betting preflop and I figured I would get all his chips if I hit. Who knew?

Full Tilt Poker Game #7226706821: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (54942914), Table 1 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:23:23 ET - 2008/07/14
Seat 1: stingrayrush (2,635)
Seat 2: JohnnyHurt (1,560)
Seat 3: forgie455 (1,355)
Seat 4: aceholekane (1,310)
Seat 5: sshelley1 (1,290)
Seat 6: Vanman733 (1,755)
Seat 8: larockxx (390)
Seat 9: JUST A LIZARD (3,205)
JUST A LIZARD posts the small blind of 25
stingrayrush posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [4s 4h]
JohnnyHurt folds
forgie455 folds
aceholekane folds
sshelley1 calls 50
Vanman733 calls 50
larockxx raises to 390, and is all in
JUST A LIZARD folds
stingrayrush folds
sshelley1 calls 340
Vanman733 calls 340
*** FLOP *** [7h Ts 3h]
sshelley1 checks
Vanman733 checks
*** TURN *** [7h Ts 3h] [5c]
sshelley1 checks
Vanman733 checks
*** RIVER *** [7h Ts 3h 5c] [7d]
sshelley1 checks
Vanman733 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
larockxx shows [8h Ad] a pair of Sevens
sshelley1 shows [4c 4d] two pair, Sevens and Fours
Vanman733 shows [4s 4h] two pair, Sevens and Fours
sshelley1 ties for the pot (623) with two pair, Sevens and Fours
Vanman733 ties for the pot (622) with two pair, Sevens and Fours
larockxx stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,245 | Rake 0
Board: [7h Ts 3h 5c 7d]
Seat 1: stingrayrush (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: JohnnyHurt didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: forgie455 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: aceholekane didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: sshelley1 showed [4c 4d] and won (623) with two pair, Sevens and Fours
Seat 6: Vanman733 showed [4s 4h] and won (622) with two pair, Sevens and Fours
Seat 8: larockxx (button) showed [8h Ad] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 9: JUST A LIZARD (small blind) folded before the Flop

Another great hand. I dont fold KK preflop in a SNG. The worst hand wins but I still make a profit.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7226761428: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (54942823), Table 1 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:27:16 ET - 2008/07/14
Seat 2: Vanman733 (1,530)
Seat 3: adrianas dad (1,120)
Seat 4: messc (5,525)
Seat 5: jimkab (290)
Seat 7: dd0204 (1,975)
Seat 8: ZndBestHand (1,790)
Seat 9: patt48 (1,270)
patt48 posts the small blind of 25
Vanman733 posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [Kd Kh]
adrianas dad folds
messc folds
jimkab raises to 290, and is all in
dd0204 folds
ZndBestHand raises to 530
patt48 folds
Vanman733 raises to 1,530, and is all in
ZndBestHand calls 1,000
Vanman733 shows [Kd Kh]
jimkab shows [7h As]
ZndBestHand shows [Th Td]
*** FLOP *** [Ad 5c 9s]
*** TURN *** [Ad 5c 9s] [3d]
*** RIVER *** [Ad 5c 9s 3d] [8s]
Vanman733 shows a pair of Kings
ZndBestHand shows a pair of Tens
Vanman733 wins the side pot (2,480) with a pair of Kings
jimkab shows a pair of Aces
jimkab wins the main pot (895) with a pair of Aces
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,375 Main pot 895. Side pot 2,480. | Rake 0
Board: [Ad 5c 9s 3d 8s]
Seat 2: Vanman733 (big blind) showed [Kd Kh] and won (2,480) with a pair of Kings
Seat 3: adrianas dad didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: messc didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: jimkab showed [7h As] and won (895) with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: dd0204 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: ZndBestHand (button) showed [Th Td] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 9: patt48 (small blind) folded before the Flop

