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!
Wednesday 30 December 2009
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!!
Wednesday 23 December 2009
Late dash for supernova...!
As some of you may know, from late November and early December I started becoming aware that reaching supernova was a possibility, and at the start of December I needed 30k vpps to reach the target! I haven't been able to play every night and at one point thought I wasn't going to bother as it may cost me a fortune trying to get it, but now with around a week to go, I need just under 13k vpps, which is definitely possible! The only problem is the fact that I'm probs going to have to put in a 5hour shift on xmas day!!
I've managed to make 2k vpps tonight 3/4 tabling for a few hours and then ending the evening one tabling for a bit so repeat this 6.5 times and I will be there! I think I need to play around 520 games to reach the target which is seeming pretty difficult atm!
Touch wood I think I'm playing some of my best stuff now, and despite a monstrous >$2k downswing in one ridic 24hours running the worst I have probably ever run (apart from in that dream everyone has where the car is coming straight for you but you can't move), I have managed to bring home a few k a month, but I can't post much more as I've decided to carry on playing to get some more vpps!!
Run well, xxx
I've managed to make 2k vpps tonight 3/4 tabling for a few hours and then ending the evening one tabling for a bit so repeat this 6.5 times and I will be there! I think I need to play around 520 games to reach the target which is seeming pretty difficult atm!
Touch wood I think I'm playing some of my best stuff now, and despite a monstrous >$2k downswing in one ridic 24hours running the worst I have probably ever run (apart from in that dream everyone has where the car is coming straight for you but you can't move), I have managed to bring home a few k a month, but I can't post much more as I've decided to carry on playing to get some more vpps!!
Run well, xxx
Friday 13 November 2009
Stats Available!!
I've unblocked my SharkScope as I was curious as to how it was looking. I thought I might as well let people check it out...I'll probably be blocking it again in a couple of days so check it out whilst you can!
147x
147x
Monday 9 November 2009
Meh iphones lol!
Ok, so I don't know how to use iphones properly yet! :-( here is the post intended to accompany the last post!
Apparently I don't know how to copy and paste into blogger from hotmail so I am writing it again..ffs!
Obv have to say wp to keys first of all who destroyed another live tournament, quite a nice name and story to drop into other conversations, and I loved showing off the receipt from the two bottles of Dom Perignon we enjoyed to anybody within 10 metres!! Congrats mate. (If you ever want some heads up lessons I can lend a hand ;-) )...quite funny really how balla the time in Estonia would have been if I wasn't "scared", but the butterfly effect might have meant Keys didn't cash so I don't suppose I was missed! Could be tempted if I'm invited to the PCA!
On a personal level I just completed my first month as a poker pro and it was a huge learning curve! Of course, as always, there is a direct correlation between winning and enjoyment, but touch wood I have been a lot better at handling swings recently and though the start of the month was tricky things have picked up since! I now rarely get joined by regs so have easier games as a result, and I think I'm earning the resepct of other heades up pros! I have had a few requests to pair up with people in 4mans, one of which I accepted in Padgenuts, a big heads up winner and person who has a similar feel for the game style rather than mainly mathematical which has been succesful. We have only had one session at the 4mans but started on fire, winning 6-0 but then both ran so so bad to lose the last two and called it a day! This has good promise I hope and I might hit supernova which is 41k fpps away! I hope to pair up with a reg in the daytimes as well to mix in 4mans with heads ups.
The first month was tough to start with but I managed to pull in £3k which I'm pleased about...that was helped by shipping $1075 in Sunday Million sats from the fpps I've earnt...I hope that can be a good rakeback from the FPP's I make on the way to supernova. I look forward to increasing my poker associate base and making friends with Americans always has value in terms of greater access to Vegas!
The one good thing about this long post is that all my posts are like this but I now blog less regularly you only have to disregard it once or twice a month!
Cheers lads,
poker147star (my aim name!)
Apparently I don't know how to copy and paste into blogger from hotmail so I am writing it again..ffs!
Obv have to say wp to keys first of all who destroyed another live tournament, quite a nice name and story to drop into other conversations, and I loved showing off the receipt from the two bottles of Dom Perignon we enjoyed to anybody within 10 metres!! Congrats mate. (If you ever want some heads up lessons I can lend a hand ;-) )...quite funny really how balla the time in Estonia would have been if I wasn't "scared", but the butterfly effect might have meant Keys didn't cash so I don't suppose I was missed! Could be tempted if I'm invited to the PCA!
On a personal level I just completed my first month as a poker pro and it was a huge learning curve! Of course, as always, there is a direct correlation between winning and enjoyment, but touch wood I have been a lot better at handling swings recently and though the start of the month was tricky things have picked up since! I now rarely get joined by regs so have easier games as a result, and I think I'm earning the resepct of other heades up pros! I have had a few requests to pair up with people in 4mans, one of which I accepted in Padgenuts, a big heads up winner and person who has a similar feel for the game style rather than mainly mathematical which has been succesful. We have only had one session at the 4mans but started on fire, winning 6-0 but then both ran so so bad to lose the last two and called it a day! This has good promise I hope and I might hit supernova which is 41k fpps away! I hope to pair up with a reg in the daytimes as well to mix in 4mans with heads ups.
The first month was tough to start with but I managed to pull in £3k which I'm pleased about...that was helped by shipping $1075 in Sunday Million sats from the fpps I've earnt...I hope that can be a good rakeback from the FPP's I make on the way to supernova. I look forward to increasing my poker associate base and making friends with Americans always has value in terms of greater access to Vegas!
The one good thing about this long post is that all my posts are like this but I now blog less regularly you only have to disregard it once or twice a month!
Cheers lads,
poker147star (my aim name!)
Friday 6 November 2009
Thursday 15 October 2009
yo yo, yo yo, it's off to work I go...
Evening troops, I have "officially" taken the step of calling myself a professional poker player, and it has been a tricky learning curve so far! I have been joining the tables first and had to contest with quite a few regs joining me initially making the transition pretty tough, but the more I played I started getting more offers for chops which helped. I now pretty much play exclusively $115's and it has been testing but rewarding...if I can avoid hero call mode I can hope to make a nice amount at this game, so I'm working on that. I think I'll get TournamentManager or some other type of software on my desktop when that's set up to help regulate how I'm doing and work on flaws.
Overall, it's going ok but really swingy...last Sunday was a prime example, where I was 4-tabling the $115s and running like God with the quality of the opposition but kept getting raped by the deck...I have had a few $1k swings which is tough to deal with and am currently a little bit under $3k up since my pro status became facebook official (the benchmark of everything!) which I think is a good start but definitely subject to change for the worse given the nature of the beast!
I have been keeping my volume fairly high and hope to be building a nice base of FPPs to work off at some point for a reasonable return...I might give the 4man 3600FPPs hu shootouts to the Sunday Million a go as I think that would work to my strengths, and to be honest my ROI at the heads ups' has been mediocre but a different class at the 4mans...they are so much softer it's ridiculous.
I am making plans with regs to pair up to crush the 4mans, and hopefully this will guarantee a steady profit whilst I can make other money on the side playing several tables.
Whilst poker is good, life is fairly tough tbh...daytimes are pretty lonely and every fucker is "working", which means I haven't got much to do...I have planned trips to keep myself occupied and have joined a golf club which gives me something to do in the day, but without Louise and friends I'm lost a lot of the time as I like to keep busy. Hopefully I'll work something out on that front!
So, life is fairly dull but the grind is on so I'll keep anybody who is interested posted.
.gp_7827 (work this one out!)
Overall, it's going ok but really swingy...last Sunday was a prime example, where I was 4-tabling the $115s and running like God with the quality of the opposition but kept getting raped by the deck...I have had a few $1k swings which is tough to deal with and am currently a little bit under $3k up since my pro status became facebook official (the benchmark of everything!) which I think is a good start but definitely subject to change for the worse given the nature of the beast!
I have been keeping my volume fairly high and hope to be building a nice base of FPPs to work off at some point for a reasonable return...I might give the 4man 3600FPPs hu shootouts to the Sunday Million a go as I think that would work to my strengths, and to be honest my ROI at the heads ups' has been mediocre but a different class at the 4mans...they are so much softer it's ridiculous.
I am making plans with regs to pair up to crush the 4mans, and hopefully this will guarantee a steady profit whilst I can make other money on the side playing several tables.
