Bonjour, just returned from a trip to Bognor with the girlfriend and I'm back on the poker, though I think April will be more geared towards my degree than winning some $$$. March still has a day left though and I plan to put in a mammoth stint before the start of April before work takes priority.
In terms of my "roll", I still haven't withdrawn so that's a positive and I'm up to around $348.68 now which is a roll that can handle swings at the $6.50 level. I haven't played many MTT's but the few I have played I have been too risky in the latter stages trying to get the real money for finishing top 3 and busted out with nothing at all. I haven't really sussed my late game yet but plan to hit the $4.40 180-man SNG's on Stars to try to refine my game.
I have been thinking about if/when I move up and I think the next logical step may be the $16 SNG's on Stars as with a $15 fee and a $1 rake these provide the best value online. I'm a bit fearful of stepping up to these but I think with the regs playing a very predictable game on the most part I can feed off these players and steal their blinds under the radar. Before I am rolled for this though I will try to 6-8 table SNG's as this will be double the amount I play and theoretically returning a similar ROI would mean doubling my hourly profit, which after all is what it is all about!
Apologies the life of an SNG player isn't very interesting but I will try to remember some interesting hands soon and I am going to post a host of scenarios on the poker forum tonight for some consideration.
The full March update will be provided after my mammoth session but at present my stats are,
Games 661
Avg Prof $1.81
Avg Stake $6
ROI 27%
Total Profit $1183
Recently I have had a few too many 3rds but I think I have been getting a bit unlucky in races and I'm not playing too badly on the most-part. Also, I haven't tilted money away in a HU SNG for a long time which is good news!!
Thanks,
Paul!
Sunday 30 March 2008
Wednesday 19 March 2008
Building A Roll!
I have been running great for the last few sessions, at a profit of around $12/hr. Only drawback - this has been earnt carrying out surveys for Sky, EDF and KTM motorbikes for my job! I have worked 36 hours in the past 5 days and I know this is an average working week but it has knackered me out!
Due to this and seeing my girlfriend, I haven't played much poker since my last post - with just a couple of sessions at uni and a couple of sessions back home to record. After making yet another withdrawal, I deposited $65 and after a few sessions have worked it up to $228.47. To get here, things went pretty well and I reached the $1000 profit mark on Sharkscope, soaring past it with 9 cashes out of 10. Things plateau(d) from here and the next 25 games or so were pretty break even, followed by a late surge of decent results.
This time round I am determined not to withdraw. I will start to build a roll! As I am working and I spend less at home, I don't need the cash so I will work up a roll over easter (and beyond!) I have no aims, just to keep working up and try to take a few shots in MTT's and hope to get lucky. If all goes to plan, the $65 I deposited will be my last ever deposit which is an exciting prospect!
Stats at present are;
Games 574
Avg Prof $186
Avg Stake $6
ROI 27%
Profit $1058
I will learn how to upload graphs etc soon to make things more interesting but before then I feel like having a big session tonight.
Hope everyone is running well.
Paul,x
Due to this and seeing my girlfriend, I haven't played much poker since my last post - with just a couple of sessions at uni and a couple of sessions back home to record. After making yet another withdrawal, I deposited $65 and after a few sessions have worked it up to $228.47. To get here, things went pretty well and I reached the $1000 profit mark on Sharkscope, soaring past it with 9 cashes out of 10. Things plateau(d) from here and the next 25 games or so were pretty break even, followed by a late surge of decent results.
This time round I am determined not to withdraw. I will start to build a roll! As I am working and I spend less at home, I don't need the cash so I will work up a roll over easter (and beyond!) I have no aims, just to keep working up and try to take a few shots in MTT's and hope to get lucky. If all goes to plan, the $65 I deposited will be my last ever deposit which is an exciting prospect!
Stats at present are;
Games 574
Avg Prof $186
Avg Stake $6
ROI 27%
Profit $1058
I will learn how to upload graphs etc soon to make things more interesting but before then I feel like having a big session tonight.
Hope everyone is running well.
Paul,x
Sunday 9 March 2008
Tournaments = Way Forward?
Mainly to avoid writing up a tedious criminal law essay, I am updating my blog!
The snooker at the weekend wasn't great. I got a tough draw first round, and with a cue I wasn't used to, played horribly and lost 2-1. Wasn't too disappointed as I lost my chance when I lost my cue, but still would have liked to put in a decent showing and show last year wasn't a fluke! Our team, mainly a team of pool players who to be fair played immense, struggled in a group of death but we regrouped from a bottom place finish to come second in the Team Shield, another BUSA medal to add to my collection.
