Poker: Plays to forget & moments to remember.

The League Has Gone!

2010-10-07T08:47:00.007+01:00

Well, it's been an up and down month. My online form has been particularly good and I have just made the move from $2 - $5 tables winning my first 9 seater taking my roll up to $180 - this should buy me a few cracks at building a comfortable roll that (touch wood) should see me not having to return to the $2 tables too soon! I've been playing a very strong heads up game online of late and I am pleased with my progress.

On the live game front I have dropped off the pace - missing one game, no points in the next and finally just the one point in the last game. It's with a heavy heart that I say - I think the league title is now, sadly, beyond me. Now I'll have to try and hold on to a Champions League spot!

My live game strangely I would say has improved, I have been attacking the game trying to get the points and deprive others of the points which would've allowed me to win the league - but I really haven't caught the breaks. The first match up started OK I was in a reasonable position when I flopped a straight vs two pair - all the money went in good but the river spat out a full house - BUSTED - oh well this hand played itself! The second game I played really well, I was winning pots here there and everywhere - with or without the cards. Then I was dealt AQ suited v 57suited and flopping top pair managed to get around 11,000 in the pot by the turn(at 400 big blind) with 57 chasing a gutshot - which the river duly shat out! I had to call the 1600 on the river thinking I was beat(an oxymoron kinda play!), but was kicked in the gut by exactly how I was beat! This pot left me with just over 5 big blinds - I was tilting like I haven't for a long time! I tried my best not to do anything rash and was as patient as I could be choosing to push 20 mins later with A7 suited to be called by Brads A9 off - we ran it twice first time we split (with one of my sevens hitting the board) - second time it was goodnight Vienna. I may have waited for a better spot but - if I'm honest - I desperately wanted out of the game at that point!

Felt strange to tilt again - I was sick! Just as I thought I was immune to bad beats, poker pulls one on me and says "F*C! YOU!".

Looking forward to getting back to the baize and playing not for the title but for the fun and for the win. Bit skint at the mo so I'm looking at FIFA 11 with poor envious eyes - a decent cash on Friday and I think I'll treat myself. Of course if the poker pixies want to pay me back a bit of karma and let me back in the hunt for the league - I'll be waiting to grab the chance with both hole cards.

Review of the Month (or two)

2010-09-22T14:33:00.005+01:00

Since I last reviewed progress it has been a bit of gring online still sticking to the $2 tables and only played above my role on one drunken occasion. I got my role up to $130 and then hit a bad streak dropping back down to about $80. I knuckled down and have regained form with my role back up to $150 and I am not too far off making the move back up to $5 tables.

The live game has been going well playing two games winning one and getting unluck to bust out of the points in the other. My average point per game is at about 5 I would like to up this average to 7 points. Still a good few games to go and anything can happen but Brad winning 10 points and me getting none has made it a real uphill battle for me to finish first come the years end.

Online Sit n Go Stats:

Games Played: 2099
Average ROI: 12%
Total Profit: $1332

A good increase to last count but should've been a lot more but for a big blip.

Also must take the opportunity to reflect on my moment at the top of the PAN Poker table - it felt good and I wanna get back there! :

Archived Thought Of The Month:

You can't always play ABC poker, even if it probably is the most successful, it's not in every situation. Here it was the players that adapted their game that finished 1 & 2, while those playing ABC were blinded out.

Deamonn44 Talking small stakes SNG's on the PAN Poker forum.

PAN Poker 17.07.10

2010-07-19T13:17:00.011+01:00

17th July 2010.

PAN Poker Live Game.

£20 Re-buy (discretionary)

7 Handed - £140.00 Prize Pool

*2 Rebuys = £180.00 Prize Pool

1 - £80

2 - £60

3 - £40

Entrants:

Seat 1: Stevo (6th)

Seat 2: Brev (5th)

Seat 3: Ronan* (4th)

Seat 4: Brad (2nd)

Seat 5: Manslow (3rd)

Seat 6: Andy (1st)

Seat 7: Jenny* (7th)

It had seemed like an eternity since the last game - think we've just been spoiled playing regularly with a new game going up on the calender the day after the last one had finished. It had only been four weeks but everyone was itching to play some cards!

My goal tonight was to kick on from bubbling or cashing in 3rd to getting heads up and playing my normal online heads up game rather than my mediocre overplayed heads up game a usually resort to in the live game.

The game started pretty lively with big pots moving around the table early on, first big hand I was involved in saw brad min-raise with JJ, I flat called with 10's, Jenny then called with A9 and position inviting Brev to call from the big blind. The flop came 789 rainbow which was a great flop for me to represent a stronger holding than I had. After Brev and Brad checked it into me I four bet knowing I could be beat but had a good draw to accompany my over pair, betting with 3 live players I oped would represent a big pocket pair. Jenny called with top pair, Brev folded and Brad too, thinking I had KK or AA, with the field narrowed I decided to slow down in case Jenny had hit a set, I knew Jenny would bet the turn if I checked it to her so when the 3 came that's what happened another four bet from Jen saw me calling to hopefully hit my draw. The river came a 6 giving me the straight which was a great card as otherwise Jenny would definitely have put my 10's to the test I value bet and Jenny called with her top pair, fearing I had a set but my bet size forced a crying call. Stevo from out of the hand made a great read calling my 1010 at showdown. Nice pot early doors.

Jenny was first to fall when her AK clashed with Brad's AA preflop the aces held and Jenny was out. Jenny then re bought and hit the booze to make the night go with a bang! Woo Hoo!

Big hand involving Manlsow. Manslow I think called Brads min-raise with KK, I call with A7 on the button Stevo calls with A7 from the small blind and Brev calls from the big blind with 44. The board brought a monster flop - A44!!!! Ste, Brev and Brad all check, then Manslow leads out to find out where his kings are at. With 3 players behind me, Manslow leading out, and a pretty crap kicker I get out of the way with the A7, Stevo does the same, Brev is obviously up for the ride and Brad gets outta the way. The turn comes a Jack and then an Ace on the river, which presented Manslow with both an opportunity to not lose all of his chips with Brev slowing down, but in hindsight maybe an opportunity to bluff at the pot with Brev fearing that ace. Manslow checks it down losing a big pot to Brev's Full Boat. That ace doesn't come on the end this could have been much worse for Manslow, as it happened he was more than still afloat in the game.

Ronan and Ste had been card dead for the first couple of hours, with Ronan lacking the confidence to play J3 with any quality ;) !!!!

Stevo landed a hand and re-raised brad all in taking a decent pot down with Brad folding his AJ to Stevos suited AK which Ste showed.

Still tight Stevo raises with AA, and Brad made a dubiously creative call with K3 suited. Now this hand caused some controversy -I'd say that Stevo played this well, but I would also say he gets really, really unlucky. Ste just over three bets his Aces - I think Ste wants the call here, Brad obliges in the best possible way, ie: with suited crap. Sadly, and unjustly the poker fairys decide to shaft the best hand in the business with Brad flopping two pair on a board of K 3 10. Sick in anybodies book, but once ahead here you can't let the embarrassment of the loose call hitting stop you extracting every chip possible. Stevo was knocked out in a very ugly way, I do think Brad was a bit embarrassed by the suck out and therefore attempted to justify the play making the beat worse. I can't help thinking Brad may have had the bounty in mind when he made that call, or maybe forcing the play a bit after losing a big bet to Stevo's all in re-raise. All in all, an ugly moment!

Brad then went on to be quite up and down his stack yo-yoing for the rest of the night, getting stacked and getting short, clawing it back and getting short again. Ironically this happened just after he commented on Brev's tendency to not hold on to a big stack.

I, in the mean time had a card drought, lasting for about 2 and a half hours.

Jenny took Brev out next with a great call of Brev's all in with AJ with her pocket 99s which held knocking Brev out.

I leapt back into action when I limped into Ronan's big blind with 77, Ro had 23, and the board came 457, inviting Ronan to push with the open ended straight draw v my set, I called and it held giving me 13500 with blind at about 400/800.

Ronan requested a rebuy, it was fairly late in play and there were short stacks at the table, I objected to the rebuy but the majority allowed it. In hindsight we have decided to look at when and how we allow rebuys as Ronan re bought as we were on the bubble providing an unexpected obstacle for those short stacked in their efforts to progress. We are gonna look at once the 6th place player falls (and doesn't rebuy), there are no more rebuys. It is my belief that it should be a straight freezeout, if you're out you're out - I know we all love to play but sometimes you go out first hand! Rubbish, yes, but there is still serious drinking, chatting, dealing, online poker or XBox to play, that would be my solution.

Manslow went out next, he was as good as blinded out and his 42 which paired on the river met Jens back door flush. Ronan was next to go his AK, beaten by Jens 57.

The bubble burst and despite my wanting to push to get heads up - it was clear that I could afford to hold on with the two aggressive players Jen and Brad had been clashing a fair bit, with Brad taking risks even on the bubble losing a big pot with A9 v Jens JJ. Sure enough Brad and Jen clashed a few times 99 v A10, then Brad's AJ re raised Jenny all in with A9, she called, Brads hand held.

Jenny pushed fairly short with 56, Brad called with 1010, I look down at AA, knowing it'd piss Brad off and hoping he'd play back at me a raised it up despite the pending knockout - it did piss him off and he made a lay down I don't think I would've(I'd have tilted all in) putting down his 10's. The aces held and we were heads up.

I played a good game heads up, playing small ball poker, gaining a chip lead and getting Brad all in twice for him to win from behind. A little blip in bravado from me allowed Brad to get back even and we decided to chop the money.

We both were fight for the top spot in the league and wanted to play on for the points, nice that players are taking the PAN Poker League as more important than the money - and with the money out the way we played on for the points. With a bit of aggression and a card drought at just the wrong moment for Brad I kicked on to take the win.

I played a good game tonight. I had the cards at good times, and crucially made them pay big! I rode out a big card drought and a mini confidence blip heads up to result in first place. I can't tell you of many mistakes I made, I made one crying call against Jenny and perhaps laid down 1 or 2 hands when ahead early doors, but crucially they weren't costly mistakes.

.
Really pleased with my showing and was glad I got to play a decent heads up for the first time live in ages!!!!

Same Mistakes at any Stakes.

2010-07-16T16:04:00.004+01:00

This is my 100th post on here - pop the bubbly woo hoo! :)

Sadly it is a reminder about a flaw in my online game that I have called myself up on a number of times but still provides a leak in my online game:

PLAYING FROM THE BLINDS: I think I lose more chips from the small and big blind than any other position - while I'm not prepared generally to commit all my chips here - they are the only positions were I get a bit defensive and start to not believe that my fellow competitor can be doing anything but exploit the fact that I can't possibly have a hand in the blind causing me to defend re-raise and attack with hands not better than J7! This is particularly the case when I play blind verses blind - while not a huge problem it is definitely slowly costing me chips throughout each SNG I play.

STOP IT!

Play Your Own Game!

2010-07-14T20:58:00.007+01:00

Well I've been back on the $2 sit n go circuit and after starting fairly well - I went on a bit of losing streak. It is easy to write of the streak as just an inevitable side effect of playing against the moronic players who populate the $2 sit n go tables.

I had a good look at what I was doing and if it could have been me who was to blame for the dip in form that took me down around $20. Now I have to say I was issued some stupid beats along the way but looking at my play I did find some glitches that were contributing to my losing streak. Most noticeably it was my disdain for the playing styles and ability levels of $2 players - of which I am annoyed to be one. This arrogance on my part led to me playing too many hands - believing I should outplay these donks with almost any two cards. I was trying to take them on and show them how it's done - when all I was really doing was putting myself in the line of fire, in too many pots, and playing clever Hollywood poker involving bluffs that I know weaker players won't get! All in all, I was putting myself in a position to receive more bad beats than I would normally get!

I have since had a word with myself and gone back to a more simplistic style that is ultimately more profitable and have regained that money I lost! I need to understand and respect the table no matter what stakes I play at - I'm no wizard myself and in fact have spent a week as a $2 moronic poker player I had such disdain for!

Since recognising this flaw in my game I have played solid winning poker and have a good rhythm going again hope the momentum continues.

Looking forward to a live game this weekend!!!!

The Live Game.

2010-07-06T20:21:00.005+01:00

I'm pleased to report the the live game has continued throughout my year of madness and we've now even started the PAN Poker league of champions!

I played at Leo's Casino for the first time and did OK, not cashing but went fairly deep, actually lost a fortune at the bar (over £3 a pint of becks = shocking). Must aim to get back there. I planned to take it easy and suss the play out but to my terror very first hand I looked down at red aces under the gun - so I was involved from the start and enjoyed every minute going out with a player outdrawing my QQ with A9, but my money went in good and I can't do more than that!

As for my staple diet of PAN poker classics I've been loving them - the league has made for a great competition further down the rankings with the top 5 recieving points. My consistent bubbling has stopped and I am cashing fairly regularly - could do with pushing home a few wins but it's a tough game!

The league table for 2010 as it stands:

Review of the Month(S).

2010-07-06T19:52:00.003+01:00

Gonna give it a crack - summing up 9 lean months on the poker front that did, however, see me play 311 games.

As you can see on the right there is a rather attractive valley that has appeared in my stats graph due to playing stupid poker at stupid stakes. Then followed a long grind of generally good solid play that leaves me just $9 down over the 9 months which isn't too bad considering I dropped around $600 in that time!

Online S&G Stats:
Games Played: 1871
Average ROI: 13%
Total Profit: $1309

So 9 months lost really in terms of online poker but I am looking forward to now building from scratch building my $60 up on $2 tables. My start to this mission has been good with the bankroll back up to $110 over my first two sessions - in no small part due to my success in winning a number of 27 seater sit n gos. Watch this space for what I hope will be steady if slow progress.

Archived Thought of the Month
It never hurts for potential opponents to think you're more than a little stupid and can hardly count all the money in your hip pocket, much less hold on to it.
Amarillo Slim

Long time no post!

2010-07-06T19:35:00.003+01:00

Well hellooooo again!

I've done it I've graduated after a busy year that has meant not much poker, and as a consequence next to no blogging.

But with my career prospects greatly improved I find myself very unemployed and with time in my hands. So back to the baize it is. My financial situation has led to me withdrawing $500 from my Full Tilt bankroll leaving me starting from scratch at $60 and dropping down from $20 tables to the lowly arena that is the $2 sit n go!

Since my last post my form and roll dropped dramatically as I couldn't resist playing (and losing) $50 tables - playing above my roll and stupidly donking my balance away. I had a word with myself and played my normal game even if unable to do so as often and have managed to claw back the big dent I made in my profit margin!

Looking forward to getting more hours in over the coming months and indeed - more blog posts. The Showgirl is back!

Review Of The Month.

2009-10-04T21:14:00.006+01:00

Not really played to much this month - been cramming a few games in of a weekend and as you can tell from my lack of posting - I just haven't had the time to play!

I am missing it but I have to follow the same rules as always - make sure I'm ready and willing to win if I am gonna play at all.

Online SNG Stats:
Games Played: 1,560
Average ROI: 14%

Total Profit: $1318

Stats see a loss of $50 over just 28 games - no biggy - I know what I've been doing wrong and it is the same old thing - playing for the sake of playing!

Although I have played just half of the games I usually play in a month I feel - for how busy and tired I have been - I have actually played too much!

Not much to learn from this month - not much play - need to play only when I feel good and even just 10 games in a month should turn a reasonable profit.

No goals for next month - other than cash in the live game and hopefully limit my online play appropriately so I can make some dosh!

Archived Though Of The Month:

Think Position, think opponent, think card value and think of what your gonna do next.

Stevo250 - PAN Poker Forum.

I Used To Play Poker You Know!

2009-09-26T13:42:00.005+01:00

As you can probably tell - this has been a quite month for me. What with the change in career poker has been an after thought and I haven't seen much action!

I think this may be the case for sometime - at least till I'm settled in my new workplace!

The games I have played haven't been too fruitful - I am generally tired and in the wrong mindset to play when sitting down. I seem to have lost a little patience and haven't got my usual feel for how long the game is - getting involved early and thinking it should be over 20mins in!

I have had a couple of wins and the odd cash in about 10 games this month which isn't great form. If I am getting on the same rules apply:

Play for a short amount of time - don't over play.
Make sure I'm not knackered and just playing cos I haven't played for a bit.
Only play when in the right frame of mind.