Whilst poker is good, life is fairly tough tbh...daytimes are pretty lonely and every fucker is "working", which means I haven't got much to do...I have planned trips to keep myself occupied and have joined a golf club which gives me something to do in the day, but without Louise and friends I'm lost a lot of the time as I like to keep busy. Hopefully I'll work something out on that front!
So, life is fairly dull but the grind is on so I'll keep anybody who is interested posted.
.gp_7827 (work this one out!)
Saturday 19 September 2009
The best call of my life!
We went to watch "O" yesterday evening. It was reasonable, some of the acrobatics were amazing but there probably wasn't enough of that and the storyline was confusing! The way the stage moved around was ridic though and the fact that the Bellagio buffet preceded it made the evening a positive one in the end!!
On the poker front, I have played a few tournies and gone fairly deep in all of them, but ran bad at the wrong time with an AQ v AK cooler with 20 left in the Venetian 7PM and limp shoving 210dd v the table aggressor in the blinds only to be met by AK...I didn't hold up and went out the Caesar's 12pm in 9th with 7 getting paid but the cash only making 4figures for 1st place and $170 for 7th.
Cash is going better, and yesterday I made the best call of my life! I got the table drunk on major tilt after smiling when he swore at me for calling a small bet when he had the best hand and then showing him a bluff, so when he shoved his last $150 into a $28 pot, I faced a tough decision with my AQ on a KK2 board...I dwelt for a couple of minutes and called, and he didn't show. My Ace high was good on the river and I shipped a massive pot v his J5....o wait, o no I didn't, some guy said "o he has the K and I embarrassingly muck my cards before noticing just as they hit the muck...fml fml fml fml fml fml what a stupid King Cnut I am...I was definitely on monster tilt!!
Luckily, my story has a happy ending as I rebought and isolated him again making it $40 pre with AK and getting the call for him...the flop was A22, he led $40 and I flatted....and then he shoved the 7 turn and I called and he showed q5 to be drawing dead...thank fuck for that or my day and life would have been ruined...I don't think I will ever make that mistake again...but now it's a good and happy story I can tell people!!
2day we are going to loiter around the MGM for the Mayweather fight and lap up the post-fight value at the tables...either that or get wankered, depending on how we feel. We have learnt craps and now just need to put our knowledge into action...how do you bet again?!
On the poker front, I have played a few tournies and gone fairly deep in all of them, but ran bad at the wrong time with an AQ v AK cooler with 20 left in the Venetian 7PM and limp shoving 210dd v the table aggressor in the blinds only to be met by AK...I didn't hold up and went out the Caesar's 12pm in 9th with 7 getting paid but the cash only making 4figures for 1st place and $170 for 7th.
Cash is going better, and yesterday I made the best call of my life! I got the table drunk on major tilt after smiling when he swore at me for calling a small bet when he had the best hand and then showing him a bluff, so when he shoved his last $150 into a $28 pot, I faced a tough decision with my AQ on a KK2 board...I dwelt for a couple of minutes and called, and he didn't show. My Ace high was good on the river and I shipped a massive pot v his J5....o wait, o no I didn't, some guy said "o he has the K and I embarrassingly muck my cards before noticing just as they hit the muck...fml fml fml fml fml fml what a stupid King Cnut I am...I was definitely on monster tilt!!
Luckily, my story has a happy ending as I rebought and isolated him again making it $40 pre with AK and getting the call for him...the flop was A22, he led $40 and I flatted....and then he shoved the 7 turn and I called and he showed q5 to be drawing dead...thank fuck for that or my day and life would have been ruined...I don't think I will ever make that mistake again...but now it's a good and happy story I can tell people!!
2day we are going to loiter around the MGM for the Mayweather fight and lap up the post-fight value at the tables...either that or get wankered, depending on how we feel. We have learnt craps and now just need to put our knowledge into action...how do you bet again?!
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Poker, 'O', Grand Canyon and a change in fortunes!
I've finally stopped dwelling over my $1080 pot!!
I played a $120 tournament in the Venetian the next evening and was very pleased with the depth of the tournament and the quality of the opposition...it was the type of game where it is possible to make plays and get credit but also get value from hands....the sort where you feel like you can control your opposition to some extent and people make a stand by calling instead of re-raising. I busted after the break shoving top pair into a pot-sized donk bet by the big blind that I hated but shoved on and ran in to an overpair. I made around that money back at cash that evening but wasn't playing that well...the first fishy table had led me to make too many bad, gambly calls pre that weren't connecting. I then lost 2 BI at the Bellagio, largely due to having a tough table, missing everything, getting moved on on every one of my bluffs and being shit at cash! I think the fact that I may have had my sunglasses behind my cards showing the reflection of what I had for an hour before I realised what a retard I was contributed to that loss!!
So, $600 down for the trip, no means a bad thing but not what I wanted, I played a little online and won around $300...I decided to go the Venetian cash tables, standardise all my actions, chuck on the shades and make a proper go of it...now I don't know if I gave away a million tells, or if my eyes said exactly what I had, but since then I have been running sick.
I made $450 playing cash, playing solid aggressive poker and that was including checking behind what may have been the second nuts thinking that he had a flush which Isaac informs me wasn't actually out...downside to the sunglasses I guess!!
Then I came 4/97 in the $120 Venetian 7pm, building a stack early after Pteveying it up to 1350 from the SB with 57cc vs a 300 raise and 2 flats (blinds 50/100) and growing some making it 2525 on a QJx board and getting two folds! I kept picking my spots and never really put my stack and risk, and picked up the unwanted chips when I could. The final table arrived before long and I steadily stayed around 10-12-15BB, which was average at the time. With 4 left, talks of a deal had been suggested but I was happy to play on...pay arrangements were
1st $3080
2nd $2k ish
3rd $1.3k ish
4th $737
I then had my "ALL IN MOMEMT", reshoving QQ vs a button raise, chucking out the fake shakes as if I was bluffing and after tanking A7ss made the call...he missed the flop and I felt it was my time, but the A on the turn ended my dreams and left me with a 3-figure cash instead of a 4-figure cash. That was the last hand of the tournie after they constructed a deal but I was still happy with the result and no regrets etc.
So, I was finally up for the trip, and cashing out $960 from $200 in the Caesar's Palace game yesterday boosted them figures....the starting table was dreamville and I had hands which got paid off. So far, I'm up on my spending money and hopefully will maintain a winning game and keep running well which I have done. Dreams of living in Vegas for a few months are growing and I am very tempted, these next few days I'll be making enquiries I think and speaking to regs who live there.
In non-poker terms, and poker has only been in the evenings, we have seen the Grand Canyon which was ridic, spent a fair amount of time in the immense pool area and eaten a few nice buffets and checked out downtown and done the Strat. Some people want to leave Vegas after a short amount of time but I love it, and feel home playing poker every evening. We are seeing "O" in the next few evenings which promises to be quality, and the other lads watched Santana the other evening which they enjoyed. We haven't really gambled yet because we are all rocks, but we are going to the 4-8pm Strat drinkfest and having a punt on craps at some point so it's planned hammered gambling...run good one time!
Today we are going to the ESPN zone in New York New York to watch some 9ball, and on Sat we are hanging around the MGM as Mayweather is fighting there...sandwiched in between we will do some shopping at the outlet centRE and maybe catch the beach volleyball at Mandalay Bay as we all follow that sport religiously! Vegas is sick, our hotel is very nice and the food is meaty...all in all I am really enjoying it and want to be out here again soon and maybe for a longer time...DUPS year in Vegas??
I played a $120 tournament in the Venetian the next evening and was very pleased with the depth of the tournament and the quality of the opposition...it was the type of game where it is possible to make plays and get credit but also get value from hands....the sort where you feel like you can control your opposition to some extent and people make a stand by calling instead of re-raising. I busted after the break shoving top pair into a pot-sized donk bet by the big blind that I hated but shoved on and ran in to an overpair. I made around that money back at cash that evening but wasn't playing that well...the first fishy table had led me to make too many bad, gambly calls pre that weren't connecting. I then lost 2 BI at the Bellagio, largely due to having a tough table, missing everything, getting moved on on every one of my bluffs and being shit at cash! I think the fact that I may have had my sunglasses behind my cards showing the reflection of what I had for an hour before I realised what a retard I was contributed to that loss!!
