Biggest news that I have failed to report on here, mainly due to my shockingly poor dedication to this blog, is that I got engaged over Xmas to my gorgeous girlfriend, now fiance, and we've (nearly) set a date for April 2012. Great news for me is that K is keen on a Vegas wedding - not my idea honest - but also means we'll need to go over this year to check out possible venues etc etc. For 9 days. Nightmare :-)
With 15 or so months to go to the wedding and a Vegas holiday this year, and a stag do to go to it's clear I need to make some serious money to help fund all this! Hopefully this will give me the motivation and kick up the arse I need to push on and move out of the low level grinding mode I'm currently in.
How am I going to do this?
2011 targets:
1. STUDY MORE!!!
One of the main reasons for my fall from grace has been my abject laziness to study poker for over a year. I logged on, played my hands at 6 max, and was on lazy boy mode. When I started losing I didn't have a clue why and felt completely all at sea as hadn't been thinking about hands at all and just played auto pilot. This will not happen in 2011
2. Play live cash
Having visited the casino a fair few times at the back end of 2010, I just can't get over how poor some of the live play is. On Friday and Saturday nights I don't think half of them can even see the cards let alone know how to play properly!! I want to be crushing the low level cash games at the casinos regularly and looking to move up by the end of the year to 1/2. I'd like to think I have the game now to play that level but I know psychologically I'm not ready to risk the £800 in one night I'd need to have to feel comfortable playing there (2 buy ins of 200 bb's). I'll get there though.
3. Play more tournaments - successfully - including some satellites
I'm learning here and now have think I have a much better grasp of what's needed in this sphere. I'm not there yet though so will need to make sure I keep up to speed with target 1 in order to continue my progress. I don't think I'm a million miles away though and as tournaments are something I enjoy I'm going to keep going with this.
4. Maybe (maybe!) learn some PLO
Only if I'm feeling adventurous!
Monday, 3 January 2011
2010 P&L
6 max: £5,896
HU Cash: -£407
Rush: £2,230
STT: -£186
MTT: £641
Rakeback / Bonus: £7,639
ONLINE PROFIT: £15,800
Live Tournaments: £661
Live Cash: £169
LIVE PROFIT: £830
TOTAL PROFIT: £16,630
Sadly this is actually less than last years total, but as 5 of the last 7 months were winning months of less than £720 in profit this is actually higher than I was expecting when I put my figures together. I'm actually quietly optimistic for the new year at the moment!!
HU Cash: -£407
Rush: £2,230
STT: -£186
MTT: £641
Rakeback / Bonus: £7,639
ONLINE PROFIT: £15,800
Live Tournaments: £661
Live Cash: £169
LIVE PROFIT: £830
TOTAL PROFIT: £16,630
Sadly this is actually less than last years total, but as 5 of the last 7 months were winning months of less than £720 in profit this is actually higher than I was expecting when I put my figures together. I'm actually quietly optimistic for the new year at the moment!!
Dec P&L
Not a terrible month, and was looking like going to be a pretty good one until the Xmas holidays kicked in. I basically stopped playing any Rush poker after the 18th as was back at my folks then the mrs parents, meaning surroundings not conducive to thinking poker so I settled playing for a lot of tournaments to try and improve my leaks in this area. As you can see still not completed!
6max: -£2 (about 100 hands!)
Rush: £921
STT: -£159
MTT: £98
Rakeback / Bonus: £383
ONLINE PROFIT: £1,241
Live Tournament: -£22
Live Cash: £73
TOTAL PROFIT: £1,292
6max: -£2 (about 100 hands!)
Rush: £921
STT: -£159
MTT: £98
Rakeback / Bonus: £383
ONLINE PROFIT: £1,241
Live Tournament: -£22
Live Cash: £73
TOTAL PROFIT: £1,292
Monday, 6 December 2010
November P&L - and early December results
Again, it's been a while since I posted on here, which clearly means things haven't been going as well as I'd have hoped. Apologies to those that left comments that I hadn't got back to - basically I have tried to avoid posting miserable stories so decided best not post at all!
Another turgid month on the profit front for November means I'm hanging on by my fingertips to avoid having to go back to work - here's the breakdown:
6 max: -£445
SnG: - £56
MTT: -£24
Rush: £961
Rakeback: £213
Total Online Profit: £650
Live Cash: £30
Total Overall Profit: £680
As you can see, Rush Poker saved me in November after my 3rd month in a row losing at 6max - I'm done with that for now! I started playing NL25 Rush and moved up to NL50 halfway through the month - full ring - and so far I've found it pretty straightforward. I'm in a nice routine and have a nice system worked out, at least it has worked so far.