How unfortuneate can I be. I dont fold QQ either.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7226941366: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (54942973), Table 1 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:40:41 ET - 2008/07/14
Seat 2: Jack7Off (1,052)
Seat 3: JohnnyHurt (1,105)
Seat 4: TROJANASIANMAN (3,951)
Seat 5: Buddhadoc (1,625)
Seat 6: forgie455 (820)
Seat 7: Vanman733 (1,630)
Seat 8: vlakers32 (2,613)
Seat 9: J5Favorite (704)
forgie455 posts the small blind of 40
Vanman733 posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [Qc Qd]
Jack7Off: 25
vlakers32 calls 80
J5Favorite calls 80
Jack7Off calls 80
JohnnyHurt folds
TROJANASIANMAN folds
Buddhadoc folds
forgie455 calls 40
Vanman733 raises to 1,630, and is all in
vlakers32 raises to 2,613, and is all in
J5Favorite calls 624, and is all in
Jack7Off folds
forgie455 folds
vlakers32 shows [Ac Ad]
Jack7Off: jebus
J5Favorite shows [Qs Jd]
Vanman733 shows [Qc Qd]
Uncalled bet of 983 returned to vlakers32
*** FLOP *** [2h 8c 4c]
*** TURN *** [2h 8c 4c] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [2h 8c 4c Jc] [6c]
vlakers32 shows a flush, Ace high
Vanman733 shows a flush, Queen high
vlakers32 wins the side pot (1,852) with a flush, Ace high
J5Favorite shows a pair of Jacks
vlakers32 wins the main pot (2,272) with a flush, Ace high
J5Favorite stands up
Vanman733 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,124 Main pot 2,272. Side pot 1,852. | Rake 0
Board: [2h 8c 4c Jc 6c]
Seat 2: Jack7Off folded before the Flop
Seat 3: JohnnyHurt didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: TROJANASIANMAN didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Buddhadoc (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: forgie455 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: Vanman733 (big blind) showed [Qc Qd] and lost with a flush, Queen high
Seat 8: vlakers32 showed [Ac Ad] and won (4,124) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 9: J5Favorite showed [Qs Jd] and lost with a pair of Jacks

So close but so far away but he sucks out again.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7227305408: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (54942867), Table 1 - 120/240 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:07:09 ET - 2008/07/15
Seat 3: DoodleAllDay (750)
Seat 4: ZndBestHand (6,415)
Seat 6: Bernard P Fife (3,615)
Seat 9: Vanman733 (2,720)
DoodleAllDay posts the small blind of 120
ZndBestHand posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [2s 3h]
Bernard P Fife raises to 840
Vanman733 folds
DoodleAllDay calls 630, and is all in
ZndBestHand folds
Bernard P Fife shows [Ac 9h]
DoodleAllDay shows [8h Ah]
Uncalled bet of 90 returned to Bernard P Fife
*** FLOP *** [Tc 6s 9s]
*** TURN *** [Tc 6s 9s] [Ad]
*** RIVER *** [Tc 6s 9s Ad] [7h]
Bernard P Fife shows two pair, Aces and Nines
DoodleAllDay shows a straight, Ten high
DoodleAllDay wins the pot (1,740) with a straight, Ten high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,740 | Rake 0
Board: [Tc 6s 9s Ad 7h]
Seat 3: DoodleAllDay (small blind) showed [8h Ah] and won (1,740) with a straight, Ten high
Seat 4: ZndBestHand (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Bernard P Fife showed [Ac 9h] and lost with two pair, Aces and Nines
Seat 9: Vanman733 (button) didn't bet (folded)

Very Next hand he cant suck out and I make the money.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7227310632: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (54942867), Table 1 - 120/240 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:07:33 ET - 2008/07/15
Seat 3: DoodleAllDay (1,740)
Seat 4: ZndBestHand (6,175)
Seat 6: Bernard P Fife (2,865)
Seat 9: Vanman733 (2,720)
ZndBestHand posts the small blind of 120
Bernard P Fife posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [9c Kd]
Vanman733 folds
DoodleAllDay raises to 1,740, and is all in
ZndBestHand raises to 6,175, and is all in
Bernard P Fife folds
ZndBestHand shows [Ks Ah]
DoodleAllDay shows [9s Ad]
Uncalled bet of 4,435 returned to ZndBestHand
*** FLOP *** [5s 2s Qd]
*** TURN *** [5s 2s Qd] [As]
*** RIVER *** [5s 2s Qd As] [Qh]
ZndBestHand shows two pair, Aces and Queens
DoodleAllDay shows two pair, Aces and Queens
ZndBestHand wins the pot (3,720) with two pair, Aces and Queens
DoodleAllDay stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,720 | Rake 0
Board: [5s 2s Qd As Qh]
Seat 3: DoodleAllDay (button) showed [9s Ad] and lost with two pair, Aces and Queens
Seat 4: ZndBestHand (small blind) showed [Ks Ah] and won (3,720) with two pair, Aces and Queens
Seat 6: Bernard P Fife (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Vanman733 didn't bet (folded)

My turn to hit one on the river!