So, $600 down for the trip, no means a bad thing but not what I wanted, I played a little online and won around $300...I decided to go the Venetian cash tables, standardise all my actions, chuck on the shades and make a proper go of it...now I don't know if I gave away a million tells, or if my eyes said exactly what I had, but since then I have been running sick.
I made $450 playing cash, playing solid aggressive poker and that was including checking behind what may have been the second nuts thinking that he had a flush which Isaac informs me wasn't actually out...downside to the sunglasses I guess!!
Then I came 4/97 in the $120 Venetian 7pm, building a stack early after Pteveying it up to 1350 from the SB with 57cc vs a 300 raise and 2 flats (blinds 50/100) and growing some making it 2525 on a QJx board and getting two folds! I kept picking my spots and never really put my stack and risk, and picked up the unwanted chips when I could. The final table arrived before long and I steadily stayed around 10-12-15BB, which was average at the time. With 4 left, talks of a deal had been suggested but I was happy to play on...pay arrangements were
1st $3080
2nd $2k ish
3rd $1.3k ish
4th $737
I then had my "ALL IN MOMEMT", reshoving QQ vs a button raise, chucking out the fake shakes as if I was bluffing and after tanking A7ss made the call...he missed the flop and I felt it was my time, but the A on the turn ended my dreams and left me with a 3-figure cash instead of a 4-figure cash. That was the last hand of the tournie after they constructed a deal but I was still happy with the result and no regrets etc.
So, I was finally up for the trip, and cashing out $960 from $200 in the Caesar's Palace game yesterday boosted them figures....the starting table was dreamville and I had hands which got paid off. So far, I'm up on my spending money and hopefully will maintain a winning game and keep running well which I have done. Dreams of living in Vegas for a few months are growing and I am very tempted, these next few days I'll be making enquiries I think and speaking to regs who live there.
In non-poker terms, and poker has only been in the evenings, we have seen the Grand Canyon which was ridic, spent a fair amount of time in the immense pool area and eaten a few nice buffets and checked out downtown and done the Strat. Some people want to leave Vegas after a short amount of time but I love it, and feel home playing poker every evening. We are seeing "O" in the next few evenings which promises to be quality, and the other lads watched Santana the other evening which they enjoyed. We haven't really gambled yet because we are all rocks, but we are going to the 4-8pm Strat drinkfest and having a punt on craps at some point so it's planned hammered gambling...run good one time!
Today we are going to the ESPN zone in New York New York to watch some 9ball, and on Sat we are hanging around the MGM as Mayweather is fighting there...sandwiched in between we will do some shopping at the outlet centRE and maybe catch the beach volleyball at Mandalay Bay as we all follow that sport religiously! Vegas is sick, our hotel is very nice and the food is meaty...all in all I am really enjoying it and want to be out here again soon and maybe for a longer time...DUPS year in Vegas??
Saturday 12 September 2009
> $1000 pot!!
Out in Vegas atm and it's absolutely sick!! The "tip trick" worked, and we have a sick room as a result! The third person we basically haggled with was desperate for our cash..."if you can help us we can help you" was a line that made us all realise we were definitely in! An upgrade to the Palazzo with a strip and pool view was the result and it is so ridiculous...it looks great, especially at night!
The weather has been hot but fairly comfortable as the pool areas are quite spacious, and the food is fit...Outback steak last night was 20oz of pure pleasure! Pokerwise has been really enjoyable...the first night playing $1/$2 I was making plays and running good/faster than usain bolt sprinting from the back to the front on a 100metre long concord in full flight at top speed with minimal wind resistance and a 1470mph tailwind.
Eg 1: - Checking J2 in the big blind, a flop of 235 wasn't too appealing...checked round and the J turn gave me two pair. I bet and when I was re-raised was cautious, though the J on the river helped!! I check raised up to $85 and unfortunately the tightest player I've ever seen (he checked the bottom end of a straight flush in position!!!) just flatted with his 22!!
Eg 2:- Standard Vegas hand...a raise to $12 and 4 callers...I have K4hh in the BB and speculate. Flop K high, I check raise to around $87 against the rock thinking I'd get credit...he flatted and I was ready to shut down. The 4 on the turn kept me interesting and I ended his misery stacking him and was around $500-$600.
Then, some not so run good!! [2-3 hours later...same table]
I had 66 and a stack of around $540. Two limps, I limp with 66...fish who has me covered raises to $20...call call so I join the run...dream flop of J62 and I check raise his $50 up to $127 (pot around $310 when he calls). There was some metagame as I'd shown a big bluff against him two rounds ago so when he called I thought he was fairly light and wanted to suck him in. The turn was an 8 and I fired $147 in to the pot, only for him to insta-shove...horrible hand as he was bad and could have had an overpair, but it felt horrible and I reluctantly called off my last $200....he tables 88 and I lose a $1080ish pot...fml! Avoided tilt and stopped for the night, and since then I lost in a $120 tournie when I played so well until I shoved top pair and met an overpair, and made around $130 in cash to be a BI down which is fine.
Loving it out here, making all sorts of sick plans in my head to live out here for a couple of months, maybe May-June next year...anyone up for a different golf trip this time round?!
$147
The weather has been hot but fairly comfortable as the pool areas are quite spacious, and the food is fit...Outback steak last night was 20oz of pure pleasure! Pokerwise has been really enjoyable...the first night playing $1/$2 I was making plays and running good/faster than usain bolt sprinting from the back to the front on a 100metre long concord in full flight at top speed with minimal wind resistance and a 1470mph tailwind.
Eg 1: - Checking J2 in the big blind, a flop of 235 wasn't too appealing...checked round and the J turn gave me two pair. I bet and when I was re-raised was cautious, though the J on the river helped!! I check raised up to $85 and unfortunately the tightest player I've ever seen (he checked the bottom end of a straight flush in position!!!) just flatted with his 22!!
Eg 2:- Standard Vegas hand...a raise to $12 and 4 callers...I have K4hh in the BB and speculate. Flop K high, I check raise to around $87 against the rock thinking I'd get credit...he flatted and I was ready to shut down. The 4 on the turn kept me interesting and I ended his misery stacking him and was around $500-$600.
Then, some not so run good!! [2-3 hours later...same table]
I had 66 and a stack of around $540. Two limps, I limp with 66...fish who has me covered raises to $20...call call so I join the run...dream flop of J62 and I check raise his $50 up to $127 (pot around $310 when he calls). There was some metagame as I'd shown a big bluff against him two rounds ago so when he called I thought he was fairly light and wanted to suck him in. The turn was an 8 and I fired $147 in to the pot, only for him to insta-shove...horrible hand as he was bad and could have had an overpair, but it felt horrible and I reluctantly called off my last $200....he tables 88 and I lose a $1080ish pot...fml! Avoided tilt and stopped for the night, and since then I lost in a $120 tournie when I played so well until I shoved top pair and met an overpair, and made around $130 in cash to be a BI down which is fine.
Loving it out here, making all sorts of sick plans in my head to live out here for a couple of months, maybe May-June next year...anyone up for a different golf trip this time round?!
$147
Monday 24 August 2009
1200 FPP = $4,198
For anyone reading my blog they must think I am millions up for the year, but the sad fact is when I'm losing I really can't face talking about it and would rather play, so that's partly the reason why it has been a while and I only really post when I'm winning. I'm not sure whether this should be a reason to stop blogging to avoid looking like a show-off twat (even more than usual!!) but I think for now I will keep writing and I enjoy reading other peoples posts so I can't be all selfish!!
I didn't find much time to play in July, struggling to balance leisure with "work", and probably made just under £1k which isn't enough to justify not working! I was doing really well but went on a downswing, losing a few BI at $115's and a couple more at $230's in quite horrible fashion. I kept it together but after shelling out for Vegas and sorting my room out it was technically a losing month and encouraged me to play more this month, which I have been trying to do!
I had been plugging away at the HU, but unfortunately the rematch feature is temporary unavailable (and has been for the last 2 weeks!) so that's cost me some EV. I mainly find value in the 4mans, and enjoy them despite the tilt when I lose the second round. I was plugging away quite nicely, up around $2.5k for the month, and then I did a Ptevey!!
