Didn't really get much chance to play in January as I have been taking driving lessons 3-4 times a week and tried to not play on evenings before a lesson. As such, when I played I was chasing profits a little too much, and combined with running bad for several sessions and some of this being at $230's, I didn't make much but with rakeback (in terms of FPP's) and bonuses still had a reasonable month.
I also learnt a valuable lesson, nobody wins on FT...I put $600 on and this went within 50minutes, losing to a 2-outer, a 3-outer and 3 flips plus getting cut off for one game...never again (well maybe for rush poker but that's an acceptable waste!)
I really wanted to hit the last Sunday schedule pretty hard but had a 6 hour driving lesson to look forward to the next day so missed out on Bowburn (DthestudentJ) putting in a heroic run to get 23rdish out of 20k ish people in the Sunday (2) Million for a nice score, but 22 people later he would have shipped $550k...if only I was online I could have persuaded him to take a 23 way chop or at least propose it!
Fortunately, I intelligently booked my driving test for 14:05 today, and it was basically pass and the fairly poor month is justified...fail and Feb may be a struggle as well. I had a couple of traumas including pulling away uphill at traffic lights only to have to stop and not roll back when two fire engines whizzed through...still somehow I negotiated this and despite some obvious minors when I was asked how I thought I did and glanced at the clock showing 14:47 I inwardly said wp and got the good news! I'm still a pretty bad driver tbh but I can learn to drive soon enough and get my own style, so hopefully I can nail the poker in Feb and starting doing well again.
5HIP IT!
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Blogggger Tournaments...let's ship them all!
Update wise nothing much has happened, had a standard drop $1500 get back to evens (and then slightly lose) night last night and haven't played much at all in 2010, putting in perhaps 4 or 5 half-hearted sessions. I have been relaxing after a big month in December, have been on holiday in the Lake District and am finally learning to drive which I'm not sure I like tbh...I hate doing things I'm not good at (unless it results in self-satisfaction!!!!) so making stupid mistakes tilt me and I have had 6 hours so far and I'm not quite at ease in a car yet...hopefully that changes soon!
So, I've only made a little bit this month though this has been helped by quite a few more fpps which I've used to invest in a ps3, an ipod nano and some other random junk like clothing and scarves and hats! FPPs rack up fast as a supernova which is nice, and I have been playing $230's and want to mix them in on nights where the action seems softer.
2010 is waiting to be a massive year I hope but it will probably have to start once my driving is out the way as I'm doing a sort of intensive driving programme spanned over a few weeks and I don't want to be out on the road without much sleep. 9am sessions won't be conducive to good driving, and neither will finishing this pos
Update wise nothing much has happened, had a standard drop $1500 get back to evens (and then slightly lose) night last night and haven't played much at all in 2010, putting in perhaps 4 or 5 half-hearted sessions. I have been relaxing after a big month in December, have been on holiday in the Lake District and am finally learning to drive which I'm not sure I like tbh...I hate doing things I'm not good at (unless it results in self-satisfaction!!!!) so making stupid mistakes tilt me and I have had 6 hours so far and I'm not quite at ease in a car yet...hopefully that changes soon!
So, I've only made a little bit this month though this has been helped by quite a few more fpps which I've used to invest in a ps3, an ipod nano and some other random junk like clothing and scarves and hats! FPPs rack up fast as a supernova which is nice, and I have been playing $230's and want to mix them in on nights where the action seems softer.
2010 is waiting to be a massive year I hope but it will probably have to start once my driving is out the way as I'm doing a sort of intensive driving programme spanned over a few weeks and I don't want to be out on the road without much sleep. 9am sessions won't be conducive to good driving, and neither will finishing this pos
Friday, 1 January 2010
2009 review, poker and life, and 2010 aims and dreams!!
Well, I can honestly say that 2009 has been a very successful, surprising and on the whole an incredible year with so many achievements and experiences, and I hope I can recap a few of them now! It's going to be epic but it will be my last for a while and I feel that 2009 is worth writing quite a lot about!!