It might sound weird - but I can usually tell when I am capable of winning and when I am not - I need to listen to my instincts and stay away when the head is in the wrong place!! Also I could do without a session of cramming about 5 losing games in, purely cos I haven't had chance to play and want to. (last night).

Who knows when I'll play or post next - been a quite and for the most part losing month!

Bulletproof Brad!

2009-09-06T15:02:00.007+01:00

6th of September 2009.

PAN Poker Live Game

£20 Freezout with Rebuy for the first hour

10 Handed Prize Pool - £200

1st - £100

2nd - £60

3rd - £40

Entrants:

Seat 1: Manslow - 2nd

Seat 2: Brad - 1st

Seat 3: Andy - 5th

Seat 4: Stevo - 10th

Seat 5: Fish - 4th

Seat 6: Al - 9th

Seat 7: John - 8th

Seat 8: Pat - 3rd

Seat 9: Brev - 7th

Seat 10: Jen - 6th

Our first 10 handed event in our new surroundings - saw Brad do it - he won his 4th title on the bounce - amazing run of form - this guy is becoming unplayable!!!

For me the night was a good one - I played fairly well, but was card dead for the most part. I wasn't getting any tempters - no KQ no 44s just premium hands or absolute tosh! I hit a few big hands and tried my best to maximise value out of them - making a nice pot with a set of 2's, slow playing AA and value raising the river with Aces full of 5's to win a decent pot. But cards and action for me were few and far between for the most part.

I gave Brad a fair bit of stick tonight as he was catching miracle cards to crack big hands on a consistent basis. Think I got on his nerves - but with success comes a good ribbing - especially when you catch the breaks Brad did!

First to get done by Brad was Stevo - Ste had been pretty card dead and was shortish in chips - when he min raised under the gun alarm bells rang around the table - with Brad in the small blind actually putting him on aces out loud! Jen called from the cut off and then something happened that I am to dumb to understand the logic behind. Brad looking down at JJ decided to raise so he could isolate Stevo's Aces! He popped in a raise of about 1400 total - Stevo double underlining the AAs he had pushed all in for 2600 more - Jenny folded and Brad had got what he was after a race AA v JJ! Ste was safe though - I had mucked a jack - so strange flush or straight draws aside Brad had just the case Jack to drag him out of this hole. BOOM Jack - Brad must've known it was coming!

Next it was Al's turn - surely his QQs would hold against Brads 99s - BANG 9 - he's only done it again!

Brad wasn't just catching cards - he was catching them when all of someone else's money was on the line in the middle. It doesn't matter if you're calling off your chips from behind when you know your hands are gonna come good!

I then mis-stepped against Brad - during a rush of decent starting hands I was dealt 1010 and raised 4x the big blind after Brad had limped in front of me. Out of position and with just K 10 off suit Brad elected to call - I hate this call, but from then on Brad played this one well. Flop came 10 high with two diamonds - Brad leads out and I elect to call knowing there is the risk of him hitting the flush - but potentially, if the board behaves, extracting another bet on later streets - the third diamond on the turn slows me down - Brad checks, but I am certain he'll call a raise with a single diamond in his hand (which he says he would've after the hand). So I check too praying for the board to pair on the river. With Brad running as good as he was - the board elected to help him come from behind to be in front on the river with the forth diamond completing his flush. His diamond just being a ten he checked as did I expecting the board to have done Brad the favour it had - I saved money here. Maybe I could have re-popped him on the flop - although Brad believed he was ahead at that point - I think this hand should have been over pre flop - but when you're running as good as Brad was - you can dodge bullets!

Brad as always played really well - but with so many high profile moments of luck he wasn't getting through the night without his fair share of stick! Apologies if I did your head in Brad - but your last three victories were flawless - this one you got a little bit of help from lady luck - which is exactly what you need when you're running at a 6500-1 shot! I expect the same stick if I manage to get my money in bad more than 3 times in a night and still come up smelling of roses!

Manslow was playing really well tonight though - playing more aggressively than usual and it was reaping rewards - he was getting his money in good and getting paid. He was gonna take some stopping.

McGinn, then Brev, then Jen fell out of the tourney - while I was heading towards oblivion and pushed with A10 off with just 5 big blinds to my name. When I heard Pat call I knew I was out in 5th - Pat's QQs held up - all the suckouts had been reserved for Brad this evening!

Fish bubbled - putting in a good shift for his first game in a million years - Pat went out in third - then Manslow lost out to Brad in a decent heads up battle. (Brad cracking KK with 74 in the process;)).

Is Brad the United of PAN Poker - hated for his success - a strong player who can win ugly!?

Fair play though Brad - I know you felt a bit targeted - but I guarantee every one at that table wouldn't begrudge the run of luck you had tonight for themselves! This victory may be your best yet - fighting of a barrage of abuse, and envious stares and comments to stick to all your critics - well done Brad!

Lots Going On!

2009-09-04T22:26:00.006+01:00

A big week for me - started quietly - then Tuesday I decided to give up work and go back to university for a year to qualify as a teacher starting Monday! With all of this going on I haven't been too poker minded!

I played for the first time since the upheaval yesterday - it didn't go well - just completely card dead and maybe a bit distracted.

Felt secure in myself today and got back on. I played really well and enjoyed a bit of banter at the table - and won it fairly easily (despite calling a guys all in 3 handed and my AQ was beaten by his 8J when the flop came 888!!!!).

Have been tired though this week - lots going on - but I'm pleased that I'm limiting my play getting away after one game last night and the same tonight.

My new hat gets it's first run out at tomorrows live game. Can't wait - Fish is coming too - they won't know what's hit them!!!

So a new chapter in my working life begins - STUDENT - poker may be my sole source of income for a bit! :) - Sympathy donks from all the lads n lasses at the live game for the poor student?!

Review Of The Month.

2009-09-01T17:09:00.004+01:00

This hasn't been a post I've enjoyed writing over the last few months - but hey, it looks like my form and more specifically my results have taken a turn for the better.

Moving back up to $10 tables has been a great decision - but one my confidence in my game over the previous few months hasn't enabled me to make. I actually have an 18% ROI at $10, where I struggle with just %12 ROI at $5.

I have been playing shorter and more focused sessions only when I've been in the right mindset to do well. Despite playing what seems like less I've still racked up nearly 50 games and, unlike previous months, they've been profitable.

My endgame has improved and I'm playing a good pre and post bubble game - converting my cashes into wins on a regular basis - I am also fairly confident in the strength of my heads up game at the mo!

I also learnt some important lessons and read some interesting articles relating to my recent difficulties in my live game and I hope to put these into practice as early as this weekend!

Online SNG Stats:

Games Played: 1,532

Average ROI: 14%
Total Profit: $1368

Points Of Note:

Continue to play in moderation - short sessions when in a good frame of mind.
If you are up for a big sesh - play the small stake big field MTT - still getting hours of play without much of your roll at stake.
Look to maximise value from hands, particularly in the live game - perhaps look to induce bluffs when the situation is right.

Aims For Next Month:

Keep turning a profit in SNG online.
Use MTT's to keep your roll out of trouble but try and do well in them!!
Cash in the live game - and get paid with your big hands.

So I am back to form and after a long wait it feels good. I've let go of worrying about promotions and such like. I am focusing on playing good poker when I feel right. Simple!

I am up $191 online this month something I hope to match or improve on next month - as long as a keep up with the lessons learnt this month I won't be going far wrong.

Archived Though Of The Month:

The biggest rush in playing the game are those crucial decisions... Taking a risk or making a bluff..... but hey I am a bit of a gambler.

Cossy J - PAN Poker Forum.

Mi aerodeslizador está lleno de anguilas.

2009-08-29T11:37:00.007+01:00

Had an impromptu break from the baize over the last week as I went to Spain to chill with the family. Nice!

By the day I got back I was gagging to get back to playing but Sky had other ideas - my Internet connection was atrocious! Against my better judgement I played a $10 SNG when I had a connection - and true to form 3 hands in I disconnected for 35 minutes!

By the time I reconnected it was seven handed and the blinds were at 50/100 - I had a stack of just about 1000. I was immediately negative thinking well I have an excuse for losing this one - but decided - NO, THINK POSITIVE! - and I knuckled down to try and win this thing! With the help of pocket queens I got back into contention - and played a good game to become chip leader when the bubble burst. Heads up my opponent was strong and I knew this could go either way - I thought I had him when I hit two pair with my 34 on the turn; sadly though, he had trapped me flopping two pair with his 94. Still not a bad outcome considering I was missing for the majority of this game!

I played a few SNG's on Thursday night - not playing at my best but a win in one of them but me slightly in profit on the night. One of the games I was unlucky to go out when my set of QQ's got it all in on the flop against AK who hit running diamonds to send me packing. I looked at how I might've played it differently on the PAN Poker forum. In hindsight I think there was no way of avoiding the hand playing out the way it did.

Last night I played a $1 MTT - just for shits n giggles - and did OK cashing but should've done better - I played a great patient game - but in the lead up to the bubble lost my mind and thought I'd have a pop at a couple of pots - losing 4000 of my 6000 stack in just two hands! Then I just had to cling on to make the money.

I finished the night with 1 $10 SNG - playing well but going out on the bubble - this was frustrating as I was in a good position when I called my nearest rivals all in with AK only for his AQ to river a queen.

So far it has been an up and down return to the cyber-baize - looking now to re-break $500 on the bankroll over the next few days.

Actually looking forward to writing this months review of the month - first positive one for a while.

PS. Extra point to anyone who manages to translate the title of this post. :)

Everything In Moderation.

2009-08-18T14:18:00.006+01:00

Played again last night and allowed myself just one $10 game - as I was a bit fooked after work.

I have to say I stormed this one - and had it in the bag just 7 hands in. In those seven hands I had QQ's, two full houses, and flopped top to pair twice! Talk about being a card rack! I took two players out and had over three times the chips of my nearest competitor - all that with just seven hands played! Also I had a reputation for having the goods. I was able to pick my spots and steel almost at will. It was a lead I never relinquished - and stormed to victory for a nice $45.

I think the crucial thing I am doing right at the mo, is playing in moderation. Making sure I am in the mood for the game and not saturating my evening with back to back SNGs. When I am playing more than one a day - I am taking a little break between games to refocus and relax - helping me to change mindset from endgame to the patient opening game needed.

"Everything in moderation" - seems like the way forward - if only I could apply it to my drinking habit I'd be onto a good thing!

A Pat On The Back.

2009-08-16T21:30:00.006+01:00

Since moving up on Saturday night I've played 7 $10 SNG's. Good thing is - I've been doing pretty well.

I'm playing a solid game and I am keeping in mind all of the things I am constantly reminding myself of on this blog. I have cashed in five out of seven - with one first place, one second place, & three third places. One of those I didn't cash in saw my queens beaten by eights - but I wasn't bothered! I took it in my stride and carried on.

I am making sure I am not outstaying my welcome at the baize - getting out after a few games - I think that from now on just between 2-4 games a night is ample poker for me to maximise my potential. (Obviously there will be big sessions from time to time).

I am quite proud as tonight I played - cashed - but I am aware I am a bit tired and clearly not in the zone - so - I'm calling it a night! Simple you might think, but normally I'd play on regardless and leak money for the rest of the night.

I'm so glad things are going well again, and I want to do everything I can to keep it that way.

Moving Up Again.

2009-08-15T19:00:00.003+01:00

I think it's time to start moving up in stakes - after a long dry patch I am confident I am playing better - and I am going to move back up to $10 tables.

Despite a horrible spell of form - shrewd bankroll management has allowed my to preserve a decent roll of around $400.

Now I am playing reasonably well again - It is time to put a little more money on the line in order to increase my roll for the first time in a while.

Wish me luck....

Fight Fire With Fold.

2009-08-14T19:49:00.004+01:00

I've done quite well this past week - cashing in about one in two - and those cashes have all been a 1st or 2nd placing.

However, I have noticed that when I've not been cashing - it has very often been through a mistake of my own - and one I have pointed out to myself on many occasions.

It seems I simply can't believe that anybody in the big blind can be dealt a decent hand - I bluff into them - I don't believe them when they show strength - it is costing me chips, often my tournament life and in the long run; money.

I need to play against them honestly - not try and trap when I pair my nine!!!! Just play it honestly and if they put up resistance or show strength keep it cheap or get out of there - I don't want to have to raise this point again! I don't mind stealing blinds but I have to respect any resistance and show of strength as I would from a player in any other position.

The Blind Leading The Blind.

2009-08-13T15:24:00.003+01:00

As promised, this is the conclusion I've come to on the subject of button position following the transition from 3 players to heads up in a tourney.

The difficulty I've had , is that this seems to be a subjective ruling that could differ from game to game.

The answer that sits best with my understanding however, is the one used by old faithful: Full Tilt Poker.

This was neatly summed up for me by Halfsugar - a member of the forum on this site:

http://www.texasholdem-poker.com/

He wrote:

Work out who was just the BB and if it was one of the remaining two players, make them the SB. If the BB just busted, we just move the BB where it would have gone even if that means the SB is SB twice in a row.

If you wanna have a look at the way we arrived at the conclusion it's all on PAN Poker's forum:

HERE!

Was actually good fun looking into this shame it seems there is no definitive answer but we do have something concrete to take forward from now on!

Big thanks to Halfsugar from Texasholdem-poker.com for wording this process so simply - it will certainly help at 3am when we've had a few!

I Play At Full Tilt Poker.

2009-08-11T14:32:00.003+01:00

After weeks of messing about with promotions, and trying to play 900 hands on Party Poker to get the license for Tourney Indicator - I have resolved to just get back to playing poker on the site I love.

Despite being over 100 tournament hands closer to my goal on Party Poker - I have cut my losses and withdrawn - if I really want the software - I'll pay for it. Party Poker was sucking my will to live! Not a site for somebody who enjoys a game of poker - if you want to gamble with a luck factor close to that of roulette then this is the site for you.

I however, am a Full Tilt man. Party Poker has renewed my enthusiasm for Full Tilt - I've been playing well - coming second or 1st in 4 of my last 6 games - I am remembering how to cross the bubble and playing my endgame with a balance of patience and aggression that is doing good things to my ROI.

I'm sure I will try other sites in future - but it will take something special to beat the structures and general playability of Full Tilt.

Who's Blind Is It Anyway?

2009-08-11T13:44:00.005+01:00

At the last live game the old "where the hell does the button go when heads up" argument reared its ugly head - again.

I've looked further into this than ever before, and I believe I have found a definitive answer. Now, I use definitive fairly loosely as in researching this I get a lot of - "The best way to do this is...", so it seems as though there is some ambiguity.

I have captured footage of a few transitions from 3 handed play to heads up play from my games on Full Tilt - and the good news is that we got it right on the weekend with the button moving twice when the player on the dealer button is eliminated.

If you wanna join the inquest or just have a look at how it's going - the findings, articles, and in hand footage on the subject are posted on the PAN Poker forum:

The Heads Up Blind Debate!

Hopefully soon I'll have something clear and concise for us to follow when the subject rears its ugly head again!

Image & Maximising Value

2009-08-11T10:21:00.007+01:00

8th of August 2009.

PAN Poker Live Game
£20 Rebuy 9 Handed
Prize Pool - £200

1st - £100
2nd - £65
3rd - £35

Entrants:

Seat 1: Jenny - 7th
Seat 2: Brad - 1st
Seat 3: Stevo - 9th
Seat 4: Manslow - 2nd
Seat 5: Ronan - 4th*
Seat 6: Al - 3rd
Seat 7: Brev - 8th
Seat 8: Andy - 6th
Seat 9: Pat - 5th
*One rebuy @ £20.

Great to have a full house - 9 handed loads of play to be had this was set up to be a good one.

Stamina was the watch word for the evening as it was stifling hot which helped the drink go straight to my delicate head - got nicely pissed but thankfully (partly due to being well practiced playing with a skin full) it didn't affect my game.

The game got off to a quick start with people all seeming quite focused - play was quick and precise for the first hour or so.

I played my usual tight game winning big pots in the first 3 or for hours with pocket kings, pocket queens and AK - got paid reasonably well with all of these hands.