Full Tilt Poker Game #7227339155: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (54942867), Table 1 - 120/240 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:09:44 ET - 2008/07/15
Seat 4: ZndBestHand (8,395)
Seat 6: Bernard P Fife (2,505)
Seat 9: Vanman733 (2,600)
Vanman733 posts the small blind of 120
ZndBestHand posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [Kd 7d]
Bernard P Fife folds
Vanman733 calls 120
ZndBestHand has 15 seconds left to act
ZndBestHand checks
*** FLOP *** [2c 2d 9c]
Vanman733 checks
ZndBestHand checks
*** TURN *** [2c 2d 9c] [Ad]
Vanman733 bets 240
ZndBestHand calls 240
*** RIVER *** [2c 2d 9c Ad] [Qd]
Vanman733 bets 720
ZndBestHand raises to 7,915, and is all in
Vanman733 calls 1,400, and is all in
Uncalled bet of 5,795 returned to ZndBestHand
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ZndBestHand shows [2h 5h] three of a kind, Twos
Vanman733 shows [Kd 7d] a flush, Ace high
Vanman733 wins the pot (5,200) with a flush, Ace high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,200 | Rake 0
Board: [2c 2d 9c Ad Qd]
Seat 4: ZndBestHand (big blind) showed [2h 5h] and lost with three of a kind, Twos
Seat 6: Bernard P Fife (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Vanman733 (small blind) showed [Kd 7d] and won (5,200) with a flush, Ace high

The end all be all. I took second at least.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7227443819: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (54942867), Table 1 - 150/300 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:17:55 ET - 2008/07/15
Seat 4: ZndBestHand (5,345)
Seat 6: Bernard P Fife (2,865)
Seat 9: Vanman733 (5,290)
Vanman733 posts the small blind of 150
ZndBestHand posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Vanman733 [9h 9s]
Bernard P Fife raises to 2,865, and is all in
Vanman733 raises to 5,290, and is all in
ZndBestHand has 15 seconds left to act
ZndBestHand calls 4,990
Vanman733 shows [9h 9s]
ZndBestHand shows [Ac Kc]
Bernard P Fife shows [Ad 6d]
*** FLOP *** [Qs 5c Js]
*** TURN *** [Qs 5c Js] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [Qs 5c Js Qc] [Th]
Vanman733 shows two pair, Queens and Nines
ZndBestHand shows a straight, Ace high
ZndBestHand wins the side pot (4,850) with a straight, Ace high
Bernard P Fife shows a pair of Queens
ZndBestHand wins the main pot (8,595) with a straight, Ace high
Bernard P Fife stands up
Vanman733 stands up
ZndBestHand stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 13,445 Main pot 8,595. Side pot 4,850. | Rake 0
Board: [Qs 5c Js Qc Th]
Seat 4: ZndBestHand (big blind) showed [Ac Kc] and won (13,445) with a straight, Ace high
Seat 6: Bernard P Fife (button) showed [Ad 6d] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 9: Vanman733 (small blind) showed [9h 9s] and lost with two pair, Queens and Nines

Tonights totals 2/4 with two second place finishes for $5 profit. Man building a bankroll this way is tough. I really do need to play more.

The long road to somewhere.

2008-07-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

Well things have gotten better. I am now officall up for the month. A whopping $9.00 so being down $40 ish to start to be up $9.00 took a long two weeks. My goals for this month are too long away for me to reach. So I will adjust my goals and just try and make it through this run of cards and hope to come out up $80 for the month.

My last SNGS bust out hands: 12 sngs 6 cashs two 1st, three 2nds and one 3rd.