Anyway, I returned home on Saturday night, absolutely shattered and too tired to even consider playing poker!! After 12 hours kip, Sunday was a day in which I should have been working, but as always end of term complacency kicked in and I played poker instead! This proved to be a decent idea, as I made $82 today.
First, I played a double-stack $3 tournie, which attracted 123 entrants. I steamrollered my way through the field and was monster stack on the FT. At one point, with 4 left I had 240k against 45k, 23k and 50k (or something like that!) Alas, I didn't hit a hand and lost a couple of big pots against the table fish, who kept hitting against me. The 4th place player got knocked out by the decent player at the table, and I ran card-dead. I ended up pushing AJ from the SB against the decent/tight players button raise...and he slowly called with 1010 which held. I then called a push by the fish who was playing any two with ace8 suited, only to be up against 1010. My lead had dwindled and I finally came 3rd, pushing a weak ace in to AJ, which flopped a flush and that was that. Annoying to not get 1st as it was $102, but the $50 I won was still a nice result.
As I was playing the tournie, I was playing a few $6.50 SNGs which went pretty well and I have somehow managed to maintain my ROI, now with stats of:-
Games 476
Avg Profit $1.85
Avg Stake $6
ROI 27%
Total Profit $874
I waited all day for a chance to use a $26 ticket I had won the other night, and decided to play the $32k guaranteed. I had a nice almost double up early on after trap checking the river with AA against a fruity opponent who raised with a couple of high cards. I reached the first break around 220 of 1050 and feeling decent. Then before I knew it I was out!! I had a hand against the table fish (player getting involved in a lot of pots!) Against his min raise, I flat called KJ on the button after the cut-off had also called. Both blinds completed and the pot was around 1200. Flop was K78 and two hearts and the initial raiser bet 600. I had 5.5k behind and raised to 1545. All fold apart from raiser who flat called. I put him on a draw at this point and a trickily paid set was also in my head. Turn was a blank 3 and he checked, prompting me to raise 2125. The pot just had me covered so I thought about pushing but instead raised as felt this was the best way to extract value (thoughts/criticisms?). The river was a blank six but the initial raiser chucked in enough to put me all in, which by this point was only 1700. With the blinds still fairly low and thinking I had let the 910 catch up, I wanted to fold, but knew the pot was too large to and convinced myself he may do this with a missed flush draw. Well, he didn't have 910, but in fact 4h5h for a gutshot straight. Guess I can't really fault him too much and perhaps I should have pushed the turn, but still annoying. I am very keen to keep winning these satellites for these seats though and I know that if I can fund tournaments with SNG wins I can make big money one of these days, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Anyway, I have to be up early to work on my essay so this is a little shorter than usual. I'm looking forward to the end of term now and a few weeks to re-group and get myself ready for a mental two months of work in April and May. So maybe there is room for a little more poker in March!!
Thanks,
147_star
The snooker at the weekend wasn't great. I got a tough draw first round, and with a cue I wasn't used to, played horribly and lost 2-1. Wasn't too disappointed as I lost my chance when I lost my cue, but still would have liked to put in a decent showing and show last year wasn't a fluke! Our team, mainly a team of pool players who to be fair played immense, struggled in a group of death but we regrouped from a bottom place finish to come second in the Team Shield, another BUSA medal to add to my collection.
Anyway, I returned home on Saturday night, absolutely shattered and too tired to even consider playing poker!! After 12 hours kip, Sunday was a day in which I should have been working, but as always end of term complacency kicked in and I played poker instead! This proved to be a decent idea, as I made $82 today.
First, I played a double-stack $3 tournie, which attracted 123 entrants. I steamrollered my way through the field and was monster stack on the FT. At one point, with 4 left I had 240k against 45k, 23k and 50k (or something like that!) Alas, I didn't hit a hand and lost a couple of big pots against the table fish, who kept hitting against me. The 4th place player got knocked out by the decent player at the table, and I ran card-dead. I ended up pushing AJ from the SB against the decent/tight players button raise...and he slowly called with 1010 which held. I then called a push by the fish who was playing any two with ace8 suited, only to be up against 1010. My lead had dwindled and I finally came 3rd, pushing a weak ace in to AJ, which flopped a flush and that was that. Annoying to not get 1st as it was $102, but the $50 I won was still a nice result.