The night rolled on to form, with me staying out of the way of all the tables ups and downs - Ronan rebought after gambling against Brad and losing out - giving Brad chips to play with.

Ste went out followed soon after by Brev - Brad profiting nicely from both of these - with Brads stack he didn't need to play a hand for the next hour or so and would still be comfortable - a strategy he duly followed.

At this point in the evening I hadn't played to showdown - but now the blinds were starting to threaten my stack.

Dealt AJ under the gun at 400 big blind - I raised minimum to 800 - Jenny then announced "nine" - having not realised I had raised - once this was pointed out - Jen said "OK I'll raise then" - now I had no idea what Jen was holding - I pointed out it had to be a minimum of 1600 total - Jen said "I'll go all in then"! It folded round to me and confused as to were the hell I stood, I folded. In hindsight - maybe I should've called here - Jenny's hand strength went from just over a min raise to all in for around 3500. I don't know for sure, but this seems like a bet she knows I won't call - either that or it's some crazy ass way of disguising strength - confused!?! I'd be interested to know what you had Jen if you're willing to share and can remember.

Jenny was next to go out - then, suffering after loosing that 800 with AJ - I was dealt the lifeline I needed - AhKh - I shipped it all in in early position - Pat in a similar position to me was getting ready to call with AdQd - making me a 70% favourite to double up - when Brad utters the imortal words - "err we've got a problem..." - Ronan follows up with "It's a re-deal"! Noooooooooooo! Sure enough an extra hand had been dealt and the hand was re dealt. Yep, this wasn't gonna be my night.

Within a few hands (tilting slightly) I pushed under the gun with 33 - Ronan called from the Big Blind with AK. Knowing an Ace and a king had gone into the muck I felt OK about my chances - Flop and turn see me still ahead - but the Ace on th river kicks me outta there. My first showdown of the night - was a race - and I lost it.

I'm not usually fussed when I go out but this one hurt. I had played well enough to still be in the game. Lady luck was getting the initial blame for my exit.

Now this blog ain't about blaming bad luck to excuse my exits from tournaments - so I have been thinking a lot about why I went out here - what did I do wrong. The answers I've come up with are as follows:

I am playing so tight - the players I'm up against so often won't give me the action I need with my big hands.
I tend to advertise strength - betting out when I'm strong - while this allows me to get the odd bluff home - it doesn't get me paid.
I am not playing hands to the turn and river enough - I need to take more risks to extract maximum value from strong holdings.
I should play more hands - and lose some of the respect I get for strong starting hands.

All of this contradicts my natural game - however, playing regularly with this group of good players - THEY HAVE GOT MY NUMBER! I need to mix it up - my game works well against strangers - but if I was playing me I wouldn't come in with a weak holding as you know it's expensive pre and post flop before you get to play me off it. A few tweaks are needed - nothing drastic just the odd alteration to maximise value when playing hands.

All this said, a bit of fortune the other way and the night could've been very different.

Pat was next to hit the rail - having had an up and down night coming back from short to be back in with a shout - Pat had one of those nights were his best plays were lay downs - the most notable being the lay down of AA on a king ten rag flop to Brad's reraise - sure enough he was behind to Brad's K10.

Ro went out on the bubble, with Al making a "keep your self alive" fold of AQ - Brad took him out with AK. Al went out 3rd when Brad pulled a full house on the river from outta his arse to beat Al's straight.

Brad won again, beating Manslow heads up again - nice to see Al in the money after he fell out with the game at the last one.

Great night of poker. Lots to think about.

900 Hands later...

2009-08-05T12:58:00.005+01:00

Played a little over the last few nights.

As suggested in my monthly review I have signed up for Party Poker through the tourney indicator promotion (yes another promotion) and have started playing the games needed to unlock the software for Full Tilt.

I mistook 90 tournament hands as the unlock requirement - it's actually 900! Should've been easy enough until you read the "definition" of tournament hands: Hands were you are still involved when the flop is dealt! Not ideal for a tight player like myself but I'm just gonna hammer small stakes tourneys and see as many flops as cheaply as possible. Who knows it could give me an insight into a different way of playing the game.

Played a $3 SNG 10 handed and came 3rd then cashed in a few since - standard of play and blind structure is pretty poor and encourages gambling. I have got about 60 tourney hands under my belt so far and am down a few dollars. I am just gonna grind at the $1 tables to fulfill the required hand completion rate - and might take the opportunity to experiment with plays and approaches to the game - particularly around the bubble.

When this is over I won't be continuing to play on Party Poker - it sucks ass! (As many esteemed reviewers have).

Played 2 games on Full Tilt recording a 1st and a 2nd - keeping focused on my endgame and playing to win.

Looking forward to getting back on Full Tilt solely - think I'll play a nice big MTT this weekend.

Bonuses, Record Attempts & Promos - Oh & Poker!

2009-08-02T23:30:00.004+01:00

Last week or so I have been playing a fair bit and enjoying all the birthday promotions etc on Full Tilt.

Every time I'm on there there is something new - an overhaul of the site - a world record attempt - 5xFull Tilt points - Or even the new $100 bonus.

All great, but it has been a bit distracting - I've been enjoying all the bonuses, and at times playing only for the rewards - just playing because it will release a bonus - not because I'm up for playing.

Tonight I've had a miserable night - I knew I was tired but thought I'd have one game - I get on the site and this $100 bonus is there - NICE!

However, after playing well and going out 5th in the first - knackered and not in the mood I decide to play (terribly) in another 3 - mainly to get this bonus rolling!

It's something I constantly remind myself of but here we go again - only play when you're in the right mood - and able to play well - and if things aren't going well don't throw good money after bad!

I am thinking now of having a change for a night or two to Party Poker - a change is as good as a rest - then I can get the tourney indicator license. Although I only have 30 days to work on my Full Tilt bonus! I'm sure there will be a sign up bonus on Party Poker - aaaahh distractions, distractions.

OK bollocks to it - I'm gonna play when I want and screw promotions - what comes my way for free comes my way! I will make more money in a night of quality poker than 30 days of bonus chasing nonsense. (But it's free! Oh the dilemma).

Review Of The Month.

2009-08-02T15:46:00.004+01:00

My stats might say otherwise but tall in all this wasn't a bad month!

I was playing well, cashing a lot and have shaken off the bad vibes of the previous two months.

I did however lack a bit of killer instinct - cashing a lot in 3rd place rather than the bigger pay outs of 2nd and 1st - it was this that proved costly to my bankroll. Sky connection is still playing up twice in the last two days taking me out on the bubble when I was fixed to cash and in one confident in winning - costing me a potential $90 - which would've seen me nicely into a small profit!

In the live game I have noticed (while playing fairly well) it is my endgame that seems to be lacking. If you were gonna back me to finish anywhere at the start of a home game the bubble would be were I'd advise you to lump money on! One game one bubble -£20 over the month.

MTT's this month were overall fruitless - with just one small cash - I am, however, openly jealous of Jenny and James' achievement's on the MTT's this month - It has been a long time since I have had the rush of going really deep into a big tourney. I must play more - I want that feeling again!

Online SNG Stats:

Games Played: 1,488
Average ROI: 12%

Total Profit: $1177

Points of note:

Continue to not give up on hands too easy.
Stay patient - you are getting in the position to make money - just persist and focus and you'll see it through.
Don't get intimidated by the huge task ahead of you at the start of an MTT - just relax and let the chips come to you.

Aims for next month:

Turn a profit in SNG's
Register with Party Poker and get tourney indicator license.
Play in MTT's and invest both time in effort in doing well at least once a week.
Cash in the live game.
Once again get to a casino if poss.

Despite a $75 loss online - I am playing well again. I know it is my endgame that is lacking and a few tweaks should see me turning a profit once again.

Archived Thought Of The Month:

You cannot survive without that intangible quality we call heart. The mark of a top player is not how much he wins when he is winning but how he handles his losses.

Bobby Baldwin.

Consistent Bubbler.

2009-07-31T19:44:00.007+01:00

Saturday 25th July 2009

PAN Poker Live Game
£20 Freezeout 7 Hander
Prize Pool - £140

1st - £80
2nd - £40
3rd - £20

Entrants:

Seat 1: Jenny - 5th
Seat 2: Andy - 4th
Seat 3: Ronan - 3rd
Seat 4: Al - 7th
Seat 5: Manslow - 2nd
Seat 6: Stevo - 6th
Seat 7: Brad - 1st

Another live game - get in!!! All in all there isn't too much to right home about re. my play in this one - I played a nice balanced game - tight early then playing harder about half way through - I was one of two short stacks on the bubble and went out there. Pretty straight forward.

With Pat not playing we all felt there was an extra opportunity for one of us to cash - usually it is Pat in the money with two others!

Brad took an early knock having misread his hand - you could tell he was pissed off and on the ropes chip stack wise - sadly it was me (along with his play) that gave him his first foothold back into this game - Al had raised my big blind - Brad who was looking after my blind all night called and with pocket 10's I did the same. Brad was sticking his toe in the water with J6 - hitting two pair on the flop - I called his raise on the flop - on the turn a queen came - i figured this may have helped Brad - so check, check it went - The river another jack giving him the full house - he raised and I laid it down - surrendering a pot big enough to put Brad back in contention. Apologies were issued by me to the table for allowing this to happen!!!

Now perhaps one mistake I did make was allowing pocket 10's to become my Nemesis for the night - I was dealt them twice more - and my stupid over-active imagination convinced me they were out to get me! With 3 limpers I got them in the small blind and limped - then went on to loose the hand - I don't mind the limp although part of the reason I didn't raise here (which I would almost certainly do online) because 10s were playing with my head. I do mind the call of a raise on the flop - this was me subconsciously letting 10's beat my ass for the night. The third time I got em I lost again.

When it came to bubble time it was a race between me and Brad as to who was going out - I was playing Brad strong and Brad knew it - this allowed him to limp into my big blind with Queens - knowing I'd probably raise - with sixes I obliged all in no less - and the showdown sent me packing.

Looking at my results in this home game my average finish is 4.12th - I'm a consistent bubbler! Need to improve my endgame - not sure exactly whats wrong - I have a feeling that it is my willingness to bet heavy here - believe it or not - my loose aggression around the bubble may be costing me. Watch this space...

Elsewhere - a great comeback from Brad earned him the win - Paul played a good game and it was good to see him heads up. Ro played the tight patient game that I was lacking on the bubble then he opened up and gambled once the money was reached.

Great night - really relaxed (partly due to a few hangovers) - all captured above!!!!

A New World Record.

2009-07-21T22:33:00.004+01:00

Starting stack $1555
$5 MTT freezeout 20:20 bst - 19th July
Entrants - 50,000
Prize Pool - $500,000
Places Paid - 7500
1st place - $45,000
Finish - 22,609th

Took part in Full Tilt world record breaking tourney - The Biggest Ever Poker Tournament Field - 50,000 of us to be precise.

I spotted early in the tournament that I was getting involved too often to do well in a big MTT - I was a bit twitchy and most importantly lacking patience.

At the first break I was down about 500 chips and resolved to play well in the second session.
All game the guy on the button was with out fail raising my big blind three times whenever it folded round to him - he was starting to piss me off.

That aside I played well second session for the most part - being patient and getting involved in and around my blinds when it was cheap to do so. I got myself up to over 2500 - then Mr raise my Big blind did it one time too many and I decided to make a stand with Ace rag. Calling then reraising his flop bet on a board I hadn't hit - he called and we checked the turn - he bet the river small and I decided to call despite not hitting to see what he was playing. He showed down 10 7 off and had hit a seven on the river - I was right he was on the rob. I was tilting just enough to get my self in trouble.

This last hand however, undid pretty much all my good work and put my back down to 1200ish. Blinds getting big he reraised me 3 x again and I impatiently put him to the test shoving with just J9 suited thinking he would fold - sadly this time he had it QQ sent me packing - out with a splutter in 22,609th.

I think if faced with this obvious and annoying strategy - I can't become bogged down trying to outplay someone who is utilising better position. I should concentrate on getting the money back by dishing out similar treatment to the people on my left.

Quite simply though - I lacked patience this night - as was proved as I played very poorly for the few SNG's that followed. Finished the night about $10 down - but had a lot of play and not a bad return for how bad I was playing!!!

Nice to be part of the biggest poker field of all time - and even nicer to watch fellow PAN Poker players Pat and James cash. Pat with a small cash but good performance all the same - and James with a brilliant finish of 24th place cashing in for $1,000. Well, I had backed against him in a last longer bet v Pat - guess this just wasn't my night.

Bring On The Big Fields.

2009-07-19T19:50:00.004+01:00

Starting stack $1555

5FTP MTT freezeout 00:10 bst - 19th July

Entrants - 14,336

Prize Pool - $5000

Places Paid - 3600

1st place - $475

Finish - 1114th

Cash - $0.50

I'm registered to take part in Full Tilt's Record Breaking tournament - which will have the biggest poker field ever in a single tourney.

I thought I'd enter this little tourney as a warm up - it on cost 50FTPs to enter and would be good practice.

I played really well getting stacked and using that stack to pound on others.

All was going well until I was moved to a table with a loose aggressive big stack.

We came to blows when admittedly I overplayed pocket kings getting all of my 29,000 in preflop only to be called by AQ off by someone with just less than me - he only went and QUADDED his queens! That was that - I finished in 1114th place in a tourney that pays out 3600 - a good showing.

Now in five minutes tonight's 50,000 seat tourney starts up - wish me luck!

Block Rockin Beats!

2009-07-19T19:30:00.007+01:00

My break has organically come to an end now.

Over the last few days I have been playing the Full Tilt 5xHappy hours and racking up a nice set of reward points.

I started back up being dished out bad beat after bad beat - going out 7th, 8th and 9th - the fact that this was down to bad beats and not poor play n my behalf was frustrating but refreshing - I know my play has turned a corner since before the break.

I won 1 in 4 and broke even for each session - then a win on a $10 took me into profit.

My role had dipped with my form but a third place followed by a win took my roll back above $400.

I'm not worried about bad beats - it's part of the game - as long as I keep focused and play to my best I know - beats or no beats - I will be a winning player.

Been playing a lot but not overdoing it - mixing it up playing FTP tourneys and even a freeroll on PKR - a site which is starting to grow on me. I've recognised when I've been playing weak in SNG's and altering my approach before it is too light. Thing are going well at the mo!

Tournament Indicator In Action.

2009-07-16T13:30:00.005+01:00

Posted the following on PAN Poker:

OK Just finished my first real game with tournament indicator running.

I won the $5 SNG. Now I'd love to be able to say this was because of the software and it's the best thing ever so go get it and you're guaranteed to win. Sadly I can't - in fact the software had absolutely nothing to do with any decision made during the tourney.

It is however good fun.

It acted for me as a kind of vanity tool - when I did look at the stats I was checking on myself! How does this piece of software perceive me? Rather than look at facebook or twitter every now and then I looked at my stats.

I could actually watch tangible evidence for things I was responding to by instinct - eg: The whole table was fairly tight and I naturally loosened up my game in response - I looked at touney indicator and it classified the other players as tight aggressive/tight passive and me as loose aggressive - (yes me LOOSE)! I knew this was taking place as I had consciously decided to counter the approach of the table - but it was a nice novelty to see that being documented and backed up by my statistics.

I never looked at the hand pot odds calculator once - but the stats are interesting - knowing that when the bubble arrived I had won 100% of my showdowns etc all being in one little window was fun and helps distract me from getting myself into trouble while still keeping my mind on the game.

The novelty will no doubt ware off but it's fun and a useful tool for self analysis at the table.

It didn't kill the game or take anything away from the spirit of my play - in fact it enhanced my enjoyment - backing up what I know to be true and letting me know my instincts are actually OK!

As I say it is a vanity tool. Like I use sharkscope to keep track of what I'm up to and berate myself for going wrong - this enables me to do the same thing.

So far so good. I'd recommend giving it a whirl if you already know ur stuff and don't need it to make decisions - in fact I would avoid using it in decision making - that's just an pointless distraction.

I'll let you know more when I lose with it running.

I won it Five Times (FTP).

2009-07-15T11:10:00.005+01:00

Played a 9 seater $5 SNG last night - mainly to earn the 5xFull Tilt points on offer at the mo.

I gave Tournament Indicator a whirl for the first time while playing a real money game.