SS pushed with 44 ran into TT
pushed with A9 while SS ran into KK
Goes Runner Runner for the gutshot str8 to beat me
99 vs K9 turns a king
K7 vs 75 he hits str8, flop two pair he goes RR for str8
QQ vs 6d4d he flops trips and turns quads
SS with pushed KQ vs AT
KQ vs K7, came from way behind
SS BB K8 flopped top pair, he had over pair
SS with 4 caught some cards won every race
Guy caught all the cards, I couldn’t beat him, he out flopped
SS raised and called reraise with AT ran into QQ missed
TT vs AQ he hit them both

I hope this run keeps up.

Is it turning around

2008-07-08T14:01:00.000-07:00

Well I jumped on Full Tilt to see if I could change my luck. I only played 2 sngs just in case. In the first one I had AA cracked by JJ, and AA cracked by 76 which put me out in 7th on the first one.

The second one my hands held up and I ended up taking first place. Now I am only down $14.00 for the month so things could be getting better. Tonight I will try and fire up 4 more sngs and see what happens.

Its not getting any better.

2008-07-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

Thats right its not! I am begining to think I forgot how to play this game and all my past success was just luck. My last 8 Sngs I am still not showing a profit. Down $25.50 for the month.

SNG-1 Card dead, pushed with JT got called by K3 3rd.
SNG-2 Flopped the nuts, he goes run run for flush, cripples me 4th
SNG-3 SS pushed with 56 blinds 300/600 4k in chips he had 88, 2nd
SNG-4 AJ vs 97 off 3rd
SNG-5 Got cards with 3 left had huge chips heads up, My only win in 20 SNGS.
SNG-6 SS pushed with 44 got called by A8 hit 8 out 4th
SNG-7 KK vs 99 vs 55 hits a 5 out 6th would have cashed if this holds up
SNG-8 Flopped two pair, he rivers gut shot, couldnt put hin on that hand so a bad read crippled me, TT vs A9 hits them both

Finally I suck out and get a cash out of it
PokerStars Game #18640009439: Tournament #94759437, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/07/07 - 00:38:12 (ET)
Table '94759437 1' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: cshark007 (4640 in chips)
Seat 3: badboywillie (1960 in chips)
Seat 4: ryguyflyguy (5495 in chips)
Seat 6: vanman733 (1405 in chips)
vanman733: posts small blind 100
cshark007: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Ac Jd]
badboywillie: raises 600 to 800
ryguyflyguy: folds
vanman733: raises 605 to 1405 and is all-in
cshark007: folds
badboywillie: calls 605
*** FLOP *** [Ah 9h 3d]
*** TURN *** [Ah 9h 3d] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [Ah 9h 3d 8h] [9d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [Ac Jd] (two pair, Aces and Nines)
badboywillie: shows [Qh Qd] (two pair, Queens and Nines)
vanman733 collected 3010 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3010 | Rake 0
Board [Ah 9h 3d 8h 9d]
Seat 1: cshark007 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: badboywillie showed [Qh Qd] and lost with two pair, Queens and Nines
Seat 4: ryguyflyguy (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: vanman733 (small blind) showed [Ac Jd] and won (3010) with two pair, Aces and Nines

Bad Bad Bad run of cards.

2008-07-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

I have had down swings before but this one is taking the cake.

Horrible Run of cards to start the month of July. I have played 13 sngs this month and only 3 cashes. I have hit suck out after suck out or cooler after cooler starting the month off with a bang.

SNG 1 - hit top pair he hit 4 card straight
SNG 2 - QQ vs AK hit set he hit 4 card flush
SNG 3 - SS pushed with AQ ran into AA
SNG 4 - QQ ran into KK
SNG 5 - KK vs 99, crippled me then 79 vs 56 hit top two he hit straight
SNG 6 - AQ vs AK , I was Chip Leader he was Second in chips out 4th
SNG 7 - QJ vs A4
SNG 8 - hit straight he hit boat
SNG 9 - Short Stacked pushed with Top pair guy calls with flush draw hits
SNG 10 - SS pushed AT ran into AJ finished 4th
SNG 11 - K9 vs A9 I bet all in on OESD and he called we both missed crippled me
SNG 12 - Short Stacked pushed with 8s7s got slow rolled by KK.
SNG 13 - Hit flush he hit bigger flush

My two hands of glory, I thought this would turn it around.