First, I'll discuss life successes/failures and progress...
Despite a bit of a struggle throughout Uni in terms of keeping on top of the workload and being apart from Louise, in the third year I had set myself a reasonable platform from which a 2.1 was very possible. By this stage I was starting to take poker more seriously and had already replaced my part time job with poker but I knew that I had to give myself a sound basis if poker didn't work out. It has always been the same when I was considering taking snooker/football more seriously that I had to have something to fall back on, and poker is certainly in the same bracket of indefinite activities that can disappear as quickly as it appeared. Now, this was difficult, after the biggest win of my life I had to settle down the next day and work on a summative assignment, and whilst all I wanted to do was play and try to win more or go out and celebrate I did manage to knuckle down and prove to myself that I can get through exams and not let people down. I learnt that if I put my mind to something I can succeed and it's reassuring to know that I am lucky to have a good brain on me and I am determined to use it in whatever capacity necessary to succeed.
I have in some ways taken a step back in life by living back at home again after graduating, but financially this makes sense and it's nice to see my family and be able to spend time with my sisters and treat them as often as I like. I have turned my once childish and messy room into quite a nice place to relax and play poker, and have a comfortable chair and a nice monitor, along with a luxury in terms of Sky to help me work optimally. I think I have developed maturity in this time, and have become more placid in terms of poker and life on the whole. I miss Durham and the make-believe happy place it was but as with all forms of life you meet a select few who you see afterwards and make effort to really keep in contact with and they are who matter the most...the fake lifestyle of getting on with everyone at Uni is great and makes the place what it is but that's not the lifestyle I crave. It's nice to be back home, playing snooker and golf more regularly, though I do miss my housemates and the poker games from the last few years!!
I have been very lucky to experience new things this year, and have managed to go to Las Vegas, Malta, Edinburgh and almost everywhere across the British Isles which has given me a bug to go travelling and that is something I hope to do next academic year. I have also been more financially secure than ever before and have enjoyed treating people when I can and of course treating myself...Louise has had a tough time this year keeping on top of her finances and it is a proud feeling knowing that I am helping her out and establishing a nice nest-egg on which we can base our future. I am now one year closer to moving in with her and starting my life with her, and to be honest have been lucky that she and my family have been understanding with regards to me playing poker professionally.
In many ways, the money I have made from poker has enabled a lot of the things in 2009 that I enjoyed, the trip to Vegas, the balla hotel, trips away with Louise and family treats, and whilst I have splashed quite a lot of it on things I don't need, I have put some away safe which I can dip in to for things I need such as driving which I hope to be this month!
In terms of poker, SharkScope informs me that I played on 47% of days in 2009, which isn't that much compared to most of the HU regs. I played <200 games from April - June, and overall in 2009 played 4939 SNG's and a pathetic 130-odd scheduled tournaments, with only 3 Sunday Millions and 3 Weekly HU tournies.
It's easiest to review the whole year by dividing into before October 1st and after, as that's when I effectively became a "pro".
Pre October, I had some ridic run good in tournies, taking 50% of $8k from the Weekly HU tournie, $4.5k from the Sunday 250k and $4.5k from a $55 tournie, adding to around $12.5k I won from HUSNG's.
From a couple of thousand games I won around $28k and took home $24k, largely thanks to the big scores in the tournies. At this point I was still pretty much stuck at the $57.50s and a bit scared to move up to bigger games. Whilst my volume was fairly low, as I made sure I enjoyed Uni and worked when I had to , I had managed to work up the bankroll to make a big decision and play poker professionally for a year. Without some luck I probably would not have been able to make that decision, so I am lucky that I run well to get an opportunity to give it a go full-time.
Since October, I have played around 2.9k games and taken home around $21k profit, earning about $1k a month rakeback from the FPP's. I should really always use them in the HU shootouts to the Sunday Mill but I play too many 280fpp hyperturbos to blow off steam and they are pretty neutral EV. My ROI is only around 6% which can be increased, and mixing in regular speed games has helped increase that ROI. December was the breakthrough month which I hope I can progress from as I worked my ample arse off to make just under 12k from 1240 games, learning a lot about the best way to win which I hope I can take in to the new year.
