On The Up.... At Least I Think I Am...

Well it's been a good couple of days, and my bankroll has taken a swing for the better, and I've moved to NL25 now, I was a few $'s ahead of myself when I moved up to be honest but to offset that I will move down again at $80 should I start to lose!

I also unlocked my $50 bonus, hence the bankroll boost. And playing NL25 I think I can reach Silverstar by the end of this month on Pokerstars. But I'll see how it goes.

I'm 419 hands into NL25 and showing a $3.65 profit which makes a 1.74BB/100 hands, I know only a very small sample size and one double up or bust will change the dynamics dramatically but, I don't really feel any less confident to be honest, if anything I feel like the play is slightly better and the bad beats are not so common as people don't seem to call with such stupid hands when I 3 bet or move allin.... At NL10 the amount of times my A,K was beaten by stupid hands like 7,8o and J,Q was unreal, and A,K is actually a losing hand for me even though at least 60% of the time I went in ahead.

Anyway was just a quick update...


Bankroll: $139.69

Back From The Depths Of Doom!

Well after a rough couple of days, losses of both poker rooms forced me to merge my BR. So after dropping to like $35 on PS and then coming 2nd in a 90 man SnG on FT, which the profits were lost.... Lol

Anyway I had about $65 across both, so I got someone to transfer $30 from FT to Stars for me. And that gave me like $66 total....

But then after 3k hands of pure indulgent loveliness, I won about 15BI's (buyins $30) and that not only killed all the 11k+ hands dry spell I had and boosted me nicely, it made me just over break even for the month so far!

Made quite a few FPP's on the way and found out that bonus will only take 500 FPP's to clear.
Also, I've abandoned the double BR idea for now, or obvious reasons, and I am also debating whether or not SSS is a long term thing for me or if I should maybe try dabbling in Fixed Limit as I have always like the game, but never really had the BR to support it.
I will however continue with the SSS until I have cleared that bonus and got my extra $50, I just hope it's a bonus and not covering my losses.
I've started reading about FL already so, if I decide to make the move I will be prepared for it.


Clear PS Bonus: [ ] 353 / 500
Get PS BR To $150 to move up a level: [ ] $96.66 / $150.00
Learn advanced SSS: [ ] (Getting there)

Added goal..... Read more about FL [ ]


Total BR (including the pennies left at FT lol)


$100.57


Played just over 25k at the halfway mark of the month, I just hope the next 25k are on a more upward scale than the last.

The Plan....

Well as you can see I've been away a while.... During that time I lost a lot of my BR at FT, and I've deposited at pokerstars.

I am now playing 15 cash tables using a rigid SSS until I can grow my BR. I still have money at FT, but as I like thier MTT's and Pokerstars cash games..... I'll have to have two BR's.

So the plan is....

Use PS BR for cash games, on a strict SSS. At least until I get my BR moving a bit more.

PS BR = $56.53

Also Unlock $50 Bonus. I think this requires 5000FPP's

But as it stands in my bonus account it's 124/500

My FT BR will be only for MTT's $1 entries to start with.

Should I cash quite big in an MTT $100+ here's how it will work.


40% straight into FT BR.
30% Into PS BR
30% Into my bank account.

FT BR (what's left of it) $36.26


I am going to run the BR as separate entities, but if there is a big promotion on either site and the total BR can accomadate the required limit I shall merge the BR to clear the promo, then put whatever was borrowed from the respective site back, plus 50% of any profit made.

This blog will come in handy for tracking it.


Anyway, I am doing okay on Stars cash games, with the SSS, and sticking to it rigidly (although hard at times) I am now going to start looking into the more advanced SSS as I have mastered the basic SSS to memory now. I never have to look back on myself or refer to the starting hands etc.

So Goals as of today.


Clear PS Bonus: [ ] 124 / 5000 (I think it's 5,000)
Get PS BR To $150 to move up a level: [ ] $56.53 / $150.00
Learn advanced SSS: [ ]

As for the MTT's I am going to just play them when I am in the mood. As you can lose a lot of cash playing these. I'll enter 4 when I do decide to play. Maybe 2 x 90 man deep stack SnG's and a couple out of the lobby. But I like to keep my mind busy or I get bored and start making stupid plays with stupid hands.

I'm not going to post on here so often either. Just when I feel like it. So I may have daily results all in one post for a week or just added daily I dunno yet to be honest, but I just don't seem to want to write everyday is all.