PokerStars Game #18544408388: Tournament #94254732, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/07/02 - 23:37:12 (ET)
Table '94254732 1' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: yourcall74 (2935 in chips)
Seat 4: vanman733 (7465 in chips)
Seat 7: Roeville (3100 in chips)
vanman733: posts small blind 100
Roeville: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Th 8h]
yourcall74: folds
vanman733: calls 100
Roeville: checks
*** FLOP *** [9h Jh Qh]
vanman733: checks
Roeville: checks
*** TURN *** [9h Jh Qh] [2c]
vanman733: checks
Roeville: bets 200
vanman733: calls 200
*** RIVER *** [9h Jh Qh 2c] [3d]
vanman733: bets 400
Roeville: calls 400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [Th 8h] (a straight flush, Eight to Queen)
Roeville: mucks hand
vanman733 collected 1600 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1600 | Rake 0
Board [9h Jh Qh 2c 3d]
Seat 1: yourcall74 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: vanman733 (small blind) showed [Th 8h] and won (1600) with a straight flush, Eight to Queen
Seat 7: Roeville (big blind) mucked [2d 5c]

PokerStars Game #18544380465: Tournament #94254436, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/07/02 - 23:35:42 (ET)
Table '94254436 1' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: ketchaaj (3780 in chips)
Seat 3: TheGreatModi (830 in chips)
Seat 5: CDSNUTTS112 (4925 in chips)
Seat 8: vanman733 (1135 in chips)
Seat 9: drpue (2830 in chips)
TheGreatModi: posts small blind 100
CDSNUTTS112: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [As Ah]
vanman733: calls 200
drpue: folds
ketchaaj: raises 400 to 600
TheGreatModi: folds
CDSNUTTS112: raises 1400 to 2000
vanman733: calls 935 and is all-in
ketchaaj: folds
Uncalled bet (865) returned to CDSNUTTS112
*** FLOP *** [Qh 6d Jh]
*** TURN *** [Qh 6d Jh] [Ac]
*** RIVER *** [Qh 6d Jh Ac] [Ad]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CDSNUTTS112: shows [9h 9d] (two pair, Aces and Nines)
vanman733: shows [As Ah] (four of a kind, Aces)
vanman733 collected 2970 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2970 | Rake 0
Board [Qh 6d Jh Ac Ad]
Seat 1: ketchaaj (button) folded before Flop
Seat 3: TheGreatModi (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: CDSNUTTS112 (big blind) showed [9h 9d] and lost with two pair, Aces and Nines
Seat 8: vanman733 showed [As Ah] and won (2970) with four of a kind, Aces
Seat 9: drpue folded before Flop (didn't bet)

My 3 cashed 2-seconds 1-third. I was the cl so many times and ran into those coolers or suck outs. Hopefully they will start holding up. Bottom Line down $35.50 to start the month. Its going to be tough to reach $180 for the month now.

Too Long...

2008-07-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not having updates but I had shoulder surgery two weeks ago and have not been able to play or type.

I am back. I plan to keep this short since typing is still a pain.

June Results

Poker Stars
30 Sngs
ITM 50%
ROI 41.8%
Profit $69

Full Tilt
18 Sngs
ITM 55.6%
ROI 27.3%
Profit $27

June Totals:
48 Sngs
ITM 52.1%
ROI 36.4%
Profit $96

Next Month I plan to double the profits and Play more.

Back to the SNG Grind

2008-06-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

Played 4 Sngs tonight, for 3 cashes, a first, second and thrid. Ironically I placed fourth in the other sng. The bust out hand on that one was pretty sad. I was pretty much card dead so I was the short stack. On my blind to a button raise I pushed with 8s9s and he ended up having AQ and took me out. The thrid place I pushed with pocket fives and got called by Q8 off by the big stack. Classic race.

In the one I won I started behind by 5 to 1. We grind it out for about 20 minutes or so when we finally get it all in. I had AK he had A6 and my hand held up and I crippled him. We went grinded it out some more until this hand. The guy said it was a bad call, but he lost so he doesnt count. Anyways you be the judge.