So, doing some overall calculations, first up, I think if I can continue to win at a similar rate then poker is a viable career for a while. I am losing employability whilst I am out of work, but the tax-free winning at the minute is better than I would get from a job.
I have managed to win around $49k in 2009, give or take, and can add $1k from Vegas to total $50k, of which I gave $4k to backers. With only playing 47% of days in 2009, I am very proud of this total and I hope to add to it in 2010. Also, I managed to grind it out to make supernova, and I read from somebody's blog that 300k vpps with the new FPP and VPP system would equate to around $21k rakeback so I am going to try to maximise my volume to get as much money as I can get!
Aims...in life and in poker!
Travel and plan for possible trip to Aus, Thailand and NZ.
Put in good volume and keep learning.
Move up the stakes when I'm ready to take shots...I've taken a few shots at the $230s and want to continue to do so and beyond.
Play many more tournaments as they are ridic value and big scores can happen...especially Sunday Mill, FTOPS and WCOOP events.
Start driving and go on road trips to different casinos.
Get down to below 18 handicap at golf.
Make at least 4 century breaks in snooker.
Final table and preferably win a live event.
And, being bold, I have worked out that I would need to save my FPP's from 31k 115's to get the 3m FPP's to get a Porsche...if I can start to move up and play higher games, I think I can get a Porsche, so I will use this incentive to spur me on to put in good volume...if I can break even then I will have a healthly living just from the perks of being a Supernova and great FPP system...let's smash the profit as well and be actually able to afford to run the Porsche!
And, most importantly, make sure that any incredible job opportunities are looked into as getting on the employment ladder could become essential at any time!
Right, all the best for 2010, gl everyone!!!!
First, I'll discuss life successes/failures and progress...
Despite a bit of a struggle throughout Uni in terms of keeping on top of the workload and being apart from Louise, in the third year I had set myself a reasonable platform from which a 2.1 was very possible. By this stage I was starting to take poker more seriously and had already replaced my part time job with poker but I knew that I had to give myself a sound basis if poker didn't work out. It has always been the same when I was considering taking snooker/football more seriously that I had to have something to fall back on, and poker is certainly in the same bracket of indefinite activities that can disappear as quickly as it appeared. Now, this was difficult, after the biggest win of my life I had to settle down the next day and work on a summative assignment, and whilst all I wanted to do was play and try to win more or go out and celebrate I did manage to knuckle down and prove to myself that I can get through exams and not let people down. I learnt that if I put my mind to something I can succeed and it's reassuring to know that I am lucky to have a good brain on me and I am determined to use it in whatever capacity necessary to succeed.
I have in some ways taken a step back in life by living back at home again after graduating, but financially this makes sense and it's nice to see my family and be able to spend time with my sisters and treat them as often as I like. I have turned my once childish and messy room into quite a nice place to relax and play poker, and have a comfortable chair and a nice monitor, along with a luxury in terms of Sky to help me work optimally. I think I have developed maturity in this time, and have become more placid in terms of poker and life on the whole. I miss Durham and the make-believe happy place it was but as with all forms of life you meet a select few who you see afterwards and make effort to really keep in contact with and they are who matter the most...the fake lifestyle of getting on with everyone at Uni is great and makes the place what it is but that's not the lifestyle I crave. It's nice to be back home, playing snooker and golf more regularly, though I do miss my housemates and the poker games from the last few years!!
I have been very lucky to experience new things this year, and have managed to go to Las Vegas, Malta, Edinburgh and almost everywhere across the British Isles which has given me a bug to go travelling and that is something I hope to do next academic year. I have also been more financially secure than ever before and have enjoyed treating people when I can and of course treating myself...Louise has had a tough time this year keeping on top of her finances and it is a proud feeling knowing that I am helping her out and establishing a nice nest-egg on which we can base our future. I am now one year closer to moving in with her and starting my life with her, and to be honest have been lucky that she and my family have been understanding with regards to me playing poker professionally.