I spun FPP's up to a big score, first winning a 1200FPP sat into a $55 tournie and finishing 6/2332 to take home just under $4.2k. Again, I'm not sure my final table strategy was that good as it was probably too aggressive, but I guess I played the whole way staying above water playing that way so it's hard to justify a change. I ended up busting after shoving Q5 with 9BB utg and getting called by AJ, only for his A to outdraw my Q on the turn. A couple of keys pots I was on the wrong side of....one monster bluff where I double barrelled and was 97% sure my opponent hit his flush on the river which he did so technically I got rivered!! The other I called an aggro opponent with third pair in a pot I should have avoided. Apart from that I played as I would want to, and was pleased to be so fearless, even if it perhaps was too fearless. Either way, I'm chuffed as with the score, mainly due to a 4week profit drive for Vegas me and Isaac were having with $50 on the line which I should hopefully ship now unless I crumble or he hits a good score.
With another 48kFPP's in the bank, I look forward to another $160k if I can carry on at my current conversion rate...that's not too ridic is it? Ty for everybody who railed, I appreciate it, and now I'm just going to keep grinding until myself, Isaac and Gamble hit the 5-star Venetian Hotel in Vegas for a ridiculous time for the first time in the NHV (Nits Hit Vegas) series!!
147_*
I didn't find much time to play in July, struggling to balance leisure with "work", and probably made just under £1k which isn't enough to justify not working! I was doing really well but went on a downswing, losing a few BI at $115's and a couple more at $230's in quite horrible fashion. I kept it together but after shelling out for Vegas and sorting my room out it was technically a losing month and encouraged me to play more this month, which I have been trying to do!
I had been plugging away at the HU, but unfortunately the rematch feature is temporary unavailable (and has been for the last 2 weeks!) so that's cost me some EV. I mainly find value in the 4mans, and enjoy them despite the tilt when I lose the second round. I was plugging away quite nicely, up around $2.5k for the month, and then I did a Ptevey!!
I spun FPP's up to a big score, first winning a 1200FPP sat into a $55 tournie and finishing 6/2332 to take home just under $4.2k. Again, I'm not sure my final table strategy was that good as it was probably too aggressive, but I guess I played the whole way staying above water playing that way so it's hard to justify a change. I ended up busting after shoving Q5 with 9BB utg and getting called by AJ, only for his A to outdraw my Q on the turn. A couple of keys pots I was on the wrong side of....one monster bluff where I double barrelled and was 97% sure my opponent hit his flush on the river which he did so technically I got rivered!! The other I called an aggro opponent with third pair in a pot I should have avoided. Apart from that I played as I would want to, and was pleased to be so fearless, even if it perhaps was too fearless. Either way, I'm chuffed as with the score, mainly due to a 4week profit drive for Vegas me and Isaac were having with $50 on the line which I should hopefully ship now unless I crumble or he hits a good score.
With another 48kFPP's in the bank, I look forward to another $160k if I can carry on at my current conversion rate...that's not too ridic is it? Ty for everybody who railed, I appreciate it, and now I'm just going to keep grinding until myself, Isaac and Gamble hit the 5-star Venetian Hotel in Vegas for a ridiculous time for the first time in the NHV (Nits Hit Vegas) series!!
147_*
Tuesday 14 July 2009
gg, gg, gg gg gg gg gg wp gg gg gg gg
Nothing much to say really but I'll try anyway! I have been playing and mainly just reggin for the $57s or $115s depending on what I fancy, which surprisingly recently has been more towards the $115 side of things. Have been running very well I'd say, and have brought the profit since July 5th up to nearly $3k which I could never have expected! I have probably played between 24-30 hours since I've been back as I still have the problem of quitting when running good, and I'm losing badly at tournies but winning at HUSNG's, where the true value of the rematch button has really been highlighted since I've been back. My intelligent post title is basically what I wrote in the chat box after I won any hand of significance against a fish on my way to 5 straight wins against him where he tilted like mad but kept rematching....fuck morals imo, gg ftw!
The money I am winning this month will go towards the Vegas fund which despite the difficulties [i.e. Gambon;-)] organising it should be go go go!! I have a half a circle just thinking about it!!
Next target....stop being such an ungenerous vagina and play the $215 weekly HU on stars....
The money I am winning this month will go towards the Vegas fund which despite the difficulties [i.e. Gambon;-)] organising it should be go go go!! I have a half a circle just thinking about it!!
Next target....stop being such an ungenerous vagina and play the $215 weekly HU on stars....
Wednesday 8 July 2009
Q: What degree did u get? A: A 2.1., was really pleased. Q So what now, law? My A: Yeah, a year out and then maybe. Real A: Fuck law, poker ftw!!
Happily I luckboxed my way to a 2.1. in law which is exactly what I wanted, really helped by a strong mark in my dissertation which may have just about justified missing out on the sick Pokerstars promotions around the time I was procrastinating my way to completion. The most annoying one to miss was the "play 22 hands and become a Supernova promotion" which apparently can reap extra rewards in freerolls as well (VWP Nath/pg, ridiculously good mate, so pleased for you, definitely deserved that so much!) Another massive factor that allowed me to get 2.1 was the lecturer for my Wednesday 9:00 being so inadequate that enough people complained about the quality of his handouts and tutorials that the exams were generously moderated to give us a good mark. Considering I hadn't been to any of these lectures after week 2 that was an incredible bonus and a massive lifesaver after that exam was probably my worst in 3 years as I sat scrambling through my notes in an open book exam where I wrote less than a page for the last answer...thank fuck for moany people!!!
So I'd have to say that overall Durham was a massive success. A couple of marks less and I'd probably have to say the sacrifices I had to make in terms of time away from my family, Louise and earning wasn't worth it, but the 2.1 is what I need to try to distinguish myself from the thousands of other law graduates when I finally enter the world of work. It was very tough being away from home and Louise at times, but I got through and used poker to keep myself occupied. So, on an academic front I can be proud and whilst I think the 6 hours / week (4 hours / week in third year) was a joke and not very stimulating, it allowed a lot of time for poker which was helped by meeting successful players from Durham Poker Society.
I played many different styles at uni but had plenty of time to learn, and shortstacked and hit and run Crypto cash games for a year whilst grinding 6man turbos before the world of Stars and ideas of bankroll management were brought into my world by Durham nits such as James Skolsuper, Richard Bowburn and Ptevey sm1le. Some loose cannons, i.e. Matt mgamble4456(such a standard fish name fwiw!) and later on Rahl Benjamin Blake recommended all sorts of degenerate antics but I made sure I avoided these bad vibes, and didn't once risk drinking Hannes' "non-alcoholic" beer!!
So, I'd learnt about bankroll management and whilst I preferred to have 750,147 BI for each level instead of around 20-50 I was actually able to play it more as a job. Live cash games were ridiculous at times, and in the third year I made a regular habit of winning and losing close to a hundred in alternate sessions at the mighty £10nl. All the poker I learnt from everybody at Durham helped my develop my own style and on reflection poker was my degree and law was my part time job.
Now, as I have left uni, I have a long summer ahead of me which I hope to play loads of poker, get fit and grow up...I'll try to post how these things come along, with maybe a picture of my ripped 6pack as a post title when I put Peter Andre's washboard abs of the Kiss the Girl era to shame.
Since I've been a "graduate" I have started my "year out to play poker" well and made around $1350 in three sessions, and enjoyed playing so much! I've dropped around $200 at tournies and I'm just not ready to concentrate for several hours yet but I'm loving my poker and can't wait to talk poker and learn more for a year...it's exciting, if not an awkward response when asked what I plan to do with my degree/life or what I'm doing this year. What is almost certain (though nothing is booked yet) is that I'm going to Vegas with a few Durham fish early September and can't wait for that, will be so good and if it goes well may sort out another trip out there to make the most of my freedom whilst I still can. I am hoping that being the youngest-looking person in any casino could act as huge implied odds and really help me rape the fellow tourists and possibly win money from them as well to try to run at a profit for the trip.
Until then, I will post if anything exciting happens, but as I play HU which is very dull to talk about that might be a while away, so I guess next time I post will be when I knock in another hole in one, which must be due soon!!
Goodnight and peace, wish me luck for the year ahead! :-)
So I'd have to say that overall Durham was a massive success. A couple of marks less and I'd probably have to say the sacrifices I had to make in terms of time away from my family, Louise and earning wasn't worth it, but the 2.1 is what I need to try to distinguish myself from the thousands of other law graduates when I finally enter the world of work. It was very tough being away from home and Louise at times, but I got through and used poker to keep myself occupied. So, on an academic front I can be proud and whilst I think the 6 hours / week (4 hours / week in third year) was a joke and not very stimulating, it allowed a lot of time for poker which was helped by meeting successful players from Durham Poker Society.