Statistics through 26 SNGs

ITM 50%
ROI 46.1 %
Profit $59.50

PokerStars Game #18014889739: Tournament #91402385, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2008/06/09 - 00:47:08 (ET)
Table '91402385 1' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: vanman733 (10480 in chips)
Seat 4: Trainwreck84 (3020 in chips)
vanman733: posts the ante 50
Trainwreck84: posts the ante 50
Trainwreck84: posts small blind 300
vanman733: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Ts 9s]
vanman733 said, "did u win the other one"
Trainwreck84: raises 2370 to 2970 and is all-in
Trainwreck84 said, "ya"
vanman733: calls 2370
*** FLOP *** [Kh 3d 7s]
*** TURN *** [Kh 3d 7s] [Th]
*** RIVER *** [Kh 3d 7s Th] [Qh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [Ts 9s] (a pair of Tens)
Trainwreck84: shows [5d Jd] (high card King)
vanman733 collected 6040 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6040 | Rake 0
Board [Kh 3d 7s Th Qh]
Seat 2: vanman733 (big blind) showed [Ts 9s] and won (6040) with a pair of Tens
Seat 4: Trainwreck84 (button) (small blind) showed [5d Jd] and lost with high card King

Saturday Night Mulit Table Tourneys

2008-06-07T22:02:00.000-07:00

I have decided awhile back that Saturday nights I would dedicate to Muti Table Tournaments. Since the time involved I cant really do it on any other night so I figured since I started this blog and decided to take poker a little more serously than I have in the past 9 months that I should start tonight. Besides playing SNG all the time is simply boring.

I will be playing these MTTs and some .05/.10 cash games on FT and will keep my bankrolls seperate from my SNG challenge. Stating bankroll on FT $110.

I am shooting for 20% ITM on these and any positive ROI since I dont have anything to go on. So tonight I played 3 MTT, 2 $3.30 knockouts and a $2.20 MTT with 288 entrants.

Earlier to day I picked up a quick $5 in a cash game so I was pretty much free rolling 2 tourneys tonight.

The $3.30 were knock out tourneys where if you knock someone out you get 50 cents. In the first tourney I pretty much was card dead and then with 66 left I picked up AhQh. I raised preflop got 3 callers. Flop came Q,heart,heart. Me and another guy get it all in. He turns over Q9 no hearts and of course rivers a 9, and not the 9 of hearts.

In the second knockout I was pretty much card dead and short stacked with 22 left. Picked up some big hands and got to 9th with 13 left. I pick up AQ on the button raise all in and get called by the SB who of course had AK. I end up going out 13, 4 way from a cash.

In the $2.20 I was pretty much card dead and finaly pushed and busted out 90th. I think that was the only hand I played. Well 0 for 3 isnt a great start hopefully next weekend will be better. I will be back to playing SNGs tomorrow so stay tuned for those updates. FT bankroll $108 so only down $2, thank goodness I can still play cash games.

Gravity

2008-06-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

The laws of gravity. Last night we visited the old addage of what goes around comes around. Tonight we will be discussing the laws of gravity. These 3 hands really put the hurt on me.

PokerStars Game #17922971784: Tournament #90909527, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/06/04 - 23:03:43 (ET)
Table '90909527 1' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 2: Z06poker (1270 in chips)
Seat 3: bigdaddyqt (755 in chips)
Seat 5: Pitzi777 (1340 in chips)
Seat 6: JCTR444 (4210 in chips)
Seat 7: reed13111 (1360 in chips)
Seat 8: rintintin70 (3370 in chips)
Seat 9: vanman733 (1195 in chips)
JCTR444: posts small blind 25
reed13111: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Ad As]
rintintin70: folds
vanman733: raises 150 to 200
Z06poker: folds
bigdaddyqt: folds
Pitzi777: folds
JCTR444: raises 4010 to 4210 and is all-in
reed13111: folds
vanman733: calls 995 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (3015) returned to JCTR444
*** FLOP *** [6d 9c Kd]
*** TURN *** [6d 9c Kd] [5h]
*** RIVER *** [6d 9c Kd 5h] [6c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
JCTR444: shows [Kh Ks] (a full house, Kings full of Sixes)
vanman733: shows [Ad As] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
JCTR444 collected 2440 from pot

