Successful home game

Well the home game on Thursday went well.
It started as $1-3 NLHE so I just bought in $150.
I lost that in about 21/2 hours - didn't play many hands - the hands i played were
QQ - I'm down to about $130 just from some small pots and blinds - I make it $10 to go in EP - a guy who has just taken a big beat goes all in for about $40 - only $30 more so autocall - he has Kd10d but hits his king.
1010 - I've been blinded down to around $60 now and get this in late position (just call the 3) - flop is KQ10 - I bet $20 and get one caller - I assume he has a pair and open ended so I'm just looking out for a 9 or an Ace - turn is another 10 - we both check - can't remember the river but not a 9 or an Ace - I bet $25 - he says "we probably have the same hand" I said "I doubt it"! - he folded anyway so I should have just shut up! Was kind enough to show him and two players said when I said that they knew I had quads!
So I still didn't have much after that hand - maybe 70 - then get AK on button with about 8 limpers - think that $30 would be nice for my stack so I push - but get two callers - both had suited connectors (low) - one hit flush and one hit str8! One of them said my all in priced him into the hand - that didn't make much sense but I just laughed.
So..reloaded another $150 and that went much better.
The next big hand was 55 - I limp with it in LP (stack around $130) one of the blinds makes it $21 - gets one caller - I decide to gamble and call. Flop 832 rainbow. Raiser bets $50 other guy calls and I do too. I don't know why - I kind of liked the flop and don't think either of them have much. I think the raiser has AK. The turn is a 2 and everyone checks - I am sure I'm ahead now - river is a king which i hated - but thankfully they both check - no-one wanted to turn over their hand so I flipped up the 55s and got a load of comments about what a bad call I made as they both mucked!
Next big one was 1010 - i make it 10 to go early - am reraised to 50 by a loose player - then there is some commotion about a misdeal - some card was lying loose - but he so wants to play the pot I am sure he has aces. I could have said it was a misdeal but we are heads up and I really wanted to gamble. Flop is like 10 5 2 rainbow - the money all got in pretty quick and he did have aces.
So..I'm well over $600 going into OH8 and got some good hands in that also - mainly split pots but with a few players in so I made good profit.
Cashed out $900 - should have been $910 but we did a blind hand for the loose change!
Enjoyed it a lot - going to play more live when I can.
3 $20+2 SNGs since last post 1st 3rd and bust. Getting a bit better. Been reading Collin Moshman's book which advocates a much more aggressive strategy to what I have been playing but I think this is necessary given the amount of bubbles I have been getting at $20+2
Unfortunately I think I can only play one at a time this way so it will be a bit slow.
Current roll $530 (plus $600 live roll to be saved for home games!)

Another 5 SNGs tonight 2 $10+1 - 1 win 1 bust
3 $20+2 3 busts. Its driving me mad - I'm not playing that bad. Around the bubble I haven't one a race in any of the $20+2s.
did well in the cash games - practised some OH8 for tomorrow night and made $50 at 25c pl.
Closing roll $464

bad results:{

done another 23 SNGs since last post
1st 11, 10+1 SNGs 3 1sts 1 3rd 7 busts - I won the last two of this group of 10 using a different aggressive, stealing blinds and doing races strategy
then 12 $20+2 SNGs - terrible results - only one 1st. I don't know why so bad - trying different strategies I guess. So on tilt and had a few beers last night that in the last one I called two all ins on the 1st hand with 78off! I never do stuff like that. They both had pocket aces amazingly enough.
Going to a friends $1-3 cash game tomorrow so going to practise ring games tonight. It's above my bankroll and a wild game based on last time (see post back in May) - going to try and just play tight and survive on $150.
Closing roll $450. (somehow still doing ok due to deposit bonus - final table in a $5 multi - and a little omaha session)

130 down

2 1sts, 1 2nd and1 3rd from the last 9.
Closing roll $376
I played a lot today and did a lot of multis also which is why still down I guess.
Nearly cleared $100 bonus - should be doing the $20+2 sngs soon

121 down

done 121 now - only managed 3 2nds out of the last 15. Terrible. Unless the next 10 are profitable a major strategy review is needed...

100 SNGs complete - cash game ban lifted!

Finished the first 100 SNGs plus another 6 so only 94 to go.
did 5 on Tuesday night (all 10+1) and got a 3rd and a 2nd
10 last night - started off real bad - lost the first couple and then was on major tilt - argument at home doesn't help. So lost the first 6 but then managed to break even by getting 1333 on the last 4.
Tonight was good did 6 and got xx131x (all 10+1)
of the first 100 SNGs I think I got in the money 46 times - aim for the next 100 is cash in 50 of them with at least 10 1sts and 10 2nds. Realistic but steady target.
decided to do the cash games again for a max of 2 5% of my roll buyins per day. made about $14 off 2 $20 buy ins. Just want to play them a little bit to stay in practise for casino trips.
Closing roll $432.79

85 SNGs done

3 $20+2 - 1 3rd 2 busts 7 $10+1 1 2nd 1 3rd 5 busts
pretty bad
I need to think of a change in strategy
what I am doing wrong
1 - making some bad calls
2 - playing for the money too much and too tight around bubble time
3 - just playing my own hand - not thinking about opponents - not bluffing enough
4 - not accumulating enough early on
5 - not reraising enough when I think I may be ahead
solutions
1 - don't worry about being bluffed - don't call overpot sized bets - in an attempt to make heroic call
2 - defend blinds more around bubble time, be prepared to race
3 - try and win every pot in - bluff more
4 - limp with more hands
5 - not allowed to just call - reraise or fold - especially one <20 blinds

Banned from cash games - 75 SNGs done

I'm banned from cash games from now - absolutely useless - blew at least $50 of my hard earned tourney winnings in about 30 mins. Quite a lot considering it was 10-20cent blinds!
I buy in for 20 - call a raise to $1.2 with 7s8s flop is J56 - there is a flush draw (I have no part of it) - 3 players in it 1st checks 2nd bets $3 I call 1st goes all in (has me covered) - I snap call - other guy folds. What a fckn donkey I am! Needed a 4 or a 9 which didn't come.
Rebuy another 20 start playing every hand - call some raise with Qd7d - flop is Kd10hJd - great! I must have about 75 outs so I lead out pot sized $3 against about 5 players hoping someone goes all in - I figure I'm favourite against anything. Get stuck in for all my chips by AA (no diamonds) but he still holds up. I suppose this wasn't as bad as the first one with 78 but I knew i was drawing and I knew I wouldn't get everyone to fold. I should have check called hopefully smaller amounts. And when I'm thinking I have an OESD as well as the flush I am being generous considering it was fairly obvious the original raiser even preflop had AA so two outs gone. Although when the all in percents came up I was 46% so not too bad.
Lost even more after that - trying to play every hand and get it back fast.
So I'm banned from cash games for now! - I've no respect for the chips compared to a tourney - it was same last time I went to Vegas - particularly chasing draws.
did another 10 SNGS
5 20+2s (1 3rd 2 2nds 2 busts) 5 10+1(1 2nd 2 3rds 2busts)
Closing roll $477.6

65 down 135 to go

done 65 sngs now - done some $20+2 but not much success
did 10 yesterday 1 1st 1 2nd and 2 3rds - (8 10+1 and 2 20+2) I lost both the 20+2's tho.
done 6 so far today - 3 $10+1 got a 3rd and a 2nd and 3 $20+2 got a first and two losses.

Rough day

Rough day personally - still managed to profit from poker
My wife is not getting out of hospital til at least Monday so that sucks - home alone again ( my daughter is staying at her grans tonight to help me out)
Great opportunity to play poker but I'm too depressed and tired to enjoy it much.
Anyway managed 8 bottles of beer, 10 SNGs, 1 multi (400 players) and 1 shorthanded multi (only 35 players)
SNGs - did ok despite losing the first 4, got 1 1st 3 2nds and 1 3rd out of 10 tournies. A slight profit - $20 or something I guess.
got about 25th in the 400 player tournie - not bad but not much money for that - got $15 ($5+0.5 tourney)
4th in the shorthanded one - should have done better - was very tired and happy to be in money so called an all in with 66 when I still had 17/18 blinds. The problem was every time I raised the same player reraised all in so I felt I had to do a race. Not true really - I don't usually do that. Anyway it wasn't a terrible call as I was ahead (he obviously had overs) but he hit one of his overs.
Closing roll $416 and $20+2 ticket - happy enough that still making a profit on a bad day!

Get better soon!

Well been a rough couple of days so not much poker. Had to take my wife to A and E yesterday - with chest pain -after 6 hours in there they admit her - possible pneumonia. Seems to be under control today but still in there - get well soon - I love you:) xoxo
Poker - got home last night after 6 or 7 hours in hospital and shouldn't have played - lost 2 $10+1 SNGS then bed. Tonight - bad start - very tired after 4 hours sleep and lost the first one then went 1 2 x 1 on the next four. So pretty good.
One of them I won when i was dead cert bubble boy with about 2 or 3 blinds left - the other 3 were comfortable stacks. Its amazing how quickly it can change. Basically the blinds were good to me I got back up to 2000 ( with the blinds 200-400) then I'm in the small blind (folded to me) and the BB only has 2000 or so also - pick up KQ and shove - called by 77 and hit a Q. Then I'm even with the other two stacks - they went to war straightaway - and I'm heads up.
Also hit a straight flush - but it doesn't count for much as only using one holecard.
So, so far I've done 39 SNGs
32 @ 5+0.5 6 1sts 4 2nds 5 3rds
7 @ 10+1 2 1sts 1 2nd
Total profit $137
Closing roll $340.

Successful night!