I played many different styles at uni but had plenty of time to learn, and shortstacked and hit and run Crypto cash games for a year whilst grinding 6man turbos before the world of Stars and ideas of bankroll management were brought into my world by Durham nits such as James Skolsuper, Richard Bowburn and Ptevey sm1le. Some loose cannons, i.e. Matt mgamble4456(such a standard fish name fwiw!) and later on Rahl Benjamin Blake recommended all sorts of degenerate antics but I made sure I avoided these bad vibes, and didn't once risk drinking Hannes' "non-alcoholic" beer!!
So, I'd learnt about bankroll management and whilst I preferred to have 750,147 BI for each level instead of around 20-50 I was actually able to play it more as a job. Live cash games were ridiculous at times, and in the third year I made a regular habit of winning and losing close to a hundred in alternate sessions at the mighty £10nl. All the poker I learnt from everybody at Durham helped my develop my own style and on reflection poker was my degree and law was my part time job.
Now, as I have left uni, I have a long summer ahead of me which I hope to play loads of poker, get fit and grow up...I'll try to post how these things come along, with maybe a picture of my ripped 6pack as a post title when I put Peter Andre's washboard abs of the Kiss the Girl era to shame.
Since I've been a "graduate" I have started my "year out to play poker" well and made around $1350 in three sessions, and enjoyed playing so much! I've dropped around $200 at tournies and I'm just not ready to concentrate for several hours yet but I'm loving my poker and can't wait to talk poker and learn more for a year...it's exciting, if not an awkward response when asked what I plan to do with my degree/life or what I'm doing this year. What is almost certain (though nothing is booked yet) is that I'm going to Vegas with a few Durham fish early September and can't wait for that, will be so good and if it goes well may sort out another trip out there to make the most of my freedom whilst I still can. I am hoping that being the youngest-looking person in any casino could act as huge implied odds and really help me rape the fellow tourists and possibly win money from them as well to try to run at a profit for the trip.
Until then, I will post if anything exciting happens, but as I play HU which is very dull to talk about that might be a while away, so I guess next time I post will be when I knock in another hole in one, which must be due soon!!
Goodnight and peace, wish me luck for the year ahead! :-)
Saturday 13 June 2009
VeGaS
I'm not out in Vegas for the WSOP and I really wish I was as it must be incredible, the highlight of a poker players year. Let's hope DUPS representative James Keys can ship something massive, wearing somebody elses bracelet will be enough to keep me satisfied until I get a chance to have a go next year!
Still, Vegas in September is looking more likely which will be a class consolation. Hopefully a decent DUPS crowd can turn out, and surely within one of us there will be a massive score or something successful! One time, plssssss! Flights and hotel deals are ridiculously cheap and represent sick value, which as a poker player can't be turned down. It's a proud time for me when my girlfriend buys food or drink at a price which represents the best value, especially so when we both know it will be wasted but the value is too good to be turned down. Who knew poker had so many benefits to everyday life!
Mention must go to Ptevey who basically fulfilled my aims from my last post and shipped a big score in a live event, sick player who is simply a poker genius and hopefully this is the start of a great live career for him if he can spare the time! I'm already keen to speculate with my offline bankroll in live events and this score has simply encouraged me further. Gamble's amazing 2 minors in his first driving test (which judging by his dealing were almost certainly for hesitation) has also hammered home the need to drive as well, and with a car and a pair of nuts, I should be able to get in contention for big things!
Online I have only managed a few sessions, but they have gone well, winning around $1k. A two hour session of around $110 profit ended well when I shipped a $115 4-man to bring in $440 overall, and I played for around three hours yesterday, winning $420. As is to be expected/deserved, I'm still running so bad in every tournie I play, so challenging on OPR looks a long way off at the minute!
For anybody who reads, cheers, and I realise it's not always interesting!! I'm practically handicapped on a computer, so I will learn how to include pictures, HH's etc which will hopefully be interesting. For now, I will look for a cheesy pun/riddle to end my posts!
147
"A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it."
Still, Vegas in September is looking more likely which will be a class consolation. Hopefully a decent DUPS crowd can turn out, and surely within one of us there will be a massive score or something successful! One time, plssssss! Flights and hotel deals are ridiculously cheap and represent sick value, which as a poker player can't be turned down. It's a proud time for me when my girlfriend buys food or drink at a price which represents the best value, especially so when we both know it will be wasted but the value is too good to be turned down. Who knew poker had so many benefits to everyday life!
Mention must go to Ptevey who basically fulfilled my aims from my last post and shipped a big score in a live event, sick player who is simply a poker genius and hopefully this is the start of a great live career for him if he can spare the time! I'm already keen to speculate with my offline bankroll in live events and this score has simply encouraged me further. Gamble's amazing 2 minors in his first driving test (which judging by his dealing were almost certainly for hesitation) has also hammered home the need to drive as well, and with a car and a pair of nuts, I should be able to get in contention for big things!
Online I have only managed a few sessions, but they have gone well, winning around $1k. A two hour session of around $110 profit ended well when I shipped a $115 4-man to bring in $440 overall, and I played for around three hours yesterday, winning $420. As is to be expected/deserved, I'm still running so bad in every tournie I play, so challenging on OPR looks a long way off at the minute!
For anybody who reads, cheers, and I realise it's not always interesting!! I'm practically handicapped on a computer, so I will learn how to include pictures, HH's etc which will hopefully be interesting. For now, I will look for a cheesy pun/riddle to end my posts!
147
"A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it."
Saturday 6 June 2009
Growing up?! (surely not!?) and shotgun the fame!!
To ensure this is a short post, I'm starting writing it on the train in the time it takes to get from Darlington to Durham, so this won't be another marathon!
It's obv been ages, as exams have been the order of the day! Think overall they were average, with one absolute shocker which will probably be bad enough to bring me down to a 2:2. Very annoying and would signal a disappointing ROI from Uni when a couple of extra marks would be great, such a fine line but I think my apathetic approach will probably result in a failure...meh nvm, there's always poker right?!
On the poker front, I've not been able to play and make the most of the fantastic new additions to Stars. FIRST OFF, A REMATCH BUTTON....boomtown, this should hopefully bring huge increases in profit if I can coax the fish into playing another game, and I'm currently working out the perfect strategy to reel them in...might start giving it in the chat box or drop to any depths to get them to continue donating...is that really any worse than going in to law anyways?!? But, yeah that's sick, and the extra VPP's I can get from playing through their new scheme should be very nice. I have only played 4 times in the last few months but made 1240VPPs on their new rates, so Supernova for the year should be very achieveable and would help me next year to continue to make a form of Stars rakeback. So yeah, that's looking pretty good, and whilst I will have to work my way back into it a bit, I'm looking forward to it. Alongside heads up, I'm going to play more tournaments or devise a sort of schedule of events. I should be able to combine heads up with tournies and want to make strides in my tournament game.
I will also finally start to drive after I graduate, so when I'm on the road I'll hit the casinos more and get some more practice in with a view to play GUKPT sats and hopefully events if things go well. I haven't written any form of structured approach down yet but I want to start cracking the live value, continue working on the online value and try to be as professional as I can. I want to get some live experience with a view of giving Vegas a shot...I want to be out there, trying to win, enjoying the lifestyle, and lapping it up!
I have always struggled more at times with poker when I don't have an aim, so alongside specific win-rate aims I will set I will aim to become famous(!!!), and this will come about in poker terms at least if I can become one of the best and win big online and then afford to play and win live events...I want this, I would love the lifestyle, so I'm going to put my all in to see how this goes!! Such a pipedream probably, but hopefully will give me some focus, and all it takes is to run good once! SHOTGUN that time!!
It's obv been ages, as exams have been the order of the day! Think overall they were average, with one absolute shocker which will probably be bad enough to bring me down to a 2:2. Very annoying and would signal a disappointing ROI from Uni when a couple of extra marks would be great, such a fine line but I think my apathetic approach will probably result in a failure...meh nvm, there's always poker right?!