As I was playing the tournie, I was playing a few $6.50 SNGs which went pretty well and I have somehow managed to maintain my ROI, now with stats of:-
Games 476
Avg Profit $1.85
Avg Stake $6
ROI 27%
Total Profit $874
I waited all day for a chance to use a $26 ticket I had won the other night, and decided to play the $32k guaranteed. I had a nice almost double up early on after trap checking the river with AA against a fruity opponent who raised with a couple of high cards. I reached the first break around 220 of 1050 and feeling decent. Then before I knew it I was out!! I had a hand against the table fish (player getting involved in a lot of pots!) Against his min raise, I flat called KJ on the button after the cut-off had also called. Both blinds completed and the pot was around 1200. Flop was K78 and two hearts and the initial raiser bet 600. I had 5.5k behind and raised to 1545. All fold apart from raiser who flat called. I put him on a draw at this point and a trickily paid set was also in my head. Turn was a blank 3 and he checked, prompting me to raise 2125. The pot just had me covered so I thought about pushing but instead raised as felt this was the best way to extract value (thoughts/criticisms?). The river was a blank six but the initial raiser chucked in enough to put me all in, which by this point was only 1700. With the blinds still fairly low and thinking I had let the 910 catch up, I wanted to fold, but knew the pot was too large to and convinced myself he may do this with a missed flush draw. Well, he didn't have 910, but in fact 4h5h for a gutshot straight. Guess I can't really fault him too much and perhaps I should have pushed the turn, but still annoying. I am very keen to keep winning these satellites for these seats though and I know that if I can fund tournaments with SNG wins I can make big money one of these days, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Anyway, I have to be up early to work on my essay so this is a little shorter than usual. I'm looking forward to the end of term now and a few weeks to re-group and get myself ready for a mental two months of work in April and May. So maybe there is room for a little more poker in March!!
Thanks,
147_star
Thursday 6 March 2008
It's been a while!
So, I guess it's about time I updated people on my progress in the world of poker!
As you may or may not know, I don't like talking about poker when it hasn't been going so well, but luckily this isn't why I haven't been blogging recently. I just haven't had the time/money to play!
Quick February update -
Poker = Good...
From the 154 games I have played (all $6.50 9-man turbos) I made $225 at an ROI of around 23%. I have increased my aggression around the bubble and this has resulted in most of my cashes being 1sts, though obviously getting caught every now and again.
I have played very little live poker, apart from up at college where a regular 1p/2p cash game takes place. (HIGH STAKES!!) I am around £13.50 up here from a few sessions but I play awful poker and have had two sessions where I have been over 4BI down (granted it's only 8 quid but you have to play badly for that to happen!)
I also played a 375FPP 36-man satellite in to the Sunday Million, and was HU with a 4 to 1 chip lead, only for QQ to split with KQ (I rivered the split straight on board of 10 J 4 9 K!!), Q9 suited to lose to a runner runner 4-flush from J9 off (that hand was killer!) and then the final hand I pushed with 74...he called with Ace3...flop 765, turn A, river blank. Coming 2nd and receiving nada annoyed me because I played well all tournament and was so unlucky to lose out on a very attractive $215 tournament dollars that I could have sold and transfered to FullTilt.
Life = Not So Good...Well, things are great with the girlfriend and the family are healthy etc etc so I'm not too unlucky. BUT I was an idiot and left my snooker cue on the train. The cue and case cost £185 so that's put a bit of a financial strain on things as I have to start saving for a new one. One of my good mates back home is giving me his old cue to help me out until I can buy a new one, but I have had to tighten the purse a little. Disappointingly, I had to play the BUSA University pool tournament with a borrowed cue and I didn't really fulfil my potential in the singles, losing in the last 64 to a player I should generally beat. To add to this, my laptop is being very temperamental at the minute so I may have to shell out a lot of money fairly soon!!
March assessment -
I have only been able to play three days worth as the girlfriend was up at the weekend, but it has started fairly brightly. So far, I have played 46 games of $6.5o turbos, winning $107 at around a 24% ROI. This included a spell of 9 games in a row where I didn't cash, but luckily I hit two firsts soon after to balance this out. I have been playing without any distractions and have really been concentrating on who is tight/loose on the table and playing accordingly, and I hope playing my opponents rather than the cards sets my apart from other regs who I try to feed off.
I am also up $16 on Isaac's account!! I played a couple of SNG's in his room (with him monitoring), and cashed 2nd in the $22 non-turbo for $54 and lost A9 vs A6 in the $16turbo. It was supposed to be like a lesson (if I'm qualified enough to do that?!) but I'm not sure if he will take on much from my style, especially not if he doesn't make the recommended transition to turbos!
I have also started watching high stakes SNG's and railing players like PearlJammed in the MTT's to try to pick up tips, and I think this is a good way to help me improve my game.