Had a good night tonight - well apart from my wife being sick - the poker was good.
1 - main event on TV - always entertaining - saw one poor guy get four aces on the river but the river ace made his opponent a royal flush. He stumbled out of there in shock! Never seen that - the closest was one cash game when I made a str8 flush with 3c5c and the other guy had 44. Unfortunately it was 25c blinds and we only had about 20 bux each!
2 - finished 2nd in $2 shorthanded MTT (423 runners) - happy enough with 2nd I got my money in quite good with QQ on a 4 67 flop - he had 89 with a backdoor flush and hit the flush. I was second going into final table and came out second so I suppose it is ok. The three hands that really did it in the tourney were - 1 stack around 15k blinds 200-400 I call min raise in BB with 86off - flop 457 2 clubs - raiser with 30k goes all in with ace queen of spades - no sweat! 2 - stack around 50k folded to me in small blind blinds 400-800 - I raise 3.5* with Ad3d - flop is 3,5,7 - I bet 1/2 pot - bb calls - turn is 7 - I decide to set a trap and show weakness - I know he just thinks I have none of this flop - he checks - river is a 10 he goes all in for about 25k - I hesitate then call - he has AJ - nothing - the 3 is good! The last good hand I remember was with stack around 100000 guy with similar stack raises pre - I reraise with KK - flop K88 - I make a weak bet of 1/2 the pot - he min reraises - I just call - then smooth call a sizeable turn bet and reraise all in on the river (to a large bet) - the river reraise was quite small but he got away somehow. Still made a lot about $70k.
3 - two more places out of 2 $5 SNGs - 1st and 2nd.
4 - won my battle with Hollywood Poker to get my $20+2 ticket they have owed me for 2 weeks. Unfortunately the site went down for maintenance so I can't use it tonight.
Closing roll $288 - not bad from $5.5 start! and a $20+2 ticket! will be starting the $10+1 SNGs tomorrow.

30 SNGS done

did another 10 tonight - ok results - disappointed with number of 3rd places but in most of them I was happy to make money
got 2 1sts and 4 3rds out of 10
that brings record out of 30 to 5,3,5 - 5 1sts 3 2nds 5 3rds - profit of $55 from 30 $5+.05 SNGS.
It's ok I guess - as long as I make a small profit - I don't think I can go bust playing these if I stick to 5% buy in rule. Hope to keep going at this rate so I can do the $10+1 ones soon.
also got second in the EZ money tourney - I got a free $5 ticket for that and also placed in $2 sh mtt
Closing roll $131.5

20 SNGs done

did another 5 SNGs and only got 1 second. Today was a Monday holiday and the play seemed stronger during the day.
Will give my current strategy one more chance as it seems to work at night times.

50 SNGS per week

doing a new experiment - going to do 50 SNGs per week - 200 by end of September. Starting on $5+0.5 and will move up once buy in for next level is not more than 5%.
Started really well but slowing down a bit - pleased that when I have made money there have been a good amount of 1sts and 2nds.
So for from 15, 3 1sts 2 2nds and 1 3rd. Profit $32.5
Closing roll $95.57

First night

Got off to a good start. Did 5 double or nothing SNGs (on game has these) top 5 all get the same. Completely different to regular SNGs. A couple of them I got severely short stacked but still made it. Some players don't really get the difference. One of them I have 2 blinds left, on the bubble and two big stacks go to war with AQ and AJ. Got 4 out of 5 on these. (2 out of 2 at $2buck level 2 out of 3 at 5 buck). (have decided can do up to 20% of roll on these).
One interesting hand where I may have made a mistake but got away with it was:
we are on bubble 6 players left blinds 75-150. UTG (t 1600) limps , I'm UTG+1(t 2500) with 55 (limp also) UTG+2 (t1600) goes all in. The two opponents are 5 and 6th I'm 4th. Bear in mind its top 5 all get the same. So I figure I can't lose - one of them is going bust here (they really did have almost identical stacks - one of them may have had an extra 50). So I call and lose but it didn't matter as I'm left with 800 and UTG busts out. I realised after that it was a mistake as there is a reasonable chance they both have AK - or they could have even split the pot with their aces (e.g. if board double paired). So no reason to play the hand but got away with it.

http://www.pokernetwork.co.uk/games/handhistory/?sRoundReference=T4-75175122-1 - you can browse the hands using next - I'm guy656

Got deep in a $2 shorthanded MTT - 17th out of about 400 runners.
Didn't win any decent pots until blinds 75-150 and am down to 635 chips. double up on hand 67 when its folded to small blind who has tons of chips and shoves. I figure I can't fold my K4 and K hi holds up!
After the break I'm still getting blinded out and am down to 1000 (hand 74) - flop top pair with a crap kicker but shove anyway and beat the button who had slow played QQ
I still don't pick up much and we are at hand for hand play (im 49th out of 51 with 48 paid) on hand 120. I shove UTG with AQ (5 blinds left) and hold up against KQ.
Hand 122 I double up again from the same guy - I had KQ in small blind that time. Flopped top pair not much out there - i bet pot - he goes all in with trash! A good bet I suppose - I did consider folding with us being on bubble. Back in it after that with 8000.
The hand history loses it self after this. The only other two hand worth mentioning are - 2 black aces - raise preflop - flop is all hearts - sole opponent goes all in - I don't like it but have to call and he had shit - no pair no hearts! That got me up to over 20k - not bad from 600 just before break and 49th out of 51!
Anyway down to 3 tables I have about 20k left - opponent has about 30k blinds 600-1200. He raises UTG to 4000 - I'm on button with JJ - decide to just call and see if an ace or a king comes (at each point of the hand I was certain he had AK and became more and more certain as hand went on) - flop is 924 rainbow - he checks I bet 5000 he calls - turn is another 4 - he checks - I go all in he calls with fkn AK and river is ace. I don't usually get mad but i was punching the computer desk at this one. I don't think going all in a flop would have made much difference - maybe - but its the play I want - I want him to put his chips in with that draw. So got a lousy 10 buxs - disappointing a final table prizes much better and would have been there apart from that river.
Oh well good start anyway - also came 2nd in the tourney I had a $5 ticket for (12 players - but it paid 6 and I only got $12)will try and to another 5 double or nothings tomorrow.
Closing roll $40.

New start

Hi
Starting blog again
Going to post a lot of tournies and hands so hopefully anyone reading can give me some helpful comments and it might help readers to. Always good to see how others play:)
Starting roll is $17.5
doing same rules as before - no more than 5% in a game etc - but allowed minimum of $2.5
Aim for tonight is $20 - i.e. $2.5 profit.
Going to do $2+0.25 shorthanded MTT
$5 tourney which I have a player points ticket for.
a freeroll
5 $2 double or nothing SNGs.
Will update after!

Still here!

Haven't blogged in ages i know.
I still have the money from the home game but blew the online money. Redeposited $500 about two weeks ago as I had a week off work and it was to treat myself as not going away. Still have $350 of that. It should be a lot better, I was up to over $1000 after winning a bounty tournament $5+0.5 where I got max bounties (it is on Hollywood Poker - knock out 1 celeb $25, 2 $100, 3 $250, 4 $500). I'd done 3 by the end of the second level. Great value tournament!
Still blown most of it playing OH8 and down to $350 now.
I'm going to Borgata Summer Poker Open in June and doing 3 tournies (they are between $200 and $500) and the rest of the time will play cash game.
4 weeks to go - my live bankroll will pay for the tournies and I am going to try and build this $350 into $2000 for cash games.
Can't wait for a week of live poker.
The other reason for this blog was the diet - it is going well - might even reach that target. Was 176lbs last weigh in.
All i'm going to play now is NLHE cash games and MTTs to practise for AC.
Oh well thats a brief summary of last few weeks. Will blog each day to motivate myself on reaching $2k!

Crazy cash game!

Oh well not much to report for online poker. I lost about $100 in the hotel at the weekend playing OH8 - got about $40 back by last night.
So a mate of mine (mentioned his cash games in the blog before) invited me to his Thursday night $1-3 game. I said I'd go on Tuesday then started immediately regretting it. It's way over my poker bankroll - I play like 25c NL at the moment and I feel better playing online. Also I play tight starting hands and one can sit for an hour without playing a hand. Still...thought I'd better go so practised OH8 and NLHE online last night and Tuesday night. I decided my aim for the session was just to get through the night with my original buy in.
So I get there and its the usual crowd - full table. Mixed group a few maniacs. So I play very tight the first 20 mins and have about $140 left (bought in $150). Then I pick up AA in the BB - everyone all 9 other players have limped in for $3. I raise it $20 - i must have been thinking it was $1-2 cos I wanted to make a pot sized raise. Anyway - everyone calls except the small blind! The only hand I have played in 20 mins! F@@K I think. I'm first to act on flop so decide before dealt that I am check probably folding unless an Ace comes. Anyway flop is K84 rainbow - I check one guy bets $50 everyone folds back to me (one guy accidentally exposed J6 off!)- I'm not worried about this opponent he is loose and probably just has the K. I reraise all in he calls with K3 - I hold up. That was a nice pot more than doubled up must have $350 but no time to count because next hand.......
AA on button - (i must have been small blind hand before this is all from memory) a guy in mid postion makes it $25a couple of callers - I decide not to fool around and at least get heads up so make it $100. 3!! callers. Actually the first caller made it $106 and is all in. Now I'm worried! Flop is 6c7cKd - I don't have Ac - 1st guy all in already 2nd guy checks 3rd goes all in for $250. I make a crying call, 2nd guy folds. 1st guy has 66 3rd has AK. Turn is an Ace!!
I cant remember the exact figures but over $1000 after this hand. I felt sorry for the guy with 66 but to limp then call $100 with it - come on!
I win another nice pot with 77 on a 789 board - saw the flop cheap bet $30 flop 2 callers $50 turn one caller river puts a flush out there and we check check - he had AK - just some overs!
Lost about $100 with AKs when I flat called $50 preflop and it was heads up. Opponent check all the way to river and it really looked like AK hi was good and he bet another $50 - I call but he had jacks.
My best call was with AJh - I'm big blind about 6 limpers. Flop is AK5 - I check - want to keep the pot small out of postion - everyone else checks. Turn is 3 putting 2 spades out there. One guy bets $50 all folded to me - I hesitate and call - I put him on either A3 or a spade draw. River is another 5 - I check he bets $250. I don't love my hand but it doesn't make sense. I don't think he puts me on the Ace so if he had trip 5s why so much. I think he puts me on a missed draw - so why on earth overbet the pot? I count out the chips as if to call and he looked kind of sick - didn't think it was acting so I called. He said good call he has nothing and mucked!
We played OH8 later on and I lost a bit but cashed out $1,340. This is my new live poker roll! I'll include the other $250 I took with me also
Closing roll $307 online Live $1,590

Rough week

very up and down few days on line. Played a lot of turbos, heads up, OH8 cash games to clear $100 bonus which had to be done by today. I did it last night and finished with $400. $42 less than I had last week (Sunday) so bit of a waste of time. It was a rough week - lost like 8 10 player SNGS in a row at one point. Didn't really play that bad in them got some quite bad beats. One of them i've already doubled up and am chip leader still nearly full table - three hands in a row I get AA AA QQ and I'm gone! 1st one AA blinds 25-50 - i make it 175 UTG everyone folds. 2nd AA (next hand) - I have a bad feeling - I've had AA twice in a row before - several limpers - I'm BB - raise to 350 one of the limpers goes all in everyone else folds I call he has KK and hits a King. Down to about 2000 - next hand a few more limpers I have QQ and raise to about 350 again - one of the limpers goes all in - clearly I am beat but past caring - he has AA! That was that one over.
Then last night I enter two SNGS ($10+1) and we have a power cut lasting over an hour. That made me mad - I thought of suing the electric company for $22, will maybe deduct it from next bill!
Have the weekend off as my wife and I are taking a weekend vacation. It started off nice this morning with a game of golf (she had never played before) at a 9 hole par 3 course. She played good for first time. I played ok - one good hole was the longest where I got a nice drive to just off the green and then holed a huge pot so I got one 2. Apart from that pretty bad - one 11 at a par 3!
The hotel we are staying at is nice - got off to a bad start as there was nowhere to park and got into an altercation with the doorman - I asked for the manager and he told me to go and get her myself and I wanted to kill him! Settled down now - just waiting for our room to be ready. Have free internet in room but going to try not to play.
Closing roll $402.