Let's hope the downswing is over, and my play has with SSS will be less swingy.... Though I am not 100% convinced. I think the SSS is going to be a rocky ride.... We shall see.
Total BR: $92.79

Slapped In The Face And Then Raped!

Well, here it is, my low point. Every hand I've played to this date since writing this blog is now irrelevent.... Yep that's right all thise 1,000's of hands and countless hours building my BR have been for nothing as I am back to where I started.

I had the mother of all days. Everytime I had Kings, someone had Aces, everytime I had aces, I was outdrawn, everytime I had a straight, someone drew to a miracle flush or full house. Every set beaten by bigger sets or something else.

I stopped after my BR hit an all time low. But I have lost every cent that I had made. Kinda on a down low right now. I took time out and watched a movie, then after that I hit the Poker Strategy website again and read up on NL. In hinsight I don't think I particularly did much wrong to begin with, but as I lost more and more of my BR the mistakes clearly started coming through. Calling down bets with my pocket queens on an A,K,X board etc.

I think maybe it was just the phsychology of losing playing the upper limits I don't know. What I do know is at one point I had made back all the losses from the upper limit, and was slightly in profit then it went downhill, if I had just chilled after making back the losses I may of been in a different situation right now.

Anyway here goes.....

Cash Tables Played Total: 33 x 0.02/0.05
Total Hands Played: 2,482
Daily Profit/Loss: -$12.81 (more to come from after midnight) Argh!

MTT's Played: 2
Total Buyins: $2
Total Cashes: $0
Highest Win: $0
Daily Profit/Loss: -$2


Overall Daily Profit/Loss: -$14.81

What a donk I am ..... sigh....



Current Bankroll: $52.34 (And it gets worse!)

Anyway, I am going to play less tables today, and play a few more MTT's. Maybe limit losses, and try to recover my edge before returning to 4 - 6 cash tables.

Thank God For Bonuses!

Well after my, let's say mild moment of stupidity, I spent hours trying to get back what I lost at the 0.05/0,10 tables at my usual stakes. The results weren't so good, I was up I was down, and in the end I barely broke even.

This may not quite add up today as I am not really sleeping within the standard UK times... I am generally getting to bed about 5am and getting up about midday. So all my dates for playing are scewed across two days, when I play my sessions. So now I am going to just use my poker tracker by date function. So after I post today this will all fall into line. So I only post my jobs till midnight, and then it's all new after that....I know what I mean anyway.


Cash Tables Played Total: 12 x 0.02/0.05 - 4 x 0.05/0.10
Hands Played Total: 1,132
Daily Profit/Loss: -$0.68 (I know this looks okay, but this includes yesterdays sessions from after midnight, so not good at all)

MTT's Played: 2
Total Buyins: $2
Total Cashes: $0
Highest Win: $0
Daily Profit/Loss: -$2

Bonuses: $5.00 (Take Two promotion)

Overall Daily Profit/Loss: $2.32


Current Bankroll: $67.15

I stayed away from the MTT's today but still entered the best ones(the ones with bigger payouts) but I really just wanted to focus on playing cash games and try to win back that $9 I lost at the limits above and the $5 bonus couldn't of been applied at a better time, it makes my BR look a whole lot better. Well Off to hit the tables now. Lets hope my aces stand up today, and my profits get a much needed boost.

Whoops!!!

Well, I thought as my bankroll was at $70 I'd buy into 0.05/0.10 cash games, but still with only 5% of of BR mind you ($3.50) but I can honestly say the play is bad, and the players just don't seem to care.

I got my A,J on a J high board called down with 8,10 and he hit his GS on the river. I got my Aces cracked by an allin preflop with 9's, I was pushed out a pot with my A,K for him to show 3,4os after calling a 3 x BB raise from UTG and the a re-raise to 9 x BB from MP+1 (me) preflop. So I won't be going there again for a while...

The damage was quite substantial too. -$8.54 across 132 hands. Unbelievible really.

Anyway few things other than that I need to mention....

1. New goals!
2. New Blog layout
3. Links to my graphs and stats. (once a week when my rakeback gets paid in I think will do)
4. Drink my coffee before it gets cold!!!!

Here are the revised goals. If I go over the BR mark for the next level before I meet my hand requirements then I will stay there until the hands limit is reached. Unless I reach double the required BR in profit at my required level. Also, will obviously drop down to previous limits should my BR drop that signifcantly.