The software was not distracting at all - in fact I never really used it - the only time I would look at it were to check my own stats and see how this piece of software was perceiving my play. It's quite useful for self analysis actually.

The table was quite tight so I went on the offensive - only myself and 1 other player were responding to the placid nature of the table and with 6 players left I felt pretty sure I would be playing this guy heads up.

Sure enough that was the way it turned out - and I owned him.

Dare I say it this break with just playing in patches when I'm up for it is working for me. I'm in good form! Things are getting better!!!!

Will keep running tourney indicator - it's useless but fun all the same.

A Real Indication!

2009-07-14T14:10:00.004+01:00

Gonna check out Tournament Indicator when I next play. See if it helps me concentrate - I'm pretty sure I'll hate it but nothing ventured nothing gained.

Planning on playing a bit tonight what with the 5xFull Tilt point promotion due to Full Tilt's 5th Birthday.

Interesting debate on the ethics of poker software on PAN Poker at the mo : http://www.pokerallnight.co.uk/forums/main/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=42

Nice to see the site being used for poker chat!

This break has been admittedly a bit patchy but I feel I am getting my confidence back and I'm slowly easing my way back into the swing of things.

One step at a time.

Takeaway My Breakaway!

2009-07-12T13:51:00.006+01:00

Played again last night - will power may seem absent - but I am feeling enthused and ready to do well - so I'm going on playing small stakes and whetting my appetite for when I go on a poker binge starting a week on Thursday.

Did well - played a $2 SNG was confident I was able to get the better of all the opposition and despite only having around 2000 chips heads up I dragged the game out as much as poss and beat his ass for the win! Like taking chips from a baby!!!

Also played a $5 45 seat SNG as I saw Matty had registered - did well playing pocket aces particularly nicely managing to get a fool to commit his entire stack on an ace high board with J8! (well he had paired his eight)!

Got to the final table but finished 8th (2 off the money) when I shoved with A10 on a 10 high flop to be called by pocket JJs.

See how I feel tonight might not play this evening as in work till late.

I'm In The Mood!

2009-07-11T16:24:00.005+01:00

With the launch of the PAN Poker forum - and Matty returning from his hols ready to get cracking at building his roll on Full Tilt - I had been bitten by the bug and decided to stop taking a break and have a game on Full Tilt.

Just a $2 SNG - and I played it flawlessly - I knew from early on that I was the best player at the table and I just allowed the others to pass the chips to one another before all of them eventually came my way.

Kept a close eye on the blinds and stayed patient - even folding AK preflop on the bubble (it is only Ace high after all) - and went on to win a a canter.

Will resume my poker holiday in the week - but if I am in the mood to play then I should play - surely it is the same as not playing when my heart isn't in it.

I'm cooking up a little live game schedule for my return proper - hope it comes off!!!

My Own World Series Win!

2009-07-07T22:07:00.005+01:00

Well that might only be a $2 Sit N Go 2nd place but it feels like I've won my own personal World Series Of Poker!!!

Played really well, always in control of the pot, and battered everyone - I blew it a bit heads up - I was owning the guy and lost patience after I had him dead in the water twice only for him to luck box his way back into the running.

Still with that cash the huge monkey on my back has gone - turns out this recent slump matched my worst ever run 11 games without cashing!!!

I now plan to take a break - no watching poker - no reading books on poker - maybe a bit of posting on here - but I will have to post on the new PAN Poker forum.

So long Full Tilt - for now!

PAN Poker Site Update.

2009-07-07T13:59:00.005+01:00

Check out http://www.pokerallnight.co.uk/ the site has had a makeover and the forum is up and running. Register and get suggesting site content - if we can do it - we will.

The plan is to use the forum for all thing poker related and we are hoping to host these blogs on the site.

Get posting to see if you can up your rank from a lowly Chris Moneymaker!!!!

Only taken 3 years but there is finally some usable content on the site!!!! WOO HOO!

Back To Back Bubbles!

2009-07-06T22:42:00.004+01:00

Played 2 $2 SNG's tonight.

Happy with the way I played. Patience is back. Lady luck was just kicking my arse!!! First game my KK ran into AA on the bubble nice! The second my pocket 88 got cracked by A10.

Nice to know though that I am back to going deep in a tourney and am not just shafting myself out of cashing. Tonight I can blame good old fashioned bad luck for not cashing.

Tempted to play another now to see if I can end one of the longest none cashing streak of my poker life, think it going on for 9 games now pffffffff! Then I can break without my sharkscope letting the world know I'm on 'super tilt'.

Back To Basics.

2009-07-06T19:51:00.005+01:00

Played a couple of $2 SNG's last night. Watching very carefully the way I was playing.

I found I was stopping myself raising with mediocre hands in early positions. Here is part of the route of my recent problems. My bad form has got me wanting to out play everybody - all the time. Playing far too many hands and not having anywhere near the required level of patience to achieve decent results.

I notice looking back that in my recent form I've been bumming out in 7th or 8th too often. Something I would very rarely do in the past. The reason - playing too many hand too strong, too early.

I reminded my self of the most basic things - Play strong hands in strong positions. Throw every other tempter away!!!! While I didn't cash last night I bubbled and came 5th - putting myself in contention for a cash. Something that I haven't done for a while. Glad I've noticed what is going on - I don;t mind going out and not cashing if I play the best I can but it was clear I have not been at my best.

I think I will be taking a break starting this week. However, I feel a little better realising the mistakes I've been making. It admittedly is a really obvious and fundamental mistake to make - but it's amazing how hard this kind of thing is to spot when you are tilting. Things can only get better!

Nightmare On 5th Street.

2009-07-05T17:27:00.006+01:00

Yet another horrible night of poker. Played OK in patches but my head is all wrong at the mo! Los two cash buy ins and a few SNG and MTT losses.

Kept getting nasty beats on the river - but I'm not prepared to put this awful spell down to just bad luck. I am too consistent in my mediocrity for that!

There is something very wrong with my game at the mo. Unfortunately I am not too sure what it is.

I have noticed I have been following up preflop raises a little too heavy and often, when I don't hit. Other than this I think my general approach to the game is a bit desperate.

I need to take the pressure off. Tonight I am going to play strictly $2 SNG's and see if I can improve my form. If not; I am gonna take a long break from the game. Gotta remember how to play and enjoy the game!!!

Mashed Mike!

2009-07-05T00:41:00.004+01:00

Played a cash game last night.

Was doing well if a bit up and down. Managed to play for about 4 hour on one buy in but bummed out and lost $10.

If I'm honest I would've moved table but my old mate Mike had joined me on the table and I didn't want to seem rude. Problem was Mike was bladdered and playing that way - this made the table really difficult to play. He was raising 100 times the BB with god knows what all the time! People where responding to how loose he was - and there was some Romanian donk on the table who would call anything with anything! My big hands kept getting beat by Q6 or 35 and the likes - I should've stood up earlier but hey I had fun all the same.

Tonight I lost another buy in - this time I started poorly then hit form working my way back from $3 to $10 but when my A10 clashed with 33 on a flop of A103 it was all over.

Went on to play in a $3 MTT knockout - went out in 200th - not bad as I got 4 knockouts worth $2. I like these knockouts. So much so I'm about to treat myself to a Saturday night $10 knockout.

Cracking The Big Guns!

2009-07-03T10:27:00.004+01:00

Had a little bit of cash table action last night. Didn't play for long - played fairly well.

The danger of slow-playing aces reared its head when a guy limped with them, provoking two others to limp into my big blind 4s6s - the flop came 3s 10s 10d - he bet out half the pot with his AA - the other 2s limper went away, but I called with my flush draw. The turn brought a 5s giving me a made (if weak) flush as well as an open ended straight flush draw - he started to panic and bet bigger now the danger cards arrived betting the pot - I wasn't going anywhere. On the river he bet a little more conservatively and I elected to just flat call with my weak flush - winning a nice pot against his aces.

Finished the night $7.20 up.

And The Beats Go On...

2009-07-01T14:54:00.004+01:00

June 30th 2009

Played one last SNG in June to try and claw back some profit before the dreaded review of the month.

Played really well - can't fault my self but I slow played AA with 5 players left and blinds @ 100/200 - two player with stacks similar to mine of 1800 saw the flop of 2c8c7h it checked round to me with one to act behind - not wanting to let anyone draw out I shoved for about 1600 into a pot of 700 - I get called from the person behind me with Ac5c - then after a long think the Big Blind calls with 2h3d! The river brought another club and there you have it. Can't get down about this - keep calling me from behind you mo fo's.

Looking at my blog I noticed the top four points I make when taggin a post are as follows:

Being Patient
Staying Positive
Playing At Appropriate Stakes
Playing To Win

Something to consider. I think that playing to win is one that I must pay attention to over the coming months. Making sure I have enough courage to take calculated risks at the table.

Review Of The Month

2009-07-01T12:47:00.006+01:00

June 2009.

Another poor month - my slump is really staring to play on my mind now. I've got the tourney fear! I Set my goals a little too high this month as I forgot that I was withdrawing fundage for my season ticket. This aside even with adjusting stakes I missed em all but 1 and should have done much better!!

My form saw me down $74 on the SNG 's, £45 down in live games but up $31 on the cash tables.

The live games doesn't worry me as the standard is high and anyone is capable of winning it or bumming out first.

SNG form though is very worrying, my roi and profit both dropping - I should be owning these tables but something isn't right.

MTT wise; due to the drop in stakes I only played one or two and didn't cash - MTT's are a luxury that my form and reduced roll couldn't afford.

On the bright side I have done OK on the cash tables It's more relaxed and much less pressure is placed on each decision - this my be the way forward till my confidence returns. I am also pleased that I am recognising that I am in bad form and have adjusted both the stakes and games I'm playing accordingly.

I did win my first ever Omaha Hi/Lo Split event, nice game that I'm a bit clueless about, but I would like to keep having a crack at new forms of the game.

Online SNG Stats:

Games Played: 1,435

Average ROI: 15%

Total Profit: $1252

Points of note:

Get rid of the all-in in the dark move, from my live game.
Try callng when behind when the maths and situation is right in small stake MTT's
Don't give hands up to easy - before throwing a hand away think through how likely is it that I might still be good - and how I can find that out for sure.
Use the feeler bet when uncertain just how strong I am.
When playing live - keep a close eye on my stack size in relation to both blind level and the average stack - for the duration of the tournament.

Aims for next month:

Keep an eye on my form and try and finish the month in profit on SNG's
Aim to finish up in the live games.
Play at Leo's casino.
Don't play as much poker - and be prepared to take a good break if my negative frame of mind continues.
Play more cash games.
Limit myself to $5 SNG until I am confident that my form and bankroll can afford to move up again.
Don't rule out moving down to $2 tables if I'm stinking the place up!
Play some MTT's - no target set - make a loss - feel free!!!
GET MY MOJO BACK!!!!

Things aren't as bad as they sound - SNG wise over this abysmal 2 month slump - I am actually $4 in profit!! I'm up $30.50 in cash games over the same period, and just £5 down in the live game over the last three months. So despite my best efforts - I'm just in profit through this rut.

Archived Thought Of The Month June 2009:

A lot of people think the pain comes from bad beats, but in my experience the pain comes from not playing as well as you can.

Andy 'the Monk' Black

This Is A Fookin Big Dry Patch!

2009-06-30T20:38:00.006+01:00

My tourney form over the last two months has been pretty poor. Played another $5 SNG and lost again! While I'm playing smaller stakes to protect my roll I think I need to do something - I'm struggling to get out of this rut!

Tomorrow I'm gonna have to write a pretty damning review of the month - I've missed every goal set - almost!

I am gonna set the bar quite low next month as I am thinking about moving to cash for a break - it's less pressurised than a tourney and I have been doing OK in that arena. I can also see a longer break coming on if things don;t change soon.

On a positive note - had a good fun at a cash table last night - Starting with $10 threw away some chips a went down to $2 I tightened up rather than tilt and grinded my way up to $42.

In The Dark?

2009-06-30T19:58:00.004+01:00

I've decided against announcing all in in the dark with a short stack.

My reasoning being - it's only done when I've given up on my chances in a tourney.

While I don't class it as being a mistake - it could hinder the chances of someone playing a hand that could triple me up knowing in advance they are going to have to showdown their cards.

Why not take a look first - while admittedly I'm probably gonna push I might have the situation of a limper, before me with AA, who's raised then when I call for what little I have the AA push o protect themselves and I'm heads up with XX v AA for three times my stack or more - I'll take that! A long shot but why do anything to deter maximising the potential of being forced all in with a weak hand?

I know I've more chance of winning against 1 player - but I need a lot of action and fast in this situation so I'll take a long shot and as many chips at stake as poss - rather than a maybe a coin flip for at best double up.

Even with a micro-stack why not think and give myself every possible chance of pulling off the miracle comeback?!

Quick out the traps - but dead before the finish!

2009-06-30T13:27:00.009+01:00

27th June 2009.

Live Game £25 buy in.

9 handed

1st - £115

2nd - £65

3rd - £45

Entrants:

Seat 1: Pat 3rd

Seat 2: Andy (me) 5th

Seat 3: John 8th

Seat 4: Jenny 4th

Seat 5: Brad 1st

Seat 6: Al 2nd

Seat 7: Stevo 6th

Seat 8: Manslow 7th

Seat 9: Brev 9th

Went into this one with a promise to pay attention to what was going on!

Started well and played my hands strongly taking down a healthy amount of pots in the early stages - was actually getting reasonably playable cards for once.

Al made a nice early play limping into my blind with ace rag, I hit 2 pair on the flop with my super strong 95 the board was all spades with no real scare cards - I bet it about 3.5x big blind getting rid of two callers but Al flat called me with an evil plan to take it from me on later streets. The turn brought another spade - the perfect card to bluff at and a horrible card for 2 pair! I checked surrendering the pot and Al duly obliged putting in a raise of around 4xthe blind - I let it go and he showed the bluff - no spade and just Ace high. Nice play - naughty, but nice!

I did make a mistake against Manslow:

I raised 3xBB under the gun with pocket 9's - I folded round to Paul who announced a raise of slightly less than I'd already raised it - he hadn't realised I was in the pot! With the new information he elected to call then the blinds folded. Difficult to put Paul on a hand now as I didn't know if he'd have raised me or just called if he'd known what was going on. I do know that he has a small range of strong starters that he would raise with - probably a similar holding to mine or AK through A10.

The board came down 7 high rainbow - nice flop for nines - so I led out for three 1/2 BB. Paul thought then min raised me the same amount. The min raise worried me showing strength - ie wanting a call so I called with the intent of keeping the pot small.

The turn brought an 8 - I hated this card as 8's were a realistic holding and this now gave me the worst possible over pair to the board! I checked as did Paul.

The river came a Q - I didn't figure this would help him unless he was holding QQ and I was beat anyhow. I checked and he put in a little bet of 2xBB. The bet was just too tempting - knowing I was beat or believing it at least - I called putting him on 1010 or JJ - just had to see it.

Paul showed AQ. When I was first thinking about it I thought the re-raise on the flop from Paul was a poor play with that holding. BUT IT ISN'T!

Assuming Paul is betting to find out where he is in the hand or to put my follow up to the test and not because he feels AQ is good. This bet forced me into an error. I should have popped in another bet on the flop - find out where I really was in the hand - or maybe bet the turn as, although not a great card for me, the 8 isn't a card I should be fearing too much. Instead I bottled it fearing the worst and that re raise on the flop bought Paul a ticket to the river where he out drew me. Nice play Paul - grow some balls Andy!

Got semi bluffed off AQ by a nice play by John's KJ - but at the same time was winning pots here and there and keeping myself at about average.

I then took Brev out when he raised to 1000 with blinds at about 150/300 - a lot of us had short stacks in comparison to the blind level and when I looked at 1010 - I felt this was good enough to take a shot at doubling up with. I only had about a 2500 more behind a call - and wondered how to play this one. My initial thought was to pop it all in and protect my hand. I decide though to min raise as if looking to build a pot and signalling my commitment to seeing the hand through. Also this gave me a slight way out if I get 3 all ins behind me!

My thinking here worked better than I could've hoped for - causing Brad to lat down QQ behind me preflop having been shafted by them all night - Brev pushed for about 500 more which I called and a ten on the flop vs Brevs KJ 0r KQ saw me relieved and also relief for Brad who would've been done by queens again!!

