After a horrible start, and a horrible start to the last week of December, I roared back from being -975 down on December 27th, to being only -159 down by December 31. My stats for those 5 days for 50NL were:
Hands: 8901
P&L: +520.60
ptBB/100: 5.85
VPIP%: 12.22 (I've been at 10%)
PFR%: 6.39
December 2007 Results:
50NL:
Hands: 40,170
P&L: +289.80
ptBB/100: 0.72 (woot woot!)
VPIP: 11.31
PFR%: 5.5
Others: (100NL, 30NL (deep stack), PL50, PL50 (6max), PL25, NL25)
Hands: 20,711
P&L: - 448.80
Total P&L with rakeback: $306.50
Lessons learned this month: 1. Increasing VPIP and PFR from late position seems to be working (although its a small sample). 2. Stop playing 6max and PL and at Pokerstars (lost 268 at Stars and have had 7 consecutive losing months - granted, most were small, but still - PS and I don't get along).
2007 Results:
P&L: 4372.85 (of that, about 2400 was rakeback. I LOVE rakeback!)
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Brag, Beat, Variance
Beat: First 32k hands at 50NL: -6 buy-ins
Brag: Last 4K hands at 50NL: +12 buy-ins.
Variance: Yes.
At 11:00 yesterday morning, I was down about $975. I am now down only 186 for the month (all not including the 500 rakeback). I've been on a sick, sick, run. Now if I can only avoid the big minuses I may be on to something.
Other than obviously getting some good cards, I attribute my run to FINALLY being able to fold overpairs and TPTK hands when warranted. One example I folded AA when 2 obvious draws hit and villain went AI on the turn. I folded and told myself I'd have another chance against this guy. Sure enough, I ended up stacking him later for a huge pot. There have been 2 times when I knew I should have folded, didn't, and was beaten but I have made correct folds the majority of the time. I really feel that at this level more often than not when someone gets uber-aggressive they will have an overpair or TPTK beat - i.e. they aren't making huge bluffs. Sure, some may be, but overall I think it is +EV to fold more often than not. I will continue to play this way and see if I can end up + for the month (I'm already ahead for the month thanks to rakeback, but I'm referring to actual poker results).
Wish me luck.
Brag: Last 4K hands at 50NL: +12 buy-ins.
Variance: Yes.
At 11:00 yesterday morning, I was down about $975. I am now down only 186 for the month (all not including the 500 rakeback). I've been on a sick, sick, run. Now if I can only avoid the big minuses I may be on to something.
Other than obviously getting some good cards, I attribute my run to FINALLY being able to fold overpairs and TPTK hands when warranted. One example I folded AA when 2 obvious draws hit and villain went AI on the turn. I folded and told myself I'd have another chance against this guy. Sure enough, I ended up stacking him later for a huge pot. There have been 2 times when I knew I should have folded, didn't, and was beaten but I have made correct folds the majority of the time. I really feel that at this level more often than not when someone gets uber-aggressive they will have an overpair or TPTK beat - i.e. they aren't making huge bluffs. Sure, some may be, but overall I think it is +EV to fold more often than not. I will continue to play this way and see if I can end up + for the month (I'm already ahead for the month thanks to rakeback, but I'm referring to actual poker results).
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
December Updates, January and 08 goals
I'm not going to put any numbers down yet, but let's just say they aren't very good. I'm really struggling lately and my confidence is down. I'm playing "ok" but still struggle with laying down my TPTK and overpairs. Since my two "ugh" posts I had 1 monster day being up over $300 but I've had negative days since then. The last few days has seen my BR dwindle. The one good thing about being a BR nit is that I still have plenty to play at 50NL.
2008 Goals:
Play over 300K hands
Move up to 100NL by February
Move up to 200NL by June
January Goals:
30k+ hands at 50NL FR
3.5ptbb/hr at 50NL FR
VPIP: 14%, PFR%: 7
2008 Goals:
Play over 300K hands
Move up to 100NL by February
Move up to 200NL by June
January Goals:
30k+ hands at 50NL FR
3.5ptbb/hr at 50NL FR
VPIP: 14%, PFR%: 7
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Ugh.... Again.
It was another horrible day for me as far as luck goes. Granted, I think I made a couple of mistakes that cost me some pots, but overall luck killed me. It always seems to happen when I think I've turned a corner or I think that I'm finally getting decent. Anyway, tonight I had just a horrible run of cards. Set of 3's beat by set of 4's; 10 minutes later set of 3's beat by a set of 5's. KK runs into AA twice. KK runs into set of Js. AA runs into a set of 7s. All in all, I lost $148 playing NL50. I have pissed of the poker gods big time. Whatever I did, I'm sorry and I promise not to do it anymore. :-) Maybe the doom switch has been turned on for me (I did withdraw 1500 this month so maybe that is why. lol).