[x] 0.01/0.02 - Play 2,000 hands and turn a profit. Play this limit if BR drops to $40 or below,
until I reach $50. (2,227 hands, +$6.14)
[ ] 0.02/0.05 - Play 10,000 hands and turn a profit. BR $50 - $150. If the play is
always going to be like that at the next level, I need a good
cushion. (4,505 hands, +$18.06) ACTIVE!
[ ] 0.05/0.10 - Play 20,000 hands and turn a profit. (132 hands, -$8.54) .. Shocking!
[ ] 0.10/0.20 - Play 50,000 hands and turn a profit. Add new limit goals.

In addition, instead of just jumping in to the next level 4 - 6 table multi-tabling like I have been I will start with two tables until I have made at least four buyins as profit for the level before continuing with more tables.

Also, instead of posting results for all my MTT's and cash game sessions the new format is:

Cash Tables Played Total: xx
Hands Played Total: $xx.xx
Daily Profit/Loss: $xx.xx

MTT's played: xx
Total Buyins: $xx.xx
Total Cashes: $xx.xx
Highest Cash: $xx.xx
Daily Profit/Loss: $xx.xx

Total Daily Profit/Loss: $xx.xx

Current Bankroll: $xxxxxx.xx (Okay maybe a bit hopeful with the x's)

My goals for MTT's are the same. 2% of my bankroll max buyin. No rebuy or addons unless it is within guidelines for normal MTT.

i.e $400.00 BR.. 2% = $8
Buyin for $2 allows 3 rebuys/addons totaling $8. Got it? Good. Think I have too.


I'm also going to run a forum blog as well as this one so I can add my pretty graphs and my stats etc. I tried on this site but it doesn't offer enough space on the pages. And I don't want to move and start again, took me 8 years to this one running properly.

Failed with the coffee..... It's cold again.

New goal, buy one of them USB coffee warming plate things!

Favourite Cash Hand So Far!

Just a quick one to add this hand I played in yesterday!
This is my favourite hand of this limit so far.

No spoilers, just look!



Hand converted with online PokerStrategy hand converter:

Known players:

UTG1 = ($4.50)
UTG2 = ($10.26)
MP1 = ($14.83)
MP2 = ($4.81)
MP3(Hero) = ($3.49)
CO = ($9.80)
BU = ($11.81)
SB = ($8.00)
BB = ($9.35)

$0.02/$0.05 No-Limit Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with K, J.
UTG1 calls $0.05, UTG2 folds, MP1 calls $0.05, MP2 folds, Hero calls $0.05, CO calls $0.05, BU folds, SB calls $0.03, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.30) 8, T, J (6 players)
SB bets $0.20, BB folds, UTG1 calls $0.20, MP1 calls $0.20, Hero raises to $0.8, CO folds, SB calls $0.60, UTG1 calls $0.60, MP1 calls $0.60.

Turn: ($3.50) K (4 players)
SB checks, UTG1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $2.64, SB folds, UTG1 calls $2.64, MP1 calls $2.64.

River: ($11.42) K (3 players)
UTG1 checks, MP1 checks.

Final Pot: $11.42.

Results follow:

Hero shows a full-house, kings full of jacks (K J)
MP1 shows three of a kind, kings (K Q)
UTG1 shows two pairs, kings and jacks (4 J)

Hero wins with a full-house, kings full of jacks (K J).



Was rather an exciting pot for 0.02/0.05.

So Close And Yet So Far!

My MTT's aren't going so well at the minute and I really don't think it's my fault, I am just getting a touch unlucky. I get beaten by worse hands to bust, or someone will flip over a bigger full house than my full house. That kind of thing.

I will look into a few more articles on late stage MTT play, but I've read quite a lot and I'm pretty sure I am doing the right things at the right times.
Even on the short stack I defend my blinds against the big stacks, which is usually where I make my stack from small to large (if I am short stacked obviously).
And after a great day at the cash tables yesterday my bankroll has seen a significant jump. I think my calculations are slightly off (about 30c) but I aint going all the way back through to find it, the bankroll total comes from my full tilt cashier tab, so that's the actual figure at the end of each post. And as it's only 30c difference, I ain't chasing it, I am no bloody accountant!