I took Paul out when my pocket pair held up against his AQ and at this point took my eye off the ball completely.

I lost count of my stack in relation to average and blind level - feeling I was more comfortable than I was I tightened up and waited for the bubble to burst! Stevo went out and Pat was struggling - I could wait this out surely??

Pat may have been struggling but he was fighting - something if I'd kept an eye on the average stack - I would have realised I should've been doing.

Before I knew it I was short with 5 players left and Pat attacking my blind showing an ace seemingly every time - keeping me in check and stopping me fighting back - Now ace or not I had to call at least one of Pat's pushes with the cack stack I had but instead I folded away my stack & whimpered out in fifth when forced to go in blind with what turned out to be 63.

Jen bubbled and Pat played really well to cash on a card dead evening where his best hand was JJ which he had to hand back after a mis-deal! Al played a good balanced game tight when people where betting into him and looser when leading out and having control of the pot - deserved his 2nd.

Brad was victorious in the heads up taking home the cash for first place - in a night where the cards - in particular QQ - wanted him out a lot earlier.

Good Stuff.

Well do ya - Punk?

2009-06-27T10:58:00.006+01:00

Blew a buy in on a cash game - poor play quite impatient making a big river bluff with a hand that I knew to be second best against an opponent I knew would call! DOH!

Went on then to play a $5 SNG. Played great owned the table got stacked and then bullied my way to heads up. When heads up I didn't play to well - timing was off and kept running into bigger hands than my own - but luck was on my side and I put two big bad beats on my opponent and earned a somewhat lucky win!

I received a $5 SNG token for Paddy Power poker - which is where I started playing online. I played it last night and - oh my god - how bad is that site by comparison to Full Tilt. Won't be playing on there unless they send me another freebie - and maybe not even then!

Live game tonight - I wanna be good and I wanna be lucky...

Cashback!

2009-06-25T00:03:00.006+01:00

Played a couple of $5 SNG's last night and had some fun - played well but had some bad old beats put on me. My QQ which I played strongly loosing out to 63 of clubs being the pinnacle!

Played a cash game after that and had a scream! Really fun - had a right donk on the table think he was called bozeboy or something like that. I took an early knock when full houses collided down to $3 early - undeterred I then fought back through the generosity of bozeboy - he was shit!!! He would call a raise follow up on the flop with a min raise every time then throw it away when reraised - I didn't need to even look at my cards the routine was the same throughout.

Finished the night just $2 down but loved it.

Played a cash game again tonight and played really well including a great bluff with Qs8s on a board of Kd7d10cJd4d that helped me take down a $7 pot - after 2 hours finished up $13.

Did miss the opportunity to check raise with AJ - I new I was probably 2nd best preflop but was playing to catch a hand. Board came do 2 6 J and I checked knowing he'd lead out - he obliged and rather than check-raise I check-called!?! The turn came a king I checked giving up all control of the hand and had to fold to a big bet as AK was the hand I had put him on throughout - although I'd opened the door for something like 77 to take that pot from me with my weak play - oops!

Enjoying the cash game playing a bit looser and getting stuck in to my opposition rather than getting bogged down by my cards. It's fun to allow myself the freedom to play smaller connectors deliberately to break big hands - feels great when it comes off.

Sticking to my guns - $5 SNG - $2/$5 MTT and a few micro-stake cash games.

Running Lukewarm!

2009-06-23T16:52:00.006+01:00

Since the start of the month I haven't been playing well - again. Only now I haven't been playing too badly either.

My play seems to be in a rut at the moment loosing 3 or 4 on the bounce then the odd win or cash here and there.

I am at times playing very well and getting beats laid on me but - in all honesty - I think my game has been a bit mediocre - not enough aggression and maybe a little bit transparent at times. I must start varying by betting patterns a little more, if for know other reason than to keep myself interested.

I did win the last game I played but that aside my play has been largely uninspiring and pretty lacklustre. I am almost playing a tight-passive game at the mo - and giving a lot of little pots away here and there. I'm pissing about with the stakes I'm entering into a $5 here a $10 there a $2 here and there is no consistency in what I am trying to achieve in a session.

I am now resolving to only play $5 SNG's until my roll is back above at least $450 - and if I fancy an MTT I will allow the odd $5 or $2. My goals for the month are out the window and I am now looking to try and break even or make a profit (any profit) by the months end.

Playing live on Saturday £25 buy in - so my form and mind set must alter if I am to do anything other than fritter my chips away and limp out of the running!

Pocket Jacks:

2009-06-17T12:14:00.003+01:00

Just a little link for you. There's a bit of bad language so watch the volume if you're in work.

But this guy disputes the much held theory that there are three ways to play pocket jacks and they're all wrong.

Funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP9CBtSW0kA

PS - You're here to play poker!

2009-06-14T22:54:00.006+01:00

£20 Live Game 8 handed with re-buys.

Prize pool £180

Starting Stack $4000

1st - £90

2nd - £55

3rd - £35

Seat 1 - Al - 6th Place

Seat 2 - Mark* - 8th Place

Seat 3 - Andy (me) - 7th Place

Seat 4 - Brad - 3rd Place

Seat 5 - Stevo - 2nd Place

Seat 6 - Paul - 4th Place

Seat 7 - Pat - 1st Place

Seat 8 - Jenny - 5th Place

*One rebuy @ £20

Well I was shite tonight!

I was again card dead but this didn't let up. Unusually the lads were all a bit tighter than usual and it took me far too long to realise that this was the case. I was chatting, drinking and having fun (not a bad thing) - but meanwhile the game was passing me by. Big hands were taking place and I was none the wiser to who was involved - let alone how people were playing their hands.

This lack of attention, and lack of cards lead to me making moves based on mine and other peoples reputations, as I hadn't paid close enough attention to how people were playing tonight!

With everybody playing fairly tight and Mark and Brad both taking big hits early, the action was tame. My normal tight game needs the actions to be fierce without that it will not work.

If I'd have paid attention I could've responded and played a bit more poker! By the time I realised what was going on the blinds were huge and Stevo had the big stack and the rest of us were all short. I started to attack but it was too little - too late. Got away with a few bluffs, but then ran into Jenny...

I min raised with pocket 4s hoping to represent strength - ie: I want action. Jenny called and I put her on Ace - anything. The flop came down Ace high, and the action went check, check. I still had Jenny on the ace as I'd had watched her check an pair of aces on the flop about three hands earlier. I was done with the hand until the turn came down a king. I felt I had a legitimate case to represent AK - I checked into Jenny assuming she'd bet her ace, Jenny bet about 2x the big blind - which I flat called planning to bet the river big. I put a bet in on the blank on the river of 6x the big blind - Jenny thought for a long time and I thought she was gonna fold I think AK crossed her mind - but she made a crying call and took it down with A3. I feel this was a believable story to get away with - but hats off to Jenny for seeing through it. With that I was done - short stack - I pushed with a crappy ace and got called by a decent one.

This was a fun night but I played poor. Just didn't pay attention to the table and didn't really have the patience to play my game well enough. Looking back, I don't think I actually took a winning hand to showdown! I won hands sure, but my good ones got no action and my bluffs got through - all but one!

Well done to Stevo for leading this from the off - and if it wasn't for some strange ass beats he would have walked home in this one. I was impressed with Brad's comeback to cash from nothing. It was strange to see Al play so tight - I didn't know he had it in him. He played a good game but I think got frustrated that most of his great plays were lay downs!!

Oh well - here's to the next one!

Calling From Behind.

2009-06-13T12:02:00.005+01:00

Started my night with a little $2 Turbo MTT - started really well but took a gamble in the middle stages that didn't pay off:

It was costing me 500 into a pot of 3000 to try and hit a full house or a flush (that might not be good) with one card to come. I figured that the weak player who had gone all in was weak - but the player who called I put on a made flush. I knew if I managed to hit my full house I would win a big pot as the guy with the flush had another 1500 waiting to come my way. With good pot and implied odds I decided to call. Here's how the board and hands lay:

Me - Ad6h - 21.43%

Chump - KhQc (all in) - 14.29%

Caller - 5h7h - 64.29%

Board - Ac Ah Qh 2h

Looking at my hand on Poker Stove I would win this hand 21.43% of the time - but the odds and implied odds and the possibility that the caller could have the case ace - made this the right call and would've set me up to push on in the MTT. I pleased in hindsight that the maths backed up my instinct at the time.

Sadly the river was a 4 - no help, and as expected this was a make or break moment in the tourney and sadly it was break. I held on for a while but eventually went out in 78th of 234.

I went on then to play two SNG's both $5. The first I played well but got layed a bad beat on the bubble when my KK was cracked by the big stack 10 8 when he tripped his 10s on the river.

The second I played well again - but half way through I managed to get a guy to call my big reraise on the flop when he only had three outs to win great - untill he only gos and hits it on the river!!! From there on in I played a savvy short stack game and managed to cash in third.

A good fun night of poker - think the $2 MTT are fun - look easy to cash in and the stake allows me the freedom to gamble and experiment.

Playing live at Stevo's tonight - can't wait!!!

Sit N G-Omaha.

2009-06-12T13:53:00.009+01:00

Thought I'd give Omaha Hi/Lo 8s or better a whirl.

Had read a little article online in the day and thought I'd throw myself in head first. I entered a $2 9 handed limit SNG on Full Tilt.

I didn't really know what I was doing - but I pulled up an Omaha tips web page that gave some advice on which starting hands to play and which to muck and took it from there!!

There was something really refreshing about playing a game I was new to and unsure of. Nobody could tilt me with a bad beat because I wouldn't have known when I had been dealt one!

I started to pick things up, and wasn't playing as many hands as the table as a whole. I then played a few hands and scooped the pot - then I took out the first two players with a nice Jd10dAc2c - hitting the diamond flush for the high pot and a wheel for the nut low. This gave me a decent chip lead and room to play patient carefully selecting hands only with a low card lower that a 4. IE: Playing for the whole pot rather than just the high!

I stumbled my way through to the money - no doubt making some hideous plays - and a few glaring mistakes - actually thought I had the nut low (sadly it used three of my hole cards oops)!

Somehow I made it to heads up - were I played the same game - I think in hindsight the game here becomes more like Omaha High as the low hand is not made too often and the high hand usually wins. By the time I realise I should be playing this heads up in a 'hold 'em style' it was too late. Out in second place. First impressions of the game are:

Position doesn't seem as important compared with hold 'em.
Slow playing/check calling anything but the nuts is worthwhile as everybody will have at least half the pot to draw at.
Only enter pot when you have a hand capable of scooping the pot - until late in the game when people seem to play more towards winning the high hand, and the bet limit is more significant due to the blind increases.

Great fun and not a bad result for a first attempt. It's really nice to play poker and feel a naive as I did here. If anyone reads this and wants to offer some advice or tips on Omaha - they will be more than welcomed.

I'll be playing this game again, although it may be a while before I up the stakes!

Welcome Back!!

2009-06-12T11:38:00.007+01:00

Last night saw the end to a much needed break from poker. I had rested, and refreshed myself, and was looking forward to playing again.

Started on a $5 SNG and as if by way of a welcome back present - Full Tilt gave me the nut Full House only 66 would beat me with quads - and I more than doubled up first hand! From then on there was no looking back - I was playing my big hands strong and always getting a good price on my drawing hands - which more often than not I hit.

Leading from the beginning I went on and won this one without breaking a sweat - playing well and every decision seemed to come easy to me.

Won enough Full Tilt points on the Fantasy WSOP to win a hat - but spent it on a T-Shirt I've had my eye on.

It's good to be back.

Branching Out...

2009-06-10T11:47:00.007+01:00

Not been playing still - enjoying the break.

Have been participating in Full Tilts Fantasy WSOP. Were I can win prizes or entry to tournaments.

I've won entry to the - Omaha Hi/Low Split 8's or better freeroll.

Figure this might be a chance to branch out into other poker disciplines and I think I'll look for more freeroll's in Omaha, Stud, Razz etc.

Watch this space! Difficulty is of course - learning these new games while there is hold 'em to be played - we'll see.

Cold Turkey!

2009-06-09T14:48:00.003+01:00

My break is going well!

This is three days and counting without a single game of poker!! Think I'll get back on on Thursday or Friday ahead of the live game this weekend. Hope the break refreshes my head and my appetite for winning.

Probably worth taking a break at least once a month in future - unless I'm so on fire that it would be stupid to stop the momentum!

Not actually been tempted to play this - but starting to get the bug again now.

I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles.

2009-06-06T20:33:00.006+01:00

Had a good sesh last night. Played in 2 MTT's and quite a few SNG's.

The MTT's went OK the first was the daily double - played a little weak at first but pulled it back around. Then I let the game get away from me and finished 557th out of 1372 - mediocre performance.

The second was late in - the daily dollar - now I played well in this one and did really well not to explode after a racist tw@ called 'callguy' spouted some racist nonsense at the table that made me have to report him and lay into the knob head for about 20mins. That aside, I played well keeping myself just below average throughout. I never got the breaks, and never managed to build a decent stack - I finished 1654th out of 7522.

Sit N Go form was frustrating played in five $5 tables, finished 6th in the first then bubbled in four in a row!!! I was playing well but things weren't going my way - people were hitting improbable flushes on me, my AK would be busted by AQ. Maybe I was a little guilty of playing too cautiously on the bubble but I honestly think luck (or lack of it) cost me dearly.

So after a frustrating night - I was bad - I upped the stakes to rectify my losses! Coming 2nd in back to back $10 tables ending the night slightly down. Could be worse - could be into Caravanning!

Not got over my bad run enough to take a run of bubbles like this, I can feel a break coming on...

The Love Of The Game.

2009-06-05T15:39:00.006+01:00

Played 1 $5 SNG.

Played this one well - was concentrated, patient, and playing my good hands hard.

I was actually enjoying playing poker and not just enduring the game till I cashed!!!

Got to the bubble which lasted an eternity from 80/40 - 400/200 blinds!!! The play was of a good standard - but chips seemed to be rolling around the table from person to person. I was keeping myself afloat by attacking my closest rivals in terms of chip stack.

There were a number of occasions were players were dead in the water only to hit a miracle to keep this bubble alive. Sadly it was me who made the fatal mis-step! On the button with a stack over around 2500 I pushed all in with AK against the big blind of 400 - unfortunately he called with QQ, and despite hitting a king, the third Q came off for him sending me home penniless!

I enjoyed the game - in fact I loved it, I was playing and enjoying myself. Being cautious, but still allowing myself to make moves to improve my chances. Poker is starting to feel like poker again!

Slave To The Grind.

2009-06-03T22:55:00.007+01:00

Had some fun on my birthday - a last hurrah at the higher $10 & $30 tables - relaxed a bit and remembered that I actually enjoy playing poker - finished down on the night but had fun!

Now the change is a-coming.

As planned I have made a $250 withdrawal from my roll to cover my season ticket. Now, as I have discussed I will be dropping to $5 tables and hopefully working my way back up.

Played in 4 $5 tables tonight cashing in 2nd place in two of them so a good start!

Looking back over the shaky form recently, I recognise that this has happened every time I've had it in mind to withdraw funds. Maybe this brings about a pressure: with my subconscious desperately not wanting to dent the bankroll I'm planning to reduce.

In future I'm gonna try and be decisive - and withdraw as soon as it crosses my mind rather than aim to do so months in advance.

I have planned to earn this money for my season ticket since January and in the last month building up to this withdrawal - I now believe this has affected my play in a negative way.

Hopefully now with today's withdrawal comes a new start and allows me to feel refreshed in my approach to the game.

This may have an impact on whether I can achieve some of my goals for the month - due to the drop in stakes, but, I'll keep my aims the same and see how we go. Bring on the grind!

The Long And Grinding Road.

2009-06-02T14:07:00.008+01:00

Firstly Happy Birthday me- 31 and counting!

Played 2 $10 SNG's last night and bummed out in 6th and 4th respectively. Didn't play too bad in either but think I'm feeling a bit desperate to hit some form after my bad run. Feeling the pressure!!

My plan - gonna play more MTT's and drop stakes to $5 SNG's till I feel confident again.