I don't believe my goals for this month can be met now. Here's where I stand at 50NL and 100NL this month;
50NL:
Hands: 21,433
ptBB/100: -1.25
Profit/Loss: - 268.70
100NL:
Hands: 3,958
ptBB/100: +0.81
Profit/Loss: +64.45.
In total (which includes some very large losses at PS playing PL): -593.35. With rakeback included I'm down -125.02 for the month. Woo-hoo! Thank Goodness for rakeback.
PS - When I lose my roll at PS I'm not going back. Ever. I had a roll of 200, and now I'm down to 26 bucks!!!!!!!!!!!!! and playing NL10. I'm taking as a challenge to build back a roll 2-tabling NL10 while I play 6-8 tables on Full Tilt. Although I should probably just stop playing PS while FT is offering its year-end double points awards.
Speaking of Full Tilt awards, I'm in line for a $775 bonus for Iron man this year. That'll be sweet (if I don't lose more than that at the tables, that is!).
Can you tell how depressed I am? I mean, I feel like I'm playing better than ever and the cards have gone cold on me. I keep telling my wife and dad that in the long term poker is skill and in the short term its luck. Lets hope this 10 BI downswing over 21K hands is just short term bad luck. I do feel better as I'm up over $1,500 at NL50 FR since October with a 1.67 ptBB/100 (90,000 hands) . Not the best of rates, but at least that gives me confidence that things will turn around. Let's just hope that it happens sooner rather than later....
Later...
I don't believe my goals for this month can be met now. Here's where I stand at 50NL and 100NL this month;
50NL:
Hands: 21,433
ptBB/100: -1.25
Profit/Loss: - 268.70
100NL:
Hands: 3,958
ptBB/100: +0.81
Profit/Loss: +64.45.
In total (which includes some very large losses at PS playing PL): -593.35. With rakeback included I'm down -125.02 for the month. Woo-hoo! Thank Goodness for rakeback.
PS - When I lose my roll at PS I'm not going back. Ever. I had a roll of 200, and now I'm down to 26 bucks!!!!!!!!!!!!! and playing NL10. I'm taking as a challenge to build back a roll 2-tabling NL10 while I play 6-8 tables on Full Tilt. Although I should probably just stop playing PS while FT is offering its year-end double points awards.
Speaking of Full Tilt awards, I'm in line for a $775 bonus for Iron man this year. That'll be sweet (if I don't lose more than that at the tables, that is!).
Can you tell how depressed I am? I mean, I feel like I'm playing better than ever and the cards have gone cold on me. I keep telling my wife and dad that in the long term poker is skill and in the short term its luck. Lets hope this 10 BI downswing over 21K hands is just short term bad luck. I do feel better as I'm up over $1,500 at NL50 FR since October with a 1.67 ptBB/100 (90,000 hands) . Not the best of rates, but at least that gives me confidence that things will turn around. Let's just hope that it happens sooner rather than later....
Later...
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Ugh.
So yesterday I had one of those days that just test your patience and ability to avoid going on tilt. I had several tough hands (won't call them all bad beats, but I wasn't going to get away from them either). In total, I dropped $162 for the day. I guess the good news is I went through the hand history and I don't think I made any huge mistakes. Most of the loss was a result of coolers. Here are some hands that just killed me:
Hand #1: QQ hits set on flop against AA who also hit set on flop: Seriously, how do you get away from this?
FullTiltPoker Game #4462993726: Table Composer - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:13:03 ET - 2007/12/10
Seat 1: Gsus4 ($50.80)
Seat 2: Moor Rekop ($25.20)
Seat 3: DanMc522 ($45.90)
Seat 4: bikense ($19.90)
Seat 5: BeHapa ($57.30)
Seat 6: djomlor ($45.40)
Seat 7: JackDev ($19.50)
Seat 8: Webbergrill ($26.15)
Seat 9: stipey169 ($48.85)
djomlor posts the small blind of $0.25
JackDev posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to stipey169 [Qc Qd]
Webbergrill has 15 seconds left to act
Webbergrill folds
stipey169 raises to $1.75
Gsus4 folds
Moor Rekop folds
DanMc522 folds
bikense folds
BeHapa raises to $6
djomlor folds
JackDev folds
stipey169 calls $4.25
*** FLOP *** [Tc Qh Ac]
stipey169 checks
BeHapa has 15 seconds left to act
BeHapa bets $9
stipey169 calls $9
*** TURN *** [Tc Qh Ac] [7d]
stipey169 checks
BeHapa bets $34
stipey169 calls $33.85, and is all in
BeHapa shows [Ah Ad]
stipey169 shows [Qc Qd]
Uncalled bet of $0.15 returned to BeHapa
*** RIVER *** [Tc Qh Ac 7d] [6s]
BeHapa shows three of a kind, Aces
stipey169 shows three of a kind, Queens
BeHapa wins the pot ($95.45) with three of a kind, Aces