On the poker front, I've not been able to play and make the most of the fantastic new additions to Stars. FIRST OFF, A REMATCH BUTTON....boomtown, this should hopefully bring huge increases in profit if I can coax the fish into playing another game, and I'm currently working out the perfect strategy to reel them in...might start giving it in the chat box or drop to any depths to get them to continue donating...is that really any worse than going in to law anyways?!? But, yeah that's sick, and the extra VPP's I can get from playing through their new scheme should be very nice. I have only played 4 times in the last few months but made 1240VPPs on their new rates, so Supernova for the year should be very achieveable and would help me next year to continue to make a form of Stars rakeback. So yeah, that's looking pretty good, and whilst I will have to work my way back into it a bit, I'm looking forward to it. Alongside heads up, I'm going to play more tournaments or devise a sort of schedule of events. I should be able to combine heads up with tournies and want to make strides in my tournament game.
I will also finally start to drive after I graduate, so when I'm on the road I'll hit the casinos more and get some more practice in with a view to play GUKPT sats and hopefully events if things go well. I haven't written any form of structured approach down yet but I want to start cracking the live value, continue working on the online value and try to be as professional as I can. I want to get some live experience with a view of giving Vegas a shot...I want to be out there, trying to win, enjoying the lifestyle, and lapping it up!
I have always struggled more at times with poker when I don't have an aim, so alongside specific win-rate aims I will set I will aim to become famous(!!!), and this will come about in poker terms at least if I can become one of the best and win big online and then afford to play and win live events...I want this, I would love the lifestyle, so I'm going to put my all in to see how this goes!! Such a pipedream probably, but hopefully will give me some focus, and all it takes is to run good once! SHOTGUN that time!!
Friday 17 April 2009
Dissertation FML
I need to try to graduate with a 2.1, and as such have been working on my dissertation recently. Hopefully I can run good with my diss mark as it works out as a 1/5 of my degree, which is a bit steep imo for a fucking compulsory module but nvm! I have to work like a slut for the next 12 days to get it finished, but usually I find it easier to work hard when I know the deadline is due, so I hope I can wrap it up soon and start with learning/revision for the exams.
All of this obv = no poker, and apart from 1/2 hour the other night where I won about $150 I've not been able to play for a while. After starting the bet, I was only able to put in 6 sessions which I knew would be the case in the first place but also realised that if I had a stimulus I would play more and make more than the $100 I'd probably lose. That definitely happened as I managed to average $500 a session, bringing home $3k profit from the start of the bet. I lose 1/30 of this to Keys, who managed to win the required amount in good time, but definitely won as well as losing. Maybe like a total win amount in a 30hour stretch would be a good bet in the future, as for some reason a small financial incentive can act as a greater kick-up-the-arse to win than the higher amount of $$$ that can be won.
I can't wait to graduate and get playing, but unfortunately I'm going to have to just work work work for the time being, so let's hope I can run good, scrape a 2.1 and be happy!
All of this obv = no poker, and apart from 1/2 hour the other night where I won about $150 I've not been able to play for a while. After starting the bet, I was only able to put in 6 sessions which I knew would be the case in the first place but also realised that if I had a stimulus I would play more and make more than the $100 I'd probably lose. That definitely happened as I managed to average $500 a session, bringing home $3k profit from the start of the bet. I lose 1/30 of this to Keys, who managed to win the required amount in good time, but definitely won as well as losing. Maybe like a total win amount in a 30hour stretch would be a good bet in the future, as for some reason a small financial incentive can act as a greater kick-up-the-arse to win than the higher amount of $$$ that can be won.
I can't wait to graduate and get playing, but unfortunately I'm going to have to just work work work for the time being, so let's hope I can run good, scrape a 2.1 and be happy!
Sunday 29 March 2009
Back from Doubling!
The tour was incredible, 8 games of football to rip the body to pieces with roughly 4 hours a night recovery time after big nights out on the lash! The Wednesday was a write-off for me as I had a nasty reaction to some food I ate and was sick all evening and night but I pulled it together to play the last few matches on the Thursday before our last amazing night out. Dublin is a pricey motherfucker, and I was horrified to see 2 pints of coke cost 10euros40 in a restaurant, so over £10. A pint of lager was 4.40ffs, how can coke be more expensive unless you're snorting it?!! To compensate, I have hit the tables hard since I have been back.
Prompted by the challenge between me and Keys, I had planned to play on Friday night, but a 45 minute nap at 7pm on Friday developed into a sleep until 10am Saturday. I planned to mix in work and poker this weekend, but I have tried to read through my work and am still too tired from the tour to take it all in so that hasn't been too productive. Luckily, poker has gone well and I have taken a huge stride towards winning the illustrious $100, winnin around $1.2k this weekend and sending my bankroll up to over $6240. Included in this was a 750FPP Double Shootout win for a Sunday Warm Up seat when there was less than 20 entrants so the first round was just a heads up and the secnod table had two seats. $215 in the bank and thankyou very much Stars for not reaching a guaranteed one time! I chose not to play any of the big tournaments this weekend, as I don't remember how to play them!! I have played a few of the monthly freeroll tournies this weekend including the million turbo takedwn and the monthly 100k freeroll, and haven't made it past the second or third blind stage. I need to remember how to play these, Ptevey come back plsplspls!!
Anyway, tomorrow I've got to get myself to the library to work hard on my dissertation, but I hope to play a few hours in the evening. I'll try to update again before I hit the UKSPC on Wednesday from where I'll be getting the train to Llanelli for the Uni Snooker Home Nations.
Also, apparently Keys has been benefitting frmo the exchange rates which has taken him closer to his target without even playing...what a cheating bastard!!!
Sooty,x
Prompted by the challenge between me and Keys, I had planned to play on Friday night, but a 45 minute nap at 7pm on Friday developed into a sleep until 10am Saturday. I planned to mix in work and poker this weekend, but I have tried to read through my work and am still too tired from the tour to take it all in so that hasn't been too productive. Luckily, poker has gone well and I have taken a huge stride towards winning the illustrious $100, winnin around $1.2k this weekend and sending my bankroll up to over $6240. Included in this was a 750FPP Double Shootout win for a Sunday Warm Up seat when there was less than 20 entrants so the first round was just a heads up and the secnod table had two seats. $215 in the bank and thankyou very much Stars for not reaching a guaranteed one time! I chose not to play any of the big tournaments this weekend, as I don't remember how to play them!! I have played a few of the monthly freeroll tournies this weekend including the million turbo takedwn and the monthly 100k freeroll, and haven't made it past the second or third blind stage. I need to remember how to play these, Ptevey come back plsplspls!!
Anyway, tomorrow I've got to get myself to the library to work hard on my dissertation, but I hope to play a few hours in the evening. I'll try to update again before I hit the UKSPC on Wednesday from where I'll be getting the train to Llanelli for the Uni Snooker Home Nations.
Also, apparently Keys has been benefitting frmo the exchange rates which has taken him closer to his target without even playing...what a cheating bastard!!!
Sooty,x
Sunday 22 March 2009
Challenge Anika!
The PaulKeys Pig challenge is on, a race for the sum of $100 and more importantly bragging rights and an ego boost! I'm on $4935, he's on $5500, and I have to reach $10k before he makes $11k...simple right?! Well, given he plays 1/2 he could be there in a few sessions of running well, whereas my heads up will be a more steady rise and running like God for a few sessions still won't get me over the target. Still, it will hopefully prompt me to play more, and even I lose the bet, hopefully I will make more than I'm losing in the bet in profit than I would have anyway making it still a good bet for me. It's not great timing for me to get involved with bets like this, with a dissertation and heavy revision on the cards, but I should still be able to get a few hours an evening in if I can plan my work well I should have a good chance of winning and more importantly earning more than I would do otherwise.
March has been a very quiet month for me due to work, but I think i am slightly down after having a downswing where nothing could happen for me at all. I made $500 in an hour before I came back home for a few days, but I think I may be a few hundred $$$ down which is just standard variance and I hope to turn March into a profitable month. Tomorrow I go to Dublin for a football tour which I'm really looking forward to!
Anyway, I hope to post regular challenge updates. One time!!
March has been a very quiet month for me due to work, but I think i am slightly down after having a downswing where nothing could happen for me at all. I made $500 in an hour before I came back home for a few days, but I think I may be a few hundred $$$ down which is just standard variance and I hope to turn March into a profitable month. Tomorrow I go to Dublin for a football tour which I'm really looking forward to!
Anyway, I hope to post regular challenge updates. One time!!
Friday 13 February 2009
It's been a while!?!