I ran terribly in SnG's, or at least I think I did. I've put in a lot of time studying various concepts of SnG strategy, i.e. ICM, pushing / folding ranges and bubble play, and think I have a good handle on what is needed. Unfortunately results don't show it yet but I will be looking to put in some more time on these in December, along with playing some multis as I finally feel I know what I'm doing at the different stages of the tournaments now.
The last part of my new poker strategy is to play more live, especially cash. I want to be comfortable playing live without giving off obvious tells, which I think I'm still doing at the moment. I want to try and standardise everything - bet timing, betting action, the way I look after I bet - which I'm definitely not doing. I've played a few cash games at Aspers on the weekend and to be honest it doesn't really matter at the NL50 level I'm playing, as 75% of the people there are hammered on a Friday / Saturday and never fold no matter how strong you look! Even so, my aim is to get better to hopefully help me get to the bigger cash game of NL200 without shitting myself every time I enter a pot! Although I think online will still be where you can make the most money, I think I need the social interaction of live play to stop me going completely hermit like and losing all ability to hold a conversation - which is another big reason for me wanting to play live.
I've rambled on a bit here - just wanted to quickly add that December has been a flying start for me. I'm already £710 up after 4 days of Rush poker, winning at £32 per hour after 15k hands! The aim is to carry on playing Rush now at home and hit casinos at weekends where possible, hopefully to get a solid month under my belt to give me some confidence to continue playing poker next year without working!!
Another turgid month on the profit front for November means I'm hanging on by my fingertips to avoid having to go back to work - here's the breakdown:
6 max: -£445
SnG: - £56
MTT: -£24
Rush: £961
Rakeback: £213
Total Online Profit: £650
Live Cash: £30
Total Overall Profit: £680
As you can see, Rush Poker saved me in November after my 3rd month in a row losing at 6max - I'm done with that for now! I started playing NL25 Rush and moved up to NL50 halfway through the month - full ring - and so far I've found it pretty straightforward. I'm in a nice routine and have a nice system worked out, at least it has worked so far.
I ran terribly in SnG's, or at least I think I did. I've put in a lot of time studying various concepts of SnG strategy, i.e. ICM, pushing / folding ranges and bubble play, and think I have a good handle on what is needed. Unfortunately results don't show it yet but I will be looking to put in some more time on these in December, along with playing some multis as I finally feel I know what I'm doing at the different stages of the tournaments now.
The last part of my new poker strategy is to play more live, especially cash. I want to be comfortable playing live without giving off obvious tells, which I think I'm still doing at the moment. I want to try and standardise everything - bet timing, betting action, the way I look after I bet - which I'm definitely not doing. I've played a few cash games at Aspers on the weekend and to be honest it doesn't really matter at the NL50 level I'm playing, as 75% of the people there are hammered on a Friday / Saturday and never fold no matter how strong you look! Even so, my aim is to get better to hopefully help me get to the bigger cash game of NL200 without shitting myself every time I enter a pot! Although I think online will still be where you can make the most money, I think I need the social interaction of live play to stop me going completely hermit like and losing all ability to hold a conversation - which is another big reason for me wanting to play live.
I've rambled on a bit here - just wanted to quickly add that December has been a flying start for me. I'm already £710 up after 4 days of Rush poker, winning at £32 per hour after 15k hands! The aim is to carry on playing Rush now at home and hit casinos at weekends where possible, hopefully to get a solid month under my belt to give me some confidence to continue playing poker next year without working!!
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
October P&L - Job queue looming???
Well, another shite month.
Motivation and confidence in poker hit all time low around the 20th October, but a small rally at the end of the month to get me in to positive figures means I've not yet completely abandoned the hope that I can make a living out of this game. I still have nearly all of the savings I've started with so not in any dire financial need, however the early optimism that I'd be playing high stakes and crushing this game within 2 years has gone. I need to get my grind back on.
Here's the breakdown anyway for October:
6 max: - £2
HU: -£198
MTT: £20
Rush FR: £238
Rakeback / Bonus: £306
Online Profit: £363
Live Tournaments: £18
Live Cash: £60
Total October Profit: £441
HEM graph:
Low volume on 6 max hurt my rakeback this month, but I was finding so little motivation as was getting crushed for 3 weeks at this so needed the break. I have more than a few Heads Up leaks which I need to work on, plus some pretty standard 6 max flaws too. I've put in quite a bit of study in the past 2 weeks though so hoping for a new beginning in November.