Volatile day

another busy day - was over $500 at one point but took a beating in heads up SNGs so lost most of it.
did 7 10 player SNGS 3 $10+1 x12 (profit $47) 4 $20+2 SNGS 223x (profit $60)
heads up SNGS did 5 $10+1 and 5 $20+2 won 3 of the $10 ones but only one of the $20 ones. (loss $65)
Wasn't my fault - bad beats!
Also did a $10+1 30 player SNG - was chip leader at final table but lost a big pot with AK with an ace on board -so out on bubble. did a 2000 player $5 multi - went out just after bubble in about 180 for a $4 profit! sucks after 4 hours play - have to get to the final table on these things.
So - not doing anymore heads up SNGs - was doing them for player points really
Another 21 10 player SNGs to do - no more heads up for now - its good practise and lots of hands but not profitable really for me - with the rake have to win 7 or 8 out of 10 to make it worth it.

did 10 mile race this morning which went well - did 85 minutes so quite pleased with time.
Closing roll $442.

busy day

did another 12 10player SNGs today and 10 heads up SNGs - mixed results - should have finished better
10player results
(started great) $10+1 4 tournies x211 - then moved up to $20+2 - terrible 4tournies all bust back down to $10+1 4 tournies xxx2 - so the loss was (30+50+50+30-176) $16 - no disaster I suppose but dissappointing after great start. Bubbled quite a few times especially at the $20+2 ones and got my money in pretty good or at least a coin flip once short stacked so it could have been different - a bit unlucky.
Won 6 out of 10 heads up SNGs (2 out of 3 $20+2 4 out of 7 $10+1) - (40+40+80-77-66) $17 profit
Also did a $5 multi (500 players) came about 30th for $30.
Closing roll $415.

50 SNGs and 50 heads up

doing a little experiment to do 50 each of these before next Friday. I need to rack up player points to release another $100 bonus.
So far done 10 of each - $10+1 10p SNGS x2x2xxxx12 (was looking pretty bad until last 2 tournies) - $30 profit
$10+1 heads up SNGs won 5 lost 5 - $10 loss (rake is a killer on these)

Still here!

Sorry for lack of updates.
Since last blog I didn't really stick with system. Had about $66 as of last blog. Got fed up of the $1 SNGs and a bit drunk so did a $50 one. Lost that - practically bust - deposited another $100 and lost that pretty quick. Then deposited $50 (this was all last weekend) - got that up to about $70 - then last Saturday (Saturday before Easter) a friend invited me to his OH8 $1-3 NL cash game. So during the day that Saturday thought I better practise and did well with the $70, getting up to $250. The cash game itself was ok - I lost $140 but it was a lot worse at one point. Very difficult to play tight when each hand takes 5 minutes so I ended up playing too many hands. Anyway cleared the $100 deposit bonus online and currently about $330.
So - completely cheated on bankroll rules but got an online roll going now so hoepfully no more busts.
diet has been going well - under 190lbs now - got a 10 mile race tomorrow so that should help.

45 down 55 to go

Had to take 2 days off poker as cable was down. What a bore - no tv no internet. Was in bed at 1030 last night which is the earliest in years.
did another 8 of the $1 SNGs tonight. Poor start - was rusty from 2 days off and lost the first 3. did another 5 and got 221xx. ok i suppose - should have won at least 1 more of the heads ups. Also did some freeroll that got me 2 bucks!
overall from 45 games of $1+0.3 10p SNGs - 10 1sts 10 2nds - profit $41.50.
Closing roll $64.

17 more SNGs

another 17 of them today - quite enjoying them - only 63 more to go!
5 1sts 3 2nds so quite pleased - esp as improving on heads up.
Closing roll $60.

First 20 $1 SNGs

done 20 of the 100 I said i'd do already. Good start 4 1sts and 5 2nds.
Back up to $38.
If I do 100 I should get over $100 and clear the ($100) deposit bonus with not much risk - kind of boring but enjoying them in a way. So realistic target for end of month is get over $100 and clear the deposit bonus which will give me $200 to start April.
($20k target still en route:))

still alive:)

sorry for lack of posts.
been playing a lot and never getting round to it.
Thanks for last comment Krosta - good to see you doing well:)
So..latest news - blown most of the $100 on Hollywood - down to about $20. Started off sticking to rules then entered a $20 tourney and a $10 tourney I couldn't afford - then tried to win it back with a$25 buy in in a cash game - lost that also.
So - i've got to go back to the $1 SNGs - am going to try and do 100 of them in the next two weeks to find out if profitable.
Also trying to work off the $100 deposit bonus.
So far ok 2nd in first two busted 3rd one.

New start on Hollywood Poker....

well I couldn't stand the $1 SNGS anymore - even winning one just didn't mean much so I treated myself to a $99 deposit. (going to play real good now - positively the last deposit I ever make!)
Same bankroll rules as before but can enter $5 tournies no matter what bankroll.
Going to do 10 NL SNGS (single table) 10 NL SNGS (30 player) 10 limit SNGs (10player) and rest of time in cash games (max of 2 buy ins to OH8 cash game per day - concentrate on NLHE) each week. will track results to see what best game is. Hollywood Poker has a 200% sign up bonus but I only have 30 days to release enough points.
So far
$5 10 player SNGS (NLHE) x3x (-6.5)
$5 30 player SNGS (NLHE) x2 (+30)
$5 10 player SNGS (limit) xx (-11)
cash games OH8 (-4) NLHE (even)
Closing roll $108

Sit n gos

Did 6 10p $1+.3 SNGs tonite got 1xxxx2 for $2.8 profit. Its alright I suppose - could've been better. Going to do 20 of them to find out if profitable and try and get good at them. OnGame network has a very good $1+.3 SNG with 10 minute levels - althought they charge for it with the 0.3 rake.
Very tired - off to bed with no Omaha hi-lo - I can't afford it now anyway.
Starting half marathon training tomorrow so going for a 3 mile run - will see how that goes
Closing roll $35.62

Finally back in business!

I've spent the last 3 days trying to deposit into online poker...I have 2 credit cards and 1 debit and they all appear to block poker sites. Also I have an Apple Mac so can only really play on Ongame Network.
Eventually managed to do $15 thru Neteller today - it wouldn't let me do more til I have sent in ID. I aint trying to launder money i just want to play poker! I think it must be all these stupid US laws.
So starting again today with $15.
Going to start by doing 10 $1+0.3 SNGs - only pay 1,2 aim is to place in 5
Still aiming for $20k by 1 June - just need to make 8% per day!!

bust/deposit probs

Went bust last night:( Broke the 5% rules - went below $100 and just couldn't take the grind anymore - so bought into OH8 25c PL and NLHE $25 for full buy in - played for hours - til 430am and had to get up for work a few hours later!
Not too bothered - am going to give it one more try - was all set for this tonight but couldn't deposit - I have two credit cards and a Click2Pay account and I couldn't get any of them to work on Ongame network. Nightmare! All of tonight trying to deposit.
So I'm doing a freeroll on Pitbull Poker right now - maybe I'll win that and not have to deposit. Should be back in business properly tomorrow anyway - once I've sent about 27 forms of ID to Click2Pay or Neteller:)

find best game experiment/hand histories

Going to find out what my best game is. doing an experiment where I will do 5 of each of the following:
heads up NLHE SNGs, 5p NLHE SNGs, 10p NLHE SNGs, 10pLHE SNGs, 30p NLHE SNGs, OH8 cash game session (5% roll - play til double up or 1hour max), NLHE cash game, MTTs. After doing 5 of each any loss makers I won't play anymore (except for MTTs - expect to make a loss in just 5).
Have to stick to same bankroll rules.

Trying to do some hand histories - ok identity exposed - i'm Hibees8

http://www.pokernetwork.co.uk/games/handhistory/?sRoundReference=P4-61580933-612

Let me know if can read hand histories from above link - this one is from a limit game - that game sucks! So obvious he had AQ or AK I felt like folding for the river bet.