Evening all, through the wonders of Wifi I am blogging whilst returning home for the Valentines weekend with Louise. I'm really looking forward to it. Two weeks apart is quite a long time, but it's all worth it when we get to spend nice weekends together and do nice/romantic things. A walk in the freezing cold should tick them boxes, so I'm glad to be going home. It's sick to think that we've managed to be solid despite being hundreds of miles apart, pretty good going I think. She's loving the chance to spend my hard-earnt money, and I'm looking forward to treating her, so that's all good.
Anyway, gayness aside, I haven't really been getting involved with the pokers much since the two tournie wins. I've attempted to play a few tournies, but haven't been on it at all, and have generally bluffed away reasonably sized stacks when I realise I don't want to stay up til 5am!
Heads up has continued to be reasonably profitable. I played and busted early in the FTOPS $535 HU tournie, playing a solid reg early on and running into a lot of hands when trying to accumulate the small pots. In the end a pair and a flush draw was inadequate against the mighty J4 which had top pair, and that tournie was busto. I'll definitely keep plugging away at HU tournies, as I definitely feel I have a decent edge, even though the fields are often filled with well-known tournament players.
The tournie aside, I've been playing a mixture of $57.50's and $115's, mostly 2mans but mixing in 4mans. I had an incredibly sick run of 8 4man wins in a row, which would equate to a 16game win streak. Pretty sure that ended on a stupid bluff...well never mind! I haven't got any Scope stats atm as it's still blocked, but I think my ROI is probably pretty decent, and I'm just trying to win enough to justify a perma-move to poker when my course finishes.
As the last paragraph indicates, I've been doing a of thinking about what I plan to do when I finish Uni, and I have definitely been tending more towards full time poker, for a year at least to give myself the chance to see how it goes. I've spoken to a variety of people, but am going to definitely make more enquiries to see if this is viable. When I graduate in June/July, jobs will be difficult to find, and thousands up thousands will be in the queue for jobs in the city. I think I will join an agency, see if I can get in contact with a job that I would enjoy/pays well, and if so I will be faced with a Ptevey like decision and will probably make the same decision he did. I am getting myself prepared mentally for full-time poker should no job be on the horizon though, which I hope helps if I do make the transition.
Money wise, January was an almost £10k profit month, but obviously this included 2 huge wins which won't happen every month! Aside from the wins though, I made around £3.5k playing HU, and this was from playing around 15-20hours a week I think. However, this was running good with the 4man wins, and my average rate will be less than this. Still, it was a very positive start to the year and gives me a good indication of how much I can make at the game.
In February I have been concentrating more on what my hourly rate is, and establishing how much I can earn from the game. I have lost a few hundred $$ playing tournaments (including the FTOPS loss), but have maybe won around $1.1k from 75ish games of HU. I am mixing in more $115's and feel more comfortable at this level. I have a diss draft to do in the next couple of weeks, so I won't be able to play much or work out how much i can expect in a month yet, but when the draft is in (27th Feb) it will be followed by playing at least 30hours in a 5 day period. I want to see how much I can make, how much losing a bit affects me, and what sort of hourly I have. I am thinking I will set a target of $1600 for the week and may have some side-bets on this if there is interest?!
Anyways, this post has degenerated into a life story, so I guess I should end it now. If I haven't spoken to yet about the viability of playing poker full time, then expect that chat soon. If by chance anyone who is a full time player reads this for some random reason then please contribute as all views are very interesting! I love playing poker, I am very competitive and I don't drink, so I have the mental capacity to win in this respect. Whether or not I hit burn-out or how I handle big swings at the higher level is yet to be seen, but I definitely want to test myself.
Peace.
14thFeb7_Star
Anyway, gayness aside, I haven't really been getting involved with the pokers much since the two tournie wins. I've attempted to play a few tournies, but haven't been on it at all, and have generally bluffed away reasonably sized stacks when I realise I don't want to stay up til 5am!
Heads up has continued to be reasonably profitable. I played and busted early in the FTOPS $535 HU tournie, playing a solid reg early on and running into a lot of hands when trying to accumulate the small pots. In the end a pair and a flush draw was inadequate against the mighty J4 which had top pair, and that tournie was busto. I'll definitely keep plugging away at HU tournies, as I definitely feel I have a decent edge, even though the fields are often filled with well-known tournament players.
The tournie aside, I've been playing a mixture of $57.50's and $115's, mostly 2mans but mixing in 4mans. I had an incredibly sick run of 8 4man wins in a row, which would equate to a 16game win streak. Pretty sure that ended on a stupid bluff...well never mind! I haven't got any Scope stats atm as it's still blocked, but I think my ROI is probably pretty decent, and I'm just trying to win enough to justify a perma-move to poker when my course finishes.
As the last paragraph indicates, I've been doing a of thinking about what I plan to do when I finish Uni, and I have definitely been tending more towards full time poker, for a year at least to give myself the chance to see how it goes. I've spoken to a variety of people, but am going to definitely make more enquiries to see if this is viable. When I graduate in June/July, jobs will be difficult to find, and thousands up thousands will be in the queue for jobs in the city. I think I will join an agency, see if I can get in contact with a job that I would enjoy/pays well, and if so I will be faced with a Ptevey like decision and will probably make the same decision he did. I am getting myself prepared mentally for full-time poker should no job be on the horizon though, which I hope helps if I do make the transition.
Money wise, January was an almost £10k profit month, but obviously this included 2 huge wins which won't happen every month! Aside from the wins though, I made around £3.5k playing HU, and this was from playing around 15-20hours a week I think. However, this was running good with the 4man wins, and my average rate will be less than this. Still, it was a very positive start to the year and gives me a good indication of how much I can make at the game.
In February I have been concentrating more on what my hourly rate is, and establishing how much I can earn from the game. I have lost a few hundred $$ playing tournaments (including the FTOPS loss), but have maybe won around $1.1k from 75ish games of HU. I am mixing in more $115's and feel more comfortable at this level. I have a diss draft to do in the next couple of weeks, so I won't be able to play much or work out how much i can expect in a month yet, but when the draft is in (27th Feb) it will be followed by playing at least 30hours in a 5 day period. I want to see how much I can make, how much losing a bit affects me, and what sort of hourly I have. I am thinking I will set a target of $1600 for the week and may have some side-bets on this if there is interest?!
Anyways, this post has degenerated into a life story, so I guess I should end it now. If I haven't spoken to yet about the viability of playing poker full time, then expect that chat soon. If by chance anyone who is a full time player reads this for some random reason then please contribute as all views are very interesting! I love playing poker, I am very competitive and I don't drink, so I have the mental capacity to win in this respect. Whether or not I hit burn-out or how I handle big swings at the higher level is yet to be seen, but I definitely want to test myself.
Peace.
14thFeb7_Star
Monday 26 January 2009
2/302 in $215 HU Tournament + 7/28500 in the Sunday 200k = $12.5k for me - $4k to stakes....swiiiiish!!
Hi all, title says it all! Managed to sh1p two relatively huge scores in one night, taking home 2nd in the $215 heads up to win 50% of just under $8k, and then a couple of hours later 7/28500 to bring home the comical amount of $4447. All in all, an incredibly sick night!
Can't be arsed with hands etc, but basically I was hitting a lot of cards in the HU, but managing to get paid off against poor hands quite a lot. I ran dead in the last match, and couldn't hit my up and down or one overcard to get back into contention unfortunately. In the Sunday 200k, I rivered a straight with 4 tables left to get back in it, before working up to a dominant stack at the final table. I was big chip lead with 7 left, but JJ < AK and then shoving A3 vs the table aggressor who snapped with AK meant it was a case of what could have been, though I'm not worrying about that!!
Before these two tournies, I had been plugging away up to around $7.7k, so this is a very nice bankroll double up, maybe I'll play a 100/200 table and look for a flip to see if I can do the same again. On the other hand, perhaps I'll book a holiday for me and the girlfriend!!
Anyways, essay time for me, a summative is preventing me from going down to see the girlfriend to celebrate....how bad do I run?!
$4447_7th.
Can't be arsed with hands etc, but basically I was hitting a lot of cards in the HU, but managing to get paid off against poor hands quite a lot. I ran dead in the last match, and couldn't hit my up and down or one overcard to get back into contention unfortunately. In the Sunday 200k, I rivered a straight with 4 tables left to get back in it, before working up to a dominant stack at the final table. I was big chip lead with 7 left, but JJ < AK and then shoving A3 vs the table aggressor who snapped with AK meant it was a case of what could have been, though I'm not worrying about that!!