stipey169 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $98.45 | Rake $3
Board: [Tc Qh Ac 7d 6s]
Seat 1: Gsus4 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Moor Rekop didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: DanMc522 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: bikense didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: BeHapa (button) showed [Ah Ad] and won ($95.45) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 6: djomlor (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: JackDev (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Webbergrill didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: stipey169 showed [Qc Qd] and lost with three of a kind, Queens
Hand #2: KK vs. AA
FullTiltPoker Game #4462007194: Table Silverstream - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:47:45 ET - 2007/12/10
Seat 1: OneOutWinner ($46.50)
Seat 2: jusschwl ($16)
Seat 3: wv_mase ($32.25)
Seat 4: TOMMI S ($49.75)
Seat 5: CrownRoyal57 ($18.25)
Seat 6: ILOVECOWS ($36)
Seat 7: scottz103 ($98.25)
Seat 8: Rajon Rondo ($64.05)
Seat 9: stipey169 ($49.25)
ILOVECOWS has 5 seconds left to act
ILOVECOWS posts the small blind of $0.25
scottz103 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to stipey169 [Ks Kd]
scottz103: its whats for dinner
Rajon Rondo folds
stipey169 raises to $1.75
OneOutWinner folds
jusschwl folds
wv_mase has 15 seconds left to act
scottz103: i had u, not pickn on u
wv_mase raises to $4
TOMMI S folds
CrownRoyal57 folds
ILOVECOWS folds
scottz103 folds
stipey169 raises to $12
wv_mase has 15 seconds left to act
wv_mase calls $8
*** FLOP *** [4h 3d 9d]
stipey169 bets $24.75
wv_mase calls $20.25, and is all in
stipey169 shows [Ks Kd]
wv_mase shows [Ad As]
Uncalled bet of $4.50 returned to stipey169
*** TURN *** [4h 3d 9d] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [4h 3d 9d Jc] [3c]
stipey169 shows two pair, Kings and Threes
wv_mase shows two pair, Aces and Threes
wv_mase wins the pot ($62.25) with two pair, Aces and Threes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $65.25 | Rake $3
Board: [4h 3d 9d Jc 3c]
Seat 1: OneOutWinner didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: jusschwl didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: wv_mase showed [Ad As] and won ($62.25) with two pair, Aces and Threes
Seat 4: TOMMI S didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: CrownRoyal57 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: ILOVECOWS (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: scottz103 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Rajon Rondo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: stipey169 showed [Ks Kd] and lost with two pair, Kings and Threes
Hand #3: AA loses to 88 shortstack. I don't blame the guy for the move, but it still hurt to lose....
FullTiltPoker Game #4462095205: Table Silverstream - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:55:19 ET - 2007/12/10
Seat 1: joesxm ($47.50)
Seat 2: jusschwl ($12.50)
Seat 3: allyasia ($38.50)
Seat 4: TOMMI S ($49)
Seat 5: emzen ($9.25)
Seat 6: ILOVECOWS ($43.10)
Seat 7: scottz103 ($95)
Seat 8: Rajon Rondo ($74.15)
Seat 9: stipey169 ($49.25)
ILOVECOWS has 5 seconds left to act
ILOVECOWS posts the small blind of $0.25
scottz103 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to stipey169 [Ad As]
Rajon Rondo calls $0.50
stipey169 raises to $2.25
joesxm folds
jusschwl raises to $12.50, and is all in
allyasia folds
TOMMI S folds
emzen folds
ILOVECOWS folds
scottz103 folds
Rajon Rondo folds
stipey169 calls $10.25
jusschwl shows [8d 8h]
stipey169 shows [Ad As]
*** FLOP *** [8c Qd Kd]
*** TURN *** [8c Qd Kd] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [8c Qd Kd 2h] [5s]
jusschwl shows three of a kind, Eights
stipey169 shows a pair of Aces
jusschwl wins the pot ($24.95) with three of a kind, Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $26.25 | Rake $1.30
Board: [8c Qd Kd 2h 5s]
Seat 1: joesxm didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: jusschwl showed [8d 8h] and won ($24.95) with three of a kind, Eights
Seat 3: allyasia didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: TOMMI S didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: emzen (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: ILOVECOWS (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: scottz103 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Rajon Rondo folded before the Flop
Seat 9: stipey169 showed [Ad As] and lost with a pair of Aces
Publish Post
Hand #1: QQ hits set on flop against AA who also hit set on flop: Seriously, how do you get away from this?