In many ways, the money I have made from poker has enabled a lot of the things in 2009 that I enjoyed, the trip to Vegas, the balla hotel, trips away with Louise and family treats, and whilst I have splashed quite a lot of it on things I don't need, I have put some away safe which I can dip in to for things I need such as driving which I hope to be this month!
In terms of poker, SharkScope informs me that I played on 47% of days in 2009, which isn't that much compared to most of the HU regs. I played <200 games from April - June, and overall in 2009 played 4939 SNG's and a pathetic 130-odd scheduled tournaments, with only 3 Sunday Millions and 3 Weekly HU tournies.
It's easiest to review the whole year by dividing into before October 1st and after, as that's when I effectively became a "pro".
Pre October, I had some ridic run good in tournies, taking 50% of $8k from the Weekly HU tournie, $4.5k from the Sunday 250k and $4.5k from a $55 tournie, adding to around $12.5k I won from HUSNG's.
From a couple of thousand games I won around $28k and took home $24k, largely thanks to the big scores in the tournies. At this point I was still pretty much stuck at the $57.50s and a bit scared to move up to bigger games. Whilst my volume was fairly low, as I made sure I enjoyed Uni and worked when I had to , I had managed to work up the bankroll to make a big decision and play poker professionally for a year. Without some luck I probably would not have been able to make that decision, so I am lucky that I run well to get an opportunity to give it a go full-time.
Since October, I have played around 2.9k games and taken home around $21k profit, earning about $1k a month rakeback from the FPP's. I should really always use them in the HU shootouts to the Sunday Mill but I play too many 280fpp hyperturbos to blow off steam and they are pretty neutral EV. My ROI is only around 6% which can be increased, and mixing in regular speed games has helped increase that ROI. December was the breakthrough month which I hope I can progress from as I worked my ample arse off to make just under 12k from 1240 games, learning a lot about the best way to win which I hope I can take in to the new year.
So, doing some overall calculations, first up, I think if I can continue to win at a similar rate then poker is a viable career for a while. I am losing employability whilst I am out of work, but the tax-free winning at the minute is better than I would get from a job.
I have managed to win around $49k in 2009, give or take, and can add $1k from Vegas to total $50k, of which I gave $4k to backers. With only playing 47% of days in 2009, I am very proud of this total and I hope to add to it in 2010. Also, I managed to grind it out to make supernova, and I read from somebody's blog that 300k vpps with the new FPP and VPP system would equate to around $21k rakeback so I am going to try to maximise my volume to get as much money as I can get!
Aims...in life and in poker!
Travel and plan for possible trip to Aus, Thailand and NZ.
Put in good volume and keep learning.
Move up the stakes when I'm ready to take shots...I've taken a few shots at the $230s and want to continue to do so and beyond.
Play many more tournaments as they are ridic value and big scores can happen...especially Sunday Mill, FTOPS and WCOOP events.
Start driving and go on road trips to different casinos.
Get down to below 18 handicap at golf.
Make at least 4 century breaks in snooker.
Final table and preferably win a live event.
And, being bold, I have worked out that I would need to save my FPP's from 31k 115's to get the 3m FPP's to get a Porsche...if I can start to move up and play higher games, I think I can get a Porsche, so I will use this incentive to spur me on to put in good volume...if I can break even then I will have a healthly living just from the perks of being a Supernova and great FPP system...let's smash the profit as well and be actually able to afford to run the Porsche!
And, most importantly, make sure that any incredible job opportunities are looked into as getting on the employment ladder could become essential at any time!
Right, all the best for 2010, gl everyone!!!!
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo SUPERNOVA AVONREPUS ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooW
Yay, I've finally made it to supernova...I'm exhausted, my head is killing me and this screen is ripping my brain in two but I've got there! December has somehow been a ridiculously good month, with the total profit just under $12k which is unprecedented for me since I've been playing heads up (and only ever happened apart from this from tournie scores). I have run well on the whole I think but I think the key has been avoiding the stupid tilt and putting in a good level of volume when I'm feeling good. Also, 1200 games is an awful lot so that has contributed!