I am getting later and later in my MTT's though so perhaps a decent cash is due, just before I started this blog I actually cashed in 3 final tables in one day, all small tournies, but still. Then I went on my downswing, and lost the majority of it.
But this time round, I have my brain focused, my mind set, and my disipline in check. I'll be showing four figure sums soon I hope.
Plus, my rakeback must be due soon... Wonder how much that will be.... I will add straight to bankroll anyway, and it will be slightly less than it should be, because my deposit fees get taken from my rakeback.... I get 27% and poker tracker says that this week I have paid $25 in my cash games. So should be about $5 and this will increase as I go through the limits.

My sleeping patterns are getting messed up just now though, I am on US times as FT is a American based poker room. I am still looking for work at the minute after having to move 600miles from my previous job. I wish I hadn't made the move now. Trying to find work is so hard. I've applied for well over 60 jobs in the last 3 -4 weeks and not even been offered an interview. Lets just hope if a job doesn't come along a big win at poker will help see me through the bad times. I aint holding my breath to be honest but it's a possibility.

7th April 2009.

Cash sessions:


2 x NLHE 0.02c/0.05c





Start Time: 15:24


Finish Time: 16:14





Profit/Loss: $0.85

Notes: Should of been a much better session, but alas, this hand.... Sigh.

Hand converted with online PokerStrategy hand converter:

Known players:

MP1 = ($1.96)
MP2 = ($3.86)
MP3 = ($10.99)
CO = ($2.05)
BU = ($7.42)
SB(Hero) = ($2.73)
BB = ($5.00)
UTG2 = ($4.88)

$0.02/$0.05 No-Limit Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, A.
UTG2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.15, 4 folds, Hero raises to $0.3, BB folds, MP1 calls $0.15.

Flop: ($0.65) T, K, 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.50, MP1 calls $0.50.

Turn: ($1.65) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.05, MP1 raises to $1.16, Hero calls $0.11.

River: ($3.97) 3 (2 players)

Final Pot: $3.97.

Results follow:

Hero shows a pair of aces (A A)
MP1 shows a straight, king high (J Q)

MP1 wins with a straight, king high (J Q).


Start Time: 16:55

End Time: 18:15



4 x 0.02c/0.05c NLHE



Profit/Loss: $3.85



Notes: Pretty standard session, although at the start I lost a buyin and a half ($3.75), and still manged to turn a profitable session, so that's something.



Start Time: 21:17

End Time: 21:47



4 x 0.02c/0.05c NLHE



Profit/Loss: $5.35



Notes: This was just a good 30 minutes, shame I had to leave to get some food and stuff, but I generally stick to the times I set myself. Lets just hope the fish are biting this well when I get back the tables!

Start Time: 01:27

End Time: 4:22

3 x 0.02c/0.05c NLHE

Profit/Loss: $9.68

Notes: This was an up and down session to honest, I lost 3 x Buyins ($9) but recovered rather well. Only reason I stopped playing was that the $10,000 GTD tourney I was playing was entering the final stages I closed my cash games to focus on that.

Daily Total Cash Games: Profit of $19.83

Tournaments:



$1 Rebuy/Addon -



Total Prize Pool: $630 (when I exited, due to being rebuy/addon sure it increased)

Start Time: 16:35
Runners: 481
Finishing Position: 459
Finishing Time: 16:44
Rebuys/Addons: 0
Total buyin: $1.00
Profit/Loss: -$1.00



Notes: just an early exit, with a blind battle, I was BB with A,Q SB raised with 8,8 I re-raised, and he shoved... Cue the call, I never improved.



However I did decide not to rebuy, and that I am going to never rebuy unless I am still under BRM for the entry costs. I.E... $1 RB, would require me to able to enter $2 tournies to RB or Addon. So I will never exceed entry fees for a RB/AO.



$1 Freezeout - 6 Max



Total Prize Pool: $897

Start Time: 18:05
Runners: 897
Finishing Position: 75th
Finishing Time: 20:40
Total Buyin: $1.00
Won: $1.88
Profit/Loss: $0.88



Notes: Went out from DB, flopped trip Q's, BB had better kicker.



The Daily Dollar Rb/Ao -



Total Prize Pool: $10,000
Start Time: 20:15
Runners: 3,392
Finishing position: 2,940
Finishing Time: 20:40
Total Buyin: $1.00
Profit/Loss: -$1.00



Notes: Just failed to get started.

$1,000 GTD 0.10c R/A

Prize Pool: $1,871
Start Time: 22:35
Runners: 3600
Finishing Time: 01:24
Finishing position: 264th
Total Rebuys/Addons: 1 x AO, 1X Rebuy = $1
Profit/Loss: $1.10

Notes: Went out just before the money when my A,K was drawn out on by A,J.