PokerStars Game #17923351566: Tournament #90909747, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/06/04 - 23:25:00 (ET)
Table '90909747 1' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: scdeerslayer (4660 in chips)
Seat 3: vanman733 (5375 in chips)
Seat 4: rld3b (1585 in chips)
Seat 5: ttttttt7 (1880 in chips)
ttttttt7: posts small blind 75
scdeerslayer: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Kh Ks]
vanman733: raises 450 to 600
rld3b: folds
ttttttt7: raises 1280 to 1880 and is all-in
scdeerslayer: folds
vanman733: calls 1280
*** FLOP *** [7h 5c Ts]
*** TURN *** [7h 5c Ts] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [7h 5c Ts Qc] [Qd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ttttttt7: shows [Tc Th] (a full house, Tens full of Queens)
vanman733: shows [Kh Ks] (two pair, Kings and Queens)
ttttttt7 collected 3910 from pot

PokerStars Game #17923256669: Tournament #90909707, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2008/06/04 - 23:19:35 (ET)
Table '90909707 1' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: moppymoppet (1400 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: vanman733 (1460 in chips)
Seat 3: civanb112 (4570 in chips)
Seat 7: Slydogblue (3445 in chips)
Seat 8: rld3b (1215 in chips)
Seat 9: Solracotto (1410 in chips)
Solracotto: posts small blind 50
moppymoppet: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Td Tc]
vanman733: raises 300 to 400
civanb112: folds
Slydogblue: folds
rld3b: folds
Solracotto: calls 350
moppymoppet: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ts Ad 8d]
Solracotto: checks
vanman733: bets 400
Solracotto: raises 610 to 1010 and is all-in
vanman733: calls 610
*** TURN *** [Ts Ad 8d] [3h]
*** RIVER *** [Ts Ad 8d 3h] [9c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Solracotto: shows [Jc Qc] (a straight, Eight to Queen)
vanman733: shows [Td Tc] (three of a kind, Tens)
Solracotto collected 2920 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2920 | Rake 0
Board [Ts Ad 8d 3h 9c]
Seat 1: moppymoppet (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: vanman733 showed [Td Tc] and lost with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 3: civanb112 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Slydogblue folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: rld3b (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Solracotto (small blind) showed [Jc Qc] and won (2920) with a straight, Eight to Queen

After all those bad beat I went 3 for 6 overall for tonight. Two First places and 1 3rd. In the one I placed 3rd I didnt really have a chance.

Totals through 22 sngs:
ITM 45.5 %
ROI 30.2%
Total Profit $36.50

What goes around comes around

2008-06-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

The Frist hand of the night: I put Stevo on a big ace and was going to check raise his continuation bet but the BB ruined my plan. I put him on a ten and we get it all in. Good thing I was wrong. Scary turn card, had to sweat the river now. Its not like runner runner couldnt happen.

PokerStars Game #17902313122: Tournament #90803673, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/06/03 - 23:56:58 (ET)
Table '90803673 1' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Jim Pistawka (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: soccerfan87 (1500 in chips)
Seat 3: vanman733 (1500 in chips)
Seat 4: foreplay69 (1500 in chips)
Seat 5: stevo watts (1500 in chips)
Seat 6: sierawan (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: SleepHollow (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: Rehmbo (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: uhateme77 (1500 in chips)
soccerfan87: posts small blind 10
vanman733: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [Qc Qh]
foreplay69: calls 20
stevo watts: raises 60 to 80
sierawan: folds
SleepHollow: folds
Rehmbo: folds
uhateme77: folds
Jim Pistawka: folds
soccerfan87: folds
vanman733: calls 60
foreplay69: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [4c Tc 5h]
vanman733: checks
foreplay69: bets 100
stevo watts: folds
vanman733: raises 180 to 280
foreplay69: raises 180 to 460
vanman733: raises 960 to 1420 and is all-in
foreplay69: calls 960 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [4c Tc 5h] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [4c Tc 5h 7c] [Th]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [Qc Qh] (two pair, Queens and Tens)
foreplay69: shows [6h 6s] (two pair, Tens and Sixes)
vanman733 collected 3090 from pot