In non poker news, went 2 weeks without seeing my lass as she was volunteering in a Moldovan orphanage, but thankfully she's home safe and sound (without bringing a kid back!). I was a bit of a mess without her here to be honest, not eating or sleeping well - both in terms of number of hours and the times I was crashing out - and generally turning in to a hermit / tramp! When there's nobody around to keep you on your toes it's amazing how quickly I degenerated in to an unshaved, backed bean eating neanderthal. I don't think this state of mind helped my poker results either, and they certainly picked up when she returned - unlikely to be a coincidence....
I've also just got back from a London weekend with the boys where we went to see the NFL game at Wembley. Nothing happened in the worst first half I have ever seen, but my adopted Broncos were robbed in the second with dubious penalties going against them. I was not happy handing over the tenner to Jazzy! Most of the rest of the weekend was spent drinking and / or eating like a pig, so health kick needs to start now if I'm not going to be 14 stone after Xmas. I'm notorious for saying I'll get fit and doing nothing, so although my intentions are good now we'll have to wait and see what actually happens.....
Right - time for lunch. I'm going to try and post more on here too as been a lazy bastard on that front as well, not helped obviously by lack of poker success, but think it can be a cathartic exercise so expect some bad beat stories to come up soon :-)
Motivation and confidence in poker hit all time low around the 20th October, but a small rally at the end of the month to get me in to positive figures means I've not yet completely abandoned the hope that I can make a living out of this game. I still have nearly all of the savings I've started with so not in any dire financial need, however the early optimism that I'd be playing high stakes and crushing this game within 2 years has gone. I need to get my grind back on.
Here's the breakdown anyway for October:
6 max: - £2
HU: -£198
MTT: £20
Rush FR: £238
Rakeback / Bonus: £306
Online Profit: £363
Live Tournaments: £18
Live Cash: £60
Total October Profit: £441
HEM graph:
Low volume on 6 max hurt my rakeback this month, but I was finding so little motivation as was getting crushed for 3 weeks at this so needed the break. I have more than a few Heads Up leaks which I need to work on, plus some pretty standard 6 max flaws too. I've put in quite a bit of study in the past 2 weeks though so hoping for a new beginning in November.
In non poker news, went 2 weeks without seeing my lass as she was volunteering in a Moldovan orphanage, but thankfully she's home safe and sound (without bringing a kid back!). I was a bit of a mess without her here to be honest, not eating or sleeping well - both in terms of number of hours and the times I was crashing out - and generally turning in to a hermit / tramp! When there's nobody around to keep you on your toes it's amazing how quickly I degenerated in to an unshaved, backed bean eating neanderthal. I don't think this state of mind helped my poker results either, and they certainly picked up when she returned - unlikely to be a coincidence....
I've also just got back from a London weekend with the boys where we went to see the NFL game at Wembley. Nothing happened in the worst first half I have ever seen, but my adopted Broncos were robbed in the second with dubious penalties going against them. I was not happy handing over the tenner to Jazzy! Most of the rest of the weekend was spent drinking and / or eating like a pig, so health kick needs to start now if I'm not going to be 14 stone after Xmas. I'm notorious for saying I'll get fit and doing nothing, so although my intentions are good now we'll have to wait and see what actually happens.....
Right - time for lunch. I'm going to try and post more on here too as been a lazy bastard on that front as well, not helped obviously by lack of poker success, but think it can be a cathartic exercise so expect some bad beat stories to come up soon :-)
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Sept P&L - shocker!
A shambles. I've just spent the last 4 hours trying to clear a $200 bonus and in the process have lost £220 - a net loss of about $100. That's nothing though compared to these month end results......
6 max: -£1,144
Rush: £27
MTT: £95
Rakeback / Bonus: £803
ONLINE LOSS: £219
Staking Profit: £750
NET PROFIT: £531
I haven't typed up anything in my blog for ages as I feel as though my game has gone to shit. I've spewed so many buy ins off in the last 10 days it's scary. I was £640 up before London before BIG downswing. Everything I have tried has failed - double and triple barrels when he has it, not firing again when he has weak hand but I have no showdown value. In this time I have also gone from being £600 above EV to £300 behind - i.e. I hit none of my draws in the past 10 days. Ho hum.
Just need to put this behind me now and try and grind on next month. Going to have a crack at some live cash I think when K is away, hopefully will break the losing cycle and freshen up my game a bit. It definitely needs it! Will also spend the first few days of next month reading some articles and watching a few training videos. The videos bore the shit out of me but I think I need to do it to remind myself that it's not professional / OK to lose buy ins by barrelling off like a retarded monkey.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Classic Funny Video
Don't normally post this kind of stuff on here, but got sent this from Blackaz and nearly p'd myself laughing :-)
http://www.virginmedia.com/funny-videos/?bclid=600424035001
http://www.virginmedia.com/funny-videos/?bclid=600424035001
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