OH8 went better - doubled up after only 3 or 4 hands

http://www.pokernetwork.co.uk/games/handhistory/?sRoundReference=P4-61619596-105

(hope these can be read ok - i'll need to do one with no showdown so readers can guess holecards:))

2nd in a limit 10p SNG - a bit annoyed not to win as I got great cards right until heads up. The opponent for heads up is always in these SNGs and very tough to beat - hands from tourney
http://www.pokernetwork.co.uk/games/handhistory/?sRoundReference=T4-61633390-4
http://www.pokernetwork.co.uk/games/handhistory/?sRoundReference=T4-61633390-6
the above two allowed me to double up very early on - unusual for limit and should be a breeze to make money from there
can see other hands from tourney by just clicking next on the above hands and scrolling thru or replacing last digit
other hands were
13 - not bad for 73 off - not sure if have betting right
30 - haven't played for a while need to pick up blinds (A4off)
33 - nice flop for 7d8d:)
36
40
51 (guess my hole cards!)
55 - mistake - I have Ah3h - key thing is the opponent was comfortably in 3rd and 4th very shortstacked (i.e. bubble time) - I should have fired once more on river - no way he calls with 33
63 - he laughed at me - I didn't want a call til river
69 - managed to bluff him 37off - betting just told me he missed a draw
scroll thru from there on for rest of heads up - I couldn't really get an edge he played very well

did a 5p NLHE SNG after that
first nice pot
http://www.pokernetwork.co.uk/games/handhistory/?sRoundReference=T4-61635230-12
..not sure if betting was right - probably not as I put him on AQ - he had KQ but I should have got him all in - he did well not to reraise esp. shorthanded
other hands - 15 (Jh10h) 18 (QQ - if he has a str8 he's getting paid) 24 (wasn't in pot but felt sorry for the guy with that draw:)) 34 - felt sorry for me! good read - 38 - its over - guess i was tilting a bit.

heads up SNG - follow hands from here - get beat by overset about 13!
http://www.pokernetwork.co.uk/games/handhistory/?sRoundReference=T4-61635696-1
did one more heads up SNG - won this one - open ended str8 flush (and royal flush) draw against slow played aces on last hand! actually not royal flush draw as he had the ace but hit flush and dodged another heart on river.
http://www.pokernetwork.co.uk/games/handhistory/?sRoundReference=T4-61635843-1

oh well thats it for tonight - enjoying the experiment and different games should be good practise esp for tournaments - about even for night
Closing roll $116.92

Idiotic day:(

Last nights success shortlived....don't know what happened....
Said to myself - I just need to make 10 bucks today - so started off with 2*$9 in OH8 - lost both of these pretty quick - that riled me straighaway. Usual story - kept buying in 5% of bankroll and didn't catch much luck. The thing is, I shouldn't have played during the day when my daughter (3yo) is up - she wants to play and I feel bad playing poker and it sort of tilts me. We'd had a real busy family day and I just wanted a break about 6pm so tried to play for an hour while she was still running around - its amazing how much i lost in that hour! Going to try and wait until nighttime now.
Oh well could have been worse - just need a result like a win in a 30p tourny to make up for it.
Going to look into doing proper hand histories this week
Closing roll $116.42 (so about 9 bucks profit on a weekend with about 10 hours poker - not going pro for a while!!)

Loadsa money:)

so..had the dreaded squash tourney today - not very good - got beat 11-9 11-7 11-9. Actually I suppose as good as expected against this guy. Consolation tourney is Tuesday 8pm so will see if that goes better.
So..back to poker - good day today - played for about 8 hours.
Started with some 25c-50c limit OH8 - only 3 or 4 players but it was very juicy game - made about $15 on that.
Then did a 30p $5 tourney and came second in that for $41 ($36 profit). Played pretty tight after getting a big stack early on. doubled up first with AK - raised preflop - to 100 with blinds 15-30 (I pretty much had my starting stack of 1500) 3 callers - flop is KcJc9s I bet the pot - about 400 next guy folds other guy who has me covered goes all in. I hate being all in with just a pair so early on but risked it and he had Qc7c - I hold up. About 2 hands later I pick up AQ and make it 100 to go again -everyone folds but the same guy who goes all in for 1600. Normally I'd fold this so early on but was feeling it and anyway he just went all in on a 4 flush so I don't think I have to worry about him having a better hand. He has AJ and I hold up again. That got me to about 6000. On the 2nd table (down to 20) I worked my way over11000 then the final table was pretty quiet I had enough to get to heads up pretty easily - but was shortstacked by that point.
I did about another 4 30p tournies but didn't cash in any more. to be honest I do need fairly good cards to do well in tournies - if they don't come I tend to get blinded out
Played lots of OH8 pl 25c cash game - just buying in for 5% of my roll and leaving if doubling up and it went pretty well - doubled up more often than not and tripled up a few times. Lost a few buy ins as well but still good.
Hands I remember:-
AhAs3h10s - flop 4h5h9c - I had about $8 at start of hand and had raised pot preflop with 5 callers (can only raise pot size) - anyway great flop nut flush draw 2nd nut low draw straight draw and pocket aces - so I bet pot on flop - about $5 - reraised all in by 2 people - completely miss the turn and river. That one sucked. I had to be the favourite over just about anything!
AhAdKd10s - not a good low hand but worth playing for the hi - I limp in (had $7) - a big stack makes it a dollar - and two shorter stacks call - back to me - I decide to make a risky squeeze play and reraise the pot - the big stack folds and the other 2 go all in - I call - scooped that pot - neither of them caught a low hand - that was a nice >$20 pot.
Last hand of the night A2Q9 - I've only $6 in play - someone makes it a dollar to go - about 5 callers. Flop 85K - initial raiser bets the pot which would put me all in and two people go all in after him - I make a loose call know full well I can only win half pot but with so many people in playing for the lo might be profitable. Anyway I think I have missed lo when the turn and river are a J and a 10 but for some reason I am getting the pot - oh - duh I have a straight! That was a nice $20 pot to finish off night. Total fluke but that's fine.
Oh - forgot one hand from NLHE 5c-10c (played that for a little while) stack about $7 limp in for 10c with several others with Ac2c - flop AA8 - there were 7 players in - I'm 4th to act - all checked to me - I just check - might not have the only ace and don't want to make it too obvious if it is - turn is the 4th ace - a short stack goes all in for $1.5 - I just call (there are players still to act whose chips i want too - although I thought smooth calling was a bit obvious) a guy behind me with about $6 calls too - river is a Q - I was about to just bet $2 then I thought nah just go all in - he'll never believe me - so I did and he called with KJ - wow not even the queen or the 8!
Closing roll $180.62

Quiet night

Not too much to report - made about 7 bucks.
did 5 $1 10p SNGs and got 2x2x1 $7 for 1st $3 for 2nd. The one I won was good as when down to 4 people I am severe shortstack with only 500 out of 15000 chips. Still played tight and the blinds were good to me so somehow found a way back.
after that bought into OH8 25c PL for $5 and doubled up 1st hand. didn't play much more and left after that round. Also lost a $1 OH8 heads up SNG.
Hopefully will get over $110 tomorrow so I can start doing $5 tournies - that would accelerate things a bit.
So..early night tonight - got the club squash tourney tomorrow. I hate my first round draw as I couldn't even beat the guy 2 years ago when I was playing much better and much fitter. I'd be better of staying home and playing poker:)
Closing roll $107.81

Back at 100:)

Back over a hundred tonight - only by a few cents but still pleased.
Gambled like crazy - had an awful lot of money in play to win 10 bucks over the night (i have abandoned the one table at a time rule)
Made an interesting read in a $2 turbo SNG - everyone limped in with blinds 50-100 cut off makes it 200 to go i call - someone who had already limped in goes all in cut off calls both have me covered I have about 1600. Pocket 2s. So I figure that if everyone limped in, none of them had a 2 in their hand so the remaining 2s were in the deck. So I call and crack two overpairs! dumb call I know but it was fun.
Got a nice double up in the NLHE 5c 10c game - I have $7 at start of hand - someone raises to about 60c I call with AQoff - flop gives me a double gutshot 10J8 - he bets small - like less than a dollar so I call - turn is a blank - he bets less than a dollar again - river is a 9 - i figure I'm not making any money but bet $2 anyway - he reraises all in - eek guess he might have KQ (which would explain the small bets) but I call anyway - he has J10 for 2 pair. Nice donation:)
AK unlucky for me again - or played badly - I have about $9 - just playing until next blind - make it 45c to go - a guy who I know is on tilt and is particularly gunning for me goes all in for $7 (he has been doing it every other hand and I know he is going to do it when I make it 45c) - I call - he has 5s and they hold up. Similar to a post I had a while ago there is really no need to call a 70*the blind reraise with AK even if don't think they have anything. But I was so desperate to make some money i did it. I bought into the table for 4 bucks and my aim is really just to double up so should have just left it.
Anyway - played some Omaha Hi shorthanded and got about $20 bucks (got a big hand with an ace hi flush against a king hi flush) so that finished night off well.
Closing roll $100.31

Almost a great comeback

did a $2 shorthanded turbo with about 200 runners. down to 290 with blinds 150-300. Made it back to 8000 in about 5 minutes. Amazing how quick can change at these blinds. Throw in my last 290 with 55 3 callers hit a set, two hands later KK get an all in and hold up, very next hand AA and some goes all in before me! back to 8000. Unfortunately blinds were going up every 3 minutes so it turned into a lottery - the comeback was in vain. Still exciting while it lasted!
Made about $5 - mainly on OH8 - should have been better - had a $3 buy in up to $15 but threw it all on a draw. Oh well hanging in - hopefully back over $100 by weekend - love this 5% system as still on the $20 from weeks ago. Used to deposit $20 every couple of days.
Closing roll $90.

Monday/Tuesday

Monday - played for a few hours - lost a limit SNG ($5) and a couple of $5 buy ins in NLHE 5c 10c. Then did my usual - got as much money in play as possible but sticking to 5% of bankroll on each table and lost about $25 playing OH8. Should ban myself from that I think (actually I think I already did but never learn!) I wrote in an earlier post that OH8 is a great game to buy in shortstacked - that's rubbish!! it's not anymore - just end up committed to too many hands. (closing roll $73) Was very close to doing a $50 heads up SNG at the end of the night to get over $100 actually entered but noone joined in about 2 minutes and I thought cant break rules so pulled out - just as well i was very tired and would have lost.
Tuesday - a bit better - I need to win a multi to make up for the last week so did lucky dollar (30th for $3.5 wow!!) - not too bad as never got above 10000 and $2 shorthanded - went out of that - called 2 allins with AdQd from 2 loose players - it was getting near bubble and was down to about 10 blinds. I was ahead but they were live and one of them caught a pair. Probably a bad call near bubble - ahead yes but difficult to hold up against 2 hands. Made about $6 in NLHE cash games. Gave OH8 another go at the end of the night and made about another tenner - so... on the road to recovery:)

diet is going well - was 196lbs at gym at lunchtime today - ok that was after 5k on treadmill but still ok. Eating nothing - all I had for dinner was chicken noodle soup - will either get skirvy or win this thing.