Also just bought - Secrets of Sit'n'Gos: Winning Strategies for Single-table Poker Tournaments - by Poker Player's Phil Shaw - maybe it'll inspire me or enlighten my play so much that I'll dig myself outta this rut, (doubt it but I'll read it none-the-less).

Got to remind myself - I'm not a bad player - get out there and win some!

Review Of The Month.

2009-06-01T10:28:00.009+01:00

May 2009.

Not my finest showing - this month has been very up and down and after a bad last weekend with about a $50 dollar downswing I finishing only slightly in profit on the sit n go front - missing my goal of $1400 by some way! But hey I'm up $78 on the SNG's for the month despite some horrible play and a general lack of concentration throughout the month.

Had a good time in the MTT's though finishing in the money 4 times and with a highest finish of 15th in a field of over 1400. Surpassing my goal of 2 cashes in the month.

Live games were fun as ever and I finished up a whole £5 - no mean feat in such a tough field of players.

Had a little dabble in the cash games and did ok - finishing minus $0.50.

All in all a bad month - my excuse? Really dodgy internet connection and illness - however, this aside I really should be investing more thought into my play - I have to say that luck this month has worked for me a times! Enabling me to finish in profit when I should, through the poor standard of my play, be heavily down!

Online SNG Stats:
Games Played: 1,385
Average ROI: 16%
Total Profit: $1326

Points of note:

Need to invest my brain in every decision I make at the table and stop playing on auto-pilot.
Don't chase an over ambitious draw - ie: drawing to a straight flush when it's clear you're behind.
Keep a close eye on stack size and chip averages in live games an also in MTT`s.
Change formats to keep yourself interested - but make sure you think about your approach when changing game.

Aims for next month:

Make the final table of an MTT.
Get to Leo's casino if poss.
Break $1400 profit SNG
Finish with a profit on the cash games.
Finish in profit in the live games (casino exempt).
Get my internet connection sorted - and when playing concentrate and invest myself properly in the game.

NB: May be dropping down in stakes next month as I am gonna withdraw some from my roll for my season ticket!

Archived Thought Of The Month May 2009:

Poker reveals to the frank observer something else of importance — it will teach him about his own nature. Many bad players do not improve because they cannot bear self-knowledge.

David Mamet

A week in words!

2009-05-29T12:48:00.007+01:00

Haven't posted much this week but it's been a strange one, as up and down as the month so far but ultimately finishing with a profit.

Started the week with my internet connection still playing up and was doing poorly on Sit N Go's - while admittedly I was suffering bad beats when it came to the crunch - looking back I feel I wasn't paying every decision in a game enough attention and was slowly leaking chips from my stack by not concentrating fully on the game.

At the same time, this has been a good week on MTT's.

I've upped the gamble in my game slightly at appropriate times, making loser calls than I have in the past and through watching my opponents this has proved profitable.

The MTT's I've played in this week read as follows:

Starting stack 2000$
5$ MTT freezeout

21.00 bst - 25th May

Entrants - 1343

Prize Pool - $6715

Places Paid - 216

1st place - $1262.42

Finish - 156th

Good show, again cashing (small change) taking it to 3 cashes for the month.

Starting stack $1500
$10 MTT freezeout 00.00 bst - 26th May

Featuring = Dave "El Blondie" Colclough - 440th

Entrants - 551

Prize Pool - $5510

Places Paid - 54

1st place - $1377.50

Finish - 416th

Poor finish in this one when my JJ got sucked out on by a very ambitious A9 - but if the pros can go out early - it sure as hell can happen to me!

Buy-In: $5.00

1446 players

Staring Stack $2000

Total Prize Pool: $7230.00

Start Date: May 26 9:00 PM BST

Finish 15th

One of my best showing in an MTT for a while - felt that my good hands were consistently holding up and luck was smiling on me and allowed me to kick on to the final two tables where sadly the monster blinds and a drought in cards left me just short of the really big money - but $66 not to be sniffed at! That's 4 cashes in MTT's for the month.

Then on Wednesday I turned back to the SNG's - and my mojo returned I was focused on doing well and on my two $10 SNG's I came third and first. I'm $4 dollars off my SNG profit for the month so this weekend is stick or twist time - got a feeling I'll twist.

Pat Cash.

2009-05-25T20:36:00.004+01:00

24th May 2009.

Thought I'd have a little stint on a cash table.

A few hands in I was joined by Brad from our live game then - weirdly enough by Pat also from the live game.

Had fun for an hour and a half finishing $6.50 up.

Felt strange playing with people I know online - I usually like to be able to make big mistakes anonymously but it was fun - and hey I write my mistakes up here for all to read after the fact so who cares if they get to see them live huh?

Online Poker After Dark.

2009-05-25T19:59:00.003+01:00

After the live game finished early at 1am. I allowed my self a bit of sesh on Full Tilt.

It turned out to be a night of nasty beats going out 9th in a $20 after to cruel hands - AJ hitting only to be beaten by KJ - then AK beaten by A10.

Next the $10 decided to bite me in the ass - my KK beaten by J10 - while all this is a bit soul destroying the way the cards came out I was bound to put a lot of my stack in - I just can't factor in someone coming along and catching!!!
Next one I bummed out early and this time I was to blame. It's a mistake that once I'd made it, I realised I have done this before:

Over-valuing the straight-flush draw!

I called on the button in a pot with around 6 limpers with 67 diamonds - the flop came 89Q all diamonds - giving me the flush and an up and down straight flush draw.

The action checks round to me and I bet it to narrow the field everyone folds but one who reraise me all in - I think (about something) and call.

This is a horrible call - he's obviously got the flush - there are only 4 cards lower than mine available to him so chances are he's got me beat. However, the temptation of the straight-flush induced me to make a crying call! He could easily have one or both of my 2 outs in his hand - or worse J10 of diamonds would give him the nut straight-flush.

He shows J5 diamonds and my one remaining out in the deck would actually give him a better straight-flush. Pathetic call - you donk Andy!

I finally got the cards back on my side and finished 2nd in a $10.

PAN Poker.

2009-05-25T18:41:00.007+01:00

Saturday 23rd May 2009.

£20 Live Game 9 handed with re-buys.
Prize pool £220
Starting Stack $4000

1st - £110
2nd - £70
3rd - £40

Seat 1 - Craig - 9th Place
Seat 2 - Brad* - 4th Place
Seat 3 - Paul - 6th Place
Seat 4 - Stevo* - 1st Place
Seat 5 - Al - 8th Place
Seat 6 - Jenny - 5th Place
Seat 7 - John - 7th Place
Seat 8 - Pat - 2nd Place
Seat 9 - Andy(me) - 3rd Place

*One rebuy @ £20

Went into this one under strict instructions to keep a close watch on my stack size in relation to the chip average and the blind level - and I have to say this was easy to do with careful chip-stacking and proved really useful in letting me know when I could sit back and or move with urgency.

Was card dead for a long time, then started getting hands when others had bigger ones! I re-raised Johns AA with AK preflop - easy done but timing was just a bit wonky in the first few hours of this tourney.

Action was its usual lively self with this group so despite my lack of involvement I wasn't too disheartened.

Was starting to need to make moves as I had been forced to give up a lot of hands when faced with a reraise and a live player behind me - it was do or die time - I had to stand my ground - gamble or let the blinds eat my ass!

I popped in a raise with AJ, only for Stevo to put me all in from one of the blinds - I figure Stevo for a made hand here, and one that didn't necessarily want action - I was thinking a pair lower than 10's and was happy to take on the 50/50. Stevo show 66's and my AJ hit to win out. Was ready to log onto Full Tilt if I was wrong and it was AK or if the coin didn't land in my favour - but I knew I couldn't keep laying down and this was the right time for me to make a stand.

Chips then began to fly my way! John in a moment of misplaced aggression pushed for just under $4000 with 88 - I had him well covered and was happy to see pocket rockets called and the hold up.

Now I was able to loosen up and speculate with a bit of comfort, playing back at Brad who was taking advantage of my game all night (rightly so), and couldn't resist showing him a nice little bluff with A6 - just to let him know my money isn't always easy!

Brad took about $2000 off me when I put him all in with my AQ for him to call with his A10 and hit a flush on me - such is life!

The bubble burst and Pat, Steve and I all found ourselves pretty even in chips - and we had a great sparring session - with some cautiously aggressive poker - this was really fun to be a part of - the win and the 3rd were equally up for grabs to all of us.

Then it happened I called Pat's all in with my AQ...

He showed AJ - and proceeded to hit a straight - bummer!

This left me very short and seeing a King I pushed with an amount so small Stevo wudda called with 4 high never mind the Ace he actually found himself with - and I was out in 3rd for £40 - loved it!

Stevo went on to win it - thought after his rebuy he really powered himself back into contention then once he was back above chip average played a really savvy game to see him over the bubble and into 1st - well done Stevo breakfast on you!

Keeping a close eye on my stack helped me enormously - and I'm talking knowing the actual total rather than just having an idea.

Back On Track.

2009-05-23T04:42:00.005+01:00

Played a blinder tonight!

As I said before got to two MTT cashes as my goals for the month required = result!

And, at this moment I've just broke my $1400 profit online after winning my second ever $30 table for $135 - boom! (Total profit at this point = $1424)

I Did crash out on a cash table though, when my AJ hit top 2 pair only to be beaten by a set of tens, but hey!

Have to say the standard on that $30 was top banana - tough stuff!

Live game tomorrow hope I wake up in time!

So Far So Good!

2009-05-23T01:29:00.004+01:00

The little pep talk worked:

Played a cash game for 15mins finished $9 up.

Came 125th and cashed in my MTT tonight - boom that's two cashes for the month.

Then won my $10 SNG.

Thinking positive actually works!!!

Stop The Rot!

2009-05-22T17:51:00.008+01:00

Haven't played last few days as I've been ill!

Noticed though that this hasn't been a vintage month so far!

However, I have to stop thinking "oh well this is a bad month ", when I'm sitting down to play.

Looking on the positive side I am in profit so far this month and still able to break the profit goal set at the beginning of the month. But if I don't, so long as I'm playing well that is all that matters.

Note to self: Stop playing MTT's as a matter of routine - if I'm gonna invest in one then invest a bit of effort as well as the buy in! Read this today and it rang true -

"So my spirits sink back through the floor. Had I really expected to get anywhere in that tournament? You've got to start thinking like a winner...

The truth is my tournament confidence is low. I seem able to do fine in the cash games, where you know you can always fish in your pocket for more money if you suffer a bad beat. But the extra discipline required in tournaments, where the element of luck is so much higher & one mistake can see you knocked out, is making me play too tight against all these internet-trained belligerents."

Anthony Holden - Bigger Deal

Gonna play tonight and think positive.

Had my first win on a $10 SNG last night, also had a half hour stint in a cash table walking away with a little $5 profit. The Internet seems to be on the go again so no excuses - everything is set up for some decent play and fingers crossed some decent results...

Setting myself up for a call!

2009-05-18T15:35:00.005+01:00

18th May 2009.

Played one five dollar and 1 ten dollar SNG on Full Tilt. I enjoyed them and played really well in both (for the most part), but bummed out on the bubble twice!

I noticed a little mistake that I often make on the bubble...

When dealt a marginal hand (in this case QJ of diamonds), I lead out for 3x the big blind. Not a move I mind but very often if I'm short this pot commits me if anyone fights back. This fight back happened twice on the bubble in the two games I played, with players pushing all in forcing me onto the back foot, relinquishing control of the hand and mucking em!

Now if I'm gonna raise this much I should be calling here - and if I am not gonna call with a marginal hand my options are as follows:

Push all in and make my opponents have to make the decision.

Limp try and hit - leaving myself room to get away from the hand.

Min Raise - Keeping it cheap when blinds are usually at a level where people will give up to a min raise - and allowing me to get away from the hand cheaper.

I think I like the min raise but all have their merits - but I shouldn't be betting an amount that implies I am pot committed with I hand I am not prepared to commit myself with!

Sit And God Damn It!

2009-05-17T17:32:00.004+01:00

14th May 2009.

Played three SNG's at $10 - was feeling secure in my Internet connection.

First game went OK but just didn't catch cards on a table of a fairly high standard and finished 5th. No complaints really!

Next game I played really well - on a table with one very loose and aggressive player who was stealing and winning big pots. The bubble came around and I was second in chips with about $4000 to the madman who just had me covered. The remaining two stacks were short. I was in the big blind and picked up rockets. One of the smaller stacks min raised me to 200 total, then the madman pushes all in! I call and the small stack folds - he shows his pocket 9's which he proceeds to trip and send me out on the bubble.

Now I know this is an insta-call but...

I certainly could afford to fold here, the cash was coming and I was almost certainly there - I hate the fold but is their a case for not tangling with the only player at the table who can knock me out? I hate his play - and I don't think I had a choice with my own. Luckily I managed not to trash my laptop.

Next game I took another horrible beat and thought lets call it a night. $30 downer!

Making the most of your mistakes.

2009-05-13T23:32:00.006+01:00

Been playing at $5 because I can't trust my Internet connection to allow me to complete an entire tourney - damn Sky!

Playing 9 handed on a table with 6 bad players (2 of whom were card racks). All the chips went to these two early on - I was aware that it was a very weak passive table in general lots of limps preflop and then lots of loose calls on the river with mediocre hands that were allowed to hit anything at all. So I played strong preflop and tried to isolate 1 player in any pots I played.

The bubble arrived quickly enough, I was playing well but one of two shorter stacks compared with the two card rack donks.

Then I made a bluff on the flop with 63, and when called the turn went check, check, I figured I'd take another shot on the river as it was the only way I was winning this thing! I got looked up and was seen as pretty loose by the table, and thought OK busted, but I decided to use that.

Flopping the nut flush two hands later I was confident I could lead out without anybody taking my bet seriously. My poor reputation earned by that one dodgy showdown allowed me to double up in this hand then proceed to get paid off left, right and centre with the best hand!

Once the bubble went I was confident despite trailing to the two big stacks. They were weak an I knew it. Sure enough with patience I let them give me their chips and finished 1st.

I didn't think I could still play this bad!

2009-05-10T17:47:00.004+01:00

9th May 2009.

I played terribly last night! Out in 8th or even 9th on a number of occasions - the only reason for this was making huge calls when I had the worst of it. Fortunately I was able to counter balance the bad form by playing in some small stake satellites which got me into the daily dollar and kept me out of trouble for a while.

I had a bit of fun in the daily dollar - playing position and situations rather than cards - and did ok, but sadly the cards caught up with me and sent me out 5004th out of 6821.

After this I tried to pull my socks up and got three wins on a couple of $10, and on a $20. I also played my first $30 table - standard was same old, and a guy made a donk move on me and then sucked out railing me in 7th.

A real up and down night - which was a good session and thanks to some big wins ended $75 in profit.

Stop It!

2009-05-09T23:47:00.005+01:00

Playing bad tonight - just got a third place finish, but have made some bad calls tonight.

Think I wanna make a hero call - bummed out in a $2 MTT and then in a $10 SNG both were all my fault making bad calls following over bets. STOP IT!

Played OK in the last one and cashed.

Thinking about playing in the daily dollar and "experimenting"....

Gonna try satellite my way in oooh what a cheap skate - but seriously stops me donking off in a $10.

No River, No Fish.

2009-05-09T20:42:00.005+01:00

This is really a pat on the back for last night!

I played the MTT suffering a bad beat then rather than go on a 10$ I recognised I was tilting slightly and played a 5$ instead.

Sure enough I played well but was served up another shocker of a beat, again on the river. Rather than tilt and fight (as I'm prone to), I called it a night recognising that the cards were trying to put me in a bad mood and a night that previously would've cost me around $70 cost just $10.

Despite the anger and frustration that comes from a night like this - everyone who sucked out on me did what I want - called off all their chips when I was ahead.

A run of beats like this are one part of poker that drives me insane - but I must remember it is a sign that I'm doing things right.

Every Donk Has His Day.

2009-05-08T22:37:00.007+01:00

8th May 2009

5$ MTT freezeout 21.04 bst - 8th May

Starting stack - $2000

Entrants - 1168

Prize Pool - $5840

Places Paid - 180

1st place - $1109.60

Finish - 468th

This wasn't fun!

I registered late cos of the stupid Internet service playing up and then I was seated on a table full of donks!