FullTiltPoker Game #4462993726: Table Composer - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:13:03 ET - 2007/12/10
Seat 1: Gsus4 ($50.80)
Seat 2: Moor Rekop ($25.20)
Seat 3: DanMc522 ($45.90)
Seat 4: bikense ($19.90)
Seat 5: BeHapa ($57.30)
Seat 6: djomlor ($45.40)
Seat 7: JackDev ($19.50)
Seat 8: Webbergrill ($26.15)
Seat 9: stipey169 ($48.85)
djomlor posts the small blind of $0.25
JackDev posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to stipey169 [Qc Qd]
Webbergrill has 15 seconds left to act
Webbergrill folds
stipey169 raises to $1.75
Gsus4 folds
Moor Rekop folds
DanMc522 folds
bikense folds
BeHapa raises to $6
djomlor folds
JackDev folds
stipey169 calls $4.25
*** FLOP *** [Tc Qh Ac]
stipey169 checks
BeHapa has 15 seconds left to act
BeHapa bets $9
stipey169 calls $9
*** TURN *** [Tc Qh Ac] [7d]
stipey169 checks
BeHapa bets $34
stipey169 calls $33.85, and is all in
BeHapa shows [Ah Ad]
stipey169 shows [Qc Qd]
Uncalled bet of $0.15 returned to BeHapa
*** RIVER *** [Tc Qh Ac 7d] [6s]
BeHapa shows three of a kind, Aces
stipey169 shows three of a kind, Queens
BeHapa wins the pot ($95.45) with three of a kind, Aces
stipey169 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $98.45 | Rake $3
Board: [Tc Qh Ac 7d 6s]
Seat 1: Gsus4 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Moor Rekop didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: DanMc522 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: bikense didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: BeHapa (button) showed [Ah Ad] and won ($95.45) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 6: djomlor (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: JackDev (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Webbergrill didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: stipey169 showed [Qc Qd] and lost with three of a kind, Queens
Hand #2: KK vs. AA
FullTiltPoker Game #4462007194: Table Silverstream - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:47:45 ET - 2007/12/10
Seat 1: OneOutWinner ($46.50)
Seat 2: jusschwl ($16)
Seat 3: wv_mase ($32.25)
Seat 4: TOMMI S ($49.75)
Seat 5: CrownRoyal57 ($18.25)
Seat 6: ILOVECOWS ($36)
Seat 7: scottz103 ($98.25)
Seat 8: Rajon Rondo ($64.05)
Seat 9: stipey169 ($49.25)
ILOVECOWS has 5 seconds left to act
ILOVECOWS posts the small blind of $0.25
scottz103 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to stipey169 [Ks Kd]
scottz103: its whats for dinner
Rajon Rondo folds
stipey169 raises to $1.75
OneOutWinner folds
jusschwl folds
wv_mase has 15 seconds left to act
scottz103: i had u, not pickn on u
wv_mase raises to $4
TOMMI S folds
CrownRoyal57 folds
ILOVECOWS folds
scottz103 folds
stipey169 raises to $12
wv_mase has 15 seconds left to act
wv_mase calls $8
*** FLOP *** [4h 3d 9d]
stipey169 bets $24.75
wv_mase calls $20.25, and is all in
stipey169 shows [Ks Kd]
wv_mase shows [Ad As]
Uncalled bet of $4.50 returned to stipey169
*** TURN *** [4h 3d 9d] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [4h 3d 9d Jc] [3c]
stipey169 shows two pair, Kings and Threes
wv_mase shows two pair, Aces and Threes
wv_mase wins the pot ($62.25) with two pair, Aces and Threes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $65.25 | Rake $3
Board: [4h 3d 9d Jc 3c]
Seat 1: OneOutWinner didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: jusschwl didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: wv_mase showed [Ad As] and won ($62.25) with two pair, Aces and Threes
Seat 4: TOMMI S didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: CrownRoyal57 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: ILOVECOWS (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: scottz103 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Rajon Rondo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: stipey169 showed [Ks Kd] and lost with two pair, Kings and Threes
Hand #3: AA loses to 88 shortstack. I don't blame the guy for the move, but it still hurt to lose....