Closing roll $85.

Weekend results

getting worse.....didn't play very much but somehow down to $105. My constant poker playing has been causing probs at home so I have to try and restrict playing a bit. Probably a good thing!
sorry for lack of updates - going to buckle down this week and gradually build back
Closing roll $105

A little bit back

did lots of SNGs 10pl NLHE 10pl LHE, 1 30p turbo and 2 multis and some OH8. SNGs went quite well - won a couple, also third in the turbo. OH 8 went badly lost 2 buy ins so only made a little bit.
My betting tonight sucked!! Hands for example
Lucky dollar tourney - blinds 25-50 5 limpers I have 2000 and limp UTG with KQ off - 6 callers including blinds. Flop - bingo 910J rainbow - small blind bets out 50 - now I'm sure he has like a pair and a straight draw and some of the other people in must have a queen so I will get action so i raise it to 300 - bang - everyone folds:(
same tourney - I've still about 2000 with blinds 50-100 - pocket 6s limp in EP and see flop - about 5 others. Flop 633 - I'm 1st to act - decide to make what is hoped to look like a weak bet of 250 - all fold - definitely should have let someone catch a hi card on turn or river.
To make it all worse!...Playing $2 shorthanded tourney at same time have Q10 suited - stack about 4000 with blinds 100-200. limp in from button - its me and the blinds and one other limpter. Flop KQQ - I bet 400 one caller - great he probably has a King turn is a 10 and put 3 spades up there - great - I just check - he checks too -cant remember river but I decide just to check my full house thinking he'll bet with a king - nope he checks too!
Other hands of note:
Lucky dollar tourney - we are on the bubble 1 to go and I fold small blind at blinds 500-1000 leaving me with 198 and the button - wanted that $2.5 place prize bad - not really the money but hate to play for 3 hours and nothing.
OH8 - have 1010K5 am big blind stack $11 see flop for free - flop is 10107 2 spades - I check 1st guy bets out $1 other guy calls - I just call - someone probably has A10 or a full house already. I fill up on turn which is K spade - I bet the pot $4 1st guy thinks and folds other guy goes all in - he has pocket bloody kings for a better full house. Actually against this player his reraise could mean nothing else and it was a clear fold. That's how much of a "nuts" game omaha8 is - full houses get beat all the time.
Hopefully slowly grinding back - I think I should stick to tournies for a while.
Closing roll $165

Terrible.....

Shocking day of poker - don't know what happened - well I do but it was so stupid.
So embarassing after good results yesterday.
Started off disciplined enough - two hi/lo buy ins of $15 lost one doubled up the other - so even on that.
A $5 30p SNG - stupidly bubbled in that - think this was the start of tilt
A $10 10p NL SNG - 5th or 6th in that.
So should have gone to bed right here. But thought i'd play omaha! Not Omaha Hi Lo which I'm ok at but shorthanded Omaha hi. Awful - at first didn't play that bad - first hand I have AAxx with two clubs - board is Qxx with 2 clubs - I get my whole $15 in but no more clubs and the guy has a set of queens.
Rebuy and lose that straightaway also - think I was open ended and flush draw on flop.
Then I just go mad - usual - open 3 or 4 tables and just gamble on all of them - didn't catch one break - lost about 10 buy ins.
Oh well major step back. Hopefully will have a good weekend and at least get back to $300. I'm tempted to put my whole roll in a game but won't break the rules!
Closing roll $151.

New rules working

Poker went well tonight.
3rd in $10 limit SNG (10 players) gets a $9 profit. Happy and not happy with that - happy as had less than 2 blinds when it was full table and blinds 75-150 then not pleased as leader 3 handed (me and another guy were over 6000 and the other guy had 2500) and screwed it up - should have definitely played tighter to at least get heads up and another $10.
Got shortstacked by playing a pot with As7s - stupidly held onto it with an ace on the board and about 5 other players in pot. danger of limit I guess - was obviously outkicked but paid off anyway.
Then I'm the small blind with 3c6c at blinds 75-150 - someone makes it 300 to go - i've only 225 left so call and somehow that wins. Another good hand shortly after with KQ and I'm right back in it.
Screwed up 3 handed against the other big stack when he raises preflop and I call from BB with Kc9c - comes all low cards with 2 clubs so I bet the flop 300 turn (a blank) 600 river (i miss) another 600 and he calls with Ahi. Nice call - difficult to bluff in limit. went out 3rd shortly after!
Then bought into PLOH8 (25c blind) for $14 - played very tight - only hands with good hi and lo potential. A player told me I must like paying rake when I reraised him all in on the river when he had the nut low and I had the hi. I disagree - it makes minimal difference to the rake and if he has anything other than the nut hi or lo he probably folds and I don't have to share the pot. Maybe he'll call with a worse hi. OH8 players always make this point but for 50c extra rake I'd rather play normal.
I got quartered and was down to $7 when I had the nut low and also the nut flush draw but the guy has a straight and the nut low also. Grind back about to about $15 then win a nice 3 way pot with the nut flush and two people chasing low or weaker flush - that got me over $40 - then a few other hands went well and left with $57.
decided this profit means I can do a multi so finishing off evening with a $5 multi 150 players. Out of that in 30th - no money - never really got going in it.
So went well with my new rule of only one game at a time - paid much more attention to the game and to the players.
life apart from poker....
diet is going well 199 lbs now - i'm really not eating much - today was powerbar for breakfast - salad lunch - soup dinner. Been running or played squash every day for a while - the last 2 days i've been very tired from playing poker so late so only managed 20 min slow jog. I can't wait until June and it is over.
Been thinking a lot about Vegas and WSOP. Have decided would rather go in June and do 3 small events instead of Main Event in July. See schedule
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=3151500
the ones I fancy are 8 June OH8 10 June Limit (figure I might at least play one where I won't go bust 1st hand) 16 June shorthanded. So will need at least $10k - $6,500 for these and the rest for hotel living and flight.
Will see - for some reason the main event doesn't look so much fun so will probably do this instead of July.
Oh well that's about it - Happy Valentines Day:)
Closing roll $321.

Correction last post should say Tuesday

I don't know what day of the week it is! the last post is referring to Tuesday not Monday

Monday - tilt!!

Writing this on Tuesday. Played rubbish yesterday. First of all Internet went down straight after I'd entered a tourney (thankfully only $2) and I had to wait about 2 hours to get on. Not what I needed after a Monday at work when all I wanted to was go home and play poker!
Anyway last night finally got online about 1030pm so had a couple of hours. did a $5 and a $10 limit SNG at the same time - just second in the $5 one so about breakeven. Then somehow lost about $50 playing NLHE and OH8 cash games - usual story - playing too many hands and too many tables. Can't even remember that many hands - a few bad calls with just a pair and gambled on a few draws
Closing roll $275.
Thought all day long about how I can lose so much at small stakes and have decided upon new rules starting today!
1 same rules as before (5% etc see 1st post) still apply
2 only 1 table at a time
3 have a target for the day required to reach $20,000 by 1 June (I know this sounds ridiculous right now!) - at the moment I have 109 days left so have worked out I need to make 4% per day. 275*(1.04)^109>20000! - so today, Tuesday I need to make $11
4 at start of session decide which game is most likely to make required return and do that
5 don't do long odd tournies such as multis unless already over the days target
6 if I don't make the target don't go on a mad frenzy towards end of session in an attempt to win it back - just revise target next day
7 always stick to my personal rules re starting hands and position even when losing. e.g. not allowed to call $2preflop at 15c blind table with 7h5h cos I am feeling lucky - i have strict starting hand guides which must be adhered to!
8 following on from 7 if I break these rules and it is a cash game must leave the game

So tonight...starting with a $10 limit SNG - then probably OH8 - supertight - aiming to make at least $11 lose no more than $30.

Sunday/Monday 11 Feb

No post yesterday - played for about 10 hours and then had to go to bed! It was terrible - made about 50cents in the 10 hours. Started the day with $315 - went over $400 then below $300 then back to $316. I think I must have played really bad to go from $400 to under $300 at the stakes I play!
The day started good - 3rd in a 30p $10 SNG for $50, won a $10 limit 10p SNG for another $50, then an double up in OH8 so over $400. Then it all goes tits up - lost about 4 10p SNGs and the rest in cash games - did the usual - about 4 screens open at once and playing too many hands trying to get it back.
Today has been a bit better - started off bad losing 2 $5multis and a $2 multi then 2nd in a 10p limit SNG and about even in OH8 and NLHE cash games. I might have to start doing the limit SNGs - not the game I want to get good at but might steady out the bankroll - it seems fairly straightforward to get at least in the top 3 - done 4 this weekend and have placed 1x32.
A few hands I remember from the cash game:-
AK - probably a bad play - I'm up to $25 in 0.1-0.15 cash game - some girl (well girls name) is going all in every hand - she has about $15 - she does it as usual - I call in late position she has Q10. She catches the 10 on river. Probably should have mucked - no need to play the hand without at least a big pair - it was tournament play calling with that - can get her in a better spot in an unraised or standard raised pot - such as the next one.......
KJ - I'm back up to $15 or so - she makes it $2 (has stopped going all in every hand now that has chips) - I call (only caller) - I wouldn't usually with KJ for 13 blinds but I know can get it all in on flop - I push all in on Jhi flop and she calls with some absolute trash which gave her a gutshot - thankfully didn't come!
OH8 - As2hKh5c - flop the nut low and flush (heart) draw - get all my $20 or so in against a player who has a worse heart draw and a worse low. I spent about 1 hour waiting for such a hand - I think this is how to play now - just wait for a hand I can't lose - yesterday I just played far too many hands and too aggressive with them.
4 episodes in a row of High Stakes Poker on tonight - great show - seen all the episodes about 5 times but still good to watch. I want to go and play with them but the big blind is more than my bankroll in that show so cant make it for a while. Sammy Fahra is the best one - he just doesn't care - calling more than I make in a month with 10c3c for example!
Closing roll $332.