I was tight as always but got 2 big hands cracked by terrible play early on leaving me down to 400 chips at just 25/50 blinds. I pushed with A2 suited hit the ace and tripled up then had to grind my way past the break and back up to around $2500. Pleasing - but a slog.

I was praying to be reseated when I was dealt pocket tens - I raised 4 times the big blind and was called by one of the donks - the flop came down 10 5 4 rainbow - knowing that these donks could have anything I push wanting the hand over. He thinks, then calls with A2 off suit! Now the call preflop was bad enough but hey! Then the river brings the 3 putting me out in 468th.

Annoying table, I'd worked so hard to get myself back into this one only for an idiot to take it away from me - hate to moan but had to get it off my chest.

Just looked back at the tourney and the donk (who was well stacked) has gone out in 371st place while I've been typing this - what a knob!

Distractions At The Table.

2009-05-08T12:01:00.005+01:00

7th May 2009.

3 x 9 handed SNG's on Full Tilt ($10)

Was a good night of poker. The first game was great, I actually bubbled but the standard was high and I had no problems with going out when I did - an all round high quality table which stayed 9 handed until the blinds were up to 240!

The second table was again a high standard - this time I was out in 5th when I called a guy's all in on the flop when I had top 2 pair and figured him for a flush draw - which he had and hit on the river - fair play I can't complain - knew what I was getting into and that's a fair enough move from him with two cards to come, I just lost the race.

The third table was lively! Again a fairly high standard all but for one donk - he was laying in to a guy for making a winning call against him and mouthing off about his stats like he'd invented the game...Enter Andy with sharkscope. The guy was an awful SNG player who's overall roi looked good due to one big MTT win fair play but shut up shouting ur mouth off at other players. I laid into him big time and four other players joined in the bashing of this loser! I love doing this sometimes especially when it to an absolute cock like this! However, I got a little distracted and took my eye of the ball for about two blind levels - could of been costly.

I don't mind getting involved every now and then in some table banter, but I usually am good at watching how it effects a guy - watching him tighten up cos he doesn't want to lose face against you or attacking you with his betting - and using the response to my advantage. I pulled it back in this one using his tilt against him and went on to win but did get very distracted mid game - if I'm chatting at the table do it for a reason or go to a chat room and abuse chumps!

A good night of poker - very impressed with the standard on these three tables - put me to the test - all in all a good workout!

Mixing It Up.

2009-05-06T09:39:00.005+01:00

May 5th 2009.

Been thinking about my last post.

It's occurred to me that I hadn't thought through why the first SNG got away from me.

Looking back I feel it has a lot to do with changing game formats - since my last SNG I've played around 10 hours of MTT and 8 hours of live game. Formats that are much slower and require a more patient approach than SNG. I think I folded away in this first SNG as though it were an MTT - which caused trouble due to the quicker structure of the game.

Must remember to keep a close eye on my approach when changing from one format to another - second game I loosened up appropriately and reaped the rewards.

Dodging The Donks.

2009-05-05T22:28:00.003+01:00

5th May 2009.

Played two $10 Sit N Go's.

First one I was really card dead and let the game get away from me finishing lamely in 6th place, quite a dull affair.

Second game I bossed it from start to bubble - then I had this donk all in 3 times with the better hand and he sucked out on me all three times. This left me seriously short stacked but I boxed clever knowing he'd pay me off and came back eventually taking the donk out on the bubble! Soooo gratifying.

Played well post bubble and finished 2nd after a long and fun heads up battle.

First SNG for a while - feels like a lot more is at stake than the MTT's - it's a lot more immediate but rewarding and its my staple income - must play more!

You do it to yourself...

2009-05-05T15:32:00.006+01:00

4th May 2009.

Early Daily Double A MTT

Entrants 1290

Places Paid - 180
Starting Stack - $2000

I'm getting used to these now, and know I can get into the money just by concentrating and maximising the value of the few hands I do play.

I spent the first hour sitting tight and observing my tables betting patterns. It was very aggressive I noticed that limpers were very rarely seeing a flop cheaply and while I was folding away, I started to plan how to play my hands when they came!

The the moment arrived, under the gun I got AA, I had already decided to slow play any big made hands in early position feeling fairly certain I would get to limp raise preflop. I limped and got two callers thinking it had all gone wrong but then the Big Blind didn't let me down pushing all in, I insta-called as did one of the limpers behind me - I was up against AQ and KQ and tripled up putting me in a decent spot to start playing from.

I was just ticking along as normal when with AQ in the small blind I limped against the Big Blind blind. The flop came down Q74 with 2 hearts - I decided to bet at it and was called - I put him on 2nd pair at this point. The turn came down the 7 of hearts - I checked and he bet big I should have given it up - the seven had come tripping him if my initial thoughts where correct or the flush was a realistic possibility - but I decided to call. The river came a blank I bluffed at it, and was then reraised only to make another ugly call and he showed his 96 of hearts for the flush.

I hate making stupid calls, I think I have a problem believing that people can be dealt winning hands in the big blind! I should just raise with a decent hand from the small blind and if I take it preflop so be it. I really donked away my chances in this tourney and in that one hand I went from sitting pretty to push or fold, eventually going out in 368th place.

I don't mind bad bets, but bad calls are unforgivable!

6 Brothers; 2 Lovers; and a Hangover.

2009-05-04T23:02:00.006+01:00

2nd May 2009.

Live Game £15 buy in.
9 handed

1st - £70
2nd - £40
3rd - £25

Entrants:

Seat 1: Eamon - 8th
Seat 2: Brendon - 7th
Seat 3: Matty - 1st
Seat 4: Stevo - 6th (not 7th sorry Stevo)
Seat 5: Ronan - 3rd
Seat 6: Dave - 9th
Seat 7: Jenny - 2nd
Seat 8: Jamey - 5th
Seat 9: Andy (me) - 4th

I was well rested and really up for this game. I wanted to play some cards and have fun doing it. I decided that when I was in a hand I would play it hard!

I like playing with this group, it's more of a night with mates than a serious poker game. The action can still be brilliant, but the banter is always shit hot!

Started this one as always...tight. I was playing with two players in Eamon and Brendon, who I'd never played with before so took half an hour out to see what I was up against.

Played OK this night, and uncharacteristically by about 4 hours in, the new players to the game probably thought me quite loose and aggressive! The cards and situations that came my way, allowed me to be selectively aggressive and I got fairly well stacked through bluffs rather than actually making hands. Maybe my years of folding everything allowed me to get two major bluffs through on the night.

The first against Stevo I was pleased with, I new where I was at and picked the right moment to reraise with AK knowing Stevo is a sharp enough player to understand that he needed to push or fold in response. The stacks at the time meant Stevo could lay down comfortably, although I had misread Ste's hand - pockets queens on a board of Jack high at the turn. I had figured him for 9's or 10's. I know in hindsight Ste would love to have pushed here, but It was Ste's ablility to make a big lay down here that I was relying on to get this play home. A great hand and hats off Stevo for making the same lay down I would have reluctantly made if the play was reversed, you certainly made me sweat that one!!

The second bluff wasn't nearly as clever. I got away with it but it was just using my stack post flop after not hitting with AQ to muscle Jamey off a hand. That hand was 10 10! Luckily I got away with this one, but in all honesty I hadn't put Jamey on a hand in my head - he could easily of been sitting on rockets - just an impetuous moment of aggression that could have led to an early bath for me!

I really enjoyed playing aggressively and perhaps took my eye off the ball! Before I knew it I was looking at a small stack. I really need to keep a close eye on my chip stack in the live game it's easy to lose track of where you're at then realise the game has got away from you. As the bubble arrived I was in trouble, forced to push twice with mediocre hands losing out the second time. With Q9 suited.

The big lesson from tonight was this: When bluffing make sure your play tells a believable story and make sure your opponent is a good enough player to understand that story. I achieved this in the hand with Ste, but against Jamey it was pure, reckless, brute force that saw a bad bluff home.

Interestingly, I had a more exciting night of cards than normal, but also watched Ronan play a very patient game that saw him over the line into the money, a game that has served me well over the years.

There has to be a balance between action and cashing consistently, hope I can find it!

Knocking on the door.

2009-05-02T11:39:00.006+01:00

1st May 2009.

Daily Double A 5$ MTT freezeout 21.00 bst
Starting stack 2000$
Entrants - 1165
Prize Pool - $5825
Places Paid - 180
1st place - 1106.75

Had my brother Matty over and was up for a session. Decided on an MTT rather than a million Sit N Go's - I was out to play for a while, rather than grind at the bankroll.

We both entered and I looked for my for my 1st MTT cash of the month.

The first hour or so was pretty lean pickings as far as starting hands go - and I had to make sure I didn't force the action just so I could talk to Matty about some interesting hands! Matty meanwhile was getting hands and dishing out and receiving a fair share of beats - I was a bit jealous of the entertainment factor but continued to sit and wait for the sugar to come my way!

A few hours in I was still around starting stack just taking down blinds here and there to keep myself afloat - then we lost Matt in 366th when his JJ's got it all in preflop and lost the 50/50 to AK. Good to have Matt back playing poker, and nice to see he hasn't lost any of his balls at the table - showing me a bluff he made on a full board featuring an Ace a King a Ten with just 67 - BOOM!

With the departure of Matt, came the arrival over my card rush!

Unbelievably, it was KK that came through for me on more than one occasion! I was ahead three times preflop with it all in twice with KK and once with QQ - on each occasion the flop put me behind to an over card hitting and the turn brought me trips! Nice to see it's not always bad beats online with big hands!!!

The bubble burst and I continued to play strong and aggressive, putting myself in strong position to kick on.

I was finding it difficult at this point though because of how often I was being reseated! Building momentum was quite difficult.

With about forty five left play seemed to really slow up - no one seemed to be being eliminated! Then I made a mistake - after being check raised out of a few 1000 chips I was tilting slightly and next had threw in a semi bluff from the small blind with A6 off - reading the over bet as tilt (it was blatant)the limper from the cut-off re-raised me all in - I folded. A small miss-step but it changed my standing in the tourney and suddenly I needed to win chips.

I had over 40,000 chips, when the small blind to my big blind pushed all in with about 20,000, he had been pretty desperate and pushed a number of times - this seemed an obvious opportunity for him with just me left to beat - so I called with KQ - his A4 held up and I was teetering on the edge - push or fold time...

Pushed with 55 and was called by the big blind with K6 he hit the King and a pair of kings (the hand that had been so kind to me) kicked me right in the balls and out I went in 38th place for $16.89.

I was a little dejected after this; the money was about to start booming, and I should have been part of that! On reflection though, I know that this was a good performance and with a little luck here I could've won big. I am starting to knock on the door for bigger money in these, and need to keep getting myself these positions, were if the luck goes my way, it'll see me through to a big win.

First day of the month and I am half way to achieving my MTT goal for the month.

Great night of poker.

April 2009.

2009-04-30T14:19:00.007+01:00

Not a bad month showing profit about $150 profit online and £35 profit in the live games. Enjoyed playing in MTT's this month and it's a habit I want to continue.

Online Stats:

Games Played: 1,333

Average ROI: 17%

Total Profit: $1248

Points of note:

Don't Play Tired.

Don't play bladdered

Look for opportunities to steal from the big blind.

Don't get tempted into playing too many hands early in an MTT.

Don't chase an end of the night victory.

Keep looking for mistakes while playing as it helps avoid making them.

Stick to what comes natural.

Don't get caught up in mirroring the action of the other players at any given table.

Don't be tempted to play online after a live game at silly o'clock.

Oh, and err - don't fall asleep at the table!

Aims for next month:

Cash in two MTT's.

Limit online play to when I feel like I can play well enough to cash.

Break $1400 profit online.

Enjoy the live game on the 2nd of May - but don't get on Full Tilt when you get home!!!

Archived Thought Of The Month April 2009:

Poker is not a form of gambling...Gambling is a style of poker - A loose and losing style, at that.

Anthony Holden - Big Deal

Playing The Short Stack.

2009-04-29T10:35:00.004+01:00

Since the weekend I've played two $10 SNG's on Full Tilt cashing in both with a third place finish and a win.

What I've noticed over the last week is my strength when the cards haven't allowed me to get in front and I'm sitting on a short stack with big blinds. This is were my controlled aggression really comes alive. When forced to gamble I can do it!

In the live game over the weekend and in the following SNG's I've played my usual tight game - and when I realise I am in jeopardy I have successfully flicked the switch and forced my way back into contention.

It's important to remember to still be patient when in these acute situations - and when pushing hard always make sure you have a chance if called and not just try to steal preflop.

Enjoying the grind at the minute

Promises, Promises!

2009-04-29T10:09:00.003+01:00

Kinda knew I'd be writing this post.

After the live game in the previous post - and all the beers that go with it. I had every intention of going straight home to bed.

Then Ronan pipes up - "Fancy getting on Full Tilt when you get home?"

And with that I broke my promise, logged on at 4am and promtly threw about $40 down the toilet. My will power amazes me sometimes.

Next week, 9 handed live game this time I WILL NOT PLAY FULL TILT WHEN I GET HOME!

Tighter Than A Gnat's Chuff!

2009-04-28T23:21:00.014+01:00

Saturday 25th of April 2009.

£20 buy in (with rebuys) - Live Game - 8 handed.

Players:
Seat 1: Brad - 6th Place
Seat 2: Jenny - 4th Place*
Seat 3: Andy (me) - 2nd Place
Seat 4: Pat - 1st Place
Seat 5: Paul - 5th Place
Seat 6: Al - 8th Place*
Seat 7: Stevo - 7th Place*
Seat 8: Ronan - 3rd Place

*One rebuy.

Another aggressive line-up for this home game, which resulted in three rebuys giving a prize pool of £220. 1st - £110; 2nd- £70; 3rd £40.

Knowing how aggressive this line up can be I felt my game of sitting tight and playing the hands I choose to play strongly should work well for me, however...

Without doubt this is this most card dead I have ever been at the table. Over 3 and a half hours went by before I even won a hand. What kept me sane during this drought was that two people actually busted out in that time - I knew I didn't need to do too much here to make the money just box clever and stay out of the ruck going on in the middle!!!

I was in an ugly position with the most aggressive and creative player at the table (Brad) on the button for my big blind - and I knew he was taking advantage of me for the first four or five hours of the match.

Eventually, despite a lack of cards, with blinds getting big and scary I was forced to start to fight to maintain and increase my stack. I made the decision to play back at Brad who I knew had been playing me all night and I had let get away with murder.

It worked, I dug in and, regardless of cards, started to claw back chips bit by bit.

After about 6 hours, with 1 player out, a big turning point for me came when, with admittedly huge stroke of luck: I tripled up with A9 suited when I reraised all in following one of Brad's billion preflop raises; only to be called by Stevo's AQ, and then called by Brad who actually had the goods this time with QQ. Despite the case queen hitting the board the flush came through for me knocking Stevo out in 7th place, setting Brad in a precarious chip position, and putting me in a powerful position for the first time all night.

I then had the opportunity to attack and be the aggressor at the table. Taking advantage of the smaller stack of Paul, then knocking him out with my pocket 2's (as I said I was pretty card dead ALL night). Then on the bubble stealing a few blinds from Pat (perhaps the tightest player other than myself at the table).

The bubble burst and after Ronan finished third I faced Pat heads up. Two big hands decided it his 96 beating my pocket Jacks(slow playing sucks), then his AA beating my top pair - and I finished up in second for £70.

I was really happy with my performance in the face of what I can honestly say was the worst 8 hours of starting hands I've ever had!

Looking back I think the one thing I didn't do right was attack Pat and Paul enough in the middle stages of the game - in hindsight, I was too focused on Brad, when there was money to be made to my left!

The biggest difficulty playing so tight in this was that people were taking chances and rebuying - and when they rebought they would come back into the game with more chips than myself! A real grind but a positive, hard fought result.

It was levelled to me after the game by Stevo that perhaps I am too tight. Maybe so. I am inclined to agree - in that I would love to be naturally more aggressive at the table. I know however, that I don't have a natural gamble in my psyche, I also know I do well sticking to what comes naturally to me.

(Stevo, as always I welcome your advice & comments on this post)!

For this table, with the way the action presented itself, I feel the way I played was spot on. I would also say it is no coincidence that the top three finishers where the tightest three players on the night - on an electric table were the showdowns weren't really justifying the hugely aggressive play on show.