Before these two tournies, I had been plugging away up to around $7.7k, so this is a very nice bankroll double up, maybe I'll play a 100/200 table and look for a flip to see if I can do the same again. On the other hand, perhaps I'll book a holiday for me and the girlfriend!!
Anyways, essay time for me, a summative is preventing me from going down to see the girlfriend to celebrate....how bad do I run?!
$4447_7th.
Monday 12 January 2009
HU + tournies = profit + loss!
Evening, I had a night where I got bored of just heads up, and began testing out the 45-man and 180-man $12 turbos and a couple of SNG's. I think I might have lost my ability here, as I was making some silly calls in spots where I'm good heads up but crushed full-ring.
It's good though and has made poker more interesting for me, which has provoked me to play longer sessions. I have lost every $12 I have played (around 9) with horrific luck in around 3 when I had big stacks and got crushed. I enjoy them though, and as I want to get better at tournaments for the big Sunday ones it's good to spend a little to improve. I have played a couple of larger field $20 tournies and feel good. Haven't gone too deep yet but going to keep playing these medium buy in tournies for experience and to hopefully sh1p a decent amount.
O, and I obv shipped the $11 sat to the Sunday warm-up again. It's so weird that I've shipped 4/5 of these, but long may it continue!! I'm going to play one of the majors Sunday week.
I have also been playing a few $57.50 4-mans. Generally you get one good player here and 2 absolute Gambons. So, if I can play well and beat the good player, I would hope to beat the other fishes and win a decent amount. Haven't had a downswing at these yet so I'm sure that when that comes I might stop playing them so much, but for now I hope they continue to be profitable.
So, I might have more interesting stuff to post if I start playing a reasonable volume of tournies as I may (one time!) have a big win, so that might end the boring drone I put out here!
My roll is at $6,605, including $215 $T. Hope to play a fairly meaty session this evening, including some tournies, so I hope I post later saying I've shipped something!!
L8z,
Ronnie.
It's good though and has made poker more interesting for me, which has provoked me to play longer sessions. I have lost every $12 I have played (around 9) with horrific luck in around 3 when I had big stacks and got crushed. I enjoy them though, and as I want to get better at tournaments for the big Sunday ones it's good to spend a little to improve. I have played a couple of larger field $20 tournies and feel good. Haven't gone too deep yet but going to keep playing these medium buy in tournies for experience and to hopefully sh1p a decent amount.
O, and I obv shipped the $11 sat to the Sunday warm-up again. It's so weird that I've shipped 4/5 of these, but long may it continue!! I'm going to play one of the majors Sunday week.
I have also been playing a few $57.50 4-mans. Generally you get one good player here and 2 absolute Gambons. So, if I can play well and beat the good player, I would hope to beat the other fishes and win a decent amount. Haven't had a downswing at these yet so I'm sure that when that comes I might stop playing them so much, but for now I hope they continue to be profitable.
So, I might have more interesting stuff to post if I start playing a reasonable volume of tournies as I may (one time!) have a big win, so that might end the boring drone I put out here!
My roll is at $6,605, including $215 $T. Hope to play a fairly meaty session this evening, including some tournies, so I hope I post later saying I've shipped something!!
L8z,
Ronnie.
Sunday 4 January 2009
Pushing on...but the idea of a return to Uni crushes me!
F1r$t up, 1've d£c!ded 2 bl0ck my Sh@rksc0p£, (FUK CARRYING ON L1KE TH!$ THE WHOLE POST!!) because, though I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm worried/paranoid that if someone scoped me and saw my upswing I might get reported/investigated and my account temporarily suspended or some similar shit that would t!lt me.
Second, happily the upswing has continued. My roll is now $5465. I have made around $860 in the last two evenings. I also played some £1/£2 [or $.01/.$.02 as it is given the conversion rates] at my snooker club and made £75 profit.
So, this means that in 2009 I have made around £900 including some cash exploits, which begs the question, how am I going to get any work done when/if I can earn at this rate? I think I am going to have to grind out some work to stay afloat, which is annoying, but the degree has to be my priority.
No stats as I have no Scope, so the post has to end abrup
Second, happily the upswing has continued. My roll is now $5465. I have made around $860 in the last two evenings. I also played some £1/£2 [or $.01/.$.02 as it is given the conversion rates] at my snooker club and made £75 profit.
So, this means that in 2009 I have made around £900 including some cash exploits, which begs the question, how am I going to get any work done when/if I can earn at this rate? I think I am going to have to grind out some work to stay afloat, which is annoying, but the degree has to be my priority.
No stats as I have no Scope, so the post has to end abrup
Friday 2 January 2009
2008 Review, 2009 Aims (too long to include this post!!), zzzzzzzzzzzz etc...
Ok, for those who have followed my blog in the last year, thanks a lot. I know it's boring and filled with stats, but it does help me to have an outlet and comments that are made are always appreciated.
Right, now for the 2008 review...!
My year was basically split in to two parts...from Jan-April, where I was mainly playing on FT, and working at the $6.50 9-man turbos. I started off here smashing it up, with an ROI of over 25% and one-tabling or two-tabling managing to win at a very good rate. When I increased the number of tables to around 4, my graph plateaud quite a lot, but that taught me the vital skill of multi-tabling. I started building a proper roll for the first time on FT, but then had a break to get ready for exams so took it all out.
When I came back, after my exams, I felt like I was one of the best at my level. I wanted to live off of poker money in the summer instead of getting a part time job, and put on $200, my biggest ever deposit, to attempt to do that.
June was the month that changed it all around and set me up to earn much more effectively at poker. I won around $1570 in 1500 games, dedicating a lot of time to poker and moving up to 15tabling the 9mans. I had finally started working a roll, and it was around $2k by the end of June after a sat success. Most important of all, I switched to HU SNG's, which is where I have stayed since. I don't know whether this was the most profitable thing to do on reflection, as I had learnt all about 9mans and beaten them without moving up, but I found HU SNG's less of a grind so stuck with them.
July was massively profitable, making nearly $2 a game and winning $1250 overall. I had slowly eased up to the $23 HU SNG's by then.
With profits of around $3.2k, I had hit the wall by August, and a few horrible downswings broke my spirit and I withdrew my roll. I kept away from poker for two weeks, until I deposited $39 on the 31st August to play a couple of tournaments. I was one HU SNG away from busting this and not playing for a while, but I managed to win that and everything today is thanks to that outdraw!!
The amount I could play was fairly disciplined from September to now, with Uni commitments, social life, girlfriend and once or twice work getting in the way. I 4-tabled HU, and did really well at the $11's but continually struggled at the $23's, disappointingly making more $ per game at the $11's.
My stats were these from Sept-Dec (before I played the $57.50s!!)
2,592
$1.23
$17
10%
$3,196
$1.23
$17
10%
$3,196
which was a nice bit of profit, and given the immense slide of the ££, earnt me a lot more money than before.
I then decided, after a night of struggling at the $34.50's with good opponents and filthy outdraws, that the game could be made easier with effective table selection.
I began learning who the fish and the sharks are, have the lobby loaded up and ready to register, and snap play if I recognise a fish. The results here so far (touch wood) have been so much better than I could have expected.
75
$20.23
$55
35%
$1,518
$20.23
$55
35%
$1,518
So, I have spent the whole year grinding and being happy to earn $1.5 a game, and now I am making $20 a game. I know there will be downswings, but I hope playing against fish the variance will be reduced. Some nights, due to the large volume on Stars, I can't really table select as effectively, so these will be my tournament nights.
So, including bonuses, I have made around $3.2k in my first attempt at building a roll between June-Aug and $5.2k from Sept-now.
I had to withdraw $550 for a rent payment, but currently have a roll of 4.6k and will hope to table select at a decent rate for the foreseeable future. I will look for fish at the $110 games when I get more $$ behind me, but at the minute I'm enjoying it.
I have made around $1.1k from tournies this year at 118% ROI, which is decent, but tournies are long and tilt me so much when I get close but not close enough. I will definitely be buying in to the $55s on tournie nights and hopefully can run good and ship the million!
I can't be arsed to write my 2009 aims here, I'll make a new post with it at some point. I am pleased with my progress in 2008, have made enough to get by without a job, and in the last few months have been on an hourly rate equivalent of a decent job. I still have flaws but I'm working on them and hope to have them fixed soon.
I'll assess where I hope 2009 to take me in my next post, which I promise will be more interesting than this!
tyggwp
2009_star
xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)