Sat 10th Feb

Played tons of poker today - like about 12 hours. Had squash this morning which went well then been playing just about ever since. Now 3am.
The poker went quite good - played OH8 cash games, NLHE cash games 10p SNGs and a $5multi.
OH8 went good - scooped a nice pot when I had the nut straight on the turn and someone else did too but I had a flush draw also and hit that. Made about $50 on that session. NLHE went well - but very boring - only one big hand with a set of 8s vs and overpair (kings) cashed out about $30 on that game from a $10 buy in. 10p SNGs were awful - I started doing the $10 ones but its a different game - I'm playing too tight for it - 2 3rds out of 5 tournies.
4th out of 112 in $5 multi went bust with pocket 4s on a 235 flop. The guy had A5. Anyway still nice result got about $50.
Oh well off to bed - nothing to do tomorrow so probably another 15 hours poker:)
Closing roll $315.

early night

Friday night - glad work is over for another week. Have to play 2 squash games tomorrow morning so an early night.
My wife got some pish on PPV with Jodi Foster where her bloke gets killed and she turns into a vigilante. Was alright I suppose.
Poker went ok - 3rd in a 30p $5 tourney won a $5SNG lost a couple of other tournies.
Biggest loser weigh in was good lost 10lbs 1st month. Just all the Christmas flab - the next month will be more difficult.
Closing roll $223 weight 203lbs.

Nearly weekend:)

Writing some hands as I play:-
So far tonight busted out of lucky dollar and $2 shorthand multis. Nothing much happened in lucky dollar - never really got off ground - the shorthanded tourney I went bust with a set of 33s to a set of kings. Blinds 100-200 I have 4000, UTG makes it 700 to go cut off calls and call on button. Kx3 flop they both check I go all in set of kings calls! Shouldn't have called the raise in the 1st place -was ironic as I was reading an article on ESPN which seemed to be saying you shouldn't call raises with small pairs. I thought the article was garbage but maybe I should have listened:)
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3233778&name=poker
doing a $5 sng now doubled up with a straight flush when I had 95offsuit. Lost most of it a couple of hands later with AQ just about everyone limped and I just check BB - flop is AA7 rainbow - all check to me - I bet the pot two callers - ok someone is slowplaying ace - sure enough the first caller goes all in on a turn 10 - other guy folds I have to call. He has AJ - I turn my attention to a hand in the lucky dollar - look back and most of my chips have gone to him! - couldnt believe the river was the jack - oh well still in it with about 1000.
Later on......
Busted out of the above - basically blinded out and had to gamble - busted out another one after - then a 30p tourney - no good - opened up 3 cash games again not doing very well - down to about $150. Bought into an OH8 game for $7.5 and turned that into $34 and got a double up in the NLHE cash game (had about $8) with aces against AK. So OH8 been a saviour last two days - its a great game to buy into short stacked and gamble with good draws - usually get 3 or 4 callers
Another late night (1am now) I can't get to bed when I'm down.
First Biggest Loser weigh in is tomorrow - hoping to have lost 10lbs but haven't checked this week.
Closing roll $203.

Bad night

Terrible poker tonight:( Closing roll $190. Actually it could have been a lot worse was down to $150 at one point. Was so tempted to break the 5% rule but didn't. Big Omaha HiLo pot got me a bit of a comeback. 2am now and have work tomorrow but had to stay up and try and win back!
Started the night with $227 - played $2 shorthanded multi - bubbled in that and lucky dollar - no where in that. Then a $10 SNG - 4th. Then bought into two NLHE 5c/10c NL cash games - was getting nowhere and opened up 4 games but couldn't catch a break. didn't play that bad I suppose - ran into aces a couple of times once with QQ and I paid him off. The sickest hand was where I had JdJh (stack $12)- EP i make it 0.35 someone in middle makes it 1.5 he has me covered - tight player i reckon he has AK AA KK or QQ for sure. Flop 9d8dJs. I'm not too worried about him having a 10 so bet half the pot 1.5 he reraises to 4 - I decide just smooth call like I have a draw. Turn is Qd - damn I think this has ruined any action as he must think I have a 10 or a flush draw. I check - he bets $2. So the Q doesn't bother him in the least! He must either have pocket Queens or AdKd - for sure - 100% - I just call - then fill up on the river (another 9) - shove in the rest of my chips and of course QQ!!
That kind of summed up the night.
Went to an OH8 game and bought in for $7, cashed out $35 - that was all that prevented the night being a disaster!
Oh well I think I'll limit myself to SNGs for a while that was way too volatile.

fed up of 2nd

oh well not a bad day didn't get to play much a working late - 2nd and 4th (no money) in $5 sngs. I think i've got 2nd in 4 out of the last 5 heads up conclusions - must have to work on this - although I think in most of them came in shortstacked.
Tonight I played to tight - got to heads up with 4000 to his 11000 blinds 200-400 and still played tight. He went in practically every hand - did get a double up with AQ early on and we were even for a bit but I still thought the blinds were low enough to play tight and I folded hands as strong as KQoff and Q10s to all ins. I blinded back down to 4000 then decided i had to go with Ad6d but he had a better ace. Next heads up I'm playing very loose aggressive.
did 2 cash games at same time $10 each lost most of one and doubled up the other
Closing roll $227.

Monday results

Back to work today glad that's overs. Had a squash game as well - nearly as bad as the other day but I guess it helps with the diet. Only time for 1 hour poker - 2nd in a 10player SNG (these are going well last 4 have been 2212) and about 2 bucks (wow:) in a cash game.
Two hands I remember from SNG were
Stack around 4000 down to 6 - I raise UTG with AcKh to 700 (blinds 100-200) all fold except BB who calls flop 10Jack5 one club - I check - don't like to continue bet with a J10 there as it gives too many hands a draw - hope he doesn't bet too much - he checks turn is Qc - I think its kind of obvious that I have AK on the flop as its about the only hand I'd raise preflop and bet happy to check the flop - he bets 900 - I decide just to smooth call - turn is 2c - I go all in he folds - think i misplayed it possibly on the flop definitely on the turn - he had something good I'm sure - could have got him all in on turn and the river club scared him off.
3 handed I messed up and went to heads up shortstacked - the key thing in the hand was that third place didn't even have a blind left and I think the leader is just playing on that. short stack (button folds) - I call from small blind (300-600) with A8 off. Flop is K75 (two hearts) I bet 600 he calls - he has been calling every time I make a stab on the flop and I think Ahi might be good turn is another K (no heart) check check river is a 2 (non heart) I check he bets 1200 I call - he had the 5 - 95 or something - great value bet on his part I guess - 90% of players would have been happy to check there I think. I thought he'd just missed a flush draw and was playing on the fact I didn't want to be 3rd with the short stack having less than a blind.
I've been trying to make too many heroic calls lately I think - sometimes they work but people don't bluff as much as I sometimes think.
Oh well hung on for 2nd - getting sick of 2nd - 1st is another 10 bucks and makes a nice difference.
Closing roll $218 - slowly getting there - if get to $220 can start doing the $10 tournies

Sunday results

Back to work tomorrow which sucks. Such a bore. Watched the Superbowl - not really into American football but have to watch it once a year. As a neutral my basis for supporting NY Giants is that there were once two New England fans at the poker table in Vegas all dressed up in their Pariots shirts and they were a couple of jerk offs. It was nice to see the underdogs win as well.
In more important sports news, Hibs drew 0-0 with Rangers in the Scottish Cup - not too bad although that was at home so they will have a tough replay. In the Rugby, Scotland got thrashed 27-6 by France - pretty bad as we had high hopes.
Had a squash league game this morning - got beat 3-1. Played like total rubbish - came from 8-5 down in the first game to win it on the tiebreak and that completely finished me me - was completely knackered after that! My opponent was at least 10 years older than me and just as fat so fitness shouldn't have been a problem! He won the next game easily making it 1-1 and in the third game I was 6-3 up and somehow couldn't even finish that off and he won 9-6. I was mad after that and he won the 4th easily. Shocking display - I'm going to have to do better than that.
I think the Biggest Loser first weigh in is this at the end of this week so I want to really crash diet and lose a couple more pounds.
Poker went well today - two 2nds and one 1st out of 3 $5 SNGs, a place in a $2 shorthanded multi - about 400 entrants top 40 paid - only $6.5 but it all helps:) - entered a $5 30player SNG but busted out with Jd9d on this board
Ad5d7c8s
I have stack 1800 at start of hand - hadn't got off the ground really and blinds 75-150 - two limpers I call on button blinds both call - on the flop UTG bets 300 I call others fold - turn (the 8) he goes all in - has me covered - I decide my hand is as good as a straight flush draw so must be at least 30% with one card to come and just feel like gambling - miss unfortunately. Bad call - was playing a cash game at same time and was losing interest I guess.
did the lucky dollar again also but tried to make "call of the day" with 44 and about 15 (ok maybe just 5) overcards out there because I thought the guy had AK and missed, Wrong! I guess shouldn't enter tournaments if not prepared to totally focus for 3 hours.
Oh well that's about it - suppose should go to bed with work tomorrow although feel like another 4 hours poker.
Closing roll $206

Lucky dollar saves me again..

Another good result in Lucky dollar tournament (2nd out of 480) for $75. Was badly needed as was down below $100 before that. (Hadn't been doing well in online poker the last week).
Main hands were big slick - hit top pair with it and doubled up both times - amazing as I never do well with that hand.
Messed up Q9 on a Q99 board - two limpers I complete small blind with blinds 600-1200 I have about 30000 post flop UTG who has a stack of about 60000 fires out a 3000 bet - for some reason I think he is strong and a raise from me will look less suspicious than a smooth call so I reraise to 8000 - total spaz move as he folds. This is a problem I have to work on in my game - getting action and trapping when the hand is so strong it is unlikely to get outdrawn.
Final table I went in about 6th played tight - it went quicky people knocking each other out and I made it to heads up with 120k vs a girl with 440k. She'd been big stack for a while and loved to make huge preflop raises so I decided I was going to have to go with any Ace any decent King or any pair. It was over 1st hand tho - I got 77 she had 22 and we got it all in and she spiked a 2. Shame really as it would have been game on if the 7s held up but wasn't too upset tho happy enough with 2nd.
So back up to $165 - I need to try and conserve this and stop playing stupid in cash games - should maybe give up Omaha HiLo also - its too volatile and I gamble too much in it! I keep buying in 5% of bankroll into it and lasting about 10 mins. Today it really added up and had me below $100 at one point. I've worked out that only need to make 4% per day to reach 20k by 1 June so just need to keep chipping away.
Thanks for comment Krosta - great to hear from you. I wasn't sure if anyone read this! Tried to email u but didn't have a link to address. Are you doing the same thing with bankroll management - i.e. rules about no more than 5% etc?
I must have enjoyed the Casino last week more than I thought as I'm now desperate for a trip to Atlantic City or Vegas - I don't think I can wait until June or July. Maybe will go in March or April if I get some good results online.
This blog is meant to be about poker and my diet (Biggest Loser comp at work) - not much news on the diet - put on a couple of pounds while away in Canada last week but doing ok still and lost about 8lbs in January
Closing bankroll $165 - weight 204lbs.