Looking forward to earning a nice 5.5vpps instead of 5vpps for every $$ next year which should make FPP earning and reaching supernova again a lot easier, and therefore I'm very glad that I have put in the hours to get here! I'm just about to have a lot what is in the supernova VIP store, wooop!
I feel like I've learnt a lot working so hard to get to this target, though Ptevey and others will be disappointed I reached it this comfortably and didn't have to 29table at 4.59am our time on New Year's Eve to reach it...still I can have a nice relax tomorrow evening now and probably get fucked!! Better remember to put the 24hour block on my poker account!
Looking forward to earning a nice 5.5vpps instead of 5vpps for every $$ next year which should make FPP earning and reaching supernova again a lot easier, and therefore I'm very glad that I have put in the hours to get here! I'm just about to have a lot what is in the supernova VIP store, wooop!
I feel like I've learnt a lot working so hard to get to this target, though Ptevey and others will be disappointed I reached it this comfortably and didn't have to 29table at 4.59am our time on New Year's Eve to reach it...still I can have a nice relax tomorrow evening now and probably get fucked!! Better remember to put the 24hour block on my poker account!
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
66 games to go...
I played exactly 100 games tonight, so I need 66 to reach supernova. Ran like God tonight and played pretty well as well to average $30 a game and bring home $3k. Looking forward to having a nice rest from poker as soon as I can get my 5stars by my empty space where somebody interesting would put a picture.
NightNight.
NightNight.
Monday, 28 December 2009
166 games to go...
If my maths are(is) correct, I need 166 games raking $5 each to reach supernova...that should be very possible and I hope to get as close as I can tomorrow. Also, I had a lovely $100 bonus come through from stars for cashing in two turbo takedowns in a row which I had no idea would happen, the site just goes up in my estimations all the time!!
Started off tonight winning 8 in row, then was back to evens, before ending up $1780 up from 101 games...think quite a few regs are away on holidays at the minute as lobbies are easier to come by and the games seem a little softer. Wondering how much money I've left behind at the tables all the times I've won a bit at the start at then gone to bed without playing a decent volume.
I'm nackered all the time atm but I hope supernova will be worth it.
!$&
Started off tonight winning 8 in row, then was back to evens, before ending up $1780 up from 101 games...think quite a few regs are away on holidays at the minute as lobbies are easier to come by and the games seem a little softer. Wondering how much money I've left behind at the tables all the times I've won a bit at the start at then gone to bed without playing a decent volume.
I'm nackered all the time atm but I hope supernova will be worth it.
!$&
Friday, 25 December 2009
Getting closer to supernova!!
The other day I needed 13k vpps and it was looking difficult/ nearly impossible to achieve...from now I need 7.3k vpps and it should definitely be made now!
Somehow, playing 4 tables at once hasn't broken me, and since the last post I have made around $1.9k, including having the worst spell of my life earlier where I lost 8 in a row despite getting it in good or flipping around 16 times overall in that particular spell! Losing 9 flips in a row and 14/15 + 2 overpairs v underpairs would have caused me to ridic tilt before but I hope I have a bit of new found maturity and confidence that things will turn around now so can control the tilt better. The night only finished with a small loss so that's not too bad!
Right I'm nackered and hoping to hit the sales in a few hours time...merry xmas everyone!
7,3k vpps to go!!
Somehow, playing 4 tables at once hasn't broken me, and since the last post I have made around $1.9k, including having the worst spell of my life earlier where I lost 8 in a row despite getting it in good or flipping around 16 times overall in that particular spell! Losing 9 flips in a row and 14/15 + 2 overpairs v underpairs would have caused me to ridic tilt before but I hope I have a bit of new found maturity and confidence that things will turn around now so can control the tilt better. The night only finished with a small loss so that's not too bad!
Right I'm nackered and hoping to hit the sales in a few hours time...merry xmas everyone!
7,3k vpps to go!!
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