Running good could it last

PokerStars Game #17902466178: Tournament #90803673, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/06/04 - 00:06:16 (ET)
Table '90803673 1' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Jim Pistawka (1470 in chips)
Seat 2: soccerfan87 (3280 in chips)
Seat 3: vanman733 (3030 in chips)
Seat 5: stevo watts (1200 in chips)
Seat 6: sierawan (1730 in chips)
Seat 8: Rehmbo (1020 in chips)
Seat 9: uhateme77 (1770 in chips)
stevo watts: posts small blind 10
sierawan: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to vanman733 [8s 8d]
Rehmbo: raises 20 to 40
uhateme77: calls 40
Jim Pistawka: folds
soccerfan87: folds
vanman733: calls 40
stevo watts: calls 30
sierawan: calls 20
*** FLOP *** [8c Td Qh]
stevo watts: checks
sierawan: checks
Rehmbo: checks
uhateme77: bets 200
vanman733: raises 300 to 500
stevo watts: folds
sierawan: folds
Rehmbo: calls 500
uhateme77: folds
*** TURN *** [8c Td Qh] [Js]
Rehmbo: bets 60
vanman733: calls 60
*** RIVER *** [8c Td Qh Js] [8h]
Rehmbo: bets 180
vanman733: raises 2250 to 2430 and is all-in
Rehmbo: calls 240 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (2010) returned to vanman733
*** SHOW DOWN ***
vanman733: shows [8s 8d] (four of a kind, Eights)
Rehmbo: shows [Ah Jh] (two pair, Jacks and Eights)
uhateme77 said, "wow"
vanman733 collected 2360 from pot

My first bust out AT vs 96 raise preflop got two callers flop was A66 I was short so I pushed who knew out 6th

My second bust out came with KJ vs AK I was so short I just pushed with any two paint in position and ran into a big hand in the BB.

The next 4 I cashed in: two first, one second and one third.

Overall Stats through 16 SNGs:

ITM 43.8%
ROI 17.6% wow thought it might take a couple of nights to get back what I lost.

Total Profit $15.50 not to shabby. Going to try and push my ROI over 20% tomorrow. Hope I can.

The First Night

2008-06-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

Well the pressure is on. The First night I got hit pretty hard. I wanted to start off on a good foot, but that didnt happen. Here is a summary of my first 10 sngs.

ITM 30% but no wins.
ROI -34.5% yes I know its negative

Finishes 2 seconds, 1 third and 4 bubbles. Ouch I know.

In the bubble finishes I have been hit pretty hard. One hand hits run run gut shot to take me out. Another QQ vs 99 all in after the flop and he turns a set and only had two outs at the time. I dont know what people are thinking. I was Short Stacked and pushed with KQ and got called by A8 and he hit both on the flop and the other was just a plain cooler. I was Short again and pushed with 33 hoping for a race and ran into 66.

In the two second place finishes I had AA cracked by 3d4d. I raised preflop pretty big. I hit a set on the flop, but he hit flush draw and a pair. He went on to catch the flush. In the other one I had AJ vs A8 and you know what happened.

Other notable hands I had AA cracked by JJ which took me out 6th. I had a set cracked by a turned straight. I ran into AA 3 times last night with JJ, AQ and the flop was AQ, ouch and I was SS after the JJ vs AA so I pushed the very next hand in the small blind agains a lone limper and he called and had AA. Back to Back.

So the first night wasnt very good. Down $19.00 already. I hope to get it back tomorrow, if the cards can hold up and I can avoid the coolers.

The Setup

2008-06-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

Goals:
Obvisouly $5k, secondary goal WSOP 2009 $1500 event.

Parameters:

Parameter 1. $300 dollars at Poker Stars.
Parameter 2. SNGs only.
Parameter 3. I cannot cash out until I reach $5k.

Rules, well there is only one rule, win!

In all seriousness I will stick to a 40 buy-in limit to keep it simple.

I will blog my results here daily or as close to daily as possible. I will also describe my plays and or opinons of my plays. I would welcome anyone to comment on those plays. I will post hands and leave it up for discussion.

I am setting my goals for the $5.50 sngs to an ROI of 20% with an ITM of 40% This basically means I plan on average to make $1.10 on each sng I play at this level. With an estimate of 30 to 50 sngs a week it should take me 2 weeks to move up to the $10 level.

Wish me luck. Tonight the trials begin.