CasinoRama trip report:)

Well i lost a lot of money but the trip was quite comical.
Get a special bus from Chinatown for 5 bucks. I'm the youngest on the bus by about 20 years (and I'm mid 30s). Everyone is Chinese except me and one woman. She gets mad at them pushing past her to get on the bus and yells that there is plenty of room for everyone. She tries to get me on board (I guess as the only other white person) telling me that they probably are used to pushing living among a billion people! Everyone heard that so I choose not to say much!
The bus journey took quite a while but the scenery was very nice and it was a nice drive.
So we get there and I find the Poker Room - my worries about it being quiet on a Monday were unfounded as the place was mobbed. I go on the list for 1-2NL and get in quite quick. Just buy in for $100.
So.. play tight for about 10mins and then pick up aces in EP and make it 10 to go. 4 callers which isn't good - the flop is KJ2 rainbow. I don't like it much but push all in for about $80 and one caller. He had KQ and catches a Q - he flips over and I muck. Instantaneously about 3 people yell that they want to see my hand..classless f&*ks! I told them I had aces but the dealer pulls it out of the muck. I just laughed and the annoying Canadian/Hungarian beside me gives me a big lecture about how making it 10 to go wasn't enough. Whatever..
The guy that called only had about 50 so I am returned about 30 and top up the remaining 80 in the pocket.
Play tight for about 1/2 hour then get to see the flop with several limpers for $2 with Ah7h. Flop is Ad7d6h - i bet the pot about $10 and one caller. Turn is another 7 - I think checking is too obvious and the guy calls anything so I bet $20 - he calls - river was I think 9d - I hope he has made some kind of straight or flush and bet what i have left - about 60 - he thinks for a minute and says i think you got a better kicker but i call. So I think he has a 7 also and feel bad but he had A8! Not even a decent ace with flushes straights and full houses out there - he went on about the hand for ages like it was a bad beat!
There are two semi pros at the table that discuss every hand in detail - what they had what they put you on - what their odds were - the reason for their play. It was like Who Wants to be a Millionaire - well Regis I think the answer is C because...
They were amazingly easy to read after listening for a while.
Anyway I get drunk and go completely on tilt and lose my cash - go to the cash point and take out $300 - I lose that in a couple of hours as well - I was so card dead and so bored that I start playing hands I shouldn't.
Made one retarded play with 72 off just trying to be a smart ass and lost $150 with that. did make one good bluff with J4 off - (i am really bored) I make it $15 to go in early position - one caller. Flop is Kd10d3c - I bet $20 he calls quickly - I think thatmeans he is drawing - either JQ or diamonds turn is 7s - i bet $25 leaving me about $70 behind ( i need to keep enough for a large river bet just in case he has a pair) - he asked how much i had left and I was certain he was on a draw and wanted to know how much he might win - he called - river was a blank and i go all in he folds. I really wanted to show the hand but didn't have a big stack for the table so thought i better not!
The only other hand of note was when i have JJ - several limpers - I have button and just call - thinking I make a set or fold. Flop is 889 - a guy who is playing every hand bets $15 - I don't really like it but call turn is a 10 - he bets 20 - I reluctantly call river is another 8 - he goes all in for $70 - i don't believe he has an 8 - maybe a 9 maybe a PP - so I call. Stupid idiot turns over the 9 and says can you beat this? I say yes and turn over jacks - he then says well can you beat this and turns over the 8. Dirty slowroll making me turn over my hand and embarassing me. I said its a winner just flip it over next time and he starts going mad telling me I was ahead on the flop??? and i let him catch up????
For the rest of the day I played bad and started playing every hand - must have lost about $800 then another $200 on roulette - oh well never mind.
Enjoyed the day anyway!

Breaking even

Finished tonight with $175. been volatile since wednesday - was down to $125 but got back up again. Volatility seems to be due to OH8 - I'm not as good as most of the online players at this - getting a bit better. Won a couple of big pots tonight so at least even.
Off to Canada (Toronto) tomorrow so last post for a few days. I'm getting a bus to a casino called CasinoRama on Monday so hopefully they have some good poker.
diet hasn't been good last couple of days - so busy at work no time for exercise - will be nice to have a few days off.

Finally - breakthrough!

Finally a result. Won the lucky dollar with 382 players. Only $125 but not bad for a buck!
This is great news for me as I'm getting really fed up of playing games for $2.5 buyin. Still sticking to the Ferguson bankroll rules but I can at least now play $5 tournies and buy into cash games for $8 or $9.
What I remember of tourney.....
starting stack 1500 doubled up 1st or second hand - limped in late with a few others with 10 10 and hit a set - got paid off by AJ (j hi flop)
so I'm looking good early - about 3300 - about the 2nd level blinds 15-30 - UTG makes it 60 I have KK and made it 250 folded back to him he reraises to about 700 i go all in (he had about 2000 to start) - he calls with JJ and hits a set
so down to 1300 - about 3rd level 25-50 I call min raise with 77 flop is JJ8 3 players. UTG bets 100 other guy calls - I really think they just have big cards maybe AQ (turned out to be a bad read) so call. Turn is a 7 - both check i bet 450 both call - I hope they don't make jacks full! River is a 9 so I go all in hoping one of them has a straight - I still don't really think any of them have a jack - they both call and they both did but fortunately no other full houses! Awful calls considering str8 flush and full house out there but it was nice for me.
must have had about 5000 after that.
Still around 4500 with blinds 75-150 - KK again raise to 500 guy goes all in for 2k I call he has KQ - makes a str8 but fortunately I catch up when a Q comes and we chop it.
KK not doing well for me - after the break blinds 100-200 i get it again and get it all in one caller with 88 (has me covered) - finally it holds up.
Up to around 10000 - played pretty tight from there just trying to make the top 50 and the money - got two double ups with AKs and QQ - stole a few pots and made final table with around 40k. Not very much. Somehow hung on to heads up - it was a loose final table. Heads up with 200k to his 400k - very long battle - I got very short - about 2 blinds - but couldn't lose an all in - he was a bit pissed off and told me I was very lucky when I said gg - ah well sulky f**cker.
Anyway very pleased - made a couple of final tables this week but money is only good if top three.
Other than that not much going on - diet is going well been running or playing squash everyday and only eating healthy.
Closing bankroll $177 - weight 202lbs

Saturday

Had two games of squash today - the court lights broke on the 2nd game so only one and a half games really
Big takewaway curry after so spoiled the diet
Played online for hours tonight - watching WPT reruns at same time.
5c/10c NL didn't go well couldn't catch a break. Went down to about 50 and went on tilt
didn't break the bankroll rules but did silly tourneys such as the mad tilt all in where u get 60 chips and the blinds start at 10-20 and go up every 2 or 3 minutes. It's stupid - basically u can t fold a big blind. Just did the 10 player ones but no success. Once i did a 50 player one and won that then did another one and one it too. Considering its a lottery the odds of that are about 50*50!
Also opened about 5 screens at once buying in for the min ($2.5) at $25NL. That went ok. did some $2 10p turbos also and won one and got one second.
Closing roll $62 - could have been worse!

knackered

biggest loser is going well - went for a 30min run this am then a 5k in the gym tonight. Had to work late so only a couple of hours poker. Did well in cash games - one $2.5 buy in up to $12.5 - can't wait til tomorrow and weekend. Closing roll $79.97 weight 207lbs

Wednesday

Wasn't in the mood tonight - did lucky dollar but called 2 all ins on the 2nd hand with Js10s and that was it. Then lost 2 $3 buy ins in cash game - called 2 all ins with 44 hoping to get lucky and another one with AQ. Not very good - I think the low stakes are boring me and I really want to win some big pots. Tighten up after that and made a profit but only a few bucks. Closing roll $66.82.

Amazing lucky dollar tourney

Never had a comeback like this - was down to less than the small blind 60 chips and somehow got back to 25,000. All went wrong after that but at least got a place.
Blinds were 100-200 I have about 2500 with KK someone before me with about the same stack (I guess 60 less) goes all in and I call but he has aces.
I don't just throw the 60 in next hand I wait for the BB when I have K2 - somehow that wins with 5 people in so I'm back to 300. Next hand K9 off - good enough to go all in - about 5 players. Lots of action and nothing for me so I'm sure I'm out but a big stack bets his missed draw and K hi is good! Back to 1500. Get AA soon after and back to over 3000. Still looks like I won't make money as top 50 paid about 55 left and I am down to 1600 with blinds 500-1000. Somehow the bubble bursts quickly so I make the money with 1600 at blinds 500-1000. Pick up KK and quadruple up then AK against some rubbish and back to 25k ( there was some other hand where I picked up a good pot also) Lost a couple of big hands after that - the last one I'm down to 10000 two limpers with blinds 800-1600 I'm BB so I push with A10 trying to a least get it heads up. The guy that limped early called with 6c8c and I knew it was over when the flop had 7c9c - what a great flop for his hand! Frikkin donkey limping in with that crap in early position with blinds at 1600 then calling the all in when he didn't have much more chips that me! Just kidding I don't get mad and criticise plays:)Maybe he put me on 96 or something. Oh well got 21st out of 450 so not too bad. Played cash games for a while and did ok - playing every pocket pair now as hitting sets on about 1 out of 2. Seriously its the most unreal run of cards i've seen!
Closing roll $62.92 - not bad - seem to be making a tenner a day! Hopefully be able to move up in stakes soon but sticking to the 5% bankroll rule.
diet is going well - except my wife made banana bread today so had to eat a lot of that. Went to the gym at lunchtime and rowed 20 mins which was a struggle

A good training dvd

My wife picked up Howard Lederer "Tells All" at the dollar store. The tells section is a load of rubbish. "if someone slams their chips in and stares at you they are weak" - strong means weak. There might be a little bit of truth there but I have seen acting strong mean strong lots of times! Then it was shaky hands - oh well i guess a little bit when someone looks down at aces but mine shake more when i'm bluffing. Then it goes onto hand selection - if you played this guide you would be very bored and find it very difficult to get away from you pair of aces when someone has a set! oh well I'm glad it wasn't 29.99 like the other poker dvds!
didn't get to play much poker as cable was out. it came back on and I had 2 double ups on 2.5 buyins at 5c/10c NL (pocket aces first hand on one of them - am getting very good hands since redeposited on Europoker) then won a $1SNG.
Diet is going well and another game of squash tonight. Got beat 3-2 but he usually thrashes me so not too bad!
Laydown/read of the night..very pleased! posted 10c blind in lateish position to buy into a new game. 4c7c saw flop unraised Ac4s7s. Early postion bets 40c guy before me calls - I said to myself 1st guy has AJ 2nd guy has 56 - decide to just call the 40c turn is 8 (not a club) 1st guy checks 2nd guy goes all in for 85cents - i fold - for only 85c more!, 1st guy calls. 1st guy A10 second guy 56. Ok got the 1st hand slightly wrong!
Closing bankroll $53 - well on target for $20k by 1 June - now allowed to buy in cash games for more than the minimum $2.5 - well $2.65!
Watching High Stakes Poker - don't think these guys are following the above starting hand guide!