FullTiltPoker Game #4462095205: Table Silverstream - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:55:19 ET - 2007/12/10
Seat 1: joesxm ($47.50)
Seat 2: jusschwl ($12.50)
Seat 3: allyasia ($38.50)
Seat 4: TOMMI S ($49)
Seat 5: emzen ($9.25)
Seat 6: ILOVECOWS ($43.10)
Seat 7: scottz103 ($95)
Seat 8: Rajon Rondo ($74.15)
Seat 9: stipey169 ($49.25)
ILOVECOWS has 5 seconds left to act
ILOVECOWS posts the small blind of $0.25
scottz103 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to stipey169 [Ad As]
Rajon Rondo calls $0.50
stipey169 raises to $2.25
joesxm folds
jusschwl raises to $12.50, and is all in
allyasia folds
TOMMI S folds
emzen folds
ILOVECOWS folds
scottz103 folds
Rajon Rondo folds
stipey169 calls $10.25
jusschwl shows [8d 8h]
stipey169 shows [Ad As]
*** FLOP *** [8c Qd Kd]
*** TURN *** [8c Qd Kd] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [8c Qd Kd 2h] [5s]
jusschwl shows three of a kind, Eights
stipey169 shows a pair of Aces
jusschwl wins the pot ($24.95) with three of a kind, Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $26.25 | Rake $1.30
Board: [8c Qd Kd 2h 5s]
Seat 1: joesxm didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: jusschwl showed [8d 8h] and won ($24.95) with three of a kind, Eights
Seat 3: allyasia didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: TOMMI S didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: emzen (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: ILOVECOWS (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: scottz103 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Rajon Rondo folded before the Flop
Seat 9: stipey169 showed [Ad As] and lost with a pair of Aces
Publish Post
Thursday, December 6, 2007
December Goals; Back to Pokerstars
December Goals:
ptBB: 3.0
VPIP: 12% (by opening up from LP)
PFR: 7% (by raising more from LP)
W$WSF (Won $ when saw flop): <30%
When I look at peoples stats on 2+2 and other forums, it seems my W$WSF is low. This really confuses me because I am such a nit. I wonder if my nittiness is causing this - i.e., maybe I should be more aggressive with non-nut hands and strong draws and not fold so much. My win $ as showdown is pretty high, so I'm thinking I'm folding too much on the flop and turn and maybe folding the best hand too often. Of course, I'm not even sure that W$WSF is even a number I should be concerned about. I'll see how it goes and see if that correlates with an increase in my ptBB/100. If anyone has any ideas of what a good number should be, please feel free to comment.
I read that PS Frequent Player Points (FPPs) are actually worth more than getting rakeback at Full Tilt. So I decided to put some money back in PS and see how it works out. I'm going to 4 table .25NL/PL severely underrolled with only $200. I'm not worried about going busto as its a very small portion of my overall bankroll (plus I'm confident I can beat .25NL/PL -just have to avoid variance). If I go busto, so be it.
ptBB: 3.0
VPIP: 12% (by opening up from LP)
PFR: 7% (by raising more from LP)
W$WSF (Won $ when saw flop): <30%
When I look at peoples stats on 2+2 and other forums, it seems my W$WSF is low. This really confuses me because I am such a nit. I wonder if my nittiness is causing this - i.e., maybe I should be more aggressive with non-nut hands and strong draws and not fold so much. My win $ as showdown is pretty high, so I'm thinking I'm folding too much on the flop and turn and maybe folding the best hand too often. Of course, I'm not even sure that W$WSF is even a number I should be concerned about. I'll see how it goes and see if that correlates with an increase in my ptBB/100. If anyone has any ideas of what a good number should be, please feel free to comment.
I read that PS Frequent Player Points (FPPs) are actually worth more than getting rakeback at Full Tilt. So I decided to put some money back in PS and see how it works out. I'm going to 4 table .25NL/PL severely underrolled with only $200. I'm not worried about going busto as its a very small portion of my overall bankroll (plus I'm confident I can beat .25NL/PL -just have to avoid variance). If I go busto, so be it.
November Results
I'm a big delayed on posting November results due to my laptop being desabled. Fortunately for me, only the keyboard was fried so it only cost me 160 bucks to fix.
Now on the the results for November: I started out like gangbusters in November, but ended on a horrible slump (down over $500 from the high I reached). Still ended up for the month and with rakeback from October, the amount I made in November was pretty good (fyi, I know I should count October rakeback in October results, but since the rakeback from the previous month doesn't hit my account until the following month, I count that in the month in which I receive the funds).
November Results: (note that some hands are missing due to having to use my backup computer)
Hands: 53,156
P&L: + 676.15
ptBB/100: 1.54 (2.17 for 50NL where I primarily played)
Total with October Rakeback: +712.16
Hourly Rate: +0.92 (woo-hoo! I'm ready to go pro!)
Now on the the results for November: I started out like gangbusters in November, but ended on a horrible slump (down over $500 from the high I reached). Still ended up for the month and with rakeback from October, the amount I made in November was pretty good (fyi, I know I should count October rakeback in October results, but since the rakeback from the previous month doesn't hit my account until the following month, I count that in the month in which I receive the funds).
November Results: (note that some hands are missing due to having to use my backup computer)
Hands: 53,156
P&L: + 676.15
ptBB/100: 1.54 (2.17 for 50NL where I primarily played)
Total with October Rakeback: +712.16
Hourly Rate: +0.92 (woo-hoo! I'm ready to go pro!)
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Cats, Computers, and No Stats
I sometimes will sit on the floor with my laptop on the coffee table playing poker and watching tv. Sometimes I'll have a glass of ice water on the table as well. Last night I forgot to move the glass and my cat decided he wanted a drink and knocked over the glass and it spilled water all over my laptop (one that is less than a month old). I think I managed to avoid losing the entire motherboard, but the keyboard is shot. I had to take it in and I got an estimate of anywhere between 150 and 450 bucks. That is going to be quite a hit to the bankroll...