Got a strong feeling next weekends line up will require something a bit different...

A special word for Al who reluctantly rebought only to go out in a few minutes after just three hands when his all in with AK suited was called by Brad's pokets 66's - BRUTAL!

Great game - Loved it!

One $20 For The Road.

2009-04-25T14:21:00.006+01:00

24th April 2009.

Firstly a little pat on the back - I'd not been playing well and have been knackered this week so had a very disciplined break from poker for the last few days.

Friday arrived and it was time to hit the table once again feeling refreshed and ready to play poker.

Started out bubbling in a $10 played OK and nothing to report.

I then entered into the Daily Double MTT A at 9pm:

Starting stack 2000$
5$ MTT freezeout21.00 bst
Entrants - 1208
Prize Pool - 6040$
Places Paid - 180
1st place - $1147.60

Did well, which was pleasing after my early bust out in the last one of these I played.

Played tight and cautious then ran into cards just as I was beginning to fear the blinds were eating me up - played uber aggressive on these good hands and went from $1000 to over $5000 in three hands - amazing how quickly things change in these tourney's.

Was positioned in the top 60 at the break - carried on playing well but sadly ran into a guy who had me covered - my QQ clashed with his KK and I was out for no cash in 221st. Close but no cigar! (Nice to see pocket KK's actually hold up).

I then went on to play a Sit N Go before bed playing well again and coming second.

My lesson from the night was what happened next...

Having played well I wasn't satisfied going to bed $2 down - and thought - "I'll up the stakes & play a $20 - maybe I could finish up with a decent profit on the night".

As soon as I did it I knew I had work the next day followed by a live poker game, so should really be in the land of nod.

I swore I would note this tendency to chase a victory before the night ends no matter what happened in the tourney. In the past, I know I've played 2 or 3 Sit N Go's more than I've planned in the vain hope of ending the night on a high.

As it happened I actually won this $20 and did get to go to bed smiling but it's a risky business chasing glory and I know it has proved costly in the past.

Just go to bed - LOSER!

Time to hit the Cyber-Baize?

2009-04-22T14:52:00.010+01:00

21st of April 2009.

I don't really want to write this but hey must be honest with myself...

Played 4 SNG's cashing in none and costing me 50$.

After drinking Liverpool to a 4-4 draw with Arsenal, my nerves were shot, I was cheesed off with the draw, and a bit pie-eyed. I thought - "Time to hit the Cyber-Baize!"

I didn't realise it but I was on tilt from dropping 2 points against the Gunners and proceeded to play an awful first SNG.

Slowly throughout the evening I noticed how badly I was playing and endeavoured to improve with, not much joy. My best result being a 4th place on a $20.

When am I going to learn that I don't have to play poker when my mind isn't right!!!

I'll be playing in a long old live game again this weekend - and I promise: When I get home at silly o'clock, bladdered - I'm going straight to bed and NOT logging on to Full Tilt!

Must knuckle down and work towards stringing some decent results together.

Getting Off At Edge Hill.

2009-04-20T22:21:00.005+01:00

April 20th 2009.

$10 SNG 9 Handed on Full Tilt

I've noticed recently that I've been struggling to place 1st over my last few sessions. I've cashed, but more often than not I think I've been playing to cash rather than going for the win.

I've had a tendency to loosen my range hugely after the bubble has burst as though I'm satisfied just to have cashed. Had actually spoken to Stevo earlier in the night about my recent lack of ability to convert my chances when heads up.

Going into this tourney I kept a close eye on this and sure enough I went on to win it.

Started the tourney really well - absolutely owning the two major donks on the table.

My mistake came when I was well out in front. I got a bit loose when heavily stacked. 5 handed I had over 6000 chips and people were tilting against me because I was winning everything - always showing down the best hand. I decided to play more hands and tried too hard to end it quickly. I ended up donking off about 4000 chips and had to grind it back up again risking going out in 5th or 4th place.

Other than this I played really well making sure I stayed patient and focused after the bubble and into heads up, managing to overturn a 3-1 chip lead in a long heads up battle.

$45 onto the roll claws back a little of what I lost on Saturday night!

Flop Till You Drop.

2009-04-20T19:23:00.003+01:00

18th of April 2009.

5$ MTT Early Double A freezeout 21.00 bst
Entrants - 1410
Prize Pool - $7050
Places Paid - 216
1st place - $1325.40
Starting stack - $2000

Followed by 6x$10 SNG on Full Tilt.
&
4x$20 SNG on Full Tilt.

As you can tell this was quite a session - I had planned it that way too. Had booked a lie in and was dead set on playing through the night!

If I'm honest though I was a little tired and didn't really fancy playing that much! But this was my poker night!! Couldn't let tiredness and not really wanting to play stop me!

So it began on the above MTT - on which I'd been doing well recently but as if a sign of things to come I was completely card dead - and when I did get a hand worth playing there was better out there. My chip stack quickly halved and I decided to make a stand with 1010 only to be called by K 10 beaten and sent home in 1064th place! Not a glorious start to the evening.

I felt here the cards weren't falling my way when I was catching cards people where catching better. I was guilty of playing QJ a little strong which I don't like early on but otherwise the cards seemed to seal my fate.

So to the SNG's...

Now this was a bad evening of cards starting with me getting it all in preflop with AA - and going out first hand not a feeling I enjoy but hey I had my money in good.

This night I had AA cracked 4 times, KK cracked twice, and a horrible beat when I got it all in with K10 on a board of K103 to be called by K9 and he only hits runner, runner 9's. There were more but I won't bore you with them.

One thing I can take from this night was the fact that I wasn't letting the beats get me down and was still playing a solid game - clawing and grinding my way into the money on a few occasions allowing myself just a $60 downswing on an evening were I could easily have lost $200.

I don't mind loosing a lot during one of my big online sessions (obviously I'd rather not), but when I'm playing one of these marathons it might be worth playing more MTT's. I get a lot more play for my buck and on nights like this I just want to play poker all night rather than boost my bankroll in back to back SNG's.

MTT's give me the amount of play I desire with less risk to my bankroll. Something to think about!

Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down

2009-04-18T15:13:00.006+01:00

17th of April 2009.

5$ MTT Early Double B freezeout 21.02 bst
Entrants - 1118
Prize Pool - $5590
Places Paid - 180
1st place - $1062.10

Starting Stack - $2000

Quite enjoying playing these MTT's at the mo.

Started well and didn't have to play too many hands. At the first break I had built a reasonable stack - showing down just 2 hands and winning them both.

I continued to grind with a stack that was falling slowly below average when I took a big knock.

I popped a big raise in preflop with Q's and got a call from the small blind. The flop came down K high and he checked to me - I could've checked here but decided to find out were I was with a $1000 bet - about half the pot. He quickly re raised me all in (having me covered) - I certainly found out were I was....BEHIND! So, I laid down a big hand after a card drought much to my dismay.

I was left with about 2500 just over 10 Big blinds and on a lively table I still had a little wiggle room - but a cloud was hanging over me following the lay down of those QQ's.

I soon busted out playing a trashy hand:

A couple of limper's at 240 BB and with me on the button I call with A2 suited (hearts) hoping to catch big and take down a big pot.

Flop came down A69 (no hearts)- a player in mid position popped in a bet of 1000 and for some reason I think... I'll call!

Now as soon as I did it I hated this play!

My ace was not what I was in this hand to hit and now I've pot committed myself with the worst kicker possible.

The turn comes down a 2 - now that was as good as I could hope for so as was pretty much predetermined all my chips go in the middle he shows A6 and rightly wipes the floor with my suited crap!

If ever faced with this call on the turn - don't do it!!!! If ever faced with that tilty situation again I prefer folding the hand then shoving on any two cards next hand - at least I'm calling the shots then!

I Finish in 286th - for no cash. Despite the knock with my Q's I could easily have cashed in this one. Unfortunately I was tilting slightly, and got caught up in what seemed a pretty desperate & frantic table. A table with so much action it would have afforded me room to be patient and wait for a proper hand in a better situation.

Went on then to come second in a 10$ sit n go so a profitable night all the same.

Earning Respect.

2009-04-15T21:21:00.005+01:00

14th of April 2009.

5$ MTT freezeout 23.05 BST
Entrants - 400
Prize Pool - $2000
Places Paid - 45
1st place - $500

Starting stack - $1500

Thought I'd have another whirl at a less populated MTT.

Started this one really well - (with the help of AK coming good a number of times).

By the first break I was in the top twenty competitors and dominating my table.

Then something happened that really changed my momentum. I was re-seated!!

Now, I had been wiping the floor with my former table, I had earned respect and was able to steal almost at will!

When I moved I made the mistake of continuing to play as though I was still playing the players on my old table - and without the respect of my new opponents my looser style began to prove costly.

As obvious as it seems to reassess your approach when seated with new players - I found it difficult to let go of the momentum I had built on my old table - greedily trying to steal a big lead.

This proved fatal to my chances in the tournament and I ended up finishing outside the money in 63rd place.

A great start, but I need to be patient when moved - and be aware of how my opponents see me at any given time in a tournament.

Got it out of my system with a couple of 20$ SNG cashes.

Big Blind Steal.

2009-04-14T14:01:00.006+01:00

13th of April 2009.

Played a couple of 10$ SNG's and one 20$ SNG on Full Tilt.

Didn't cash in my two 10$ and came second in my 20$.

I played fairly well in the two games I didn't cash in - just got some bad beats which proved costly. However, although it wouldn't have made too much of a difference, I did notice an opportunity I was missing to steal chips:

I am not usually very precious about defending my blinds - but the tables I played on were all fairly tight. On a number of occasions the action would fold round to just the blinds and often the small blind would then limp and I would allow them to see the flop. A few times this allowed mediocre hands to hit two pair and extract chips from my stack. After watching this happen I decided that perhaps I should be more aggressive in my defense of the blind when this situation arose again.

So then on the 20$ I began to throw in a raise of 3x the big blind if I had half a hand- figuring I had position - and that the small blind had shown weakness by limping - this made them have to decide if they wanted to pay over the odds to see a flop out of position.

Invariably I took the pot preflop. It also led to me getting a lot more walks during the game - small change but it all adds up. I managed to cash in 2nd place for 54$.

I don't usually like to be so routine with my play but this seems to work - obviously if resistance is met I would proceed with caution - but from the evidence of tonight - this looks to be a profitable play in the long run. In a way this is a button steal with less people in the way to offer resistance!

I'm reluctant to ever set a play in stone but this seems a good addition to the arsenal when the situation is right.

Happy to hear your thoughts on this one...

Big Field = Big Bucks?

2009-04-13T00:11:00.007+01:00

12th of April 2009

Full Tilt Poker
Early Double A 5$ MTT freezeout 9pm BST.
Entrants - 1573
Starting Stack - $2000
Prize Pool - $7865
Places Paid - 216
1st place - $1478.62

I've decided to try to play at least one MTT a week and note down any observations on this blog.

Did OK playing for over 3 hours in a massive field of 1573 - managed to finish in 115th place and win: $11.01. Not life changing but getting to this stage of the tourney gives me a chance of shooting at a very decent cash.

I went out with the blinds at 1200/600 and an ante of 150 was stacked at just over 12,000 and pushed re-raising a big stack with my AK suite, he called with 88 and tripped em to send me packing.

My observations of what I did wrong in this one were as follows.

In the first few blind levels I was playing too many hands - getting involved with the likes of 10 9 when I knew the blinds weren't worth stealing and bets weren't being respected for what they could mean.

The other mistake that perhaps cost me a lot of chips was playing to tight after the bubble had burst - folding hands like 88, 77, and A10 preflop when looking at what people were pushing with at that time their ranges had loosened dramatically having made the money. Need to be a little more aggressive and respect people a little less immediately after the bubble bursts.

Enjoyed it though - nice to go deep and just needed to catch some cards at the end to kick me into the bigger money.

Next time....

Rockets!

2009-04-12T05:20:00.006+01:00

11th of April 2009

Played OK tonight.

Started early on @ 10$ - here my mistakes were made.

But cashed at 20$ and twice at 5$ with Ronan AKA Nanor.

My mistakes early in the night were actually with a hand that it's easy to assume you played well and got a bad beat:

I busted out in two 10$ games in a row with AA.

However, as horrible as that sounds first time I did it we were 8 handed and and I was only at about 800 chips - feeling I was shorter than I was I min raised at 30/60- blinds and allowed the small blind to batter me with KJ (flopping 2 pair). Just whack a big raise in and u don't have to face shitty hands like that - or if you do, at least u know u've been beaten by a chump!

Second time I got beat, I actually min raised again but this time blinds were at 100/200, this time I didn't mind my play and just got unlucky!

Not a bad night all the same, despite Full Tilt wanting me to hurt inside!!

Train keeps a rollin'.

2009-04-10T02:02:00.003+01:00

9th of April 2009

Things are going good. Had a good round of golf today then a 3rd place followed by a win.

Got involved in needling a guy in the game I won (he was shit though) - could have cost me but I kept my head and ended up battering him heads up.

Broke $600 again - keeping those mistakes to a minimum!

Anything you can donk, I can donk better!

2009-04-09T00:54:00.009+01:00

8th of April 2009

10$ Sit n Go 9 handed on Full Tilt.

Played well - came second in this one.

Final hand I made a mistake - I was the shorter stack of the 2 of us. Limped with QJ at 300 big blind. Got raised to 900 total and called. Flop came down KJrag he raised 600 I re raised 1500 total to find out where I was and hopefully take it down - he then re raised me all in.

I knew now that I wasn't good and didn't have the outs to call. However, because this guy had made a dodgy play, donking off chips to the short stack on the bubble & forcing me to fold a hand which would've seen me knock a player out, I was tilting slightly and called.

He showed K6 which held up and that was that. A pointless call when I know I'm behind - not the way to win a heads up battle!

Blame The Blog!

2009-04-08T12:57:00.003+01:00

7th of April 2009

10$ Sit n Go 9 Handed on Full Tilt

Things are going well since I started this blog. Looking out for mistakes - if this game is anything to go by - Is stopping me making them!!

Back 2 Back wins! $90 onto the bankroll - Boom!!

Getting Defensive.

2009-04-07T00:13:00.006+01:00

6th 0f April 2009

10$ Sit n Go 9 handed on Full Tilt.

Now, I actually won this one - but early on in the game I could have made things easier for myself.

I had an average stack with 8 players remaining and the blinds were only at 20/40.

The button raised my big blind to 160 total - for some reason I decided he must only be playing position and decided he couldn't have a playable hand. So, foolishly I decided to defend my blind with A9 off. A play I don't mind short handed but here there was no point - out of position, with an easily dominated hand, and with blinds so small they are not worth defending - This call, unless lady luck shines on me, could surely only spell trouble.

The flop came down KK5 - I knew I had made a mistake but rather than forget it and move on I decide to follow up, pushing my luck (or compounding my error) & acting first threw in a 250 chip bluff - which was quickly raised to 700 total. I humbly folded losing 410 of a stack of around 1500 - when if I just respected this guy's raise I'd have lost just 40.

I spent the next 20mins restoring both my chip stack and my table image - this SNG would've been much easier if I hadn't been so proud and just mucked it!!!

Curse of the Kings.

2009-04-06T22:39:00.006+01:00

6th of April 2009

10$ Sit n Go 9 handed on Full Tilt

I swear down I HATE POCKET KINGS!!!! I bust out with this hand more than any other.

At 40/80 blinds I raise 240 from the cut off Small blind re raises putting me all in - I call knowing what's to come.

He show Jacks - which proceed to wipe the floor with my Kings.

Is it a mistake for me not to just fold this stupid f%k!g hand pre-flop and be done with it?

Catching ZZZ's

2009-04-06T12:36:00.005+01:00

5th of April 2009 @ 4am

10$ Sit n Go on Full Tilt poker.

Certainly a play to forget.

After playing a long live game - and drinking enough beer to sink the QE2, I decided this would be a good time to play a 10$ SNG.

I can't tell you too much about how I played. I do remember winning a good amount of chips early on.

The next thing I remember I woke up out of the SNG in 5th place.

First time I've ever fell asleep at the table - this one goes down as the silliest mistake at the table I have ever made.

Lesson learnt!?!