Sunday results

Back from wedding party - very tired but tried to play a few hours poker before work tomorrow
Busted out straightaway in Lucky Dollar
Qh2h in late position - many limpers. (blinds 10-20)
Flop 7h3h2d
utg bets 50 6 callers, I call too. Right there I should have known someone has nut flush draw.
Hits on turn 5h
utg bets 50 guy with nut flush draw raises to 100 cut off calls i make it 750 (leaving me 750 behind)
utg calls nut flush goes all in cut off calls (10h4h) i call and utg even worse than me calls with 2 black queens.
bit annoyed as put the guy going all in on nut flush and been playing long enough to make that fold.
Non nut flushes have been burning me lately! maybe there is something to be said for "check calling" in early stages of tournies and not going all in without nuts until <20 blinds.
Oh well - weekend over, back to work tomorrow.
Closing bankroll $41 closing weight 205lbs (although that was this morning before wedding party)
Cash game luck started running out and was back down to $30. Eventually tripled up a $2.5 buy in and back to $35. Entered a $1 SNG to finish off and won that.
Notable hands
Hand 1 88 limp in few called flop is 679 two diamonds. One guy bets about 200 i raise to 750 (not slowplaying this flop) he calls everyone else out. I'm not worried about him flopping a str8 as he definitely would have shoved with the diamonds out there. Turn is a black king I shove he calls with 4d5d but its fine i fill up with another king.
Pretty tight after that picked up a few small pots and over 4000 blinds 75-150 then
Hand 2 I have AA - a girl in cut off raises to 400 - I don't know why I reraised as she played really tight but I always get punished slowplaying online so I make it 1400 and she shoves with AK. Held up - up to about 8000 two other players with around 3000 and one with 1000 but he is away getting blinded out.
Get to heads up with 11000 to 4000
give him a lot back when I make a straight flush or a straight and flush draw with 58h so were get to about even.
Got it all back and it was over when I have 57off - just call BB flop is 46Q rainbow. I bet 200 (blinds are100-200) he min raises. I love making a small bet with straight and flush draws and they often help to get a cheap card. Turn is a 3 still no flush draws so i have nut straight - I check he bets 2000 I reraise all in and he calls with Q10.
oh well off to bed - work tomorrow. Want to start planning for WSOP and have to let them know if I want time off in June or July. don't know whether to do the Main Event or go in June and do a few smaller ones. If anyone reads this and has been to WSOP I'd love to hear about it..

javascript:void(0)

Good start on europoker...

deposited $20 on Europoker last night - just played for 1hour 0.05-.1c NL and got up to $30. Another 1/2 hours this morning and up to $40. Amazing cards - must be a welcome back bonus from Europoker. Has AA 4 times and held up with action each time. Also had 5 sets from 8 pocket pairs. Only buying in for $2.5 per time so could maybe have more but maybe only getting paid off because short stacked.
Made one play with AA I'm not sure if I like. One limper - I made it 0.45 to go (have $2.5 at start) 5 callers. Flop is KQ8 rainbow. Even tho I am sure someone out there will have two pair I push anyway (in early position) which is about a pot sized bet. Got away with it as only caller was J10 and he didn't get there - but I still think it was risky to push on that board with so many in pot. difficult hand to play from early position.
So on course for $20k by 1 June! only need to increase bankroll by 4% per day now.
diet is going well. Lost 7 pounds since Wednesday, now down to 205lbs. I think the scales at home are dodgy as I cant have lost that much in 4 days. It also depends on what time of day. Still good tho. Went with my wife and daughter to the park this morning and ran for 35 minutes. going to a wedding today tho so will forget about dieting for the rest of today!

Bust!

Bust the 1st 20 already. Going to move to europoker as they have lower limit game and do another 20 on there. Same rules as before

Total disaster in Lucky dollar OH8!

It was shocking. First of all spent $6 on rebuys - eventually get off ground and over 20k by 1st break. doing great up to 40k with blinds at 300-600.So we have 35 left - i'm in 6th top 30 paid. All folded to SB who just calls - I pot bet with a suited A2 - comes J55 figure i can steal it so I pot bet again which puts him all in but he has AJ and calls. That was a dent - down to about 25k. Shortly after I have 26 on a 345 flop - a guy bets half the pot I reraise him all in but he had A2 and made a flush. down to about 17k. Last hand have Ac2d4d7d - pot bet against 2 limpers - flop comes with an 8 and a 5 so I shove hoping to steal it if not catch the low but didn't work out:(
Can't believe I bubbled this tourney - its ok i suppose as place prizes not much but I could have practically folded to final table. Oh well
The diet is going well - had two games of squash this morning so don't need to do any more exercise today. More poker I think..

1st day results

60th in lucky dollar gets me $2.10. Played pretty tight 1st hour saw the flop if cheap enough with connectors and pairs but nothing much. Stack of 2000 with blinds 75-150. All fold to button who just calls SB folds and I check with Q2 off. Flop is Q 3 6 - I check and he shoves - for some reason I insta call - it didn't make any sense to bet so much when I'd shown weakness - he had nothing K8 I think so it was fine. Don't know if it was a lucky call or not - usually I'd just let someone steal such a small pot. Nothing much else still around 4000 with blinds 400-800, getting near bubble. Folded to me in small blind with Qc8c so I shove get called by BB (he has me covered but not by much) with QhJh flop gives me an 8 and him a flush draw but i make 8s full so it is ok. doubled up with aces shortly after so have about 13000 with the blinds 500-1000. Leader at table and near bubble - table playing tight so I decide to try and steal every unraised pot. All folded to button who calls SB calls I have 5s6s so make it another 3000 button shoves (he had about 8000 at start) - i don't really think he has much and thought I was just stealing so call as good pot odds. He has 6h7h and the 7 ended up playing. Oh well... as soon as bubble bursts I get KK so shove and get two callers - AQ won it. Oh well I guess fancy play with 5s6s cost me getting deep.
$2 shorthand MTT - rubbish - got short stacked - about 2000 at 200-400 - I know the BB he's been on Pokeroom for years and he has about 4000 - he's a rock so i've enough to make him fold most hands. Folded to me on button so I shove with 6-2 - unfortunately SB has AK and he wins. I don't know about shoving with a bad hand - never used to do it but sick of getting blinded out.
Then onto OH8 - there was a limit game going which is unusual for Pokerroom so put $2.5 in that and $2.5 in the NL game. Busted out of NL pretty quick. Made about $1.5 on the limit game then it stopped.
Bought in two NLHE .25-.5 games for $2.5. double up on one with AQ - a few limpers I shove and one caller who had 78off. I don't get the call just cos I only had $2.25 it was still a big raise. one advantage of buying in minimum i guess. double on the other with a SB special 25 off call the 0.10 (a few limpers) - flop gutshot checked around turn the wheel and push - called by an ace so that was fine. Maybe I should have checked and kept everyone in but there was a flush draw and the pot was big to me! cash out of both games in line with rules:)
Finished with 2 $1 SNGs no cashes tho. Got all my money in with Ah3h on a 2h5h9d board - couldn't even hit that tho - the caller had 9h4h so i wasn't getting a str8 flush anyway. Oh well its just fun have to gamble on that board.
Ok closing roll $19.53 - ok i suppose played about 4 hours. Still gutted about losing my $800 roll last night but will do me good to start at bottom again.
Oh well off to bed - squash game tomorrow am.

day 1

Hi All
Setting up a blog to motivate myself on two things:-
1 Biggest Loser competition at work
I weighed in this week at 213lbs. Very heavy as only 5"7. It runs until 6th June and my target is 50lbs loss. Big money up for grabs ($1000 prize). Also going to train for a half marathon on 24 May.
2 Poker
Going to deposit $20 on Pokerroom. Need to turn this into $20,000 by 1 June so that I can go to WSOP. Going to follow Chris "Jesus" Fergusons bankroll rules:-
a - can only buy into a cash game for 5% of bankroll or $2.50 minimum
b - if in a cash game, stack exceeds 10% of bankroll must leave before next big blind
c - can only buy into a SNG for up to 5% of bankroll of $2.50 minimum
d - can only buy into a MTT for up to 5% of bankroll
I've tried it a few times before and got off the ground quite quickly. deposited $25 before Xmas and had this up over $800 but go drunk last night and put the whole lot into a $5-10NL cash game and blew the lot on a really stupid bluff.
So..hopefully that won't happen again - think keeping a blog or diary might stop me breaking these rules.
OK - off to deposit this $20 - plan for tonite is $1 lucky dollar multi - $2 shorthanded MTT, 2*2.5 buy ins to OH8 0.25-.5 NL - (I guess I'll be pushing with any A2!) 2*2.5 buy ins to 0.25-.5 NLHE - (unfortunately the lowest game on Pokerroom - will just push with top 10 hands 77-AA and AQ,AK) and 2 $1 SNGs.
More news later!