I'm now on my old laptop that has been re-imagined and so I have no Pokertracker and no AceHud. I feel completely naked and uninformed playing online poker now. Should be interesting. I can't wait until I get my laptop back.
I'm now on my old laptop that has been re-imagined and so I have no Pokertracker and no AceHud. I feel completely naked and uninformed playing online poker now. Should be interesting. I can't wait until I get my laptop back.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Three steps forward, 1 step back
Two days ago I had one of the biggest single days I've ever had (for a lot of folks, its not much but for this part-time micro-playing nit its good): I was up $324 for the day. Over 6 buyins at NL50 FR. To put that in perspective, that would rank as my 8th best month of the 32 months where I've tracked my results. That is obviously the 3 steps forward.
Yesterday, I was down over $150 before making a "comeback" to only be down $107 for the day.
On another note, looks like my rakeback will be over $400 for the month (a new high for me) and that includes taking out the IPod touch that I used FTP points to get for my wife. I'm now aiming for the 50" Plasma TV. I figure at my current pace, I'll have enough points after about 20 months. LoL.
Yesterday, I was down over $150 before making a "comeback" to only be down $107 for the day.
On another note, looks like my rakeback will be over $400 for the month (a new high for me) and that includes taking out the IPod touch that I used FTP points to get for my wife. I'm now aiming for the 50" Plasma TV. I figure at my current pace, I'll have enough points after about 20 months. LoL.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Better Day
Hopefully I'm turning things around. I think I'm finally able to fold Overpairs and TPTK to a lot of aggression. There is a possibility I'm being bluffed, but I think the chances are lower at this level, and I'm being smart about who I will fold against using PT numbers on my Acehud. For example, if a passive nit starts getting aggressive all of a sudden, I'm probably beaten.
Yesterday's results:
Hands: 760
Profit/Loss: +$108
ptBB/100: 8.94
I also suck at Omaha Hi but I'm having fun. I'll probably read a book or two about it here soon.
Yesterday's results:
Hands: 760
Profit/Loss: +$108
ptBB/100: 8.94
I also suck at Omaha Hi but I'm having fun. I'll probably read a book or two about it here soon.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Mid-month update; Variety is the Spice of Life
Alright, so here's where I am through November 18:
NL50
Hands: 23,389
Profit/Loss: +$541
PTbb/100: 2.32
NL100
Hands: 10,438
Profit/Loss: +174.75
PTbb/100: 0.84 (hey, at least its positive!)
I've decided I'm not going to play NL100 until I get my bankroll at FT up over $3.3K (at $2,800) or next month, whichever is sooner but I can't move up unless I learn to fold when I'm obviously beat. I know that this is a huge leak, yet I continually do it and I believe its the reason I'm struggling so much an NL100 (I get away with making dumb calls at NL50 and it hurts the roll far less when I don't get away with it). Until I learn to plug this leak, I really shouldn't move up, despite having the BR.
Variety is the spice of life....
I keep reading that you should learn to play other poker games and with my struggles with NLHE, I thought I'd give Omaha a try, so I sat down at Omaha Hi PL10 table (no way am I ready for the PLOH/L game), where I was the biggest fish. About the only thing I knew about the game was that you get 4 downcards and the community cards play out like HE.l I didn't even know that you had to play exactly 3 community cards and 2 hole cards. After losing a couple of hands trying to use 4 board cards I thought I ought to at least look at the rules, lol.
I've come to realize that these games are pretty soft but I need to read some books/strategy posts and get up to speed a bit but I do find the games fun and I like the variety. Its also fun to donk around with only 10 bucks on the line. I may invest in PokerTracker for Omaha once the new PT comes out (dont' think I want to invest in it yet only to go and get the new version).
NL50
Hands: 23,389
Profit/Loss: +$541
PTbb/100: 2.32
NL100
Hands: 10,438
Profit/Loss: +174.75
PTbb/100: 0.84 (hey, at least its positive!)
I've decided I'm not going to play NL100 until I get my bankroll at FT up over $3.3K (at $2,800) or next month, whichever is sooner but I can't move up unless I learn to fold when I'm obviously beat. I know that this is a huge leak, yet I continually do it and I believe its the reason I'm struggling so much an NL100 (I get away with making dumb calls at NL50 and it hurts the roll far less when I don't get away with it). Until I learn to plug this leak, I really shouldn't move up, despite having the BR.
Variety is the spice of life....
I keep reading that you should learn to play other poker games and with my struggles with NLHE, I thought I'd give Omaha a try, so I sat down at Omaha Hi PL10 table (no way am I ready for the PLOH/L game), where I was the biggest fish. About the only thing I knew about the game was that you get 4 downcards and the community cards play out like HE.l I didn't even know that you had to play exactly 3 community cards and 2 hole cards. After losing a couple of hands trying to use 4 board cards I thought I ought to at least look at the rules, lol.