As per usual, I've withdrawn the cash that I have made, but this time it has been essential to live off! Luckily, I think I am soon to be staked, which will mean I can play a higher level without the inherent risk of losing more than I can afford. This will hopefully be profitable for both parties and I just hope I can sustain something like my ROI, mainly because at a $20 level it would = around $5 profit a game! I know this is very unlikely but I hope to keep it above 10%-15% at the higher buy-in, and I look forward to a greater challenge and facing more tricky opponents. I feel I have been ready to move up for a good few months, so will embrace the change.
Wow, once I start writing I just don't stop. Anyway, watch this space as if I do get staked my sharkscope graph will start looking a lot different soon, hopefully for the better!! Before that, I have to try to defend my BUSA snooker title in Leeds at the weekend, let's just hope I run well!
Laters,
Paul.
As you may or may not know, I don't like talking about poker when it hasn't been going so well, but luckily this isn't why I haven't been blogging recently. I just haven't had the time/money to play!
Quick February update -
Poker = Good...
From the 154 games I have played (all $6.50 9-man turbos) I made $225 at an ROI of around 23%. I have increased my aggression around the bubble and this has resulted in most of my cashes being 1sts, though obviously getting caught every now and again.
I have played very little live poker, apart from up at college where a regular 1p/2p cash game takes place. (HIGH STAKES!!) I am around £13.50 up here from a few sessions but I play awful poker and have had two sessions where I have been over 4BI down (granted it's only 8 quid but you have to play badly for that to happen!)
I also played a 375FPP 36-man satellite in to the Sunday Million, and was HU with a 4 to 1 chip lead, only for QQ to split with KQ (I rivered the split straight on board of 10 J 4 9 K!!), Q9 suited to lose to a runner runner 4-flush from J9 off (that hand was killer!) and then the final hand I pushed with 74...he called with Ace3...flop 765, turn A, river blank. Coming 2nd and receiving nada annoyed me because I played well all tournament and was so unlucky to lose out on a very attractive $215 tournament dollars that I could have sold and transfered to FullTilt.
Life = Not So Good...Well, things are great with the girlfriend and the family are healthy etc etc so I'm not too unlucky. BUT I was an idiot and left my snooker cue on the train. The cue and case cost £185 so that's put a bit of a financial strain on things as I have to start saving for a new one. One of my good mates back home is giving me his old cue to help me out until I can buy a new one, but I have had to tighten the purse a little. Disappointingly, I had to play the BUSA University pool tournament with a borrowed cue and I didn't really fulfil my potential in the singles, losing in the last 64 to a player I should generally beat. To add to this, my laptop is being very temperamental at the minute so I may have to shell out a lot of money fairly soon!!
March assessment -
I have only been able to play three days worth as the girlfriend was up at the weekend, but it has started fairly brightly. So far, I have played 46 games of $6.5o turbos, winning $107 at around a 24% ROI. This included a spell of 9 games in a row where I didn't cash, but luckily I hit two firsts soon after to balance this out. I have been playing without any distractions and have really been concentrating on who is tight/loose on the table and playing accordingly, and I hope playing my opponents rather than the cards sets my apart from other regs who I try to feed off.
I am also up $16 on Isaac's account!! I played a couple of SNG's in his room (with him monitoring), and cashed 2nd in the $22 non-turbo for $54 and lost A9 vs A6 in the $16turbo. It was supposed to be like a lesson (if I'm qualified enough to do that?!) but I'm not sure if he will take on much from my style, especially not if he doesn't make the recommended transition to turbos!
I have also started watching high stakes SNG's and railing players like PearlJammed in the MTT's to try to pick up tips, and I think this is a good way to help me improve my game.
As per usual, I've withdrawn the cash that I have made, but this time it has been essential to live off! Luckily, I think I am soon to be staked, which will mean I can play a higher level without the inherent risk of losing more than I can afford. This will hopefully be profitable for both parties and I just hope I can sustain something like my ROI, mainly because at a $20 level it would = around $5 profit a game! I know this is very unlikely but I hope to keep it above 10%-15% at the higher buy-in, and I look forward to a greater challenge and facing more tricky opponents. I feel I have been ready to move up for a good few months, so will embrace the change.
Wow, once I start writing I just don't stop. Anyway, watch this space as if I do get staked my sharkscope graph will start looking a lot different soon, hopefully for the better!! Before that, I have to try to defend my BUSA snooker title in Leeds at the weekend, let's just hope I run well!
Laters,
Paul.
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