$1 The Daily Dollar $10,000 GTD

Prize Pool: $10,000
Starting Time: 01:15
Runners: 6,119
Finishing Time: 05:10
Finishing Position: 321
Won: $4.20
Profit/Loss: $3.20

Notes: My Full house was beaten by a bigger full house.

Daily Tournaments profit $1.18.

Total Daily Profit/Loss: $21.01

Bankroll: $73.71

6th April 2009.

Tournies Entered:

$1,000 GTD R/A - 0.10c Buyin.

Total Prize Pool: $1,807
Start Time: 22:35
Runners: 3600
Finishing Position: 206th
Finishing Time: 01:38
Rebuys/Addons: x 2 = $1
Total Buyin: $1.10
Profit/Loss: -$1.10

Notes: Busted by flopping a straight 9 - K, and opponent flopped 10 - A. No preflop action.

$1 Freezeout - $1 Buyin.

Total Prize Pool: $1,108
Start Time: 00:05
Runners: 1,108
Finishing Position: 504th
Finishing Time: 00:36
Profit/Loss: -$1.00

Daily Dollar $10,000 GTD - $1 Buyin

Total Prize Pool: $10,000
Start Time: 01:15
Runners: 6,695
Finishing Position: 2,963rd
Finishing Time: 02:40
Profit/Loss: -$1.00


Cash Games:

4 x 0.02c/o.05c NLHE tables.

Start Time: 02:45
End Time: 04:20

Profit/Loss: $4.39




Was a bad night for the MTT's to be honest, the 0.10c was the better of the three I played I was well over average stack all the way through, and thought I would cash but after getting beat by a higher straight I was busted.

At least I made my buyins back at the cash games, but the profit hardly shows the effort.
The cash games were just pretty standard, my good hands paid off, and had a few minor beats, but nothing really to comment about.


Daily Profit/Loss: $1.29

Bankroll: $53.00

My Goals.

I have been playing poker for a while, and ain't going to bore with the details, I'm just going to say that I now feel I am experienced enough to take on a bit of bankroll management, and really start to play properly and maybe make a profit. I am going to start with a very small bankroll of what I have currently. I do have other bits of cash in other sites, but I frequent Full tilt because if i am playing cash you get more rackback.

After a losing day playing small stakes so far I stand at a mere $50.11.

I have already got a couple of tournament fees all paid for this evening, so that's less to worry about and may see an increase if I cash.

I am registered for:

$1,000 GTD rebuy. 0.10c buyin. - This has started as I write and I've added on for 0.50c. And that took me to 2k chips and I just took a couple of donkeys stacks taking me to 6k, so that should see me through the rebuy period! I'll update results later. 3600 entrants.

$10,000 GTD Daily Dollar - I've cashed two days in a row, but no good ones. I hope to improve on 503rd from last night, there is usually 6,000+ runners.

I'll also play some more cash games inbetween and during, which brings me to my bankroll strategy nicely!

I like Chris Fergusons layout so this is how I'll do it.

Never buyin to cash game for more than 5% of my bankroll and leave a cash table if I have 10% of my BR there ($5 atm) . And never buyin to tournies for more than 2%, but $1 buy ins can be entered at any stage.

So max buying is $2.50 at the minute for cash games.
And Tournies are $1 max.

Here's the the way I wish to play.

0.01c/0.02c - $20 and below. I also drop to this level if I am having a bad day the one above.

0.02c/0.05c - $20 - $100. The reason for this is that I like to at least half the max buyin for
table limits. I hate being short stacked.

0.05c/0.10c - $100 - $200.
0.10c/0.20c - $200+


I'll add more when I get to the next level as I am currently at 0.02/0.05. And I play about 6 - 9 hours a day. And have made a profit over last 4 days everyday.
But generally lose that profit entering the tournies.... however at the end of the week I will be getting 27% of my rake back so we'll see how much that is.

My real goal if I can make it and I know I may not is to make a living out of poker, and have a bankroll that would allow me to get to the WSOP ME at least once before I die.

This is really just a diary for me from what I feel is the moment I can do something with my poker knowledge. And I will update everyday if I can and add my live results if and when I enter more live games. I'll track my daily profits/losses.


BR: $50.11

Profit/Loss:N/A