I've come to realize that these games are pretty soft but I need to read some books/strategy posts and get up to speed a bit but I do find the games fun and I like the variety. Its also fun to donk around with only 10 bucks on the line. I may invest in PokerTracker for Omaha once the new PT comes out (dont' think I want to invest in it yet only to go and get the new version).
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The bottom continues to fall....
Here is yesterdays results:
NL50: 1,593 hands, -$150.60, ptbb/100: -9.45
NL 1o0: 398 hand, $14.60, ptbb/100: 1.83
In taking a quick review of my sessions for the day, slightly more than $100 of the total loss for the day were clear mistakes by me (one instance I made a bad call on the river, although the sucked out runner-runner to win; one was slowplaying Aces PF then pushing into str8 - got me a case of fancy play syndrome on that one; and then $14.76 PF push with 55 due to tilt). The rest of the losses is just from being card dead - lot of calls with med-small pocket pairs and suited connectors that didn't hit, and some missed-flop CBs being called.
The good news is that the leaks are fixable. Let's see if I can do that today.
NL50: 1,593 hands, -$150.60, ptbb/100: -9.45
NL 1o0: 398 hand, $14.60, ptbb/100: 1.83
In taking a quick review of my sessions for the day, slightly more than $100 of the total loss for the day were clear mistakes by me (one instance I made a bad call on the river, although the sucked out runner-runner to win; one was slowplaying Aces PF then pushing into str8 - got me a case of fancy play syndrome on that one; and then $14.76 PF push with 55 due to tilt). The rest of the losses is just from being card dead - lot of calls with med-small pocket pairs and suited connectors that didn't hit, and some missed-flop CBs being called.
The good news is that the leaks are fixable. Let's see if I can do that today.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Bottom Falling Out/Adjusting to NL100
Remember my earlier post when I said that I should quit poker - not b/c I was running bad, but because I was running too good? Well, it happened - I came back to reality last night. I was down over $300 at one point. I managed to get it back to -160 by the end of the night. I think this is largely because some of the calls I was making (which were probably -EV, but I got lucky and won) finally stopped panning out for me. I also think some of it is adjusting to NL100. I don't necessarily find NL100 more difficult than NL50, but I am finding that perhaps some of the calls that are +EV at NL50 are not at NL100.
I also find that I seem to run better when I buy in short (60BB) at NL100. Not sure if that's luck or if its that I'm a bit afraid of the money and get lost on the turn/river when I have a full stack (when SSed, I'm pretty much committed by the turn).
I also really need to remember to fold those overpairs/TPTK where warranted (i.e. -I'm not folding everytime, but if I have a read, I shouldn't ignore it). I may be bluffed some, but its so hard to come back from a big hole, when I can find better spots to put my money in.
I also find that I seem to run better when I buy in short (60BB) at NL100. Not sure if that's luck or if its that I'm a bit afraid of the money and get lost on the turn/river when I have a full stack (when SSed, I'm pretty much committed by the turn).
I also really need to remember to fold those overpairs/TPTK where warranted (i.e. -I'm not folding everytime, but if I have a read, I shouldn't ignore it). I may be bluffed some, but its so hard to come back from a big hole, when I can find better spots to put my money in.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Goals
I keep reading that I need to have goals if I want to advance in poker. With November almost being 1/2 gone, these goals will apply to both November/December:
- Play 30,000 hands at 50NL FR
- Play 15,000 hand at 100NL FR
- Get comfortable in 8 tabling (4 50NL and 4 100NL)
- Increase my PTBB/100 to 3.2 for 50NL and 100NL by not stacking off with TPTK (unless I have a read) and getting value from hands where I believe I'm ahead (i.e. value-bet the river more).
- Increase my stats to 15/10 by loosening up my call/raise hands when in position (start with Button and HJ spots), including raising limpers when I have baby pairs and and good SCs, and calling/RR EP raises from loose players
Sunday, November 11, 2007
First Post
This is hopefully the first of many entries on my new poker/life blog.
A bit about me/poker history.
I'm a mid/late 30's male with a wife and 2 kids (6 and 4). I have a full time job that I work from home. This allows me to play poker when I work (but work takes priority over poker during "work" hours). I started playing online poker about 3 years ago (started recording high level results 32 months ago). I've gotten in a ton of hands but until 2007 I was a small loser. Below are my career totals by year:
2005: -7.85 (started in April)
2006: -221.52
2007: 4496
I first deposited on Party Poker with like 50 bucks and played 25NL. That obviously didn't last long. At the time I barely even understood hand rankings. I really enjoyed the game though and bought Phil Helmuth's book, "Play Like the Pros" (yeah, i know). Since that focused on the limit game, I switched to that for quite awhile. The book did help me get a fundamental understanding of being solid pre-flop and playing only good starting hands.
After playing at a number of places and bonus whoring (granted, not optimally as I was buying in for 100 bucks here/there vs. buying in for the matched bonus amount), I was feeling ok about my game and had read several more books and was able to very slowly move up in stakes until I was playing 1/2. I then had 3 consecutive months of losing a ton at 1/2 and .5/1 that I decided screw this, I'm playing NL (if for anything other than a change).
Once I started playing NL, I haven't gone back (well, I occasionally play limit here and there). I was fairly successful early on but staying at a very low limit (.05/.10, .10/.25 NL and PL). Did really well at Pokerstars PL tables for awhile but then went on a two month downswing. Decided to switch it up and move to another site (Full Tilt). By this time, I had starting reading forums and learned of rakeback (oh the amounts of money I had missed the first 2 1/2 years of poker playing - feel dumb for not doing it earlier). This is also when I started my little experiment with 6-max tables. I initially started playing .25 NL/PL @ Full Tilt but the tables seemed much tighter than what I was used to. I noticed that the six-max tables looked very juicy, sat down at a 50 PL 6-max table and thus started my 6-max experiment. The first month when super - I won over $1600 (including deposit bonuses) and started thinking I was a world-beater. I think I won over 10 buy-ins at 50PL that month. The next few months reality hit and I lost all of those buy-in's and then some (actually ended up ahead for this period of time thanks to rakeback).
I was perusing the full ring forums on 2plus2 and thought, you know, I bet I would do better at full ring. So, in the 2nd week of October I tried some 25NL and 50NL FR and have been running good since. Given my history, after being successful for a few months I follow that up with some losses (getting cocky, me thinks). That said, I don't think I'll have sever swings. Mostly because I play a super-nitty-conservative style (9/5/1.8) which while not optimal, is definitely more suited for FR than 6-max.
So right now, I'm grinding away at 50NL/100NL playing about 6-8 tables at a time (unless I'm at work, in which case I'll play a couple of 50N tables)
October Results:
34,291 Hands
+ 871.08 (including rakeback)
November Results Thus Far:
23779 Hands
+ 636.40
November Results so far:
A bit about me/poker history.
I'm a mid/late 30's male with a wife and 2 kids (6 and 4). I have a full time job that I work from home. This allows me to play poker when I work (but work takes priority over poker during "work" hours). I started playing online poker about 3 years ago (started recording high level results 32 months ago). I've gotten in a ton of hands but until 2007 I was a small loser. Below are my career totals by year:
2005: -7.85 (started in April)
2006: -221.52
2007: 4496
I first deposited on Party Poker with like 50 bucks and played 25NL. That obviously didn't last long. At the time I barely even understood hand rankings. I really enjoyed the game though and bought Phil Helmuth's book, "Play Like the Pros" (yeah, i know). Since that focused on the limit game, I switched to that for quite awhile. The book did help me get a fundamental understanding of being solid pre-flop and playing only good starting hands.
After playing at a number of places and bonus whoring (granted, not optimally as I was buying in for 100 bucks here/there vs. buying in for the matched bonus amount), I was feeling ok about my game and had read several more books and was able to very slowly move up in stakes until I was playing 1/2. I then had 3 consecutive months of losing a ton at 1/2 and .5/1 that I decided screw this, I'm playing NL (if for anything other than a change).
Once I started playing NL, I haven't gone back (well, I occasionally play limit here and there). I was fairly successful early on but staying at a very low limit (.05/.10, .10/.25 NL and PL). Did really well at Pokerstars PL tables for awhile but then went on a two month downswing. Decided to switch it up and move to another site (Full Tilt). By this time, I had starting reading forums and learned of rakeback (oh the amounts of money I had missed the first 2 1/2 years of poker playing - feel dumb for not doing it earlier). This is also when I started my little experiment with 6-max tables. I initially started playing .25 NL/PL @ Full Tilt but the tables seemed much tighter than what I was used to. I noticed that the six-max tables looked very juicy, sat down at a 50 PL 6-max table and thus started my 6-max experiment. The first month when super - I won over $1600 (including deposit bonuses) and started thinking I was a world-beater. I think I won over 10 buy-ins at 50PL that month. The next few months reality hit and I lost all of those buy-in's and then some (actually ended up ahead for this period of time thanks to rakeback).
I was perusing the full ring forums on 2plus2 and thought, you know, I bet I would do better at full ring. So, in the 2nd week of October I tried some 25NL and 50NL FR and have been running good since. Given my history, after being successful for a few months I follow that up with some losses (getting cocky, me thinks). That said, I don't think I'll have sever swings. Mostly because I play a super-nitty-conservative style (9/5/1.8) which while not optimal, is definitely more suited for FR than 6-max.
So right now, I'm grinding away at 50NL/100NL playing about 6-8 tables at a time (unless I'm at work, in which case I'll play a couple of 50N tables)
October Results:
34,291 Hands
+ 871.08 (including rakeback)
November Results Thus Far:
23779 Hands
+ 636.40
November Results so far:
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